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NEWS CLIPPINGS • January 27, 2019

All-Star Recap: Aho, Metro Win All-Star Game

Aho records two goals, one assist in two games

by Michael Smith

SAN JOSE - Sebastian Aho's first NHL All-Star experience is one to remember.

The 21-year-old Carolina Hurricanes forward captured the 2019 NHL All-Star Game title with the Metropolitan Division, which topped the Atlantic Division, 7-4, and doubled up the Central Division, 10-5, in the 3-on-3 tournament to take home the $1 million cash prize.

"It was a great weekend. Lots of new faces and great guys," he said. "It was a lot of fun."

Aho, who skated on a line with Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, recorded three points, including two goals and one assist, in the two 20-minute, 3-on-3 contests.

"They're elite players in this league," Aho said of his linemates. "It was really fun. They're really great off-ice, too."

One of the most memorable moments for Aho came in the title game, when he scored on countryman Pekka Rinne on a breakaway.

At dinner the night prior, Aho told Rinne he'd go five-hole on him if he had the opportunity. So, he tried that. Twice. Rinne made the save both times.

Then, on the breakaway, Aho settled the puck and roofed a shot glove side to stretch the Metro's lead to 7-3 late in the title game.

"I really wanted to score on him," Aho said. "I wanted to go five-hole, but he knew I was going to go there, so I went top cheese."

Aho netted the Metropolitan Division's sixth goal in the first game when he slid into the slot and snapped a pass from Giroux past Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard.

"I was for sure he was going to score that and put it in," Aho said of Giroux's breakaway attempt, which was stopped. Aho then picked his spot and skated untouched into the slot to score. "It ended up pretty good."

Though he got prior tips and pointers from Justin Faulk, a Metropolitan Division All-Star champion himself, Aho said he wasn't sure what to expect in the 3-on-3 tournament, and it took him a period to settle in to the flow of the game.

"Maybe the first game, second period I was starting to feel it. I wasn't thinking that much anymore. My first period, I was just looking like, 'What's going to happen?'" he said. "You can't take it so serious out there, but obviously you want to win when you get the chance."

And win the Metropolitan Division did for the second time in three years in this All-Star format.

Now, what to do with the winnings?

"I don't know yet," Aho said. "[The Finns] all did pretty good. I guess I have to take them out to dinner tonight."

The All-Star title caps off a memorable first experience for Aho, another addition to his ever-growing resume of accomplishments in just his third season in the NHL.

This Star is shining bright, for sure.

"Just the whole experience being here with the best players," Aho said of what he takes away from this weekend in San Jose. "To see they are really nice guys, all of them, and just hang out here."

All-Star: Aho, Metro to Face Atlantic

Watch the NHL All-Star Game on NBC at 8 p.m.

by Michael Smith

SAN JOSE - The stage is set for the centerpiece of 2019 NHL All-Star Weekend: the All-Star Game, which pits the league's four divisions against one another in a 3-on-3 tournament.

Sebastian Aho and the Metropolitan Division will face off with the Atlantic Division in the second semifinal on Saturday.

The winner in the East draws the winner of Central vs. Pacific in the final with a $1 million cash prize on the line.

On Friday night, first-time All-Star Aho laid out his preparation plan for Saturday's game.

"We're professionals out here," Aho smiled. "It's a lot of sleep, a lot of water and food."

Aho placed second in the Premier Passer event at the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills with a time of 1:18.530. Sharing the ice with fellow Finns, some of the game's greats and some new

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friends made Friday night an enjoyable experience for the Hurricanes' All-Star.

"Lots of fun. You see the best players going against each other, and it's pretty cool," Aho said. "It was all exciting to watch."

The 2019 NHL All-Star Game will be broadcast on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

More from NHL All-Star Weekend

• All-Star: Aho Shines in Premier Passer Event

• All-Star Photos: Red Carpet & Media Day

• Video: Aho Recaps Skills

• Video: Aho Walks Red Carpet

• Video: All-Star Fan Fair

Crosby, Barzal have five points each, Metropolitan wins All-Star Game

Defeats Central to earn $1 million prize in 3-on-3 tournament

by Shawn P. Roarke

SAN JOSE -- Sidney Crosby and Mathew Barzal each had two goals and three assists to help the Metropolitan Division win the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game with a 10-5 victory against the Central Division at SAP Center on Saturday.

Crosby had two goals and an assist in the 7-4 semifinal win against the Atlantic Division, and his eight points (four goals, four assists) earned him MVP honors.

"I had a lot of fun today," said the Pittsburgh Penguins center, who won a 2019 Honda Passport Elite as MVP. "I didn't need to win the car to have a good time, but it was certainly fun."

Crosby became the Penguins' first All-Star Game MVP since Mario Lemieux won the award for the third and final time in 1990. Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP at SAP Center in 2016 after the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks in the Final in six games.

He did not take part in the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills on Friday because of illness.

"Maybe he is still sick, he could have had like 10 goals tonight, I don't know," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "That's how special he is."

Crosby scored with five seconds left in the first period to make it 5-0 entering intermission. He scored at 4:02 of the second period to make it 6-2.

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen had two goals and an assist, and Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog

and St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly each had a goal and two assists for the Central, which reached the final for the first time in the fourth All-Star Game with the 3-on-3 tournament format.

The Metropolitan will split the $1 million prize.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist made the save on all six shots he faced in the first of two 10-minute periods. Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals replaced him for the second period and made 12 saves.

"We were committed to win and I thought we played pretty smart," said Lundqvist, who made 11 saves on 13 shots in the two games. "It was a nice way to end this weekend. It's been great to be in San Jose. We really enjoyed it."

The Metropolitan scored 17 goals in the two victories. Coach Todd Reirden of the Capitals said the key to sparking the offense at 3-on-3 was managing ice time.

"We actually implemented a pretty good rule that for future All-Star Games coaches might want to consider," Reirden said. "The players, as soon as they scored, they were allowed to change. So then they were able to get off the ice and save their energy.

"So that forced them to think about scoring a little quicker than normal. So we had some fun with that one on the bench. That's what it's all about is enjoying the game."

Barzal, the New York Islanders center, made it 1-0 with a wrist shot that beat Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild at 22 seconds of the first period. He also scored to make it 9-3 at 7:06 of the second.

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Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux made it 2-0 at 1:53 of the first, slamming home his own rebound on a breakaway.

Letang made it 3-0 at 3:40. He had a goal and two assists after scoring the winning goal in the 7-4 semifinal victory against the Atlantic Division.

New Jersey Devils forward Kyle Palmieri made it 4-0 at 8:16 of the first after Dubnyk slid out of position on a poke-check attempt.

"Obviously the goalies played great and it was awesome to see some of these guys up close as teammates, the kind of skill they have and who they are off the ice," Palmieri said.

Dubnyk started for the Central and made six saves. Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators played the second period and made six saves.

Landeskog scored the Central's first goal to make it 5-1 at 1:15 of the second period. He had three goals and an assist in the 10-4 victory against the Pacific Division in the first semifinal.

Landeskog said the Central players might have had a bit of trouble finding their legs after resting for about 90 minutes between the first game and the championship.

"If that's the excuse we can use, I guess we'll go with that," Landeskog said with a smile. "And also they had a well-rested Sidney Crosby on the other side. He didn't show up to the skills competition yesterday and he looked fresh out there."

Rantanen made it 5-2 at 3:25 of the second, one-timing a pass from Predators defenseman Roman Josi. Rantanen made it 9-4 at 4:38.

"They were more ready than us," Rantanen said. "It was 5-0 after the first period. It was pretty quickly over.

"They were just better."

O'Reilly made it 6-3 at 4:38.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho scored on a breakaway to make it 7-3 at 5:35.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson made it 8-3 at 5:43 with the first of his two goals.

Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler made it 9-5 at 4:38.

For the second straight game, Atkinson scored an empty-net goal, this time with 52 seconds remaining to make it 10-5.

Columbus defenseman Seth Jones, who scored two goals in the semifinal, missed a penalty shot at 5:51 of the first. Jones was tripped by Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane on a breakaway.

It was the third penalty shot in All-Star Game history; none has been successful.

This was the Metropolitan's second time in the final. It won the event by defeating the Pacific Division 4-3 at Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2017.

"Everyone was having fun with it on our bench," Barzal said. "At the same [time], you want to win and compete a little bit. It's been great and we had a good team and guys that wanted to be out there and win. It was fun."

NHL's elite help wishes come true for kids at All-Star Game

Crosby, Matthews among players who make day special for children dealing with severe illnesses

by Tom Gulitti

SAN JOSE -- Jason Brook was worried his wish might not come true.

Thanks to Children's Wish of Canada, the 18-year-old from Bonnyville, Alberta, was in San Jose for the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on Saturday with the hope of meeting Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

"I've been watching him since he came into the NHL and I've been a big fan ever since," Brook said.

But after Crosby missed the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills on Friday because he was ill and wasn't in the Eastern Conference locker room when Brook came to visit before the All-Star Game, Brook wasn't sure if meeting Crosby was in the cards for him. So it was a pleasant surprise when Brook walked through the door of the Western Conference locker room and Crosby was standing there waiting for him.

"That was pretty cool meeting him," Brook said. "It was the best day of my life. … I got a picture and I shook his hand and got a few signatures."

Brook, who is fully recovered from a renal transplant, was one of two children from Children's Wish of Canada at 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, along with 17-year-old Tanner Stevenson from Orleans, Ontario. Make-A-Wish also brought 10-year-old Grayson Nunweiler from Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, and Michael Snyder from Hamilton, New Jersey, to San Jose to grant their wishes.

The children had prime spots on the red carpet for the players' arrival before the All-Star Skills on Friday. Nunweiler was thrilled to have his photo taken with his favorite player, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews - a picture that the Maple Leafs posted on their official Twitter.

But that didn't compare to meeting Matthews in the Eastern Conference locker room Saturday.

"I was shocked meeting him and shy," said Nunweiler, who has fibrillary astrocytomas (brain tumors).

Snyder, a New Jersey Devils fan, had been looking forward to getting his wish for a while, but had to wait until he was healthy. After a having a third kidney transplant in 2017, he finally is.

"I've had in my head what I wanted to do NHL-related, but I was always so sick I was never healthy enough to do it,"

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Snyder said. "Once we got my transplant, it was like, 'OK, this is going to happen now because I'm finally healthy.'"

Snyder couldn't stop smiling after Devils forward Kyle Palmieri gave him a signed stick.

"I have no words," Snyder said. "Outstanding. … Lots of fun and lots of memories I'll always remember and it helps right now getting my mind off all the health situation."

Stevenson, who calls himself "the biggest" Winnipeg Jets fan, had his final treatment for lymphoblastic lymphoma and was declared cancer-free in December. He was excited to meet Jets forwards Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, but

was left in awe after Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho gave him his stick and autographed it.

"It was really weird actually," Stevenson said. "I went over to talk to him and he signed my book that I have in my bag. He signed it for me and was just like, 'Here, take this.' He just gave it to me and then walked away for a second and turned around and was like, 'Oh, wait , I've got to sign it.'"

Stevenson found a Jets connection for Aho, who was linemates with Winnipeg forward Patrik Laine for Finland at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"Greatest day of my life, for sure," Stevenson said.

Crosby, Lundqvist lead Metropolitan to All-Star win

By JOSH DUBOWtoday

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Sidney Crosby now has one more reason to have good memories of the Shark Tank.

Crosby had two goals and three assists to win the All-Star MVP, and Henrik Lundqvist pitched a first-half shutout to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star game Saturday night.

Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists in two games on the same ice where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago for Pittsburgh.

“I have some great memories here for sure,” he said. “It’s always been a tough place to play. Obviously, when you win in a rink and have those memories, it’s something you think about every time you go there. Being in that dressing room, it’s automatic to bring you back to some of those moments.”

The memories aren’t nearly as sweet for the Sharks fans, who booed Crosby when he won the award, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Joe Sakic and Jean Beliveau as the only players to win the Conn Smyth, the Hart Trophy and All-Star MVP.

“It’s cool,” Crosby said. “You play and you watch as a kid growing up and you see that presentation so it’s pretty cool. I had a lot of fun today.”

Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in his two games to give the Metropolitan Division its second title in four years of the three-on-three All-Star format and the $1 million prize shared by the winners of the four-team divisional tournament.

Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders added two goals and three assists in the final game.

Mikko Rantanen had two goals and Colorado teammate Gabriel Landeskog added one for the Central. Landeskog finished with four goals and three assists, while Rantanen had four goals and two assists.

“There’s more pace obviously when it’s the final and there’s a million dollars on the line. A lot of guy were going a little bit harder but it’s good for the fans,” Rantanen said. “Just too bad that we were not that ready to play.”

Crosby assisted on Barzal’s goal against Devan Dubnyk just 22 seconds into the championship game and then made it 5-0 in the closing seconds of the first half off a pass from Barzal. Crosby also assisted on Pittsburgh teammate Kris Letang’s goal in the first half and then helped seal the game with a goal in the second half that made it 6-2.

Lundqvist made big saves against Landeskog and Claude Giroux in the period one night after winning the save streak competition in the skills challenge.

“It was good defense, good structure,” Lundqvist said. “That helps, especially three on three. Honestly, I thought we had pretty good structure, so much skill up front, so many goals. You don’t get surprised, you get impressed.”

The first time the All-Star game came to San Jose in 1997, hometown favorite Owen Nolan capped the night by calling his shot and pointing to the spot where he completed a hat trick that delighted the Shark Tank.

Sharks fans didn’t have as much to cheer for in the return, even though their three All-Stars started the night on the ice together for the Pacific. The Central blitzed the Pacific early for its first win in four years in this format, scoring seven goals on nine shots against John Gibson in the first half of the period in a 10-4 victory.

Gibson, who plays for the rival Anaheim Ducks, drew derisive chants from the fans who later called for Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury to take over.

“Anytime you play it’s a rivalry and the fans take it personally. That’s what makes it fun,” Gibson said. “You’re still at All-Star game and you’re out there with some of the best players in the league. Stuff’s going to happen.”

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Landeskog had a hat trick and an assist and Roman Josi had three assists and a goal for the Central.

Pekka Rinne and Dubnyk combined to stop 23 of 27 shots with Dubnyk providing one of the biggest highlights with a glove save that robbed Connor McDavid on a breakaway.

The Metropolitan Division won the second semifinal 7-4 thanks to a tiebreaking goal by Letang with 3:38 to play. Sebastian Aho added an insurance goal seconds after Braden Holtby stopped John Tavares in close.

NOTES: The NHL honored four women’s hockey players who participated in All-Star weekend, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker of the United States, and Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast of Canada. The four

women got a standing ovation and a $25,000 donation in their name to a hockey charity of their choice. Coyne Schofield was the first woman to compete in the skills competition on Friday night, finishing seventh in the fastest skater competition.

2019 NHL All-Star Tournament Rosters and Discussion

The stars come out in San Jose tonight.

