Post on 18-Jun-2020
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Gameday: Rangers vs. Hurricanes
by Michael Smith @MSmithCanes / CarolinaHurricanes.com
12:00 AM
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is the gameday hub, where you can find all the latest news and information you need to know for tonight's divisional match-up between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. Make Hurricanes.com a regular stop throughout the day, as we update this hub with notes, videos, photos and more as puck drop draws near.
The Hurricanes will be on the ice at PNC Arena for an 11:30 a.m. morning skate, and we'll be rinkside to bring you the latest.
Last updated: 12:00 a.m.
CANES HOST RANGERS TO CONTNUE HOMESTAND 12:00 a.m.
The Carolina Hurricanes will play their fourth straight game against a team from the state of New York when they host a Metropolitan Division opponent, the New York Rangers, on Thanksgiving Eve.
The Hurricanes have captured 11 of a possible 14 points in their last seven games (5-1-1) and are coming off back-to-back wins on the weekend. Following a 3-1 win in Buffalo, the Hurricanes returned home for their second game against the New York Islanders in four days and skated away with a 4-2 victory.
Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho each remained hot in the Canes' most recent win, as they each tallied three points. Teravainen was named the NHL's first star of the week for his four-game performance from Nov. 12-19, in which he posted 10 points (5g, 5a) and his first career hat trick. Aho had a notable week himself with nine points (4g, 5a) and goals in four straight games in that same stretch.
"There are things we're doing on a night in and night out basis that we're real happy with," head coach Bill Peters said after practice on Tuesday.
Wednesday night's game against the Rangers marks the second in a series of four straight at home, the longest such stretch of the season until early February.
"It's a huge opportunity. It's absolutely huge. We're looking forward to it," Peters said. "It's going to be a good, fun week.
It's a special week in the United States with American Thanksgiving. A lot of people traveling, lots of family, lots to be thankful for. Let's go out and play well."
The Rangers bring a 10-9-2 record (22 points) into this match-up, the first of four between the divisional foes this season. New York strung together a six-game winning streak that was snapped just last week in Chicago. Most recently, the Rangers shut out the Ottawa Senators 3-0 in New York on Sunday.
The Hurricanes will ice virtually the same lineup that faced the Islanders on Sunday. Haydn Fleury will draw back into the lineup on defense and pair with Justin Faulk, while Victor Rask will remain out of the lineup as a healthy extra.
"I was to see that group that we had dressed for the Islanders game play more 5-on-5 to get a feel for those lines the way they were set up," Peters said.
CANESPR NOTES: The Hurricanes have won three straight games against the Rangers at PNC Arena. … With his win against the Islanders on Sunday, Cam Ward moved within two victories of becoming the 32nd goaltender in NHL history (fifth active) to reach the 300-win milestone.
CLICKS AND CLIPPINGS
Articles
Recap: Hurricanes Power Past Islanders
Teravainen Named NHL's First Star of the Week
Audio
CanesCast, Ep. 18 feat. Justin Faulk
Video
In the Room: Bill Peters, Nov. 21
In the Room: Marcus Kruger, Nov. 21
In the Room: Derek Ryan, Nov. 21
Teravainen on NHL Network
Highlights: CAR 4, NYI 2
Gameday Links
Buy Tickets
First Goal Contest presented by Kayem
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Quick Whistles: Teuvo Teravainen Emerging, Strong Goalie Tandem, and the Shell of Victor Rask
Teravainen is emerging as a key contributor, the goalie tandem builds strength, and Rask sits in the press box.
by Brett Finger@brettfinger Nov 21, 2017, 5:00pm EST
A blown third period lead in Brooklyn wasn’t an ideal way to kick off the week, but consecutive wins over the weekend put the Carolina Hurricanes in a very good spot entering the final week of November.
With games in hand on every team in the Metropolitan Division, the Canes sit just five points out of first place after an up and down opening month and a half.
The re-emergence of the TSA line and stability in goal are causes for optimism moving forward, but the shortcoming of a couple of mainstays certainly give reasons for mild pessimism.
Here are this week’s quick whistles.
Teuvo Teravainen led the Hurricanes’ offensive charge this past week, piling up ten points in four games and earning the NHL’s first star of the week honors in the process.
Even before the young Finn’s offensive breakout, there were signs of him turning a corner which he had yet to find. The confidence he has played with exceeded even my lofty expectations entering the season.
His two-way game has reached a new level, he is shooting the puck more, and he is dishing the puck around with more confidence and decisiveness compared to his first season with the team.
All of his improvements are to be expected out of a young player in his second year with his new club after spending the first several years of his pro career in Chicago, but he has risen to a level that very few could have expected.
Will he stay at a point-per-game through the rest of the season? Probably not, but the Hurricanes certainly don’t need that from him as long as he can provide a steady flow of offense over an 82-game stretch.
Right now, there’s very little reason to think that this is just a flash in the pan as he showed flashes of brilliance last year. It was just a matter of doing it consistently, which he has done so far this season. It’s important to remember that Teravainen was a highly touted prospect in the 2012 NHL draft, even getting consideration from the Hurricanes with the eighth overall pick before trading it in a package for Jordan Staal.
Hindsight being 20/20, it was a pretty good call by the organization as they ultimately got both of those high-level talents at the expense of Brandon Sutter, the pick that turned into Derrick Pouliot, Brian Dumoulin, and a pair of draft picks.
That’s a convincing win for the Hurricanes.
Speaking of convincing wins, I think you’d find very few people disappointed in the play of Carolina’s goalie tandem.
Scott Darling is still trying to hit his rhythm and establish consistency, but the early results have been incredibly promising. He currently sits at a .909 save percentage, but if you take some of the ugly games out of the equation, you’re looking at a goalie who has been far above league average. Again, once the consistency is there, Darling is undoubtedly a number one guy.
Cam Ward has thrived in a backup role, posting a .922 save percentage in five starts. If you exclude the November 2 game in Colorado, in which the team in front of him put up one of their worst performances of the season, that number jumps up to .943.
The mix that the Hurricanes are forming in net has worked. Their team save percentage of .908 ranks 13th in the league, and it should stay around that number, if not get better, as Ward and Darling see their individual numbers level out.
Perhaps the most discouraging development of the early season is Victor Rask’s extended stay in the realm of mediocrity.
This team signed Rask to replicate, and preferably build on, his first two seasons in the NHL. A contract that once looked like a steal has quickly turned into a hindrance. The Swedish center is producing at a 25-point pace over an 82-game slate over his last 58 games and was finally removed from the lineup on Sunday.
Bill Peters’ comments on him were very telling, saying that the team needed a win, thus requiring the coaching staff to ice the best lineup they could. That lineup did not include Rask but instead featured Phil di Giuseppe in the team’s top-nine.
At their best, Rask is undoubtedly better than di Giuseppe, but Rask has been far from his best since the start of the 2017 calendar year.
At this point, I’m not sure what the coaching staff can do to get the most out of the player. This isn’t an X’s and O’s thing, it’s mental. Will sitting him out a game turn things around? I wouldn’t bet on it, but perhaps the move could get the ball rolling in the right direction.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
For the team’s sake, let’s hope Rask takes the steps necessary in order to return to a respectable level of play because he’s not only failing to play up to his $4 million cap hit, he’s barely playing like an NHL regular.
Justin Faulk is another underperforming player that the Hurricanes are often winning despite of.
Faulk enters Wednesday’s matchup against the Rangers with just one goal and five points in 19 games and there hasn’t been much of any improvement as his decision making and defensive play continues to be lacking to a degree that the multiple-time all-star has never shown.
Unlike Rask, the 25-year-old blueliner has at least shown signs of still being himself. His offense has been there at times, and while his defensive consistency has been absent all year, he has made key plays in his own end.
That being said, Faulk has been far from the player he has been over the past three seasons, which begs the question of what’s different.
Has the co-captaincy added more pressure? Has Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, and Noah Hanifin’s rise up the hierarchy affected him mentally? Confidence shouldn't be an issue given that this team has stuck with him all along and even rewarded him with a bigger role in the leadership group.
It’s definitely not time to panic with Faulk as it is still just a 19-game sample size, but if he can get back to the level he has been at, this team will be that much more dangerous and their top-four will rival any team in the league.
If he can’t get back to that level, perhaps his name will be thrown out in trade rumors yet again as his value could be significant enough to bring in some talent up front. That may be far-fetched right now, but the team will have to trade a defenseman at some point and Faulk’s recent play shouldn’t make him untouchable.
Only time will tell.
A player that has stuck out to me more and more as the season has worn on is Noah Hanifin.
We’ve seen the flashes from Hanifin ever since he broke into the league as an 18-year-old, but his run of late feels different and more sustainable.
His defense has improved markedly, his confidence with the puck is nearing an all-time high, and his removal from the powerplay hasn’t stopped him from being the player he needs to be.
When Hanifin was removed from the manpower advantage group, I feared that his confidence could be shaken, but so far, that hasn’t been the case. I am, however, still shocked that he was taken off the powerplay, to begin with, though that is likely a short-term solution to the powerplay woes that have been game-changing-ly bad for the Hurricanes.
While Columbus’ Zach Werenski has become the big blue line standout from that 2015 draft class, Hanifin is starting to catch up and shape into the all-around defender that this team wants and needs him to be. His play has even masked Faulk’s issues to an extent, with regards to point production and generation of offense.
He’s still just 20-years-old, which is nearly impossible to fathom, and he is starting to take huge steps leaps forward in his game. There’s a lot to like from him and, from where I see it, he has been the best defenseman on the Hurricanes this season, especially dating back to the start of November.
He leads the club in shot attempt differential, he’s moving his feet in all three zones, and he is shooting the puck when he gets the chances. If I was to nitpick one thing, it would be that he is struggling to get pucks on net through traffic from the point. His 43.9% thru rate (percentage of shots taken that go on net) is the worst among Carolina’s top-six on the blue line.
Hurricanes’ Ward Says There Was No Message
By Mark Shiver November 21st, 2017
Cam Ward, who recently moved to “backup” goalie for the Carolina Hurricanes, was in goal on Sunday night against the New York Islanders. As a writer, I cannot find the superlatives to describe his game. To say, “He stood on is head” would seem cliché. To say he was unconscious might be better, but honestly, he was just so amazing that it defies description. I’ll just say, “Cam Ward was stupid good.”
I can’t help but wonder if Ward was trying to send a message to the coaching staff, or to Scott Darling who has replaced Ward as the starting goalie, that he still has the game to
return to his spot as the starter. I asked him after the game if he was sending a message and Ward said,
No, I mean ‘Darls’ played awesome last night, and I think that’s kind of the key. You need both goaltenders. I’m just trying to play the way that I can play.
Whether or not Ward was consciously trying to boost himself to his coaches or the fans or to anyone, his play spoke volumes. And, Darling should have received the message either way: Ward still has game and being the starter is something that has to be earned with consistent performances.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Cam Ward Then
Ward has been the starting goaltender for the Hurricanes since he was called into action in the NHL playoffs during his rookie season in 2006. His outstanding play helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup and earned him a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Along with Eric Staal, whose Cup play cemented his leadership on the team, Ward emerged from that remarkable run as the team’s star goaltender.
He held that spot for a decade, through good and bad, through several coaching changes and a few challenges from other goaltenders. Though no other goalie seriously got close enough to knock him out of the starting role, Ward was pushed at times to do better. Anton Khudobin stayed around for several years, and challenged Ward at times. It seems like ages ago that I penned these words about Ward v Khudobin:
When Coach Peters and staff are reviewing the performance Khudobin brought against the Rangers, it may tip the scales in his favor in Peters’ desire to name a starting goaltender. He was not without praise for “Dobby: “He was solid,” Peters said. “I thought Anton played real well.” We will no doubt see Cam Ward in between the pipes again soon – maybe against Winnipeg. But Khudobin made a strong statement that may cement him as the team’s starter.
It’s tough to remember that was a question in 2014 as Ward eventually emerged on top and remained the Hurricanes’ starter. He has been resilient and steadfast in his position and it has been hard to envision life with the ‘Canes with someone other than Ward in nets.
Khudobin took a tour around the NHL heading west to play briefly with the Anaheim Ducks and then returning to the Boston Bruins in 2016. He has played well lately, putting the heat on the struggling Tuukka Rask.
Cam Ward Now
Here we are in 2017 and things have changed dramatically for Ward. After two years of being the Hurricanes’ workhorse in goal, Ward has been relegated to the back row. GM Ron
Francis announced at the end-of-season press conference that finding a new starting goaltender was a top priority. Enter Darling, who had a successful tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks as the backup to starter, Corey Crawford. Darling did very well in that role. The Hurricanes’ website noted this about Darling when they announced he had signed a four-year deal with the team:
In 75 career NHL games with Chicago, he has posted a 39-17-9 record, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. In 2015, Darling went 3-1 in five opening-round playoff appearances against Nashville, helping the Blackhawks win their first-round series en route to their third Stanley Cup championship in six years.
There is no argument that Darling’s resume as a backup goaltender is impressive. However, there have been times this season when it has looked as if he was not quite ready to be the number one. There have also been times when he shows shades of excellence as he did in the Hurricanes’ win over the Buffalo Sabres last Saturday night:
Regardless of how well Darling plays in the immediate future, if Ward continues to play like he did on Sunday evening, the message will be loud and clear even if unintentional. Darling had better keep his team in games or there may be a role reversal in nets.
Ward has been the consummate professional during this transitional time. He has supported Darling completely and assumed his role as the backup with grace and an exemplary attitude. To be sure, he is not interested in playing 60 or more games in a season but, Ward has shown that he is still a very capable goalie in the NHL.
If Darling can be more consistent, then the Hurricanes’ chances of putting a playoff-caliber team on the ice increases dramatically. They are in an enviable position of having a backup with Ward’s talent. And, with a certain pair of forwards burning it up, the ‘Canes’ offense has come alive. The Hurricanes are becoming a good team, and their backup goalie still has game.
Checkers Come Back to Snap Skid Against Belleville
Written by Nicholas Niedzielski
Published: November 21, 2017
Finally returning to their home ice after a lengthy road trip, the Checkers were able to right the ship and snap their losing streak with a 4-2 triumph over the Belleville Senators.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
It was a rocky start for the home team as Belleville pumped in a pair of tallies within the first three minutes of play to put the Checkers in an early hole. That advantage was no match for Charlotte’s power play, however, a unit that was pumping on all cylinders. It struck twice to pull them back into a tie, first with a point blast from Brenden Kichton and then a slick snipe from Aleksi Saarela.
Deadlocked at two heading into the final frame, the Finnish duo of Saarela and Janne Kuokkanen connected once again, with the former notching his second goal of the night on another rocket shot and the latter picking up his third helper on the feed. With the lead in their possession for the first time, the Checkers fought back Belleville’s attack for the remainder of regulation until a Kuokkanen empty netter, his fourth point of the game, put the final nail in the coffin and snapped Charlotte’s losing skid. After surrendering those two quick tallies early on, netminder Alex Nedeljkovic locked in and frustrated the Senators for the rest of the night, stopping 21 of the 23 pucks he saw to end his personal two-game losing streak and claim his eighth win of the season, tying him for the league lead.
QUOTES
Coach Mike Vellucci on the game Not early, obviously we got behind. Two shots, two goals. We didn’t compete. I just talked to them about it in there – we’ve got to find a way to start out better. If it’s a mindset that we’re down by two already, then that’s it. That’s the negative. The positive is that we didn’t get down on each other and we stayed with it. We scored two big power-play goals and then got the one in the third. The team is close, they’re not negative, and that’s the good part for me. Vellucci on the power play Both units are getting opportunities, but the reason that one clicked tonight was because we shot it. It was a deflection that goes in and we get some traffic in front. We had two power plays right after that where we were passing too much, then we got back to the basics and shot it. Saarela’s got a great shot. It’s pretty much a one-on-one with the goaltender and he’s going to make that goal nine out of 10 times. Vellucci on the line of Saarela, Kuokkanen and Brown That line played really well. The two Finns like playing with each other, and then Brownie gives them stability because he’s a leader, a hard worker and hunts down all the pucks for them. They’re a good combination. Vellucci on Saarela’s game We always knew he had the shot, but now he’s getting open to do it. Before he wasn’t hustling and wasn’t competing and wasn’t skating, but tonight he was beating guys one-on-one and manhandling them physically. That’s the key for him.
Brenden Kichton on getting back in a rhythm after missing several games to injury this season It felt good. I’ve got to try to get my legs under me because with that much time out it’s hard to get in a rhythm. I’ve got to tighten up a few things here, but it’s key for me to get back and playing. Kichton on coming back tonight We just persevered. Everyone stayed pretty positive on the bench, and that was key. To get those power play goals was huge for us, and it was a big two points. Kichton on returning home Eighteen days on the road is a long time, so it’s key for us to get back into a rhythm at home. That’s going to come with building some momentum here. Janne Kuokkanen on playing with Saarela and Brown We have a good, fast line there and everyone can see each other. (Saarela) is more like a sniper and I’m more of a playmaker. That’s why I like to find him, because he has such a good shot and can pretty much score from everywhere. Kuokkanen on increased confidence from ending the losing streak When you get points and you play a good game you get some confidence. It’s a huge thing for us and we’ll have much better confidence tomorrow than we had today. This was a good turning point.
NOTES
Saarela scored for the second consecutive game and how has four goals in his last five outings. This was his second career multi-goal game and first of the season … With a goal and three assists tonight, Kuokkanen has 10 points (3g, 9a) in nine AHL games since the Carolina Hurricanes assigned him to Charlotte … Trevor Carrick’s assist on Saarela’s first goal gave him six points, all assists, in his last six games … The Checkers have scored the first goal in just five of their 18 games this season. This was the second consecutive game in which they fell behind 2-0 in the first period … The Checkers had multiple power-play goals for the second consecutive game (4-for-9 during that time). In between Kuokkanen’s goal at Springfield on 11/15 and Saarela’s second goal tonight, they went 10 straight periods without scoring at even strength … The Checkers avoided losing five straight games for the first time since Nov. 27-Dec. 7 of last season … Forward Lucas Wallmark and defensemen Jake Chelios and Dennis Robertson missed the game due to injury … Forwards Mike Ferrantino and Zack Stortini were healthy extras.
UP NEXT
The Checkers’ busy week at Bojangles’ Coliseum continues tomorrow night for the first Winning Wednesday of the season, which includes $1 beer and a free ticket to the next Wednesday game should they win.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
TODAY’S LINKS
https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/gameday-preview-new-york-rangers-vs-carolina-hurricanes/c-293224386
https://www.canescountry.com/2017/11/21/16687068/carolina-hurricanes-quick-whistles-teuvo-teravainen-emerging-victor-rask-scott-darling-cam-
ward
https://thehockeywriters.com/carolina-hurricanes-cam-ward-message/
http://gocheckers.com/game-recaps/checkers-come-back-to-snap-skid-against-belleville
1084499 New York Rangers
Ryan McDonagh will miss Wednesday’s game for Rangers with
abdominal strain
JUSTIN TASCH
Ryan McDonagh had yet to miss a game due to the abdominal strain that
kept him out of practice Tuesday, an issue that led to him sitting out of a
few practices earlier this season. But the strain will now sideline the
Rangers’ captain for tonight’s game in Raleigh against the Hurricanes.
McDonagh was being checked out Tuesday afternoon and Alain
Vigneault didn’t know how long he would be out.
“I just know it’s been bothering him,” Vigneault said. “Obviously our docs
have been on top of this here. It’s just been lingering a little bit.”
His absence from three previous practices this season suggested
something might be amiss with McDonagh, who after one of the
“maintenance days” he received in October said the issue was small and
he was fine. The ab strain could also partially explain some of the
struggles McDonagh had out of the gate.
Without McDonagh, Vigneault shifted Brendan Smith to the left of Nick
Holden, whom McDonagh had played with throughout this month, and
Steven Kampfer was paired with Marc Staal. Kampfer was scratched the
last two games when Smith was reinserted following a healthy six-game
absence.
“Huge void when (McDonagh’s) out of the lineup,” said Kevin Shattenkirk,
who remains paired with Brady Skjei. “So it’s not just one guy who has to
step in there and fill the role. It’s gonna be everyone. He plays so many
roles on this team that each guy is gonna be asked at different points in
the game to carry that.”
McDonagh, who plays both shorthanded and on the second power-play
unit on which he’ll be replaced by Kevin Hayes — a center — for
tonight’s game, is averaging 23:22 of ice time per game, about one
minute shorter than his average last season but a minute longer than his
2015-16 average.
“So many guys are always looking to get more minutes: Here’s an
opportunity to play some more important minutes,” Vigneault said. “I’m
expecting our ‘D’ group as a group to step up.”
The Rangers (10-9-2) have won seven of nine heading into the first of
four games against Carolina, which is tied with the Blueshirts on points
but has two games in hand.
“I feel like we’re more consistent,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who is set to
start for the 10th straight game and 19th time in 22 matches.
“You look at all teams, even the teams at the top of the standings, they
don’t play great all the time, but they’re pretty consistent. They have
some dips. Just have to make sure you bounce right back. I like the way
we’re heading right now.”
New York Daily News LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084500 New York Rangers
The standard Rangers GM faces before franchise-altering decision
By Larry Brooks November 21, 2017 | 3:01pm | Updated
Jeff Gorton, the third-year general manager plotting the course for a
Rangers team that is attempting to retool on the fly, will face moments of
truth as the fork-in-the-road trade deadline approaches.
Of his predecessors, perhaps only Neil Smith in 1994 — who, urged by
coach Mike Keenan to change the club’s makeup heading into the
playoffs, ripped up the NHL’s best regular-season squad — dealt with as
weighty a challenge as Gorton will confront at the deadline.
There are 10 who preceded Gorton, whose first day on the job was July
1, 2015 following four seasons as Glen Sather’s chief lieutenant and
eight overall in the New York front office. And while it is too early to rate
his performance, it is the time for The Post to rank the men who came
before him.
