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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEFNHL 6/30/2013

Anaheim Ducks682942 Ducks not looking to move up in NHL draft682943 Ducks were hatched 20 years ago682944 NHL: Kings, Ducks still find value in draft

Boston Bruins682945 Bruins’ Nathan Horton to test free agency682946 Seth Jones hopes to make his own history in NHL682947 Nathan Horton going to free agency682948 Trade talk active as Bruins prepare for draft682949 B’s lose Nathan Horton682950 Stephen Harris’ postseason Bruins report card682951 Nathan Horton won’t return to Bruins; Tyler Seguin cited in

trade chatter682952 Horton won't be back with Bruins; Trade talk buzzing at draft;

Seguin's name coming up

Buffalo Sabres682953 NHL prospect Bailey has a pro pedigree682954 Miller, Vanek expected to stay with Sabres through draft682955 Cup winner Fucale catches Sabres’ eye682956 Regier expects Miller, Vanek to remain with Sabres through

draft weekend682957 Sabres' Gilbert honored, humbled to join USA Hockey staff

for Sochi Olympics682958 Seth Jones won't be offended if Avalanche draft a forward

instead of him at No. 1682959 A goalie at No. 16? Sabres have some interest in Halifax's

Fucale682960 Road to the NHL Draft: Sean Malone

Calgary Flames682961 Nieminen — still playing, still laughing682962 Sportsnet analyst says Calgary Flames could open season

in Saskatoon682963 SIX players the Calgary Flames could pick at No. 6

Carolina Hurricanes682964 Time has come for Hurricanes to put plan into action682965 Canes’ high NHL draft pick: High stakes, big investment

Chicago Blackhawks682966 Hawks believe deep draft will benefit them682967 Hawks' Saad lands spot on All-Rookie Team682968 In concert: the Stanley Cup682969 Blackhawks: 17 seconds to immortality682970 NHL draft: Homegrown talents fueled Blackhawks’ Stanley

Cup run682971 Blackhawks fans, Corey Crawford go ‘nuts’ at rally682972 Blackhawks’ one goal: a city united682973 Blackhawks go down in history for best reasons682974 No overhaul this time for Hawks roster682975 Why hockey’s a big hit in Chicago682976 It's all happening again on CSN

Colorado Avalanche682977 Quentin Shore hoping for better luck in second shot at NHL

draft682978 Advice for Colorado Avalanche: Keep the top pick in

Sunday's NHL draft682979 For Nathan MacKinnon, hockey success was always in the

card682980 Sakic gets another big shot for Avalanche682981 St. Patrick is back and ready to win

Columbus Blue Jackets682982 Michael Arace commentary: Blue Jackets had best act

swiftly with Bobrovsky682983 Blue Jackets notebook: Richards rewarded with one-year

contract extension682984 NHL draft prognosis682985 Blue Jackets: Even GM unsure how draft might play out

Dallas Stars682986 Draft Preview: Darnell Nurse682987 Draft Preview: Sean Monahan682988 Heika: Stars' pursuit of Vincent Lecavalier shows team is

ready to rejoin the big boys682989 NHL mock draft roundup: Defenseman a popular pick for

Stars, but a pair of centers also offer intrigue682990 Stars have meeting with free agent center Vincent Lecavalier

in New York682991 Dallas Stars meet with free agent Vincent Lecavalier, make

interest 'clear'

Detroit Red Wings682992 Helene St. James: Sizing up the NHL draft with Detroit Red

Wings' Joe McDonnell682993 Detroit Red Wings to meet with Vincent Lecavalier on

Sunday, give Jakub Kindl 4-year deal682994 Red Wings plan to meet with free agent Vince Lecavalier on

Sunday682995 Nathan MacKinnon could go No. 1 to Avalanche; Wings draft

18th682996 Wings re-sign Jakub Kindl for four years, $9.6 million682997 Free-agent forward Vincent Lecavalier schedules meeting

with Detroit Red Wings682998 Detroit Red Wings announce forward Drew Miller has signed

three-year contract extension682999 Teams appear to have more trade options this year; Detroit

Red Wings 'motivated' to make a move683000 Red Wings are going to pick best available player

Edmonton Oilers683001 Darnell Nurse not short of suitors ahead of NHL draft683002 Could the Edmonton Oilers move both of their second round

picks in trade for players at the 2013 NHL Draft?683003 NHL draft prospect Darnell Nurse not afraid to fight, but

willing to be a role model, too683004 Edmonton Oilers - drafting their way through misery, and

out?683005 Edmonton Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins doesn't

handicap the field … Seth Jones still excited … Sean Monohan

Florida Panthers683006 Florida Panthers expect game-changing talent with No. 2

pick in NHL Draft683007 Florida Panthers interested in ex-Lightning star Vinny

Lecavalier683008 David J. Neal: It’s simple – Florida Panthers should draft

Seth Jones683009 DRAFT DAY DECISIONS FOR PANTHERS: Florida Holds

Second Pick on Sunday683010 PANTHERS DRAFT NOTEBOOK: Huberdeau All-Rookie;

Weiss Talks Continue; Jovo Feeling Good683011 LECAVALIER A PANTHER? Florida Wants to Look Into

Adding Former Lightning Captain

Los Angeles Kings683012 NHL: Kings, Ducks still find value in draft683013 Draft history under Lombardi, rounds 4-7683014 Not that it’s a surprise, but…

Minnesota Wild683015 Wild's GM in a dealing mood for draft day683016 Wild's Parise, Suter earn high praise from U.S. Olympic GM683017 Chart: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher and draft-day moves683018 Jonas Brodin makes All-Rookie Team; More on Cal

Clutterbuck's future683019 Team USA hockey: Olympic head coach, management

announced683020 Minnesota Wild eyeing a deep draft and looking for more

picks

Montreal Canadiens683021 Habs GM Bergevin stays mum on plans to pursue Lecavalier683022 Habs GM focused but not on Lecavalier683023 Goalie sent message to team at U-18 tourney683024 Habs’ first draft pick will be up in air

Nashville Predators683025 Nashville Predators GM David Poile says Olympic job won't

overtax him683026 Nashville Predators try to pick their next star

New Jersey Devils683027 For the No. 1 Pick, the Avalanche May Set Aside Sentiment683028 Hockey: NJ hopefuls in line to be selected at 2013 NHL Draft683029 Politi: Seth Jones, top NHL Draft prospect, is an inspiration

to Newark's young hockey players683030 Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek may sell team683031 Devils have qualified Adam Henrique, Harri Pesonen among

restricted free agents683032 Report: NJ Devils may be sold to attorney Andrew Barroway683033 Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will be on EA Sports NHL 14

cover683034 NHL Draft 2013: Lou Lamoriello cares about the pick, not the

place683035 NHL Draft: Ranking the Top 10 prospects683036 Picking in top 10 rare for Devils, but they are ready to get

help

New York Islanders683037 Floor’s the limit for thrifty Isles683038 Islanders in rare air: Middle of first round at NHL draft

New York Rangers683039 Rangers Have Needs but Not High Picks683040 Draft-day transaction unlikely for Rangers683041 Northjersey.com : Sports683042 Devoid of top two picks, Rangers seek falling star in draft683043 Cap crunch has Rangers looking deep into draft

NHL683044 Bylsma Takes Dream Job as U.S. Men’s Hockey Coach683045 Seth Jones and Nathan MacKinnon vie for first overall pick in

NHL Draft683046 Deep NHL draft draws comparisons to stellar 2003 haul683047 Now and then: A closer look at the 2003 NHL draft

Ottawa Senators683048 Senators players to Murray: Feel free to go on a shopping

spree683049 Pittsburgh Penguins hope to find a way to hold on to Kris

Letang683050 Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray continues to try to move

up from No. 17 at NHL entry draft in New Jersey683051 Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson will get

consideration to be Team USA netminder at Olympics

Philadelphia Flyers683052 Flyers looking to draft big-shooting defenseman683053 Inside the Flyers: Long-term deal with Giroux should make

Flyers wary683054 Source: Flyers eye Lecavalier683055 Our mock NHL draft: Flyers select Ristolainen683056 Lessons to be learned from Bryzgalov mistake683057 Flyers draft: Will Flyers sit at No. 11, or move up?683058 Flyers top picks last 10 years683059 NHL Draft: Flyers' Paul Holmgren and Co. already

negotiating683060 Here's who might be available to the Flyers if they keep their

draft pick683061 With so much uncertain, might as well mock the draft683062 Darnell Nurse isn’t picky, just wants to play in NHL683063 Sources: Finding goalie still Flyers' primary focus683064 Winning gold at Sochi 'an expectation' for USA683065 Draft prospect Nurse models game after Pronger683066 The definitive 2013 NHL mock draft683067 NHL draft has come a long way

Phoenix Coyotes683068 Even with a new lease deal, there will be no closure for

Phoenix Coyotes fans with this mess683069 Phoenix Coyotes will target forwards in Sunday’s NHL draft

Pittsburgh Penguins683070 2 years after being drafted, local hockey players making

name for themselves683071 Penguins’ Shero gives Letang talks one more shot683072 Penguins notebook: Waiting game will play out early in draft683073 Team USA setup comforts Penguins coach Bylsma683074 Potential aplenty in 2013 NHL draft683075 NHL draft top 10 prospects683076 Decision on Kris Letang has no deadline

San Jose Sharks683077 NHL draft: San Jose Sharks hold four picks in the top 58

St Louis Blues683078 Blues see prospects in NHL draft683079 Strauss: Stillman insists club ‘not sitting idle’683080 Next wave of Blues prospects shows bright promise683081 Blues know success in the NHL draft combines hard work

and a little bit of luck

Tampa Bay Lightning683082 Top-five draft picks in Lightning history683083 Impact player on the way for Lightning683084 Lecavalier meeting with several teams683085 No bad options in draft for Lightning at No. 3683086 As rumors swirl ahead of draft Lightning said to have interest

in Bruins' Tyler Seguin

Toronto Maple Leafs683087 NHL draft: Maple Leafs have plenty of possible picks at No.

21683088 NHL draft: Tyler Seguin, Cory Schneider in trade buzz683089 NHL draft: ‘It’s all guesswork,’ professor says683090 n one season.683091 Leafs have sit-down with Lecavalier683092 Two weeks to fix a franchise: Toronto Maple Leafs

Vancouver Canucks683103 Lack of prospects heightens’ Canucks draft needs683104 Luongo Watch: Canucks considering Schneider trade card683105 Canucks Draft Day: Trading a goalie overshadows need for

left wing depth683106 Luongo Watch: Canucks reportedly considering playing

Schneider trade card

Washington Capitals683093 Capitals’ practice facility to host 2014 U.S. Olympic men’s

team camp

Websites683107 ESPN / Bylsma eager to test international waters683108 ESPN / As U.S. GM, David Poile in tuneup mode683109 ESPN / Horton out; B's willing to listen on Seguin683110 NBCSports.com / NHL to Glendale: July 2 deadline is no

bluff683111 USA TODAY / U.S. hockey team might have different look at

Sochi683112 USA TODAY / Who are the top Americans at the draft?

Winnipeg Jets683094 Manitoba's big shooter683095 Jets' Enstrom victimized in robbery, beating683096 Time for Jets' scouts to relax683097 Chevy looking to move up683098 Cheveldayoff focused on priorities as buzz builds at NHL

Draft683099 Jets' Enstrom robbed, assaulted in Sweden683100 Jets gear up for future683101 Jets ready to pick up ‘building blocks’ in 2013 NHL Entry

Draft683102 Winnipeg Jets' Toby Enstrom robbed, assaulted

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

682942 Anaheim Ducks

Ducks not looking to move up in NHL draft

Anaheim will select 26th in the first round Sunday. The Kings don't have a first-round pick.

By Lisa Dillman

5:13 PM PDT, June 29, 2013

A future most valuable player was sitting there when it came time for the Ducks to make their pick, at No. 28, in the 2003 draft.

Now, in the name of Corey Perry, can lightning strike twice?

In two words: Very doubtful.

"That draft was off the charts," said Ducks General Manager Bob Murray, chuckling.

"It usually takes something early to happen in the draft to make things happen," said Murray, who was a scout with Vancouver in 2003. "For us to get Cam Fowler, it's because [Ryan] Johansen went fourth. Things have to happen to get lucky."

Murray and the Ducks were able to select the young defenseman when Fowler dropped to No. 12 in the 2010 entry draft at Los Angeles, events set in motion when the Columbus Blue Jackets opted to grab Johansen at No. 4.

Barring late movement, the Ducks and the Kings won't be in the limelight at Sunday's entry draft at Newark, N.J. Colorado owns the top pick and Avalanche officials are indicating they will take forward Nathan MacKinnon. Until recently, conventional wisdom had the Avalanche targeting defenseman Seth Jones. Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, played junior hockey for the Portland Winter Hawks.

The Ducks have a first-round pick (No. 26 overall) and the Kings do not, a byproduct of last year's Jeff Carter trade. Columbus has three first-round picks, 14th, 19th and 27th. The latter is from the Kings.

The Kings have 10 picks, including three in the fourth round. They don't select until No. 57, in the second round.

"Given our history, it's safe to say we will try to move up," Kings GM Dean Lombardi said of making a deal to get into the first round. "Whether we will or not, you can't assess it until you are at the table. Again, at least going into this draft, we have a lot of chips to play, if we want 'em.

"We'll probably try, but I'm not too optimistic. We'll probably do most of our juggling in the middle rounds."

Murray said the Ducks probably would not try to move up from No. 26.

"We're comfortable where we are at," he said. "The top of the draft is very good. You get to eight or nine and it's very good. …You could do just as well at 36 as you could at 16.

"You never know. We've done OK with the later picks. We can't complain."

LA Times: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Ducks were hatched 20 years ago

Team has reached two Stanley Cup Finals, winning one, but at the time, the NHL expansion club owned by Disney seemed mighty strange.

By Lisa Dillman

1:40 PM PDT, June 29, 2013

History was made when Donald Duck, Mickey and Pluto ceded ground to share Disney's corporate landscape with Guy, Paul and a noted brawler with the ominous nickname, the "Grim Reaper."

Twenty years ago, the expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim took shape in Quebec City through an expansion draft June 24, a mini-draft the next day and the NHL entry draft June 26.

"It does make me feel a little old. I went from 26 to 46 … how did that happen?" said goaltender Guy Hebert, who became the organization's first player when Anaheim took him with its first selection in the expansion draft.

The snapshots of those building-block days in Quebec were numerous and indelible.

There was a fresh-faced, 18-year-old Paul Kariya as their No. 1 selection (fourth overall) in the entry draft. There was then-Disney chairman Michael Eisner looking like a proud father at the draft table, wearing a Mighty Ducks baseball cap and Mickey Mouse tie. And then there was the architect, General Manager Jack Ferreira, whose painful skin condition flared up and kept him hotel-bound, except for the drafts.

The birth of the Ducks and the other expansion team, the Florida Panthers, was almost quaint, especially compared to the current days of texting and Twitter. Players could, in fact, get away from it all and stay away.

Hebert, then with the Blues, had been told by St. Louis that he would get picked by the Panthers or the Mighty Ducks. On the day of the expansion draft, he escaped to his favorite trout stream near his family's home in Troy, N.Y.

"I lost track of time and ended up coming home," said Hebert, who played eight seasons with the Ducks. "And my younger brother came running out of the house, 'Where have you been? You're a Duck!'"

Goaltender Glenn Healy was a Duck for a day, only he didn't know it until after the fact. In two days, Healy went from the New York Islanders to Anaheim to Tampa Bay and finally to the New York Rangers.

Talk about a long way to get from New York … to New York.

Anaheim took Healy in the expansion draft, the Lightning selected him in the mini-draft the next day and the Rangers acquired him via trade later in the day.

The headline in the Los Angeles Times: "Goalie Healy Quickly Becomes the First Duck to Leave Nest."

All this happened when Healy was with some of his Islanders' teammates, vacationing in Ireland. He learned of the wild series of moves only when forward Pat Flatley decided to call home to talk to his mother.

"She told him, 'Glenn's been traded to the Rangers,'" said Healy, now a commentator for Hockey Night in Canada. "He said, 'Go get the newspaper and read it to me.' We were at one of the oldest pubs in Ireland and I can still see him coming across the bar, 'You're not going to believe this. You're on the Rangers now.'"

Kariya's life with the organization was considerably longer. He played nine seasons for the Ducks and eventually would wrap up his NHL career with 989 points in 989 games. He led the Ducks in their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2003, with the Game 7 loss against the New Jersey Devils his last game with the Ducks. He then played for Colorado, Nashville and St. Louis.

Ferreira, who is now a special assistant to Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi, didn't need to see much of the prized prospect. He watched Kariya play in the NCAA tournament when Kariya was a freshman at the University of Maine. He told his assistant, Pierre Gauthier, that they weren't staying for three periods.

"I was there for two periods," Ferreira said. "And I looked at Pierre and said 'Let's get the hell out of here. I don't want anyone to think I like this guy.'"

Upon being drafted, Kariya told reporters he didn't want to jeopardize his NCAA eligibility by saying he was going to Disneyland.

But the best quote about Disney that day came from the Ducks' second-round pick, Nikolai Tsulygin, via an interpreter. The defenseman would appear in only 22 games with the Ducks in a brief NHL career.

"He knows it's a new team formed just this year," the interpreter told The Times. "He believes this is a company that mostly deals with cartoons but now is starting in hockey as well."

The only thing cartoonish about the new team was the uniform. The Ducks dropped "Mighty" from their name before the start of the 2006-07 season. In other words, just before they won the Stanley Cup.

Hebert noted that it was probably more difficult for enforcers Todd Ewen and Stu "Grim Reaper" Grimson to pull on the sweater, at first. Ewen and Grimson, like Hebert, were taken by Anaheim in the expansion draft.

"It was little different — being the eggplant and teal," Hebert said. "With the San Jose Sharks, no pun intended, they had dipped their toe in the water with something that wasn't traditional.

"That led the way to the colors that Disney had put together for the team. You think about the Original Six teams with history and whatever, then you're like: 'Is this really the name and really the logo of the team that we're going to represent?'

"I was an art major in college, so I have a bit of a creative side. I didn't mind it. I'm a goalie, so quirky is in my blood."

LA Times: LOADED: 06.30.2013


NHL: Kings, Ducks still find value in draft

History suggests both teams will find good talent after first round.

By Elliott Teaford @ElliottTeaford on Twitter

Posted: 06/29/2013 10:29:45 PM PDT

Updated: 06/29/2013 10:32:25 PM PDT

The Kings have 10 selections in today's NHL draft, but none in the first round.

The Ducks have five picks, but their first-round selection isn't until No. 26 overall.

It might seem as if the draft is no big deal for the Kings and Ducks, but the reality is nothing could be further from the truth. Today is the day all 30 teams in the NHL, even the successful ones like the Kings and Ducks, re-stock their prospect lists and hope for better days.

In 2003, for example, the Ducks were coming off their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They lost in seven grueling games to the deeper and more polished New Jersey Devils, and there were plenty of reasons to believe their days as a struggling expansion franchise were history.

In fact, their future was about to get a whole lot brighter.

Ten years ago this month, the Ducks took center Ryan Getzlaf of the Calgary Hitman of the Western Hockey League with the 19th overall selection and then picked right wing Corey Perry of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League at No. 28.

At the time, they were two names on a long list of 18-year-old prospects from around the hockey-playing world. Soon enough, they became Stanley Cup champions, Olympic champions and pillars of a franchise that had the third-best regular-season record in the NHL

in 2012-13.

Each player signed an eight-year contract extension with the Ducks last season.

Even if the Kings' roster appears all but set for the next few seasons after consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals and the franchise's first Stanley Cup title in 2012, today is critical to the club's future success. After all, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

Or so the theory goes.

It's the same for the Ducks, whose foundation appears to be as strong as the Kings. Both teams have improved over the years through trades and free-agent signings, and their rosters have been built from the ground up, with draft picks serving as cornerstones in each case.

For the Ducks, it's Getzlaf and Perry in '03 and left wing Bobby Ryan (first round, '05), who make up their top line. There's also defenseman Cam Fowler and right wing Emerson Etem (first round, '10) and outstanding goaltending prospect John Gibson (second round, '11).

For the Kings, it's even more pronounced, with left wing Dustin Brown (first round, '03), center Anze Kopitar (first round, '05), goalie Jonathan Quick (third round, '05), defenseman Drew Doughty (first round, '08) and defenseman Slava Voynov (second round, '08) playing key roles.

There's more to the draft than simply first-round picks, too.

Quick stands out as an example of the Kings' ability to unearth a gem beyond the first round. After all, he was the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the playoffs after leading the Kings' unexpected march to the Stanley Cup championship.

The Ducks have had success in the later rounds, too. Left wing Matt Beleskey was a fourth-round selection in 2006. Going back a decade earlier Matt Cullen, a center who played last season with the Minnesota Wild, was a second-round pick in 1996.

So, bottom line, there is no such thing as a meaningless draft.

LA Daily News: LOADED: 06.30.2013

682945 Boston Bruins

Bruins’ Nathan Horton to test free agency

By Fluto Shinzawa

| Globe Staff

June 30, 2013

JERSEY CITY — Peter Chiarelli once considered Milan Lucic, David Krejci, and Nathan Horton the best line in hockey.

On Saturday, the Bruins general manager learned it will not remain intact in 2013-14.

Nathan Horton’s camp informed the Bruins he will not re-sign with the club prior to Friday, when free agency opens. The first-line right wing will be one of the prime targets on the open market. This will be Horton’s first opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent.

“Pursuant to his rights under the CBA, Nathan has informed the Bruins that he is going to explore his options as an unrestricted free agent,” Paul Krepelka, Horton’s agent, wrote in an e-mail.

Horton is coming off a six-year, $24 million contract, and could command a $6 million annual payday from another club. The Bruins, facing a cap crunch, would have been hard-pressed to offer Horton a similar salary. Buffalo and Toronto are two Eastern Conference teams that could be interested in the 28-year-old power forward. This could be Horton’s final shot at a bonanza. He will require surgery on his dislocated left shoulder. Before this year, Horton had his two most recent seasons cut short because of concussions. Horton’s rugged style puts him at greater risk of injury than finesse forwards.

The Bruins considered re-signing Horton among their first orders of business prior to Friday. Horton appeared in 169 regular-season games for the Bruins over the last three years. He had 56 goals and 51 assists.

In the playoffs, Horton had 15 goals and 21 assists in 43 games. Lucic, Krejci, and Horton combined for 23 goals and 41 assists during the 2013 postseason.

“I love the guys,” Horton said Wednesday, when asked if he wanted to return to the Bruins. “The team’s great. It’s a fun place to play. Other than that, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I couldn’t tell you throughout the year what was going to happen. I don’t know. That’s all I know. We’ll see what happens.”

The Bruins acquired Horton and Gregory Campbell from Florida on June 22, 2010, for Dennis Wideman, a 2010 first-round pick, and a 2011 third-rounder.

The Bruins are now down their top two right wings, as Jaromir Jagr will not be re-signed.

Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Shawn Thornton are the remaining right wings. Carl Soderberg could also play on the right side, although he’s primarily a center and left wing.

There was chatter on Saturday about teams inquiring about Seguin’s availability. The Bruins would have had an even bigger hole at right wing had they moved the 21-year-old. But Horton’s declaration and the team’s lack of depth at the position may have prompted the Bruins to douse any rivals’ excitement about acquiring the third-year pro.

“Not so fast on Seguin,” a team source said.

Horton’s decision may also impact Peverley’s future. Peverley was a trade candidate to clear cap space for Horton. Peverley draws a $3.25 million average annual salary.

With Horton out of the picture, the Bruins will have to look elsewhere for a top-two right wing. Because the cap is shrinking from $70.2 million to $64.3 million in 2013-14, Chiarelli expected rival teams to place players on the trade market. The Bruins could also fill in the holes via free agency starting Friday.

“What I see is there’s going to be a lot of players available,” Chiarelli said. “There may not be right now. But with the cap going down, just out of doing

simple math, there’s going to be players available. I think what happens is you may have more trouble with demand and supply. I think there’s going to be players that want to play for less. That’s where, if we have to mix and match a little bit, I think we’ll be pretty good. Because we still have a very strong, contending team. I think there will be players that will want to play for us, if we get to that point. I don’t think we’ll get to that point, but if we have to . . . ”

The Bruins could receive assets by trading Andrew Ference’s negotiating rights. Several teams have inquired. Chiarelli has allowed Kurt Overhardt, Ference’s agent, to talk with clubs about acquiring the defenseman’s rights.

Ference will become unrestricted on Friday. Ference and his wife have two young daughters, and he said their education is first and foremost when deciding on his destination.

“I’m not going to stand in his way,” Chiarelli said. “Andy’s been a warrior for us. I want to help him as much as I can.”

The Bruins are also trying to acquire a first-round pick in Sunday’s draft. They ceded a conditional 2013 second-round pick to Dallas as part of the Jagr trade. The second-rounder became a first-round pick once the Bruins beat the Rangers and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. If the Bruins don’t get back into the first round, their first pick will be 60th overall.

“I think any GM who went into the draft without a first-rounder would have to do that,” Chiarelli said of trying to get back into Round 1. “So, of course, I would.”

On the restricted side, the Bruins have given qualifying offers to Tuukka Rask and Jordan Caron. They have yet to qualify Kaspars Daugavins and goaltending prospect Michael Hutchinson. Chiarelli said they still might tender offers to both players.

Boston Globe LOADED: 06.30.2013


Seth Jones hopes to make his own history in NHL

Realizes responsibility that comeswith beingNHLminority

By Baxter Holmes

| Globe Staff

June 30, 2013

There are a few minutes before living, breathing history walks into the hotel conference room and shakes Seth Jones’s hand with a grip strong enough to break it.

Jones is sitting on the end of the long wooden table, in a dark gray suit with a striped blue tie. He is 18 and a very talented hockey player who Sunday will be one of the top picks in the NHL draft. His hands are crossed in his lap. His back is to the doorway.

Then, history walks in. He is wearing khaki slacks and a black polo shirt with the Boston

Bruins logo — the spoked-B — over its heart. He is barrel-chested with forearms thick as logs. He is balding on top. He’s 77 years old. Jones rises, turns, and is humbled.

They had never met until just now, but Jones knows full well what Willie O’Ree did for hockey — and, by extension, for Jones — when O’Ree became the first black man to play it

professionally. Which O’Ree did with the Bruins in 1958 against Montreal.

They sit. For the next 15 minutes, O’Ree talks about the old days, which weren’t always so good.

“There was a period and a time when it slowed down,” O’Ree says, “but I knew in my head it was still there. I knew when I stepped on the ice during some part of the game, there would be some racial slur or some racial remark directed toward me.”

Jones doesn’t speak. He leans forward on his chair situated a few feet from O’Ree, and Jones listens. At times he shakes his head in disbelief.

Later, Jones will say that not once has the idea of race crossed his mind as he’s played hockey — and he’s played it almost all over the world for much of his life.

Jones will say that he’s never heard one slur, one racial remark. Not one.

And there, in the few feet that separate them in the hotel conference room in Copley Square, lies the chasm of disconnect between O’Ree and Jones, between what it meant to be black and to play hockey professionally back then versus now.

It matters to Jones, in no small part because he’s told at nearly every turn that he’s the next role model for blacks and other minority races in the white-dominant sport, where last season there were 44 non-white players among the 720 on NHL rosters — just 6.1 percent.

“He has as much or more potential to change the face of the game probably since Willie O’Ree,” said Bryant McBride, an entrepreneur and investor who is black and was formerly the NHL’s vice president of business development.

Change the face of the game.

There might come a day when Jones can only think of hockey. But that day isn’t today. There’s progress to be made. He wants to help. He wants to grow the sport in inner cities.

“I’m trying to be a role model and do whatever I can,” he said.

Yes, only so much progress has been made, and there are still marks — insignificant though they may seem — to be made that are tied only to the color of someone’s skin.

Jones could make that history Sunday, when he might become the first black player to be selected first overall in the NHL draft.

Possible homecoming

Colorado holds the first pick in the draft, and if the Avalanche select Jones, they’ll be bringing him home, in a way, to the place where he fell in love with hockey.

At 5 years old, he first slipped on a pair of skates, rentals, on New Year’s Eve as 1999 turned to 2000 and the world was supposed to end because of Y2K and all that.

But when Jones first stepped onto the ice on a pond in Beaver Creek, Colo., where his parents took him and his two brothers, Caleb and Justin, he appeared, his father said, like a “natural.”

He didn’t slip, or slide. No, he only glided, pausing to skate backward or stop.

Eighteen months later, Jones sat center ice, pounding on the glass during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between Colorado and New Jersey, which the Avalanche won.

The intensity, the speed, the physical play, the determination on the players’ faces to take that one game and win it all — Jones had never seen anything like it before.

“Once I saw that game, I knew I wanted to be a hockey player,” he said. “I knew one day I wanted to lift the Stanley Cup.”

There was a point when his father, Popeye Jones, the former NBA forward for several teams including the Celtics, met Avalanche legend Joe Sakic at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Popeye told Sakic that his son was becoming interested in hockey.

Sakic, who is now the Avalanche’s executive vice president of hockey operations, eyed Popeye’s large frame — 6 feet 8 inches, about 250 pounds.

“Well, from the look of you, your kids are going to be huge,” Sakic said. “Just make sure they know how to skate.”

From there, Seth Jones started taking figure skating lessons.

If there was a moment when Popeye became convinced that his son had special talent, it came when Seth was 14 and they were living in Dallas.

On the other end of the phone was Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley, a family friend who had seen Jones play, and, Popeye said, “He was raving.”

“You could tell he was going to be a special hockey player,” said Trevor Hanas, who coached Jones on a youth team in Dallas and is also a scout for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

“His smarts for the game is probably what separates him from a lot of other defensemen,” Hanas said. “He’s just really intelligent — with and without the puck. When you combine that with great skating skills and great size, now you’ve got the full package.”

By 15, Jones was playing for USA Hockey’s U-17 and U-18 national teams. Then, he graduated high school early and joined the Winterhawks, where the 6-4, 205-pound Jones became the WHL’s rookie of the year after scoring 14 goals and 46 assists in 61 games.

Winterhawks coach and general manager Mike Johnston praised Jones’s IQ, even-keeled personality, smoothness on the ice, evasiveness for a player his size — and more.

“He’s very mature,” Johnston said. “When you talk to him, you would think he’s probably 21. He does have that presence. He’s quiet, but he leads through example.”

Early lessons learned

Jones’s mother, Amy, is white. His father, Popeye, is black. They’re divorced now.

But as they raised their children, they taught them that they are black and white.

“You understand slavery and the struggles that black people went through, but you also understand the culture of white people,” Popeye preached.

Those lessons, Amy said, were a way for their children to avoid viewing life through the prism of race, which she said was never really discussed anyway.

But, she said, it has come to light more in the past few years as Jones has risen through the hockey ranks of a sport in which there simply isn’t much diversity.

“He understands the magnitude of it,” she said. “He does understand he can do a lot for the sport, if he does it the right way.”

And so we go back into that hotel conference room, where O’Ree is talking and Jones is listening.

There’s a point when O’Ree reminisces about fighting all the time on the ice, not because of racism but because he was speared and head-butted and cross-checked all the time and he had no helmet or shield because you just didn’t wear that stuff back then.

“I can’t even imagine,” Jones says, shaking his head once more.

But after telling Jones to conduct himself accordingly on and off the ice, O’Ree starts to talk about image.

“We’re three individuals inside ourselves,” he begins.

“We’re the person we think we are. We’re the person who other people think we are. And we’re the person that we really are. So just look inside yourself and say, ‘This is the person that I am, this is what I want to do,’ and go out and stay focused.”

Jones nods.

Years ago, when O’Ree broke into the league, he was asked if he could envision not just more black players but more players of all races playing hockey one day. He said yes. He meant it, too.

Years later, in this hotel conference room, O’Ree, with the Bruins’ spoked-B over his heart, stands and shakes the hand of a player he believes can be a role model just as he was.

And perhaps one day, when enough progress has been made and all that matters is the game, Jones can pass down stories to another future role model, to show how far their game has come.



Nathan Horton going to free agency

Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 29, 2013 01:55 PM

Nathan Horton will not re-sign with the Bruins prior to next Friday. Instead, Horton will become an unrestricted free agent and test the open market. It is highly unlikely Horton will re-sign with the Bruins after next Friday.

The Bruins were informed of Horton’s decision today.

“Pursuant to his rights under the CBA, Nathan has informed the Bruins that he is going to explore his options as an unrestricted free agent,” Paul Krepelka, Horton’s agent, said in a statement.

Horton appeared in 169 regular-season games for the Bruins over the last three years. Horton scored 56 goals and 51 assists.

In the playoffs, Horton scored 15 goals and 21 assists in 43 games. Horton was the right wing alongside Milan Lucic and David Krejci. GM Peter Chiarelli classified the threesome as the best line in the NHL.

Horton should command a bigger contract on the market than had he remained in Boston. The 28-year-old has a concussion history and will require surgery on his left shoulder. But Horton has raised his performance during his two active postseasons.

It’s possible the Bruins could trade Horton’s negotiating rights. However, given Horton’s desire to hit the open market, the Bruins might not be able to demand much in return.

The Bruins are now down their top two right wings. Jaromir Jagr will not be re-signed.



Trade talk active as Bruins prepare for draft

Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 29, 2013 12:35 PM

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The 2013 NHL Draft is just over 24 hours away from starting. But the Bruins’ six picks are not atop the team’s priority list.

The Bruins must re-sign Nathan Horton prior to next Friday, when he will become an unrestricted free agent. To do so, the Bruins will have to shed salary via trade.

“It’s actually pretty active,” GM Peter Chiarelli said during a press conference this morning. “When [Vincent] Lecavalier got bought out, it’s kind of thrown some teams for a loop. There’s a trickledown effect. It gives everybody pause for thought. It’s been fairly active.”

Rich Peverley is the leading candidate to be traded. Peverley carries a $3.25 million average annual cap hit.

* The Bruins will not re-sign Andrew Ference. But they may receive an asset for the UFA-to-be. Several clubs have inquired about acquiring Ference’s negotiating rights. Chiarelli has given Kurt Overhardt, Ference’s agent, permission to ask around. “I’m not going to stand in his way,” Chiarelli said. “Andy’s been a warrior for us. I want to help him as much as I can.”

* The Bruins have qualified Tuukka Rask and Jordan Caron. They have yet to qualify Kaspars Daugavins and Michael Hutchinson. They may still do so, said Chiarelli.



