Elliotte Friedman SPORTSNET • Will the NHL Draft become more like the NFL and NBA?
• Why '30' is an important number in negotiations • Cale Makar's historic career start I completely understand why Taylor Hall spoke up in defence of Connor Bedard — “It can be a little much for him at times. He doesn’t say that, but it feels like it is” — but what I think really needs to be learned from the past week is the NHL should fight its long-time habit of “dialing it back” in favour of recognising we’re going to have to embrace the cult of personality more than we have. The media tours (Stockholm and Vegas this year) are outstanding, but we can’t stop when the puck drops. Over the summer, several players, agents, executives, league officials, you name it, indicated they were concerned about increasing MLS attention and what it means for the NHL. (And, as F1 arrived in Vegas, I heard similar worries about its North American expansion, too.) F1’s growth is fuelled by the excellent Drive to Survive, which prominently pushes personality (that's only in the states, you stupid fucking jew. the rest of us already knew about and followed F1), and MLS got a massive bump with Lionel Messi’s earth-shaking arrival. During the 2019 Toronto-Golden State NBA Final, co-workers were amazed at how star after star to the podium created hours of programming, even on non-game-days. Bedard deserves a ton of credit for what he accepted; Sportsnet staffers who dealt with him the last few days said he had an excellent attitude toward it all. I hope others in hockey look at it his way: “The best way I can ease his burden is by saying, ‘OK, I’m next,’ or, ‘OK, someone from our team is next.’” There are so many great people in this sport with stories to tell. I’ve been concerned with the loss of great television features; we must revive them. Hockey is all about team over individual — a lofty and worthy goal — but we must recognise our audience craves more access to its stars and greater knowledge of what makes them tick. One of our producers said he’s never seen so many young fans crowding the glass during warm up as there was for Bedard. At the coach/GM meeting in September in Chicago, they were told they’d have to say “yes” more than they had in the past. Not everyone’s going to like it, but it is what our audience wants. And if we’re really serious about growth, we’re going to have to embrace it. Toronto media were upset Bedard was not available game-day Monday morning (the Blackhawks practised Sunday) or after Chicago’s victory. But it’s hard to be critical of over all access to him at the start of this season. (Montreal did not skate in Toronto last Wednesday, so there’s unhappiness that it’s happened twice in three home games — not good.) I wondered if Chicago asked for media requests well in advance of the games in Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal and Toronto so things could be properly planned out, but that wasn’t the case. GM Kyle Davidson credited his media relations group: John Steinmiller, Ben Fromstein and Kaylea Konoval. “We understood the importance of visibility of star players,” Davidson said. “We walked him through the requests, making sure everyone and, most importantly, the player was comfortable. We’re trying to do right by hockey, to satisfy the interest and make him comfortable.” Did you turn down many asks? “It was not necessarily about turning down, but suggesting alternatives,” he replied. How did this week compare to the height of the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup success? “It was not like the Cup final, blocking off sections to make room for media members. But for starting the season, there was the most intense focus since the Cup run.” Davidson also defended Hall’s comments. “It’s a veteran player looking out for our young guys, I want it. That’s with the best interests of a team mate in mind. It’s what you want in your older group. I’m totally fine that he said it. (Bedard) handled it so well. This was not a regular circumstance. I have no fear that if he’s not comfortable with something, he will tell us. “No question he will let us know.” 32 THOUGHTS 1. All of this said, one of my friends asked if Sportsnet cameras followed Bedard into the washroom. 2. Davidson on what he saw from Bedard as a player: “The ability to make things happen, sometimes out of nowhere.” 3. Hall missed just one game after suffering a shoulder injury that initially seemed much worse. If there’s one thing I was concerned about watching the Blackhawks, it's that they might need another scorer to help Bedard. With Hall out of the line up, it seemed too much on the rookie. Davidson says he’s not rushing to do anything, and clearly wants to give Lukas Reichel a long runway. 4. Finally on the Blackhawks, I like what I saw from 2022 first-rounder Kevin Korchinski. Sorry WHL, he looks good. “We haven’t made any decisions yet,” Davidson said. “But we’ve said Kevin’s play will dictate what decision we make. Right now, he looks like a player that should continue to get a look at the NHL level.” The GM points out Korchinski is a “young 19,” with a birthday in late June. “So far, he’s shown he’s ready for the NHL challenge.” 5. The NHL sent a league-wide memo Wednesday morning asking teams to let them know how they feel about a decentralised draft. It would be more NFL/NBA style, with the clubs staying in their markets. Only the prospects would be on-site. If I had a vote, I’d be against it for purely selfish reasons. I love the draft, having everyone together, being able to say hello, just schmooze with people. (Of course, having to do any of this with me is one of the reasons some might really hate it.) I like the uniqueness of it, that no one else does it this way. And I do feel there is enormous value in conducting business face-to-face, not only among media, but manager-to-manager, scout-to-scout, prospect-to-team and agent-to-team. Nothing gets better results than in-person conversation. 6. Here’s where the challenges come. Last season’s draft was on June 28-29. This season’s draft is on June 28-29. That leaves one day to get back for the start of free agency, and it can be a long trip. Costs are another. You’ve still got to bring your scouts and staff to your city, but one executive made a good point: the hotel rates aren’t being jacked up because they know there’s a mass transportation event. There are also teams that believe you can’t conduct as much private business when so many people are snooping around. My biggest concern would be time. Remember the second day of the 2020 draft? That was longer than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Last weekend, a few people told me they thought decentralisation would happen. Now, I’ve got others saying they are not so sure. So, let’s let it play out. Outside possibility it would take effect — if it happens — next June, but more likely 2025. 