From top to bottom:
1. Lester Patrick, 10/26-2/46: The job description was somewhat less
complex back then, but the Silver Fox was largely responsible for the
procurement of players who formed the greatest generation of Rangers
in winning the Stanley Cup in 1928, 1933 and 1940 while going to the
finals three other times. Was behind the bench from the inaugural 1926-
27 season through 1938-39. Owns the ultimate tie-breaker with his iconic
performance in Game 2 of the 1928 finals against the Montreal Maroons
when, at age 44, the retired defenseman replaced the injured Lorne Carr
in nets during the second period and limited his foes to one goal on 19
shots in the Blueshirts’ 2-1 overtime victory.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
2. Neil Smith, 7/89-3/00: Despite the fact that it ended so darn bloody, it
is impossible to minimize the GM’s role in building the only team to win
the Cup on the Broadway over the last 77 years. When Smith took over,
the Blueshirts had not won a thing since finishing first in the seven-team
NHL in 1941-42. The Rangers captured the Patrick Division title in
Smith’s first year on the job in 1989-90, won the Presidents’ Trophy in
1991-92 and then again in 1993-94 on their way to the momentous ride
up the Canyon of Heroes. Traded bold and traded big, not always to his
benefit. All that followed 1994 has kept Smith from being officially
recognized at the Garden but does not diminish his standing in this
ranking.
3. Emile Francis, 10/64-1/76: The beloved Father of the Rangers’ Modern
Era, the Cat resurrected the franchise that had been an Original Six
doormat and brought it to prominence by assembling what likely stands
as the NHL’s best team never to win the Stanley Cup. Drafted brilliantly,
traded aggressively but perhaps not always wisely in the eternal effort to
find the one missing link. Greatest blunder was allowing Fred Shero to
get away to Philadelphia after having coached clubs in the Blueshirts’
minor league system to three titles within eight years on three different
levels. Francis’ choice of interim guys surrounding his own lengthy stints
behind the bench — Boomer Geoffrion, Larry Popein and Ron Stewart —
were particularly uninspiring.
4. Craig Patrick, 11/80-7/86: Generated a handful of extremely popular
clubs coached by Herb Brooks that ultimately came as close as possible
to derailing the Islanders’ dynasty before the Oilers did it in 1984. Draft
picks included Brian Leetch (ninth overall in the GM’s final act a month
before his dismissal), Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck, James Patrick,
Tony Granato, Tomas Sandstrom and Jan Erixon.
5. Glen Sather, 6/00-6/15: The Last Lion of Winter’s reign was as
polarizing as they come. Had a disastrous first four years on the job—
that included the hiring of Bryan Trottier as head coach and a stint of his
own behind the bench — after claiming from afar in Edmonton that he’d
win the Cup every year with the Rangers’ payroll. But Sather reinvented
himself and the team following the 2005-06 inception of the hard cap, first
turning New York into Prague, NHL for Jaromir Jagr and a gaggle of
Czechmates including Martin Straka, Martin Rucinsky, Petr Sykora,
Michal Rozsival and Marek Malik, then importing Brendan Shanahan and
Sean Avery, before constructing a conference finals team under John
Tortorella and a Cup final squad under Alain Vigneault. Under his watch,
the Rangers are one of only four teams — with Pittsburgh, Detroit and
San Jose — to make the playoffs 11 of the 12 years under the hard cap.
6. Fred Shero, 6/78-11/80: A minimalist in the front office, whose duties
were largely assigned to his partner Mickey Keating, Freddie’s great
achievement was bringing himself along to coach the charismatic Ooh-
La-La club to a surprising run to the 1979 finals. Sympatico with Garden
chairman Sonny Werblin, oversaw the Beck Job, the trade in which
projected franchise monster defenseman Barry Beck came to New York
from Colorado for a package fronted by Mike McEwen, Pat Hickey and
Lucien DeBlois.
7. Muzz Patrick: 4/55-10/64: Chants of “Muzz Must Go” that rang out
through the early sixties formed the sound track of the old Garden.
Qualified for playoffs first three years, but franchise thereafter fell into
disrepute, though he did have the creativity to bring Doug Harvey to New
York as player-coach for the 1961-62 season in which No. 2 won the
Norris Trophy and led the team to its only playoff berth in what would be
an eight-year stretch. Engineered the trade with Montreal in which Gump
Worsley went to Montreal for Jacques Plante, Phil Goyette and Donnie
Marshall and was in charge when Andy Bathgate went to Toronto for a
package featuring Bob Nevin, Rod Seiling and Arnie Brown.
8. John Ferguson, 1/76-6/78: Ran Rod Gilbert into retirement, had the
audacity to change the traditional uniforms to the logo design he would
later implement with the WHA Jets, hired Jean-Guy Talbot to coach the
club, traded Rick Middleton for Ken Hodge, and oversaw the 1977 draft
in which he selected Ron Duguay and DeBlois in the first round while
Mike Bossy was on the board. Counterpoint: was a primary reason
Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson signed as free agents, even if the
process was completed following his dismissal to make way for Shero.
9. Frank Boucher, 2/46-4/55: The fabled Blueshirt center, who had
coached the club to the 1940 Cup, was in charge when the team made
an unexpected charge to the finals in 1950 before losing a double
overtime Game 7 to the Red Wings. Club, though, missed the playoffs for
the next and final five years of his tenure.
10. Phil Esposito, 6/86-5/89: The clown prince of Ranger management,
who traded a first-round pick to Quebec in order to hire Michel Bergeron
as coach, whom he fired with two games remaining in his second season
so Espo himself could go behind the bench for what became a
humiliating first-round sweep by Pittsburgh. Traded Mike Ridley and Kelly
Miller to Washington for Bobby Carpenter on New Year’s Day of 1987
three months before wheeling Carpenter to LA for a last-legs Marcel
Dionne.
New York Post LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084501 New York Rangers
Surging Rangers dealt big blow with Ryan McDonagh injury
By Zach Braziller November 21, 2017 | 2:14PM
Just when the Rangers were starting to find their game, winning seven of
their last nine contests, crawling out of that large hole they dug for
themselves, comes this: Ryan McDonagh, their most valuable player not
named Henrik Lundqvist, their captain, will miss a game Wednesday
against the Hurricanes.
The Rangers have termed it an abdominal strain, and offered very little
details otherwise. McDonagh didn’t practice Tuesday, and won’t even
travel with the team to Raleigh, N.C. He will see team doctors, and more
information will be offered Wednesday, according to Rangers coach Alain
Vigneault. His absence from practice this year on occasion, described as
“maintenance days,” was the result of the abdominal strain he’s now
dealing with.
“It’s something that has been there for a little bit, doesn’t seem to be
getting better right now,” Vigneault said. “So we just want to check it out.
I’ll have more for you tomorrow.”
When asked if McDonagh would be out for longer than a game, Vigneault
said he had “no idea.”
“I just know it’s been bothering him,” the coach said. “It’s been lingering a
little bit. We want to double check things.”
Steven Kampfer, a healthy scratch the last two games, will replace
McDonagh in the lineup. Vigneault will keep the Brady Skjei-Kevin
Shattenkirk pairing together. Kampfer will be paired with Marc Staal, and
Brendan Smith with Nick Holden.
“‘Mac’ plays anywhere from 22 minutes to 28 minutes depending on the
game, and they are important minutes,” Vigneault said. “So many guys
are always looking to get more minutes, and here’s an opportunity to play
more minutes. I’m expecting our ‘D’ group, as a group here, to step up,
and be good defensively, and good with the puck, and to make the plays
we need to make.”
It would be a good time for Smith, signed to a four-year, $17.4 million
deal this summer after coming over to the Rangers from the Red Wings
in a trade deadline deal, to emerge after a shoddy start. He dressed in
just 11 of the team’s first 19 games, but did appear in the last two
contests after he was a healthy scratch in the previous six matches,
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
performing well. But there is no replacing McDonagh, a two-time All-Star
with 12 assists and a plus-6 rating in 21 games this year
“Huge void when he’s out of the lineup,” Shattenkirk said. “It’s not just
one guy who has to step in there and fill the role. It’s going to be
everyone. He plays so many roles on this team that each guy is going to
be asked at different times to carry that, and we have a lot of capable
bodies.”
It comes on the heels of arguably the Rangers’ best defensive
performance of the year, a 2-0 shutout of the Senators when Lundqvist
saw only 20 shots. Now, without their captain and ace defenseman, the
Rangers (10-9-2, 22 points) will face a hot opponent in the Hurricanes,
who have won five of their last seven games and feature a group of
young, speedy and skilled players like Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian
Aho.
“It’s never a good time to lose your captain,” Lundqvist said. “It’s never a
good time to lose anybody. But it’s part of the game. It happens. We just
have to make the most of it here, and make sure the guys that do get that
extra playing time, they’re on top of it.”
New York Post LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084502 New York Rangers
Examining Rangers extremes: Joe Thornton run, Ryan McDonagh sell-
off
By Larry Brooks November 20, 2017 | 4:35PM
A quarter of the season down and the Rangers are essentially as
projected: a flawed bubble team capable of capturing an eighth
consecutive playoff but unlikely to end the franchise’s 23-year Stanley
Cup drought.
The downward progression for this group is stark in the wake of the trip
to the 2014 final and of finishing with the NHL’s best record a year later.
The Blueshirts rank 16th in five-on-five goals scored, after finishing
seventh in that category a year ago, third in 2015-16 and first in 2014-15.
They are 25th in five-on-five goals-against after finishing 18th last year
and seventh two years ago. They are 24th in five-on-five GF/GA
percentage after finishing 12th last season and third in the league each
of the previous two years.
But this does not appear to be an especially strong league or conference.
Of course not. The toll of the punishing cap combined with the expansion
draft that produced a stronger club in Vegas at the expense of the other
30 teams whose fans had paid their dues for years has created the
lowest-common denominator NHL envisioned for years by Sixth Avenue.
So you watch the Rangers every night, pick apart every flaw, and
inevitably reach the no-brainer conclusion that a Cup is out of the
question and that pending free agents Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and
Nick Holden must be bartered for futures while potential 2019 UFA’s
Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello should be aggressively marketed
as well.
But then you watch other teams, identify all of their flaws, and you think
that if Henrik Lundqvist’s revival holds, the Blueshirts could win a round
the way they did last year and then based on the draw, maybe even
another one, and then, well, what if Neal Pionk and Filip Chytil are ready
to contribute the second half and the club is augmented by adding Joe
Thornton as a rental?
But it is not important if that is my thought process or your thought
process. It is only important if that is the thought process of general
manager Jeff Gorton, who in my opinion faces the diciest challenge
approaching the Feb. 26 trade deadline as any Ranger in that position
since Neil Smith in 1994.
Because it is going to be on Gorton, with advice if not necessarily
consent from hockey department personnel including president Glen
Sather and coach Alain Vigneault — but most certainly with both advice
and consent from Garden chairman Jim Dolan — to make the call
between taking a rather far-fetched run at a title with many of the same
guys who have come close before or to divest and kick the can down the
road by investing in a future that is always more uncertain in practice
than presented in theory.
Everyone knows the history here, from Emile Francis dealing Curt
Bennett, Syl Apps, Jr., Don Luce and Mike Murphy (the second time) for
immediate help to Sather and then Gorton wheeling a succession of first-
rounders and high picks to go for it all. The temptation when as close as
the clubs of the early ’70s and through this decade were is
understandable.
Wrong deals, maybe, but for the right reasons. It is not that yielding a pair
of seconds and a prospect for Eric Staal in 2016 was necessarily
misguided, it was that the Blueshirts didn’t know what to do with him
when he got here. It is not that sending away Anthony Duclair and a
handful of first-rounders was more ill-advised than dealing Doug Weight,
Tony Amonte and Todd Marchant, it is that the 1994 team won in the
wake of a series of dramatic deadline trades whereas the 2014, 2015,
2016 and 2017 clubs fell short.
The Rangers have never quite been in this position before as a bubble
team with pending free agents whose value to the team on the ice may
be outweighed by their value on the market. Could the Rangers get a
first-plus for Nash, and if the first is in the lower third of the order, is that
enough for one of the team’s best two or three forwards? Could the
Rangers wheedle a first (or a high second) for Grabner?
The bounty, though and of course, could be expected in the return for
McDonagh, who is eligible to go free in 2019 and who will command
seven years for between $45 and 50 million on his next deal. This is a
legit, blue chip top-pair defenseman whose acquisition would
immediately vault the Maple Leafs and Lightning into prime position.
If Gorton could create a bidding war between the clubs that appear the
East’s elite, perhaps the Rangers could come back with Mitch Marner
from Toronto or perhaps Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay in
exchange for the player who for a half-decade has been the Rangers’
most important athlete other than Lundqvist and who still would have
another year and another playoff remaining on his contract.
Of course, trading McDonagh would represent as dramatic a course
correction as possible and all but eliminate any chance the 2017-18
Rangers have of winning anything, including a playoff berth. It would
represent Gorton saying in so many words, wait ’til next year, with next
year no more of a guarantee than 75 of the last 76 seasons.
New York Post LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084503 New York Rangers
Ryan McDonagh out for Rangers vs. Hurricanes
By Steve Zipay
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Rangers captain and top-pair defenseman
Ryan McDonagh will miss Wednesday’s game against the Hurricanes in
Carolina with an abdominal strain, a nagging issue that could keep him
sidelined longer.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
McDonagh has appeared in all 21 games, averaging more than 23
minutes a night, including more than five minutes per game on special
teams. He has played through the “lingering” issue, coach Alain
Vigneault said after Tuesday’s practice.
“It’s something that has been there for a little bit, doesn’t seem to be
getting better right now . . . so our doctors are checking it out,” said
Vigneault, who acknowledged that the problem was why McDonagh was
given practice days off for “maintenance” or treatment in recent weeks,
including Oct. 18, Oct. 24 and Nov. 1.
Asked if McDonagh could play Friday against the Red Wings, Vigneault
said: “No idea. I just know it’s been bothering him . . . our docs have
been on top of it. We just want to double-check things. We’ll know more
(Wednesday).”
Injuries have not been a factor for the Rangers, with the fewest man-
games lost to injuries (eight) in the NHL.
Without McDonagh, who blocked three shots in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over
Ottawa, defenseman Brendan Smith was moved up into his spot with
Nick Holden. Steven Kampfer will move into the lineup on the third pair
with Marc Staal. Kevin Hayes will replace McDonagh on the second
power-play unit.
“Mac plays anywhere from 22 minutes to 28 minutes, and they’re
important minutes,” Vigneault said. “So many guys are always looking to
get more minutes, here’s an opportunity to play some more important
minutes. I’m expecting our d-group to step up.”
The second pair of Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk also is expected to
see more time against the Hurricanes (9-6-4), who have collected points
in eight of their last 10 games.
“Mac’s a warrior, as you know” said Smith, who played with McDonagh at
the University of Wisconsin. “They’ve decided that it’s best to keep him
out so he can be ready down the line. So we’ve all got to be working
smarter, not harder.”
BLUE NOTES
At least 15 minutes of practice was spent on power play entries, which
has been the key reason the Blueshirts (10-9-2) are 0 for 9 with the man-
advantage in the last three games and dropped from third-ranked in the
league to sixth. “We haven’t lost confidence,” said Shattenkirk, who
quarterbacks the first unit. “We know what we’re doing wrong. We need
to be clean entering the zone. Once we’re in, we’ve had some
opportunities, made some good plays.” . . . The Rangers, who have won
seven of nine, are 2-5 on the road . . . Henrik Lundqvist, coming off his
second shutout of the season, will start his 10th straight game . . . Center
David Desharnais will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive
game.
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084531 Toronto Maple Leafs
Wednesday game preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
By MARK ZWOLINSKI
BB&T CENTER
PUCK DROP: 7 PM
TV: Sportsnet
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Trocheck/Nylander
Vincent Trocheck leads the Panthers in goals with nine, and has goals in
the past two games. The Leafs’ William Nylander is trying to find his
scoring touch, and could use a breakout game. He has one goal — an
overtime winner —in his last 14 games.
NEED TO KNOW
The Panthers are 7-11-2, and are coming off a 3-2 loss in Anaheim when
they had a season=high 52 shots on goal … Trocheck, Jonathan
Huberdeau, and Aleksander Barkov all have 21 points for the Panthers.
They have combined for 170 shots, and all are over 50 per cent in the
faceoff circle (Huberdeau is at 62.5 per cent) . . . The Panthers are 30th
in the NHL in goals against per game (3.6) and 30th on the penalty kill …
Former Leafs goaltender James Reimer, the backup to Roberto Luongo,
is off to a slow start with a 3-6 record, a 3.70 goals-against average and
an .888 save percentage.
UP NEXT
Friday, at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Toronto Star LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084532 Toronto Maple Leafs
Leaf fans shouldn’t get used to Marner and Matthews together
By MARK ZWOLINSKI
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner can do a lot of things together, like
go to Argos games, share costume ideas, play video games, and just
hang out.
But playing together on the same line? That’s not going to happen.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock underlined that fact again Tuesday, and
wrapped it in his usual, iron-clad assurance, when asked about the
recurrence of a Matthews-Marner combination.
“That’s great everyone wants that, but what we like to do is win every
night,” Babcock said Tuesday, as his team prepared for a road game
against the Panthers in Florida Wednesday night.
“It’s the responsibility of both guys to drive their line every night, that’s
their job here. We’re about winning games ... if we thought that would
help us win more, that’s what we’d do.
“I don’t foresee that (playing on the same line) happening any time soon.
When we aren’t playing well, we move people around, that’s a different
thing. But for us, to be the best team we can be, both (players) have to
drive their lines, that’s their job.”
Babcock initially doused hopes and dreams of that combo Saturday
night, after the two players lit up the Montreal Canadiens with a pair of
Matthews goals, assisted by Marner.
The potential for explosive offence from that duo, though, lingered on into
Tuesday’s practice. Babcock remained steadfastly against the potential
partnering of his two, brightest young stars, and for good reason.
Matthews, after missing four games with an injury, is still slightly below
his pre-injury skating level. He’s appeared in two games since his return
to the lineup, looking dangerous offensively, but still shy of the
conditioning needed to fulfill his defensive responsibilities.
Matthews admitted Tuesday that he needs more time to rebuild himself
to his former performance levels, after such a long layoff.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
“Getting back to feeling good, it’s something you can’t put a (solid) time
line on,” he said. “You work as hard as you can, and hopefully it will
come back.”
With regards to lines, and whether they’re juggled, or kept intact,
Matthews said he (and the team) respect Babcock’s decisions.
“Of course, at the end of the day, it’s the coach who makes the decisions,
so you play with whoever he puts you with,” Matthews said.
“We have so many skilled players on this team, so you feel good with
whoever you play with.”
The Leafs, after building a season high six game winning streak,
including a pair of shutouts in the fifth and six games, took a step
backwards in their loss to Arizona Monday. The key to the game was
Arizona’s attention to clogging the neutral zone, which made the Leafs
look slower than they are, and commit costly turnovers.
Matthews took part of the blame on his own shoulders, acknowledging
the fact he was guilty in turning the puck over against the Coyotes.
“It’s like going down to our rink, the Air Canada Centre, there’s a lot of
traffic down there, but if you do the drive enough times, if you do it every
day, you’ll figure out the best way to get through it,” Babcock said.
When a reporter thought that Babcock lived close enough to the arena to
walk, Babcock smiled and said, “no, I drive …”
“And that last block takes me the longest time to get through. But (in
hockey), you work on it and you get through the neutral zone. You don’t
turn the puck over and you don’t hurt yourself.”
NOTE: Nylander said he isn’t paying attention to a trade rumor, which
has the Leafs and Coyotes trading straight up, Nylander for defenceman
Oliver-Eckman Larsson. “I don’t pay attention to that, so I don’t know
what’s going on,” Nylander said Tuesday.
Toronto Star LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084533 Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews and Marner combo only temporary, Babcock tells Leaf fans
By MARK ZWOLINSKI
Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner
playing together regularly is something that “isn’t happening any time
soon.”
When pressed — again — on the subject at the team’s practice Tuesday,
Babcock said it’s the responsibility of both players to “drive” their
respective lines.
Matthews bagged a pair of goal Saturday when he worked on a line with
Marner in a win in Montreal. Babcock temporarily shook his lines up,
placing the two friends together, in an effort to spark the Leafs out of a 0-
0 deadlock in the first period.
Matthews has since remained on his usual line, with William Nylander
and Zach Hyman, while Marner remains entrenched with Tyler Bozak
and James van Riemsdyk.
Leafs fans, though, have often envisioned a scenario where Matthews
and Marner are together on the same line. The two-goal outburst over
the weekend fueled that vision, and led to questions for Babcock on
Monday and Tuesday.
“That’s great everyone wants that, but what we like to do is win every
night,” Babcock said Tuesday, as his team prepared for a road game
against the Panthers in Florida Wednesday night.
“It’s the responsibility of both guys to drive their line every night, that’s
their job here. We’re about winning games ... if we thought that would
help us win more, that’s what we’d do.
“I don’t foresee that (playing on the same line) happening any time soon.
When we aren’t playing well, we move people around, that’s a different
thing. But for us, to be the best team we can be, both (players) have to
drive their lines, that’s their job.”
In the meantime, Nylander said he isn’t paying attention to a trade rumor,
which has the Leafs and Coyotes trading straight up, Nylander for
defenceman Oliver-Eckman Larsson.
“I don’t pay attention to that, so I don’t know what’s going on,” Nylander
said Tuesday.
Toronto Star LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084534 Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs’ unique development program paying dividends for Marlies’
Marchment
By DHIREN MAHIBAN
Spending the bulk of last season as a spectator wasn’t easy for Mason
Marchment, but the development program put in place by the Maple
Leafs has paid off for the undrafted forward.
Marchment is third in scoring for the Toronto Marlies with five goals and
six assists, and is 10th amongst American Hockey League rookies in
points, despite playing in just 12 of 17 games this season.
Two weeks ago the AHL recognized Marchment as its player of the week
after the 22-year-old scored a goal and added six assists in three games.
“He’s come a long way it seems like in a short period of time,” said
linemate Ben Smith. “He’s got a great shot, he can skate, he knows how
to get up and down the ice, be physical — it’s nice when you’re six-foot-
four, also. If he can get that shot off, find open ice, and if we can play
with the puck, we’re able to be productive.”