B’s lose Nathan Horton

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Author(s):

Steve Conroy

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — In the first of what could be several big personnel changes for the Bruins this draft weekend, Nathan Horton informed the Bruins yesterday that he will not be re-signing with the Stanley Cup finalists, according to his agent.

Paul Krepelka said it’s Horton’s personal choice to test the free agent waters — and it was not a decision made for financial reasons.

“There weren’t any back-and-forth negotiations or anything like that,” Krepelka said. “Nathan just wanted a new start.”

The Horton camp and the B’s were working on a trade for the right to negotiate with the right winger exclusively before the opening of the free agent market on July 5.

What Horton’s reasons are for moving on Krepelka wasn’t saying, but it’s a big loss for the Bruins. Horton combined with left winger Milan Lucic and center David Krejci to make a formidable, physical top line.

Despite some regular-season inconsistencies, Horton proved to be a money player in the playoffs. Before getting knocked out of the Cup finals with a concussion in 2011, he had eight goals — including three huge game-winners — and nine assists. This year, he had 7-12-19 totals in 43 regular-season games and was a league-leading plus-20 in the playoffs. His production tailed off in the finals against the Chicago Blackhawks after he suffered a dislocated shoulder, but he played through the injury while wearing a brace and is expected to have offseason surgery.

With some big-name players becoming unexpectedly available via buyouts, most notably the Tampa Bay Lightning parting ways with Vincent Lecavalier, and Horton on the move, this draft weekend is shaping up as a big news-maker. With the Bruins looking to both dump salary in order to free up money for a deal with goalie Tuukka Rask and expected to jump into the bidding war for Lecavalier, it’s a good bet they will be involved in the horse-trading.

At his media availability yesterday morning before the Horton news broke, B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli said the trade talk was picking up.

“It’s actually pretty active. I think when Lecavalier got bought out, it’s thrown some teams for a loop and there’s a trickle down effect,” Chiarelli said. “It gives everyone pause for thought. But it’s been fairly active. I think a lot of teams are trying to figure out who they may buy out, so they’ve got time before July 5, and they’ve got assets that are available tomorrow in the draft, so it’s picking up steam.”

To sign both Rask and a Horton replacement, the B’s would clearly have to move some salary. The most likely candidate would be forward Rich Peverley and his $3.25 million. But there’s been a lot of rumblings here that the name of Tyler Seguin, whose maturation process on and off the ice has been slower than anticipated, is being bandied about. Seguin carries a cap hit of $5.75 million for the next six years, a hefty price for a forward who scored once in four playoff rounds.

Chiarelli didn’t mention any of his players by name in trade discussions, but he did say he was looking to get a first-round pick, which he lost in the Jaromir Jagr deal in March, in today’s draft being hosted by the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark. The GM estimated there would be five or six players available in the draft who could play in the NHL right away. Any deal involving Seguin would surely start with a first-round pick, and a high one at that.

While the salary cap is going down to $64.3 million for the upcoming season, there’s wide speculation it will go right back up the following year. With that in mind, Chiarelli doesn’t want to proceed rashly.

“Acting rashly may be replacing something in a rash manner, or I get rid of something in a rash manner,” he said. “So I have to be careful.”

Despite the current situation with teams needing to shed players to become cap compliant, Chiarelli doesn’t believe he’ll have to accept a paltry return just to move salary. But if worse comes to worst, the B’s could dip into the growing free agent market.

“Based on my discussions, I don’t think that will happen. But you never say never,” Chiarelli said. “We could have trouble with the expanded supply, but I think there’ll be players who want to play for less. If we have to mix and match a little, I think we’ll be able to do it because we still have a strong contending team and there are going to be players who’ll want to play for us. If we get to that point, but I don’t think we will.”

Chiarelli reported being contacted by teams who want to obtain the negotiating rights to defenseman Andrew Ference, whom the B’s will not be able to afford under the new cap.

“I’ve had a couple of teams call on Andy,” Chiarelli said. “I’m not going to stand in his way. He’s been a warrior for us and I want to help him as much as I can.”

Bruins notes

The B’s could take Rask to arbitration, and vice versa.

“I don’t want to go to arbitration with him. I’ve talked to his agent (Bill Zito), and we’re trying to work something out,” Chiarelli said. . . .

Chiarelli gave qualifying offers to forward Jordan Caron and Rask, which simply keep restricted free agents under the B’s control. The GM has not made a decision on whether or not to qualify forward Kaspars Daugavins and/or goalie Michael Hutchinson. . . .

Assistant director of amateur scouting Scott Fitzgerald is on the mend from a March car accident and unable to attend the draft, but he had input in the process.

“We had our amateur meetings at the Spaulding Rehab, they were great,” Chiarelli said. “Fitzy was in a bed and participated, and he’s home now. So he’s doing well.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.30.2013


Stephen Harris’ postseason Bruins report card


Author(s):

Stephen Harris

No one in their right mind, after watching the Bruins struggle individually and collectively through a mediocre regular season, could have imagined the team would come within two wins of hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli characterized it as a “difficult regular season.”

“We were the fourth seed and everything,” he said. “But just the way that we played, it was a challenge.”

The Bruins opened the postseason May 1 with a 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It spoke volumes about the season that this game, after 48 regular-season matches, was regarded by many as the first truly strong, complete game the B’s had played.

It turned out to be a valid indicator that the team had indeed been able to “flip the switch” and start playing the right way when it mattered most. Yes, there were some severe relapses to mediocrity during that first-round series, and the B’s had the Hockey Gods on their side when they pulled off the miracle comeback late in Game 7.

Having survived that looming calamity — and avoided all the repercussions that might have ensued — the Bruins made it look remarkably easy against the New York Rangers and then, astoundingly, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Chiarelli said he, “was amazed, actually — not surprised, but amazed at our push in the playoffs.”

It wasn’t surprising, because anyone who watched the B’s capture the 2011 Stanley Cup knew what this team was capable of. But it was amazing to see it after such a sub-par regular season.

So many incredible things happened to the Bruins over the past seven weeks. So many individuals played to the peak of their talents. The team executed the Claude Julien game plan well. And with a better bounce of the puck here or there, we might well have seen a Duck Boat parade down Boylston Street this weekend.

So as painful as it was to see the Chicago Blackhawks passing around the Cup at the Garden Monday, nobody interested in the Bruins should feel anything but elation and pride over what this team accomplished in these playoffs.

With that we hand out our postseason grades:

GOALIE

Tuukka Rask A

Not many observers outside of Boston would have ranked Rask on the short list of elite goalies two months ago. That has changed, after the 26-year-old delivered a sensational postseason — featuring a 1.88 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and three shutouts, despite the fact he faced 87 more shots than Chicago’s Corey Crawford, in one fewer game. Rask can easily demand a $6 million-plus (average) new deal.

DEFENSEMEN

Johnny Boychuk A

After scoring one goal in 44 regular-season games, the hard-shooting D-man potted six in the playoffs. Matched against some very strong second lines, he was plus-4. He led the league by blocking 62 shots — many of them very painfully — and had 74 hits.

Zdeno Chara A-

Yes, Chara struggled in the final — maybe because of a painful hip ailment. The Blackhawks eventually stopped trying to avoid him and instead directly attacked him, and he was on the ice for nine of their last 10 goals. Still, he had an excellent postseason, with 3-12-15 totals and plus-7, averaging a

league-high 29:31 — including 45:05 in the triple-overtime Game 1 of the finals.

Torey Krug A

The unsung youngster was a game-changer for the B’s, arriving for the start of the second round (after playing just three previous NHL games) and scoring a goal in four of his first five games. He had 4-2-6 totals and a plus-5, played fine defensively and figures to be a key Bruin going forward.

Adam McQuaid B+

The lanky 26-year-old quietly played his sound and physical game, with 59 hits and 37 blocked shots. Posted totals of 2-2-4 and a plus-9, which led B’s blueliners. He scored one of the most satisfying goals of the playoffs in beating the Penguins, 1-0, to sweep that series.

Dennis Seidenberg B

Like Chara, he struggled in the finals (minus-5), outplayed by the top Chicago line centered by Jonathan Toews. He totaled just one assist in 18 games, but played very strong, shutdown D in the first three rounds.

Andrew Ference B

He suffered a broken foot early in the playoffs and missed seven games, but returned and played well beside Boychuk. Now a salary cap victim, his agility, puck-moving, smarts, toughness and off-ice leadership will be missed — and valued highly by his next employer.

Matt Bartkowski B

Another youngster prepared well by AHL time at Providence, he played two games vs. Toronto and all five vs. New York. Had 1-1-2 totals and minus-1. He played with confidence and skated the puck up ice very effectively. B’s fans should be very happy this guy wasn’t dealt for Jarome Iginla.

Wade Redden B

The veteran played five of the first six playoff games and scored the B’s first goal in Game 1 vs. Leafs. The unrestricted free agent is still a useful D-man, maybe here.

Dougie Hamilton B-

A healthy scratch six of last nine regular-season games, the 19-year-old played seven games vs. the Leafs and Rangers and did well, averaging 15:47, with 0-3-3 totals and an even plus/minus. The B’s need this kid to become a Rob Blake-type star and have good reason to believe he will.

FORWARDS

Patrice Bergeron A+

If there was a higher grade, he’d get it. The incredible courage Bergeron displayed in playing Game 6 vs. Chicago with multiple, severe injuries is now part of NHL lore. The entire postseason was filled with his hockey heroics: He had the game-tying goal at 19:09 of the third period in Game 7 vs. Toronto, and then the OT winner; he set up a Game 1 overtime goal vs. New York; he had a second-OT goal in Game 3 vs. Pittsburgh. He posted totals of 9-6-15, plus-2 and led NHL with 61.5 faceoff rate. He played smothering defense vs. superstar opponents. Is there a better all-round forward in the game?

David Krejci A

As in 2011, he led the playoffs in scoring (9-17-26 in 22 games), seven points more than runner-up Patrick Kane got in 23 games, and was plus-13. Totaled 0-5-5 and minus-1 in finals. Dominated the Toronto series with 5-8-13 totals.

Milan Lucic A

His great leadership qualities were obvious — and so was the fear he put into opposing defensemen as he thundered in on the forecheck. Totaled 7-12-19 and a plus-12 in the postseason, 4-2-6 in the finals. His 102 hits led the league, 17 more than the next guy. He even went 18-16 on faceoffs.

Nathan Horton A

Re-dislocated his shoulder in Game 1 of finals yet kept playing. With arm motion limited, he totaled just 0-2-2 in the six games. Overall, though, he logged 7-12-19 and plus-20 — one of the best playoff plus/minuses ever — and had two game-winning goals. A UFA-to-be, he earned $5.5 million (pro-rated) this season, and will be a tough re-sign for cap-pressed B’s, but a guy you’d hate to see walk away.

Gregory Campbell A

The courage he showed in playing for nearly a minute on a broken legin Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals will never be forgotten, but he also performed quite well in 15 playoff games. He totaled 3-4-7 and a plus-7 and scored twice in Game 5 vs. New York. Would a healthy Campbell have meant the Cup? Maybe.

Daniel Paille A-

The erstwhile fourth-liner took on far larger role and posted 4-5-9 totals and plus-4. Netted three game-winners, two in finals: Game 2 (OT) and Game 3.

Brad Marchand B-

The fast, pesky winger had three strong rounds (16 games; 4-9-13, plus-7), but then accomplished little in final — going scoreless and minus-3, with just 10 shots-on-goal. He had the overtime goal in Game 1 against the Rangers.

Jaromir Jagr C

Much-maligned for scoring zero playoff goals despite 58 shots, he did contribute 10 assists. As slow as he was, Jagr’s ability to hang on to the puck did draw and occupy defenders. Final analysis? A curious sideshow.

Chris Kelly C

Just couldn’t find an offensive touch, with 2-1-3 totals in 22 games, including the first goal on Game 6 of the title series. Was a minus-7. A key guy on pretty strong penalty-kill unit (88.7 percent).

Shawn Thornton C

Did his gritty job fairly well in limited ice time (7:20 per game), totaled 0-4-4 and a plus-3, and was often trusted by coach Claude Julien with shifts late in tight games.

Rich Peverley C-

Another cog in a B’s third line that was so good in 2011, yet so disappointing this year. The speedy forward had just 2-0-2 totals and minus-8 in 21 games.

Kaspars Daugavins D

He had little to offer in limited duty, going scoreless in six games.

Tyler Seguin D-

This probably ought to be an F, but 21-year-old did display an improved compete-level and grit at times. However, for a No. 2-overall pick handed a six-year, $34.5 million contract extension, one goal in 22 playoff games — despite 70 shots-on-goal, plus a few posts — is a career low-point. Was an injury involved? No one’s ever confirmed that.

Carl Soderberg Inc.

Tossed into the fire in Game 5 vs. Chicago, he did some good things. But looks a bit slow for this level.

COACHING

Claude Julien & Co. A

Julien’s chief assistant, Geoff Ward, doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves. Indeed, his whole staff — Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis and Bob Essensa — does a terrific job. The Bruins didn’t play their system well in the regular season, but snapped back into it in the postseason. Julien & Co. actually opened up more offensively, with very aggressive and effective pinching by D-men. The coaches did a great job on matchups, and in juggling the personnel when numerous players were limited by injuries.

FRONT OFFICE

Peter Chiarelli B

Chiarelli’s acquistion of Jagr was kind of a success, although pricey (this year’s first-round pick, plus two minor-league prospects). Watching Iginla play so lazily on the backcheck, Bruins fans should be delighted that the B’s deal for him (Bartkowski, Alex Khokhlachev) fell through. Redden proved to be useful pickup. And last year’s NCAA free agent signee, Krug, goes down as a great move. Now, Chiarelli has his work cut out for him, trying to build his ’13-14 roster under a squeezed salary cap — so that the B’s have a happier ending next year.

# GOALIE GPI GS MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV% G A PIM

40 Tuukka Rask 22 22 1466 1.88 14 8 3 3 761 46 .940 0 0 0

# POS PLAYER GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%

55 D Johnny Boychuk 22 6 1 7 4 10 0 0 1 63 9.5

47 D Torey Krug 15 4 2 6 5 0 3 0 0 34 11.8

33 D Zdeno Chara 22 3 12 15 7 20 0 0 0 55 5.5

54 D Adam McQuaid 22 2 2 4 9 10 0 0 1 11 18.2

6 D Wade Redden 5 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 9 11.1

43 D Matt Bartkowski 7 1 1 2 -1 4 0 0 0 12 8.3

27 D Dougie Hamilton 7 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 0.0

21 D Andrew Ference 14 0 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 19 0.0

44 D Dennis Seidenberg 18 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 30 0.0

# POS PLAYER GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%

46 C David Krejci 22 9 17 26 13 14 1 0 2 56 16.1

37 C Patrice Bergeron 22 9 6 15 2 13 4 0 2 71 12.7

11 C Gregory Campbell 15 3 4 7 7 11 0 0 1 20 15.0

23 C Chris Kelly 22 2 1 3 -7 19 0 0 0 26 7.7

49 C Rich Peverley 21 2 0 2 -8 12 1 0 0 35 5.7

19 C Tyler Seguin 22 1 7 8 -2 4 0 0 0 70 1.4

34 C Carl Soderberg 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.0

17 L Milan Lucic 22 7 12 19 12 14 0 0 0 42 16.7

63 L Brad Marchand 22 4 9 13 4 21 0 0 1 57 7.0

20 L Daniel Paille 22 4 5 9 4 0 0 1 3 27 14.8

22 L Shawn Thornton 22 0 4 4 3 18 0 0 0 26 0.0

16 L Kaspars Daugavins 6 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 9 0.0

18 R Nathan Horton 22 7 12 19 20 14 2 0 3 38 18.4

68 R Jaromir Jagr 22 0 10 10 -1 8 0 0 0 58 0.0



Nathan Horton won’t return to Bruins; Tyler Seguin cited in trade chatter

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Author(s):

Steve Conroy

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Nathan Horton informed team management today that he will not be re-signing with the Bruins, according to his agent Paul Krepelka, who stated that it’s Horton’s personal choice to test the free agent waters. Krepelka said there were no back-and-forth negotiations.

It’s a big loss for the Bruins. Not only did Horton combine with Milan Lucic and David Krejci to make a formidable, physical top line, he was a big part in the B’s two runs to the Stanley Cup finals in the last three years.

That news, which broke in early afternoon, added a wrinkle to an already very interesting weekend for the Bruins, and the league in general. With some big name players becoming unexpectedly available via buyouts — most notably Vincent Lecavalier and now Horton — draft weekend is shaping up to be a newsmaker.

And with the Bruins looking to both off-load salary to sign goalie Tuukka Rask and possibly jump in the bidding war for Lecavalier now that Horton won’t be back, it’s a good bet the B’s will be involved in the horse-trading. And Tyler Seguin’s name has surfaced.

At his media availability this morning, general manager Peter Chiarelli said the trade talk is picking up.

“It’s actually pretty active. I think when Lecavalier got bought out, it’s thrown some teams for a loop and there’s a trickle down effect,” said Chiarelli, who could kick the tires on Lecavalier himself. “It gives everyone pause for thought. But it’s been fairly active. I think a lot of teams are trying to figure out who they may buy out, so they’ve got time before July 5, and they’ve got assets that are available tomorrow in the draft, so it’s picking up steam.”

To sign both Rask and a Horton replacement, the B’s would clearly have to some salary and the most obvious casualty would be Rich Peverley and his $3.25 million. But there have been a lot rumblings here that Seguin, whose maturation process on and off the ice has been slower than anticipated, has been put on the trade block. Seguin has a cap hit of $5.75 million for the next six years, a hefty price for a player who scored once in four playoff rounds.

Chiarelli didn’t mention any of his players by name in trade discussions, but he did say he was looking to recoup a first-round pick, which he lost in the Jaromir Jagr deal. He estimated that this draft pool includes five or six players who could play in the NHL next year. Any deal involving Seguin would surely start with a first-round pick, and high one at that.

But while the salary cap is going down to $64.3 million for the 2013-14 season, there’s wide speculation that it will go right back up the following year. With that in mind, Chiarelli doesn’t want to proceed rashly.

“Acting rashly may be replacing something in a rash manner, or I get rid of something in a rash manner. So I have to be careful,” he said.

Despite the current situation with teams needing to shed players to become cap compliant, Chiarelli doesn’t believe he’ll have to accept a paltry return just to move salary. But if worse comes to worst, the B’s could dip into the growing free agent market.

“Based on my discussions, I don’t think that will happen. But you never say never,” said Chiarelli. “We could have trouble with the expanded supply, but I think there will be players who want to play for less. If we have to mix and match a little, I think we’ll be able to do it because we still have a strong contending team and there are going to be players who’ll want to play for us. If we get to that point, but I don’t think we will.”

Chiarelli said that he’s gotten calls from teams who want to obtain the negotiating rights to Andrew Ference, whom the B’s will not be able to afford under the new cap.

“I’ve had a couple of teams call on Andy,” said Chiarelli. “I’ve spoken with Andy’s agent and I’ve actually given Andy’s agent ton talk to teams. I’m not

going to stand in his way. He’s been a warrior for us and I want to help him as much as I can.”

It’s a good bet he’ll now get a couple of calls on Horton’s rights as well.



Horton won't be back with Bruins; Trade talk buzzing at draft; Seguin's name coming up

Saturday, June 29, 2013 -- Steve Conroy

JERSEY CITY—Nathan Horton has informed the Bruins today that he will not be re-signing in Boston, according to his agent Paul Krepelka. Krepelka said it's Horton's personal choice to test the free agent waters and that there were no back-and-forth negotiations.

It's a big loss for the B's. Not only did Horton combine with Milan Lucic and David Krejci to make a formidable, physical top line, he was a big part in the B's two runs to the Stanley Cup Finals in the last three years.

That news, which broke just minutes ago, added a wrinkle to an already very interesting weekened for the Bruins and the league in general. With some big name players becoming unexpectedly available via buyouts – most notably Vincent Lecavalier and now Horton – this draft weekend is shaping up to be a news-maker.

And with the Bruins looking to both offload salary to sign goalie Tuukka Rask and possible jump in the bidding war for Lecavalier now that Horton won't be back, it's a good bet the B's will be involved in the horse-trading.

At his media availability earlier today, GM Peter Chiarelli said the trade talk is picking up.

“It's actually pretty active. I think when Lecavalier got bought out, it's thrown some teams for a loop and there's a trickle down effect,” said Chiarelli, who could kic the tires on Lecavalier himself. “It gives everyone pause for thought. But it's been fairly active. I think a lot of teams are trying to figure out who they may buy out, so they've got time before July 5, and they've got assets that are available tomorrow in the draft, so it's picking up steam.”

To sign both Rask and a Horton replacement, the B's would clearly have to some salary and the most obvious casualty would be Rich Peverley and his $3.25 million. But there's been a lot rumblings here that the name of Tyler Seguin, whose maturation process on and off the ice has been slower than anticipated, is being bandied about. Seguin has a cap hit of $5.75 million for the next six years, a hefty price for a player who scred once in four playoff rounds.

Chiarelli didn't mention any of his players by name in trade discussions, but he did say he was looking to get a first round pick, which he lost in the Jaromir Jagr deal. He estimated there would be five or six players available who could play in the NHL next year. Any deal involving Seguin would surely start with a first round pick, and high one at that.

But while the salary cap is going down to $64.3 million for the upcoming, there's wide speculation that it will go right back up the following year. With that in mind, Chiarelli doesn't want to proceed rashly.

“Acting rashly may be replacing something in a rash manner, or I get rid of something in a rash manner. So I have to be careful,” he said.

Despite the current situation with teams needing to shed players to become cap compliant, Chiarelli doesn't believe he'll have to accept a paltry return just to move salary. But if worse comes to worst, the B's could dip into the growing free agent market.

“Based on my discussions, I don't think that will happen. But you never say never,” said Chiarelli. “We could have trouble with the expanded supply, but I think there'll be players who want to play for less. If we have to mix and match a little, I think we'll be able to do it because we still have a strong contending team and there are going to be players who'll want to play for us. If we get to that point, but I don't think we will.”

Chiarelli said that he's gotten calls from teams who want to obtain the negotiating rights to Andrew Ference, whom the B's will not be able to afford under the new cap.

“I've had a couple of teams call on Andy,” said Chiarelli. “I've spoken with Andy's agent and I've actually given Andy's agent ton talk to teams. I'm not going to stand in his way. He's been a warrior for us and I want to help him as much as I can.”

It's a good bet he'll now get a couple of calls on Horton's rights as well.


682953 Buffalo Sabres

NHL prospect Bailey has a pro pedigree

By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl

on June 29, 2013 - 11:03 PM, updated June 29, 2013 at 11:15 PM

NEW YORK — Justin Bailey has been touched by hockey since Matthew Barnaby held him as a baby. As a preschooler, Bailey mimicked Rick Jeanneret while imagining victories for the Buffalo Sabres. He lived with Pat LaFontaine.

Bailey’s lifelong fantasy has been to join those role models in the NHL fraternity. Thanks to enviable size, stellar skating and a glass-shattering shot, his moment has arrived.

The Williamsville native will hear his name called today at the entry draft in New Jersey, probably in the first two rounds. The 18-year-old winger will then praise his family, friends and God for helping him achieve the dream.

“Hockey’s always been my passion,” Bailey said. “I’m happy it’s brought me this far.”

As on most successful journeys, Bailey needed to overcome obstacles, benefit from correct decisions and receive help. He’ll share in the success with his mother/confidante in the Prudential Center, teammates scattered from Buffalo to Ontario to Long Island, and a little-known father in North Carolina who is well-known to Bills fans.

“I’m proud of him because I don’t think I’ve ever had a clear dream like he’s had,” said Bailey’s mother, Karen Buscaglia. “It was just a fun thing to watch him do.”

The road to the draft started early. Bailey, who plays for Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League, gravitated toward hockey as a toddler. He lived in the same Williamsville apartment complex as Barnaby, Rob Ray and Michael Peca, three of the most popular Sabres at the time.

“My mom and aunt grew a little bit of a relationship with them,” said Bailey, born July 1, 1995. “Watching them and being able to see them on a personal level, I just wanted to be like them. I got into hockey and loved it ever since.”

Barnaby remains a mentor and has been skating with Bailey for 11 hours per week.

“Besides Eric Lindros, Justin Bailey probably has the best first couple strides for a big man that I’ve ever seen,” Barnaby said of the 6-foot-3, 186-pounder. “He probably has top-five hardest shots I’ve ever seen come off the stick. He’s really coming into his own. He’s still got a lot to learn, but the sky’s the limit for this kid.”

Impartial scouts agree. Bailey is rated as the 38th-best skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting, and teams are intrigued by his potential.

“He’s a high riser,” said Kevin Devine, the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting. “Most teams have him going somewhere in the second round. He’s a big kid that works very hard, needs to fill out his frame, get adjusted to the Canadian game a little more, get a little bit more physical. He’s got lots of potential.”

Bailey’s status as a prospect has grown exponentially during the past two years. It started with a decision to move into LaFontaine’s home on Long Island.

The Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League picked Bailey 11th overall in their 2011 draft, and he made the team. Buscaglia thought the 15-year-old was still too much of a kid to move halfway across the country. Ken Martin, an NHL diversity executive and mutual friend of Buscaglia and LaFontaine, put the sides in touch with a different plan.

Soon, Bailey was living in LaFontaine’s home and playing for a team coached by the Hockey Hall of Famer and fellow NHL alum Steve Webb.

“He welcomed me with open arms into his home and onto his team,” Bailey said. “The way that he handled everything, I give him a lot of thanks for that.

“There were a lot of things on the mental side of the game, getting to know myself more as a player. Just the way we would watch hockey and the way he would break down the games was something special.”

LaFontaine taught Bailey about nutrition and off-ice preparation. Webb taught him how to control his emotions on the ice so he wouldn’t burn out during the first period. Together, they showed Bailey how to be a responsible teen.

“He came out of Long Island learning so much more than just hockey,” Buscaglia said.

The Long Island squad won the under-16 national championship, and Bailey caught the eye of Kitchener coach Steve Spott. Though Bailey had already committed to attend Michigan State, Spott convinced him to make a drive to Kitchener and check things out.

Bailey was hooked on the organization and the thought of developing in junior hockey. He recorded 17 goals and 36 points in 57 games this season while getting accustomed to the huge jump from travel hockey to Canada’s top circuit.

“I saw the development right from the start of the career to where he was in the playoffs,” Barnaby said. “Because it was such a veteran-laden team, there wasn’t much pressure put on him. They were able to groom him the right way. Sometimes you aren’t put in a position to succeed, and he certainly was put in that by his coach up there.”

Spott and men such as LaFontaine, Barnaby and especially Buscaglia’s stepfather, Bob Tronolone, fill a special place in Bailey’s world – one that lacks an active father.

His dad is Carlton Bailey, who played linebacker for the Bills from 1988 to ’92. Justin was born while the football player was transitioning from the New York Giants to the Carolina Panthers. Carlton began a life in Charlotte while Buscaglia decided on Western New York.

“I grew up on my mom’s side of the family, so I don’t have a ton of contact with my dad,” Justin said. “It’s more during birthdays or holidays, but when we do talk, he does try to get his two cents in. They usually are pretty lengthy when he tries to get in those lessons that maybe he didn’t give to me as a kid.”

They recently had a discussion about what it takes to be a professional athlete.

“It’s great to be able to see that his goals and dreams have been able to come true,” Carlton Bailey said by phone from North Carolina. “Many people spend the large majority of their lives and never really have the chance to achieve the dreams that they do have.

“The most important thing is to be able to continue to work hard, to be disciplined, to be able to really play the game with passion like he did years ago when he was playing in the snow playing for the Sabres.”

Carlton is listed in Justin’s hockey bios, which usually leads to questions for the son about his dad. Justin handles the inquiries well despite the sensitive situation.

“Our relationship, everybody goes through different things, and when I’m called upon, I’m always going to be here,” Carlton said. “I love him no matter what. I think sometimes as men we may not understand how to express that. It’s not always the most masculine thing to be able to do. All of us choose different ways to be able to express our love, but the bottom line is that the love is always going to be there.”

Justin Bailey’s affection for his mom and God is always on display. He praises her for sacrifices such as 5 a.m. rides to practice and using tax refunds to pay for ice time.

“She’s everything to me, and I know I’m everything to her,” Bailey said. “The hard work that she put in really paid off. Whenever things get tough, I think of my family and back to God, as well, to keep me going and to keep me strong.”

Buscaglia bought her only child a bracelet to wear when he was trying out for Indiana. It read, “When in doubt: Pray.” He still wears an identical one every day.

Today, there should be no doubts. Prayers will be answered. His dream of joining an NHL team will come true.

“It’s amazing to look back,” Bailey said.

“Each transition just seemed to click,” Buscaglia added. “It was like puzzle pieces fitting together. I look at him and see such maturity both in his game and as a person. I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.30.2013


Miller, Vanek expected to stay with Sabres through draft

By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl


NEW YORK — There’s plenty of tire kicking left to be done, and engines are known to rev once all the general managers gather on the NHL draft floor. Still, it appears Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek won’t be hitting the road this weekend.

Sabres GM Darcy Regier said an abundance of names are being tossed around for trades, and he’s gauging the marketplace for Buffalo’s top players. Based on what he’s heard, he expects Miller and Vanek to remain in Buffalo through the end of the draft today.

“Right now, I do, yes,” Regier told The Buffalo News on Saturday afternoon.

Miller’s agent, Mike Liut, concurred in regard to his client.

“I am not expecting anything to happen,” he said via email.

The draft, which starts at 3 p.m. in the New Jersey Devils’ arena, is one of the prime transaction dates on the hockey calendar. Despite all the names being mentioned — including Boston center Tyler Seguin and Vancouver goalies Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo — Regier says there’s no guarantee anyone will move.

“As you add names and the supply gets greater, I don’t know what that will do with the asking prices and whether teams will be able to get the asking price or whether there will be any kind of adjustment in the marketplace for players or for the acquisition of players,” Regier said. “It’s really still a bit of a moving target that hasn’t settled yet.”

Miller and Vanek are the top names on the Sabres’ shopping list because they are set to enter the final year of their contracts. Buffalo is not expected to contend for the Stanley Cup and there is no assurance the players will re-sign, so Regier cannot let them exit the organization next summer without getting assets in return.

“I entered this weekend recognizing that they both are in the last year of their contracts, and I have a responsibility to see what that means both with those players and also within the marketplace,” Regier said. “Unless you’re a highly competitive team, it’s very difficult to have players on your roster whose contracts are going to expire if you either choose not to or don’t have the ability to re-up them.

“Just to lose those assets, you try to get a sense of what the marketplace is like, and that’s a process that’s ongoing. I expect it will continue to move through the draft into maybe free agency and maybe beyond that. We’re actively keeping our finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the league, and we’ll have to just make our decision.”

The lack of trade activity extends to the draft. The Sabres are set to pick eighth and 16th overall in the first round.

“Right now, I expect that we will pick where we’re picking, and I say that only because there’s nothing that’s imminent or concrete,” Regier said. “But like I said, there are a lot of conversations, and they will continue right until the draft starts and even beyond that.”

Regier said recently that most trade talk centered around lesser-known players, but that took a dramatic shift Saturday. Several reports had Boston willing to move Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis admitted to listening to offers for Schneider, his young goaltender who supplanted Luongo to create an unsustainable tandem.

“We’re listening to proposals,” Gillis said. “I’m not sure how it’s going to turn out, but we’re certainly listening.”

...

The Sabres have 10 picks in today’s draft, tied with Nashville, Winnipeg and Los Angeles for the most. In addition to the two first-round selections, they have a pair in the second (Nos. 38 and 52), three picks in the fifth round (129, 130 and 143) and one pick each in rounds three (69), six (159) and seven (189). They do not have a fourth-round pick.

...

Mike Gilbert remembers being lucky enough to watch Team USA’s triumph over Russia in the 1980 Olympics live on Canadian television. He’s going to be even more fortunate next year. He’ll be watching the 2014 Games live in Russia, and he’ll be part of them.

USA Hockey has named Gilbert as its media relations liaison for the Olympics in Sochi. The Sabres’ longtime vice president of public and community relations is the only person selected to join Dave Fischer, USA Hockey’s senior director of communications.

“It was a little humbling,” Gilbert said. “I was surprised and I was honored at the same time to be recognized that way.”



Cup winner Fucale catches Sabres’ eye

By Mike Harrington | News Sports Reporter | @BNHarrington


NEW YORK – The Buffalo Sabres just signed Jhonas Enroth to a two-year deal, acquired Matt Hackett from Minnesota in the Jason Pominville trade, watched Andrey Makarov star for Saskatoon and play well in the Memorial Cup, and have drafted Nathan Lieuwen and Linus Ullmark in the sixth round the last two years.

So what about another goaltender today in the NHL Entry Draft? And in the first round, no less?

At first glance, it may seem unlikely whether the Sabres trade Ryan Miller or keep him past today. But the team is known to be very interested in Halifax’s Zach Fucale, the top-rated goaltender in the draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Kevin Devine, the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting, said last week one of the team’s draft picks today will be a netminder. But he surprised media assembled for the draft preview news conference when he said “maybe even a goaltender comes into it” when talking about the No. 16 overall pick, the Sabres’ second in the first round.

That can only mean Fucale, the 18-year-old who backstopped Halifax to the Memorial Cup. How curious are the Sabres about Fucale? He told The News at Friday’s draft prospects luncheon in Weehawken, N.J., that the only two teams that brought him in for private combine workouts were the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres haven’t spent a first-rounder on a goalie since taking Mika Norenen in 1997.

“I don’t have to look very hard,” Fucale said when asked if he’s pondered Buffalo’s fluid situation in goal. “With all the information we’re exposed to these days, it’s not too complicated. Especially for goalies. We know the teams that might need one but so many things can change on draft day that you have to just wait.”

Fucale is a 6-foot-1, 181-pound butterfly specialist. He went 45-5-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .909 save percentage for Halifax. In the postseason, he was 16-1, 2.02, .918. The only loss came to Saskatoon and Makarov.

“Fucale is just grace under fire, under pressure,” said Dan Marr, the NHL’s Central Scouting director. “I’ve never seen him be on an emotional roller coaster in a game. He’s got real quick instincts and quick recovery on the play and his reflexes are outstanding. It’s just that composure that he has, that mental toughness that’s so important for a goaltender.”

“He’s a big goalie, pretty skinny off the ice but not many holes on it,” said Halifax teammate Jonathan Drouin, who will get selected in the top four today. “He’s not rushing or stressing about anything. I never saw him lose focus. He’s always in his bubble and he’s a really calm goalie.”