7. This will be the eighth consecutive season for My Cause My Cleats in the NFL, where players show support for a charitable cause via specially designed cleats. It’s an excellent idea, featuring creative “unboxing” videos posted on social media. The reason I mention it is that I’m not certain where this is going to go, or how far it is along, but the NHL and NHLPA have at least discussed the possibility of something along these lines. A night (or a few nights) where players can support what they wish during warm-ups. Jeff Marek suggested this on Monday’s podcast as a compromise to the Pride-tape ban, and it makes a lot of sense. Last Saturday was San Jose’s annual “Los Tiburones” night, and as I was watching warm-up, I missed the funky sweaters the Sharks would wear to celebrate. There is room for a solution, and, I think, a will to find one. Something similar to My Cause My Cleats (how about: My Show My Skates?) works to bring back all of the specialty sweaters — including those for Hockey Fights Cancer — currently in mothballs. There is a lot you could do here. I love the way teams like Buffalo and Winnipeg announce player goal songs on social. Whatever players choose to represent could be announced early on social, with video of what they are going to wear. It would look dynamite and inviting. 8. Asked a few people why they thought Auston Matthews was off to such a hot start. Is he shooting differently? Going to other places on the ice? The No. 1 answer received: “He’s healthy.” Matthews had wrist surgery in August 2021, but may have had another, minor procedure in the summer of 2022 that robbed him of being fully able to train that off-season. Asked Wednesday, Matthews declined to discuss it, making it clear he “wants to focus on the future” and “not make any excuses for what happened last year.” Geez, I wish my “down years” were that good. Matthews scored 40 goals and had his second-most points (85) in 74 games despite being bothered by hand and knee injuries. But it’s clear now things weren’t right for him the previous summer, and didn’t get on-track for months. He had the opportunity to properly prepare this time, and you see the early results. 9. Five points in two games as Nick Robertson starts his AHL season. It wasn’t easy for him to go back to the Marlies, but all you can do is produce and he’s started right. Apparently, it was pointed out to him that the Maple Leafs carry the minimum 12 forwards, so there will be opportunity for him if something happens. You can also see a situation where if this goes too long, he might ask for a fresh start. 10. Luke Schenn’s injury decreases Nashville’s likelihood as a Conor Garland trade partner. If Dante Fabbro was the desired return, the Predators need him now. But I’m not as certain Nashville is as in on the over all idea as originally thought. 11. After watching him Tuesday night in Vegas, new bold prediction: Miro Heiskanen finally wins the Norris. 12. Thirty continues to be a very important number in negotiating circles. One of the reasons Owen Power’s extension got done is because Buffalo agreed to drop from eight years to seven, so Power’s next contract would kick in before he turns 29. Colorado and Devon Toews would’ve reached an extension long ago if he wasn’t about to turn 30. Teams are hard on the aging curve — 34 appears to be where many think the final drop comes — so that’s a huge factor in all of these conversations. One thing that could help Toews: he’s played only 318 NHL games. Less mileage. 13. On Toews, I think it’s pretty simple: Colorado wants to be piggish and win more Stanley Cups. They feel the optimal route involves him in the line up, partnering with Cale Makar. They conceded on term, he conceded on salary. But both sides wanted it to work and the Avalanche know they are better with him. 14. Speaking of Makar, during Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Seattle, he reached 250 points in his 241st game, faster than any other defenceman in NHL history. Bobby Orr had the previous record: 247. Makar stands 278th all-time among blue-liners. The NHL record is 1,579 by Ray Bourque. Bourque did it in 1,612 games. At his current pace, Makar would need 1,523 games to pass the Hall of Famer. Let’s wish Makar good health, because he could do it. Who’s going to bet against him? 15. If Edmonton wins the Stanley Cup, remember this: the biggest first-game loss by a team that went on to take it all was the 2019 St. Louis Blues. They lost 5-1 to Winnipeg. 16. The Oilers were shooting 2.4 per cent at five-on-five after two games. No way that was going to continue. But the bigger development was Jack Campbell saving them early before they got going against Nashville on Tuesday. 17. During the pre-season, one NHL executive said you could already feel the pressure to succeed in some organisations. I was surprised, the real games hadn’t started. He was adamant. Now you see it. Damon Severson, a big off-season acquisition, gets benched in the third period of Columbus’s third game. After two impressive wins over Edmonton, Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said, “I don’t like to use the word 'soft,' but I just didn’t see guys competing” after Tuesday’s loss in Philadelphia. San Jose’s David Quinn also used the “s” word (shit?) to describe a 6-3 loss to Carolina: “We’ve got to be way more competitive in our battles than we were tonight. ... Soft on battles.” (Glenn Healy once told me, “'Soft' is the worst thing you can call a player, so be careful how you use it.”) New Jersey’s Lindy Ruff benched Curtis Lazar, John Marino and Timo Meier for the third period Monday against Florida, but his situation is a little different. That’s a good team trying to win, and after a perfect pre-season, Ruff is probably looking for a reason to tighten the screws, drill in everyone’s attention to detail. As Gord Stellick says, there are only so many times a season you can pull this arrow from your quiver. That it’s happening so quickly is proof of the tension. 18. To take this a little further, what’s happened in Washington and Winnipeg is a lesson on why teams are nervous about total rebuilds — even if some of their fans want it. It’s early, so I hesitate to draw too many conclusions, but the Jets drew 11,226 Tuesday against Los Angeles, their lowest non-COVID crowd since returning to Manitoba. The Capitals’ 588-game sell-out streak ended Monday versus Calgary. Jets fans love their hockey, and Washington is a tremendous market where the team missed the playoffs for just the second time in 17 years. There are contributing factors, such as day of the week, cost to attend games, over all quality of the game presentation, etc., but it comes down to one major thing: winning. And, in a gate-driven league, not everyone’s willing to take the big-rebuild chance. 