Marchment dressed in just 44 games last season split between the
Marlies and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. The Uxbridge, Ont., native
spent the rest of the season working with Leafs skating development
consultant Barb Underhill and skill development consultant Mike Ellis.
“You see great potential, but (he) just wasn’t in the place where we felt
he could contribute every single day,” said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe.
“We just tried to have a little bit of a bigger picture. We felt he needed to
take care of his body first and foremost.
“I think development is individual. You need to cater the program for what
they need whether it’s skating, strength what have you. In Mason’s case,
we thought it was a little bit of everything.”
Marchment, the son of former NHL defenceman Bryan Marchment, has
always been a late bloomer. He didn’t start playing minor hockey until the
age of eight, he joined the Tier II Cobourg Cougars at 18 and was
already 19 by the time he made the jump to the OHL with the Erie Otters.
Following his second OHL season, Marchment signed an amateur tryout
with the Marlies to conclude the 2015-16 season. He then signed an AHL
contract for the 2016-17 season and agreed to an extension for 2017-18.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Though it was difficult at the time, Marchment now has better
appreciation for the college-like approach the organization took with his
development last season.
“It wasn’t always easy, but I just kind of stuck with it and kept on working
hard and obviously it paid off,” said Marchment.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound forward’s dedication to improving his game
earned him a longer look from the Maple Leafs during training camp in
September as he survived the first round of cuts.
“I think he’s just worked hard and competed hard,” Leafs head coach
Mike Babcock said during camp. “He’s a guy obviously who has gotten
better. We seem to like him and so we’re giving him every opportunity to
see what’s going on and see what it’s like to be a pro and try to get
better.”
While serving a recent two-game suspension for cross-checking,
Marchment spent extra time after practice working with Underhill as he
continues to improve his skating.
“I’ve been working with her for two years. It’s been a big improvement,”
he said. “Just edge work and stuff like that. Overall she’s definitely
helped my all-round game a lot. Just being more stable on my feet
probably. Working on edges and speed out of the gate.
“Just being stronger on one foot at all times, just being in a good position
at all times and harder to knock off the puck.”
Marchment is one of just three players currently on the Marlies roster
without an NHL contract. As he continues to put in the work this season,
he hopes the Leafs will come knocking with that entry-level deal.
“It’s definitely a big goal,” he said. “I think I’ve still got a lot of work to do
and I just need to keep on working hard.”
Toronto Star LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084535 Toronto Maple Leafs
OHL scoring leader Jordan Kyrou ready to step into world junior spotlight
for Canada
By JOHN CHIDLEY-Tues., Nov. 21, 2017
GUELPH, ONT.—As far as Sarnia Sting head coach Derian Hatcher is
concerned, Jordan Kyrou is meeting his expectations. And Hatcher set
that bar as high as possible.
“Going into the year we knew he would potentially be the best player in
the league,” Hatcher said. “That’s what we feel about him and I think that
as of now, he’s held up to that.
“I think that’s sums it up. We feel we have the best player in the league.”
The 19-year-old Kyrou leads the Ontario Hockey League with 29 assists
and is tied for second with 18 goals. He leads the league with 47 points,
seven more than Windsor’s Aaron Luchuk.
Kyrou had 94 points (30-64) in 66 games in the 2016-17 campaign — his
highest total in three OHL seasons — and is well on his way to
surpassing that.
As captain and the focal point of Sarnia’s offence, Kyrou was a key part
of the Sting’s recent 14-game win streak that helped them to an OHL-
best record of 18-4-1. Sarnia is also No. 1 on the Canadian Hockey
League’s weekly power rankings.
“I just try to play my game every night,” Kyrou said in a recent interview.
“Just try to do the little things right, like winning my battles, getting on
pucks quicker.
“Try to help my team win every game. That’s my mindset: just help my
team win.”
His play this season — and as a participant at Hockey Canada’s Summer
Showcase in August — has made him a likely candidate for selection to
Canada’s world junior team next month.
Kyrou can also draw on some international experience. He had five goals
and three assists in seven games at the 2016-17 under-18 world
championships, where Canada placed fourth.
“He’s a player that anywhere, any roster that he makes for the rest of his
life he has the possibility to be an offensive guy,” said Joel Bouchard,
Hockey Canada’s team lead for this year’s world junior squad. “He has a
flair, he has the ability and he understands the offensive side of the
game.
“He can be a 200-foot player, that’s the way the game is played these
days, but he has a tool box that allows him to play with offensive
players.”
Kyrou, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry
Draft by the St. Louis Blues, will be attending Canada’s world junior
selection camp in St. Catharines, Ont., from Dec. 12-15.
The camp will include two exhibition games against an all-star team from
Canadian universities on Dec. 13 and 14 and a pre-tournament matchup
against Denmark on Dec. 15. Unsurprisingly, Kyrou would love to pull on
Canada’s red and white sweater again.
“That would be unbelievable,” said Kyrou. “It’s a thing you dream of
growing up, watching that tournament. I’m excited.”
Bouchard has managed Kyrou before. The GM of the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada also worked with
Hockey Canada in 2015-16 as manager of the country’s under-17
program.
“(Kyrou) is a guy that’s impressed because he keeps progressing in his
style of play,” Bouchard said. “He’s a dynamic player with offensive ability
and he’s interested in getting better all the time. It’s a good
characteristic.”
Hatcher certainly expects Kyrou will not only make Canada’s roster, but
be an impact player at the Dec. 26-Jan. 5 world junior tournament in
Buffalo, N.Y.
“You’re playing against the best, right?” Hatcher said. “Honestly, I would
expect Jordan would go there and have a great tournament, nothing
less.”
Toronto Star LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084536 Toronto Maple Leafs
Game Day: Maple Leafs at Panthers
Terry Koshan
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (14-8-0) at FLORIDA PANTHERS (7-11-2)
7 p.m., BB&T Center
TV: Sportsnet Ontario
Radio: 1050 AM
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
THE BIG MATCHUP
William Nylander vs. Aaron Ekblad
The Maple Leafs and Panthers’ top picks, respectively, from in the 2014
NHL draft continue to evolve and are among the top players on their
clubs now. Ekblad, the first pick overall in 2014, has demonstrated
leadership and growth for Florida, while the ability of Nylander, taken
eighth by the Leafs, to see the game has been a boon for Toronto. Both
have the capacity to influence the outcome on Wednesday.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Bounce back
The Maple Leafs had some stuffing taken out of them when they were
beaten by the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, and coach Mike Babcock is
steadfast in keeping his lines together. The trios have done well in the
past, and could have success against a Florida team that allows 3.55
goals a game (second-most in the NHL).
Draw the line
The Panthers’ line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and
Evgeny Dadonov has been sharp, recording 59 of the Panthers’ 167
points (35%). Coach Bob Boughner will have last change, but Babcock
likely won’t have trouble putting the AustonMatthews line or Nazem
Kadri’s group out as a match.
Take possession
Neither team is the best at keeping the puck when it has it, as the Leafs
were third in the NHL with 286 giveaways and the Panthers fifth with 255.
The Leafs are a shade over 50% in possession at 5-on-5 play, while the
Panthers come in just under 50%. The team willing to grab that extra inch
should be rewarded.
Luongo loves the Leafs
Roberto Luongo is slated to start in the Panthers net over ex-Leaf James
Reimer, and will be looking to build on a fine career record against
Toronto. Luongo is 20-9-3 with a .926 save percentage and a 2.25 goals-
against average in 34 games. He has more career wins against only
Colorado, Edmonton and Calgary.
Hey, remember when?
The Leafs owned the Panthers last season, winning four of the five
meetings including one in Sunrise. Connor Brown had six points against
the Panthers, while Leo Komarov recorded five. Rookies at the time,
Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander combined for 10 points.
MAPLE LEAFS LINES
LW-C-RW
Zach Hyman-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Patrick Marleau-Nazem Kadri-Leo Komarov
James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Mitch Marner
Matt Martin-Dominic Moore-Connor Brown
Defence pairs
Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman-Connor Carrick
Goaltenders
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
PANTHERS LINES
LW-C-RW
Jonathan Huberdeau-Aleksander Barkov-Evgeny Dadonov
Connor Brickley-Vincent Trocheck-Nick Bjugstad
Jamie McGinn-Jared McCann-Colton Sceviour
Micheal Haley-Chase Balisy-Dryden Hunt
Defence pairs
Keith Yandle-Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson-Mark Pysyk
Ian McCoshen-MacKenzie Weegar
Goaltenders
Roberto Luongo
James Reimer
INJURIES
Panthers —F Derek MacKenzie (lower body), F Radim Vrbata (face).
Maple Leafs — None.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Panthers: 16.7% (22nd)
Maple Leafs: 22.9% (5th)
Penalty kill
Panthers: 72% (30th)
Maple Leafs: 80% (17th)
Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084537 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs stick to company line as they head on southern road trip
Lance Hornby
Winning points for artistic presentation and points in the NHL standings
have no co-relation for Mike Babcock.
So Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will remain on different lines,
despite the Maple Leafs coach putting the two playmakers together the
past two games when “a spark” was badly needed.
That was Saturday in Montreal, where the duo, with fourth-liner Matt
Martin, scored twice with the Habs already flat on the canvas and
Monday’s loss to Arizona when a potential tying goal by Matthews was
scrubbed on an Arizona challenge for interference.
But on Tuesday, Matthews, Zach Hyman and William Nylander came out
together again for practice, while Marner stayed with James van
Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. Afterwards, the Leafs jetted south for games
in Florida and Carolina, Babcock again pooh-pooing the idea of a
permanent Matthews — Marner move.
“That’s great everyone wants it,” Bacock said of fan preference. “If we
thought that would help us win more games, that’s what we do. We’re
about winning games. I don’t foresee (putting them together) anytime
soon. When we aren’t playing good, we move people around, that’s a
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
different thing. But for us to be the best we can be, they’re both split to
drive a line.”
Matthews and Marner are frequent off-ice buddies, but leading scorer
Matthews won’t lobby for an extended union. Babcock seems to think
Nylander provides any creative outlet Matthews requires while Hyman
hunts down pucks for both.
“At the end of the day, the coach makes the decisions and you play with
whoever he sticks you with,” Matthews said. “We have so many talented
and skilled players on this team.”
TRAFFIC JAM
The Leafs had won six straight before the Coyotes flustered them 4-1 on
Monday.
The methodical visitors gave the Leafs no room in the middle and did
their damage on two power-play goals and two empty-netters. Expect
more of the same defensive tactics from the Panthers and Hurricanes,
but Babcock came up with a Toronto-centric analogy for how best to deal
with the thicket of checkers.
“I think we’re a pretty good team and the other team, when they get an
opportunity, clog up the neutral zone. What do you think they’re saying
about us? The same thing. So it’s who does it best, who stays patient,
who gets through it.
“It’s like going to the ACC at 5 p.m. There is traffic, but the more you go
there at 5 p.m., the more you know what lane is open and what street to
go on. I drive it and the last block takes me half an hour. But it’s the same
principle, if you’re stubborn and turn pucks over it hurts you. You stay
patient, you do things right, you stay in the offensive zone and have a lot
of fun.”
THEMS THE BREAKS
No storybook finish was in the cards for Matthews on Monday, a huge
third-period goal against his childhood team in his 100th NHL game
wiped out by a Hyman penalty. He later rang one off the post.
Other gremlins hexing the Leafs were a rare penalty to Ron Hainsey, a
late Arizona power-play goal just as Connor Carrick was going to exit and
only one man advantage all night compared to four for the visitors. After
leading the league in first-period goals, Toronto has been blanked in the
opening frame three straight games.
“We’ve got some pretty fortunate bounces throughout these last 10
games,” said centre Nazem Kadri, who did improve a personal points
streak to seven games with an assist. “We understand it’s not always
going to be that way and we have to fight through some adversity. But I
felt we were able to turn the page today and move on to the next one.”
RON RARELY IN THE WRONG
Hainsey has taken 629 shifts, 11th most in the NHL as of Tuesday
morning, but Monday’s holding call, whistled by the ref at the other end
off the ice, was just his second minor this season. In 929 career games,
he has 394 penalty minutes.
“The idea is certainly to defend without taking penalties, including
myself,” said the 36-year-old member of the 2016 Cup champion
Penguins. “To defend without reaching, slashing or using your stick,
hooking or whatever.
“We didn’t generate a lot, it wasn’t the worst game I’ve ever seen. We
didn’t spend a lot of time in our end, but the flip side is we didn’t do
enough going towards their net. You do have to score at some point and
other than the power play goal, we didn’t have a lot of traffic like we
normally do. So it was kind of a dud, blah game for us.”
Carrick predicted the upcoming road matches will be “sticky”.
“Both teams we’re playing have some size up front, good sticks, skilled
players off the rush and have some active D-men with good size. It’ll be
our job to get underneath the net and bother them.
“For the most part it’s a copy-cat league, most teams doing the same
thing. Maybe there is a tweak here or there on a face-off or a power play
wrinkle, but for the most part the NHL game is skate, shoot, pass,
execute and bother people, take away time and space, have a good stick
and disrupt plays.
“You play in their end, the easier the game will get over 60 minutes.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084538 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs' 3M Line didn't last long
Lance Hornby
Mike Babcock is sorry for all those hockey poolies who picked up Matt
Martin on the weekend, but the experiment with him and Auston
Matthews is one-and-done.
The coach returned to regular lines to start against the Coyotes. In the
midst of the scoreless stalemate in Montreal on Saturday, Babcock got
out the blender and among the new groupings was Matthews centring
the equally creative Mitch Marner and fourth-line forechecker Martin.
They produced two of the nicest goals at the end of a 6-0 rout.
But Marner was restored to right wing Monday with James van Riemsdyk
and Tyler Bozak, with Matthews between WilliamNylander and Zach
Hyman. Martin was given back his pick and shovel.
“When you get to coach the team, you get to do what you want; when I’m
coaching, I’m going to do what I want,”
Babcock said of those who yearned to see Marner and Matthews and
enjoyed the novelty of Martin being up there. “I like to win every night. So
I try to put the right people together for that. I think it was good
entertainment for us, but the score was 6-0 and the shifts in a lot of it
didn’t matter.”
CLUB 100 GROWING
Babcock does not think Matthews has completely recovered,
conditioning-wise, from four games away with a suspected back injury.
“With two goals (people) think he’s back, but he’s not. We have to get
him back skating like he can, playing without the puck and being
dominant.”
The first injury of Matthews’ NHL career did create a scheduling quirk
where the Arizona resident’s 100th career game came against the team
he grew up watching. His friends on the Coyotes include U.S. national
development program centre Clayton Keller, a candidate to follow him as
Calder Trophy winner.
“He’s had a nice 99 games and we expect him to get better and better,”
Babcock said of his leading scorer. “One thing about leadership, you
have to do it right every day. It’s not what you say, it’s what you do. He
has to keep improving, but he knows that, he wants that so it shouldn’t be
an issue.”
Matthews, Hyman, Marner, Connor Brown and defenceman Connor
Carrick are all around the 100-game mark.
“They’re (still) kids, trying to learn how to get better, trying to learn how to
play,” Babcock opined. “Brownie’s level of consistency is different than
Mitch’s. Mitch is still trying to find his game every day, what he’s going to
be and the level’s he’s at. He’s a lot younger. It doesn’t matter how much
skill you have, you have to become a pro, learn to do it every day. He
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
has to continue to work on his body like he has. He wants to be great, but
it will take some time.”
DOGS HAVE THEIR DAY
Is Canada Coyote country?
That’s what coach Rick Tocchet’s last place team had to be thinking on
this road trip, which before Monday had produced two come-from-behind
wins against Montreal and Ottawa.
Lots of players and personnel with Toronto connections populate the
roster. That includes ex-Leaf first rounder Luke Schenn, TieDomi’s son
Max, and the Scarborough-born Tocchet.
“There’s no better hockey city for me,” Tocchet said. “I get to see my
family and it’s good for our guys, too.”
DOMIS GET THEIR KICKS
Domi held an unusual distinction Monday as the only player whose father
played for the Leafs and the Argos. Tie Domi, a soccer player of note as
a kid, tried out as a place kicker for the Argos in pre-season games in the
mid-1990s while a Leafs enforcer.
As Max was a baby at the time, he was a little skeptical.
“A kicker eh? I don’t know if that actually happened,” Max said. “I’ve seen
a photo, but no video. “Realistically, I have to see some footage it
actually happened. I think it was a pre-season game, some cherry
picking. But he claims he was a football player. I’ll have to do some
research.”
SCHENN HANGING IN
It has been almost 10 years since the Leafs drafted defenceman Schenn
and put him into their lineup right away. He was one of the few young
resources the Leafs had at the time.
“The cupboard is full now,” the Coyote observed. “They’ve done a great
job with the Marlies and prospects outside.
“I’m an old guy now, 10 years since I started playing. Time flies, but I
enjoyed the chance to play as a young guy. A lot of things change in the
game and we all know it’s a business (Schenn traded to Philadelphia for
van Riemsdyk). You get moved around here and there, but I enjoyed my
time in Toronto.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084539 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs winning streak snapped by frustrating Coyotes
Lance Hornby
TORONTO — It seems whenever the Desert Dogs come to Toronto, they
drop a cold front on the Maple Leafs.
What looked like a mis-match on paper, the Leafs on a six-game winning
streak at home against the NHL’s last-place club, became a complete
dog, a 4-1 result decided by power-play goals, two by the Coyotes to the
Leafs’ one — and a coach’s challenge that reversed an Auston
Matthews’ tying goal with 3:50 to play. Zach Hyman was judged to have
used his stick to knock netminder Antti Raanta off his angle. Matthews
later hit the post.
That’s points in eight straight games at the Air Canada Centre for
Arizona, but Matthews and coach Mike Babcock thought the Leafs
shouldn’t have left their fate in the hands of the replay gods anyway.
“We should start on time,” Matthews said, as the Leafs reached a
season-high three games without a first-period goal. “They clogged up
the neutral zone, they have a really good power play, we took too many
penalties (with only one power play themselves).
“I didn’t play very well tonight, I didn’t like the plays I made, turning the
puck over.”
As the game wore on, Babcock started changing his lines as he did in
Montreal on Saturday. He didn’t go as far as putting fourth-liner Matt
Martin back with Matthews and Mitch Marner, but did have Matthews and
Marner out with Hyman when the goal was overturned.
Babcock started his post-game comments by apologizing for his flippant
remark to a reporter who wondered in the morning briefing if he’d keep
the odd assortment lines together. Babcock said “the beauty of this is
when you get to coach the team, you get to do what you want. When I
coach, I do what I want. I like to win every night.”
In any case, it ended the Leafs’ attempt to match the seven victories last
compiled here by Pat Quinn’s club in 2003-04 and Frederik Andersen’s
bid for three straight shutouts.
“In my opinion (the Hyman call) did not affect the outcome,” Babcock
said. “The one-on-one battles, not being ready to compete at the start
affected the outcome. When you don’t start on time, you’re unprepared to
go, you don’t deserve good results.”
Arizona, with wins over the Canadiens and Senators earlier on this
Eastern road trip, no doubt had a few in Leafs Nation snickering, have
hardly looked like pushovers north of the border.
“It was pretty frustrating for awhile,” said Coyotes forward Max Domi. “But
we stuck with it and knew it was going to come. We’re playing good
hockey right now. We have to find a way to put everything else behind
us.”
Monday’s result spoiled Matthews’ 100th NHL game as Toronto’s leading
scorer celebrated what he thought was the equalizer, sweeping around
the net and going up top.
“That’s always tough,” said James van Riemsdyk, who had Toronto’s
only goal. “There are lots of times when the goalies are smarter than we
give them credit for, maybe try to incite some of that contact.
“I like at least now (the league) is taking a closer look at that where
before it was just a guess.”
Matthews was blanked, while Clayton Keller had two points to stay in the
race atop the rookie scoring parade and perhaps follow Matthews to the
Calder Trophy table in June.
Keeping the score close was Anderson, named NHL second star of the
week before the game with a record of 6-1 this month before Monday. He
made 27 saves, but Raanta slammed the door on Toronto at even
strength.
“We can all speculate, but November seems to be kinder to him than
October,” Babcock said of two straight uneven opening months since
Andersen came to Toronto. “I don’t know why. Is it harder for the goalie
to be ready at training camp? Or was it our team being so loosey-goosey
they didn’t care as much and wanted to race you to 10 (goals)? That
probably led to it as well, but I don’t know.”
Andersen had begun the evening with 75 straight saves on as many
shots and a chance at becoming just the third Leafs goalie since the start
of 1930-31 to get three bagels. Lorne Chabot and Turk Broda (1950-51)
were the others as posted by the Elias Sports Bureau.
But the slow-starting Leafs fell back into over reliance on their Danish
defender and though he did make it to double figures in saves, the
Coyotes broke his streak midway through the first period. Brendan
Perlini, whose father Fred wore Matthews’ 34 among many others in his
brief Leafs career, was alone near the end of a Connor Carrick minor.
With the penalty-killing tandem of Nikita Zaitsev and Ron Hainsey near
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
exhaustion as Arizona kept the puck inside the line for a long stretch,
Perlini collected his fifth.
Nazem Kadri drew a Kevin Connauton penalty in the dying seconds of
the first period, costing the Coyotes when the puck was dropped after
intermission, Kadri assisting on van Riemsdyk’s club-leading fifth power-
play goal.
With Marner off in the third, Arizona controlled the face-off in short order
with a successful screen shot by Oliver Ekman-Larson.
“This is what I was concerned about today,” Babcock said. “Their record,
even though we tried to tell our players how they’ve played lately and
come from behind, we got what we deserved. You get ready for the
game you’re playing today, that’s what good pros do. A lot of the guys
who were driving us, the young skilled guys … not today.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084540 Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs' Marner basking in Argos Grey Cup run
Lance Hornby
Rarely have the Toronto Argonauts been of such interest to the Maple
Leafs.
But with mutual playoff success of late, and shared ownership, the
hockey gang was out in force for Sunday’s CFL East Final win over
Saskatchewan.
“It was exciting,” said forward Mitch Marner, a regular attendee this
season at BMO Field. “I was worried that last little bit with 10 minutes left,
but I had no doubt.”
