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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEFNHL 9/28/2013

Anaheim Ducks718193 No one Ducks player rises above rest as destined for a

breakout season718194 Well-traveled Yonkman making himself at home with Ducks

Boston Bruins718195 Defenseman Kevan Miller to break camp with Bruins718196 Bruins will take another look at younger players718197 Bruins beat Jets 5-0 in preseason finale718198 NHL making moves with major realignment this fall718199 All that’s left is the cuts718200 A few decisions left for Chiarelli718201 Bruins evaluating players to the bitter end

Buffalo Sabres718202 Sabres finish preseason with loss to Hurricanes

Calgary Flames718203 Jay Feaster says expectation will be to win for Calgary

Flames718204 Calgary Flames' Matt Stajan front and centre718205 Calgary Flames youngster takes AHL assignment in stride

Carolina Hurricanes718206 Canes top Sabres, close preseason 3-3718207 Chemistry comes in all sizes

Chicago Blackhawks718208 Hossa warms up to idea of favoring his back718209 Marian Hossa’s back is back in business718210 Hossa hoping to play in Hawks' opener718211 Preseason finale looms large for some Hawks718212 Hossa feels on track for opener718213 Esposito: Crawford played 'very solid' last year718214 Hossa remains focused on staying strong, healthy718215 CSN hosts 'Blackhawks Day'

Colorado Avalanche718216 Postgame Avs-Stars: bad night in Dallas

Dallas Stars718217 Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The St.

Louis Blues718218 Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The

Nashville Predators718219 Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The

Colorado Avalanche718220 Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The

Minnesota Wild718221 Stars' final preseason game tonight a chance to evaluate

depth718222 Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The

Chicago Blackhawks718223 Lindy Ruff on Kari Lehtonen's light night: You'd like a goalie

to get more work718224 National analysts predictions for Dallas Stars varied718225 Heika: If Thursday was Stars' dress rehearsal, Dallas looks

ready to go718226 Ellis makes 20 stops as Dallas Stars blank Edmonton Oilers

for preseason win

Detroit Red Wings718227 Red Wings want to be tough with puck, not just fists718228 Detroit Red Wings' Danny DeKeyser (knee) confident he'll

be ready for season opener718229 Detroit 5, Toronto 2: Red Wings regulars help team get back

on track718230 Danny DeKeyser out for Red Wings' weekend games718231 Red Wings' second line stars in win over Maple Leafs718232 Wings' Daniel Alfredsson to make Joe Louis debut tonight

against Leafs718233 Red Wings recall eight players from Grand Rapids for

Saturday's preseason finale in Toronto718234 Red Wings center Stephen Weiss confident he'll be ready for

season opener after sitting out third period718235 Detroit Red Wings' power-play clicking in 5-2 preseason

victory over Toronto Maple Leafs718236 Blog recap: Three power-play goals help Detroit Red Wings

beat Toronto 5-2, end three-game skid718237 Red Wings' Daniel Alfredsson to make home debut as

second line finally intact for preseason game718238 Red Wings' Jordin Tootoo skates, but status uncertain;

Danny DeKeyser expects to be ready for opener718239 Detroit Red Wings' rash of preseason injuries not necessarily

a bad thing, says Brendan Smith718240 Some Red Wings happy to see HBO cameras in town to

start filming 24/7, others not so much718241 Alfredsson nets first goal as Wings top Leafs718242 Wings second line gets first change to play together against

Leafs

Edmonton Oilers718243 Oilers regular season rehearsal ends on sour note718244 Cult of Hockey: Fourth-line NHL units can be looked at for

offence718245 Edmonton Oilers set to roll out for final dress rehearsal718246 Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ryan Whitney still

unemployed after St. Louis Blues say goodbye718247 Last season's struggles behind him, Ryan Smyth starts year

on Oilers top line718248 Edmonton Oilers shut out by Dallas Stars farm team

Florida Panthers718249 Florida Panthers new owner Vincent Viola: ‘We will win here’718250 Viola introduced as owner of the Florida Panthers718251 PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Final Preseason Game Looms as

Roster Is Finalized718252 TAKING OVER IN SUNRISE: Vinnie Viola Purchases

Florida Panthers718253 Panthers draw inspiration from new owner, new goalie and

returning pieces718254 New Panthers owner 'committed to winning' and ready to

ante up

Los Angeles Kings718255 Kings lean on stars in 4-1 win over Rangers718256 Postgame quotes: Sutter, Doughty, Kopitar, Nolan718257 With the series extended, Kings weigh in on Frozen Fury

experience718258 Friday: Notes, sights and sounds from Frozen Fury718259 Bettman on outdoor game novelty, “east coast bias,”

relocation

Minnesota Wild718260 Wild loses finale after Harding leaves game with illness;

Dumba staying for now718261 Wild lose preseason finale in St. Louis; last roster cut coming718262 Dowell, Steckel cuts leave Wild with options718263 Wild bringing skilled lineup to St. Louis; Dowell on waivers,

Steckel released718264 Minnesota Wild release David Steckel

Montreal Canadiens718265 What’s new in the NHL this season718266 Look for improving Subban to anchor a fantasy blueline718267 Questions remain as Montreal’s preseason comes to a close

New Jersey Devils718268 Devils believe still room on roster and in NHL for enforcers718269 Devils will let Martin Brodeur take his time to return718270 Devils like what they see from Jaromir Jagr718271 Tom Gulitti: Centers are key to Devils' success

New York Islanders718272 Islanders Coach Is Tough on Himself and His Team718273 Tavares Helps Islanders Beat Predators 6-4718274 Donovan, Islanders look to enjoy fast times718275 Grabner's versatility gives Islanders options

New York Rangers718276 Brad Richards remains in NY Rangers mix718277 September 28, 2013 2:22 AM718278 Vigneault: Rangers fighting for roster spots in Las Vegas,

roster cuts coming Sunday, notes on Callahan, Hagel718279 Rangers drop preseason finale, lines not set yet718280 Rangers prospects have to step it up for roster spot

Ottawa Senators718281 Conacher wraps up wing spot with strong pre-season718282 O’Brien clears waivers, likely headed for minors718283 Lazar thrilled to play first game718284 Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk likes look of team

this season718285 Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk not ready to reunite

with former captain Daniel Alfredsson718286 Ottawa Senators almost ready to make call on final roster718287 Senators' Jim O'Brien clears waivers, is bound for

Binghamton

Philadelphia Flyers718288 Flyers: Breaking Bad718289 Flyers juggling salary-cap situation718290 Vande Velde not just a long shot for Flyers718291 Capitals light up Flyers in exhibition718292 Flyers Notes: Flyers demote Raffl and Lauridsen718293 Trade in works for Flyers?718294 Flyers cut Raffl, Lauridsen718295 Holmgren still has some tough decisions718296 Scoring drought not setting off alarms. . .yet718297 Flyers' preseason ends with yet another loss718298 Holmgren after preseason: 'Got to be better'718299 Holmgren talks roster moves, what's to come718300 Flyers Notes: Laviolette disappointed with effort718301 VandeVelde hoping to make the cut718302 Ovechkin helps Capitals beat Flyers 6-3

Phoenix Coyotes718303 Phoenix Coyotes beat San Jose Sharks to end preseason

Pittsburgh Penguins718304 Agent: Penguins goalie Vokoun feels better after surgery718305 Penguins notebook: Vokoun not pondering retirement, agent

says718306 Vokoun cleared for workouts

San Jose Sharks718307 San Jose Sharks' 2-1 loss to Phoenix offers promise,

questions718308 San Jose Sharks to start Alex Stalock in goal against

Phoenix718309 Sharks' Stuart 'optimistic' for opening night718310 Sharks assign defenseman Petrecki to Worcester718311 Niemi to play full game vs. Ducks Saturday718312 Two rookies battle for final roster spot

St Louis Blues718313 Oshie scores in Blues' 4-1 victory over Minnesota718314 Bernie: Is this the year?718315 Eastern Conference Preview718316 Western Conference Preview718317 Size, skill and substance on defense718318 'A heavy burden' for Backes718319 Blues stress 'accountability' on offense718320 Three-headed monster in goal718321 New ownership has 'seismic' impact718322 NHL scout's take on the Blues’ top nine forwards718323 Realignment arrives this season718324 Blues release defenseman Ryan Whitney from tryout

Tampa Bay Lightning718325 Bolts face choice regarding top draft-pick Drouin718326 Bolts notes: Preseason finale gives last looks718327 Johnson, Palat, Panik bring chemistry to Lightning718328 Who should be captain of the Lightning?

Toronto Maple Leafs718329 Filling the final vacancies in Maple Leafs’ solid lineup718330 Mirtle: Liles looking like Leafs’ odd-man out718331 Maple Leafs fall to Daniel Alfredsson, Red Wings718332 Leafs GM Dave Nonis survives MLSE purge and looks

forward: Cox718333 Maple Leafs 2013-14 schedule718334 Maple Leafs preview: Leafs may be poised to establish

respectability: Cox718335 Maple Leafs preview: James Reimer always the underdog:

Feschuk718336 Maple Leafs preview: The goalies718337 Want to make the Leafs? Even a good training camp doesn’t

guarantee a spot718338 Maple Leafs preview: The defence718339 Maple Leafs preview: The forwards718340 Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings set to renew old

rivalry718341 Leafs drop exhibition tilt in Motown718342 Daniel Alfredsson a rivalry expert718343 Red Wings won't try to match Maple Leafs' fight factor718344 Red Wings prefer to beat Maple Leafs with skill718345 Maple Leafs get a rough ride from Henrik Zetterberg, Red

Wings718346 Writing is on the wall for Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman

John-Michael Liles718347 Salary cap forces Toronto Maple Leafs to get creative718348 NHL realignment is a good thing, depending on which teams

you ask

Vancouver Canucks718358 Jamieson: 5 ways to improve NHL hockey718359 Botchford: Canucks’ lack of depth the only reason Horvat

and Shinkaruk still around718360 Canucks try something different — shootout practice718361 Pressure on Luongo to deliver early for Canucks

Washington Capitals718349 Five thoughts from the Capitals’ 6-3 win over the Flyers718350 Capitals projected lineup against Flyers

Websites718362 ESPN / Look for the kid to push the vet in Ottawa718363 FOXSports.com / Kings, Ducks take Freeway Faceoff to

Dodger Stadium718364 USA TODAY / Top 10 American prospects to watch for 2014

NHL draft718365 YAHOO SPORTS / After another playoff flop, Marc-Andre

Fleury takes slow, steady approach to saving his game an

Winnipeg Jets718351 Jetcetera: Players pick collector pins718352 Bruins blank Jets in final pre-season tilt718353 Three Jets facing huge disappointment718354 Jets beware: Western Conference full of carnivores718355 Kid looks ready to fit right in on Jets' blue-line718356 Jets fans can pin hopes on players718357 Jets fall to Bruins in pre-season finale

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

718193 Anaheim Ducks

No one Ducks player rises above rest as destined for a breakout season

Lance Pugmire

In a debate over which Ducks player has the greatest upside this season, the answer is not a given.

Center Nick Bonino could be the guy after a fluke in-season injury shortened a strong start last year. Maybe it's Long Beach's Emerson Etem, who scored three playoff goals at age 21, or new acquisition, wing Jakob Silfverberg, even though both start the season with nagging injuries.

Right wing Kyle Palmieri might be the safest choice, given his breakaway speed that contributed to a 10-goal, 11-assist performance in 42 games last season.

"I don't want to put a whammy on any one guy saying he's ready for a breakout year," Coach Bruce Boudreau said after a two-hour practice Thursday.

The Ducks conclude their preseason schedule Saturday night at Honda Center against the San Jose Sharks and open the regular season Wednesday at the Colorado Avalanche.

Palmieri rotated throughout lines last season and expects to do the same this time.

"I know I'm not really looked to for penalty killing or my defensive zone play, but I hope this year to settle into being more responsible, a more complete player," Palmieri said.

"I've come into camp working my hardest, to put myself into a position to start well. Coming from the success I had puts me in a good spot to continue that this year."

Injury update

Defenseman Luca Sbisa conceded Thursday it "might be a stretch" for him to play Wednesday. Sbisa, wearing a boot over his sprained left ankle, worked out without the boot for the first time since his injury.

He said he'll try to skate Sunday, something imperative for him to do to play in the opener.

"It's still possible, but if it's not Colorado, I still have three days" to play in the second game, versus Minnesota on Oct. 5.

Boudreau said he expects Silfverberg (lower body injury) to skate Saturday and added that the injured Etem (lower left leg) probably will not play Wednesday.

LA Times: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718194 Anaheim Ducks

Well-traveled Yonkman making himself at home with Ducks

ERIC STEPHENS

2013-09-27 19:54:01

ANAHEIM – Nolan Yonkman’s journey as a professional hockey player can be summed up in four words: Have suitcase, will travel.

The Ducks represent the fifth NHL organization for Yonkman. While his extensive resume consists of only 74 contests at hockey’s highest level, the possibility still exists that the towering defenseman could break training camp with them.

His 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame and accompanying mean streak is something that isn’t in deep supply within the Ducks’ defense corps and his play – along with the club’s injury issues there – has warranted a longer look.

“He’s been surprising,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s a big guy that wants to get better. He’s working really hard to try and make this team. And when he plays within himself, good things always happen.”

From the first day of camp, Yonkman has thrown his weight around and even ruffled a few feathers. Left wing Matt Beleskey didn’t take kindly to his eagerness to battle physically and the two nearly dropped the gloves during a scrimmage.

That is merely part of the territory for a player who has had to scratch out a living as an American Hockey League veteran attending NHL camps over the last decade. His stops include Portland (Me.), Washington, Hershey (Pa.), Nashville, Milwaukee, Phoenix, San Antonio and Florida.

“I’ve got to play my game,” Yonkman said. “I don’t care who it is. But in today’s game, you have to be careful with penalties. You can be assertive and you can be aggressive but you can’t hurt your team.

“You take a penalty and that only hurts the team. It’s a different game with different rules. You can only play hard to a certain point. There’s a fine line.”

Yonkman signed a one-year deal with the Ducks in July and is thrilled with the opportunity he is getting in camp. He has appeared in four of the six exhibition games and even chipped in a rare goal in the opener against Phoenix.

The Ducks need to pare their roster to the league’s 23-player limit by Monday. Each day his equipment bag isn’t packed is a victory for Yonkman but he isn’t carrying the attitude of someone merely happy to be in Anaheim.

“Every day, I come to the rink like I’m going to be here,” Yonkman said. “My attitude is I keep myself in the mindset of belonging here and I’m not going to go anywhere.

“I don’t have the luxury to have a bad day in a way because there’s always eyes on you. Competition is always high. You’ve got to be at your best. That’s what you trained all summer for – to give yourself the best shot to make the team and don’t look back.”

ROSTER DECISIONS

The team’s recent rash of injuries has left Boudreau unable to ice his desired lineup for Saturday’s exhibition finale against San Jose. But the contest should help make some final decisions with eight cuts still to make.

For instance, Peter Holland is dealing with a sore left knee but he practiced Friday with the intent to play against the Sharks as he tries to win a job.

“For his sense, this is a really important game for him,” Boudreau said.

Other players such as Yonkman, Hampus Lindholm, Devante Smith-Pelly, Patrick Maroon and John Kurtz could also be in the lineup to make their final case for a roster spot.

“There has to be decisions probably Sunday and Monday,” Boudreau said. “Sometimes it comes down to the one game.”

OTHER INJURIES

Defenseman Luca Sbisa is still wearing a protective boot on his left foot and acknowledged the chances of him playing in Wednesday’s season opener at Colorado are slim. Boudreau said the Ducks’ second game against Minnesota is more realistic.

Wingers Emerson Etem and Jakob Silfverberg are still nursing lower-body injuries. Silfverberg appears closer to returning and could skate Saturday while Etem appears to be out for the opener.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718195 Boston Bruins

Defenseman Kevan Miller to break camp with Bruins

Amalie Benjamin

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — With the preseason schedule completed with a 5-0 win over the Jets on Friday night, the Bruins got on a plane back to Boston with decisions to make as they attempt to whittle their roster to the 23 players they’ll keep to start the season.

General manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed the team will keep eight defensemen, which means Kevan Miller, 25, makes the club in addition to all three young players, Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug, and Matt Bartkowski. Miller was a bit of a surprise, with Chiarelli calling him “a strong, physical D-man.”

As for the third line, it appears set with Chris Kelly centering Carl Soderberg and Reilly Smith, what Chiarelli had envisioned. The trio has been playing together most of training camp.

“It’s nice to see there’s a little bit of chemistry there,” Chiarelli said.

The only spots still open are the extra forward and the backup goaltender, both jobs that have come down to the wire.

The extra forward seems likely to go to either Jordan Caron or Nick Johnson, both of whom scored in Friday’s win. Caron’s goal came on a rebound, and Johnson scored on a blast from just inside the blue line. Although Ryan Spooner has played well, it would seem the center — who played “OK” against Winnipeg while centering the top line, according to coach Claude Julien — will be ticketed for Providence.

The results were better for Caron and Johnson.

“I thought they played well,” Julien said. “Even as a line, they did a good job. When there’s a battle going on like that, you like to see those guys respond the way they did tonight.”

When asked about the most important factor in deciding on the final forward, Chiarelli said, “There has to be an element of versatility. We’ve seen that in a few guys. It’s a tough decision because there’s three or four guys that had good camps. But versatility, first and foremost.”

“Overall it’s gone well,” Johnson said. “Did what I could. Didn’t worry about too much, just tried to play. What they do, they do. It’s a lot easier to play when you’re not thinking about that.”

Caron echoed that sentiment. “The last few games I think I’ve stepped up,’’ he said. “I think I’m feeling more confident. I think they know I really want this. Been working really hard for three years now. This is my fourth. I’m just hoping the chips are going to fall into place.”

As for the goaltenders, it would be easier for the Bruins to go with Chad Johnson over Niklas Svedberg. Johnson carries a lower cap hit ($600,000 to Svedberg’s $1 million) and would have to clear waivers to get to the AHL. Svedberg would not, and the 24-year-old could probably benefit from more minutes at the AHL level.

“They both had strong camps,” Chiarelli said. “Just on a per minute played basis, Nik played better, but Chad played well. That game in Detroit [a 2-0 shutout], he played well. It gives me comfort that they’ve played well over the course of the camp. We have some depth there.”

There will be some transactions before the season starts to ensure the Bruins are cap compliant. Chiarelli said the roster might change slightly in the next week.

Rask in top form

Tuukka Rask had a shutout in his final tune-up for the regular season, stopping 20 shots. “It was nice to see that he got more than 12 shots, that’s what he wanted,” Julien said. Rask said he is ready for the regular season. But, as Julien said, “He seems to be in top form right now.” . . . David Krejci was scratched with back spasms. Julien called the injury minor . . . Soderberg suffered a minor injury in the game, but Julien said it wasn’t an issue.

Let’s get started

The players are, clearly, ready for the regular season to start. “Yes,” Milan Lucic said. “It’s been a long camp after what we went through last year, just a week of practicing, and right into regular-season games, but it’s been nice. It’s been good to get comfortable with the new guys on the team, get to know them. But getting a little restless and can’t wait for next week to start.” . . . The Bruins will head to Waterbury, Vt., for team-building activities Monday and Tuesday. The team will hold a practice at the Waterbury Ice Center Tuesday, which will be open to the public. Johnny Boychuk, Kelly, Marchand, Dennis Seidenberg, and Shawn Thornton are scheduled to sign autographs after the session.

Boston Globe LOADED: 09.28.2013


Bruins will take another look at younger players

Amalie Benjamin

September 27, 2013 02:07 PM

SASKATOON, Sask. – The plan for the Bruins was to unveil their regular season lineup tonight vs. the Jets. But that won't happen, with the team still anxious to see some of the young players fighting for a roster spot again.

"We’ve got some decisions to make," coach Claude Julien said. "So it’ll be close to it, but I don’t think it’ll be necessarily the lineup. [Dennis] Seidenberg is not in tonight. [Daniel] Paille, [Shawn] Thornton aren’t in tonight. We need to see some of those guys, and we’ll go from there."

That means big pressure for guys like Jordan Caron, Nick Johnson, and Ryan Spooner.

Johnson and Caron will play with Gregory Campbell tonight, and will be the focus of the decision makers on the team.

"Those two guys we have to make decisions on," Julien said. "Other guys we have a pretty clear [idea]. Again that doesn’t mean they’re not going to be on, but we know exactly what we get from some of those other players."

Spooner might actually center the top line tonight, because David Krejci may not be able to skate because of back spasms. That would give Spooner a good opportunity to continue his impressive preseason.

The area the brass has had the most trouble with has been the goalies. Tuukka Rask, who is still scheduled to play all of tonight's game, is set in stone as the starter. But behind him Niklas Svedberg has made a good bid to be the backup.

"It's not easy," Julien said. "It hasn't been easy, especially in the goaltending area. That’s where it’s been the toughest. It doesn’t take much to sway one way or another. Let’s be honest here, Svedberg’s played well. So did Johnson in that Detroit game. What maybe tarnished I guess his camp a little bit was that game in Montreal where he just had an average half-game.

"So at the end of the day we’re going to have to make some decisions. It’ll go into a lot of discussions about a lot of things. As you know it’s not just hockey, it’s about development, sometimes about cap. There are a lot of things that come into play. So those are decisions that we’ll certainly make along the way."

Boston Globe LOADED: 09.28.2013


Bruins beat Jets 5-0 in preseason finale

Staff Writer

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Tuukka Rask made 20 saves and the Boston Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-0 on Friday in the final preseason finale for both teams.

It was Boston's second victory over the Jets in as many nights, following a 3-2 win at Winnipeg.

The Bruins grabbed control with two goals in the first six minutes. Carl Soderberg opened the scoring, assisted by some slick passing from linemates Chris Kelly and Reilly Smith. Johnny Boychuk then beat Al Montoya on his glove side from inside the blue line.

Winnipeg failed to generate much of an attack, generating only four shots in the second period and three in the third.

Jordan Caron scored 13 minutes into the second, and Nick Johnson and Patrice Bergeron added third-period goals for the Bruins.

Some 12,500 of the 15,190 seats at Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre were filled, with the crowd cheering overwhelmingly for Boston.

The Bruins looked potent on offense despite the loss of Jaromir Jagr, who joined the New Jersey Devils on a one-year contract during the offseason.

Boston captain Zdeno Chara and longtime Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla displayed some good chemistry on the power play, setting up multiple scoring chances but failing to produce a goal.

Boston Herald LOADED: 09.28.2013


NHL making moves with major realignment this fall

Staff Writer

Hockey fans in Detroit and Columbus have grown accustomed to the inconvenience. When the Red Wings and Blue Jackets are on the road, they've usually had to stay up well past most bedtimes to watch, or wait until morning to find out how their teams did way out West.

With the NHL's first significant realignment in 15 years, everybody can sleep a bit easier this fall.

"It's definitely a lot better for us for rest, economically for our team," Columbus center R.J. Umberger said. "It just makes a lot of sense."

The NHL is altering its conference lineups, dropping two divisions and changing the makeup of its schedules in both the regular season and the playoffs.

The biggest change sends Detroit and Columbus to the 16-team Eastern Conference, while the Winnipeg Jets head to the 14-team West. Those uneven numbers are the subject of some concern, but there's no doubt they add up splendidly for the three teams on the move.

"I think the travel sometimes takes years off all our lives," Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard said. "I think (moving East) will be great for us from the travel, even though we're all used to it now. It will be a lot of fun to play a lot of games in the Eastern time zone. It will be great for our fans, too, not having to stay up until all hours of the night to watch us."

The moves are the culmination of years of debate and maneuvering. Detroit, which has been in the Western (originally Campbell) Conference since 1981, has desired a return to the East for years. Columbus, an expansion team in 2000, also jumped at the chance to shorten its list of road games starting at 10 p.m. or later back home.

The Red Wings are joining the reconfigured Atlantic Division along with fellow Original Six franchises Toronto, Montreal, Boston — and, in the quirkiest part of the realignment, Florida and Tampa Bay. Columbus is in the cleverly named Metropolitan Division alongside Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the three New York City-area teams.

"It's going to be great for our fan base to be able to see us play in the Eastern time zone a lot more," Umberger said. "All of our away games used to be in different time zones. For us, a chance to grow some close rivalries with different teams like Buffalo and Pittsburgh, maintain Detroit, I think we're just excited."

Winnipeg, the erstwhile Atlanta Thrashers, will no longer spend the bulk of its road time in the American South. The Jets are grateful to be in the Central Division with Minnesota, Chicago and the rest of the NHL's Midwestern teams.

It's too soon to tell whether Detroit, Columbus and Winnipeg will gain a significant competitive advantage from the switch. The Red Wings weren't exactly struggling to win while making the playoffs in each of the past 22 seasons out West, while the Blue Jackets wouldn't suggest the only reason they've never won a playoff game was all those road games in Phoenix.

"I think it's a great time for our fans," Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "They'll be able to watch our games in prime time a lot more than they have. Playing Montreal, Toronto, Boston more often, I'm hoping it's going to spark that (excitement) even more. I know it will for us."

But the three moves are just part of a competitive restructuring that will affect every NHL team.

The league is back to a four-division format, dropping the six-division setup introduced in 1998. The NHL also went back to a version of the divisional playoff schedule used from 1982 until 1994.

The top three teams in each division get postseason berths, and two wild-card spots go to the two remaining teams with the best records in either division. The first two rounds of the conference playoffs will be within the division, which means the last wild-card team could be required to face the teams on the other side of the conference for a spot in the conference finals.

"I love the four-division format," said Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau, whose Ducks won the Pacific last season. "I really think for the fan, it's easy to understand. It keeps more teams involved, and with the crossover, if you're in a stronger division than others, you're not necessarily done, because you can always move to the other division."

The NHL Players' Association initially objected to the uneven conferences, saying it would be tougher to make the playoffs with two more teams in the East. The union dropped the objection after the lockout.

"This going to the East in the new divisional concept, it's going to be a difficult time for any of these teams to make the playoffs," said John Davidson, the Blue Jackets' director of hockey operations. "It's going to be a real battle. We have to understand that. I think we do."

The schedule matrix also has been tweaked after several years of emphasis on divisional rivalries. Every team in the league faces everybody else twice this season, giving fans in every city a chance to see every star.

"If I was sitting in the stands, I would tend to think that I'd like to see the Ovechkins come into my building and the Crosbys come into my building," Boudreau said.

The change benefits West Coast fans, but some West teams aren't looking forward to long Eastern trips on their already mind-numbing travel schedules.

"Miles-wise, teams in California don't get a break, for sure," Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter said.



All that’s left is the cuts

Staff Writer

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — The Bruins finished their preseason schedule on a high note, blanking the Winnipeg Jets, 5-0, at Credit Union Centre last night to finish the slate at 6-1.

And the players vying for jobs made their respective cases right down to the bitter end. Both Jordan Caron and Nick Johnson, vying for the 13th forward spot, potted goals, as did Carl Soderberg, Johnny Boychuk and Patrice Bergeron while Tuukka Rask stopped all 20 shots he saw.

On the long flight home, general manager Peter Chiarelli planned to make the final cuts and reveal them this morning. He did say he expects to keep 23 players with two extra defensemen and one extra forward, meaning blueliner Kevan Miller will break camp with the big club.

It would seem, at least, like the decision for the last forward would be between Caron and Johnson, though centers Ryan Spooner and Matt Lindblad had good camps, too.

What’s Chiarelli looking for in that extra forward?

“There has to be an element of versatility and we’ve seen that with a few guys,” he said. “It’s a tough decision because we’ve had three or four guys who’ve had good camps. I know there are two guys you’ve been focusing on in Johnson and Caron and I think they’ve both played well. Defensive responsibility? They both have that. Size? They both have that. Experience? One guy has more than the other. Style of play? They’re a little bit different. That’s tough. That player doesn’t play often, but with injuries, he may have to get in there.”

Spooner last night got a chance to play between Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic and, in turn, saw the Jets’ top line as well.

“Spooner played well (in camp). (Last night) was more average than most but he was matching up against better lines,” said Chiarelli. “He had a real good year last year and average playoff. I expected more from him in Florida at the rookie camp, but he had a real good camp here. With his pedigree, I would have expected it, but it was nice to see after the playoffs.”

The backup goaltender position is another tough decision between Niklas Svedberg and Chad Johnson, though it would be more convenient to keep Johnson.

“Yeah, it would, but we’ll have that discussion (on the plane),” said Chiarelli. “Chad needs waivers, Nik doesn’t. Both have had strong camps. Nik played better but Chad played well. That game in Detroit (a shutout win) he played well. It gives me comfort that they’ve played well over the course of the camp.”

Would it be better for 24-year-old Svedberg to see 40-plus games at the AHL level than see 20 games at the NHL behind Rask?

“Generally speaking, yeah, at his age, though he probably wouldn’t want to hear that,” said Chiarelli.

Chiarelli did sound quite pleased with his third line of Soderberg, Chris Kelly and Reilly Smith.

“The third line looks how I envisioned it. It’s nice to see a little bit of chemistry there with Soderberg and Smith and Kells in the middle,” said Chiarelli.

Chiarelli did stress that the roster is fluid and there are some “machinations” to be done to become cap compliant Sept. 30 before they put Marc Savard on long-term injured reserve.

Krejci hurting

Center David Krejci left the morning skate early with what Julien termed “back spasms” and did not play in the game.

“Nothing serious,” said Julien of Krejci’s injury.

Soderberg also was a bit hobbled in the third period with what looked like a lower body injury, but Julien termed that minor.

Ready to get going

The Bruins were scheduled to fly back to Boston after the game and have today off. They’ll practice at the Garden tomorrow and then travel to Vermont for a couple of days of team-building exercises. Opening night is Thursday at the Garden against Tampa Bay.

The veterans were glad to have training camp — something they didn’t have last year after the lockout — behind them.

“It’s been a long camp after what we went through last year, with just the week of practices and right into regular season games,” said Lucic. “It’s been nice. It’s been good to get comfortable with the new guys on the team and get to know them. But we’re definitely getting restless for the season to start.”

Said Rask: “As soon as we boarded a plane for Winnipeg and Saskatoon, I think everybody was ready for the season to start.”



A few decisions left for Chiarelli

Steve Conroy

SASKATOON---The Bruins finished up their preseason schedule on a high note on Friday night, blanking the Winnipeg Jets at Credit Union Centre to finish the slate, 6-1.

And the players vying for jobs made their respective cases right down to the bitter end. Both Jordan Caron and Nick Johnson, vying for the 13th forward spot, potted goals, as did Carl Soderberg, Johnny Boychuk and Patrice Bergeron while Tuukka Rask stopped all 20 shots he saw on the night.

On the long flight home to Boston, GM Peter Chiarelli planned to make the final cuts and reveal them in the morning. But he did say that he expects to keep 23 players to start, with two extra defensemen and one extra forward, meaning Kevan Miller will at least break camp with the big club.

It would seem like the decision for the last, extra forward spot would be between Caron and Johnson, though centres Ryan Spooner and Matt Lindblad had good camps, too. What's Chiarelli looking for in that extra forward?

“There has to be an element of versatility and we've seen that with a few guys,” said Chiarelli. “It's a tough decision because we've had three or four guys who've had good camps. I know there are two guys you've been focusing on in Johnson and Caron and I think they've both played well. Defensive responsibility? They both have that. Size? They both have that. Experience? One guy has more than the other. Style of play? They're a little bit different. That's tough. That player doesn't play often, but with injuries, he may have to get in there.”

Spooner last night got a chance to play between Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic and, in turn, saw the Jets' top forwards as well.

“Spooner played well (in camp). (Last night) was more average than most but he was matching up against better lines,” said Chiarelli. “He had a real good year last year and average playoff. I expected more from him in Florida at the rookie camp, but he had a real good camp here. With his pedigree, I would have expected it, but it was nice to see after the playoffs.”

The backup goaltender position is another tough decision between Niklas Svedberg and Chad Johnson, though it would be more convenient to keep Johnson.

“Yeah, it would, but we'll have that discussion (on the plane),” said Chiarelli. “Chad needs waivers, Nik doesn't. Both have had strong camps. Nik played better but Chad played well. That game in Detroit (a shutout win) he played well. It gives me comfort that they've played well over the course of the camp.”

Would it be better for 24-year-old Svedberg to see 40-plus games at the AHL level than see 20-plus games at the NHL behind Tuukka Rask?

“Generally speaking, yeah, at his age, though he probably wouldn't want to hear that,” said Chiarelli.

Chiarelli did sound quite plaeased with his third line of Soderberg, Chris Kelly and Reilly Smith.

“The third line looks how I envisioned it. Its nice t see a little bit of chemistry there with Soderberg and Smith and Kells in the middle,” said Chiarelli.

Chiarelli did stress that roster is fluid and there are some “machinations” to be done to become cap compliant on September 30 before they can put Marc Savard on long term injured reserve on Oct. 1...

David Krejci left the morning skate early with what Julien termed “back spasms” and he did not play last night. “Nothing serious,” said Julien of Krejci's injury... Soderberg also was a bit hobbled in the third period with what looked like some sort of lower body injury, but Julien termed that minor...

The Bruins were scheduled to fly back to Boston after the game and have Saturday off. They'll practice at the Garden on Sunday and then travel to Vermont for a couple of days of team-building exercises. Opening night is Thursday at the Garden against Tampa Bay. The vets were glad to have

training camp – something they didn't really have last year after the lockout – behind them.

“It's been a long camp after what we went through last year, with just the week of practices and right into regular season games,” said Lucic. “It's been nice. It's been good to get comfortable with the new guys on the team and get to know them. But we're definitely getting restless for the season to start.”

Said Rask: “As soon as we boarded a plane for Winnipeg and Saskatoon, I think everybody was ready for the season to start.



Bruins evaluating players to the bitter end

Steve Conroy

SASKATOON, Sask.--It was hoped that tonight's final preseason game would close to the Bruins' opening night lineup as possible, but there are going to be a few exceptions.

One reason is that David Krejci took himself off the Credit Union Centre ice this morning with what coach Claude Julien termed "back spasms" and he's questionable for tonight. Another reason is that the B's brass is still evaluating players for as long as they can. Jordan Caron and Nick Johnson, one of whom will most likely be your 13th forward, are in the lineup skatng on Gregory Campbell's wings. That'll give Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille the night off, and Dennis Seidenberg will be in civilian clothes as well.

Ryan Spooner, who has been the most impressive player in camp who doesn't have a regular spot on the team, would get the chance to center Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic if Krejci can't go.

Julien said that Tuukka Rask will "probably" get the full game tonight, but that doesn't mean the decision on the backup goal, Niklas Svedberg or Chad Johnson, has been made.

"It hasn't been easy, especially in the goaltending. That's where it's the toughest. It doesn't take much to sway it one way or the other," said Julien. "Let's be honest here. Svedberg's played well. So did Johnson in that Detroit game. The only thing that tarnished his camp a little bit was that game in Montreal where he had an average half game. At the end of the day, we're going to have to make some decisions and it'll go into a lot of discussions about a lot of things. As you know, it's not just about hockey. Sometimes it's about development, it's about the cap. A lot of things cmoe into play."

Johnson requires waiver clearance while Svedberg does not. Svedberg is also more expensive against the cap ($1 million NHL salary) than Johnson ($600,000).

Puck drop here is at 9 p.m. Eastern.


718202 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres finish preseason with loss to Hurricanes

Staff Writer

September 28, 2013 - 12:29 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Buffalo Sabres’ final dress rehearsal before the start of the new season wasn’t a triumphant experience.

Patrick Dwyer’s short-handed goal early in the second period gave the Carolina Hurricanes the lead for keeps as the Sabres closed their preseason schedule with a 1-0 loss Friday night at PNC Arena.

Ryan Miller got the start in goal for the Sabres and was very sharp, turning aside 29-of-30 shots.

Buffalo finishes the preseason 4-2-1 and opens the regular season on Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena against Detroit at 8 p.m. in an Atlantic Division matchup.

The Sabres went with an experienced lineup Friday night with Thomas Vanek, Cody Hodgson, Drew Stafford, Steve Ott, Tyler Ennis and Christian Ehrhoff among the regulars suiting up.

It didn’t matter as Buffalo got off to a slow start. The Sabres managed only seven shots on goal through the first 40 minutes and finished with 18 against Cam Ward. Buffalo went 0 for 4 on the power play and gave up the game winner while on the man advantage. Dwyer scored at 2:39 of the second period off assists from Jordan Staal and Ron Hainsey.

Rookie Nikita Zadorov reportedly suffered a hand injury in the game; his status is not yet known.

Buffalo News LOADED: 09.28.2013

718203 Calgary Flames

Jay Feaster says expectation will be to win for Calgary Flames

RANDY SPORTAK

Friday, September 27, 2013 07:59 PM MDT

Day after day, the Calgary Flames are being told their destiny is they’ll sleep with the fishes.

At every turn, the predictions are always the same, the Flames are pegged to end up at the bottom of the NHL ocean during the coming 2013-14 season.

It’s fair to say hearing those prognostications becomes tiring and could possibly wear them down.

Flames GM Jay Feaster is well aware what pundits are saying about his team, but once again, he reiterated Friday the organization won’t stand for a losing attitude to permeate throughout.

“I don’t think we’ll win 82 this year. Yeah, I don’t think we’ll win all 82 games. It’s a hard league,” Feaster said asked of the number of victories he believes his squad will compile.

“We’re going to play an 82-game schedule. We’re going to play hard. We’re going to compete hard. We’re going to go out there with the expectation of winning. We are not going to go out there with the expectation of ‘Oh, we’re young. Oh, we’re rebuilding, therefore results don’t matter.’ Results do matter.

“In terms of what do we expect? This is a hard league. It’s a hard league to win in. It was a hard league and a hard league to win in for the veteran-laden club that we had when we were a salary-cap team that didn’t win a playoff round since 2004.”

The Flames are certainly an easy target for detractors heading into their season opener Oct. 3 in Washington.

Their young, up-and-coming talent is likely too young to have a major impact.

Their goaltending situation is unproven.

Their offensive talent won’t evoke fear in defenders.

It’s easy to see why expectations elsewhere are so low.

“From an expectation standpoint, we expect that we are going to battle and compete hard every night,” Feaster said. “We expect that the whole is going to be greater than the sum of its parts and we’ll be known by our work ethic.

“We’re going to get some young kids into the lineup. We’re going to put guys in different situations. We expect our younger kids to play well. We expect our veterans to play well.

“There are a lot of question marks about this hockey team. But, again, we’re going to battle. We’ll be known by our work ethic.

“Guys that don’t want to work hard won’t be part of it.”

Only time will tell whether the Flames rebuild is a success, and we all know it will take years to be back in the Stanley Cup chatter.

The test during it all will be the club’s resolve to remain committed to the plan.

If this team struggles out of the gate and reacts by mortgaging its future for some short-term gain, then it deserves criticism during the process.

Will it be difficult to resist such temptation?

“It’s been a very difficult past three seasons here,” Feaster said. “The fact is that we’re going to be younger and we’ve acknowledged a rebuild, but I’m not sure it can be any more difficult than what it has been the last three years.

“It has been maddening the last three years here.

“It has been a case where we don’t make the playoffs, we don’t win enough games, we fall short, and we draft in the middle of pack.

“We’re excited about this group that we’ve assembled. We’re excited about the fact, I think, that through this training camp ... we’ve had everybody buy in. The energy level, the pace, the passion, the enthusiasm, the competition in this camp has been outstanding. It’s been great. That’s part of what happens when you can get 23 guys — ultimately, that’s what we’ll carry — on the same page and 23 guys committed to the team concept.

“We’re in a results business — we’re about winning. Certainly, there’s never any patience for losing, and we will not approach — regardless of what people think and the experts think — from the standpoint, ‘Oh, the results don’t matter.’

“They do matter.

“We’re getting ready to start the season Thursday in Washington, and I’m confident the 23 we keep will be ready to compete and commit to the team concept.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Calgary Flames' Matt Stajan front and centre

RANDY SPORTAK

September 27, 2013 07:33 PM MDT

Sure, it’s the pre-season, but the offensive production can’t be overlooked.

Matt Stajan, the oft-maligned Calgary Flames centre collected two goals and six points in five pre-season games.

Adding to his performance was the way Stajan looked during the exhibition slate.

He was confident.

He was assertive.

He was a leader for the crew of young centres.

While much of the talk around the Flames this fall has been about the youngsters, notably centres such as Sean Monahan, Roman Horak, Ben Street and Corban Knight — who’s been sent to the minors — Stajan quietly went about his business on all avenues.

“We have a lot of centremen here and seen a lot of young guys and fresh faces to the organization who are natural centres being tested on the wing.

“There are a lot of centres, just not a lot of experience with NHL games at centre,” Stajan said.

“My job is to come here and play my game, play the right way and be an example for those younger guys and talk to them.

“It’s not easy as a young guy coming into that position. You need to have guys to go to and be good support. I’m trying to be that guy.”

Considering where it appeared Stajan’s career was headed two years ago, it’s quite the turnaround.

Remember how things were for him leading into the 2011-12 campaign? Stajan started on the fourth line, was even a healthy scratch for a game then-coach Brent Sutter opted to dress seven defencemen and had zero confidence when he hit the ice.

Now, as the team readies for the Oct. 3 season-opener against the host Washington Capitals, he couldn’t be feeling better about himself.

“Everyone can have their opinion, but I never played any differently two years ago,” Stajan insisted. “My mind-set wasn’t any different coming to the rink. It was to work as hard as I can and try and help my line be the best line we can be out there.

“(Flames head coach) Bob (Hartley) and his coaching staff have given me a lot of trust. Obviously, confidence grows when coaches show their trust in you like this staff has, and I’m trying to build on that and be an effective player on this team.

“I don’t have much to say about two years ago. I was where I was, and I didn’t change much. I just tried to be myself, work hard and get through it. Fortunately, I was able to turn things around, but it wasn’t anything I did.

“I didn’t go out one night and reinvent my game. I’ve been a pretty similar player in my career going back to my early days.”

A big season is certainly in his best interest, being a pending unrestricted free-agent. But Stajan, who’s in the final season of a four-year, US$14-million contract, says he’s not worrying about it.

“I’ve always been an it’ll-take-care-of-itself guy,” Stajan said. “My focus is on Game 1 and making sure our team is ready to go, and I’m ready to go to be a big part of it.

“As a hockey player, if you start thinking too much about stuff beyond your control, it’s going to figure into your everyday life, the way you play and the way practice.

“That stuff will take care of itself. This game has been great to me, and I feel I still have a lot to give.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Ice chips

LW Sven Baertschi and LW Michael Cammalleri both didn’t practice. Beartschi’s status is day-to-day with a lower-body ailment, according to Hartley. “He should be a couple of days we think. It’s minor,” Hartley said. “As for Cammalleri, who has a hand injury, the time is quickly coming when he’ll have to be practising if he will play in the season-opener. I’m starting to be a little bit like you guys. I’m anxious to see him, but the medical staff is on top of it. I always listen to those guys. When they give me the green light on a player on the ice, he’s going to be on the ice. Until then, we’re not going to gamble.”



Calgary Flames youngster takes AHL assignment in stride

RANDY SPORTAK

September 27, 2013 07:29 PM MDT

It’s never easy for a hockey player to accept he’s so close but not quite ready to make the team.

Corban Knight, who was acquired by the Calgary Flames last summer and immediately given a big-league sweater number (10), is able to accept his situation.

After all, when Knight was assigned to the AHL Abbotsford Heat on Thursday, it was with the words the GM Jay Feaster and head coach Bob Hartley expect him to return soon and be a full-time NHLer.

“Jay and Bob made it very clear this isn’t a negative, it’s part of the process,” Knight said from Abbotsford. “They were happy with how camp went and believed it’s better for me to come here and work to get better.

“They said they see me as part of the plans going forward and that’s positive and exciting. It is tough getting sent down but it’s exciting to be told to work on a few things and it’ll be right there.”

Knight, 23, the High River product acquired from the Florida Panthers after he completed his four-year career at the University of North Dakota, was told he must develop more consistency and be more competitive in all three zones.

“I don’t think anything caught me off guard. I knew consistency, making sure in every game you’re at your best, was something I had to work at. I think that’s something every player needs to work on,” said Knight, who played at centre and on the wing during the Flames pre-season. “I’ll do that here and hopefully I’ll get the call.”

The Heat open their season Oct. 4 at the Lake Erie Monsters.


718206 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes top Sabres, close preseason 3-3

Chip Alexander

RALEIGH — For the Carolina Hurricanes, the preliminaries are all but over.

The Canes played their sixth and final preseason exhibition game Friday, using a shorthanded goal by Patrick Dwyer, another sound effort in net by Cam Ward and some aggressive play to top the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 at PNC Arena.

“In your last exhibition game you want to end it on a high note,” Ward said. “I thought our team played a complete game. Buffalo hung around and got some great goaltending from Ryan Miller tonight, but we stuck with our game.”

Ward was playing his second straight game after stopping 25 of 26 shots Thursday in a 2-1 win at Columbus. He faced just 18 shots against the Sabres and 11 came in the third, when Canes coach Kirk Muller said his team began to tire and get a little heavy-legged in the defensive zone.

Muller said he would take the first three or four preseason games to make personnel evaluations, then determine what areas needed to “fine-tuned” before the Oct. 4 season-opener against the Detroit Red Wings. He’d like to see a stronger forecheck, he said, fewer turnovers in the neutral zone and better puck placement.

“It’s been a building block,” Muller said. “With the guys we have out we know we have to continue to stress defense and play a solid game.”

After six preseason games, the Canes’ penalty-killing appears to be a strength and much improved.

The power play? It still needs work, even with forwards Alexander Semin, Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu out with injuries.

Dwyer’s goal came early in the second period, after some good stickwork by Jordan Staal in the Canes zone. Dwyer streaked down the left wing with the puck, caught Miller leaning toward the post and ripped a shot glove-side with at two minutes, 39 seconds of the second.

The Canes, in closing the preseason with three straight wins to close 3-3, were the quicker team the first two periods, taking a 22-7 shooting edge. The Canes had 17 shots to Buffalo’s four in a scoreless first period.

Nathan Gerbe, who scored twice at Columbus, had eight of Carolina’s 30 shots against Buffalo. Drafted by the Sabres and once a fixture in their lineup, he had some back issues and had his contract bought out after last season.

“Gerbs is a little spark plug,” Jordan Staal said.

Ward was virtually untested through two periods. He has a busier third, stopping a shot by Thomas Vanek with 18 seconds remaining for his last save.

“He hadn’t gotten a lot of action the last two (games) but when the saves were there he made them,” Muller said. “It’s a confidence-builder, really.”

The Sabres, with six rookies in the lineup, had five power plays. But the Canes snuffed out each one and finished 27-of-29 pn the penalty kill in the preseason.

Muller tweaked his lineup from the Columbus game, giving defenseman Mike Komisarek and forward Zac Dalpe another opportunity to play. Komisarek played almost 19 minutes and blocked three shots.

“I was really pleased with Mike,” Muller said. “He only played maybe 10 games, tops, last year. He missed a lot and we’ve got to build his confidence back up.”

The injuries remain a lingering concern for the Hurricanes. Muller indicated Semin and Skinner could return soon – the Canes have an off-day Saturday – but Ruutu’s lower-body injury appears to be more serious. Defenseman Tim Gleason also has been sidelined.

The Canes must make a decision on forward Elias Lindholm, their first-round draft pick this year. Lindholm has played just one preseason game and missed practice time because of a hand injury.

News Observer LOADED: 09.28.2013

718207 Carolina Hurricanes

Chemistry comes in all sizes

Luke DeCock

RALEIGH — Sometimes it happens quickly. Put three players together for the first time, and it just clicks. Sometimes, it takes a few games, a few weeks for a line to develop an understanding. Most of the time, it never happens at all.

After a first season with the Carolina Hurricanes when Jordan Staal was largely without consistent linemates, there’s some discernible chemistry developing with his recent preseason wingers, Nate Gerbe and Pat Dwyer. That’s not what the Hurricanes drew up going into camp, but in these situations, you take what you can get.

After Gerbe scored two goals in a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, that line struck again Friday, with Dwyer scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres in the Hurricanes’ sixth and final preseason game.

It was a short-handed goal, but the stretch pass from Staal that set Dwyer loose had all the hallmarks of two players who understand where each other is going, residue of the unspoken communication developed at even strength.

Putting a 5-foot-5 winger with a 5-11 winger and a 6-4 center doesn’t make a ton of sense, but it’s working.

“It’s something they’ve been able to experiment with through three weeks of training camp,” Dwyer said. “We’ve seemed to find a little chemistry. I think the key to it is our work ethic. Granted, our size varies from big to little, but if you keep working, good stuff is going to happen.”

That chemistry will present an interesting conundrum for Kirk Muller and the coaching staff over the next week, leading up to Friday’s opener against the Detroit Red Wings.

The original plan was for Jordan Staal to play with Tuomo Ruutu and (your name here). But Ruutu’s hip hasn’t been right throughout camp, which means no one’s had a real audition for the left-wing spot on that would-be line, and injuries to forwards Alexander Semin, Jeff Skinner and Elias Lindholm left the Hurricanes scrambling across the board.

Gerbe and Dwyer were both expected to play farther down the lineup, but both have shown an affinity for playing with better players over the course of their careers, and hockey chemistry doesn’t always strictly follow logic.

“It wasn’t the plan,” Muller said. “You know what? I’d like to say we thought of that. With the injuries and all that, we just mixed things around, and it’s been really good chemistry. Jordan’s back playing his straightforward power game, ‘Gerbs’ gives him some speed and skill there and Patty’s reliable. It’s a nice balance.”

The combination may not scare anyone on paper, but it was once again consistently threatening and defensively responsible Friday night. If it continues to generate chances at this rate, any problems it creates downstream are good problems to have.

“Jordan’s such a unique player,” Gerbe said. “He can do it all. He’s kind of a handyman, but offensively he can put up numbers. For myself and Pat, we’re two hard-working guys that also like to make plays. We use our work ethic, all three of us together, and it’s tough on opponents.”

Preseason can feel like a waste of time, and sometimes it is. (Both teams looked like they were ready to get it over with Friday.) There are also times when injuries and other circumstances put players together who might not get that chance otherwise, and the spontaneous chemistry makes it all worthwhile.

This might be one of those occasions, and there’s already a nickname: the Small-Medium-Large line. That tag alone might be worth keeping the three together for a while, if nothing else.

News Observer LOADED: 09.28.2013

718208 Chicago Blackhawks

Hossa warms up to idea of favoring his back

Chris Kuc

10:19 PM CDT, September 27, 2013

The days of showing up to the rink, lacing up his skates and hitting the ice are a thing of the past for Marian Hossa.

Now the Blackhawks winger needs to arrive early for stretching exercises to loosen and strengthen an ailing back that kept him off the ice for a week and has his status in doubt for the Hawks' season opener against the Capitals on Tuesday night at the United Center.

"I definitely know I have to come a little bit early and do extra stuff to warm up," Hossa, 34, said after the Hawks' training camp session Friday at the United Center. "But I think at my age lots of guys do that."

When Hossa joined his teammates on the ice Friday, it was an encouraging sign that he'll be able to play against the Capitals after the Hawks raise their 2012-13 Stanley Cup championship banner.

"I'm definitely much better," Hossa said. "I took my time. ... (Thursday) I skated on my own and (Friday) morning I felt pretty good so it was time for me to go with the team."

Hossa said barring a setback, he'll be ready for the opener.

"I believe so," he said. "We'll see how it's going to go. I try to go day by day. It's been a long year for me, lots of hockey games, and the last few years were so many hockey games for me, so I want to make sure I take care of my body right away. If I have to miss a couple (games), I'll do that. If I can play and feel 100 percent I'll play."

Hossa sat out Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Bruins in June but returned to play the final three games despite numbness in his right foot because of a disk problem in his back. He avoided surgery during the offseason.

"Surgery for me is the last thing when nothing goes right and nothing (works)," Hossa said. "That's the last option for me because then you have to rehab a long time and you don't feel for a while like yourself. I feel much, much better. I feel that was a good decision."

Hossa is determined not to be affected by setbacks like one that occurred during a recent practice. "I wanted to test myself, and the next morning I felt like something was not how it was supposed to be," he said.

"I try to stay positive. I look at myself. I'm going to be 35 years old (in January), so I know there are going to be a little more injuries than when I was younger. I try to go into the season in a positive way and try to keep up with the younger guys."

He will also not allow himself to think of playing an entire season plagued by a back injury.

"We can sit here and speculate on that, but what's the point?" Hossa said. "We'll see how it goes."

Coach Joel Quenneville said he will make it a point to give extra time off to players such as Hossa, Michal Handzus and Michal Rozsival who are coming off injuries.

"(With) any player, health is a priority," Quenneville said. "If they're capable of going, they'll go. If they can't, we'll be smart."

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 09.28.2013


Marian Hossa’s back is back in business

MARK LAZERUS

September 28, 2013 2:14AM

Marian Hossa took a few purposeful strides down the ice, reined in a cross-ice pass from Michal Handzus and slipped a slick little shot past Nikolai Khabibulin. Hossa hadn’t practiced in nearly two weeks. Yet he hadn’t missed a beat.

“[Handzus] and I were talking how funny it is — he hasn’t practiced with the team, he puts his gear on a couple weeks later and there’s no rust at all,” linemate Patrick Sharp said. “He just steps out and is ready to go.”

If only it really were that easy. Hossa’s all-world hands, vision, talent and hockey IQ are always there, always ready. But his body is another matter. And closing in on his 35th birthday, with a nerve issue in his back that seems destined to linger, it likely will be for the rest of his career.

“Rest of my life,” he sheepishly corrected.

So there’ll be extra time in the trainer’s room. Extra time stretching. Extra time on the massage table after games. And, yes, maybe an extra injection or two in his back, like he had over the summer to avoid surgery on his back after the affected nerve caused his foot to occasionally go numb during the Stanley Cup Final.

It’s getting hard to make it look so easy.

“I definitely know I have to come a little bit early and do extra stuff to warm up,” said Hossa, who won’t play in Saturday’s preseason finale against Washington but is still expecting to play in the season-opener on Tuesday. “But I think at my age, lots of guys do that. Before that, I just came and just played, I didn’t have to do much. Now I have to come a little bit early, and that’s a normal thing.”

Of course, entering his 15th season, Hossa really doesn’t need all that much practice. Coach Joel Quenneville’s priority is to keep Hossa — as well as 35-year-old Michal Rozsival and the 36-year-old Handzus, both of whom have been dealing with their own injuries during the summer and in camp — rested and healthy. That’s going to mean skipping practices here and there, limiting ice time when warranted, and even holding them out of games from time to time.

Everyone wants to play every game — Hossa has played at least 78 of 82 games eight times, including 81 as recently as 2011-12 — but the Hawks are playing a long game here. Being ready come spring is what matters most.

“Whether it’s the frequency of games, or back-to-back games, or it’s ice time, we’ll consider a lot,” Quenneville said. “Practices, for sure — as a team, as well.”

Hossa admitted he would have liked to have gotten into some preseason games. He opened camp at Notre Dame saying he wanted to take a few hits to see how he’d hold up, then found himself sidelined just a few days later. But as Sharp said, Hossa’s not a guy who really needs all that much work. When he’s healthy, he’s always in midseason form.

After all, Hossa played in 40 of 48 games last season, posting 17 goals and 14 assists with a sparkling plus-20 rating. He played in 22 of 23 playoff games, tallying seven goals and nine assists. And he did all that without a preseason thanks to the lockout, while coming off a major injury (a severe concussion), no less.

“We did it last year,” a grinning Hossa said. “It worked pretty well.”

NOTE: The opening-night roster is coming into focus. On Thursday, Joel Quenneville suggested that Michael Kostka had the inside track on Ryan Stanton for the eighth defenseman spot. On Friday, he sounded like he had settled on unheralded rookie Joakim Nordstrom for Michael Frolik’s old fourth-line/penalty-killing role. Quenneville said nothing was set in stone and that Saturday’s game could still play into the decisions, but the safe bet is that Kostka, Nordstrom, Jimmy Hayes and Ben Smith will make the team.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Hossa hoping to play in Hawks' opener

Tim Sassone

Marian Hossa knows he's not getting any younger.

Hossa, who will be 35 in January, has missed the entire preseason with a back injury that first flared up during the Stanley Cup Final. He was fine for the first few scrimmages at Notre Dame before suffering a setback.

Preseason finale looms large for some Hawks

After more than a week off the ice, Hossa skated Thursday and was back at practice Friday at his customary right wing spot on the second line with Michal Handzus and Patrick Sharp.

While Hossa won't play in Saturday's preseason finale against Washington at the United Center, he is hoping to be well enough for Tuesday's regular-season opener against the Capitals.

"I definitely feel much better," Hossa said Friday. "I skated on my own (Thursday) and woke up (Friday) feeling pretty good so it was time to go back with the team.

"I believe (I can play Tuesday), but we'll see how it goes. I try to go day by day. Last year was a long year for me. I missed lots of hockey games.

"I want to take care of my body the right way."

Hossa is hoping he won't have to worry about his back all season.

"To tell you the truth, that would be a pain in the butt," he said. "I really hope it's going to be the opposite, that I take care it now and it will hold up the rest of the year.

"I would have liked to play some preseason games, but in this case I had to be 100 percent to play the game. If not, I'd rather skip preseason and just play regular season. We did it last year and it worked pretty well."

One of the most impressive Hawks during the first few scrimmages at Notre Dame, Hossa admitted he pushed himself too hard.

"After one practice, I went really hard," Hossa said. "I wanted to test myself, and the next morning I felt like something is not how it's supposed to be. So I had to do some rest and take some days off and just did some rehab. Today, I had a pretty good practice. I went hard and we'll see how it's going to react tomorrow and tonight."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville is ready for anything with his veterans. If he has to be careful with Hossa, Handzus and defenseman Michal Rozsival, that's what he'll do.

"With any player, health is a priority, knowing where they're at and if they're capable of going," said Quenneville, who thought Hossa looked "like his normal self" on Friday. "We'll be smart, whether it's Hoss; Handzus is in that group and Rozsival. Whether it's the frequency of games, back-to-back games, ice time, practices — we'll take it all into account."

Hossa must prepare differently for games now, getting to the rink earlier for stretching and exercise to prevent his back from becoming a major issue.

"If that does happen (that it becomes a yearlong battle to stay healthy), I'll let you know," Hossa said with a smile. "I try to stay positive. I'm going to be 35 years old and I know there's going to be maybe more injuries than when I was younger, but I try to go into the season in a positive way."

Hossa decided against surgery after the Hawks won the Stanley Cup and he believes it was the right decision.

"Surgery for me is the last thing when nothing goes right and everything doesn't work," he said. "It's the last option for myself because then you have to rehab a long time and you don't feel like yourself for a while. So I tried to avoid it and I still believe that was a good decision."

Hossa didn't want to talk about how many games he might play this season.

"We can sit here and speculate, but what's the point?" Hossa said. "We'll see how it goes."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Preseason finale looms large for some Hawks

Tim Sassone

This might be center Brandon Pirri's last chance to impress the coaching staff and show he belongs on the Blackhawks' opening night roster.

Pirri, who was slowed by a lower body injury earlier in training camp, will be in the lineup Saturday when the Hawks close their preseason schedule against Washington at the United Center.

"I'm in the best shape of my life and you don't really lose that in a week," Pirri said. "It's been a little nerve-wracking, but you're in Chicago with your buddies so you just try to enjoy the experience."

Judging from the line rushes at practice this week where Pirri and Jeremy Morin were on the outside looking in, both might need to have an impressive showing Saturday.

"They want to see a consistent game," Pirri said.

"It's an ongoing process," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I'd say it's five guys for three spots. With that process, the clearest indication will be what happens after the game and how they play (Saturday). It's still being determined."

The only players who appear to have nailed down jobs are Ben Smith and Joakim Nordstrom.

"Whether it's Nordstrom kind of out there at the start of it, the way he has played, he's enhanced his positioning, but I think it's close at the other decisions," Quenneville said.

Ring it up:

The Hawks will receive their 2013 Stanley Cup rings on Sunday night at a private ceremony at a downtown hotel.

The rings were partly designed by captain Jonathan Toews, who worked with the Jostens company.

The Hawks' 2010 Stanley Cup rings were valued at $30,000.

Forever young:

Marian Hossa was kidding when talking about linemates Patrick Sharp and Michal Handzus.

While Sharp has had a great training camp, winning the fitness award, both Hossa and Handzus are coming off injuries.

"I think we had some great games together (in the playoffs)," Hossa said. "We know we have something. Sharpie has looked extremely good this year. He's skating well and shooting, so that's a good sign.

"Zus is getting better and so am I. We try not to slow him down."



Hossa feels on track for opener

Tim S.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 13:12

Marian Hossa returned to practice Friday at his normal spot at right wing on the second line with Michal Handzus and Patrick Sharp.

Hossa has missed the entire Blackhawks preseason while nursing a sore back but feels like he will play in Tuesday's season opener against Washington.

"I definitely feel much better after the week off," Hossa said. "I took my time and the last few days and I feel much better. I went to the gym and did some stuff there. I skated on my own (Thursday) and woke up today feeling pretty good so it was time to go back with the team.

"I believe (I can play Tuesday), but we’ll see how it goes. I try to go day by day. Last year was a long year for me. I missed lots of hockey games. The last few years, so many games for me I missed, so I want to take care of my body the right way. If I have to miss a couple, I’ll do that, but if I feel 100 percent, I'll play."

Hossa is hoping his back won't be an issue all season.

"To tell you the truth, that would be a pain in the butt," he said. "I really hope it’s going to be the opposite. I’m going to take care it now and it will hold up the rest of the year."



Esposito: Crawford played 'very solid' last year

Charlie Roumeliotis

From one Stanley Cup champion goaltender to another, Tony Esposito believes Corey Crawford responded well following a year in which the current Blackhawks goalie was hounded by critics.

"I'm very happy for him," Esposito said on SportsTalk Live Friday. "As we all know, there was a big question mark with him and we were worried cause the year before we had problems in net. I think he played very solid."

And Esposito doesn't think Crawford was just a one-year wonder.

He said Crawford, who was rewarded with a six-year contract extension this summer, has already proved himself as an NHL goaltender.

"The guy has proven to be an NHL quality goalie," Esposito said. "I think that our goaltending is not going to be a problem this year."

You can check out the rest of Esposito's comments in the video above.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.28.2013


Hossa remains focused on staying strong, healthy

September 27, 2013, 3:30 pm

Tracey Myers

Marian Hossa understands the residual effect of his recent injury-marred years.

The Chicago Blackhawks right wing may have to take practices off to maintain optimum health. The same may apply to games. But whatever Hossa has to do to keep his injuries to a minimum, he will.

Hossa returned to practice on Friday after dealing with an upper-body injury, possibly the back that bothered him in June, and is hoping he’ll be ready to roll when the Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals in their season opener on Tuesday. For Hossa, it’s just a byproduct of playing a lot of hockey the last few years, and dealing with some significant injuries through them.

“Last year was a long year for me. There were lots of hockey games; so many for me the last few years,” he said. “I want to make sure I take care of my body the right way. If I miss a couple of (games), I’ll do that. If I feel 100 percent, I’ll play.”

Following Friday’s practice, Hossa said he was “definitely much better after the week off. I took my time, and in the last few days I felt better.” He’s out for the Blackhawks’ preseason finale on Saturday night, but Oct. 1 is still the goal. Hossa didn’t want to specify if the injury was his back or not; last week, when Hossa was first sidelined, coach Joel Quenneville said Hossa “aggravated” an upper-body injury.

Quenneville said the Blackhawks will monitor Hossa, as they do every player, in terms of rest and play/practice schedule.

“With any player, health is a priority,” he said. “Whether it’s the frequency of games, back to backs, ice time or dressing that night. When they’re capable of going, go. If not, we’ll be smart.”

When he’s 100 percent, Hossa is one of the best players in the league. With or without the puck, he makes things happen. When he’s not 100 percent, it’s noticeable. Hossa gritted through a back injury, a nerve pinching a disk, last June missing Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins. Even when he did return in Game 4, it was obvious he wasn’t close to healthy.

Hossa weathered a big injury through the Cup run, like so many players do. Now we’re looking at October and another grueling 82-game schedule. Hossa will do what’s necessary to stay as healthy as possible to play as long as possible.

“I’m going to be 35 years old (in January), so there’ll be more injuries than when I was younger,” he said. “I’ll take care of (my injury) now and hopefully it’ll be healthy the rest of the year. I’ll try to go into the season in a positive way and keep up with the young guys.”

Tracey Myers



CSN hosts 'Blackhawks Day'

September 27, 2013, 9:15 am

Nina Falcone

With the start of the regular season just around the corner, Comcast SportsNet is welcoming a number of Stanley Cup champions to their studio on Friday for "Blackhawks Day."

The day's festivities kick off at 12:30 with Inside Look: Stan Bowman, as the Blackhawks general manager discusses everything from his childhood to the journey he's taken with the Blackhawks organization.