19. Brutal stretch of injuries for the Canadiens, losing Kirby Dach for the season and Kaiden Guhle for a little while. Curious to see if this gives Mattias Norlinder, now at AHL Laval, an opportunity. One thing is very clear: Montreal feels much better about Norlinder than it did a year ago. Much, much improved pre-season performance. 20. An interesting thing in Montreal to start the season: only Martin St. Louis does the verbal work with Juraj Slafkovsky. No confusion, no mixed messages. One voice. The Canadiens know he can fire it, but they’ve also showed video of how going to the net results in goals. Happened for him in the pre-season. 21. There’s hope a solution can be worked out for Carolina’s pro prospects, scattered between the AHL, ECHL and Europe. (One executive said he couldn’t believe the Hurricanes found places for everyone to play.) Some agents and the NHLPA were upset about ECHL demotions — not that it’s a bad league, but because it was felt those players should be at a higher level. The CBA allows for entry-level contracts to be sent there, so Carolina isn’t violating any rules, but those agents and the union are pushing for a better solution. 22. Florida’s first win of the season was Monday over New Jersey. In a funny/cute moment, cameras caught Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov “faking” the post-game high-five he did with Radko Gudas last season. Gudas signed with Anaheim during free agency. In August, we asked Barkov if there was anyone he couldn’t believe played through injury besides the still-sidelined Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour. He named Gudas. “He went through a lot,” Barkov said. “He’s not soft. He's not going to skate by (anyone), he’s not going to not block the shot. The way he still played every game is just unbelievable.” 23. Under intense questioning, Barkov would not reveal what head coach Paul Maurice said that night in Toronto when he chewed out his team on the bench during a timeout: “But he got us going, for sure.” 24. Barkov is a huge tennis fan — he attended Wimbledon in the summer — and a very good player. If he played three sets against Novak Djokovic, how many points does he think he could get? “Probably zero,” he answered. What? Really? Not one by accident? “Well, maybe on my serve, If he makes a stupid mistake. ... If he keeps returning the ball to me, eventually I will make a mistake.” Admire Barkov’s honesty. “Sometimes, it’s not fun to be honest,” he said, smiling. 25. Something else I wanted to include from the European Media Tour came from Washington’s Martin Fehervary. Data science from SMT, the NHL’s Puck and Player Tracking service, indicates he’s the one player in the entire league who skates faster than Connor McDavid in both maximum velocity and puck-carrying speed. Fehervary clocked 24.2 miles per hour in both instances, compared to McDavid’s 24.1. The Capital defender had heard something about this; wowed and proud at getting more information. “Well, it’s good to be fast,” he said, laughing. “I always (have had) good, explosive power. I was always really fast.” He added that much of his summer conditioning is geared toward improving the power in his stride. He was sceptical about beating McDavid with the puck. “I don't think I can compare to him (with the puck) and, well, I probably got lucky.” When he plays Edmonton, he’ll have to line up against McDavid and inform the Edmonton captain about this critical information. “Yeah, I’ll just trash-talk him. ‘You know who’s faster than you?’” 26. Of course, Marek had to ruin this by asking who is the fastest backward skater. Fehervary picked Makar. “His edges, edge work on the blue line, is unreal. I really like his style of game. I think he is really, really, really fast.” Could Fehervary hang with him? “Oh, I think so,” was the reply. “I don’t know. Hopefully.” 27. Marc-Andre Fleury’s potential last start in Montreal, a 5-2 Minnesota win on Tuesday night, was special. Going to be interesting to see what’s in store on Dec. 18, the Wild’s only trip to Pittsburgh. 28. Ten-year pro Scott Harrington ended his tryout with AHL San Diego to sign in Switzerland. Watch for more Canadians going there. It usually means a spot in one of hockey’s great events — the Spengler Cup. With fewer Europeans going to the KHL, there is more competition for Swiss jobs. While that league shuts down for this event, others don’t, so it can be harder to find Canadians in Europe to fill the Spengler roster. Jordie Benn got an out from his Swedish team to play, but not everyone can do it. 29. On one of last week’s podcasts, we wished the NHL would have a Comeback Player of the Year. Someone countered with, “There is one. The Masterton.” 30. Cannot believe the craziness of the Maple Leafs goal song saga. Even the team’s board brought it up. Relax. It’s a song, this is supposed to be a fun debate. 31. Dusty Baker is 74(!). Bruce Bochy is 68, Rob Thomson 60, Torey Lovullo 58. These are the four managers standing in Major League Baseball. There are two lessons: don’t assume your elders are dinosaurs and, if you’re willing to adapt, you can coach for a long time. 32. Brendan Malone, who died last week at age 88, was the first head coach in Toronto Raptors’ history. He was true New York City. If you asked him a question, you were going to get an answer, whether you liked it or not. That 1995-96 season was a real education, recognition that — no matter differing backgrounds — if you showed up every day and treated people properly, you could build healthy relationships. The Raptors gave the NBA champion Bulls one of their 10 defeats, a game where Michael Jordan’s potential game-winner was released after the buzzer sounded. Days later, Malone and GM Isiah Thomas had a very public spat about playing time for rookies as the Raptors lost by 40 to Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando Magic. Malone didn’t win that argument, was fired the day after the season. He left a lengthy message on my home phone, saying that I had a chance to have a good career if I continued on the path I’d started. His message was along the lines of “showing up every day” is key to success, which is very true. Showing up is an underrated skill. There are many good reporters in the NHL who do that better than I do these days, due to my role in the studio. Malone was the epitome of it, a coach for almost 50 years straight in high school, college and the pros, getting to see his son Michael lead the Denver Nuggets to last year’s NBA title. RIP, and thank you for the lessons learned when I was 25, just starting out.
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"I'm a player first and I think that's why I made this team," the Canadiens defenceman says. Brendan Kelly • Montreal Gazette Arber Xhekaj isn’t crazy about his nickname. In fact, he wouldn’t mind changing it.