By Brian LeBlanc

2019 NHL All-Star Tournament

Saturday, January 27, 2019 - 8:00 p.m. ET SAP Center - San Jose, Calif.

TV: NBC, CBC, Sportsnet Stream: NBC Sports Live and NBC Sports app

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Twitter @CanesCountry Facebook Canes Country Instagram @canescountrypix

The NHL’s best face off tonight in Northern California with a million bucks on the line.

Forty-four players are in San Jose today for the NHL All-Star tournament, featuring three-on-three mini games between the divisions that will end with one team returning home with a share of the $1 million top prize. Last night’s skills competition saw demonstrations like David Pastrnak making short work of the accuracy shooting contest, Johnny Gaudreau going back to back in the puck control relay, US Olympian Kendall Coyne more than holding her own and finishing just a second behind the NHL’s fastest skater, Connor McDavid, and Sebastian Aho finishing second in the passing competition above a whole bunch of big names.

Tonight, the stars face off in prime time for the first time in recent memory.

Here are the rosters for the four teams. The two Western Conference teams will play each other first at 8:00, followed by the two divisions from the East, and the winners will face

off for the million dollar bonus. Feel free to chat about the night’s action in the comments!

Central Division

Coach: Paul Maurice (Jets)

Goalies

Pekka Rinne (Predators) Devan Dubnyk (Wild)

Defensemen

Miro Heiskanen (Stars) Roman Josi (Predators)

Forwards

Mark Scheifele (Jets) Mikko Rantanen (Avalanche) Blake Wheeler (Jets) Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) (captain) Patrick Kane (Blackhawks) Ryan O’Reilly (Blues) Gabriel Landeskog (Avalanche)

Pacific Division

Coach: Bill Peters (Flames)

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury (Golden Knights) John Gibson (Ducks)

Defensemen

Drew Doughty (Kings) Erik Karlsson (Sharks) Brent Burns (Sharks)

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Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau (Flames) Elias Pettersson (Canucks) Clayton Keller (Coyotes) Joe Pavelski (Sharks) Leon Draisaitl (Oilers) Connor McDavid (Oilers) (captain)

Metropolitan Division

Coach: Todd Reirden (Capitals)

Goaltenders

Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers) Braden Holtby (Capitals)

Defensemen

John Carlson (Capitals) Kris Letang (Penguins) Seth Jones (Blue Jackets)

Forwards

Alex Ovechkin (Capitals) (captain)* Sebastian Aho (Hurricanes) Cam Atkinson (Blue Jackets) Mathew Barzal (Islanders)

Sidney Crosby (Penguins) Kyle Palmieri (Devils) Taylor Hall (Devils)*

Atlantic Division

Coach: Jon Cooper (Lightning)

Goaltenders

Carey Price (Canadiens)* Andrei Vasilevskiy (Lightning) Jimmy Howard (Red Wings)

Defensemen

Thomas Chabot (Senators) Keith Yandle (Panthers)

Forwards

Jeff Skinner (Sabres) Jack Eichel (Sabres) David Pastrnak (Bruins) Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) (captain) John Tavares (Maple Leafs) Nikita Kucherov (Lightning) Steven Stamkos (Lightning)

Checkers Head Into All-Star Break on High Note

Written by Paul Branecky

The Checkers’ longest winless streak of the season came to an end with a 5-2 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. Aleksi Saarela led the way with two goals while Andrew Poturalski, Jake Bean and Haydn Fleury also found the back of the net for the Checkers, who ended an 0-2-1 skid in their final contest before the All-Star break. After missing three games while on NHL recall with Carolina, Alex Nedeljkovic made 18 saves for his league-best 21st victory of the season.

As was the case in the previous night’s loss in Providence, the Checkers got an early goal, this time off the stick of All-Star forward Poturalski just 5:58 into the contest. Unlike the previous game when Providence went on to score four unanswered goals to overcome an early Checkers onslaught, Charlotte held control, scoring three unanswered

goals of their own after Hartford quickly answered Poturalski’s effort in the first. Charlotte, which will be represented by Poturalski, defenseman Trevor Carrick and head coach Mike Vellucci at the upcoming All-Star festivities, heads into the All-Star break with a 31-11-4 record.

NOTES

Nedeljkovic is now 21-5-2 on the season. He has recorded each of the Checkers’ last five wins dating back to Jan. 6 (5-0-0), with other goaltenders posting a combined 0-3-1 record during that time … Bean scored his fourth goal in his last four games. He continues to lead all AHL rookie defensemen in points (29) and is just three away from tying Trevor Carrick’s franchise record in that category … Poturalski recorded three points (1g, 2a) and will go in to his first career All-Star appearance ranked third in league scoring with 46 points … Fleury’s goal was his first of the season at any level (12 NHL games, 13 AHL) … The Checkers improved to 5-1-0 against Hartford this season and to 11-2-1 in the last two seasons …

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Forward Janne Kuokkanen missed the game due to injury … Carrick served the final game of a two-game suspension … Forwards Cliff Pu and Zack Stortini and goaltender Callum Booth were healthy extras

UP NEXT

Poturalski, Carrick and coach Mike Vellucci head to Springfield to represent the Checkers at the AHL All-Star Classic on Sunday (skills competition) and Monday (tournament). They will reconvene with the rest of the Checkers in Charlotte later in the week to prepare for a four-game home stand that begins Friday against Providence.

TODAY’S LINKS https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/recap-sebastian-aho-metropolitan-division-win-all-star-game/c-304258326 https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/all-star-sebastian-aho-metropolitan-division-to-face-atlantic/c-304242938

https://www.nhl.com/news/metropolitan-division-central-division-all-star-game-recap/c-304239164 https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-all-stars-help-wishes-come-true-for-kids/c-304249536

https://apnews.com/b1120c2357d2478b9f5fb79357b43b96 https://www.canescountry.com/2019/1/26/18197975/2019-nhl-all-star-game-tournament-how-to-watch-rosters-schedule-time-preview

http://gocheckers.com/game-recaps/checkers-head-into-all-star-break-on-high-note

1127856 NHL

Ex-Seattle Thunderbird Mathew Barzal plays key role in NHL All-Star Game victory

Originally published January 26, 2019 at 10:16 pm Updated January 26, 2019 at 11:24 PM

By Seattle Times staff

The Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and former WHL Seattle Thunderbird Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders each had two goals and three assists to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday night.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the Metropolitan team saved all six shots he faced in the first of two 10-minute periods. Washington goalie Braden Holtby replaced him for the final period and made 12 saves on 17 shots.

Crosby, on an assist from Barzal, gave his team a 5-0 lead in the closing seconds of the opening period.

The 11 Metropolitan players split a prize of $1 million for winning the four-team divisional tournament.

Selected the night’s MVP, Crosby collected four goals and four assists in two games on the same ice where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago for Pittsburgh.

“I have some great memories here for sure,” Crosby said. “It’s always been a tough place to play. Obviously, when you win in a rink and have those memories, it’s something you think about every time you go there.”

Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in two games to give the Metropolitan its second title in four years of the three-on-three All-Star format.

Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen scored twice for the Central in the final round.

The Central team overwhelmed Pacific 10-4 for its first victory in the division-format era.

The Metropolitan won the second semifinal 7-4 over the Atlantic Division thanks to a tiebreaking goal by Kris Letang with 3:38 to play.

Seattle Times LOADED: 01.27.2019

1127881 Vegas Golden Knights

Las Vegas DJ Jake Wagner represents Golden Knights at All-Star Game

David Schoen

CAROLINA HURRICANES


SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jake Wagner was under relatively strict orders from the NHL to avoid any references to the Vegas Golden Knights with his musical selections this weekend.

“John Wick Mode” was out. But he found a way to slip in a few of the T-Mobile Arena classics.

Wagner, who serves as one of the Knights’ in-game DJs, provided the musical entertainment inside SAP Center during Saturday’s NHL All-Star Game.

“It’s super cool to be able to represent the team, and it’s a testament to the entire production and the crew that’s involved back home,” Wagner said. “I wouldn’t be here without everyone that’s involved. I’m just honored to be able to do it.”

Wagner grew up attending Las Vegas Thunder hockey games and said he was captivated by the pregame production that featured the AC/DC song “Thunderstruck.” (He made sure to play that for the opening faceoff.)

After two years as a music coordinator for the Life Is Beautiful festival, Wagner was hired by the Las Vegas 51s to spin music during the minor league baseball team’s games.

Wagner also is the in-game DJ for the Las Vegas Aces and UNLV men’s basketball, and hosts a show on Nevada public radio.

Wagner eventually connected with Jonny Greco, the Knights vice president of entertainment production, and teams with DJ Joe Green on the turntables during Knights home games.

“Any song that’s happening in the game when there’s a stoppage or anything like that, that’s coming from me,” Wagner said.

The NHL took notice of the Knights’ in-game entertainment during the playoffs last season and offered Wagner the opportunity to work All-Star weekend.

“I got an email on my birthday in November,” Wagner said. “Coolest birthday present I ever got.”

Wagner also was in charge of the music for Friday’s NHL All-Star Skills and was joined at the event by Knights in-arena host Mark Shunock, who served as the on-ice emcee.

“It’s been a good time,” Wagner said more than two hours before the start of the 3-on-3 tournament. “I guess the direction for tonight is just keep people moving, keep them dancing and have a good time.”

Pay Decker

The NHL announced it was donating $25,000 to a charity or hockey program in honor of U.S. women’s national team members Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker and Team Canada’s Renata Fast and Rebecca Johnston for their contributions at All-Star weekend.

Coyne Schofield became the first woman to compete in the skills competition when she replaced Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in the fastest skater event.

Decker demonstrated the premier passer event, and her unofficial time was seconds behind winner Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton. Equipment manufacturer CCM Hockey announced it was awarding Decker $25,000, the same amount Draisaitl received.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.27.2019


Golden Knights players enjoy new bye week format

Ben Gotz

The NHL regular season is in the middle of a four-day hiatus and as the Golden Knights see it, that’s a good thing.

The league tweaked its bye week format this season, giving 10 teams Jan. 20-24 off in addition to the three-day All-Star break. The other 21 teams are off Jan. 27-31 after the All-Star break to give each club a full week off in the middle of the season.

“You’ve never had anything like this,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “This is a big one. It’s good to have that time away and mentally reset. You look at football, how much those guys love their bye week, and they get almost a week off, a week and a half off. It’s important over the course of a season. Not only physically, but mentally.”

Before this year the NHL staggered bye weeks after they were introduced in the 2016-17 season so teams were off at different times. That led to scheduling issues, as some teams coming off a break played other clubs that hadn’t taken time off yet and were sharper.

“In previous years you’ve been coming off a break and playing a team, they’ve got another week or two until their break, so you might be a little rusty,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “I think it’s smart having it all around the same time and everyone taking that time off.”

Now the 10 teams that got the earlier bye this season will return and play clubs coming off the same break as them. The league’s hope is that this leads to more competitive games after the break, and that the longer break is better for players than a separate bye week and All-Star break has been.

“Now you’re playing teams that are on the same schedule as you,” Schmidt said. “That way it’s sloppy for both teams. You’re both coming off of break instead of just one and the other one’s been rolling around for the past couple weeks without a day off.”

NHL tests tech again

The Knights were part of the first regular-season tests of new puck and player tracking technology during games against the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena.

After examining the data for those games, the league also used it during the All-Star skills competition and game, which it has done previously.

Sensors in players’ shoulder pads and pucks can show things like how fast the players are skating or how hard they’re shooting the puck. The tech pairs nicely with the skills competition, where the league is trying to show off the abilities of its athletes.

“It’s almost perfectly set up to test something like this,” Dave Lehanski, NHL senior vice president of business development and global partnerships, said.

The data was also incorporated into the skills competition and All-Star game broadcasts. The league announced Friday it would deploy the tech in all 31 NHL arenas during the 2019-20 season.

Flat caps

One team likely excited to be on a bye is the Washington Capitals.

The club enters its break on a seven-game winless streak (0-5-2) after a stretch of horrendous defense. The Capitals allowed 36 goals (5.14 per game) during their winless streak despite All-Star goaltender Braden Holtby making five starts in that span.

Washington is 27-17-6 after the slide and second in the Metropolitan Division.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.27.2019

CAROLINA HURRICANES



Golden Knights midseason defensemen and goalie grades

Jesse Granger

Jan 26, 2019

With the All-Star break and bye week running back to back, the players don’t play another game until February, so this seems like a great time to evaluate each player’s individual performance over the first 52 games.

Friday the forward group received its grades, and the attention now turns to the defensemen and goalies. The Golden Knights are fifth in the NHL with 2.69 goals allowed per game, so the unit has been solid.

Vegas is third in Corsi for percentage at 54.51, suggesting the defense has suppressed shots extremely well while moving the puck out of its own zone and controlling play. To dive into it further, each player has been given a grade for their individual play.

These grades are based mostly on performance, but remember that a player’s salary and expectations entering the season also factor in heavily.

Nate Schmidt: A-minus

Golden Knights record without Schmidt: 8-11-1.

Golden Knights record with Schmidt: 21-8-3.

Schmidt didn’t fix all of the Golden Knights’ problems, and it’s also likely a partial coincidence that Vegas turned its season around right after Schmidt returned from a 20-game suspension, but there’s no doubting his value to the team. He is unquestionably the best defenseman on the team and matches up with the opponent’s top line every night.

The offensive production has also been there for Schmidt, who has 17 points in 32 games. He’s already one goal away from matching his career high. Having said all of that, I can’t give Schmidt the “A-plus” that his play deserves due to missing the first quarter of the season. Whether or not the banned substance entered his body on purpose is up for debate, and we’ll likely never know. But either way, Schmidt hurt the team early in the year by missing a huge portion of games.

Shea Theodore: B-plus

Theodore is quietly having a fantastic sophomore campaign, similar to his roommate Alex Tuch. The 23-year-old blueliner already matched his goal total from last season (6) and needs only seven more assists to set a new career-high there as well. Theodore is constantly joining the rush and dishing out spectacular stretch passes to spark chances for the forwards. That’s shown in his sky-high Corsi per 60 minutes of 67.73, which is the highest amongst all Vegas defensemen. This is partially because his 121 shots on goal (which are second on the team behind only Jonathan Marchessault) but also due to his elite ability to pinch at the blueline and keep the puck in the offensive zone for his forwards to continue to work.

But where Theodore’s game improved most drastically from his rookie season is in his own end. Theodore’s offensive skill has always been apparent, but his defensive prowess is now catching up and it shows in the stats. No defenseman on the Golden Knights is on the ice for fewer goals per 60 minutes than Theodore (1.94). If he

continues this progression, his seven-year, $36.4 million deal that he inked this summer will be a bargain for Vegas.

Colin Miller: B

Miller’s offensive pace is way behind last season’s with only 21 points, but his performance on the defensive end has improved leaps and bounds. Most notably, when Miller replaced Schmidt on the top pairing for the first 20 games of the season, he was up for the challenge.