Fucale said he tries to stay quiet in the crease and simplify the game with his puck-tracking skills so he’s in position to make saves.

“Your task is stopping the puck. You focus on that task,” he said. “You don’t make it complicated as a goalie. You go day by day and let your skills develop.”

Teams ahead of the Sabres who figure to have some interest in Fucale as well include New Jersey at No. 9 (looking to have a prospect behind Martin Brodeur), Philadelphia at No. 11 and the New York Islanders at No. 15.

Fucale said practice was as important to him as games, given the fact he was going against Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon, the likely No. 1 pick today by Colorado, during every workout.

“For me, there were some days where it was kind of boring because it was basically impossible to stop them,” he said. “Then there were some days it would be really challenging and a lot of fun.”

“He acts like a 30-year-old man in the net,” said MacKinnon. “Definitely a very mature guy. He’s aware of what kind of goalie he is. He wants composure to be a strength of his game.”

And about Fucale’s claim that practice was impossible at times?

“I think he’s exaggerating a little bit,” said MacKinnon. “It was very tough to score on him. Jon and I have to do shootouts after every drill. He was always very good on that.”



Regier expects Miller, Vanek to remain with Sabres through draft weekend

June 29, 2013 - 2:37 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK – Darcy Regier entered draft weekend ready to gauge the marketplace for Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek. As of now, he expects to exit draft weekend with them as members of the Sabres.

“Right now, I do, yes,” Regier said this afternoon.

Miller’s agent, Mike Liut, concurs in regard to his client.

“I am not expecting anything to happen,” he said via email.

The trade market has had a number of names added to it this weekend, but Regier says that doesn’t mean transactions will occur.

“As you add names and the supply gets greater, I don’t know what that will do with the asking prices and whether teams will be able to get the asking price or whether there will be any kind of adjustment in the marketplace for players or for the acquisition of players,” Regier said. “It’s really still a bit of a moving target that hasn’t settled yet.”

Miller and Vanek are the top names on the Sabres’ shopping list because they are set to enter the final year of their contracts. Buffalo is not expected to contend for the Stanley Cup and there is no guarantee the players will re-sign, so Regier cannot let them exit the organization next summer without getting assets in return.

“I entered this weekend recognizing that they both are in the last year of their contracts, and I have a responsibility to see what that means both with those players and also within the marketplace,” Regier said. “Unless you’re a highly competitive team, it’s very difficult to have players on your roster whose contracts are going to expire if you either choose not to or don’t have the ability to re-up them.

“Just to lose those assets, you try to get a sense of what the marketplace is like, and that’s a process that’s ongoing. I expect it will continue to move through the draft into maybe free agency and maybe beyond that. We’re actively keeping our finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the league, and we’ll have to just make our decision.”

The lack of trade activity extends to the draft, which will be held Sunday in New Jersey. The Sabres are set to pick eighth and 16th overall.

“Right now I expect that we will pick where we’re picking, and I say that only because there’s nothing that’s imminent or concrete,” Regier said. “But like I said, there are a lot of conversations, and they will continue right until the draft starts and even beyond that.”



Sabres' Gilbert honored, humbled to join USA Hockey staff for Sochi Olympics

June 29, 2013 - 1:08 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK -- Mike Gilbert remembers being lucky enough to watch Team USA's triumph over Russia in the 1980 Olympics live on Canadian television. He's going to be even more fortunate next year. He'll be watching the 2014 Games live in Russia, and he'll be part of it.

USA Hockey today named Gilbert to its public relations staff for the Olympics in Sochi. The Sabres' longtime vice president of public and community relations is the only one selected to join Dave Fischer, USA Hockey's senior director of communications.

"It was a little humbling," Gilbert said. "I was surprised and I was honored at the same time to be recognized that way."

Gilbert was part of USA Hockey's news conference today in which it named Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma as coach and Nashville's David Poile as general manager. Pittsburgh's Ray Shero will be the associate GM and Brian Burke will be director of player personnel. The national team advisory group will include Stan Bowman (Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles) and Dale Tallon (Florida).

"It really didn’t sink in a lot until today," Gilbert said. "You see all the GMs. Stan Bowman, who won the Stanley Cup a week ago, was right there. Dave Poile and Ray Shero, all these different people, and it started hitting home that, ‘Wow, these guys are the best in the United States,' and to be part of that in a small way was neat."



Seth Jones won't be offended if Avalanche draft a forward instead of him at No. 1

June 29, 2013 - 12:28 PM

By John Vogl

NEW YORK -- Seth Jones has been ranked No. 1 by NHL Central Scouting all year. When the Colorado Avalanche won the draft lottery, it seemed liked a no-brainer that they'd stick with the rankings and take the former Denver resident and Avs fan with the first pick.

But the Avs have indicated they're leaning toward center Nathan MacKinnon, with Jonathan Drouin also a possibility. Jones understands the logic and Colorado's outspokenness.

"That’s the first time in a long time that anyone’s came out like that, but I don’t blame them," Jones said. "I’m not taking it personally. It’s professional sports. It would have been a nice story, but at the same time they’ve got to make a decision. It’s definitely a tough one this year. Nathan’s a great player, along with Jonathan."

Jones then displayed his knowledge of draft history.

"I mean, one’s very special, but Chris Pronger’s been No. 2, Drew Doughty has been No. 2, so there’s been a lot of good defensemen and players in general that have gone on to have great careers," he said.



A goalie at No. 16? Sabres have some interest in Halifax's Fucale

By Mike Harrington

NEW YORK -- When the Sabres held their draft preview press conference last week, amateur scouting director Kevin Devine made it clear one of their 10 picks Sunday in the Prudential Center would be a goalie. Then Devine raised the antenna of those assembled when he said "maybe even a goaltender comes into it" when talking about the No. 16 overall pick, the Sabres' second in the first round.

That could mean only one player: Halifax 18-year-old Zach Fucale, the netminder who played behind draft superstuds Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin to lead the Mooseheads over Seth Jones-led Portland in the Memorial Cup championship game.

Fucale attended the annual Prospects Luncheon Friday afternoon in Weehawken, N.J., on the shores of the Hudson and the Quebec native dropped a mini bombshell when I asked him what teams brought him in for their own combines. The answer? Montreal and Buffalo.

Teams ahead of the Sabres who figure to have some interest in Fucale as well include the Devils at No. 9 (they need to develop a propsect behind Martin Brodeur at some point, right?), the Flyers at No. 11 and the Islanders at No. 15. But if the Sabres keep the No. 16 pick -- and that's a big if -- Fucale seems to be a legitimate option.

"I don't have to look very hard," Fucale said when asked if he's pondered Buffalo's fluid situation in goal. "With all the information we're exposed to these days, it's not too complicated. Especially for goalies. We know the teams that might need one but so many things can change on draft day that you have to just wait."

But would the outlook change if the Sabres were to deal Ryan Miller between now and, say, 4 p.m. Sunday?

"I guess it would," Fucale said with a laugh. "I don't really know what to say to that. Sunday is when I imagine this is all going to play out and when you're in my situation, you're just excited to be a part of this whole thing."

The Sabres, of course, just signed Jhonas Enroth to a two-year deal and have Matt Hackett, acquired from Minnesota in the Jason Pominville deal, likely to back him up. They have other goalies in the system as well, notably Andrey Makarov, their undrafted free agent signee from last season who went on to star for Saskatoon and even beat Halifax in the Memorial Cup. Their sixth-rounder the last two years has also been a goalie (Nathan Lieuwen and Linus Ullmark). But do any of them project down the road as an elite, top-of-the-line goalie? Hmmm.

Be sure to read my story on Fucale, including the thoughts of MacKinnon and Drouin on their goalie, in Sunday's editions of The Buffalo News. Apologies for no audio from Fucale here, but his 12-minute session with the media hopscotched between French and English and more of it was in French.



Road to the NHL Draft: Sean Malone

June 29, 2013 - 10:00 AM

By John Vogl

Sean Malone

Position: Center

Junior team: U.S. Under-18 (USHL)

Born: Buffalo

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 183 pounds

2012-13 stats: 44 games, 13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points

Central Scouting rank: No. 62 (North America)

Lowdown: Malone has toured the world since leaving Nichols School last year. He’s played home games in Michigan and pulled the USA crest over his head in Sweden and Russia. He’ll play in Boston next season as a forward for Harvard University. He’ll also get a future stop on his resume when an NHL team drafts him.

Malone’s hustle and skating should pique the interest of teams starting in the middle rounds. He has international experience after playing in the under-18 world junior tournament and the Ivan Hlinka tourney. The exposure helped him make a 38-spot jump in the eyes of NHL Central Scouting, which had him at No. 98 in the midterm rankings.

The 18-year-old struggled at times during the under-18 world juniors. He had just one assist in the seven games and was minus-2 while averaging 13:14 of ice time per game.

He said it: "You see all these guys here, all the same age, all working for the same thing. You want to make sure you’re working hard because you’ve got other competitors here. If you put in the work in the offseason, you can maybe get a step above some of these guys.” – Malone after attending the NHL Scouting Combine.

The Buffalo News is profiling 30 prospects in 30 days leading up to the NHL draft June 30.


682961 Calgary Flames

Nieminen — still playing, still laughing

June 29, 2013. 1:08

Posted by:

Scott Cruickshank

First, Ville Nieminen grins, one of those wide-mouthed displays of pearly whites.

He also cackles. Stifles a snort.

Then finally guffaws.

A cult hero in Calgary, Nieminen has been asked to single out his favourite one-liner from his (too brief) time with the Flames, a run that included the 2004 playoffs.

As stellar as he had been in the post-season, Nieminen became known for his sense of humour, for his give and take with reporters, for his array of off-the wall cornball jokes.

His whacky take on, well, everything was a joy.

Former NHL player Ville Nieminen (L) answers questions about his teammate Aleksander Barkov of Finland during media availability on June 28, 2013 in Weehawken, New Jersey. The NHL will be holding its player draft on June 30 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Former NHL player Ville Nieminen (L) answers questions about his teammate Aleksander Barkov on June 28, 2013 in Weehawken, New Jersey.

“I remember all that stuff and I keep laughing,” says Nieminen, 36, attending this weekend’s NHL draft with his protege Aleksander Barkov, with whom he played this past season. “But nowadays English is a hard language for me — I can’t even remember when I last talked English. Probably someone else better remembers all my one-liners than I do.”

Happy to oblige.

After a prance through the archives, here, from Nieminen’s term with the Flames, is a sampling of his greatest quips:

* “I’m all Swedish, no Finnish.”

* “Give me the puck. I’m hot — in the steam room.”

* “I told the guys before that I had good hands — but it was in the casino.”

* “If your goalie’s not there? It’s like trying to build a house on soft land.”

* “Just from school.” (After being asked if he’d even been suspended.)

* “I got out of the ship. I jumped out and swam back to land.” (After being traded from Chicago to playoff-bound Calgary.)

* “For us, it was office hockey, whatever you call it, You know, when you play from the office — no emotion, a flat effort.”

* “On the road, we play hospital hockey — lots of patience.”

* “We are trying to find the body parts we left out there.” (Nodding towards the ice during the playoff break.)

* “OK, the Here, There, Everywhere Line. The second stupid name was the More Speed And Heart Than Skill Line. Or, the More Everything Else Than Skill Line.” (After being asked to come up with a name for his line with Shean Donovan and Marcus Nilson.)

* “I think starting in Game 3, we had one bus and 20 drivers . . . and 20 steering wheels.”

* “Well, you start with a clean table. But it won’t take long before it’s a dirty table.” (After being asked about the upcoming series against Tampa.)

* “One thing — I will be well-rested and almost arrested.” (After serving a one-game suspension for blindsiding Vincent Lecavalier.)

* “We got outworked, we got outmuscled, we got outplayed, we got whatever-out. We got all kinds of outs. And now we are out of Tampa.”

* “What do you think would happen if I turned all the water sprinklers on in the Saddledome? Just turned them all on. Do you think there’s a chance I’d maybe get a penalty?”

* “Actually, with me and teachers, it was a love-hate relationship. They hated me until they got to know me. Then they loved me. I wouldn’t take Swedish class. Refused. You know about the rivalry between the Finns and Swedes? Well, I’d get halfway to the classroom and stop. Stop dead. I couldn’t physically go in that room.”

* “In grade school, I thought I’d be a chef. If you need potatoes peeled, I’m your man. But, sorry, I don’t do any peeling for parties of under 300 people. That ambition, to cook food for a living, passed, though. Can you see me carving the roast beef wearing my shoulder pads underneath my white chef’s outfit?”

And on and on and on. From only a few months of material.

GM Darryl Sutter had acquired Nieminen from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jason Morgan. The trade forced Lynn Loyns to the press box, and Nieminen soon proved his worth — and not just in interviews.

He went on to register eight points in 19 regular-season appearances, eight points (and two suspensions) in 24 post-season dates — and to upset countless members of the opposition.

“I was at my best as a hockey player at that time,” says Nieminen. “The (2004-05) lockout came for me at the wrong time. And I think it came at the wrong time for the Calgary Flames.”

Not surprisingly, he has fond memories of his Calgary days.

“We had the best team — maybe not the best players — but the best team,” says Nieminen. “We played the best team defence. And we had a very, very tough team. Team toughness. That team was very humble because every player wanted to get better . . . and wanted to take that next step.”

Nieminen, this weekend, is never far from Barkov, who figures to be a top-four pick in the draft.

Nieminen had been his linemate this past winter for Tappare Tampere. He’s trained with Barkov since the kid was 12. And, once upon a time, he skated alongside Barkov’s father.

Nieminen hasn’t played in the NHL since 2006-07 — with the St. Louis Blues. Because of that, he insists he hadn’t spent much time thinking about North America. But being here in New Jersey changes all of that.

“I’ve started to think about my NHL career more,” he says. “This NHL draft is a second chance to live it again.”

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Sportsnet analyst says Calgary Flames could open season in Saskatoon

— Calgary Sun Staff

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 11:31 PM MDT

Since the extent of the damage to the Saddledome was revealed earlier this week, questions have lingered about where the Calgary Flames will play their home games if the arena’s not fixed by the time the first puck drops on the 2013-14 NHL season.

Well … how does a couple trips to Saskatoon sound for ya, Flames fans?

On Saturday, Sportsnet’s John Shannon tweeted that the Saskatchewan city is being looked at to house the Flames if the Dome’s not ready.

“Flames home-opener slated for October 6th ... been told that if Saddledome isn’t ready, League and Team are looking at Saskatoon,” Shannon tweeted.

The most likely venue for Flames tilts in Toon Town would be the Credit Union Centre, the home of the Saskatoon Blades with capacity for 15,190 fans.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.30.2013


SIX players the Calgary Flames could pick at No. 6

By RANDY SPORTAK ,Calgary Sun

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 10:35 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, June 29, 2013 11:14 PM MDT

The Calgary Flames — barring a trade — will complete the first six-pack of players chosen in Sunday’s NHL Draft.

Just who will fill the final spot in that collection of talent remains to be seen.

As much as the Flames have a wish-list of who they want most with the first of their three first-round picks, they are at the whim of the five clubs that draft before them.

It’s impossible to imagine Nathan MacKinnon or Seth Jones will be around when Calgary GM Jay Feaster and the rest of the braintrust step to the lectern at the draft in New Jersey and make their first selection.

Odds are Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov will also be long gone in the top four, but it’s not a slam dunk with the likes of Darnell Nurse, Valeri Nichushkin, Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan in the mix.

Still, we’ll assume MacKinnon, Jones, Drouin and Barkov will be the top four picks when dissecting who could be available for the Flames to choose from when they step to the podium.

Here’s a six pack of players who could be in the mix when the Flames make their pick and why they should be thrilled to get him:

1

LW Valeri Nichushkin (Chelyabinsk, KHL)

6-foot-4, 196 lb.

41 GP 15 G 8 A 23 Pts.

Central Scouting Ranking:

No. 2 European Skaters

The Flames need a first-line centre and a top defenceman more than a top-line winger, but the big Russian might sway them. He’s big, has scoring ability and is willing to drive to the net. There is definitely a risk-reward element to drafting Nichushkin — he could be a top-line winger or the next Nikolai Zherdev.

2

C Elias Lindholm (Brynas, Sweden)

6-foot, 181 lb.

48 GP 11 G 19 A 30 Pts.

Central Scouting Ranking:

No. 3 European Skaters

A strong, two-way player who led all junior-aged players in the Swedish Elite League this past season, Lindholm was also the rookie of the year. His scoring abilities include being a strong passer, making him a potential top-two centre the Flames desperately need. He may not have the size you want in a cornerstone centre but is very competitive on the ice.

3

D Darnell Nurse

(Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

6-foot-4, 189 lb.

68 GP 12 G 29 A 41 Pts

Central Scouting Ranking: No. 4 North American Skaters

The nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, Nurse is more likely to be known more for his defensive game than as an offensive

standout, but he does possess enough game at both ends of the ice to be a potential top-pairing blueliner. The Flames could count on finding a top-line forward down the road if they believe Nurse and T.J. Brodie are their top pair of the future.

4

C Sean Monahan (Ottawa, OHL)

6-foot-2, 186 lb.

58 GP 31 G 47 A 78 Pts.


A two-way centre who is more of a playmaker than shooter in the offensive zone, the Ottawa 67’s captain was the team’s leading scorer during what was a awful season for the club. His skating is a bit of a question, but his competitive nature helps the cause. Known for his smarts, he’s also very good on faceoffs, another area the Flames are dreadful.

5

C/LW Hunter Shinkaruk (Medicine Hat, WHL)

5-foot-11, 175 lb.

64 GP 37 G 49 A 86 Pts


An exciting player in the offensive zone, the Calgary product has the ability to both score and set up goals. He seems more like a winger than a centre, and he does need to add size to be ready for the NHL grind. It’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to jump to the big leagues immediately, but over time, he will develop his game.

6

D Rasmus Ristolainen (TPS, Finland)

6-foot 3, 201 lb.

52 GP 3 G 12 A 15 Pts

Central Scouting Ranking: No. 4 European Skaters

With mobility to go with his size, the big blueliner is a good puck-mover and willing to play a physical game. It would be going somewhat off the board for the Flames to take him sixth overall, especially if the more heralded Darnell Nurse is available and a defenceman is the priority.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.30.2013

682964 Carolina Hurricanes

Time has come for Hurricanes to put plan into action

Published: June 29, 2013

By Luke DeCock - staff columnist

The NHL Draft is as much about older players as it is the league’s newest generation of players. You can’t put that many general managers in one place without a few trades happening by accident. This summer, with several teams scrambling to get under the declining salary cap, there may never have been more players available.

That’s good news for the Carolina Hurricanes, who need to upgrade their roster in several areas, have some cap space available and maybe even a little money to spend for a change.

Even if the Hurricanes don’t make a deal this weekend in New Jersey, they’ll certainly know who’s available – or is likely to be available once the initial days of free agency sort themselves out, starting Friday.

This is a big weekend for the Hurricanes, and it has nothing to do with who they draft fifth overall Sunday. (The smart play, in what may be the deepest draft in a decade, would be to either trade up for one of the three elite players in the draft – Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin – or down for additional first-round picks.)

There will be opportunities, if not now, then soon. It’s absolutely imperative the Hurricanes act on them.

There are three areas that probably need the most strengthening: defense, third-line center and depth forwards who can kill penalties and win a faceoff or two.

The blue line is in obvious need of a talent injection, and there are free agents like Ron Hainsey and Andrew Ference available, while the Toronto Maple Leafs are rumored to be shopping Dion Phaneuf.

Meanwhile, Marc Staal is a year away from free agency and the New York Rangers just made a coaching change. With concerns over his eye injury and contract status, could the Hurricanes pry a Staal brother loose for the second straight summer?

Neither Phaneuf nor Staal would come cheap. Neither, for that matter, will Hainsey nor Ference or anyone else on the open market. But if the Hurricanes are serious about fixing a defense that was painfully exposed as inadequate after Cam Ward was injured last season, they’re going to have to pay for it. That means spending money, and it may mean giving up either the No. 5 pick or a player like Jeff Skinner.

(The possibility of trading Skinner, as noted at the end of the season, is something the Hurricanes should consider – if, and only if, the return justifies his departure.)

There are probably 28 other teams looking for upgrades on defense, which is almost always the case, so it’s never easy nor cheap – which is one reason why the Hurricanes have procrastinated for years, since the core of the 2002 and 2006 teams aged out of the league. They’ve tried to do it on the cheap (remember Josef Melichar?) and they’ve tried to buy low on players who have underachieved elsewhere, like Joni Pitkanen, without success.

As for the additions forward, it sounds like an easier task, but it rarely is. Some of the names floating around are certainly attractive, but not without their negatives.

A guy like Rich Peverley is the kind of multi-role player the Hurricanes need at forward, and the Boston Bruins are likely going to have to trade him for cap reasons, but he’s making more than $3 million. That would make him the Hurricanes’ sixth-highest paid forward, too much for his role as the roster is currently constructed.

Then again, teams that play for the Stanley Cup two out of the past three years are willing to pay that kind of money to that kind of player.

The Hurricanes have talked a good game about increasing their payroll, fixing the defense and getting a better mix of forwards. The time has come to get to work. The time has come to back those words with action.

News Observer LOADED: 06.30.2013

682965 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes’ high NHL draft pick: High stakes, big investment

Published: June 29, 2013 Updated 6 hours ago

By Chip Alexander — [email protected]

If all goes as planned, the Carolina Hurricanes will have the No. 5 pick Sunday in the NHL Entry Draft, looking to choose a player who can jump into the lineup, produce immediately, excite their fans and get the Canes back in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Whether they take a Russian winger such as Valeri Nichushkin, a Swedish center such as Elias Lindholm or a Canadian defenseman such as Darnell Nurse, the Hurricanes will have spent thousands of dollars scouting players in which they will invest millions. And millions more in revenue – in merchandise sales, gate receipts, playoff payoffs, you name it – could be at stake.

In 2010, with the seventh overall pick, the Hurricanes took Jeff Skinner. The forward would score 31 goals, win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year and become highly marketable.

Skinner’s draft choice was deemed a “home run” by management. Having missed the playoffs the past four seasons, the Canes now need to hit another one.

“The pressure is tremendous, and you feel it with every pick at the top,” said Dan Marr, the NHL’s director of Central Scouting and a former NHL scout. “You want to be right with that first-rounder. They can be the staples of the franchise as you move forward, so there is that pressure.”

In 2003, the Hurricanes took center Eric Staal with the No. 2 pick after the Pittsburgh Penguins made goalie Marc-Andre Fleury the first overall selection. Three years later, Staal was lifting the Stanley Cup. He’s the Canes’ team captain, the face of the franchise.

Then there was 2005. Picking third, the Hurricanes took defenseman Jack Johnson. He played college hockey at Michigan, rebuffed the Canes’ requests to start his professional career and eventually was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, never putting on a Carolina sweater.

“There is more pressure the higher the pick, no doubt,” Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said. “There’s more focus on it.”

In the Canes’ case, the focus also is on Tony MacDonald, the team’s director of amateur scouting.

The eventual first-round choice is made generally by committee, after meetings in the team’s offices at PNC Arena and more discussions in the days before the draft. But MacDonald is the front man, for good or bad, and senses the urgency of being right.

“The trend (in the NHL) now is these guys need to come in and make your team,” MacDonald said of the high-end draft picks. “We think we will pick a player at five who is able to come in and make our team.

“You’d like him to make a big impact on the lineup, but that’s asking a lot of someone who’s 18 years old. Jeff Skinner made a pretty solid impression in his rookie year. That doesn’t always happen. If we pick someone this year who can score 31 goals we’d be pretty pleased.”

Following an abbreviated season, the NHL will hold an abbreviated draft Sunday. Normally a two-day affair, the league will pack all seven rounds into one day at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The ‘eyeball test’

A year ago, MacDonald and the scouting staff were prepared for the No. 8 overall pick in the draft in Pittsburgh but never used it. The Hurricanes upstaged the first day of the draft, packaging their first-round pick in the trade for the Penguins’ Jordan Staal.

That could happen again Sunday. The Canes are seeking a top-four defenseman, their offseason priority, and Rutherford said the search could continue Sunday on the draft floor.

“It’s always important to make the right pick but what’s really important for us is the overall picture of what we need to do in the next 30 days,”

Rutherford said this week. “Do we move down in the first round, with a trade, and pick up a player? Do we keep the No. 5 pick?

“When you have an off-year you earn the right to pick fifth. We know the reason why we’re there. Obviously we have a lot of work to do. We’ll keep an open mind right up until the time comes to pick.”

The player selection comes after much in-game scouting – the “eyeball test” – and hundreds of video reviews. It comes after scouts trek to the such events as the World Junior Championship in Russia and the 5-Nations Tournament in Sweden.

MacDonald is in his sixth year as director of amateur scouting. Former Canes forward Robert Kron heads up Carolina’s European scouting, and Rutherford said the team now “has a better handle than ever before” on the European prospects.

“It’s a big-time commitment,” said ESPN.com draft analyst Grant Sonier, a former NHL scout. “You go to games, you meet the kids one-on-one, you go to the NHL combine, the scouts get together and meet . It’s quite a process. But when you can possibly get a franchise player in the five-hole at the draft, you have to get it right.”

The combine

The NHL prospects combine was held in Toronto in late-May. MacDonald was there. So was Pete Friesen, the Canes’ head athletic trainer, who tracks all the measurables – wing span, grip strength, long jump, etc. – while trying to project a player’s body shape at, say, 24 or 25.

Friesen, for example, doesn’t remember the Russian’s name – possibly defenseman Nikita Zadorov – but he remembered the look. He was 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Friesen said, with low body fat and an impressive vertical jump.

“He looked like that Russian boxer in the ‘Rocky’ movie,” Friesen said.

That would be “Rocky IV” and the Ivan Drago role played by Dolph Lundgren.

“The maturity level for some is much higher than others,” said Friesen, who files in-depth reports on the prospects to Rutherford..

Friesen believes vertical jump is a good indicator of how strong a player will be on the puck, noting Eric Staal had an impressive vertical jump. Most good centers, he said, have wing spans that measure more than their height.

Seth Jones, a defenseman with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, had the longest wing span this year at 81 inches. Tops among the forwards was Michael McCarron (79.5).

Friesen said he and others were disappointed Jones and two other top prospects, forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads, were at the combine but elected not to go through the fitness testing. All cited long Memorial Cup playoff runs and fatigue.

“If they don’t do it, you can’t judge the others based on their benchmarks,” Friesen said.

The interviews

Marr, of NHL Central Scouting, called it an anomaly. He noted former Windsor Spitfires star Taylor Hall sat out testing in 2010 – and later was the No. 1 pick in the draft by Edmonton – and added, “I don’t see it being a trend.”

MacDonald interviews players at the combine. He said 60 interviews, mostly 10 to 15 minutes in length, were held this year, which he said was more than normal.

The Canes had 11 pre-draft interviews scheduled this week at their Manhattan hotel, Rutherford said. They again are using video sessions as a way of gauging a player’s instincts and hockey acumen, as they did in Pittsburgh last year.

“We’re just trying to get inside a player’s thought process and create scenarios from real game situations,” MacDonald said. “There are no right or wrong answers. We just want to get a feel for what a player might do in game situations.”

Ron Francis, the team’s vice president of hockey operations, heads the video sessions, which were well received by prospects last year. Forward Filip Forsberg, who would be drafted in the first round by the Washington

Capitals and later traded to the Nashville Predators, noted, “It was like they asked you questions to test your hockey sense.”

Marr said the final interviews give the general managers a chance to sit face-to-face with the prospects. The scouts have done their work and all the background information is in, but a prospect can make a final impression with management.

“It’s a chance to eliminate any mystery about a player,” Marr said.

Finally, it’s on to the arena. It’s draft day. The prospects sit anxiously in the stands with their parents and siblings.

“Waiting for your name to be called in the draft, that’s what every kid who grows up playing hockey dreams of,” Skinner said.

Skinner’s big moment came in 2010 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. He slipped into a Carolina sweater and cap, looking impossibly young but very soon to be an impact player.

On Sunday, the Hurricanes will be after another.

News Observer LOADED: 06.30.2013

682966 Chicago Blackhawks

Hawks believe deep draft will benefit them

With No. 30 pick overall, then none to 4th round, they're prepared for many contingencies

By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter

June 30, 2013

Even as the confetti swirled during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory parade, the team was preparing for the future.

The Hawks currently own five picks in Sunday's 2013 NHL draft in Newark, N.J., and they want to stockpile talent in their effort to keep the organization at a high level for years.

"We've built this team, for the most part, from the draft and adding a few pieces outside it," general manager Stan Bowman said. "We'd like to continue that process."

Because of the Hawks' magical run in the regular season when they finished atop the NHL standings and captured the Presidents' Trophy with the league's best record, they will have the final selection in the first round at No. 30. They also entered draft weekend without second- and third-picks, having traded them to the Jets in 2012 for defenseman Johnny Oduya.

Still, Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley, who missed Friday's parade and rally because he was already preparing at draft headquarters in New York , believes the Hawks can secure talent along the likes of Brandon Saad, who was drafted No. 43 overall in '11 and Saturday was named to the 2012-13 NHL All-Rookie team.

"It's a good draft," Kelley said. "It has a very good top end in the first round. There are probably five or six players who are going to have a strong impact. Then there are probably another eight players who are on the verge of becoming those types of players.

"Really, it goes right through the first round into the second. It's a deep draft."

There is also the possibility Bowman will add more picks or even move up in the draft through trades.

Kelley said he asks Bowman to acquire additional selections "all the time, all the time. He keeps telling me, 'We're going to try.'

"We'll get a good player because the draft is that deep. (But) we try to know the top end of the draft and we're prepared in case anything happens. … We don't try to look at it with the picks we have and try to target players there yet. You're trying to put value on players so when we get to the draft we can make the move whether they go forward or if the players we like might slide back."

Kelley, who traveled as far as Sochi, Russia, for the Under-18 Championships to scout, said the team has 70 to 75 players on its draft board and then has a region list of other players. As usual, the main focus will be in the middle and back end.

"You like defensemen and you like centers but we're not being held to it," Kelley said.

"In other years we've looked, if all things were equal, to fill out our depth chart. This year, we think our depth chart right down through (AHL) Rockford and unsigned draft picks is varied."

• A source said progress is being made in talks on a new contract for unrestricted free-agent winger Bryan Bickell.

[email protected]

Twitter @ChrisKuc

2013 NHL Draft

Sunday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

All seven rounds beginning at 2 p.m.

TV: NBC Sports Network, 2-7 p.m.; NHL Network, 7 p.m.-completion.

Blackhawks' selections

Round 1: No. 30

Round 4: No. 121

Round 5: No. 151

Round 6: No. 181

Round 7: No. 211

Note: Traded second- and third-round picks for defenseman Johnny Oduya.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.30.2013


Hawks' Saad lands spot on All-Rookie Team

Tribune report

12:14 PM CDT, June 29, 2013

Given that he was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, it's no surprise that Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad was named Saturday to the 2012-13 NHL All-Rookie Team.

Saad, 20,was joined by fellow forwards Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens and Calder winner Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, goaltender Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues and defensemen Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild and Justin Schultz of the Edmonton Oilers.

Saad led all rookies with a +17 rating, including a +12 rating on the road, and was fifth among rookies in each of the three major scoring categories: goals (10), assists (17) and points (27).



In concert: the Stanley Cup

Tribune report

11:56 AM CDT, June 29, 2013

The Stanley Cup will be busy in the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks this summer, and the venerable NHL chalice apparently can count on concerts being a staple of its social calendar.

Fresh off its front-and-center appearance at the Hawks' victory rally in Grant Park, the Cup made its way to Tinley Park via winger Daniel Carcillo for the Rush concert at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre on Friday night.

Carcillo took the stage during a break in the show and hoisted the Cup while surrounded by band members, drawing a roar from the crowd.

On Saturday night, the Cup could be in for some changes in latitudes and attitudes: During his appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," winger Patrick Kane hinted that he and the Cup would make an appearance at the Jimmy Buffett concert at the Charter One Pavilion at Chicago's Northerly Island.

Kane and the Cup attended a Buffett concert after the 2010 championship, to the delight of Parrot Heads everywhere.



Blackhawks: 17 seconds to immortality

With bang-bang precision as precious seconds ticked away, Bickell and Bolland bring Cup back to Chicago

By Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune reporter

10:12 PM CDT, June 29, 2013

Get to overtime.

That's why Dave Bolland was on the ice. The Blackhawks' fiercest checking center, along with fellow pests Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik, backed by shot-blocking defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya, led a unit tasked with checking the Bruins' big line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton.

Their job: Keep things where they were.

Where things were in the final chaotic minutes of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final was, most improbably, tied 2-2.

The Hawks stars had done their thing with 76 seconds remaining, keeping alive the chance to win the Cup on Monday night in Boston. The Hawks entered Game 6 leading three games to two. They had a Game 7 in the United Center to fall back on — and sure, home teams had won at nearly a 70 percent clip in these playoffs — but who wants to rely on what's often a coin flip's chance in a game as random as hockey?

So, the Hawks had tied it and they had momentum. Now they had checkers on the ice to check. All Bolland and his group had to do was make sure the game got to overtime.

Instead, Bolland would make history, 17 seconds later.

The Hawks would become champions, 58.3 seconds later.

"It's the kind of thing you dream about as a kid growing up in Canada," Bolland said after it was over.

The shock and awe will endure forever.

Desperate measure

Corey Crawford was on the bench.

The goalie who had been the Hawks' best player throughout this alternately exhilarating and excruciating postseason could help his team only by leaving the ice.

Down 2-1 in the dying minutes, the Hawks replaced Crawford with an extra skater in a desperate attempt to get even. It is a standard move for the trailing team. Abandon the net to create a 6-on-5 power play, even if the Hawks' power play in the Stanley Cup Final was something like 1-for-mommy-make-it-stop to that point.

As Crawford skated to the bench with about 90 seconds to go, Patrick Kane weaved through center, splitting the indecisive pair of Lucic and Horton.

Crossing the blue line, Kane faced troubled Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg in the left circle and, despite a hook from backchecking center Krejci, Kane unleashed a shot goalie Tuukka Rask directed to the left corner.

Seidenberg moved to backhand the puck up the boards and out of the Bruins' zone, but Kane — the All-Star winger who had been anonymous for the first three games of the finals while enduring some criticism that he lacked the will to go into traffic in tough areas to make plays — stood strong along the wall and slowed the attempted clear.

Krejci, whose line had done considerable damage to the Hawks in the series, homed in on the puck and went to bank it out.