After joining the Montreal Canadiens last season, his team mates dubbed the defenceman “Wifi”, riffing on the fact the spelling of his last name was reminiscent of one of those complex Wifi passwords you sometimes come across. In a conversation at La Chambre Microbrasserie Sportive in Terrebonne Wednesday afternoon, Xhekaj said he’d like to revive the nickname he had when he was playing with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League. Back then he was known as The Sheriff, a nod to his role as a guy not afraid to lay down the law on the ice. “It was a nickname I had in junior when I was with Kitchener and it stayed through junior but it kind of switched up a bit here when I made it to the NHL,” said Xhekaj. “But it’s definitely a nickname I liked. I think (Wifi) is good, the people love it. But when people are calling me Mr. Wifi and they don’t know my name, that’s a bit tough. But if the fans like it, I like it.” He was at the La Chambre in Terrebonne to help launch a promotional campaign for the chain of restaurants’ new smash burger named … The Sheriff. Xhekaj is indeed the CH’s new sheriff, something the team had been lacking in recent years, and he isn’t afraid to drop the gloves, as he showed in this season’s first game, when he took on Toronto Maple Leafs heavyweight Ryan Reaves. “We’re two big boys and we both play hard and he threw a couple of big hits so right after that I think I wanted to set the tone early and say ‘We’re not just going to sit there and let you run around like that’,” said Xhekaj. “Obviously it wasn’t much of a fight. I don’t know why there’s so much talk about it.” After the fight, which was really more of a wrestling match, ending with Xhekaj tossing Reaves into the back of the net, Reaves trash-talked the Habs tough guy. “I don’t like getting jumped,” said Reaves. “I don’t know if I’ve really jumped anybody. If you want to fight, just ask me. I’m always around. You know where to find me.” When those comments are mentioned to Xhekaj, he politely suggests Reaves is not telling the whole truth. “It’s on video,” said Xhekaj. “You can see that he’s throwing the first punches of the fight. I didn’t grab him right away. I let him get up, turn around and get settled, and then we went from there.” In his rookie season, Xhekaj quickly became a fan favourite, in part because of the fights, but also due to the fact that fans could see that he’s more than just a pugilist — he’s also a pretty good NHL player. That season was cut short — he only played 51 games — after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a fight. For many years the Habs often didn’t have a tough guy ready to stand up for players when they got pushed around by the opposition. It happened more than once that star goalie Carey Price would get run over with no team mates coming to his rescue. “For any team that’s got a guy who’s willing to protect his team mates, it’s huge,” Xhekaj said. “It gives them space. It lets them play fearlessly. For me it’s very important that I can bring that aspect to the game. When guys are going to be taking runs at our guys or doing anything stupid on the ice, in the back of their mind they have to know that I’m going to be coming for them.” He earned 101 penalty minutes in his rookie season but he also showed that he’s a solid blue-liner who can spark some offence when needed. “I’m not a goon, I’m a hockey player first,” said Xhekaj. “I think that’s where people get confused. They think I’m just there to fight guys. I can play the game and I have pretty good offensive upside. I’m a player first and I think that’s why I made this team.” His younger brother Florian was drafted in the fourth round by the Canadiens this year and Xhekaj would love to see the two of them together on the same team. “That was amazing, that was the icing on the top of the cake,” he said. “If he ends up playing with me, that would be a dream come true. We’d play on the street every day and any sport, we’d challenge each other one on one.” Xhekaj, 22, was born and raised in Hamilton, by immigrant parents. His dad is a refugee from Kosovo who arrived in Toronto in the ’90s and ended up working as a welder in Hamilton. His mom is from the Czech Republic. He said it was his parents who instilled in him the drive to succeed, allowing him to face all kinds of adversity, including making it to the NHL even though he was never drafted. The Canadiens invited him to their training camp in 2021 and the team was impressed enough to sign him to a three-year contract worth US$2.485 million. “It definitely comes from my parents,” said Xhekaj. “They came here with nothing. My dad came here with maybe two dollars in his pocket and started a life and created a family. He’s worked hard for everything he’s got and they always reminded us where they came from and how their life was back home, so we knew we were truly fortunate to get what we had.” Growing up in Hamilton also influenced his outlook, he added. “I love everything about Hamilton, but it’s tough city (it's also a massive shithole), you don’t mess with guys from Hamilton,” said Xhekaj. Whether you call him Wifi or The Sheriff, you don’t mess with Arber Xhekaj either. Mark Spector SPORTSNET PHILADELPHIA — There has always been drama in Evander Kane’s life. Unnecessary drama, and almost always of his own making.
Accusations. Bankruptcy. Whatever it was that happened in San Jose. But today, domesticised and a father of three at age 32, it appears that Kane has found peace. Managed to get out of his own way, finally. As he begins his third season in Edmonton, and the second year of a four-year, $20.5 million deal, it appears as if the Oilers got the player that Atlanta drafted. That Buffalo traded for, that San Jose signed. The player is here, the distractions are gone. “It's not about just being a hockey player. It's about not having any real issues to deal with. To distract,” Kane said. “I have three young kids (Kensington, three; Iverson, one; Hendrix, born in June), and I enjoy spending my free time with them. “Edmonton as a city has been really good. I've created a lot of really nice friendships here with people who have lived here all their lives. It's something that I definitely do not take for granted, how well I've been accepted here in the city.” If you’d have told a 20-year-old Evander Kane that he would find his peace in this northern Alberta outpost, we can only imagine the reaction. But here he is, settled into an Ada Blvd. home in one of Edmonton’s heritage neighbourhoods, helping charities and spending time with 10-year-old cancer survivor Cecily Eklund. At a recent Oilers signing session at West Edmonton Mall, Kane’s table was among the busiest. “I'm a free agent at 29 years old, trying to figure out where I want to play,” Kane said, taking us back to January 2022. “I’ve got a team like Tampa Bay or a team like Edmonton, and I choose Edmonton. I don't regret that decision. One bit.” A hockey team is built of players from all kinds of backgrounds and upbringings. They orbit the hockey world until luck, planning, and some happenstance bring 20-some players into the same dressing room, with the same purpose, and something special occurs. The hard-working Jewish kid from Toronto. The No. 1 over all pick out of Burnaby, B.C., whose family at one time couldn’t afford rep hockey. The farm kid from outside Stony Plain, Alta. The son of a German hockey royalty, by way of Prince Albert, Sask. The prodigy Connor McDavid. Derek Ryan, who did not play an NHL game until age 29. Add to that mix Kane, the son of athletic parents — Mom Sheri played college volleyball, Dad Perry was a boxer who dabbled at hockey — who leapt onto Edmonton’s roster mid-season as a free agent in 2021-22. Every guy brings something to the recipe. Channelled properly, Kane’s experiences and style make Edmonton better, as he patrols McDavid’s left side, equal parts finisher and inhibitor, a handy combination to put next to the most valuable player in hockey. He’s part of what hockey people like to call, “The right mix.” “There's a big difference between being a professional, and adult, to junior hockey,” begins Kane, when the topic turns to roster composition. “It's not always about winning. Sometimes, it’s about providing a lifestyle, earning money and taking care of your family. “Having guys that are secure in their positions — whether that's on the team, in their careers, or in their personal life — those things matter and contribute. But at the end of the day, it comes down to performance on the ice. “It's about bringing something to the table that can help your team win.” Kane’s route to this Edmonton Oilers roster, to his role on a team with a chance to do something no Canadian team has done in 30 years, has been nothing like any of his team mates. But today, former Maple Leafs, former Sabres, former Canadiens, former Senators, Capitals and Predators — have accrued common Oiler experiences, drawn from common failures suffered along the way. “Last year, we left with a bitter taste in our mouths, knowing that we definitely could have beaten Vegas. And if we do, I think we're headed in the right direction of where we want to be,” Kane said. “There's a lot of pressure on our group. There's been a lot of pressure in our group over my tenure here. But I think it's something we all enjoy, something we all want to use to our advantage.” He’s in for the long haul with the Oilers, and they with him. If Evander Kane wants to be remembered by the game as a winner, as a guy who helped get something special accomplished, then perhaps he is finally in the right place. And the right city.