Since moving back to his usual spot on the third pairing — next to Nick Holden — Miller continued his solid play. The only thing holding him back from a higher grade is his shot accuracy, which plagued him throughout his career. Miller serves as the big shot at the blueline for the power play but has one of the worst shooting percentages on the entire team at 2.8 percent. Even worse, only 72 of his 123 shots have made it on goal. If he can improve his shot placement just slightly, it would make a huge impact on the Golden Knights’ 19th ranked power play.

Brayden McNabb: B

McNabb is never going to wow you, and his best games are usually ones in which you barely noticed him on the ice. That’s the case for most stay-at-home defensemen, and McNabb fits that mold perfectly. He is dependable in more ways than one. He rarely gets caught out of position, plays against the opponent’s top scoring line every night and has yet to miss a game this season.

In addition, he’s also on pace to top his point total from last season and already has more assists with 11 in 52 games compared to only 10 in 76 games last season.

Deryk Engelland: B-minus

Last season Engelland disregarded Father Time on his way to his best professional season at the age of 35. This year, Engelland’s age began peeking through the cracks, but he is still solid and is tough to take out of the lineup because of how effective he is as a penalty killer.

Engelland leads Vegas with 3:13 of shorthanded ice time per game, and the next closest McNabb with 2:47. He plays the front of the net better than any defenseman on the team, clearing out screeners to allow Marc-Andre Fleury to see shots, while also defending passes from the side of the net.

While his game may be slipping — that’s expected at 36 — his penalty killing is valuable enough to keep him in the lineup every night.

Nick Holden: C-minus

George McPhee signed Nick Holden this summer to replace Luca Sbisa as essentially the team’s sixth defenseman, and he has performed that role decently. Early in the season when he was paired with Jon Merrill it was a disaster, but since he’s joined Miller the results have been much better.

Still, Holden was on the ice for more goals per 60 minutes than any defenseman on the team (2.82).

Jon Merrill: C-minus

During the first 20 games of the season — when Schmidt was out with a suspension — Merrill played nearly every game on the bottom pair with Holden and it was a catastrophe. The two struggled mightily to get the puck out of their own zone and were a major contributor to the team’s slow start. He’s also second on the team in penalty minutes, behind only Ryan Reaves.

However, since then Merrill’s play steadily improved when he’s had the chance to be in the lineup. During the most recent stretch — filling in for an injured Miller — he played great and even earned his way back into the lineup when everyone was fully healthy.

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Marc-Andre Fleury: A-plus

This was the easiest player on the team to grade. Fleury is undoubtedly the best player on the team and played that way this season. Coach Gerard Gallant told me on multiple occasions that Fleury’s spectacular play early in the season was the only reason Vegas was able to keep its head above water.

Since then the team in front of him improved its play, and his numbers are phenomenal. He leads the NHL in wins and shutouts. His 27 wins are four more than the next closest (Martin Jones with 23). Fleury has six shutouts this season while no other goalie in the entire NHL has more than three. He is on pace to set a new career-high for shutouts in a season and possibly wins in a season, which is pretty impressive considering the career he’s had.

Malcolm Subban: B

Early in the season, Subban was the target for a lot of unwarranted criticism. The backup netminder lost his first five starts while surrendering a combined 19 goals, which sounds awful. But if you go back and watch the goals surrendered, the vast majority of them came on shots Subban had no chance at stopping after a major lapse in defensive coverage. Actually, 30 percent of the goals scored against Subban this season have been back-door one-timers.

But goalie coach Dave Prior assured me he believed Subban was playing fine despite not getting results, and he was right. In his past three games, he stopped 96-of-100 shots for a spectacular .960 save percentage, and he has won two in a row.

The only reasons Subban’s grade isn’t higher is his lack of playing time and susceptibility to injuries. He is back on the injured reserve for an injury likely sustained in practice, which is too common of an occurrence in his time with the Golden Knights.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.27.2019

1127823 Calgary Flames

Flames farmhand Lazar proud of invite to AHL All-Star Classic

Wes Gilbertson

His teammates will be working on their tans.

Curtis Lazar, selected to represent the Stockton Heat — and the parent club Calgary Flames — at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, probably won’t need to pack any sunblock.

“Most of the boys have their flights booked to go down to Cabo or wherever they’re going for the all-star break,” Lazar said. “And they keep telling me about how beautiful Springfield, Mass., is.”

It won’t be flip-flop weather, but what makes Springfield an appealing destination is its status as site of the American Hockey League’s mid-season showcase.

The 23-year-old Lazar — a full-timer at the Saddledome last winter before being dispatched to the minors to rebuild his game and rediscover his confidence — was the lone Flames’ farm-clubber to earn an invite.

The itinerary for the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic includes Sunday’s skills competition and Monday’s three-on-three tournament. (Both will be broadcast live on Sportsnet One.)

“When the team found out, everyone was so pumped for me, which felt really good,” Lazar said. “I’ve just come down here with a business-like approach and to revamp my career and to develop a little bit. So to get recognized for it, that’s pretty cool. I think it didn’t

really set in until a day or so after I found out, just getting texts from different people. It was just like, ‘Wow, I’m an all-star in a professional hockey league.’ That’s a pretty cool accomplishment, something I never thought I would achieve.

“When those texts started to roll in, it did mean a lot. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my coaches, the Flames for their guidance and most importantly my teammates, the guys I go to war with every single night. There could have been many other guys that got the nod, so it’s definitely an honour to be the one getting that recognition.”

You can bet a bunch of those congratulatory text messages arrived from the 403 area code.

When Lazar departed for Stockton as one of the Flames’ final training-camp cuts, the smiling centre was excited to show he could be a go-to guy at the minor-league level, determined to prove that he was capable of more than the dump-and-chase duties he has mostly known in parts of four seasons on the biggest stage.

An all-star nod — especially when the rosters are determined thanks to feedback from rival coaches and execs — is a sure sign that he’s on the right track.

Lazar assisted on Kerby Rychel’s overtime winner Saturday as the Heat downed the San Antonio Rampage in their final contest before the break. He has now contributed 14 goals and 33 points in 42 appearances for Calgary’s top affiliate.

“He just dug right in to rebuild himself and rebuild his game,” praised Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “And he’s done it. He’s gone down there with just an exceptional attitude to grab as many minutes as he can and enjoy playing again and to find the player that we know that was in there and that he was a few years ago. So the credit goes to him.

“He has established himself as one of the better players in the league. He’s re-established himself and his game. It’s easy for guys to go down there, especially on the path that he has been on, and sort of be in a different frame of mind and be negative or be down on himself. Curtis was completely the opposite.

“Anyone who has been around him recognizes this isn’t a shock that he would go down there and dig in and just be all-in with it. That’s the kind of kid he is. But it’s a total credit to him. I think anytime you’re recognized amongst your peer group … He should take a lot of pride in that. I think that’s a tremendous honour and a pat on the back for the first half that he’s had down there.”

With 245 nights of NHL know-how, Lazar will be one of the more recognizable names on the ice in Springfield.

The AHL All-Star Classic always features a mix of minor-league mainstays and almost-ready-for-primetime up-and-comers. Lazar, who will turn 24 in early February, wants to be lumped with the soon-to-be goners.

“I’m excited to go and mix and mingle and just rub shoulders with some of the other top players in this league, find out some of their tendencies, what makes them tick and what they’re trying to accomplish to get to that next level,” Lazar said. “Because that’s the cool aspect is that most of these guys are still aspiring to make it in the NHL full-time. Everyone is going to have that in common, so there are going to be some cool conversations with guys, and I’m looking forward to building some friendships.

“I’m going to be happy for myself, be proud of this accomplishment that I’ve had and hope that another accomplishment — a call-up — is on its way shortly. I’m trying to work my way back to the NHL. That’s the main goal.”

SKILLS-TESTING QUESTION

This sort of invitation comes with some homework.

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As part of his preparations for the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, Calgary Flames’ farmhand Curtis Lazar had to fill out a questionnaire of his preferred chores for Sunday’s skills competition.

Hmmm …

“As a kid growing up, watching the NHL All-Star Game, you’re always in awe of how hard guys can shoot and I was always baffled at how they had the ability to pick the four corners with four shots,” Lazar said. “So when I filled out my sheet for the skills competition, you’re sitting there and thinking, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’ The only one that I don’t want to do is try to sauce pucks into those little nets. I was saying, ‘We’re going to be there all night if that’s what I’m doing.’ ”

Lazar eventually listed accuracy shooting as his top choice, but the 23-year-old centre isn’t sweating the assignment — the lineups for the skills drills will be announced Sunday — or the outcome.

“You know me … If I kill it, great. And if I don’t, I’m still going to do it with a smile on my face and ultimately just try to represent the Stockton Heat as best as I can,” he said.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.27.2019

1127859 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Sidney Crosby earns MVP, leads team to All-Star game title

Staff Report

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, 11:15 p.m.

Updated 4 hours ago

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby had two goals and three assists, and Henrik Lundqvist pitched a first-half shutout to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star game Saturday night.

Selected MVP, Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists in two games on the same rink where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago. Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in his two games to give the Metropolitan Division its second title in four years of the three-on-three All-Star format and the $1 million prize shared by the winners of the four-team divisional tournament.

Kris Letang, the other Penguins representative in the game, had two goals and three assists on the night.


Crosby is the fourth Penguins player to be named All-Star MVP. In the franchise’s early days. Greg Polis won in 1973 and Syl Apps followed two years later. Mario Lemieux took the award three times, in 1985, ’88 and ’90.

“It’s fun, obviously,” Crosby said. “Playing with Tanger for a long time, to be able to share this weekend with him is great. Barzal makes it pretty easy. He lugs the puck so well. He skates so well. It was fun to be out there tonight.”

Mikko Rantanen had two goals, and Colorado Avalanche teammate Gabriel Landeskog added one for the Central. Landeskog finished with four goals and three assists, and Rantanen had four goals and two assists.

Crosby assisted on Barzal’s goal against Devan Dubnyk just 22 seconds into the championship game and then made it 5-0 in the closing seconds of the first half off a pass from Barzal. Crosby also assisted on Letang’s goal in the first half and helped seal the game with a goal in the second half that made it 6-2.

The first time the All-Star game came to San Jose in 1997, hometown favorite Owen Nolan capped the night by calling his shot and pointing to the spot where he completed a hat trick that delighted the Shark Tank.

Sharks fans didn’t have as much to cheer for in the return, even though their three All-Stars started the night on the ice together for the Pacific. The Central blitzed the Pacific early for its first win in four years in this format, scoring seven goals on nine shots against Whitehall native John Gibson in the first half of the period in a 10-4 victory.

Gibson, who plays for the rival Anaheim Ducks, drew derisive chants from the fans who later called for Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury to take over.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.27.2019


5 things to watch for Penguins after All-Star break

JONATHAN BOMBULIE

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, 7:06 p.m.

Updated 10 hours ago

Whether they wanted to or not, the set-up of their schedule forced the Pittsburgh Penguins into a midseason moment of contemplation.

After losing 7-3 to Vegas last Saturday night, the Penguins went on a seven-day break that will end when they return to practice Sunday afternoon in Cranberry.

Before the break, they went 26-16-6. They had great moments, like an eight-game winning streak in late December and early January. They had miserable moments, like when they lost nine of 10 games during a November stretch. In other words, they were inconsistent.

After the break, they will have 34 games left in the regular season, starting with a home matchup against New Jersey on Monday night.

If they’re serious about contending for a championship, it’s time to show it.

“I think we show glimpses of what we’re able to do,” Kris Letang said. “Obviously, it’s a hard thing to do for 60 minutes. We have to put in our brains that until the end of the year, it’s going to be a tough fight to get in the playoffs. We better start playing with that same edge that we’re able to do.”

Here are five things to watch as the Penguins come out of their midseason break.

1. Metropolitan mash-up

The top four teams in the Metropolitan Division are separated by five points, from the surprising first-place Islanders with 63 points to the fourth-place Penguins with 58.

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The Penguins will play five of their next six games at home and won’t leave the Eastern time zone until the end of March. An opportunity to climb the ranks is right in front of them.

2. Malkin’s trajectory

Nothing would help the Penguins take advantage of that opportunity more than a return to form for Evgeni Malkin.

He was brilliant in the early part of the season, terrible in the middle and started to show some signs of coming out of his funk before the break.

3. Murray’s net

Matt Murray has gone 10-1-0 with a .944 save percentage since returning from an injury in the middle of December.

The Penguins have only three sets of back-to-back games the rest of the way. If coach Mike Sullivan wants to lean heavily on Murray, he has an opportunity.

4. Pair to watch

In their first 18 games playing together, the Penguins outscored opponents 13-5 at even strength when Marcus Pettersson and Jack Johnson were on the ice at even strength. In the last four games before the break, the Penguins were outscored 7-0 when they were on the ice.

A strong showing from the Pettersson-Johnson pair makes everything fit into place better on the blue line.

5. Making moves

A little less than a month remains before the Feb. 25 trade deadline, and general manager Jim Rutherford has some decisions to make.

Most pressingly, once Justin Schultz returns from a broken leg in the next couple of weeks, the Penguins will have nine NHL-caliber defensemen. At least one will have to go.

Most importantly, he will have to decide whether it’s time to move on from Derick Brassard as the team’s third-line center and whether he can find a suitable replacement on the trade market.

He also will have to decide whether the team needs an upgrade on the left wing, perhaps in an effort to get Malkin’s season jump-started.

With Casey DeSmith signed to a three-year extension, goalie prospect Tristan Jarry is a tradeable commodity, and Rutherford has never been shy about dealing away first-round draft picks.

Add those assets to Brassard and the extra defenseman, and Rutherford probably has enough of a stockpile to do some shopping, even if salary cap constraints will maike it difficult.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.27.2019


Sidney Crosby steals show at All-Star Game, offers reminder to rest of NHL

JASON MACKEY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[email protected]

JAN 26, 2019 11:00 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When the NHL descended on Northern California a couple days ago for its All-Star break, there was no shortage of talk regarding a youth movement. Eleven skaters who would participate were 22 or younger, one statistic read. Another was that 58 percent of the goals scored thus far this season have come from players 26 or younger.

As players scatter to rejoin their teams or enjoy five days off, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby poked some serious holes in that narrative. With his four-goal, eight-point performance while turning the All-Star Game’s 3-on-3 tournament into his own personal playground, Crosby sent a not-so-subtle message to the rest of the league.

Essentially that he and others are still very much here, in their primes, with the ability and appetite remain dominant.

“It’s getting younger,” Crosby said while seated behind a podium at SAP Center, the perk of being named MVP of the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. “It’s scary when you come to these and after a few years start to realize you’re much more the older guy. It’s a different role, but it’s still a lot of fun.”

Kris Letang celebrates a goal earlier this season.

Even, apparently, when you’re sick and stuck in your hotel room, which Crosby had been for the past couple days.