Immediately following Bowman's feature, fans can relive all the Stanley Cup excitement as CSN re-airs Game 6 of the 2013 Final against the Boston Bruins at 1:00. The replay will also include the post-game celebrations with the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy.

Joel Quenneville, Patrick Kane, Andrew Shaw, Nick Leddy and Tony Esposito will then join the SportsTalk Live team at 5:30, with a special appearance made by Blackhawks mascot Tommy Hawk and the ice crew.

Fans on Twitter will also have a special chance to interact with Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig, who will be answering questions sent using #HawksTalk from 5:00-5:30. Follow @HawksTalkCSN for the latest details on today's chat, as well as how to win a pair of tickets for the Blackhawks' Oct. 5 matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.


718216 Colorado Avalanche

Postgame Avs-Stars: bad night in Dallas

Adrian Dater

Tough night for the visiting Avalanche tonight at American Airlines Arena against Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars. Stars win easy, 5-1. Jamie McGinn gets the only goal for the Avs, while Semyon Varlamov allowed five goals on 24 shots.

Erik Johnson and Andre Benoit, paired together, were a minus-2 each, but Johnson at least had an assist, had four shots on net and blocked six shots. Nathan MacKinnon had a rough first game back after his hip-flexor injury, getting no points, one shot, -2 and winning only four-of-12 faceoffs.

The Avs allowed 10 goals in their two games against Dallas, both losses. But as I’ve always said about this time of year: good thing the games don’t count. They obviously will soon though, and the boys will have to pull their socks up a lot better than they did tonight if they don’t want another losing season to unfold.

But I almost never take what happens in a preseason game seriously, and you shouldn’t either. First off, 98-percent of the players don’t give a rat’s ass about anything that happens. They just don’t want to get hurt. And second…what I just said.

We’ve known all along this won’t turn around overnight, that there are still big question marks with this team, especially in keeping pucks out of their net. Patrick Roy will figure it out at some point though. When? That answer still needs to be finalized.

Denver Post: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718217 Dallas Stars

Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The St. Louis Blues

27 September 2013 07:04 PM

Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS — Signing cornerstone defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a seven-year contract extension was just a matter of time for the St. Louis Blues. Two days into training camp, it was a done deal and there was happy talk he will be here for life.

The Blues believe the ice-hogging, offensive-minded Pietrangelo is the guy who can lead a team built to go deep into the playoffs. And it's a team that knows exactly what management wants after winning two, then losing four in a row to the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs last year.

"For those key guys that have been here a while, we've got to take a little bit of a leadership role and make sure that every line's going," forward T.J. Oshie said. "There's nothing worse than sitting at home or sitting wherever you're at watching the team you had a chance to beat go on and play after you."

The biggest move of the offseason actually left the Blues just as flush in players once judged as top-end talent. Plus, Oshie, David Backes, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Tarasenko got the message when flashy playmaker David Perron, a first-rounder in 2007, was dealt to Edmonton for Magnus Paajarvi (first round '09) and a second-round pick in 2014.

"I believe the core group coming back wants to win," general manager Doug Armstrong said. "I was disappointed that we didn't fulfill something that was in our grasp. When I say it's a big year, it's a year where we should believe and be comfortable believing we can walk into any building and walk away with two points."

Here are five things to watch once the Blues open the season Oct. 3 at home against Nashville:

PRESSURE POINTS: During the preseason, Hitchcock put more pressure on Berglund and Chris Stewart, the forward obtained for former No. 1 overall pick Erik Johnson. "I don't want to say we're going to demand more of those guys, but I think we're going to expect more from those guys," Hitchcock said. "For us to get to the next level, we need those guys to join what's already here."

STAR POWER: The Blues are short on marquee names. Unlike last season, Armstrong said it's a team that has everything it needs to win it all. "Are we the favorites? I don't know. Do other people view us that way? I don't know," Armstrong said. "That's the way I view us and that's what I want to impress upon our players."

DEEP BLUE SEE: Hitchcock rolls four lines, the last of them at times as dangerous as the first down the stretch, with veteran pickups Derek Roy and Brenden Morrow replacing departed Andy McDonald and Scott Nichol. "I think the Blues have been a team that's been knocking on the door the last few years and I think they can be a team that can push through it," Morrow said after getting a one-year deal Monday. "I wanted to be a part of that."

ITCHY DEFENSE: The Blues are strongest on the blue line, with defensemen who are offensive threats. Kevin Shattenkirk also itches for a chance to jump into the play while veterans Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold are steady in front of a deep goaltending crew. The tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott is getting pushed by Jake Allen, who was impressive extended duty last season.

CUP OR BUST?: Rather than more offense, Hitchcock said across-the-board improvement is the key to making that leap for a franchise that's yet to win a Stanley Cup. Everything is on the list: a better power play and penalty kill, tighter checking and a determination never to ease off the gas. Bouwmeester got a long-awaited first taste of the playoffs last spring, followed by a five-year contract extension in August. He welcomes the pressure.

"There are high expectations, but that's a good situation to be in because that's the business we're in," Bouwmeester said. "I think we've got a group that's got as good a chance as anybody."

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.28.2013

718218 Dallas Stars

Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The Nashville Predators


Staff Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Making the playoffs has become so automatic for the Nashville Predators that they didn't react well to finishing below .500 for the first time in a decade.

They went shopping in a very big way hoping to make sure that doesn't happen again.

The Predators opened free agency signing five of the seven players they added on the first day. Right wing Viktor Stalberg from Stanley Cup champ Chicago is the key addition, and they also added Eric Nystrom, and Matt Hendricks and center Matt Cullen, who helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup in 2006.

"It shows all the commitment," captain Shea Weber said. "They made those moves, and they addressed the needs we have. They filled some spots, and obviously everyone's going to see what those guys are capable of. And we're going to see what they can do in the locker room as well."

Nashville will be looking for its eighth playoff berth in a decade this season trying to bounce back from a 16-23-9 record that put them 14th in the Western Conference.

"We feel like we're back to having the depth and the pieces to do what we need to do," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.

The Predators will need scoring from the new players.

They averaged just 2.27 goals per game last season, tying Florida for the worst scoring average in the NHL. Stalberg is expected to be the biggest addition if he can prove that all he needed was more playing time after struggling to find ice time behind the offensive stars in Chicago. He tied for fifth in goals in Chicago despite ranking 20th in minutes per game last season.

"All the guys in the locker room expect us to be back in the playoffs this year and to make a run," Stalberg said. "We got what it takes in here. It's a matter of putting it all together and finding a way to win hockey games."

Here are five things to watch this season with the Predators:

ALL HEALTHY NOW: The Predators took advantage of not being in the playoffs to heal up a roster decimated by injuries. Colin Wilson had surgery to fix both of his shoulders after a season-ending injury March 9, and Paul Gaustad had a shoulder repaired as well. Wilson was leading Nashville in scoring with 19 points when he got hurt.

PEKKA'S HIP: The Predators plan to give their two-time Vezina Trophy finalist the occasional day off this season to make sure he stays healthy after Pekka Rinne had surgery May 9 to repair his hip. Rinne played through discomfort last season and still tied for the league lead with five shutouts. The 6-foot-5 Finn tied for second in the NHL with 43 appearances, tied for fourth with 42 starts and was sixth in minutes played. His 152 wins since the 2008-09 season rank sixth in the NHL in that span, and a strong start might help him earn the Olympic spot he missed in 2010.

YOUNG DEFENSE: Sure, the Predators have Weber, a two-time runner-up for the Norris Trophy. Kevin Klein has plenty of experience too. But Nashville will be depending on a pair of very young defensemen. Roman Josi has exactly 100 games in the NHL, though he did rank sixth last season with 18 points. Seth Jones, who turns 19 the day Nashville opens the season at St. Louis, will be learning on the job as the fourth overall draft pick. Helping his transition is his size at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds.

TICKETS ANYONE: The Predators have done a much better job getting fans in the seats since the local owners took over. But Jones is the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, a native of Dresden, Tenn., who played at Murray State. That gives the Predators the kind of local ties they haven't had since Blake Geoffrion's stint with the franchise.

LEGGY'S FUTURE: David Legwand is the original Predator as the first draft selection by this franchise back in 1998, and he's the all-time leader in

points, goals, assists and has played 894 career games. But he goes into the final season of his current contract coming off a season where he scored only 25 points. His career-best came in 2006-07 when he scored 63 points. While a strong two-way center, Legwand just turned 33 and the Predators have to decide if they want to keep him after this season.


718219 Dallas Stars

Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The Colorado Avalanche


Staff Writer

DENVER - Patrick Roy's fiery personality is already rubbing off on the Colorado Avalanche.

Just the other day in a scrimmage, captain Gabriel Landeskog mixed it up along the boards with Steve Downie. That feistiness is precisely what the new coach wants to see from a team that's missed the playoffs three straight seasons.

"You need to come with a different attitude," said Roy, the Hall of Fame goaltender who captured two Stanley Cup titles with the Avalanche. "Sometimes with new vision, you just have to give it a try. They've been giving it that try."

These days, Roy is preaching a simple message: Take care of the little things on the ice, such as clearing loose pucks in front of the net.

"You can't emphasis details too much," Landeskog said. "He's seen all the details. He's a good one to teach you."

Roy has some help, too, with former teammate Joe Sakic stepping into a broader role in the front office this season and handling the day-to-day hockey operations. Roy and Sakic are hoping their reunion can restore some luster to this downtrodden franchise.

"Those guys that were stars are now dedicating themselves to getting the team back to where it was when they were playing," said forward Alex Tanguay, who played alongside Roy and Sakic when Colorado won the Cup in 2001. "You look at their resumes, when they're going to tell you something, we know that they've been around. The message is going to be something that they lived.

"This is a new beginning for this team."

Matt Duchene couldn't agree more, saying this season already has a "way different feel."

"Roy's passion and knowledge of the game is so great," Duchene said. "It's going to be really exciting to work with a guy like that."

Here are five things to know as the Avalanche head into the season:

THE KID IS ALL RIGHT: There's a clear reason the Avs selected Nathan MacKinnon with the No. 1 pick: He can make things happen on the ice. The 18-year-old had 32 goals and 43 assists in 44 games for the Halifax Mooseheads last season.

"He's the real deal," Ryan O'Reilly said.

Roy wants MacKinnon just to play his game, not feel like he has to do everything by himself.

"We don't want Nathan to come here to be our savior," Roy said. "We want Nathan to be the (best) player he can be."

LEADER OF THE PACK: Landeskog was named the youngest captain in league history last season, an honor that came with plenty of pressure.

Being so young, Landeskog had to learn how to be a leader as he went along. There were no textbooks to follow.

And when things reached a boiling point late last season, it was veteran goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere who stepped in, calling out some of his teammates for focusing on postseason vacation plans in Las Vegas and not their performance on the ice.

Landeskog appreciated the assist.

"There are a lot of great guys around here who are going to help me," said Landeskog, who turns 21 in November.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: The Avalanche received very little scoring from their defensemen in the lockout-abbreviated season, something Roy urgently wants to remedy. It all starts with Erik Johnson, the former No. 1

overall pick by the St. Louis Blues who's had seven goals - none last season - since being acquired by the Avalanche on Feb. 18, 2011.

"I'm confident he's going to have a very good year," Roy said. "We're going to work hard with him to not live in the past."

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Walking into the dressing room, Tanguay spotted a picture of former Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque skating around with the trophy from `01.

A member of that team, the 33-year-old Tanguay returns to Denver this season after being acquired in a trade with Calgary.

"This is a new year and I understand how hard you have to work to be successful in this league," Tanguay said.

NET GAIN: Goaltender Semyon Varlamov not only has Roy to rely on, but also the person who mentored Roy in coach Francois Allaire.

During the offseason, Varlamov and Allaire worked on changing the young goaltender's style.

"I won't tell you how I'm going to play this year," Varlamov said, smiling. "But I think it's going to help me in the future."


718220 Dallas Stars

Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The Minnesota Wild


Staff Writer

ST. PAUL, Minn. - That buzz created by signing two big stars turned out to be a false start for the Minnesota Wild.

First there was the lockout. Then they sputtered through a shortened season, barely made the playoffs and were bounced out quickly by the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Well, here's their chance to try again. Coach Mike Yeo kept his job, and the Wild made more moves toward completing the cast around centerpieces Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

"There were just some areas I thought that last year we needed to get a little better in at some positions," Parise said.

Five players among the top 13 scorers were let go: Matt Cullen, Devin Setoguchi, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Tom Gilbert and Cal Clutterbuck. Veteran Matt Cooke was added for toughness on the third line. Keith Ballard was signed for depth on defense. The acquisition of Nino Niederreiter fetched the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft. Goalie Niklas Backstrom and defenseman Jared Spurgeon were brought back on new contracts.

Jason Pominville didn't arrive until April, in a trade with Buffalo. Then he missed time with a concussion. Dany Heatley was out for longer, with a shoulder injury suffered the day of the Pominville deal.

They'll be asked to play key roles, particularly on a power play that could use a boost. Pominville, who averaged more than 26 goals and nearly 41 assists per season over a six-year span with the Sabres from 2006-12, will probably play on the first line with Parise and Mikko Koivu. Heatley is headed for the second line.

For the Wild to win a playoff series, or more, for the first time since 2003, they'll need significant contributions from both of them.

Here are five more things to know about the Wild, who open the season vs. Los Angeles Oct. 3:

PROGRESS WITH POMINVILLE: The Wild sent two prospects (left wing Johan Larsson and goalie Matt Hackett) and two draft picks (a first-rounder in 2013 and a second-rounder in 2014) to the Sabres for the 30-year-old Pominville and a fourth-round draft pick in 2014. All indications from the Wild and from the Quebec native are that a contract extension is in the works, before he can become a free agent.

"I think everyone is aware that there have been talks," Pominville said, "and hopefully we can get it going in the right direction."

WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE: Instead of three trips apiece to Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver and two to all three California teams, road games west of the Central time zone will be reduced for the Wild from roughly half to a third (14 of 41). Their placement in the new Central Division has heightened fan interest, too.

Chicago and St. Louis were old Norris Division rivals of the North Stars. Dallas, of course, is the current version of Minnesota's former team. Colorado came with the Wild from the Northwest Division. Winnipeg, just across the Canadian border, always lures thousands of fans to Minnesota. Nashville is also in the seven-team group.

Plus, the Wild will play each of the 16 Eastern Conference teams twice, home and road. Since they joined the NHL 13 years ago, the Wild have only hosted a handful of Eastern teams per season.

STILL YOUNG: The Wild are in win-now mode, but they have four players 21 or younger in the mix for their second and third forward lines: Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund. Niederreiter was acquired from the New York Islanders.

HARDING HEALTHY: The Wild are counting on Josh Harding to be Backstrom's backup again. After missing nearly three months to adjust to

medication for multiple sclerosis, Harding was thrust into playoff action when Backstrom was injured in warmups. He held up well.

"I would love to pretend that we didn't have any concerns or questions about that," Yeo said. "We know Josh's character, and we were confident that he was going to be a guy that would battle through it."

BACK TO NORMAL: The last training camp was a six-day whirlwind after the lockout was settled, but this time there's more of an opportunity to make tweaks to the system.

The emphasis is on longer puck possession, faster rushes out of the defensive zone and, ideally, becoming more of an offensive force with a roster featuring more skilled forwards than the team of grinders Yeo inherited two years ago. The Wild averaged only 2.46 goals per game last season, 22nd in the league and third-worst among the 16 playoff teams.


718221 Dallas Stars

Stars' final preseason game tonight a chance to evaluate depth

MIKE HEIKA

28 September 2013 01:23 AM

It's easy to say the Stars are using a throw-away lineup on Friday night when they play the Edmonton Oilers at Oklahoma City in the final pre-season game.

Dallas played its opening night lineup Thursday at home in a 5-1 win over Colorado, and will force only seven players to show up for the second night of back-to-backs. Just looking at the lineup reveals few familiar names.

Lane MacDermid-Cody Eakin-Valeri Nichushkin

Ryan Garbutt-Vernon Fiddler-Brett Ritchie

Antoine Roussel-Chris Mueller-Colton Sceviour

Luke Gazdic-Travis Morin-Austin Smith

Kevin Connauton-Jamie Oleksiak

Brenden Dillon-Maxime Fortunus

Patrik Nemeth-Jyrki Jokipakka

Dan Ellis is expected to play the full game in net.

Not quite as thrilling as Thursday, right?

But if you look deeper, any one of these players could find himself in the NHL lineup this season. Oleksiak is a heartbeat away and could start the season with the Stars. Many have Connauton written in pencil ahead of Jordie Benn. Ritchie and Jokipakka are future NHLers in their first pro season. Mueller and Sceviour have looked great in pre-season and are still in the discussion to be among the final 23 players.

It's a sturdy group, and one that displays the depth the organization believes it has.

"It's an opportunity for guys to play in roles they might not normally get into," said coach Lindy Ruff. "Some guys who don't get special teams play will get to play special teams tonight."

The game also is unique in that Ruff still is trying to learn the organization. Maxime Fortunus is one of the most dependable players on the AHL roster and often is one of the first people considered for call-up when an NHL defenseman is hurt. Ruff can garner a lot from watching him play in a game.

"In my case, I want to take a longer look at a lot of guys, because I'm not familiar with a lot of players," Ruff said. "Next year, I'll have a much better idea of the players we have, and we'll probably do things differently."

Garbutt talks about game misconduct: Ryan Garbutt is expected to be in the lineup tonight after getting a five-minute major and game misconduct for interference on Thursday. The rare call on a fairly new penalty came after Garbutt hit Colorado's Tyson Barrie in the neutral zone just after a shift change.

"I came off the bench, took a few strides and saw the guy coming at me and we just sort of collided at center ice," Garbutt said. "I think it night have been a little late, but it was definitely accidental. I was trying to get out of the way."

The game misconduct will count against Garbutt's career slate, and depending on if he gets more and if he gets them in the same category, he could be suspended in the future for accumulation of game misconducts. But he said he doesn't believe it will impact how he plays.

"You definitely want to learn from it and not do it again," he said. "I'm not out to take anybody's head off, so I'll try to avoid any more game misconducts the rest of the year."


718222 Dallas Stars

Getting to know the Stars' Central Division foes: The Chicago Blackhawks


Staff Writer

CHICAGO — The last time Chicago won the Stanley Cup, the team was dismantled during the offseason and a frustrating title defense ended in the first round of the playoffs.

Not so much this time. When the Blackhawks hit the ice next week for their opener against Washington, it will be a very familiar group.

Jonathan Toews and Co. are all set to go for their second consecutive NHL title and a historic third in five seasons. There was no salary-cap purge this summer, leaving the Blackhawks largely intact as they try to become the first team to repeat since the Detroit Red Wings won it all in 1997 and 1998.

Last year was a dream season for Chicago, which set an NHL record by recording at least one point in the first 24 games. It finished with the league's best record in the regular season, and then beat the Boston Bruins in six games for the franchise's fifth championship.

What followed was a productive offseason that eliminated any potential distractions before the Blackhawks reported for training camp. Physical winger Bryan Bickell returned with a four-year contract after he might have been able to grab a bigger deal in free agency. Goaltender Corey Crawford, defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, coach Joel Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman agreed to extensions.

While Chicago appears to be in prime position for another great season, there are several potential roadblocks that could derail its title defense. Here are five areas to watch for the reigning champion:

HEALTH: The Blackhawks played an NHL-high 71 games last season, counting the playoffs. That's less than the league's usual 82-game schedule for just the regular season, but it also came with fewer off days after the lockout wreaked havoc on the calendar. Facing another grueling slate due to the Sochi Olympics, health is a major concern.

Marian Hossa, who turns 35 in January, was hampered by a back problem during the Stanley Cup and missed time during the preseason with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Toews' preseason debut was delayed by an upper-body injury. Fellow forward Michal Handzus is coming back from two offseason surgeries.

The deep Blackhawks may be able to withstand an injury to one of their big stars — Patrick Sharp missed part of last season, and Chicago still finished with the league's best record — but they will need everyone come playoff time if they hope to repeat. Look for Quenneville to keep a close watch on minutes and maybe employ a more cautious approach when it comes to aches and pains.

X-FACTORS: With Toews, Patrick Kane, Sharp and Hossa, the Blackhawks know what to expect pretty much every night. Same for top defenseman Duncan Keith.

The biggest variable could be Brandon Saad, who was a finalist for the Calder Trophy last season awarded to the NHL's top rookie. The 20-year-old Saad, who had 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 games, got a tryout at second-line center during training camp before he was moved back to left wing. Wherever he plays, the Pittsburgh native is strong with the puck and could better his numbers from a year ago now that he's got more experience under his belt.

Bickell, who is expected to play with Toews and Kane on the top line, also could put together a big season. The 6-foot-4 Bickell had nine goals and eight assists in the playoffs, and the pressure is on to live up to his new contract.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: While managing the salary cap over the summer, Bowman traded away key veterans Michael Frolik and Dave Bolland. Viktor Stalberg and goaltender Ray Emery left in free agency.

Bowman thinks some of Chicago's prospects are ready for the NHL, and their development could be key to the Blackhawks' season. Forwards Jimmy Hayes and Ben Smith looked good during training camp. Brandon

Pirri led the AHL in scoring last season and is in the mix for second-line center, but missed part of the preseason with a lower-body injury.

"Whatever the role, we want to be here," Smith said. "We want to be on this squad and part of this winning tradition that they've grown here over the last four, five, six years. Whatever role they ask me to do, I'll be willing to do it."

LOOK WHO'S BACK: Nikolai Khabibulin is beginning his second stint in Chicago after he signed a one-year deal to take Emery's place as the backup for Corey Crawford. The 40-year-old Khabibulin also played for the Blackhawks from 2005-09. Crawford and Emery combined to win the William B. Jennings Trophy awarded to the team with the lowest goals-against average. Khabibulin will be hard-pressed to duplicate Emery's 17-1 record from a year ago, but the Blackhawks are counting on him to spell Crawford enough to keep both players fresh.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Frolik was a key part of Chicago's strong penalty-kill unit last season, and the race is on to find someone to pair with speedy Marcus Kruger. Success in that role could give one of the younger players a boost in their effort to make the roster. While the Blackhawks excelled at penalty killing last season, they struggled on the power play. They were still searching for solutions in training camp, and it could be an ongoing issue again this year.


718223 Dallas Stars

Lindy Ruff on Kari Lehtonen's light night: You'd like a goalie to get more work

MIKE HEIKA


Stars Head Coach Lindy Ruff:

On Erik Cole and Alex Chiasson's play in tonight's game:

"Both guys were good. Erik probably gave us his best game of the preseason and Chiasson was close behind it so it was nice to see. I thought Erik really skated well and was probably in on four or five good opportunities."

On the team's defense tonight:

"We gave up a dozen or so shots on penalty killing, but 5-on-5 I thought we did a pretty nice job. There were a couple of kills and a couple of shifts where we got caught and we just stayed inside and weathered the storm, but other than that it was a good showing."

On Kari Lehtonen's play tonight:

"He made a couple big saves at the right time. There wasn't a lot of action and you worry about a goaltender that doesn't get a lot of action. He was there when we needed him."

On using this game as an evaluation for the season ahead:

"I think they got a good handle of how we want to play and you know that's important - we've got a big week ahead of us. So tonight was a good game to look at and take film from and just hammer home the small areas of the game."

Stars forward Alex Chiasson:

On how the team played tonight:

"I think just the way we started compared to last game. I think were outshooting them in the first 10-1 and that's good. I think we came out pretty quick. We looked pretty good in their defensive zone and I think that was one of the keys tonight. Overall it was a great effort, Kari [Lehtonen] played outstanding and I'm looking forward to next weekend"

On his goals tonight:

"I think most of my goals come from [in front of the net], that's where I'm comfortable. If you don't go in front of the net, you won't get scoring chances. For me, really, it's just to go [in front of the net]. There are other guys on the team that are good shooters and good passers, and if I go there I can usually get the chances throughout the game."

Avalanche forward Matt Duchene:

On what the team can take away from the game tonight:

"It was a sloppy game on our part, they made it tough on us. We weren't sharp enough tonight. We're learning new systems right now, and I think at times we've got to be diligent there, but you also can't forget to play the rest of the game too. I think our offense suffered a little bit tonight just from that. Once we got the puck, we did not have the killer instinct, that attack mode going, and I think that will be something we need to work on."

On playing the Stars in back-to-back games:

"They had a full line up tonight, and they are going to be a good team, and they are in our division, and we got to have a good record against them simple as that. So obviously, we dropped two preseason [games], but they don't really mean anything. We've got to be ready for them once the season starts."


718224 Dallas Stars

National analysts predictions for Dallas Stars varied

Jeff Roberson


ESPN released it's season preview for the Stars on Thursday, and there wasn't much agreement among the four experts on where the Stars would finish.

There was one common element though, three out of four picked the Stars to miss the playoffs.

Pierre LeBrun picked the Stars to finish fifth in the Central Division. Scott Burnside has them sixth. Katie Strang has the Stars finishing last in the division, while Craig Custance has them finishing third and earning of the division's three automatic postseason slots.


718225 Dallas Stars

Heika: If Thursday was Stars' dress rehearsal, Dallas looks ready to go

MIKE HEIKA


If Thursday's game was a dress rehearsal, the Stars looked pretty good.

Dallas outshot Colorado 8-1 in the first period, eventually took a 4-0 lead and then cruised home with a 5-1 victory. The Stars had a loaded lineup with all of its top players in place and threw out these lines.

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Erik Cole

Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Alex Chiasson

Antoine Roussel-Shawn Horcoff-Valeri Nichushkin

Lane MacDermid-Vernon Fiddler-Ryan Garbutt

Alex Goligoski-Sergei Gonchar

Brenden Dillon-Stephane Robidas

Jordie Benn-Jamie Oleksiak

The lines were juggled after Ryan Garbutt received a game misconduct in the first period. Garbutt made a late hit on Colorado's Tyson Barrie and received a rare five-minute major for interference. However, the top six chemistry that coach Lindy Ruff was looking for seemed pretty clear.

Cole played well with Seguin and Benn. He scored a goal on a slick move around a defenseman followed by a nice wrister and finished with four shots on goal in 16:03. Seguin had two assists and four shots on goal in 20:04, and Benn had no points and one shot on goal in 18:40. Seguin now has a goal and six assists in five pre-season games.

The second line tallied two goals, as Alex Chiasson scored both. The rookie forward looked good on the right wing and did a lot of his damage in front of the net. Whitney finished with two assists. Eakin had no points, but had three shots on goal and went 9-5 (64 percent) in the faceoff circle.

Garbutt was ejected after 3:40 in ice time and Lane MacDermid played 5:11, so the quartet of Vern Fiddler, Antoine Roussel, Valeri Nichushkin and Shawn Horcoff shuffled a lot. Horcoff and Fiddler combined to go 10-10 in the faceoff circle, and the Stars as a team were 26-25.

Nichushkin had another highlight reel goal late in the game. The big winger powered down the right side and made a tremendous move at the net to stuff in his third goal of the preseason. He has looked tired at times in recent game, but that goal was a reminder of his potential.

Alex Goligoski had a goal and two assists in 21:51 of ice time. He and Sergei Gonchar each finished plus-3 and that pairing looked good. Goligoski has had an up-and-down camp, but he was solid on Thursday.

*They did not have a replay of the Garbutt hit, so we're not sure how late or how intense it was. The Stars will likely have the league take a look at it to see if it was worthy of a major penalty.

*Dallas plays against Edmonton at Oklahoma City Friday. Dan Ellis will likely get the entire game in net, while you will likely see players like Colton Sceviour, Kevin Connauton, Jyrki Jokipakka, Patrik Nemeth, Chris Mueller, Travis Morin, Matej Stransky and some holdover veterans from Thursday's game.


718226 Dallas Stars

Ellis makes 20 stops as Dallas Stars blank Edmonton Oilers for preseason win

Friday, Sep. 27, 2013 0

Staff writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — Dan Ellis made 20 saves to help the Dallas Stars beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 on Friday night in a preseason game.

Brett Ritchie had two third-period goals for the Stars at Cox Convention Center, including an empty-netter.

Austin Smith beat Devan Dubnyk to make it 1-0 at 11:07 in the first, and Luke Gazdic converted a 3-on-1 rush in the second.

Panthers’ sale final

Vincent Viola has been introduced as the new principal owner, chairman and governor of the Florida Panthers.

Viola paid $250 million for the team and the operating rights to the BB&T Center, the team’s home arena. Viola also gets the development partnership with Boyd Gaming, an effort to put a casino adjacent to that arena.

Viola says he is honored to take over, and has a goal of “bringing a Stanley Cup to our incredible fans here in South Florida.”

Tim Thomas back

Tim Thomas is officially back in the NHL.

The Stanley Cup-winning goalie signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Panthers. Financial terms were not released.

Star-Telegram LOADED: 09.28.2013

718227 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings want to be tough with puck, not just fists

Helene St. James

The Detroit Red Wings prefer to showcase their toughness with gloves on, not off. That isn’t about to change.

A little weekend exhibition excursion against the Toronto Maple Leafs offered an opportunity for the Wings to renew acquaintances with an opponent now in the same division after years in separate conferences. The Wings’ move to the East has focused greatly on how much more amenable travel will be, but Friday’s game at Joe Louis Arena also prompted talk about toughness.

The Leafs finished last season with an NHL-high 44 fighting majors. The Wings were second from the bottom, with 14. Boston, another new division rival, had 32; Ottawa, Buffalo and Montreal each had at least 25.

This doesn't faze the Wings. They won Friday, 5-2, and while David Clarkson and Jonathan Ericsson dropped gloves in the third period, what they did was hardly fight.

“I know what we’re going to do, we’re going to play the way we always play,” coach Mike Babcock said. “It seems to have done pretty well for us.”

General manager Ken Holland doesn’t believe it prudent to use a roster spot on an enforcer, a guy who usually only has that one dimension. The Wings do have guys who’ll fight — most notably Todd Bertuzzi, Justin Abdelkader and Jordin Tootoo. Tootoo, currently sidelined by a bruised shoulder, found himself a healthy scratch last year down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Part of the Red Wings’ thinking: if they don’t have an enforcer in the lineup, opponents might not dress one either, because who is he going to fight? Secondly — and much of exhibition season has been spent working on power plays for this reason — is that if liberties are taken against stars, the Wings would rather have the man advantage, and use that as punishment.

“We really believe in toughness and we believe toughness is toughness on the puck,” Babcock said. “To me, you’ve got to have the puck. I like 12 forwards that can all skate and handle the puck, and I like six D who can all skate and handle the puck.”

The power play hasn’t been very intimidating the past two seasons, which is partly why the Red Wings jumped at adding Daniel Alfredsson, who has a big right-handed shot. If the power play can reach a regular rate of effectiveness, the Wings would, as Babcock said, “encourage all the penalties the other team takes.”

■ DK DOWN: Defenseman Danny DeKeyser hasn’t skated since hurting a knee Wednesday, but he said that’s just precautionary and he expects to be ready to play when the regular season begins next Wednesday.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.28.2013


Detroit Red Wings' Danny DeKeyser (knee) confident he'll be ready for season opener

12:12 PM, September 27, 2013

Helene St. James

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser is taking it easy in the last few days of the exhibition season but is confident he'll be ready when the real one begins.

DeKeyser hasn't skated since hurting a knee during Wedneday's game and will sit out the weekend's home-and-home series against Toronto, which begins tonight at Joe Louis Arena.

"It's just precautionary," DeKeyser said today, after getting treatment at the Joe. "It's a little sore, so I want to make sure it's 100% before I go out there again."

DeKeyser said he might try to get on the ice Saturday, but he might be better off waiting till Monday, as the Wings will have two practices before opening the season Wednesday against Buffalo.

DeKeyser hurt himself in the third period of Wednesdsay’s Pittsburgh Penguins game. "I went to turn back a little bit and then I got tripped up a little bit, kind of caught my toe in the ice a little bit, stressed my knee," he said.

DeKeyser quickly became a key part of the defense after joining the Wings in the spring, showing off what a smooth skater he is and helping move the puck.



Detroit 5, Toronto 2: Red Wings regulars help team get back on track

10:20 PM, September 27, 2013

Helene St. James

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs, players and fans, measured themselves from opening minute to end Friday night, a sign of just how much fun awaits when the games mean something.

The Red Wings were victorious in their home segment of this exhibition season weekend finale, cresting 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena. The teams meet again tonight at Air Canada Centre.

Mostly, for the Wings, Friday’s game was a chance to see their ideal second line in action, as Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss and Johan Franzen all were in the lineup for the first time as a group. Alfredsson had a power-play goal and an assist as the man advantage contributed three goals, while Weiss showed good instincts before leaving after two periods with a sore groin.

“I thought those guys did a pretty good job,” coach Mike Babcock said. “Weiss was real competitive, made some good plays, and obviously Alfredsson is real smart. Mule worked real hard. We had a good line there. Kind of a sign of hopefully what’s to come.”

Babcock doesn’t think Weiss’ injury will keep him out more than a few days. The Wings open the regular season Wednesday. “We yanked him right away, as soon as it got sore,” Babcock said. “That’d be a setback for him. Obviously, as a guy who comes in new, it’s always nice to get off to a good start. But, you know, he’s going to be a real good teammate and a real good fit here.”

Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen each had a goal and assist, too, and Pavel Datsyuk had two assists. Joakim Andersson and Luke Glendening, a prospect with NHL future stamped all over him, scored even-strength goals.

The game was the Wings’ best against an opponent featuring a fairly equal lineup. For Alfredsson, it was an opportunity to get his 40-year-old body into a second game after being sidelined by a sore groin, and to get some time with expected line mates.

“It was good,” Alfredsson said. “I thought we got better and created some chances. I had some really good looks where I didn’t bury it, but it feels good when you have the puck, playing on the offensive side more. Gives you more energy. We had fun out there.”

So did the fans in the stands. Several spirited chants of “Go Wings go” were tested by cheers of “Go Leafs go.” At the end, it was “USA-USA-USA.”

“It was pretty cool,” Zetterberg said. “It’s always fun when we play Toronto. It's going to be awesome to see them more often.”

Nazem Kadri, on a power play, and Joffrey Lupul scored for Toronto.

Alfredsson made a big difference on the Wings’ top power play unit, providing a big shot on the right point.

“This was the first game we actually had our power-play unit together,” Zetterberg said. “It was nice to get a good start. We’ve got to start somewhere.”

Alfredsson forced a nice stick save from Jonathan Bernier during the second period, and was zooming in on the net for a potential rebound when Zetterberg’s shot went in.

“You just want to get to a point where you don’t think too much out there,” Alfredsson said. “Just focus on playing.”

Alfredsson drew a penalty early in the third period, then scored seconds before the power play expiredwhen he hammered home Zetterberg's pass.



Danny DeKeyser out for Red Wings' weekend games

Ted Kulfan

Defenseman Danny DeKeysermissed Friday’s game because of a twisted knee but is certain he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s regular-season opener.

“I am,” said DeKeyser, as to whether he’ll be in the season opener. “I feel good. I kind of twisted it (the knee) a little in the last game. It was a little sore. I just want to make sure it’s 100 percent before I go out there again.

“It’s just precautionary.”

DeKeyser expects to take part in the morning skate today but likely won’t be making the trip to play the Maple Leafs in Toronto tonight.

Being careful

The likelihood of forward Jordin Tootoo (bruised shoulder) starting the regular season could be shrinking.

Tootoo skated with players who weren’t on the active roster Friday.

“We’ll reassess it tomorrow and go from there,” Tootoo said. “It feels good but shoulder injuries and the way I play, I want to make sure it’s 100 percent and not 85 or 90.

“I want to be mentally comfortable and go from there.”

Tootoo was injured on his second shift Sept. 19 against Boston.

“I kept playing through it and didn’t realize the severity of it until the next day,” Tootoo said. “I just want to make sure I get it fixed.

“I’ve had this before (to his right shoulder) and it took almost three years to heal.”

Rivalry renewing

Eventually most everyone agrees the Red Wings and Maple Leafs will restore their storied, bitter rivalry as Atlantic Division rivals.

But most players, and Babcock, feel it’s going to take a playoff series between the teams to truly get the emotion going.

“Rivalries are made in the playoffs,” Babcock said.

Detroit News LOADED: 09.28.2013


Red Wings' second line stars in win over Maple Leafs

Gregg Krupa

Detroit —Playing with considerable more intent on offense, the Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs 5-2, Friday, as newly acquired forward Daniel Alfredsson scored his first goal of the exhibition season and assisted on another.

But just as soon as the Wings skated with their proposed new second line — Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss and Johan Franzen — for the first time in the exhibition season, Weiss went down with an apparent groin injury in the second period and did not return.

Coach Mike Babcock expressed concern Weiss, the all-time leader in assists for the Panthers, suffered a setback in his quest to improve the Red Wings’ offense this season after a decline in scoring in 2013.

Alfredsson, who displayed the booming, right-handed slap shot and brisk wrist shot that helped make him the all-time leading scorer of the Senators, converted a bit of a give-and-go with Henrik Zetterberg in the third periods before firing the puck past Leafs goaltender, Jonathan Bernier, at 5:57, to put the Wings up, 4-2.

Pavel Datsyuk assisted, one of two for him on the night.

“It was good,” Alfredsson said of the play of the second line for the two periods. “I thought we got better and better as the game went on, and we created some good chances.

“I had some really good looks where I didn’t bury it. But, you know, it feels real good when you have the puck, and playing on the offensive side more give you more energy.

“I thought we had fun out there,”

The Wings also got goals from Joakim Andersson, Luke Glendenning, Franzen and Zetterberg.

They outshot the Maple Leafs 27-14 through two periods, 19-6 in the second period.

It was the most offense they generated since an 8-2 drubbing of the Bruins Sept. 19 in Boston.

But while Alfredsson (groin) and Franzen (hip flexor) returned from injuries and looked good, the Wings must now await Weiss’s return before they can hope to consolidate their improved performance.

Alfredsson also severely tested Bernier, acquired from the Kings in the offseason, on at least two other occasions, with Bernier barely equal to the tasks.

“I thought those guys did a pretty good job here tonight,” Babcock said of his second line. “Weiss was real competitive and made some good plays and, obviously, Alfredsson was real smart. We know that.

“And I thought Mule worked real hard,” Babcock said of Franzen. “So we had a good line tonight.

“It’s kind of a sign of hopefully what is to come a little bit.”

Babcock has said one clear advantage of having Alfredsson instead of Damien Brunner, who played well for some stretches for the Red Wings last season, is Alfredsson has a terrific shot from the stationary position, whether from the point or the slot.

“He’s got an absolute bomb,” Babcock said.

The Wings have one more exhibition game, at 7 p.m. Saturday in Toronto, before opening the season Wednesday against the Sabres at Joe Louis Arena.

After Friday’s game, the Wings called up eight players from Grand Rapids, an indication less than the regular NHL roster will skate against the Leafs on Saturday.

Of Weiss, Babcock said, “No, I’m hoping not,” when asked if the newly acquired forward would miss about two weeks, often the usual time for a groin injury, this early in the year.

“Obviously, we yanked him right away, as soon as he got sore. That would be a setback for him, obviously. As a guy who comes new, it’s always nice to get off to a good start.

“But he’s going to be a good teammate and a good fit.”

The Red Wings outshot Toronto 37-19 overall in front of a boisterous crowd, with lots of Maple Leafs jerseys worn by fans in Joe Louis Arena.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130927/SPORTS0103/309270128#ixzz2gAsGe5h4



Wings' Daniel Alfredsson to make Joe Louis debut tonight against Leafs

Ted Kulfan

Alfredsson’s home debut will get their wish this evening.

Alfredsson, who has been limited to one game this exhibition season because of a groin injury, will play tonight as the Red Wings host Toronto.

“I had a good skate this morning and I’m feeling good,” said Alfredsson, who’ll be on a line with Johan Franzen and Stephen Weiss. “It feels good to get into a game and play in this building.”

The line played together during the intra-squad scrimmages in Traverse City but has not been together during any of the exhibition games.

Franzen was bothered by a hip flexor early in training camp, while Alfredsson has had the groin issue.

“You want to get to the point where you don’t think too much, just go in and out and just play,” Alfredsson said.

Coach Mike Babcock wants to see more out of the line than he did in Traverse City, where Babcock already thought about splitting them after lackluster outings.

“They did nothing,” Babcock said. “That’s what gives you pause. If you don’t do anything, pretty soon things change.

“Now, they haven’t played together so it’s an unfair assessment. But we need to get an assessment because we need production from every group.”

Babcock likes what this line could potentially bring.

“Weiss has turned into a real good two-way player, Alfie can shoot the puck, and Mule is a big, big man who can skate and win battles down low and find people with the puck.

“To me it has all the ingredients of a line, but it has to become one.”

DeKeyser sits

Defenseman Danny DeKeyser was expected to miss Friday’s game because of a twisted knee but is certain he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s regular season opener.

“I am,” said DeKeyser, as to whether he’ll be in the season opener. “I feel good. I kind of twisted it (the knee) a little in the last game. It was a little sore. I just want to make sure it’s 100 percent before I go out there again.

“It’s just precautionary.”

DeKeyser expects to take part in the morning skate Saturday but likely won’t be making the trip to play the Maple Leafs.

Being careful

The likelihood of forward Jordin Tootoo (bruised shoulder) starting the regular season could be shrinking.

Tootoo skated with players who weren’t on the active roster Friday.

“We’ll reassess it tomorrow and go from there,” Tootoo said. “It feels good but shoulder injuries and the way I play, I want to make sure it’s 100 percent and not 85 or 90.

“I want to be mentally comfortable and go from there.”

Tootoo was injured on his second shift Sept. 19 against Boston.

“I kept playing through it and didn’t realize the severity of it until the next day,” Tootoo said. “I just want to make sure I get it fixed. I’ve had this before (to his right shoulder) and it took almost three years to heal.”

Rivalry renewing

Eventually most everyone agrees the Red Wings and Maple Leafs will restore their storied, bitter rivalry.

But most players, and Babcock, feel it’s going to take a playoff series between the teams to truly get the emotion going.

“Rivalries are made in the playoffs,” Babcock said. “I imagine our team and their team will get more invested over time.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130927/SPORTS0103/309270088#ixzz2gAsN8Wad



Red Wings recall eight players from Grand Rapids for Saturday's preseason finale in Toronto

Ansar Khan

September 27, 2013 at 11:33 PM

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings dressed most of their regular players in Friday's final home preseason game, a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Many of those players will be resting Saturday night when the same teams wrap up the exhibition schedule at the Air Canada Centre (7 p.m., CBC).

The Red Wings have recalled six players from the Grand Rapids Griffins: forwards Mitch Callahan, Calle Jarnkrok, Teemu Pulkkinen and Riley Sheahan, defenseman Ryan Sproul and goaltender Jared Coreau.

Detroit also signed forward Jeff Hoggan and defenseman Nathan Paetsch to professional tryouts.

All eight are expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Michigan Live LOADED: 09.28.2013


Red Wings center Stephen Weiss confident he'll be ready for season opener after sitting out third period

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings center Stephen Weiss said he is “100 percent'' certain he will be ready for the regular season opener on Wednesday, after sitting out the third period of Friday's 5-2 preseason victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I feel pretty good,'' Weiss said. “Just a little something going on there, decided to shut it down in the third and make sure we're ready for Wednesday.''

The club has been plagued by sore groins and hip flexors in the preseason. Weiss wouldn't reveal his issue but said he felt it during the second intermission.

“It's just precautionary,'' Weiss said. “I played a lot of hockey lately. Just trying to make sure we're fresh and ready to go for Wednesday when we start for real. I'm 100 percent sure. I just talked to the trainers.

“If it was up to me I probably would have kept playing tonight. I wanted to stay in the game and keep playing but still got to be smart this time of year, make sure we're healthy for when we start.''

Mike Babcock hopes Stephen Weiss' groin injury isn't serious The new Detroit Red Wings forward missed the third period of a 5-2 victory over Toronto because of a sore groin

The Red Wings' second line of Weiss, Johan Franzen and Daniel Alfredsson ended up playing only two periods together in the preseason because Franzen (hip flexor) and Alfredsson (groin) missed time earlier.

“It was nice to finally get the three of us together (Friday),'' Weiss said. “I thought we had some chances. We moved the puck a little but better, had some chances. It didn't go in for us, but Alfie got one (on the power play). We'll keep getting better.''

After training camp and five preseason games Weiss feels he has a handle on the Red Wings' system.

“It's a little bit different,'' Weiss said. “I think the biggest thing is the way they play without the puck. That's why they have it all the time, because there's so much attention to detail without it.

“That hasn't been a big adjustment. For me the biggest thing has been D-zone coverage; it's a lot different than what I've been used to. I'm really starting to get comfortable with it. I feel like I can just go out and play.''



Detroit Red Wings' power-play clicking in 5-2 preseason victory over Toronto Maple Leafs

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings dressed most of their regulars in their final home preseason game on Friday and got the effort and result they were seeking.

Power-play goals by Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson and Johan Franzen snapped a tie as the Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings (3-4-0 in the preseason) snapped a three-game losing streak. The same clubs wrap up the exhibition season Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre (7 p.m., CBC).

The Red Wings played their top two lines for the first time in the exhibition season and had four of their top six defensemen in uniform. After an evenly played first period, the Red Wings controlled the final 40 minutes and outshot the Maple Leafs 37-19.

Joakim Andersson and Luke Glendening also scored for the Red Wings. Jimmy Howard made 17 saves.

Alfredsson made his home debut after missing four games with a pulled groin, joining linemates Stephen Weiss and Franzen for the first time in the preseason. The line didn't register any points when on the ice together, but generated some chances.

Weiss left after two periods with an apparent injury. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Alfredsson, booed every time he touched the puck by the many Leafs fans in attendance, blasted in a one-timer on a pass from Zetterberg at 5:57 of the third period to make it 4-2.

Franzen capped the scoring at 12:37 by tipping in a shot from Niklas Kronwall.

Zetterberg had snapped a 2-2 tie by snapping in a shot from the slot with 42 seconds remaining in the second period. It capped a nice passing play with Pavel Datsyuk and Franzen.

The teams traded goals in the first period.

Andersson notched his second of the preseason at 5:18, deflecting in a shot by defenseman Xavier Ouellet while Daniel Cleary was at the net-front. Nazem Kadri tied it on the power play at 8:31.

Glendening put the Red Wings up 2-1 at 6:23, firing in the rebound of a shot by Kyle Quincey. The Leafs again tied it, at 10:37, when Nikolai Kulemin's shot deflected in off Joffrey Lupul's skate.

The long-time rivalry between these Original Six rivals will be rekindled this season as the Red Wings move into the Eastern Conference, joining Toronto in the Atlantic Division.

They will play four times this season, including the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.

“When you’re playing against teams in the East, since we haven’t played in the East, it’s nice to get to know who the other teams are, the players they have and get to know them better,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said before the game. “I’m not going to compare an exhibition game, they’re not close, but we want our team to play well. We’ll learn more about the Leafs here tonight and I’m sure they’ll learn more about us.''

Alfredsson, however, doesn't expect the rivalry to heat up right away.

“To get that rivalry going again you need to play a team in the playoffs, get those moments that only playoffs can create,'' Alfredsson said. “They're two historic franchises. I think everyone is going to try their best to get this rivalry going, fans and media.''



Blog recap: Three power-play goals help Detroit Red Wings beat Toronto 5-2, end three-game skid

Brendan Savage


Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 2 (0:00): Detroit outshoots Toronto 37-19 in snapping a three-game losing streak. Teams meet again Saturday in Toronto to end preseason.

Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 2 (3:09 remaining): Ericsson and Clarkson drop their gloves. Clarkson gets the big punch but Ericsson hits him with about six straight short ones, none very big.

Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 2 (7:23 remaining): Detroit scores another power-play goal when Franzen redirects a shot in front. Took all of 15 seconds.

Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2 (7:38 remaining): Red Wings back on the power play when Clarkson goes off for slashing.

Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2 (7:46 remaining): Detroit kills the Ericsson penalty.

Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2 (9:53 remaining): Toronto back on the power play when Ericsson goes off for interference.

Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2 (11:36 remaining): Red Wings outshooting Toronto 4-2 this period, 31-16 for the game.

Red Wings 4, Maple Leafs 2 (14:03 remaining): Alfredsson takes a pass from Zetterberg near the right faceoff dot and blasts a slap shot past Bernier on the power play. Datsyuk with the other assist.

Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (15:56 remaining): Red Wings back on the power play when Lupul goes off for tripping Alfredsson.

Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (19:59 remaining): Third period underway at Joe Louis Arena. Quick stats after 40 minutes: Red Wings have six scoring chances to Toronto's two in the second, lead 12-8 for the game; Red Wings win 15 faceoffs to Toronto's 11 in the second, lead 27-15 for the game; Maple Leafs outhit Deroit 9-6 in the second, lead 17-11 for the game.

SECOND PERIOD

Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (0:00): Red Wings outshoot Toronto 19-6 in the period, have 27-14 edge for the game.

Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (0:41.1 remaining): Pretty passing play. Datsyuk in the middle of the ice gives it to Franzen along the left boards and he finds Zetterberg breaking down the middle to put Detroit back on top on the power play.

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 2 (1:52 remaining): Red Wings back on the power play when Van Riemsdyk goes off for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 2 (5:06): Scoring change. Give the last Toronto goal to Joffrey Lupul from Gardiner and Kulemin.

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 2 (6:57 remaining): Red Wings outshooting Toronto 14-6 this period, 22-14 for the game.

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 2 (9:23 remaining): Nikolai Kulemin picks himself up off the ice and beats Howard from the high slot to tie it again. Gardiner and Lupul with the assists. That's two for Gardiner.

Red Wings 2, Maple Leafs 1 (13:37): Luke Glendening puts back a rebound to regain the lead for Detroit. First of the preseason. Quincey and Samuelsson with the assists.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (13:57): Detroit kills the Bertuzzi penalty.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (15:59): Toronto back on the power play when Bertuzzi inadvertently directs the puck into the stands with his hand. Delay of game.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (19:59): Second period underway at Joe Louis Arena. Quick stats: Red Wings with 12 faceoff wins to Toronto's four; both teams with six scoring chances; Toronto 1-for-1 on the power play, Detroit 0-for-1; Maple Leafs with eight hits to Red Wings' five.

FIRST PERIOD

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (0:00): End of one. Both teams with eight shots.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (1:37 remaining): Lots of Leafs fans here. And they're booing Daniel Alfredsson just about every time he touches the puck. Apparently the Senators fans aren't the only ones who were unhappy to see him move to Detroit.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (8:37 remaining): Red Wings get first power play when Boland goes off for slashing.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 1 (11:29): Nazem Kadri slips behind the Detroit defense and slides the puck along the ice past Howard on the glove side. Second shot of the power play. Raymond and Gardiner with the assists.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 0 (12:53): Toronto gets the game's first power play when Franzen goes off for hooking.

Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 0 (14:42 remaining): Xavier Ouellet's shot from the point redirected in the high slot by Joakim Andersson. Second of the preseason. Bertuzzi gets the other assist.

Red Wings 0, Maple Leafs 0 (16:57 remaining): Jimmy Howard stops Tyler Bozak on a breakaway. Toronto's first shot of the game.

Red Wings 0, Maple Leafs 0 (19:59 remaining): Detroit wins the draw and we're underway at Joe Louis Arena.

PREGAME

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will try and snap a three-game losing streak at 7:30 tonight in their final outing at home during the preseason.

The Red Wings will play Original Six rival Toronto in a home-and-home series that will see the Maple Leafs host a rematch Saturday at Air Canada Centre in the final preseason game for both teams.

The Red Wings (2-4) are rekindling their rivalry with the Maple Leafs (4-1-1) this season after spending 19 seasons in the Western Conference. Detroit has moved to the East and will play Toronto four times during the regular season.

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs are both in the Atlanta Division, where their rivals will include fellow Original Six franchises Montreal and Boston.

After sitting many of their top players in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh, the Red Wings lineup tonight is expected to include Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss, Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson.

Jimmy Howard is expected to start in goal and play the entire game.

There is no local TV tonight but the radio broadcast can be heard on WXYT-AM 1270 and you can discuss all the action right here with Brendan Savage and Ansar Khan.



Red Wings' Daniel Alfredsson to make home debut as second line finally intact for preseason game

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – Daniel Alfredsson will make his long-awaited Joe Louis Arena debut tonight as a Detroit Red Wing against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in the club's final home preseason game (7:30, no TV, WXYT-AM 1270).

More importantly, it will be the first time the club's second line of Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss and Johan Franzen has been intact since training camp scrimmages in Traverse City.

The unit was not sharp back then, and coach Mike Babcock expressed his displeasure on a couple of occasions.

“They did nothing,'' Babcock said. “That’s what gives you pause, you don’t do anything and then things change. Now, they haven’t got a chance to play together so that’s an unfair assessment, but we need an assessment because we need production out of every group.''

Weiss (no points in four games) and Franzen (no points in two games) have struggled in the preseason.

“It should be set up good,'' Babcock said. “I think Weiss has turned himself into a really good two-way player, he understands what’s going on. Alfie can shoot the puck and Mule’s a big, big man that can skate and win battles down low and can find people with the puck. He should be finding Alfie and Alfie should be shooting it. To me it has all the ingredients of a line, but you have to become one.''

Alfredsson has been out since Sept. 17 due to a pulled groin.

“It feels good to get into a game,'' Alfredsson said. “It's going to be exciting to play in this building for the first time (as a Red Wing).''

He feels he has a handle on the team's system.

“I should be good,'' Alfredsson said. “I'm sure there will be corrections from the coaches here and there, but overall I got a pretty good understanding of what they're doing here.''

He doesn't anticipate it will take long to mesh with his linemates.

“Weissie and I have been here for a little bit, we know the systems, feel more comfortable overall,'' Alfredsson said. “As far as the game goes, we just want to get going where you don't think too much out there. Just focus on playing.''

Said Weiss: “Alfie likes to hang onto the puck and make plays, and he’s not exactly an up and down the wall kind of guy, so it will be nice to get into a game and see what we can do. If we have to make some changes, talk about it and make it work.”

The Red Wings (2-4-0) are trying to snap a three-game exhibition losing streak and jump-start an offense that has accounted for only eight goals in five games, excluding an eight-goal outburst in Boston on Sept. 19.

“You want to play with good structure, play really hard, execute and take a step,'' Babcock said. “I’ve said it so many times in training camp since we’ve played so many games, it’s hard to get a lineup together. We have two-thirds of a lineup here tonight, as much as we’ve had since we played in Boston, so that’s a nice thing.

“We’ll see where we’re at. The Leafs are bringing a good team so that’s a real positive for us.''

Here are tonight's line combinations and defense pairings:

Henrik Zetterberg-Pavel Datsyuk-Justin Abdelkader

Johan Franzen-Stephen Weiss-Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Cleary-Joakim Andersson-Todd Bertuzzi

Tomas Jurco-Luke Glendening-Mikael Samuelsson

Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson

Brian Lashoff-Jakub Kindl

Kyle Quincey-Xavier Ouellet

Jimmy Howard (whole game)

Petr Mrazek

Forwards Drew Miller, Cory Emmerton, Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar skated after practice today and are not playing. Right wing Jordin Tootoo (bruised shoulder) and center Darren Helm (back, groin) also skated after practice but are not ready to play.

Defensemen Danny DeKeyser (knee) and Brendan Smith (leg) are nursing minor injuries.



Red Wings' Jordin Tootoo skates, but status uncertain; Danny DeKeyser expects to be ready for opener

Ansar Khan


DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings forward Jordin Tootoo skated with several teammates today for the first time since suffering a bruised bone in his shoulder in a preseason game at Boston on Sept. 19.

“We'll reassess it tomorrow and go from there,'' Tootoo said. “It feels good but shoulder injuries and the way I play, I just want to make sure it's 100 percent and not 85-90. I want to mentally be comfortable and go from there.''

He said he was injured during his second shift.

“I just kept playing through it and didn't realize the severity of it until the next day,'' Tootoo said. “I just want to make sure I get it fixed because I did the same thing to my right shoulder and it almost took three years to heal.''

The 23-man roster must be submitted on Monday, so it appears Tootoo, who is competing for a spot, will start the regular season on injured reserve.

DeKeyser expects to be ready for season opener

Defenseman Danny DeKeyser hasn't skated the past two days after hurting his knee Wednesday against Pittsburgh. But he is confident he'll be ready for the season opener Wednesday against Buffalo.

“I feel good,'' DeKeyser said. “I kind of twisted it a little bit in the last game but it's kind of precautionary, a little sore after that. Make sure it's 100 percent before I get out there again.''

He might skate Saturday morning but will not play in the preseason finale at Toronto later that night.



Detroit Red Wings' rash of preseason injuries not necessarily a bad thing, says Brendan Smith

Brendan Savage

September 27, 2013 at 8:43 AM

They still have two preseason games to play but the Detroit Red Wings have already been hit with a rash of injuries.

Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson and forward Daniel Alfredsson are battling groin injuries. Tough guy Jordin Tootoo is out with a sore shoulder; forward Johan Franzen and defenseman Jakub Kindl have missed time with sore hip flexors. Patrick Eaves sprained his ankle and MCL. Jonathan Ericsson missed Wednesday's loss to Pittsburgh with a thigh contusion. And Darren Helm, still trying to recover from a back injury, pulled his groin.

But believe it or not, at least one of the Red Wings doesn't necessarily think the rash of injuries is a bad thing given the timing.

"In some weird way, that's a good thing because it's better to get it now than to have it later in the season," said second-year defenseman Brendan Smith. "I think we came across a lot of injuries last year later and we didn't have those at the start. As long as we can get them out of the way now.

"But anytime you get injuries it sucks. You don't want to see anybody go down. That can be very frustrating on the players and the team. But we have such a good system we can plug in a new player and go from there. But I think the biggest thing is if we can keep it to the preseason and play healthy through the whole season it will be good for us."

Smith, by the way, has already been banged up this season as well. A sore groin kept him off the ice briefly early in training camp.

He was banged up again in Thursday's practice but said he's fine and expects to be available for Friday's preseason home finale against Toronto at Joe Louis Arena.



Some Red Wings happy to see HBO cameras in town to start filming 24/7, others not so much

Ansar Khan


“I think Pav will come across pretty good. ... It will be hilarious; he could have a show all about himself.'' -- Niklas Kronwall

Red-Wings-practice-9-26-13An HBO camera crew grabs footage of Thursday's Red Wings practice at Joe Louis Arena.Ansar Khan/MLive

DETROIT – Sharp-witted Pavel Datsyuk could be a reality TV star, if he wanted to be, his Detroit Red Wings teammates say.

Other players would prefer to stay away from the cameras.

Fans will get a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on the HBO series 24/7 as the teams prepare for the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.

HBO cameras arrived at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday, grabbing footage of practice and one of the semi-regular barbeques hosted by building manager and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka.

The network will film some more Friday in Detroit and Saturday in Toronto, where the teams wrap up the preseason, before returning in mid-November. The shows will air in December.

Some, like goaltender Jimmy Howard and defenseman Brendan Smith, enjoyed the previous 24/7 shows leading up to Winter Classics between the Penguins/Capitals and Flyers/Rangers. They're looking forward to being a part of it.

Others, like coach Mike Babcock, aren't so enthused to have cameras invading their private space.

“My kids a few years back thought it was awesome,'' Babcock said. “To be honest, I can go without it totally, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me. I’m just hoping someone else is first star.''

That would be Datsyuk, if he chooses to be.

“I think Pav will come across pretty good,'' Niklas Kronwall said. “He’s a funny guy and I think that will really show. If he feels he can be himself, it will be great to see him. It will be hilarious; he could have a show all about himself.''

Kronwall said Howard “would love the camera,'' too. Howard didn't seem to disagree.

“It'll be something we'll hopefully be able to show our grand kids we were on HBO one time,'' Howard said. “So I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be a lot of fun. I'm curious to see who acts like themselves on camera and who puts on a little bit of a show.''

Howard said he expects “a lot of guys doing their hair in the back room'' before the cameras start rolling.

“I think a couple of guys will probably be checking themselves twice before they leave the house in the morning,'' Howard said. “I'm not going to throw anyone under the bus, but you'll see.''

Perhaps Smith will be one of them. He enjoyed previous installments of 24/7.

“It's interesting to see some of these tough guys, they're kind of soft-hearted sweethearts back home with their families,'' Smith said. “It'll be cool for people to see what our team is like.''

Who will be the most entertaining Red Wings?

“I think there's a lot of guys they'd be interested in, like (Henrik) Zetterberg, (Kyle) Quincey's pretty outspoken, Howie's another guy that's pretty upbeat, seeing Pav and what he's like as a jokester,'' Smith said. “There's a lot of guys that might shock the fans and make them very interested.''

There also are many who'll avoid the spotlight, much like they did in January 2012 when the NBC Sports Network put together an NHL 36 special on Nicklas Lidstrom.

“No one would go near (Lidstrom),'' Babcock said. “Just like in your own life, do you want everything on TV or YouTube, or is there anything you do that you don’t want to be (broadcast)? It’s the same for these guys.

“That’s part of promoting the sport, so they feel it’s a good thing for the sport.''



Alfredsson nets first goal as Wings top Leafs

Fred Costello

Posted: 09/27/13, 11:20 PM EDT

DETROIT – It appears that Daniel Alfredsson will fit into the Red Wings’ system just fine. The team’s highest-profile free agent signing this offseason, Alfredsson scored for the first time and had an assist in Friday’s 5-2 preseason win over the visiting Maple Leafs.

Alfredsson, 40, who appeared in just his second preseason game after battling a groin injury, acclimated himself well to the Detroit power play and just being a part of the action in general.

“I wasn’t sure exactly how I’d feel,” Alfredsson explained. “But, I feel like I had the legs.”

His goal, off a brilliant setup by Henrik Zetterberg, was impossible for Leafs goalie Jon Bernier to stop. Zetterberg circled deep in the Toronto zone, then found Alfredsson for a one-time blast from the right faceoff circle. The power play goal put Detroit ahead 4-2 at 5:57 of the third.

The play might have looked like it was drawn up to perfection, but Alfredsson wasn’t so sure.

“I think (Zetterberg) was trying to pass to (Johan) Franzen,” Alfredsson said with a smile. “But, I was able to step in from pretty close and find the far side.”

Detroit (3-4) will finish the preseason with a game at Toronto (4-2-1) tonight.

The Red Wings also got goals from Joakim Andersson, Luke Glendening, Franzen and Zetterberg. Jimmy Howard earned the win between the pipes, stopping 17 shots.

Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul scored for Toronto.

The game also presented the first opportunity for Detroit’s second line of Alfredsson, Franzen and Stephen Weiss to play together. Alfredsson thought the trio fared pretty well.

“I thought we got better and better as the game went on,” Alfredsson said. “It feels good when you have the puck and you’re playing on the offensive side more. It gives you energy, and we had fun out there. It was a good test for us.”

Franzen’s tip-in goal, Detroit’s third power play conversion of the night, came at 12:37 of the third period with assists to Niklas Kronwall and Alfredsson.

If the game is any indication of how the new-look Atlantic Division will play out, then fans are in for a treat. It was a contest – Detroit’s last preseason home game – that bore resemblance to a heated regular season battle.

While the NHL schedule has been unkind to the historical rivalry in recent history, Red Wings fans will be treated to four games against the hated Maple Leafs this season – including the Jan. 1 Winter Classic in Ann Arbor.

Count Zetterberg among those players glad that the preseason finally is coming to an end.

“I think I was ready after the last one,” Zetterberg said. “Three or four games for me personally is enough. You want to get going and play some real games.”

The Red Wings put on a dazzling display of skill in the second period, helping Detroit to a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Glendening finished off a rebound at 6:23. Mikael Samuelsson set up the play with a behind-the-back drop-pass to Kyle Quincy, who was streaking in from the left point. Quincy fired a wrist shot, which was turned aside by Bernier. Glendening was right on top of the rebound, and buried it. It was the 24-year-old’s first goal of the preseason.

The Leafs were the beneficiaries of a strange bounce that evened the game at 2-2.

Defenseman Jake Gardiner carried the puck down the right side of the ice, before tossing it to the slot. The puck bounced off the toe of Lupul’s skate and into the net.

A highlight-worthy passing sequence preceded Zetterberg’s goal.

Pavel Datsyuk knocked down a bad centering pass in the neutral zone. After kicking the puck forward, he raced across the Toronto blue line, drawing a defender near. Datsyuk fed a quick pass to Franzen, who dished a no-look feed to the slot where Zetterberg was waiting. The captain roofed the puck over Bernier’s shoulder; the power play goal came with just 38 seconds left in the period.

Detroit hopped out to a 1-0 lead when Andersson tipped in a Xavier Ouellet shot at 5:18 of the first. The play began with some strong work down the right wing boards by Todd Bertuzzi. Skating with the puck across the Leafs blue line, Bertuzzi used his large frame to shield the puck from defenders. He tossed the puck back toward Ouellet, who let go a quick wrist shot that fooled Bernier up high.

Toronto answered back three minutes later, on the hockey equivalent of a knuckleball.

Kadri held the puck in front of the Wings goal, before beating Howard with an off-speed attempt that never left the ice. The power play marker came at 8:31.