Marner won an undisclosed bet against Regina-born centre Tyler Bozak,
who had provincial native and coach Mike Babcock on his side, too.
“I walked in here this morning and Babs and Ty were at the breakfast
table,” chortled Marner. “I walked in with my Argos hat, arms up and
celebrating. It was time to rub it in.
“I’m going with the Argos again (in Sunday’s Grey Cup over Calgary), no
doubt. It’s going to be great.”
Ironically, the Leafs’ first game after the CFL title tilt will be in Calgary
next Tuesday, which would be an even better stage for Marner to bask in
if Toronto wins.
Marner brought a few teammates, including Auston Matthews, to BMO
on Sunday, the latter’s first live CFL game. Marner said the Arizona
resident liked it — once he got used to three-down football.
“I left after the third quarter,” a sheepish Matthews said. “It was a bit cold
and I was tired. When I got home and watched on TV, it turned into a real
barnburner. I probably should have stayed.”
Babcock endured the elements with the green-garbed Rider Pride gang
in the stands.
“I took the different route with the fans, instead of the sitting in the
secured suite and watching it on TV,” Babcock said. “It was a great
experience. I grew up a Roughrider fan (but) I’m really happy for Toronto,
for the team and for Larry Tanenbaum and the ownership. It’s a great
opportunity. Anytime you have a chance to win a championship, it’s really
special.”
Saskatoon-born ex-Leaf and now Coyotes’ defenceman Luke Schenn
was also at the game, set up by a high school friend who has a Rider
connection.
“We pretty much watched the whole game from the Roughriders bench,”
Schenn said. “It was a great experience.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084541 Toronto Maple Leafs
Could Igor Ozhiganov be the Maple Leafs next steal from the KHL?
By Alessandro Seren Rosso
In May 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing of KHL
defenceman Nikita Zaitsev. Fast forward to today and Zaitsev logs more
ice time than any other Maple Leaf and has already inked a long-term
contract extension. It seems Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello pulled a
rabbit out of his hat (Zaitsev is a common surname in Russia which
means “rabbit”), and will probably try to the same this summer with
another KHL defenceman: Igor Ozhiganov.
The Athletic’s Craig Custance noted the Maple Leafs are heavy
favourites to sign Ozhiganov and placed him 17th on his list of the top 20
UFAs.
A former teammate of Zaitsev's — both played for CSKA Moscow —
Ozhiganov is a solid two-way defenceman, and at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds,
he has an NHL-sized body. He also has a booming shot from the
blueline. While Zaitsev is a solid shooter, too, and scored more at the
KHL level, Ozhiganov’s shot is more powerful, proven by his triumph at
the 2017 KHL All-Star Game in the hardest shot competition. He won the
event with a 99 mile an hour blast.
To shed some light on the little-known Ozhiganov, I spoke to Gennady
Kurdin, his minor hockey coach in Moscow.
Kurdin played professionally in the Soviet Union and in Finland before he
started coaching junior hockey in Russia. During his pro career, he won
two Soviet titles playing for CSKA Moscow and a gold medal at the 1979
world junior championship in Sweden, playing alongside players like
Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Alexei Kasatonov.
Kurdin has had success coaching young players. Working with the Belye
Medvedi academy in Moscow, he paved the way for other notable
Russian players like Nikita Kucherov and Nikita Gusev to turn pro.
“Since his childhood, (Ozhiganov) played different sports, but he had
some problems with running and physical loads. He was being (raised)
by his grandmother, Lidia Ivanovna, who always helped us during the
camps,” Kurdin said.
Ozhiganov, 25, was a late bloomer. He didn’t play for any national teams,
like Kucherov and Gusev did, until the 2012 world juniors, where he won
a silver medal. This is an unusual career path for a high-level Russian
player. Usually, the best players start getting called to the national level
at a young age and rise up the ranks. For Ozhiganov, it didn't unfold like
that.
“Ozhiganov got a good (weight) only at 21. He went away from me a
number of times when he was younger. I am a demanding coach and I
force my guys to work. But pretty much at 15, he stopped being lazy and
changed his attitude with hockey. He still has that great attitude,” Kurdin
said.
Kurdin recalled that there were flashes of that “great attitude” when
Ozhiganov was a young player.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
“When he was 11, he almost had to quit hockey due to an injury following
a boarding incident. He really wanted back (on the) ice when he was
injured. He started working back on his shot at his place and broke
everything. After a couple of months, he already started skating and
played only one month later, even if the doctors recommended to wait
one year,” Kurdin said.
Despite not suiting up for the national team at a young age, Ozhiganov
was an above-average player. He played his first KHL game when he
was just 18, in 2011-12, and scored a memorable first goal a year later.
It went something like this: During a power play in the dying minutes of a
1-1 game between CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Riga, Kucherov picked
up the puck at the half boards. Initially, he was looking for the slot, but
with no one open, he found Ozhiganov on the blueline. The defenceman
got the puck, took a half step forward and unleashed a booming slapshot
that found the back of the net.
This type of goal is common for offensive defencemen like Ozhiganov.
His biggest weapon is his slapshot. He also possesses above-average
vision and an ability to read the play.
“Even when he was younger, I always played him on the power play
because of his unordinary way of thinking the game. He was often
playing with Nikita Gusev. Gusev and Ozhiganov think hockey the same
way Kucherov does. I didn’t play him on the penalty kill. (Ozhiganov) is a
creative player who likes to play the puck. He always had a great shot,
even when he was 14 or 15 and now he has just improved it further,”
Kurdin said.
Starting with that first goal against Dinamo Riga, Ozhiganov has gone on
to score 27 goals in 297 regular-season KHL games. Most of his goals
have come from the blueline, as expected, but he also scored a couple of
goals that demonstrate his stick-handling skills. He scored a career high
eight goals in 50 games last season.
For a comparison, by age 24, Zaitsev had scored 95 points in the KHL.
Ozhiganov has 83. At age 22, Ozhiganov had 45 points, but that was
likely due to receiving more ice time while playing for Sibir Novosibirsk.
While Ozhiganov had three very good seasons he's off to a rough start in
2017-18. He has yet to score and has just two assists in 24 games, a
surprise considering his offensive abilities.
“He usually plays best when he feels the trust of his coach,” Kurdin said.
Perhaps a coaching change is the reason for Ozhiganov's poor start to
the season. This off-season, former Kazakhstan Olympian Igor Nikitin
replaced former Boston Bruins forward Dmitri Kvartalnov as CSKA
Moscow's head coach. Nikitin was also a former assistant coach with
Sibir Novosibirsk. It looks like the move didn’t work in Ozhiganov’s
favour.
“I think that (Ozhiganov) didn’t (have) a good relationship with Nikitin
when they were in Novosibirsk,” Kurdin said. “This year (Ozhiganov) isn’t
playing on the power play. It shows that he lost ice time if compared to
the situation with Kvartalnov. I think that Nikitin is too much of a short-
term specialist, he limits to play his team to a run-and-gun system. It’s
needed to better use players, according to their skills. (CSKA) don’t play
a player of such a level, but in North America they wouldn’t sit a player
like him. But (Ozhiganov) has a great attitude and can play at a very high
level, he can get out of this situation.”
At this point, it looks like the Maple Leafs are the most likely candidate for
Ozhiganov’s move to the NHL, even if Kucherov has praised him publicly
and reportedly asked Lightning GM Steve Yzerman to sign him.
“We’ll see how he will adapt to the North American hockey, however,
because he needs to work on his mobility. In the NHL, you do need to
have more maneuverability and to switch faster from offence to defence,
and vice versa,” Kurdin said.
There’s definitely a place in the NHL for an offensive defenceman with a
big shot from the blueline. NHL success, however, doesn’t depend on
skill or physicality alone, even when a player has plenty of both, as is the
case with Ozhiganov.
NHL success, especially for Russian players, depends a lot on
adaptation. On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine Leafs coach Mike
Babcock and Lamoriello personally visited a player to simply have a look
at him. They have scouts for that kind of task.
Ozhiganov’s NHL career has yet to begin, but at this point, it’s hard to
imagine that he will sign a new contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL. If
the Leafs are able to sign him, they may have themselves another
diamond in the rough.
The Athletic LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084493 Nashville Predators
Predators' Kevin Fiala surging since Kyle Turris' debut
Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 9:33
a.m. CT Nov. 21, 2017 | Updated 12:27 p.m. CT Nov. 21, 2017
Throughout the Predators' season, "Morning Skate" will highlight the
odds and ends surrounding the team. Consider this a one-stop shop for
Predators-related information.
With a quick pirouette and a flick of his wrist, Kevin Fiala backhanded the
Predators into the lead Monday against the Winnipeg Jets.
This is what the Predators were waiting for, the spark that would set the
talented forward afire. The 21-year-old had two points Monday, the first
time in his brief NHL career that he has recorded consecutive multi-point
games.
"I really think that helps build confidence inside of a player," Predators
coach Peter Laviolette said. "To me, that's what showed most out there
(Monday) is that he looked extremely confident with the skating and the
moves and the cuts that he was trying to make and delivering pucks and
trying to beat people and create."
The Predators' offense has been resurrected this month after a sluggish
October with a league-leading 37 goals in nine games.
Fiala, like many others, has been a part of that turnaround, totaling six
points in his past five games. He leads Predators forwards with 15 shots
over that span, matching his output through his first 14 games this
season.
It seems too coincidental that those five productive games coincide with
the Predators debut of Kyle Turris, who has centered Fiala's line with
Craig Smith since arriving via trade more than two weeks ago.
"I feel great with them," Fiala said. "Both are hard workers and very
skilled and very great. Kyle (coming) into the lineup, he's a very offensive
guy."
As a unit, their combined speed and offensive instincts have
overwhelmed opponents in the offensive zone. It appears that Turris has
unlocked Fiala's true potential.
"He's a very good player that I'm trying to gain chemistry with," Turris
said. "Get him the puck and let him fly."
Tennessean LOADED: 11.22.2017
1084494 Nashville Predators
Is Predators' Filip Forsberg a star? NHL players, coaches weigh in
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Adam Vingan, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee Published 8:00
a.m. CT Nov. 21, 2017 | Updated 10:48 a.m. CT Nov. 21, 2017
The definition of what constitutes a star in the NHL depends on the
criteria used.
From a statistical standpoint, Predators forward Filip Forsberg qualifies.
Eleven NHL players before Tuesday’s games had scored more goals
than Forsberg's 99 since the start of the 2014-15 season. Twenty-three
had more points.
But he’s routinely overlooked in discussions of the young difference
makers that have overtaken the league.
For the past month, The Tennessean has asked NHL players and
coaches some variation of the following question — "Is Filip Forsberg a
star?"
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The Athletic / Bourne: Brent Burns is still without a goal this season —
what's going on?
By Justin Bourne
There’s something weird going on with Brent Burns (a writer writes yet
again). But this time it’s not his snake and rodent heavy home zoo or the
months spent RVing around North America instead of training
traditionally, or his wild man appearance.
It’s this: The all-star defenseman, the Canadian Olympian, the Norris
Trophy-winning star, only has three primary points all season, and not a
single one at 5v5. Over 19 games. Over the past two seasons alone he’s
totalled ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN primary points, among his grand
total of 151. He sits with zero goals. With a second assist, his current
number of 5v5 points sits at a lonely one. All told he has seven points,
partly thanks to some secondary power-play assists.
A closer look makes things even more confounding.
Through a quarter of the season, he’s logging the second most minutes
of his career — well over 25 a night. That’s ninth-most in the league and
most on the Sharks. At even strength, he’s averaging around 18 minutes,
so yeah, it’s not like he’s had fewer opportunities to produce than in
previous years.
If we can continue the spiral of crazy here, he’s also never averaged
more shots (per minutes played) than he currently is in his entire career.
He’s a human rapid-fire machine. His 82 shots – a total creeping up to
Alex Ovechkin-level numbers at over four per game — are the sixth most
in the league, while his even strength total is the third highest in the
entire NHL. And some-freaking-how, he hasn’t found the back of the net,
despite his shot being a bomb. I mean, he hasn't even had one of those
shots turn into a rebound for a primary assist. What are the odds of that?
And more importantly, what the hell is going on?
All we can really do is theorize – if he or the team knew, they’d certainly
fix it – but there are a couple things I noticed while digging through his
stats and watching his past few games.
One is that his shooting percentage over his career has always fluctuated
wildly. That makes sense; he's played different positions, and on D he’s a
volume shooter from distance. Those pucks are more prone to being
affected by things largely out of Burns’ control – tips, pucks off pants,
goalie screens, etc. But that takes me to something I noticed in watching
him play – yes, he shoots a lot, but boy, does he take a lot of rips from
the worst spot in the offensive zone (near the blueline by the boards).
On Monday night, Burns had another seven shots (and untold attempts)
in a shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Below is a quick look at a
chunk of the attempts he took over those 65 minutes.
I mean there’s a couple decent looks in there, but for the most part, he’s
throwing Hail Marys. There’s also the issue that once players recognize
they’re in a slump, they become prone to over-thinking opportunities:
Oof.
But back to the distance thing: if you check out his “high danger” shot
attempt numbers – basically the percentage of his shots that come from
the house area around the net, which go in most regularly – it’s never
been worse in his career. Like, not even close.
Over the past three seasons, his shot attempts that come from that area
(per 60 minutes) are 0.92, 0.99, and 0.79. This year? 0.12. The
percentage of his own shots that come from that area this year is over
five percent lower than any previous year of his career.
Over the past six seasons, the average distance of an NHL
defenseman’s shot has edged closer to the net like clockwork (down to
49.8 feet last season). Burns is doing the opposite. His average shot
distances have moved farther from the net in each of the past four years,
pushing back nearly four feet over that time, including a foot and half
from last year alone. His average shot comes from about 54 feet this
year. So on average, he shoots from over four feet farther than your
average defenseman.
Obviously, this wasn’t a problem over the past year or two — his very
particular style was extremely effective — but as the number pushes
farther and farther away from the net, I think it’s fair to expect fewer
pucks to find their way in.
Now, it’s possible that this is something system based. As Burns logs
more minutes and gets older, it’s possible they’ve asked him to jump into
the rush less. They may not want him getting as involved in the offensive
zone, worrying that he won’t have the wheels to get back to the D-side
quickly if things go wrong.
It might also be none of those things. Obviously, he’s had bad luck – it’s
almost impossible to shoot the puck on net as often as he has and not
score. His expected goal total so far sits between three and four. But it’s
also possible that, as I’ve heard from people around the team, the eye
test hasn’t been great either.
(Not to scare Sharks fans too much, but the scoring chances against
when he’s on the ice are also through the roof compared to his career
norms.)
Whatever the case is, the team has to be concerned that one year
(almost to the day) of signing an eight-year by eight million dollar
contract, their Norris Trophy-worthy offensive force suddenly isn't
producing offense. It’s still shy of game 20 for Burns, but you can’t help
but look at a big guy who turns 33 this season with a big deal in his
pocket and do the awkward collar-tug thing for San Jose.
The reality is, Burns is still an exceptional player — not producing offense
yet doesn’t make that untrue. He kills rushes against early, he makes
nice first touches in the D-zone, and obviously, he’s still creating major
shot volume. His shot metric numbers (possession, if you like) are still
more than good, and still good relative to his teammates.
So yeah, this is going to get better. There is zero fear that his offensive
numbers stay this feeble. But when things get this statistically drastic,
you have to believe that at least some portion of it goes beyond luck.
And that’s where the Sharks team, fans and even Burns himself have to
wonder: how far will this correct this year, and the year beyond? That
group of people better hope a lot, or the “beyond” part of that deal could
— like Burns — get a little weird.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
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The Athletic / Why Jim Benning's contract situation should matter to
Canucks fans
By Jason Brough
Do the Vancouver Canucks need to make the playoffs for Jim Benning to
keep his job as general manager?
I'll admit, I don't know the answer to that question. But what I do know is
there are plenty of good reasons to ask it. Benning is in the final year of
his contract, and the Canucks are in no rush to hand him an extension.
What possibly could they be waiting for?
A few weeks ago, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini may have provided
a clue when he went on the radio and got asked about his GM's job
status.
“With Jim, those contract talks are private, so it’s not something I want to
discuss here,” Aquilini said. “(But) I think from what Jim has
accomplished in his last 15 games, I think it’s pretty exciting. I think the
games have been very entertaining, they've been fun to watch as a fan.
Every game this year has been competitive.”
At the time, the Canucks were 7-5-2 and playing some decent hockey.
They've since fallen to 9-8-3, no longer holding down a playoff spot.
What struck me most about Aquilini's remarks was his focus on the short
term. He was asked about his GM's job status, and his first thought was
that the “last 15 games” have gone well. It wasn't about Brock Boeser or
Thatcher Demko or Elias Pettersson, three excellent prospects that
Benning has drafted. It was about the current season and how the team
was playing.
Now, there's no question that a big part of Benning's job is to ice a
competitive team. He said so himself during our chat in October when
asked if there was any temptation to tank for Rasmus Dahlin.
“When you sit in this chair, you walk a fine line,” Benning said. “You have
paying customers that want to come to the games and be entertained.
And part of being entertained is your team's competitive and they have a
chance to win at the end of the night.”
But the other big thing that ownership has demanded of Benning is that
he builds for the future by making the Canucks younger and more
talented. Draft well. Develop well. All that stuff. Just don't forget about
staying competitive and keeping the fans entertained!
Since becoming GM in 2014, Benning's moves have reflected those dual
objectives. Unlike most GMs of rebuilding teams, he hasn't stockpiled
draft picks. Instead, he's chosen to target other teams' prospects like
Sven Baertschi and Nikolay Goldobin, i.e. players who are close to being
NHL ready. Heck, the only first-round pick he did acquire — the one the
Canucks used to draft Jared McCann in 2014 — ended up getting flipped
to Florida for Erik Gudbranson.
Benning has also signed the likes of Ryan Miller and Loui Eriksson in
free agency. Those two were added to remain competitive, not so they
could get flipped at the deadline. They didn't come cheap, either.
Even the veterans that have been traded, you could argue that Benning's
hand was forced. Jannik Hansen was probably going to be lost in the
expansion draft, so he went to San Jose for Goldobin. Alex Burrows was
a pending UFA, so he went to Ottawa for another prospect in Jonathan
Dahlen.
What does all this have to do with Benning's job status?
To answer that, let's take a quick detour into the business world. Have
you heard of Amazon? It's a pretty successful company. Worth over $500
billion now, according to a share price that's quadrupled the past couple
years.
One of the many interesting things about Amazon is its steadfast focus
on the long term. CEO Jeff Bezos doesn't waste time worrying about
quarterly results or what Wall Street thinks on a day-to-day basis. That
would be short-term thinking.
“I ask everybody to not think in two-to-three-year time frames, but to think
in five-to-seven-year time frames,” Bezos said earlier this year, per
CNBC. “When somebody congratulates Amazon on a good quarter, I say
thank you. But what I'm thinking to myself is that those quarterly results
were actually pretty much fully baked about three years ago. Today, I'm
working on a quarter that is going to happen in 2020. Not next quarter.
Next quarter for all practical purposes is done already and it has probably
been done for a couple of years.”
Look, I realize that building a hockey team is different than building an e-
commerce giant. For one thing, hockey teams require fewer drones.
But “short-termism” — yes, they actually have a phrase for it — can be a
real problem for CEOs. Because if earnings go down, the share price
goes down. And if the share price goes down, you can bet the CEO is
going to start feeling the heat from the shareholders.
Do you know what can cause earnings to go down in the short term?
Investing in the future.
“It’s one of the most dysfunctional things going on in the marketplace
today,” former Xerox CEO Ann Mulcahy said back in 2005. “I applaud
companies that have pulled back from setting earnings expectations and
are trying to reshape the rules of the road. If I could take Xerox private,
I’d do it yesterday.”
Mulcahy added, “I talk with a lot of CEOs, and quietly to each other, we
say, ‘I’d love to say that I just don’t care and I’m just focused on the long
term, but the pressure is extraordinary.'”
If you think about it, the NHL standings are a lot like quarterly earnings.
All they show is the short-term picture. They don't show which teams
have the best prospects. Nor do they show which teams have too many
aging veterans on bad contracts.
So getting back to the Canucks, how might short-termism rear its ugly
head?
Well, what if Benning were to get a trade offer for Chris Tanev? We've all
seen how badly the team misses him when he's out. But at the same
time, we know that top-four defencemen are an extremely valuable
commodity in today's NHL. Tanev could be worth a first-round draft pick
and a good prospect to a contending team.
I did ask Benning at the draft about the possibility of trading Tanev.
“Well, he's one of our best defencemen,” he said. “I'm going to look at all
our options, but for us to move him off our blue line, we'd have to get a
good defenceman back.”
I pushed back. Shouldn't the Canucks' focus be more long term, like five
years down the line?
“That's a good point,” Benning said, “but I think we're going to have a lot
of young players in our lineup next year, and we want to be competitive
in the games. Chris Tanev is still a relatively young player for a
defenceman. We're going to have him for the next seven or eight years.”
For the record, Tanev turns 28 next month, and he's only signed through
the 2019-20 season, after which he can become an unrestricted free
agent. But fine, I'll allow there's some merit to keeping Tanev and trying
to re-sign him.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
The Canucks also have some pending UFAs. So what if they got an offer
for Thomas Vanek at the deadline? And what if they were still in the
playoff race then? And if they were, what if Benning felt he had to make
the playoffs to keep his job? Is he really going to trade a contributor for,
say, a second-round pick?
Then there's the tricky situation with Gudbranson. At this point, trading
Gudbranson for pennies on the dollar might be the smart play. (At the
very least, it beats throwing good money after bad.) But what if Benning
is worried he'll look bad if he takes an L on one of the signature moves of
his tenure? If he had some job security, might he approach the situation
differently?
Trevor Linden, the Canucks president of hockey ops, understands why
those sorts of questions might get raised.
“That's fair,” he told The Athletic Monday from Philadelphia. “But Jim and
I, we're very much in agreement on where the future of this team is, and
where we have to be. I don't see that as being an issue. I get where that
comes from, but at the same time I'm not concerned about that.”
I asked if there was a time frame for deciding on Benning's future.