Crosby picked up some sort of bug during the final days of his bye week — spent at Jackson Hole, Wyo. — and wound up as an unhealthy scratch for Thursday’s Media Day and the Skills Competition on Friday night.

By Saturday morning, Crosby said he was happy simply to be able to work out, and he impressed himself with how well he felt during the game.

“The last few days have been pretty long sitting around,” Crosby said. “It was fun to be out with the guys.”

Crosby’s night, though, was more a couple thrilling periods of 3-on-3 hockey. It was more than helping the Metropolitan Division players win a $1 million prize or winning a new car, which Crosby did as the MVP.

It was a public and authoritative statement on why he remains the NHL’s best player, even if he’s not the same point-producing machine that he might have been in his younger years.

Team USA's Kendall Coyne talks to the media after Friday's NHL All-Star Skills Competition at SAP Center.

Stuck in his hotel room alone, Crosby said he watched the Skills Competition — because, of course he did — and noticed the “ovation” that Kris Letang received from the SAP Center crowd.

Crosby was being facetious. Letang was actually booed by a San Jose crowd that’s nowhere close to getting over that 2016 Stanley Cup final. Heck, even Crosby, who wasn’t in the building, took note of the heel treatment.

“I kind of expected it,” Crosby said of the fact that he, too, heard it from the home fans.

But as soon as the game started, Crosby used that energy for good. The crowd had to be especially irritated when Crosby scored just 15 seconds into the Metropolitan Davison’s 7-4 win over the Atlantic in the semifinals, one that silenced a series of boos.

“They’re great fans,” Crosby said. “Playing in the playoffs, and even during the regular season over the years, it’s a tough place to play. They love their team here.

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“I don’t hold it against them. Obviously I’d rather get cheered than booed, but at the same time I know that they’re passionate fans. They’ve got a good memory.”

Crosby was also careful to take the high road and made sure the host city knew much he and his fellow players appreciated its hospitality.

“It was a great weekend,” Crosby said. “All the guys said a lot of great things. Just the short time that I spent here, it was great. Everyone enjoyed themselves.”

Nevertheless, that special feeling entering Crosby’s mind the minute he walked in the doors. Which turned out to be a bad thing for everybody else.

Growing up, Crosby always watched the All-Star Game, taking note of whomever won MVP. Mario Lemieux. Wayne Gretzky. Brett Hull. Crosby watched them all, always taking note of who took top honors.

Funny thing, though, about Crosby’s NHL career: It’s one of the few awards that has eluded him. So in the final minutes of the championship game, with the Metropolitan Division enjoying a big lead thanks to his own two-goal effort, Crosby glanced up at the scoreboard and saw he was one of four choices.

“That’s really when it crossed my mind, and guys started saying some stuff,” said Crosby, who had five points in the championship game and became the sixth player in NHL history win the All-Star MVP, Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, joining Jean Beliveau, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Joe Sakic.

“Would have liked to get one late there (to complete his hat trick). It was a fun couple games.”

It was especially fun because of the instant chemistry Crosby, Kris Letang and New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal found on the ice.

Before the game, Letang said he and Crosby approached Capitals coach Todd Reirden, a former Penguins assistant who was behind the Metro bench, and made a request.

“We said, ‘We’re the oldest two [skaters].’ We wanted a ‘young legs guy,’ someone who would carry us,” Letang said. “Obviously we’re on a bye week. He did a good job mixing the lines that way.”

Crosby, Barzal and Letang were tremendous together, with Crosby offering effusive praise for Barzal after the game.

“Three-on-three, I don’t know if there’s anyone better when it comes to holding onto it, the way he can beat you one-on-one, beat you with his speed and hold onto it,” Crosby said.

There is, of course, someone.

The guy who has blown past the rest of the league for more than a dozen years now, although he’s doing that in a different way these days.

‘Stuff to prove’

Crosby arrived here playing some of the best hockey of his career, but what he’s doing been doing well isn’t accurately displayed on the NHL’s leaderboard when it comes to goals and points. Thirty players had more than Crosby’s 21 goals, while 13 exceeded his point total.

But focusing simply on point production ignores how Crosby’s game has evolved. He’s not trying to fill it up every night. He’s still driven, still carrying play, but often it’s others who benefit, guys like Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. And very rarely has it been the other team.

Among players who have logged at least 700 (five-on-five) minutes this season, nobody has a better goals-for percentage than Crosby’s 70.67. In that same vein, also five-on-five, Crosby’s goals-against

per 60 minutes mark of 1.86 is 13th — and by far the best of any offensive-minded players.

In a season where he’s winning a career-high 56.4 percent of his faceoffs and now killing penalties consistently, Crosby should be getting more attention for his all-around play than he has thus far, especially when you consider he’s on pace for 37 goals and 100 points.

Crosby’s defensive/two-way numbers put him on par with the average of the Selke Trophy winners of the past 10 years, if not ahead, although the Penguins captain insisted he’s not thinking about any of that. More than anything, Crosby is making sure he’s thriving at both ends of the rink.

“I feel pretty good about my game,” Crosby said. “I feel like the consistency has been there.

“As far as the Selke, I’d like to be in the conversation, for sure. But I think your play has to earn that.”

It’s sort of like the statement Crosby made on all these kids milling around here, if you think about it. Your play has to be good enough to change the conversation, and that’s what Crosby did Saturday.

There’s plenty of reason to get excited watching Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid or even Elias Pettersson, the presumptive Calder Trophy winner. But it seems that every time talk about the NHL’s youth movement rises above a low hum, Crosby finds a way to remind everyone that he’s not done yet.

And he wasn’t alone, either. Letang was terrific in the 3-on-3. Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers starred in the save streak portion of the Skills Competition, which Crosby watched while sick.

“We still have some stuff to prove,” Letang said. “We don’t want to end up watching them. We want to be part of it.”

Added Crosby, “ It’s different being in this position than maybe it would have been a few years ago. At the same time, it’s still a lot of fun.”

Post Gazette LOADED: 01.27.2019


Redemptive year has even more meaning for Penguins defenseman Kris Letang

JASON MACKEY


[email protected]

JAN 26, 2019 3:04 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. — This season has been many things for Kris Letang.

It’s been reassuring after the stellar Penguins defenseman, fresh off serious neck surgery, looked like a shell of himself for much of the 2017-18 season, too cautious a lot of the time, on other occasions forcing plays that weren’t there.

It’s also been rewarding, as Letang finds himself on pace for the highest goal (19) and point (69) totals of his career, enough to thrust him into the discussion for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s top defenseman.

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But aside from these things, Letang said this season has also been sort of surreal.

The Metropolitan Division's Sidney Crosby, left, and Kris Letang, of the Penguins, celebrate after scoring a goal against the Atlantic Division during the first half of an NHL hockey All-Star Game semifinal in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019.

Because in the middle of his resurgence and all of that production, he’s also enjoyed a couple of milestones, passing Brooks Orpik to become the Penguins’ all-time leader in games played by a defenseman and — probably more meaningful — zooming by Paul Coffey for points by a blueliner.

“I think it’s because I’ve been here forever,” Letang said with a smile on Friday before the NHL All-Star Skills Competition at San Jose’s SAP Center. “It’s been a year of a lot of emotions with those milestones and coming back from the injury. It’s one of those things. It happens. The fact that I’ve been playing in Pittsburgh my whole life makes it that way.”

The Coffey thing has been especially crazy for Letang, who has long idolized one of the greatest offensive defensemen of all-time.

While Letang has produced 477 career points over 13 years and 728 games, Coffey got his previous franchise mark of 440 in 331 games with the Penguins over less than five seasons.

“For me to beat him after 13 years, it’s more impressive what he did than what I did,” Letang said. “But to have my name next to him, it’s fun.”

Not much at all was fun about what Letang went through last season. While the 31-year-old produced decent offensive numbers — he had nine goals and 51 points and was technically an All-Star — there’s not a sane person alive, including Letang, who would say he had a strong season.

He was a career-worst minus-9. Letang was also on the ice for 77 five-on-five goals-against, fourth-most among NHL defensemen who played at least 900 such minutes, and his goals-for percentage (five-on-five) was a career-worst 41.67.

Team USA's Kendall Coyne talks to the media after Friday's NHL All-Star Skills Competition at SAP Center.

There was talk during and after the season about playing Letang less, how that might help his game and balance out the Penguins’ defensive pairs. They even brought in Jack Johnson with the belief that he could assume some of Letang’s duties on the penalty kill.

Then something happened. Letang showed up for training camp in tremendous shape, the result of getting to work out the way he wanted all summer. He also had a pretty big chip on his shoulder, from people questioning whether or not he remained one of the NHL’s elite defensemen and whether he was even the No. 1 man on his own team.

A year after coach Mike Sullivan asked Letang to take a bit of a smarter approach in how much he got hit, Letang seemingly said screw it. He was able to balance his risk/reward style while also giving Sullivan the “efficiency” that he likes so much in Letang.

The result was a guy who’s playing 26:08 a night, the second-highest time on ice of his career and the third-highest figure among all NHL defensemen.

No surprise, Letang’s plus/minus — not a perfect stat but useful when trying to explain such drastic swings — did a complete 180; he’s plus-9 through 46 games this season. Meanwhile, Letang’s five-on-five goals-percentage went from the worst he’s ever endured to his best in a non-lockout season (63.4).

“I’m back to being myself,” Letang said. “I’m not questioning myself out there. I’m taking what’s given to me. I’m not trying to force

anything. Overall I would say the health and the training I had to do to get there helped me a lot.”

Where this event is taking place has presented an interesting tie-in to Letang’s career. When he was introduced prior to Friday’s Skills Competition at SAP Center, Letang received some of the loudest boos all night, along with Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and current teammate Sidney Crosby, who wasn’t even there because he was sick.

It was undoubtedly the result of Letang’s game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2016 Stanley Cup final, when the defenseman, following a terrific individual effort, eventually snuck a shot through off San Jose goaltender Martin Jones’ blocker to sink the Sharks.

“That moment was pretty surreal,” Letang said of scoring the game-winning goal in a Cup-clinching game. “You dream of that goal over and over when you’re a kid playing in the street. The chance to do it in real life was pretty amazing.”

It also capped a tremendous postseason performance for Letang, who had three goals and 15 points in 23 games and played to a plus-6 rating while averaging 28:53 per game, an absolutely ridiculous number.

In 2015-16 regular season — when Letang was playing every bit as well as is now, if not better — he was 16-51—67 and logged 26:57 per game.

Coming so close to recapturing that elite level has clearly been a big thing for Letang, who admitted the All-Star selection was a little extra special because it meant people have taken notice that he’s back to his old self.

But it also doesn’t come as a huge surprise, at least not to Sullivan, who said he expected this all along.

“I think he’s one of the elite defensemen in the league,” Sullivan said. “I always believed he would recapture his game. He’s an extremely hard worker. He cares so much about his own personal game but also about the Penguins and helping this team win. I was always a believer that he would recapture his game, and he certainly has played some real consistent hockey for us.”



Ability to adapt, relate has shaped David Morehouse's success

JASON MACKEY


[email protected]

JAN 26, 2019 8:00 AM

Shortly after the Penguins purchased a cryogenic chamber a few years ago, David Morehouse wanted to give it a shot. So the organization’s president/CEO stripped off his shirt, threw on a pair of shorts and donned boots and gloves to protect against frostbite.

But before entering the tube-like structure, Morehouse spotted assistant coach Jacques Martin walking through the gym at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, giving a tour to a friend and his family. Martin looked at Morehouse, then back at his friends, and eventually, after some awkward hesitation, introduced everyone.

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“I shook their hands and said, ‘I’m usually not dressed like this.’” Morehouse recalled with a laugh last week while talking poolside at Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. “Then I quickly got in the machine and said, ‘I’ll never do that again.’ "

While the story elicits a chuckle, it also says something about the ethos that has guided Morehouse throughout his successful and unconventional career, one that has seen the 59-year-old Beechview native go from boilermaker to political operative to integral member of a professional sports franchise.

Through it all, Morehouse has always taken great pride in relating to others, building excellent teams around him and showing zero fear when it comes to taking chances that may seem unconventional to some.

His willingness to try new things is something Morehouse attributes to his mother, Josephine (Tiglio) Morehouse, who worked two jobs to send him to South Hills Catholic High School. One of eight siblings, she was the first to drive and the first to work, and Morehouse said he was raised to zig when everyone else was zagging.

Even today, Morehouse says he can become bored with routine and does little things to keep life fresh, like intentionally driving a different route to work every day.

“I have to change things up,” Morehouse said. “I don’t like monotony. For some people, change is an enemy. For me, change is energizing.”

During Morehouse’s tenure, the Penguins have become one of the NHL’s bellwether franchises. They’ve sold out every game for 11-plus seasons while boosting corporate sales and growing youth hockey around Pittsburgh. Again in 2017-18, the Penguins led all U.S.-based NHL clubs in local TV ratings and have positioned themselves as a player when it comes to hosting marquee league events.

Because of what he’s done in his current role, in addition to a lengthy career as a political operative that had him working out of the White House, traveling to more than 40 countries and contributing in a major way to a couple of presidential campaigns, Morehouse will receive the Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Leadership Award at the 83rd Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction on Feb. 20 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The early years

Pitt AD Heather Lyke

Brian Batko

Heather Lyke, Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year, 'transforming' Pitt athletics

For Morehouse, his success is attributable to several things — his own smarts, family and the Penguins’ ownership group — but a consistent theme has been his ability to stay nimble and see opportunity where others have not.

In addition to the cryogenic chamber, there are other pertinent examples throughout Morehouse’s career.

Before politics, back when Morehouse was starting out as a boilermaker, a beam he was working on snapped and cracked him in the head. No longer able to perform that job due to a severe concussion, balance and cognitive issues and amnesia, Morehouse needed a new career.

While other trades were offered, Morehouse — who admitted he was never the world’s best student — started thinking about college. He was permitted to take one college course, English 100 at CCAC, and aced it.

“It was like a revelation,” Morehouse said. "If you pay attention and you do your homework, you get an A … which I never knew.”

While working as a docket clerk at Duquesne University — he attended classes but had to take a medical withdrawal — Morehouse started following Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign.

When Morehouse learned Clinton was coming to Pittsburgh, he volunteered as a motorcade driver and wound up parlaying that into a gig as an advance crowd builder, arriving in cities early, contacting constituents and drumming up interest for appearances.

Promotion after promotion, a few principles guided Morehouse.

“I worked harder than everybody else,” Morehouse said. “And I was nice to people.”

Morehouse kept raising his hand for assignments, at one point getting hired by the Pentagon and taking notes at congressional hearings before working his way into other roles such as Deputy Director of Advance and traveling alongside President Bill Clinton.

One of Morehouse’s favorite leaders remains Barry McCaffrey, a retired four-star general, who promoted Morehouse to Director of Strategy. Morehouse would prepare for 7 a.m. briefings until 1 a.m., sleep a few hours, then get up at 4 to prepare some more.