Both teams had significant scoring chances throughout the rest of the first period.

Most notable for the Wings was a Franzen shot that came within inches of going in. Franzen beat Bernier between the legs, but the puck trickled in the blue paint behind the goalie and was cleared by Leafs defensemen Carl Gunnarsson before it entered the net.

Howard also had to face a breakaway attempt from Tyler Bozak. Howard turned aside his quick deke, however.

THE INJURY FRONT: There are a couple of Red Wings preparing to make their return to the lineup.

Defenseman Danny DeKeyser (knee) is confident he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s season opener at home against the Buffalo Sabres. “I feel good,” DeKeyser said. “I kind of twisted it a little bit in the last game but it’s kind of precautionary, a little sore after that. Make sure it was 100 percent before I get out there again.”

DeKeyser’s foot got caught in a rut against (Sidney) Crosby in the third period of Wednesday’s loss to Pittsburgh. He fell and twisted his knee a little.

DeKeyser hasn’t skated since the incident.

“I might try to get on the ice tomorrow a little bit,” DeKeyser said. “See how it feels then, after that take it day by day.

Jordin Tootoo took part in his first practice since injuring his shoulder against Boston on Sept. 21. “It feels good but shoulder injuries and the way I play, I just want to make sure it’s 100 percent and not 85-90,” Tootoo said. “I want to mentally be comfortable and be from there.”

“I just kept playing through it and didn’t realize the severity of it until the next day,” Tootoo said. “I just want to make sure I get it fixed because I know I did the same thing to my right shoulder and it almost took three years to heal. Making sure everything’s on the right track right now.”

Tootoo has been in a battle all training camp to find a spot on one of the Wings’ four forward lines so this setback doesn’t help.

“I can only control my mentality,” Tootoo said. “I’ve just got to bring it every day. Obviously, injuries are going to be a part of the game. It’s how you recover from that. Mentally, just being focused every day and making sure I’m at all the team meetings and doing all the right things.”

-- Chuck Pleiness contributed to this report

Macomb Daily LOADED: 09.28.2013


Wings second line gets first change to play together against Leafs

Chuck Pleiness

09/27/13, 5:44 PM EDT |

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings’ second line of forwards will indeed play together for the first time this preseason.

Daniel Alfredsson will skate with Johan Franzen and Stephen Weiss tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Joe Louis Arena.

This will just be Alfredsson’s second preseason game and first at home.

“It feels good to get into a game,” Alfredsson said. “It’s going to be exciting to play in this building for the first time. We’re going to have a good lineup, looking to have a good effort.”

Alfredsson had been bothered by a tender groin of late.

“Weissie and I have been here for a little bit,” Alfredsson said. “They know the systems, feel more comfortable overall. As far as the game goes, we just want to get going where you don’t think too much out there. In and out and just focus on playing. That’s what we’re trying to do today.”

The length of time this line, which didn’t win over Wings coach Mike Babcock, will all depend on how quickly they can build chemistry.

“They did nothing,” Babcock said of their time together in training camp. “That’s what gives you pause, you don’t do anything and then things change. Now they haven’t got a chance to play together so that’s an unfair assessment, but we need an assessment because we need production out of every group.

“To me it should be set up good,” Babcock continued. “I think Weiss has turned himself into a really good two-way player, he understands what’s going on. Alfie can shoot the puck and Mule’s a big, big man that can skate and win battles down low and can find people with the puck. He should be finding Alfie and Alfie should be shooting it. To me it has all the ingredients of a line, but you have to become one.”

Weiss and Alfredsson were the Wings’ two big signings this offseason.

“I’m sure there will be corrections from the coaches here and there but overall I got a pretty good understanding of what they’re doing here,” Alfredsson said.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 09.28.2013

718243 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers regular season rehearsal ends on sour note

Joanne Ireland

OKLAHOMA CITY — After a final round of roster cuts and four straight pre-season wins, the Edmonton Oilers rolled into Oklahoma City for their opening day rehearsal.

Turns out, there’s some work to be done between now and Oct. 1.

Against a Dallas Stars lineup stocked with depth players, many of whom are on their way to the American Hockey League this weekend, the Oilers were soundly defeated 4-0.

They closed out the pre-season with a record of 5-2-1.

“That’s not going to happen again,” said Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins. “I let the players know that is their free pass. If that was Oct. 1, I would have shortened that bench down fast.

“(But) sometimes it’s good that you get a good kick in the butt leading into the season.”

The Oilers should have rolled over the Stars given the disparity in the two lineups. Edmonton sent out a group that will look a lot like the team that makes its debut in Rexall Place next week against the Winnipeg Jets while the Stars sent out their first-choice roster one night earlier in Dallas.

Before a crowd of 8,841, the underdog Stars struck first, with a bad angle shot from Austin Smith that eluded Devan Dubnyk midway through the first period.

He atoned for that early in the second with a pad save on Antoine Roussel but had no defence for Luke Gazdic’s wrist shot on a three-on-one.

Vernon Fiddler, on Dubnyk’s doorstep, batted in a puck midway through the third.

In an attempt to spark something, Eakins pulled Dubnyk and sent out an extra attacker with eight minutes left on the clock.

Brett Ritchie shovelled in an empty-net goal to ratchet the Stars lead to 4-0.

“We couldn’t get any shots five-on-five, and it was 3-0. What’s the difference if it’s 4-0? If you can get a goal you can usually put them on their heels,” said Eakins, who pegged his goaltender’s game as average at best.

“That first goal can’t go in. He knows that. He’s a competitive kid.”

Dubnyk wasn’t going to put much stock into the end result. Instead, he said it was the end of the pre-season and that it wasn’t a big deal.

“I’m not too concerned about it. We’ll be fine,” said Dubnyk, who faced 28 shots.

Stars goaltender Dan Ellis made 20 saves for the shutout.

“For some reason, we didn’t want to shoot the puck, put pucks on nets,” said Eakins. “A good lesson for our team.

“I have a couple of assistant coaches in there that are about to climb the wall with anger. All I said was that, ‘Hey, it’s good that it happened. It’s good to let our team know that our diapers do stink.

“That’s not going to happen again.”

Taylor Hall, and his linemates Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth, were on the ice for three of the goals.

“We left a lot on the table, especially against a roster that didn’t have their regular guys. They battled really hard. They played well against us, give them props for that,” said Hall. “But I thought we created a lot of problems on our own.

“The ice wasn’t the greatest but you just have to try to get pucks to the net and keep things simple. We didn’t do that. The good news is that the next game means a lot. It’s going to be a relief to get into the (regular-season) mindset.

“As soon as that puck drops everything is going to matter.”

Oil drops — Steve MacIntyre, whom the Oilers picked up on waivers earlier this week, didn’t even make it to the second intermission. He went to lay a hit and ended up hobbling off the ice with a knee injury. He’ll be evaluated in Edmonton ... David Perron, who was to go out for a test run with Nail Yakupov and Boyd Gordon, was a late scratch (illness). Ryan Hamilton drew in instead.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Cult of Hockey: Fourth-line NHL units can be looked at for offence

David Staples

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers have smartly addressed a major depth issue on the team’s defence but have failed to address a second big issue at centre.

That’s certainly what the vast majority of Oilers fans believe heading into the new season. In an online poll at The Cult of Hockey this week, when fans were asked if the Oilers needed to bring in another depth centre, 82 per cent of them voted yes.

The level of fan anxiety is high around the team’s fourth line, mainly because it’s made up of either American Hockey League types (Will Acton, Ryan Hamilton, Ben Eager) or players known more for their punching than their playing (Steve MacIntyre and Mike Brown).

The worry is understandable. Last year, there was an ongoing, corrosive depth problem at centre, especially after Shawn Horcoff was injured at the start of the year and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was injured at the end. Adequate replacements were never found.

The same issues came up on defence. The good news is that Anton Belov, the Oilers signing from the KHL, looks like he can be a more than adequate depth defenceman. In fact, based on his pre-season play (a small window in which to judge), Belov looks like he might well be a top-four defencemen with the Oilers. He plays the game with skill and confidence, as well as with a bit of a hard edge.

The team also has two smaller, skilled defencemen, Phil Larsen and Taylor Fedun (Fedun’s now in Oklahoma City) and two more marginal vets, Corey Potter and Denis Grebeshkov, along with veteran stalwart Nick Schultz, from which to fashion a solid bottom pairing.

At centre, there’s some good news in that Mark Arcobello looks like he can be a strong enough replacement for injured Sam Gagner on the second line, at least in the short term. Arcobello played strong two-way hockey at the AHL level in the Calder Cup playoffs last year. He’s got an excellent shot and can pass the puck, but is small and a bit slow by NHL standards. In Oklahoma City, however, when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins travelled to Russia to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships last December, Arcobello did a credible job replacing him on the top line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

But on the fourth line, Will Acton, 26, looks much like players such as Anton Lander and Chris Vande Velde, who struggled filling in at centre for the Oilers last season.

In the past two seasons, Acton has played 136 regular season AHL games and scored 15 goals with 20 assists for 35 points. That is 0.26 points per game.

In that same time, Lander played 61 AHL games with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points, 0.41 points per game.

Vande Velde played 125 games with 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points, 0.34 points per game.

In other words, Acton’s attacking play is inferior to what we’d expect from Lander or Vande Velde. Perhaps his defence will make up for that somewhat, but having him on the fourth lines looks like a reach.

If there is any consolation here, it is that as bad as the Oilers fourth line unit of Eric Belanger, Lennart Petrell and Ryan Jones was last season, some NHL teams still did well with fourth lines that were just about as weak.

When you look at the eight Western Conference teams that made the NHL playoffs last season, three of them had fourth lines that produced significantly more points than the Oilers ineffective trio, but the five other fourth lines had similar or worse production than the Oilers fourth line.

For example, Boston’s fourth line of Daniel Paille, Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell played a combined 139 games and put up 39 points, 0.27 points per game between them.

That’s better than the Oilers unit of Belanger, Jones and Petrell, which played 88 games and had 19 points between them, 0.22 per game.

But Chicago’s unit of Micheal Frolik, Marcus Kruger and Dan Carcillo was about the same as Edmonton’s unit, 0.23 points per game, and the fourth lines in Montreal, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Vancouver provided fewer points per game than the Edmonton fourth line.

Oilers fans can hope then that even with a deficient fourth line, the team has the overall talent to find its way into the playoffs.

David Staples



Edmonton Oilers set to roll out for final dress rehearsal

Staff Writer

September 27, 2013. 11:47 am

Oklahoma City – There will be some refining and polishing required between now and October 1 but when the Edmonton Oilers step onto the ice tonight at the Cox Convention Center, for a neutral site exhibition game against the Dallas Stars, it will be the last rehearsal for the club.

Head coach Dallas Eakins has elected to split up David Perron and Jordan Eberle, in the hopes of spreading the scoring over three lines but said after the morning skate that if it isn’t working he will not stick with it.

“(Eberle and Perron) have had great chemistry together,” he said. “That was one where you kind of lay at sleep at night wondering if you shouldn’t do that.

“If it’s not going the way I like, I’m just going to flip them back together. That’s the great thing about exhibition games, we can fool around with it now so that we don’t have to fool around with it later.”

Goaltender Devan Dubnyk will go the distance with the line combinations and defensive pairings to look like this:

Smyth-Hall-Hemsky

Joensuu-Arcobello-Eberle

Perron-Gordon-Yakupov

MacIntyre-Acton-Brown

Belov-J Schultz

Smid-Petry

N. Scultz-Larsen

“I want to see if these lines are going to work,” continued Eakins. “I have a good feel for Hall’s line but will try something a little different with Arcobello and Gordon and I think we have a good feel for our pairs but we want to get another look at Larsen.

The Stars played a home game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and sent out their A team for that tilt, so the likes of Tyler Seguin, Erik Cole, Kari Lehtonen and former Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff will not play against the Oilers.



Former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ryan Whitney still unemployed after St. Louis Blues say goodbye

September 27, 2013. 12:59 pm

Jim Matheson

The St. Louis Blues decided they would rather go with defenceman Ian Cole as their No. 7 guy than Ryan Whitney and released the former Edmonton Oilers blueliner from his tryout agreement Friday.

Cole has been on the cusp of regular work since he was a first-round draft pick there in 2007 — their second first-rounder after they took centre Lars Eller earlier. Whitney, whose contract ran out after a bumpy 2012-2013 season, now goes back onto the crowded UFA list. He won’t get a look elsewhere unless a team runs into injury problems, most likely

The Blues arguably have one of the top three defences in the NHL with Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo, Canadian Olympic hopefuls on the first pair, possible US Sochi competitor Kevin Shattenkirk and Jordan Leopold on a second pair and tough-nosed Barret Jackman and Roman Polak as the third tag-team.

Another Oiler UFA Tom Gilbert is still in St. Louis on a tryout and closer to getting a contract with the much-weaker Florida Panthers defence and the shaky medical status of Ed Jovanovski, coming off hip surgery. Gilbert will likely stick in Florida unless somebody comes available on the waiver wire this weekend.

***

The Flyers sent Austrian forward Michael Raffl to the minors, likely opening the door for ex Oiler centre Chris VandeVelde to start the season, unless they like Ty McGinn better. VandeVelde is one of surprises anywhere as NHL teams cut down.



Last season's struggles behind him, Ryan Smyth starts year on Oilers top line

Robert Tychkowski


OKLAHOMA CITY - From labouring on the fourth line to helping anchor the first? It seems odd that a 37-year-old player got better with time, but the Ryan Smyth we’re watching in training camp doesn’t look at all like the player who struggled to keep up last year.

A lot of people wondered if there would be room for Smyth on a team vowing to be better than it was last year, but there he is, not at all out of place on the left side with Taylor Hall and Ales Hemsky.

“It’s worked out well so far and we want to continue that,” said the Oilers veteran, who looks like his off-season workout schedule is agreeing with him. “I’ve felt good. I had one conversation with the coach, came in with a clean slate and I’m enjoying myself. I’m a guy who competes and I want to earn my spot.”

And so far he has.

What’s the difference between this year and last? Smyth isn’t blaming the lack of a real training camp or pre-season because of the lockout, but admits it wasn’t his best work. He managed just two goals in 47 games and didn’t play 48 because he was a healthy scratch as an Oiler for the first time since his teenage days here.

“I felt good last year, and at points I fell off. I also played a different position (centre) so it was a confusing year for me. But it’s behind me.”

So are his best years, but he’s showing, early on at least, that he can still contribute in a meaningful way.

“This is great, this is awesome,” he said of the rebirth. “I’m getting an opportunity and I’m trying to take full advantage of it.

“I know the game, I understand the game. I know that I can be an impactful player offensively and defensively.”

Even when a lot of people thought those days were over.

“It looks like a lot of people would be wrong,” said head coach Dallas Eakins, adding Smyth’s place in the top six will be there as long as he deserves it. “Every player we start with on opening night, they have a job until they fall off. That’s the challenge, when you’ve got something good going, you have to make it last as long as you can.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Edmonton Oilers shut out by Dallas Stars farm team

Robert Tychkowski


OKLAHOMA CITY - You know what the O stands for in OKC?

Yup, the number of goals the Edmonton Oilers were able to score Friday night against what amounted to the Dallas Stars farm team.

In a rather ignominious end to what had been a pretty good pre-season, the Oilers were no match for a bunch of guys in Dallas uniforms, losing 4-0 in front of 8,841 disappointed fans at the Cox Convention Centre in Oklahoma City.

In the end, the Oilers travelled a long way not to show up.

“I have a couple of assistant coaches in there who are about to climb the wall with anger,” head coach Dallas Eakins said after the humbling was complete.

“All I said is that it’s good that it happened. It’s good to let our team know that our diapers do stink.

“But that’s not going to happen again. I let the players know that that’s their free pass. If this was October I would have shortened that bench down fast and the guys who weren’t doing what was asked of them would have been on the bench.

“That’s their free one, and sometimes it’s good that you get a good kick in the butt leading up to the season.”

They got one, all right — outshot 29-20 and outworked by a larger margin than that by a Dallas team that didn’t have Tyler Seguin, Erik Cole, Jamie Benn, Shawn Horcoff, Sergei Goncher, Trevor Daley and Kari Lehtonen, to name a few.

“I think we left a lot on the table,” said Taylor Hall. “Especially against a roster that isn’t really regular guys. They battled really hard and played well against us, give them props for that. But I thought we created a lot of problems on our own.”

Indeed, which is kind of unsettling for Oilers fans considering their side pretty much iced its full team. Maybe, hopefully, they were just trying to get this game out of the way, looking ahead and trying to stay healthy for the home opener?

“That can’t be an excuse, it’s unacceptable,” said Jordan Eberle. “The guys in here are professionals, we want to compete. We just didn’t create enough to score. We lost 4-0. It’s tough win games when you don’t score a goal.”

Dallas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a sharp-angle goal that Devan Dubnyk shouldn’t have let in, then took a 2-0 lead in the second period when tough guy Luke Gadzic put one between Dubnyk’s arm and body.

“Average at best,” said Eakins, when asked to assess Dubnyk’s night. “That first goal can’t go in, and he knows that. I know he wants it back, he’s a competitive kid. Then he made some big saves for us along the way, too. Average night.”

Dubnyk wasn’t too caught up in the results of Edmonton’s final warm-up before the season opener.

“It’s the end of pre-season, it’s not a big deal,” he said. “I’m not too concerned about it, we’ll be fine come Tuesday.”

They put it away for good in the third period when Vern Fiddler roofed one into the top corner for the 3-0 lead.

It got interesting for a while in the third when Eakins pulled Dubnyk — with eight minutes left — resulting in the 4-0 goal into the empty net.

“I like that,” Eberle said of the tactic. “It shows that we’re not giving up. You win a faceoff there, make it 3-1 with eight minutes left, and it changes the game. I’ve definitely never seen it, but I like the approach.”

MAC BOOKED: Steve MacIntyre left the game in the second period with a knee injury after trying to put a big hit on Gadzic. He’ll be assessed when they get back to Edmonton. David Perron was a late scratch after becoming ill during the day.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718249 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers new owner Vincent Viola: ‘We will win here’

GEORGE RICHARDS

Vincent Viola said he met with the NHL commissioner for lunch a few weeks ago to discuss buying one of Gary Bettman’s hockey teams. The Panthers, Bettman said, were a perfect fit.

Viola’s pursuit of the Panthers didn’t take long, as he was introduced as the new owner of the franchise at a news conference at BB&T Center in Sunrise on Friday morning.

Bettman, who flew in from Los Angeles after his outdoor game news conference at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, said Viola’s purchase of the team would put to rest any talk of the Panthers leaving South Florida “forever.”

The Panthers have a lease with Broward County through 2028, but the team’s struggles on and off the ice during the past decade-plus have led to talk that the Panthers could be on the move. That, Bettman said, was never the case.

“The rumor and speculation about the franchise has been overdone,” Bettman said. “The fact is, Vinnie comes in with an energy and an excitement and a commitment of resources. He wants to take this club to another level.

“This is great news for the fans of the Florida Panthers. People should not be worried about the future of the Panthers being anywhere but here in South Florida. People should be focused on the commitment to winning.”

Viola, 57, is a native of Brooklyn and a graduate of West Point. There was a color guard presenting colors before the introductory news conference, with Viola singing the Star-Spangled Banner loudly from the dais. It didn’t take Viola long to snap an Army pin onto his new Panthers jersey.

The chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial, Viola said he and his family will soon take up residence in South Florida. He and his family — which include wife Teresa and sons John, Michael and Travis — have long vacationed in the area.

Viola’s three sons are all hockey fans and will be active within the franchise.

“We are very blessed and understand the stewardship of ownership a sports franchise,” Viola said. “We don’t really own anything. The players sweat, sacrificing their health in later years to provide the right feeling for the fans. It’s about the players and the fans and our service to those respective groups will determine our success.

“We are firmly committed to South Florida. My wife has commanded we move here, so we are moving here.”

The $230 million pricetag includes everything under the Florida Panthers umbrella, including: the NHL team; the operating agreement with the Broward County-owned BB&T Center; the three-sheet Iceplex in Coral Springs; and the rights to develop nine acres surrounding the arena.

Michael Yormark, who was promoted to CEO of the organization, continues to work in trying to land a “destination” casino on the arena land. The team had previously announced a partnership with Boyd Gaming to work on expanding gambling in Florida.

Viola wouldn’t go into specifics about the future development of the arena land, saying he was going to concentrate on making the hockey team more successful on the ice.

"We’re all about hockey and are very singularly focused people,’’ Viola said. "That’s what we’re about, the Florida Panthers. We will do everything we can and we will win here. We’re excited about that.’’

General manager Dale Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen spoke of how having Viola willing to spend money on the Panthers will make their jobs a little easier. Florida’s management team is expected to remain in place, at least for now. Dineen and the rest of his coaching staff are signed through the end of this season.

"It’s a great day for us,’’ Dineen said. "[Viola] was able to go in and talk to our players and I think he made an immediate impact. It’s a real positive. It’s a new day and there’s a lot of excitement around the franchise.’’

The effects of the new ownership have already been felt. On Thursday, the Panthers signed goalie Tim Thomas to a one-year deal with a base salary of $2.5 million after not spending much money during the summer when the team was up for sale. Florida is also expected to sign Brad Boyes and Tom Gilbert to new contracts.

Viola said Friday that he was committed to giving the Panthers “the resources needed to win the Stanley Cup,” which brought a smile to Tallon’s face.

“I believe in what he believes in,” said Tallon, the architect of Chicago’s 2010 championship team.

"He’s committed to putting a winning team out there on the ice. That’s all I can ask for. We’re going to get terrific commitment from him and that’s exciting. The fact I can go to them and say ’this is what we need, what are your thoughts?’ is important. That’s the support we need to fix whatever we need fixed.’’

The Panthers were previously controlled by Cliff Viner and a multitude of minor partners, including local heavyweights H. Wayne Huizenga, Alan Cohen, Mike Maroone and Jordan Zimmerman. They were all bought out by Viola. Viola owns a majority of the franchise now, with only longtime business partner Douglas Cifu joining him. Cifu is the new vice chairman and alternate governor of the Panthers.

"He has an aura about him,’’ said Thomas, who joined a handful of teammates at Friday’s press conference. "He breeds confidence. He’s a leader and I’m very happy to be coming into the organization as he is. It’s awesome. It’s one of the things I’m excited about. I’m excited about the whole direction of what’s going on around here.’’

Huizenga was awarded the expansion team on Dec. 10, 1992, for $50 million. The team, which played at Miami Arena from 1993 to ’98, has changed hands a few times, with Huizenga holding onto a small piece of the team throughout. Huizenga, along with the rest of Florida’s ownership team, was bought out by Viola.

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.28.2013


Viola introduced as owner of the Florida Panthers

TIM REYNOLDS

Vincent Viola's first event as owner of the Florida Panthers opened in a manner worthy of a West Point graduate like himself, with a color guard presenting a U.S. flag and an Army sergeant singing the national anthem.

Viola sang along and clapped at the end. His enthusiasm was evident, as he hopes it will be in his new role.

Viola was formally introduced as the Panthers' principal owner, chairman and governor on Friday, after spending $250 million for the team and the operating rights to the BB&T Center, where Florida plays its home games.

"We understand the privilege of the stewardship that ownership of a sports franchise really means," Viola said. "We don't really own anything. The players sweat, sacrifice their health in later years to do well on the ice, to provide the right feeling and connection to the fans. It's about the players and the fans and our service to those two respective groups that will determine our success. I really, truly believe that."

Viola also gets the Saveology.com Iceplex where the Panthers train, along with team's development partnership with Boyd Gaming, an effort to put a casino adjacent to that arena. His acquisition of the Panthers happened quickly, starting about a month ago when he asked NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to have lunch.

"A very nice lunch," Bettman said.

Must have been, since Viola didn't wait around to complete the deal. He and his family — his sons are hockey-mad — plan to relocate to South Florida soon, and Viola said he's already assured general manager Dale Tallon that any resources the team needs to move closer to the ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup will be available.

As part of the deal, Douglas Cifu takes over as the Panthers' vice chairman, partner and alternate governor. Team president Michael Yormark was promoted, now getting chief executive officer as part of his title.

"When you think back at the 20-year history of this team ... there has been one constant," Bettman said. "South Florida has always been an important, terrific hockey market for us and we've had passionate, loyal fans for the Florida Panthers. Well, today, we open a new chapter."

Viola is the chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm with offices in the U.S., Singapore and Ireland. He's taking over a franchise that has been to the playoffs only once since 2000 and finished with the fewest points in the NHL last season.

Then again, his resume shows he's never hidden from a challenge.

Viola is a graduate of West Point, once chaired the New York Mercantile Exchange and was so moved by the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks that he decided to found a center devoted to helping military officials combat terrorism. Viola helped ensure that the mercantile exchange reopened quickly after the attacks on the World Trade Center, earning him a citation saying in part that "his actions embody the American Spirit in its most noble form."

"With Vinnie as the principal owner, we are going to be looking at an era where I think there will be unprecedented commitment," Bettman said. "Vinnie represents a focus and a determination to bring out excellence, commitment, hard work, teamwork, and he'll make sure that the resources that this club needs — not only to be competitive, but to be a winning, successful team — will be available to the club and to the players."

Viola said he has a long hockey background, as a fan. The Brooklyn native was a New York Rangers fan going back to the early 1960s, when he couldn't afford a good seat at their games, or really one that allowed him any decent view of the ice.

Eventually, his seat kept getting better.

And he said watching the Panthers at the end of last season provided him with the intuition that the time was right to call Bettman and start thinking about getting a view from an owners' suite.

"It's poised to win," Viola said of the Panthers. "And I'm committed."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/27/v-print/3654348/viola-introduced-as-owner-of-the.html#storylink=cpy



PANTHERS NOTEBOOK: Final Preseason Game Looms as Roster Is Finalized

Staff Writer

When asked what he was looking to get out of Saturday's preseason finale against the visiting Lightning at BB&T Center, Dineen's focus was clear.

"I'm looking for a win,'' said Dineen, whose team has dropped its past four preseason games -- including two straight in overtime to the Lightning.

"I've liked some snapshots in every single game but I was really disappointed in that game [Thursday]. We played well, had some good moments. But there are differences between just going out there and working toward the regular season and finding that winning mentality. That's something we're going to demand. That was a winnable game and we didn't do it. We want to finish strong.''

As in the NFL, the final preseason game is one last shot for a number of players on the bubble to show they belong on the opening day roster. Unlike in football, a good number of starters will play the entirety of Saturday's game.

As far as roster battles go, a few spots have already been lost. On Friday, the Panthers sent forward Quinton Howden to their AHL affiliate in San Antonio and placed forward Bobby Butler on waivers. If Butler passes through, as expected, he will be assigned to San Antonio as well.

With the moves, Florida now has 27 players on its roster with at least four moves to be made by next week. The Panthers are expected to place defenseman Ed Jovanovski, goalie Scott Clemmensen, center Nick Bjugstad and winger Sean Bergenheim on the injured list -- meaning theoretically Florida's 23-man roster is set.

Only there will be plenty of players coming across the waiver wire in the coming days and the Panthers may do a little shopping over the weekend.

"We're going to take a look and see what's available,'' general manager Dale Tallon said. "We're going to pursue whatever is out there that will make us a better team. I'm looking everywhere. We want to get better.''

-- Goalie Tim Thomas said he felt good after playing 30-plus minutes on Thursday night in Estero. Thomas gave up one goal on 10 shots against the Lightning. It was Thomas' first game action since a Boston playoff loss to Washington on April 25, 2012.

Thomas is expected to play Saturday as well.

-- Forward Brad Boyes, Thomas' one-time teammate in Boston, said he hopes to have a deal with the team done in the coming days. Tallon said something would likely be completed by the weekend.

Boyes, who has 407 points in 606 NHL games, is in camp on a try out.

SATURDAY: LIGHTNING AT PANTHERS

When, where: 7 p.m.; BB&T Center, Sunrise

Radio: WQAM-560

The game: The Panthers and Lightning meet for the third time in a week with Tampa Bay winning the first two in overtime. Florida is 2-1-3 in the preseason; the Lightning has won five of six.



TAKING OVER IN SUNRISE: Vinnie Viola Purchases Florida Panthers

G. Richards

Vincent Viola said he met with the NHL commissioner for lunch a few weeks ago to discuss buying one of Gary Bettman's hockey teams. The Florida Panthers, Bettman said, were a perfect fit.

Viola's pursuit of the Panthers didn't take long as he was introduced as the new owner of the franchise at a press conference at the BB&T Center in Sunrise on Friday morning.

Bettman, who flew in from Los Angeles after his outdoor game press conference at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, said Viola's purchase of the team would put to rest any talk of the Panthers leaving South Florida "forever."

The Panthers have a lease with Broward County through 2028 although the team's struggles on and off the ice over the past decade-plus has led to talk the Panthers could be on the move. That, Bettman said, was never the case.

"The rumor and speculation about the franchise has been overdone,'' Bettman said. "The fact is, Vinnie comes in with an energy and an excitement and a commitment of resources. He wants to take this club to another level.

"This is great news for the fans of the Florida Panthers. People should not be worried about the future of the Panthers being anywhere but here in South Florida. People should be focused on the commitment to winning.''

Viola, 57, is a native of Brooklyn and a graduate of West Point. There was a color guard presenting colors before the introductory press conference with Viola singing the Star-Spangled Banner loudly from the dais. It didn't take Viola long to snap an Army pin onto his new Panthers jersey.

The chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial, Viola said he and his family will soon take up residence in South Florida. He and his family -- which include wife Teresa and sons John, Michael and Travis -- have long vacationed in the area.

Viola's three sons are all hockey fans and will be active within the franchise.

"We are very blessed and understand the stewardship of ownership of a sports franchise,'' Viola said. "We don't really own anything. The players' sweat, sacrificing their health in later years to provide the right feeling for the fans. It's about the players and the fans and our service to those respective groups will determine our success.

"We are firmly committed to South Florida. My wife has commanded we move here, so we are moving here.''

The $230 million pricetag includes everything under the Florida Panthers umbrella including: The NHL team; the operating agreement with the Broward County-owned BB&T Center; the three-sheet Iceplex in Coral Springs; and the rights to develop nine acres surrounding the arena.

Michael Yormark, who was promoted to CEO of the organization, continues to work in trying to land a "destination" casino on the arena land. The team had previously announced a partnership with Boyd Gaming to work on expanding gambling in Florida.

Viola wouldn't go into specifics about the future development of the arena land saying he was going to concentrate on making the hockey team more successful on the ice.

"We're all about hockey and are very singularly focused people,'' Viola said. "That's what we're about, the Florida Panthers. We will do everything we can and we will win here. We're excited about that.''

General manager Dale Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen both spoke of how having Viola willing to spend money on the Panthers made their jobs a little easier. Florida's management team is expected to remain in place at least for now.

Dineen and the rest of his coaching staff are signed through the end of this season.

"It's a great day for us,'' Dineen said. "[Viola] was able to go in and talk to our players and I think he made an immediate impact. It's a real positive. It's a new day and there's a lot of excitement around the franchise.''

The affects of the new ownership has already been felt.

On Thursday, the Panthers signed goalie Tim Thomas to a one-year deal with a base salary of $2.5 million after not spending much money during the summer as the team was up for sale. Florida is also expected to sign Brad Boyes and Tom Gilbert to new contracts in the coming days.

Viola said Friday that he was committed to give the Panthers "the resources needed to win the Stanley Cup.'' That brought a smile to Tallon's face.

"I believe in what he believes in,'' said Tallon, the architect of Chicago's 2010 championship team.

"He's committed to putting a winning team out there on the ice. That's all I can ask for. We're going to get terrific commitment from him and that's exciting. The fact I can go to them and say 'this is what we need, what are your thoughts?' is important. That's the support we need to fix whatever we need fixed.''

The Panthers were controlled by Cliff Viner and a multitude of minor partners including local heavyweights H. Wayne Huizenga, Alan Cohen, Mike Maroone and Jordan Zimmerman. They were all bought out by Viola.

Viola owns a majority of the franchise now, with only longtime business partner Douglas Cifu joining him. Cifu is the new Vice President and alternate governor of the Panthers.

"He has an aura about him,'' said Thomas, who joined a handful of teammates at Friday's press conference. "He breeds confidence. He's a leader and I'm very happy to be coming into the organization as he is. It's awesome. It's one of the things I'm excited about. I'm excited about the whole direction of what's going on around here.'

PANTHERS OWNERSHIP

H. Wayne Huizenga was awarded an NHL expansion team on Dec. 10, 1992 for $50 million. The team, which played at Miami Arena from 1993-98, has changed hands a few times with Huizenga holding onto a small piece of the team throughout.

Huizenga, along with the rest of Florida's ownership team, was bought out by Vinnie Viola on Friday.

On June 5, 2001, a group of eight investors -- led by Alan Cohen -- purchases the team from Huizenga's Boca Resorts. Cohen would control the team until 2009 when Cliff Viner and Stu Siegel become co-managing partners of the team.

On July 23, 2010, Viner becomes the sole managing partner of the team -- a role he holds until selling the team to Viola.



Panthers draw inspiration from new owner, new goalie and returning pieces

Harvey Fialkov

6:38 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2013

SUNRISE —

In a whirlwind span of 15 hours the Panthers gained instant stability with the introduction of a determined, owner with deep pockets, the preseason return of two of their top scoring forwards and the solid debut of a two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender.

About 30 minutes after dapper new owner Vincent Viola was introduced in a news conference held in posh Club Red in the BB&T Center on Friday morning, he went to the Panthers locker room where he delivered a fiery speech depicting his personal journey of success.

No one was more impressed than newly signed goalie Tim Thomas, who despite not playing in a game in 17 months, stopped nine of 10 shots in 1 1/2 periods in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Lightning in Estero's Germain Arena.

"[Viola] has an aura about him. He breeds confidence from my perspective,'' said Thomas, 39, whose one-year incentive-laden deal starting at $2.5 million was approved by the league just two hours before game time. "He's a leader and I'm very happy to be coming into the organization the same time he is. … I'm excited about the whole direction of everything that's going on here.''

Kris Versteeg, who had 54 points to help the Panthers snap their 10-season playoff drought in 2011-12, but just four points in 10 games last season before sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament, returned to the ice for the first time in six months.

"Obviously, it's a little sore, that just comes with the territory. I was excited with how I felt throughout the entire game,'' Versteeg said. "I had my mobility, too, so that was the biggest part.''

Versteeg is also pumped by the addition of a Stanley Cup champion goalie in net and an owner who will allow General Manager Dale Tallon to pay for top-tier talent, something he wasn't allowed to do this past summer with the budget basically frozen.

"He told a story today that was inspirational, about how he came from nothing and made himself into who he is today, a pretty successful person,'' Versteeg said of Viola. "It definitely gives all the players a little more bounce in their step when he talks about taking care of everyone and doing it the right way.''

Jonathan Huberdeau, 20, who seems to have a flair for the dramatic, began his second season with two power-play goals in his first game back after recovering from hip surgery.

"It felt really good; I was anxious in my first game in five months but it went pretty well and I want to build on that,'' said Huberdeau, who had a goal and two assists in his first NHL game.

Both coach Kevin Dineen and Tallon were all smiles while listening to Viola talk about supplying the needed "resources to accomplish your mission.''

"It's a great day for us, my job just got easier,'' said Dineen, who along with team president Michael Yormark and Tallon visited Viola in New York. "His expectations are extremely high, and he expects an honest day's work.''

Roster pared

The Panthers sent goalie Michael Houser and forward Quinton Howden to San Antonio. They also placed forward Bobby Butler on waivers.

The roster contains 22 healthy bodies, including forward Brad Boyes and defenseman Tom Gilbert, veterans on performance tryouts who Tallon indicated would be signed this weekend.

It appears that versatile fourth-line forward Jesse Winchester will make the opening-night roster, however, Tallon said he's still searching for depth on the blue line and for, "whatever makes us better,'' when Monday's waiver list comes out. …

Dineen didn't commit to starting Thomas in Saturday night's preseason finale against the Lightning at home.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 09.28.2013


New Panthers owner 'committed to winning' and ready to ante up

Craig Davis

6:38 PM EDT, September 27, 2013

SUNRISE

New Florida Panthers owner Vincent "Vinnie" Viola said he has one objective in mind and is willing to do what it takes to make it happen.

"We are committed to provide the resources to the Florida Panthers necessary to win the Stanley Cup."

Viola, a Brooklyn native who rooted for the Rangers since 1963, pointed to Thursday's signing of veteran goalie Tim Thomas as the first example of his vow to enable General Manager Dale Tallon to acquire the pieces needed to turn the long-struggling franchise into a winner.

Thomas and many of his new teammates were in attendance as Viola was introduced Friday at the BB&T Center, in addition to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who expressed confidence that the new ownership will provide the Panthers with the stability needed to succeed in South Florida.

"If anybody ever had a concern about the franchise — and they shouldn't have — there's no reason to have one now," Bettman said of a team that has been to the playoffs once since 2000. "With the commitment to winning Vinnie has expressed to everybody today, fans should be very excited about the future."

Viola said he believes "the team is extremely well positioned. There is a deep well of young talent that I think is in a great market for hockey.

"We're going to win. Put the word out, we're going to win."

In addition to commitment, the prevailing theme of Viola's first day as owner was family. He said his sons John, Michael and Travis will ultimately have roles in the team's future. Travis, 25, is a serious hockey fan; he and older brother John were batboys for the New York Yankees.

"This is a family business and it's a long-term commitment. The objective is for my sons to succeed to the active management of this company," Viola said, adding, "If not for my son Travis we would not be here. He's been the keeper of my hockey passion."

As for how his New York roots will affect his allegiance now: "I'm a Panthers fan through and through."

Part of that commitment, Viola and his wife Teresa plan to buy a home in Broward County, and he will commute to his businesses in New York and Texas. They already own a condo in West Palm Beach, and Teresa spent summers with grandparents in Pompano Beach while growing up.

"My parents lived out their retirement here. We've always been New Yorkers who were partly Floridians. It's a familiar story," Viola said.

The former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and now CEO of the high-frequency electronic trading firm Virtu Financial has launched a number of successful businesses. He graduated from West Point, served in the 101st Airborne Division and was instrumental in founding the Combating Terrorism Center following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Viola, 57, paid $250 million, according to a source familiar with the transaction, for the team and operating rights to the BB&T Center from a group headed by South Florida businessman Cliff Viner that took ownership in 2009.

Viola is principal owner of the Panthers and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. Douglas Cifu, Viola's long-time business partner, also has a financial interest in the team and is vice chairman. Team President Michael Yormark was promoted to Chief Executive Officer and will continue to oversee the business side of the operation.

Viola, a former minority owner of the New Jersey Nets before the NBA franchise moved to Brooklyn, expressed his interest in the Panthers about six weeks ago during lunch with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that was arranged by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The deal came together quickly and was approved Monday by NHL's Board of Governors.

Viola said he will be a visible, accessible and active owner, but "I don't see myself suggesting draft picks and trades. That's not what I do. … My whole life has been about building organizations.

"This is a long-term investment for the long term. This is the first season in a process."

The Panthers are the third NHL team to change ownership in the past two months, along with Phoenix and New Jersey. Viola's son John said the family focused on the Panthers, both due to their interest in relocating to South Florida and because of the opportunity to shape a young franchise. Other aspects of the arena operation were also appealing.

"We can build a whole culture around this place. This is a destination in itself," said John Viola, who heads the National Italian American Foundation. "What better than being able to affect the community in a positive way."

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 09.28.2013

718255 Los Angeles Kings

Kings lean on stars in 4-1 win over Rangers

Staff Writer

11:23 PM PDT, September 27, 2013

LAS VEGAS — Anze Kopitar scored 15 seconds into the game Friday night, and the Kings went on to a 4-1 preseason victory over the New York Rangers at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Trevor Lewis also scored for the Kings (3-2-1), who led, 3-1, after the first period.

Carter and Richards each scored on the power play in the first. Carter also assisted on Richards' goal.

J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers (1-5), who played their fourth game in five nights, closing their western preseason trip. They open the regular season Thursday at Phoenix.

Jonathan Quick had 22 saves for the Kings, who finish the preseason tonight against Colorado in Las Vegas and start the regular season Thursday at Minnesota.

Henrik Lundqvist finished with 29 stops for New York.

LA Times: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Postgame quotes: Sutter, Doughty, Kopitar, Nolan

Staff Writer

Darryl Sutter, on the quick start:

Well, we play 60 minutes. Try and win a period at a time, a shift at a time. He made a good play. Robyn, Drew, Willie, Kopi.

Sutter, on whether it’s encouraging to have a strong special teams performance so close to the season:

Well, we’ve been working on our power play. Obviously we want to pick up where we left off last year with our power play, and we want to stay out of the penalty box. If you combine those two things, it sure helps your penalty kill.

Sutter, on Drew Doughty wearing an “A”:

Higher expectations of Drew.

Sutter, on one preseason game remaining:

Still getting guys game-ready. A lot of guys that aren’t. Again, I’m not really interested in the outcome. I’m more interested in the input. Got some guys that have got a lot of work to do still.

Drew Doughty, on what wearing an “A” on his jersey means:

I love it. It seems like I’m kind of down the line to ever be one of those with this team, just because we have so much veteran presence and experience on the team. But whether I’m wearing it or not, I’ve really stepped up my leadership abilities, and I’m definitely a leader on this team whether or not I have that on my sweater. To have it is an honor, and I definitely want to be a guy that wears it one day.

Doughty, on whether Darryl talked to him before giving him the “A”:

No, I just showed up, and it was on my jersey. The boys were kind of chirping me a little bit, but I loved it. Like I said, whether or not I wear it, I’ll take on that role, and I know that this team needs me to be that leader.

Doughty, on his excitement to finally start the season:

I’m pretty excited to get this last one played and get the season going. That’s what what we work all summer, we work all training camp to do, is to get that season rolling and play that first game, play that home opener. The guys are really excited.

Doughty, on the special teams performance:

Yeah, for sure. To be a good team this year, you need to have good special teams. Our PK was great. It hasn’t been very good so far this preseason, but tonight we didn’t let ‘em score any. That’s huge for us. Confidence is the number one thing on power play and penalty kill, so we’re off on the right foot on both.

Anze Kopitar, on the amount of emphasis the team placed on having a strong start:

I mean, we always want to have a strong start. Some starts are better than others. Tonight, I don’t think you could draw it any better, really. It was pretty quick, but always when you get the first goal in the game, it’s helpful. Tonight it just happened a little earlier.

Kopitar, on his early goal and Drew Doughty wearing an “A”:

Kopitar, on whether the game was a good indication of where the team wants to be:

I think we’re on the right path, yeah. I mean, there’s still room for improvement. There’s still some stuff that you’ve got to sharpen up. But I think we’re on the right track and should be fine.

Jordan Nolan, on making several big hits and carrying the team identity:

Yeah, before the game, Darryl kind of tells everyone to ‘find their game,’ and get ready for the regular season. For me to be successful, I have to be aggressive and play physical, and that’s just what I’m trying to do out there.

Nolan, on playing with younger players:

You know, it doesn’t change the way I play. I still try to be physical always, just knowing I have two pretty skilled kids on my line, and if I get open, I know where they’re going to find me. We generated a little bit tonight. We had a few chances, and I thought we played good.

Nolan, on whether the team is “itching” for the regular season to start:

I think so. I think the boys are ready to get the season going. It’s right around the corner. So one more game here tomorrow, and then I think the guys will be pretty excited for that.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.28.2013


With the series extended, Kings weigh in on Frozen Fury experience

Staff Writer

What has happened in Vegas will stay in Vegas. The Kings and MGM Grand reached an agreement to extend the Frozen Fury series through the 2016 preseason.

Though Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille described the agreement as an “easy decision” in a statement, saying “our fans flock to Vegas for these games and make an entire weekend out of it,” Darryl Sutter would like to see an adjustment in the schedule so that the team isn’t faced with a back-to-back set so close to the start of the season.

“I don’t like it being this late in camp,” he said. “It’s not the right situation, quite honest, because you have to declare a roster, and if we wouldn’t have gotten the first game of the season moved, we’d have been playing Tuesday. Playing back-to-back to finish so close to the regular season is not ideal.”

Otherwise, “as long as the ice is good,” Sutter didn’t have any qualms against the setting of the popular exhibition games.

“It was OK this morning, but we were only out there [briefly],” Jarret Stoll said of the ice condition. “It’ll be a little different tonight in the game. If they’re going to practice on it, and there’s something going on before the game, too, I think, so it’s going to be pretty chewed up, maybe, but it’s the same for both teams. You’ve just got to figure it out, keep things simple, don’t try to overpass or overthink.”

The players appear to enjoy the Frozen Fury experience, with Stoll stating that much of the team got together at a craps table on Thursday night. According to Tyler Toffoli, who first visited Las Vegas following the 2012-13 season, “I don’t think the craps table was too hot,” before recalling that he thought a couple players may have come out in the black.

For Stoll, it’s more about the camraderie. “It’s fun to just get everyone around.”

“If guys are winning, they’re rolling or whatever. I’m not much of a gambler, but it’s good to play a little bit, especially with your teammates. It’s fun. But we have to get ready for the season. There’s two games left, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re here for the right reasons, too, and get our game in shape and in order and go after it,” he said.

It’s “just like any other road trip,” according to Jake Muzzin – though one in which he was able to sit down at a slot machine for a few minutes with Dwight King.

“I don’t really know how to play [craps], so I just watch,” he said.

The excitement surrounding the event and the preparation for the season far outweighs any gambling associated with spending several days in Las Vegas, according to King.

“I’m not a cards player at all, actually. But it is obviously different. There’s no other place like this in the league, so it’s exciting,” King said. “Obviously guys who do play, I think a couple guys had some good luck last night, and some maybe not. But it’s a fun place to be.

The Kings have certainly had their share of luck at Frozen Fury.

Los Angeles is 10-3-2 all-time in Frozen Fury games, with tonight’s game against the New York Rangers marking only the third game that wasn’t contested against the Colorado Avalanche.

All-time Frozen Fury Results:

2012: Did Not Play

2011: KINGS 1 Colorado 4



2008: KINGS 3 Colorado 4 (SO)

2007: KINGS 3 Colorado 2 (SO)


2005: KINGS 1 Colorado 1 (OT)

2004: Did Not Play



2001: KINGS 4 San Jose 3


1999: KINGS 4 Phoenix 0


KINGS 4 Colorado 5

1997: KINGS 4 Colorado 3 (OT)



Friday: Notes, sights and sounds from Frozen Fury

Staff Writer

-Good afternoon from the 14th floor of the MGM Grand. At 7:30 p.m. tonight, the Los Angeles Kings take the ice at the MGM Grand Garden Arena against the New York Rangers in their penultimate preseason game and first game against an Eastern Conference opponent since June 11, 2012. Tonight’s game will be carried locally on KCOP 13 and nationally on the NHL Network, with the pre-game show beginning at 7:00. The radio broadcast will be carried by KTLK 1150 AM and I Heart Radio.

-The referees for tonights game will be Dennis LaRue and Rob Martell. The linesmen will be Don Henderson and Shane Heyer.

Payne

-Los Angeles’ projected lineup:

Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams

Matt Frattin – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter

Kyle Clifford – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis

Tanner Pearson – Linden Vey – Jordan Nolan

Robyn Regehr – Drew Doughty

Willie Mitchell – Slava Voynov

Alec Martinez – Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick

Mathieu Garon

-Jonathan Quick will “probably” go the distance, according to Darryl Sutter.

“Approaching it like a regular game now. He wants more game stuff, so see how it goes and how much work he gets,” Sutter said.

-Dustin Brown is expected to join the team later today following the birth of his daughter and is out tonight. A judgment of whether he’ll play Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche – he resumed skating on Monday after injuring his hamstring on the first day of training camp – will be made on Saturday.

-Jake Muzzin is wearing a knee brace that he claims does not limit him or cause any discomfort. He is also a candidate to play tomorrow after being put through a rigorous skate – “some aerobic work,” as Sutter described it – after tonight’s skaters left the ice.

“The knee felt good. It felt good. Just got to get used to this brace a little bit, but other than that, the knee felt good,” Muzzin said.

“We’ll see how it feels throughout the rest of the day. It was a pretty tough skate, so if it flares up or anything. But I should be all right.”

Mitchell2

Mitchell

-Tyler Toffoli is out of the lineup tonight, though Darryl Sutter has been complimentary of the young players remaining in camp, as well as center Nick Shore, who was loaned to the Manchester Monarchs earlier in the week.

“I think it started slow and has been getting better every day,” Toffoli said. “It’s obviously an adjustment going from the rookie camp to this camp. [It] just has been a little adjustment but I feel pretty good right now.”

The slow start Toffoli referenced was in regards to “the speed [and] the tempo,” which was has been raised following his participation in development camp and the rookie games against Anaheim.

“Obviously the practices are a lot harder than they were at rookie camp,” he said.

“I’ve said it from day one…those kids have all played really well for us,” Sutter said. “Even the Shore boy that we sent down – the only reason we sent him down was because he hasn’t had the experience of those guys. He’s right there with them.”

Linden Vey responded to some of the encouragement provided by Sutter and members of the team’s hockey operations, and what he’d like to continue to exhibit in the remaining exhibition games.

“I think it’s just the first couple games you play, you’re just trying to find your way out there. I think you feel more and more comfortable every game you play, and stuff like that. The biggest thing for us is we’ve got to play our game to the best. Obviously we’ve got to take care of all three zones, especially myself being the centerman. But like I said before, we just want to stick to our game and just keep working and take it day by day.”

He also spoke about his characteristics as a “distributor”…

…and about using his offensive smarts in the defensive zone.

-For a veteran’s account of where the team is at with less than one week before the start of the season, Jarret Stoll shared his thoughts.

“I think our last two games, the game in Anaheim we played I thought really well, and the game at home we maybe had a slow start a little bit and came on as the game progressed,” Stoll said.

“I think there’s some areas – our PK needs to get better. Our power play needs to be more simple. Shoot more, get more pucks to the net. A lot of things obviously happen because of that. So yeah, just special teams. Just bearing down.”

There’s still some room for fine tuning over the next five days, according to Dwight King.

“I mean, obviously, through the games you go through the process of sharpening up little things,” King said. Obviously the most things are when you’re tired, your decision making – the more you go through that repetition, it gets better. That’s…one big thing we’re all going through.”

As for his placement once Dustin Brown returns to the lineup, King said it hasn’t been determined who he’ll play with as the team looks to continue to raise the production out of the left wings.

“Obviously Brownie’s an elite forward in this league. There’s no denying that. I’m just playing where he puts for now, and just try to continue to play well so when Brownie comes back, I can easily transfer into a situation and play.”

-Andrew Bodnarchuk cleared waivers and was loaned to Manchester.

-New York will ice a mixed lineup that contains some high-end names as well as many younger players battling for roster spots. The Rangers fell to 1-4-0 in the preseason following last night’s loss in Vancouver, a game in which Henrik Lundqvist played two periods and allowed five goals on 17 shots.

The projected New York lineup, courtesy of Andrew Gross of the Bergen County Record:

Benoit Pouilot – Brad Richards – Rick Nash

J.T. Miller – Oscar Lindberg – Marek Hrivik

Chris Kreider – Brian Boyle – Jesper Fast

Brandon Mashinter – Darroll Powe – Arron Asham

John Moore – Anton Stralman

Michael Del Zotto – Stu Bickel

Justin Falk – Conor Allen

Henrik Lundqvist

Marty Biron

According to Gross, Lundqvist was “expected” to go the full 60 minutes last night, so at the moment it is unclear who will spend the majority of the time in net tonight; I’d be surprised to see Henrik start the game. Biron spelled Lundqvist and stopped the three shots he faced in Vancouver. Rick Nash (0-0=0, -5) and Brad Richards (0-0=0, -3) have been held scoreless in the three preseason games they’ve played.

-Adrian Dater of the Denver Post reports that Vegas will be getting Jiggy Saturday night.

Darryl Sutter, on his training camp impressions of Linden Vey and Tanner Pearson:

They’ve had good camps. Obviously they are comfortable with the coaches, comfortable with the team, and we made it pretty seamless for ‘em.

Linden Vey, on whether it’s a good reinforcement to know that those in hockey operations have been complementary of the young players:

Yeah, it is, and I think just playing together makes things so much easier, especially because we get along so good and our playing styles, I guess, match so well together that it just makes things so much easier when you’re going up a level and you’re kind of competing for spots and you’ve got guys on your line that you’ve already played with. It makes it a lot easier on the ice.

Tyler Toffoli, on what he plans on focusing on as the preseason winds down:

Just trying to work my hardest and do what I did last year and try and start the season here and just trying to earn my way on the roster.



Bettman on outdoor game novelty, “east coast bias,” relocation

Staff Writer

Gary Bettman, on whether there is a “threat of the novelty getting a little stale” with multiple outdoor games:

No, because first of all, it’s six games out of twelve hundred and thirty regular season games. Two, when you go to one of these games, if you haven’t been to one and you see what’s here, the reaction of the fans, the intensity, the emotion, the excitement is off the charts, and what we’re hearing from our fans and from our clubs and from the markets in which we play is they can’t get enough of these. And teams that have had a game don’t want to wait 10 or 15 years to get another one, and teams that haven’t been in one want to be in one. So, no, the number of games is dictated more by what we think we can handle logistically because the level of interest is off the charts.

Bettman, on the perception in hockey that the gravitation of focus lies on the east coast – an “east coast bias” – and whether the outdoor game at Dodger Stadium serves an effort to counter that perception:

I think people in the west think there’s an ‘east coast bias.’ I’m not sure that there is an east coast bias, although there are more teams in the east than there are in the west, and for the most part, there’s more history – teams of longer duration – in the east. But this game is in response to the tremendous interest there is in hockey in Southern California, and the tremendous following, and the great fans we have for the Ducks and the Kings.

Bettman, on previously being “doubtful” towards an outdoor game in Southern California, and what changed his mind:

Dan Craig telling me that he can make the ice work. That simple. And the more we had our own equipment, the more he did outdoors, the more he came to be even more expert in making ice particularly outdoors, he was not only comfortable but confident that he could make it work, and that to us was always the biggest factor. [Reporter: Will we see you here wearing shorts and flip flops?] Well, you’ll probably see me dressed the way you always see me. Even if you’re disappointed, it will be great to be here, and it’s going to be very exciting. It is. And agin, the most important thing about this game is it’s going to be fun for our fans, and this is for our fans. [Reporter: You’re not going to have the wintry charm and the rosey cheeks and all that.] That’s what I said in my remarks. This is going to be a different experience, but it’s going to be very Southern California, and so that’s going to make its own tradition, its own fun, and its own enjoyment for the people that live here.

Bettman, on the talk of teams playing in Seattle and Quebec City:

There’s always a lot of talk. [Reporter: Are they viable?] It’s great to know that there’s lots of interest in having teams in places where there aren’t. But as we stand here today, it’s nothing we’re pursuing right now in any sort of organized way. We listened to the expressions of interest, and they’re gratifying. But that’s all it is right now. [Reporter: Do the Leafs have any type of veto power if a team wanted to go into Markham?] Majority vote.


718260 Minnesota Wild

Wild loses finale after Harding leaves game with illness; Dumba staying for now

Michael Russo

September 27, 2013 - 11:12 PM

The Wild fell in its preseason finale Friday night in St. Louis when the big, bad Blues stormed back from a 1-0 deficit by scoring four third-period goals on the fourth goalie on the Wild’s depth chart, Johan Gustafsson.

The Blues, after falling behind on Jared Spurgeon’s power-play goal midway through the first, turned up the dial in the second half of the second period and never let up, so there was not much Gustafsson could do as the Wild was on its heels all period.

Gustafsson was in the game because Josh Harding reported to the trainers during the second intermission that he wasn’t feeling well. Coach Mike Yeo hadn’t talked to Harding postgame yet and said “hopefully he’s just not feeling well.”

Turns out Niklas Backstrom was supposed to start tonight, but he was feeling sore, so the Wild decided not to risk any injury and that’s why it didn’t bring him. Yeo said there’s “nothing remotely wrong” with Backstrom, so not to worry.

Harding by the way stopped all 15 shots he saw through two periods. He gave up two goals in 145 minutes in the preseason (0.83 GAA) and had a .962 save percentage. I tried to talk to him postgame as he headed to the bus, but he must not have wanted to chat.

--Late in tonight’s game, forward Torrey Mitchell was tripped up behind the play in one of corners by defenseman Roman Polak. The Wild claimed it was a slewfoot. I never got a look and there were no in-house replays. Mitchell was down on the ice for awhile, but he finally got up and skated to the bench and into the locker room by his own power. So hopefully he’s OK, but Yeo didn’t have a report yet. Mitchell’s had a real good camp.

--If he isn’t hurt, the Wild has one more roster move to make (the Wild has Saturday off, so it may come before it heads to Duluth on Sunday). Read my main article in Saturday’s paper because GM Chuck Fletcher said people shouldn’t go crazy by whatever that final move will be. Fletcher said the opening night lineup is not who’s “making the team.” It’s who is playing opening night.

So if Yeo decides he wants to go with an all-skill fourth line like he did tonight with Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter, maybe Jake Dowell is reassigned. If he feels he needs some beef in the lineup and wants to play Zenon Konopka or Dowell vs. the Kings on Thursday, maybe one of the entry-level guys like Zucker and Granlund has to temporarily go down.

But Fletcher said, especially with Des Moines so close and so many players on contracts that allow them to go up and down, the Wild may shuttle players back and forth for some time depending on what players Yeo wants to play on a certain night.

There’s definitely some intriguing elements of an all-skill line like Zucker-Granlund-Niederreiter. They were threats often early and seemed to catch St. Louis off guard with speed. But against a Blues as big and strong as St. Louis, you need some ruggedness and Yeo was curious to see how the kids would handle the Blues’ heavier, grittier men.

Yeo felt Zucker played with more energy today and like the unconventional kid’s fourth line in the first half of the game. Like the whole team, not so much late.

I did ask Fletcher about Zucker today and Fletcher said, “[Zucker] knows he can play better than what he is, and I have no doubt he will get his game back in order. “There’s a possibility he plays games in the NHL and AHL this year. It’s going to be up to him. But there’s no doubt he’s going to be a really good player in this league.

“He’s too good a player not to find his stride here at some point.”

--One player who did play well tonight is Matt Dumba. He had a real good first half of his game and he was one of the rare players Yeo liked late. He’s

staying. The Wild is in no rush to make a decision on him, especially when it has a nine-game window to make a decision between Dumba staying in Minnesota or going back to Red Deer.

The question is how much does he play and how does he handle the NHL game.

“We’re comfortable carrying eight defensemen if needed,” Fletcher said. “It’s pretty tough to make a definitive call on [Dumba] based on a few preseason games. We’ll get into the season and see how much he plays, how often, how well and the answer will be obvious to everybody.”

--Jonas Brodin played left D tonight. Normally he plays right D (difficult for a left-shot D), and he didn’t look overly comfortable. Good thing Ryan Suter will come back and save the day as his partner and he can move back to right D. Suter had the night off.

Nate Prosser played top pair with Brodin tonight and looked good. There were a lot of scouts here and it looks like it’ll be another year of Prosser being the extra guy. At some point, for the sake of Prosser’s career, the Wild should probably look to move him. But as of now, Fletcher doesn’t want to delete any blue-liners until he’s sure Dumba can play in the NHL.

Pairs right now are:

Suter-Brodin

Scandella-Spurgeon

Ballard (night off tonight)-Dumba

Or, if Dumba sits on certain nights, most likely:

Stoner-Ballard (if Dumba sits)

--Yeo on tonight’s game: “I thought even the second half of the second period, they turned it up to another level and it set us back. Puck execution was the biggest problem. We weren’t executing the right way, allowed them to have long shifts in our zone, allowed them to build momentum and I think that gave them the feeling going into the third period that if they continue to do that, the right thing would happen and we never did anything to stop that.”

--On lesson from this: “To be honest with you, I think it’s good for our whole team. I think this is better for us than it would have been to win this game. We’ve had a good camp, but if it was all rosy and all success, I would have been concerned about that. The fact that this is a reminder of the things you need to do and the way we need to play, I think that should help us more.”

--Wild finished the preseason 4-2. Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise set up the Spurgeon goal. But the two of them and Jason Pominville were on for the first three third-period goals, and Koivu and Pominville were actually on for the fourth, too. Pominville also seemed to survive a hit from behind in the head from David Backes tonight. Backes also clocked Matt Cooke at game’s end. Cooke said he was ok and his own visor got him in the face. This was after Cooke came out of the box for getting into it with Polak after his alleged slewfoot on Mitchell. Cooke also nailed Jay Bouwmeester with a clean hit in the second. Chris Stewart lost his mind on Cooke and earned a 4-minute roughing penalty. The Wild didn’t register a shot during two ugly, I believe, shotless power plays that probably gave power-play consultant Andrew Brunette indigestion.

-- I felt Justin Fontaine had a welcome to the NHL game. Probably eye opening, but he also made some nice plays out there, too. Yeo felt this was Dany Heatley’s best game.

“I was happy about playing this team twice in a row,” Yeo said. “I knew we were either going to play two good games or we were going to get spanked like we did tonight. It’s a good reminder.

“We have a good feel where everybody’s at and now we’ll use this week to get ready.”

Again, day off Saturday. Sunday morning the Wild practices at the X before heading to Duluth for a team dinner. Monday, practice, golf and team dinner. Tuesday, the Wild practices at AMSOIL Arena at 10 a.m. and it’s free and open to the public.

Opening Night is Thursday!

OK, I’m exhausted, need to do Wild Minute (that usually takes me 60 Minutes) and get out of here so I can get some shut-eye for an early flight back to Minnesota.

Likely no blog Saturday with the team off. Injury news and cut may come Sunday.

Star Tribune LOADED: 09.28.2013


Wild lose preseason finale in St. Louis; last roster cut coming

MICHAEL RUSSO

September 28, 2013 - 1:35 AM

ST. LOUIS – The Wild’s exhibition schedule is over and there’s one cut to come this weekend before opening night Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.

But General Manager Chuck Fletcher said before the Wild’s 4-1 preseason loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday that too much is being made regarding “who makes the team.”

“For the young players, I don’t know that if they’re on the roster for Thursday that they should be able to say they’ve made the team,” Fletcher said. “That’s not meant to be a threat. That’s just reality when you’re on a two-way deal [that can be sent to American Hockey League Iowa] and circumstances change or performance drops or someone else plays better.”

One player who should survive the final roster cut is 19-year-old defenseman Matt Dumba.

Last season, Dumba was notified at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center that he would be returning to his junior team, Western Hockey League Red Deer. But Dumba played well Friday in the same arena and should remain on the roster into the regular season.

Dumba must either make the Wild or return to Red Deer. He can’t play in Iowa. And since Dumba can play up to nine NHL games without burning the first year of his contract, the Wild is in no rush to cement his future.

“We’re comfortable carrying eight defensemen if needed,” Fletcher said. “It’s pretty tough to make a definitive call on [Dumba] based on a few preseason games. We’ll get into the season and see how much he plays, how often, how well and the answer will be obvious to everybody.”

Fletcher said that whatever roster move is made as early as Saturday would be dependent on which forwards coach Mike Yeo plans to dress against the Kings.

Friday against the Blues, Yeo used a young, skilled fourth line of Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter because he was curious to see how they’d perform in an intimidating building against a big, rugged Blues lineup.

If he wants to go with a similar unconventional fourth line in the season opener, those three players would survive the final roster cut. But if he feels he needs a more physical player who can double as a bruiser, such as Zenon Konopka, there’s a chance Zucker or Granlund starts in Iowa.

With the Wild’s farm team now in Des Moines and three hours from St. Paul, Fletcher said the Wild can shuttle players back and forth between the NHL and AHL based on need for particular lineups.

“There could be moving parts all year,” Fletcher said. “Everybody, players included, should know that it may take up to two months for us to get comfortable with the roster and really see who’s taking advantage of opportunity, who’s NHL-ready and who may need more time.”

Typically, teams don’t want to put top prospects on the fourth line, but Yeo said he’s comfortable doing that provided those players have other roles, like the second power-play unit or penalty kill.

“We’re a team that’s not been a top goal-scoring team in the league, so if these kids can provide an offensive spark and allow us to score a few more goals, it’s something the coaches want to consider and look at,” Fletcher said. “We’ll have to see if it makes sense.”

One player who looks like he’ll be on the opening night roster is former

University of Minnesota Duluth forward Justin Fontaine, 25. He again skated with Charlie Coyle and Dany Heatley on Friday.

“He’s worked hard to get to this point,” Fletcher said. “He’s done everything he can in camp to play games.”

Yeo has been critical at times of Zucker, who missed part of camp with a groin injury. He was engaged Friday.

“[Zucker] knows he can play better than what he is, and I have no doubt he will get his game back in order,” Fletcher said. “There’s a possibility he plays games in the NHL and AHL this year. It’s going to be up to him. But there’s no doubt he’s going to be a really good player in this league.”