Cale Makar just keeps making history.
The 24-year-old became the fastest defenceman in NHL history to reach 250 points on Tuesday night during the Colorado Avalanche‘s game against the Seattle Kraken.
With an assist on Logan O’Connor’s goal in the second period, Makar hit the 250-point mark in his 241st career game. He surpasses Bobby Orr, one of the game’s all-time greats, who reached the mark in 247 games. Other NHL legends that Makar was faster than include Denis Potvin (251 games), Brian Leetch (253 games) and Paul Coffey (260). Makar, a Calgary native, was also the fastest defenceman in league history to reach 200 points, hitting that mark in 195 games on Nov. 21, 2022. The previous record was held by Sergei Zubov (207 games). Makar’s 250 points are made up of 67 goals and 182 assists. Makar has already accumulated plenty of accolades during his first five seasons, including winning the Calder Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup. The NHL has been promoting Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard at every turn this season. To keep from falling behind in North American sports, it's exactly what it should be doing, writes Mike Stephens.
Lionel Messi is one of the worst things to happen to the NHL in recent memory. When the legendary footballer decided to take his talents to Major League Soccer this summer, it represented a seismic shift in the North American sports landscape. Messi is arguably the greatest player the sport has ever seen, after all. A true global icon. And here he was, opting to spend what could be the final years of his career in the United States. The ripples were bound to be massive. And, undoubtedly, they were. Inter Miami FC, Messi's new team, was bombarded with newfound popularity from the moment the signing was official, gaining a whopping 1.3 million followers on Instagram within four hours of its announcement. That total over doubled overnight, with the club today exceeding 15 million followers. MLS' own account, to put that in perspective, stands at 4.1 million, thanks in large part to a Messi-induced spike, as well. Would you like to know how many followers the NHL has? I'll give you a hint: It's not 15 million. Messi's arrival put the NHL on notice, vaulting MLS into an entirely new stratosphere and establishing it as one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues on the continent. There are only so many sets of eyes in the world, after all, and millions of new ones were shifting their focus to soccer. The NHL, which had been content to nestle itself on the periphery of North American sports for years, was in danger of being left behind. And then, a miracle happened – one by the name of Connor Bedard. Bedard is, of course, not Lionel Messi. He's an 18-year-old kid with three NHL games under his belt who cannot legally drink in the city in which he is employed. But who says he can't be hockey's Messi one day? The fact of the matter is that Bedard is a generational prospect, a world-beating wunderkind who, if all goes well, has the potential to retire as one of the greatest players his sport has ever seen. He's the real deal, folks. Even three games in, it's hard to argue otherwise. That's why they call them generational talents. They only come around once in a generation, making it imperative for the NHL to strike while the iron's hot. Now, that's easier said than done, especially when talking about the NHL. This is a league that doesn't have the best track record when it comes to promoting its players, to put it kindly, and that lack of visibility has seen hockey lag behind sports it once directly competed with. Walk the streets of any middle American city, and the majority of passers-by probably couldn't pick Connor McDavid out of a police line, let alone know who he is. Even Sidney Crosby's name might elicit more shrugs than nods, and he's had nearly two decades of promotion potential. In no other major North American sport is that the case. Everyone knows LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes and Shohei Ohtani. Each player is a brand in and of itself. And that brand represents their respective league. The greats always find a way to transcend their medium if given a little push, allowing them to bleed into popular culture and become symbols recognised across the globe. The NHL has failed at that, fumbling a number of chances to replicate what those other sports have achieved since the days of Wayne Gretzky, whose final game was played amidst the threat of Y2K. But Bedard offers an opportunity for growth, for hockey to break back into the conversation that has so often dismissed it at every turn. And in the social media age, the tools to do so have never been more available. It takes two seconds to make a TikTok these days. If a 14-year-old can do it with nothing but a ring light and a dream, one of the biggest sports leagues in the world can, too. And to their credit, the NHL has actually done a decent job of presenting their prized prospect to the world thus far. Bedard's debut was a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN, putting him up against Crosby, his childhood idol. Bedard was even mic'd up during that game to offer fans an in-depth look at history in the making and was then a featured guest on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, one of the most popular radio shows in the United States, the next day. The Bedard social media push has been going hot and heavy, too. Between Sept. 1 and the time of publishing, the league's official Twitter – or X, I guess – account has posted about Bedard 29 separate times, with no other team, let alone individual player, coming even close. And, as luck would have it, all that promotion paid off. Bedard's debut on Oct. 10 was watched by 1.43 million people. That's the largest recorded audience for a regular-season NHL game on cable, except for the Winter Classic, and nearly doubled the viewership for last year's Oct. 11 match-up between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers, per sportsmediawatch.com. And data from audience measurement company Nielsen shows Bedard's debut blew season openers from the last 13 years