“No, we're pretty focused on what we're doing here,” said Linden. “I'm in
contact with Jim daily, so it hasn't been an issue.”
I asked if he could picture finishing the season without a decision being
made on Benning.
“That's possible,” he allowed. “Like I said, we're focused on what we're
doing and the day-to-day operations of the club right now, focused on
winning games.”
I asked if the Canucks were waiting to see what shakes out in places like
Detroit and St. Louis where Ken Holland and Doug Armstrong are also in
the final year of their contracts.
The answer was no.
Finally, I asked Linden how much Benning was being judged on the
short-term versus the long-term.
Not surprisingly, the phrase “fine line” came up again.
“I'm really encouraged by what's happening in the organization, not
necessarily at the NHL level,” said Linden. “Whether it be in Utica, where
there's some positive things with some young players coming in and
playing some meaningful roles down there. Or whether it be the junior
leagues or college or the European leagues. We've had some players
really step forward and I'm excited about a group of players that aren't
currently on our team.
“I guess there's always a part of it where your eye's on the future and
what that looks like. At the same time, when the season starts, you want
to be competitive. You want to have a chance to win. You want to
compete every night. But we're certainly not going to mortgage the future
to win now.
“It's always a bit of a balancing act. Our fans want to come to the rink
every night and have a chance to win. So you kind of walk the fine line. I
think we've done a good job of that to this point.”
We shall see if ownership agrees.
But when we'll see?
That's hard to say.
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The Athletic / Dellow: Canadiens one of league's best at 5-on-5…except
after faceoffs
By Tyler Dellow
Through games played Sunday night, Claude Julien's old team, the
Boston Bruins, has the second worst goal difference in the NHL within 15
seconds of a 5-on-5 faceoff at -4. They're tied with his division rival, the
Buffalo Sabres, who are also at -4. It's always good to see divisional
rivals struggling at something but, regrettably, the Canadiens are a
remarkable -11 within 15 seconds of a 5-on-5 faceoff.
Montreal is currently -13 at 5-on-5, so most of their problem has occurred
within 15 seconds of a faceoff. The problem actually runs a little deeper
than this. I've got a way of slicing the game into segments, based on
when the last faceoff occurred and what the result of that faceoff was.
After a certain point, which is tied to the first defenceman changing, I
classify it as on-the-fly (OTF) hockey – the players are changing on the
fly, and the game has turned back into a flow game, up the ice and back.
In non-OTF minutes, the Canadiens have been out-scored 32-11. They
have an .881 save percentage and are shooting just 4.3 per cent. Their
goal difference on these shifts is the worst in the NHL, six goals worse
than the forlorn Arizona Coyotes. On OTF shifts, which account for about
47 per cent of Montreal's time at 5-on-5, the Canadiens have very good
numbers. They're sixth in the league by Corsi%. They're tied for fifth in
goal difference. They're a nice, normal, good team. Unfortunately, it's all
been undermined by the half of the game in which they're the 1974-75
Washington Capitals.
I tend to think that this distinction between OTF and non-OTF hockey is
important because non-OTF shifts tend to unfold in very specific ways.
Take a shift starting with a defensive zone win. A team has to execute a
series of steps to turn that into an offensive zone opportunity. Win the
faceoff. Get control of the puck. Break out cleanly. Transit the neutral
zone. Enter the offensive zone. A defensive zone loss has a difference
sequence that's required. An offensive zone loss is something else
altogether. And so on. You get the idea. Separating these out makes it
easier to see where things have gone wrong.
Let's start with defensive zone loss minutes. The Canadiens have been
outscored 7-1 in these minutes. Unsurprisingly, NHL teams tend to do
extremely poorly in these minutes. The average team having played the
same amount of defensive zone loss minutes would expect to have been
outscored 4.6 to 1.3. So most of Montreal's problems relate to goals that
they've allowed.
Montreal's worse than the average team in terms of allowing shots in
these minutes – the Canadiens have allowed 62.7 SA/60 as compared to
a league average of 54.5 SA/60 but what's really killed them is the .883
goaltending. Six of the seven goals Montreal has allowed on these shifts
have been within 15 seconds of the faceoff. I took a look at the goals that
they've allowed within 15 seconds of a defensive zone faceoff loss to see
if any commonalities show up. I see two groups, with Saturday's loss
against Toronto introducing a third class.
There's another thread that I see running through this, both with the
defensive zone wins and the defensive zone losses. On a lot of these
goals, you'll see the Montreal centre let the opposing centre go after the
faceoff. That centre frequently seems to end up alone in front of the net.
Watch for it as you go through these goals.
Deflected shots
0:00
0:00
0:00
Carey Price moving awkwardly
Matt Cullen scores on the rebound here. He's completely unmarked after
winning the faceoff.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
0:00
0:00
Terrible Coverage
0:00
If Montreal's coaches are asking the centre to try and block shots instead
of staying with the opposing centre after the faceoff, then responsibility
for this goal isn't on Phillip Danault. As I've mentioned, it shows up
enough that I suspect that this is what the coaching staff wants.
Outside of issues with centres letting their counterparts go, I'm not sure
what Claude Julien could realistically do in order to improve the save
percentage and, by extension, the goals against, in defensive zone loss
minutes. Carey Price returning to health and to being Carey Price would
help. While the Canadiens allow more shots than average team here, the
real issue is getting some saves. Analytics guys are notorious for
chalking things up to bad luck but between deflections making their way
past the goalie and whatever is wrong with Price, I think that accounts for
most of Montreal's difficulties here.
Defensive zone wins are another story. Again, the Canadiens are much
worse than we'd expect, given the amount of time they've played
following a defensive zone win. Montreal's been outscored 8-1; we'd
expect a team that's played as much time in this state as the Canadiens
to have been outscored 2.9 to 1.7. The save percentage that the
Canadiens are getting here is outrageously awful: .810. Offensively, they
aren't going in but it's a very small difference. Again, it's the defensive
issue that I find more interesting.
If we look at the video, we see that four goals against have occurred
within 15 seconds of a defensive zone faceoff win. Again, I looked for
commonalities. They're harder to find here.
Bad Luck
0:00
(The clip below is bad luck – watch the referee's foot – and then bad
coverage.)
0:00
This next goal is another example of the centre releasing his counterpart
after a faceoff in order to occupy a lane and then seeing him score on a
deflection.
0:00
Bad defending
0:00
There's no real smoking gun here that I can see, although if I was Claude
Julien, I'd be looking for winger wins on faceoffs and better coverage if
the puck is turned over. While it's a small sample, part of a coach's job is
worrying about stuff before the numbers say he's got a problem.
Moving out to the neutral zone, Montreal has been out-scored 5-2 after
neutral zone losses. The average team with the same amount of time
would have been outscored 3.7 to 2.7 – the problem is a little more
evenly balanced here. The Canadiens have a very nice Corsi% in this
situation – 47.9 per cent against a league average of 40.0 per cent,
which suggests that they're generally doing a good job of retrieving pucks
and exiting the zone.
Of the five goals allowed by the Canadiens after neutral zone losses,
only one came within 15 seconds. Carey Price was really, really
struggling before he took some time off. Here's another example of a
goal that's largely on him.
0:00
Amazingly, after neutral zone wins, Montreal's problem continues to be
an inability to stop the puck. The Canadiens have been outscored 7-3; an
average team would have been outscored 3.7 to 3.1. Montreal's
possession numbers are fabulous here, with a 63.4 per cent Corsi%; a
league average team would be at 51.7 per cent. A .750 save percentage
won't take you very far though and that's what the Canadiens have.
That doesn't necessarily mean it's a goaltending thing. Going through the
goals, I see a lot of terrible breakdowns. You'd like your goalie to bail you
out but it's not always going to happen.
0:00
0:00
Outside of the 15 second window I was looking at, the goals against after
neutral zone wins seemed to follow the same pattern: some ugly play by
the defencemen leading to a gilt edged opportunity for the other team.
Offensive zone losses have been a net neutral for Montreal. They've
scored two goals and allowed two goals in those minutes. We'd expect
an average team to have scored 3.1 and allowed 3.2 in those minutes
but they're not doing any material harm to their goal difference.
Offensive zone wins are another story. As with offensive zone losses, the
Canadiens have scored two goals and allowed two goals in offensive
zone win minutes. The difference is that the expectations here are much
higher. An average team playing the same amount of minutes would
have scored 5.2 goals and allowed 2.2 goals. So defensively, the
Canadiens are fine but offensively, they're not producing. Montreal's shot
attempt and shots on goal numbers in this situation are in line with
league norms, which leaves shooting percentage. The Canadiens are
shooting 3.4 per cent; league average is 8.4 per cent. That's a problem.
It's an issue that's harder to find a solution to. One wonders if the
Canadiens are finding enough ways to generate shots close to the net
out of these situations – there are coaches who seem to have perpetual
success from offensive zone faceoffs.
The big picture isn't all bad here for Montreal. It's just suggestive of
certain specific areas that need to be cleaned up. Clean up who's
defending whom after faceoffs. Clean up the breakouts. Clean up Carey
Price's game. It's hard to recall a team in as precarious a position as the
Canadiens that had the obvious strengths they seem to have.
The more concerning possibility is that Montreal simply doesn't have the
horses on defence; that the defencemen can't consistently identify their
responsibilities or execute clean breakouts, which leads to catastrophic
failures. If that's the case, as opposed to something that Julien and his
staff can clean up with some work, some health and some luck, the
Canadiens are doomed to a long, unhappy season.
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The Athletic / Five months after trade, Buffalo-Minnesota swap still a
culture shock for players
By Michael Russo
BUFFALO, N.Y. – If Jason Pominville had to be traded from the Wild,
being shipped back to the Buffalo Sabres was the perfect situation.
Pominville truly realized this when he moved his family from their
offseason home near Montreal and his 8-year-old son Jayden not only
remembered a few of his old Buffalo buddies, but somehow also his one-
time babysitter.
Jayden, born in Buffalo, was 3 ½ when his dad, then the Sabres’ captain,
was traded to Minnesota in 2013.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
“We were pretty impressed that he remembered our babysitter,”
Pominville said, laughing.
Since that June 30 trade that sent Pominville and Marco Scandella
packing in return for Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis, it has been a
simple transition for Pominville back to western New York, a place he
lived for parts of nine seasons after the Sabres drafted him 55th overall in
2001.
The only noticeable change after playing parts of five seasons for the
Wild is the fact Pominville is now 34 and a tad more grizzled than that
baby-faced picture of him pasted on a mural outside KeyBank Center.
VANEK NEXT TO POMINVILLE ON THE #SABRES' ALUMNI PLAZA
#MNWILD PIC.TWITTER.COM/BDDJJJRGC1
— MICHAEL RUSSO (@RUSSOHOCKEY) OCTOBER 14, 2013
“The first time I drove to the rink was kind of weird,” Pominville said. “We
live close to the neighborhood we lived last time, so the first drive I was
trying to find my way back to the same route I used to go through. And
even walking into the rink and seeing all of the people that I’m used to
seeing was a little weird, but I got used to it pretty quick.
“I loved Minny. I was disappointed obviously, but once I found out where I
was going, it made it easier. I was pretty fortunate on that part to come
back to a spot where we’re familiar with.”
Pominville figured all June that a defenseman would be on the move
from the Wild. He was caught off guard to be part of that package,
however.
“I finished my workout, I got home, and I see that I had missed a phone
call from [GM] Chuck [Fletcher],” said Pominville, who immediately
dropped an expletive when he saw his cell phone. “I gave Chuck a call
and that’s when I found out. But to say that I was really expecting it? No,
I wasn’t really expecting it at all. But to say that it was a complete shock?
Probably not.
“You know what, I have zero hard feelings about it at all. I had too much
fun there to hold any grudge on anyone.”
Wednesday night will be the first meeting between the Wild and Sabres
since that four-player summertime trade, which was consummated in
large part so the Wild could afford to re-sign restricted free agents Mikael
Granlund and Nino Niederreiter a month later.
Out the door for Minnesota was Pominville’s $5.6 million cap hit and
Scandella’s $4 million hit. In came Ennis’ $4.6 million cap hit and
eventually once he was signed Foligno’s $2.875 million hit for a net cap
savings of $2.125 million.
Plus, there was a significant cash savings. Pominville and Scandella
were owed $23.25 million, while Ennis and Foligno total $15.925 million.
Financially, the move made sense.
Hockey-wise, the deal so far hasn’t had the benefits both teams had
hoped.
The Sabres are last in the Eastern Conference and a point ahead of
Arizona for the NHL cellar.
The Wild have gotten off to a pedestrian 9-8-3 start and clearly miss
Pominville and Scandella, as they have had a tough time assimilating a
struggling Ennis into a spot where he can remain consistently or produce.
Wednesday’s game will be odd for all players involved, especially
Scandella, Foligno and Ennis, who were drafted by and grew up as
NHLers with their opponent.
The change in cultures is also taking time to get used to.
Coming from Minnesota, Pominville and Scandella are transitioning from
a team that made the playoffs five consecutive seasons to a rebuilding
franchise that has missed the playoffs six years in a row. Foligno and
Ennis are coming from a losing culture to a place where there are high
expectations.
“I think everyone [in Buffalo] knows it’s going to take time,” Foligno said.
“[Pominville and Scandella are] going from a place where the ‘time is
now’ to where ‘it’s the future.’ From training camp here, it was
competitive and it was demanding of correction every day. And not that
you haven’t been [competitive] as an athlete, but in Buffalo, it was OK to
just work hard. So that’s a different mentality and I think it kind of screws
with you with the transition.”
Losing makes coach Bruce Boudreau erupt like a volcano, a
phenomenon the two got to experience a few weeks ago after a third
consecutive loss and “embarrassing” defeat in Boston.
“[They’re] learning in a hurry that losing is really not accepted,” Boudreau
said recently. “You can't make positive things out of losing. The only way
to have fun or anything is to win. Nothing else matters. The sacrifices
guys have to make whether it's in practice or the game are probably
something that [Foligno and Ennis] haven't been used to.”
In advance of Wednesday’s game, The Athletic talked to all four players
– Pominville and Scandella by phone – about the upcoming contest and
how life has been, albeit early, in their new spots.
TYLER ENNIS
Age: 28
Career with Sabres: 97 goals, 139 assists, 236 points, 419 games, three
20-goal seasons, missed 90 games to injury the previous two seasons.
Career with Wild: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, 20 games
It has not been an easy transition for Ennis, who has been relegated to a
fourth-line role and little power-play time for much of his first couple
months with the Wild.
Boudreau has made it quite clear he has not been enamored with the
under-sized Ennis’ lack of winning battles and, frankly, his production.
Ennis has bit his tongue for the most part, although he has made it clear
he has long been a power-play guy who has barely got a sniff in
Minnesota.
As for his start, Ennis said, “I definitely think mixed emotions. It’s great to
be a part of a team that wins. Ideally, you want to be contributing more
on a team that wins, but I think for me right from day one my goal was to
establish and show and prove that I can play winning hockey, I can play
defensively without the puck, and play hard and play the right way.
“I think that my job is to, historically, generate offense. This team has a
lot of depth and a lot of offense, so my goal is to continue to just improve
and prove that I can play both ways.”
Ennis smiled when asked about the fact that even on those occasions he
has gotten a top-six role, he’s usually off the line by the middle of the
game or, at the very least, the next game.
“I think everyone wants to be on the top line,” he said. “Growing up,
everyone wants to be in that spot, but you’ve got to put your ego aside
and you’ve got to be a team guy and you’ve got to do what it takes to win
games. My goal is to be on a team that wins the Stanley Cup. I’m going
to do whatever is asked of me on a team that wins the Stanley Cup.
“There’s a culture here, which is really awesome to be a part of. You
grow up and you want to play hockey and you want to have fun, but you
want to win. We’ve still got improving to do, but there’s just a mindset
here and it’s been fun from day one.”
MARCUS FOLIGNO
Age: 26
Career with Sabres: 49 goals, 67 assists, 116 points, 347 games, 334
penalty minutes, 1,023 hits, including 279 last season (fifth in the NHL).
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Career with Wild: 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, 19 games, 61 hits (leads
team)
Foligno, who will spend Tuesday night visiting with his sister, Cara, who
works for the Sabres, was thrilled when he was drafted by the Sabres, a
team his father, Mike, starred with.
But losing began to weigh on Foligno.
“It’s one of the worst habits out there,” he said. “I mean, when you lose,
you know how to lose and that’s the worst part. You find yourself up in
games and blow leads and this and that, and that’s what we saw a lot of
in my time in Buffalo.”
In Minnesota, Foligno and Ennis are trying to rid themselves of losing
habits.
“You look around at the experience and talent and hard work we have on
this team, so when you put that all together for 60 minutes, you’re going
to bode yourself well.”
Foligno believes his transition has gone a lot smoother than Ennis.
“I mean at first, I think a little bit after [the broken cheekbone], I had to
take some time to get back into things. After that, I feel like it’s been
good,” he said. “I feel like I’ve played my role pretty well here and kind of
given that extra jump that we need when it comes to forechecking and
things like that. I think that we have all the pieces in this room to do great
things this year and when you have an identity like this team does, it’s
easy to kind of fit yourself in.”
JASON POMINVILLE
Age: 34
Career with Wild: 76 goals, 130 assists, 206 points, 327 games, led Wild
with 30 goals in 2013-14.
This season with Sabres: 6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, 21 games.
There’s no doubt Pominville drove Wild fans nuts with his propensity of
missing the net or fanning on shots, but for a Wild team that gets no
production from its third and fourth lines — in the past 27 periods,
Granlund, Niederreiter, Jason Zucker and Eric Staal are the only Wild
forwards with goals — the Wild badly miss him.
Two years ago, once John Torchetti took over, he was on the team’s
most productive line with Erik Haula and Niederreiter, and last season in
the second half, he was one of the Wild’s most productive players.
In fact, he ranked 15th in the NHL in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5
(2.39).
In Buffalo, Pominville got off to a fast start with four goals and three
assists in the first five games playing on a line with Jack Eichel and
Evander Kane. He later moved onto a line with Ryan O’Reilly and Wild
first-round pick Benoit Pouliot. He has since slowed down with one assist
in the past eight games and has settled into a third-line role. Last week in
Detroit, he even played on a line with Johan Larsson, one of the former
Wild prospects sent Buffalo’s way in the Pominville 2013 trade.
“I think we’ve got to find a way to score more goals, so we need more
depth on all of the lines,” Pominville said. “That way, it helps us hopefully
create more offense and get more out of it because we’re in a lot of our
games. We go to Pitt, and we play a great game and we’re up one in the
third. We’ve got to find a way to close games, you know?
“That’s what’s been a little bit tough, just defending a little bit better
because, if you want to win, you have to be able to defend. And when
we’re not defending as well as we can, it hurts us.”
Buffalo has changed a lot since he was captaining the team. In fact, the
only former teammates he had remaining on the team from before he
was traded happened to be Ennis and Foligno.
Despite the early excuses, he has enjoyed playing for Hall of Famer Phil
Housley, a South St. Paul native.
“He’s been really positive,” Pominville said. “He’s got that way of being
positive and keeping it loose but at the same time holding everyone
accountable when needing to. He’s still hard, he’s positive, but when the
doors are closed and he’s got something to say, he’ll definitely let us
know and he’ll let us know when we need to be better.”
MARCO SCANDELLA
Age: 27
Career with Wild: 27 goals, 62 assists, 89 points, 373 games.
This season with Sabres: 0 goals, 5 assists, 5 points, 21 games.
Scandella seemed to be most looking forward to the game.
He planned to go out Tuesday night with his “crew” of Niederreiter Jared
Spurgeon, Matt Dumba, Jonas Brodin and Charlie Coyle.
“It’s weird. You spend every day with these guys, then you just stop
seeing them,” Scandella said. “Once you come to a new team, it’s a little
hard to keep your close relationships. You just [don't] talk to those guys
every day anymore because you’re so consumed by learning your new
team, being part of a new crew, getting to know everybody and making
friends. So I can’t wait to see the guys and chatting.”
After the trade, Pominville immediately got in touch with Scandella to tell
him how great a place Buffalo is to live and play. Buffalo gets a bad rap,
Pominville said, so he wanted Scandella to embrace the new challenge.
“I knew he was obviously going to play a lot of minutes and he’ll be in a
big role, so I tried to help him out as much as I can with everything I
could,” Pominville said. “Most guys that don’t know the city or just come
in as a visiting team might say, ‘Ohhhh, Buffalo this, Buffalo that,’ but as
soon as you live there and realize how good of a city it is and what the
city has to offer, … I mean, a lot of guys end up living there once they’re
done.”
Scandella says he came in with a positive mind frame. Because the
Sabres’ blueline is ravaged by injuries, he’s actually playing on the top
pair with former Wild teammate Justin Falk.
“Life’s good. It’s a new situation for me,” he said. “We’re building
something. I’m coming in at the beginning of a rebuild, so I’m getting an
opportunity to be a big piece of the puzzle. It’s been challenging for us.
New coach, new GM, some new faces, and we’re trying to build
something altogether. It’s a process. It’s not going to turn overnight.
“I just think it’s important to be positive and make sure we’re all keeping
this going in the right direction. I’m trying to take everything I learned in
Minnesota, coming from a winning situation, and applying it here. I’m
trying to better myself as a player and as a teammate and help other
guys, too. I have more of a leadership role here. But seven years being in
a winning culture, I was taught very well how to play the game.”
Scandella is excited for the game and to see familiar faces across the ice
from him in warmups.
“It’s going to be something new,” Scandella said. “I’ve never played
against a former team before. I’ll always have a soft spot for Minnesota. I
loved my experience there. It was home.”
The Athletic LOADED: 11.22.2017
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The Athletic / Pronman: Around the farms — All the latest on prospects
from every NHL team
By Corey Pronman
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
After being on the road for a few weeks and catching up on how some
prospects fared during the many international tournaments in November,
I’m going to share some notes on players in every NHL farm system.
Anaheim Ducks: The 2016 first-round pick, Max Jones, has had a bit of
an up and down season, but the most important takeaway from his early
play is a significant decrease in stupid penalties. Jones is a dynamic
talent who can skate and score at a terrific rate for 6-foot-3 forward. But
his main criticism has always been his lack of discipline. It's early, but so
far people around the OHL have noticed a slightly tamer Max Jones.