But no.

Jonathan Toews — the captain who just a period earlier had pulled Excalibur out of the Bruins' dominant start to score the tying goal — joined the fight for the puck. Toews deftly lifted Krejci's stick. The puck chipped back to Kane, who, before getting crosschecked by Seidenberg, calmly

pushed the puck up to the hash mark where Duncan Keith had pinched in to bookend the play.

Keith had played phenomenally in this potential clinching game, up until he lost the puck behind his net to create the Bruins' go-ahead goal with less than eight minutes remaining. Now would be a good time to make up for it. Keith saucered a nifty pass to Toews, who had peeled off the play toward the goal line on Rask's right.

Understand, Kane-to-Keith-to-Toews took less time than it took for you to read this sentence. Backhand, forehand, tape-to-tape, all in a tight area, all in the tightest of situations the way only world class players can.

By now, Michal Handzus had darted to the top of the crease. Hawks coach Joel Quenneville tapped Handzus as the extra attacker despite a fractured wrist and torn MCL, not that it would slow him taking the Cup from the captain after the game.

Also by now, Bryan Bickell had gone to his familiar spot at the far side of the net, the spot where toothless grins are shared with the world.

(Keeping up? Got six skaters here folks, including Brent Seabrook. OK, back to it.)

As Toews blew toward the net, Handzus occupied Zdeno Chara, the Bruins defenseman who had so scared the Hawks earlier in the series. Now, though, there was no sympathy for the devil.

"In the first couple of games we were giving him a little bit too much respect by trying to keep the puck away from him," Toews had said of Chara. "He's not a guy we should be afraid of."

Toews kept his head up — the head that Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk nearly decapitated and cost the Hawks center the third period of Game 5 — and gingerly flicked the puck to Bickell, who stood open, inexplicably unchecked by the wide and powerful Lucic.

The vexing Rask anticipated a pass from Toews and began to butterfly in hopes of covering the back side and everything low.

Nice try. But sorry. Rask isn't that good, which is where we came in with this guy. Rask was about to be stung for as many goals in 17 seconds as he was in four games the previous series.

Bickell began the final without one leg. That's a problem for a skater. Bickell had sprained an MCL (or, as the NHL prefers, lower body ligament) so badly that the Hawks weren't sure they would get one shift out of him in the biggest series of the postseason.

No matter. This is hockey. You breathe, you play. And so, Bickell swung his solid frame to the right and planted his left-handed blade on the ice into perfect one-timing position.

Five-hole. Two-all. One minute, 16 seconds to overtime.

Bickell, the free-agent winger who will be paid a most handsome price for his services, had hit paydirt again, his ninth goal in the playoffs, as many as he had through the regular season.

"Whoever is shooting the puck, we feel as a team that we have the confidence that it's going to go in at some point," Toews said. "So we'll keep shooting the puck."

A call never made

Claude Julien should have called timeout.

His valiant team dominated most of a must-win game. The Bruins fought on their home ice like the former champions they were to earn a Game 7 on the road, like they had done just two years earlier when they captured hockey's holy grail.

But that was against Vancouver.

The Hawks are not the Canucks.

Julien had to know that. He should have called his timeout.

Julien was dealing with a tired team that just had added frustration to a list of ailments that included a fractured rib, a punctured lung, a separated shoulder and torn cartilage — and that was just Patrice Bergeron.

Most notably, that was precisely Bergeron.

The Bruins center, who finished second to Toews in the Selke Trophy balloting for the NHL's top defensive forward, loomed as the top faceoff

man in the series. The Bruins needed Bergeron because they needed the puck because they needed to get to overtime because they needed to get over what Bickell had just done to them.

"We can go in to overtime, but definitely a tough goal late in the game like that," Bergeron said after the game. "I guess, regroup and go back in to overtime and get it. But that second goal definitely hurt us a bit and maybe took away our focus at the wrong time."

Bergeron, who had gone to an emergency room in Chicago during Game 5 and would check into a Boston hospital again after Game 6, was unavailable. The fatigued Krejci line — the one that just had blown defensive assignments and surrendered the tying goal — would be pressed back into service.

Yes, Julien desperately needed to take his timeout.

He wouldn't do it.

'What an ending'

Hjalmarsson is fearless. He will use any part of his body to block a shot and probably has.

This time, though, the Swedish defenseman — the one the Hawks chose to pay instead of Cup-winning goalie Antti Niemi after the 2010 season — showed some soft hands.

The puck skittered along the right boards in the neutral zone. Seventy seconds remained.

The ice in Boston isn't much better than the ice in Chicago, especially in June when all the hockey equipment is supposed to be put away for the summer. Kane would tell David Letterman on national television it was maybe the worse ice he has played on. Ever.

But as Frolik said before Game 6, after giving it a go at the morning skate: "The ice wasn't great, but it's the same for both teams. Hopefully it gets a little better tonight."

It hadn't, not on a day when the high in Boston was 95 degrees. But that's what happens when you start the playoffs late after a lockout delays the start of a truncated, 48-game sprint to salvage a season.

But Frolik and his linemates hadn't taken a shift for five or six minutes. Even on bad ice, they had good legs.

And so now the puck is bouncing along the boards after Ference chipped it out of his zone.

Hjalmarsson made a stop at the Hawks' blue line and delivered a nifty backhand pass to Bolland at center ice near the Bruins' Hub-inspired spoked B.

Bolland, who had played on every line this season in trying to find his game through injuries, darted across the Bruins blue line. As Ference backskated into position between Bolland and Rask, Bolland slipped the puck to Frolik on the right side.

By now, Boychuk had gotten back to cover the slot. Horton had come from halfway across the ice to check Frolik. Instead of making a safe play in the corner the way a defensive forward might, Frolik let a shot go that Rask blocked to the left boards.

The risky shot might have started the Bruins out of their zone with speed, but Kruger read the play from center and immediately went hard to the left half-boards. The quick Swedish forward reached the puck ahead of the tiring Krejci, who himself had come from halfway across the ice and who, like Horton, was working his second straight shift without benefit of a timeout.

An obvious play would have been to slide the puck deep into the corner and around behind the net, where Bolland was waiting.

In another life, Kruger was a center. In fact, as recently as the third period of Game 5, Kruger centered Kane and Bickell in Toews' absence. He has the talent. He also has the instincts, which told him to nudge the puck back to Oduya at the left point.

Consider Oduya. He had been a trade deadline acquisition a season earlier and performed extremely well in the Hawks' top four. But he struggled in the first-round playoff loss to the Coyotes.

What's more, the Krejci line had victimized Oduya and Hjalmarsson early in the series. They were all back on the ice. This would require nerve.

The safe play might have been to ring it around the boards. Oduya would have avoided a potential blocked shot that could carom to center ice and begin a rush against Crawford, who also had struggled against the Coyotes in his first playoffs as the Hawks unquestioned starter. Not that the criticism had reached him.

"I didn't listen to anybody," Crawford said. "What mattered was the guys in the room. Everyone was behind each other."

Crawford had their backs. He had earned their confidence that he would make stops when they took chances at the other end. Oduya saw he had a lane. He one-timed Kruger's pass on net with a smart, low shot.

By now, Frolik had come to the slot, and it's funny how things work out: After excelling in the thankless role as the league's best penalty killers, Kruger and Frolik were ready for their close-ups.

Stick down, facing the left point, Frolik deflected Oduya's shot just enough to beat Rask.

The puck clanged off the post.

It clanged off the post perfectly.

Instead of bouncing wildly, the way many shots off the post do, this one came straight out, knuckling softly in the crease.

As Oduya wound up, Bolland had jumped from behind the net to the left post, sneaking inside a Bruins defenseman. Bolland still might have missed a glorious chance if a scrambling Rask had connected while flailing at the puck with his stick. But Rask missed.

And there it was.

Tantalizingly, the puck refused to leave the crease.

And there was Bolland, stick down, banging it into forever just ahead of a Bruins defenseman bearhugging him.

"The puck went back to the 'D,' and (Oduya) shot it," Bolland said. "All I knew was it was sitting in front of me, so I had to tap it in."

Staggeringly, it was 3-2, Hawks, just 17 seconds after it stunningly had become 2-2.

Bolland tried to celebrate the latest goal in regulation to clinch the Stanley Cup. He tried to throw his arms and stick up.

They were wrapped by that Bruins defenseman. Finally, Bolland loosed his hands. Gloves flew. The stick went. Hugs and helmet taps all around. All of Boston bent in agony.

That Bruins defenseman? Boychuk.

Of course. The man who avoided a suspension for viciously driving his fists into Toews' head a game earlier. It was a hit that had kept Toews out for the entire third period of Game 5.

"(Toews) got his bell rung last game," Quenneville said after the clincher. "He was good to go here tonight. Played a monster game."

Boychuk was too late to do anything with those hands now.

Hockey karma. You know how it can be.

"It's a bad feeling. Bad, like an awful feeling," Boychuk said. "You can't really describe it. As a player it's probably one of the worst feelings you can get when you are up by one goal with a minute and 20 left and somehow you lose the game."

The Hawks killed off the remaining 58.3 seconds. But you know that. What you never want to forget are those amazing, shocking, magnificent 17 seconds that won a Stanley Cup.

"Forever. I mean, you are going to remember forever," Boychuk said.

"What a game, what an ending, what a season," Quenneville said.

Seventeen seconds, enough for a lifetime.



NHL draft: Homegrown talents fueled Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup run

BY MARK LAZERUS [email protected] June 29, 2013 1:18AM

Updated: June 30, 2013 2:41AM

Dave Bolland scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Blackhawks, but the team’s second championship in four years can trace its origins back well beyond the 17 seconds of Game 6 that forever will live in franchise lore.

Think back to 2002, when the Hawks drafted a little-known defenseman out of Michigan State named Duncan Keith. Or 2003, when they used their first two picks on Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford. Bolland and Bryan Bickell were taken in 2004, and Niklas Hjalmarsson came in 2005.

Then came the two picks that changed the franchise — Jonathan Toews with the third overall pick in 2006, and Patrick Kane with the first overall pick in 2007.

Throw in 2011 picks Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw, and 2008 sixth-rounder Ben Smith, and 11 of the 21 Hawks who saw action in the Stanley Cup Final were home-grown talents.

“We’ve built this team for the most part from the ground up, adding a few pieces from the outside,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “Really, the core from this group came from drafting. We’d like to continue this process.”

Most picks never make it to the NHL. For every Kane and Toews, there’s a Jack Skille and Kyle Beach. For every late-round gem such as Shaw and Hjalmarsson, there are countless players who have never and will never sniff the NHL. So at this year’s draft on Sunday in Newark, N.J., the Hawks will have to be particularly efficient. Thanks to the trade for Johnny Oduya trade, the Hawks don’t have a second- or third-round pick. And they dealt one of their two fourth-rounders to the San Jose Sharks in the Michal Handzus trade.

Not that anyone’s complaining, given the payoff of those deals. But the Hawks will pick last in the first round — 30th — and then not again until the 121st pick. In all, they only have five selections.

The lack of picks plus a surplus of salary could yield some draft-day deals. With the Hawks trying to re-sign Bickell — who said Thursday that he’d be willing to give the Hawks a hometown discount to stay with the team that drafted him — there have been rumblings that Bolland and his $3.375 million salary could be on the trading block. The Hawks are taking about $6 million off the books by buying out the contracts of defenseman Steve Montador and forward Rostislav Olesz, but they still need to free up some cash to sign everyone they want to sign.

Plus, Bowman would like to add a few picks so he and director of amateur scouting Mark Kelley can try to pluck the next big piece of the puzzle out of obscurity.

“The draft’s an important part,” Bowman said. “So if you can acquire picks, that’s good.”

The draft tends to be a hotbed of wheeling and dealing, if for no other reason than all the GMs are in the same place. Bowman expected plenty of action. During the Hawks’ salary purge in the summer of 2010, they traded Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager and Brent Sopel to the Atlanta Thrashers the day before the draft. In 2011, the Hawks dealt Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers (for Olesz) and Troy Brouwer to the Washington Capitals for a first-round draft pick that became Phillip Danualt, now a highly regarded prospect in the Hawks system.

“It’s just the way it’s always happened,” Bowman said. “There’s an event, the draft, and once that passes, the urgency to do a deal isn’t really there. There’s nothing that tends to bring people together. … There’s always a lot of talk around then, and if it makes sense, we’ll look into it.”

NOTE: Blackhawks winger Brandon Saad was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team Saturday based on voting by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Saad, who had 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 games, was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the league’s top rookie.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Blackhawks fans, Corey Crawford go ‘nuts’ at rally

BY MARK LAZERUS [email protected] June 28, 2013 3:28PM

Updated: June 29, 2013 5:13PM

Corey Crawford ambled to the front of the stage and surveyed the thousands upon thousands who packed 12 softball diamonds worth of Hutchinson Field and then some. The quiet, unassuming Crawford smiled broadly, clutching the championship belt playoff MVP Patrick Kane had just handed him for being ‘‘the best player in the playoffs.’’

After a year of clichés and coachspeak, and a rally full of well-meaning but uninspiring platitudes, Crawford leaned into the microphone and finally said what everyone else in the city was thinking.

‘‘[Expletive] right, Chicago!’’ he bellowed. ‘‘Woo! Biggest bunch of beauties in the league, [expletive] worked their nuts off for this trophy! Woo! No one will ever take this away from us! We’re the champs!’’

Ah, yes. Raspy voices, slurred speech and a few F-bombs for good measure. Truly a hockey celebration.

Four days of lugging the Stanley Cup from bar to bar around Chicago culminated in a summer bash at Grant Park on Friday. First came a parade that choked downtown streets. Then came a raucous rally on the same field on which Barack Obama gave his 2008 election night speech.

Hawks fans lined Adams Street behind the United Center six or seven deep hours before the parade even began, then greeted the double-decker buses topped with the Hawks and their families along Washington Street, dozens deep at some points. Fans waved Swedish flags, Canadian flags, American flags and Chicago flags. They sat on each other’s shoulders and screamed through the whole parade as if it were a Jim Cornelison national anthem.

Once the procession made it to the waiting throngs at Grant Park, Cornelison kicked off the party with a rousing anthem and emcee Pat Foley introduced the front office, the coaching staff, and finally the players. Former Hawks icons Pierre Pilote, Tony Esposito, Denis Savard and Bobby Hull were on the stage, too.

The fans watched highlight videos of the playoffs — cheering loudest for the clips of Crawford’s headlock on the Kings’ Kyle Clifford after Clifford went after Jonathan Toews in the Western Conference final, and, of course, for Dave Bolland’s Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.

They sang ‘‘Happy Birthday’’ to general manager Stan Bowman, who turned 40 on Friday, chanted ‘‘De-Troit Sucks!’’ one more time for good measure and booed Gov. Pat Quinn, who proclaimed it ‘‘Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Day.’’

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville toted the President’s Trophy up to the stage and told the crowd, ‘‘We’re all very fortunate to play in a place as special as Chicago.’’

Toews spoke last — his voice hoarse from the weeklong party — but kept it short and sweet, simply thanking the fans for outdoing themselves since 2010.

‘‘Tough to follow that speech by Corey Crawford,’’ he said.

Television analyst Eddie Olczyk drew a big cheer when he said the Hawks were now ‘‘at the top of the sports totem pole here in Chicago.’’ The Bears might have something to say about that, but after two massive championship celebrations in four seasons, the Hawks — a glorified minor-league team in the eyes of the city for so many years before the 2010 reawakening — have been making quite a case.

‘‘In 2010, you guys waited 49 years to do this,’’ Patrick Sharp told the crowd. ‘‘This year, we waited three. What do you say we get back here and do it again next year?’’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Blackhawks’ one goal: a city united

By Bob Verdi

June 28, 2013, shall be remembered in Chicago annals as a day when the city that works, didn't. Hundreds of thousands and thousands of hundreds flocked downtown to create yet another standing-room-only crowd for the Blackhawks, Stanley Cup champions again.

Admirers of the best team in hockey packed sidewalks along streets on the extended parade route, took pictures from residences, peered from offices where absolutely nothing was being accomplished, and gathered in Hutchinson Park, the final staging area of this remarkable celebration.

Once upon a time, 16,666 represented not only capacity for the Stadium on game nights; it was the ceiling number, hypothesized by skeptics, of Blackhawks supporters in the entire region. Friday's mass of smiling humanity seemed closer to or even beyond the 2 million estimate for 2010's coronation. In any case, a guardian of the Cup volunteered that this ceremony made other galas during his experience seem like focus groups.

With four choppers above, double decker bus No. 24 was the last of the caravan to depart the United Center. It carried Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad and Corey Crawford, the goalie who was the backbone for two months of grueling playoffs. No sooner had his vehicle turned onto Adams Street when he heard the chants.

COR-EY!! COR-EY!! COR-EY!!"

Crawford's shades were on, and the mask was off, affording a view of his pale face and discernible grin. After Monday night's clincher in Boston, management and labor rejoiced until everybody looked like they'd been through a car wash. For Friday, they cleaned up nicely, beards mostly sheared, players in shorts. But sunscreen was required, because 23-plus high-octane postseason assignments leaves no time for the beach.

"How hard these guys work," marveled Trevor, Crawford's dad, who sat with wife Sylvia, family and friends in from Canada. No individual on this winning roster worked harder than Corey, but now he loosened up, waving to the multitudes, pumping them up with the stick hand, then the glove hand. Red lights were ubiquitous, but Corey paid them no mind. He won't have to stop another puck until September. Besides, this cavalcade had a police escort.

An impromptu band gathered near the Loop, pounding out "Chelsea Dagger." Kane leaned out to cup his ears for screams of "MVP! MVP!" Sirens and horns formed a steady soundtrack, accompanied by whistles from CTA trains. I saw a man, he danced with his wife, and I am not making this up — at least, I think it was his wife. Joel Quenneville, the most interesting coach in the world, was on the bus just ahead. He emoted with hand gestures, but not as if to question a referee. And he couldn't change lines. His guys are on their own for a summer vacation well deserved.

At Hutchinson Park, an updated video on the giant screen featured Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland: "We stand for two goals in 17 seconds." On the stage, Bickell stood with a knee brace. Jim Cornelison sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" as only he can. Chairman Rocky Wirtz and President/CEO John McDonough, first responders to perform CPR in 2007 on a sickly franchise, were greeted with ovations. Wirtz spoke briefly, perhaps with a pause to gather himself. His people did not struggle returning thanks.

"ROC-KY!! ROC-KY!! ROC-KY!!"

When this enlightened regime took hold, the mantra was One Goal, but not specifically One Cup. Bold action validated promising words, and that explains why Chicago hockey fans have multiplied exponentially. The new ones are hooked on the product, and the old ones who felt unrequited love have united in trusting the organization. That was their one goal. The young guys in sweaters are terrific, and the sport played the way they play it is breathtaking. But it is the totality of commitment, from the executive branch to center ice faceoff dot, that solidifies this connection, this bond.

Stan Bowman, the architect vice president/general manager, was serenaded with "Happy Birthday to You." He will have his cake, then fly to today's National Hockey League draft. Pat Foley, for three decades the

popular voice of the Blackhawks, introduced every player who brought home this Cup and a couple who will be commissioned to secure the next one, Ben Smith and Ryan Stanton. The scouts, trainers, equipment and medical staff had their moment in the sun after endless hours in the trenches.

Kane appeared with his Conn Smythe Trophy for being voted most valuable player in the playoffs. But Kane didn't vote. He volunteered in Boston that it could have gone elsewhere, and now he unfurled The Belt that teammates award to each hero of the night. Kane bestowed it on Crawford, "the best player in the playoffs." The goalie accepted, tossing in a couple words that were as blue as the sky. But what's a no-no among myriad friends? Crawford's goals against average throughout the grind was a spectacular 1.84. That's in stone. His remarks can be edited.

Jonathan Toews, the great captain, brought out the Stanley Cup, gave it not his first smooch, then saluted the sea of red. He was hoarse. In his shortest shift since January, Duncan Keith finished off by reminding all that it is better to live one day as a lion than 1,000 years as a lamb. He spoke in a dialect — Scottish? — that was not normal for him, but these are not normal times. Two Stanley Cups in four years with the wherewithal, and the proclivity to accumulate more? In the era of a hard salary cap? Parity? No, priceless.

Kane departed with the Stanley Cup, a definite people magnet. He's a young icon in Chicago, but a couple mates insisted that fans shadowing Kane were just using him to get introduced to the Cup. Back on the bus, Crawford took a seat near his parents, clutching The Belt. The boys of winter were pointed toward a private party, soon to scatter for a couple months like the confetti shower accorded champions.

"That," said the goalie, "was awesome."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Blackhawks go down in history for best reasons

By Barry Rozner

No team wins the Stanley Cup without first suffering the tribulations of a marathon playoff run, without overcoming two months' worth of trials.

And no team has ever done it with more drama and heart than the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks.

Let that be the reason — their admirable audacity — that we remember these Stanley Cup champions.

Memories fade over time, but history will record the triumphs of a team that stared constant calamity in the face and refused to submit.

It is without question the overwhelming characteristic of this title run, the courage and integrity of a team that would not — and simply could not — accept defeat.

By now you know all that they survived to reach the top, the steps to the summit littered with hidden crevices and gaping chasms, each one threatening to send them to their doom.

Every time, the Hawks had an answer. Every time, they had a solution. Every time, they had each other.

A beaming symbol of the depth Stan Bowman created out of the salary cap nightmare he inherited was how the fourth line scored the winning goal to capture the Stanley Cup, backed by the defensive pairing of Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya.

Even after Dave Bolland scored the go-ahead goal, the fourth line remained on the ice to start the final minute, and until a few seconds remained — when Marian Hossa replaced Michael Frolik, and Brent Seabrook replaced Hjalmarsson — charged with protecting the lead along with Jonathan Toews were Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Frolik, Michal Handzus and Corey Crawford, all players that few believed in beyond Bowman and his staff.

"There was definitely a lot of depth and that was probably our greatest asset," said Patrick Sharp. "I think back to 2010, you had some guys who were probably unknown names that made names for themselves throughout that year and in the playoffs, and you saw it again this year."

Depth of talent and irrepressible spirit throughout the roster, two factors that carried the Hawks to their best response at their worst deficit.

"The resiliency of this group is really something special," Bowman said. "If you didn't see what they've been able to do, you probably wouldn't believe it. There are so many guys on this team who won't give up. They just won't give up no matter what."

Of course, it can't be done without superstars, but in the salary cap era, the GM that wins is the GM who can draft, develop and discover the spare parts that allow a team to win when the top lines are being smothered.

"The depth of our four lines made it such a great season and a fun team to coach," said Joel Quenneville, who right to the very end managed to push the correct buttons. "The back end had depth, too, and Corey was just brilliant for us in goal."

As the Hawks celebrated on the ice late Monday night, every jersey had at least a smattering of blood on it, courtesy of Andrew Shaw's face. Every time he hugged a player, each got a reminder of Shaw's unyielding energy — and yet another teammate who refused to quit.

About 19 hours after the horn sounded on the Stanley Cup Final — and gloves, sticks and helmets were strewed about TD Garden — I visited with colleagues Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes Tuesday afternoon on the Score.

They asked what it was like to be on the ice with the Hawks as they celebrated, and what was most memorable, but I didn't have a great answer. It was simply too soon.

Now, with a little distance, I know the answer.

It wasn't the beaming Crawford, who found validation in victory. It wasn't Scotty Bowman, the proud father. It wasn't Rocky Wirtz, who had to stay away from his beloved team until it was his team to run. And it wasn't seeing veterans in tears, players such as Handzus, Jamal Mayers, Michal Rozsival and Ray Emery, guys who had waited their entire lives for that moment.

All amazing pictures of the mind that will remain secure for an eternity, but not the one that sticks out.

It was Quenneville recalling the effort of his injured players, choking up and unable to speak while trying to explain that he didn't think Bryan Bickell would even play in the series, that Shaw and Handzus probably shouldn't have dressed, that Oduya, Toews, Hossa, Sharp and Bolland had kept it together with chewing gum and spit.

He mentioned Patrice Bergeron, who, as it turns out, played Game 6 with broken ribs, torn cartilage, a separated shoulder and — just for yucks — a small hole in his lung.

This is a man in Quenneville, keep in mind, who played 800 games in this league and has coached another 1,200. More than 2,000 games and Quenneville had trouble verbalizing what he had seen.

"I'm just in awe of what these guys have done," Quenneville said, sniffing back the tears. "I think you have to commend the effort of both teams. The series was something very special. Just something very special. Special men, special players."

That is the indelible moment, a coach stunned by sudden victory, still shocked by what modern, millionaire players will do for each other, for their uniform and for a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

And in the end, for reasons even Quenneville knew were too esoteric or arbitrary to explain, it went the Hawks' way.

"It was one of those seasons," Quenneville said. "It was a fairy tale ending and an amazing season."

An amazing season, a series for the ages and a champion that will live in the hearts of Chicagoans forever.

As long as there are sports and as long as there is ice, these Blackhawks will be remembered.

They have earned at least that much.



No overhaul this time for Hawks roster

Looking back on 25 players who brought the Cup back to Chicago

By Tim Sassone

Stan Bowman has some good news for Blackhawks fans.

While the NHL salary cap is going down to $64.3 million from $70.2 million, the Blackhawks general manager says there won't be dramatic changes to the roster like there was in 2010 after the first Stanley Cup win.

"We are going to make a few changes, but it's not going to be like before," Bowman said. "There's a lot of work to be done here in a short amount of time with the schedule so tight and the draft approaching (Sunday). We don't have it all sorted out yet, but we have an idea of what we want to do. It just takes some time."

First order of business for Bowman is getting left wing Bryan Bickell re-signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

"I'm proud of the way (Bickell) has progressed as a player and I'm happy for him," Bowman said. "We have a long history together going back to when we drafted him. I've spent a lot of time over the years trying to keep him encouraged and he spent three or four years in the minor leagues and sometimes those guys get disgruntled.

"But he stuck with it and he just improved along the way, so if anything we're excited for him and we certainly want to keep him here. It's a puzzle to put together and try to work it out, but I think he wants to be here. I know he's said that publicly and we certainly want him back, so we're going to do everything we can to make that happen."

Bickell said on Thursday he would consider a hometown discount to stay.

Getting restricted free agents Nick Leddy and Marcus Kruger re-signed comes next for Bowman.

With the franchise's fifth Stanley Cup title in grasp (and the second in four seasons), here's a roster breakdown of what each player contributed in the record-setting season and what kind of a future might be ahead for them.

Defense:

Sheldon Brookbank — Provided depth on the blue line and he figures to do it again next season since he has one year remaining on his contract.

Niklas Hjalmarsson — One of the team's most underrated players, he's a top shot blocker and a dependable defenseman. He's going into the final year of his contract as a two-time Stanley Cup winner so getting him re-signed could be tricky.

Duncan Keith — What's left to say about this guy? He had 13 points in the playoffs and averaged well over 30 minutes of ice time a game in the Finals. He is signed through 2023, so get used to seeing No. 2 around.

Nick Leddy — He had a good regular season, but played less and less as the playoffs progressed. The Hawks still love his upside and want to keep the 22-year-old defenseman. Bowman said he is not worried about Leddy getting an offer sheet.

Johnny Oduya — He was plus-12 with 10 points in the playoffs. That says it all about Oduya's value when it mattered most.

Michal Rozsival — One of Bowman's toughest decisions will be whether to offer the 34-year-old unrestricted free agent another contract. He certainly deserves it based on his play in the playoffs, but how much more than the $2 million he made this season would it take? It might be time for the Hawks to go with Adam Clendening to run the power play, if nothing else.

Brent Seabrook — He scored 2 of the biggest goals of the postseason for the Hawks, both in overtime, against Detroit in Game 7 of that series and in Game 4 at Boston. He added a physical edge the Hawks couldn't have done without against the Bruins and really stepped up as a leader in a couple situations when Jonathan Toews either wasn't scoring taking penalties against the Detroit Red Wings.

Center:

Dave Bolland — He'll always be remembered as the guy who scored the goal to win the second Stanley Cup with less than a minute to play in Game 6 against Boston, but did it come in his last game with the Hawks? Trading Bolland would be risky, especially since the Hawks are so thin at center.

Michal Handzus — He said he wants to return, but at age 36 he might not get that chance. He was invaluable in the playoffs, however, and is quite popular with his teammates if that means anything. He will be an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

Marcus Kruger — Turned into a premier penalty killer with Michael Frolik, and Kruger is a must to get re-signed as a restricted free agent if for no other reason than that. He assisted on Bolland's game-winner with less than a minute to play in Game 6.

Jonathan Toews — There are no words left to describe the kind of season he had and what he means to the team. He's a true leader of men.

Winger:

Bryan Bickell — His 9 goals in the playoffs were second only to Patrick Sharp's 10, one more important than the last. He couldn't have picked a better time to have the playoff of his life, but he's been a good soldier and deserves whatever he can get as an unrestricted free agent.

Brandon Bollig — Stepped into the Finals and gave the Hawks two strong games physically while filling in for the benched Viktor Stalberg.

Daniel Carcillo — Will finally get a ring after missing out in 2010 when he was with the Flyers.

Michael Frolik — Nobody on the Hawks played harder than Frolik from the first game of the season through Game 6 of the Finals. Accepted his role on the fourth line and turned into one of the game's top penalty killers.

Marian Hossa — Played on pure guts the last three games of the Finals with a back so bad he might need surgery. He had 7 goals and 16 points in the playoffs to remind everyone that he is probably the Hawks' second-best all-around player behind Toews.

Patrick Kane — A big-game player by every definition of the word. His hat trick against Los Angeles in the finale of the Western Conference finals looked like small potatoes compared to his clutch 2-goal game in Game 5 of the Finals. He has earned the right to act as crazy as he wants this off-season.

Jamal Mayers — A pro's pro who is likely to retire a champion. And it's well deserved.

Brandon Saad — The man-child from Pittsburgh became a hero with his consistent play, which earned him a spot on the NHL's all-rookie team on Saturday.

Patrick Sharp — He led the team in playoff goals in both Cup years, which is a true testament to his ability to come up big when it matters the most. Sharp doesn't get as much attention as Toews or Kane, but he should.

Andrew Shaw — The guts of the team, Shaw played with a broken rib for the last two series and took a puck to the face in Game 6 against Boston and still returned to play. Sometimes good things come out of nowhere, which was the case with Shaw, a fifth-round draft pick.

Ben Smith — He will get his name on the Cup for having played a game in the Finals when Hossa couldn't go in Game 3. He definitely should figure into the team's plans for next year.

Viktor Stalberg — Unfortunately for Stalberg, his last game with the Hawks was probably the most memorable for him. As an unrestricted free agent and not one of coach Joel Quenneville's favorites, he will undoubtedly sign elsewhere but as a Stanley Cup champion.

Goaltender:

Corey Crawford — As Stan Bowman said, Crawford took the long way to becoming a Stanley Cup champion. He played in the minors for five years before finally getting his chance to start in 2011. There have been bumps along the way, but that hardly matters now.

Ray Emery — Another unrestricted free agent who may or may not return. There could be a team out there ready to throw big money at him and the opportunity to start, but Emery said last week there's something fun about winning so his return to back up Crawford for another season is a possibility.



Why hockey’s a big hit in Chicago

By Mike Imrem

Why are hockey, the Blackhawks and the NHL such a big hit in Chicago?

Well, the big hits themselves do have something to do with it. But they represent only one of myriad elements that comprise the unique rhythms, traditions and language of the sport.

Here are some other reasons, past and present, from Mush March to Elbows Nesterenko to Captain Serious, for the game's popularity around here:

For starters, of course, Lord Stanley's Cup.

Winning it, hoisting it, hugging it, kissing it, drinking from it, enjoying one full day to do what a champion wants to do with it.

Playoff intensity, playoff overtime and playoff beards.

Playoff hockey, period.

The greatest 17 seconds in memory.

Any goaltender that stands on his head.

Charlie Gardiner, Glenn Hall, Tony Esposito, Eddie Belfour and now Corey Crawford.

My personal favorite, Al Rollins.

"B-a-a-a-a-a-a-nerman!

Rough-tough, rock 'em-sock 'em, end-to-end mayhem that requires penalties to be whistled for transgressions like slashing, spearing, roughing, cross-checking, charging, boarding, hooking, elbowing and fighting.

Sorry but the NHL's appeal has to include goons, five-minute majors, thugs and game misconducts.

But also included has to be Lady Byng.

Players being paid like the 1 percent but working like the 99 percent.

Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk.

Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk.

Eddie Olczyk.

Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat and the Madhouse on Madison.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" by Jim Cornelison, and before him Wayne Messmer.

"Oh, Canada."

"Chelsea Dagger."

The goal light.

The horn.

The siren.

Forechecks, backchecks and unsung Czechs like Michal Rozsival.

Oh yeah, and fat checks signed by Rocky Wirtz.

John McDonough and Jay Blunk.

RIP: Keith Magnuson, Reggie Fleming and too many other Hawks from my youth.

A Zamboni, any Zamboni.

Savvy plus Spin-o-ramas plus Savoir Faire equals Denis Savard.

Penalty shots.

Power plays.

Shorties.

The Bowmans younger and older.

Frolik and Kruger killing time.

Morning skates.

Puck possession.

Hawks' home games on TV.

"Let's go, Hawks! … Let's go, Hawks! … Let's go, Hawks!"

The old Chicago Stadium.

16,666.

Don't forget Dale Tallon.

The Sutters, give or take a half dozen of them.

Agitators, belligerents and pests.

Speed and skill vs. size and strength.

The statues today … and the real thing back in the day.

Line changes.

Winners and losers in the handshake line after a playoff series.

Slap shots, wrist shots and one-timers.

The "C."

The room.

The organ-I-zation.

"Here come the Hawks" … "Cold Steel on Ice … "One Goal."

Lloyd Pettit.

The Indian head, as politically incorrect as it might be.

Opponents like Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby.

Eh.

Lord Stanley's Cup … again.

The parties, parades and rallies.

Those are just some of the reasons hockey is such a big hit in Chicago.

Maybe the question should be why it isn't as big in so many places across the rest of the United States.



It's all happening again on CSN

June 29, 2013, 12:00 pm

Nina Falcone

A giant celebration erupted after Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. An even bigger one emerged yesterday throughout the streets of Chicago as the Blackhawks celebrated their victory with millions of fans.

Don't you just wish that excitement could continue forever?

Well now you can keep those memories with you as Comcast SportsNet re-airs the Blackhawks parade and rally tonight on 7:00. So set your DVRs, folks, because this is your chance to keep all of this recorded on your television. Forever.