“He was a natural leader,” Morehouse said. “He didn’t tolerate people not taking responsibility for their mistakes.”

Another watershed moment in Morehouse’s career came after Clinton was re-elected in 1996. Morehouse was on a sea kayak trip in the Andaman Sea in Thailand, debating whether to take a job with D.A.R.E. in Los Angeles whenever he literally saw a sign.

There was a man who came up to the boat selling fish who had a D.A.R.E. T-shirt on.

“I swear to God,” Morehouse said. “I said, ‘That’s it. I’m going to go work for D.A.R.E.’ “

There’s also the story about how Morehouse received his master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. For most of the people Morehouse was running with at the time — you know, in the White House — such a move would’ve made sense.

Not so much for someone who never actually graduated from Duquesne. Hesitant at first, Morehouse said he was reassured by a dean he knew that, if he passed his GRE, he’d probably be fine given his real-world experience.

Again, it’s seeing things that others don’t, and that move ultimately paying off.

“I remember the first day, everybody introducing themselves and giving their bios,” Morehouse said. “I said, ’They’re going to figure out I’m not supposed to be here. I’m gonna get kicked out.’ It motivated me. I did nothing but study.”

Change after change

Morehouse pivoted again to join Al Gore’s presidential campaign. He was tracking toward a job he really wanted in Albania, an advance gig to identify potential political leadership among refugees, then later setting up elections in Kosovo.

“That was going to be a cool job,” Morehouse said. “I was excited about it.”

But after he was sort of duped by Ron Klain, Gore’s Chief of Staff, and brought into a secret meeting, Morehouse saw the writing on the wall: Gore was asking him to work on his campaign, and Morehouse wasn’t in a position to turn it down.

The stories continued to John Kerry’s presidential bid, when New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen pushed Morehouse to become communications director.

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“I went home and I told my wife, Vanessa, and I said, ‘They want me to be communications director. I don’t think I can do that job.’ ” Morehouse recalled. “She said, ‘Why not?’”

Turns out Vanessa was right. Morehouse re-branded Kerry, and the candidate made a late charge in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Coming home

Such a move, and the inspiration Morehouse received at home, speaks to one of the other things that has played into all of this success: Vanessa and the couple’s four kids, Mackenzie, Hayden, Kennedy and Jackson.

“That’s the most energizing and rewarding thing I do,” Morehouse said, citing an example of, before this interview, talking to Jackson about his youth hockey tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

Coming back to Pittsburgh — to raise his kids and work for the Penguins — was another unique opportunity that Morehouse wasn’t afraid to try.

Ron Burkle, whom Morehouse had known for years dating back to D.A.R.E., had called, curious why an arena deal wasn’t done. Burkle wanted to hire Morehouse as a consultant to look into the matter.

From there, Morehouse has used his unique style to guide the Penguins to unprecedented success.

Around the team every day, it’s not uncommon to see Morehouse’s blue-collar upbringing shine through. While many team presidents will hurriedly pass by arena workers, unconcerned about knowing anyone’s name, Morehouse talks to everyone, often relating best to those who’ve had a similar upbringing.

It comes from watching Clinton do the same, often stopping in the kitchen en route to a speaking engagement, sitting on a counter and acting like a regular person.

“That’s kind of a Pittsburgh thing, I think,” Morehouse said. “You don’t put yourself above people. Pittsburgh people, when I think of them, I think straight-talkers to a fault sometimes. Say what you mean. Mean what you say. Treat people well.”

That's what Mario Lemieux and Burkle do, Morehouse said, and that, too, has created an environment rife with success.

"I can’t think of a better ownership group to work for,” Morehouse said. “Having that type of ownership, they never say no. They allow us to think outside the box.”

Which brings us to Morehouse’s latest trust-your-gut decision resulting in the hiring of Jim Rutherford as general manager. To bring aboard someone who’s as honest as they come in Rutherford, Morehouse had to ignore what other NHL clubs were doing in hiring young, up-and-coming GMs.

Rutherford was 65 at the time but showed he has plenty left in the tank.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here without him,” Rutherford said of Morehouse. “He’s the guy who made the phone call. I will appreciate that until the day I die.

“He’s lived several walks of life and gained great experience. You can’t go to college and gain some of the experiences that David has had. He’s learned them the hard way. He’s been right in the middle of many different battles, and that’s turned him into the leader that he is today.”

Not that Morehouse is about to claim any credit for the success he’s had.

“If you have good people, good things happen,” Morehouse said. “We have good people. I enjoy coming to work every day. There’s no jagoffs in the office.”


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Sportsnet.ca / 19 Awesome Things about NHL All-Star Weekend

Luke Fox

January 27, 2019, 12:34 AM

SAN JOSE, California — Despite being eliminated in his first game, Keith Yandle had himself a moment in San Jose Saturday.

The 32-year-old Florida Panthers defenceman looked up in the crowd from the ice and spotted his wife and children and a cluster of proud relatives, all of whom flew across the country to take in Yandle’s first all-star weekend in seven years.

“It was a lot of fun to see how happy they are,” Yandle said.

“My nephew said to my sister, ‘This is something I’ll ever forget.’ That’s what you do it for.”

They do it to make sponsors happy and grow hockey-related revenue, of course.

But they also do it to show off skill and spark dreams in young boys and girls. They do it so a hockey nerd like Mark Scheifele can get a thrill from talking about stick curves with Sidney Crosby. So Gitty can hug Claude Giroux to death and so Steven Stamkos can score a between-the-legs beauty set up by childhood teammate John Tavares.

And they do it so Drew Doughty can fill our notebooks with Dewy quotes.

Here are 19 awesome things about the 2019 NHL All-Star Weekend.

1. Kendall Coyne Schofield’s hot lap for the ages

Her practice run was even faster.

So when Coyne Schofield zipped across the red line, a blonde ponytail and jet stream flapping behind her, with a Fastest Skater time of 14.346, there was the briefest moment of disappointment, knowing she’d posted a 14.226 in dress rehearsal.

That’s faster than the laps posted by Zach Werenski, Noah Hanifin and Josh Bailey at the 2018 NHL Skills Competition, and Clayton Keller at the 2019 event.

But any whisper of dissatisfaction the Team USA Olympic gold medallist felt vanished just as quick as her stride when the SAP Center rose in ovation and she realized a ceiling had been smashed.

“My first impression was, ‘I can do this.’ Speed is my strength. I was a little nervous, but I knew it was a moment that was going to break a lot of barriers and would change the perception and show support to our game,” Coyne Schofield.

“It just shows the top players, men or women, belong.”

As Coyne Schofield secured photos with Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane, the accolades poured in, a replay of her burst still popping up in Twitter feeds 24 hours later.

If, as Coyne Schofield says, the NHL made a statement by showing that women are just as skilled as the men, well, she was the exclamation point.

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“I was fortunate to be a part of a lot of people pushing for it, a lot of hard conversations that have been had. I’m thankful for the opportunity,” she said. “I think it went pretty well.”

Uh, yeah.

History was made and barriers were broke. It was such an honor to be the first woman to compete in the @nhl All Star Skills Competition last night. I can’t wait to see what the future holds! #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/Sc125oBGCx

— Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) January 26, 2019

https://t.co/qGNodfDq53

— Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) January 26, 2019

2. Sidney Crosby won something he’s never won before

Despite emerging from an illness severe enough to prevent him from participating in Skills, one that confined him to his hotel room for two days, the man who’s won everything but Flyers fans’ hearts actually won something he’d never won before.

Crosby’s eight-point showing (four goals, four assists) over the two 3-on-3 games led the Metropolitan Division to a $1 million victory, defeating the Central Division 10-5 in the showcase final.

“Sid’s still one of the best if not the best in the world,” losing goalie Devan Dubnyk said. “He’s not a fun guy to see coming. He has every skill imaginable.”

3. David Pastrnak and Mathew Barzal’s secret pact

The young Eastern Conference hot shots went out to dinner Thursday night and hatched a plan heading into Skills, which awards the champion of each discipline with a $25,000 prize cheque.

“We make a deal. We shake hands on splitting the money, whoever wins. While I was doing this deal, I didn’t even think about me winning. I thought he might win [Fastest Skater]; he’s pretty fast,” Pastrnak said, after taking the Accuracy Shooting crown.

“I only saw a win there, and I kinda lost. Half to Mathew Barzal.”

The easiest $12,500 Barzal will ever make.

4. Henrik Lundqvist living his best life, and probably the best life

The King stands in the centre of the jam-packed nightclub, an extra $25,000 in the pockets of his custom shiny suit that fits him like money. Not a hair out of place. Stubble just right. Smile immaculate. Posture on point.

He accommodates drunken fans’ selfie requests with class. The man’s a magnet, a super all-star.

Lundqvist seemed to savour every moment of the weekend and even arranged to have his glistening all-star suit lined with quotes from The Godfather.

“Special weekend, special event. I thought it would be fun to do something different,” he says. “Something unique that I’ll remember.”

What we’ll remember is what happens next in that club.

One poor partygoer has passed out on a leather couch. He’s nothing more than a bag of dead weight, his slumping body propped up like Weekend at Bernie’s. Unwakeable. His friends are using his comatose body as a prop, snapping silly photos at his expense.

Then the King slides on the sofa beside this passed-out guy, flashes a Colgate smile and two thumbs up. Click.

Oh, what I’d give to see that guy’s reaction to the photo when he finally awakes.

5. Auston Matthews owning the moment

He may only be 21 years old, but three all-star games deep, Matthews has grown to embrace the event — and now he’s putting his own twist on it.

“I think it showed the first year. I was nervous, shaking, couldn’t control he puck. The second year wasn’t much better. It’s kinda nerve-wracking, but you get more comfortable,” Matthews says. “You get to know the guys more around the league. It’s a fun couple days.”

Last year, he and pal Jack Eichel stole the show with their iconic good-goal celebration, and on Friday, Matthews’ tribute to local hero Patrick Marleau was at once fun, clever and touching.

He’d hatched the idea over dinner with his parents the night before, raced to get a No. 12 all-star jersey stitched up, then slid it on underneath his own sweater during intermission, surprising the Sharks, the fans, and — best of all — the Marleaus.

Matthews got the Sharks to sign the sweater and plans to put it up for auction to raise money for the MLSE Foundation.

The “C” on Matthews’ Leafs sweater didn’t look out of place.

“He was a great leader. He’s definitely a guy I could see wearing the C one day,” said Keith Yandle. “It started here.”

Dinner at the Marleau’s!? Auston Matthews spills all the deets. #NHLAllStar #TMLTalk #leafsforever @MapleLeafs @nhlnetwork pic.twitter.com/l0AD7c2uYY

— Jackie Redmond (@Jackie_Redmond) January 25, 2019

6. All-Star Game ‘old guy’ Patrick Kane still getting excited about it

Alex Ovechkin and Carey Price begged out, and a handful of veteran stars showed up late, skipping Media Day.

Not Patrick Kane, who easily topped all peers by making his eighth all-star appearance and made certain to get a sweater signed by everyone.

“The old guy here this year,” Kane smiled. “Someone was telling me that 10 years ago, it was in Montreal — and that feels like yesterday to me. Pretty crazy to be at eight all-star games here. But it’s cool to see that number keep growing. I feel pretty good about myself and my game and where it’s at.”

As an all-star rookie in 2009 at the Bell Centre, Kane recalls having a blast with teammates Brian Campbell and Jonathan Toews. Kris Versteeg skated in the Young Guns game.

“I remember Mike Modano was there. Joe Thornton was there. [Alexei] Kovalev, who I really liked watching play. All of a sudden you’re considered an all-star with these guys? It was pretty wild.”

Now, Kane cherishes the chance to talk shop with the elite, singling out Nathan MacKinnon as a favourite.

“I think he’s a funny kid,” Kane says. “It’s cool to talk to some of the guys and hear the reasoning behind their success and different things they do off the ice, or what they do with their equipment. Any topic is on the board when you’re talking to these guys. He’s one guy that I really like talking to.”

Ugghh Can’t believe they are still letting this goon @88PKane in the ASG. When will the league learn, this type of player doesn’t belong in the game! @MilburyNBC @NHL #playersafety #NHL #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/z0o4FVRuVi

— John Scott (@johnscott_32) January 23, 2019

7. Paul Maurice discussing Owen Nolan’s called shot

The Jets head coach served as an assistant on the bench of the greatest all-star team assembled the last time San Jose hosted an all-star game, back in 1997.

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“I remember Owen Nolan calling his shot. Hasek was sour. He was angry about it. [I remember] the discrepancy between everyone else having a good time and Scott Stevens being wired into the game like it’s Game 7. He was respectful; he didn’t catch anybody, but he was available if that needed to happen,” Maurice said.

He’s not big on collecting memorabilia, but he keeps a team picture from that game featuring Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux.

“Those three are I the front row, and I’m sitting between two of them. For a kid who 10 years prior to that was watching hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, that was a pretty big deal,” he says. “Ray Bourque played almost a perfect game positionally in that game. There was no other way for him to play. He’s wired that way.

“There was still that edge, right? It was right at the time where players didn’t talk to each other before the game. There was no talking at the redline.”

But let’s go back to Nolan’s called shot.

“That he made it, right? And he comes right by our bench to do it. It’s funny, but it’s not. Dominik Hasek is a professional. Those guys come, show up and play. No one, I don’t think, has ever done anything like that in hockey—certainly not in a legitimate game,” Maurice says.

“I don’t want to say it was in-your-face, but it was. I’m calling a shot. Ha-ha. We’re having fun. Then, boom, it’s there. That’s a pretty good goalie you’re doing that to. He’s not missing that. Nobody calls a shot on one of these guys and then makes it. Pretty good shot.”

8. #PayDecker got trending, then Decker got paid

In demonstrating the Skills’ passing contest (untelevised) to the crowd, Team USA’s Brianna Decker actually completed the circuit three seconds faster (1:06) than eventual winner Leon Draisaitl.

“[Erik] Karlsson went after me, so I was like, ‘OK, I think I might have beaten him,’ but I didn’t know how long it took me,” Decker said. “I was just casually going through the demo.”

After getting $25,000 richer, Draisaitl was informed Decker had posted an even better time.

“She did?” Draisaitl said. “Wow. That is impressive. That’s really impressive. Good for her.”

CCM, a Decker sponsor, smartly stepped up Saturday and gave the woman her due.

“You saw how skilled they are,” Draisaitl said. “[Coyne Schofield] was flying. I’m 100 per cent sure she’s probably faster than I am. And the passing, too. That’s a hard event and she crushed it.”

9. Nathan MacKinnon didn’t use injury as an excuse and united the NHL’s best line

Rare, especially under today’s tight all-star roster restrictions, that an entire line would qualify for the weekend.

So it was nice to see MacKinnon show up in San Jose anyway, even though his injured shot-blocking foot prevented him from taking the ice.

“It’s pretty special that you have a whole line here. It tells you about the consistency we have,” all-star rookie Mikko Rantanen said.