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon scored a first-period power-play goal Friday and the Wild clung to that for two periods until the Blues rallied on goals by T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Backes and Chris Stewart in the third. The four goals were scored on Johan Gustafsson, who replaced Josh Harding after he stopped all 15 shots he saw through two periods but left because he said he wasn’t feeling well.



Dowell, Steckel cuts leave Wild with options

MICHAEL RUSSO

September 28, 2013 - 12:46 AM

ST. LOUIS – In order to give itself roster flexibility heading into the weekend, the Wild placed forward Jake Dowell on waivers and released center David Steckel from his pro tryout Friday.

Dowell will not necessarily be assigned to Iowa of the American Hockey League if he clears Saturday, General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. It simply gives the Wild the option to send Dowell to the minors any time in the first 10 games or 30 days of the season.

Steckel’s release — he is expected to sign an AHL contract with Iowa if he doesn’t get an NHL job in the next few days — puts the Wild roster at 24 healthy players.

Rosters must be down to a maximum of 23 by 4 p.m. Monday. That means one more cut, whether that be Dowell or one of the youngsters on an entry-level contract. Entry-level players like Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter don’t have to pass through waivers to get to the minors.

“It just gives us the flexibility to make a decision now on Jake or make a decision in a few weeks or maybe we don’t ever use that option and send him down,” Fletcher said.

Torrey Mitchell was tripped up by St. Louis Blues defenseman Roman Polak late in Friday’s 4-1 exhibition loss. The Wild will have to make certain Mitchell, who did skate off on his own power, is OK before making a subtraction.

Fletcher said Dowell’s future largely rests on whatever lineup coach Mike Yeo wants to use opening night against the Los Angeles Kings and subsequent games.

If Yeo feels he wants to play rugged center Zenon Konopka, perhaps Dowell would stay as the extra 13th forward and an entry-level player starts in Iowa. If Yeo wants to go with an all-skill fourth line, the Wild likely would assign Dowell because Konopka is on a one-way contract that requires waivers.

If Dowell is sent to Iowa, he will be paid his $700,000 NHL salary there.

Yeo met with Steckel on Thursday and Fletcher met with agent Ben Hankinson on Friday. They explained that as of now, there is just no room for Steckel.

The Wild likes Steckel, particularly his 6-foot-6 frame and expertise in the faceoff circle.

Steckel ranks second among active NHLers in career faceoff win percentage (.583). Coincidentally, Konopka, one of the players keeping Steckel from signing with the Wild, has the league’s best active faceoff win percentage (.590).

One goalie ‘sore,’ other sick

Josh Harding got the start in goal for Friday’s preseason game against St. Louis because Niklas Backstrom was feeling soreness and the Wild decided not to risk his health.

“There’s nothing remotely wrong, but why bother [bringing him to St. Louis]?” Yeo said.

Harding played two scoreless periods Friday before reporting to the training staff that he wasn’t “feeling well.” Backup Johan Gustafsson entered and gave up four third-period goals as the Blues won 4-1.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. Hopefully, he’s just not feeling well,” Yeo said of Harding, who missed two months last season because of the effects of multiple sclerosis.

Harding gave up two goals in 145 minutes this preseason, posting a .962 save percentage.

Mitchell motivated

When Mitchell signed a three-year deal with the Wild on July 1, 2012, he never envisioned he’d mostly be the fourth-line right wing last season. But the Wild never could have guaranteed it would sign Zach Parise a few days later or have a healthy Pierre-Marc Bouchard. That caused Mitchell to fall on the depth chart.

This year, the former San Jose Sharks speedster is feeling more explosive than ever and is motivated to land the third-line right wing spot next to Matt Cooke and Kyle Brodziak.

“I know there are a lot of guys trying to get that spot, so I’m coming in day by day focused on getting it,” Mitchell said before Friday’s game. “I wanted to play more last year, but it was the role that I was given and I accepted it. But this year, it’s up for grabs.”

He was the consummate professional last season because, “You sulk in this business, people forget about you pretty quickly.”

Etc.

Defensemen Ryan Suter and Keith Ballard got the game off.



Wild bringing skilled lineup to St. Louis; Dowell on waivers, Steckel released

Michael Russo

September 27, 2013 - 3:04 PM

Mike Yeo said yesterday he planned to go with a "skilled lineup" tonight in St. Louis, and that he is.

In an intimidating arena against a big team, no Zenon Konopka or Jake Dowell. Ryan Suter and Keith Ballard also get the night off. Same with Niklas Backstrom

Yeo is trying to get a lot of answers tonight in what could be the final audition for one of the youngsters in the lineup.

Josh Harding gets the start. Johan Gustafsson has been recalled to back up as Backstrom stayed home.

Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Jason Pominville

Dany Heatley-Charlie Coyle-Justin Fontaine

Matt Cooke-Kyle Brodziak-Torrey Mitchell

Jason Zucker-Mikael Granlund-Nino Niederreiter

D are:

Jonas Brodin (playing left side for first time I can remember)-Nate Prosser

Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon

Clayton Stoner-Matt Dumba

Yeo said he plans to juggle the lines a lot less tonight, but it will be interesting to see if any of the skilled forwards on the fourth line get an opportunity to slot up.

The Wild has also placed Dowell and Tyler Cuma on waivers. Dowell wouldn't need to be reassigned to Iowa right away if he clears. It just gives the Wild roster flexibility -- perhaps to even keep all the kids or eventually sign Steckel.

Steckel has been released from his tryout. As of now, Steckel plans to sign an AHL deal and play in Iowa as he waits for an opportunity with the Wild or elsewhere. The Wild informed Steckel of the situation yesterday. There's just no room with Konopka here and the kids playing well. So Steckel will return to Columbus, where he lives, for a few days. If no NHL job comes up, he'll report to Iowa.

Again, just because Dowell is on waivers doesn't mean all the kids make it. Dowell is still with the team and it's hard to imagine the Wild would permanently have one of its prospects be the 13th (extra) forward.

The opening night roster will hopefully become clearer before the Wild heads to Duluth on Sunday.

Cuma has been cleared to return from a knee injury. He is in Iowa already. Brett Bulmer is still getting healthy and will officially be reassigned to Iowa when that occurs.



Minnesota Wild release David Steckel

Chad Graff

09/27/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

The Wild released David Steckel from his pro tryout, the team announced Friday.

Steckel, a veteran of 419 NHL games, wasn't able to land a contract with an NHL team prior to training camp, a likely casualty of the salary cap decreasing about $6 million after last season. He spent training camp with the Wild on a tryout.

Steckel is a 6-foot-6 center with a reputation as a good two-way forward and faceoff specialist. But the Wild don't want to block a roster spot for one of their talented young forwards.

Steckel might end up signing an American Hockey League contract, which would allow him to sign an NHL contract if one becomes available during the season.

Briefly

The Wild called up goalie Johan Gustafsson on Friday to back up Josh Harding that evening and then go back to the AHL following the game, a person close to the situation said.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 09.28.2013

718265 Montreal Canadiens

What’s new in the NHL this season

Eric Duhatschek

Sep. 28, 2013 12:49AM EDT

The playoff format

In the realigned NHL, the top three teams in each division will make the playoffs, with the remaining four spots awarded to the next two highest-placed finishers within each conference as wild cards. It will be possible therefore for one division to qualify five teams for the playoffs, while the other gets just three. In the first round, the division winner with the most points in the conference would be matched against the wild-card team with the fewest points.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 09.28.2013


Look for improving Subban to anchor a fantasy blueline

SEAN GORDON

Saturday, Sep. 28, 2013 1:07AM EDT

BROSSARD, QUE. — The Globe and Mail

Other players, bona fide NHLers, have tried to do it in practice, but mostly, they’ve failed miserably.

We’re talking here about that thing Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban pulls off routinely: Holding off an onrushing player with his one arm, carrying the puck with other, then spinning away to burst up the ice.



Questions remain as Montreal’s preseason comes to a close

SEAN GORDON

Sep. 27, 2013 8:29PM EDT

Montreal — The Globe and Mail

Alrighty then, the preseason schedule has officially ended for the Montreal Canadiens.

And is it about time, Carey Price?

“Yeeeeah. It sure is,” he drawled after the Habs’ 3-1 win over an Ottawa Senators lineup made up largely of minor-leaguers and prospects.

At various point in the preseason we’ve offered up impressions of things that could be learned from the games, but with camp wrapping up this weekend – rosters must be finalized by Sept. 30 – perhaps it would be more appropriate to roll out some Stuff to Argue About.


718268 New Jersey Devils

Devils believe still room on roster and in NHL for enforcers

Mike Vorkunov


Krys Barch stood in front of his locker, smiling. He had two black eyes, from fighting three times in one game last week, and a chipped tooth. His handshake, like a bear trap, strengthened with each passing second.

He had just been talking about the fight in Toronto last week, which resulted in a 10-game suspension for ex-Devil David Clarkson, when he was asked whether there was still room for enforcers, him and those like him, in the NHL.

"It’s something when you need it, you need it," Barch replied. "And when you don’t, you wish you had it."

The Devils say there is still a need for it. Barch and fellow pugilist Cam Janssen are battling to make the final cut when the regular season begins. But they’re doing so at a time when fighting seems to be falling leaguewide and muscle must come with skill and grace.

During the 2008-09 season, Anaheim led the league with 82 fighting majors. Two years ago, in the last full season, the Rangers did so with just 65.

And as Barch will tell you, no longer are enforcers on the ice for 45 seconds a night, just to swill around with their counterpart on the other team. Now they must be able to play seven or eight minutes a night.

For Pete DeBoer, the question doesn’t need much time to be answered.

"Absolutely," the Devils coach said. "It’s still a part of the game and it will be, if and when they take fighting out. Everybody needs those guys that will hold the other guys accountable if they try to take liberties. And those two guys are good at what they do."

Ryan Carter says the formula is fairly simple.

"I think as long as there’s one in the game, there’s a need for them," he said.

"For the most part they’re the most honest, physical players out there. It seems like they go by a code and it’s rarely broken. The odd time it is broken, you need someone who can go handle it."

But there is no working around the fact that enforcers these days must be more skilled. They must be able to skate and make plays and be more than fighters deployed at the appropriate time.

"I think the guys we have in those roles are," DeBoer said.

"They’re good at their job because you can put them on the ice and they can still play that role."

• Pete DeBoer will let Martin Brodeur take the time he needs to return to the team. Brodeur returned home Thursday. His father, Denis, died in Montreal.

"He’s got to do what he’s got to do, however long that takes," DeBoer said. "We’ll come up with a plan when he gets back."

• DeBoer has not determined who will get Ilya Kovalchuk’s old role in the captaincy hierarchy and take over the "A" on his uniform. He said the coaching staff will discuss it at a later date.

"That hasn’t been on the to-do list but it will be before the season starts," the head coach said.

• Ryan Carter practiced yesterday and said the injury that prevented him from playing Thursday night is "coming around."

He would not, however, reveal what the injury is.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.28.2013


Devils will let Martin Brodeur take his time to return

Mike Vorkunov


Pete DeBoer will let Martin Brodeur take the time he needs to return to the team. Brodeur returned home Thursday. His father, Denis, passed away in Montreal.

"He’s got to do what he’s got to do, however long that takes," DeBoer said. "We’ll come with a plan when he gets back."

The Devils haven't ruled out the possibility that Cory Schneider could start the season opener Oct. 3.

Schneider sat out practice today, along with Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Steve Bernier. DeBoer said it was for maintenance.

With Brodeur and Schneider out of practice, goaltender coach Chris Terreri was one of two goaltenders in net. Terreri is a former NHL goaltender and played the majority of his career for the Devils.

"It’s not an easy task at 8:30 in the morning the night after a game to throw your 48 year old goaltender coach in the net," DeBoer said.

* * *

DeBoer has not yet determined who will get Ilya Kovalchuk's old role in the captaincy hierarchy and take over the 'A' on their uniform. He said that the coaching staff will discuss it at a later date.

"That hasn’t been on the to-do list but it will be before the season starts," the coach said.



Devils like what they see from Jaromir Jagr

Mike Vorkunov


Jaromir Jagr knocked on wood. And he did it again.

"I’m OK," he said.

The right winger did not play in any of the Devils preseason games and the regular season opener Thursday slowly approaches.

But the Devils have seen enough from Jagr so far to know that they like what he can provide them.

"He looks good. He’s looking better every day," coach Pete DeBoer said. "You can see what he’s going to add. He’s definitely going to be an asset for us on the power play."

* * *

Ryan Carter did not play Thursday due to "a minor nagging injury," DeBoer said.

Carter said today that the injury is "coming around." He practiced today and will wait to see how it responds.

He would not, however, reveal what the injury is. But Carter gave this answer to whether it would preclude him from playing if he had to in a regular season game.

"I don’t really know the answer to it," he said. "I’d like to think I’m tough enough to play through, but we’ll see."



Tom Gulitti: Centers are key to Devils' success

Tom Gulitti

When asked Friday about his team's depth at center, Devils coach Pete DeBoer listed Travis Zajac, Adam Henrique, Patrik Elias, Andrei Loktionov, Stephen Gionta, Dainius Zubrus and Jacob Josefson among those who can play in the middle. Henrique, Elias, Gionta, Zubrus and Josefson also can play on the wing, giving DeBoer flexibility up front that he believes will be a significant asset.

Still, for this Devils team to be successful, it needs to be stronger up the middle than it was last season, and that has to begin with Zajac and Henrique. The Devils don't have the big-name centers of some of their divisional rivals – Pittsburgh (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin), Philadelphia (Claude Giroux), and the Islanders (John Tavares) – but Zajac and Henrique have demonstrated that they can play effectively on the top two lines.

DeBoer acknowledges "it's critical" for them to rebound after struggling during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season and, from watching them in training camp, believes they're ready to do so.

"I think they both know they're capable of more," DeBoer said.

After signing an eight-year, $46 million contract extension in January, Zajac, 28, never found his game last season without longtime linemate Zach Parise, who left as a free agent, and had just seven goals and 13 assists in 48 games.

Henrique, 23, surprised many as a Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) finalist in 2011-12, when he put up 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists) and then scored two series-clinching overtime goals in the playoffs. He missed the start of last season, though, while recovering from thumb surgery and had an up-and-down year in which he finished with just 11 goals and five assists.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello attributed Henrique's inconsistency to his injury and showed faith in him by giving him a six-year, $24 million contract this summer. Now, Henrique wants to be one of the players that helps fill the enormous hole created by Ilya Kovalchuk's return to Russia.

"I feel like I've come in and developed well, but I want to take my game to the next level and step up and be one of those guys that when you look around here are counted on to be playing every night and to contribute every night," he said.

Bergen Record LOADED: 09.28.2013

718272 New York Islanders

Islanders Coach Is Tough on Himself and His Team

ALLAN KREDA

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — On a recent sunny Monday morning before his team’s charity golf event, Islanders Coach Jack Capuano smiled and nodded like a proud parent when, for the first time, John Tavares pulled on a blue sweater emblazoned with a captain’s “C.”

The image fit well for Capuano and his young squad. Capuano, who at 47 is twice the age of many of his skaters, has melded the club into a group with the distinct feeling of an extended family.

That is a skill Capuano honed in E.C.H.L. outposts like Tallahassee, Fla.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Florence, S.C., years before becoming the Islanders’ bench boss in November 2010.

“One of Jack’s strongest attributes has always been how he relates with his players,” said Rick Bennett, the Union College coach and a forward on Capuano’s Pee Dee Pride squads in Florence from 1997 to 1999. “He was good at separating the player-coach relationship on the ice and the personal one. The players in our room definitely respected him for that.”

A Cranston, R.I., native, Capuano played defense for the legendary Maine coach Shawn Walsh before a pro career spent mostly in the American Hockey League. He was an all-American defenseman as a junior and was drafted in the fifth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs. His N.H.L. career, however, was brief — one game with Toronto, three with Vancouver and two with Boston.

“Jack was very serious, especially about hockey,” said Jay Leach, the associate head coach at Maine, who recruited Capuano three decades ago. “He always prepared to play and prepared to battle. He’s a poster kid for dedication, there’s no question. He’s paid his dues.”

After leading the Pride to the regular-season E.C.H.L. championship in 1999, Capuano moved into the front office and learned all aspects of running a team until the franchise folded in 2005. He then joined the Islanders as an assistant on Steve Stirling’s staff before becoming an assistant and then the head coach at Bridgeport of the A.H.L.

Capuano said his experience in the minors proved vital to his ascension to N.H.L. coach.

“You have to be the hardest worker on your team as a coach, and I absolutely learned that in the E.C.H.L.,” said Capuano, who played briefly with his brother, Dave, with the Canucks. “You’re doing player personnel, bus leases, apartment searches for the players and scheduling. You learn how to be very well organized.”

The Islanders surprised the hockey world last season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and battling the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had the best record in the Eastern Conference, in a six-game opening-round series.

The fine line of striving each day while trying to revel in the experience itself is one Capuano treads well, according to his players.

“He’s very personable, which makes everyone feel comfortable,” said right wing Colin McDonald, 28, who found a home with the Islanders last season, scoring seven goals as a rookie, after spending more than five years in the A.H.L. “He’s the head coach, but I don’t think he takes advantage of that title to act superior to us. With his style, I can relax and enjoy the game. He knows how to balance the fun of the game and us wanting to get better and win.”

At any given Islanders practice, Capuano skates with the team during drills, barking orders while occasionally joining the play.

The 23-year-old Tavares, the top overall draft pick by the Islanders in 2009, said his relationship with Capuano was strong.

“We get along extremely well,” said Tavares, who led the Islanders with 28 goals during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy. “He’s been great for my development. He’s open-minded and understanding.”

The Islanders’ Andrew MacDonald, who played for Capuano at Bridgeport, was sent to the E.C.H.L. by Capuano during the 2007-8 A.H.L. season to work on his game. Though disappointed at the time, MacDonald, now 27, acknowledged that the move turned out to be for the best.

“It’s all worked out for me,” said MacDonald, a top-six defenseman. “I’ve had Cappy every one of my pro years so far. You don’t see that every day. He gets everyone to work together, which creates a good atmosphere: stay loose, enjoy yourself, but work hard.”

Capuano helped spread the sport when he and his wife, Donna, and their children Adriana and Anthony (both students at Maine) were living in South Carolina. He organized hockey schools, leading to youth leagues and travel teams in the heart of Nascar country. The relentless work ethic drives him as the Islanders get ready for a season amid heightened expectations.

“I don’t take one day for granted,” he said. “You can’t ask your players to work hard if you aren’t working hard, too. I put in the hours just like the guys to prepare our team.”

Capuano-coached squads have apparently always devoted the necessary sweat, whether skating in Uniondale, Montreal or somewhere in the Carolinas.

“The Pride were playing terribly one night, so Jack came into the room between periods and said, ‘If you guys aren’t going to work on the ice, you’re going to work in here,’ ” recalled Bennett, the Union coach, who also played for Providence against Capuano’s Maine squads. “He turned up the music very loud and made us all do situps in front of our lockers. We weren’t too happy, but we all got the message.”

A version of this article appears in print on September 28, 2013,

New York Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Tavares Helps Islanders Beat Predators 6-4

Staff Writer

September 27, 2013 at 10:12 PM ET

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — John Tavares scored two first-period goals, leading the New York Islanders to a 6-4 preseason victory against the Nashville Predators on Friday night.

Named team captain this month and entering his fifth NHL season, the 23-year-old Tavares beat goaltender Pekka Rinne with a tip-in 1:25 into the game, and then scored off a scramble in front six minutes later.

Lubomir Visnovsky, Colin McDonald, Matt Donovan and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders. Matt Moulson had three assists.

After Craig Smith scored the first of his two goals for Nashville, Visnovsky scored on a pass from Moulson to put New York in front 3-1 at the 16-minute mark of the first.

Simon Moser and Roman Josi also scored for the Predators, who arrived about two hours before the game after their flight from Nashville was delayed.

New York Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Donovan, Islanders look to enjoy fast times

Brett Cyrgalis

September 27, 2013 | 11:34pm

Jack Capuano wants to make it clear there is a difference between pushing the pace of a hockey game and being reckless.

“The term that I use with our guys,” he said Friday morning, “is we want to play fast.”

Capuano was behind the Islanders bench last season when he led them to their first postseason appearance since 2007, and his group of young players set the NHL abuzz not just for their franchise revival, but because of the speed with which they played as they stockpiled copious numbers of goals.

But after finishing the regular season seventh in the league in scoring (2.81 goals per game), they went to the postseason and gave them up almost as fast, getting bounced by the top-seeded Penguins in six games.

So that reputation of run-and-gun settled upon them, even if it were far from what they were trying to accomplish.

“We always want to work as a unit of five on the ice and that is in every zone, especially in the defensive zone, that’s where it starts,” Capuano said before his team whipped the Predators, 6-4, at the Coliseum. There are just two more preseason contests — both split-squad games on Sunday in Ottawa and Barrie, Ontario — before the real season starts on Oct. 4 in Newark against the Devils.

“It starts with your breakout,” Capuano said, “it goes into your transition, and then it allows you to play in the offensive zone, and that’s the way we want to work.

“I don’t know [about] run-and-gun because we’re pretty structured the way we want to play, we have the framework we want to play, but we have to be able to get up in the play to create.”

Turns out, getting up in the play is the specialty of young blueliner Matt Donovan, who led all AHL defensemen with points last season while playing for the Islanders’ affiliate in Bridgeport. He showed that acumen by scoring a goal Friday as a result of going hard to the net without the puck and deflecting one in.

So here is Donovan now, still with the team this far along in training camp, with half an arm tucked in an opening-night Islanders sweater.

“What I learned last year was playing defense first, and let the offensive ability take care of itself,” said Donovan, 23, still with a touch of twang from his boyhood home of Edmond, Okla. “I think that’s what they’re looking for me to do here — just play well defensively, and the offense will take care of itself.”

Last year’s captain, Mark Streit, used to be one of the offensive catalysts from the blue line, but he left as a free agent in the offseason for wealthier pastures in Philadelphia.

Although young defenseman Griffin Reinhart may have stood out more in his own zone during this camp, it’s the ability to push the play that Capuano is looking for.

“He’s going to get every opportunity to see what he can do,” Capuano said of Donovan. “So run-and-gun, not necessarily. Just playing fast.”

Forward Kyle Okposo (eye) was cleared and practiced Friday with the AHL/CHL group at IceWorks in Syosset. He is expected to play in one of the games on Sunday, and could possibly be auditioning for the right wing spot on the top line.

Training camp opened with that spot, next to John Tavares and Matt Moulson, belonging to newcomer Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Friday night was the second go-around there for Josh Bailey.

New York Post LOADED: 09.28.2013


Grabner's versatility gives Islanders options


ARTHUR STAPLE

Michael Grabner has become accustomed to his role, which is whatever spot Jack Capuano needs to fill.

Grabner's speed and ability to create scoring chances with just a few feet of space makes him well-suited to Capuano playing him on any line. Grabner, who began training camp skating with Peter Regin and the now-injured Cal Clutterbuck, reunited with longtime penalty killing partner Frans Nielsen and Colin McDonald in last night's 6-4 preseason win over the Predators at Nassau Coliseum.

"I've showed that I can play with different players, so I'm just trying to do my job out there," Grabner said. "It doesn't matter, everyone we have is a good player, so you build up some chemistry with different guys. It's nice to know I can go out there with Frans, Zeeker [Casey Cizikas], Mac, anyone really. It's not that big of a deal."

Grabner gets his opportunities and his goals without needing much ice time or any power-play time -- his 16 goals on an average of 14:47 per game was better use of ice time than any player in the league save Oilers rookie Nail Yakupov. Even Grabner's seeming inability to convert many of his breakaway chances means he's still generating those chances.

"I think he's played real well," Capuano said. "Not only has he had opportunities with the puck, but he's played real well defensively, the PK's been good. He's had some chemistry with Nielsen in the past, so we'll see tonight how that plays out."

After his 34-goal rookie season in 2010-11, Grabner tailed off in 2011-12, scoring a respectable 20 goals but seeing his ice time decrease as the season went on. His bounce-back last season came, in his mind, from his attention to defensive detail, not from a push to score more.

"After the first year, the 30-whatever goals I had, there was a lot of pressure to score the next year and I only got to 20," he said. "I think for me, just play my role, be good defensively, be good on the PK and the chances will come. I just take care of the stuff I need to do and I get chances."

Notes & quotes: John Tavares had two goals and rookie Brock Nelson had two assists in the Isles' win over Nashville. Matt Moulson and Travis Hamonic had three assists. Lubomir Visnovsky, Colin McDonald, Matt Donovan and Josh Bailey had the other goals.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718276 New York Rangers

Brad Richards remains in NY Rangers mix

Pat Leonard

September 28, 2013, 12:11 AM

LAS VEGAS — Friday night was a good time for the Rangers, despite losing their preseason finale against the L.A. Kings, 4-1, to remind themselves that when it comes to Brad Richards this season, they’ve put all their money on black.

Derek Stepan’s Thursday re-signing added depth, but it also re-raised last year’s postseason dilemma of Richards’ fit when fellow centers Stepan and Derick Brassard also are in the lineup. As Richards said bluntly early in training camp, he doubts the Rangers brought him back “just to sit in the press box,” as he did to conclude last season’s playoffs.

So on Friday night, even though first-year coach Alain Vigneault had already watched two lifeless performances out of the Richards-Rick Nash duo, the coach reunited them and replaced struggling Chris Kreider with Benoit Pouliot on their left wing, affording Richards another opportunity to prove he can play effective top-six minutes.

Richards, who played better Thursday in Vancouver with Taylor Pyatt and Mats Zuccarello, is wisely managing his slow early start by mimicking his coach’s patience and not overanalyzing his own game early.

After all, contributing to the Rangers’ 1-5 record are an unusual preseason schedule, including three back-to-backs, a training-camp split between New York and Banff, Alberta, and only one game — Thursday in Vancouver — when the Rangers woke up in the same city where they played that night.

“I’ve never done a schedule like this in the preseason, where you play one game and it’s a back-to-back slot,” Richards told the Daily News Thursday morning in Vancouver. “It’s a little different. . . . It’s hard to determine (how to evaluate your game). . . . You put stock in what you’re doing, but if you’ve been around, you know when to get ready and how to get ready. . . . Talking with the other players, it’s kind of, ‘Let’s get our group, get to know each other, get to know what our tendencies are, what (Vigneault) wants.’ ”

Vigneault knows he must open the regular season Thursday in Phoenix without injured wingers Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, so he sees a need to rely on veterans early. That means not only trying to force a prominent role for Richards, but also likely keeping forwards Darroll Powe and Arron Asham on the roster after their strong camps — potentially bumping a struggling Kreider down to the AHL.

The greatest pressure is on Richards, though, to be who the Rangers are paying him to be, especially early on. Even though he worked hard this offseason with a renowned strength and conditioning coach, Richards knows he needs to succeed on the ice eventually to regain full confidence in his play.

“It could be a bad game right off the bat (in Phoenix), but I can’t just abandon everything,” Richards said. “I think hard work (in the offseason) gives you something to lean back on. I’ve put in my work . . . and you know that you’re prepared. It’s the same the other way. You can’t have a good day and kick your feet up and say, ‘Here we go, it’s all better now.’

“I think what the hard work and preparation does is (lets you know) you can feel confident no matter what happens. . . . That way you can wake up the next day and keep moving forward without second-guessing yourself.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 09.28.2013


September 28, 2013 2:22 AM

Pat Leonard

LAS VEGAS – Once again, it’s Miller time for the Rangers.

At least that’s the way it looked and sounded during and after the Blueshirts’ 4-1 loss to the L.A. Kings Friday night in their preseason finale at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Young forward J.T. Miller, the club’s 2011 first-round pick who played 26 regular season games with the club last season, appeared to lock up one of New York’s two remaining forward roster spots with an impressive start-to-finish performance.

Miller, 20 was the Rangers’ best player against the bruising Kings. He scored the Blueshirts’ only goal, his second in three preseason appearances, deflecting an Anton Stralman point shot in off a second assist from Oscar Lindberg 14:07 into the first period.

“I knew I wasn’t a lock on the team,” Miller said afterwards. “As a younger guy, I’ve got to earn my way. I played as hard as I could tonight. I think I did a pretty good job of it. We did a pretty good job pressuring the puck, (me), Lindy and Marek (linemates Lindberg and Marek Hrivik), and we spent most of our time in their end tonight instead of ours, which is always a good thing.”

Coach Alain Vigneault said after huddling quickly postgame with Rangers management that they have three roster decisions to make: two at forward positions and one on defense.

He couldn’t deny Miller did as much as anyone to win one of those spots, which has been impressive especially because he fell behind early in training camp, missing the first two preseason games and a few practice days with a tweaked hamstring suffered on Sept. 12.

“Yeah, I mean I thought he played real strong back-to-back games,” Vigneault said. “I thought he skated well when he had the opportunity to carry the puck and make some plays. He made some plays. When he had the opportunity to play the man, he did. So I thought that whole line, as far as youth and potential, played well.”

At the same time, while young winger Chris Kreider turned in his most physical and effective game of the preseason, Vigneault did not jump at the opportunity to praise a player who has mostly struggled through camp.

“I think he played alright,” Vigneault said. “I mean, you could see some good puck protection moments. A couple of times he used his size and his speed. He didn’t play last night, so he was a little bit fresher and we saw some good moments.”

Kreider, though, by any measure did have a good night playing on a line with Brian Boyle and another promising young winger Jesper Fast. Kreider was more physical, skating faster and creating traffic in front of the Kings’ Jonathan Quick.

“I think I’m coming along now,” Kreider said. “I think I shook off a little bit of the rust. I thought I played well and was finishing my checks. I started moving my feet a little bit better. I think I’m getting better every game.”

Kreider said coming off early ineffective performances in the preseason, he and coaches have “talked a little bit about being accountable and analyzing (my) game, and kind of focusing on chance differential – chances for versus chances against.”

He acknowledged he felt he had something to prove and fight for on Friday night but said that wasn’t any different from the way he normally approaches the game.

“I always do, though,” Kreider said. “I felt that from day one. I felt that when I was a junior at Boston College and we had incoming freshman. I’m competitive and I want to earn my spot and earn my keep … I felt pretty good. I felt pretty fresh tonight. I feel my game was coming along.”

Still, Vigneault’s lack of enthusiasm could mean Kreider starts his season in the AHL, where he likely would be joined by Fast, Lindberg and Hrivik, who have shown flashes and both played well Friday night – particularly

Lindberg – but clearly could use more seasoning with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

“I thought I had to pick up my game this game, and I think I did that,” said Lindberg, who felt his line with Miller and Hrivik had “good speed.” “But still, I haven’t been playing my best hockey these couple games. We’ll see what happens, but I’m glad I had an OK game this one.”

It could be between Kreider and veteran forward Arron Asham for the final wing position, with defensemen Justin Falk and Stu Bickel likely being considered in the battle for the seventh and final place on the blue line.

Falk had a very difficult night against the Kings, often lunging out of position or failing to keep the play in front of him.

LUNDQVIST FINALLY FINDS HIS GROOVE

The Kings scored 15 seconds into Friday’s game and beat Lundqvist three times in the first period, including twice on the power play.

But by the second half of the game, the Rangers goaltender was picking up the puck much better and began to look more like his all-world self, stoning Tanner Pearson on two separate breakaways and making quick decisions to deny rebounds.

“It hadn’t been great,” Lundqvist said of his difficult stretch prior to the second half of Friday’s game. “But it’s a good feeling the second half of this game I did a lot of things I was pleased with. For some reason it was easier to see the game, too. There was more structure with the way they played and the way we played. It looked more like a regular season game than a lot of these periods we’ve played lately. It’s been a lot of weird situations. But the good part, I got another game here. I know I need to play to get it going. I’ve always been like that. It’s not new for me.”

Lundqvist, in fact, insisted on playing the third period after making a big save near the end of the second on the first of Pearson’s two breakaways.

The Rangers went just 1-5 in the preseason and were outscored 22-9, but they ended feeling better about themselves than they had earlier this week, Lundqvist first and foremost.

“I wanted to stay in,” he said. “I wanted to just get more minutes under my belt here. Like I said, I need to play to get a good feel. And when you’ve been out a long time, you don’t just snap your fingers and your game is right there. For some guys it comes fast. Not more for me. I need to play. There’s so much mentally, how you think, how you see the play and for me it takes a little bit of time. There have been parts of every game where I’ve felt really good and there’ve been parts where i just felt I’m making poor decisions. But the second part of this game felt really good. So I’m just gonna build on that.”



Vigneault: Rangers fighting for roster spots in Las Vegas, roster cuts coming Sunday, notes on Callahan, Hagelin, Richards

Pat Leonard

LAS VEGAS – Alain Vigneault said Friday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena before the Rangers’ preseason finale against the L.A. Kings that he plans to make his final cuts on Sunday.

And there are still several players fighting for roster spots during these final 60 minutes in Sin City.

Vigneault said “three or four” forwards in Friday’s lineup are competing for two roster spots, while defensemen Justin Falk, Stu Bickel and Conor Allen are competing for the seventh spot on New York’s blue line.

“After looking at my makeup of my lines and my different possibilities, there’s probably three or four guys that are fighting for two spots,” Vigneault said. “And it’s pretty easy to say who’s done well. Without getting into (too many) specifics, (Darroll) Powe’s come into camp, and I mean he’s played real well.”

Forwards on the fringe include J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider, Arron Asham, Marek Hrivik and Jesper Fast, though Fast most likely is a player the organization prefers starts in the AHL, despite a solid preseason.

Meanwhile, Vigneault is awaiting word from the Rangers’ trainers on the statuses of injured wingers captain Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, news that will affect how many players the team can carry to open the season.

The Rangers must file down their roster to 23 players by Monday at 3 p.m. In Vigneault’s “ideal world,” he said that would include 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. But unless Callahan or Hagelin is on long-term injury, both players will count against that 23-man limit, which will leave the Rangers with only 21 healthy bodies, including the two goaltenders – then it might make sense to have 14 healthy forwards and seven D.

Callahan certainly isn’t going on long-term injury, since he already has taken contact the past two days in practice. The bigger question is how much longer Hagelin will be out.

If he goes to long-term injury, the Rangers could add multiple forwards onto the roster who fit under Hagelin’s $2.25 million cap hit – without regard for the 23-man limit – and that could open the door for more than two open forward spots for those competing.

“Those are all things there that once we find out a little bit more about Ryan and Hags … and see how tonight unfolds … even though in my opinion my picture’s pretty clear, we’ll have a clearer picture in the next 24 hours,” Vigneault said.

Vigneault had a very interesting answer, as well, to whether he intended to use Brian Boyle on the wing because of the number of centers on the roster. Vigneault suggested, perhaps, that other centers could move to the wing if it became necessary, depending on his available personnel.

“Or is moving Brass or Richie or somebody to the wing in the top two lines?” Vigneault said, posing the question of whether Derick Brassard or Brad Richards could slide over from their natural positions.

Asked whether he needs to see more out of the Richards-Rick Nash duo Firday night to feel comfortable using them together in the regular season, the coach responded: “I would answer that by (saying) I need to see Derek (Stepan). I haven’t seen Derek yet, and I know he’s been one of our best young players. I’m really looking forward to seeing where he fits in. Like I thought Richie (Thursday) night played a real good game. I thought it was one of his better games since he’s been with us.”

Vigneault also pointed out how Stepan’s re-signing adds an important element to key situations for the Rangers.

“One thing that having Derek back that helps us is with the righthanded shot,” he said. “It helps us on penalty killing, for the faceoffs. It helps us on the power play – like having five lefthanders on the power play? It’s not the ideal … If you look at the best power plays in the league, they always have

three of one side and two of the other so you can get one touch and one shot.”

Finally, here was Vigneault’s answer to whether he’s looking for players picking up his system or simply still evaluating individual talent:

“I’m not reinventing anything here. I really believe there’s a right way to play this game. I don’t think … nothing that I’m bringing to the forefront is new to our players in the sense that, yes there’s certain areas where I want us to be more aggressive, more assertive, more bodies, more people. But if you’re going in on the froecheck and you see your two partners ahead of you, and you go in and give yourselves up, and the other team’s got a four-on-two, I’m sure that’s something they’ve seen before.

“I think right now what I’m seeing and sensing is a willingness to try and do a little bit too much, to try and show maybe the new personnel and everybody,” Vigneault continued. “But that willingness to show how good they can be, sometimes can be – I don’t want to say counterproductive – but sometimes when you want it too much instead of playing to your strengths and playing high percentage … so I’ve seen a lot of good things and I’ve also seen those same players make mistakes saying why is he doing that? And I believe it’s because they want to do too well. And it’s just a matter of fixing a couple of things.”



Rangers drop preseason finale, lines not set yet

Larry Brooks

September 28, 2013 | 2:40am

LAS VEGAS — The absurd grind of this 10-day preseason trip out west that featured four games in the last five nights is finally a thing of the past.

Now, following Friday night’s 4-1 defeat to the Kings, the Rangers can get serious about preparing for Thursday’s season-opener in Phoenix. Now the roster can be set by Monday at 3 p.m., but not before, in coach Alain Vigneault’s words, “We have three decisions to make, one on defense and two up front.”

“We just talked quickly with management,” Vigneault said after the Blueshirts finished the exhibition season 1-5 and with four straight losses in which they were outscored 18-5. “We talked about it, we’ll take the night and then make our decisions.”

On defense, the decision is between keeping Stu Bickel and Justin Falk as the seventh on the blue line. Bickel, who adds toughness to a team that sure can use it, can also play the wing, which might be an advantage.

The picture up front is more complicated, and even more complex because of the uncertainty over the status of both Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin. If the Rangers do not place either player on the Long Term Injury list, the club won’t be afforded any cap relief while they are sidelined and as such might be able to keep just 12 forwards on the roster.

Ten forwards would seem to have spots locked up: Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Brian Boyle, Mats Zuccarello, Benoit Pouliot, Derek Dorsett, Taylor Pyatt and Dominic Moore.

That would leave J.T. Miller, Darroll Powe, Arron Asham, Chris Kreider and Marek Hrivik as the primary candidates to fill the remaining two or three spots.

Miller seemed to nail down a spot with a tenacious, effective match against the Kings in which he used both his size and skill to create chances for himself and linemates Hrivik and Oscar Lindbergh. After missing the first few days of camp with a hamstring pull, Miller had catching up to do — which he has done.

“It was tough to deal with, sitting back and watching everybody show what they had,” said the 20-year-old, who scored two goals in three games, including one on Friday. “The last couple of games I tried to leave everything on the ice. I think I played hard.”

Miller played 26 games with the Rangers last year. He said though he did not come to camp thinking that would give him an advantage in making the squad.

“I can’t have that mentality because then I might lapse into taking things for granted and sitting back too much,” the 20-year-old said. “I came to camp to earn a spot and to work for it.”

Vigneault clearly was impressed by Miller’s work. It would be stunning if he does not make the team.

“I thought he played real strong,” Vigneault said. “He skated well, when the opportunity came he made some plays and when he had the chance to play the man, he did.

“That whole line of youth and potential played well.”

If Miller and Powe — who had a very good camp but a so-so last couple of games — are in, the final decision pretty much comes down to Asham, Kreider or Hrivik, who definitely has some jam to his game.

Kreider is likely a long shot, though he played more decisively against the Kings than he had in his previous three matches.

“We talked about being accountable and analyzing my game,” Kreider said of a chat he had with the staff this week. “I don’t worry about the depth chart. I go play. I try to get better every game and I think I have.”

Even so, he hardly earned a ringing endorsement from the coach.

“I thought he played all right,” Vigneault said “He showed some good moments.”

New York Post LOADED: 09.28.2013


Rangers prospects have to step it up for roster spot


STEVE ZIPAY

LAS VEGAS - Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings at the MGM Grand Hotel was the last opportunity for some prospects to impress Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault and his staff.

"There are a lot of players right now that are close, but haven't really shown to me that they can play at this level on a consistent basis," Vigneault said after Thursday night's 5-0 defeat in Vancouver. "A couple of young guys will get a chance [Friday night], but they're definitely going to have to do better."

That group includes forwards Chris Kreider, who has not performed at the level expected, J.T. Miller, Oscar Lindberg, Marek Hrivik, Jesper Fast and Brandon Mashinter. The veterans on the bubble are Darroll Powe and Arron Asham. For the second consecutive night, Brad Richards was centering Rick Nash and Benoit Pouliot. Henrik Lundqvist also started in goal again.

With center Derek Stepan signing a two-year deal Thursday, there is one fewer available spot on the 23-man roster, especially in the middle, where the Blueshirts have Derick Brassard, Richards and Dominic Moore, as well as Brian Boyle, who will likely be shifted to the wing. That doesn't bode well for Lindberg, who will likely be assigned to Hartford when the final roster cuts are made this weekend.

Mats Zuccarello, Derek Dorsett and Taylor Pyatt are under contract and were not in the lineup. Asham and Powe were already waived once, and could be again.

Neither Ryan Callahan nor Carl Hagelin are sufficiently recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, so Vigneault needs players who can contribute until they return. The clubhouse leaders appear to be: Kreider, a left wing who has skated in the playoffs for two consecutive seasons and played 23 regular-season games last year; Miller, who played 26 games and can play wing or center; and Hrivik, who had seven goals and 19 assists in his rookie season with Hartford.

On defense, the top six are set, and Justin Falk and Stu Bickel, who played Friday, could be the spares if Vigneault keeps eight blueliners for the long western road trip to open the season. Conor Allen has promise, but probably needs to play regularly in the AHL.

About 12,000 fans were expected to be on hand for this annual event, called Frozen Fury. The Kings also host the Colorado Avalanche here Saturday.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.28.2013

718281 Ottawa Senators

Conacher wraps up wing spot with strong pre-season

Ken Warren

Conacher wraps up wing spot with strong pre-season

The honey badger is on the verge of capturing the Ottawa Senators’ biggest training camp prize.

Nobody has declared the competition officially over yet, but Cory Conacher has the inside track on winning the coveted spot to play right wing alongside Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris on the club’s second line.

Conacher opened the scoring in the Senators’ 3-1 exhibition loss to the Montreal Canadiens Thursday. He also scored in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Montreal in Ottawa and leads the Senators with three goals in the pre-season.

More than that, though, Conacher has re-established himself as a fierce battler for pucks everywhere on the ice — living up to his nickname — and has responded to the Senators’ biggest off-season demands. Conacher, who was in and out of the lineup during the playoffs due to his sporadic play, has committed himself to improving his defensive play and to better nutritional habits to deal with his diabetes.

“I’m looking to be more reliable on the ice this year,” said the 5-8, 175-pound Conacher, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Ben Bishop at the trade deadline last year. “Defence is a big part of this game. And it’s a big part of winning, as well. I’ve got to focus on that first. And if I am playing with Turris and MacArthur, or whoever it is, the offence will come as long as you play good defensively. It’s about being comfortable and well positioned in the defensive zone.”

Conacher suggests he’s simply “getting some good bounces” and credited MacArthur and Turris for making life easy for him in Wednesday’s game, but he also knows he can’t succeed without the chip he carries on his shoulders — shoulders which are almost always lower than those of his opponents. As soon as he starts taking shortcuts, there’s a bigger guy behind him, waiting to grab his position.

“It would be a little easier if I was 6-5 and a big guy,” he said. “But as a small guy, definitely, you always need to have your head on a swivel and be the hardest-working guy on the ice. I’ve tried to do that my whole career. I’ve never been the best player on my team. I’ve just tried to work harder than the guy beside me.”

Throughout training camp, Senators coach Paul MacLean has said earning a roster spot isn’t just about having a good game here or a good game there. Everything, from fitness tests to off-ice workouts to practice performance to game production, is included in the analysis of who is deemed the most ready to start the season in Ottawa. Conacher hasn’t disappointed.

“He has been very consistent,” said MacLean. “He did a real good job in the summer. He had a good talk with (conditioning coach) Chris Schwarz about controlling his diabetes in the proper way, with diet and exercise, and more than just a can of coke and a pump kind of thing. He has embraced that and his fitness level is good.”

GRYBA ON THE MEND

We haven’t heard much about defenceman Eric Gryba during training camp. That’s because he suffered what he calls “a freak accident” during one of the first skating sessions.

He has been officially diagnosed with a “lower body” injury.

“It just happened in a random drill, sort of like slipping on a banana peel kind of thing,” he said. “I didn’t even fall. It was just something that I kind of tweaked wrong.”

Gryba returned to practicing with the club’s non-game day players earlier in the week and he’s hoping to be cleared to play in one of the Senators’ two split-squad games Sunday against the New York Islanders — one in Ottawa and one in Barrie, Ont.

“I’m a lot stronger, a lot better now — I’m feeling like my old self,” he said. “Definitely, before going into any regular season, you would like to get some touches and get back up to speed.”

If Gryba is healthy, he’s expected to be one of seven defencemen on the roster. He would need to clear waivers in order to be assigned to Binghamton of the AHL and, considering his solid play as an injury replacement after Erik Karlsson’s Achilles injury, the Senators don’t want to risk exposing him. If he’s not ready to go, Mark Borowiecki could start the season in the NHL.

Gryba knows there are no guarantees.

“I still have a lot to prove and I still have to establish myself,” he said. “There are always young guys looking for the chance. That’s good for the team to have that competitive atmosphere and there’s always someone pushing to take your spot if you’re not ready.”

WEIRD WEEKEND

Friday was a day off for the players, but they will be back at practice Saturday and most will see game action Sunday. Forget about the idea that everyone who is shipped to Barrie will automatically be assigned to Binghamton. NHL rules require that all teams must dress at least eight veterans for every pre-season game. Monday will be a day of transition. Binghamton is scheduled to open training camp on Tuesday.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 09.28.2013


O’Brien clears waivers, likely headed for minors

Ken Warren

Centre Jim O’Brien has cleared waivers, meaning he could return to the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League.

Once he lands in the minors, the Senators are still responsible for paying O’Brien his $650,000 salary, but if he’s in the American Hockey League, the contract doesn’t count against the NHL salary cap.

O’Brien, 24, originally drafted by the Senators in the first round (29th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft, was never able to regain the spot in the lineup he lost last season. When Jason Spezza missed the majority of the 2013 season following back surgery, Binghamton call-ups Mika Zibanejad and Jean-Gabriel Pageau took advantage of the opening by establishing themselves as NHL centres.

O’Brien, meanwhile, spent the latter part of the 2013 season and the playoffs as a spectator.

Before placing O’Brien on waivers, Senators general manager Bryan Murray tried to trade him, but found no takers.

“It’s an unfortunate part of the business,” Senators coach Paul MacLean said following the Senators’ 3-1 exhibition loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

“We’ve had players come in that either project to be better or are better and that’s basically what it is. We just can’t horde everybody or keep them to ourselves. We’re hopeful he’ll get an opportunity somewhere else.”



Lazar thrilled to play first game

Ken Warren

It was a day of firsts for Ottawa Senators rookie Curtis Lazar.

First NHL exhibition game. First big-league train ride - the Senators took the rail route to Montreal Thursday afternoon - along with his first taste of the Bell Centre atmosphere.

So who could excuse the 18-year-old if he thought Santa Claus had delivered him the greatest gift of all? "I woke up and it felt like Christmas just getting to the rink," Lazar said following the Senators morning skate at the Canadian Tire Centre.

"I know how crazy it is (at the Bell Centre) and all that. I know the butterflies are going to be at a high, but I've just got to enjoy it."

Lazar's training camp hasn't gone according to plan - he suffered a shoulder injury on Day 1 and was only cleared to practice with the team on Monday - but it was hard to wipe the smile off his face Thursday.

"I feel good. It has been tough sitting on the sidelines for a lot of it, but I'm ready to go. That's the biggest thing. I have a lot to prove."

Lazar, selected by the Senators 17th overall at June's NHL Draft, was always a longshot to make the Senators this year, as the organization already has enough slightly older forward prospects pushing to for a spot. The best development option was always to have him return to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, with the hopes he would also land a spot on Canada's world junior team.

His inability to play earlier in training camp essentially turned that longshot into no shot.

The Senators' long-term expectations haven't changed, however.

"It's definitely another step up for sure (playing in an exhibition game), but he has played very well through the rookie tournament and we want to give him an opportunity to show us that he can play at the NHL level," said Senators coach Paul Mac-Lean. "We certainly believe that he can. We drafted him where we did and this is an opportunity for him to show what he can do."

The short-term question is whether Lazar, who can play either centre or right wing,

will get a chance to play a second game in one of the Senators split-squad games Sunday against the New York Islanders or whether he will be sent back to Edmonton for the weekend. Either way, his approach won't change.

"I want to bring the puck hard to the net and generate some offence, but also I don't want to be a slouch in the defensive zone," he said. "I want to be out there sacrificing the body and do whatever coach asks of me."

SPEZZ A PRACTISES

All Senators fans who were holding their breath, worried about the injury status of captain Jason Spezza and winger Bobby Ryan, can relax. Well, at least a little. Spezza skated with the Senators' non-game day players Thursday, while Ryan worked out in the gym. "Everybody is fine and a lot of our veteran players are not practicing (Thursday)," said MacLean. Friday, meanwhile, was scheduled as a day off when training camp began.

"We'll come back on Saturday, practise and then play the last two games (Sunday). Everybody who was nicked up is fine."

HITS WEREN'T DIRTY

You can argue that hockey, not baseball, is really the game of inches. Ryan and star defenceman Erik Karlsson were perhaps only inches away from suffering serious injuries during the Senators' 5-2 win Thursday. MacLean, however, wasn't complaining about either close call.

"Well, hockey is hockey, so it's a physical game," he said.

"The only dangerous hit, I thought, was possibly the hit on Bobby Ryan, but he kind of turned into it. I have no complaints about anything." Jarred

Tinordi's open-ice collision with Karlsson could have resulted in serious damage, but again, MacLean wasn't whining.

"He saw it coming. I mean, it could have been worse if he didn't see it, but his instincts were good and he got out of the way and made the guy miss. The guy is just trying to play hockey.

If you're in the middle of the rink and you're not looking bad things happen all the time."

Interesting that MacLean called him "the guy" rather than "No. 24."



Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk likes look of team this season

Don Brennan

Friday, September 27, 2013 09:06 PM EDT

Contrary to the image presented by his marketing team's new buzz word, Eugene Melnyk is cautiously optimistic about the Senators' chances this season.

Not once did he mention the word Stanley at a weakly attended Elgin Street pep rally on this warm Friday afternoon. The only Cup he spoke of was the one he wanted filled with a frosty beverage at St. Louis Bar & Grill after the interviews were over.

Talk about refreshing, it too was a nice change from bold predictions of a championship in a league that, on paper, has a number of more qualified squads.

Okay, so Melnyk did go a little overboard when he rambled on about why "pesky" will be replaced by "fearless" as the Senators' 2013-14 season mantra, saying: "You can see it in the eyes of the players, you can see it in the eyes of the management ... they're out to get (opposing teams)."

But when he stepped off the podium for a question and answer session with reporters, his forecast sounded less like the usual sales pitch made to draw ticket purchasers and new fans. It was of more realistic expectations.

"I'm very, very excited," said Melnyk. "I've seen all the (pre-season) games this week, I've seen the young kids, and the talent that we have, the talent pool, the depth that we have ... the package is there.

"It's just you don't want to jinx them into believing that we're going to be a winner. They've got to work every night, they've got to work hard ... we've got to stay away from injuries if we can. And I think we're going to be very competitive."

He even managed to dodge the "how far can you go" query from a veteran scribe trying to find out if the rings had been ordered and the parade planned.

"That's a very loaded question for a guy like me right now," said Melnyk, smiling. "But I think, I'm hoping we can go deep. I think we've got the talent. Let them do their stuff, and, you know, you can ask me again right after the Christmas break. I think at that point we'll have a great idea of how all the lines have jelled, who's hot and who's not.

"We'll do as management whatever we can to get us as deep as we can into the playoffs."

Wait, even if that means trading for a veteran player with an expiring, heavy contract at the deadline? Moments earlier, Melnyk had cringed when asked if he would green light going over the team budget. Are the Senators now going to move a little higher up the NHL salaries list, where they currently sit about 26th?

"We are already over budget, I just found out (Thursday)," said Melnyk. "But like I said, we'll do whatever it takes. We've got to be smart about it. I'm not a big fan of rentals, but if we need to fill a spot, I'm going to leave that up to (GM) Bryan (Murray) to come back and say 'this could make a big difference for us.' So that's not beyond the realm of reality, that we'd have to live with.

"But as things stand now, we've got so much depth in the organization. One of our good problems is that we have so many good young players."

A bigger not-good problem is the one Melnyk has with a city that won't allow him to put a casino near the arena to help off-set what he claims to be multi-million dollar annual loses. But he refused to get into that, referring to a self-imposed moratorium on the subject "for about a month." He added "we're now regrouping to see what we might be able to still do with the city's co-operation.

"The idea of moving the team is not a reality. That's not going to happen," he said. "But what is going to happen, is the salary cap is going to increase. The revenues of the league are going very, very well, right across the board.

"They fixed all the problem franchises. And people are spending to the cap. We spent to the cap two years in a row and didn't make the playoffs. So I'm not a big fan of just spending because you've got to spend. We need co-operation and help. It's as simple as that, because we're being outspent by everyone else, and to be competitive, you have to be at least in the top half of spenders. That's a stat, I mean it's not even something I made up. You have to be in the top half. We are. If you're not, you don't have much of a chance."

I didn't realize they had fixed all the problem franchises and I'm confused by the statement about the Senators being in the top half of spenders when Capgeek clearly shows otherwise. But I don't mind the team's new handle — "Fearless is now the middle name of the Ottawa Senators," said Melnyk — and I do like that the owner of the Ottawa Fearless Senators is not predicting a Stanley Cup win. They may in fact be a contender, but a lot of things still have to go right before they're sipping champagne on Elgin Street.

And some co-operation from the city — so Melnyk can bump the budget and Murray can make moves if the young players prove to be not quite ready or injuries hit hard again — would only help.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.28.2013


Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk not ready to reunite with former captain Daniel Alfredsson

Don Brennan


Snubbed by his former captain almost three months ago, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is not yet ready to even think about rekindling the relationship.

Where Melnyk once suggested a post-playing career job in the organization was Daniel Alfredsson’s should he want it, the offer is now not even hidden behind the salt and pepper, let alone on the table.

Friday night marked Alfredsson’s first home pre-season game with the Detroit Red Wings, the team he bolted to as a free agent in July.

“It’s kind of tough, when somebody goes down the road ... it’s like a girlfriend leaving you or something,” Melnyk said at the opening of Sens Mile on Elgin Street hours before Alfredsson’s first game as a Wing at Joe Louis Arena. “But I don’t know. Things change all the time. Like who would have ever thought he’d leave. You just never know.”

Melnyk was also asked if Alfredsson would be celebrated when he returns to Ottawa — and if his jersey No. 11 might some day be raised to the rafters and retired at Canadian Tire Centre. He replied by addressing only half the question.

“Potentially, sure,” said Melnyk. “Look, Daniel had his own reasons for what he did, and we’re moving on. The players I’ve seen come and go, just in my 10 years ...

“Now, he’s a special player, he was with the franchise for so long, but he did a lot for the community, he did a lot for the team. Detroit, I guess, is his last hurrah, but after that, I think he’ll be recognized appropriately when he comes back to Ottawa ... if he comes back to Ottawa or not.

“ I think he would at least be recognized.”

Fittingly, Alfredsson’s appearance in Detroit colours Friday was against the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose fans would quickly recognize him with boos when he was a Senator. He was on a line with fellow free agent acquisition Stephen Weiss and Johan Franzen, a trio currently being counted on to provide the Red Wings with secondary scoring this season.

Prior to Alfredsson being sidelined by a groin injury Sept. 17, the line did not impress coach Mike Babcock at camp.

“They did nothing,” Babcock told reporters in Detroit. “That’s what gives you pause. If you don’t do anything, pretty soon things change.

“Now, they haven’t gotten a chance to play together, and so that’s an unfair assessment, but we need to get an assessment because we need production from every group.”

The Senators first meeting with the Red Wings is Oct. 23 in Detroit. Alfredsson’s much-anticipated return to Ottawa is scheduled for Dec. 1.



Ottawa Senators almost ready to make call on final roster

Bruce Garrioch


The battle is all but over.

All that’s left to make are the official decisions.

The Senators will close out training camp Sunday with split squad exhibition games against the New York Islanders. One group is at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m., with the other headed for a 6 p.m. start in Barrie.

Then, GM Bryan Murray, coach Paul MacLean along with top advisors Tim Murray, Pierre Dorion, Randy Lee and the rest of the coaching staff will decide who will be around to start the season Friday against the Buffalo Sabres.

After splitting into two groups — Ottawa and Binghamton last week — expect as many as six bodies to be sent to the club’s AHL affiliate. Top pick Curtis Lazar, meanwhile, is almost certainly headed back to the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

Yes, the players still here have one more chance to impress in Ottawa or Barrie Sunday, but most of the boys on the bubble have helped Murray and the staff make their decision.

Here’s a look at what could happen:

RW Cory Conacher: He isn’t going anywhere. He needs waivers to be sent to Binghamton and has done a solid job in camp showing he deserves to start the season on the right side of Kyle Turris and Clarke MacArthur. Three goals in the exhibition campaign doesn’t hurt his cause. It will be up to Conacher to produce to stay there.

C Jean-Gabriel Pageau: All he has done is impress and shown the consistency the Senators want. The club will have to decide where he fits. He’s been better than a fourth-liner in camp and his emergence means that Zack Smith could be used on the wing. Pageau has picked up where he left off in the playoffs last spring.

C Stephane Da Costa: He’s caused a conundrum because he’s been a bit of a surprise in camp. He showed up in good shape, has been smart with the puck and has produced plenty of opportunities. Three league executives say he won’t be picked up if he is sent down to Binghamton. He could be kept around as an extra forward.

RW Mike Hoffman: There were high hopes for him coming into camp, but those haven’t materialized. He has played only two exhibition games and simply wasn’t good enough in the club’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Thursday. There are no concerns he’ll be picked up on waivers. He’ll have to hope he gets called up if there are injuries.

D Mark Borowiecki: He has shown in camp he is willing to do anything to help the team. He could be kept around as the seventh defenceman with the club busy to start the season. He has a one-way contract next season and he’s on the verge of being a full-time player. A tough decision.

D Cody Ceci: This was his first full training camp. He has work to do. Time in the minors won’t hurt him and will help him learn the pro game. The tools are there, people just have to be patient. He could be paired with Borowiecki in Binghamton and if the club needs a defenceman, Ceci will most certainly be a candidate to get called up during the season.

MacLean said it is time for the Senators to take the next step and get ready for the season. Of course, some of the decisions will depend on the health of the players that MacLean has insisted are “fine.”

The club will likely carry 22 players when cuts are made Monday.

“It’s starting to get down to our (team). We’re looking forward to getting our team and getting ourselves ready to go,” said MacLean.

“Everybody has made a good account for themselves in training camp. It’s going to be difficult decisions on (Monday), but you know what, we’re actually excited about those decisions and we’re looking forward to making

those decisions because we know in order to be successful you need more than just 22 players.”



Senators' Jim O'Brien clears waivers, is bound for Binghamton

Bruce Garrioch


Unless another team calls before final cuts are made Monday, the Senators centre will head for Binghamton to collect his $650,000 salary and hope he can play well enough to get another shot in the NHL.

O’Brien, 24, cleared waivers at noon Friday, which means the club can assign him to its AHL affiliate. GM Bryan Murray has tried to deal O’Brien for the last four months but hasn’t had any luck.

The club might be willing to retain part of his salary if anybody runs into injury trouble and needs a penalty killer.

Coach Paul MacLean said O’Brien just doesn’t fit anymore.

“It’s an unfortunate part of the business,” said MacLean. “Every year you draft players and you develop, players either become better players, they level off or other players get better than them. That’s the reality with Jim.

“We have players that have come in that we project to be better or are better. That’s an unfortunate part of the business now ... we can’t horde everybody and keep everybody to ourselves. We’re hopeful he’ll get an opportunity to play somewhere else.”


718288 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers: Breaking Bad

Sam Carchidi

September 28, 2013, 3:28 AM

WASHINGTON — This is not how the Flyers wanted to break away from the preseason — with numerous defensive breakdowns in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on Friday night.

With the defeat, the Flyers ended their exhibition schedule with a 1-5-1 record.

“It’s good to get it out of the way,” said captain Claude Giroux, referring to the poor record. “Hopefully the guys will get a little ticked off about this record and start playing Wednesday.”

The Flyers open the regular season Wednesday against visiting Toronto.

During the preseason, “there were some good things we saw, there were some things we need to work on,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “We’ll get there. We’ve got three good practices coming up this week.”

“If you’re going to get some of the kinks out, this is the best time to do it,” losing goalie Ray Emery said. “…Even by making mistakes, you’re still learning.”

Alex Ovechkin and Eric Fehr each scored twice for the Caps. (See story.)

Laughton update. Rookie center Scott Laughton, battling for a roster spot, wasn’t happy with his performance.

“I didn’t play the way I wanted to, and it’s pretty frustrating,” he said.

Laviolette wasn’t as critical.

“There were a couple of times he was a little jumpy with the puck, but for the most part, over the course of the last two games, I thought he played pretty well,” Laviolette said. “I thought he was probably one of our best players” in Thursday’s loss to New Jersey.

Goalie battle. Emery and Steve Mason had uneven training camps, and Laviolette made it sound as if he was still undecided about his starter for Wednesday’s regular-season opener.

"I think they both had their moments where they played well.” he said. “I think we’ll continue to look at it through practice here.”

Offensive woes. The Flyers scored just a total of 15 goals in their seven preseason games.

“I think that’s something that will come,” said forward Adam Hall, who was in two of the game's five fights. “We’ll get more consistent as we round out our game, as we play our system and execute our system more consistently. The way we play defense contributes to offense and vice versa. Consistency is what we strive for.”

Breakaways. Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds scored for the Flyers in a 4:45 second-period span to erase a 3-0 deficit……The Flyers scored 15 goals in the preseason _ by 15 players…..Luke Schenn had nine hits and Simmonds had six….The Flyers outhit the Caps, 38-25, and won 59 percent of the face-offs….Hartnell had a team-high six shots on goal….On the PP, the Caps were 2 for 5, the Flyers were 1 for 5…..Jake Voracek (back) missed the game but will play Wednesday, Holmgren said.....Flyers are off Saturday and will return to the ice Sunday in Voorhees at 11 a.m.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.28.2013


Flyers juggling salary-cap situation

FRANK SERAVALLI,


WASHINGTON - What does Paul Holmgren have up his sleeve?

It doesn't take a mathlete to understand that the Flyers are currently over the NHL's $64.3 million salary cap with Chris Pronger on the roster.

Pronger will not play again, but the Flyers must retain his salary-cap hit on their roster for the first day of the season before he can be move to the long-term injury list.

It's important to note that the first day of the salary cap begins Monday afternoon - and the Flyers' first game isn't until Wednesday against Toronto. Meaning, many expected the Flyers to simply make a "paper transaction" and send waiver-exempt forwards Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to the Phantoms for the first day and recall them on the second."I don't see foresee that happening," Holmgren said yesterday, prior to the Flyers' final preseason game against the Capitals. "Chris will be on our roster on Monday when we file our roster."

Does that mean Pronger will definitely go to the long-term injury list on Tuesday?

"I guess it depends," Holmgren said. "Probably, but it doesn't have to be that way."

There have been rumors all summer that the Flyers would like to move a defenseman, considering their logjam there and that they continue to say they are impressed with tryout Hal Gill.

Holmgren said he believes the Flyers have 48 contracts signed toward the 50-contract limit, although Anthony Stolarz, Samuel Morin and even Scott Laughton will slide toward next year unless they play 10 games with the Flyers this year.

Oliver Lauridsen, 24, was sent to Adirondack yesterday. Even without him, the Flyers still have nine bodies: Kimmo Timonen, Mark Streit, Luke Schenn, Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros, Nick Grossmann, Erik Gustafsson, Bruno Gervais and Gill.

Gustafsson, 24, isn't going anywhere.

"He would have to clear waivers," Holmgren said. "That would be pretty risky. He's a young player that we really like."

So, has Holmgren had any conversations with other general managers about moving a defenseman?

"I've had conversations with people, but are they specifically asking [about defensemen]? No," Holmgren said. "This time of year, you always ask questions like, 'What are you looking for?' and, 'What do you need?' It's just general talk.

"This time of year, waivers everyday, there are a lot of teams slipping guys down to the minors that way. It's a critical time for every team as they try to fill out their roster."

Right now, the Flyers are trying to decide whether to keep 13 forwards and eight defensemen or 14 forwards and seven defensemen.

The truth is, with Michael Raffl being sent back to Adirondack yesterday, none of the forwards trying to win a spot has knocked the coaching staff's socks off. Chris Vande Velde has remained in camp as a dark horse - but he doesn't even have an NHL contract at this point, which leads one to believe that the Flyers would be rather not risk losing Gervais to waivers if at all possible.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Holmgren said.