It's time to party like it's Friday again, when everyone in the world (well, at least it seemed that way) packed the streets to celebrate the Blackhawks' season. In case you don't recall, Corey Crawford did this. Oh, and Duncan Keith had a moment of his own. And now you can keep those memories in your own personal collection for the low cost of... nothing.

So throw your jersey back on and keep the celebration going. Because it's (Chicago's) Cup.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.30.2013

682977 Colorado Avalanche

Quentin Shore hoping for better luck in second shot at NHL draft

By Caitlin Swieca

The Denver Post

Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

A year ago, everything seemed to be lining up in Quentin Shore's favor.

He was just finishing his time with the U.S. national team development program for elite hockey prospects. He had five points in six games during the 2012 men's under-18 world championship, helping Team USA capture the gold medal.

Heading into the 2012 NHL draft, he was ranked 80th among North American skaters by Central Scouting.

But when draft day arrived, Shore wasn't selected.

"I had really high expectations going into it, so it was kind of a disappointment not getting drafted," Shore said. "My year this year showed teams that I should be."

Shore, a rising sophomore on the University of Denver hockey team, is eligible for Sunday's draft. He's not listed among this year's Central Scouting top 200 skaters, but he hopes his productive freshman season with the Pioneers caught the attention of NHL scouts.

Shore had 10 goals and nine assists in 39 games with the Pioneers and was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association rookie of the week twice.

The Denver native describes himself as a two-way center, but showed his versatility last season by spending time at wing and playing on the Pioneers' power play and penalty kill.

Although he had an opportunity to play with some of the top prospects in the country with the national team, playing at DU proved Shore can compete with older players.

"He's able to play against bigger, stronger, faster players," said DU associate head coach Steve Miller. "He's made huge strides this year and gained a lot of confidence in all types of situations he was put in."

Shore credited DU strength coach Matt Shaw for helping him improve weaker areas of his game, notably speed. Shore said he "lived under the squat rack" last season, working on his explosiveness.

"He had a lot of experience with taking care of his body and having that kind of self-responsibility and focus in what he

Quentin Shore (Denver Post file)

does," Shaw said. "It just came down to ensuring that we took him to that next level."

Shore, a member of "Colorado's first family of hockey," would follow his brothers — former DU players Drew and Nick — into the pros if he's drafted. Drew is a center with the Florida Panthers. Nick signed with the Los Angeles Kings in April after finishing his junior season at DU.

Shore said Drew described life in the NHL as "everything we dreamed of." If he's drafted Sunday, Shore will be one step closer to joining him there.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Shore said. "Hopefully I can be as excited after it as I am now."

Caitlin Swieca: 303-954-1297, [email protected]

Local players to watch

All north american players from ages 18-20 are eligible to be picked in sunday's nhl draft.

When an nhl team drafts a college player, the team retains his signing rights until the player finishes college and can sign the player at any time. Rankings from nhl's central scouting list:

Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks

Former Colorado Thunderbird

No. 1 North American skater

Gustav Olofsson, incoming Colorado College freshman



Will Butcher, incoming DU freshman

Defenseman from Sun Prarie, Wis.


Quentin Shore, DU sophomore

Denver native


Trevor Moore, incoming DU freshman

Forward from Thousand Oaks, Calif.


Brad Hawkinson, incoming DU freshman

Forward from Aurora


Caitlin Swieca, The Denver Post

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Advice for Colorado Avalanche: Keep the top pick in Sunday's NHL draft

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

Updated: 06/30/2013 12:26:05 AM MDT

NEW YORK — Should the Avalanche trade the first pick in Sunday's NHL draft? That was the question facing Avs management Saturday.

Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy, Greg Sherman, Craig Billington and the team's scouting staff were in meetings together much of the day, mulling final options heading into draft day at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

While the new era of Avs management has been more open to the media than the old one, none of the above was saying anything Saturday about what will happen. Sakic did say earlier in the week he had gotten a few inquiries as to what it might take to pry the No. 1 pick from the Avs, but overall he characterized things as pretty quiet.

There were murmurs Saturday that things got a bit more active, but the Avalanche wouldn't confirm that. What likely will play out until 1 p.m. MDT on Sunday is this: The Avs will continue to listen to offers for the top pick, just because it's the smart thing to do. But the offer would have to be extraordinarily attractive for them to part with that pick.

My two cents: The Avs can't blow this. Which is why, if I were Sakic, I'd keep the pick, draft Nathan MacKinnon and go back to Denver secure in the knowledge that I got the player deemed the best available on the latest list of most NHL scouts.

I still like defenseman Seth Jones if I were picking first, but since the Avs said they won't take him, I've focused on the top forward available and that seems to be MacKinnon. Jonathan Drouin has a ton of skill — probably the most of any player available Sunday — but his size worries me if I'm in charge. It wouldn't worry me if I had the No. 3 or No. 4 pick and he was available, but in the No. 1 slot? I don't know. All those fancy moves of his that worked so easily in junior hockey aren't going to work as well playing in the NHL.

Aleksander Barkov? I'm not sure the Finnish League is the best place to develop for the NHL, and he seems a tad slow. Again, we're talking about him in the perspective of a No. 1 pick.

If the Avs trade the top pick for a roster player or two and no lower than the No. 4 pick in return, they had better make sure they get quality. No "big name but past their prime" expensive guys such as, say, Ryan Miller from Buffalo. No "project" guys, either — guys who may have a lot of potential but haven't really proven it. The Avs have made too many of those trades (Erik Johnson, Derek Morris, Semyon Varlamov).

If they trade the first pick, the Avs can't come away with anything short of a bona fide roster player or two, plus nothing lower than the No. 3 pick.

Yes, this is a deep draft, one that's said to compare favorably to the 2003 draft, considered one of the best in NHL history. But if the Avs deal the top pick, they essentially will tell the world: "We didn't get the best player available in the draft. We decided to take someone we had pegged a notch or two below MacKinnon and a player or two deemed expendable from another team."

That doesn't sell too well. The optics would be bad. If the Avs are on record as saying MacKinnon is the best player available in the draft, they should take him. He's been compared by some to Sidney Crosby. He's been a winner everywhere he's played. And his wish as a kid was to be drafted by the Avs.

Sometimes the best trade is no trade. That, in this case, applies to the Avalanche.



For Nathan MacKinnon, hockey success was always in the card

The Denver Post

Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

Updated: 06/30/2013 12:22:36 AM MDT

NEW YORK — Graham MacKinnon still has the hockey card to prove the story is true.

When his son, Nathan, was 7 or 8 years old, he got a personalized hockey card made for Nathan. The front showed him in hockey gear posing for the camera, while the back had blank space to fill in personal information. What did young Nathan write?

"He said 'I want to play for the Halifax Mooseheads, then I want to get drafted by Colorado and play with Joe Sakic,' " Graham said.

While he never got the opportunity to play with Sakic, Nathan Mac-Kinnon could be the No. 1 pick by Sakic and the Avalanche in the NHL draft Sunday in Newark, N.J.

What are the odds? It's never been about luck for the 17-year-old from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

"It almost scared me. At age 2, he took right away to skating," said MacKinnon's father, who played junior C hockey as a goaltender. "I had trouble keeping up with him, no joke. We never pushed hockey on him at all. He just took to it right away, fell in love with it and hasn't stopped. When he was 9 or 10, I'd sometimes say to him, 'You know, not everyone makes it in hockey,' and he'd just get mad. He'd say, 'I'm playing hockey, I'm playing hockey. I don't have a Plan B, I just have a Plan A.' He'd say, 'Plan B is just a distraction from Plan A,' and he was so serious about it."

MacKinnon and his parents — Graham and Kathy — traveled to weekend tournaments when he was a kid. While others might be up late on Saturday nights in whatever town they were in, young Nathan always was in bed early.

"A lot of his best games in those tournaments were on Sundays because the other kids would be tired from staying up late and he'd be well rested," Graham said.

After a dominant Memorial Cup tournament in which he posted 13 points (seven goals) in four games for the champion Mooseheads, MacKinnon jumped to the top of many scouts' lists as the best player available in this year's draft.

Sakic, now the Avalanche's executive director of hockey operations, has said the team is leaning toward making MacKinnon the first pick overall.

If that happens, MacKinnon's hockey card wishes will come true. But until they do, the blond center isn't going to jinx anything by assuming Sakic and new Avs coach Patrick Roy have a similar dream.

"It's been pretty cool to hear that they might want me, especially from two Hall of Famers like Joe and Patrick. It would definitely be a great opportunity to go there, but I don't want to get my hopes up too much. A lot can change," MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon, like most top draft prospects, has spent the weekend attending NHL and media functions. It's natural to assume there is a chilling rivalry between him and highly rated defenseman Seth Jones, whose team he beat in the Memorial Cup title game. The opposite is true. They sat together for much of a media luncheon Friday next to the Hudson River, laughing and joking.

"He's a great guy," Jones said of MacKinnon. "He's turned into a good buddy of mine. I'll be happy for him if he goes No. 1, and I think he'd feel the same for me. Of course, I wish he hadn't scored so many goals on us in the Memorial Cup, but that's just how good he is."

MacKinnon is quick to return any and all compliments.

"Seth is going to be a great player. He already is one. And he's just an awesome guy," MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon hasn't been all about hockey, according to his 19-year-old sister, Sarah.

"We had some fierce Scrabble games growing up," she said. "He wanted to win at that as much as anything else ever. Whatever it is, Nate just wants to win and be the best."

Her brother even has good taste in music, she said.

"Anything from Elton John to country, to R&B and rap, I'm always stealing his iTunes," Sarah said.

If he is introduced to the Denver media at the Pepsi Center on Monday — as the Avs plan to do with their top pick — it won't be the first time MacKinnon walks through the arena doors. Last year, he traveled to Vail with his father to get his knee examined at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic and had a minor procedure done. They noticed the Avalanche was in Denver for a game against the St. Louis Blues during the visit, and attended the game as paying customers.

Soon, the Avs may be paying MacKinnon a lot of money to come to the arena.

"It's surreal to think about," Graham said.



Sakic gets another big shot for Avalanche

By Mark Kiszla

The Denver Post

Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

Here in Colorado, we count on Joe Sakic to deliver the Stanley Cup.

Sunday, we find out if Super Joe can deliver again.

With the first pick in the NHL draft, the Colorado Avalanche selects ... a path back to championship contention.

Don't mess it up, Mr. Sakic.

Nathan MacKinnon is the best choice. Yes, the young center is a better choice than Seth Jones, the son of a pro basketball player and a kid who fell in love with hockey during a golden time in Colorado sports history, when Sakic could match Broncos quarterback John Elway stride for stride as a local hero leading the victory parade.

MacKinnon is the better choice because a goal-scorer can light the lamp and reignite hockey enthusiasm throughout Denver in a way no defenseman possibly can. MacKinnon is the right choice because he doesn't shy away from the label of being the next Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon is the smart choice because if the Avalanche trades down in the draft, Sakic would never hear the end of it should the No. 1 pick start to build a Hall of Fame résumé.

Way back in 1996, Sakic presented the Stanley Cup to tens of thousands of Denver fans who had been waiting all their lives to feel like major-league winners.

In 2001, Sakic handed the Cup to Ray Bourque in a feel-good moment guaranteed to shine forever.

As Elway could tell Sakic, however, the goodwill earned as a player doesn't immunize against second-guessing when you undertake a second career as a front-office executive.

Elway heard howls of protest when he dumped Tim Tebow for Peyton Manning and his creaky neck.

The easy way out for Sakic would be to make Jones the No. 1 selection with a solid Colorado connection.

There's nothing easy, however, about winning the Cup.



St. Patrick is back and ready to win

By Woody Paige

The Denver Post

Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT

Legend has it that one St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland; the other drove the dread wings from Colorado.

Only one tale is true.

There were no snakes in Ireland when the original St. Patrick arrived.

On Sunday afternoon, The Wizard of Wah, Patrick Roy, returns to action for the Avs for the first time since retiring as a player 10 years ago.

Coach Roy will join with fellow Hall of Famer, former Stanley Cup teammate and Avalanche executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic to make the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft and make the Avalanche relevant again.

Don't mess it up, Joey and Patty.

Just go with Nathan "Kid Magnificent" MacKinnon.

Roy is on the clock.

"I know I will get fired someday," Roy, who has never minced meat or words, told me.

What? How about if you win the Stanley Cup and retire?

"When I win one, I will want to win another and another, but all coaches get fired eventually." (The two Avs coaches who won Stanley Cups were.)

Welcome back, St. Patrick. The Avalanche, the NHL and all of us in Denver have missed you. The Avs haven't won a championship without the game's greatest goalie. They don't even reach the playoffs (as they did in all eight of his seasons in Colorado) anymore.

I asked Roy to define his team's personality in 2013-14. "We may not win the Cup, but I want passion, and we will be entertaining," he said. Roy always was a passionate entertainer.

It has been pointed out that Roy is a rookie as a coach. He has pointed out that all NHL coaches had been rookie NHL coaches.

But I pointed out two other problematical and historical issues.

None of the ex-NHL goalies who became NHL coaches ever won a Cup, and most were unsuccessful and fired.

None of the Hall of Famers who became NHL coaches was the coach for a Stanley Cup champion the entire season (*).

The list isn't long in both categories.

Roy is only the eighth former goalie to be named an NHL coach. (Two others served a few games on an interim basis.)

Gerry Cheevers coached the Boston Bruins to four first- and second-place division finishes, then was fired in his fifth season. Emile Francis coached the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues for 13 seasons, but lost in his only Stanley Cup Finals.

Roy is the 11th Hall of Fame player to become a coach. Cheevers, Wayne Gretzky, Bryan Trottier, Phil Esposito and the rest didn't earn a title as coach. *The Devils captured the Cup in 2000 with Larry Robinson, but he took over with only eight regular-season games left. With Robinson at the helm for a full season, the Devils lost in the Finals to Roy and the Avs.

Roy listened patiently and silently before responding confidently and assertively:

"Goalies only concentrated on stopping the puck. I was different," Roy said.

Roy was an aggressive, Sean Connery-like hockey player who wandered from goal, handled the puck and started plays and fights (particularly

against two Detroit goaltenders). He could have been a forward or a goon. "I always studied the complete game and tried to get into the minds of the attackers and the defensemen, to anticipate what they were going to do and how they played. I understand every position and aspect of the game," Roy said.

"Great hockey players don't become great hockey coaches because they're not willing to put in the hard work and put in the time working their way up. They show up 25, 30 minutes before practice and ask the assistants, 'What are we going to do today?' I'm more demanding of myself.

"After retiring (in 2001), no, I wasn't considering being a coach. I became owner and general manager (of a Quebec Junior Hockey League team). Then I decided that, yes, I also wanted to coach (in 2005)." As a rookie coach he guided the Ramparts to the Memorial Cup. "I've approached coaching the same way I did as a player. I showed up at 7:30 in the morning and didn't leave sometimes until 1:30 a.m.," Roy said.

In fact, in 2009, Roy turned down a coaching overture from the Avs because he didn't think he was ready yet. He is ready now. "My new challenge is to bring another Cup to Colorado."

What about that legendary Red Wings rivalry? "We believed every year we would have to go through Detroit to win the Cup. It's not the same. They're moving to the Eastern Conference (and the teams will play only two games next season), and I guess we have to find another rival. Maybe Chicago (which just won the Cup). Maybe we play the Red Wings in the Finals."

Wouldn't that be entertaining?

St. Patrick could drive those snakes from Detroit out of Colorado once more.


682982 Columbus Blue Jackets

Michael Arace commentary: Blue Jackets had best act swiftly with Bobrovsky

By Michael Arace

The Columbus Dispatch Saturday June 29, 2013 6:07 AM

NEW YORK — The Blue Jackets are trying to work out a contract extension for Sergei Bobrovsky, who is 24 years old, coming off a Vezina Trophy-winning season and entertaining a lucrative offer from a team in Russia’s Continental Hockey League. Both sides are groping for comparable NHL contracts, and there is not one that fits.

We are here to help. No, really, it’s our pleasure.

Bobrovsky’s agent, Paul Theofanous, is holding a strong hand. His client has a Vezina. His client’s contract reaches term on Monday, at which point SKA St. Petersburg can open a vault for him. His client can begin soliciting offer sheets from other NHL teams on Friday. The upshot of all of this: If the process is dragged out, Theofanous does not mind, because the price is only going to rise.

So, if you are Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, what do you do? That depends. If you feel that Bobrovsky is the real deal — and his résumé, although abbreviated, suggests that he is — you do not mess around. You do this deal sooner rather than later, because the price is only going to rise.

There is a strong indication that Kekalainen believes in Bobrovsky. To wit: He has said he will match any offer tendered his restricted free-agent goalie by any other team. If you are Kekalainen, do you let it go that far? For instance, what happens when, say, the Philadelphia Flyers swoop in and offer something crazy? After Friday, any one of a handful of teams can step in and set the market price for your property. You don’t want to take that risk.

If you want Bobrovsky, you must act with alacrity and decisiveness. If he is your guy, you get it done.

You do not offer him, say, Artem Anisimov money. Anisimov signed a three-year, $9.85 million contract — with an annual salary-cap hit of $3.28 million — this week. Anisimov is a fine player and an important piece. He also is a second- or third-line center. He is not a No. 1 goaltender holding a Vezina Trophy.

If you want Bobrovsky, you do not put him in the same contract range as a top-nine forward.

So, what do you do?

If you want to go long-term, you do not have to pay him as much as, say, Jonathan Quick, who had a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy at age 26. Quick also has a 10-year contract worth $58 million. It was signed last year, before front-loaded contracts were strongly regulated. The market is different now and, besides, Bobrovsky does not have Quick’s bona fides.

Here is a long-term deal: four years, $20 million. That is$5 million per, which is more than your second/third-line center makes. You are paying a moderate price to buy Bob out of his first year of unrestricted free agency and you are assigning him the same salary-cap hit as Marc-Andre Fleury, who has a Cup. Done.

From what we have heard, Kekalainen would prefer a two-year deal. He would like to have Bobrovsky next come up with another year of restricted free agency remaining. Fine — but if you’re going to go short-term, understand, the annual fee goes up. That is just the way it is, and if you don’t get that, you are playing ultracheap with your Vezina winner.

Here is a short-term deal: Two years, $11 million. You assign Bobrovsky the third-highest salary-cap hit on your team, after Marian Gaborik ($7.5 million) and James Wisniewski ($5.5 million). You still have him as a restricted free agent in 2015, and by then you will know, beyond a doubt, whether he is your franchise goaltender. Done.

If Bobrovsky turns his back on legitimate offers, he will at least understand that you are not messing around. After that, he can go solicit the rest of the

NHL. Or, he can bolt for Russia and make a career out of stopping Nikolay Zherdev and Nikita Filatov.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.30.2013


Blue Jackets notebook: Richards rewarded with one-year contract extension

By Aaron Portzline


NEW YORK — Todd Richards has coached the Blue Jackets through two of their most chaotic seasons — blockbuster trades, high-level hirings and firings, etc. — and now he hopes to reap the reward.

Richards signed a one-year extension yesterday, pushing his contract through the 2014-15 season.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this organization, and I’m excited, really excited, about the direction it’s headed,” he said.

Richards was hired as an assistant coach for Scott Arniel’s staff on June 20, 2011. Since then, Arniel was fired, star players Rick Nash and Jeff Carter were traded, John Davidson was hired as president of hockey operations and general manager Scott Howson was fired and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen.

Richards replaced Arniel 41 games into the 2011-12 season.

In his 89 games as coach of the Blue Jackets, Richards is 42-38-9 (.522), the highest winning percentage among Columbus coaches with 50-plus games.

“A lot of things have happened over those 89 games,” Richards said with a laugh. “Where we were at when I came in almost two years ago — from the players up to the management — there have been huge changes, but all of them in the right direction.

“The way we played last season — not the first one-third, but certainly the final two-thirds of the season — I’m really proud of that. And I want us to keep pushing for more.”

The Blue Jackets ended the season on a 19-5-5 run, missing a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs by a point.

“We believe Todd is one of the top young coaches in our game, and he has had a steadying influence on our team since taking over,” Kekalainen said.

Richards said the extra year on his contract will make it easier to coach the 2013-14 season.

“It’s security,” Richards said. “Psychologically, it’s much better knowing going into the year that it’s not your last year. There’s no fretting or worrying about what’s going to happen next year. It’s all about the hockey, and winning hockey games.”

Acton leaving

After one season in Columbus, assistant coach Keith Acton is leaving to become an associate coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

“I’m really happy for him,” Richards said. “It’s another opportunity for him, and it’s moving up (to associate). It’s more responsibility, but he deserves it.

“But on the other side, I’m disappointed because he made our organization (and) our team better. It’s going to be tough to fill that spot.”

Acton, heading into his 20th season as an NHL assistant, handled Blue Jackets forwards and assisted on the power play and penalty kill. Richards will begin a search for a replacement soon. He said Dan Hinote, a third assistant who watches games from the press box, will be considered for promotion to bench assistant.

Qualifying offers

The Blue Jackets extended qualifying offers to goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forward Spencer Machacek, and defensemen Cody Goloubef, David Savard and Blake Parlett, allowing the club to maintain rights to the players. All five could have become restricted free agents on Friday.

Bobrovsky and the Jackets are embroiled in contract negotiations that started in March. The sides are far apart.

The Jackets still are considering extending qualifying offers to forward Colton Gillies, defensemen Ted Ruth and Steven Delisle, and goaltenders Allen York and Patrick Killeen.

If those players aren’t given qualified offers by Tuesday, they will become unrestricted free agents on Friday.



NHL draft prognosis

— Shawn Mitchell

The top 10

1. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)

2. Seth Jones, D, Portland (Western Hockey League)

3. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

4. Sasha Barkov, C, Tappara (Finland)

5. Valery Nichushkin, RW, Traktor (Continental Hockey League)

6. Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (Ontario Hockey League)

7. Darnell Nurse, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

8. Nikita Zadorov, D, London (OHL)

9. Elias Lindholm, C, Brynas (Sweden)

10. Bo Horvat, C, London (OHL)

Prospects Nos. 11 through 30 eligible for the NHL draft Sunday, as compiled by Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News. Any of these players might be available for the Blue Jackets to take with the 14th, 19th or 27th selections in the first round:

11. Curtis Lazar

Position: Center

Vitals: 18 years old, 5 feet 11, 193 pounds

Last season: 38 goals and 23 assists in 72 games for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League

The skinny: Lazar, of British Columbia, is a physical forward who could fill multiple roles. A smart and talented skater with leadership qualities.

12. Rasmus Ristolainen

Position: Defense

Vitals: 18, 6-4, 207 pounds

Last season: Three goals and 12 assists in 52 games for TPS of the Finnish Elite League

The skinny: Has played at the top level in his country for two seasons and already has some polish. A defense-first defenseman who isn’t afraid of the rough stuff.

13. Hunter Shinkaruk

Position: Left wing


Last season: 37 goals and 49 assists in 64 games for Medicine Hat of the WHL

The skinny: Shinkaruk, a Calgary, Alberta, native has put up eye-popping numbers in junior hockey, but his all-around game needs work. He has speed and agility, but not much size.

14. Alexander Wennberg

Position: Center


Last season: 14 goals and 18 assists in 46 games for Djurgardens of the Swedish second division

The skinny: Wennberg can play all three forward positions with speed, skill and savvy. He turned heads in his first season as a pro.

15. Adam Erne

Position: Left wing


Last season: 28 goals and 44 assists in 68 games for Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

The skinny: This Connecticut native has a well-stocked toolbox but plays with little flash. He had 67 penalty minutes in his second season in junior hockey.

16. Anthony Mantha

Position: Left wing


Last season: 50 goals and 39 assists in 67 games for Val-d’Or of the QMJHL

The skinny: He’s one of three players to score at least 50 goals in major junior last season and has a world-class wrist shot. Conditioning and work rate could be issues.

17. Joshua Morrissey

Position: Defense


Last season: 15 goals and 32 assists in 70 games for Prince Albert of the WHL

The skinny: This Calgary native has an all-around game that has made scouts disregard his undersized frame. An open-ice hitter who can contribute offensively.

18. Frederik Gauthier

Position: Right wing


Last season: 22 goals and 38 assists in 62 games for Rimouski of the QMJHL

The skinny: Has big-time size and smarts, but point production is a question mark. Excellent on faceoffs and a stout defender.

19. Robert Hagg

Position: Defense


Last season: One assist in 27 games for Modo of the Swedish Elite League

The skinny: He is an excellent puck mover who made the jump to Sweden’s top division last season. Solid skater with two-way skills.

20. Morgan Klimchuk

Position: Left wing


Last season: 36 goals and 40 assists in 72 games for Regina of the WHL

The skinny: Klimchuk had 76 points for Regina after having 36 the previous season for one of the weaker teams in the WHL. Has a solid all-around game.

21. Zach Fucale

Position: Goalie


Last season: 45-5-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average in 55 games for Halifax of the QMJHL

The skinny: The draft’s top goalie prospect was outstanding in the playoffs and has a quiet, steady approach to goaltending. Very good lateral movement.

22. Kerby Rychel

Position: Left wing


Last season: 40 goals and 47 assists in 68 games for Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League

The skinny: Coming off back-to-back 40-goal seasons, this Los Angeles native isn’t afraid of the rough areas on the ice. Has skill and the ability to open up the ice for linemates.

23. Valentin Zykov

Position: Left wing

Vitals: 18, 6 feet, 210 pounds

Last season: 40 goals and 35 assists for Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL

The skinny: This future power forward made the jump to Canadian junior hockey from his native Russia last season. Has strength, awareness and skill around the net.

24. Ryan Pulock

Position: Defense

Vitals: 18, 6 feet, 211 pounds

Last season: 15 goals and 31 assists in 61 games for Brandon of the WHL

The skinny: Brandon’s captain was slowed by injuries but has one of the better shots among the draft’s defensive prospects. Could be picked just about anywhere.

25. Max Domi

Position: Center


Last season: 39 goals and 48 assists in 64 games for London of the OHL

The skinny: A son of former NHL enforcer Tie Domi, Max is strong but undersized like his father, but has loads of skill, too. Good combination of net savvy and physical play.

26. Steve Santini

Position: Defense


Last season: Five assists in 25 games for the U.S. National Development Team

The skinny: This physical, two-way defender’s stock rose after he was named defensive MVP at the Under-18 World Championships in April.

27. Jacob De La Rose

Position: Center


Last season: Six goals and six assists in 38 games for Leksands of the Swedish second division

The skinny: De La Rose is not a prolific scorer but has an all-around game good enough to make him a potential first-round pick. A physical and steady forward.

28. Ian McCoshen

Position: Defense


Last season: Nine goals and 27 assists in 46 games for Waterloo of the United States Hockey League

The skinny: McCoshen, who is headed to Boston College, is projected to be a shutdown defender who can take up big minutes. A good skater with some capability on offense.

29. Ryan Hartman

Position: Left wing


Last season: 23 goals and 37 assists in 56 games for Plymouth of the OHL

The skinny: This agitator from suburban Chicago had 120 penalty minutes and 60 points in his only season of major junior hockey. Was a standout during the United States’ run to the gold medal at the world junior tournament.

30. Mirco Mueller

Position: Defense/wing


Last season: Six goals and 25 assists in 63 games for Everett of the WHL

The skinny: Mueller impressed during his first season in North America.



Blue Jackets: Even GM unsure how draft might play out

By Aaron Portzline


NEW YORK — Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen isn’t being secretive or obstinate. He’s being truthful when he says he doesn’t know how the NHL draft might play out.

The Blue Jackets, who hold three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 19 and 27), have talked to several teams — including Colorado, which owns the No. 1 overall pick — about trading up in the draft order.

The Jackets also have spoken with Florida (No. 2), Tampa Bay (No. 3), Nashville (No. 4) and Carolina (No. 5), among others.

Carolina apparently is the only club in that group with welcoming ears, but not for cheap. The others won’t even listen.

The draft begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

“It looks like getting up (into the top five) is going to be very expensive,” Kekalainen said. “But we’ll see what’s there. We’re not going to rule it out until the sixth pick is on the clock.”

Knowing that it won’t be easy to climb the board, and that this is considered a deep draft, Kekalainen said the Blue Jackets could trade down if there’s no discernible difference among a cluster of players still on the board.

There’s a third option, which could apply to one or all of the Blue Jackets’ picks: a trade for immediate roster help.

The NHL salary cap is dropping nearly $8 million next season, to $64.3 million, forcing many teams already in salary-cap trouble to consider drastic measures.

The Blue Jackets, who were 25th in scoring this season, are looking for a scoring forward — or two.

“Yeah, we’ve had conversations with a few teams about that,” Kekalainen said. “That’s something we’re going to look at long and hard with our first-round picks.

“If it’s a player that makes sense, not only in the short term but the long term, that’s definitely something we’ll consider.”

The most unlikely possibility is that the Blue Jackets walk to the podium and use all their picks.

“It’s possible,” Kekalainen said with a smile. “Could happen.”

If it does, the Blue Jackets will add three good prospects to the organization, perhaps one good enough to make an immediate impact.

The top two players in the draft — forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Seth Jones — are other-worldly talents, but the depth of talent available is considered the best in many years.

Columbus never has drafted more than one player in the first round. Only once before have the Blue Jackets owned more than one first-round pick.

In 2002, they entered the draft with the No. 3 and 20 picks. They traded up fromNo. 3 to draft Rick Nash No. 1 and then, in a pair of moves, traded out of the No. 20 pick and out of the first round.

Bigger moves might happen this season.

“It’s pretty rare to have three first-round picks,” said Tyler Wright, the Blue Jackets’ co-director of amateur scouting. “To have three in a draft this deep … any team would love to be in our spot.

“We’ve spent the whole season looking at these guys, and all of those picks are going to have really good players available. But we know Jarmo’s working on other things, too. Whatever it takes to takeke our team forward and make it better. That’s what this weekend is about.”


682986 Dallas Stars

Draft Preview: Darnell Nurse

By Mike Heika / Reporter

[email protected]

8:14 am on June 29, 2013 | Permalink

One of the most coveted picks in the draft _ and one of the most controversial _ Darnell Nurse might be there for the Stars at No. 10.

Nurse is a defensive defenseman, and a very good one. At 6-4, 190, he is said to be the hardest hitter in the draft, and a very solid net presence. The question is whether you can afford to take that kind of player in the Top 10. Many teams think you can, and the general consensus is that Nurse will not get past Edmonton at No. 7 for the simple fact that he fills the exact need that the skill-heavy Oilers have.

Nurse grew up in a family of football players. His dad Richard played in the CFL and his uncle is Donavan McNabb.

Here is International Scouting Services on Nurse: “Not only is Nurse an excellent 1 on 1 defender but he adds an intense mean streak to put fear in the opposition. He shows no hesitation in doing what it takes to win from blocking shots to dropping the mitts, Darnell was born to lead. Offensively he brings an arsenal of weapons whether it’s using his vision to find his man up ice or jumping up into the rush he continues to develop in these areas. He shows excellent mobility on the point and has great quickness for his size which makes him very effective in PP situations. He has a heavy shot but could stand to use it more often. Has all the tools to be a franchise defender and captain down the road.”

If he does slide, should the Stars take a chance? Defending Big D has a nice story here on the dangers of selecting a defensive defenseman that early right here.

That said, the Stars took Derian Hatcher at eighth overall way back in 1990, and that worked out pretty good for them.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.30.2013

682987 Dallas Stars

Draft Preview: Sean Monahan


[email protected]

7:41 am on June 29, 2013 | Permalink

Another player the Stars would have great interest in but will probably not be available at 10 is Sean Monhan.

A solid center with good size (6-2, 186), he is a complete package. He’s not a dangler, but he is a good skater with great hockey sense who sees the ice well.

Monahan has been consistent with 78 points in each of the past two OHL season for Ottawa. He had 31 goals and 47 assists in 58 games last season.

Here is International Scouting Services: “Monahan’s vision off the rush is right up there with the best in this year’s draft class, he shows incredible vision, poise and creativity to create scoring chances. Sean has the ability to find his teammates anywhere in the offensive zone, truly jaw dropping puck mover. He uses every inch of his frame when protecting the puck and shows great poise when in possession of the puck. On the puck pursuit and backcheck he has shown a knack for forcing turnovers with applied pressure and great stickwork. Fine tuning his stride and consistent game pace will be crucial in making a much more seamless transition into the pro game.”

A left-handed shot, Monahan is on the radar to go between 5th and 7th. He sits ahead of Elias Lindholm in most mock drafts.


682988 Dallas Stars

Heika: Stars' pursuit of Vincent Lecavalier shows team is ready to rejoin the big boys

MIKE HEIKA

Staff writer

[email protected]

Published: 29 June 2013 09:13 PM

Updated: 29 June 2013 10:03 PM

The new-look Stars flexed a little of their muscle Saturday before the NHL draft.

With former first overall pick Vincent Lecavalier having been bought out by Tampa Bay and prepared to hit the free-agent market Friday, the Stars tried to wow the 33-year-old center with a full-on sales job from new general manager Jim Nill, new coach Lindy Ruff, owner Tom Gaglardi and president Jim Lites.

The meeting allowed the Stars to show that despite missing the playoffs for five straight seasons, they are trying to do things very differently going forward.

“We made it clear to him that we’re interested in him, that we think he would be a good fit on our team, and that we believe he can help us get to where we want to go,” Nill said. “I think what’s most important is we shared our vision of where we think this team can be.”

And while the Stars might not end up with Lecavalier, who is being wooed by as many as 15 teams, they do believe they will end up with someone good before the summer is over. They have about $13.8 million of cap space to offer, should they decide to spend to next season’s limit of $64.3 million.

The message of the day might be that the Stars are back in the mix, dealing with the big boys and grabbing a little NHL respect.

“We’re at a place now where I believe we can get into any conversation,” Lites said. “I know it hasn’t been that way here for a while.”

The Stars used to be the big rollers. They signed Brett Hull and Ed Belfour. They showed up on Bill Guerin’s front porch with a $45 million free-agent offer for five years. They wowed the NHL world on a regular basis. But bankruptcy killed that reputation, and the five-year run with no playoffs buried any semblance of the past. It’s not that former GM Joe Nieuwendyk wasn’t willing to play that game, it’s that he wasn’t able.

Free agents were not lining up to come to Dallas.

But Gaglardi has the team in a better place now. His purchase in November 2011 made that season a transition year. The lockout in 2012 made that season a wash. But all of that’s out of the way now, and the Stars have two very experienced salesmen in Nill and Ruff as they head into the NHL’s new frontier.