Arizona Coyotes: Nick Merkley is off to a fantastic start in the AHL this
season. The former first-round pick and AHL rookie is around three shots
per game, playing with skill and creating a lot of chances, has eight goals
in 11 games. It is a good sign from a player whose star was dwindling
last season. After destroying the WHL through the first two months of the
season, Tyler Steenbergen had a disappointing Canada-Russia series,
and as a bubble candidate for the World Junior team, he didn’t make a
strong case for himself. I think he’ll still be in consideration, but he didn’t
do himself any favors.
Boston Bruins: The Bruins' first rounder from 2017, Urho Vaakanainen,
has been quite good so far this season in Finland’s Liiga, justifying his
18th overall draft slot. He’s played No. 1 defenseman minutes for SaiPa
and is looking like a player ready to make the jump soon. He’s not
dynamic, but he’s a very smart two-way defenseman. I saw a pair of
games from the 2016 49th overall pick, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, two
weeks ago and didn’t leave impressed. His lack of skill and offensive
instincts hurt his projection even with his physical and defensive play.
Buffalo Sabres: Casey Mittelstadt, the Sabres eighth-overall pick last
summer and a player in the mix for best player outside the NHL, probably
had his worst weekend of the season when I saw him. He created almost
no offense and was indifferent off the puck. Center Cliff Pu had a good
Canada-Russia series, creating offense with his speed and IQ, and
making a case for the final Canadian team. At the very least, he should
be invited to the December camp.
Calgary Flames: Adam Ruzicka has been getting a lot of points and
shots in his second OHL season. I went out to see the 6-foot-4 center
last week and didn’t come away loving what I saw. He has nice hands for
his size, can shoot the puck well and has flashes of brilliance, but those
flashes are too spread apart. His footspeed holds him back, and he
doesn’t battle all that great for pucks.
Carolina Hurricanes: I’ve generally liked what Carolina has done at the
draft table the past few years, including their first-round pick from 2017,
Martin Necas, who looked dynamic at the Canes' camp and early on this
season in the Czech Republic. The Canes have generally drafted high
upside players and gotten value from a lot of picks. I’m saying all this to
soften the blow because I don’t know what was going on with their 2017
second-round picks, center Eetu Luostarinen and defenseman Luke
Martin. I saw Martin live and Luostarinen on video a few times these past
few weeks, and I fail to see why such a valuable investment was made in
them. Martin’s offensive upside is quite low, even if he skates and
defends fine. Luostarinen also skates and handles the puck fine for his
size, but there is a lack of a wow factor to him.
Colorado Avalanche: Colorado fans have been used to me beating them
up, but I’m glad to say I only have good news to share about their farm
system. At the U20 Four Nations Tournament recently, their fifth-round
pick from 2017, Igor Shvyryov was a standout forward for Russia. He’s a
skilled and smart player who was all over the ice making plays, and
made a strong case for Russia’s World Junior team. Also in the series in
Canada, 32nd-overall pick Conor Timmins was a rock on the OHL blue
line. I don’t love his skating, but his sense is high-end at both ends. After
a poor summer camp, Timmins put himself on the radar for Canada’s
December World Junior camp.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Columbus recently signed Maxime Fortier, an
overage forward in the QMJHL, which I was a fan of. He’s a very quick
player with nice hands and should have been picked in a previous NHL
draft. He's a player with intriguing offensive upside at the pro level but
also the work ethic to overcome his size.
I also saw Robbie Stucker, a seventh-round pick by Columbus, for the
third time this season. He’s putting up a lot of points in the USHL this
season, but despite that, I’m not sure I see a dynamic/high-end offensive
defenseman. However, he’s quite smart at both ends of the rink. I’d like
to see him be a little quicker, though.
Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago’s 70th-overall pick in 2017, Andrei
Altybarmakyan, was one of the best players for Russia in the Canada-
Russia series. He’s a great skater who battles every play. His skill isn’t
outstanding, but he showed decent hands and got a lot of chances by
burning to the outside and taking pucks to the net. Altybarmakyan told
The Athletic’s Sunaya Sapurji at Game 3 of the series that he might
consider going to the AHL after his current deal expires in Russia.
Dallas Stars: Riley Tufte has really turned his game around as a
sophomore, after a disappointing freshman season. The big winger and
former first-round pick in 2016 has been a top player for Minnesota-
Duluth, using his speed and size to create a lot of offense. Tufte is
currently second among all underclassmen in shots on goal and first
among drafted underclassmen.
Detroit Red Wings: When Detroit picked Gustav Lindstrom 38th overall
last summer, I somewhat saw the argument. He’s a good puck-moving
defenseman who had a dominant U19 tournament in February and
showed flashes of a top prospect. However, this season he hasn’t been
all that impressive and, while he shows some offense in his game, I’m
skeptical if he can justify his draft slot. I also caught Givani Smith, the
46th-overall pick in 2016, in his first game of the season. He wasn’t great,
but some rust is to be expected. He has nice hands for a guy his size, but
he’s not a lock to be a scorer as a pro, especially without addition to his
speed.
Edmonton Oilers: I’ve seen the Oilers' 2017 third-round pick Dmitri
Samorukov live twice and once on video in the past week. He’s a mobile
defenseman who can move the puck with size. In the OHL, he’s been
quite bland, but at the international level, he always seems to raise his
game. I’m not sure how much upside he has, but there’s enough in the
toolkit that he has a chance.
Florida Panthers: The 2017 66th-overall pick, Max Gildon, has been very
good as an 18-year-old freshman defender at the University of New
Hampshire. He’s one of the better offensive defensemen in his
conference. Gildon’s decisions need to be better, but he’s looked in part
like the top prospect he was touted as when he was 15 and 16 years old.
Los Angeles Kings: Defenseman Mikey Anderson, the 103rd-overall pick
in 2017, has been quite good early on in his first season at Minnesota-
Duluth. From what I’ve heard, he should be a strong candidate for the
USA’s World Junior team, joining his brother and Devils prospect, Joey
Anderson.
Minnesota Wild: Jordan Greenway was converted to center at Boston
University the past few weeks. I haven’t watched a game since this
happened, but from people I’ve talked to, the results have been mixed —
as they have been throughout the Boston University lineup. It’s still a
rather interesting twist in Greenway’s development, as I’ve never seen
him play center before, and he seems to be doing so competently.
Montreal Canadiens: One player I’ve been thinking about an above-
average amount is Lukas Vejdemo, Montreal’s third-round pick in 2015.
My colleague at The Athletic Mitch Brown wrote about him recently. The
21-year-old center is getting points for Djurgarden in the SHL, has size,
kills penalties, and can skate and handle the puck competently. So,
what’s the problem? I fail to see next level skill and instincts from him that
could translate to being a scorer in the NHL. As Brown notes, he’s not
currently on a power play unit in the SHL despite his point production.
Nashville Predators: Second-round pick Grant Mismash has also looked
quite good as a freshman at North Dakota. I haven’t seen the team yet
this season, but scouts I’ve talked to note Mismash is not only making
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
chances happen with his skill but also winning battles. Yet another Eeli
Tolvanen update as well, as the 18-year-old continues to thrive. He was
a top power play guy for Finland at the recent Karjala tournament, in
what could be a preview of his usage at the Olympics as he will likely
make the team and be leaned on in a significant role.
New Jersey Devils: Devils fans should be optimistic about the
development of Mikhail Maltsev, the 102nd overall pick in 2016. Maltsev
was arguably Russia’s best forward in their series with Canada. He’s a
skilled big man who displays good offensive instincts and works hard to
win pucks. His skating is not great, but at 6-foot-3, one could argue he
could be slower. Maltsev should play a big role for Russia at the World
Juniors.
New York Rangers: Sometimes players have a good NHL camp and it
can be a bit of a mirage, and then when they are sent down to junior or
the AHL, reality strikes. That hasn’t happened with Filip Chytil. He’s been
ridiculously good, when healthy, for an 18-year-old forward, and he has
been one of Hartford’s top players. His progression the last few months
has been one of the most interesting stories in the prospect world, as he
continues to establish himself as a truly elite prospect.
New York Islanders: On the good side, Devon Toews has been great in
the AHL. He skates and moves the puck well, and while he may not
become an impact NHL player, he’s taken his game to another level and
has earned an opportunity when one presents itself. On the bad side,
one NHL scout on Andong Song, who is currently in the USHL, called
him one of the worst draft picks he’s ever seen.
Ottawa Senators: I saw Alex Formenton live twice in the past two weeks,
and for a player who made his NHL team out of camp, I was expecting a
little more from him at the junior level. His skating is elite and stands out,
he also works hard at both ends. However, I don’t see real high-level skill
or IQ that leads to him generating a ton of offense. But I do see that in
2017's 121st overall pick, Drake Batherson, who could be a sleeper
choice for Canada’s December camp. He’s a highly impressive skilled
forward with size, although not the quickest.
Philadelphia Flyers: I wasn’t a huge fan of Isaac Ratcliffe at 35th overall
last summer, but he’s growing on me. I saw him last week and I like the
skill level and creativity he’s showing as a 6-foot-6 forward. He skates
fine for his size, but he’s not explosive and could produce some more
offense. But I do think there’s a lot of pieces there to be a good NHL
player where I see a more reasonable argument at the 35 slot.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Two Penguins defensive prospects drew my
attention these past few weeks: Niclas Almari and Zachary Lauzon. Both
don’t have the greatest upside but still played fine at their respective
international tournaments. I was critical of the Penguins for picking
Lauzon at No. 51 and still am to an extent given his low offensive
potential, but I definitely see some shutdown potential as he skates well,
is quite good in his physical play and can make stops. Almari will be
pressed for ice time on a loaded D-unit for Finland at the World Juniors,
but looks like a nice two-way defenseman who can skate and move the
puck OK.
St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas has been fantastic all season long. He
was great at the Blues' camp, he was great at the Canada-Russia series
and he has put himself in the argument for the top player in the OHL. “He
really controls the game. We have the puck 90 percent of the time when
he’s on the ice,” said Rick Steadman, London’s assistant coach. Thomas
stands out in so many ways and doesn’t have a glaring weakness. “He’s
a very complete player,” said one NHL scout. While he was picked later,
Thomas should be considered among the top OHL players in his age
group, alongside Owen Tippett, Nick Suzuki and Gabriel Vilardi.
San Jose Sharks: In the two games I saw Sharks 2017 first-round pick,
Josh Norris, he wasn’t great, but people around the Michigan team told
me it was an off weekend for him. The positives in his game are his
hockey sense and his ability to play center well at both ends. I do have
some concerns with the lack of dynamic elements in his game, but he is
playing well in a tough role as a freshman and generating a lot of shots.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Boris Katchouk, the 44th-overall pick in 2016, has
shown good progression in his game this season from training camp to
the OHL. He’s a ball of energy who plays the game at a fast tempo. His
skill level isn’t high-end, but he creates offense through his feet, will and
good hockey IQ. He’s a bubble guy for Canada’s junior team, but he
should reasonably be in consideration.
Toronto Maple Leafs: I saw the Leafs' fourth-round pick in 2017 Vladislav
Kara play the other day. I can see what was attractive to Toronto. He’s a
big, strong forward who can skate and handle the puck fine, and has a
decent power game. I’m not really sold on his hockey sense though and
not convinced that his offense is going to be significant at the top level.
Vancouver Canucks: I’m a huge fan of Will Lockwood, the 64th pick in
2016. He’s a skilled two-way forward who, despite his diminutive frame,
can win battles and kill penalties. After a fine freshman season at
Michigan, he seems a lot more comfortable making offensive plays in his
sophomore season, and he can flash some dynamic traits. In my opinion,
he should be on the USA World Junior team.
Vegas Golden Knights: I saw Jack Dugan, the 142nd overall pick from
their inaugural draft, a few days ago in USHL action. He didn’t wow with
explosive speed and skill, but his hockey sense stood out to me, and he
made a few high-level passes where it made me think he could have a
shot in the NHL.
Washington Capitals: I’ve never been a huge fan of Lucas Johansen,
Washington’s first-round pick in 2016, but he’s steadily winning me over.
He’s been playing all situations for Hershey in the AHL, including
manning their first power play unit. I don’t see top-level skill from him, but
the offense has been there to date, he’s smart and skates well. If he
keeps this up over the next few months, he might make a believer out of
me.
Winnipeg Jets: Scouts have been noticeably flocking to Minnesota State
games to watch top college free agent Daniel Brickley. Quietly, they are
also watching C.J. Seuss, drafted by the Jets in 2014 (his name was then
C.J. Franklin, which he since has changed) who also could become a
free agent in August. Suess leads Minnesota State in scoring and is an
intriguing hard-working two-way center.
The Athletic LOADED: 11.22.2017
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The Athletic / LeBrun Notebook: Canadiens still in wait-and-see mode,
more Oilers tinkering to come?
By Pierre LeBrun
To suggest the Montreal hockey market is a powder keg these days,
well, that might be putting it mildly.
There is anger beyond anger and a lot of it is directed at Canadiens GM
Marc Bergevin.
It is always interesting to hear what other teams think when things like
this are happening.
For starters, Bergevin is still held in good esteem by his colleagues, and
they empathize with how things are for him in his market right now.
“I feel bad for Marc,’’ is a comment I’ve gotten from a dozen or so hockey
execs over the past week.
The only thing that truly matters, though, is how Habs owner Geoff
Molson feels. And I’m told that has remained constant including through
the tough losses to Arizona and Toronto of late, Molson very much still
believes in his GM, the GM’s staff and a roster which I’m told he believes
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
is better than it has shown even if like the rest of us, obviously also sees
its shortcomings.
Which is to say, don’t expect any drastic, panicky moves from the Habs
owner anytime soon.
Now, if the Canadiens miss the playoffs, no question it’s a natural time if
you’re the owner to look at everything. But for the time being, my sense
is that Molson still believes in the man running his hockey team.
In chatting with team execs around the league over the past few days,
one popular answer I got about what they would do if they were Bergevin
is not do anything until you see what franchise goalie Carey Price does
when he finally returns and how it impacts the team.
Which, of course, makes sense although they’re not the ones sitting in a
frying pan in Montreal with a fan base losing its mind.
One thing I was wondering about: the Habs will have three second-round
picks in June once Mikhail Sergachev appears in 40 games with Tampa
Bay, which appears like a foregone conclusion now, and the Canadiens
get that second-round pick back (Montreal will have their own second-
rounder, plus Washington’s and Chicago’s).
Could those picks be in play? One source told The Athletic on Tuesday
that Bergevin does not intend to trade away draft picks at this point.
And if that’s the case, it tells you the GM certainly has a firm grasp of his
team’s big picture given the start to the season.
OILERS TRADE MARKET
So what do you do if you’re the Edmonton Oilers now?
There's no easy fix, that is for sure.
But if I’m GM Peter Chiarelli, I continue to tinker. Even smaller moves,
one at a time, can change the mix. He acquired winger Mike Cammalleri
last week in a move I don’t mind at all.
Judging from sources I’ve talked to over the last few days, I think
tinkering on the blueline is something he’s looking at. Veteran blueliner
Andrej Sekera will be back at some point over the next few weeks and
that’s going to be huge, but surely it’s going to take him some time to find
his game. But if there’s anything on the market for a serviceable
defenceman — I highly doubt there’s a top-two guy out there, but if
there’s any way even to snatch up a 4/5 type, someone with decent pace
and first-pass ability — I think it’s something the Oilers would look at.
Columbus seems to have solid depth at the position and it just so
happens Chiarelli was at the Jackets-Sabres game Monday night,
although it’s always dangerous too read too much into that. That trip
could very well have been booked a long time ago, as is often the case.
The reality in the salary cap NHL is that it is mighty hard to fix all your
problems mid-season; the off-season, particularly June, is the most
important window of the year the way this system works now.
But I think even some tinkering, however small the move might be, would
at least send a message in that Oilers’ dressing room that the brass isn’t
happy and isn’t sitting still.
It’s interesting talking to different people around the league about their
observations on the Oilers. There are many different areas you can look
at — their general team speed and several underperforming players. But
one Western Conference GM on Monday said it starts in net for him.
“(Cam) Talbot was outstanding for them last season and simply hasn’t
been this year, I know they’ve got other issues, but that’s where I look
first,’’ he said.
JETS A TEAM OF INTEREST
Sources around the league suggest teams have begun to check in with
Winnipeg and inquire about the Jets’ obvious depth at forward. I don’t
sense any front-burner type discussions yet but clubs are checking in to
know if they should keep in touch as the weeks and months get to the
Feb. 26 trade deadline.
Veteran blueliner Toby Enstrom is on the shelf now for two months but I
don’t sense GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is going to use that as a reason to
go out right away and make a deal for a defenceman. The Jets are high
on Tucker Poolman, 24, and will want to see what he can do.
Having said that, because of that depth up front, I think it allows the Jets
to sit back on their own terms and see what comes at them. If a team
makes an appealing pitch, they will certainly listen. It’s a good spot to be
in if you’re Winnipeg's front office; the team is playing well and there's no
desperate need to make a trade. You can have teams come at you.
RODIN CUT LOOSE
Anton Rodin cleared unconditional waivers Tuesday and is now free to
reignite his career overseas.
You feel for the Swedish winger, whose two knee surgeries over the past
two years have really halted his career.
Never mind that he was passed over by several players at Vancouver
Canucks camp, but he was buried in a bottom-six role even in AHL Utica
this year.
So his camp asked for his release and to the Canucks’ credit, they gave
it to him. It’s not like GM Jim Benning didn’t try to move him to get an
asset back, he absolutely called around, but not surprisingly teams were
reluctant to give up even a low pick for a player who has barely played
the last two years.
The 2009 second-round pick is a former Swedish League MVP and still
only 26. Perhaps a good season in Europe will put him back on the NHL
radar this summer.
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The Athletic / Karolina Urban: Chinese road trip comes with delays,
disadvantages
By Karolina Urban
Last week, the Canadian Women's Hockey League embarked on their
first-ever road trip to China. Both the Toronto Furies and the Markham
Thunder travelled to China's Shenzhen region to play four games against
the league's Chinese expansion teams, the Kunlun Red Star and Vanke
Rays.
Markham forward Karolina Urban is in China and will be chronicling the
historic road trip for The Athletic. Here is part one.
Thursday Nov. 16, two days before game day:
The trip started with our 16-hour flight to Hong Kong being delayed, while
we sat and waited on the plane. Although a long trek somehow we made
it through. We were met by a crew from Kunlun Red Star at the airport
who helped organize us on buses to Shenzhen. At the time we thought
we only had to clear one border out of Hong Kong and into the region of
Dongjong.
What we thought was an hour drive to the hotel ended up being a five-
hour commute involving two border crossings. And let me tell you these
were not what we would consider normal border crossings: We had to
take all our bags, separate our sticks and head through security on two
separate occasions. In addition we were travelling with the Furies, refs
and CWHL staff, which only slowed the trip as we had to wait every time
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
for everyone (on three buses). Finally we arrived at the hotel around 9:30
p.m. local time. We were all starving (we thought it would only take an
hour so we didn’t buy any food at the airport) and tired, finally getting to
bed at 10:30.
Saturday Nov. 18, game day:
Our day started with a buffet breakfast at the hotel (a five-star hotel near
the rink). The buffet does have a variety of options, from eggs and toast
to Chinese dumplings and soft buns (I think that’s what they are called, or
maybe it’s sweet buns). Most of us were still quite lethargic but we got a
team warm-up and stretch in to get the blood flowing. Not going to lie —
the legs were quite heavy. Although we tried to do small workouts,
drinking tons of water and vitamin mixes on the flight we all felt this way.
We all thought that a 7 p.m. game was the best case scenario in
comparison to the Toronto Furies who played at 3 p.m. against Red Star.
My body felt pretty good when we got to the rink and following through
the warm-up. Although looking back on it we were all a bit sleepy, and a
bit more quiet than we were for a typical game.
Game time:
People always talk about it being in the details. Well I can say coming out
to the dim lights after the light show ended felt like one step closer to an
NHL game. Most of the pregame stuff, like food in the dressing room,
was like our regular setup back at home. However one huge difference is
that the rink is the primary rink of both teams (Vanke and Kunlun),
whereas we all share our home rinks with minor hockey organizations
(which we love since it keeps us closer to the grassroots of hockey and
the community). Another cool feature for both teams were the banners all
over the rink and on the streets leading up to the arena advertising the
teams and league. In addition, my guess would be that there were
between 3,000 to 4,000 fans at the game.
The Olympic size ice was a bit soft (perhaps due to the humidity).
Interestingly the regulation size in our league is standard NHL ice, so I’m
still a bit puzzled why this is allowed. The game is so different and not
getting to practice on that size of ice is just an advantage to the other
teams. However, the Toronto Furies and Calgary Inferno also tend to
play on the big ice, so maybe one day this will all be sorted out — can
you imagine each NHL rink varying in sizes?!
Needless to say our team crashed in the third period, making mental
mistakes and those ended up in the net. There were some points in the
third where you'd come off the ice and find yourself in a daze — trying to
focus but not being able to. To put this in perspective the referees
struggled just as much as us (some suspect calls), perhaps due to the
fatigue as well. At the end of the day we needed to put it behind us and
get ready for the next game on Sunday.
Sunday Nov. 19, game day No. 2:
Most of us had a great night's sleep. I know I personally slept great out of
sheer exhaustion, however there were a few girls who woke up at 4 a.m.
or several times throughout the night. The time difference is 13 hours
between here and Toronto so it’s like switching to working night shifts all
of a sudden.
We may have felt slightly less fatigue on this day but the change in food
was catching up to us. Although we had pregame meals designed to
cater to our needs like spaghetti and chicken with vegetables, it was
clearly a bit different. Many were struggling to gobble down enough food
for fuel. Those who were able, didn’t feel so fine during pregame. This
may have contributed to our slow start and Vankes strong start to the
game.
At the end of the weekend you could say it was a successful start for the
Chinese teams, with Kunlun sweeping the Furies and Vanke sweeping
us. However I think given all the factors it wasn’t exactly an equal playing
field. Another difference is the amount of ice time the Chinese teams get.