“We’ve been together a long time now, over 150 games. It makes playing easier. It’s a lot of fun.”

TOP LINE #NHLAllStar #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/5iGwx7Cefn

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 26, 2019

10. Eating boos for breakfast

Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and, yes, the loveable Marc-Andre Fleury were all the targets of lusty boos for their role in robbing the Sharks of the 2016 Stanley Cup.

So was Toronto’s John Tavares, who interviewed with San Jose during free agency but turned down the teal.

“I guess it’s just part of sports and fans being proud and passionate about their own teams and being protective of that,” Tavares brushed off. He’s Zen. He only worries about what he can control. “I’m sure there’ll be a few more boos down the road.”

But the lustiest of boos were reserved for Drew Doughty of the struggling Kings.

“Hey, Doughty, how’s the season going?” a kid chirped as he walked the red carpet.

“I had to laugh at that one,” Doughty said. “They boo me every time I play here, and I secretly love it.

“I love playing the villain out here. Those boos just encourage me and make me want to do it better.”

Unflappable, Doughty stands by his team, the worst in the West, and their chance to make the playoffs.

“None of us are giving up, and we still believe that we could possibly do it. That’s the truth,” Doughty said. “I know everyone is thinking I’m an idiot right now, but that’s the truth.”

Pacific goalie John Gibson bore the brunt of the fans’ wrath, surrendering seven goals in 10 minutes to the tune of “Ducks suck!” chants.

“We were laughing because we were so embarrassed we were playing so bad. It sucked. When they were doing that to Gibson, too, we got even more pissed off. We felt bad for him because it wasn’t his fault,” Doughty said after a 10-4 loss.

“Shift after shift, they were scoring, scoring, scoring. We kinda knew once it was 7-1, we were pretty screwed.”

San Jose with the warmest welcome for @dewyy8 #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/CY5ae9Pkr8

— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 26, 2019

11. Connor McDavid’s defiance

“More tough questions?” McDavid quipped as he sat down to meet the media after his Skills showing.

The Oilers/Pacific captain refused to be painted as a victim, sticking up for his struggling club in some uncomfortable circumstances.

How tense are things in Edmonton? Gary Bettman was asked if he was concerned about McDavid losing hockey games. Maybe the Commish can play wing.

So, it was nice to see Joe Pavelski’s eight-year-old son, Nathan, running around representing with a No. 97 sweater.

“Pretty cool,” McDavid said. “He’s obviously a fan, and that means a lot. It’s a little bit different to think about when the Sharks are a team we play all the time and they’re a division rival.”

“He likes watching him,” Pavelski explained. “He needs a favorite player. How do you tell him no, right?”

12 a. John Carlson making the case for no more face targets…

“Me and Holts were talking about this,” Carlson said of the glowing Accuracy Shooting targets.

He misses the old-school Styrofoam ones.

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“Maybe it’s cool and interactive the way they do it now, but it’s also nice as a fan to see some targets being blown up left and right, too. That was our childhood anyways.”

12 b. …and Pastrnak making the case to keep them.

“That hurt, to hit my own face,” Pasta deadpanned.

Wait. They had the Bruins sniper firing at his own emoji mug?

“Yep. Top-left corner. It hurt. I could feel it every time I got hit.”

13. Jon Cooper flossing like a boss

14. The monochrome sweaters looked slick

All-star sweaters, for the most part, have been a mixed bag. I loved the black-and-white look this year. And prominently featuring each individual player’s team crest instead of, say, the NHL logo is a smart play to increase sales.

True, it might be a bit gimmicky that Adidas created the Parley material out of recycled plastic from ocean waste, but we approve of the message and the aesthetics.

“I love the idea behind it. It’s good for the environment,” McDavid said. “It’s pretty remarkable what they can do, turning plastic into those jerseys, it’s a pretty cool thing.”

15. Jack Eichel pitching the Sabres to sign impending UFA Jeff Skinner long-term

“It would be great,” Eichel said. “He’s gotten closer and closer with our group over the year, and you can see in his performance, in his work ethic, and the way he’s gelled and meshed with our group has been awesome. He’s scored some really big goals. You can’t say enough good things about him.”

16. Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang arriving to the game via scooter.

“You saw that, eh?” Fleury smiled, because Fleury always smiles.

“No falls. No, no, no. They’re very safe. I stop at the red light and the stop signs. I’m careful.”

When in San Jose, you take a scooter to the #NHLAllStar Game

pic.twitter.com/xX8ZUDJ6NJ

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 26, 2019

17. Hearing Leon Draisaitl describe Erik Karlsson

The Oilers winger didn’t want to disrespect the others, but he had to admit EK65 tops his list of defencemen.

“To me, Erik Karlsson, he’s always my favourite defenceman to watch. He’s just always relaxed. He seems so chill on the ice,” Draisaitl said. “There’s no stress point ever for him.”

Looming free agency doesn’t even seem to faze the guy.

“Yeah, the time is nigh,” Karlsson cracked. “It’s coming up. We all know it. There’s no way around it. You guys are going to talk about it. I’m going to think about it. That’s just the way it is.”

Karlsson said he and his wife moved to San Jose with open minds and that GM Doug Wilson has been respectful of his freedom and provided him with all the information he needs to make a decision.

“So far, the Sharks organization has done everything more than good,” Karlsson said. “Both me and my wife liked it here instantly.

“The people around here — the organization and my teammates and everybody — did a great job in helping us settle in as quickly and as comfortably as possible and giving us all the room that we needed to grow individually to establish ourselves. I think we’re past that

threshold now where we wake up every day and kind of know what to do.”

Having suffered an injury prior to the break, it was commendable of Karlsson to play through.

“Being here in San Jose, I think it was important to,” he said. “When you get the opportunity to participate like I did, I felt like it was something I wanted to do.”

18. Elias Pettersson leading the youth movement

Led by Vancouver’s sure Calder king, the 2019 All-Star Weekend featured 11 players under 23 years old.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Lundqvist, 36, marveled. “These guys seem to be getting better and better at a younger age.”

Steven Stamkos said he was most amped up to see the 20-year-old Pettersson, one of several first-timers.

“And the thing is, they’re not afraid to make mistakes. They have a quiet swagger around them, and that’s not a bad thing,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

“Remember when it was the guys who were 30, 31 who were getting the big contracts? Then it went to 27. Now it’s the 22-, 23-year-old kids who are cashing in because they are so impressive.”

Brock Boeser, who repped Vancouver in his rookie year as well, couldn’t speak highly enough of his centreman.

“He deserves it more than anyone there. It was exciting last year,” says Boeser, the 2018 MVP. “I thought I wouldn’t be nervous, but once I got there? You get nervous. I feel he’ll get nervous.

“He’s a humble kid. He’s quiet around people he doesn’t know, but once he opens up to you, he’s a super nice kid. He kinda reminds me of myself a little bit. He’s awesome. He just respects everyone.

“He’s just a normal kid; he doesn’t act like a superstar.”

Mikael Samuelsson: "When I'm coming home and my 13 year old son is sitting on the computer, like he is almost too much, who is he watching? Yeah, it's Pettersson. I say, why are you watching him? 'Well, I want to be like him.' I haven't heard him say that before."

— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) January 26, 2019

19. Guy Gaudreau patrolling the pine

Guy Gaudreau, Johnny’s father, thought Pacific Division coach Bill Peters was kidding around when he asked Guy if he’d like to join him on the bench and help coach the 3-on-3 tournament.

He wasn’t.

So Peters and Gaudreau Senior hunkered down for 20 minutes to draw up lines and game plan.

A helluva gift for a man who, Johnny says, has endured a tough year. Guy survived a cardiac event in March that shook the family.

“He was quiet at first,” Johnny said, “but I think he hates losing more than me, so he started giving guys little pushes on the back, saying, ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!’ So he had a lot of fun with it.”

"You're playing on the third line, by the way."

We checked in with Guy Gaudreau to chat about his tactics for tonight's All-Star Game … and how Johnny fits in. pic.twitter.com/uNNXJvk1Vu

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 27, 2019

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Sportsnet.ca / NHL commissioner Gary Bettman: 'This game is about inclusion'

Steven Loung

January 26, 2019, 11:08 PM

Among the varied highlights among the myriad that were seen Friday night during the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, the sight of Kendall Coyne flying around the ice as an official participant in the Fastest Skater contest stood out as one of the best.

Coyne was part of a strong contingent representing the women’s game over the course of the NHL all-star weekend and, according to league commissioner Gary Bettman, having women like Coyne included in the festivities speaks to something he wants the NHL to be known for.

“Whether it’s women or whatever your background or orientation is, this game is about inclusion,” Bettman told Ron MacLean during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast of the all-star game Saturday. “We take pride in our diversity and we think being inclusive and diverse makes the game stronger. And, as importantly, we think we can use the game to teach life lessons.”

This is the second year that prominent players from the women’s game have been included, and Bettman seems like he’s hoping to get even more participation in that regard in the future.

“What went through my mind earlier when we made the decision [to include Coyne in Fastest Skater] is, ‘How great would this be for hockey?’ Not just women’s hockey,” said Bettman. “But to really break another barrier using our game to promote the best values that we can use our game to promote, and she did such a great job.”

Back in Nov. 2017, the NHL hired Kim Davis as it’s executive vice president of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs. A progressive move that has led to even more progressive action with what appears to be more to come.

“Having [women] as part of the weekend really elevates the game for everybody,” said Bettman.


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Sportsnet.ca / Doug MacLean on coaching the greatest NHL All-Star team ever assembled

Mike Cormack

January 26, 2019, 11:12 AM

Editor’s note: This piece was originally published prior to the 2016 NHL all-star game in Nashville. It is being re-surfaced with the game returning to San Jose this weekend for the first time since 1997 when MacLean was behind the bench for the Eastern Conference.

For a guy who coached fewer than 300 NHL games, Doug MacLean sure made the most of them.

Most fans remember MacLean as the man behind the bench for the Florida Panthers during their surprise — some might say miracle — run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final.

I know I sure do. As a big Mario Lemieux fan at the time, I loathed watching the pugnacious MacLean and his scrappy group of overachieving veterans (looking at you, Dave Lowry) and teenagers (Hi there, Ed Jovanovski) upset my heavily favoured Penguins in seven games in that spring’s Eastern Conference Final.

But how many of you remember that MacLean was also the head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team in back-to-back seasons, including a 1997 squad that is arguably the greatest collection All-Star talent ever assembled?

I didn’t. At least not until recently.

About a month ago, I heard MacLean on Sportsnet 590 The FAN remark he had benched(!) Roman Hamrlik in the ’96 contest. Benched a guy in an All-Star Game?

So off to hockey-reference.com I went, and I could not believe the other names on MacLean’s All-Star rosters, especially in 1997.

Check out these names: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Eric Lindros, Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, Scott Stevens, Daniel Alfredsson, Dale Hawerchuk and Adam Oates.

His goaltenders that year weren’t too bad either: Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur and John Vanbiesbrouck.

For those of you counting that’s a combined 21 Art Ross Trophies, 18 Hart Trophies, 10 Norris Trophies, 11 Vezina Trophies and 26 Stanley Cups.

With a front row seat to so many legends, and two of the most famous goals in NHL All-Star game history (Bourque’s game-winner in Boston in ’96 and Owen Nolan’s called shot on Hasek the following year in San Jose), I recently called up MacLean to pick his memory…

Here are some highlights from our chat about his two memorable stints behind incredible NHL All-Star benches.

NHL All-Star; John Vanbiesbrouck; Doug MacLean; Robert Svehla;

Eastern Conference All-Stars representing the Florida Panthers in 1997: John Vanbiesbrouck, coach Doug MacLean and Robert Svehla. (Bruce Bennett/Getty)

—–

In the fall of 1995, MacLean was a rookie NHL head coach with the Florida Panthers. With one game left before the NHL’s Christmas break, MacLean’s Panthers — then a third-year franchise — found itself atop the Eastern Conference with a 24-8-2 record. With one more win, MacLean would secure the right to coach the Eastern Conference at that year’s All-Star Game in Boston…

MacLean: I never really thought about it until the night of the last game before the break. We were sort of fluctuating and the standings were tight, I think. I know it came down to the final game and if we won that game, I was going to coach.

It was a game against New Jersey at home. Jacques Lemarie was coaching New Jersey at the time. They had a pretty good team and we won that game at home, 2-1.

I never really thought much about it during the game, but after the game, they said, ‘First star: Eastern Conference All-Star coach,’ on the big screen so it sort of hit me then. My parents happened to be at the game so it was kinda cool.

—–

The 1996 NHL All-Star Game was scheduled to take place at the Fleet Center (now TD Garden) in Boston, on Jan 20. It was originally scheduled to take place in 1995, but the 1994-95 lockout led to its postponement. MacLean’s Eastern Conference squad won the game 6-5 thanks to Ray Bourque’s game-winner with 37 seconds

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left in the third period. It’s considered by many to be one of the best and most competitive All-Star games of the past 25 years.

MacLean: It was so exciting because it was in Boston. It was an Original Six team, Scotty [Bowman] was coaching the [West]. I had worked with Scotty during my last year in Detroit. Scotty had come in and then Bryan Murray and I got fired and we ended up going to Florida. It was cool to coach against Scotty, a legend.

You get the itinerary and the team roster, so you have a little fun putting together the lines. I then looked at the roster and said, “Oh my God, look at the talent.”

Imagine being a first-year NHL head coach and all of a sudden you’re at the All-Star Game. It was a pretty bizarre feeling. It was like a blur the whole weekend.

—–

The East built a 2–0 lead after the first period thanks to goals by Eric Lindros and Pat Verbeek, while Martin Brodeur turned aside all 12 shots. Following a wild second period, the two teams entered the third with the East leading 4-3. Winnipeg’s Teemu Selanne tied the game at 4-4 with 3:29 left in regulation, setting the stage for arguably the most dramatic goal in All-Star Game history.

MacLean: There was less than a minute to go when he scored that goal, which was really amazing to see. The place went nuts. I remember sitting in Columbus last year watching the All-Star Game thinking, ‘Oh my god, how has it changed over the years.’

It was a really unbelievable, intense game. The guys really wanted to win the game. I hadn’t experienced an All-Star game other than watching them before, but being on the bench in Boston, it was a tight, hard-fought battle. It was a real game.

—–

What made the ’96 game so competitive? MacLean doesn’t know for sure, but he did offer up a couple of possible reasons.

MacLean: Look, the winning team got $10,000. And I wanted the $10,000, let me tell you (laughs). I remember saying in both games after the second period, ‘I don’t know if you guys care about the $10,000, but I sure as hell care about the $10,000, so you better be playing hard if you want to play. I think they thought I was nuts.

I was looking forward to the cash and buying a new car.

—–

Just how serious was MacLean about winning in ’96? Serious enough that he decided to bench then 21-year-old defenceman Roman Hamrlik and 37-year-old veteran Craig MacTavish, in the third period with his team nursing a one-goal lead.