out of the water for viewership. This is why the NHL has been shoving its golden goose in every face it can. It's why you've been inundated with Bedard content since the moment he was draughted, why you can't escape him no matter how hard you try. You're not supposed to escape him. This league doesn't have the luxury of coasting on its place in the consumer's consciousness. An all-out onslaught is the only way the NHL can make a dent in a landscape that has been tougher for them to penetrate than ever before. And if you don't like it, frankly, it's because three decades of the NHL refusing to turn its best players into globally recognised brands has conditioned you that way. It hasn't been perfect, of course. The Blackhawks did not make Bedard available to the media before or after their game in Toronto, for instance, shielding him from hockey's biggest market for the entirety of his first trip there. And while there should indeed be a plan to ensure the kid is not overwhelmed by the attention or crushed by the pressure, having him front and centre when touching down in the hub of the sport's national hockey media must also be worked in there eventually. LeBron speaks to reporters when he's in New York. Mahomes tosses out cliches before playing the Cowboys. It's what stars do. But that's just a nit pick. For the NHL, baby steps are just fine. The Connor Bedard Media Machine isn't stopping any time soon. In fact, it's just getting started. Adam Proteau discusses how Kirby Dach's injury affects the Montreal Canadiens, the New Jersey Devils goaltending after two 4-3 losses and Brock Boeser's start for the Canucks. This is Screen Shots, a regular THN.com feature in which we analyse a few different hockey topics, and break them down over a few brief paragraphs. Let’s get straight to it:
The Montreal Canadiens’ season suffered an early blow on Saturday against Chicago when centre Kirby Dach suffered a lower-body injury expected to keep him out for a good length of time. Dach is a key component for the Habs’ fortunes, so losing him basically right off the hop is going to put a crimp into any plans Montreal had to be consistently competitive. We’ve said for a while now that it's good for Canadiens fans to focus on the future because, at the moment, there's simply not enough high-end depth in Montreal to overcome an injury to an important part of its blueprint for success. By the time Dach returns, the Habs could be well out of playoff position, and while that’s got to be a downer for the organisation, Dach’s injury illuminates how far the Canadiens have to go before they can grit their teeth as a team and remain competitive throughout the season. Dach’s absence will be evident in the win/loss columns for the Habs, but he’s still just 22 years old, and he’ll be an important contributor once he’s healthy. But for the short term, his injury will make life much harder for his team mates. That’s just the reality of the NHL, which feels like it has more injuries than ever. Here’s hoping he makes a full recovery and hits the ground running once he returns. The Edmonton Oilers might just be the most disappointing team in the NHL after one week, but a close second are the New Jersey Devils. They dropped two of their first three games, with 4-3 losses to Arizona and Florida, the former ending in a shootout and the latter in regulation. The Devils’ goaltending, which many identified as the weakest part of their game in pre-season rankings, is still up in the air in terms of a clear-cut starter, as veteran Vitek Vanecek has played in two games (going 1-1-0), and youngster Akira Schmid got the other start (going 0-0-1). Devils coach Lindy Ruff can continue alternating between his goalie tandem, but ideally, they need either Vanecek or Schmid to step up and claim the starter's job. Like most coaches, Ruff will go with the hot hand between the pipes, and New Jersey can’t be picky about the goalie who gets the most starts. For a long time, there was speculation the Devils would eventually trade some of their depth at forward and on defence for a legit No. 1 option, such as Winnipeg star netminder Connor Hellebuyck, but as we know, the Jets extended Hellebuyck’s contract and took him off the market. There could be other options, either via trade or the waiver wire, for the Devils to change their goaltending look later this season. And while you can’t pin either of their losses on Vanecek or Schmid, New Jersey can’t keep on surrendering four goals per game and expect the offence to bail them out night in and night out. If they’re going to be atop the very tough Metropolitan Division, the Devils need more out of their goalies than they’ve got so far. In Vancouver, the Canucks got out to a 2-0-0 start thanks in large part to the performance of veteran winger Brock Boeser, who has a team-best four goals and five points so far. But don’t take that output to be something that protects the 26-year-old winger from trade rumours for the rest of this season. Indeed, if Boeser continues to generate tons of offence, he could be pricing himself out of Vancouver’s long-term plans. Boeser is signed through the 2024-25 campaign at a salary cap hit of $6.65 million, per PuckPedia. That gives him cost-certainty for Vancouver’s potential trade partners, and Canucks brass could land a number of younger players and draft picks to keep the team competitive over the long haul. Some fans and media are focusing on Canucks winger Conor Garland being dealt, and while it’s certainly possible Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin could move Garland first, there’s going to be continuing speculation about Boeser’s future as a Canuck. Just as they did last season with former captain Bo Horvat, Vancouver’s management could decide to cut ties with Boeser as they look to a year or two from now to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. That’s certainly not a comment on Boeser’s on-ice value, but rather, a reality of their competitive situation in the macro sense. Iain MacIntyre - SPORTSNET PHILADELPHIA – He was talking about practice. Not a game, not a game, practice. What was he talking about? Practice. How silly was that?