As league executives assembled in Newark, N.J., for Sunday’s NHL draft, Lites said he’s impressed seeing evidence of the contacts Nill assembled in his 18 years with the Detroit Red Wings.

“It’s amazing to watch Jim work the room,” Lites said. “He knows everyone, he talks to everyone, he’s just really plugged in.”

And that means he might pull off the Lecavalier signing or a trade at the draft or a trade after the draft.

Because the salary cap is dropping from $70.2 million in 2013-14, some teams have to shed money. That’s one of the reasons Lecavalier was bought out by Tampa Bay. Other teams will be trying to trade high-salaried players. All of that increases the pool of available players.

The problem is, Dallas doesn’t want to move too fast and take on too much salary, or it will end up in the same place as the current cap-tight teams. And that’s why Nill believes the draft is extremely important. The Stars have nine selections, including four in the first two rounds. They will select 10th overall, and should be in the mix to get a great player.

“We want to win, and we want to win now, but more importantly, we want to win for a long time,” Nill said. “So we have to be careful, and we have to use this draft to help set ourselves up for a long time. We’re in good shape [with prospects], and now we need to get in better shape.”

Because, in the end, that’s what will attract players such as Lecavalier to pick the Stars over any other suitor.

Follow Mike Heika on Twitter at @MikeHeika.

2013 NHL Entry Draft

What: The NHL’s seven-round entry draft will distribute the rights to players, most of whom are 18. Colorado has the first overall pick.

When: 2 p.m. today

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

TV: NBC Sports Network

Stars picks: 10, 29, 40, 54, 68, 101, 131, 149, 182

Did you know? Defenseman Seth Jones, who is the son of former Mavericks player and assistant coach Popeye Jones, is expected to become the highest-ever drafted player born in Texas. Jones is ranked first in many scouting reports and is expected to go in the top three.

Five players for Stars fans to watch

Sean Monahan: Stars covet the do-it-all center from Ontario Hockey League but might have to move up to sixth to get him.

Elias Lindholm: Another talented center for whom Stars might have to move up. He tallied 30 points in 48 games in Swedish Elite League.

Rasmus Ristolainen: Rangy, two-way Finnish defenseman could fall to Stars at No. 10, and they would be happy with that.

Darnell Nurse: Big, physical defenseman, the nephew by marriage of ex-NFL QB Donovan McNabb, could be off the board by No. 10. Many see him as a Derian Hatcher type.

Max Domi: Son of former NHL tough guy Tie Domi, Max is a skilled center who could be just the sparkplug the Stars need going forward.


682989 Dallas Stars

NHL mock draft roundup: Defenseman a popular pick for Stars, but a pair of centers also offer intrigue

Staff reports



With the 2013 NHL Draft set to happen Sunday, June 30, here's a look at how some prominent mock drafters see the Dallas Stars using the 10th overall pick:

Sports Illustrated's Allan Muir

Pick: Rasmus Ristolainen, D

Comment: The Stars made several deals over the course of the year with an eye on overloading their cache of blueline prospects, so there's a chance they may be eyeing a forward with this pick. But new GM Jim Nill advocates a best possible athlete philosophy, so it's hard to imagine Dallas passing on a high-skill, two-way defender who Nill might be able to plug into the lineup as soon as next season. Ristolainen has some Shea Weber in his game. "The size, the skating, the edge, it's all there," a scout said. And he can eat the minutes. He was a stalwart for a bad Turku team last year, averaging more than 25 minutes a game and serving as the team's top blueliner while playing against men. "He's a beast," wrote another. Like Weber, he excels in transition. He can move the puck smartly, join the rush and create chances with his passing or a heavy blast from the point. Add that he's a right-hand shot, an element in short supply in this organization, and he seems like the right fit.

Hockey Prospectus' Corey Pronman

Pick: Darnell Nurse, D

Comment: Dallas' pick is hard to pin down. I cannot see them in on Andre Burakowsky or Anthony Mantha. Domi, Wennberg, and Ryan Pulock could be options at this spot, with Zadorov and Lazar as outside-shot options. Even with good defense prospects in their system, Dallas could still take a defenseman here, and Nurse fits the best-player-available mold. He also fits the two-way type of player that Dallas tends to look for, plus he exhibits the great hockey sense Stars executive Jim Nill valued in Detroit.

Sports Net's Sam Cosentino

Pick: Bo Horvath, C

Comment: The “Ox” as he’s known in London, has the most complete game of anyone in the draft. Having learned from Corey Perry and Drew Doughty in the lockout, Horvat added net-front presence to his already vast arsenal this past season. He’s always improving in the faceoff circle, he’s a big boned guy whose frame should stand up to the rigors of the NHL and he’ll be able to play second and third line minutes while giving you all you need in the special teams department. When he gets to the show, he’ll likely start as a third line guy and with some NHL seasoning will figure out how to produce enough to make him a mainstay as a second line centre for years to come.

Defending Big D's Huw Wales

Pick: Elias Lindholm, C

Comment: The Stars are very happy to take this talented Swede with the 10th pick. It helps their centre depth a lot.

NHL.com's Adam Kimelman

Pick: Bo Horvat, C

Comment: A big scorer also highly regarded for his two-way game. He might be the best faceoff man in this year's draft class.

USA Today's Kyle Woodlief

Pick: Ryan Hartman, RW

Comment: This hard-rock competitor seems like just the type of player Jim Nill will want to bring in to put his imprint on this organization.

NHL.com's Steven Hoffner

Pick: Elias Lindholm, C

Comment: New GM Jim Nill would be pleased if Lindholm is available at this spot. He needs to get bigger, but has the makings of another Nicklas Backstrom.

NHL.com's Mike G. Morreale


Comment: The Stars need a defenseman who can contribute offensively and strike some fear in the opposition when they enter the zone -- enter the 6-4, 207-pound Ristolainen. The right-handed shot is a solid skater, effective at both ends of the ice and is a prototype two-way defender with All-Star potential.

ESPN's Grant Sonier


Comment: New GM Jim Nill is in Texas by way of Detroit, where he clearly knows the value of elite D-men. This scouting staff has a very strong presence in Finland, and Ristolainen would be an attractive building block for a franchise that lacks depth on the blue line. He would fit in nicely with prospect Jamie Oleksiak, forming two towers on defense. Ristolainen's ability to play a transition game, while making opposing players pay a price, will help get this once-elite franchise back on track.

CBS Sports' Chris Peters

Pick: Hunter Shinkaruk, C/LW

Comment: Another team that could use a dose of skill in its prospect system, Shinkaruk is the most skilled remaining player on the board. Once considered a potential top-five pick, Shinkaruk has been sliding. He still has some tremendous skills and a nose for the net. He needs a little work yet and could get a bit stronger, but Shinkaruk's offensive upside is immense.


682990 Dallas Stars

Stars have meeting with free agent center Vincent Lecavalier in New York


[email protected]

7:58 pm on June 29, 2013 | Permalink

The Stars were among several teams to meet with free agent center Vincent Lecavalier Saturday at the NHL draft. The draft is taking place Sunday in Newark, N.J., but Lecavalier met suitors in New York.

Among the Stars’ party were new general manager Jim Nill, new head coach Lindy Ruff, owner Tom Gaglardi and president Jim Lites.

“We made it clear to him that we’re interested in him, that we think he would be a good fit on our team, and that we believe he can help us get to where we want to go,’’ said Nill. “I think what’s most important is we shared our vision of where we think this team can be.’’

The Stars have a need for immediate help at center and could address it in several ways, including taking a center high in the draft Sunday (they pick 10th overall, but might try to move up if they can get center Sean Monahan or center Elias Lindholm). They also could fill that need by signing Lecavalier.

The first overall pick in 1998, Lecavalier has a ton of talent. He is big (6-4, 218) and skilled. He has played 1,037 NHL games, but at 33 should still have plenty of time left. He has seen his game slip in recent years, but last season contributed 32 points (10G, 22A) in 39 games.

Lecavalier, a left-handed shot, is a career 48 percent faceoff winner, but has been a solid 50-percent guy in recent seasons. Last season, he won 54.4 percent of his draws.

So why did Tampa Bay buy him out? Lecavalier had a cap hit of $7.7 million remaining on his contract for the next seven seasons. The Lightning simply couldn’t make that work with the salary cap coming down from $70.2 million to $64.3 million. They will pay Lecavalier $32.67 million over the next 14 years just to get out of the remainder of his deal.

That’s important, as teams know Lecavalier comes into the negotiation with that ace card. He can pick a team because it’s a good fit and not just because it can offer the most money.

The question is what does he want? He’s from Quebec, but some speculate that he doesn’t want to play in the bright lights of Canada. He has been a part of some great offensive teams in Tampa Bay (winning the Stanley Cup in 2004), so does he want a team that plays an open style? He is close friends with Brad Richards, so might be want to rejoin him in New York (could the Rangers even make that contract work)? Would he go to Vancouver to reunite with coach John Tortorella? Would he want to stay on the East Coast or is he open to trying something new?

Those are things Lecavalier will have to decide in the next week. He can interview with teams now and even make visits, but he can’t sign with a new team until free agency begins July 5.

Lecavalier is an interesting player who is seen as a bit of project, because his game has slowed down in recent years. Would a fresh start get him going? Is he worth a big contract or can a team convince him to take a short-term deal and keep his options open?

It’s going to make for a very intriguing few days.


682991 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars meet with free agent Vincent Lecavalier, make interest 'clear'

MIKE HEIKA

Staff writer



The Stars were among several teams to meet with free agent center Vincent Lecavalier Saturday at the NHL draft. The draft is taking place Sunday in Newark, N.J., but Lecavalier met suitors in New York.

Among the Stars' party were new general manager Jim Nill, new head coach Lindy Ruff, owner Tom Gaglardi and president Jim Lites.

"We made it clear to him that we're interested in him, that we think he would be a good fit on our team, and that we believe he can help us get to where we want to go,'' said Nill. "I think what's most important is we shared our vision of where we think this team can be.''

The Stars have a need for immediate help at center and could address it in several ways, including taking a center high in the draft Sunday (they pick 10th overall, but might try to move up if they can get center Sean Monahan or center Elias Lindholm). They also could fill that need by signing Lecavalier.

The first overall pick in 1998, Lecavalier has a ton of talent. He is big (6-4, 218) and skilled. He has played 1,037 NHL games, but at 33 should still have plenty of time left. He has seen his game slip in recent years, but last season contributed 32 points (10G, 22A) in 39 games.

Lecavalier, a left-handed shot, is a career 48 percent faceoff winner, but has been a solid 50-percent guy in recent seasons. Last season, he won 54.4 percent of his draws.

So why did Tampa Bay buy him out? Lecavalier had a cap hit of $7.7 million remaining on his contract for the next seven seasons. The Lightning simply couldn't make that work with the salary cap coming down from $70.2 million to $64.3 million. They will pay Lecavalier $32.67 million over the next 14 years just to get out of the remainder of his deal.

That's important, as teams know Lecavalier comes into the negotiation with that ace card. He can pick a team because it's a good fit and not just because it can offer the most money.

The question is what does he want? He's from Quebec, but some speculate that he doesn't want to play in the bright lights of Canada. He has been a part of some great offensive teams in Tampa Bay (winning the Stanley Cup in 2004), so does he want a team that plays an open style? He is close friends with Brad Richards, so might be want to rejoin him in New York (could the Rangers even make that contract work)? Would he go to Vancouver to reunite with coach John Tortorella? Would he want to stay on the East Coast or is he open to trying something new?

Those are things Lecavalier will have to decide in the next week. He can interview with teams now and even make visits, but he can't sign with a new team until free agency begins July 5.

Lecavalier is an interesting player who is seen as a bit of project, because his game has slowed down in recent years. Would a fresh start get him going? Is he worth a big contract or can a team convince him to take a short-term deal and keep his options open?

It's going to make for a very intriguing few days.


682992 Detroit Red Wings

Helene St. James: Sizing up the NHL draft with Detroit Red Wings' Joe McDonnell

June 30, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

NHL draft facts

When: 3 p.m. today. Seven rounds.

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

TV: NBC Sports Network (3-8 p.m.) then NHL Network.

Top picks: 1. Colorado, 2. Florida, 3. Tampa Bay, 4. Nashville, 5. Carolina.

Wings’ picks: One in each round — Nos. 18, 48, 79, 109, 139, 169, 199.

After serving as Jim Nill’s right-hand man, Joe McDonnell is ready to look to his left, see general manager Ken Holland and know where the buck stops.

When Nill departed this spring as assistant general manager for the head GM job in Dallas, it didn’t take long for Holland to determine there was no better man to take over running the Wings’ draft this afternoon at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., than McDonnell, the team’s director of amateur scouting.

“The people who are here are a big part of the success we’ve had,” Holland said. “It didn’t make sense to me to bring in someone new.”

I caught up with McDonnell earlier this week and got him to open up about the Wings’ thoughts going into the draft, what it’ll be like to be in charge, and his stance on foreign relations.

You’ve had a lot of experience with drafts, but what will it be like now that you’re the “buck stops here” guy, with final say? “The only difference will be I’ll look to left and see Ken instead of Jim. But I’ve worked real close with Jim the last 18 years, we always were on the same page about picks. So really, not a big change, I think, except in the past he would have final say.”

This is the first year the Wings have had a first-round pick since 2010. Are they becoming a more precious resource? “I think they’re very precious, but you can’t take the Stanley Cups we’ve won since 1997 away from us. Getting quality players back in return for draft picks enabled us to win those Stanley Cups. ... First- and second-rounders are all very, very important since the salary cap. You have to draft well to keep a team competitive. Years ago, every summer there were really good free agents available. That pile of players seems to be shrinking every year. It’s ultra important now that you build from within and rely on scouting and developing players.”

It is a gamble, though, isn’t it? “It’s a huge gamble, for sure. That’s why you do your background work, try to narrow the probability of making a mistake. You try to be right. It’s not an easy thing to do. You don’t know what’s in their head, what they’re thinking. Do they have the heart and desire to want to get better? You try to do a bunch of background work and watch them play. And then you hope and pray that they turn out and keep you competitive.”

Pop quiz: A Swede, a Russian, an American and a Canadian are all available, and you like them all equally. Default goes to Sweden? “Hah. We’d take the kid who’s from Detroit.”

It seems like you’re deepest in the minors at defense, is that correct? “Yes, very. We’ve got Ryan Sproul and Xavier Ouellet, Gleason Fournier. We got Alexei Marchenko, from Russia. Mattias Backman looks like he’s got real good potential for the NHL in the future. There are a lot of guys back there who look really good for the future. You’re always looking for d-men. You’d always love to have one more, but we think we’re pretty well set up there. It’ll take the kids some time to learn the game in Grand Rapids, but we like what we’ve got.”

Size isn’t everything in a player, but it does matter? “To an extent. It’s just the way the game has evolved. You see it in the scrums along the boards, with the bigger guys who go into the corners. You can’t just have a big guy,

though, you need a big guy with skill. That’s what we’ve got in someone like Riley Sheahan, for example.

You are the Detroit Red Wings. You can’t leave a draft without at least one undersized, allegedly soft Euro, right? “Years ago, yes. Now, since they’ve changed the draft rules where Europeans are on par with North American players, and you can’t just keep them overseas for years and years, that’s changed.”

Other than possibly missing out on the first North Korean NHLer, are all teams scouting all over the globe? “Oh yeah, everyone has scouts in every location. For the high-end players, nobody has a scoop on anybody. The best you can hope for is that with the lower-end players, maybe some teams don’t look at some guys as closely as you do. So maybe you get somebody that way. But pretty much every region is covered.”

Jim Nill knows your secrets. But hasn’t everyone done due diligence at least through the first few rounds on every possible player? “Yeah, it’s really no big deal. Everybody sees the same thing. Some teams like one guy more than others. Jim doesn’t have any of our secrets, or any secrets from us.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.30.2013


Detroit Red Wings to meet with Vincent Lecavalier on Sunday, give Jakub Kindl 4-year deal

9:57 PM, June 29, 2013 |

By Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

NEW YORK — The Detroit Red Wings got one bit of business done before engaging in draft weekend, locking up defenseman Jakub Kindl through his prime.

Sunday, they’ll meet with free agent center Vincent Lecavalier.

A busy weekend figures to segue into a busy week ahead, as Sunday’s draft leads into the start of unrestricted free agency, with teams able to sign players Friday. The Wings are in talks with two of their unrestricted free agents, Damien Brunner and Daniel Cleary, and while they would like to trade the rights for Valtteri Filppula, Filppula wants to hit the open market, so at best Filppula’s rights may yield a conditional pick.

The Wings are in the market for a second-line center, and Lecavalier makes an intriguing possibility. The Wings like Lecavalier’s size and hands, but have concerns about his pace, and probably will lean against giving him anything more than a two-year offer. Lecavalier, 34, has said he wants a long-term deal.

Kindl was one of the team’s four restricted free agents. Rewarding him for a transformative season, the Wings re-signed him for four years at an average salary cap hit of $2.4 million.

“He’s 26 years of age,” general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press. “We felt he established himself as regular NHL defenseman; (he) can play on second power play. He’s physically stronger, he competes harder.

“He’s become an everyday player for us, the last 35 games of this season. It’s hard to find defensemen. We drafted him. It’s probably taken a little bit longer than he would have liked and we would have liked for him to get to this point, but this year there was an opportunity, and he’s come into his own. We look for him to keep growing.”

Kindl had four goals among 13 points in 41 games this past season, rebounding from an early stretch of injuries to become a dependable defenseman. He has good size at 6-feet-3, 216 pounds, and can play both special teams.

Defenseman Brendan Smith and forwards Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson all have received qualifying offers and will all be re-signed at some point.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.30.2013


Red Wings plan to meet with free agent Vince Lecavalier on Sunday

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

June 29, 2013 at 1:00 am

Detroit — The Red Wings will have plenty of company in pursuit of Vince Lecavalier.

General manager Ken Holland is expected to meet with Lecavalier on Sunday morning, a day after the free-agent center met with numerous interested teams in Newark, N.J., site of the NHL entry draft.

Montreal, Toronto, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Anaheim and Dallas — and there may have been others — reportedly met with Lecavalier on Saturday, with Detroit and Calgary, according to TSN, still scheduled to meet with him.

Tampa Bay bought out Lecavalier, 33, on Thursday, making the him the most popular unrestricted free agent on the market.

The Red Wings have serious interest, but the number of teams involved could drive the salary past what the Red Wings are comfortable with.

Lecavalier played in 39 games last season, scoring 32 points (10 goalsists).

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Lecavalier — a former No. 1 overall draft pick — has the size and offensive ability (12 consecutive 20 goal seasons before this last season) the Red Wings would covet, especially with the expected free-agent defection of Valtteri Filppula.

Lecavalier has 383 goals and 491 assists in 1,037 career regular season games, as well as 746 penalty minutes.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130629/SPORTS0103/306300015#ixzz2XgclxcI7

Detroit News LOADED: 06.30.2013


Nathan MacKinnon could go No. 1 to Avalanche; Wings draft 18th

Dan Gelston

Associated Press

The Colorado Avalanche own the top pick in the NHL draft and a whole lot of options.

Nathan MacKinnon and Seth Jones. Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov. They are the top candidates to go first Sunday at the Prudential Center.

Colorado won the draft lottery and has flirted with the idea of picking a puck-moving defenseman in Jones. But it appears the Avalanche are leaning toward choosing a forward, perhaps the 17-year-old MacKinnon.

MacKinnon, a 6-foot, 182-pound center, is a solid two-way presence with strong hands and stick-handling and skating skills. He is considered a natural scorer and a very good puck distributor.

Of course, Colorado could also decide to trade the pick to the Florida Panthers, who are slated to pick second, or to the Tampa Bay Lightning at No. 3, or even farther down to another club that is looking to make a splash and shoot to the top.

There is plenty of talent available, and this draft pool already has been touted as the best in a decade. This year’s prospects have been favorably compared to the last blockbuster draft in 2003.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards highlighted that first round 10 years ago. Patrice Bergeron and Shea Weber went in the second round, and future All-Stars and Stanley Cup champions dotted the list of a loaded draft.

Fast forward to now and there is a new group of prospects vying to become as well known and decorated as some of today’s stars.

MacKinnon, Jones, Drouin, and Barkov are likely to be taken in the top four.

Given the track record of defensemen at No. 1, the Avalanche could play it safe and nab an elite forward instead.

“As far as MacKinnon, I could tell you he’s a heck of a player. Jones is a heck of a player,” Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. “It’s the same thing with Drouin. They’re all premier players in the future for the NHL.”

Fair or not to Jones, teams are skittish about taking a defenseman first. The last defenseman selected No. 1 was Erik Johnson by St. Louis in 2006. Johnson, who now plays for Colorado, had only four points in 31 games this season and has never lived up to his top billing.

Only 12 defensemen have gone No. 1, and Denis Potvin (1973, New York Islanders) is the only one to make the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Avalanche could make it 13 after winning the draft lottery for the first time.

Jones has deep roots with the Avalanche, dating to the early part of last decade when his father, former NBA forward Popeye Jones, struck up a friendship with Joe Sakic and Roy when they all played in Colorado.

Sakic now is the Avalanche’s executive vice president of hockey operations, and Roy is the club’s new coach.

Jones, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman, could become the first American picked No. 1 since Chicago’s Patrick Kane in 2007 and the seventh overall. In a sport in which the majority percentage of players are white, it is that slice of history he would make as the first black selected No. 1 — topping Evander Kane, who was picked fourth in 2009.

“Seth could be that poster child for USA hockey,” Popeye Jones said.

It would make for a unique cultural twist if an American was picked No. 1 in the NHL days after Anthony Bennett of Canada was selected first by Cleveland in the NBA draft.

“We still have a high amount of interest in him,” Rick Pracey, Colorado’s director of amateur scouting, said of Jones.

Jones enters the draft as the top-ranked player on the NHL Central Scouting’s final list of North American skaters.

Even as praise is heaped on him, Jones knows scouts believe he has only scratched the surface of his potential.

“They’d like to see the shot improve a little bit, be a little more physical, those kinds of things,” Pracey said.

The Avalanche, however, appear to have narrowed their focus on MacKinnon.

“He’s a player that has been front and center all year, and he continues to be so,” Pracey said. “He is a player that has withstood the pressures of a draft year, withstood the pressures of high expectations and the comparable that he’s been held accountable to, not only this year but the past couple of years.”

MacKinnon spent this past season with Halifax of the QMJHL and had 32 goals and 43 assists in 44 games. He scored 11 goals and had 22 assists in 17 playoff games.

“I think seeing that push and seeing him elevate his game and carry a team to a championship and then into the Memorial Cup is special,” Pracey said. “Having this player handle the distractions and the media and all the scrutiny that goes with being a top player and then being able to perform and raise his game, are all key, key qualities.”

After Florida and Tampa Bay, Nashville and Carolina round out the top five. All seven rounds will be held on the same day for the first time since 2006.

The next decade will tell if this class was worth the hype.

“It is certainly one of the better ones probably in the last couple of years in terms of overall depth,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “Compared to ‘03, it’d be difficult, now. You look back at those players, there was a lot of impact players from that draft.

“So, that’s probably for future debate,” Holmgren said.

NHL entry draft

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Newark, N.J., Prudential Center.

TV: NBC Sports Network, 3-8 p.m.; NHL Network, 8 p.m. until the last pick

Red Wings picks: 18th, 48th, 79th, 109th, 139th, 169th, 199th

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130629/SPORTS0103/306290041#ixzz2Xgd6GZFu



Wings re-sign Jakub Kindl for four years, $9.6 million

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

June 29, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Detroit — The Red Wings have re-signed defenseman Jakub Kindl to a four-year contract worth $9.6 million.

Kindl, 26, was a restricted free agent, and is coming off the best season of his young career — playing in 41 games, with four goals and nine assists, with a plus-15 rating.

Signing Kindl leaves the Red Wings with three other restricted free agents — defenseman Brendan Smith, and forwards Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson.

General manager Ken Holland and the rest of his staff are in Newark, N.J., this weekend preparing for Sunday's NHL entry draft.

Holland plans to meet with the agents for unrestricted free-agent forwards Valtteri Filppula, Damien Brunner and Daniel Cleary. All three could hit the open market July 5, and can sign with any team.

Holland is also exploring trade options, leading into the start of free agency next week, as he attempts to clear roster and financial space.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130629/SPORTS0103/306290039#ixzz2XgdCd0iF



Free-agent forward Vincent Lecavalier schedules meeting with Detroit Red Wings

By Brendan Savage | [email protected]

on June 29, 2013 at 9:26 PM, updated June 29, 2013 at 10:19 PM

The Detroit Red Wings' pursuit of free-agent forward Vincent Lecavalier has apparently begun.

According to a Tweet by TSN.ca's Ryan Rishaug, the Red Wings are among the teams who have scheduled meetings with Lecavalier, whose contract was bought out by Tampa Bay and will be able to sign with any team he chooses beginning July 5.

"Sources tell TSN Lecavalier camp has met with Dallas, St. Louis, Philli and Montreal with more to come tonite," Rishaug Tweeted Saturday night before later adding "Lecavalier meeting with Anaheim now, Detroit and Toronto to come still tonite. Lecavalier will meet with one more team early tomorrow then fly home."

Update: The meting with the Red Wings apparently will take place Sunday, according to a Tweet by CBC's Elliotte Friedman.

"Check that: hearing Lecavalier will meet with Detroit and Calgary tomorrow," Friedman Tweeted. "Two meetings, not one."

Hours after learning that the Lightning were buying out his contract, Lecavalier said the Red Wings were among the teams he was interested in joining.

Lecavalier, 33, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NHL entry draft and has spent his entire 14-year career in Tampa.

He has scored at least 20 goals 12 times in his career, topped 30 five times and led the NHL with 52 goals in 2006-07.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.30.2013


Detroit Red Wings announce forward Drew Miller has signed three-year contract extension

By Brendan Savage | [email protected]

on June 29, 2013 at 11:54 AM, updated June 29, 2013 at 12:16 PM

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Drew Miller to a three-year contract extension, the club announced this morning.

MLive.com first reported June 14 that Miller had agreed to the deal, which will pay him $4.05 million and locks him up through the end of the 2015-16 season.

Miller had four goals, four assists and a minus-8 rating in 44 games last season, when he was sidelined for the final four games of the campaign after suffering a broken hand.

After missing Detroit's first eight playoffs games, Miller returned in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals vs. Chicago and had one goal, one assist and a plus-1 rating in six games.

He scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks in Game 3.

Miller, who plays on the fourth line and kills penalties, has appeared in 257 regular-season games with the Red Wings since being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay in November 2009.

He played for Anaheim's 2007 Stanley Cup championship team.



Teams appear to have more trade options this year; Detroit Red Wings 'motivated' to make a move

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

on June 29, 2013 at 1:01 AM, updated June 29, 2013 at 2:15 AM

DETROIT – Trade talks will heat up this weekend at the NHL entry draft in Newark, N.J., as they usually do.

This year, it appears many more prominent players are being shopped.

Various reports indicate the long list of forwards available includes Thomas Vanek (Buffalo), Paul Stastny (Colorado), Dave Bolland (Chicago); Sam Gagner, Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky (Edmonton), Mike Cammalleri (Calgary), David Perron (St. Louis) and Erik Cole (Dallas).

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday that he's had conversations with some team executives, but nothing is imminent.

“This is the weekend that teams are motivated to make a move, and we're motivated to make a move or two between now and unrestricted free agency (which starts next Friday) that we think will make our team a little better,'' Holland said.

If nothing else, the Red Wings would like to trim a player or two from their crowded roster, either through trades or a compliance buyout or two.

The club's course of action depends, in large part, on whether it re-signs any of its unrestricted free-agent forwards – Daniel Cleary, Damien Brunner or Valtteri Filppula, who appears to have one foot out the door.

Holland will continue talking to the agents for all three players this weekend. He might opt to shop Filppula's negotiating rights if no progress is made.

If Filppula leaves, the Red Wings would prefer to fill the void on the second line with a center.

Many teams are expected to make a pitch for Vincent Lecavalier, 33, who was added to the free-agent list after the Tampa Bay Lightning bought out the final seven years of his contract on Thursday.

The Red Wings will explore that option, but they're not likely to get into a bidding war for him.

The smaller, quicker Stephen Weiss of the Florida Panthers is an option. Matt Cullen, 36, of the Minnesota Wild and Patrik Elias, 37, of the New Jersey Devils are a pair of older alternatives.

The Red Wings also are interested in right wing Jarome Iginla, the long-time Calgary Flame who was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins late in the season. Whether the interest is mutual is uncertain, since Detroit was not on his short list of teams he agreed to waive his no-trade clause for this past season (Pittsburgh, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago).

They don't appear to be interested in spending big money on the likes of David Clarkson (New Jersey) or Nathan Horton (Boston), should they hit the market.

The Red Wings are set on the blue line, unless they can acquire a top-three defenseman, which is unlikely.

They have eight defensemen and are pondering whether to keep Carlo Colaiacovo. If they don't trade him this weekend, they might use a compliance buyout on him before the July 4 deadline (5 p.m.).

But, that would leave them thin on defense if they have an injury or two in training camp or early in the season. They might opt to keep Colaiacovo and waive somebody at the start of the season if they need to clear a roster spot.

Forwards Mikael Samuelsson and Todd Bertuzzi are other buyout candidates. Players who are bought out must be waived first.

Decision due on McCollum

The Red Wings will wait until Monday's deadline to decide whether to tender a qualifying offer to goaltender Tom McCollum, thereby retaining his rights.

McCollum, the club's top pick in the 2008 entry draft (30th overall) hasn't panned out as projected, struggling his first three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He improved this past season, going 18-11-2, with a 2.63 goals-against average, but still couldn't beat out Petr Mrazek for the starting job.

Next year, the Red Wings have 6-foot-5 free agent Jared Coreau from Northern Michigan slotted as Mrazek's backup, leaving McCollum's future with the organization in question.

Wings hoping to sign Glendening

Holland is talking with the agent for center Luke Glendening, hoping to sign him to an NHL contract.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound, right-handed shooting Glendening (Michigan) blossomed during the AHL playoffs for the Griffins, tying for third on the team with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). He had eight goals and 18 assists in 51 regular-season games.



Red Wings are going to pick best available player

By CHUCK PLEINESS

[email protected]; @wingsfrontman

Posted: Saturday, 06/29/13 04:28 pm

DETROIT – Like many of the other drafts before it for the Detroit Red Wings, they’re going to look at the best available player at the time of their pick.

But this year they’re leaning a bit in one direction … a skilled forward with decent size.

“The only difference this year is we’d really like to get a forward, unless there’s a defenseman that’s too good to pass up,” said Joe McDonnell, the team’s director of amateur scouting. “When it comes to our pick, if we feel there’s two players that are even we’ll lean toward the forward.”

This goes against many of the mock drafts that have Detroit taking a blue liner with its first pick.

“Every team’s almost in the same boat,” McDonnell said. “It’s just the way the game has evolved. It’s a big man’s game. I’m not saying there’s no room for smaller guys, but if you can get a big, skilled guy, you go that route. Still take small guys if we have to. But we’re looking to get bigger. We have bigger guys coming up in (Tomas) Jurco and (Riley) Sheahan.”

The draft, which is one day this year, begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday with the Wings having the 18th pick, which is their highest pick since 1991.

“We’re excited, at 18, we know we’ll get someone we really like,” McDonnell said. “The draft in general is strong, in the first round and even into the second round. It’s deep at the top end of the draft and then it peters out. There will be guys we like even in the seventh round. But the high-end part of the draft is good. At 18, we’ll get a quality player.”

The Wings have selected forwards with their top picks in each of the last three drafts – Martin Frk (2012), Tomas Jurco (2011) and Riley Sheahan (2010).

“It’s always the best player,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “We feel like we’ve got some good prospects on defense and some good prospects up front. We’d like to add a few more. We’re hoping to look back in six years and we’ve got two NHL players out of this draft. If you have a great, great day maybe you have three.”

The Wings have a number of defensemen coming up through the ranks, including Brian Lashoff, Ryan Sproul, Xavier Oullette and Mattias Backman.

“We have a lot of good, young defensemen,” McDonnell said. “We think we have a number of good ones. If we can add a little size up front, it would be beneficial.”

One position the Wings won’t be looking at highly is goaltending where they’re well-stocked.

Petr Mrazek just got done leading the Grand Rapids Griffins to the Calder Cup as a rookie. They’ve also got Jake Paterson, who the Wings drafted in the third round a year ago, and free agent signee Jared Coreau out of Northern Michigan.

“It’s not a high priority for us,” McDonnell said. “We’re happy with Mrazek. Paterson is a high-end kid. We’re not pressed to take a goalie, but if there’s one rated highly we’ll take him. Not in the top three rounds, though.”

Holland added that the Wings probably won’t be trading up in this draft, but like in year’s past they’re willing to listen to offers to move down.

“You deal in percentages and hopefully we come down the road and we have some NHL players,” Holland said. “As we’ve all seen it’s a very patient process. You’re dealing with 18-year-old kids and most of them, other than the top end of the draft, there’s a developing process they have to go through.

“It starts on draft day by holding onto your picks, making selections and then working their way through juniors, college and then to Grand Rapids,”

Holland continued. “Some funnel up to Detroit and some drop by the wayside. We have number of prospects within our organization and we’d just like to our pool of prospects.”

The Wings have picks in all seven rounds – 48th, 79th, 109th, 139th, 169th and 199th overall.

“In the salary-cap era (the draft is) everything,” McDonnell said. “If you don’t draft well and develop your players you don’t have any hope. If you’re going to be a good organization you better draft. It’s the lifeline of an organization.”

This is McDonnell’s first year of making the final decision on players, replacing Jim Nill, who was hired as the Dallas Stars’ general manager on April 29.

“Jim and I were sitting there the past 18 years, the only weird thing is I’ll look to my left and no Jim Nill, it’ll be Ken Holland,” said McDonnell, whose first draft with the Wings was in 1995. “Jim taught me a lot in those early years.”

Macomb Daily LOADED: 06.30.2013

683001 Edmonton Oilers

Darnell Nurse not short of suitors ahead of NHL draft

By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton JournalJune 29, 2013

New York – Darnell Nurse was only a year old when his father, Richard, was playing out his last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League. His time at Ivor Wynne Stadium was spent in the stands rooting for the Tabbies.

He also experienced the game through his uncle, Donovan McNabb, who directed the Philadelphia Eagles offence, but taking part on the field was never an option, no matter how much Nurse might have wanted to play.