MacLean: Hamrlik was a kid. He was the only selection from Tampa Bay because they had to have someone on the team. He really struggled in the game, so I walked down to [assistant coach] Lindy [Ruff] and said, “We’re not playing him anymore.”

Lindy looked at me and said, “You’re joking, right?”

I said, “No, I’m dead serious.”

Craig [MacTavish] was the commissioner’s selection. It was a pain because I had my four lines and I was rolling them pretty good and I had to keep fitting him in. Finally, I went to him with 10 minutes left and said, “Craig, I’m not going to play you anymore. I’m just going to roll these lines (laughs).”

There was amazing goaltending in that game. We played a goalie in each period. I remember coming in after one period and going, “Boys, are you guys serious? Did you see the saves we had to make? He’s trying and you guys aren’t going to try?”

I don’t recall guys not taking it serious. Expect maybe Hamrilik (laughs).

—–

In the spring of ’96, MacLean led his Panthers to one of the most unlikely Stanley Cup Final appearances in league history. Along the way, the Panthers knocked off the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The following season, after leading his team to a 20-8-7 start, MacLean earned a return trip behind the Eastern Conference All-Star team’s bench, this time in San Jose. And with Wayne Gretzky now a member of the New York Rangers, MacLean would become the first man since Mike Keenan in the 1987 Canada Cup to have Gretzky and Lemieux on his bench.

MacLean: It was amazing having those two, and everyone else on that team. You’d like each of [Wayne and Mario] to have their own line, so I didn’t really put them together. That was my mentality. I did call out [Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Bourque and Coffey] for the last shift which was kind of a fun thing to do. I don’t know why it hit me to do it. They were at that time the five greatest players, maybe the five greatest players in the history of the game.

When you’ve got a Gretzky, Lemieux and a Messier and a Bourque, the guys on the team looked up to them. There were some young guys on the team too. Geoff Sanderson was on that team. [Daniel] Alfredsson was on that team too. He was a kid. Imagine what it was like for him to be playing with these icons of the game.

The young guys were in awe of the whole thing.

—–

If Lemieux was one of the biggest names on a legendary Eastern Conference squad in ’97, than 28-year-old defenceman Robert Svehla surely was one of the least known. But not to Lemieux. During the Panthers playoff run the previous spring, MacLean relied heavily on the Czech Republic native, routinely putting him out against the opposition’s top players, including No. 66.

MacLean: We had beat out the Penguins after a vicious, seven-game series with Mario Lemieux and Jagr… we just went after them. I felt bad about it. Well, no I don’t (laughs).

Mario skated over to me after the series and said, “You did a great coaching job.” He said that right to me on the ice and it was a pretty cool feeling.

Svehla came to our training camp in Florida [in ’95] and I didn’t even know him. He came over from Europe with very little fanfare. But as soon as he stepped on the ice, he was a beast for us, a horse. I remember in the playoffs he took a puck in the mouth, took 30-plus stitches, missed like two or three shifts, came back and the guys were like, ‘Oh my God he’s back on the bench.’

In that playoff run that we had, he was an absolute animal. To have him go head-to-head against Lindros. Head-to-head against Lemieux. He handled them. It was amazing, really.

But it was like that all year. I played him always against the best team’s players. He put up points for us. He was physical… this was one of the most underrated players that’s played the game.

He was a puck mover and a breed you don’t see any more: A physical puck mover. That combination of physical and finesse.

—–

As for the 1997 NHL All-Star Game itself, MacLean’s Eastern squad raced out to 10-4 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. Then Owen Nolan scored an All-Star Game record two goals in eight seconds — we’ll get to the ‘called shot’ in a bit — and suddenly the game was 10-6 entering the third.

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MacLean: I just remember thinking, ‘There’s a chance I may not get my $10,000 (laughs).’ And then I started going, “OK boys, we need to win this game.”

Maybe some of them shook their heads at me like I was a little bit goofy, but I wanted to win the game.

—–

In the third period, John LeClair put the East in front 11-6 with 11 minutes left to play, but the Western Conference threw everything they had at Eastern Conference goaltender Dominik Hasek, out-shooting the East 21-11 in the frame. Hasek, who would win his first of back-to-back Hart Trophies later that summer, turned aside all 21 shots, but this one:

MacLean: I thought it [the point] was really cool. I really did. I know it was against us. There wasn’t one guy that didn’t say that was pretty cool. That shot has been shown thousands of times.

The other thing was Hasek was so good. He was so good in that game it was unbelievable. He took the game big-time serious. Big-time serious. I was excited about him going in there for us, because I knew he would be great. He’s such a competitor.

—–

Throughout our chat, MacLean was his usual, animated self. He spoke with a genuine sense of pride, and even amazement, at his All-Star experiences.

MacLean: My son Clark, he was nine or 10 then, has a stick collection and he’s got some from greats: Lidstrom, Lemieux, Jagr, Coffey. But Gretzky was his idol. [At the ’97 game] I called (Gretzky’s agent) Mike Barnett and said, “Is there any way Wayne could bring an extra stick so he could sign one?”

Mike said, “Sure.”

I was in the office with [assistant coach Paul] Maurice and Gretzky came right in and said, ‘I brought this for your son,’ and he signed it.

Then Clark is running around the locker room the next couple of days as the water boy and the tape guy with them all in the room and then he’s on the bench with me. It was among the most exciting thrills of my career in 22 years in the NHL.

Then after the game, Wayne took off his jersey and signed: “To Clark, your friend, Wayne Gretzky.”

Both years I took the kids and my wife. It was just an amazing experience. Clark still talks about it. He’s an agent in Chicago now.


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Sportsnet.ca / NHL Notebook: New-look international hockey event in 2021?

Luke Fox

January 25, 2019, 6:50 PM

SAN JOSE, California – In the heart of Silicon Valley, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy Bill Daly unveiled the revolutionary player and puck tracking technology, which the league has been developing and testing for three years and has been given the thumbs-up by the players.

Of course, a number of state-of-the-union topics were also brought up as reporters grilled the NHL brass on a variety of subjects.

Here are the highlights.

Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more.

New data off-limits in contract negotiations

The greatest concern from the NHLPA’s side on the fancy player and puck tracking that will be introduced for the 2019-20 season is that all this new data (skating speed, shot strength, etc.) now available to teams could be used against players in contract negotiations.

“There’s a segment of players who are concerned the stats could be too dominant in terms of measurables on how good a player is,” Daly said Friday.

No, the GPS chips won’t be able to calculate heart, map leadership, or measure character.

As a result, the sides have agreed that the data will be off limits in contract negotiations and arbitration cases.

Fine. But how does the league make sure the clubs don’t use the information they have?

“You tell ’em,” Daly said.

Stat accuracy an added benefit

Besides the smorgasbord of gambling and broadcast opportunities the tracking will open up, Mathieu Schneider of the PA noted the importance of improved statistical accuracy to the players.

Categories such as hits, giveaways, takeaways and even shots have fallen victim to human error and vary from game to game or venue to venue.

“The chip won’t lie,” Bettman said.

Schneider had his concerns about the implementation reducing athletes to series of numbers, but the players ultimately decided to not fight the future.

“The positives are going to far outweigh the negatives when it all shakes out,” said Schneider. “There’s a lot more to a hockey player than just the stats.

“How does Brett Hull score 80 goals when everyone knows he wasn’t the fastest skater on the ice?”

Bettman wants labour peace

Bettman described preliminary CBA discussions between the league and the PA as “cordial and constructive.”

Although there is a chance to extend the labour agreement prior to September’s reopener window, Daly said a CBA extension is not an essential result of these meetings and stressed that the sides are still in the “very early stages” of an agreement.

“I still consider ourselves three-and-a-half years out from contract expiration, so there’s a long way to go,” Daly said.

“Our relationship [with the PA] has evolved to a point far beyond where it’s ever been before. I think we communicate well on virtually every aspect of our business, and I think our interests are aligned.

“It’s about growing revenues in the sport.”

Under Bettman’s reign, an expiring CBA has always spelled a work stoppage, but as of now, the tone is definitively rosy.

“I’m certainly not looking for a fight,” the commissioner reiterated.

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International best-on-best hockey returning in February 2021?

Although a 2020 World Cup has been ruled out, the idea of hosting an international competition in February 2021 is on the table, and the players have an appetite for one.

This hypothetical event would not be a traditional, two-week World Cup. A Ryder Cup–style contest and other formats are being considered.

One hurdle regarding player and puck tracking and all the second-screen fun it will offer: The wi-fi in the majority of NHL arenas will need to be upgraded to meet the tech’s standards.

That won’t be cheap.

“I think it’s at our expense,” Daly said.

Islanders’ playoff site unknown

If the New York Islanders, who enter the break at first place in the Metropolitan Division, qualify for the playoffs, no one knows (yet) where they’ll host playoff home games: Barclays Center or Nassau Coliseum.

That call will be made by the league in conjunction with the club and Barclays, which owns both facilities.

“I suppose the league has final say but at the appropriate time, all parties will get together and figure out what the best way to approach the playoffs would be,” Bettman said.

“The reports that we’re getting on the Belmont project are that everyone seems to be on track, we hope to have a groundbreaking in May or June.”

One-Timers

Installing a chip in the puck presents an opportunity to definitively know where it has crossed the goal line, but the NHL isn’t committing to using the chip for that purpose right away. … Seattle’s NHL franchise is targeting late summer to decide on its nickname and unveil its brand identity. … Although Bettman has offer some consult from the sidelines when called upon, he is staying out of the Ottawa Senators’ downtown mediation, describing it as “a party I haven’t been invited to.” … The NHL anticipates holding a couple more games in China early in the 2019-20 season, and Daly said the league is “enormously pleased” with the traction hockey has gained in that market. … The Predators get to participate in their first outdoor game, New Year’s Day versus the Dallas Stars at Cotton Bowl Stadium. … No, Gary Bettman, 66, hasn’t even considered retiring yet.


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Sportsnet.ca / Matthews, Gaudreau missing shot to showcase Team USA's golden era

Sonny Sachdeva

January 26, 2019, 11:09 AM

TORONTO — This was supposed to be the new dawn of American hockey. The era in which Team USA, ripe with young, dynamic talent, climbed up and challenged for the throne.

After decades of operating in the shadow of their northern neighbours and that red-and-white behemoth, the United States was set for a renaissance on the backs of the Gaudreaus and the

Eichels, on that of Auston Matthews and the number of other U.S.-born stars dominating from the blue line and in the cage.

The only problem: So far, the squad has yet to get an opportunity to do any damage together.

Between the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which siphoned a number of talented Americans off to an under-23 ‘Team North America’ roster, and the NHL’s decision not to participate in the 2018 Olympic Games, stars like Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel and Matthews have yet to suit up together on the biggest international stage.

That run looks set to continue following the recent news of the NHL and NHLPA falling short in their efforts to bring the World Cup back in 2020. It appears 2022 is likely the next best bet — that three-year delay only serving as the full sentence if the NHL decides to return to the Olympics — though a 2021 option appears to be in the early stages of discussion as well.

Regardless, it seems an opportunity missed for the red, white and blue, without a doubt, given the immense talent waiting to come over the boards.

“Obviously Canada has all those great players, but the U.S. stacks up, man to man,” says Craig Conroy, who suited up for Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Olympic Games. “It’s pretty even back and forth, which is exciting for USA Hockey.”

For the time being, Conroy’s premier American lineup remains the one that claimed the ’96 World Cup — with legends like Brian Leetch, Mike Modano and Brett Hull leading the charge — but the Potsdam, N.Y. native says Team USA’s current crop can, at the very least, challenge for that top spot.

“I’d have to see how they perform on the world stage together as a group, and what kind of success they had,” he says. “But, with that said, they’re right there. I mean, there are going to be Hall of Famers coming out of here, and guys that have done things for teams that are going to set records. They’re just elite, high-end, skilled players.

“Hopefully they get in some competitions so we can see how they really do fare against the best of the best in the world.”

A cursory glance at the game-changing American talent dropped onto that 2016 Team North America roster is evidence enough of this potential: Matthews, Gaudreau, Eichel and Dylan Larkin among those up front, Seth Jones, Shayne Gostisbehere and Jacob Trouba on the back end, with John Gibson and Connor Hellebuyck behind them.

Then count the U.S.-born stars who’ve since risen up among the league’s best — forwards Brock Boeser, Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor and Clayton Keller, along with blueliner Zach Werenski — and add in the veteran stars who dotted the good-but-not-great American rosters of the past two tournaments: Patrick Kane, Blake Wheeler, Phil Kessel, Joe Pavelski and John Carlson among them.

For Conroy’s money, there’s a roster in there that could go the distance.

“I would feel comfortable saying they could win any game,” he says. “…With all those players, I don’t think I’d ever feel like we don’t have a chance. I believe we could beat anybody on any given night.”

Every World Cup nation surely suffers from not getting the chance to take the ice in 2020, as hoped — Canada would no doubt relish the chance to see Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby don the same sweater — but there’s an argument to be made that Team USA may be the most hard done by, once again made to wait while their golden generation routinely showcases their potential dominance.

It’s safe to say those young American standouts are champing at the bit to get back to that best-on-best environment, too.

“I can’t mind-read, but I know those guys as competitors,” says Danton Cole, who coached the majority of the finest young, U.S.-

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born talents currently in the big leagues — Eichel and Matthews included — during his time behind the bench for the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2010–17.

“And I know that every time they’re on the ice — I don’t care if they’re in a summer skate or it’s an NHL game or it’s the World Cup or the Olympics — they’re going out there to prove something and to win.”

“You talk to players and they want to play, you know. They want to do it,” says Conroy. “I think they’re all hoping that we can come to some kind of agreement and move it forward.”

Gaudreau will be 28 years old by the time the 2022 Olympic Games roll around. Matthews will be 24 and Eichel, 25. That’s a decent chunk of this American superstar core’s prime years in which the country’s best players won’t get a chance to suit up together internationally. Especially considering the ages in which the previous generations’ best were afforded the chance to make their mark on the international stage, as pointed out by Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston recently:

• Wayne Gretzky was 20 when he led the 1981 Canada Cup in scoring.

• Mario Lemieux was 21 when he scored one of international hockey’s most famous goals to capture the 1987 Canada Cup.

• Ovechkin was 20 when he starred for the Russian team at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

• Crosby was 22 when he sent the country into celebration with the Golden Goal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

There’s something to be said, too, for the impact such an experience can have in these players’ efforts to build a legacy. The chance to stake their claim on international hockey history, to have their moment under the bright lights against the best of the best, isn’t an insignficant one.

“Definitely, it takes you from one kind of class and even raises that to another whole level, in all of the U.S.,” says Conroy, who knows one of these American standouts well given his role as the Flames’ assistant GM. “Johnny’s already a star, and everybody knows him up here, but it puts him on the world stage and everybody can really appreciate how good these players really are.”