They are on the ice every day compared to our two practices a week.
These girls are living the dream: they're getting paid to play, while most
of us work full-time jobs and typically head to practice exhausted from the
busy days.
Now after a day off on Monday and a practice (Kunlun's head coach
refused to let us use their practice pucks) we head into Wednesday's
game fired up.
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Sportsnet.ca / Takeaways: Oilers hit new low after quitting against Blues
Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko all recorded
four points in leading the St. Louis Blues to the win over the Edmonton
Oilers.
Mark Spector
They quit.
Walked over in Dallas, now crushed in St. Louis, the good ship Oiler rolls
into Detroit on Wednesday at its nadir, one day before American
Thanksgiving and as far away from the playoffs as it is from an identity
forged last season.
The Edmonton Oilers were not remotely competitive in an 8-3 loss to the
St. Louis Blues Tuesday, and the saddest part? They quit.
That’s right. Quit.
We watched, took some notes, and offer you these wholly negative
takeaways on a pre-season favourite whose season is circling the bowl:
• As a team, this was embarrassing and somewhat sad. Against the best
club in the Western Conference, the Oilers stacked up as so far away
from being competitive, it’s impossible to quantify the gap.
Their record is a pungent 7-12-2, a disappointment of Herculean
proportion that does not appear repairable. The final score was 8-3, but
the Blues built a 7-1 lead before laying back and letting Edmonton have
the puck. As such, the Oilers scored two un-celebrated goals in garbage
time. The starting goalie was awful, the Top 4 defencemen were worse,
and the guys who get paid the big bucks up front were absolute no-
shows.
The Oilers, to a man, did not compete. It doesn’t get worse than this,
folks. When you quit, it reveals something. We learned something about
these Oilers Tuesday.
Exactly what? We’ve got 60 games to figure that out — if you can bear to
watch.
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• Last season, all anyone wanted was to see the oft-injured Oscar
Klefbom play an entire season. Well, he played all 82 games and was
generally fantastic, leading to a solid belief that Klefbom could anchor the
Oilers top pairing again this season. He might even improve!
Alas, this season has marked a massive regression for Klefbom’s game,
and it is simply killing the Oilers. If Drew Doughty is awful, the L.A. Kings
are in trouble. Same with Duncan Keith in Chicago, or Alex Pietrangelo
on the Blues.
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NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
Klefbom isn’t of the same pedigree as those aforementioned D-men, but
he is the Oilers’ best rearguard, and they count on him. He had yet
another stinker on Tuesday, getting knocked off a puck far too easily on
the Blues’ first goal, and drifting softly through another pointless, minus-4
evening.
The old cliché says your best players have to be your best players.
Klefbom has consistently been one of Edmonton’s worst players, and it
shows in the standings.
• There isn’t a team in hockey that can survive when their No. 1 goalie
gives them a .902 save percentage. So if it all starts in goal, maybe we
shouldn’t be surprised that the Oilers haven’t moved off the starting line
yet, 21 games into the season.
Cam Talbot let the first shot on goal in for the umpteenth time this
season, this one on a very unfortunate deflection off of Adam Larsson’s
stick. But then the death knell: a long wrist shot from the sideboard snuck
over his shoulder, and Talbot was on the bench just 7:35 into the
evening.
One save, three shots faced, and a long night in a ball cap. Who ever
saw Talbot’s game dipping this far after two seasons as a very
competent goalie in Edmonton?
• Leon Draisaitl had two cheap points in garbage time, but when this
game was on the line, he was a rumour. When they pay you $8.5 million,
a game like this one is a siren call. The Oilers needed their best players
to be great, and Draisaitl was opaque.
Then again, so were about 15 other players. Which leads us to…
• General manager Peter Chiarelli will take a lot of heat for this, as will
head coach Todd McLellan and his staff. And they should, as a team that
was primed to contend in the West has fallen back into cellar.
Everything has gone wrong, and the guys who are paid to see those
things coming were winding their watches when the rain rolled past.
Almost every player that Chiarelli counted on to get his club to the trade
deadline, when he planned to augment for a playoff run, has let him
down. From Zack Kassian, who we are not sure has even reported for
camp yet, through to an uncharacteristically bad Mark Letestu, to
Draisaitl, to a seriously in-decline Pat Maroon.
If you’re the type who thinks the GM should have seen these
performances coming, then you’ve got Chiarelli squarely in your
crosshairs.
Me? He hasn’t done a good job, and grades out like his team at a D-
minus. But I won’t blame him when players digress for no particular
reason. The players play, and in Edmonton, too many of them have let
the jersey down this season.
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Sportsnet.ca / Oilers pull Cam Talbot early after ugly start vs. Blues
Mike Johnston
Edmonton Oilers goalie Cam Talbot‘s night ended early Tuesday after
allowing two goals on three shots in just 7:35 of playing time against the
St. Louis Blues.
Talbot was beaten by a deflected Vladimir Tarasenko shot 3:13 into the
game and a few minutes later Dmitrij Jaskin fired a puck over Talbot’s left
shoulder. Talbot went down early on both goals.
The Oilers as a whole have disappointed this season and Talbot’s less
than stellar play has been a contributing factor. The 30-year-old went 42-
22-8 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in a
career-high 73 games last season, yet prior to Tuesday’s poor
performance he had a 7-10-1 record, 3.10 GAA and .903 save
percentage.
“My target is .920 to .925. I set my target at .923 this season,” Talbot told
reporters Monday when talking about his save percentage. “Maybe I
don’t have to steal games, but I have to give us a chance to win. The
difference [between] this year and last is my consistency. I’ve had some
good games but others I want back and I have to eliminate those ones.
… You have to do your job night in and night out, and sometimes, you’re
going to come out on the losing end. But you have to find consistency in
your own game and the team game will follow.”
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Sportsnet.ca / Canucks super rookie Brock Boeser shoots his way past
Flyers
Brock Boeser scored two goals to help the Vancouver Canucks defeat
the Philadelphia Flyers.
Iain MacIntyre
PHILADELPHIA – This wasn’t supposed to happen because Brock
Boeser wasn’t supposed to be here.
It’s not like the Vancouver Canucks didn’t want him on their team this
season, they just didn’t count on it. There was as much chance as not
that Boeser’s first full season in professional hockey would start in the
American League rather than the National Hockey League.
The Canucks wanted to send him to the Utica Comets to start his pro
development when the winger from Burnsville, Minn., signed his NHL
contract last March after leaving the University of North Dakota. But
Boeser, eager to finally contribute something to the household so his
mom might give up one of her three jobs, pushed for a chance to play in
Vancouver last spring.
He scored four goals in nine games in garbage time at the end of the
Canucks’ season. But there were enough deficiencies and rawness in his
game that, after Boeser chose to attend the Canucks’ prospects camp in
July, new coach Travis Green made sure the 20-year-old rookie
understood how much work he needed to do to make the NHL team this
fall.
Implied, if not spoken, was that Boeser might need to start with the Utica
Comets.
“We just talked,” Green recalled again Tuesday. “We talked about his
game, talked about expectations, talked about where he was at. I don’t
need to get into it any more than that.”
“We had a serious talk,” Boeser said. “He gave me goals I needed to
accomplish, things I needed to work on if I wanted to make the team and
stay on the team. I knew it was up to me, how hard I worked. It’s been
going pretty well but, obviously, I can be better.”
Well, that will be something to behold because when Boeser scored
twice Tuesday to drive the Canucks toward a 5-2 victory over the
Philadelphia Flyers, he became the first Vancouver rookie since Jason
King in 2003 to score in three consecutive games.
Boeser leads the Canucks with nine goals and 19 points in 18 games,
has the best release since Markus Naslund was challenging for NHL
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
scoring titles near the start of this century, and could be the first
Vancouver freshman to score 30 since Pavel Bure won the Calder
Trophy in 1992.
Boeser has formed a dynamic first line with Bo Horvat and Sven
Baertschi, and lifted a re-made power play by providing something it has
lacked for years: a pure finisher.
We all knew Boeser was good, but nobody expected this so soon in his
professional career.
“I don’t know if surprised is the word,” Green said. “I’m happy with his
game. It seems like we talk about it a lot. It’s not just his goal-scoring that
I like. I’ve talked about details away from the puck, his ability to win puck
battles, his conditioning, all that. It’s all part of being a pro.”
All part of why Green has given Boeser the chance that the winger has
seized.
Nineteen seconds after Daniel Sedin tied Tuesday’s game 1-1 on a
breakaway at 9:42 of the first period, Boeser overpowered Michal
Neuvirth with a wrist shot from the right wing that blew past the Flyers
goalie on the stick side.
And when Daniel feathered a pass to Boeser in the slot during a Canucks
power play early in the second, the 2015 first-round pick scored the
opposite way, burying a shot over Neuvirth’s catching glove.
Sedin, who joined the Canucks in 2000, said the only former teammates
he saw shoot the puck as well as Boeser were Ryan Kesler and Naslund.
“Power play and five-on-five, you know he’s going to score when he gets
a decent chance,” Sedin said. “I think it gives the whole unit confidence.
If you make good passes and give him good chances, he’s going to
make it count. He doesn’t miss much. His shot has a way of finding the
back of the net. It doesn’t matter where he is, he’s going to get his shot
through and it’s going to be hard.”
The Canucks power play, which looked like it might sink them during their
exhausting November schedule, is 5-for-12 since assistant coach Newell
Brown blended his two units four games ago in Los Angeles and put
Boeser and Horvat out with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
The unit, which includes defenceman Alex Edler, did not practise
together before scoring twice in a 3-2 win against the Kings. The new
second power play, which features Sven Baertschi with Thomas Vanek
and Loui Eriksson, also contributed a goal Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Baertschi scored his eighth, tying him with Horvat for second on the
Canucks.
“I honestly don’t know,” Boeser said when asked if he has a go-to shot, a
preferred target. “Whatever’s open, I shoot at. I love shooting. I like to
make sure I get my shot on net.”
Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom was excellent against the Flyers,
making 36 saves in a game Vancouver badly needed to start a six-game
eastern road trip that includes a test Wednesday against the Stanley Cup
champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
“The confidence and chemistry we have out there is getting better every
game,” Horvat, 22, said of his line. “I knew Brock had a great chance (to
make the team). He had great games when he came up and played with
us at the end of last year. It was his spot to get. He obviously worked
hard in the summer and had an amazing pre-season. And he keeps
getting better and better.”
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Sportsnet.ca / Terrible habit costs Canadiens once again vs. Stars
Tyler Seguin and Devin Shore both scored and recorded an assist to
help the Dallas Stars beat the Montreal Canadiens.
Eric Engels
DALLAS—It was a game plan followed to the letter by the Montreal
Canadiens before things blew up in their faces in a matter of 59 seconds.
The result: A 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Devin Shore finished off a beautiful play by Stars defenceman John
Klingberg with 1:38 remaining in the second period and Jason Spezza
delivered the coup de grace right after, making it the ninth occasion in 22
games this season that the Canadiens have surrendered two goals in
less than a minute.
To a man, there wasn’t a player on the Montreal side who could explain
how this trend could continue after so much breath had been spent
discussing it internally after the eighth time it happened in a 6-0 loss to
the Toronto Maple Leafs this past Saturday.
"At one point, I don’t know if I’m going to have to call a timeout after we
get scored on," said Canadiens coach Claude Julien. "It’s just something
that’s gotta get better, and we need to be strong."
The lack of response after two goals went in has to be just as
disconcerting for the Canadiens as the lack of focus after one, especially
when you consider the way they started the game.
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They came to Dallas as heavy underdogs and had the tough task of
matching up against the team with the Western Conference’s best home
record. Without starting goaltender Carey Price available, with star
defenceman Shea Weber ruled out late in the afternoon due to a lower-
body injury, the odds were stacked heavily against them. And yet they
had spent the first 39 minutes strangling the life out of the Stars offence,
plugging up the neutral zone, and frustrating them at every turn.
Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher scored his ninth goal of the
season with less than eight minutes remaining in the second period. He
and his teammates were comfortably in the driver’s seat. Even after they
allowed the goals from Shore and Spezza, they had an intermission to
regroup and 20 minutes to get themselves back into the game.
So you have to wonder how the Canadiens came out of the gate in the
third period looking like a downtrodden, discouraged group. They had
two power plays in the opening seven minutes of the period and recorded
only four shots on net through the first 14. A push came in the 15th
minute, another power play was earned, and some glorious chances
were missed by Montreal’s secondary scorers.
The Canadiens spent almost all of the final three minutes of the game in
their own zone before two of Dallas’ top players, Tyler Seguin and former
Canadien Alexander Radulov, combined on an empty-net goal and put
them out of their misery.
When Julien was asked how he felt his top line of Alex Galchenyuk,
Jonathan Drouin and Max Pacioretty performed, he quipped in French,
"Just look at the stat sheet."
They are the guys you look towards to pull you up by the bootstraps
when things get hairy, and they combined for a whopping one shot on
net, which came off Pacioretty’s stick in the first period. Drouin won two
of 10 faceoffs, had zero shot attempts, and unquestionably played his
worst game of the season. And Galchenyuk missed the net three times
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
and ended up looking like a ping pong ball trying to figure out which man
to cover on the backbreaking goal scored by Spezza.
The rest of the team performed admirably under the circumstances. They
played hard—and to the best of their limited ability—with their two best
players sidelined by injury.
"Considering the adversity of the situation, we played well enough to win
the game 1-0 and one minute of the game cost us the whole thing," said
Julien, who argued that Stars captain Jamie Benn should’ve been
assessed a penalty for breaking his stick on a crosscheck on Gallagher
before Shore found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
But Julien wasn’t using that as an excuse for why his team managed to
fall back into what has to be considered one of the worst habits in the
NHL this season.
"When you get scored on, the biggest thing you gotta do is push back,"
he said. "Right now it’s not happening, so we gotta keep working on
that."
And…
"Our best players have to be our best players. It’s as simple as that,"
Julien added.
Claude Julien says Shea Weber is a possibility in Nashville
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) November 22, 2017
We’ll see what they offer in Nashville, against the Predators on
Wednesday.
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Sportsnet.ca / Oilers pull Cam Talbot early after ugly start vs. Blues
St. Louis Blues take the a 1-0 lead after a puck shot by their forward
Vladimir Tarasenko tips off the stick of two Edmonton Oilers players and
past goalie Cam Talbot.
Mike Johnston
Edmonton Oilers goalie Cam Talbot‘s night ended early Tuesday after
allowing two goals on three shots in just 7:35 of playing time against the
St. Louis Blues.
Talbot was beaten by a deflected Vladimir Tarasenko shot 3:13 into the
game and a few minutes later Dmitrij Jaskin fired a puck over Talbot’s left
shoulder. Talbot went down early on both goals.
The Oilers as a whole have disappointed this season and Talbot’s less
than stellar play has been a contributing factor. The 30-year-old went 42-
22-8 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in a
career-high 73 games last season, yet prior to Tuesday’s poor
performance he had a 7-10-1 record, 3.10 GAA and .903 save
percentage.
“My target is .920 to .925. I set my target at .923 this season,” Talbot told
reporters Monday when talking about his save percentage. “Maybe I
don’t have to steal games, but I have to give us a chance to win. The
difference [between] this year and last is my consistency. I’ve had some
good games but others I want back and I have to eliminate those ones.
… You have to do your job night in and night out, and sometimes, you’re
going to come out on the losing end. But you have to find consistency in
your own game and the team game will follow.”
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Sportsnet.ca / Canucks’ Dorsett returns home because of neck, back
stiffness
Iain MacIntyre
PHILADELPHIA – The Vancouver Canucks hope Derek Dorsett will not
be away from the team for long, but general manager Jim Benning said
Tuesday there is no timeline for his return.
Dorsett, a feel-good story in Vancouver this season after his successful
return from career-threatening spinal surgery, flew home from
Philadelphia due to a recurrence of neck and back stiffness. The winger
will undergo further medical testing at home and is expected to travel to
Los Angeles to meet with Dr. Robert Watkins, the surgeon who
performed a cervical fusion on Dorsett last December.
“We’re at the preliminary stage of finding out what this is all about,”
Benning said. “He always plays hard, so Dorse is always a little sore. But
the last few days, he started feeling a little bit stiff. It could be related to
the procedure he had done, so this is precautionary.”
Benning said it was the seriousness of the surgery that Dorsett
underwent 11 months ago that led to the decision to send him home,
rather than simply have him sit out a couple of games and stay with the
team.
Dorsett aborted practice Monday in Philadelphia. It’s unlikely the 30-year-
old from Kindersley, Sask., will return to the Canucks during their six-
game road trip, which opened Tuesday against the Flyers.
Although criticized by some for his poor possession numbers while
deployed by Canucks coach Travis Green against the opposition’s top
forward lines, Dorsett was on pace for a career season offensively with
seven goals and nine points through Vancouver’s first 20 games. He
averaged 15:16 of ice time.
Dorsett also had four fighting majors this season, twice after opponents
took runs at Canucks skill players and once, last week against the Los
Angeles Kings, to spark his team after it fell behind 1-0 after 23 seconds.
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Sportsnet.ca / Down Goes Brown: 2017–18 NHL quarter-season awards
Sean McIndoe
• Who wins quarter-season MVP: Kucherov or Stamkos?
• Karlsson has competition for best defenceman
• ALSO: best coach, GM, comeback and off-season move
We’re almost at the quarter-mark of the NHL schedule, which means it’s
time to do a few things. First, and most importantly: Start wildly panicking
if your team isn’t doing as well as they should be. You guys on that,
Montreal and Edmonton? You are? Great, nice work as always.
For the rest of us, we may as well hand out some quarter-season
awards. Sure, most of these will turn out to be regrettable in hindsight by
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
the end of the year, and some of them will look bad within weeks. But
that’s part of the fun.
So let’s do it. You can vote for your own picks right here with results
revealed this week on Wednesday Night Hockey. In the meantime, here’s
who we’d be handing out the tiny quarter-sized trophies to, based on the
season’s first six weeks.
Most valuable player
Every sport that features an MVP award has the same debate over how
exactly we should define “valuable.” Some see it as simply a fancy way
of saying the best player, while others look for some deeper meaning
related to a player’s relative importance to his teammates in terms of his
team’s playoff chances.
Some years, one player emerges as the favourite under either definition
and we can skip the semantic debate. This year, we may not be so lucky.
Because based on the first quarter of the season, Hart Trophy voters
could end up facing a dilemma: What do you do when the season’s two
best performers are on the same team?
With Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos racking up big numbers while
helping the Lightning to top spot in the standings, some will try to argue
that they can’t be considered more valuable than someone like Connor
McDavid or Johnny Gaudreau, who are the clear offensive leaders on
their team. Others would point out that points aren’t everything, and that
a two-way force like Anze Kopitar should get some consideration.
Of course, if we’re not going to just look at the top of the scoring race
(like Hart voters usually do), we could make the case for a goalie or
defenceman. That would bring guys like Sergei Bobrovsky, Alex
Pietrangelo and Corey Crawford into the conversation. And then you’ve
got guys who’ve missed time to injury, but are clearly their team’s most
valuable players when healthy — that group would include Erik Karlsson
and Auston Matthews.
Luckily, we fall into the category of voters who keep it simple. The
league’s most valuable player is the one that’s having the best season,
period. That means Kucherov gets the nod, edging out Stamkos. And
we’ll toss Bobrovsky a third-place vote, if only because non-forwards
rarely get enough Hart love.
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Sportsnet.ca / Acknowledging and analyzing the NHL’s top five lines this
season
Andrew Berkshire
Since we’re about one quarter of the way through the NHL’s schedule,
we’re going to look at which groups of players are working the best so far
and why. Starting out with forward lines (to be followed by defence pairs
and goalies this week), we have to set some parameters because after
just 20 or so games, there can be some wild results.
When you’re looking for the best lines, there has to be some level of
sustainability, so you want good shot differentials and strong expected
goals numbers, but we also want to capture lines that are red hot through
the first quarter, so actual goal differential matters a lot, too.
One thing we have to keep in mind is we want to look at line
combinations that play the tougher minutes and don’t just benefit from
soft competition in a small sample. We’re looking at top lines that do it all.
Finally, we’ve got to take special teams out of it, because lines don’t
always stick together there, so we’ll cut it down to 5-on-5 hockey, and the
lines have to have played at least 100 minutes together in that situation
to count. Luckily, Corsica.Hockey has all the tools necessary to get this
information.
Here’s what I came up with as the top-five lines through the NHL’s first
quarter:
Based on point production in the early season, many would assume
Tampa Bay’s electric first line would easily be the best out there, but that
isn’t the case at even strength. They’re still great, but they have been
most potent on the power play, which isn’t factored in for our purposes.
Meanwhile, the surprising St. Louis Blues have built a line that’s strong
by every measure, and trails only the Matthews line in Toronto in terms of
goal control.
Top five NHL forward lines of the first quarter
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander, TOR
Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko, STL
Namestnikov-Stamkos-Kucherov, TB
Giroux-Couturier-Voracek, PHI
Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson, NSH
The JOFA line that powered the Predators’ offence last season remains
strong this season, while the new experiment with Claude Giroux in
Philadelphia has produced the most dynamic line the Flyers have seen in
years.
What’s interesting isn’t simply the fact these lines have been incredible,
though, it’s how they get it done. So let’s break down how each line
creates offence, and how sustainable their success is long term.
My assumption going in was that due to Auston Matthews, the Leafs’ top
unit would be the leaders in high danger chances. But Sean Couturier
actually leads the NHL in those this season and Jakub Voracek isn’t far
behind, so the Flyers’ line ends up edging the Leafs’ in quality chances,
and they also lead the pack in volume of scoring chances both on net
and attempts.
Puck movement in the offensive zone adds another layer, and that’s
where it becomes clear how the Blues’ line produces so much offence
without getting to high quality locations as often, and missing lots of their
shots. The Blues lead the pack in passes to the slot, and are tied for
second in their ability to both attack off the rush and move the puck East-
West.
The Lightning, meanwhile, don’t get the puck to the slot as often as you
would think because they like to set up Kucherov and Stamkos on
opposite sides and move the puck East-West to exploit teams and use
two of the best one-timers in the NHL.