“I wasn’t allowed to play,” he said. “I tried. My parents wanted to keep me safe, as crazy as that sounds now that I’m playing hockey. But I do go to as many Tiger-Cats games as I can, especially the Labour Day games when they’re playing the Argos.”

The Sault St. Marie Greyhounds defenceman is perched on a chair with his back to the Hudson River, his eyes on the future — a view that will become a little clearer Sunday when NHL teams make their draft selections at the Prudential Centre in Newark, N.J.

If Nurse is still available when Edmonton makes the seventh selection, he could well end up with the Oilers.

That’s if the Oilers still have the selection. The team was linked to several trade rumours Saturday, in part because rookie general manager Craig MacTavish has said he wants to leave the draft with a deal and in larger part because the team has needs and has some assets to move.

MacTavish will, however, need to find a trade partner. He wasn’t available for comment on Saturday.

There are several top-tier defencemen in Sunday’s draft, starting with the Portland Winterhawks’ Seth Jones, ranked No. 1 on Central Scouting’s list.

Nurse is OK with that.

“I think it’s cool to be a part of it,” he said. “You see guys like Seth, who is such a gifted player and a great guy. You can take some things from guys like that.”

Nurse made one trip after the NHL combine meetings in Toronto, and that was to Edmonton at the behest of the Oilers, but he talked to several teams in Toronto. Two of the more notable interviews were with the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils.

The 18-year-old grew up as a fan of the Devils, in particular Scott Stevens, and he has a connection to Philadelphia through his uncle and more recently Chris Pronger, another favourite. But when it comes to modelling his game, Shea Weber is Nurse’s measuring stick.

“I’ve watched him a lot and he has an ability to not only have an impact in the defensive zone but the offensive zone … just keeping it simple.”

What he liked about Pronger was his snarl, a trait that Nurse said he can pull out when need be. He also likes to hit.

“I think that (aggressive streak) is something you have or you don’t,” he said. “I’ve always liked to hit people more than I like getting hit. It’s better to give than receive, right?”

Nurse did get into a fight with the Edmonton Oil Kings’ Curtis Lazar at the prospects game. Lazar said he was asked about it at several of his interviews at the combine and later joked he was hopeful teams didn’t have him pegged as a fighter.

“I wasn’t going in there looking for it,” Nurse said.

“I didn’t think anyone was going to fight, so when Curtis asked me to go, I said, ‘Fine, we can do this if you want.’ It’s just something that comes with my game. Even during the season it happens. If you get challenged, there’s always a right time to step up.”

The one person Nurse won’t take on is his mom, Cathy, especially on the basketball court. She played at McMaster University.

Although his two sisters are both skilled on the court, “no one can take my mom,” he said.

“My two sisters might be better basketball players, but I don’t think anyone wants to receive an elbow from Mama Nurse.”

The defenceman is determined to make a push out of camp, no matter where he ends up, but he also acknowledged he has to put on a bit more weight this summer.

“I’m six four and just getting to 200 pounds now. It’s going to take some time,” said Nurse, who grew up in Hamilton. “I just need to eat.

“No matter what situation I’m in, I have to push and give it everything I have. I’m almost there, but almost isn’t enough. I need to push myself through the rest of the summer. When it’s all said and done, I could play at 215-220, but breaking in, I think I’d have to get to 205.”

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Could the Edmonton Oilers move both of their second round picks in trade for players at the 2013 NHL Draft?

June 29, 2013. 4:00 am

Posted by:

Jonathan Willis

On Tuesday, Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig Mactavish made reference to second round draft picks as being “the most liquid currency” in trade talks with other general managers (see our full recap of his press conference here). The Oilers enter draft weekend with two picks (37th overall and 56th overall), but yesterday Oilers radio host Bob Stauffer suggested they might leave the draft without using either of them.

From New York, Stauffer was interviewed by guest host Reid Wilkins, and offered the following take:

Look, Craig MacTavish basically inferred on Tuesday at the media availability, if you read between the lines of what he was saying, that they he’d almost be disappointed if he used both second round picks because he’s looking to upgrade the team with those second round picks. I personally feel that Minnesota is a team that would be willing; the Minnesota Wild are looking to turn two second round picks into a number one because they want to trade back into the number one after they moved their number one pick in the deal for Pominville. We know Clutterbuck’s out there. In a perfect world, the Oilers acquire a top-four left-shooting defenceman with a second round pick and a prospect, and I wonder if they don’t move the other second round pick and get a guy like Clutterbuck with maybe a (B) or (C) prospect. We’ll have to wait and see, but it would not surprise me if the Edmonton Oilers did not have a pick in the second round. We know they don’t have a pick right now in the third or in the fourth… it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the Oilers trade both [second round picks].

Asked to clarify whether the Oilers would package those second round picks together, Stauffer quickly and definitively, “Separate deals” and suggested the Oilers could make “four or five trades in the next three weeks.”

It isn’t all that hard to draw up plausible trade scenarios.

Cal Clutterbuck’s name has been circling Edmonton since at least April, when the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson suggested him as a plausible target; rumours heated up when Minnesota Wild beat reporter Michael Russo mentioned the possibility of a deal with Edmonton that would include prospect Tyler Pitlick. At the time, Pitlick was the only piece suggested on the Edmonton side (David Staples argued that Pitlick was not a Grade A prospect and would be expendable in such a deal). Looking at Stauffer’s comments, might Pitlick and a second round pick (I would suggest the 56th overall selection) be on the table for Clutterbuck?

As for a top-four left-shooting defenceman, it’s awfully easy to connect the name Braydon Coburn to that comment. Coburn was mentioned by TSN as a player who might be on the move yesterday, but Stauffer had actually brought up his name back on Tuesday, describing him using almost the exact same words and indicating Philadelphia might part with him to clear salary space (our analysis of that rumour here). Would the 37th overall pick and a second-tier prospect – names that come to mind include people like Mitch Moroz and David Musil – get a trade done there? Would the Oilers be better off moving that second round pick rather than swapping first rounders (Edmonton picks seventh, Philadelphia 11th) if the Flyers are open to that kind of arrangement?

What seems certain is that Craig MacTavish is going to have a very busy weekend. Stauffer’s comments reinforce the notion that the Oilers are going to be very active; as one NHL general manager told CBC’s Elliotte Friedman, MacTavish has “got his fingers in everything.”

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 06.30.2013


NHL draft prospect Darnell Nurse not afraid to fight, but willing to be a role model, too

By Robert Tychkowski,Edmonton Sun


NEW YORK - Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish aren’t the only people in Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse had face-to-face meetings with this season — he traded punches with Edmonton Oil King forward Curtis Lazar at the Top Prospects game in January.

Getting in a fight in what amounts to an all-star game wasn’t on his agenda, but when a scrap comes knocking, he’s always quick to answer.

“I didn’t go in there looking for it, I didn’t think anyone was really going to fight,” said the Sault Ste. Marie captain, projected to go anywhere from fifth to eighth on Sunday. “When Curtis asked me to go I said ‘We can do this if you want, nothing wrong with that.”

While some players are reluctant to make physical statements on the ice, Nurse loves it. In a game where big men are either St. Bernards or German Shepherds, he’s the latter.

“It’s something you’ve got, or you don’t have,” he said. “I have it. I always liked hitting people more than getting hit. It’s better to give than receive, right. That’s just always been the way I’ve been.

“It’s just something that comes in my game. During the season you’re being someone who’s hard to play against and you get challenged. There’s always the right time to step up.”

Ironically, Nurse wound up being a hockey ruffian because his father, former Hamilton Ti-Cat Richard Nurse, and mother Cathy, who played basketball at McMaster, thought football was too dangerous.

“I wasn’t allowed (to play it),” said Nurse, whose uncle by marriage is long-time NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb. “I tried. But my parents wanted to keep me safe, crazy as it sounds, playing hockey. I guess in hockey you control a little more who gets hit when you’re on defence.”

In hockey, he will also be a role model for other minority kids who might not normally gravitate toward the ice. That isn’t a responsibility he takes lightly. But after watching one of the most classy and professional players in the game from afar, he knows what’s expected of him.

“Growing up, I got to watch Jarome Iginla,” he said. “He was one of the main reasons I loved hockey and became one of my favourite players to watch.

“It’s probably not the first thought I have — I play hockey because I love playing hockey — but being an inspiration for somebody some day is something that drives me, too.”

Dan Marr, executive director of NHL Central Scouting, says whoever winds up with the 6-foot-4 defender will be getting a good one.

“I’ve always compared him to Shea Weber,” said Marr. “He’s got a mix where he’s good at the physical game, good at the skill game. He’s got a good shot from the point. He’s a good package.”

But, despite his athletic lineage, none of this comes naturally.

“I wish it was that easy,” he said. “For me, athleticism wouldn’t get me too far if I didn’t work the way that I did.

“Everybody is athletic, everyone is in the gym five, six times a week. Having the athletic part as a background is a good help but it would be hard to find somebody who works has hard as I do.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Edmonton Oilers - drafting their way through misery, and out?



For Edmontonians, the NHL Entry Draft is something to be loved and hated in the same breath, an exercise of wild extremes that Oilers fans still credit for the glory years and still blame for the lean years that followed.

Draft day delivered the cornerstones for hockey’s last great dynasty, it led them into a barren wasteland of mediocrity and is now providing the kind of talent and hope that Edmontonians haven’t seen here in 20 years.

In the final installment of a three-part series leading up to selection day 2013, The Sun looks at Edmonton’s draft record from 2004 to the present, also known as the Long Road Back.

After blowing 18 of 20 first picks from 1984 to 2003, the Oilers re-discovered their drafting rhythm somewhat in the mid 2000s.

They took Devan Dubnyk in the first round of 2004 (14th overall), Andrew Cogliano 18th in 2005, Jeff Petry 45th (they had no first round pick) in 2006, Sam Gagner 6th in 2007, stole Jordan Eberle with the 22nd pick in 2008 and picked Magnus Paajarvi 10th in 2009.

The Oilers drew the 7th overall pick this year. Below are recent 7th round picks and how they've panned out. Hover over the picture for more info. The story is continued below.

All in all, a very productive run given where they were picking.

But it still wasn’t enough to lift them out of the bottom half of the NHL.

It didn’t help that in 2007 they had three picks in the first round and blew two of them on Alex Plante (15th) and Riley Nash (22nd) and that when it came to second or third round picks and late rounders - virtually nothing panned out.

Rob Schremp and Linus Omark made waves in the media, but couldn’t stick in the NHL. JF Jacques and Teemu Hartikainen had all the tools, but lacked big league passion.

Of the 35 players selected with their second pick or later between 2004 and 2009, only two (Theo Peckham and Anton Lander) are still in the mix.

The resulting lack of organizational depth, coupled with bad management and a capricious owner more interested in buying a winner than building one resulted in years of bitter hardship - seven straight seasons out of the playoffs.

It also meant an unprecedented three straight first picks overall, the kind of second chance most organizations can only dream of.

LOSING'S NOT EXCITING

“Scouts don’t dream of picking first, that’s for sure because it means your team has been pretty bad, obviously,” said head scout Stu MacGregor, who took over the top job in 2007. “But when you’re there, it is an opportunity for an organization to re-stock and get quality players. It’s exciting from that aspect, it’s just not exciting to watch the whole season when the team isn’t going very well.”

It wasn’t. For three years, the best part of the season came in June, when the Oilers got first pick of the NHL litter. And while it might look easy scooping up the consensus No.1 every year, picking first also involves the most pressure. It’s a pick that, good or bad, will live with a scout and his organization forever.

“I don’t think it’s ever easy, no matter where you draft,” said MacGregor. “But there’s obviously a little more pressure when you pick No.1.

“You have to just be prepared for it, do the work and make sure you feel right about the pick you’re making. There’s stress, but you deal with it.

“And once the decision is made that you’re picking first, you just get after it. The stress might be after if they don’t perform.”

In 2010 it was Taylor vs Tyler, a decision that seemed obvious on its face, given that Hall had better numbers, walked over Seguin’s team in the playoffs and was a two-time Memorial Cup MVP. But it wasn’t very difficult to over-analyse the situation.

The Oilers needed a centre, Hall benefited from a better team and wasn’t Seguin a few months younger? It provided some great drama right up to the last moment.

FUTURE SHOP

Oilers First Picks

2004 - Devan Dubnyk

2005 - Andrew Cogliano

2006 - Jeff Petry

2007 - Sam Gagner

2008 - Jordan Eberle

2009 - Magnus Paajarvi

2010 - Taylor Hall

2011 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

2012 - Nail Yakupov

In the end, they took the guy who reminded them of Messier.

The next season, after another 30th place finish and another first round pick, the decision came down to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, power forward Gabriel Landeskog, Memorial Cup MVP Jonathan Huberdeau or defenceman Adam Larsson.

In the end, they took the skinny kid with eyes in the back of his head who reminded them of Gretzky.

In 2012, when it came down to Nail Yakupov or defenceman Ryan Murray, they went with the charismatic Russian whose one-timer reminded them of a young Jari Kurri.

In hindsight, MacGregor says there weren’t even tough calls.

“Not really,” he said. “I feel good about where we’re at with all three of those picks. Taylor Hall is starting to establish himself as a high end player. The Nuge has been really good and I’m sure he’ll recover from his injury and be just as good or better and I’m sure Yakupov with his 17 goals showed why we drafted him. I have no issues about where those players are. I think they’re tracking well.”

They certainly have everyone flashing back to the halcyon days when Barry Fraser and company set the table for a dynasty by landing Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Grant Fuhr in a span of 15 picks.

EXCITING FUTURE

“We got to choose another cornerstone piece of the organization,” said former general manager Steve Tambellini. “For us, trying to think of what that’s going to look like with Hopkins, Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Hemsky... it’s exciting.”

It wasn’t that exciting. The Oilers only managed a 24th place finish with all those guys, suggesting there is still a lot of work left to do heading into Sunday’s draft in New Jersey, where the Oilers are hoping to keep their draft day momentum going with a strong first pick (seventh overall).

“I’m glad to be out of the first row of tables,” said MacGregor. That’s a step forward. Would I have liked to pick 10, 12 or 16? Absolutely, but we are in a situation where we moved forward a bit last year and feel good about it.

“We’ll get a good player at 7. We know who No. 7 is on our list and I’d be thrilled to get him.”



Edmonton Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins doesn't handicap the field … Seth Jones still excited … Sean Monohan slips the jinx … Hunter Shinkaruk measures up



NEW YORK - Don’t ask Dallas Eakins who he wants Edmonton to select on Sunday — the Oilers head coach has no idea.

While a lot of people analysing the draft haven’t seen any of these kids play live, it doesn’t stop them from rating and ranking and speculating. Eakins, on the other hand, is more honest than most when it comes to evaluating the class of 2013.

He won’t, because he doesn’t know enough about any of them to make an informed decision.

“You say a name to me and I’ve heard the name, but I couldn’t tell you if he shoots left or right,” said Eakins, when asked if there’s a guy in the four to seven spots he’d love to see in Edmonton.

“I am going buzz in with our amateur scouts and be a fly on the wall and listen, but for me … these amateur scouts work extremely hard and I have trust in them to make the right call. For the head coach of an NHL team, you have to leave it to those guys and trust their pick.”

SPOILER ALERT

Three years ago Taylor or Tyler captivated fans of the NHL draft for months.

Two years ago, the Oilers kept everyone in suspense before they announced they were taking Ryan Nugent-Hopkins over Gabriel Landeskog.

This year, Colorado let the air out of the balloon when they announced that the top ranked player in this year’s draft won’t be going first overall.

Avs executive vice-president Joe Sakic said they’re going to pass on defenceman Seth Jones and go with Nathan MacKinnon instead.

Thanks for ruining the drama.

“They have, good for them,” said Jones, adding it doesn’t change the draft for him, knowing a week ago that he isn’t going first. “Not much. I’m still going to sit there and wait for my name to be called just like I would if they hadn’t come out.

“The expectation and excitement have been building up for quite some time now. I’m just happy that it’s finally here.”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Being on a bottom feeder that missed the playoffs usually isn’t good for a player’s draft status, but Sean Monahan seems to have overcome. He’s ranked fifth among North American skaters and is being spoken of in glowing terms despite the last-place Ottawa 67’s 16-46 record.

“The fact Ottawa was going through a rebuilding year didn’t make it easy for him,” said Dan Marr of NHL Central Scouting. “But NHL scouts are aware of these factors. It actually worked to his advantage, teams knowing that he wasn’t playing with a lot of skill to help set him up, that he had to do a lot of the work on the play. I think he’s a very highly thought of and respected player.”

Marr compared the 6-2 centre to Carolina’s Eric Staal, who happens to be one of Monahan’s idols.

“Every team needs an Eric Staal who can play on your team for a long time. He’s a player who leads by example. He’s got the skill set where he can generate offence but he’s also very responsible defensively. He’s just a strong two-way centre who’s going to play for some team for a long, long time.”

KANE DO

Speaking of comparisons, small centre Hunter Shinkeruk isn’t shy about who he wants to be like.

“A lot of people look at me and say I’m not very big, but you look at Patrick Kane, who had a great playoffs,” said the 5-10, 181-pound Medicine Hat Tiger. “He’s a guy who I feel I play a lot like. We’re probably the same size and weight right now. There’s work to be done this summer but I’m going to be committed and at the end of the day we’ll see what happens.”


683006 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers expect game-changing talent with No. 2 pick in NHL Draft

BY GEORGE RICHARDS

Posted on Sun, Jun. 30, 2013

When the Panthers had the third overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Florida landed forward Jonathan Huberdeau — who is now the NHL’s reigning rookie of the year.

“There were two players we thought were close to Huberdeau,” assistant general manager Mike Santos said. “We just waited for the picks to be made, and he fell into our lap. Looking back, the right guy fell into our lap.”

On Sunday, Florida has the second selection after Colorado. The Panthers hope history repeats itself and another top-end talent heads to South Florida.

Colorado, which won the draft lottery in April to pull the top pick away from the last-place Panthers, said it will select a forward and not top-rated defenseman Seth Jones.

Of course, this could be a bluff in trying to get the Panthers — or another team — to trade up for the top pick.

After all, Jones not only has ties to the Denver area and the Avs organization, but as a defenseman he plays a position where the Avs could use help. Florida general manager Dale Tallon said he believes what the Colorado management team of former players Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy is selling.

“Based on their history as players and as people, they are new to the game, but I believe they are very truthful,” Tallon said. “I’m just concerned about what we can do. The top four guys are slam dunks. We’re very prepared and satisfied they all will help us out.”

If the Avs were to take center Nathan MacKinnon, whom it is believed the Panthers prefer, Florida is projected to select Jones.

Florida, by virtue of finishing the season in last place, will get what projects to be a very good player with either MacKinnon, Jones or forwards Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov.

“We’re going to get a better-than-normal prospect in this draft,” said Scott Luce, the team’s director of amateur scouting. “We, as an organization, would much rather be in the playoffs like we were the year before, picking at 23 and getting a guy like Mike Matheson every year rather than going through the top guys in every draft. Our fans deserve that and our staff deserves that.”

Tallon said Saturday that the Panthers haven’t decided whom they will take with the second pick and reiterated that Florida could move up in a deal with Colorado or slide down.

This draft is deep in talent and teams covet Florida’s position.

“We’re going to get one hell of a player,” Tallon said. “I wish I had more picks. I really do. You try to be greedy, but you only get one kick at the can. You better make sure it’s the right one. We’re fortunate to be picking where we’re picking.”

Said Santos: “If you are picking one, two, three or four, you are getting a player who is a game-changer. Being at No. 2 doesn’t change a heck of a lot from being No. 1.”

The Panthers will have plenty of suitors Sunday, although Tallon said Saturday was “eerily quiet” on the trade front.

“Whatever the best option is for us, that’s what we’re going to do,” Tallon said. “I had conversations with [Colorado] on a couple of occasions. You have to exhaust every opportunity to get better.

“It would be unfair for me not to ask them if they were thinking about moving that pick. If they move it for something that we had or … could have given them, it would be very frustrating for our franchise and for all of us. We explore every avenue to make sure we have the best available picks. That’s how I’ve always operated.”

Luce has been watching Jones and MacKinnon for a long time. Although Jones comes into the draft as the top-rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting, MacKinnon is a player who has been pegged to be a top pick for the past few years.

Although surpassed by the emerging Jones in the eyes of some scouts — Jones is approaching 6-5 and can skate as well as anyone in this draft — many believe MacKinnon is a franchise-changing offensive forward.

“With our spot, we feel there are four guys out there who are elite guys,” Luce said. “We spent the past few months looking at those four guys to determine who is the best fit for our organization. It’s still a work in progress. We’ve had a lot of conversations.”

Because of the lockout that shortened the 2013 season to 48 games, the NHL is cramming all seven rounds of this draft into Sunday.

The first round is projected to take just over two hours to complete with the Panthers kicking off the second round with the 31st selection.

Tallon and his crew are hoping to continue adding to the Panthers depth as Florida holds five of the first 100 picks. Although Florida doesn’t have a third-round pick — yet — it does have three early selections in the fourth.

“Those picks are going to turn into something very positive for us,” Tallon said. “Either we’re going to use them to move up, or it’s such a deep draft, we’ll fill some needs.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 06.30.2013


Florida Panthers interested in ex-Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier

BY GEORGE RICHARDS


Vinny Lecavalier in a Panthers sweater? If the team has its way, that scenario — a nightmare for Tampa Bay fans — could come to light next season.

Lecavalier, the Lightning’s all-time leader in just about everything, was bought out by the team and is now a free agent. With the Panthers looking for veteran talent, team management said Lecavalier is a player in whom they are interested.

Both general manager Dale Tallon and assistant GM Mike Santos said Saturday that the Panthers’ full attention, right now, is on Sunday’s NHL Draft, but they are trying to engage in talks with Lecavalier and his representatives on Sunday before they leave New York.

Lecavalier, like all unrestricted free agents, can’t sign with another team until Friday.

“We’re very interested in his leadership, his skill level,” Tallon said after meeting with draft prospects at the team’s hotel near Times Square. “We have young, big centermen who could learn a lot from him.

“We have some interest; hopefully he has some as well. That’s the way it starts. It takes two to tango. If he doesn’t want to come, so be it. But I think there will be some open dialog there. That would be a benefit to our franchise.”

Lecavalier, who just finished his 14th season, has been the Lightning’s captain since 2000 and has 26 goals and 42 assists in 78 career games against the Panthers. Lecavalier had 10 goals and 22 assists in 39 games last season — with two goals and six points in four games against Florida.

“Even the thought of wearing a different kind of jersey is weird in my head,” Lecavalier told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday.

Because of a reduced salary cap — and Lecavalier’s declining numbers — Tampa Bay decided to exercise its option to buy out the final seven years of the 11-year, $85 million deal Lecavalier signed with the team’s previous owners.

So, the Lightning will pay Lecavalier roughly $33 million over the next 14 years and not have that money count against the salary cap.

The Panthers are hoping the lack of a state income tax and South Florida’s proximity to Lecavalier’s Tampa charities might help sway Lecavalier in staying local.

“You have to have interest in Vinny Lecavalier,” Santos said. “It’s a little premature to see what his price will be in years and money. He’s a high character guy with great leadership skills. … Is he better than what we have at center right now? Probably.

“There are a lot of reasons for him wanting to stay in the state of Florida. Let’s face it, there are lots of tax advantages in Florida and the money Tampa is buying himself out with is considerable.”

Canada’s TSN reported that Lecavalier’s representatives met with Dallas, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Montreal, among others, on Saturday in New York.

Elsewhere

• Jonathan Huberdeau received another honor Saturday as he was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team for 2013. Huberdeau recently won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie.

Huberdeau had offseason surgery on his hip and is expected to resume skating in the coming weeks.

“He played hurt. That tells you a lot about this kid,” Tallon said. “He played hurt and extremely well. We didn’t have many players due to injuries, so teams focused on him. He’s a special kid.”

• Tallon said he spoke with Stephen Weiss’ agent Saturday in the continued hopes to sign the pending free agent center.

“You only get one shot at being a free agent, and we’re trying to do the best we can for both parties,” Tallon said. “If I can come up with the right number, well, that’s fine. We’ll go through [Sunday] and then make a decision next week.”

• Ed Jovanovski met with his surgeon Friday and told Tallon he is pain free for the first time in a long time. Jovanovski was limited to six games last season after having radical hip surgery in April.

Tallon said Jovanovski is expected to begin skating this week, although it’s not known whether the defenseman will be ready for training camp in September.



David J. Neal: It’s simple – Florida Panthers should draft Seth Jones

BY DAVID J. NEAL


Simplicity works with amazing frequency. How often do you see people mess up meals, attire, birthday parties, stories (guilty) by trying too hard to be smart? Sometimes, you just blow up the bounce house and get out of the way.

That’s what the Panthers should do at Sunday’s NHL Draft: take defenseman Seth Jones with the No. 2 overall selection in the NHL’s annual pick-and-pray.

Jones, who plays for the Western Hockey League’s Portland (Ore.) Winterhawks, draws notice from non-puckheads for his lineage: son of former NBA player Popeye Jones. Scouts like that Dad passed along size (6-4 or 6-5, 205 pounds, probably filling out to 230 at full maturity) and the athleticism manifesting itself in skating ability and offensive skill.

Jones is ranked as the No. 1 North American defenseman or forward by NHL Central Scouting. Other scouts have him No. 2 behind goal-scoring center Nathan MacKinnon.

You can definitely be too thin. You can never be too rich. You definitely can never be too rich in defensemen, especially offensive defensemen with size. It’s the rarest commodity on a roster.

It’s why I’ve never criticized the Panthers taking Jay Bouwmeester in 2002 instead of power forward Rick Nash. Nash turned out to be the better player, though consensus opinion had him below Bouwmeester. That’s a mistake in hindsight, a classic draft “darn,” not a philosophical mistake. The true killer that year turned out to be moving up one spot — one spot! — to take center Petr Taticek at No. 9 overall and leaving Alexander Semin on the board for Washington.

Two of the NHL’s best under-23 defensemen, 21-year-old Erik Gudbranson (who stands 6-5) and maddening 22-year-old Dmitri Kulikov, wear the leaping cat with 21-year-old Alex Petrovic in the minors. Don’t care. Give Jones another two seasons and he’ll be emerging as Gudbranson hits his prime.

In 2006-07, Anaheim steamrolled to the most predictable Stanley Cup since pastels and mullets after trading for Chris Pronger (No. 2 overall, 1993) and putting him with Scott Niedermayer (No. 3 overall, 1991). The No. 2 seed Ducks took six games to win their second-round playoff series, five games each in the other three series. With their superior skating, puck handling and hockey sense, Pronger and Niedermayer helped Anaheim control long stretches of games.

The 6-6 Pronger has been on St. Louis’ only President’s Trophy (best record) team; Edmonton’s only Stanley Cup finalist since the breakup of the 1980s Oilers; Anaheim’s only Stanley Cup winner; and one of Philadelphia’s two finalists of the past 25 years. All that’s not an accident.

Reports say Colorado, the team that caused Jones to fall in love with hockey during his father’s time with the Denver Nuggets, wants MacKinnon with the No. 1 overall pick. Maybe that’s a smokescreen. NHL folks aren’t above a little shuck-and-jive at the top of the draft.

Panthers general manager Dale Tallon agreed in general that you can’t have too many good defensemen, but said Saturday of their organizational blue-line state, “We have a pretty good depth chart there.”

Tallon said of his philosophy: “Take the best player available that fits your needs the most. If you have a philosophy of strength up the middle or build the back end first, whatever your philosophy is, focus on that.”

True, the Panthers’ season got crippled by injuries up front, exposing the lack of offensive depth. That’s a short-term view, though. Led by NHL Rookie of the Year Jonathan Huberdeau, there’s young offense on the roster and in the system. Besides, the Panthers can find scoring with the other four of their picks that come within the first 98 of a draft Tallon says is likened to the 2003 draft.

Only two first-rounders that year played fewer than 200 NHL games. That first round is considered to trail in quality only the legendary 1979 draft that, because of rules changes on draft eligibility and the death of the WHA, wound up being three and a half draft classes in one.

“The team that won the Stanley Cup had the puck the longest and that’s why they won,” Tallon said. “That’s what I like — puck possession.”

Tallon knows Chicago well, of course, having had a hand in building Chicago’s 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup winners. The way the Blackhawks moved the puck out of the back, quickly defusing turnover-birthing forechecking, went a long way to helping the puck possession Tallon embraces. That’s another reason Jones works.

This isn’t some mixed-bag Chopped draft that requires getting funky at No. 2. Keep it simple, in concept and name: Seth Jones.



DRAFT DAY DECISIONS FOR PANTHERS: Florida Holds Second Pick on Sunday

George Richards

NEW YORK -- When the Panthers had the third overall pick in 2011, Florida landed forward Jonathan Huberdeau -- now the reigning rookie of the year.

"There were two players we thought were close to Huberdeau,'' assistant general manager Mike Santos said. "We just waited for the picks to be made and he fell into our lap. Looking back, the right guy fell into our lap.''

On Sunday, Florida has the second selection after Colorado. The Panthers hope history repeats itself and another top-end talent heads to South Florida.

Colorado, which won the draft lottery in April to pull the top pick away from the last-place Panthers, says it will select a forward and not top-rated defenseman Seth Jones.

Of course, this could be a bluff in trying to get the Panthers -- or someone else -- to trade up for the top pick.

Jones, after all, not only has ties to the Denver area and the Avs organization but as a defenseman plays a position the Avs could use help in. General manager Dale Tallon says he believes what the Colorado management team of former players Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy are selling.

"Based on their history as players and as people, they are new to the game but I believe they are very truthful,'' Tallon said. "I'm just concerned about what we can do. The top four guys are slam-dunks. We're very prepared and satisfied they all will help us out.''

If the Avs were to take center Nathan MacKinnon, whom it is believed the Panthers higher ups prefer, Florida is projected to select Jones.

Florida, by virtue of finishing the season in last place, will get what projects to be a very good player with either MacKinnon, Jones or forwards Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov.

"We're going to get a better-than-normal prospect in this draft,'' said Scott Luce, the team's director of amateur scouting. "We as an organization would much rather be in the playoffs like we were the year before, picking at 23 and getting a guy like Mike Matheson every year rather than going through the top guys in every draft. Our fans deserve that and our staff deserves that.''

Tallon said Saturday that the Panthers haven't decided whom they will take with the second pick and reiterated that Florida could move up in a deal with Colorado or slide down.

This draft is deep in talent and teams covet Florida's position.

"We're going to get one hell of a player,'' Tallon said. "I wish I had more picks. I really do. You try to be greedy, but you only get one kick at the can. You better make sure it's the right one. We're fortunate to be picking where we're picking.''

Said Santos: "If you are picking one, two, three or four, you are getting a player who is a game-changer. Being at No. 2 doesn't change a heck of a lot from being No. 1.''

The Panthers will have plenty of suitors come Sunday although Tallon said Saturday was "eerily quiet" on the trade front.

"Whatever the best option is for us, that's what we're going to do,'' Tallon said. "I had conversation with [Colorado] on a couple of occasions. You have to exhaust every opportunity to get better.

"It would be unfair for me not to ask them if they were thinking about moving that pick. If they move it for something that we had or more we could have given them, it would be very frustrating for our franchise and for all of us. We explore every avenue to make sure we have the best available picks. That's how I've always operated.''

Luce has been watching both Jones and MacKinnon for a long time. Although Jones comes into the draft as the top-rated prospect by NHL

central scouting, MacKinnon is a player who has been pegged to be a top pick for the past few years.

Although surpassed by the emerging Jones in the eyes of some scouts -- Jones is approaching 6-foot-5 and can skate as well as anyone in this draft -- many feel MacKinnon is the goods and is a franchise-changing offensive forward.

"With our spot, we feel there are four guys out there who are elite guys,'' Luce said. "We spent the past few months looking at those four guys to determine who is the best fit for our organization. It's still a work in progress. We've had a lot of conversations.''

Because of the lockout that shortened the 2013 second to 48 games, the NHL is cramming all seven rounds of this draft into Sunday.

The first round is projected to take just over two hours to complete with the Panthers kicking off the second round with the 31st selection.

Tallon and his crew are hoping to continue adding to the Panthers depth as Florida holds five of the first 100 picks. Although Florida doesn't have a third round pick -- yet -- it does have three early selections in the fourth.

"Those picks are going to turn into something very positive for us,'' Tallon said. "Either we're going to use them to move up or it's such a deep draft, we'll fill some needs.''

2013 NHL DRAFT

Sunday, 3 p.m.; Prudential Center, Newark, N.J. (NBC Sports Net)

Florida Panthers selections

Round 1 (second overall)

Round 2 (31st)

Round 4 (92nd, 97th, 98th)

Round 5 (122nd)

Round 6 (152nd)



PANTHERS DRAFT NOTEBOOK: Huberdeau All-Rookie; Weiss Talks Continue; Jovo Feeling Good

George Richards

Jonathan Huberdeau received another honor Saturday as he was named to the NHL's All-Rookie team for 2013. Huberdeau recently was named the league's top rookie in winning the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Huberdeau had offseason surgery on his hip and is expected to resume skating in the coming weeks.

"He played hurt. That tells you a lot about this kid,'' GM Dale Tallon said. "He played hurt and extremely well. We didn't have many players due to injuries, so teams focused on him. He's a special kid.''

-- Tallon said he spoke with Stephen Weiss' agent on Saturday in the continued hopes to sign the pending free agent center.

"We're trying to get something done,'' Tallon said. "You only get one shot at being a free agent and we're trying to do the best we can for both parties. If I can come up with the right number, well, that's fine. We'll go through [Sunday] and then make a decision next week.''

-- Ed Jovanovski met with his surgeon on Friday and told Tallon he is pain free for the first time in a long time. Jovanovski was limited to six games last year after having radical hip surgery in April.

Tallon said Jovanovski is expected to begin skating this week although it's not known whether the defenseman will be ready for training camp in September.



LECAVALIER A PANTHER? Florida Wants to Look Into Adding Former Lightning Captain

George Richards

NEW YORK -- Vinny Lecavalier in a Panthers sweater?

If the team has its way, that scenario -- a nightmare for Tampa Bay fans -- could happen next season.

Lecavalier, the Lightning's all-time leader in just about everything, was bought out by the team and is now a free agent. With the Panthers looking for veteran talent, team management said Lecavalier is a player they are interested in.

Both general manager Dale Tallon and assistant GM Mike Santos said Saturday that the Panthers full attention, right now, is on Sunday's NHL draft.

After that, however, the team will look into Lecavalier's interest in staying in Florida -- only a few hours southeast of his beloved Tampa Bay.