Holmgren did say, however, that the door is likely closed with free agent Simon Gagne. There was a report earlier this week from Quebec saying that Gagne is skating with his old junior team in Quebec City waiting to hear back from a few teams.

Gagne, 33, was very vocal in his criticism of Holmgren in a recent interview, saying that he felt he had been strung along all summer.

"I would say so," Holmgren said on the door being closed. "I haven't spoken to his agent in a while."

Either way, the Flyers' situation is very much in flux. Don't be surprised if Holmgren has something in the works to create more room before Monday.



Vande Velde not just a long shot for Flyers

FRANK SERAVALLI

Sunday, September 29, 2013, 3:01 AM

WASHINGTON - When Chris Vande Velde entered the Wells Fargo Center for training camp on Sept. 12, the only person he knew was Phantoms goaltender Yann Danis, whom he played with in Edmonton.

He'd heard of Matt Read before - but that's because he played against Read in college.

It's very likely, actually, that most of the Flyers' brass didn't know who Vande Velde was either. Months after playing 11 NHL games, Vande Velde only earned an invitation to training camp because he played hockey at the University of North Dakota with assistant general manager Ron Hextall's son.

There was no press release sent out when VandeVelde signed an AHL contract after camp started.

There still hasn't been press release distributed about Vande Velde. That's because he is still with the Flyers, lingering among their final 14 forwards. The Flyers dispatched highly touted winger Michael Raffl and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen to the AHL yesterday, trimming their roster to 25 players.

It's safe to say, though, that a few more people know about Vande Velde now.

"Just being on an AHL contract, to make it this far is something in and of itself," Vande Velde said yesterday prior to the Flyers' 6-3 loss to the Capitals. "I'm not satisfied yet. There's still cuts to be made.

"Not a lot of guys knew about me coming into camp. I just came into camp with a positive attitude and worked hard every day and tried to open some eyes. I think I've done that thus far."

Vande Velde and rookie Scott Laughton remain, although the Flyers could decide to keep both players on the 23-man roster to start the season. Both players saw limited minutes against Washington last night.

Defenseman Bruno Gervais was scratched for the third preseason game in a row, which could mean the Flyers are leaning toward 14 forwards and seven defensemen.

General manager Paul Holmgren said he was expecting to make the final two cuts today. The Flyers wrapped up the preseason last night with an unimpressive 1-5-1 record.

If few people had Vande Velde penciled into a roster spot, fewer had the Flyers sending Raffl back to Adirondack so soon. Raffl, 24, was high on the team's depth chart coming into camp after being signed as a free agent this summer.

Raffl was going against long odds, trying to make the jump from Sweden's second-tier league (Allsvenskan) to the NHL without a stop in between. He was a hot commodity and chose the Flyers over an offer from Nashville after scoring two goals for his native Austria in the World Championships last May.

"Michael played in four of our games and I thought he did something good in each of those games," Holmgren said. "But I think we just want him to get a little more experience on that smaller ice, where he can play a lot more minutes and learn the North American game.

"The difference [with Vande Velde] is that he is a North American player, he's been a 3-year pro and played NHL games."

Reading the tea leaves with Holmgren, it sounds as if Laughton, 19, will stay with the Flyers simply because they'd be passing up an (almost) free look at him in the NHL. He can play in the first nine games of the season before they must make a decision to send him back to his junior team in Oshawa, Ontario. Players cannot be sent to the AHL until their 20-year-old season.

All it would cost the Flyers is Laughton's hotel stay and per diem.

"I think any time young players can spend with NHL players, it's beneficial to a point," Holmgren said. "[Dominating in junior] is kind of a benefit, too. That's kind of what we're weighing in our decision-making process: What's best for us, and a little bit of what's best for him, too."

End of the road?

Veteran defenseman Hal Gill may have played his final NHL game after a solid, 15-year career. Gill, 38, came into training camp on a tryout with the Flyers and has a meeting scheduled with Holmgren today.

"I find it hard to believe we can make a spot for him, but I guess you never say never," Holmgren said. "Having him at camp has been a pleasure. He's just full of life. For an older guy that's played as many games as he's played, he's provided enthusiasm in camp."

Gill was scratched last night against the Capitals. He has been steady in his own end, but it looks as if his 6-7 frame can't keep up at NHL pace. Gill has played 1,212 games (including playoffs) and won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.

"He's a smart, stay-at-home defensive defenseman. He doesn't get beat," Holmgren said. "You could argue that he's slow, but he's been the same player for the last 10 years."

Holmgren did leave open the possibility of signing Gill to a minor-league deal if he was interested, to keep around as insurance against injury.

Slap shots

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin left for Greece after the game. With owner Ted Leonsis' blessing, Ovechkin will be the first Russian torch bearer ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi. Ovechkin will then fly back to D.C. and travel with the team to Chicago for Tuesday's opener . . . Jake Voracek (upper-body) sat out last night's game but is expected to be ready for Wednesday . . . Zac Rinaldo was ejected in the first period after a 5-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing. The play will be reviewed by the NHL for any possible supplementary discipline.



Capitals light up Flyers in exhibition

Sam Carchidi


WASHINGTON - The Flyers' exhibition finale against the Washington Capitals on Friday night was the last chance for the "bubble" players - forwards Scott Laughton and Chris VandeVelde - to make a case for staying on the team's roster.

Neither was a factor as they didn't get much ice time in the Flyers' fight-filled 6-3 loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center.

Alex Ovechkin, who left for Greece after the game to take part in an Olympic torch-lighting ceremony, and Eric Fehr scored two goals apiece against Ray Emery, who struggled with his rebound control.

The Flyers finished 1-5-1 in the preseason, lowering expectations. They open the regular season Wednesday against visiting Toronto, and they need to clean up their defensive coverage.

"I don't like our record. I don't like the way we played some nights," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "But I was happy with our effort tonight. I thought we did some good things, and we have to move on now. We've got some work to do."

The other Flyers whose job status seems to be hanging by a thread are defensemen Bruno Gervais and Hal Gill, neither of whom dressed for the game.

The Flyers must trim two players to get down to 23 before opening-night rosters have to be submitted to the NHL offices by 5 p.m. Monday.

Before Friday's game, Holmgren said he might ask Gill if he would accept a minor-league contract, although he would have to clear waivers first.

Holmgren has a quandary: whether to keep 13 or 14 forwards or seven or eight defensemen. The Flyers have 14 forwards and nine defensemen left in camp.

If they keep 14 forwards, Laughton and VandeVelde will be on the team, barring a trade. There are rumblings the Flyers would like to deal a defenseman for a winger.

Jake Voracek, the top-line right winger who led the Flyers with 22 goals last season, missed his second straight game with a lower-back injury. He is expected to play in Wednesday's opener.

The Flyers hope Zac Rinaldo can play in that game. The feisty winger got a five-minute elbowing penalty Friday and a game-misconduct for a hit on Mikhail Grabovski. The NHL disciplinary czars may review the play.

Washington bolted to a 3-0 lead. Emery made a poor clearing pass to set up the Caps' first goal, scored by Fehr. Ovechkin made it 2-0 by scoring on a power-play, one-timer late in the opening period.

The Flyers scored three goals (Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds) in a span of 4 minutes, 45 seconds late in the second period to forge a 3-3 tie, but the Caps answered in the final period.



Flyers Notes: Flyers demote Raffl and Lauridsen

Sam Carchidi


WASHINGTON - The Flyers got closer to the 23-player limit by sending left winger Michael Raffl and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms on Friday.

The moves left the team with 25 players in training camp.

Raffl's demotion was a bit surprising because the Austrian had impressed the Flyers' brass during the preseason. The 24-year-old forward was trying to make a gargantuan leap from a lower-level Sweden league to the NHL.

In four preseason games, Raffl was scoreless but was one of the Flyers' most active forwards.

"I thought he did something good in each of those games," general manager Paul Holmgren said before Friday's exhibition against the Washington Capitals, "but we want to give him a little more experience on the smaller ice down there, where he can play a lot more minutes and learn the North American game."

Lauridsen, 24, who was impressive in a call-up with the Flyers late last season, will be insurance in case there is an injury.

Free skate

To celebrate the start of the season, the Flyers are offering free skating to fans who dress in orange and black at any of their four area Skate Zone rinks on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.



Trade in works for Flyers?

September 27, 2013, 6:21 PM

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- What does Paul Holmgren have up his sleeve?

It doesn’t take a mathlete to understand that the Flyers are currently over the NHL’s $64.3 million salary cap with Chris Pronger on the roster.

Pronger will not play again, but the Flyers must retain his salary cap hit on their roster for the first day of the season before he can be move to the long-term injury list.

It’s important to note that the first day of the salary cap begins Monday afternoon - and the Flyers’ first game isn’t until Wednesday against Toronto. Meaning, many expected the Flyers to simply make a “paper transaction” and send waiver exempt forwards Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier to the Phantoms for the first day and re-call them on the second.

“I don’t see foresee that happening,” Holmgren said Friday, prior to the Flyers’ final preseason game against the Capitals. “Chris will be on our roster on Monday when we file our roster.”

Does that mean Pronger will definitely go to the long-term injury list on Tuesday?

“I guess it depends,” Holmgren said. “Probably, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

There have been rumors all summer that the Flyers would like to move a defenseman, considering their jogjam there and that they continue to say they are impressed with tryout Hal Gill.

Holmgren said he believes the Flyers have 48 contracts signed toward the 50-contract limit, though Anthony Stolarz, Samuel Morin and even Scott Laughton will slide toward next year unless they play 10 games with the Flyers this year.

Oliver Lauridsen, 24, was sent to Adirondack on Friday. Even without him, the Flyers still have nine bodies: Kimmo Timonen, Mark Streit, Luke Schenn, Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros, Nick Grossmann, Erik Gustafsson, Bruno Gervais and Gill.

Gustafsson, 24, isn’t going anywhere.

“He would have to clear waivers,” Holmgren said. “That would be pretty risky. He’s a young player that we really like.”

So, has Holmgren had any conversations with other general managers about moving a defenseman?

“I’ve had conversations with people, but are they specifically asking (about defensemen)? No,” Holmgren said. “This time of year, you always ask questions like ‘What are you looking for?’ and ‘What do you need?’ It’s just general talk.

“This time of year, waivers everyday, there’s a lot of teams slipping guys down to the minors that way. It’s a critical time for every team as they try to fill out their roster.”

Right now, the Flyers are trying to decide whether to keep 13 forwards and 8 defensemen or 14 forwards and 7 defensemen.

The truth is, with Michael Raffl being sent back to Adirondack on Friday, none of the forwards trying to win a spot have knocked the coaching staff’s socks off. Chris Vande Velde has remained in camp as a darkhorse - but he doesn’t even have an NHL contract at this point, which leads me to believe the Flyers would be rather not risk losing Gervais to waivers if at all possible.

“There’s a lot of different scenarios,” Holmgren said.

Holmgren did say, however, that the door is likely closed with free agent Simon Gagne. There was a report earlier this week from Quebec saying that Gagne is skating with his old junior team in Quebec City waiting to hear back from a few teams.

Gagne, 33, was very vocal in his criticism for Holmgren in a recent interview, saying that he felt like he was strung along all summer.

“I would say so,” Holmgren said on the door being closed. “I haven’t spoken to his agent in a while.”

Either way, the Flyers’ situation is very much in-flux. Don’t be surprised if Holmgren has something in the works to create more room before Monday.

POSSIBLE ROSTER:

FORWARDS

Scott Hartnell ($4.750m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)

Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($4.500m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)

Maxime Talbot ($1.750m) / Sean Couturier ($1.375m) / Matt Read ($0.900m)

Adam Hall ($0.600m) / Scott Laughton ($1.107m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)

Jay Rosehill ($0.675m) / DEFENSEMEN

Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Mark Streit ($5.250m)

Kimmo Timonen ($6.000m) / Braydon Coburn ($4.500m)

Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m) / Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m)

Erik Gustafsson ($1.000m) / Bruno Gervais ($0.825m)

GOALTENDERS

Ray Emery ($1.650m)

Steve Mason ($1.500m)

OTHER

Buyout: Oskars Bartulis ($0.100m)

Buyout: Ilya Bryzgalov ($0.000m)

Buyout: Danny Briere ($0.000m)

LTIR: Chris Pronger ($0.000m)

------

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)

(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,599,594; BONUSES: $2,800,000

CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $3,500,406



Flyers cut Raffl, Lauridsen

Staff Writer

September 27, 2013, 2:15 PM

WASHINGTON -- With one game left in the preseason, the Flyers’ roster picture has suddenly become a little clearer at forward.

The Flyers assigned winger Michael Raffl to AHL Adirondack on Friday, along with defenseman Oliver Lauridsen. Many expected Raffl to be one of the finalists for the Flyers’ final roster spot at forward.

The Flyers gave him every opportunity to make an impression, but apparently, Raffl didn’t do enough in the preseason to remain in camp over rookie Scott Laughton and newcomer Chris Vande Velde. He did not register a point.

While he did show flashes of impressive play, including solid speed and crafty hands in tight spaces, Raffl seemed to be bumped off the puck quite easily - especially when trying to gain the blue line.

Raffl, 24, was signed by the Flyers as a free agent this summer after an impressive World Championships with Austria. He scored two goals playing on a line with Sabres star Thomas Vanek.

Raffl was attempting to make a big jump from Sweden’s second league (Allsvenskan) directly to the NHL, something few players have done successfully. Most recently, Phoenix defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Capitals forward Filip Forsberg have gone from that league to the NHL, but most trips usually incur a stop in the AHL first. The Flyers had high hopes Raffl would be among that elite category.

Lauridsen, 24, played 15 games with the Flyers last season but needed to overcome a logjam of defensemen to make the team. Erik Gustafsson, Bruno Gervais and tryout Hal Gill are still in training camp slugging it out to make the opening night roster.



Holmgren still has some tough decisions

Wayne Fish

Friday, September 27, 2013 6:54 pm

The Flyers announced on Friday that they have assigned forward Michael Raffl and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen to the Adirondack Phantoms.

General manager Paul Holmgren met with reporters at the Verizon Center in Washington late Friday afternoon to discuss roster moves leading up to the Monday, 5 p.m. deadline when all final rosters must be submitted to the NHL.

Here is a transcript of some of the questions Holmgren answered:

Question: You sent Raffl and Lauridsen back today?

Holmgren: “It was strictly a numbers thing with Oliver. We’re happy with his development. He continues to improve. I think it’s important for him to get playing down there. Michael played four of our games, I think he did something good in each of those games. I think we just want him to get a little more experience on the smaller rink where he can play more minutes and learn the North American game.’’

Question: How does the Raffl move affect your left side?

Holmgren: “Right now we have 13 forwards here. (Actually 14, including Chris VandeVelde, who is on a minor league contract).’’

Question: Any chance VandeVelde could be signed to a two-way contract?

Holmgren: “Yes. A lot of it depends on what happens with (rookie) Scott (Laughton, who can play only nine games before he either stays or goes back to junior). We’ve kept our options open with Chris. He’s played well so we’ll see how it goes.’’

Question: Has VandeVelde elevated himself above Raffl?

Holmgren: “The difference there is Chris is a North American player who has played three years pro now.’’

Question: Have you decided if you’re going to keep 13 or 14 forwards yet?

Holmgren: “No. I haven’t decided yet.’’

Question: Is there a possibility Laughton could stay here for nine (games)?

Holmgren: “There is a possibility. Any time a player can stay in the NHL, I think it’s beneficial.’’

Question: He’s pretty much done it all in junior. Is there any point in sending him back from a learning standpoint?

Holmgren: “We want to be extra careful with this. I think that it’s good that he stay here. He’s played better the last couple games.’’

Question: Cuts on Sunday?

Holmgren: “Could be late in the day (Saturday).’’

Question: What have you seen from Hal Gill?

Holmgren: “He’s a smart, stay-at-home defenseman. He doesn’t get beat. You could argue that he’s slow but he’s been that player for the last 10 years. He’s been a real pleasure. He’s a good pro, I would love to have him around. I find it hard to believe we can find a spot for him but we’ll talk (tomorrow).’’

Question: Rather have him as a seventh than a young player like Erik Gustafsson?

Holmgren: “We could put Gustafsson on waivers but that’s a risk. That’s the nature of the business now, you have to make decisions. I wouldn’t feel very safe exposing Erik to waivers.’’

Question: Would you keep Gill if he was willing to start the year in the minors (as an insurance policy)?

Holmgren: “I don’t know what his other options would be. Maybe that’s something we’ll talk about, it’s not out of the question.’’

Burlington County Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Scoring drought not setting off alarms. . .yet

Wayne Fish

September 26, 2013 10:16 pm

NEWARK – Yes, these are still only preseason games but if the Flyers keep scoring at this clip – just 13 goals in six games – there might be some trouble on the horizon.

The Flyers held out many of their star players in a 4-1 loss to the Devils on Thursday night (dropping their record to 1-4-1) but the lack of scoring has been going on for a couple weeks.

Philadelphia has just one preseason game left, Friday night in Washington, to get things going offensively.

Matt Read, who scored the only Flyer goal (shorthanded) in a second straight loss to Jersey, says he isn’t all that concerned.

“I wouldn’t get too worried about it,’’ he said. “I think we have a lot of scoring power on our team and maybe it just hasn’t clicked yet.’’

Coach Peter Laviolette also shrugged off the lack of offense.

“There’s room for improvement offensively,’’ he said. “. . .We’re in an evaluation period and a process for guys to put their cards on the table and I was disappointed in that tonight.’’

Goalie Steve Mason turned in a decent performance and said he was satisfied with the “patience’’ he showed against a barrage of N.J. shots.

Laughton hopes on the line: Laughton is facing crunch time for the second season in a row.

In January, the 2012 first-round draft pick had a great training camp and made it to the opening night roster.

While he lasted for only a five-game trial before he went back to junior, Laughton gained some valuable experience.

Now, with opening night less than a week away, Laughton finds himself in the same boat.

He’s battling some fierce competition for a roster spot, and that’s why these last two exhibition games are so important.

Against the Devils, Laughton did rattle one shot off a post but didn’t sound all that pleased with his effort.

“I think I need more,’’ he said. “We lose 4-1 and I’m a second-line player, at least tonight, and I think I need to show more at this level.’’

Short shots: The Flyers called up Tye McGinn, Nick Cousins and Ben Holmstrom to play in Tuesday night’s game. . .Jake Voracek, injured in Tuesday night’s game, was scratched.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Flyers' preseason ends with yet another loss

Rob Parent

09/28/13, 12:59 AM EDT |

WASHINGTON — Despite breaking out of their offensive doldrums with three goals in the space of 4:45 late in the second period, the Flyers did enough wrong over the rest of the game Friday night to lose again, this time 6-3 at the hands of the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center.

So ends their preseason to forget, which for the Flyers counted out at 1-5-1, scoring 15 regulation goals over the seven games.

“I don’t like the way we played some nights,” general manager Paul Holmgren said. “I was happier with our effort tonight ... we did some good things. We have to move on now. But obviously it’s got to be better. We have some work we have to do; clean up some things for the regular season.

“Obviously I’m not happy about ... the five losses. That’s not good. It’s got to be better.”

A couple of mistakes by goalie Ray Emery Friday exacerbated a generally lousy defensive performance by the Flyers, who fell behind early, got the game tied and promptly fizzled out in the third period.

Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin scored a pair of goals each, both players getting them in the first and third periods to give the Caps their early lead, then enabling them to win going away.

“We’ve still got work to do,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “There were some good things we saw and there are things we need to work on.”

The game was pockmarked by several fights, also natural between two teams that don’t like each other, no matter what time of year it is. For his part, Zac Rinaldo was kicked out of the game when he hit Washington’s Mikhail Grabovski, a free-agent pickup of the Caps better known as the guy that accidentally hit Chris Pronger in the eye with a stick while a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs a couple of years ago.

Rinaldo got a game misconduct and five-minute major for elbowing, which likely will earn at least a look from the powers that be in the league office.

“I don’t expect to hear anything,” Holmgren said. “I think it was a good hit ... and a missed call by the referee.”

NOTES: Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds scored goals for the Flyers. ... Holmgren said Jake Voracek (back) was fine and will be ready for the start of the season.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Holmgren after preseason: 'Got to be better'

September 27, 2013, 10:15 pm

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- OK, the preseason is over and so are the games.

So how did Flyers look? They lost. Again. This time it was 6-3 at the Verizon Center to the Washington Capitals.

Well, their 1-5-1 preseason record means absolutely nothing. Yet it also invites concern.

“I don’t like the record or the way we played some nights,” general manager Paul Holmgren said. “We got to move on now. It’s obvious now it’s got to be better. We've got some work we got to do and clean up some things for the regular season.”

In fairness to coach Peter Laviolette, we need to point out that of the Flyers’ seven exhibition games:

• Four games saw them with a split roster

• One game was a “B” roster minus eight regulars

• Two games they had a full NHL roster but were missing key players in Luke Schenn (first game against New Jersey) and Jakub Voracek (final game).

That said, the Flyers came into this game absolutely goal-starved in the preseason with 12 goals scored and 18 against. They finished with just 15 goals scored from 15 different players.

“I wouldn’t get too worried about it,” Matt Read said. “I think we have a lot of scoring power on our team. Maybe it hasn’t clicked yet.”

They trailed 3-0 in the second period against the Caps, then scored three unanswered goals in four minutes, 45 seconds from Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds to tie it.

Washington scored three times in the third period to win it.

Defensively, the Flyers looked out of sync and out of position the entire preseason -- too many uncontested goals between the dots.

Also, their third periods, much like last season, lacked comeback ability.

Lopsided fight

Brayden Schenn, trying to ignite something in the first period after the Flyers fell behind 2-0, got dusted in a lopsided fight against a much larger opponent, Tom Wilson.

The potentially bad news is that Schenn took several shots to the head -- his helmet came off.

There were five fights in the game -- two involving Adam Hall.

No Voracek

Voracek, whose lower back (left side) has presumably been ailing him since going into the goal post against New Jersey this week, did not play.

He was supposed to play and that also raises a mini-alarm bell. Fortunately for the Flyers, the season does not open until Wednesday against Toronto.

Penalty killing

The Flyers came into this final preseason game No. 1 in the NHL in penalty killing, having killed off 25 of 26 power plays (96.2 percent efficiency).

Washington scored a power-play goal from Alex Ovechkin in the first period. That was actually a five-minute power play because of a Zac Rinaldo major for elbowing.

Rinaldo ejected

Rinaldo drew a game misconduct in the first period because of an elbow to Caps center Mikhail Grabovski that drew blood from his mouth. Grabovski was in a vulnerable position on the back boards.

Rinaldo appeared to get him with his shoulder, although he left both his feet to deliver the hit. Normally, that would hurt his case with Lord of Discipline, Brendan Shanahan.

Except ... Grabovski never left the game and had no injury, which is always a factor in supplemental discipline.

Sources said the league has already looked at the Rinaldo hit and didn’t see an elbow, which would imply Rinaldo will escape any additional punishment.

Holmgren said he had not heard anything from the league.

When Ovechkin loudly objected to Rinaldo on the ice, the latter told him to, "Shut the [expletive] up."

It's important to point out Aaron Volpatti hit Flyer defenseman Nick Grossmann in the head with an elbow that same period without a penalty.



Holmgren talks roster moves, what's to come


Tim Panaccio

WASHINGTON -- Preseason hockey ended for the Flyers on Friday night with an exhibition game against the Capitals that only serves as a tune-up for next week’s regular-season start.

The bigger news was the Flyers' roster.

Austrian winger Michael Raffl, who appeared to have a spot all but locked up at left wing, was sent to the Phantoms along with defenseman Oliver Lauridsen.

By process of elimination, that left Chris VandeVelde as the sole survivor at left wing with Tye McGinn going back to the Phantoms early Friday morning following Thursday’s loss in New Jersey.

The Flyers still have 14 forwards in camp, including 19-year-old Scott Laughton, who the organization feels has to play center, whereas VandeVelde has played both center and wing.

The 25-year-old Raffl was trying to make the jump from Europe to North America without a year on the smaller ice at the AHL level. He nearly succeeded.

“He played four of our games and I thought he did something good in each of those games, but we want to get him more experience on the smaller ice down there where he can play more minutes,” general manager Paul Holmgren said of Raffl. “Kind of learn the North American game.”

VandeVelde has a minor-league deal. He will likely be offered a two-way contract, Holmgren said. The Flyers have 48 pro contracts and a couple of “slide” contracts, as well. Fifty is the limit.

The wild card, once again, is Laughton.

“Yes, a lot depends on what happens with Scott,” Holmgren said. “He has the little 'J' [junior eligibility] beside his name unless he plays X-number of games. We kept our options open with Chris. He’s played pretty good for us.

“The difference there is Chris is a North American player and has played three years pro and NHL games. For purposes of sending Michael down, it’s important to get him playing more minutes down there.”

Laughton can stick around for nine NHL games before going back to junior or the clock starts ticking on his NHL contract.

Ideally, the Flyers would prefer to place Laughton with the Phantoms, but they can’t because of age restrictions.

“We want to be extra careful,” Holmgren said. “It’s good that he is still here. I thought he was one of our better guys [Thursday] night and it was hard to find a guy who played good.”

Laughton and VandeVelde both played Friday night in the Flyers' preseason finale against the Caps.

Holmgren said he is having difficulty deciding on whether to keep 13 or 14 forwards.

As part of this decision, there remains the question on defense -- carry seven or eight?

Holmgren admitted he’d like to sign Hal Gill, who is on a tryout. Both men are slated to meet Saturday morning. Holmgren said he is considering asking Gill to sign a minor-league deal.

The 38-year-old Gill would be a better option as a seventh defenseman rather than asking a younger player, who needs playing time, to sit in the press box as an extra. The Flyers don’t like doing that.

“He doesn’t get beat,” Holmgren said of Gill. “You could argue that he is slow, but he’s been the same player for probably the last 10 years. Maybe the game has gotten a little faster.

“Having him at camp has been a real pleasure. He is full of life. For an older guy who played as many games as he has, he provides enthusiasm. He’s a good pro. I love having him around.”

Complicating this is the fact that the Flyers have seven regulars on defense right now with Andrej Meszaros and Erik Gustafsson vying for the final spot among the top six.

Holmgren said he would not put Gustafsson through waivers for the purposes of sending him to the Phantoms for fear of losing him.

NHL rosters have to be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday. Holmgren said he would like to make some roster decisions by late Friday.

Holmgren: Gagne not in Flyers' plans

Free agent forward Simon Gagne said late Friday that he had not heard from the Flyers. Holmgren said, at this point, Gagne no longer figures in any plans for the Flyers, regardless of what happens with their current roster.



Flyers Notes: Laviolette disappointed with effort

September 27, 2013, 10:00 am

Staff Writer

NEWARK, N.J. -- Even with a “B” lineup that wasn’t expected to defeat the Devils, the lack of competition in a 4-1 loss ate at Flyers coach Peter Laviolette on Thursday.

“We were competitive in the first period, but it seemed we didn’t handle the pressure, the puck or the physicality in the second,” Laviolette said.

“Guys you were looking to respond needed to respond better. … That’s what I don’t get. We’re in a training camp, an evaluation period and a process for guys to put their cards on the table, and I was disappointed in that tonight.”

The Flyers hung goalie Steve Mason (21 saves) out to dry in the second period, with two goals in the crease and one deflection.

“He played terrific,” Laviolette said. “What I liked about him, when we were not having a lot of composure with the puck and things were turning over and the attempts were coming at him, he stayed in it. Mentally, he was sharp right to end.”

Laviolette said there was ample room to improve offensively.

The game

After having a goal wiped out in the first period, the Devils scored twice in the first 67 seconds of the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Both goals -- from Damien Brunner and Ryane Clowe -- were in the crease area. Keep in mind, eight Flyer regulars weren’t in the lineup.

It was 3-0 at the end of two periods. Matt Read scored the Flyers' lone goal with a short-handed breakaway against goalie Keith Kinkaid in the third period.

The Flyers came into the game with just 11 goals (not counting shootouts) in their previous five exhibition games.

Night off

Had this been a more normal preseason schedule in which the final two exhibitions were spaced a day apart instead of back-to-back, Laviolette would have played his regulars -- those expected to open the season.

Instead, those players will appear Friday night in Washington during the Flyers’ preseason finale against the Capitals.

Those who didn’t dress against the Devils: Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Vinny Lecavalier, Scott Hartnell, Zac Rinaldo, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Mark Streit, Bruno Gervais and Marc-Andre Bourdon (post-concussion syndrome), who is expected to go on LTIR next week.

Defenseman Andrej Meszaros, however, played in his fourth game. The club appears to be showcasing him for a trade, but with his $4 million salary cap hit that is no easy task, even though this is the final year of his contract.

Called up from the Phantoms were Nick Cousins, Ben Holmstrom and Tye McGinn.

Flyer fitness

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Michael Wolf will issue a proclamation to the Flyers' “Face Off for Fitness presented by Virtua” program Friday, honoring the work being done to promote healthy lifestyles for children and encouraging participation in youth sports.

The presentation will occur at the Holy Rosary School in Plymouth Meeting. The proclamation is endorsed by Governor Tom Corbett. Flyers Ambassador of Hockey Todd Fedoruk will accept this honor and will lead the session with children in attendance.

Since its inception in 2009, the Flyers' “Face Off for Fitness presented by Virtua” program has visited over 150 schools reaching over 10,000 children.



VandeVelde hoping to make the cut

Sep. 27, 2013 11:57 PM |

Dave Isaac

WASHINGTON — Few people knew Chris VandeVelde when he signed an AHL deal and joined the Flyers’ training camp on an amateur tryout.

His connection to the organization was playing with Flyers’ assistant general manager Ron Hextall’s son Brett at the University of North Dakota.

“I’ve heard of Matt Read; I played against him in college,” VandeVelde said. “(Adirondack Phantoms goalie) Yann Danis was a goaltender I played with last year. Other than that, I didn’t know anyone other than Ron.”

Now might be the time to get to know the 26-year-old forward from Moorhead, Minn., because he beat out Michael Raffl, a free-agent signee in May, for a roster spot, and he’s one step away from being on the Flyers’ final roster.

In the Flyers’ preseason finale, a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, VandeVelde was in the lineup, but didn’t see much action.

“I’m not satisfied yet,” VandeVelde said. “There’s still cuts to be made.”

The early favorite for the empty roster spot was Raffl, who came to the Flyers by way of Austria. This will be his first season in North America, but many thought he made a quick adjustment. In four preseason games, the 24-year-old didn’t reach the scoresheet.

“It’s a different game, but I’m not really happy with what I did,” Raffl told the Courier-Post earlier this week. “I still think I can do better. It’s gonna take some time, I think.”

Raffl was sent down to the Adirondack Phantoms Friday, along with defenseman Oliver Lauridsen. Those two cuts were half the job for the Flyers, who have at least two more players to cut.

“The difference is that Chris is a North American kid,” GM Paul Holmgren said. “He’s played three years pro now. He’s played NHL games. At least for the purpose of sending Michael down, it’s just more important to get him playing more minutes down there.”

Rosters are due to the league office by 5 p.m. Monday, but Holmgren suggested he would have final cuts made at some point tonight.

What he and the coaching staff are trying to decide on is to keep seven or eight defensemen, 13 or 14 forwards. They can only have 23 players on the active roster. One of those tough decisions is whether or not to keep Scott Laughton, the team’s first-round pick in the 2012 draft.

“Ideally, you’d like to stick him in the American League,” Holmgren said. “You can’t do that with a 19-year-old.”

If Laughton plays 10 games this season, the clock will start ticking on his three-year, entry-level deal. He had a five game tryout with the Flyers last year and didn’t register a point. If he sticks around, he’ll likely be the fourth line center. The alternative is sending him to the OHL for one more year, where he’ll likely be the best player.

“We want to be extra careful,” Holmgren said.

Courier-Post LOADED: 09.28.2013


Ovechkin helps Capitals beat Flyers 6-3

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin and Eric Fehr each scored twice to power the Washington Capitals to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night in a preseason game that included five fights.

Fehr has four goals in the last two games and a team-high five in the preseason for the Capitals (4-0-3), who blew a three-goal lead but remained undefeated.

The Flyers trailed 3-0 before Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds scored in the final 5:55 of the second period.

Fehr powered his own rebound past Ray Emery to make it 4-3 just 1:35 into the third. Ovechkin followed with his second goal.

Michal Neuvirth made 32 saves for the Capitals.

Tom Wilson and Mathieu Perreault also scored for Washington.

Courier-Post LOADED: 09.28.2013

718303 Phoenix Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes beat San Jose Sharks to end preseason

Staff Writer

Fri Sep 27, 2013 10:30 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored a power-play goal late in the third period and the Phoenix Coyotes closed out their preseason schedule with a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.

Ekman-Larsson scored with 2:28 left on a wrister from the left circle after taking a pass from David Rundblad.

Phoenix’s Radim Vrbata scored late in the second period. He got Alex Stalock to drop to his knees with a deke, and then squeezed a shot between the goalie’s skate and the far post on a wraparound.

San Jose’s Bracken Kearns scored early in the third period, one-timing a shot past Thomas Greiss after a scramble in Phoenix’s end.

Greiss, signed as Mike Smith’s backup in the offseason, stopped 25 shots.

Stalock, competing to be Antti Niemi’s backup, had 24 saves.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 09.28.2013

718304 Pittsburgh Penguins

Agent: Penguins goalie Vokoun feels better after surgery

Rob Rossi

Tomas Vokoun is feeling like his old self, his NHL agent said Friday.

“He said he is feeling like the day before the incident,” Allan Walsh said of Vokoun, who had surgery to dissolve a blood clot last Saturday.

Walsh added that Vokoun “will hit the gym” next week and is “cleared to start skating.”

“Tomas is of the frame of mind to continue playing as soon as doctors give all clear,” Walsh said.

Vokoun, the Penguins' backup goalie, is not permitted to comment on his condition without approval from management, per club policy.

However, he spoke with some media in his native Czech Republic, and the result was an attributed report that Vokoun had nearly died and would not play again in the NHL.

Not true, Walsh said Friday.

“He talked to a couple of reporters and said he recalled saying something along the lines of surgery being scary, but he never said his life was in danger and he almost died,” Walsh said. “That's not the case. That's an embellishment and not accurate. He wanted the record cleared up.”

The recent surgery marked his second to treat a blood clot. The previous one occurred in 2006.

Vokoun is considered “out indefinitely” by the Penguins, and management has not expressed an expected recovery timetable.

The Penguins are carrying three goalies on their roster, which includes 26 skaters. Rosters must be pared to 23 players by Monday.

Vokoun counts $2 million against the $64.3 million salary cap. The Penguins must shave at least $1 million by Monday.

Vokoun is eligible for a long-term injury (LTI) designation, which temporarily would remove his value from the Penguins' cap — though general manager Ray Shero has declined to commit to that option.

A player on LTI resumes counting against the cap upon returning.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said Friday there was no update on Vokoun.

Vokoun did not accompany teammates, coaches and members of management to West Point, N.Y., where the Penguins are undergoing three days of bonding activities at the U.S. Military Academy. Mental exercises will dominate the activities, Bylsma said. Players also will practice for three days before returning Monday.

The Penguins open the season Thursday against New Jersey at Consol Energy Center.

Vokoun will not be available for that game, Bylsma said Tuesday. Marc-Andre Fleury already had been tabbed as the starter.

Although Vokoun replaced him for part of the first and all of the second and third rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs last postseason, Fleury is the No. 1 goalie, Bylsma has said.

Note: Defenseman Brooks Orpik is not expected to miss the opener. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed lower-body injury, Bylsma said. Orpik did not finish an exhibition game Wednesday at Detroit.

Tribune Review LOADED: 09.28.2013


Penguins notebook: Vokoun not pondering retirement, agent says

Shelly Anderson

September 28, 2013 12:18 am

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Penguins goaltender Tomas Vokoun spent some time Thursday at Consol Energy Center and, according to his agent, will begin light workouts next week.

That's a far more upbeat update than one that appeared in an online Czech report Friday, one that -- according to a Google translation -- quoted Vokoun as saying he was concerned last weekend about surviving a blood clot problem and might be forced to retire from hockey.

"He is emphatic in saying that he fully intends on coming back and has not contemplated ending his career," Vokoun's agent, Allan Walsh, said by email.

Vokoun did not travel with the team to the U.S. Military Academy for practices and team-bonding exercises Friday, today and Sunday.

Last Saturday, Vokoun, 37, was pulled from practice because of swelling in his leg and taken to a hospital. He underwent a procedure to dissolve a blood clot in his pelvis.

Walsh said the report, in Czech newspaper MF Dnes, "was not entirely accurate" and that "whenever anyone has a blood clot discovered and needs an emergency procedure to remove it, one feels 'lucky' to be alive."

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma agreed that anyone who faced such a medical situation would be concerned and, in fact, Bylsma himself felt that way.

"Speaking for myself and only myself, when Tomas left the ice and I heard he was on the way to the hospital, you get concerned for a lot of reasons," Bylsma said. "You go through different emotions when you hear he's going to be going through surgery.

"Those are things I thought, I felt when he left the ice and what he went through that day.

"But the other [report] is speculation as far as I know at this point."

Vokoun was released from the hospital earlier in the week. He has been ruled out for Thursday's season opener against New Jersey at Consol Energy Center, and apparently there has been no other determination about his status.

"We don't really have anything else on him," Bylsma said. "We're still in the time period where we're evaluating from his surgeries and some of the tests and what he's going through right now."

It is believed that whether, and for how long, Vokoun will be on blood thinners will in part determine how long he will be out.

Three sit out

Defensemen Brooks Orpik and Derrick Pouliot and winger Matt D'Agostini did not practice, although D'Agostini (undisclosed injury) skated in warmups.

Orpik, who missed the third period of Thursday's preseason finale at Detroit, is on the trip but remains day to day because of an undisclosed injury, Bylsma said.

Pouliot was simply a victim of numbers. With just one practice group now, the club wants to keep its number of defensemen to a manageable eight, and Pouliot was the odd man out.

Tip-ins

Defenseman Paul Martin returned and practiced after a short leave to return home to Minnesota for personal reasons. ... Winger Harry Zolnierczyk cleared waivers, meaning he can report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. ... A crowd of approximately 200 watched practice, which was open to the public. ... The Penguins will practice at 10 a.m. today and Sunday, with both sessions also open to the public.

Post Gazette LOADED: 09.28.2013


Vokoun cleared for workouts

September 27, 2013 1:17 pm

Shelly Anderson

September 28, 2013 12:18 am

Penguins goaltender Tomas Vokoun has been cleared to begin light workouts next week and expects to resume his career, according to his agent, Allan Walsh.

The Penguins have ruled Vokoun out of their season opener Thursday against New Jersey. He had a procedure Saturday to dissolve a blood clot in his pelvis.

A Czech-language report today said Vokoun, 37, might have to retire from hockey and that he felt lucky to be alive, according to a Google translation. It quoted the goaltender as saying he had blood clots from "mid-thigh almost to the heart."

Walsh, in an email exchange, said Vokoun's thoughts were not portrayed in their entirety in the story. Vokoun is Czech.

Post Gazette LOADED: 09.28.2013

718307 San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks' 2-1 loss to Phoenix offers promise, questions

By Craig Morgan

Correspondent

Posted: 09/27/2013 09:35:08 PM PDT | Updated: about 5 hours ago

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If the Sharks were looking for definitive answers in the battle for the club's final roster spots, they'll have to wait another day.

Friday night's 2-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes in the preseason's second-to-last game offered some promise, some problems and more questions.

"It was a good night for us to evaluate players because it was a tight game, not a lot of space," coach Todd McLellan said. "Early on we established an attacking game, but as the game wore on we got away from that and became a more passive team. We don't have to play that way and we shouldn't play that way."

In the competition to fill injured forward Raffi Torres' role, neither Matt Nieto nor Freddie Hamilton managed a point. General manager Doug Wilson said the plan is to give both players, as well as Tomas Hertl, James Sheppard and Andrew Desjardins, a chance at more ice time before exploring trades or free agents.

Torres' energy and edge may be hard to replace, but Nieto had a big hit, three shots and a strong rush to end the first period. He was also caught deep when Radim Vrbata broke in alone and faked goalie Alex Stalock to his knees before taking the puck around the net and banking a wraparound off Stalock's pad with 38.2 seconds left in the second period.

Hamilton registered a pair of hits, but he made a few mistakes, including failing to get the puck in deep in the first period. His soft chip was intercepted, creating a chance the other way.

Stalock was sharp in his second preseason game, turning aside point-blank chances from David Moss, Vrbata and a partial breakaway by Rob Klinkhammer. Stalock and Harri Sateri are battling for the backup spot.

"He stood tall and made the first save," McLellan said. "Our defense did a pretty good job of clearing the second chances away."

With rosters whittled down, Friday's game looked more like a regular-season game with tight checking and limited scoring chances.

The Sharks' lone goal came off some nice work by Bracken Kearns. He won the battle for the puck down low, then fed the puck around the net to Shepherd. Kearns went to the net and took a return feed from Shepherd before slipping the puck past goalie Thomas Greiss to tie it at 1-1.

Phoenix got the game-winner on a late power-play goal from Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.28.2013


San Jose Sharks to start Alex Stalock in goal against Phoenix

By David Pollak

[email protected]

Posted: 09/27/2013 12:18:30 PM PDT | Updated: about 17 hours ago

The Sharks will start Alex Stalock in goal Friday night against the Phoenix Coyotes, but coach Todd McLellan is prepared to abandon his plan of letting each netminder play the full 60 minutes.

Stalock is currently competing with Harri Sateri for the role of Antti Niemi's back-up, and Sateri is likely to see action in the exhibition game as well.

"My preference is to play guys the full night, but tonight may be a night when we do have to split them and give them equal opportunity," McLellan said, adding that Niemi will get the start Saturday night in the exhibition finale in Anaheim.

McLellan also said he won't be using the lineup likely to open the regular season on Oct. 3 in either of the final exhibition games. For example, the Joe Thornton line with Brent Burns and Tomas Hertl is expected to play against Phoenix, but not the line of Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Tyler Kennedy.

But the two leading candidates to take the injured Raffi Torres's spot in the lineup — rookies Matt Nieto and Freddie Hamilton — will both face Phoenix. Another injured forward, Adam Burish, has yet to resume skating, so it's possible both prospects could make the team.

Defenseman Brad Stuart continues to practice with the team as he recovers from an off-season injury, but will not make the trip. Stuart said he was optimistic, however, that he'd be in good enough shape to play in the Oct. 3 opener.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Sharks' Stuart 'optimistic' for opening night

By Kevin Kurz

September 27, 2013, 12:00 pm

SAN JOSE – Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart could be ready by opening night, he said after practice at Sharks Ice on Friday.

Stuart has yet to play in a preseason game with a lower body injury, and won’t play in either of the final two games this weekend, but could still be ready to go for Oct. 3 when San Jose hosts the Vancouver Canucks in its season opener.

“I’m feeling optimistic about it,” Stuart said. “I feel if I have another four or five good days skating, I think I should be available. Obviously, final say is up to the coach, but I think if I have a good weekend and week leading up to the first game, I think I should at least be available and it will be up to the coach. I feel good about it.”

Stuart, who did not miss a game last season, has been practicing with the Sharks for about a week now, and has been putting in extra time on the ice for conditioning purposes. He was unable to skate over the summer and missed the start of camp, and is not quite back to 100 percent from the unspecified injury, although he said he’s “pretty close.”

“It’s been a rough week skating after practice and all that, but it’s also necessary, and good to be back out there,” he said. “The fact I’m able to do that, I’m happy about that. I knew at some point I was going to have to put in a little more work just because of the summer I had.”

The Sharks have eight defensemen remaining in camp other than Stuart, including youngsters Matt Tennyson and Taylor Doherty. Jason Demers has been skating in Stuart’s place with Scott Hannan, and that would be San Jose’s third pair if Stuart does not play.

* * *

Adam Burish remains out with a lower body injury, and will not play in either of the final two preseason games. Earlier in the week, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said Burish is expected to be ready for opening night.



Sharks assign defenseman Petrecki to Worcester

By Kevin Kurz

September 27, 2013, 12:30 pm

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks have assigned defenseman Nick Petrecki to Worcester, after he successfully cleared waivers.

The Sharks training camp roster now stands at 31 players headed into the final two preseason games this weekend.

Petrecki, 24, is a former first-round draft pick of the club in 2007 that has failed to pan out. He appeared in one game for the Sharks last year, his NHL debut, totaling 12 minutes of ice time. This will be his fifth season with Worcester.

The Sharks still have nine defensemen in training camp, including Brad Stuart, who is battling a lower body injury and has yet to play in a preseason game. The move is a clear indication that Matt Tennyson and Taylor Doherty, who remain in camp, have both surpassed Petrecki on the team’s depth chart.



Niemi to play full game vs. Ducks Saturday

By Kevin Kurz


SAN JOSE – Alex Stalock will start in net on Friday night against Phoenix, and Antti Niemi will play the full game on Saturday in Anaheim, as the Sharks wrap up their preseason schedule with a pair of road games this weekend.

Whether Stalock plays the full 60 minutes against the Coyotes will be decided during the game. Harri Sateri will dress as Stalock’s backup, and could see some action, as well.

“We’ll decide as we go,” Todd McLellan said of his goaltenders. “You know my preference is to play guys full nights, but tonight might be a night where we do have to split them, and give them an equal opportunity to play.”

The Sharks will almost certainly keep just two goaltenders around when the season begins next week, and Stalock’s start on Friday could be viewed as an indication he has the advantage on Sateri for the backup gig. Each goaltender has played one full game, and each has allowed two goals.

Regardless, it’s an important game for the 26-year-old Minnesota native, who hasn’t played since the preseason opener in Vancouver on Sep. 16 when camp was less than a week old.

“You’re getting towards the end of camp, and everybody at this point can play in the NHL,” Stalock said. “It’s tough cuts the rest of the way. [Phoenix] will be a strong lineup and probably stronger than Vancouver sent out in that game one, but it will be a good test.”

Niemi will play his third full game of the preseason Saturday. He’s 1-0-1 with a 1.46 goals-against average and .946 save percentage through the first two, including a shutout in Tuesday's 5-0 win over Vancouver in which he was rarely challenged.

The Sharks took 28 players on their Friday afternoon charter to Phoenix, as more roster decisions have to be made. That will prevent San Jose from dressing a full, NHL-only lineup in either of its final two preseason games.

On Friday, for example, the Sharks are expected to dress the Joe Thornton line with Brent Burns and Tomas Hertl, but the Logan Couture-Patrick Marleau-Tyler Kennedy trio will have the night off. Young players like Matt Nieto, Freddie Hamilton and Matt Tennyson are all going to get more playing time, as will tryout forward Anthony Stewart.

Considering the Sharks didn’t make many offseason changes, and most of the players are already familiar with one another, the inflated roster this late in camp doesn’t seem to concern McLellan.

“Because we are on the road and going to play back-to-back, as much as I’d like to have our full lineup in that last game against Anaheim, we won’t,” he said. “We’ll still be looking at some of our other players, and giving them the best opportunity to make or not make the team, to the bitter end.”

As for the veterans, the aim for these final two games is simple.

Thornton said: “Now you’re at the point where you’re feeling good about yourself, the team is starting to know how we’re supposed to play, and just as long as you get through these next two games healthy, you’ll be ready for the season to start.”

“Just getting back to being consistent in our system and not having to think out there, I think that’s the main thing, where everything becomes automatic again,” Marleau said.



Two rookies battle for final roster spot

By Kevin Kurz

September 27, 2013, 9:30 am

SAN JOSE -- The battle to replace Raffi Torres in the Sharks’ top nine is on, and it may come down to a couple rookies.

Thanks to Torres’ torn ACL, the door is now wide open for either 20-year-old Matt Nieto or 21-year-old Freddie Hamilton to burst through. Head coach Todd McLellan, his staff, and Sharks management have two preseason games left to evaluate the young prospects and make a decision.

“Both fit our team right now and have battled hard to be here at this point,” McLellan said. “They’re both going to get an opportunity to play on the weekend, and we’ll see where it ends up.”

The Sharks play in Phoenix on Friday and Anaheim on Saturday. The regular season begins on Thursday, Oct. 3 against Vancouver at SAP Center.

Nieto, a second-round draft pick in 2011, skated on the wing in Tuesday’s game against Vancouver. That’s notable in that it’s the place that Torres likely would have started the season.

The biggest knock against Nieto, other than his lack of pro experience, is his size. He’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, but that seems a bit generous when you see Nieto in person or on the ice.

Still, McLellan raved about the Boston University product, who joined Worcester late last season, when asked about him on Thursday.

“He has some assets that we believe can help our team: his speed, he has the ability to hold on to the puck and make plays, for a small man he’s never on the ice. A lot of big guys have taken runs at him and he’s been able to maintain his balance. He’s got a great center of gravity, protects pucks well, he’s been coachable, and I find he fits in well in the locker room. Those are all real positives for him,” McLellan said.

“The question will be is he ready full time? This weekend will be important for him.”

Hamilton didn’t play on Tuesday, but scored a power play goal on Saturday against Phoenix and looked comfortable on a line with Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau. A fifth-round pick in 2010, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder spent all of last season with AHL Worcester.

McLellan said: “His toolkit is a little bit different. Freddie is a bigger player and perhaps a little more responsible defensively than Matt is, and has a little more pro experience.”

Should either Nieto or Hamilton make the team, the Sharks would start the season with two rookies in their top nine, including highly regarded former first-round pick Tomas Hertl.

For a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, that could be a reason for concern. Still, the Sharks have had some recent success bringing up players through the system.

Just last season, Matt Irwin fit right in paired with Dan Boyle and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension; Justin Braun is now considered a part of the Sharks’ top shutdown pair with Marc-Edouard Vlasic after his successful 2011-12 campaign; and Logan Couture is now among the best players in the league after the Sharks took their time with the talented center.

“I think this organization has done a good job of not rushing players too quickly to where they are overwhelmed,” Boyle said. “They seem to bring up the players at the right time and guys seem to shine. There are probably going to be one or two in the lineup on Opening Night, and I think there is enough veteran leadership and good guys around here that will make the transition pretty easy.”

Couture doesn’t have to think too far back to his first full season in the NHL in 2010-11. He may have the best perspective when it comes to offering advice to a fresh-faced Sharks rookie.

“Just be ready for the regular season, it jumps up about 10 notches with the intensity and speed of the game,” Couture said. “They’ll get a little taste if they’re playing this weekend, because most teams are going to have their full lineups in.”


718313 St Louis Blues

Oshie scores in Blues' 4-1 victory over Minnesota

3 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford [email protected] 314-444-7135

T.J. Oshie has changed spots.

No, not on the ice, where he’ll remain on the Blues’ top line with David Backes and Alexander Steen entering the 2013-14 season. Not his role either, as he’ll still be the club’s energy igniter.

But after five seasons with the club, Oshie finally was able to pick a new stall in the Blues’ locker room this week. He secured some prime real-estate, a spacious double-bench that he’ll share with Patrik Berglund.

“Now we can have our own privacy,” Oshie said. “We were talking about putting a ‘positivity’ circle in white tape around us, so no negativity can get into this bench. But it’s nice to have a little seniority and pick where I want to go.”

Where Oshie wants to go now is back to the playoffs, and after Friday’s final preseason game against Minnesota, a 4-1 victory, the games will begin to count Thursday when the Blues open the regular season.

Oshie, who had two goals in three preseason games, including a dandy Friday against the Wild, says that he’s looking forward to the curtain rising.

“Training camp feels like it’s been a little long at this point,” he said. “There’s still a lot of kinks that we’ve got to get out, but I’m really, really excited about the year and the new personnel that we’ve got. I’m just excited to go to work.”

Oshie went to work in the third period Friday, scoring the Blues’ first goal of the game. He stole a loose puck and stick-handled his way to the Minnesota crease before backhanding a roof-top shot past goalie Johan Gustaffson.

It triggered a four-goal third period, in which Berglund, David Backes and Chris Stewart also scored.

Oshie netted seven goals in 30 games last season and could be primed for his first 20-goal season in the NHL. He almost reached the mark in 2011-12, but after having two goals waved off toward the end of the year, he finished with 19.

“I had two ruled against me that should have been good,” Oshie said. “I was at 18 at the time and would have had my 19th. I ended up getting one a couple of minutes later and then just never got that 20th.

“There’s a lot of us who could get 20 this year. As long as guys don’t frustrated when they’re not the ones scoring the goals, I think it’s going to create a lot of success.”

Oshie has always been able to weave his way through traffic in the offensive zone, as he showed Friday, but he hopes that some summer sprint work will give him an advantage beating opposing defensemen wide on the ice.

“I feel stronger when I’m skating and especially when I have a step on guys,” he said. “I can just beat him with my skating instead of having to go back through him.

“I’m not Andy (McDonald) fast, or like Magnus (Paajarvi), but I think I’ve got a little extra quickness. I think I got a half-step quicker and hopefully that will help me break away from guys.”

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said that players, as they play in the league longer, understand the importance of the first three steps.

“If your first move is to stick handle the puck, then I think you get bogged down,” Hitchcock said. “Once you stick handle, you stop skating. You become a planted player. He’s starting to learn the ‘move your feet, move the puck,’ is the philosophy that is successful. He’s a guy that to me has to do it with speed and skill.”

Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who faced Oshie when Bouwmeester played in Calgary, said that Oshie has always been on opponents’ radar.

But now seeing him everyday, Bouwmeester has a better feel for Oshie’s skill level and his ability to keep teammates pumped up.

“You knew he was a skilled guy, a talented guy, a pretty creative player,” Bouwmeester said. “You knew that he was one of those guys who was able to make things happen, dangerous in that kind of way. But you always gain an appreciation for different players when you play with them.

“And he does a lot more than just on the ice. He’s a pretty high-energy guy that keeps things loose in here. Doesn’t have too many bad days that are evident. When you have guys like that, that just come to the rink and enjoy having fun, that rubs of on everybody.”

Oshie said it’s a characteristic he learned from a former Blue.

“It’s something I took away from Danny Hinote,” he said. “He told me that no matter how you feel that you’re playing, it’s your job to get the boys in a good mood so that they can play their best. I don’t care if you’re in a 10-game scoring slump, you never know what that extra energy is going to do for a guy. So that’s what I try to do.”

Oshie’s role hasn’t changed this season. Only his spot in the locker room.

whitney released

The Blues released defenseman Ryan Whitney on Friday, ending his tryout with the club. Ian Cole will be the team’s seventh defenseman.

“Whits had a good training camp,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I thought Ian played really good the last game. We had to get down to our group of seven and we decided to stick with Ian.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.28.2013


Bernie: Is this the year?

12 hours ago • BY BERNIE MIKLASZ [email protected]

It’s time to ask the perennial question, one that has taunted and haunted multiple generations of Blues teams and fans: Is this “The Year” when dreams finally come true?

Welcome to the 47th season of Blues hockey. As always, we go into the new campaign with hopes and expectations that are balanced by the heavy weight of historical frustration.

Eighteen Hockey Hall of Fame players have worn The Note including Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, Al MacInnis, Brendan Shanahan, Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour, Wayne Gretzky, Doug Harvey, Jacques Plante and Glenn Hall.

The Blues have been coached by Hall of Famers Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour and Emile Francis. Hall of Famers Lynn Patrick and Cliff Fletcher have worked in the Blues’ executive wing.

It is a franchise that’s qualified for the playoffs 37 times in 46 seasons. Since the Blues came into existence in 1967, only six NHL teams have competed in more postseason games than St. Louis.

The Blues have employed an impressive roll call of award winners, goal-scoring champions and All-Stars.

There’s only one thing missing.

And you don’t need me to tell you what that is.

The star-crossed Blues franchise is still in search of its first Stanley Cup. Like it or not, the 2013-2014 Blues carry the burden of unfulfilled promise into the new season.

The failures of the past hang over a Blues team that must escape history to make history. These Blues aren’t responsible for all of the postseasons that ended in disappointment and bitterness. But they live with the tradition.

Having to live with ghosts isn’t entirely fair, but when you sign on with the Blues it’s an unavoidable part of the deal. And there’s only one way to put all of this karma to rest.

“We can’t control the past,” said GM Doug Armstrong, the Blues’ president of hockey operations. “But we can control the future.”

The current Blues’ nucleus has a share of postseason missteps. They are not protected from the scrutiny. They’ve had a chance to make the past go away, only to go home early after venturing into the postseason.

Over the past two seasons, only Pittsburgh (180), Chicago (178) and Vancouver (170) have amassed more points in the standings than St. Louis (169.) And only Pittsburgh (87) and Chicago (81) have won more games than the Blues (78.)

We’ve experienced these cycles before — too many times.

The Blues made the playoffs for 25 consecutive years, 1980 through 2004. Over that quarter-century the Blues were tied for fifth in regular season wins, only to get bounced by the end of the second round 23 times.

The five teams ahead or tied with the Blues over those 25 regular seasons — Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia, Edmonton and Detroit — combined to win 10 Stanley Cups and lost Cup finals nine other times.

More recently, coach Joel Quenneville’s Blues teams had a superb six-season run from 1997-1998 through 2003-2004, highlighted by two 100-point seasons, and three more of 98 or 99 points. But those Blues were eliminated twice in the first round and three times in the second round and reached only one conference final.

It isn’t easy being a Blues fan.

But the loyalty — and the dream — won’t die.

The new season always inspires optimism. The Blues couldn’t get past the hardcore, stubborn Los Angeles Kings in the last two postseasons. They’ve built scar tissue. And they believe it will make them stronger this time around.

“After losing to the Kings the first time, we thought we gained a level of hardness,” Armstrong said. “But we didn’t gain as much as we needed to. The Kings showed us what it takes. When there was another level of play that they needed to reach, they did it.

“We’re still pushing. We learned we have to push harder. There’s a glass ceiling that must be shattered if we want to break through. Our players understand that.”

How will things be different this time around?

The defense is deeper and more stable. Owner Tom Stillman reinvested in late-season acquisitions Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold by signing them to multiyear contracts.

Amstrong added saltiness to the roster with hard-shell forwards Maxim Lapierre and Brenden Morrow. The GM added speed and goal-scoring punch at center ice by signing Derek Roy.

Goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott are playing for new contracts and are being pressed by young Jake Allen.

The team figures to benefit from its first full training camp under coach Ken Hitchcock.

There’s legitimate competition for forward-line ice time.

Youngsters Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko should take a jump in their second full NHL seasons.

The internal leadership should be stronger.

One would expect to see more mental toughness, maturity and consistency from a core group of players that’s grown up in a Blues uniform.

It’s time for T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Backes and Chris Stewart to make a difference all of the time — instead of some of the time.

“There’s a limited window to compete for a Stanley Cup,” Armstrong said. “The opportunities don’t last forever. We’ve been committed to this group. Now is the time for putting our best foot forward.”

Stillman has done his part, funding a payroll that’s the ninth-highest in the NHL at $64.7 million, according to CapGeek.com. Stillman and partners have financial limitations but are outspending the financial monoliths in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and New York (Rangers.) That’s pretty amazing.

Stillman rewarded defenseman Alex Pietrangelo with a seven-year, $45.5 million contract. He locked in Petro’s defensive partner, Bouwmeester, to a five-year deal worth $27 million.

It’s up to the players now.

Their mission is both simple and formidable.

Blues players can continue to be a part of the sad, maddening history of postseason failure. Or they can change it and set this franchise free.

Is this “The Year” — or will it end in defeat and depression like every previous season of Blues hockey?



Eastern Conference Preview

12 hours ago • By Jeff Gordon [email protected]

Here's a look at the NHL's Eastern Conference teams in predicted order of finish:

1 • BOSTON BRUINS

2012-13 record: 28-14-6.

Coach: Claude Julien.

Newcomers: Jarome Iginla, Loui Eriksson, Niklas Svedberg, Chad Johnson.

Key losses: Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, Rich Peverley, Andrew Ference, Jaromir Jagr, Anton Khudobin.

Outlook: Iginla stiffed Boston last spring and accepted a trade to Pittsburgh instead. But he is a better fit for the Bruins and he came to Beantown when free agency gave him a do-over. Eriksson is one of the game’s elite two-way forwards. He, too, is a great fit. Not many teams could subtract offensive talent like Seguin and Horton and get better, but the Bruins may be that team.

2 • PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

2012-13 record: 36-12-0.

Coach: Dan Bylsma.

Newcomers: Rob Scuderi, Matt D’Agostini, Tom Kostopoulos.

Key losses: Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Matt Cooke, Douglas Murray.

Outlook: Sidney Crosby is healthy. Evgeni Malkin is healthy. Scuderi’s return strengthens Pittsburgh in its own zone. The Penguins have all the components of a Stanley Cup champion – if goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury can avoid another playoff swoon. He has been a consistently good regular season performer the last five seasons . . . and a consistently bad netminder in postseason play the last four springs. With back-up Tomas Vokoun ailing, failure is not an option for Fleury.

3 • DETROIT RED WINGS

2012-13 record: 24-16-8.

Coach: Mike Babcock.

Newcomers: Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss.

Key losses: Damien Brunner, Valtteri Filppula, Jan Mursak.

Outlook: This sputtering offense got a nice boost with the addition of Weiss, a solid No. 2 center, and Alfredsson, a destined Hall of Famer. Although Alfredsson is in the twilight of a storied career, he should bolster Detroit’s power play. Franchise mainstays Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are still elite playmakers and Johan Franzen provides the heft Detroit will need on this side of the league.

4 • NEW YORK RANGERS

2012-13 record: 26-18-4

Coach: Alain Vigneault.

Newcomers: Benoit Pouliot, Dominic Moore, Justin Falk, Danny Syvret.

Key losses: Ryane Clowe, Matt Gilroy, Kris Newbury.

Outlook: John Tortorella’s war with his star players and the New York media finally ended. He switched jobs with Vigneault, who hopes to revive high-priced center Brad Richards and energize this offense. Assuming that Derek Stepan (training camp holdout) and Ryan Callahan (shoulder surgery) get up to speed sooner than later, this unleashed team will be fun to watch.

5 • WASHINGTON CAPITALS

2012-13 record: 27-18-3

Coach: Adam Oates.

Newcomers: Mikhail Grabovski, Tyson Strachan.

Key losses: Mike Ribeiro, Matt Hendricks, Joey Crabb, Jeff Schultz, Wojtek Wolski.

Outlook: Coach Adam Oates finally got full buy-in from temperamental winger Alex Ovechkin last season. The Great 8 led a late charge that salvaged Washington’s season. The team acquired a skate-and-shoot center, Grabovski, while losing a playmaker, Ribeiro, during the offseason. Otherwise the same group will look to build on what they started last season.

6 • MONTREAL CANADIENS

2012-13 record: 29-14-5.

Coach: Michel Therrien.

Newcomers: Daniel Briere, George Parros, Douglas Murray, Nick Tarnasky.

Key losses: Michael Ryder, Tomas Kaberle, Colby Armstrong, Blake Geoffrion, Yannick Weber.

Outlook: General manager Marc Bergevin has done a nice job restoring order for this iconic franchise. Former Blues prospect Lars Eller seems poised for a breakout offensive season. But the viability of this team comes down to goaltender Carey Price. Can new goaltending coach Stephane Waite get him back on top of his game?

7 • OTTAWA SENATORS

2012-13 record: 25-17-6.

Coach: Paul MacLean.

Newcomers: Bobby Ryan, Joe Corvo, Clarke MacArthur.

Key losses: Peter Regin, Daniel Alfredsson, Sergei Gonchar, Jakob Silfverberg, Andre Benoit, Mike Lundin.

Outlook: It will be strange to see Alfredsson wearing the winged wheel this season after a remarkable run in Ottawa. But the Senators recovered from his exit by acquiring Ryan to play with Jason Spezza on the top line. Full, healthy seasons from Spezza, defenseman Erik Karlsson, winger Milan Michalek and goaltender Craig Anderson should help the Senators earn a good playoff seed.

8 • TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

2012-13 record: 26-17-5.

Coach: Randy Carlyle.

Newcomers: Jonathan Bernier, David Clarkson, Dave Bolland, T.J. Brennan.

Key losses: Mikhail Grabovski, Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, Mike Komisarek, Mike Kostka, Clarke MacArthur.

Outlook: James Reimer had breakthrough season in goal for the Leafs. But GM Dave Nonis added Bernier anyway, creating a goaltender battle. A nagging franchise weakness has become a real strength. Clarkson and Bolland freshen up the offense, although Clarkson will start the season serving a 10-game suspension. With Nazem Kadri developing into a top center and Morgan Rielly emerging as a potential star on the blue line, the Leafs appear ready to roll.

9 • PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

2012-13 record: 23-22-3

Coach: Peter Laviolette.

Newcomers: Vincent Lecavalier, Mark Streit, Ray Emery, Hal Gill.

Key losses: Ilya Bryzgalov, Daniel Briere, Brian Boucher, Ruslan Fedotenko, Simon Gagne, Kurtis Foster, Kent Huskins, Andreas Lilja, Matt Walker, Danny Syvret.