Not at all. Twenty-one years after Allen Iverson’s iconic, mournful rant that will live forever, a punchline without context, Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet was back in Philadelphia on Monday and talking about practice. About 40 minutes into the Canucks’ hour-long practice at the Wells Fargo Center, Rick Tocchet admonished players for coasting through a drill. It was assistant coach Mike Yeo who whistled the halt and told players to smarten up, and Tocchet backed him up and reminded players that ice time in games is earned at practice. “Earn your f------ ice time,” he barked. Tocchet had them skate “lines” for about five minutes at the end of the session. Just as Iverson’s soliloquy during the 2002 National Basketball Association playoffs wasn’t really about practice, but about fairness and perception and sadness over the murder of his best friend that season, Tocchet’s reprimand wasn’t really about one lackadaisical drill in what was otherwise a fairly crisp workout. It was about a Canucks team – a dizzying 2-0 for the first time in seven years – that has 80 games to go and a lot to learn about winning, which requires purpose, intensity and discipline every day, not merely when there are games. Plucky and lucky while beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday despite getting badly outshot and outplayed, the Canucks were given a day off Sunday by Tocchet. They visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. “I just felt last game, I think some guys didn't earn their ice time,” Tocchet explained Monday afternoon. “I’ve told the guys that my big thing is the E word: there's ‘earning’ and there's ‘entitlement.’ I didn't like some of our practice, even after that win. Mike Yeo is a veteran guy who knows it. I love that he stepped up, and I just wanted to reiterate it. “It's just accountability. I had some players come up to me and they know, they get it. I just don't want to let that little brush fire turn into a forest fire. I can’t just let things go.” Tocchet seized on a teachable moment. “There's a time and place,” he said. “I've got stay out of it (sometimes) and let the leadership group take care of it. I can't always step in. Our leadership group is getting bigger and stronger. Sometimes they've got to take over.” Through two games, the Canucks leadership group has been trying to set a new standard while driving a team that finally may be emerging from years of turmoil and disappointment. Name a prominent Canuck who didn’t lead by example in the surprising season-opening sweep of the Stanley Cup-calibre Oilers. Captain Quinn Hughes and defence partner Filip Hronek averaged nearly 24 minutes and combined to go plus-nine. Winger Brock Boeser scored four goals in Vancouver’s 8-1 win on Wednesday, and centres Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller outplayed Oilers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, mostly head to head, at five-on-five. Canuck goalies Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith were excellent. On Monday, the National Hockey League named Pettersson its “second star” of the first week of the season. Proof of the soon-to-be 25-year-old’s evolution as a two-way centre is that his six points through two games are largely a footnote to his over all performance. On Saturday, Pettersson’s 12:09 of even-strength ice time included 6:07 against Draisaitl and 5:15 against McDavid. And in a game in which his team was outshot 40-16, the Canucks outshot the Oilers 7-3 and outscored them 3-0 at five-on-five when Pettersson was on the ice. The Swede also logged 3:07 on the power play and 4:26 on the penalty kill. Through two games, Pettersson’s shot-share is 58.6 per cent and his expected-goals 73.2 per cent. If he has six more months of this, the Canuck will win the Selke Trophy. “We talk a lot about staples, things we've got to bring every night,” Pettersson told reporters after practice. “It's like every guy is going to do their job, and when everyone does their job, good things happen. And I think we started really well now for two games, so the hard part now is to continue doing it and not be satisfied.” Pettersson’s game has a physicality about it that it once lacked. Sure, there were big, obvious hits on Cody Ceci in Game 1 and Draisaitl in Game 2, but Pettersson is now regularly using his strength and body positioning to shield and win pucks and protect the Canucks’ net. “Yeah, I mean, I've got stronger, a little heavier, too,” he said. “So with that, I feel more comfortable winning battles and using my body more. “I feel like I can protect the puck better and win more battles. I'm not getting pushed around as easily. I still fall down quite a bit but, I mean, I feel strong, more confident in battles. I don't think I had done that well protecting the puck, but now when I've got stronger, I feel more comfortable holding on.” “I think he understands what it's going to take to win,” Tocchet said. “You know, like, the Sidney Crosbys of the world, Stevie Yzerman back in the day, Joe Sakic -- those guys got their points, but they played a 200-foot game. They played situational hockey, and I think (Pettersson) knows that. He's not bucking the system here.” Tocchet said he shared a laugh with Pettersson when he told him he’d played with “every player on the team” against the Oilers. The coach double-shifted Pettersson and, including special teams, the centre logged at least a minute of playing time with eight of the 11 other Vancouver forwards. “As an opposing player, a lot of times the little things that guys do get missed,” new Canucks defenceman Ian Cole said when asked about Pettersson. “You notice all the big things: the one-timer threat on the power play, deception, all the skill, all of his shooting, all of his passing. You notice that, but you don't notice everything he does as much when you're an opposing player. “When you're on his team, you see him laying guys out, winning puck battles, coming back on the back check, catching guys from behind. He's not a loud guy, but when guys see him playing like that and doing all those things -- arguably our best player, a 100-point guy, doing everything he can to win hockey games -- how do you say: 'I'm tired, I'm not going to backcheck?’ Or ‘I'm not going to win this puck battle.’ It's really tough. He's a massive leader on this team.”
Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland continues to generate speculation in the NHL rumour mill over the past week. Here's the latest from the weekend.
The 2023-24 NHL regular season had barely started before Conor Garland became a player of interest in the NHL trade market.
Following a report last week that the Vancouver Canucks were allowing his agent to speak with other teams, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated on Saturday that several clubs are interested in the 27-year-old winger. According to Friedman, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets are among the interested parties. He added that the Canucks want to free up between $1 million and $2 million in salary cap space and are interested in getting a defenceman in return. This isn't the first time there's been talk of the Canucks' desire to bolster their blue line. Moving Garland and his $4.95-million annual average salary through 2025-26 could help them address that issue and perhaps provide salary cap flexibility for the remainder of the season. The Blue Jackets could be a fit here, given the logjam on their blue line, especially on the right side. It was reported last week they were talking with teams about moving a rear guard with Adam Boqvist and Andrew Peeke mentioned as trade candidates. With more than $3.2 million in cap space, the Blue Jackets would have to shed some salary in the deal to take on Garland's cap hit if the Canucks prove unwilling to retain part of it. The same goes for the Winnipeg Jets and their $2.38 million in cap space. The Nashville Predators, meanwhile, have $7.9 million in cap room. That's more than enough to absorb Garland's full cap hit, but they might not have a suitable right-shot defenceman available. Dante Fabbro has surfaced in the rumour mill on occasion, but he's currently skating on their top defence pairing. The first week of NHL hockey is in the books and some stars shined brighter than all the rest. It's time to see why Adin Hill, Elias Pettersson and Auston Matthews were the three best.