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The Flyers remain strong here with two elite playmakers in Voracek and
Giroux on the same line consistently getting the puck to dangerous areas
and making goalies move laterally. Based on shot locations and pre-shot
movement, I think it’s fair to say the Flyers’ trio is the strongest pure
offensive line.
The Predators trio, however, looks less special than the others
offensively. Sespite strong differentials, they’re struggling to create
quality chances. That was a problem for the Predators as a whole for the
first quarter of the season and their hope is the added depth of having
Kyle Turris down the middle should make it tougher for teams to focus
entirely on the JOFA line and shut them down.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
But even with the lack of quality chances, something has to be going
right for the Preds’ top line, right? So let’s look at the defensive
components of these lines.
Positioning is pretty tough to measure effectively, but two things we can
measure are how often players take the puck off an opponent’s stick, a
successful defensive play, and how often they recover a loose puck.
Those two actions that cause possession changes are the biggest factors
in defensive play that we can accurately measure at the moment.
In the offensive zone, it’s actually the Lightning that provide the most
intense forechecking presence, recovering the most loose pucks and
stealing possession more than the rest of the group. This area is where
Namestnikov truly shines, creating extra opportunities for his linemates
instead of having to backcheck.
On the strength of Auston Matthews, the Leafs are right there with the
Lightning, as he’s second in the NHL in loose puck recoveries among
forwards, after finishing first last season. Matthews also gives the Leafs
unit a strong presence in the defensive zone, where he has been
stripping opponents of the puck at the same rate as Patrice Bergeron.
The Predators’ to line starts to shine in the defensive and neutral zones
— they lead the pack in the neutral zone, causing changes in possession
that result in odd-man rushes the other direction.
The Flyers and Blues lines are a bit behind the other teams in the
offensive and defensive zones, making them a bit easier to exploit
defensively, but the gap is pretty small there.
Ultimately, all these lines are punching slightly above their weight right
now, but that’s what 20-game sample sizes in hockey are all about. The
most interesting question I can see from this group of excellent lines is
whether that Predators’ top line comes crashing down to earth, or if they
start to produce better chances because of the team’s increased depth.
It’s one to watch.
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Sportsnet.ca / NHL Quarter Mark Report: Maple Leafs developing into a
scary team
Luke Fox
Expectations for the 2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs came in hot following
last spring’s nail-biting playoff cameo and some aggressive off-season
spending, but fans should feel encouraged by how their Buds have
performed through the season’s first 22 games.
Winners of six of their past seven, the Maple Leafs’ spiffy record (14-8-0)
and goal differential (+13) place them second overall in the Eastern
Conference, behind the early Presidents’ Trophy favourite Tampa Bay
Lightning. Anything but a first- or second-place finish in a soft Atlantic
Division should be seen as a disappointment for a talented squad that is
still searching for an optimal lineup, consistent effort, and improving its
play without the puck.
Optimism abounds as this group still has time and space to improve.
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THE GOOD: Skill and scoring, for starters.
Auston Matthews leads the pack with 12 goals, 11 of them at even-
strength, but Nazem Kadri (10 goals) is well on pace for back-to-back 30-
goal campaigns, and James van Riemsdyk (11 goals, 17 points) is
enjoying a contract year that should pay handsomely.
The Leafs’ power play rates among the NHL’s most dangerous, with both
units equally frightening.
All of Toronto’s free agency signings—Ron Hainsey (nine assists, 22
minutes per night), Patrick Marleau (team-high three game-winners),
Dominic Moore, Curtis McElhinney (2-1)—have met or exceeded
expectations, and Morgan Rielly (17 points) has surged back from an
underwhelming 2016-17 in which he hobbled through a high ankle sprain.
“He might be the Number 1 [defenceman] they’ve been looking for, the
way he’s going,” a source working for an opposing team said Tuesday.
Starting goalie Frederik Andersen looked shaky in October, but recently
put together 141 minutes of shutout hockey.
“Is it because our team was so loosey-goosey and we were scoring so
much we didn’t care and we’d just race you to 10?” Babcock says. “I
don’t know the answer.”
As the most-used player in the NHL, are the Leafs in danger of burning
out Andersen?
“We’re monitoring [his workload],” Babcock says. “If we feel it’s getting
too heavy we’ll back him off. Right now, it looks like he’s just starting to
get in a groove, so that’s a good thing for us.”
THE BAD: Toronto’s gaudy scoring numbers—a league-high 79 goals,
11 different players registering at least 10 points already—obscure the
fact that they’ve been outshot by about three pucks per game.
After a scorching, freewheeling start to the year, Toronto suffered from
poor defensive breakouts and questioned its collective confidence during
a miserable 1-3 reality-check road trip through California and Missouri.
MVP Matthews missed a week and a half due to a suspected back injury
and hasn’t looked the same since. Stud sophomores William Nylander
and Mitch Marner each endured scoring droughts, since snapped.
Connor Brown (eight goals) is too good to be on the fourth line.
“They’re kids trying to get better and trying to learn how to play,” Babcock
says. “Brownie’s level of consistency is different than Mitch’s. Mitch is still
trying to find his game every day and what he’s going to be and the level
he’s at.”
The Leafs’ team defence is average, as is their penalty kill, which relies
too heavily on just two defenders, Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev.
Signing UFA Roman Polak was intended as a quick fix in this
department, except Polak has looked too slow and thus has been mostly
scratched. This leads us to believe Toronto will be an active buyer for
blue line help at the trade deadline.
TRENDING: Up. With six consecutive victories—including two shutouts
and four wins without their best player—the Maple Leafs were the hottest
team in the league prior to Monday’s lacklustre effort against Arizona.
BOLD PREDICTION: Before he retires from the National Hockey
League, Auston Matthews will win the following trophies — Hart, Maurice
Richard, Frank J. Selke, Ted Lindsay, Lady Byng, Conn Smythe, Stanley
Cup – but not all at once. That’s how special and well-rounded of a
centreman he is.
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An Arizona kid hits a milestone with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Originally aired November 21 2017
Remarkable as it is, coming off a standout performance in the Maple
Leafs’ one playoff series last spring, Matthews has entered 2017-18 and
upped both his wow factor and his defensive responsibility. He’s a born
goal scorer with one of the snappiest releases in the biz, his takeaway
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
and puck-hounding skills are among the best, and he always turns the
other cheek.
With two beautiful OT winners already this season only adding to his get-
out-of-your-seat moments in his NHL debut, the Centennial Classic and
the Washington series, Matthews has a flair for the dramatic—and we’re
only 100 games into his NHL life.
GRADE: B+. Flights of inconsistency, some alarming defensive lapses,
and another sub-par start by Andersen remind Leafs fans that this is still
a young, developing group whose flaws get exposed when running up
against savvy, patient teams like Los Angeles, San Jose, and Ottawa.
But when Andersen is dialled in and they don’t lay off the gas against
beatable opponents, the scariest shooters north of Tampa Bay feel free
to run wild.
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TSN.CA / Babcock: Matthews, Marner won’t start a game together - at
least for now
By Mark Masters
TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes
from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. The Maple Leafs
practised on Tuesday before heading to Florida.
Mike Babcock has switched up his forward lines midway through the last
two Leafs games in an attempt to spark the offence. On both occasions,
he united Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. On Saturday in Montreal,
the pair combined for two goals although they were the final two goals in
a 6-0 blowout. On Monday, the duo nearly struck lightning again, coming
one goalie interference call away from tying the game late in the third
period. But at Tuesday's practice, the original combinations were
restored.
The possibility of a line featuring the sharp-shooting Matthews and the
play-making brilliance of Marner has fans salivating, but it’s unlikely to
happen to start a game.
“That’s great that everyone wants that (but) we’re just trying to win every
night,” Babcock explained. “It’s the responsibility of both guys to drive a
line. That’s their job here.”
On Monday morning, Babcock bristled when asked why he didn’t keep
Marner and Mathews together, and after the game he apologized for his
“disrespectful” answer. But he didn’t offer much insight on his motivations
until after Tuesday’s practice.
“If we thought that’d help us win more games that’s what we’d do, so I
don’t foresee it happening any time soon,” Babcock noted. “When we’re
not playing good and you move people around, I think that’s a different,
but for us to be the best we can be they’re both supposed to drive a line.”
Matthews and Marner have become good friends off the ice and seemed
eager to play together following Saturday’s game at the Bell Centre, but
both understand the need for balance in the lineup.
“It’s his lineup,” Marner said of Babcock. “He’s the one who makes it so
he knows what he’s doing, so you just got to trust that. I don’t really think
it matters who you get on the ice with, everyone’s got a lot of skill and
talent.”
“We got a lot of really good players,” Matthews said, “so when you
spread it out we have a lot of depth and are pretty tough to play (against)
when we do that.”
Don't expect Matthews and Marner to play together any time soon
Mike Babcock explains why having Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner
on separate lines gives them a better chance of winning then if they were
playing together and as Mark Masters explains, both players respect the
coaches decision.
Matthews unsure when he’ll be back on track
These types of questions probably wouldn't be getting asked if Matthews
was playing like he did before missing four games with an upper-body
injury.
“I didn’t play very well,” Matthews said on Monday night following the 4-1
loss to the Coyotes, his second game back. “I don’t really like a lot of
plays I made, just turned the puck over. I think it’s just getting back to the
level I was playing at before I was injured. It’s obviously frustrating ...
definitely tonight I wasn’t very good myself.”
On Tuesday, the 20-year-old said he wasn't sure how long it would take
for him to get on track.
“It’s just getting back to just feeling good and all that stuff so I don't really
have a time estimate for you,” Matthews said. “It’s just something you
can’t really anticipate on the time. You just got to keep working hard
every day and hopefully it will come.”
“It's always hard when you miss a few games,” said linemate William
Nylander. “Everything’s a little off so it takes a few games to get back into
top shape.”
When will Matthews regain his top form? 'I don’t really have a time
estimate'
Auston Matthews admits that he can't really put a time estimate on when
he will be back to 100% but says he's going to keep working hard and is
hopeful it will be sooner than later.
Nylander: ‘I want to get going here’
For most of the season, the Matthews connection with Nylander has
been producing. However, Nylander was struggling a bit even before
Matthews went down with his injury and has failed to register a shot on
goal in the two games since his return.
Is he feeling a bit looser since snapping an 11-game goal drought last
Thursday against the New Jersey Devils?
“It has loosened up a little bit,” said Nylander, who admitted to being
rattled by the dry spell, “but still can play better and want to get going
here.”
Babcock singled out his young skilled players for not playing well enough
in the loss to the Coyotes and the trio of emerging stars received the
message.
“I don’t think we were playing to the level that we could play at,” Nylander
admitted. “I mean, it happens. We just have to come back stronger
tomorrow (Wednesday night against the Panthers in Florida).
“I just think we didn’t come ready to play,” Marner said. “They pushed
right off the start. We were late to the party. In the third maybe we got
back to what we wanted to do, but we can’t keep doing this to ourselves.”
Clogged neutral zone similar to Toronto traffic
Babcock took issue with a reporter who suggested Toronto’s coach
wasn't happy with how his players dealt with teams who clog up the
neutral zone.
“That's not a complaint at all,” Babcock said. “I never ever said that.
Teams clog up the neutral zone. All you need to do is look at our record
(14-8-0), I think we’re a pretty good team that plays pretty well. The other
team, when it gets an opportunity, clogs up the neutral zone. But what do
you think they’re saying about us? The same thing. So, who does it best?
Who stays patient? Who gets through it?
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
“It's like going to the ACC at 5 p.m. There’s traffic, but the more you go
there at 5 p.m. the more you know which lane is open and which street to
go on and you get to figure it out.”
There’s an exception to every rule and Babcock joked that the last block
of his drive to the Air Canada Centre always takes 30 minutes on game
days regardless of the route.
“Anyway, the reality of the situation is it’s the same principle,” Babcock
said in conclusion. “You got to find your way through it and if you’re
stubborn and you turn pucks over it hurts you. If you stay patient and you
do things right you end up spending a lot of time on the O zone and have
a lot of fun.”
Babcock compares neutral zone to Toronto traffic
Mike Babcock was asked about how they appear to struggle against
teams that clog up the neutral zone and the Maple Leafs head coach
shared a real life example of what he thinks is happening on the ice.
Lines at Tuesday’s practice
Forwards
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Komarov
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner
Martin-Moore-Brown
Soshnikov, Leivo
Defencemen
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Borgman-Carrick
Polak
Goalies
Andersen
McElhinney
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TSN.CA / Road trip stern test for Canucks young scoring leaders
By Jeff Paterson
PHILADELPHIA, PA – For the better part of five years, the Vancouver
Canucks and their fans have awaited the arrival of a new wave of
legitimate scoring threats to take the torch from Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
With the performance of Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Sven Baertschi
over the first 20 games of the 2017-18 National Hockey League season,
it appears that transition is finally taking place.
Horvat leads the team in goals with eight with Boeser and Baertschi both
just one behind. The rookie Boeser tops the team scoring parade with 17
points one better than Horvat and two in front of Baertschi. All three are
on pace for 60+ points at the quarter-mark of the schedule. Last season
only 42 players in the NHL posted 60 point seasons. So by today’s
standards, that production rate – more than a goal and nearly two and a
half points per game -- makes the Horvat trio a legitimate scoring line.
Now comes the hard part. With success comes notoriety and as the
Canucks embark on a gruelling six-game road trip starting in Philadelphia
tonight, they won’t be able to dictate match-ups as they do on home ice.
As such, the Horvat line is surely to see its share of top defencemen and
checking forwards.
Of the line’s 48 points this season, 31 have come on home ice. Baertschi
leads the team with four road goals while Horvat has three. Boeser is
sitting on just one goal away from Rogers Arena so far this season – and
it came in Ottawa on October 17th in the team’s first road game more
than a month ago. So, as it is for many young players and emerging
scorers, life on the road has presented plenty of challenges for the
Canucks new offensive leaders.
However, if this team is going to have success on this road trip, the
Horvat-Boeser-Baertschi combination is going to have to find a way to
overcome what will surely be unwelcome attention of opponents tasked
with keeping those three in check.
“It makes it a little harder, I think,” Baertschi conceded after practice here
Monday. “We’ve played against top lines or shutdown lines and we were
able to get things done and that’s part of the game. I’m excited about
going on the road and playing against top lines and usually that’s the
most fun. We’re creating a lot out there. We spend a lot of time in the
offensive zone and that’s where the magic happens.”
The Canucks have to be hoping Baertschi and his linemates can pull a
few rabbits out of hats as they make their way from Philadelphia to
Pittsburgh then visit New Jersey, the New York Rangers, New York
Islanders and finish this two-week odyssey in Nashville. By the time the
trip is done, the Canucks will have cleared 15 of their 41 road games off
the schedule before the end of November.
They’ve been a strong road team going 6-3 in their first nine away from
home – in fact, the Canucks have twice as many road wins as home
victories. Their last road game was a gritty 3-2 come-from-behind triumph
in Los Angeles which included power play goals from Horvat and
Baertschi.
“Teams are going to key in on us and put their best lines against us and
we have to be ready for that,” Horvat says. “Every night we’re going to be
playing against top two lines and we know that and we have to be good
at both ends of the ice. But you want to be that guy and when you’re
having success, you’re going to get the tough match-ups and you have to
be ready for it.”
Travis Green isn’t ready to anoint his young scorers as a top line in the
league just yet, but the coach is certainly encouraged by their emergence
and is well-aware how much those three mean to his hockey club. With a
collection of veterans rounding out the depth chart – many of them
struggling to produce offence with regularity or consistency – Green has
no choice but to lean on the Horvat line these days.
He has been able to protect them from difficult match-ups on many nights
this season, but knows they’ll be in the crosshairs of opponents on this
road trip.
“They’re getting a lot of offensive opportunities and they’re facing the
other teams’ top defensemen a lot and that’s a pretty good sign that other
teams are considering them a scoring line,” the coach says. “That’s what
we envisioned all three of those guys being. When will they become a top
offensive line in the league? Time will tell.”
Best case scenario for the Canucks: that time is now and the Horvat-
Baertschi-Boeser line takes a big step forward on this road trip.
“On the road they’re going to have to battle through,” Green adds. “That’s
just the way it is. All the good lines in the league face that every time they
go on the road. I think they realize it. But there is a part of just staying
focused and not thinking too far ahead is what you talk about with you
players a lot. It’s important that young players keep their foot on the
pedal, but they don’t get away from their game – if they have success it
doesn’t change anything and they still play the same way. That’s part of
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
the evolution of a lot of young players in the league is consistently being
an offensive threat and that’s not easy to do.”
It may be unfair to pin so much pressure on the Canucks new top line,
but the reality of the situation is that as those three go, so goes the
hockey club. That trio has scored six of the last seven Canucks goals
and eight of the last 11. It’s obvious the much wanted and needed
change for the organization has taken place before our eyes.
Now we’ll see if Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Sven Baertschi can
shoulder the load to deliver results on this long and arduous road trip.
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TSN.CA / An improbable, but not impossible Shea Weber trade
By Travis Yost
The Montreal Canadiens’ big gamble backfired.
That’s the reality of the now infamous P.K. Subban-for-Shea Weber
trade, the hallmark of GM Marc Bergevin’s tenure in Montreal.
The trade has been discussed ad nauseam by this point, but it’s worth
mentioning that the biggest driver behind Montreal’s side of the deal was
that Weber would help the Canadiens win now. Montreal knew full well
that Weber had a poisonous contract – a mega contract that isn’t set to
expire until the 2025-26 season.
So the bet was simple: try to put the team over the top now, and deal
with the financial ramifications later.
It hasn’t played out as planned.
Montreal has been reeling for some time now. They’ve played to an 87-
point pace over the last 50 games, and are currently on pace for a 70-
point season in 2017-18. And while the team’s underlying numbers
suggest they are better (perhaps considerably better) than the results
observed in the win/loss column, the reality is the pressure has been
turned way up in Montreal. A few more losses, and there will be calls for
organizational change. Heck, those calls are already coming.
It’s hard to put the team’s results on Weber. I’ve long argued that
Weber’s been a bit overrated in the modern era of hockey – an era that
really requires guys to skate well and move the puck with speed and
precision. But, from his shot and defensive capabilities alone, he’s still a
top-pairing talent and Montreal has played very well with him on the ice.
The Canadiens’ failures really have more to do with what they have built
(or haven’t built) in support of Weber.
Considering the organizational pressure, the fact that Montreal’s probably
further away from a title today than they were a couple of years ago, and
the fact that Weber can definitely still play, you have to wonder if there’s
any way his name could be kicked up in the trade market. The contract
remains as treacherous as ever, but you would have to envision that
there are a number of teams who – at least in a vacuum – would
significantly improve by adding him to their roster.
Let me first emphasize that Weber’s skills haven’t eroded – not yet
anyway. He’s still one of the league’s preeminent defensive defenders,
and obviously his versatility allows him to be played in all situations. If
you compare his results against his peers since the time of the trade, you
can see that he still grades out incredibly well (raw data via Corsica;
where 100 per cent would indicate a player is better by that measure
than all of his peers):
Weber’s numbers are really impressive. His individual offence generated
is at the level of a first-pairing talent (he generates shots and points
better than about 75 per cent of league defenders, for one example.) And
his defensive measures – both goals against and expected goals against,
which considers both shot quantity and quality – are at elite first-pairing
levels, beating out more than 90 per cent of other defenders around the
league.
His areas of weakness remain the same: He still gives up shots against
at a decent rate, and team offence (“GF/60”) tends to die when he’s on
the ice. In summary: Weber’s resume remains eerily consistent. His
teams don’t generate a ton of goals offensively, but they give up even
less. Thus, he continues to win on the margins.
Considering the above and his reputation around the league, I submit
that he’s still valued – perhaps highly valued –by other franchises across
the NHL. And yet it’s going to be tough to find trade partners, even in a
hypothetical deal. The contract just runs for so long, and, at 32, he’s no
longer in the prime of his career. Add a pride factor to this on the
Montreal side, and you have a series of complications.
But you have to wonder if a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs would
take a shot here. We know they have been sniffing around top-four
defenders for basically a year – in the last few months alone it’s believed
they have shown interest in both Boston’s Zdeno Chara, who’s now 40,
and 27-year-old Flame Travis Hamonic.
The Leafs have recognized two key elements: (1) the team is very close
to being a Stanley Cup contender; and (2) the team’s fatal flaw is a
young and inexperienced blueline that doesn’t have that elite, No.1
defender. But there are so many other reasons for why the Leafs’ interest
in Weber could make sense:
They have a number of enticing young and talented pieces (especially
forwards) in need of their next contracts who could be offered as both a
trade piece and a salary offset;
They have over $5 million in cap space today;
They are in win-now mode thanks to a number of their players
developing on an accelerated curve, and are already good enough to be
considered a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference;
Their head coach, Mike Babcock, has fawned over Shea Weber’s talents
for years;
It’s Nashville, not Montreal (or Toronto) that could be burned by cap
recapture in the event Weber retires early; and
As noted earlier, they have recognized that their blueline is an area of
weakness, and have been searching for personnel upgrades for some
time
So, what type of trade could make sense here? For starters, Montreal
would need to retain salary. The only way to offset the sheer length of
this deal would be to allow a team to escape some of his annual cost –
Weber’s cap hit, for what it’s worth, is $7.8 million. A deal simply cannot
happen without the Habs retaining a cost here.
Beyond that, it becomes a game of finding the right pieces that would
encourage Montreal to get off of their current position of “win now” and
start thinking about a plausible retool or rebuild. If Montreal agrees to
swallow a large portion of salary in order to get a better piece, then the
Leafs could seriously consider including someone like William Nylander
or Mitch Marner. Nylander is due for his next contract at the end of the
year, and Marner a year after.
To me, those would be the core pieces of any plausible deal – a deal I
concede is, at best, improbable right now. But if the Habs do seriously go
through another losing stretch and incur some organizational change, a
new regime might be much more inclined to get out of that Weber
contract and reset their clock for contention.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • Nov. 22, 2017
And if that occurs, it’ll be their divisional rival who could have the most
intriguing package to offer. So intriguing that it could be a win-win for
both sides, depending on how it’s structured.
TSN.CA LOADED: 11.22.2017