Outlook: The Flyers were among the league’s greatest disappointments, missing the playoffs with a huge payroll. This led to the costly Bryzgalov buyout and the addition of Streit and Lecavalier, two key power-play assets. General manager Paul Holmgren is banking on the goaltending tandem of Steve Mason — a late-season addition from Columbus — and Emery to restore order in the crease.

10 • NEW YORK ISLANDERS

2012-13 record: 24-17-7.

Coach: Jack Capuano.

Newcomers: Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Cal Clutterbuck, Ryan Strome, Peter Regin.

Key losses: Mark Streit, Brad Boyes, Rick DiPietro, Nino Niederreiter, Keith Aucoin, Marty Reasoner.

Outlook: This once-proud franchise is finally regaining respectability. They ended a six-year playoff drought last season while relying heavily on a solid core group of young players. Center John Tavares seems ready to fulfill his destiny as franchise cornerstone. If veteran Evgeni Nabokov holds up in goal, the Islanders could return to postseason play.

11 • COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2012-13 record: 24-17-7.

Coach: Todd Richards.

Newcomers: Nathan Horton, Jack Skille.

Key losses: Vinny Prospal, Adrian Aucoin.

Outlook: Marian Gaborik scored only three goals in 12 games after arriving in a trade with the Rangers last season, but his strong preseason showings suggest he could score 30 to 40 goals for this offensively challenged team. Horton should also add a boost when he comes back from shoulder injury. But can Sergei Bobrvosky duplicate his Vezina-caliber season in goal?

12 • CAROLINA HURRICANES

2012-13 record: 19-25-4

Coach: Kirk Muller.

Newcomers: Ron Hainsey, Nathan Gerbe, Andrej Sekera, Mike Komisarek, Anton Khudobin, Aaron Palushaj, Radek Dvorak, Elias Lindholm.

Key losses: Dan Ellis, Jamie McBain, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Chad LaRose, Joe Corvo, Andres Nodl.

Outlook: The Canes suffered a huge blow before the season even started when they learned workhorse defenseman Joni Pitkanen won’t make it back from his broken heel this season. With goaltender Cam Ward recovering from surgical repairs, this talented team must tighten up its defensive zone play. Offense is not an issue with Eric and Jordan Staal anchoring two solid scoring lines.

13 • TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

2012-13 record: 18-26-4.

Coach: Jon Cooper.

Newcomers: Valtteri Filppula, Jonathan Drouin.

Key losses: Vincent Lecavalier, Mathieu Garon, Benoit Pouliot, Brendan Mikkelson, Evan Oberg, J.T. Wyman.

Outlook: General manager Steve Yzerman has assembled the world’s tallest goaltending tandem with 6-foot-7 St. Louisan Ben Bishop and 6-foot-6 Anders Lindback. He hopes one of them emerges as the No. 1 netminder this team has lacked for years. The versatile Filppula can’t replace Lecavalier’s offense, but Drouin is a pure scoring threat and a Calder Trophy candidate.

14 • BUFFALO SABRES

2012-13 record: 21-21-6.

Coach: Ron Rolston.

Newcomers: Henrik Tallinder, Jamie McBain.

Key losses: Adam Pardy, Nathan Gerbe, Andrej Sekera, Riley Boychuk.

Outlook: The Sabres tried to buy Stanley Cup contention. That purchase failed. Now a full-scale rebuild is under way. Winger Jason Pominville exited in a trade last spring and goaltender Ryan Miller and top gun Thomas Vanek are the next two veterans likely to move along. The Sabres hope defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, goaltender Jhonas Enroth and

young centers Mikhail Grigorenko and Cody Hodgson can form the new nucleus.

15 • NEW JERSEY DEVILS

2012-13 record: 19-19-10.

Coach: Peter DeBoer.

Newcomers: Cory Schneider, Jaromir Jagr, Ryane Clowe, Michael Ryder, Rostislav Olesz, Riley Boychuk.

Key losses: Ilya Kovalchuk, David Clarkson, Matt D’Agostini, Henrik Tallinder, Johan Hedberg, Alexei Ponikarovsky.

Outlook: This once-mighty franchise is hitting the restart button with new ownership. Kovalchuk retired and returned to Russia, freeing up mammoth amounts of future salary cap room. Schneider arrived to provide the long-term solution in goal. General manager Lou Lamoriello rounded up some interim scorers in Jagr and Ryder, but this team needs Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique to finally develop into true No. 1 and No. 2 centers.

16 • FLORIDA PANTHERS

2012-13 record: 15-27-6.

Coach: Kevin Dineen.

Newcomers: Tim Thomas, Bobby Butler, Aleksader Barkov, Brad Boyes, Joey Crabb, Scott Gomez, Matt Gilroy, Jesse Winchester.

Key losses: Stephen Weiss, Jose Theodore, TJ Brennan, Filip Kuba, Peter Mueller, George Parros, Jack Skille, Tyson Strachan.

Outlook: General manager Dale Tallon is using his old Chicago Blackhawks blueprint to build around skilled youngsters. With Weiss off to play in Motown, youngster Jonathan Huberdeau carries even more offensive responsibility. Barkov could have an instant impact after arriving in the most recent draft. Jacob Markstrom is the future in goal, although the team took a look at Tim Thomas in training camp. Big center Shawn Mattias will get every chance to prove his 11 goals in March were not a fluke.



Western Conference Preview

12 hours ago • By Jeff Gordon [email protected]

Here's a look at the NHL's Western Conference teams in predicted order of finish:

1 • CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

2012-13 record: 36-7-5.

Coach: Joel Quenneville.

Newcomers: Nikolai Khabibulin, Mike Kostka, Theo Peckham.

Key losses: Ray Emery, Viktor Stalberg, Rostislav Olesz, Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, Steve Montador, Dan Carcillo.

Outlook: The Blackhawks don’t like to throw around the word “dynasty” after the team’s two Stanley Cups in the past four years. But Chicago fans are comfortable with that label. The team made some hard salary cap cuts after the first championship, but the most recent Cup winner returns largely intact. Forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are just entering the prime of their careers, as is goaltender Corey Crawford.

2 • LOS ANGELES KINGS

2012-13 record: 27-16-5.

Coach: Darryl Sutter.

Newcomers: Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, Dan Carcillo, Jeff Schultz.

Key losses: Jonathan Bernier, Dustin Penner, Brad Richardson, Rob Scuderi.

Outlook: The Kings won the Cup two years ago and reached the Western Conference finals last season. They have kept their nucleus intact, with playoff hero Jonathan Quick in goal, rugged Drew Doughty anchoring the defense and veterans Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter scoring on the top two lines. Injuries last season sped the development of young defensemen Slava Voynov and Jake Muzzin, so this team could be even better.

3 • ST. LOUIS BLUES

2012-13 record: 29-17-2.

Coach: Ken Hitchcock.

Newcomers: Derek Roy, Magnus Paajarvi, Brenden Morrow, Maxim Lapierre.

Key losses: David Perron, Andy McDonald, Scott Nichol, Kris Russell.

Outlook: Roy’s arrival gives the team a real playmaking center, something the team lacked last season. Morrow adds toughness, leadership and even more scoring depth. Young forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz could have breakthrough seasons and captain David Backes should bounce back from his nightmarish six-goal campaign. But Hitchcock is eager to see if Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott or Jake Allen can step up and become a Stanley Cup-caliber goaltender.

4 • VANCOUVER CANUCKS

2012-13 record: 26-15-7.

Coach: John Tortorella.

Newcomers: Mike Santorelli, Yannick Weber, Brad Richardson.

Key losses: Derek Roy, Andrew Ebbett, Keith Ballard, Cory Schneider, Maxim Lapierre.

Outlook: Against all odds, Roberto Luongo stayed in net for the Canucks and Schneider moved on in a trade. That flabbergasted Luongo, but playing behind Tortorella’s tight defensive system should bolster his spirits. This team got a little soft under Alain Vigneault and lost 10 of its last 12 playoff games. The edgy Tortorella will fix that, with the help of a healthier Ryan

Kesler at center and a more mature Zack Kassian banging around on the wing.

5 • SAN JOSE SHARKS

2012-13 record: 25-16-7.

Coach: Todd McLellan.

Newcomer: Tyler Kennedy.

Key losses: TJ Galiardi, Scott Gomez, Tim Kennedy, Thomas Greiss.

Outlook: Impressive offensive depth, sturdy defense and quality goaltending from Antti Niemi make the Sharks a serious Cup threat. The concern is for the longer term: When will the next wave of good young players arrive in San Jose? Is Tomas Hertl the real deal? Logan Couture is going to need some help in a few years when Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau move on down the trail.

6 • ANAHEIM DUCKS

2012-13 record: 30-12-6.

Coach: Bruce Boudreau.

Newcomers: Jakub Silfverberg, Mark Fistric, Dustin Penner.

Key losses: Bobby Ryan, Radek Dvorak.

Outlook: The Ducks couldn’t afford to keep all their core players. With the tag team of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry sticking around Orange County for the long haul, the team shipped Bobby Ryan to Ottawa. So the Ducks need to squeeze one more good year from Teemu Selanne while developing Silfverberg, Emerson Etem and Kyle Palmieri into serious scoring threats.

7 • DALLAS STARS

2012-13 record: 22-22-4

Coach: Lindy Ruff.

Newcomers: Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, Shawn Horcoff, Sergei Gonchar, Valeri Nichushkin, Dan Ellis.

Key losses: Loui Eriksson, Eric Nystrom, Matt Fraser, Richard Bachman, Philip Larsen.

Outlook: The hockey operation got a complete overhaul after the Stars missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive spring. New general manager Jim Nill arrived from Detroit’s front office and hired Ruff as his coach. He blew up the team nucleus with the blockuster Seguin trade with Boston. Nichushkin, the super-sized Russian prospect, could make an immediate splash as Ruff puts the Stars into attack mode.

8 • NASHVILLE PREDATORS

2012-13 record: 16-23-9.

Coach: Barry Trotz.

Newcomers: Matt Cullen, Eric Nystrom, Viktor Stalberg, Matt Hendricks, Seth Jones, Carter Hutton, TJ Brennan.

Key losses: Hal Gill, Sergei Kostitsyn, Brandon Yip, Matt Halischuk, T.J. Brennan, Bobby Butler, Jonathan Blum.

Outlook: Former Blues defenseman Phil Housley joined Trotz’s staff to work with the defense and power play. He is also positioned to replace Trotz — the only coach the franchise has known — should the team stall out. But if goaltender Pekka Rinne regains his otherworldly form after hip surgery and the talented young defensive corps takes off, Nashville could climb back up the conference ladder.

9 • EDMONTON OILERS

2012-13 record: 19-22-7.

Coach: Dallas Eakins.

Newcomers: David Perron, Richard Bachman, Boyd Gordon, Denis Grebeshkov, Andrew Ference, Philip Larsen, Jason Labarbera.

Key losses: Shawn Horcoff, Ryan Whitney, Mark Fistric, Magnus Paajarvi, Nikolai Khabibulin, Eric Belanger, Andy Sutton.

Outlook: Many experts figured they would break out last season. They didn’t. Now they will try again under Eakins, who will push this still-maturing group to realize its vast offensive potential. The early-season absence of centers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder surgery) and Sam Gagner (broken jaw) will make that task somewhat harder. But the addition of Gordon up front and Ference on defense should make them harder to play against.

10 • PHOENIX COYOTES

2012-13 record: 21-18-9.

Coach: Dave Tippett.

Newcomers: Mike Ribeiro, Brandon Yip, Tim Kennedy, Thomas Greiss.

Key losses: Boyd Gordon, Jason Labarbera.

Outlook: Despite the forever unsettled financial state of the franchise, Tippett decided to re-sign and continue working magic in the Valley of the Sun. The NHL’s most overachieving team hopes the addition of the playmaking Ribeiro — a Tippett favorite — will get the offense clicking again. The team gave goaltender Mike Smith a long-term deal with the expectation that he will regain his near-MVP form.

11 • MINNESOTA WILD

2012-13 record: 26-19-3.

Coach: Mike Yeo.

Newcomers: Jonathan Blum, Matt Cooke, Keith Ballard, Nino Niederreiter.

Key losses: Devin Setoguchi, Matt Cullen, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Cal Clutterbuck, Justin Falk.

Outlook: A full season of Jason Pominville and a healthier Dany Heatley should give this team the firepower it needs to keep up. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter delivered solid first season after arriving with massive free agent contracts. If young forwards Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter develop on schedule, this team may finally be able to attack in waves.

12 • WINNIPEG JETS

2012-13 record: 24-21-3.

Coach: Claude Noel.

Newcomers: Devin Setoguchi, Adam Pardy, Matt Halischuk, Michael Frolik.

Key losses: Ron Hainsey, Nik Antropov, Antti Miettinen, Kyle Wellwood, Alexander Burmistrov, Mike Santorelli, Derek Meech.

Outlook: After living in the West and playing all their games back East, the Jets will get to play a normal schedule this season. With that excuse out of the way, Noel will need to guide his team into the playoff race or face the consequences. This team has ample firepower, especially with young center Mark Scheifele poised to make an impact. This would be a good time for goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to have a career year.

13 • COLORADO AVALANCHE

2012-13 record: 16-25-7.

Coach: Patrick Roy.

Newcomers: Nathan MacKinnon, Alex Tanguay, Cory Sarich.

Key losses: David Jones, Shane O’Brien, Milan Hejduk, Greg Zanon, Aaron Palushaj.

Outlook: The Roy hiring created considerable buzz in Denver. One way or another, he will awaken this sleepy franchise. He has terrific offensive talent to start with, but his defensive corps needs work and either Semyon Varlamov or veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere must pull it together in goal. Colorado had the league’s fourth-worst goals-against average (3.12) last season.

14 • CALGARY FLAMES

2012-13 record: 19-25-4.

Coach: Bob Hartley.

Newcomers: Karri Ramo, Reto Berra, David Jones, TJ Galiardi, Shane O’Brien, Kris Russell.

Key losses: Mikka Kiprusoff, Alex Tanguay, Roman Cervenka, Leland Irving, Cory Sarich.

Outlook: This long-suffering franchise is charting a new course with Brian Burke taking over the hockey operation. But this famously impatient executive faces a long and painful rebuilding process. Aside from forwards Sven Baertschi, Mikael Backlund, Max Reinhart and Sean Monahan, Burke has little to build upon. The Flames are questionable everywhere, especially in goal where KHL import Ramo seems likely to start.



Size, skill and substance on defense

12 hours ago • By Dan O’Neill [email protected]

A day into a “holdout,” Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo abruptly agreed to a new contract Sept. 13 and was on the ice at the Scottrade Center the following day.

No doubt a number of considerations impacted a sudden resolution to a negotiation that had festered for months. But one can’t help but wonder … if Pietrangelo noticed Kevin Shattenkirk started camp by moving into the No.1 defense pairing alongside Jay Bouwmeester, i.e. Pietrangelo’s chair.

Or if Pietrangelo noticed veteran defenseman Ryan Whitney was in the house, looking for an opening. Or if Pietrangelo perhaps realized former No. 1 pick Ian Cole had arrived in top shape, eager to crack the starting yoke.

Maybe it was not lost on Pietrangelo that, as appreciated as he is in St. Louis, the Blues were prepared to move on with or without him. Moreover, they are deep enough to just pull it off. You can’t help but wonder if maybe he decided, more than anything, he wanted to be part of that.

“You’re talking about some pretty key pieces here on any team,” Pietrangelo said. “Shatty and Bo could be No. 1 defensemen on any team. To put those guys into our top six, with myself, (Jordan) Leopold, (Barret) Jackman and Roman (Polak) … it’s looking pretty solid right now.”

The Blues have had prominent back lines in the past. In the late 1960s, the blue line included Doug Harvey, Al Arbour, Barclay and Bob Plager, Noel Picard and Jean-Guy Talbot. Scoring chances were few and far between, dues were collected with dropped gloves and hip checks.

They were as sturdy as any defensive corps in the NHL and their goaltenders – Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante — won the Vezina Trophy in 1968-69 for the fewest goals allowed.

In the mid-1980s, Rob Ramage was the perennial All-Star anchor. In the early 1990s, the defensive groups included players like Scott Stevens, Jeff Brown, Garth Butcher, Phil Housley and Steve Duchesne. They could be mobile and menacing, tough and tricky.

During the 1999-00 season, when Joel Quenneville’s team collected 114 points and a President’s Trophy, the back end was quarterbacked by Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger. The former is in the Hall of Fame, the latter is in the HOF green room.

All of that said, the defensive group the franchise puts on the ice in 2013-14 will be as deep as any it ever has fielded. There is size, skill and substance. There might be none better in the NHL.

“Self-serving for sure, but I think we have the best defense in the NHL,” general manager Doug Armstrong said. “When we go into any building, teams are going to say, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of a team they have coming.”

The Blues had a capable corps in place to begin last season’s half-baked schedule, one that helped goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott capture the Jennings Trophy in 2011-12. Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk are among the league’s top offensive defenders, Polak and Jackman are regarded for their stay-at-home toughness and ... and so on.

But as March turned to April and the playoffs approached, Armstrong upped the ante. He engineered separate trades that brought defensemen Leopold and Bouwmeester into the group. The Blues finished strong and ranked third in the league in fewest goals allowed. Now they begin a full season with Bouwmeester and Leopold already on board, and with Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo just beginning to reach their professional maturity.

Each of the top four – Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk and Leopold – has scored nine or more goals and 35 or more points in a season.

“It’s a good group,” said Bouwmeester, who had seven points and a plus-5 rating in 14 games with the Blues last season. “You look at it, everyone can defend and move the puck and that sort of thing. The one thing I’ve noticed here is the way we play.

“As far as our forwards and the way they come back and really support in your own end, that makes it so much easier for a defenseman. … We have

a good group back there but I think the way we play, and the way we work, you could throw a lot of guys back there and be pretty good.”

Shattenkirk has played 155 games with the Blues since arriving in a February 2011 trade. In that time, he has 83 points and a plus-29 rating.

“We have mobile defensemen who can play defensively very well,” said Shattenkirk, 24. “I think the way we play, we all fit very well in the system, which is a big reason why we’re successful.

“A lot of it comes from our team defense, which is why we look so good as a corps. We execute very well and we have good coaching behind us.

Those thoughts are well considered. Where the Blues’ defense is concerned, there’s more at work than individual talent. Under the guidance of coach Ken Hitchcock, who arrived in November 2011, with the continuity of assistant coach Brad Shaw, who has mentored Blues defensemen for six seasons, the team utilizes a double entendre philosophy.

Hitchcock’s system is formatted in 200 feet, not proportional increments. It’s divided by four lines, not three. It does not tolerate defensively indifferent forwards or suffer positionally foolish defenders. The Blues aspire to spend precious little time in their end, maximum time at the opposite end.

They want more coming back so it takes less effort to move forward. Less is more, more is less. Offense is defense, defense is offense.

“I think we play … we look better defensively than we are because we spend a lot of time in the offensive zone,” Hitchcock said. “We are able to defend by playing in the offensive zone. Our defensemen are right, they do their job but they get a lot of help from the forwards.

“You can’t play the way we play with three lines, doesn’t exist, doesn’t cut it. There’s too much energy, too much skating. You need four lines. That’s why getting Derek (Roy) here and (Maxim) Lapierre here is going to really help us depth-wise.

“It’s going to help us be able to play with the tempo we think we need to play in order to win the West.”

There is another way to look at the great expectations regarding the Blues’ defensive group, a more pragmatic way. That is, it should be one of the best in the league because, according to capgeek.com, it is the most expensive defense in the league.

It’s historically unorthodox to paint the financially stretched Blues as headliners in matters of spending. But the team has each of its top seven defensemen under contract for at least two years, and there’s a lot of green on that blue line.

At an average annual cap hit of $6.5 million over the next seven years, Pietrangelo is at the high end of the scale. Cole, averaging $825,000 over two years, is at the low.

Philadelphia is spending more overall, with 10 defensemen under contract for $34.2 million. But the Blues’ “Magnificent Seven” adds up to more than $26.4 million, or a league-leading average of $3.7 million.

Moreover, Leopold is the group’s elder statesman at age 33, which means the franchise should have this dynamic defense intact for some time.

“I think it’s the more complete game,” Hitchcock said. “With Petro in the group, we probably have five complete defensemen, for sure, who can play in various situations. They can kill penalties, they play offensively, join the rush and contribute.

“We have a lot of guys who can play in multiple situations. So I think it gives us a depth that maybe some teams don’t have.”

It also gives the Blues depth on defense the franchise has never had.



'A heavy burden' for Backes


More than ever, sports are a bottom-line business. The bottom line for an elite forward in hockey is tethered to the scoring sheet.

In David Backes’ case, the bottom line for a 48-game season earlier this year was not flattering. Twice a 31-goal scorer during his career, Backes finished with six goals and 22 assists for 28 points. He had one power-play goal, after scoring eight in 2011-12.

The bottom line is not flattering, but it’s not the only line. And while it influences media and public opinion, and impacts contract negotiations, there is a Paul Harvey factor with the bottom line.

In Backes’ case, there is a “rest of the story.”

“Everybody looks at numbers,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He wants his numbers to be better, we want his numbers to be better. But there is a lot more to David’s game that doesn’t meet the eye.

“So you have to be careful how you evaluate a broken season. You could evaluate 200 players in the league last year in that broken season and you would come up with the wrong evaluation. (Scoring goals) is one part, where there is multiple parts in his game.”

Backes gets stretched like a Gumby doll, pulled in numerous directions, before he ever reaches that bottom line. Two years ago, he signed a new contract and accepted the captaincy of the Blues. Backes has embraced the office with sincerity. He strives to be the stewarding conduit between the players’ room and the coaching office. He takes the responsibility of being a standard bearer seriously.

In a season where a lockout took place, where the good of the group took precedence over his individual needs, where he spent more time in an NHLPA cap than a helmet, the captaincy was load bearing.

Backes isn’t carrying a crutch, but he’s not making apologies either. He acknowledges there were challenges off the ice, but he won’t dwell there.

“In full disclosure, yeah, there were a lot of things going on,” Backes said. “But I don’t think it was overwhelming.”

He added: “There’s a lot of moving parts and variables that go into scoring six goals last year. Whether that’s injury, or a nine-month period off, or a condensed schedule … I think that’s more of an anomaly than production ... I’m looking forward to this being a normal year.”

In full disclosure, Backes’ value is not accurately reflected by the bottom line. It’s like evaluating a compact car by how many passengers it holds, ignoring that it gets you where you’re going in a more efficient manner.

“He carries a heavy burden for our team,” Hitchcock said. “He plays against the best players. He’s expected to be a plus player in that avenue. He’s on a top (penalty killing unit), he’s expected to play there. He takes a beating in front of the net on a power play. He plays the last minute of every period of every game … There’s an awesome responsibility.

“So, when you talk about his goals last season, what you’re talking about is one phase he can show improvement in. But you can’t dismiss the other things that he did really well. If you’re going to live on one aspect, he’d be the first guy to tell you he wants to score more. But not at the expense of losing in other areas … He might score 30-35 goals, but if he’s a minus player, it’s not going to help us win hockey games.”

Backes was not a minus player last season, he was a plus-5. The Blues won 29 of their 48 games last season, and they have won 78 of 130 games played, had points in 91, since Backes became a captain.

Backes also accumulated 158 hits last season, which was the sixth highest total among NHL forwards. Among those six, his 28 points was the benchmark. So the 6-foot-3, 220-pound center is looking to improve on last year, not looking to explain it.

Backes tweaked his offseason conditioning routine to make it more hockey-specific. He is eager to complete a training camp and start a normal season.

“I worked on becoming a 10 percent better hockey player rather than becoming a 10 percent better athlete,” Backes, 29, said. “So I took that to heart and I spent a lot more time on the ice working on skills rather than in the weight room trying to build strength.

“I think, hopefully, that will translate into a quicker start to the season, and hopefully more offensive production, more constructive touches with the puck. I feel more comfortable on the ice. I feel I’m more ahead of the game than I am normally at this time of year.”

If you’re looking for bottom lines, the Blues need Backes to score more. But don’t ignore one other bottom line, the captain is fixated on — the Blues need to win, St. Louis needs a Stanley Cup.

“So I want to prove myself every day here,” Backes said. “I want to continue to improve our record and improve the length of our season so that we find out what hockey in June is like in St. Louis.”



Blues stress 'accountability' on offense


As players spread out for the summer, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Ken Hitchcock convened in St. Louis. Offseason evaluations are normal procedure in the NHL, but the main topic on the agenda was more perplexing than your typical postseason reflection.

The Blues wanted to know why they struggled to score more goals.

The club netted just 10 goals in a six-game playoff loss to Los Angeles, an average of 1.67 per game, which was the second-lowest clip among the 16 postseason teams. After taking a two-games-to-none lead in the series, the Blues were blanked on 30 shots in a 1-0 Game 3 loss, shifting the momentum to the Kings, who went on to win four straight.

“You have to score goals in this game … you have to score goals to win,” Armstrong said. “When I look back at last season, was that just an anomaly or why did all of our good offensive players go in a slump at the same time?”

The Blues ranked No. 17 in the NHL during the regular season, averaging 2.58 goals per game, but the playoffs had Armstrong and Hitchcock mystified.

“We brainstormed at the end of the year. … Can you change here? Can you do this?” Hitchcock said. “The discussion was, ‘Is it about tweaking or is it about more accountability?’ The decision at the end of the day was more accountability.”

Few of the Blues’ faithful could argue after the forwards made hitting the broad side of a barn look impossible in the LA series. They had 101 missed shots in the six games, or 16.8 per game.

In a round in which the Kings had only two more regulation goals and moved on with a four-games-to-two victory, any one of the Blues’ misfires could have changed the club’s fortune. But was there more to the scoring woes than simply not converting the team’s chances?

Much of Hitchcock’s 17-year coaching career has been based on playing a “200-foot game.” His name is often associated with tight checking and defense, never confused with instant offense.

Some past players have quietly criticized the system, saying that it doesn’t allow them to use their creative talents. Some fans bemoan the fact that despite drafting several skilled forwards, finding a 30-goal scorer on the roster is a challenge.

Blues captain David Backes, who laid out 158 hits last season but lit the lamp only six times, said that focusing on Hitchcock’s style as the root of the silent nights is a “false notion.”

“There’s no handcuffs,” Backes said. “It’s playing winning hockey. If there’s a play to be made, make it. But if there’s not, don’t force it. I don’t think that’s defensive minded. I think it’s smart. When we’ve got guys buying into that system, we’ve had a ton of success.

“What maybe is craved is the 3-on-1 tic-tac-toe, backdoor tap-in (goals). But you’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Would you trade four pretty goals a night and lose 6-4 and be out of the playoff race in February?’ That’s not appealing to anyone in this room. We’re willing to sacrifice a couple of those pretty goals to make the right play, which helps us win games and be hunting into April, May and June.”

Chris Stewart, who led the Blues with 18 goals in 48 games last season, added that the Western Conference isn’t the landscape for an open system.

“There’s not many guys that you can just tic-tac-toe around,” Stewart said. “You look at the San Jose’s, the LA’s, us … we’re big hockey teams. You try to tic-tac-toe around David Backes and you’re going to get blown up, you know what I mean.

“There’s definitely a time and a place when you have a chance to showcase your skill, and that time will come, but if we think we’re just going to

stickhandle our way to the Stanley Cup, I don’t think that’s going to be the answer.”

The Blues may not have overhauled their offensive operation this summer, but while the team’s brass decided that accountability weighed more heavily than tweaking the system, there will be some recognizable differences for those paying close attention.

“We’d like to get more creative in the offensive zone,” Armstrong said. “That’s certainly the responsibility of Ken and the coaches, along with the players, to come up with the blueprint to do that. We’ve given them the overview of what we want and now they have to come up with the blueprint on how to get it done.”

In training camp, the club worked on drills in which every skater on the ice was used to help create scoring. The dump-and-chase will still be relied on at times, but with a blue line that boasts three potential 40-point players in Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester, the instruction was to get involved.

“What I’m trying to create here, without giving away trade secrets, one of the things we didn’t do enough last year is use our second wave,” Hitchcock said. “We’re trying to create more offense from our second wave. It means the forwards have to hang onto the puck longer at times to allow more people to join the rush. We’re trying to create second-wave attacks more than we ever have here.”

Instead of driving into a cluster, the first Blues to enter the offensive zone are cutting and turning their back to the opposition and feeding the trailers. To Hitchcock, it doesn’t matter if that player is a forward or a defensemen; in that situation, they’re one and the same.

“You’re not a positional player, you’re a number,” he said. “I’m trying to create numbers rather than name positions. So just because you’re a defenseman, if you’re up in the rush, you act as a forward to a certain level. It’s attacks based on numbers and not positions. It’s wanting to create more offense off late-arriving people, taking advantage of our mobility on the back end to create a numerical advantage in the offensive zone.”

Stewart said that players like Hitchcock’s decision to give them more leeway.

“He’s a smart coach and he’s successful for a reason,” Stewart said. “If you don’t get the job done two years in a row, everybody is going to change as a whole. He took it upon himself to come up with a little bit of a different (strategy). Our focus has been trying to get over the blue line with possession and not just dump it in for no reason.

“Hockey now is a possession game, and when you have it, I don’t think there’s any need to give it up. Hold onto it and make that next best play … give the puck to the guy who has the best opportunity to make something happen. There’s obviously a time and a place. We’re not going to be up 3-2, trying to dangle or anything like that.”

Make no mistake, the Blues will still be priding themselves on a strong defensive game.

“When I hear the words, ‘score more,’ that’s a red flag, an alarm bell, whatever, that goes off for me … because that usually becomes the license to cheat,” Hitchcock said. “You’re hanging on the wrong side of pucks, you’re leaving the zone early… you can’t win that way.

“I don’t understand when people say they sacrifice their offense to get back (defensively). I’ve always believed that that’s just a bloody excuse for not sticking with things a little bit longer. For us, we don’t want them to sacrifice any offense but we just don’t want them to cheat to think they have to score. If you play the game the right way, you’ll get all the scoring chances you need.”

The Blues’ new personnel also provides a different look.

They are moving on without Andy McDonald, who retired, and David Perron, whom they traded to Edmonton. For a team seeking scoring, the dealing away of Perron, who netted 21 goals in 57 games two years ago, is a risk. But it was needed for salary savings and to give Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko more ice time.

“We believe that Schwartz and Tarasenko are two young players that could pick up some of what David was leaving,” Armstrong said.

The Blues received Magnus Paajarvi from the Oilers and signed free agents Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy. Morrow and Roy instantly became the Blues’ Nos. 1-2 leaders in career goals with 249 and 168, respectively.

“We’ve lost two and we’ve got seven who can replace that part of the game,” Hitchcock said. “I look at Tarasenko, Schwartz, Roy, Paajarvi, Morrow. I also look at Bouwmeester and (Jordan) Leopold, who are now full-time residents on the team and add a lot in the transition. So we’ve got seven now.”

But Hitchcock acknowledges that in order for the Blues to receive the most out of their offensive parts, he has to do a better job of splitting up the minutes.

“I think more than anything, if we want to be better, we have to ‘divvy’ up the ice more collectively,” he said. “We’re going to put the onus on certain players to do more, but we’re also going to expect them to be able to do it. It allows other people to do things they’re good at with a higher level of energy.”

If that happens, first-year Dallas general manager Jim Nill, a longtime Detroit executive, says watch out for the Blues.

“In order to be successful, you’ve got to have depth and I think that’s what St. Louis has built up,” Nill said. “They might not have the marquee guy, but their overall depth is going to win them games. When they roll four lines, it’s hard to match. They’re as good a team as there is in the league.”

The Blues don’t want to change much, but they do want to score more goals. That, Hitchcock says, will come with more accountability.

“That’s what needs to take place,” Hitchcock said. “It’s very important that we let the players formulate it. Coaches can screw it up by interfering in it. Once that’s in your locker room, the players transition in and out but that level of accountability is in the room. That’s really important that that takes place here.”



Three-headed monster in goal


You will read in these pages that the Blues have one of the best defensive groups in the league, and that will be a key to their fortunes.

You will read they were in the bottom third of the NHL when it came to scoring goals last year, and scoring more goals will be a key to their fortunes.

But there is one undeniable truth in hockey that can never be overlooked. What pitching is to baseball, guard play is to basketball, quarterbacking is to football — goaltending is to hockey. Ultimately, it will be as important as any key.

Getting a handle on where the Blues stand in the goaltending department is not easily done. The goaltenders were the Jennings Trophy-winning backbone of the 2011-12 Blues, a team that narrowly missed finishing first overall in the NHL and went two rows deep into the playoffs.

The same goaltenders were wildly inconsistent for the 2012-13 Blues, a team that scrambled to get the fourth seed in the Western Conference and was eliminated early by Los Angeles.

The same goaltenders are in place again for 2013-14. So what’s it going to be, who do you trust? For Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, it’s easy to disregard the perils of last season.

“I’m like a lot of coaches, I’m throwing out last year from a goaltending standpoint,” Hitchcock said. “There were Vezina Trophy winners, Jennings Trophy winners, elite goaltenders that had bad years, not just our own team.

“We were inconsistent, but there were a number of teams that had the same situation. To me, this is clean slate, this is go back and let’s see where we’re at.”

Some surely are surprised by where they’re at. After an injury-impaired season, and a publicized confrontation with Hitchcock, speculation suggested Jaroslav Halak would move on. Instead, he has stayed and if he can stay healthy, he may be leaned on more than ever.

“I was prepared for anything, but certainly I wanted to be here,” Halak said.

Directly across the dressing room sits Brian Elliott. After an up-and-down season in which he lost playing time to rookie Jake Allen and then won it back, some thought he might move on. Elliott is not surprised to be back.

“Not really,” Elliott said. “I mean, with how things are going, a lot of teams have everything set, so we’re kind of no different. I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this season or last season, so it’s always just go out and do your best and let things take of themselves.”

With both Halak and Elliott entering the final years of their contracts, with the 23-year-old Allen suggesting he was ready for prime time, speculation suggested someone had to move. But Allen agreed to a two-year contract, one that doesn’t turn NHL-exclusive until 2014-15.

Allen is prepared to serve more apprenticeship time with the Blues’ new American Hockey League affiliate in Chicago. He will see regular action there, refine his skills. He will be there, with 15 games of NHL experience in his pocket, with an answer should the Blues situation change.

“I’m not a dumb guy,” Allen said. “Jaro and Ells are great goalies and they’re both going to have great years. I just want to come in here and give them a challenge. ... I hope to be part of the future and I want to do the best I can right now to help the other guys out and help myself out as well.”

The Blues are betting on last season being a fluke, a byproduct of a lockout and abbreviated schedule. Halak played only briefly in Europe during the lockout, Elliott did not play at all. The season before, they were the best tandem in the league, combining for 15 shutouts, .932 save percentage and 1.78 goals-against average.

Then last season Halak played in only 16 games, hindered by a nagging groin injury, and Elliott got off to rough start. His save percentage — .940

the season before — slipped well below the .900 mark much of the time. When the Blues turned to Allen, Elliott went more than three weeks without playing in March before going to the AHL affiliate in Peoria to shake off rust.

With two games in Peoria Elliott seemed to rediscover his game. He came back to the Blues and played like it was 2012-13 all over again. He allowed only 16 goals over his last 13 games.

“It had a lot to do with just having confidence in yourself,” Elliott said. “When you’re not playing, you know what you can do and you know you can help the team. It’s hard to sit there and not play. It’s confidence. It leaves you for a little bit and you have to gain that back and trust in yourself. My support system was really good.”

Still, in the end, the Kings eliminated the Blues in the first round of the playoffs. Elliott was by no means a goat, but he wasn’t a hero either.

With all of that in the background, it seems likely the Blues will look to Halak to assume control of the position and become the lead netminder. Should Halak prove brittle or unreliable, it seems questionable whether the team would head toward the playoffs with Elliott or the playoff-untested Allen as their No. 1 backstop.

At that point, the Blues may look elsewhere. At that point, two veteran goaltenders in the final years of their contracts almost assuredly would be headed out of town.

The team has aspirations of contending for a Stanley Cup this season, the goaltenders have aspirations of winning a healthy new contract. There is much to lose, and everything to gain, for the Blues and for themselves.

“You want to play like it’s always your last year,” Elliott added. “That play and that determination makes a mark on everybody around the league so that they know you’re going to play well and trying your best season in and season out, no matter what your contract situation is. So that’s the last thing on my mind.”



New ownership has 'seismic' impact


In 16 months on the job, Blues owner Tom Stillman has one regret regarding the operation of the club’s 16-member local ownership group.

“I would like to have had more meetings with the group more regularly,” Stillman said. “But it’s been a whirlwind year and I think there’s an understanding that we’ve kind of had our heads down, doing a lot of blocking and tackling.”

After taking over in May 2012, Stillman has been busy trimming off-ice expenses and authorizing the signing of several hefty player contracts. In all, 14 extensions have been granted, totaling 39 years and nearly $150 million.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong recently called the financial commitment of the new ownership “seismic.”

“You go to these press conferences when there’s an ownership change, and there’s a lot of patting on the back and a lot of rhetoric saying ‘We want to win,’” Armstrong said. “The way they showed it is with their wallet.”

Entering the 2013-14 season, the Blues rank No. 8 in the NHL with a team payroll of $62.3 million. It’s a jump of more than $10 million from last season’s mark of $52.2 million, which ranked No. 29 in the league. No club can claim a sharper rise.

“We’re in this year with the top-paying teams,” Armstrong said. “One of the excuses that we don’t like is that we couldn’t afford to win a Stanley Cup, we can’t afford to compete. That’s been erased.”

Much of the credit has been heaped on Stillman, but he is quick to deflect the attention onto others, including his 15 co-investors.

They are all local business leaders but not much is known about their hockey interests or how the group reaches the decisions that have been shaping the organization the last 1 1/2 years.

Two of the team’s top investors are Jerry Kent, chairman and CEO of Suddenlink Communications and co-founder of Charter Communications, and Donn Lux, chairman and CEO of Luxco.

Kent has been a Blues’ season-ticket holder since 1983 and was part of a group that once tried to buy the club.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for a Stanley Cup,” Kent said. “That’s what I keep telling Tom. I say, ‘Tom, I want to keep reminding you … the reason I made this investment is I want to hold the Stanley Cup.’”

Lux attended the Blues’ inaugural game in 1967, when he was just 7 years old, and he’s been a season-ticket holder ever since. His family was friends with the first owners of the Blues, the Salomons.

Stillman didn’t know Kent prior to the ownership venture, but he’s known Lux for more than a decade and he’s been associated with others in the group longer. Stillman and Tom Schlafly, founder of “The St. Louis Brewery,” go back 15 years, and a relationship with Steve Maritz, chairman and CEO of Maritz Inc., dates to 20 years. He’s known former U.S. Sen. John Danforth 25 years, when he married Danforth’s daughter, Mary.

“They’re just great, great people,” Stillman said. “And they’re experienced business people who understand how businesses work, including the balance between investing in the right areas and yet controlling expenses in the right areas … and obviously the need to build revenues to support it all.”

The group also understands the hierarchy of the ownership arrangement. Per NHL guidelines, the league mandates that one person have the ability to make decisions on the day-to-day operations of the franchise, and that person is Stillman.

“Leagues just don’t want franchises in a position where they have to make decisions by committee,” Stillman said. “But even though that’s the case, I like to get a sense whether the group is comfortable with something. For

specific developments, I will send out an email to the entire group. Then on some big issues, I will call a few members as sort of a sounding board.”

For example, the investors were notified before the Blues traded for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and what remained of his $6.68 million salary last April. It was the same with the re-signing of Bouwmeester to a five-year, $27 million extension, the re-signing of Alex Pietrangelo to a seven-year, $45.5 million deal and the addition of Brett Hull to the front office.

“In most cases, I know what I think we should do before calling,” Stillman said. “So I’m describing my views, but also expressing the contrary view, what are the downsides. Then I’m getting their perspective. I like getting their feedback.”

Kent said, laughing, sometimes Stillman follows his advice and sometimes he doesn’t.

“I have a 30-plus year career in business and so I know about making acquisitions and hopefully I learned a little bit about managing people,” he said. “And so hopefully when Tom asks for advice, I can draw upon those skills and offer sound business judgment. Just rest assured no one there calls me to have me assess the hockey talent. I leave that to the professionals.”

That assignment rests with Armstrong, who receives his budget from Stillman. In the case of this season’s payroll, the team has already eclipsed what it projected to spend. Stillman said he’s sensed in meetings that Armstrong has been visibly surprised after gaining approval on a few pricey transactions.

“Doug was so used to hearing ‘No, we can’t do that,’” Stillman said. “So we’re talking and there’s a bit of feeling where Doug’s going, ‘Oh, OK!’”

“Tom will say, ‘I’m in,’ and before he can change his mind, I get up and leave the room,” Armstrong joked. “His number has been predicated on wanting to win. It’s very businesslike.”

Stillman’s financial philosophy leading a hockey team isn't necessarily how he might run a business with regard to the bottom line.

“If you just look at a number in a vacuum and say, ‘This is going to cost X dollars, you say ‘Whoa!’” Stillman said. “But once you get comfortable with what that player brings to the table, you begin to appreciate what a different team we can be. The members of the (ownership) group want to have a contending team. They have been uniformly supportive.”

None of the owners is looking for a monthly dividend check. Lux remembers when the group was seeking additional investors and he was turned off by one looking to make a quick buck.

“One guy looked at the documents and said, ‘How do I measure the return on invested capital?’” Lux recalled. “I just said, ‘You know what, just send me the materials back if that’s what you’re interested in.’ This is not a return on invested capital deal. It’s a civic deal. One day we might make some money, but I think we’re all very comfortable with being part of something really cool.”

One of the perks of being a Blues’ owner is being alerted to a potential move before it happens.

"It’s very exciting," Kent said. "It’s done with strict confidentiality, so it’s not tempting to say anything, although my son, Matt (23 years old) tries to pry a lot. Like any rabid fan, he wants to know what’s going on with the team and what the plans are."

For Lux, the Hull news was hard to keep inside. He and his wife, Michelle, have been longtime friends with Hull’s family.

"When the news broke, my wife was like, ‘What are you talking about, Brett is coming back?’" Lux said. "I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s coming back.’ She said, ‘And how long have you’ve known this?’ I said, ‘I’ve probably known for a while.’"

Schlafly also enjoys the inside knowledge.

"It isn’t something Tom has to do," he said. "He could be an autocrat if he wanted to but that’s not his style at all. I think it’s very gratifying that he takes the time to keep us informed."

The excitement has led to some of the investors becoming more engrossed in hockey. That includes former Senator Danforth.

"I think he has seen the light, that hockey is a superior sport," Stillman said. "He takes pride in kind of throwing out things that he reads in the paper. I’ll see him and he’ll mention some detail from that morning’s article and he’ll have this grin on his face like ‘I’m all over it.’"

Schalfly now wears a Blues’ lapel pin and a tie with the team’s logo.

"I’ll have to admit that I was kind of a fairweather fan beforehand and I think having an involvement in the team has certainly enhanced my interest," Schlafly said. "The Blues are just a tremendous asset for the community. Like beer, it’s a business, but it’s fun."

Blues players have noticed the owners’ enthusiasm.

“When we come into the locker room on the road after a win and you see Tom there congratulating us, it’s gratifying to know that we have them behind us and they want it as badly as we do,” defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. “They have a chance to make a difference, and they’re doing all they can for us.”

It has been an exhilarating 16 months for the 16 investors.

“It’s gone as well as we could have expected, trying to do what Tom did with a large ownership group,” Lux said. “It’s been great.”

Added Kent: “I want to point out that it’s really all about Tom and Bruce (Affleck) and Doug and the management team. Everything that’s being done should be attributed to them.”

Perhaps those sentiments could be conveyed at the group’s next meeting, whenever that is.



NHL scout's take on the Blues’ top nine forwards


An anonymous NHL scout gives his take on the Blues' offense:

ALEXANDER STEEN

“When anybody talks about Alex Steen, they probably talk about his intelligence first. He’s a guy that is trusted. He’s a guy you can have on the ice in any situation. That sounds like an easy thing to say, but really coaches don’t feel that way about offense-only guys. They feel that way about guys like Steen. He’s a smart, real good player … excellent player.”

DAVID BACKES

“I’d probably be lying if I didn’t say that he’s one of my favorite guys to watch and somebody I don’t want playing against my team. He sets the bar for his team. He’s a worker first and foremost, but he backs it up with some skill. He competes everywhere. You want to talk about big size down the middle, this is the guy you want. I think 30 teams would choose him in their top five centers.”

T.J. OSHIE

“Any fan that watches him would probably say the same thing. He’s like a water-bug out there. He brings real energy. He’s not afraid. Some guys would maybe use his size as a crutch and he never does. He’s actually pretty strong for his size. Sometimes he might have a short fuse. Sometimes he’s prone to taking dumb penalties, but they’re penalties because he cares. He’s a competitor.”

JADEN SCHWARTZ

“Very smart, a very smart guy. To me, he’s a little bit different of a small player than T.J. (Oshie). T.J. seems to be in the traffic and Schwartz stays a little bit outside the traffic. I don’t think there’s fear in him, but I think he just releases from those areas. But he’s got an unbelievable shot. His release is outstanding. I think he’s got a real good read for the game, and he’s a real intelligent kid. ”

DEREK ROY

“Some people think he’s past his good years. His first couple of years, he was real good. He caught guys by surprise. Being another smaller guy, I think the game wore him down a bit and he seems to have lost a little of the jump that he had. That’s probably why he’s bounced around a little bit.”

CHRIS STEWART

“The guy looks like a vending machine, like he’s massive. I think most of his offense is what you consider dirty hockey, nine feet in front of the net. You’re not going to win trying to wrestle him. I think he can be prone to taking time off during the game. Like if you start the game 0-60 (miles per hour), Stewart might be 0-30, then back to 20, then up to 40, then back to 15 and up to 50. I don’t know if his compete level is the same as Backes.”

MAGNUS PAAJARVI

“Paajarvi, that’s an interesting one. He’s a skilled guy, real high skilled, who I don’t think has hit his ceiling yet. He’s one of those guys that you’re just waiting to see more, and maybe getting out of Edmonton, where there was so many young guys, maybe now being surrounded by veterans instead of peers, he might explode. He’s a pretty talented kid.”

PATRIK BERGLUND

“You look at him and he’s huge. He’s a powerful guy. I don’t think he’s the quickest guy in the world, which might hurt him. You’re scared of him more on special teams. He’s got a real good, smart stick. Consistency is a fair knock. He has the luxury of playing behind Backes and sometimes he might rely on Backes. You see that on other teams. Some guys take a little bit of a pause because they know they have the other guy.”

VLADIMIR TARASENKO

“He’s a guy who doesn’t always play a Russian game. He’s not pure offense. He’s not pure one-on-one. He has those skills, but I think he’s buying into Ken (Hitchcock’s) system. He’s a threat to score all the time, but he’s giving up chances to try to go score by buying in. Ken is teaching him some defense and usually when you’re strong defensively, you’re going to get more chances offensively. He makes crowds stand up, gets fans out of their seat with his dangling and his shot.”



Realignment arrives this season


Nearly two years after the idea was first proposed, NHL realignment is here for the 2013-14 season.

In 2011, the NHL’s Board of Governors approved a plan that was unveiled to the public but never implemented because it did not receive the support of the players’ association. At the time, tempers were testy as the league and the union were preparing for a work stoppage.

The lockout lasted four months and then in March, after the NHL made some changes to its blueprint, the NHLPA gave its consent and a new four-division format was officially introduced in July.

The Western and Eastern conferences remain intact, and in fact, the Blues will play in what still will be called the Central Division. They are joined by Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville and Winnipeg.

The teams are geographically aligned and all the cities are in the Central time zone except for Colorado.

“I love it,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I think it doesn’t affect the St. Louis Blues as much as it affects a lot of other teams. But except for Denver, all of our competition is in the same time zone. I think that is a great way to grow the game.

“The 7 o’clock starts for kids, no matter how young you are, you can watch one period. Most kids can watch at least two periods and you’re not up till 3 o’clock in the morning trying to watch the end of a hockey game out West. I like the setup, I like the format.”

The Blues will play opponents in the Central a combined 29 times this season (five times each, except four against Colorado). They will face off against clubs from the new Pacific Division 21 times (three times each). That division features Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver.

The Eastern Conference will be made up by the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions. The Blues will play twice against each team in the East — once home and once away — as clubs are now guaranteed to see every opponent in every building.

“I like playing everybody home and home,” Armstrong said. “I think it’s great for our fans to know that every year, they’re going to get to see (Washington’s Alex) Ovechkin, they’re going to get to see (Pittsburgh’s Sidney) Crosby ... they’re going to get to see the best players from around the planet come through St. Louis.”

The one downside of realignment for the Blues is the loss of Detroit, which has moved to the East along with Columbus.

“Unfortunately, you lose a big rival in Detroit,” Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. “It’s going to be a tough one for the fans of both teams, but we’re going to get some other rivalries going with the new teams in the division.”

The most dramatic difference will be in awarding playoff berths. The postseason will still consist of 16 teams — eight from each conference — but there’s a twist.

The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will go to the two “wild-card” teams in each conference. Those are the next two highest-placed teams in each conference regardless of division.

There’s a bit of inequality, however, in that the West has 14 teams and the East has 16. So, the odds of qualifying are slightly better in the West.

“It’s obviously inequitable from the East to the West but that’s the East’s problem right now,” Armstrong said. “We’re hoping not to be in that seven, eight, nine spot, where it’s not going to matter to us anyway. We want to get one of those top home-ice seeds. Whether you have seven or eight in your division, or 14 or 16 in your conference, if you’re in the top two or three, it doesn’t really matter.”

There’s a lot of familiarizing to do with the NHL’s realignment, but by the look of it, there’s a lot to like.



Blues release defenseman Ryan Whitney from tryout


The Blues have trimmed down their defense to seven Friday, releasing veteran Ryan Whitney from his professional tryout with the club.

Whitney, 30, played in three preseason games with the Blues. He had no points and an even plus-minus rating.

The Blues host the Minnesota Wild tonight in their final exhibition game. Whitney was not scheduled to be in the lineup, as the team is expected to suit up the same top-six defensemen that will be on the ice on opening night Oct. 3.

Whitney, a veteran of 400-plus NHL games, wasn't overwhelming in camp, but he potentially provided the Blues with depth on defense, something they need.

But there were other factors, specifically the number of contracts on the blueline and the fact that the club is nearing the salary cap. The Blues have seven defensemen on one-way contracts and the team is approximately $850,000 under the cap ceiling, according to www.capgeek.com.

Whitney said earlier in camp that he was not interested in a two-way contract that would have allowed the Blues to send him to Chicago and pay him a minor-league salary.

So unless there's another move, Ian Cole will be the Blues' seventh defenseman. Cole has had what many would term a so-so camp, although Blues coach Ken Hitchcock has been complimentary at times, saying that Wednesday's game in Minnesota was his best.

It's possible that the Blues gauged the trade market with Cole and either found no takers or didn't like the return, prompting them to move forward with Cole and release Whitney.

The Blues' roster now sits at 24 and must be down to 23 by Monday.

***

TONIGHT'S LINEUP

Forwards

Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Chris Stewart

Jaden Schwartz-Patrik Berglund-Vladimir Tarasenko

Magnus Paajarvi-Maxim Lapierre-Adam Cracknell

Extras: Vladimir Sobotka, Ryan Reaves, Chris Porter

Defensemen

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Jordan Leopold-Kevin Shattenkirk

Barret Jackman-Roman Polak

Extras: Ian Cole

Goalies

Jaroslav Halak

Brian Elliott

***

POWER PLAY

The Blues spent a significant amount of practice time today working on their power play, including their 5-on-3 unit

The club is 3 for 21 (14.3 percent) with a 5-on-4 man-advantage in the preseason.

"We've done a lot of structured work," Hitchcock said. "I would like to see execution. I think sometimes you're afraid to shoot the puck. We sometimes make execution plays that are not what you want to see. We're getting there...

"I don't know how to describe it, but sometimes when you're not playing against full pressure, sometimes you make plays that you know you can't do in a game. I think we've been guilty of overpassing. Once we get into a routine next week, I think we're just going to be hammering the puck. We're going to be shooting the puck a lot more."

Hitchcock has prepared three power-play units for the regular season. They have consisted of David Backes, Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester in one group, Vladimir Tarasenko, Derek Roy, Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Steen in another and Jaden Schwartz, Brenden Morrow and Vladimir Sobotka/Magnus Paarjarvi in the last.

***

LOCKER BUDDIES

T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund finally have enough seniority on the Blues' roster that they were able to relocate to new stalls in the team's locker room. They are now side-by-side and have their own two-man bench at one end of the room.

"Now we can have our own privacy," Oshie said. "We were talking about putting a 'positivity' circle in white tape around us, so no negativity can get into this bench."

***

BOUWMEESTER'S BIRTHDAY

Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester reached a "milestone" last year, participating in his first NHL playoff action. On Friday, he reached another milestone, turning 30 years old.

"I got haircut yesterday, so I feel younger," Bouwmeester said, qualifying as his longest sentence of the preseason.

Hitchcock, who is double Bouwmeester's age at 60, was asked if the defenseman is now an old man.

"I don't know about being an old man, but he's got young legs, I'll tell you that," Hitchcock said. "He beats everybody up the ice. He beats the guy that gets the puck from the (opposing) defenseman. He's the one guy in the league that can make the pass and be the guy that receives it on the attack. Legs carry a long time."

***

ODDS & ENDS

• Jaroslav Halak is expected to play the entire game tonight against Minnesota.

• Tonight marks the Blues' debut of forward Brenden Morrow. He'll play on a line with Derek Roy, who was his teammate in Dallas last year. They did not play on the same line together, or did they? "He’d probably have a better memory," Morrow said. "I don’t know if he’s had as many hits to the head as me, but I don’t know if played a shift together."

• The Blues have 15 forwards left in camp and the final cut will come from that group. Hitch was asked Friday if the fourth-line forwards were making it a difficult decision with their play and his answer was telling. "No..." Hitchcock said bluntly. "It's been easier than I thought. I would have liked (the decision) to be more difficult, but it's not been there."


718325 Tampa Bay Lightning

Bolts face choice regarding top draft-pick Drouin

ESTERO — To keep or not to keep, that is the question the Lightning face regarding top pick Jonathan Drouin.

As Tampa Bay heads into the final preseason game Saturday against Florida at BB&T Center, the roster is on the verge of being finalized. But it’s not there yet.

Competition has been close among forwards vying for spots and several things factor into the decision of whether to keep Drouin with the team or send him back to Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

If Drouin, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, is sent back to his junior club, he must remain there for the entire season. Tampa Bay does not have to make that decision until Drouin plays in his ninth game for the Lightning. But if he appears in 10 games, the clock on his entry-level contract will begin, allowing Drouin to be a restricted free agent after three years.

“Playing in (junior) leagues, it’s good hockey it really is,’’ Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. “It’s not the end of the world if a player has to go back, but we certainly want to give him every opportunity before making that because it is final.

“Mostly, we want him playing. And if he’s not going to play regular (in the NHL), I want him playing. I don’t really have a timetable on it’s because we do have the luxury ...to stagger their games and delay it for as long as you really want. So, it’s not like we are under a time crunch or anything.’’

Drouin will get another chance to showcase his game in the preseason finale, playing on the top line with Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis. It’s been a steady progression for the 18-year-old, who started training camp in lower-line role and learned the defensive side of the game at center. Eventually, he moved back to the wing and joined the top line, playing with Stamkos in Tuesday’s game in Nashville and with St. Louis on Thursday against Florida.

“You definitely want to seem him improve, and I think (Thursday) was probably the best game he has played with us,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “And it’s baby steps. He’s 18 and he’s just trying to get his feel and, as any 18-year-old, he’s trying to survive.

“He’s done a pretty good job. (Thursday) he kept up with the pace. He wanted the puck on his stick, he made plays and and made errors like anybody else. But it’s much more gratifying to see that he’s improving every day instead of getting worse every day, so that’s a good sign.’’

Drouin has been in camp for more than three weeks, since reporting for rookie camp on Sept. 4. In that time he has become more comfortable with his game on the ice, more familiar with his surroundings and more confident as he goes about his business at the rink.

“Every day it’s been about getting better and better,’’ Drouin said. “I think I’m getting into it. The second preseason game was better than the first preseason game. As practices go on, I think I’m getting into the swing of the team and the game at the NHL, so it’s the good part that it didn’t take that long. I’m pretty happy with that.’’

Though Drouin has yet to register a goal in game action, he scored in a shootout and set up Stamkos for a late goal in Nashville. His game is not being judged by his offensive production, but by his steady progression, which ultimately will be the determining factor on whether he stays this season or returns to junior.

What the Lightning have to determine is where his game will be one or two months into the season and whether he would be better off in the NHL or being a top guy in junior.

“He looks more comfortable here than he did in the rookie tournament games, and that’s a good sign that he is slowly catching up to the game,’’ Cooper said. “But it’s going to take time with him. I just think, take where he was drafted out of the picture and just let the player develop and let’s see how he develops over time.’’

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 09.28.2013


Bolts notes: Preseason finale gives last looks

By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff

Published: September 27, 2013

ESTERO — Heading into the final few days of training camp, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper hinted the lineup for the final preseason game on Saturday might forecast the opening-night roster.

But with some decisions still to be made, the lineup against Florida for the preseason finale at BB&T Center still includes some players getting one last look before final cuts to get down to a 23-man roster ahead of Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

“I think you’ve seen some lines consistently play together, and I think the chemistry between them is pretty much set, so we are just trying to find the balance of who is going to fill out those last couple of roster spots,’’ Cooper said. “On (defense), the guys have been playing all over the place, but we have to get some games in for some of the guys who haven’t played and get some rest for guys that have played.”

The lineup for Saturday’s game includes the lines of Jonathan Drouin, Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis; Alex Killorn, Valtterri Filppula and Teddy Purcell; Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Richard Panik; J.T. Brown, Brett Connolly and Nikita Kucherov. On defense, the pairings are Victor Hedman and Sami Salo, Matt Carle and Radko Gudas, J.P. Cote and Andrej Sustr. The goaltenders are Anders Lindback and Ben Bishop, with Lindback expected to play the full 60 minutes.

Still around

G Kristers Gudlevskis trained with the team throughout the week at Germain Arena and dressed as the backup in Thursday’s game. The Lightning’s fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft figures to compete for a spot in the organizational depth chart with Cedrick Desjardins and Riku Helenius, including some potential time with Syracuse in the American Hockey League. But the 21-year-old could start the season with the Florida Everblades in the East Coast Hockey League, which calls Germain Arena home.

Nuts and Bolts

Malone returned to practice on Friday after missing the previous two days with an upper-body injury. ...Connolly will play his second consecutive game at center.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 09.28.2013


Johnson, Palat, Panik bring chemistry to Lightning

Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

Friday, September 27, 2013 6:37pm

ESTERO — In a harmless, good-natured kind of way, Ondrej Palat and Richard Panik used to get a kick out of ganging up on Tyler Johnson.

Palat is from the Czech Republic, Panik from neighboring Slovakia, so it was hilarious, Palat said, for them to "chirp (Johnson) a little bit and he doesn't understand what we're saying."

But after playing on the same line for a year and a half and hanging out on the road, Johnson has caught on.

"I know a few of the bad words in Czech when they're mad it me," the American said, "and I'm starting to get to a point I kind of understand what they're talking about."

There are no such communication issues on the ice, though, and after big seasons for AHL Norfolk and Syracuse, the line is on the verge of claiming three Lightning roster spots for itself.

The last audition is tonight's preseason finale against the Panthers in Sunrise. "It's huge," Johnson said after Friday's practice at Germain Arena. "That's the game that will be fresh in their minds when they do the decision-making."

"We're just going to try to do the same thing, play our game, play with energy," Panik said. "Hopefully, after the game, we stay here."

It is quite a story, really, that an AHL line can come into an NHL training camp and as a unit claim precious roster spots. But after a combined five goals and nine points in three games, the line cannot be ignored.

In Thursday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Panthers, Johnson had a goal and assisted on Nikita Kucherov's winner. Palat assisted on Johnson's goal and shook the boards with a hit on Florida defenseman Mike Weaver. Panik scored shorthanded to finish a two-on-one with Marty St. Louis.

"There is one thing to be said about chemistry, and those guys have it," coach Jon Cooper said. "They gave us a huge boost (Thursday). Johnson was outstanding, Palat continues to make plays, and Panik was a horse. They did a great job."

Cooper put the line together in January 2012, when he was the coach at Norfolk, perhaps not coincidentally right before the team won 28 straight games to end the regular season and went on to win the AHL's Calder Cup.

At Syracuse last season, Johnson was the AHL MVP with a league-best 37 goals. Panik had 22 goals, Palat 13 goals and 52 points.

Each brings something different to the line. Johnson, 23, from Spokane, Wash., is the pace-setter with a nose for the net. Palat, 22, grinds in the corners and against the walls, is physical and has a defensive sensibility. Panik, 22, "can do wonders with the puck," Johnson said. "Just amazing the moves he can do out of the blue."

Playing so long together, including some last season as Tampa Bay callups, they also have developed a bit of an on-ice sixth sense.

"We're very familiar with each other and know where the other likes to play," Johnson said. "There aren't too many times on the ice when we don't know where someone is."

"Those guys are ready," teammate Steven Stamkos said. "You just hope they keep going with this opportunity they're getting."

That said, no one is getting ahead of himself.

"We have one more game before the final cut," Palat said. "We have to play good."

NOTES: Left wing Jonathan Drouin, drafted No. 3 overall in June, played his best preseason game Thursday. As for making the team out of camp, it's too close to call. "It's much more gratifying to see him improving every game than getting worse," Cooper said. "That's a good sign." … Ryan

Malone (upper body) practiced. The left wing will not play tonight, though Cooper said he should be ready for the season opener Thursday at Boston. … Anders Lindback was scheduled to start tonight in net.

. Tonight

Lightning at Panthers

When/where: 7; BB&T Center, Sunrise

Radio: 970-AM

Lineup: Goaltenders — Ben Bishop, Anders Lindback. Defensemen — Matt Carle, J.P. Cote, Radko Gudas, Victor Hedman, Sami Salo, Andrej Sustr, Mark Barberio (extra). Forwards — J.T. Brown, Brett Connolly, Jonathan Drouin, Val Filppula, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, Richard Panik, Teddy Purcell, Ondrej Palat, Marty St. Louis, Steven Stamkos.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2013


Who should be captain of the Lightning?

Tom Jones, Times Sports Columnist

Friday, September 27, 2013 6:19pm

The Lightning parted ways in the offseason with Vinny Lecavalier. Not only did it lose the face of franchise and the organization's all-time leading goal scorer, it also lost the team's official captain.

The Lightning is expected to announce a new captain Tuesday and there are really only two options: Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

Other sports have captains, but the captain in hockey seems to hold an especially honored place on the team. Being a hockey captain means more than organizing team functions and talking to referees. The hockey captain is the team's leader on the ice, off the ice and in ways that really can't be measured.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper, his coaches and, surely, input from general manager Steve Yzerman will select the new captain. Here's a case for both St. Louis and Stamkos and a final thought on who it could and should be.

A case for St. Louis

There's no question that St. Louis is the heart and soul of this franchise.

He was the dominant force and best player on the team's only Stanley Cup team. He's a six-time all-star, a two-time league scoring champ and a one-time league MVP.

He looks 5-foot-nothing, but plays like he's 10 feet tall. Even at age 38, he remains, on many nights, the team's best player. He not only led the Lightning in scoring last season, he led the entire NHL, becoming the oldest player to do so.

St. Louis is about to enter his 13th season with the Lightning — making him, by far, the most veteran member of the team. Think of it in these terms: When he joined the Lightning, Steven Stamkos was 10 years old.

But here's the important part when you're talking about sewing a C on a player's sweater: He leads by example and leads by having a voice.

St. Louis isn't an in-your-face screamer, but he possesses two qualities that a leader must have: He is brutally honest and is not afraid of confrontation.

Plus, he's accountable when he doesn't play well and is always in front of his locker, win or lose, when it's time to face the media.

A case for Stamkos

Stamkos will be captain of the Lightning some day. The only question is whether it will be now or later.

He's an elite player. That doesn't necessarily make a good captain and you don't have to be a great player to be a great captain. Dave Andreychuk wasn't even among the best five players on the Lightning during the 2004 Stanley Cup run, but he remains, probably, the best captain the franchise has ever had.

But it helps to be a great player and a dedicated worker in order to set an example that others will follow. Stamkos works hard and his commitment to hard work is, perhaps, his best quality.

He's only 23 and we've seen other young players fail at being a captain that young. But he doesn't seem 23. He's more mature than that. And, hard as it is to believe, Stamkos is about to enter his sixth NHL season.

Like St. Louis, he isn't the type to chew out a player, but if he has something to say to the group, he isn't afraid to stand up and say it. And, also like St. Louis, Stamkos will take responsibility for his own play, seeing to it that his game is fixed before talking about the entire team.

If he is captain someday, why wait? Why not name him now?