Welcome back to a new season of THN.com’s Three Stars of the Week, an ongoing feature in which we analyse the past seven days of NHL hockey and identify which individual players had the best week. Let’s get to it.
3. ADIN HILL, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS, G The Golden Knights got off to a strong start to the season in no small part due to the goaltending of Adin Hill, who went 2-0-0 with a sparkling .964 save percentage and 1.01 goals-against average in wins over Seattle and Anaheim. Vegas also got solid net minding from Logan Thompson (1-0-0, .957 SP, 1.00 GAA) to keep them unbeaten in their first three games of the year, and the goalie tandem of Hill and Thompson produced three games by the same 4-1 score. Hill had a breakout year with the Golden Knights during their Stanley Cup year last season – putting up a .915 SP and a 2.50 GAA in the regular season, then boosting his individual stats to a .932 SP and 2.17 G.A.A in the playoffs – but Vegas needs just as much from him in 2023-24 campaign if they’re to remain at the top of the Pacific Division. They really couldn’t have asked for more from Hill and Thompson so far, and seeing strong net minding from the duo is a very positive sign of what’s ahead for them this year. 2. ELIAS PETTERSSON, VANCOUVER CANUCKS, C As the leader of a Canucks offence that exploded for 12 goals in its first two games, Pettersson posted five assists – tying him with Toronto’s John Tavares and Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel in that department – and added a goal to give him six points in only two games. The 24-year-old Swede had a career-best 39 goals, 63 assists and 102 points in 80 regular-season games last year, and although it’s early, he’s on pace to top those numbers in 2023-24. Pettersson is in the final season of his current contract, which pays him an average annual amount of $7.35 million. His brilliant start to the season provides him with increased leverage in his eventual contract extension negotiations, but there’s a sense that the biggest factor in Pettersson’s future is not his individual performance, but Vancouver’s performance as a team. The Canucks have got off to a solid start in that regard, and Pettersson looks primed and ready to assert himself as one of the NHL’s top-10 talents on offence. 1. AUSTON MATTHEWS, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS, C While he was hampered last season with health issues, Matthews did not improve on his 60-goal, 106-point performance in 73 games of the 2021-22 campaign, posting *only* 40 goals and 85 points in 74 games in 2022-23. However, in the Maple Leafs’ first two games of the current season, Matthews has looked like a man possessed, generating a hat trick in each of Toronto’s two wins to give him a league-best six goals in that span. Matthews got a little bit lucky on a couple of his goals thus far this year, but remember, you have to be good to be lucky, and Matthews definitely qualifies as both. Matthews will face intense competition for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal-scorer this season, but so long as he’s at 100 percent health-wise, he’s as good as any player alive at producing offence. The Leafs have set their competitive bar as high as it goes this season, and while they need all parts of the line up contributing in one way or another, when Matthews goes on a scoring tear like the one he’s on at the moment, he makes life much easier on his team mates and coaches. He likely will not continue to produce goals at this amazing pace, but he’s putting people on notice, and the 60-goal plateau is going to be well within reach for him this season. Canadian Press - Alexis Belanger-Champagne Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach has sustained a “significant injury” and will be out for an extended period of time, the team announced Monday.
A spokesperson for the Canadiens did not provide more details on the injury, but confirmed that it was significant and that Dach would be out long term. Dach was checked into the Blackhawks’ bench by defenceman (and recent former Hab) Jarred Tinordi in the first period of Montreal’s home opener against Chicago on Saturday. He headed to the dressing room shortly afterward and did not return to the game due to a lower-body injury. “It was a hockey play,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, who didn’t attribute any ill intent to Tinordi. “He hit Dacher (Dach), and Dacher got up to avoid getting crushed against the boards. “I can’t say it was intentional.” The team is continuing to evaluate the injury and is expected to provide more information in the coming days. Dach has two assists in two games this season. He recorded 14 goals and 24 assists in 58 games last season, his first with the Canadiens. He looked poised to build off that this season after performing well throughout training camp. “I feel that every game that I’ve seen him play, in pre-season and even now, you leave the rink and it’s like, ‘wow Dacher was good tonight,’ and that’s a good feeling as a coach,” St. Louis said. “I know it’s a small sample … but I’ve kind of seen a sign of maturity in terms of consistency, you were getting it every game.” St. Louis and team mates who had spoken with Dach since the injury said the 22-year-old from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., was frustrated by the situation. Dach missed 24 games late last season due to a lower-body injury, followed by an upper-body injury. In the 2020-21 season, while with the Blackhawks, he was limited to 18 games because of a wrist injury. “That’s the worst part (of the game),” said Canadiens veteran Brendan Gallagher. “You really take care of yourself, you make a lot of sacrifices in the off-season to come in in your best shape. Kirby did that, he was excited for a new season, to have to deal with this is really frustrating for him.” OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS St. Louis started this season with off-season acquisition Alex Newhook on the wing instead of at centre while he adapted to his new team. But with Dach out, Newhook will fill in down the middle on the Canadiens’ second line. “We have to play the hand we’re dealt, so he’s going to play at centre,” said St. Louis. “It’s not like he has never played centre before, and I’m not too worried about it.” Newhook played as both a winger and centre with his former Colorado Avalanche. St. Louis also experimented with both positions during training camp before ultimately placing him on the left side of Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky to start the season. “A little more defensive responsibility (when you play centre), but I think that’s a big part of my game,” said Newhook. “I have parts of three years now under my belt, I think my maturity has risen a lot. To be back in the middle and have more of a responsibility there … I think it’s good and I’m looking forward to the opportunity and challenges.” NO PANIC Losing Dach is a significant blow for the Canadiens, but St. Louis and the players are not thinking the team will be hit by another wave of injuries. The Canadiens set a new franchise record for games missed due to injuries last season, according to the website mangameslost.com. “I’m not even trying to think about that,” said St. Louis. “I’m not thinking it’s starting all over again because it’s negative energy, and I don’t want to let that in here.” The Canadiens officially have four players sidelined at the moment — Dach, forward Christian Dvorak, defenceman Chris Wideman and goaltender Carey Price. Montreal hosts the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night at Bell Centre. |
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