Don’t sleep on the fact that Canada misses out too, given the NHL affiliations of a number of these stars. League success is crucial, but international-level acclaim goes far in the way of making careers and spurring further greatness. Delaying, once again, Team USA’s core from participating in this leaves Gaudreau’s Flames, Matthews’ Leafs, Boeser’s Canucks, and Hellebuyck’s Jets without the chance to see their club stars potentially make that historic transition that the Canadian legends above were able to in their early years.

And it leaves hockey fans at large without the opportunity to see the sport’s immense progress on display as the young elite showcase their new-school talent.

“You look at Canada and Russia, Finland, Sweden, the U.S. — I think you’d have a hard time saying, ‘This team’s the favourite.’ I think you’d look at it and say, ‘Any one of these teams could win,’” says Cole. “…I think there’s a legitimate chance that five or six countries, if you threw all the best together, could do something great, and that’s what you want.

“That’s what people want — they want the game to be good not just in a couple countries, but good worldwide. It would be exciting to see.”


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TSN.CA / Gaudreau shares memorable moment with father at ASG

Frank Seravalli

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Guy Gaudreau famously used to place Skittles candies five feet apart on the ice to coax little Johnny Hockey to learn how to skate as a two-year-old.

On Saturday, Johnny Gaudreau’s first and most impactful coach was right there with him on the bench at the NHL All-Star Game.

It was an experience that both father and son cherished just a little bit more given what the last year brought. Guy had a sudden cardiac event last March that nearly claimed his life, an episode that Johnny called the “craziest 72 hours of my life” as he rushed back home to New Jersey and missed time with the Flames to be with his dad.

“We were nervous there 10 months ago, we weren’t sure he was going to make it or not,” Johnny said Saturday. “He pulled through. It’s been a great 10 months since then. He’s come to a lot of my games and this was just a great memory for me and him.

“It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Flames coach Bill Peters, who doubled as the Pacific coach since Calgary has been the class of the division, said he got the idea to invite Guy to join him while they were eating dinner together in San Jose. The NHL was on-board with the invite.

“I think it was just neat for him to be able to be out there with Johnny,” Peters said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Johnny said Guy spent all of Saturday afternoon with Peters preparing for the 3-on-3 tournament. He helped Peters with the starting lineup and line combinations.

Hockey is Guy’s life and full-time job. He is the longtime hockey director at the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, N.J., the same rink where Johnny learned to skate. He coaches two or three “AAA” teams in the Philadelphia area and has produced numerous NHL players, including Johnny, New York Rangers defenceman Anthony DeAngelo and former Ottawa Senator / current Flames farmhand Buddy Robinson.

Guy’s younger son, Matt, is playing for the ECHL’s Worcester Railers after a fine career at Boston College.

“He might’ve given Bill a few pointers,” Johnny said, laughing. “He was quiet at first, but he hates losing more than me. He was saying to guys ‘Let’s go, let’s go.’ He was having fun with it.”

The Pacific Division All-Stars, winners of two of the first three 3-on-3 format, were crushed by the Central Division in the first matchup.

The Metropolitan Division then waxed the Central Division, 10-5, in the anticlimactic final exhibition to take home the $1 million cheque in the Shark Tank.

All of that meant Guy’s time on the bench was short-lived, but it will live long in his and Johnny’s memory, a special day in an already special (and maybe Hart Trophy-worthy) season.

“It was awesome,” Johnny said. “He’s done so much for me growing up, coaching me in hockey for the first 12 years of my life and into high school, to have him out there with me was pretty special.”

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TSN.CA / Crosby leads Metropolitan to All-Star win

Staff Writer

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sidney Crosby now has one more reason to have good memories of the Shark Tank.

Crosby had two goals and three assists to win the All-Star MVP, and Henrik Lundqvist pitched a first-half shutout to lead the Metropolitan Division to a 10-5 victory over the Central Division in the championship round of the NHL All-Star game Saturday night.

Crosby finished the night with four goals and four assists in two games on the same ice where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup three years ago for Pittsburgh.

"I have some great memories here for sure," he said. "It's always been a tough place to play. Obviously, when you win in a rink and have those memories, it's something you think about every time you go there. Being in that dressing room, it's automatic to bring you back to some of those moments."

The memories aren't nearly as sweet for the Sharks fans, who booed Crosby when he won the award, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Joe Sakic and Jean Beliveau as the only players to win the Conn Smyth, the Hart Trophy and All-Star MVP.

"It's cool," Crosby said. "You play and you watch as a kid growing up and you see that presentation so it's pretty cool. I had a lot of fun today."

Lundqvist stopped 11 of 13 shots in his two games to give the Metropolitan Division its second title in four years of the three-on-three All-Star format and the $1 million prize shared by the winners of the four-team divisional tournament.


Mikko Rantanen had two goals and Colorado teammate Gabriel Landeskog added one for the Central. Landeskog finished with four goals and three assists, while Rantanen had four goals and two assists.

"There's more pace obviously when it's the final and there's a million dollars on the line. A lot of guy were going a little bit harder but it's good for the fans," Rantanen said. "Just too bad that we were not that ready to play."

Crosby assisted on Barzal's goal against Devan Dubnyk just 22 seconds into the championship game and then made it 5-0 in the closing seconds of the first half off a pass from Barzal. Crosby also assisted on Pittsburgh teammate Kris Letang's goal in the first half and then helped seal the game with a goal in the second half that made it 6-2.

Lundqvist made big saves against Landeskog and Claude Giroux in the period one night after winning the save streak competition in the skills challenge.

"It was good defence, good structure," Lundqvist said. "That helps, especially three on three. Honestly, I thought we had pretty good structure, so much skill up front, so many goals. You don't get surprised, you get impressed."

The first time the All-Star game came to San Jose in 1997, hometown favourite Owen Nolan capped the night by calling his shot and pointing to the spot where he completed a hat trick that delighted the Shark Tank.

Sharks fans didn't have as much to cheer for in the return, even though their three All-Stars started the night on the ice together for the Pacific. The Central blitzed the Pacific early for its first win in four

years in this format, scoring seven goals on nine shots against John Gibson in the first half of the period in a 10-4 victory.

Gibson, who plays for the rival Anaheim Ducks, drew derisive chants from the fans who later called for Vegas' Marc-Andre Fleury to take over.

"Anytime you play it's a rivalry and the fans take it personally. That's what makes it fun," Gibson said. "You're still at All-Star game and you're out there with some of the best players in the league. Stuff's going to happen."

Landeskog had a hat trick and an assist and Roman Josi had three assists and a goal for the Central.

Pekka Rinne and Dubnyk combined to stop 23 of 27 shots with Dubnyk providing one of the biggest highlights with a glove save that robbed Connor McDavid on a breakaway.

The Metropolitan Division won the second semifinal 7-4 thanks to a tiebreaking goal by Letang with 3:38 to play. Sebastian Aho added an insurance goal seconds after Braden Holtby stopped John Tavares in close.

NOTES: The NHL honoured four women's hockey players who participated in All-Star weekend, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker of the United States, and Rebecca Johnston and Renata Fast of Canada. The four women got a standing ovation and a $25,000 donation in their name to a hockey charity of their choice. Coyne Schofield was the first woman to compete in the skills competition on Friday night, finishing seventh in the fastest skater competition.

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USA TODAY / Winners, losers at NHL All-Star weekend: Sidney Crosby adds to trophy haul with big game

Kevin Allen

1:04 a.m. ET Jan. 27, 2019

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sidney Crosby’s place among the all-time greats is still a work in progress. But he might already be hockey’s greatest collector of hockey trophies and championships.

The NHL All-Star MVP trophy was one of the few honors that the Pittsburgh Penguins star didn’t have, and he added it Saturday by leading the Metropolitan Division to victory. The Metropolitan Division defeated the Central Division 10-5 in the final to pick up $1 million in prize money.

“I didn’t need to win a car in order to have a good time, but it was certainly fun,” said Crosby who had five points in the championship game and four goals and four assists in the two-game tournament.

Crosby had previously won three Stanley Cups (winning playoff MVP twice), two Olympic gold medals, a World Cup championship (he was named MVP) and a World Championship. He also won two scoring titles, two goal-scoring titles and was voted league MVP five times, three times by players and twice by writers.

He said he didn’t think about being All-Star MVP until there was about six or seven minutes left when he saw on the video screen that he was among four players people were voting for.

“That’s when it crossed my mind,” he said. “That’s when guys started saying some stuff.”

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What’s left on his bucket list? How about the Selke Trophy, which is given to the best defensive forward?

“I’d like to be in the conversation, for sure,” he said. “I think your play has to earn that. … I definitely want to be known as a player who is responsible defensively. I want to be good offensively, but do it the right way.”

Here are the other winners and losers of the All-Star weekend:

Winner: U.S. women’s hockey. On Friday, 2018 U.S. women’s Olympian Kendall Coyne Schofield finished seventh out of eight in the fastest skater competition. On Saturday, hockey equipment manufacturer CCM gave her Olympic teammate Brianna Decker $25,000 because her time while demonstrating the passing contest Saturday was better than Leon Draisaitl’s winning time.

Loser:Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson. The poor guy probably hoped he could have a relaxing All-Star weekend after all of the tension he has faced with the Ducks this season. Instead, he gave up seven goals in nine shots in the Pacific Division’s 10-4 loss to the Central Division. The San Jose crowd started chanting for Marc-Andre Fleury to replace him. While the Ducks have struggled this season, Gibson was the NHL’s top goalie in the first half of the season. He was able to laugh off the rough night. “We felt bad for him because it wasn’t his fault,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said, noting, “I’d like to see you stop 2-on-1s.”

Winner: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The talk coming into All-Star weekend is that young players were taking over the game. At 36, Lundqvist showed he’s still king, winning in the Skills Competition and helping lead the Metropolitan Division to victory. “I look forward to going back to New York and seeing my teammates and getting back to work,” Lundqvist said. “There’s a big stretch for us coming up. This energized me.”

Loser: NHL/NHLPA puck-tracking system. The league and players union have worked hard to create a fresh, modern system for tracking the puck and players. In early reviews by fans on social media, a significant collection said they didn't like it when NBC used the technology during Saturday night's telecast. But let's give this some time before we pass final judgment.

Winner: Edmonton Oilers. After going 2-6-2 in their last 10 and firing general manager Peter Chiarelli, the Oilers needed All-Star weekend to clear everyone’s heads. Their two representatives - Connor McDavid (fastest skater) and Leon Draisaitl (passing) - won Skills Competition events. Because it is the Oilers' bye week, they don’t play again until Feb. 2. They are only three points out of a playoff spot.

Loser: Calgary Flames. The All-Star break couldn’t come at a worse time for the NHL’s hottest team. The Flames are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. The last thing they wanted was a break. They don’t want to lose their momentum. To make the situation worse, the Flames are now going into their bye week. They don’t play again until Feb. 1 against the Washington Capitals.

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USA TODAY / Olympian Brianna Decker 'shocked' to learn she beat NHLers in event, gets $25K from CCM

A.J. Perez

1:38 a.m. ET Jan. 27, 2019

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Brianna Decker stood on the concourse at SAP Center Saturday night as Blades the Bruin, Boston's mascot, gave her a congratulatory pat at the NHL All-Star Game.

That was hours after the gold-medal Team USA player found out she was $25,000 richer.

Decker told USA TODAY Sports she was honored to demonstrate the Premier Passer competition during the NHL All-Star Skills Competition and had no idea until well after the exhibition concluded that she had recorded a faster time than any of the NHL players.

"I didn’t really know until somebody posted a video," Decker said. "Then it started going viral. I was shocked about it. I wasn’t expecting that at all."

Decker had an unofficial time of 1:06, three seconds faster than the winning time recorded by Edmonton Oilers All-Star forward Leon Draisaitl in the competition. Draisaitl earned $25,000 for finishing first.

That unofficial time – since NBC didn't broadcast it – was captured by Abby Sorkin, a junior at Scripps College in Southern California who attended the Skills Competition.

BRIANNA DECKER IS A GODDESS

Here’s her absolutely KILLING it!!! #NHLAllStarpic.twitter.com/e4Z8povq85

— Abby @ all star (@ArrowsandDemons) January 26, 2019

"I was sitting in my seat after the Premier Passer competition was finished and looked at my video and was like, 'Wait. Hang on. I think Brianna did it faster,'" Sorkin told USA TODAY Sports.

She tweeted that video out late Saturday night and, hours later, the #paydecker movement was on.

Decker, 27, indeed got paid Saturday, but it was by hockey equipment manufacturer CCM.

“I’ve been with them for a while, so I was pretty thankful," Decker said of CCM. "They have been so consistent in growing both sides of the game – men and women – and at the same time the opportunity all came from the NHL, too. We wouldn’t be there without the NHL inviting us. I'm thanking CCM like 100 times, but I’m also thanking the NHL.”

Decker mentioned meeting and getting a selfie with Sorkin at the NHL All-Star Game Fan Fair on Saturday. Sorkin said her mother asked jokingly if she would get a cut of the money. For the record, Sorkin doesn't want any monetary compensation.

"I wanted to put (the video) out there so she can get the credit she deserves," Sorkin said. "I didn't expect anything to come out of it. I thought it was only going to be seen by my (Twitter) circle."

The NHL later announced that it would donate $25,000 to charity on behalf of each of the four women's players who were part of the skills competition. The players will choose where that money is distributed.

Decker and Team Canada's Renata Fast and Rebecca Johnston previewed the events at the skills competition, while Team USA's Kendall Coyne Schofield became the first woman to compete in the skills competition.

With the interest the women's Olympians drew this year, would the NHL consider finding a way to include them more in future All-Star weekends?

"I think that is certainly a possibility," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "We hoped to step it up a bit this year and circumstances allowed it to happen. We would hope we have similar opportunities in the future."

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The NHL did face some backlash over not paying the four players, but Decker said money was never the point of their inclusion. Rather, they were here to promote the three-game USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series from Feb. 12-17.

“To me, it’s all about getting us exposure and that’s what we did this weekend," Decker said. "It was great to have Coyner actually skate in the competition and compete with the guys. That was pretty impressive to me. Just being able to be out there with the guys and demo those skills and interact with the fans, that’s what’s been great this weekend.”

Coyne was a last-minute replacement for injured Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. She finished seventh out of the eight skaters in the event and told reporters afterward that "the NHL took that stance" for equality.

After the race, Oilers star Connor McDavid, the event winner, said Coyne started so strong that he thought she was going to win it.

"They have been so welcoming," Decker said. "It was great to be on the ice and interact with them. "They were supportive."

USA TODAY Sports asked her twice whether women's players should be a paid part of future NHL All-Star weekends. She politely sidestepped the question both times.

"I am thankful for the opportunity," Decker replied the second time she was asked.

Sorkin, however, went on the record.

"Honestly, the women were the best part of the entire experience for me," Sorkin said. "Maybe it's because I'm a girl and I'm biased. They are athletes who deserved to be recognized."

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