Final analysis

My guess is that the Lightning will chose St. Louis. When you get down to it, St. Louis deserves it more than Stamkos and, ultimately, Stamkos won't be

insulted if he isn't named captain. St. Louis might be and you could understand why. Being named captain means more to St. Louis than it does Stamkos.

If it were me, I'd chose Stamkos and here's why: I'm not sure St. Louis will be here for the long haul. If the Lightning falls flat this season and it becomes apparent that this is a rebuilding project, St. Louis could be traded and you always hate to trade your captain. Stamkos isn't going anywhere. He is the face of the franchise and will continue to be for years to come.

It probably doesn't matter who wears the C and who wears the alternate's "A.'' St. Louis and Stamkos are the undisputed leaders of this team and a letter on their chest isn't going to dictate their ability to lead.

The best part is the Lightning has two great choices for captain. There were many years this franchise didn't have one.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.28.2013

718329 Toronto Maple Leafs

Filling the final vacancies in Maple Leafs’ solid lineup

David Shoalts

TORONTO — The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Sep. 27 2013, 9:19 PM EDT

Last updated Saturday, Sep. 28 2013, 12:37 AM EDT

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a great step forward last season, finally becoming a playoff team, but that does not breed much familiarity with head coach Randy Carlyle.

When the Leafs open the regular season Tuesday in Montreal against the Canadiens, there could be as many as seven new faces in the lineup, depending on just who wins the three remaining open spots at forward. Carlyle declined to give any hints on Friday on who has a leg up on the vacancies, saying he would use the Leafs’ final two preseason games – a home-and-home set with the Detroit Red Wings that finishes Saturday at the Air Canada Centre – to make his final decisions.

However, it is clear where Carlyle is headed with the defencemen, even if he chided reporters who asked him to confirm the obvious: Veteran John-Michael Liles is headed for NHL waivers and then the AHL Toronto Marlies farm team if no one wants the three years left on his contract at $3.875-million (U.S.) a year.

Since Liles, 33, played in just two preseason games thus far and was not expected to play Friday in Detroit, it is clear he does not figure in Carlyle’s plans. He becomes a casualty of the salary cap, as the signing of defenceman Cody Franson requires some ruthless roster trimming from general manager David Nonis.

“You guys do a lot of talking about who is and who isn’t. We try to ignore what you have to say,” Carlyle said when Liles’s name came up. But the coach finished his admonishment of the media by giving a broad hint of Liles’s fate: “We think that people have separated themselves, both positively and negatively.”

The result should mean a stronger Leafs defence this season, assuming a couple of things fall into place.

The most important one is the continued improvement of Jake Gardiner. He played his way into Carlyle’s good books in last spring’s playoff series against the Boston Bruins, but has had an uneven training camp.

Paul Ranger, 29, is also an unknown quantity on the defence. He was a solid defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning and then left the NHL in 2009 for personal reasons. Ranger played well for the Marlies last season, and if he can resume where he left off in the NHL, it represents a solid upgrade at the position for the Maple Leafs.

Another potential jump in quality comes in goal, where Jonathan Bernier was obtained from the Los Angeles Kings and handed James Reimer’s job as the No. 1 goaltender. Bernier, 25, has long been touted as a potential star by hockey executives and scouts and was sprung from the shadow of Jonathan Quick to prove it. Reimer still regards the top job as his, and will provide the new fellow a powerful incentive to prove himself.

Gone from last season’s forward lines are Mikhail Grabovski, Clarke MacArthur, Matt Frattin and Leo Komarov. But the Leafs will still be a team that can score, with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel anchoring the top line and a step up expected from centre Nazem Kadri and a healthy Joffrey Lupul.

Once newcomer David

Clarkson returns from his 10-game suspension on Oct. 25, he should bring a dose of grit and scoring to Kadri’s second line. In the meantime, another new face, Mason Raymond, hopes to prove the Vancouver Canucks should have kept him.

The questions surround the third and fourth lines, as five players are chasing three openings. Dave Bolland has the third-line centre’s job but no one has nailed down a job on the wings and the broken finger suffered by Frazer McLaren means there’s a spot on the fourth line open. Joe

Colborne, Trevor Smith, Troy Brodie, Carter Ashton and Jamie Devane are in the mix for those jobs – but here is where the salary cap plays a big role. Ashton, 22, has the largest salary of the group at $1.04-million, followed by Devane at $700,000. Since Ashton is also the only one who does not have to clear NHL waivers to be sent to the Marlies, he had better hope he scores a couple of hat tricks this weekend.

The Leafs also should be better on special teams, as their offensive firepower will continue to fuel the power play. With Bolland signing on from the Chicago Blackhawks, the penalty killers should show more improvement.



Mirtle: Liles looking like Leafs’ odd-man out

JAMES MIRTLE

The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Sep. 27 2013, 4:24 PM EDT

Last updated Friday, Sep. 27 2013, 9:20 PM EDT

He is the latest in a line of Toronto Maple Leafs defencemen who have found themselves on the outside looking in.

First Jeff Finger and his $3.5-million contract were sent to the minors, where he suffered a concussion after 54 games and his hockey career ended, at age 32.

Then Mike Komisarek and his $4.5-million cap hit were banished to the Toronto Marlies last season, albeit briefly.

And now John-Michael Liles – the oldest member of a young Leafs squad and a player who has spent just five games in the AHL in his career – appears to be in the organization’s crosshairs.

With the Leafs cap situation ultra-tight and several members of management talking about carrying a bare bones, 20-man roster, there doesn’t appear to be any room for Liles’s $3.875-million deal.

He has been in the lineup in just two of seven preseason games to date and has skated in recent practises without a regular partner.

Even though Liles has three years remaining on his contract and the Leafs will get only $925,000 in cap relief by sending him to the Marlies – barring a last minute trade or roster move – he is expected to be placed on waivers by Sunday’s deadline.

Given his salary, lack of minutes played in recent years and the tough cap situation around the league, it’s unlikely he would be claimed.

“We make our decisions based upon how we feel,” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said Friday afternoon, offering a non-answer to a question regarding Liles being in tough to make the team. “I think the feelings that are inside the management and the coaches office should be left there.

“We make decisions that we think are in the best interests of our group. And then we can be fairly/unfairly criticized for what decision we make. That’s what life in pro sports is about. We’re about winning hockey games. We know there’s tough decisions coming. We think that some people have separated themselves, both positively and negatively, and we’ll make a decision. When we decide, you guys [in the media] will be the first to know.”

With Cody Franson back in the fold, the Leafs now have 10 defencemen in camp. Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Franson, Jake Gardiner and Paul Ranger aren’t going anywhere, while Korbinian Holzer and T.J. Brennan are expected to fill roles with the Marlies should they clear waivers.

That leaves Mark Fraser, Liles and top prospect Morgan Rielly vying for the final one or two spots on the blueline, depending on if the Leafs can clear enough cap room to carry seven defencemen to start the season in Montreal on Tuesday.

Liles has been a pretty productive NHLer over his career, with 296 points in the first 556 games of his NHL career as a small and speedy, offence-first defenceman.

But the four-year, $15.5-million extension that former GM Brian Burke signed him to in January, 2012, while Liles was in the midst of recovering from a concussion has turned into an unmovable anchor.

Liles ran into trouble right when he returned to the ice from that injury, as he wasn’t the same player that had put up 21 points in his first 33 games as a Leaf. And, despite averaging 44 points per 82 games to that point in his career, he has never been able to produce to that level since.

With a smaller role and some games spent as a healthy scratch, Liles has just 17 points in his last 65 regular season games, by far his lowest sustained stretch of production in his career.

Making matters worse, he’s also ill-matched to Carlyle’s style of hockey, which values big men like Fraser who can hit and fight far more than small, finesse types.

On Friday as the team packed up the Air Canada Centre dressing room to fly to Detroit for that night’s preseason game, Liles attempted to put a brave face on his situation despite being left behind in Toronto with a group of young players.

Carlyle, meanwhile, noted his roster that night would be the strongest he has dressed to date, hinting many of the players involved would be playing on opening night.

“It’s obviously a good thing to have when you have a lot of guys fighting for spots,” Liles said. “It shows the depth of the team.”

Part of the reason Burke gave Liles such a large extension was that he believed so strongly in his leadership abilities, as the 32-year-old from Indiana is well known for his work in the community and with the organization’s younger players.

Now, however, with Burke gone and a new regime feeling less tied to previous mistakes, it’s that generous contract that may force him out of the NHL.

“I’ve had a couple opportunities to get out there and play,” Liles said when asked if he was given enough chance to show he should make the team. “Like I said, it’s a lot of guys fighting for very few spots.

“You go out there, do what you can do, and ultimately it’s up to the front office and not up to you. That’s all you can do.”



Maple Leafs fall to Daniel Alfredsson, Red Wings

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

DETROIT—It is perhaps worrisome that the closer the Maple Leafs get to opening night, the closer the team gets to its final roster, the more the losses are piling up.

It’s only exhibition, and it was pretty much the Red Wings’ best lineup, but the Maple Leafs didn’t look like they could keep pace Friday night at the Joe Louis Arena, dropping a 5-2 decision to Detroit.

More alarming perhaps, the Red Wings are now in the same division as the Leafs, who will have to get used to a regular diet of Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk.

“It is like the Swedish national team over there,” said Leaf defenceman Cody Franson. “They hold on to the puck, they move it around really well. They pick their spots to dump it in well. They’re effective in what they do.”

The Leafs might have few built-in excuses. It was the first game for Franson, back in the lineup after ending his contract holdout. It was the first game for Colton Orr, out for most of camp with a leg injury.

And it was the first time goalie Jonathan Bernier played a full 60 minutes. He pulled himself from one start and got tossed from another for fighting.

“I felt pretty good,” said Bernier. “In my game, I have to be patient. I felt like I made some stand-up saves. That’s the way I play. I was seeing the puck a lot better than the past few games.”

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle certainly didn’t blame Bernier, who faced 35 shots, for the loss.

“I thought he (Bernier) gave us a chance,” said Carlyle. “Some of the goals that we allowed them to score were in critical areas. We didn’t have stiff enough protection in those areas. You can’t give skilled players direct shots from the slot.”

No, Carlyle was more upset with the team effort.

“They (the Red Wings) took over the game in the second period,” said Carlyle. “We were standing around watching them skate.”

As for Orr and Franson: “They were both rusty,” said Carlyle. “You could tell. Practising and then skating in a cold rink, versus coming into a warm building, a lot different. Things get heated up, the puck bounces around a lot more, the pace of the game is a lot higher.”

Franson was paired for the most part with Jake Gardiner and played the first power play with Dion Phaneuf. He wasn’t nearly as hard on himself.

“My wind was fine,” said Franson. “It was just trying to get comfortable again. They (the Wings) are a quick and skilled team coming in … you have to be sure of what you’re doing.

“I felt pretty good all in all. It is nice to get that practising and try to get back to being comfortable on the power play. Obviously, I haven’t been in the game with any of the guys since the end of last year. It was interesting to see new faces. I am excited for what is to come.”

Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul scored for the Leafs. Toronto lost its second exhibition game in a row and fell to 4-2-1 in the pre-season.

The Leafs, who were without Phil Kessel (suspended), Frazer McLaren (injured) and John-Michael Liles (scratched) from their regulars last season.

It was Alfredsson, the 40-year-old ex-captain of the Ottawa Senators, who scored the Wings’ clinching goal, their fourth, and assisted on their fifth. Both were on the power play in the third.

Franzen, Zetterberg, Luke Glendening and Joakim Andersson also scored for Detroit. The Wings are 3-4-0.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre, the final exhibition game for both.

“We have one more to go and we’ve got to get ourselves ready for Tuesday (the season opener in Montreal),” said Bernier.

Toronto Star LOADED: 09.28.2013


Leafs GM Dave Nonis survives MLSE purge and looks forward: Cox

By: Damien Cox Sports Columnist, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

Dave Nonis admits that sometimes, when there’s a lull in his day, he sits back in his 15th floor office overlooking the Toronto waterfront with a certain sense of amazement that he’s now general manager of the Maple Leafs.

Part of it is because he first started seriously thinking about sitting in that very chair a decade ago when he was a 37-year-old assistant general manager with the Vancouver Canucks.

“It’s funny, I almost interviewed for this job years ago. I had an out in my contract in Vancouver and Richard Peddie asked for permission to talk to me,” said Nonis, revealing that particular snippet of news for the first time.

“But my out had closed three or four days earlier. So I wasn’t permitted to interview, which I understood.

“Not that I would have got the job. But it put the seed in my mind. Even though I grew up in Vancouver, we didn’t see the Vancouver Canucks on TV on Saturday night. We saw Toronto and Montreal. So yeah, it was something I thought of from that day.

“You never know if it was something that was going to happen. But it did.”

Back then, John Ferguson Jr. got the job and got the Leafs into the playoffs once, but it wasn’t until Nonis took over from Brian Burke last January that the team got back into the post-season competition for the Stanley Cup.

A crushing Game 7 defeat to the Boston Bruins ended that effort, and now Nonis begins his first full season as Leaf GM, and first season with a contract extension given to him by new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke after Leiweke axed the corporation’s basketball and soccer bosses.

Less flamboyant and outspoken than Burke, less of a face of the franchise, Nonis still has his hands full, with hopes high in the GTA that next spring will produce more exciting packed nights in Maple Leaf Square. He’s been a GM before with the Canucks, but now Nonis is now under the microscope more than he’s ever been in his 23-year career as a hockey executive.

He sat down this week for an interview with the Star:

Q: Do you feel you’re no longer under the shadow of Brian Burke?

A: I never really felt like I was under his shadow. I’ve always been my own person, done things my own way. I think there’s more separation now.

Q: Do you still talk?

A: Yep.

Q: How often?

A: Probably three or four times a week. I talked to him yesterday.

Q: What’s the biggest difference between being general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks?

A: Volume (laughs). There’s great interest in Vancouver but in Toronto there’s just more. There are more fans, there’s more media, there’s more attention. There are more obligations. There’s more history. There’s just more of everything.

I think Vancouver was a good training ground for me. I think this is a place and a job that would be difficult as a first job. It’s hard enough as it is. Having that time in Vancouver was helpful for this.

Q: Do you sleep fewer hours a night now that you’re GM of the Leafs?

A: Yes.

Q: How many hours a night?

A: I’ve always tried to generate ideas and try to think of ways to improve the team. But now I wake up thinking about it.

So, probably five or six hours a night.

Q: A lot of people around here got fired in the last nine months. Why are you still here?

A: Well, you’re asking the wrong guy (laughs). I don’t know why. All we tried to do from the moment I took the job was to make decisions in the best interests of this team. Not the best interests of me personally. You do that and I believe you’re ultimately going to be taken care of yourself.

We’re one of the youngest teams in the league, we’re probably going to remain one of the youngest teams for a while, and I needed to know is everyone OK with that? I know now that everyone is on board with that direction.

Q: Might you have been out the door as well if you hadn’t made the playoffs?

A: I don’t think so. I rarely use the word playoffs ...

Q: Let alone “Stanley Cup.”

A: I never use those words ... and I don’t for a reason. I think I’m all about progress and improvement. Making statements that may not be practical sets you back as an organization. We want to get better. We have to improve, with the Leafs, with our coaching staff, with our scouting staff, with our management, with our development. If we get better in all those areas, at some point you’re going to put yourself in a position to win, where you’re one of those teams that we’re chasing right now.

Q: How long did it take you to get over Game 7 against Boston last spring?

A: Not that long. It really didn’t. It wasn’t 24 hours, but it wasn’t like I stewed about it for a month. It was difficult for two or three weeks, watching the playoffs, especially watching Boston.

To me, I looked at that series as not the failure of the last few minutes, but as the improvement of our team over a seven-game series. It was the team believing in itself, it was the growth of certain players into men during those two weeks.

Q: Was July 4th, the day you bought out Mikhail Grabovski without knowing whether you’d be able to sign a significant free agent the next day, one of the worst days of your hockey life?

A: Burning through that money was hard for me to do. I was always brought up in this business to be careful how you’re spending the money, you don’t waste it. So the buyout bothered me.

After we did it all, we also didn’t know if we were going to get anybody. So it was a bit of a roll of the dice. It was a tough 24 hours.

Q: Your son Nick is a defenceman headed to the University of New Hampshire next year. Would you draft him? Would you make him a Leaf?

A: I think I’d have a very difficult time drafting him. You don’t ever want your children to have success based on your position. Would I ever have Nick possibly play for me? Yes. If he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues and made his way into the league and was a good player, and it fit the Leafs, I might. I think simply drafting him would be difficult. I’m not saying I’d never do it, but it would be hard to do it.

Q: Your predecessor spelled out in his opening press conference what his teams look like. You’ve never done that. What’s your team going to look like when you get it where you want to be?

A: I believe the teams that win in this league can play any style that’s presented to them. Chicago Blackhawks, last season, if you wanted to play a track meet game with skill and speed, they could do it. If you thought you were going to run them out of the building, you weren’t. If you’re one dimensional, you can be neutralized and beaten. So being tough and having grit is important. But grit without skill? You don’t have a chance. We need to have enough skill in our lineup so we can play with skilled teams.

Q: There’s been a transformation of this team over the last eight, nine years from a team with a large European influence to a team that is predominantly North American, and of that, predominantly Canadian. Does that fit your vision?

A: I wouldn’t say it’s a vision. I wouldn’t have any problem drafting a player from Europe in the first round.

Do I think you can be too heavy in European players? Yes. Do I think you can win championships with quality Europeans? Yes, no question. So it’s not one where we’re saying we’re going to be Team North America. Some of it’s by design, adding certain kinds of players who play a certain way that

more often than not are going to be Canadian born, but it’s not a plan to eliminate Europeans from the Leaf roster.

Q: A lot of fans want to know if Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel are going to get new contracts and remain Leafs. Are they?

A: I would like both of them here. In this business you never know if you’re going to be able to secure people you thought you could. If we don’t sign those players in Toronto, it won’t be because they weren’t wanted.

Q: What’s the No. 1 quality a GM needs to be successful in the NHL?

A: To me the most important quality is patience. There’s some pretty bright people over the past 15, 20, 30 years that weren’t good managers because they were impulsive. The ones that have had success, not only are they bright and have nerve, they wait for things to happen. You can’t make things happen in this business. Sometimes you have to take your lumps and wait.



Maple Leafs 2013-14 schedule

By: STAR WIRE SERVICES, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

Oct. 1 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 Colorado, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Oct. 12 Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 Carolina, 7 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26 Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29 at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Calgary, 8 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Nov. 16 Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Nov. 19 N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Nov. 21 Nashville, 7 p.m.

Nov. 23 Washington, 7 p.m.

Nov. 25 Columbus, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 29 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Dec. 3 San Jose, 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 Dallas, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Dec. 8 Boston, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11 Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Dec. 14 Chicago, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 Florida, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 Detroit, 7 p.m.

Dec. 23 at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 Carolina, 7 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Jan. 4 N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Jan. 7 N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Jan. 9 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 at Washington, 7 p.m.

Jan. 12 New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15 Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 Montreal, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Jan. 21 at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Jan. 25 at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28 Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 Florida, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1 Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 Vancouver, 6 p.m.

Feb. 27 at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

March 1 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

March 3 Columbus, 7 p.m.

March 5 at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

March 8 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

March 10 at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

March 11 at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

March 13 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

March 16 at Washington, 3 p.m.

March 18 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

March 19 Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

March 22 Montreal, 7 p.m.

March 23 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

March 25 St. Louis, 7 p.m.

March 28 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

March 29 Detroit, 7 p.m.

April 1 Calgary, 7 p.m.

April 3 Boston, 7 p.m.

April 5 Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

April 8 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

April 10 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

April 12 at Ottawa, 7 p.m.



Maple Leafs preview: Leafs may be poised to establish respectability: Cox

By: Damien Cox Sports Columnist, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

It seems amazing that Ken Dryden’s run atop the Maple Leafs organization would now stand out as a “golden” era in recent team history.

Golden, obviously, is a relative term in this case. But if you look at Leaf history in the post-WHA merger period, from 1979 to now, it certainly jumps out at you that the longest period of even moderate success was six years.

That’s it. Six years.

From 1998 to 2004, with Dryden as team president, the Leafs made the playoffs six straight seasons and qualified for a pair of conference finals.

That era ended, of course, the way it often does in Toronto, with turnover in management and coaching, embracing quick fix solutions rather than a coherent drafting and development strategy and meddling from ownership in hockey matters.

The most positive possibility emanating from the Air Canada Centre these days, then, are indications the new-look Leaf organization — similar to the Brian Burke look, but without Burke — has an opportunity to sustain some degree of success for as long as or longer than those achieved by Dryden’s teams.

In Toronto, that constitutes major progress.

If you’re a Detroit Red Wings fan, of course, you’re laughing out loud right now. That’s a team with 22 straight years in the playoffs and four Stanley Cups over that time, so suggesting that success would be getting to post-season play six straight years does sound kind of laughable.

But hey, that’s Detroit. This is Toronto, a place where the new boss struts into town and tells the world Johnny Bower’s picture should be ripped down because, well, that’s how it was done in Los Angeles.

Still, there is a different feeling in the air as this season draws near, a sense of calmness and stability that was only slightly damaged by the news that David Clarkson, owner of the richest contract in team history, will begin the season on the suspended list.

Despite the embarrassing Game 7 loss to Boston last spring, that series was still seen by most as a step forward by the Leafs, a demonstration of an ability to compete with the best in the league. GM Dave Nonis followed that up with a series of solid off-season moves, adding grit, defensive acumen and experience in Clarkson and David Bolland, and netminding depth in Jonathan Bernier. Not unexpectedly, some futures were sacrificed — the Maple Leaf way — but those futures were manageable sacrifices.

This is not to say the Leafs are a shoo-in to get out of the first round next spring. But it does suggest that this is a team that sits on a solid foundation that is moving forward and improving, an organization that has finally embraced the concept of drafting and development as a core philosophy.

Head coach Randy Carlyle, like Nonis, is here for at least two or three more seasons, and Carlyle has given the Leafs an identifiable team personality for the first time since the Pat Quinn years. It may not necessarily be a totally appealing personality — when in doubt, drop ’em — but it is one that has brought success to other franchises.

So stability is there in Nonis and Carlyle, and there’s lots of youth to stuff into a viable minor-league system. Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly are both bona fide, blue-chip young players.

Which brings us to the third element that has often been a source of the team’s inability to have extended periods of competitive success, and that’s ownership.

Harold Ballard owned the team during the turbulent 1980s, so that’s self-explanatory. The team’s most noteworthy success with Cliff Fletcher and Doug Gilmour in the early 1990s actually occurred when Steve Stavro, Don Crump and Don Giffin were all jostling for control of the franchise.

Stavro eventually got it, but then he ran into a case of the shorts, and forced Fletcher to dump contracts and denied the Silver Fox the opportunity to sign Wayne Gretzky. Soon the team was out of the playoffs again.

Dryden came aboard and hired Quinn, and then came the six-year run in the post-season. But Dryden and Quinn couldn’t get along, the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund took over majority ownership and Richard Peddie took a leading role in defining the future of both the Maple Leafs and NBA Raptors.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment did well at the bank, but both franchises took a nosedive.

Which brings us to now. How stable is the dynamic duo of Bell/CTV and Rogers/Sportsnet as joint majority owners?

That’s hard to say. MLSE has heaved a bunch of bodies overboard in recent months under the leadership of Tim Leiweke, who learned pretty quickly upon arriving in town that it might be helpful to locate the mute button.

Leiweke did give Nonis an immediate stamp of approval, but that was easy coming off a playoff season. The King of L.A. Sports wasn’t so generous to those running the Raps and Toronto FC.

It’s unclear how long the Bell/Rogers alliance can survive, and that will have an impact on the agenda Leiweke pursues.

If he keeps his mitts off the hockey club and the pictures up in the hallways, and if Bell boss George Cope doesn’t wake up one morning and decide Nonis doesn’t fit the brand, there’s a chance for the Leafs to remain stable after a decade of constant player change and management/coaching upheaval.

That won’t guarantee another “golden” era.

But it at least gives the team a shot at one. And let’s face it, the bar hasn’t been set very high.



Maple Leafs preview: James Reimer always the underdog: Feschuk

By: Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

James Reimer’s career path has always been an underdog’s lot. He’s the quiet kid from the speck of a Manitoba town who started minor hockey at the late age of 12 and, even as he rose through the ranks, was never anybody’s pick as the next great goaltender. He’s a God-fearing man of humility who made it big in the godless world of pro sports, where the meek generally inherit a steady job in the minor leagues or worse.

“I think I probably have been (an underdog) for the most part,” Reimer was saying during training camp. “I’ve never been a first-rounder, never been highly touted per se. Mine would be more of an underdog story from the start, I guess.”

As the Maple Leafs begin the 2013-14 season, there is every sign that the playing field has been tilted against Reimer in the same way it almost always has been. After a spring that saw Toronto’s NHL team flirt with the trade-deadline acquisition of Mikka Kiprusoff, the summer saw the arrival of a highly touted newcomer named Jonathan Bernier.

Bernier earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2012 as a backup to Jonathan Quick, but he is nobody’s under-the-radar commodity. There are those among hockey insiders who’ve been loudly suggesting that, if the scouting reports are to be believed, Bernier has every chance of turning out to be better than Quick, easily one of the game’s top handful of talents.

And given what the Leafs gave up to get Bernier — specially a second-round draft pick, Matt Frattin and Ben Scrivens — it only stands to reason that Bernier will receive every advantage in the two-man race for the bulk of Toronto’s starts in the crease.

Still, it’s probably a mistake to confuse Reimer’s call-it-as-he-sees-it self awareness for a lack of confidence. The situation may suggest he’s pencilled in as No. 2, and all the signs may point to him being given the short shrift. But as Dave Nonis, the Leafs general manager, said on the day that Bernier was acquired in late June: “James is two things. He’s a good teammate and he’s competitive.”

So far Reimer is doing exactly what the Maple Leafs hoped he would do: He is conceding nothing.

“Now, here, I don’t really feel like the underdog,” Reimer said.

That’s not to say he considers himself the favourite. And neither is it to say he considers Bernier a sworn enemy. That’s simply not the way it works in most NHL situations. Finding longevity in the blue ice is tough enough when it’s simply viewed as a matter of one man against a daunting challenge. Fighting with teammates is about as productive as fighting the puck. As it is, Reimer isn’t looking at his competition for playing time as a life-and-death battle against his Quebecois rival.

“Obviously there’s a competition there, and as goalies, we always want to compete for the (No. 1 job),” Reimer said. “It you shy away from that then you’re in the wrong sport. But there’s only things you can control and that’s what you do when you are on the ice. I feel very confident this year about what I can do.”

The confidence is not without foundation. During last season’s 48-game schedule, Reimer’s .924 save percentage was eighth-best among goaltenders with at least 24 starts. Bernier, who only managed a dozen starts in L.A., saved pucks at a .922 rate. Not that the numbers tell the whole story; the lack of organizational faith in Reimer certainly has at least something to do with his presence in goal during a Game 7 collapse in Boston that eliminated the Leafs from their first playoff run in most of a decade.

And whether Bernier has the resume to claim he’s a better option than Reimer based on statistics — Reimer’s 53 career wins are more than double Bernier’s total — there’s a feeling that Bernier will receive every benefit of every doubt given his alleged upside.

“I think I feel more ready than ever to step up my game and do what I can do,” Bernier said. “Hopefully I’ll play more and have more playing time.

That’s up to the coaching, and I can’t really control that. What I can control is just my game and make sure I’m prepared every game and every day.”

Exactly how the Leafs goaltending scenario will ultimately play out, of course, is anyone’s guess. Goalie coach Rick St. Croix said there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach to divvying up the minutes. Having a clear No. 1 and running a platoon are both options, St. Croix said.

“Both work,” St. Croix said. “Martin Brodeur has been a much better goalie when he plays more and more and more . . . Ed Belfour was the same way. He wanted to play the games and he was at his best that way. But then go to Vancouver, Luongo-Schneider, the great years they had as a tandem there. There’s lots of tandems that have been very successful — St. Louis has done it. You look at different programs. We’ll see what unfolds as the year goes on.”

For Reimer, the year amounts to a big moment in a still-unfolding career: Specifically, it’s a contract year. He said there’s been no talk of an extension between the team and his agent.

If you’re reading the situation with any sort of savvy, you’ll understand that Reimer needs to let his game do plenty more talking before either he or the Maple Leafs have any reason to discuss a future beyond his next start, whenever it happens to come.



Maple Leafs preview: The goalies

By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Fri Sep 27 2013

Jonathan Bernier

Hometown: Laval, Que.

Catches: Left

Core Strengths: Quick glove, athletic, good puck handler

Core Weaknesses: Has just 62 NHL games experience since breaking in with Kings in 2007-08

Expected Role: No. 1 starter; at least its his job to lose

Upside: First real chance to be a No. 1 and break out from the shadow of Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles

-

James Reimer

Hometown: Morweena, Man.

Catches: Left

Core Strengths: Survivor in Toronto; thick skin to the goalie battle hype with Bernier

Core Weaknesses: Confidence? Leafs have thrust Bernier in Reimer’s path to No. 1 job

Expected Role: Backup, or traded?

Upside: Can steal the top job and solidify himself as the fans’ goalie



Want to make the Leafs? Even a good training camp doesn’t guarantee a spot


It was Maple Leafs training camp, four years ago, when Ron Wilson gave Nazem Kadri a tap on back.

Kadri, just shy of his 19th birthday, was getting cut, sent back to the London Knights of the OHL.

He was shocked. The team’s top pick from that summer’s draft thought he had made the Leafs.

“I really felt like I had a chance to be on the team,” said Kadri. “I felt like I left everything out there. I was kind of getting the notion I was going to get some games.

“It was kind of a bummer. I wanted to be in the NHL. I felt like I had the training camp to get me there.”

Kadri had played in six exhibition games with Toronto and often dazzled while picking up three goals, two assists and a pretty shootout goal.

Having a great training camp — as Kadri did — often isn’t enough to make the team. The process is far more complicated. There are teammates to fit in with and a new environment to get around. There are coaches to impress. There is the front office to impress. There are often new systems to learn.

And these days, there’s a salary cap to fit under and a waiver system to be wary of.

Sometimes young players aren’t old enough. Sometimes old players aren’t young enough. It can be cruel.

“It is a challenge for us every single day, to put the right pieces in place,” said Leafs assistant GM Dave Poulin. “It’s the ultimate chess game. It really is.”

THE VETERANS LOOK BACK

For the player on the bubble, the first person he’d turn to for advice would be a teammate. Here’s what they’d say.

DION PHANEUF: “For guys trying to make an impact and earn a spot on the team, what I’d say is to do what you do well. When you try to do something that you’re not used to, or is not part of your makeup, then you stand out for the wrong reasons. Do what you do well. That’s what guys always told me, to play to your strengths.”

DAVID CLARKSON: “It was a long time ago when I went through it but I wanted to make sure that when the camp ended, I didn’t care if they remember my last name or my number, but they remembered something I did. That’s what you have to do. You play hard every shift, you finish your checks or if it’s a blocked shot. You have to catch someone’s eye.”

THE COACH SAYS

RANDY CARLYLE: “We try to make sure there is a merit system in place: if he plays well, there are opportunities. There are certain people who are cast into our lineup. We always like to make sure there is competition to our lineup . . . I just think its more along the line of their body of work and where they are as far as years of experience. The way this thing works, the bus only goes by so many times. You want to be on that bus.”

THE ROOKIE CONUNDRUM

Kadri did all those things back then. He separated himself from the pack. He did memorable things. He was back in junior. But it wasn’t enough. Back then, the Leafs decided he needed more time for seasoning. He needed to get bigger, stronger. More durable.

The general managers and their assistants often take a much longer view than the coaches or the player. A teenager might be the best player. But to start in the NHL at 18 or 19 is to speed up the age at which a player reaches arbitration and unrestricted free agency.

A team playing the current system smartly would delay the a rookie’s entry into the league, if possible, to keep his negotiating rights longer and well into his prime playing years.

That’s happening with Kadri, who signed his second pro contract for far less than fellow Canadians John Tavares and Matt Duchene, players who were drafted the same year but played in the NHL as teenagers.

WHAT MANAGEMENT WANTS

Dave Poulin: “Consistency at a high level. Everyone here can play in the NHL. You’re looking at 30-plus guys and saying, how do you separate yourself. There’s a body of work. There’s also exact current play right now. We have some pretty established players here with pretty fine bodies of work. Then you have players with different bodies of work at a different level. It’s consistency at a high level. Can he play in the league? Can he contribute in the league? Can he be a factor in the league? Can he do what he does consistently at a very high level?

“You can’t be one-dimensional in this game any more.”

That was Kadri’s issue. He produced in junior and for six games of an exhibition season. But for the rebuilding Leafs, they needed to see he what he could do, both in one more year in junior and then at the AHL level.

EXTERNAL ISSUES 1: WAIVERS

Consider another scenario in which a 30-year-old may beat a 23-year-old for a job. The coach, wanting to win now, would want the 30-year-old. The GM might believe there’s more upside with the 23-year-old. To cut either is to risk losing him through waivers to another team.

If salaries were similar, the 23-year-old — with more upside — has the job security.

If one has a significantly smaller salary — therefore a smaller salary cap hit — and the team is in salary cap trouble — then the nod might go to the player with the smaller salary. The larger salaried player, for no other reason than his cap figure or length of term left on his deal, might scare off teams from claiming him on waivers. Jeff Finger, Tim Connolly and Mike Komisarek all suffered those embarrassments with the Leafs.

It can be shell game.

“You might do it to buy yourself time, so you can make another roster adjustment, until you can make a move that betters your team,” said Poulin.

EXTERNAL ISSUES 2: THE PHONES

While the players compete and the coaches are making their decisions, managers are often more worried about what’s transpiring in 29 other camps. Who’s available that’s better than what we have? Who’d be interested in someone we’d no longer need?

“From our standpoint, it’s constant conversation. Constant,” says Poulin. “Generally before a player goes on waivers, you’ll get feelers. You’re scanning other teams’ rosters all the time. You’ll spend a lot of time scanning rosters to see who might become available and teams are scanning ours to see who might become available.

“If they think a good player is going to become available, they’re not going to wait for him to go on waivers. They’re going to call and see if a soft deal can be made. They might be picking fourth or sixth or eighth and not have a guarantee to get him.”

OPENING NIGHT

In the end, 18 skaters and two goalies dress for the first game. There can be up to three more on the roster and more again if they are on injured reserve. It’s always a work in progress. A demotion in October could well be followed by a promotion in November.

“Things that come into play, contracts, waivers, tryouts. All those are factors,” said Carlyle. “You sit with management and decide what direction you’re going to go with. We do our evaluations along with management and we pick a course of action. We live with it.”



Maple Leafs preview: The defence


DION PHANEUF

Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Veteran leadership and experience; primed for best season yet as a Leaf.

Core weaknesses: Slower foot speed; overall performance tapers if he has top minutes on team.

Expected role: Top D pairing, team leader; this is his team more than ever.

Upside: Contract year, improved roster, so he’s poised to lead club to second round or more

CARL GUNNARSSON

Hometown: Orebro, Sweden.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Responsible, reliable, two-way d-man.

Core weaknesses: Vulnerable in battles with top-line forwards, especially sizeable ones.

Expected role: Top 4 defenceman, second-tier powerplay, penalty kill.

Upside: Has coach’s confidence in any situation; more experience in T.O., which should help longer playoff run.

MARK FRASER

Hometown: Ottawa.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Fearless, physical, punishes forwards in front of his own net.

Core weaknesses: Periodic giveaways, lack of foot speed.

Expected role: Top 4 (pairing with Franson again, assuming Franson signs).

Upside: Really came into his own last year, and should continue solid, reliable play.

CODY FRANSON

Hometown: Salmon Arm, B.C.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Big shot, takes the body in front of his own net, and is on the first D pairing on the powerplay.

Core weaknesses: Periodic coverage breakdowns; contract holdout could have impact on his top 4 status.

Expected role: Top 4, paired with Fraser to form a shutdown pairing for coach Carlyle

Upside: Only right-handed shot option for powerplay pointman.

PAUL RANGER

Hometown: Oshawa.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Top 4 experience with Tampa three seasons ago; big body, good shot, solid all-around d-man.

Core weaknesses: Entering NHL again after two-year absence — adjustment will be tough.

Expected role: If he makes the team, top 6, or extra defenceman.

Upside: If he returns to previous form, could be a very valuable asset; was a good defenceman in Tampa.

JAKE GARDINER

Hometown: Minneapolis.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Skating, rushing the puck, getting down low and opening seams, recovery to own zone.

Core weaknesses: Taking too many chances, turnovers.

Expected role: Bigger minutes as a top 6 defenceman; possibly vaults into top 4, depending on Franson’s future.

Upside: Entering contract year; should be ready to put up bigger numbers and just light it up with his skating and playmaking.

JOHN-MICHAEL LILES

Hometown: Indianapolis.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Game-breaking speed, getting puck out of own zone; veteran smarts.

Core weaknesses: Small size makes him a liability at times in own zone

Expected role: Top 6, or extra defenceman.

Upside: Gives the Leafs another great-skating defenceman; good asset at trade deadline.

MORGAN RIELLY

Hometown: West Vancouver.

Shoots: Left

Core strengths: High-end skating at just 19 years old; passing, vision, poise.

Core weaknesses: He’s only 19; untested against big wingers and in tough, physical going.

Expected role: Extra defenceman, if he makes team.

Upside: Ready for NHL at 19; gains NHL experience rather than being moored another year in junior, where he’s done all he can do.



Maple Leafs preview: The forwards


PHIL KESSEL

Hometown: Madison, Wi.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Great speed, great shot, bonafide 30-plus goal scorer.

Core weaknesses: Doesn’t like to be hit; doesn’t come up big enough in big games; conditioning.

Expected role: First-line winger, key option on powerplay.

Upside: Contract year; team has spoken to him about media availability; best is yet to come.

JOFFREY LUPUL

Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Big-game player, fearless when driving to net.

Core weaknesses: Has trouble avoiding injuries.

Expected role: Second-line forward, powerplay, go-to guy in key situations.

Upside: In his prime and ready to guide franchise deeper into playoffs.

TYLER BOZAK

Hometown: Regina.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Survivor in Toronto, good faceoff man, reliable two-way player, and good compliment to Kessel on top line.

Core weakness: Size.

Expected role: First-line centre unless team wants Nazem Kadri paired with Kessel.

Upside: Experience and comfort zone could spark career first 20-goal campaign.

JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK

Hometown: Middletown, N.J.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Size, speed, good snap shot; experience with being physical forward down low.

Core weaknesses: Lapses where he’s not noticed enough on ice.

Expected role: Front-line winger with Kessel and Bozak.

Upside: Should be a constant force in front of net, and quick option on powerplay if first option doesn’t work on a particular night.

NAZEM KADRI

Hometown: London, Ontario.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Puck handling, vision, dangerous in open ice and one on one with defencemen.

Core weaknesses: Can be physically dominated by top teams; too much rushing leads to risky play.

Expected role: Second-line centre; should centre powerplay.

Upside: Fresh two-year contract, and maturity, should equal career high goals and points.

NIKOLAI KULEMIN

Hometown: Magnitogorsk, Russia.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Solid body, two-way play, tough to get off puck.

Core weakness: Doesn’t shoot enough.

Expected role: Third-line winger, penalty kill option.

Upside:Longest serving Leaf on current roster; Olympics in homeland should be extra motivation this season.

DAVE BOLLAND

Hometown: Mimico.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Experience, reliability; two Cups in past four seasons.

Core weakness: 7 goals in 35 games last season.

Expected role: Third-line centre, shutdown checker, penalty kill.

Upside: Experience in big games, gives the Leafs a go-to centre so that Game 7 vs. Bruins doesn’t happen again.

DAVID CLARKSON

Hometown: Toronto.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Gritty play, sticks up for team, scoring.

Core weaknesses: Will need to get chemistry right with Lupul and Kadri on projected second line.

Expected role: Second-line winger; physical leader on forecheck.

Upside: Big contract, dream-come-true spot in Toronto; he should be the guy Leaf fans fall in love with.

JAY MCCLEMENT

Hometown: Kingston.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Work ethic, smarts, NHL leader in penalty-kill minutes.

Core weaknesses: Could provide a touch more offence, but that’s not a biggie.

Expected role: Fourth-line centre, key penalty killer.

Upside: Built-in security for coach; will make it easier for Carlyle to roll four lines.

COLTON ORR

Hometown: Winnipeg.

Shoots: Right.

Core strengths: Top-shelf enforcer; one of toughest in the league.

Core weaknesses: His line can be dominated if mismatch happens against opponents’ top lines.

Expected role: Fourth liner and top enforcer.

Upside: He fills his role admirably and brings confidence and accountability to bench.

FRASER MCLAREN

Hometown: Winnipeg.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Gives another enforcer’s edge to the fourth line; brings the forecheck.

Core weaknesses: Speed; his line can be pinned down (see Orr).

Expected role: Fourth liner and 1-2 punch (literally) with Orr.

Upside: brings additional “fear factor” to Leafs – they won’t be pushed around with Orr and McLaren in uniform.

MAYSON RAYMOND

Hometown: Calgary.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Speed, creating open ice and seams to net with speed; two-way play.

Core weaknesses: Not a great physical player; critics in Vancouver claimed he “disappeared” at times during season.

Expected role: Third- or fourth-line winger, penalty killer.

Upside: Still believes he’s a serviceable NHLer, and if he is, he’ll add depth and speed to Leafs, which will help keep club consistent during a long season.

JOE COLBORNE

Hometown: Calgary.

Shoots: Left.

Core strengths: Size, reach, energy.

Core weaknesses: Doesn’t play up to size; not involved enough down low; a perennial prospect.

Expected role: Fourth line centre; being given penalty kill duty in pre-season.

Upside: Can be a solid contributor; Leafs looking for more two-way play.

CARTER ASHTON

Hometown: Winnipeg.

Shoots: Left.

Role: Fourth-line winger, extra forward.

Core strengths: Good size, shot; several seasons experience in AHL, NHL ready.

Core weaknesses: Needs to play “bigger”; hasn’t elevated game to NHL level yet.

Expected role: May find a door into NHL with Clarkson gone early; has had his best training camp as a Leaf.

TROY BODIE

Hometown: Portage la Prairie, Mb.

Shoots: Right.

Role: Fourth-line winger, enforcer.

Core strengths: Experience as an enforcer; definite willingness to take the body, get in front of net.

Core weaknesses: Skating, two-way play.

Expected role: fourth-line winger, “energy” player, enforcer; big body, physical type player.



Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings set to renew old rivalry


The last time Dave Bolland was at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, his Blackhawks were in the midst of a roaring playoff comeback, one that would help propel Chicago to a Stanley Cup championship.

Bolland switched conferences with the summertime trade to the Maple Leafs. And so did the Detroit Red Wings in a realignment that renews the Leafs-Wings rivalry of old.

“Being with Chicago for seven, eight years, and coming over to Toronto, it’s been a bit of a change,” said Bolland. “It’s nice to get around. It’s good to experience other teams. I’m happy to be here.

“All those ties are cut,” Bolland said of his link with the Blackhawks. “This is a new season, a new year, a new book. This is a new start to hopefully a banner year.”

The Red Wings, too, are happy to be here in the Eastern Conference, free from all that West Coast travel and fan-unfriendly late starts. But they come to the Eastern Conference sporting a Western Conference vibe. They’re a high-skilled team that plays a puck possession game. But they don’t have an enforcer in their lineup.

Given the Leafs led the NHL in fights while Boston is always the Big, Bad Bruins and with Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo all beefed up, it’s a fair question to ask how the Wings will fare.

“They’re a team. There’s no difference East or West,” said Bolland. “A team comes to play in the East; it’s hockey. They’re a good team. They have a lot of good players. They have skill. They have a lot of everything.

“But, hey, its hockey, and a team can come out and beat a top team.”

The Leafs play the Red Wings in a pair of exhibition games Friday night in Detroit and Saturday at home in the Air Canada Centre to finish the exhibition season.

It’s like the old days, when the Leafs were in the Western Conference — in the dearly departed (Chuck) Norris Division — and the likes of Wendel Clark were battling the likes of Bob Probert and Joey Kocur in Friday-Saturday back-to-backs.

“I was really young, but I know who they are,” said Leafs forward Nazem Kadri, who grew up in London, the traditional dividing line between Leafs and Wings supporters in southwestern Ontario. “And how they (the Wings of the 1990s) liked to play. They don’t play that style today. They’re a different team than that era.”

The NHL is hoping to tap into that rivalry to help hype the Jan. 1 Winter Classic, when 110,000 fans are expected to cram into The Big House, as the football field at the University of Michigan is nicknamed, to see the Leafs and Wings.

The Leafs, of course, hold the Wings in great esteem for what the franchise has done in the time the two rivals have been apart since 1999. The Wings won the Cup two more times and have been in the playoffs every year.

“They’ve got some great players,” said Kadri. “Not only are you watching the players on your team, but you also watch the players on their team to improve your game. So, guys like (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg.

“You could learn a lot from just being on the ice and watching the things they do. They have a pretty good lineup. We have to respect them.”

And with cameras from HBO’s 24/7: The Road to the Winter Classic about this weekend filming promotional video, Kadri is pretty sure of one thing.

“I’m sure the rivalry will come back,” he said.



Leafs drop exhibition tilt in Motown

By Lance Hornby ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:39 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 27, 2013 11:57 PM EDT

DETROIT - Randy Carlyle still has some work ahead, whether it’s a short-term decision on final cuts or a sobering long-range look at how he’ll handle the new division rivals from Motown.

Neither task was simplified Friday night as the Leafs let a good early effort slip away, blundering into coverage woes and three power-play goals against in a 5-2 loss.

Carlyle was certainly guarded in any praise of kids still trying to crack the Maple Leafs roster, such as defenceman Jake Gardiner and forward Carter Ashton, even though they’ve had some success in training camp.

“Some of the goals we allowed tonight were from the critical areas,” Carlyle said. “We didn’t have stiff enough protection. You can’t give skill players direct shots from the slot, simple as that.”

Though Ashton hit some people early and Gardiner had two assists, the latter lost a challenge to Todd Bertuzzi that led to Detroit’s first goal. Carlyle said Gardiner was not yet at the strong stage he showed in last year’s playoffs.

“We havn’t got many more days,” added the coach, who is down to one pre-season game Saturday at home against the Wings and then back-to-back regular season openers Tuesday in Montreal and Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Perfect timing

Detroit coach Mike Babcock thought this was the ideal date to play the Leafs, twice in as many days at the end of camp when the roster is almost set. Excluding the absence of suspended Phil Kessel, the short-term winner of the David Clarkson 10-game understudy sweepstakes and where John-Michael Liles and Morgan Rielly fit in on defence, this was close to full bloom for the Leafs.

“When you’re playing against teams in the East, for those of us who haven’t played against them, it’s nice to get to know who they are,” Babcock said. “The more (regulars) they have, we’ll get to know them better. I’m not comparing exhibition to regular season, but we’ll learn more about the Leafs here and I’m sure they’ll learn about us.”

The Leafs know they’ll have plenty of support at Joe Louis Arena, as more total fans turned out Friday than came for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin earlier in the week.

“This was a good pace, like a regular season game,” said goalie Jonathan Bernier.

Back to work

Cody Franson was a busy man in his return after his contract stalemate ended a couple of days earlier.

Carlyle didn’t put him with last year’s partner Mark Fraser, and his new pairing with Gardiner created “a work in progress” as Franson called it. Franson also saw early power play time with Dion Phaneuf and in his first one-on-one test, just got a piece of Henrik Zetterberg to prevent an early break.

“My wind was fine, it was just getting adjusted out there,” said Franson, who worked out with Ryerson University during his absence. “I haven’t been in a game since last year and it was interesting seeing all the new faces.

“I started to settle in by the second or third period. But it’s like facing the Swedish national team over there. They hold the puck and throw it around really well and pick their spots to dump it in.”

Sixty-minute man

Bernier finally finished a start in his fourth try. One was a planned second-period hook, then his knee pad rubbed him the wrong way and then 10

minutes before completing the game against the Sabres, he was ejected for picking a fight with Ryan Miller.

Early on Friday, he wasn’t allowing many rebounds, but the slew of power plays saw Detroit end with a 37-19 shot advantage.

“I still have to get my game to a higher level,” Bernier said. “Tonight I made some stand-up saves and saw the puck better than in previous games. I just have to get better.”

James Reimer will play Saturday and the guessing game begins about how the Montreal — Philadelphia split will work.

Sixth sense

Babcock isn’t getting a damp eye about seeing more of the Leafs, Canadiens, Bruins and Rangers.

“If you have been a Leaf or a Red Wing fan for a long, long time and a fan of the Original Six, it’s a big thing to you,” he said. “If you are me, who has been here for nine years and you haven’t seen it, then it’s not a big deal. But rivalries are made in the playoffs with heated battles. So I imagine our team and theirs will get invested in it more over time.”

Loose Leafs

James van Riemsdyk got a too hot-headed for the officials late in the second period, complaining about a non-boarding call that landed him in the box and led to Zetterberg’s winner ... Clarkson, spoiling for something all night as he prepares for his unplanned hiatus, traded punches with Jonathan Ericsson late in the third ... The Marlies and new coach Steve Spott won their first exhibition game 5-3 on Friday against Hamilton, with two goals from Jerry D’Amigo and a game-winner from Spencer Abbott ... Heading into Saturday, Mason Raymond leads Toronto in pre-season points with five ... Part of the Leafs’ call on playing Gardiner ahead of Rielly won’t be a judgement on their offensive smarts as both can skate and move the puck ... Stephen Weiss did not return for the Wings in the third period.

Toronto sun LOADED: 09.28.2013


Daniel Alfredsson a rivalry expert



DETROIT - Daniel Alfredsson has been a centrepiece of one huge rivalry with the Maple Leafs, as captain of the Ottawa Senators.

But at age 40, he says he doesn't need to be the catalyst of a 21st-century feud between Toronto and Detroit.

"To get that rivalry going, you need to play a team in the playoffs," Alfredsson said Friday morning, "to create the moments that only playoffs can create."

Alfredsson was no doubt thinking of the Leafs and Senators meeting four times in a five-year period a decade ago, fuelling today's ill will between the teams. The Leafs and Detroit moved to different conferences in 1998 after 23 playoff series spread through 64 years.

"They are two historic franchises," Alfredsson said. "Everyone will try their best to get this rivalry going again, fans and media."

CRUNCH TIME FOR WINGS

Mike Babcock has coached in more high-intensity NHL and international hockey games than most people. So you know he's glad to be be at the end of the NHL exhibition season and close to choosing his final roster.

That job has been complicated in Detroit all month by nagging injuries, so he was anxious to see some semblance of an opening night roster on Friday and in the return match at the ACC.

"We need to take a step," Babcock said. "When you play so many games at training camp. It's hard to get a lineup together. We have two-thirds of a lineup (Friday), as much as we've had (since early in camp)."

Winger Justin Abdelkader cut his hand in a game against Pittsburgh earlier in the week, but was able to start on the top line with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. That allowed Alfredsson to play his first home game on the line Babcock designed, with Stephen Weiss at centre and Johan Franzen on the left.

"They haven't had a chance to play together," Babcock said. "But we need to get an assessment because we need production from every group. To me, it should be set up well. Weiss has turned into a pretty good two-way player, Alfie can shoot the puck and the Mule is a big, big man who can skate, win battles down low and find people with the puck. It has all the ingredients of a good line, now it had to become one."

BERG FILLS THE BILL

Like most little kids growing up in Southern Ontario in the early 1990s, Kyle Quincey took a shine to the resurgent back-to-back conference finalist Maple Leafs.

But not the most popular players of the day, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, or Felix Potvin.

"Bill Berg was my guy," said the Wings defenceman of the Leaf who always finished his checks hard. "It's actually a funny story why."

Quincey and his father Marty had come in from Orangeville for a special treat, to watch a Leafs-Kings regular-season game at the Gardens when Wayne Gretzky played for L.A.

"I was a forward back then," Quincey said. "Gretzky was kind of floating around a little bit. I wasn't really the most gifted player at that age and my Dad knew I was more of a checker.

"He said: 'No (to emulating Gretzky), from now on, you watch Bill Berg'. Since then, he was my favourite player and I idolized him growing up."

Around the same time, future Wings teammate Weiss was celebrating Nik Borschevsky's Game 7 overtime winner.

"I was 10 and a big Leaf fan and that's probably one of the best Detroit-Toronto memories I have," Weiss said. "Borschevsky scoring against Detroit here at The Joe."

But does Weiss tell that story now?

"Not any more."

LOOSE LEAFS

Groin issues continue to dog ex-Leaf Jonas Gustavsson. The goalie will be out of the Wings lineup three to four weeks. Petr Mrazek is Jimmy Howard's backup ... Though a new home for the Wings has been approved to replace the 33-year-old JLA, it's about four to five years away. It will also be located downtown, but nearer Comerica Park and Ford Field, home of the baseball Tigers and NFL Lions ... Randy Carlyle, assistant Chris Dennis and Peterborough Petes head coach Jody Hull will be conducting a coaching clinic Saturday at the ACC after the morning skate on topics such as training, nutrition and youth development. Coaches can register through coachesopenhouse.ca.



Red Wings won't try to match Maple Leafs' fight factor



DETROIT - There is enough powder under Joe Louis Arena to ignite a renewed Maple Leafs - Red Wings battle on Friday night.

Long-time Leaf antagonist Daniel Alfredsson makes his home debut for the Wings, Toronto is sending a brawny lineup with Colton Orr and both clubs are anxious to use the weekend’s home-and-home to test armaments for the four-game regular season matchups.

But the Wings are adamant about one aspect of the coming clashes - they will not try to match or better the Leafs’ fight factor. Toronto topped the league in majors last season, in doing so becoming the seventh NHL team the past eight years to punch their playoff ticket at the same time. For a club that had missed post-season action seven previous years, there was a co-relation to standing taller on the ice and finishing higher in the standings.

But the Wings, for all their success from the late 1990s onward, have mostly steered clear of fighting. They ranked 29th of 30 clubs last year and dropped their gloves the fewest of any team in four straight years prior to that. If there is to be a culture change along with the switch of conferences, it won’ty be in Motown.

“The Leafs are old school, the way I was brought up and I like the way they play,” offered Wings defenceman Kyle Quincey at the morning skate. “(The new alignment) should be good, a clash of two different styles.

“(But) it takes two to tango. The instigator rule is still in. So if they want to fight, they’ll take most instigators, probably."

The ‘Chuck Norris’ Wings of the old divisional days are a thing of the past. Scotty Bowman and then current coach Mike Babcock put the emphasis elsewhere.

“Are we going to start fighting?,” Babcock said of the Leafs’ arrival on the scene. “I know what we’re going to do. Play the way we always play. It seems to have done well for us.

“I assume (the Leafs) have a way they want to play and do the same thing. We really believe in toughness and toughness on the puck. I like the puck. I like 12 forwards who can skate and handle the puck and six defencemen who can all skate and handle the puck.”

One of Detroit’s principle weapons in the face of teams who would abuse them is its power play.

“Back in the day and even now, if teams want to goon it up, we’ll beat them with our power play,” Quincey said. “It’s hard when our power play is clicking. So we’ve been working on that and hopefully deter teams from gooning it up.”

The Wings have added Alfredsson to the offensive mix. Circumstances, including injury, precluded him from playing a home game until Friday. He’ll start with another Detroit newcomer, centre Stephen Weiss, and Johan Franzen, behind the No. 1 trio of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Justin Abdelkader.

“It’s going to feel good to play a game in this building,” Alfredsson said. “I’m sure there will be corrections from the coaches here and there, but I have a pretty good understanding of what we’re doing.”

His history with the Leafs only adds to this year’s intrigue, but Alfredsson had a good laugh about him being the catalyst for a 21st century feud between the clubs.

“To get that rivalry going, you need to play a team in the playoffs,” Alfredsson said, refering to the Toronto - Ottawa battles a decade ago. “You have to create the moments that only playoffs can create. But they are two historic franchises and everyone will try their best to get this rivalry going, fans and media.”

Alfredsson, 40, could be a huge part of another Detroit playoff run. They haven’t missed since 1989-90.

“We need to take a step,” Babcock said of where the team is at now. “When you play so many games at training camp, it’s hard to get a lineup together. We have two-thirds of a lineup tonight, as much as we’ve had (since early in camp). The Leafs look like they’re bringing a good team, which is really positive for us.

“(Alfredsson’s line) hasn’t had a chance to play together. But we need to get an assessment because we need production from every group. Weiss has turned into a pretty good two-way player, Alfie can shoot the puck and the Mule (Franzen) is a big, big man who can skate, win battles down low and find people with the puck.

“It has all the ingredients of a good line, now it has to become one.”



Red Wings prefer to beat Maple Leafs with skill



DETROIT - The Red Wings will leave everything on the ice when fighting the Maple Leafs for a playoff spot this season.

Except their gloves.

If one stat underlines how much things have changed since the teams co-habitated in the ‘Chuck’ Norris Division in the 1990s, it’s the yearly tabulation of fighting majors.

Toronto led the National Hockey League last season with 44 in 48 games. Detroit had 14 and actually moved up one spot from 30th where they were content to be the previous four years.

The five-year comparison of majors is 238-72 in the Leafs’ favour.

Without over-stating their case in public with trash talk, the Leafs used their Bay St. Bully image to foster some badly needed team chemistry last season. They also became the seventh NHL team the past eight years to punch a playoff ticket at the same time as punching their way to the top. The 2007 Anaheim Ducks under Brian Burke and the 2011 Boston Bruins won the Cup and the fight-club title the same season.

For a Leaf team that had missed the dance the seven previous years, there was a correlation to standing taller on the ice and finishing higher in the standings.

Toronto also led the league in hits last year with 1,626, compared to last-place Detroit with 865, though that’s a far more subjective topic, rink-to-rink, and can’t always be verified.

The Wings, for all their success from the late 1990s onward, have mostly steered clear of fighting. And if there’s to be a change of culture in the head-to-head games, they’re adamant it won’t be themselves making the switch.

“The Leafs are old school, the way I was brought up and I like the way they play,” began Wings defenceman Kyle Quincey at Friday morning’s skate. “(The new Wings-Leafs conference alignment) should be good, a clash of two different styles.

“(But) it takes two to tango. The instigator rule is still in. So if they want to fight, they’ll take most instigators, probably.”

Scotty Bowman, with his great Russian Five, began the trend. The current Detroit management team of Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock thrived in the Lidstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk era putting emphasis elsewhere in Detroit’s game plan.

“I’ve changed my personal view 100% since the 1980s,” senior vice-president and former general manager Jim Devellano told the Sun earlier this year.

“Yes, I drafted Bob Probert and Joey Kocur. But times have changed. The game has changed. We don’t need it. It adds nothing.

“(Bowman) appreciated skill players and we found we didn’t need the fights to win. People enjoyed the game and we didn’t want to be killing penalties all the time. I’m not here to say who is right and who is wrong on this issue, that’s just my personal opinion.”

Babcock, who was to face a brawny Leaf lineup led by Colton Orr on Friday night, says his team will not get out of sorts when the regular-season games against Toronto start on Dec. 21.

“I assume (the Leafs) have a way they want to play and they’ll do the same thing. I know what we’re going to do, play the way we always play. It seems to have done well for us.

“We really believe in toughness and toughness on the puck. I like the puck. I like 12 forwards who can skate and handle the puck and six defencemen who can all skate and handle the puck.”

One of Detroit’s principal weapons in the face of teams who would abuse them was its lethal use of man-advantage situations.

“Back in the day and even now, if teams want to goon it up, we’ll beat them with our power play,” Quincey said.

“It’s hard on them when our power play is clicking. So we’ve been working on that and hopefully deter teams from gooning it up.”



Maple Leafs get a rough ride from Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings

npquickwire | 27/09/13 10:54 PM ET

DETROIT — Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson and Johan Franzen each had a goal and an assist, helping the Detroit Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Friday night in a pre-season game.

Joakim Andersson and Luke Glendening also scored for Detroit. Pavel Datsyuk had two assists and Jimmy Howard made 17 saves.

National Post LOADED: 09.28.2013


Writing is on the wall for Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman John-Michael Liles

Michael Traikos | 27/09/13 | Last Updated: 27/09/13 5:11 PM ET

TORONTO — John-Michael Liles was the last one off the ice after Friday’s morning skate. Walking into the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room, he took off his jersey and some of his equipment and sat down in his stall.

Toronto Maple Leafs will get by without suspended David Clarkson: GM Dave Nonis

He would not be making the trip to Detroit for the Toronto Maple Leafs second-last exhibition game. And with training camp coming to an end on Sunday, there was no guarantee that he would see another game in the NHL this season.

A victim of having a big contract on a team that is squeezed tight against the salary cap, the talk is that the 32-year-old will be sent down to the minors in order to save money.

For now, it is just talk. Liles has not heard anything from coaches or management regarding his roster spot. But he fully understands the situation. During drills, he is often the odd-man out. And when you have a cap hit of US$3.875-million, being a seventh or eighth defencemen is a luxury most teams cannot afford.

“You go out there and do what you can do,” Liles said. “Ultimately it’s up to the front office and not up to you. That’s all you can do.”

These are how hockey decisions are made these days. Not necessarily by players or by coaches, but by the salary cap.

On another team and for less money, Liles could be a valuable puck-moving defencemen. But in Toronto, his skill set does not seem to fit the way head coach Randy Carlyle wants his team to play. And his salary does not fit in under the cap.

Sending Liles to the minors would free up US$925,000 in cap space; the rest of his salary still counts against the cap under the new rules agreed to in last season’s collective bargaining negotiations. The savings could be used to replace David Clarkson (suspended) or Frazer McLaren (injured) in the lineup, or to keep 19-year-old Morgan Rielly around for a nine-game tryout. It would help with filling in for injuries later in the season.

You just try to work hard and make sure you prepare yourself for when you do go back in the lineup. That’s the nature of the game we play. Nobody wants to sit out

It is a difficult decision. After all, it is not that Liles’ skills have eroded or the game has passed him by. He still gets around the ice better than most and can quarterback a power play with ease. But he’s also a player who, after sitting out as a healthy scratch for 16 games last year, does not appear to fit in Carlyle’s plans.

Liles said last season was an anomaly, the result of coming in cold from the lockout and recovering from a concussion the previous year.

“It was kind of one of those things looking back on it where you say, do you wish you could have played?” Liles said. “I probably do. I probably didn’t come in where I needed to be.

“It’s never easy [to sit out]. It’s not an easy situation to go through, but I wasn’t the only guy. Like I said, you just try to work hard and make sure you prepare yourself for when you do go back in the lineup. That’s the nature of the game we play. Nobody wants to sit out but sometimes that’s the decision.”

When the season ended, Liles was considered Toronto’s top buyout candidate. Instead, the team parted ways with Mike Komisarek and Mikhail Grabovski. But avoiding the axe has provided no job security.

Liles entered training camp low on the depth chart, behind Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Jake Gardiner, Cody Franson, Mark Fraser, Paul Ranger and Rielly. There is still competition for playing time. But with Gardiner and Rielly playing a style similar that is similar to Liles, it is not difficult to guess where this will end up.

“You guys do a lot of talking about who is and who isn’t [on the team], and we try to ignore what you say,” Carlyle said. “We make our decisions based upon how we feel. And I think the things that are inside the management and the coach’s offices should be left there, they shouldn’t be brought out to people. We make decisions that we think are in the best interest of our group. And then we can be fairly or unfairly criticized for what decision we make.

“We’re about winning hockey games and we know there are tough decisions coming.”



Salary cap forces Toronto Maple Leafs to get creative

Michael Traikos | 27/09/13 | Last Updated: 27/09/13 9:36 AM ET

Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly can hang around for nine games before the team has to make a decision on whether to keep him for the rest of the season or return him to junior.

Roll up your sleeves and get out the calculator. It’s time to crunch some numbers.

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Phil Kessel after slashing suspension: ‘The second slash … it was probably uncalled for’

After agreeing to a one-year, US$2-milion contract with restricted free agent Cody Franson on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally have their seven defencemen in place. But it comes at a cost. With five days remaining until the regular-season opener, the team is now slightly over the salary cap with little in the way of roster flexibility. It would appear that something has to give between now and then.

Trading defenceman John-Michael Liles, the team’s US$3.875-million healthy scratch, might be the best available option. But with three years remaining on his contract, it is a not an easy option to pull off. The more likely scenario is to reduce the size of the roster — below the traditional 23 — something that Leafs vice-president and assistant GM Claude Loiselle acknowledged Thursday. Even then, the choice is fraught with obstacles.

The Leafs are willing to play with no fewer than 20 players — 18 skaters and two goalies. But that does not include winger David Clarkson, who is suspended for the first 10 games but whose US$5.25-million salary still counts against the cap. Nor does it include injured forward Frazer McLaren, who is earning US$700,000 and is out with a fractured finger.

So the Leafs will have to be creative.

Toronto could send Liles to the minors, but only US$925,000 of his US$3.875-million salary would be exempt from the cap. The team could place McLaren on long-term injury, but that would mean proving he is hurt badly enough to miss at least 24 days and 10 regular-season games. Either option would open up valuable cap space and create a temporary roster spot for 19-year-old defenceman Morgan Rielly, who can hang around for nine games before the team has to make a decision on whether to keep him for the rest of the season or return him to junior.

“Morgan Rielly is another decision that’s looming,” head coach Randy Carlyle said. “And that’s something that will play out obviously. Not necessarily tomorrow, not the next day. We have 10 games and that takes it to the 25th of October … and we have that time frame to make that decision on Morgan.”

What Toronto will not do, according to Loiselle, is let the salary cap affect their decision-making process. In other words, the Leafs will find a place for Rielly if he is NHL-ready and a lower cap hit will not be valued more than skill and ability when determining the final roster spots.

“We’ve always said that the coaches are making the decision,” Loiselle said. “The cap has gone down US$6-million across the board and it’s difficult … Again, we’re going to ice the best team possible. We have to start the season with no less than 18 [skaters] and two [goalies].”

Theoretically, Toronto can play with fewer than 20 players, something that the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames did in past years because of cap restraints. If the Leafs decide to go down this road, they can also take advantage of a stipulation in the new collective bargaining agreement allowing teams in duress to call up a player making no more than US$650,000 — Joe Colborne, Troy Bodie or Trevor Smith, for example — as a “roster emergency option.”

It has not come to that yet. At Thursday’s practice, Bodie skated on the third line and Carter Ashton (US$800,00, plus performance bonuses) was on the fourth line, while Liles and Rielly were the odd men out on defence. If that was Toronto’s lineup Oct. 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, it could work from a cap perspective.

It is not ideal, though, The combined salary of the 22-man roster would be US$64.1-million, leaving the Leafs with little wiggle room under the US$64.3-million salary cap. It assumes that Liles’ contract would be buried in the minors and Rielly would be sent back to junior. And it would leave the Leafs with no reserve players.

Another injury or another suspension, and it would be back to the calculator again.



NHL realignment is a good thing, depending on which teams you ask

Cam Cole | 27/09/13 | Last Updated: 27/09/13 9:43 AM ET

Grouped now with two teams that seem to have their number — the L.A. Kings and San Jose Sharks — the Canucks appear destined for a dogfight for the third guaranteed playoff spot in the Pacific with the Anaheim Ducks and the young, gifted Edmonton Oilers, and maybe even the plucky Phoenix Coyotes.

First impressions of the National Hockey League’s geography-based realignment scheme:

Florida Panthers sold to Brooklyn native Vincent Viola: source

• Winnipeg, about the central-est place in the centre of Canada, moving to the Central Division is so crazy, it just might work.

• Six of the eight teams in the Atlantic Division are not actually on the Atlantic, but Boston and Florida are, which is nice.

• Metropolitan is the nicest thing Raleigh, Newark and Columbus have ever been called.

• But if the grand design is a 32-team league, get ready for another realignment in three years because the West, already two teams shy of numerical equality, is going to need, at minimum, one Eastern “volunteer” or it’s never going to catch up.

Any other grand conclusions will have to wait — like eight months, or so.

Yes, with only 14 teams in the conference, a Western club will have a 57% chance of qualifying for the post-season, while it will be 50/50 for an Eastern squad, an imbalance that doesn’t make the Eastern comrades in the NHL Players Association happy, or the Eastern owners, GMs or coaches, either.

Even in as random a game as hockey, the laws of probability still apply over an 82-game test.

But back in the days of the 21-team NHL, the Patrick Division had six teams and the other three had five, so the league has been unbalanced before, and will be again.

If you deserve to make the playoffs, you will make the playoffs

Boiled down to its essence, the top eight teams in each conference qualified for the post-season before realignment, and — give or take the anomaly of a slightly sub-standard squad getting in by finishing third in a weaker division — still will in the new world. Good teams will make it, bad teams won’t, and mediocre teams will be on the bubble.

Besides, it’s considered bad form to complain about a schedule that has every team visiting every city every year: a long overdue admission, on the NHL’s part, that fans are more than ATMs with legs. The paying customers won’t be bludgeoned, not as badly anyway, with a steady diet of games against teams in the division.

The schedule will remain division-heavy, but not as cloying as before — in the East, only 30 of the 82 games will be played within the division (29 in the West) — but the first two rounds of playoffs will be, theoretically, internal.

That could change, though, depending how the standings play out. The top three teams in each division qualify, plus two wild-cards, regardless of division. The top finisher among division winners plays the lowest-ranked wild-card (possibly from the other division) in the first round, the other division winner plays the other wild-card, while the second and third-place teams in each division play one another.

If a wild-card team upsets a division winner, the idea of the second round being entirely within the division wouldn’t necessarily happen, either.

If this all sounds confusing, look on the bright side: it could be baseball, where half the teams are out of it by the all-star break, and you need a slide-rule to figure out the wild-card possibilities.

Realignment’s early winners and losers aren’t so hard to identify. Detroit is back in the East, where it belongs — and in a division with three other Original Six teams, to boot: Boston, Montreal and Toronto. That will make for good nostalgia, but qualifying for the playoffs just got harder for both the Leafs and Canadiens.

The Red Wings’ travel gets exponentially better, too, as does the Jets’, and Columbus fans don’t have to stay up past midnight to watch their team play. Dallas, too, is relieved of having to play division games two time zones away in California.

Life got a little easier for the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks, with the Red Wings no longer in their rearview mirror, although they still have the St. Louis Blues to contend with in the new Central, along with Minnesota, Nashville, Colorado, Dallas and Winnipeg.

“If you deserve to make the playoffs, you will make the playoffs,” Flyers center Claude Giroux said, a couple of weeks back — an assertion that’s probably not all that comforting to the Washiington Capitals, who might be the most obvious loser in the shakeup.

The Caps go from the old Southeast Division, which they dominated against teams in Winnipeg, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida, to the new Metropolitan with, among others, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, the Rangers and the vastly-improved Islanders.

“We’ve snuck in playing in that Southeast Division a couple of times and we won’t have that luxury,” admitted Caps defenceman Karl Alzner, at the Canadian Olympic camp in late August. “But it’ll keep us a little more honest, which is probably a good thing.”

The Vancouver Canucks could probably say the same, having cruised along in the old Northwest on a steady diet of ordinary opponents including Calgary, Edmonton and Colorado and, at times, Minnesota. Like the Caps, they have been found wanting in the playoffs.

Grouped now with two teams that seem to have their number — the L.A. Kings and San Jose Sharks — the Canucks appear destined for a dogfight for the third guaranteed playoff spot in the Pacific with the Anaheim Ducks and the young, gifted Edmonton Oilers, and maybe even the plucky Phoenix Coyotes.

If the goal was to make half the teams happy and half unhappy, the NHL may have succeeded brilliantly.

Which are which? Ask again next June.


718349 Washington Capitals

Five thoughts from the Capitals’ 6-3 win over the Flyers

By Katie Carrera, Published: September 28 at 12:21 am

Even as the preseason nears its conclusion the Capitals continue to work through line combinations and give players on the bubble an opportunity to prove themselves.

Friday night at Verizon Center their lineup featured a mix of veterans, including the top line, and those vying for a place on the opening night roster, like Tom Wilson and Tyson Strachan. On the other side, the Philadelphia Flyers brought a lineup that will for the most part be what you see in the regular season.

Nevertheless, the Capitals came away with a 6-3 win. It was a contest that kept the scorekeepers busy, with 23 penalties, 103 penalty minutes including five fights, two 10-minute misconducts, and a game misconduct.

Five thoughts about fight night between the Caps and Flyers.

1. Grabovski no worse for wear. At the 10:40 mark of the first period a scary scene played out for the Capitals. Noted Philadelphia pest Zac Rinaldo lined up Mikhail Grabovski and delivered a significant blow, leading with his right arm and shoulder, to the center’s head. Grabovski dropped to the ice in a heap but largely escaped unscathed, suffering only a bloody nose.

There was a television timeout following the hit, allowing Grabovski time to collect himself on the bench and he was back out on the ice for the next faceoff to start the power play that ensued.

“I think it’s just not smart play,” Grabovski said. “I remember he’s a hitter, he’s looking to play. It’s pretty hard hit but I feel okay right now, ready to play next game. I saw him but it’s my mistake. I always need to be ready for those.”

2. Should Rinaldo be disciplined for the hit? Rinaldo received a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct. Under Rule 20.4 the game misconduct was mandatory for Rinaldo, because he had been assessed a major penalty for one of three infractions (elbowing, charging, boarding) that resulted in an injury to the face or head of his opponent.

“The referees obviously called it a certain way I would imagine the league will look at it,” Coach Adam Oates said. “There’s a line, there’s always a line. That’s a guy that plays that way, he plays on the edge.”

The play will be reviewed by the NHL Department of Player Safety, but whether Rinaldo receives any suspension or fine is difficult to predict. Rinaldo clearly made Grabovski’s head the principle point of contact, that alone should warrant consideration for discipline.

Whether Rinaldo is punished or not, safe to say the Capitals won’t forget the play.

“I don’t think that’s very respectful to target a guy’s head like that,” Tom Wilson said.. “Grabo’s nose was bloody. It was a shoulder right to the head so really, really good job of Grabo to take it and bounce back with a really good game.”

Said Eric Fehr: “I don’t think there’s really a place for that hit at that point in the game but he’s done that continually and hopefully the league takes a look at it.”

3. Wilson’s case. Wilson continues to make a strong argument to stick. He recorded his third goal of the preseason, his second fight along with four shots and two hits in 15:32 of ice time. The Capitals have yet to make a decision on his fate, but for a 19-year-old to look downright confident and comfortable playing against the snarl of the Flyers is pretty impressive.

The goal was a nice tap in off a pretty centering feed by Grabovski and he dominated the fight, pummeling Brayden Schenn, who actually asked Wilson to dance.

“He was just trying to get their guys going. He asked me to go. I was kind of surprised. I didn’t think he was much of a fighter but he asked me to go and the hit on Grabo early in the game I kind of wanted to respond,” said Wilson, who added he had fun playing with the skilled center. “Amazing. I

grew up watching him in Toronto, my whole life and I know how talented a player he is. It was nice to be on the receiving end of that pass.”

4. Timetable for Wilson decision. Earlier in the preseason, General Manager George McPhee said he would prefer to make a decision on Wilson’s status before the regular season opens. His stance appears to have changed somewhat since then, though, as McPhee expressed a willingness to experiment with the first-round pick a while longer if necessary.

“We have changed our minds a little bit on that,” McPhee said. “Ideally, you make your decisions and you go with your team but Sunday and Monday are sort of an artificial deadline, it can be extended.”

Wilson can play in nine games before the Capitals would burn the first year on his entry-level contract.

5. About the constant line rotation. The Capitals won’t have the luxury of a dry run in the preseason thanks to several circumstances, from Brooks Laich’s health to Alex Ovechkin’s trip to Greece to Nicklas Backstrom awaiting the birth of his first child and so on. Oates has sought to make the most of the preseason in spite of that, though, learning about the options he has among NHL players and on the bubble.

For all the experimenting, though, it’s hard not to wonder if it might not take the Capitals a few regular season games to truly find their rhythm.

“I still think there’s things that we’ve got to tweak and work on, that’s where obviously you want all your guys there to do that but Brooksie’s been hurt so we didn’t get that chance,” Oates said. “Chemistry’s still going to be a little affected but all and all the guys know what we’re supposed to do and we’re going in the right direction.”

After three games of playing with three different sets of linemates, Grabovski said he wouldn’t mind some consistency himself but that he understands Oates’s approach.

“All partners who I play with are great players. So I enjoy play with everybody. For sure it’s going to be easy for me if coach keep the partners all the same,” Grabovski said. “It’s not easy play all the time with different partners but I think he try best to look at players, give chance to everybody, me too. I just enjoy playing.”

Washington Post LOADED: 09.28.2013

718350 Washington Capitals

Capitals projected lineup against Flyers

By Katie Carrera, Published: September 27 at 12:10 pm

Coach Adam Oates will continue tinkering and experimenting with the lineup over the Capitals’ final two preseason games this weekend, seeking additional looks at players in game situations before the team must trim the roster by 3 p.m. Monday.

Friday night against the Flyers at Verizon Center will once again feature a mishmash of experienced veterans and youngsters looking to impress organizational brass, and the same will be true Saturday for the preseason finale in Chicago.

“We’re really just trying to figure out what we’re going to do to start the year and how we’re going to get into our groove with the guys we have and the decisions we have to make,” Oates said after the morning skate Friday. “Trying to give [General Manager] George [McPhee] as many opportunities to look at guys in different situations and experiment a little bit and just try to figure out the puzzle.”

Keep in mind that Alex Ovechkin won’t play in the preseason finale because he’ll be en route to Olympia, Greece, for the lighting of the Olympic torch, and Nicklas Backstrom isn’t expected to face the Blackhawks Saturday either because his girlfriend is nearly due to give birth to the couple’s first child.

Here’s what the projected lineup vs. the Flyers, who are expected to use their full NHL lineup, except for Jakub Voracek (upper-body injury).

Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alex Ovechkin

Jason Chimera – Mikhail Grabovski – Tom Wilson

Dane Byers – Mathieu Perreault – Eric Fehr

Aaron Volpatti – Michael Latta – Joel Rechlicz

Karl Alzner – Connor Carrick

Dmitry Orlov – Steve Oleksy

Michal Cajkovsky – Tyson Strachan

Michal Neuvirth

Braden Holtby

>> Brooks Laich, who has been bothered by a left hip flexor injury, skated and took part in a full practice for the first time since taking himself off the ice Tuesday. Laich will not face the Flyers and his status for Saturday in Chicago is uncertain.

“No decision [for Saturday],” Oates said. “One skate, I don’t know. I think Tuesday makes more sense but we’ll see.”

Oates said he isn’t concerned about Laich, who has appeared in only one preseason game, suiting up for the season opener even if he is unable to play in either game this weekend.

>> Joel Ward, who missed Thursday’s practice with a stomach illness, participated fully in practice on Friday.

Washington Post LOADED: 09.28.2013

718351 Winnipeg Jets

Jetcetera: Players pick collector pins

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 09/27/2013 2:13 PM | Comments: 0

Andrew Ladd flips through the pins bearing the likenesses of 11 of his teammates and tosses Dustin Byfuglien’s on the floor of the Jets’ dressing room.

"I definitely don’t want Buff. I see enough of Buff on a daily basis," the captain said with a smirk.

After surveying the set, which has been produced in conjunction with the NHL, the NHL Players Association and the Jets, he opts for Mark Stuart’s pin.

"Stewey doesn’t get enough love," he said.

When given the same choices, centre Bryan Little opted for Ladd’s pin.

"He’s my linemate, the captain and face of the team. I’ve got to stay with my linemate," he said.

Goalie Ondrej Pavelec looked at the faces of his teammates and said, "I’d like to have mine. I like it, this is the first time I’ve seen (these pins). I think it’s pretty cool," he said.

Other players included in the set are Evander Kane, Toby Enstrom, Blake Wheeler, Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi.

There are 24 pins in total, with each of the 11 players selected having a front shot and one of their jersey number. (There’s also a pin of Mark Scheifele who is listed as a "future star" and a commemorative silver pin of the Jets logo.)

A new pin will be available every day starting on Oct. 5 at 7-Eleven stores, Canada Safeway, Real Canadian Superstore, Canadian Tire and Red River Co-op gas stations.

Each one will cost $2.99 but you can’t buy it without a coupon, which is available in that day’s Free Press.

"It’s an opportunity for us to be able to share with our readers a collectors’ set that would not be available in any other fashion," said Laurie Finley, vice-president of sales and marketing at the Free Press.

Travis Daley: co-owner of Joe Daley’s Sports & Framing, said the pin collection is the type of memorabilia that would be worthy of hanging on the wall of a man cave.

"It’s not going to (have the value) of a Wayne Gretzky rookie card," he said.

All three Jets collected cards and pins when they were kids and they know the etiquette if you want something signed by one of your NHL opponents – you get your trainers to politely ask their trainers.

Ladd has signed jerseys from Gretzky and Cam Neely and Pavelec has one from his childhood hero, Martin Brodeur. Little, however, admits to being a little too intimidated to ask.

"I think I’ve been too scared to do that. When I first got into the league, I remember playing against Joe Sakic. I wanted a stick of his but I was too scared and too nervous. I wanted to say something to him on the face-off I was taking against him but I was too nervous," he said.

"He’s someone I grew up watching and he’s one of my heroes. It’s kind of a strange feeling. You have all of these ideas of what you’re going to say and when you’re actually face to face with him, you turn into an idiot."

In the end, we gave Little the pin bearing his likeness, too.

"Thanks. I’ll give it to my mom," he said.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.28.2013


Bruins blank Jets in final pre-season tilt

By: Melissa Martin

Posted: 09/27/2013 12:37 PM | Comments: 3

All that stands between the Jets and the regular season, now, is the final exhibition game tonight in Saskatoon.

If it seems to fans that the 2013-14 training camp has flown by, for some of the Jets players, it hasn’t flown fast enough. For instance, when media asked Zach Bogosian if he was excited to wrap up the training camp, the big blueliner nodded an emphatic yes. "Nobody likes pre-season," Bogosian said. "I don’t care who it is. If they say they do, they’re lying."

Yeah, those are just the words of a guy chomping at the bit to shoot pucks and throw hits that might actually matter, as more than just a moral victory. "You see the way it is," Bogosian said. "It’s sloppy hockey, and everyone wants to get that over with and get to the regular season… the regular season is what counts. We were working out the kinks before, but it’s just pre-season. It sucks. Not going to sugarcoat it."

So one more to go, then. The Jets will hop a plane to Saskatoon this afternoon to prepare for this final exhibition game against the Boston Bruins, but star winger Blake Wheeler won’t be dressing for the game. Though two-thirds of the top line in Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little will take the ice at Credit Union Centre, Wheeler remains out day-to-day with an injury. Upper or lower body? "He has an all-body injury," Jets coach Claude Noel joked after a short practice on Friday morning. "He’s just got some tweaks from training camp that we just want to be smart about."

Noel also described Bogosian as also day-to-day, though the blueliner skated in practice on Friday and chatted with media after the skate. None of the injuries are worrisome, Noel stressed. "I think it’s important right now that when we deal with our players right now, that we’re dealing with them looking at two things. Their health and welfare, but the other thing is, where do they stand between playing and starting the regular season?"

After tonight’s game, the Jets will head to Banff for a couple of days for a little team retreat in the Rockies, before getting set in Edmonton to open the regular season against the Oilers on Tuesday. They open their home schedule next Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.



Three Jets facing huge disappointment

By: Melissa Martin

Posted: 09/28/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

AS much as Zach Bogosian is looking forward to that first game in Edmonton, three of the Jets in camp on Friday won't get to be there. The team had 26 players in camp as of Friday, and must get down to 23 before the season starts.

After Saturday night's game in Saskatoon, the Jets will head to a team-building weekend in Banff, with some players still waiting to find out if they made it off the bubble in camp. After a short morning skate at the MTS Centre on Friday, coach Claude Noel said he wasn't quite relishing making those final moves.

"It's always difficult, because I've been a player," Noel said. "You don't like to be the bearer of that type of news."

But Noel said he stresses the silver lining for the released players too, the fact that he expects to see them back with the Jets sooner or later.

"The door will open again for some players," he said. "You have to make sure that you're prepared for that opportunity, so when the door opens again, you're making it a tough decision to be reassigned again."

After years around the hockey biz, Noel said he doesn't worry too much about how the pending reassignments will affect the players who don't make the cuts. They understand that sometimes things aren't fair, that waivers and contracts play a role in who goes where.

"Players are smart enough, they've been in this situation and they've been down this road before," he said, though there is a caveat.

"It's usually a little bit more difficult for young players, because by the time they get here they've been the best player all the way growing up, all the way through junior or college," he said. "It's a little bit tough to deal with then. I feel their pain, but that's just the nature of the game, and a process they have to go through sometimes."

-- -- --

It's not often -- or ever -- that Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler get to watch a game together from the press box, as they did during Thursday night's exhibition game. "It looks a lot slower from the press box," Ladd said, with a grin. "You see mistakes and whatnot. I think everyone can learn from that kind of stuff. I don't mind sitting out and watching, but I'd rather be on the ice and playing."

Wheeler didn't skate at practice Friday morning, as coaches held him out day-to-day, and wasn't slotted to join his linemates in Friday night's game. Upper body injury? Lower?

"He has an all-body injury," Noel quipped, but stressed that it wasn't serious. "He's just got some tweaks in training camp that we just want to be smart about."

-- -- --

Noel has been stressing the two Cs of hockey with his team lately: communication and checking. Those are things he's pressed with the Jets for the last two seasons, but Noel said that's just part of the process.

"Things change," he said. "Players leave, and players come back, so you have to keep re-establishing some things. Players see themselves as trying to grab a bigger role, or justify their contract for example. I understand that stuff. Yes, you'd like to have it solidified... but you've just got to be patient."

So, is Noel's message about being tough to play against, and taking care of the details getting through?

"I hope so," Ladd said. "Those are all imperative to winning hockey games."



Jets beware: Western Conference full of carnivores

By: Ed Tait


Free Press hockey writer Ed Tait looks at some of the key components and numbers in the Jets' move to the Western Conference:

THE MOVE

The NHL's first major realignment since 1998 sees the Jets move to the West with Detroit and Columbus shifting East. As well, all 30 teams will play in all 30 cities at least once during the regular season.

The shuffle will feature two eight-team divisions in the East -- the Atlantic and Metropolitan -- and two seven-team divisions in the West -- the Central and Pacific.

The Jets are in the Central with Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville and St. Louis.

The playoff format will still see eight teams qualify in both conferences, increasing the odds in the 14-team West. The top three clubs in each division will comprise the first 12 teams in the playoffs with the remaining four spots filled by the next two highest-placed finishers.

Applying last year's totals to this new format and divisions, the Jets -- with 51 points -- would have finished fourth in the Central behind Chicago (77), St. Louis (60) and Minnesota (55) and tied for ninth in the conference with Phoenix.

3 KEY FACTS ABOUT THE WEST

1. Eight of the top 11 defensive teams in the NHL last season came from the West, although Detroit (fifth) and Columbus (ninth) have shifted East.

2013 GOALS AGAINST PER GAME

1. Chicago - 2.02

2. Ottawa - 2.08

3. Boston - 2.21

4. N.Y. Rangers - 2.25

5. Detroit - 2.29

6. San Jose - 2.33

7. Los Angeles - 2.38

8. St. Louis - 2.38

9. Columbus - 2.40

10. Vancouver - 2.40

25. WINNIPEG - 2.94

2. The MTS Centre is a tough place to play? Think again. The top three home records last season were all owned by Western Conference teams: Los Angeles, Chicago and San Jose.

2013 HOME RECORDS

1. Los Angeles - 19-4-1

2. Chicago - 18-3-3

3. San Jose - 17-2-5

4. Pittsburgh - 18-6-0

5. Boston - 16-5-3

6. New York Rangers - 16-6-2

7. Anaheim - 16-7-1

8. Vancouver - 15-6-3

9. Ottawa - 15-6-3

10. Columbus - 14-5-5

21. WINNIPEG - 13-10-1

3. Defence first or goal-challenged? The top four scorers in the NHL last season -- Martin St. Louis (61 points), Steven Stamkos (57), Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin (56) -- all came from Eastern Conference teams.

Just as an FYI: Andrew Ladd's 46 points last season would have been good enough for him to lead 10 Western Conference teams in scoring: Calgary, Colorado, Dallas, L.A., Minnesota, Nashville, Phoenix, San Jose, St. Louis and Vancouver.

GOALS PER GAME

1. Pittsburgh - 3.38

2. Chicago - 3.10

3. Tampa - 3.06

4. Montreal - 3.04

5. Washington - 3.04

6. Toronto - 3.02

7. New York Islanders - 2.81

8. Anaheim - 2.79

9. Philadelphia - 2.75

10. Los Angeles - 2.73

16. WINNIPEG - 2.62

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

In the last full NHL season, 2011-12, the Jets played only three of 41 road games -- in Nashville, Minnesota and Chicago -- in their time zone. This year that total is 11, all with their new division mates in Minny (2), Nashville (2), Dallas (2), St. Louis (3) and Chicago (2). (Colorado is in the Mountain time zone).

In 2011-12 the Jets travelled 44,627 miles, 10th most in the NHL. Of the clubs that travelled more only one -- Florida -- was based in the East.

In 2013-14 the Jets will actually travel more -- 46,477 (courtesy: ontheforecheck.com) -- than in previous years but, along with San Jose and Colorado, have the fewest number of games on back-to-back nights with 10.

Call it part myth, part reality. And until the Winnipeg Jets start playing games for real in their new neighbourhood and the hard evidence starts piling up, it will remain a little of both.

Still, the general consensus as the Jets open their third campaign in Winnipeg is it's tougher hockey out there in the National Hockey League's Western Conference. The players are bigger and grittier and their new opponents employ more defensively sound systems that make for harder, heavier, nastier games.

So there's this warning, one the Jets have only heard a gabillion times since the league shuffled up divisions and relocated them:

If they are not ready for the long, dirty battle for playoff spots that will stretch from October to April, they will get squished by Western squads who regularly roll over opponents like tanks plowing through a field of daisies.

"It's like comparing apples and oranges," said veteran Olli Jokinen, who has played for teams in both conferences over a pro career that dates back to 1998. "There's a lot of low-scoring games and the teams are well organized and well coached. That's not taking anything away from the teams in the Eastern Conference, but it's a different style."

"I've played in both conferences and I would say the West is a little bit tighter," added Michael Frolik, who has split his career with Florida and Chicago before arriving in Winnipeg. "Every team is hard to play against -- I'm not saying the East is not -- it's just tighter.

"You don't see the 6-1 scores in the West very often, they're always 2-1 or 3-2, and it carries over into the playoffs."

Now, all of this isn't to say this defence-first, old-school approach doesn't exist in the East -- hello Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils -- but it does pose some interesting questions/concerns as the Jets attempt to become a harder team to play against and slice that gaudy number that is their goals against.

The Jets surrendered an average of 2.94 goals per game last season, 25th in the NHL, and have not finished in the top half of the NHL since 2006-07 (15th) when they qualified for the playoffs for the only time in franchise history. (Ironically, their goals-against average that season was 2.94).

Their goal differential of minus-16 was 23rd best in the NHL; the power play was ranked 30th, the penalty kill was 24th.

And if those numbers don't dramatically improve this season, the reality is the Jets will be nothing more than fresh meat for the carnivores out West.

"If you look at the league last year, most of the high goal scorers are in the East," said Devin Setoguchi, who has spent his entire career out West with San Jose and Minnesota. "I'm not saying the West is better defensively, I just think the games are different there. You're not getting those track-meet games and it comes down to one-goal games a lot of the times. That's the difference... one play, one puck not getting out that is in the back of the net. That's what Claude (Noel) has been preaching to us and it's something we need to buckle down on."

The Jets have had trouble in the past playing in those -- as Noel refers to them -- "heavier" games. But if there are more of those nights when their mix of size and skill is blending perfectly, this could be an effective club that could push for a playoff spot.

Consider, too, that the Jets are hardly tiny. Their current roster averages 6-2, 207.4 pounds.

Now it's about the buy-in to Noel's message: The attention to detail defensively, to getting in the hard areas in front of the enemy net and clogging the shooting lanes in front of their own.

In short, if it's true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then it's time the Jets start playing a lot more like the folks in their new neighbourhood.

"Everybody asks how are we going to compete in the Western Conference," said Jokinen. "To me it's more about how we feel here in the room and how we're going to play. We shouldn't lose our focus... everybody says we're in a tougher division this year than last year.

"We believe we're a better team than we were last year and, at the same time, it's more about how we're going to play as a team and how we buy into our system. The focus has to be on what we do and the things we can control, not so much about what other teams are doing."



Kid looks ready to fit right in on Jets' blue-line

By: Melissa Martin


In the wake of Thursday night's game, even in a loss, five words tumbled out of media and teammates and Twitter: Jacob Trouba is a special player.

The Jets believed this when they drafted him, even with flashier forwards on the board. University of Michigan fans believed it when they saw him cannonballing his way through his area of the NCAA, and then everyone believed at World Juniors at the turn of the year. He was magnificent there, even though he was a year younger than most defencemen in the tournament, and a generous part of Team USA's gold medal was won through his play.

Now Trouba stands in the final stretch of his first NHL training camp, looking for all the world like he belongs. On Thursday night against the visiting Bruins, he notched an assist, crushed Patrice Bergeron and skated like a song. Most remarkable: he didn't look like a teen at the most intense crossroads of his young career. He looked in control of what he was doing out there, and afterwards he said he was just having fun.

"Just his poise with the puck," Jets defence coach Charlie Huddy said of the kid, the morning after that first Bruins game. "The way he handles the puck, and holds onto it, and makes the right plays, but doesn't hold onto it too long and get into trouble with it. Just his d-zone coverage I think, for a young kid... the game's a lot quicker, things happen faster, but surprisingly, he's handled it well."

If Trouba stays up -- and by all indications, he will -- things won't always be so smooth. He's only 19, Huddy agreed, he will make some mistakes, and he'll make them under the ravenous eyes of a Canadian hockey crowd. The Jets know the potential they have on their hands, and now they must surround him with the support to keep him on a level, and bring him up right.

"You're under the microscope every time you step out onto that ice," Huddy said. "But from the time I've known him, I think he's a pretty level-headed kid. I don't think he's going to have any problems handling it. Is he going to feel it? I'm sure... but he can't worry about all the outside stuff. He's got one job to do, and we'll help him along with that."

So in the Jets dressing room, Trouba hangs up his gear now just to Mark Stuart's right, the same way they raced through the game Thursday night, and that's exactly where coaches want him to be. Stuart, 29, is in his ninth pro season now. He's earned his scars, and comes to work with the sort of guts-and-grindstone approach that keeps a guy in this league.

"It's kind of my job to just help him out," Stuart said on Thursday.

"For him, my advice is just to take it all in, really. Just play his game. I think if you try to prove too much right away, it's not healthy for a young kid. He wouldn't be in the position he's in if he didn't have the talent. So for him to just keep doing what he's doing, and the job of a veteran guy is just communicate as much as possible."

Then there is Huddy, who Jets defencemen describe as a "calming" influence and who, with his soft-spoken approach can seem kind of zen. Huddy can't remember himself ever playing with a blue-liner quite like Trouba, not quite that mix of size and all-around strengths and unbridled glee at taking the body. It's exciting to see, Huddy agreed, and he isn't too worried about how his youngest charge will adapt when the challenge ramps up.

"We all know once the regular season picks up, the intensity picks up," Huddy said. "But I don't see that being a problem for him."



Jets fans can pin hopes on players

Eleven team members form memorabilia collection

By: Geoff Kirbyson


You can start

collecting Oct. 5

Need it, need it, got it, need it, got it.

Here's how you get the Jets pins. Starting Oct. 5, there will be a coupon in the Free Press you can clip out and present at 7-Eleven stores, Canada Safeway, Real Canadian Superstore, Canadian Tire and Red River Co-op gas stations. Captain Andrew Ladd will be the first pin.

With the coupon, each pins costs $2.99. One pin will be available every day until Nov. 2.

With your first purchase, you will receive a free collector's album.

Evander Kane will make an appearance at the Canada Safeway store at Madison Square on Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in support of the pin program.

Andrew LADD flips through the pins bearing the likenesses of 11 of his teammates and tosses Dustin Byfuglien's on the floor of the Jets' dressing room.

"I definitely don't want Buff. I see enough of Buff on a daily basis," the captain said with a smirk.

After surveying the set, which has been produced in conjunction with the NHL, the NHL Players Association and the Jets, he opts for Mark Stuart's pin.

"Stewey doesn't get enough love," he said.

When given the same choices, centre Bryan Little opted for Ladd's pin.

"He's my linemate, the captain and face of the team. I've got to stay with my linemate," he said.

Goalie Ondrej Pavelec looked at the faces of his teammates and said, "I'd like to have mine. I like it, this is the first time I've seen (these pins). I think it's pretty cool," he said.

"Can I have Olli (Jokinen), too?"

Other players included in the set are Evander Kane, Toby Enstrom, Zach Bogosian, Blake Wheeler and Devin Setoguchi.

There are 24 pins in total, with each of the 11 players selected having a front shot and one of their jersey number. (There's also a pin of Mark Scheifele who is listed as a "future star" and a commemorative silver pin of the Jets logo.)

A new pin will be available every day starting on Oct. 5 at 7-Eleven stores, Canada Safeway, Real Canadian Superstore, Canadian Tire and Red River Co-op gas stations.

Each one will cost $2.99 but you can't buy it without a coupon, which is available in that day's Free Press.

"It's an opportunity for us to be able to share with our readers a collectors' set that would not be available in any other fashion," said Laurie Finley, vice-president of sales and marketing at the Free Press.

Travis Daley, co-owner of Joe Daley's Sports & Framing, said the pin collection is the type of memorabilia that would be worthy of hanging on the wall of a man cave.

"It's not going to (have the value) of a Wayne Gretzky rookie card," he said.

All three Jets collected cards and pins when they were kids and they know the etiquette if you want something signed by one of your NHL opponents - you get your trainers to politely ask their trainers.

Ladd has signed jerseys from Gretzky and Cam Neely and Pavelec has one from his childhood hero, Martin Brodeur. Little, however, admits to being a little too intimidated to ask.

"I think I've been too scared to do that. When I first got into the league, I remember playing against Joe Sakic. I wanted a stick of his but I was too scared and too nervous. I wanted to say something to him on the face-off I was taking against him but I was too nervous," he said.

"He's someone I grew up watching and he's one of my heroes. It's kind of a strange feeling. You have all of these ideas of what you're going to say and when you're actually face to face with him, you turn into an idiot."

In the end, we gave Little the pin bearing his likeness, too.

"Thanks. I'll give it to my mom," he said.



Jets fall to Bruins in pre-season finale

By Ken Wiebe ,Winnipeg Sun

First posted: Friday, September 27, 2013 10:36 PM CDT | Updated: Friday, September 27, 2013 11:37 PM CDT

SASKATOON - The Winnipeg Jets said farewell to the pre-season with a listless 5-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Friday night at Credit Union Place.

It’s more a matter of good riddance as the Jets fell to 1-4-3 in their eight pre-season games.

“We wanted to finish on a good note and have some positive feelings going into the first game and we didn’t get the effort (Friday),” said Jets defenceman Mark Stuart. “It is pre-season but you want to win. It’s very disappointing to come out with only one win in eight games. It’s not where we want to be. Now it’s a matter of learning from the pre-season.”

The record itself is irrelevant and while it’s true the Jets have yet to play a full game with all of their regulars together, they’re not exactly firing on all cylinders going into Tuesday’s regular-season opener against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.

“We still have things to work on, clearly,” said Jets right-winger Blake Wheeler. “We’re getting better in areas but we still aren’t on the same page and that’s the biggest thing. It’s as simple as that.

“It don’t think it’s a will, a skill or a work ethic thing, sometimes we’re trying to do too much and it forces us to be out of position a little bit. Less is more every once in a while. If we can simplify the game, it’s going to be a lot easier for everyone.”

The Bruins scored in the opening minute of the contest, with Carl Soderberg jumping on a rebound after Al Montoya couldn’t control the rebound on the initial shot, just 26 seconds in.

It was a sign of things to come.

“I can’t say I really enjoyed it,” said Noel, when asked for his take on the pre-season as a whole. “You start off the first shift and it’s in our net. We made some mistakes and they jumped them. It wasn’t about that. Our players have to look in the mirror with how we’re going to prepare ourselves for the regular season. We’ve got a lot of work to do, let’s put it that way.”

Johnny Boychuk, Jordan Caron, Nick Johnson and Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins, who improved to 6-1 in the pre-season.

“We didn’t have the pre-season that we wanted to have,” said Jets centre Olli Jokinen. “We all feel like there has to be another level for all of us. Once we all do that, the team is going to get better as well. It’s not the Xs and Os, it’s more that the battle level has got to get up. We’ve got to have a better mental mindset going into games.”

The Jets also got a scare late in the third period when defenceman Dustin Byfuglien left favouring his knee.

However, Byfuglien was seen walking around after the game and Noel said “he was fine,” noting it was simply a cramp or something that locked up on him.

The Jets will spend Saturday doing team building exercises in Banff, Alta., then return to the ice for two final practices before making their way to Edmonton.

By Monday afternoon, the Jets must submit their 23-man roster, so three players will either need to be sent down, placed on waivers, traded or moved to the injured-reserve list.

Defenceman Zach Redmond and forwards Matt Halischuk, Anthony Peluso and Patrice Cormier were all healthy scratches, leaving Eric Tangradi and Chris Thorburn to play on the fourth line with Jim Slater.

But were those moves an answer to what the Jets might do with their roster or simply provide another riddle?

“When you look at the roster and look at the lines, it’s going to be interesting to see where all this goes because I’m pretty unhappy with quite a few players,” said Noel.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.28.2013

718358 Vancouver Canucks

Jamieson: 5 ways to improve NHL hockey

Part 1 in our five-day series on how to fix the NHL

By Jim Jamieson, The ProvinceSeptember 27, 2013

OK, how do we make NHL hockey better?

Let us count the ways.

There are lots of angles from which you can approach this highly contentious topic.

Here are five, in no particular order:

— A penalty is a penalty

How tired are we of watching penalties called by the book at the beginning of the season — then seeing the game turned into a rodeo come playoff time?

Can you imagine that kind of officiating variance in the NFL? How about in Major League Baseball?

In the NHL, there seems to be an acceptance that penalties will be called on a sliding scale — the later into the season, the more players can get away with. Until the playoffs arrive, when the league’s mantra becomes, “Let the players, not the refs, decide the outcome of the game.” (Rough translation: “It’s not a penalty unless someone loses a limb.”)

Not only does it eat away at the league’s credibility like acid, it tends to work against the skill teams because the opposition can take liberties on their top players without much worry about taking penalties.

Doubtless, Canucks fans are still bitter about how this phenomenon worked against Vancouver in the 2011 Stanley Cup final against the Boston Bruins. Of course, the Canucks didn’t do themselves any favours with their utter ineptitude on the power play, and I don’t have to remind you how that went.

Let’s make it clear to the refs that we want them to enforce the rules, no matter when it is in the season, no matter what stage of the game. Pay particular attention to the hooking and holding fouls and others that choke the skill out of the game.

That was the mandate coming out of the previous lockout, with other measures thrown in there, such as allowing stretch passes to the opposing blueline. And look what happened: average goals per game jumped from a stultifying 2.57 in the 2003-04 season to 3.03 in the 2005-06 season. Sure, some of that was due to an increase in power plays, because players were transitioning to the new standard, but who doesn’t find a power play exciting?

As the seasons wore on, though, the players — and coaches — figured out how to cut down scoring chances and goaltending got better. But don’t think the rule book interpretation didn’t loosen up as well. Since the 2008-09 season average goals per game have decreased slightly but steadily to this past season, where the number was 2.65. That’s just above where it was at the nadir of the so-called “Dead Puck Era” — just prior to the previous lockout.

Sure, a 1-0 game can be great, but don’t count on it. Let’s make the calls and allow the players to show their skill.

— Say goodbye to the shootout

I have as much fun watching a shootout at the end of a tied hockey game as the next person.

It’s just that it has little or nothing to do with hockey.Really, is a guy coming in all alone from centre, making a full stop in front of the crease and then scoring on a cheesy spin-o-rama move to make some helpless goalie look silly, a fit way to decide a winner?

This was part of the rule tweaks and game changes that came out of the 2004-05 lockout. The idea was to find a way to settle every game and do away with the dreaded tie.

The shootout has been around for eight seasons now, and history instructs us that the best shooter in that time has been Islanders centre Frans Nielsen (25-for-45, or 55.6 per cent), and goaltender Mathieu Garon has gone 10-0 in two different seasons. We also know that back-to-back NHL scoring champions Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been so horrible in the shootout that they refuse to make eye contact with the coach when a tie game gets past the overtime period.

There has been a contention that the shootout adds excitement to the game. I disagree. Excitement is the four-on-four overtime, though scoring chances have declined over the years as coaches came up with better strategies to limit them. My experience is that the air feels like it’s been sucked out of the building, going from OT to the shootout.

My solution?

Get rid of the gimmick and begin the OT with three minutes of four-on-four, then go to three-on-three for another three minutes if nobody dents the twine.

After that, well, it’s a tie, but I’ll bet there won’t be many of them.

And, at least that would still resemble hockey.

— No more injury obfuscation

Last season, just prior to the Canucks’ brief playoff appearance, then-head coach Alain Vigneault gave the ultimate intelligence-insulting response when asked about the status of goaltender Cory Schneider.

Vigneault’s wry response: “He’s got a body injury that is day to day.”

Not surprisingly, many in the media had fun with that response, making observations such as: At least we know he doesn’t have a bruised ego, or suffered harm to his soul.

But, of course, the joke is on us — and we’re just the connection between the paying (both directly and indirectly) customers and the team.

Maybe it would just be simpler if the NHL had a policy where it didn’t talk at all about injuries. But that would be a cop-out — and just bad business. If fans aren’t sure about the health status of their favourite players, how can they fairly gauge their performance? Those who manage hockey pool teams? Wager on a slate of games? Make no mistake, those two activities generate a huge amount of interest in the NHL.

The rationale is that if injuries were fully disclosed, the opposition would look for ways to take advantage by going after the injured area; so the practice is in place to protect the players.

With all due respect, we find this doubtful.

It doesn’t seem to be a factor in the NFL, which plays a more physical game and has a much wider and open disclosure policy. The NBA and Major League Baseball? Also much more open when it comes to player injuries.

To be fair, some coaches do offer detailed information about injuries, depending on the time of year and, we suppose, how they’re feeling that day. But mostly it’s the time-worn phrase: “Day to day.” Which means, well, absolutely nothing.

Anyway, that’s enough on this. It’s starting to give me an upper body ache.

— Pull the plug on the all-star game

Is there anything more painful to watch than a bunch of jet-lagged superstars trying to pretend a glorified game of shinny has some meaning?

You’ve got to feel for the players, who are obligated to play in this “showcase” game and participate in the skills competition. Yes, it’s an honour to be selected by the fans to gather with the NHL’s elite and, yes, it’s a marketing opportunity for the league.

But it’s also another exhausting assignment for the league’s top players — who already log big minutes — when most of their teammates are resting up back in their home cities during the mandated break.

Let’s keep the break — the schedule is already populated by too many games — and find some other vehicle to market the league.

There won’t be any all-star break this season, due to the 17-day hiatus the NHL is taking for the Sochi Olympics.

Let’s hope everybody has just forgotten about it by 2015.

— Put fighting where it belongs: on the periphery

I used to enjoy watching a hockey fight as much as the next guy, but I have to say I’ve come nearly 180 degrees on the subject.

It happened sometime around covering the hockey tournament at the 2010 Olympics. I saw first-hand what a great game hockey can be when it’s played with a full lineup of highly skilled players. It was still rough, tough and physical, but there was no need to drop the gloves — and I certainly didn’t miss that aspect.

Of course, I am not suggesting NHL clubs — or at least the majority of them — can match the depth of skill of an Olympic team, but the current evolution we’re seeing on fourth lines says that players who are primarily scrappers are living on borrowed time.

There’s also the player safety aspect, with more evidence of the damage that fighting can cause. Put this together with the new legislation regarding mandatory visors for new NHL players, and fighting becomes even more problematic.

We’re not going to ignore the fact that a lot of fans do like to see fights, so we’ll offer a compromise: Some have suggested allowing a player 10 fighting majors before increasing suspensions begin to kick in. I’m going to reduce that number to five. That would still allow a player such as Jarome Iginla to still drop the gloves from time to time, but put the pure enforcers out of a job.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.28.2013


Botchford: Canucks’ lack of depth the only reason Horvat and Shinkaruk still around

By Jason Botchford, The ProvinceSeptember 27, 2013

The pair of rookies have been fine playing all six games in Vancouver’s pre-season. They’re both smart, poised, and skilled players with bright futures. They’ve shown all of that. But what they haven’t been is overly impressive and what they haven’t shown, yet, is they are ready for the NHL.

It may not matter. With Zack Kassian suspended, Jordan Schroeder hurt and a bottom six which will have people pining for Samme Pahlsson, heck even you Ryan Johnson, it’s plausible both Shinkaruk and Horvat could be on the opening night roster next week.

Now, there is a caveat here. The Canucks management have been eyeing this weekend’s waiver wire for two months now. Management believes it can find a player, maybe even a third-line centre, which would change the conversation.

They plan to be active. But we’ve seen Canucks plans fizzle in the past.

“They’ve had good camps,” Canucks head coach John Tortorella said of the two 18-year-olds. “I guess they’re the ones (still) standing as far as the kids. I just felt they’ve done more.

“Where they sit as far as we keep on going through, I don’t know. You have to be really careful in keeping players (this young) around and practising.

“They need to play. We’ll make our decisions as we keep on going.

“If we think they can help us, we’ll give them the opportunity.”

Horvat and Shinkaruk are still here, but Frankie Corrado, the closest-to-NHL-ready prospect the Canucks have, is gone.

Corrado was dispatched to Utica, a cut that surprised those who thought the Canucks may give up on Andrew Alberts or Yannick Weber. Those two vets were signed to one-way deals, which suggests Corrado never really had a shot in the first place.

Apparently, contracts aside, Corrado wasn’t good enough anyway. Tortorella was asked if Corrado was one of his six best defencemen during the pre-season.

“No,” he answered bluntly. “That is certainly not a negative on Frank.

“But I thought he had a really good start, struggled in the middle and you could see then he needs the minutes.

“He’s going to get them ... He’ll play a ton (in Utica). Hopefully, that will help him get here quicker.”

Tortorella said he doesn’t know who his sixth defenceman is.

“A lot of things can happen,” he claimed.

Well, only a few things can happen. It’s either Alberts, Weber or the Canucks acquire another blueliner in a trade or via waivers.



Canucks try something different — shootout practice

September 27, 2013. 3:25

Posted by:

Jason Botchford

Canucks try something different — shootout practice

Now, this was different.

Friday there was a shootout practice by the Vancouver Canucks.

That’s rare enough.

But there was no laughing, or celebrating or good-time Charlies attempting ridiculous moves a player would never try in a skills competition that counted.

The loose, circus, Sunday-afternoon vibe of year’s past was long gone.

Seems Vancouver has a coach who takes the shootout seriously.

“I think it’s huge in where you sit at the end of the year,” John Tortorella said. “We are going to practice it and try to get it into a more disciplined time to practice.

“Usually, you practice and guys are screwing around at the end of practice. We did it today more like a game situation. They clean the ice, you put the nets in and you do it.

“Because those points are so crucial when you come into March and April.”

Skills coach Glenn Carnegie following every attempt with an iPad, filming every flinch, and every stride.

There was method too, as just about every player shot the puck on their attempts rather than counting on dangling and deke moves.



Pressure on Luongo to deliver early for Canucks

DAVID EBNER

VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Sep. 27, 2013 7:38PM EDT

Last updated Saturday, Sep. 28, 2013 1:08AM EDT

October bedevils Roberto Luongo.

In the first month of the long hockey season – especially during Luongo’s time in Vancouver –the goaltender’s play is much weaker than through the rest of the winter.

The reasons may not be clear, but the results are stark, indicated clearly by a detailed parsing of the numbers. During Luongo’s six Octobers in Vancouver, his record is 28-27-4, putting up wins in less than half his decisions. In the months of November through April, the difference is remarkable: 205-94-40.


718362 Websites

ESPN / Look for the kid to push the vet in Ottawa

By Pierre LeBrun

MONTREAL -- Brian Gionta thought he had a sure goal near the end of the second period Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens captain on the doorstep for a tap-in, only to be robbed by Craig Anderson.

The Ottawa Senators netminder did a lot of that last season, especially in a first-round series win over the Habs.

In one of Bryan Murray’s most brilliant moves as general manager of the Senators, he acquired Anderson from Colorado in February 2011 in exchange for Brian Elliott. While Elliott has gone on to have some measure of success in St. Louis as a 1B to Jaroslav Halak, Anderson has been Vezina-like in Canada’s capital.

Robin Lehner played 12 games for the Senators last season, posting a 2.20 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

It was a franchise-altering move.

"We were real fortunate to get a goaltender of Anderson’s caliber in a trade, you don’t often get a goaltender like that," Murray told ESPN.com on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. "That gave us a chance to do what we had to do with Robin."

Ah yes, Robin Lehner, the 22-year-old netminder finally breaking camp with the NHL squad after three years of tutelage in the AHL.

"It’s my first season being up here from the start, it feels pretty good,” the Gothenburg, Sweden, native told ESPN.com on Thursday night. "You kind [of] get to start a life. The last four years, I’ve lived with my suitcase from hotel to hotel. Now you have a base and you can start something."

There are some around the NHL that think Lehner is already starter material. Some also believe he’s franchise-goalie material in the not-too-distant future.

"I do for sure," a rival NHL team executive said. "He has all of the characteristics, including a great run to an AHL championship [in 2011]. His compete [level] stands out. All he needs is more NHL experience."

All of which makes Ottawa’s netminding duo arguably the most potent in the NHL.

Anderson, for one, might have won the Vezina last season had it not been for an injury that made him miss too much time to garner enough votes from NHL GMs. When he was healthy, he put up a ridiculous .941 save percentage along with a 1.69 goals-against average.

Anderson aims to pick up where he left off.

"Every day you go out there you want to prove something,” Anderson told ESPN.com on Thursday night. "There’s a lot to be proven every season. You’re either growing or you’re dying in this game. For me, I want to give my team a chance to win every night and, if I do that, the statistics and the accolades will take care of themselves."

While most NHL teams have to live with the fact that on 20 to 25 nights a season, they’re giving a goal away by dressing the backup, one could argue the Senators will have a true starter in net for 82 games this season.

"The one thing we do know, they are both very capable, both can win games for us," Murray said. "That’s a real strength for an organization."

Going back to the franchise re-birth in 1992, the Senators have always lacked that true, surefire elite No. 1; it cost them in their playoff series losses to rival Toronto, and you could argue it is the reason that a Stanley Cup eluded the club in the late 1990s and 2000s despite all the incredible talent that skated in suburban Kanata.

It was awfully important to Murray when he took over the reins as GM to fix that.

"Hopefully this time, with the two guys, we’ll have a chance moving forward,” Murray said. "But yes, Ottawa has had that struggle over the

years. Which is why we tried to address it with the trade for Anderson and drafting Robin."

Anderson starts as the No. 1 guy, but those around the organization are intrigued to see how Lehner pushes Anderson. My sense is head coach Paul MacLean will ride Anderson early and often and make Lehner force his hand as the season goes on.

Is Lehner ready for the opportunity?

"He’s had a great camp,” Murray said of Lehner, drafted 46th overall in 2009. "He looks like he’s taken another step.

"The one thing about Robin, when he first came in, he was in a hurry to get to the NHL. It would be a 'Why can’t I be up there?' type of thing. He understands now the process of becoming a good goaltender in the league. He’s had a great summer and it looks like he’s really filled out, he’s matured, and he’s ready to be a good goalie in this league."

Those who aren’t sold on Lehner wonder whether he has the temperament to be an NHL star goalie. Lehner says his time in the AHL helped his development immeasurably.

"I had a lot of things that I needed to work on from a technical point, from a psychological point, from an attitude point of view, everything," said Lehner, a 6-foot-4, 223-pound behemoth in net. "It’s a process you have to go through. It’s a tough league, it’s a lot of pressure, and if you’re not ready you can break down on a lot of levels. Ottawa has done a great job of that in helping me get better every year."

What will be new for Lehner is beginning the year as a backup. But he welcomes the chance to maximize his opportunities.

"You take the chances you get,” Lehner said. "It’s all about winning. I’m going to try to do that when I get the chance. I know Craig will do that, too."

Not every netminder loves being "pushed" in net by his tandem mate. Some goalies are peculiar lads, indeed. But Anderson, a likable veteran who has traveled a tough road to gain his well-earned respect around the league, says he’s fine with it.

"You need to be pushed," Anderson said. "When you find that comfort zone in your career, when you get in a situation where you’re [too] comfortable, you get bitten, you get bitten hard. I learned that once. I choose not to learn that again."

Anderson was referring to 2006 when he was waived three times from January to February, going from Chicago to Boston to St. Louis back to Chicago, trading hands like a bag of popcorn.

"I got comfortable and just accepted being the second guy, didn’t feel like pushing [Nikolai] Khabibulin at all," Anderson said. "I had to take a step backward to take a couple of leaps forward."

An obvious strength in Ottawa this season will also be fascinating to watch, as the kid pushes the vet. It’s a situation the Senators have dreamed of for a very long time.

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FOXSports.com / Kings, Ducks take Freeway Faceoff to Dodger Stadium

ABBEY MASTRACCO

LOS ANGELES -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman didn't need any elaborate verbiage or a long-worded statement when explaining why hockey in the greater Los Angeles area is viable. The credentials of the two teams, including two Stanley Cups in the last five seasons, speak for themselves.

"Hockey in Southern California – it works," Bettman said Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Players and coaches from the Kings, the Ducks as well as hockey and Dodgers brass gathered with the media on the field to officially announce next year's game between the two that will take place at the stadium as part of the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series.

On the surface, it might seem as though the popularization of the outdoor games like the Winter Classic and the newly-created Stadium Series are based on bringing hockey to its roots of outdoor pickup games in the winter. But as we all know, there is no ice in Los Angeles or Orange County in the winter. You're more likely to be ditching the shoes for a surfboard than lacing up skates.

But the Kings and the Ducks will lace them up for the first-ever West Coast outdoor NHL game Jan. 25, at Dodger Stadium. It's a much-anticipated event that is expected to heighten the sport's profile in Southern California.

"I don't think California is a non-traditional hockey market," Bettman said.

That said, Southern California is a non-traditional hockey climate. The average temperatures in January are around 65 degrees and the palm trees and San Gabriel Mountains will be a vastly different setting than the snowy locales seen in the past.

But that's part of the appeal.

Bettman himself has never been to a Dodger game at Chavez Ravine but he can speak for the experience of the outdoor games. He knew that they would need an iconic venue in order to bring an outdoor game to the West Coast.

"I love this stadium. Clearly, Walter O'Malley was a visionary," Bettman said. "When you're up on the ninth level and you see the view it’s off the charts."

The NHL plans to embrace the So Cal culture. A beach area is being discussed and Ducks' wing Dustin Penner wants to see girls in bikinis along the ice. Dodgers' CEO Stan Kasten, an influential figure in the process of bringing the game to L.A., lauded the experience as one-of-a-kind on several occasions Thursday.

Keeping the ice from melting in L.A.'s balmy temperatures might have been a challenge Bettman was concerned with in the past but NHL Senior Director of Facility Operations Dan Craig was finally able to figure out a strategy that Bettman was sold on.

"I spoke to Dan again, and he's confident that whatever the weather is, he will be able to put down a sheet of ice that will provide for a competitive game," Bettman said.

Dodger Stadium is expected to reach it's 56,000 capacity, which will be by far the biggest crowd any of the players have ever played in front of, is almost assured the intensify the Freeway Series rivalry.

A unique event that will showcase West Coast hockey in a new light, it's a bold new frontier for the NHL.

"This is going to be a different experience, but it's going to be very Southern California," Bettman said. "That's going to make its own tradition, its own fun and its own excitement for people here."

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USA TODAY / Top 10 American prospects to watch for 2014 NHL draft

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 1:32 p.m. EDT September 27, 2013

Highly-regarded 2014 NHL draft prospect Blake Clarke boasts a sizzling shot, and somewhere in St. Louis there is a tortured garage to prove it.

"I have a net set up in the garage at home and I've been shooting a couple of hundred pucks a day since I was 9 or 10," said Clarke, 17, who plays for the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League.

He admits that the back wall of the garage was heavily damaged by his practice habits. There were casualties before the family added a tarp to catch his errant drives.

"Our dining room is right behind it," Clarke said. "(A shot) went through the wall and hit the china cabinet and broke some stuff. My dad was not happy."

The work and damage seemingly has paid off because NHL Central Scouting has designated Clarke as an 'A' prospect for the June draft. The early projections have Clarke landing somewhere in the middle of the first round. He's 6-2 and scored 19 goals last season as a first-year OHL player.

This is expected to be a good draft for U.S. players, with roughly 25 Americans showing the potential to go in the first 70 to 80 picks.

Here are others on USA TODAY Sports top 10 American-born forwards and defensemen to watch:

2. Center Nick Schmaltz (Green Bay, United States Hockey League): The Wisconsin native and North Dakota recruit is a slick, offensive catalyst with the potential to be a No 1 or No. 2 center at the NHL level.

"He's a high-end talent," said Jim Johansson, who oversees the U.S. national teams. "He's as pure of an offensive guy as we have had in a while. He has good offensive instincts and puck awareness. And his hands are lightning quick."

He is the brother of 2012 St. Louis Blues first-round draft pick Jordan Schmaltz.

3. Center Dylan Larkin (U.S. National Under-18): Johannson says the best description of Larkin "is that he just looks like a pro."

The University of Michigan recruit is viewed as a very good all-around player. Central Scouting has him rated as an 'A' prospect.

"What you saw last year was a guy willing to play in the heavy areas, the demanding areas, but he was not quite ready," said former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button, now a draft expert for TSN of Canada. "Now this year, not only is he ready, but he's assertive. He's able to control and dominate in those areas."

4. Left wing Sonny Milano (U.S. National Under-18): A Notre Dame recruit, Milano has taken a giant leap in his development this season. He's another 'A' prospect.

"All of the good things he was doing last year, he's doing at a much higher pace this year," Johannson said. "That makes him even more dangerous."

He can rip across the ice like a lightning strike. "He's a flashy player, and if you get caught flat-footed against him you are done for," said his teammate Larkin.

5. Center Ryan MacInnis (Kitchener, OHL): He is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis, an executive with the St. Louis Blues.

The young MacInnis is a thin 6-4, two-way center who is just beginning to explore the physical side of his game. He's a 'B' prospect who could be an 'A' by the end of the season.

"He's a big, lanky kid," said Clarke, who was MacInnis' teammate for many years in St. Louis. "Good skater. Good hands. The one thing that stands out for me is his vision. He's a great playmaker. And in a center, that's what you look for. I think a 6-4 center who is good defensively, can skate and passes well is pretty rare."

6. Defenseman Jack Glover (U.S. National Under-18): Red Line Report, an independent scouting newsletter, had Glover rated mid-way through the first round in its September report.

He's 6-3 and he has committed to play at the University of Minnesota. Larkin says Glover is one of the hardest workers on the national team.

7. Defenseman Jack Dougherty (U.S. National Under-18). Central Scouting has him rated as a 'B' player, but there's a consensus he has the potential to climb into the first round. He's 6-3, and versatile enough to play in all situations.

He scored a goal in the U.S. All-American Prospects Game in Pittsburgh on Thursday night with a nice shot into the corner of the net.

8. Center Chase De Leo (Portland, Western Hockey League): A California native, De Leo has been labeled an 'A' prospect by Central Scouting. He's already played two seasons in the WHL, and last season produced 18 goals and 38 assists for 56 points in 71 games.

Scouts like his skill level. His primary issue will be that he is not very big by NHL standards at 5-9, 177 pounds. He's started the WHL season strong, scoring three goals in his first three games.

9. Defenseman Josh Jacobs (Indiana, USHL): A Michigan State recruit, Jacobs (6-2) is an offensive style defenseman who is expected to benefit by playing for coach Jeff Brown, a former NHL defenseman.

"(Jacobs) is such a good and free skater," Button said. "Sometimes with young defensemen, skating helps get them out of trouble. But what I see now with him he is using his skating to command the game."

10. Center Ryan Donato (Dexter High School (Mass.): He is the son of former NHL player Ted Donato. Their playing styles are different, but it's clear to scouts that he has inherited his father's ability to think the game.

"His dad was a really smart player and he is smart," Button said. "… He has poise and hockey sense. He has the mentality to make plays. He just needs to learn to do things quicker, at a higher pace, as all young players. But I like his head. He's always looking to make a play."

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YAHOO SPORTS / After another playoff flop, Marc-Andre Fleury takes slow, steady approach to saving his game and staying in Pittsburgh

Nicholas J. Cotsonika 12 hours ago Yahoo Sports

One shot, one save. One practice, one game. One at a time, time after time. This is not just sports pyschobabble. This is how Marc-Andre Fleury must build toward the playoffs, puck by puck, day by day, before he can even begin to rebuild his reputation and save his job as the goaltender of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fleury has been reminded constantly about his playoff failures in training camp when all he wants to do is move past them. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, he has posted a save percentage below .900 in four straight postseasons. He has been yanked. He has been benched. He hasn’t been the Penguins’ only problem – injuries, loose defense and even impotent offense, incredibly, have been big issues, too – but on a team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company, he is the burning question.

But Fleury cannot answer now. He cannot satisfy anyone in October or November, December or January, February or March. His regular seasons have been fine – 37 wins in 2009-10, 36 wins in 2010-11, 42 wins in 2011-12, 23 wins in a 48-game schedule last season, with save percentages north of .900. If he plays well over the next six months, people will just say he’s on a great team and wait for the playoffs to judge him then. If he struggles, people will panic.

[Also: Rookie rankings: Who has best shot at winning Calder Trophy?]

And so Fleury cannot hit fast-forward in his mind. One shot, one save. One practice, one game. One at a time, time after time.

“Try to bring it in slowly and feel more comfortable,” Fleury said. “Just go one game at a time, try to win it and go to the next game. April comes, and we should be good.”

He should be good. He really should. After a wild first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012, Penguins GM Ray Shero brought in veteran backup Tomas Vokoun in case Fleury faltered again. Sure enough, Fleury faltered again in a wild first-round series against the New York Islanders in 2013, and Vokoun replaced him. Yet Shero not only stuck with Fleury, he defended him passionately.

Shero is a creative, decisive GM. Bam, he traded Jordan Staal, didn’t he? Why would he declare Fleury wasn’t going anywhere?

Start with Fleury’s contract, of course. He is signed for two more seasons with a $5 million cap hit, with protection from waivers and a limited no-trade clause, according to capgeek.com. He would be difficult, if not impossible, to move, and a significant upgrade would be difficult to acquire and might cost too much in assets and cap space.

Maybe Shero is stuck with Fleury as much as he’s sticking with him. He has to do his best to make it work, and this is the best way to do so. Shero told the media Fleury needed focus and confidence. No point in chipping away at either. Every reason to prop up both.

But it’s more than that. The Penguins have helped players like Matt Cooke and Paul Martin figure things out. Corey Crawford just bounced back from a poor performance in a first-round playoff loss, playing well and winning a Cup after the Chicago Blackhawks believed in him. Fleury is capable of doing the same, and if he does it, that’s best for everyone.

The Penguins seem to genuinely love Fleury as a person – he’s a great guy, with class and a quick smile – and they believe his struggles have been mental, not physical. They are not alone. Others around the league look at Fleury and see a former first overall draft pick who is still only 28 years old, who used to flash his quick legs and come out to challenge and play with reckless abandon, but whose talent doesn’t show when he’s distracted and tentative.

Fleury accepted the Penguins’ request to see a sports psychologist over the summer, after declining the previous two years. He doesn’t want to talk about it, which is understandable, but there should be no stigma, especially in his situation. Not only does he play goal – a lonely, exposed position – he plays it for Pittsburgh, a stacked team with the highest expectations. Hard

to be the hero, easy to be the goat. With all that talent in him and around him, he has a lot to gain, but a lot to lose, too.

He also has a new goalie coach, Mike Bales, who is changing some little, technical things – post play, positional play in different situations, top-secret stuff. His old goalie coach, Gilles Meloche, is now a special assignment scout.

“Obviously Marc’s a very athletic guy,” Bales said. “I don’t think there are a lot of guys who are as athletic as he is. There are just a few minor adjustments that I feel he can make that can really benefit his game.”

“Seeing how it feels,” Fleury said. “If I like it, I’ll keep doing it. And if not, then I’ll do what I used to do.”

This is going to be a process, and it is complicated by the fact Vokoun is out indefinitely to recover from a blood clot in his pelvis. Fleury might have to play a lot without a safety net, and he might have to think about things before they come naturally when he already was thinking too much. He has had an OK camp, at best. Ask Bales how he will know Fleury is confident, ask him how he will tell when Fleury is on top of his game, and he declines to answer. It’s too early.

“We’re going to make a few adjustments, and I want to see where he’s at with that,” Bales said. “He’s obviously open to making a few changes, and like I said before, it’s nothing major, just some little tweaks here and there. I don’t think it’s fair to comment on exactly what his game should look like until we get it there.”

If only people knew how badly Fleury wants to get back to where he was, so he can stay where he is.

“I think it’s tough to describe,” Fleury said. “I think you have to live it, be in it, to know really what it’s like. It’s tough. It’s tough when it doesn’t go the way you want, you’re not helping the way you want to. It’s tough. I love it here. I want to win here again. I’ll just keep working towards it to make it happen.”

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