Lecavalier, like all unrestricted free agents, can't sign with another team until July 5.

"We're very interested in his leadership, his skill level,'' Tallon said after meeting with draft prospects at the team's hotel near Times Square. "We have young, big centermen who could learn a lot from him.

"We have some interest; hopefully he has some as well. That's the way it starts. It takes two to tango. If he doesn't want to come, so be it. But I think there will be some open dialog there. That would be a benefit to our franchise.''

Lecavalier, who just finished his 14th season, has been the Lightning's captain since 2000 and has 26 goals and 42 assists in 78 games against the Panthers. Lecavalier had 10 goals and 22 assists in 39 games last year -- with two goals and six points in four games against Florida.

"Even the thought of wearing a different kind of jersey is weird in my head," Lecavalier told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday.

Because of a lowered salary cap -- and Lecavalier's declining numbers -- Tampa Bay decided to exercise its option to buy out the final seven years of the 11-year, $85-million deal Lecavalier signed with the team's previous owners.

So, the Lightning will pay Lecavalier roughly $33 million over the next 14 years and not have that money count against the salary cap.

A tireless philanthropist in the Tampa Bay area, the Panthers are hoping the lack of a state income tax and South Florida's proximity to his Tampa charities may help sway Lecavalier in staying local. Lecavalier was reportedly meeting with Dallas on Saturday.

"You have to have interest in Vinny Lecavalier,'' Santos said. "It's a little premature to see what his price will be in years and money. He's a high character guy with great leadership skills. .-.-. Is he better than what we have at center right now? Probably.

"There are a lot of reasons for him wanting to stay in the state of Florida. Lets face it, there are lots of tax advantages in Florida and the money Tampa is buying himself out with is considerable.''


683012 Los Angeles Kings

NHL: Kings, Ducks still find value in draft

History suggests both teams will find good talent after first round.

By Elliott Teaford @ElliottTeaford on Twitter

Posted: 06/29/2013 10:29:45 PM PDT

Updated: 06/29/2013 10:32:25 PM PDT

The Kings have 10 selections in today's NHL draft, but none in the first round.

The Ducks have five picks, but their first-round selection isn't until No. 26 overall.

It might seem as if the draft is no big deal for the Kings and Ducks, but the reality is nothing could be further from the truth. Today is the day all 30 teams in the NHL, even the successful ones like the Kings and Ducks, re-stock their prospect lists and hope for better days.

In 2003, for example, the Ducks were coming off their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They lost in seven grueling games to the deeper and more polished New Jersey Devils, and there were plenty of reasons to believe their days as a struggling expansion franchise were history.

In fact, their future was about to get a whole lot brighter.

Ten years ago this month, the Ducks took center Ryan Getzlaf of the Calgary Hitman of the Western Hockey League with the 19th overall selection and then picked right wing Corey Perry of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League at No. 28.

At the time, they were two names on a long list of 18-year-old prospects from around the hockey-playing world. Soon enough, they became Stanley Cup champions, Olympic champions and pillars of a franchise that had the third-best regular-season record in the NHL in 2012-13.

Each player signed an eight-year contract extension with the Ducks last season.

Even if the Kings' roster appears all but set for the next few seasons after consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals and the franchise's first Stanley Cup title in 2012, today is critical to the club's future success. After all, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

Or so the theory goes.

It's the same for the Ducks, whose foundation appears to be as strong as the Kings. Both teams have improved over the years through trades and free-agent signings, and their rosters have been built from the ground up, with draft picks serving as cornerstones in each case.

For the Ducks, it's Getzlaf and Perry in '03 and left wing Bobby Ryan (first round, '05), who make up their top line. There's also defenseman Cam Fowler and right wing Emerson Etem (first round, '10) and outstanding goaltending prospect John Gibson (second round, '11).

For the Kings, it's even more pronounced, with left wing Dustin Brown (first round, '03), center Anze Kopitar (first round, '05), goalie Jonathan Quick (third round, '05), defenseman Drew Doughty (first round, '08) and defenseman Slava Voynov (second round, '08) playing key roles.

There's more to the draft than simply first-round picks, too.

Quick stands out as an example of the Kings' ability to unearth a gem beyond the first round. After all, he was the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the playoffs after leading the Kings' unexpected march to the Stanley Cup championship.

The Ducks have had success in the later rounds, too. Left wing Matt Beleskey was a fourth-round selection in 2006. Going back a decade earlier Matt Cullen, a center who played last season with the Minnesota Wild, was a second-round pick in 1996.

So, bottom line, there is no such thing as a meaningless draft.

LA Daily News: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Draft history under Lombardi, rounds 4-7

Posted by Jon Rosen on 29 June 2013, 11:31 am

As promised, here is Los Angeles’ draft history under Dean Lombardi for rounds four-through-seven. I’m about to leave for Kings HQ to speak with several scouts and members of the team’s traveling party – check LA Kings Insider and KingsVision later today for those interviews – before completing the recent history of each particular selection that the Kings will make on Sunday.

For instance, did you know that Matt Martin, who has led the NHL in hits in each of the last two years, was selected with the 148th overall pick in 2008? No? OK. I’ll let myself out.

The Los Angeles Kings have 10 selections at the 2013 NHL Draft, which will take place this Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Those picks are:

Second Round / 57th overall

Third Round / 88th overall

Fourth Round / 96th overall (via Carolina)*

Fourth Round / 103rd overall (via Philadelphia)**

Fourth Round / 118th overall

Fifth Round / 146th overall

Fifth Round / 148th overall (via Montreal)^

Sixth Round / 178th overall

Seventh Round / 191st overall (via Dallas)^^

Seventh Round / 208th overall

*acquired from Carolina in addition to Anthony Stewart and a 6th round pick in 2014 in exchange for Kevin Westgarth on 1/13/13.

**acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for Simon Gagne on 2/26/13. This conditional pick would have been a third round pick had the Flyers made the playoffs.

^acquired from Montreal in exchange for Davis Drewiske on 4/2/13.

^^acquired from Dallas in exchange for the Los Angeles’ 7th round pick in 2012 on 6/23/12.

Los Angeles’ first round draft pick was a conditional first round pick traded to Columbus along with Jack Johnson in exchange for Jeff Carter on 2/23/12. The Blue Jackets had a choice between the Kings’ first round pick in 2012 or 2013 and chose 2013 on the day of the 2012 NHL Draft. The Kings then selected Tanner Pearson 30th overall in 2012.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Not that it’s a surprise, but…

Posted by JonRosen on 29 June 2013, 8:40 am

…expect to see Jonathan Quick named to the 2014 United States Olympic team in Sochi, Russia.

Nashville president and general manager David Poile will serve as general manager of the United States team, with Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero serving as assistant general manager. Anaheim Ducks consultant Brian Burke has been tabbed as the director of player personnel.

Los Angeles general manager Dean Lombardi will take part in the selection of the team along with Florida general manager Dale Tallon, Philadelphia manager Paul Holmgren, Pittsburgh scout Don Waddell and USA Hockey senior director of hockey operations Jim Johansson.

Pittsburgh’s Dan Bylsma will serve as head coach.

According to Rogers Sportsnet, the long-awaited agreement that would send NHL players to the Olympics is on the verge of being finalized.

Dustin Brown should be a lock for the United States team; likewise for Slava Voynov and Russia. Anze Kopitar shouldn’t have anything to worry about in regards to being selected for Slovenia’s entry. Expect Drew Doughty to earn a spot on Team Canada, while Mike Richards and Jeff Carter will be in consideration. Richards and Doughty represented Canada in 2010; Carter was a late cut.

Both Brown and Quick were members of the United States team that took home the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, losing 3-2 in overtime to host Canada in the gold medal game.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.30.2013

683015 Minnesota Wild

Wild's GM in a dealing mood for draft day

Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune

Updated: June 30, 2013 - 12:19 AM

NEW YORK – In the 21st century, it’s all about technology. But Chuck Fletcher likes to keep things simple.

That’s why the Wild general manager rarely goes anywhere without his trusty black Cambridge notepad.

Inside, Fletcher keeps all his trade secrets — literally.

After every single trade conversation Fletcher has with a fellow GM, Fletcher opens up the notebook and jots down the ideas exchanged.

“This way you don’t forget,” Fletcher said. “There are so many variables and moving parts to every conversation you have, you need to have a quick, easy way to keep track. I have conversations in here that I had four or five years ago that I’ll re-read and think, ‘Geez, I didn’t even remember that.’ ”

As Sunday’s NHL draft arrives at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., it is safe to say Fletcher has been sharpening his pencil a lot lately.

The draft is most significantly about adding an influx of 18-year-old talent to the pool of prospects, but it also triggers the start of offseason transactions in the NHL. Fletcher has a history of trades at or around the draft (from moving up and down in the draft to executing blockbusters like the Brent Burns deal to setting up the Martin Havlat-for-Dany Heatley swap).

These days, Fletcher says he’s making as many calls as he’s receiving.

There is a very likely chance Cal Clutterbuck’s time with the Wild ends Sunday. The Wild has gotten a lot of interest for the 25-year-old restricted free agent. The Wild would prefer to trade him to the Eastern Conference (Toronto, Pittsburgh and Columbus, which has three first-round picks, are teams that have expressed interest).

The Wild has dangled other players as well, from defenseman Tom Gilbert to center Zenon Konopka. It also has received calls about Devin Setoguchi and Kyle Brodziak.

Scouts say this is as deep a draft as there has been in 10 years. Because the Wild traded its first-round pick to Buffalo in the Jason Pominville deal, the Wild doesn’t choose first until the 46th pick.

In a package for Clutterbuck, the Wild would love to land another second-round pick so it can try to package two seconds and move into the first round — likely in the Nos. 15 to 30 range. So it can be ready, the Wild has debated and prepared its draft list as if it still has a first-rounder.

“Often two seconds can get you into the first round, or it can be a second and a player. Sometimes it can be a prospect,” Fletcher said. “We’ll see what happens. If we can’t do it, I’m comfortable because this is a deep draft. We have two thirds. Some years it’s a shallower pool and an extra third may not mean anything, but I think this year it’ll be a little more meaning.”

If the Wild can’t move into the first round, it’ll be the first time in history it doesn’t own a first-round pick. That’s why it’s critical to hit on its later picks.

“We pick 46 this year. We picked 46 last year and got [Raphael] Bussieres,” Fletcher said. “We were really happy with Bussieres, but after him, there was a big drop-off. I think this year there will be more options when we pick at 46, and I think that’ll extend into the third round.”

Other than 2000 second-rounder Nick Schultz, the all-time leader in Wild games played (743), the Wild hasn’t hit on many players after the first round. As of now, Clutterbuck (72nd overall in 2006) is clearly the biggest post-first-round home run.

From 2000-08 — under the Wild’s previous regime — the only post-first-rounders to play more than a handful of games for Minnesota were Stephane Veilleux and Derek Boogaard (2001), Josh Harding (2002), Clayton Stoner (2004) and Justin Falk (2007). The Wild still expects 2008 second-rounder Marco Scandella to make an impact.

Things have looked up with the new regime, but it’s still too early to say concretely.

The promising names still part of the franchise include Darcy Kuemper and Erik Haula (2009), Brett Bulmer, Jason Zucker and Johan Gustafsson (2010) and Mario Lucia, Nick Seeler and Tyler Graovac (2011). The Wild also is high on its 2012 draft class beyond first-round pick Matt Dumba.

“The stats we’ve looked at every year is about 1.9 players per draft per team play 80 or more games in the NHL,” Fletcher said. “Basically if you’re drafting two NHLers, you’re treading water, you’re doing what you have to do.

“Our goal has always been to draft three or more. It’s hard. You can’t do it every year. This year without a first, it’ll be challenging, but we have eight picks, we have an extra third, and the second-round pick this year is probably better than a lot. So that’s still going to be our goal. That’s the goal I’ve asked of [assistant GM Brent Flahr] and our scouts.

“We still have to aim high.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.30.2013


Wild's Parise, Suter earn high praise from U.S. Olympic GM

Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune

Updated: June 29, 2013 - 10:57 PM

NEW YORK – The roster for the 2014 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team is still very much up in the air, but we know two shoo-ins will be the Wild’s Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

They were two players on the 2010 team that won the silver medal in Vancouver.

“When we put together that team, our hope was that those players would mature, and in 2014, we’d have a good nucleus. That’s exactly the way it’s played out,” said David Poile, Team USA’s general manager who doubles as Nashville’s GM. “Parise and Suter are arguably two of the best players in the NHL.

“Ryan in a 48-game schedule with a no conference crossover was top three for the Norris and arguably if other people would have seen him could have been the Norris Trophy winner. Zach Parise is on everybody’s All-Star team. So those are two good guys to start with.”

Poile, his large management team and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, who will coach the Americans in Sochi, Russia, were introduced Saturday morning at a news conference in Manhattan.

They made clear that winning gold is the expectation. The Americans won silver in 2002 in Salt Lake City and in Vancouver. They didn’t medal in Nagano in 1998 or Turin in 2006. Poile said the Americans have to put together the proper roster to succeed on the larger 200-foot-by-100-foot international rink.

“In 2010, you heard [then-GM] Brian Burke using words like truculence,” Poile said. “I’m not saying that’s not important, but that may be less important in 2014. Skating is important.”

The United States will hold an orientation camp Aug. 25-29 at the Washington Capitals’ Iceplex in Arlington, Va. The Wild’s Jason Pominville might earn an invite, although Poile wouldn’t confirm. Though born in Canada, Pominville has dual citizenship because his mother is American. He played for the United States in the 2008 world championships.

“We’re going to get to the point where somebody’s going to be offended,” Poile said. “We have to sort it out, but we’re close.”

Bylsma raved about the Americans’ potential leadership. Parise should be in the running for team captain.

First things first, the NHL must agree to officially participate. That could happen as early as Monday. The Americans should have a terrific roster, including the past two Conn Smythe Trophy winners (Patrick Kane and Jonathan Quick). The Americans could be stacked in goal with Quick, Jimmy Howard, Corey Schneider and Craig Anderson vying for three of the 22 roster spots.

Brodin named All-Rookie

Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, who finished fourth in the Calder Trophy race, was named to the All-Rookie team Saturday. He became the first Wild player to be honored with an All-NHL nomination.

Suter is a likely contender for first- or second-team All-Star, which will be announced early this week.

Last season, Brodin, the youngest defenseman in the NHL at age 20, led all rookies in total ice time (1,044:35) and average time on ice (23:12 per game), becoming only the eighth rookie skater in league history to average more than 23 minutes a game.

Other members of the All-Rookie team are St. Louis goalie Jake Allen, Edmonton defenseman Justin Schultz, Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher, Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago forward Brandon Saad.

Trade talk heats up

The rumor mill was churning fast and furious Saturday.

With the Vancouver Canucks unable to trade goalie Roberto Luongo, the Canucks were shopping Schneider. Edmonton apparently was in hot pursuit.

TSN also reported that with the Bruins working toward extending Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask, 21-year-old hotshot Tyler Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft who can play center or wing, is on the trading block.

You can bet one team extremely interested in Seguin is the Wild. However, if a current first-round pick has to be part of the deal, the Wild no longer owns its 2013 pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins star defenseman Kris Letang might be in play after reportedly rejecting an eight-year, $56 million contract offer. Other big names reportedly on the block include Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf, San Jose’s Dan Boyle, Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, Philadelphia’s Braydon Coburn, Chicago’s Dave Bolland and Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone.

No Falk offer yet

Agent Craig Oster confirmed the Wild has yet to extend a qualifying offer to potential restricted free agent Justin Falk. The Wild, which has been shopping Falk, has until Tuesday to decide if it wants to retain the defenseman’s rights. If Falk isn’t qualified, he would become unrestricted when free agency opens Friday.



Chart: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher and draft-day moves

Chuck Fletcher has a history of making trades on draft day as Wild GM:

2009: Acquired first-round pick (16th overall, Nick Leddy), third-round pick (77th, Matt Hackett) and seventh-round pick (182nd, Erik Haula) from New York Islanders for Wild’s first-round pick (12th overall, Calvin de Haan).

2009: Acquired Kyle Brodziak and sixth-round pick (161st overall, Darcy Kuemper) from Edmonton for Wild’s fourth-round pick (99th, Kyle Bigos) and fifth-round pick (133rd, Olivier Roy).

2010: Acquired second-round pick (59th overall, Jason Zucker) from Florida for Wild’s third-round pick (69th, Joe Basaraba) and fourth-round pick (99th, Joonas Donskoi).

2011: Acquired first-round pick (28th overall, Zack Phillips) along with Devin Setoguchi and Charlie Coyle from San Jose for Wild’s Brent Burns and second-round pick in 2012.

2011: Acquired second-round pick (60th overall, Mario Lucia) from Vancouver for Wild’s third-round pick (71st, David Honzik) and fourth-round pick (101st, Joseph LaBate).



Jonas Brodin makes All-Rookie Team; More on Cal Clutterbuck's future

Posted by: Michael Russo under Rookies, The draft, Wild off-season news Updated: June 29, 2013 - 12:20 PM

Sunday's 2 p.m. CT NHL draft is fast approaching (NBC Sports Network from 2-7 p.m.; NHL Network after 7 p.m.), and the Wild continues to shop Cal Clutterbuck and Tom Gilbert, especially.

Typically, deals like this come down on the draft floor or just before the draft because the Wild is looking for either a first-round pick in the Clutterbuck deal (teams are hesitant to give up firsts right now because this draft is so deep) or a second so it could potentially use two seconds to try to move into the first round.

And often times when picks are involved, the teams involved want to make certain first the player they want to take is still sitting there. For instance, in 2006 when the Wild acquired Pavol Demitra for a first and Patrick O'Sullivan, the L.A. Kings didn't agree to the deal until they were certain Trevor Lewis would still be there.

As you saw in today's story, it is looking increasingly likely that Clutterbuck will be traded this weekend. He has value, he is a restricted free agent and the Wild's cap space is limited. The Wild is looking for a second and prospect, but perhaps the price can go up if there's a bidding war for Clutterbuck.

I do hear that GM Chuck Fletcher would prefer to trade Clutterbuck to the East. As I reported the other day, Fletcher had lunch Thursday with Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis. Boston may make sense, too. In the West, as I reported last week, I hear Edmonton has shown significant interest. But I'd be lying if I said I know all the teams involved.

Again, Gilbert's future is almost certainly elsewhere. If he's not traded, the Wild will likely buy him out and create an extra $4 million of cap space. It'll also be interesting to see if the Wild moves guys like Devin Setoguchi or Kyle Brodziak or Torrey Mitchell. It's listening to offers at least.

As I've reported, with Jake Dowell likely going to be the fourth-line center next season and Mike Rupp also in the fold, Zenon Konopka is also on the block. Fletcher said recently that the Wild have a few guys who play the same role.

I've gotten lots of emails and tweets asking if the Wild's going after this guy and this guy and this guy and, uh, Vinny Lecavalier, in free agency. Again, unless the Wild frees up cap space, the answer to virtually everything right now is, "No." If space is freed, then we'll see then. Remember, if Clutterbuck is traded for a non-roster player and pick, that doesn't add to the Wild's roughly $3.6 million in cap space.

That cap space doesn't include unsigned restricted guys Clutterbuck, Jared Spurgeon and Justin Falk or unrestricted center Matt Cullen.

In other Wild news:

Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, who finished fourth in the Calder Trophy race, was named to the All-Rookie team Saturday. He became the first Wild player in history to be honored with an All-NHL nomination.

Ryan Suter is a likely contender for First or Second-Team All-Star. That may come out tomorrow.

Last season, Brodin, the youngest defenseman in the NHL at age 20, drafted 10th overall in 2011, led all rookies in total ice time (1,044:35) and average time on ice (23:12 per game), becoming just the eighth rookie skater in league history to average more than 23 minutes a game.

Brodin, who scored 11 points in 45 games, led rookie defensemen with 18 takeaways and was fourth among all rookies with 60 blocked shots.

Other members of the All-Rookie team are St. Louis goalie Jake Allen, Edmonton defenseman Justin Schultz, Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher, Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago forward Brandon Saad.

--Also, the Wild has yet to extend a qualifying offer to potential restricted free agent Justin Falk, his agent confirmed to me. The Wild, which has

been shopping Falk, has until Tuesday to decide if it wants to retain the defenseman’s rights.

If Falk isn’t qualified, he would become unrestricted when free agency opens Friday. I did get an email sent to me regarding a comment on one of the stories where a reader thought Falk was unrestricted already. He is indeed restricted.

More later if news breaks.



Team USA hockey: Olympic head coach, management announced

By Chad Graff

[email protected]

Posted: 06/29/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 06/29/2013 10:17:01 PM CDT

NEW YORK -- USA Hockey didn't try dampening expectations at a press conference here Saturday to announce the management and head coach for the U.S. team leading to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"Hockey in our country has come to the point where winning the gold medal is not a miracle -- it's an expectation," USA Hockey President Ron DeGregorio said.

DeGregorio and USA Hockey formally announced that Nashville general manager David Poile would serve as the team's general manager, while Pittsburgh's Ray Shero of St. Paul would serve as associate GM and Brian Burke, of Edina, would serve as director of player personnel.

Burke was traveling and not at the press conference.

"It's a great honor to be named associate GM," Shero said. "We're not working for Chicago or Pittsburgh, we're working for the USA."

At the press conference, Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma was announced as the team's head coach.

"We wanted somebody that was a winner and could handle star players," Poile said. "We wanted to get one of the best coaches in the National Hockey League."

Bylsma will likely be coaching the Wild's Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Jason Pominville also has a shot to make the Olympic roster.

U.S. Hockey officials will invite players to an orientation camp Aug. 25-29 in Washington, D.C. The roster will be trimmed from there.

Parise and Suter were a part of the 2010 Olympic team that lost to Canada in overtime of the gold-medal game.

According to the Associated Press, Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to meet Monday with the players' association, the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation to wrap up a deal to suspend the 2014 season during the Games and allow NHL players to participate.

Poile seemed confident.

"A lot of our guys from 2010 are going to be back," he said. "That's going to be the core."

Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.30.2013


Minnesota Wild eyeing a deep draft and looking for more picks

By Chad Graff

[email protected]

Posted: 06/29/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated: 06/29/2013 10:53:33 PM CDT

NEW YORK -- The Minnesota Wild enter Sunday's draft without a first-round pick for the first time in franchise history. The reason has been well-documented: They gave up a pair of top prospects, a 2014 pick, and what would have been pick No. 16 Sunday in exchange for Jason Pominville and a later pick at last season's trade deadline.

Wild owner Craig Leipold said one of the reasons the team was willing to do that is a track record of success drafting middle-round talent.

"That's a really valuable point," Leipold said. "Because of Brent Flahr and because of his scouts -- they have been so successful on second-, third-, fourth-round picks that it makes us ... more willing to move that first-round pick because we still feel like we're going to get good assets."

General manager Chuck Fletcher and assistant general manager Flahr have worked four drafts for the Wild since taking over in 2009. In those drafts, they've made five second-round selections. It's still too early for judgment on 2012 pick Raphael Bussieres and 2011's Mario Lucia, but Johan Larsson, Brett Bulmer and Jason Zucker have shown great promise.

Larsson became a top prospect and was dealt as part of the Pominville deal. Zucker scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 3 of the Wild's playoff series against the Blackhawks and figures to be a top-six forward for the team next season. Bulmer still needs seasoning in the American Hockey League.

In 2009, Fletcher took Matt Hackett in the third round and used him in the Pominville deal.

"We've got the scouts and the system that they've shown they have been successful in those rounds," Leipold said.

The Wild have eight picks in the seven-round draft but have been actively engaged in trade talks, for two reasons: 1. They need to shed salaries to create cap space; and 2. They want more picks for what is considered one of the deepest drafts in years.

Winger Cal Clutterbuck and defenseman Tom Gilbert are the topics of many trade discussions, and the team is looking for picks and prospects in return, a source said.

"We certainly do feel it's a deeper draft," Fletcher said. "Certainly much deeper than last year. We have our second-round pick, where we expect to get a good player."

Fletcher has pulled off five draft-day trades, and indications are he'll be active again Sunday.

"I would be very surprised if we didn't come out with a few players that we weren't very happy to select," he said. "From there, seemingly every year we've made moves at the draft table, whether we traded to move up or traded back."

The Wild are interested in moving into the first round but also would be happy to acquire another second-round pick.

"There's a lot of things going

on this year which make it a little unique," Flahr said. "I think it will probably be a little more active this year than in past years."

Teams always say they're going to select the best player available with their highest pick. The Wild did it last year, taking blue liner Jonas Brodin, who made the NHL's all-rookie team Saturday, 10th overall. But if their first pick isn't until No. 46, it really does become about picking the best player.

"When you're picking No. 10, you have the novelty of maybe going after a need," Flahr said. "I know we always say we'll take the best player

available, but the Brodin draft, we knew we were targeting a defenseman. When it gets to No. 46, it legitimately gets to we're taking the best player."

The deeper draft also means teams are less likely to have similar boards. With a thin prospect pool last year, Flahr said, 28 of the first 30 players taken were in the Wild's top 30. With a deeper draft, consensus is less likely.

"We could potentially get a player we've got (ranked) at No. 20 at 46," Flahr said. "That's the way it worked with Zucker and Larsson. That's the way it was on our list."

Except for possible No. 1 overall selection Nathan MacKinnon (Shattuck St. Mary's), there aren't likely to be any Minnesotans taken in the first round, but a flurry of them might go shortly after that, including Minnetonka's Thomas Vannelli, Eagan's Connor Hurley, Edina's Keaton Thompson, Grand Rapids' Avery Peterson and Teemu Kivihalme, who played for his father, Janne, at Burnsville.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.30.2013

683021 Montreal Canadiens

Habs GM Bergevin stays mum on plans to pursue Lecavalier

Robert Laflamme

SHORT HILLS, N.J. — The Canadian Press

Published Saturday, Jun. 29 2013, 5:57 PM EDT

Last updated Saturday, Jun. 29 2013, 6:22 PM EDT

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin isn’t giving any hints about his plans when it comes to pursuing hometown star Vincent Lecavalier.

Lecavalier quickly became one of the league’s more coveted free agents after the Tampa Bay Lightning bought out his contract on Thursday.

Bergevin says the possibility of signing Lecavalier depends on a variety of factors and it’s too soon to say what he’ll do.

“It will depend on many different things,” Bergevin told reporters Saturday. “Contracts have been bought out and there will be others. Many things can happen before the opening of the free agent market on July 5.”

Bergevin also wouldn’t say whether he’s working to sign Norris winner P.K. Subban to an extension before heading into the final season of a two-year contract. He said any negotiations would be confidential.

For the moment, the GM says his focus is on the draft.

The Canadiens may try to move up from the 25th spot in the first round, Bergevin said, and even that decision could be made only once the draft gets underway.

Trevor Timmins, the team’s director of player development, said the team will be watching eagerly as their first pick approaches.

“Our wish list is ready and we hope that Santa Claus will give us what we want,” he said.

The Habs hold six picks among the first 86 selections. There’s a good chance they use one to get a goaltender, Bergevin said.

Bergevin also revealed that forward Colby Armstrong won’t be back for another year. Armstrong had two goals and three assists in 37 games in his only season with the Habs.

The Canadian have three choices in the second round, including picks No. 34 and 36, which Timmins said were almost as good as first-round picks.

The extra draft picks were obtained in the 2012 trades that sent Andrei Kostitsyn to the Nashville Predators and Michael Cammalleri to the Calgary Flames.

The Canadiens also have two picks in the third round. A pick was acquired as part of the deal that sent Erik Cole to the Dallas Stars.

The Canadiens also have selections in the fourth, sixth and seventh round.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.30.2013


Habs GM focused but not on Lecavalier

Postmedia News June 29, 2013

SHORT HILLS, N.J. — Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin isn't giving any hints about his plans when it comes to pursuing hometown star Vincent Lecavalier.

Lecavalier quickly became one of the league's more coveted free agents after the Tampa Bay Lightning bought out his contract on Thursday.

Bergevin says the possibility of signing Lecavalier depends on a variety of factors and it's too soon to say what he'll do.

"It will depend on many different things," Bergevin told reporters Saturday. "Contracts have been bought out and there will be others. Many things can happen before the opening of the free agent market on July 5."

Bergevin also wouldn't say whether he's working to sign Norris winner P.K. Subban to an extension before heading into the final season of a two-year contract. He said any negotiations would be confidential.

For the moment, the GM says his focus is on the draft.

The Canadiens may try to move up from the 25th spot in the first round, Bergevin said, and even that decision could be made only once the draft gets underway.

Trevor Timmins, the team's director of player development, said the team will be watching eagerly as its first pick approaches.

"Our wish list is ready and we hope that Santa Claus will give us what we want," he said.

The Habs hold six picks among the first 86 selections. There's a good chance they use one to get a goaltender, Bergevin said.

Bergevin also revealed that forward Colby Armstrong won't be back for another year. Armstrong had two goals and three assists in 37 games in his only season with the Habs.

The Canadiens have three choices in the second round, including picks No. 34 and 36, which Timmins said were almost as good as first-round picks.

The extra draft picks were obtained in the 2012 trades that sent Andrei Kostitsyn to the Nashville Predators and Michael Cammalleri to the Calgary Flames.

The Canadiens also have two picks in the third round. A pick was acquired as part of the deal that sent Erik Cole to the Dallas Stars.

The Canadiens also have selections in the fourth, sixth and seventh round.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.30.2013


Goalie sent message to team at U-18 tourney

By Brenda Branswell, THE GAZETTEJune 29, 2013

When goaltender Philippe Desrosiers skated over to Team Canada’s bench during the gold-medal game at the World Under-18 Championship in late April, he had a message.

The United States team had just scored a second goal, and during a TV timeout Desrosiers said he told his teammates: “Don’t worry. I’ll stop the others. Just score and we’ll win.”

Sure enough, Canada went on to beat the U.S. 3-2 at the championship in Sochi, Russia, with Desrosiers making 33 saves.

“It was really magical, especially when we won,” said Desrosiers, 17, a native of St-Hyacinthe who plays for the Rimouski Océanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Desrosiers shone during the tournament, posting a .970 save percentage and a 0.80 goals-against average.

“I played the best hockey of my life, so I was very happy after that,” he said this month.

NHL Central Scouting ranked Desrosiers No. 7 among North American goalie prospects eligible for Sunday’s draft in New Jersey. The only goaltender prospect from Quebec ranked higher is Rosemère native Zachary Fucale, who backstopped the Halifax Mooseheads during their championship season capped by a Memorial Cup victory last month. Central Scouting ranked Fucale as the No. 1 North American goalie prospect.

Kevin Prendergast, former head scout at Hockey Canada, told The Gazette last month that he believes Desrosiers is one of the players who really helped himself at the under-18 tournament.

“He was outstanding for us,” Prendergast said.

“He’s sort of a kid that sort of flew under the radar all year up in Rimouski. He was a late pick for the prospects game (in Halifax in January). He played great there.

“I can understand why they relied on him a lot down the stretch. He’s a kid that doesn’t feel the pressure and when the pressure does come he wants it.”

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Desrosiers excels most under pressure, said Serge Beausoleil, the Océanic’s head coach.

“I would say he’s a money player,” Beausoleil said.

“Already we see at 17-, 18-years old, when it counts he raises his game a notch.” (Desrosiers turns 18 in August.)

In 43 games this past season with the Océanic, Desrosiers posted a 3.07 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. He missed 13 games in February with a knee sprain.

He’s very athletic, energetic in front of the net and positions himself well, Beausoleil said. Staying focused is one of the things he can improve on, the coach added.

When he started in minor hockey at 6, Desrosiers played defence. About 18 months later, he strapped on goalie pads when his team’s goaltender got fed up after two games and Desrosiers’s father, who was the coach, asked his son if he wanted to play in net.

Desrosiers’s favourite goalie is Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who he says is always in control and calm.

Desrosiers’s parents, brother and friends will be with him at the draft in Newark, N.J. He isn’t the only elite athlete in his family. His 15-year-old brother, Jérôme, is on Canada’s national cadet basketball team.

Desrosiers had interviews with 18 teams during the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto. He also attended the Canadiens’ combine at the team’s training

facility in Brossard on June 5 as well as combines held by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.

The goalie can’t wait for the draft. A Habs fan since he was a child, Desrosiers wants to be drafted by his favourite team.

“It’s not me who decides,” he said.

“But if it happens, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world.”



Habs’ first draft pick will be up in air

By Pat Hickey, THE GAZETTEJune 29, 2013

NEWARK, N.J. — A year ago, the Canadiens’ first-round draft choice was predictable.

Scouting guru Trevor Timmins zeroed in on Alex Galchenyuk early in the process and he was available with the third overall selection.

The Canadiens are slated to draft 25th in the first round Sunday and there is no consensus on which way Montreal will go.

Talk to pundits and fans and they see the Canadiens addressing such needs as a forward with some size or depth at the goaltending position. And, as always, it will be seen as a bonus if the Canadiens can dip into what is an especially strong crop of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League prospects and grab a francophone.

As for Timmins and Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, their stance is that the Canadiens will select the best player available, even if he is an undersized defenceman who can’t speak either of Canada’s official languages.

Those who dare to engage in mock drafts are all over the map when trying to identify the Canadiens’ first-round pick. That’s to be expected because the pundits are faced with the same problem the Canadiens have — it’s impossible to predict who will still be on the board at No. 25.

In checking out eight draft lists, we found the Canadiens picking seven different players.

The only player to be mentioned twice is from the QMJHL, but right winger Valentin Zykov’s first language is Russian. Zykov, a classic power forward, was named the offensive rookie of the year in the Q and became a fan favourite in Baie Comeau. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is a hybrid with European skills and North American grit. He is rated eighth among North American skaters by Central Scouting, but TSN’s Craig Button and Steve Hoffner of nhl.com believe he’ll be around when the Canadiens pick.

The Hockey News likes Halifax goaltender Zach Fucale as the Canadiens’ pick. Montreal has drafted only two goalies since they made Carey Price the fifth overall pick in 2005 and neither of them went higher than the fourth round. The 6-foot, 175-pound Fucale is the top-rated North American goaltender, but Marc Bergevin is on record as saying it’s difficult to evaluate young goalies and the Canadiens are more likely to look for a goalie in the later rounds.

The Hockey Writers has Windsor Spitfires forward Kerby Rychel in the 25th spot. The Canadiens have seen a lot of the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder because he played on a line with 2012 Montreal draft pick Brady Vail. The Canadiens also followed up on the NHL combine in Toronto by inviting Rychel to their own combine a week later. Rychel has a strong work ethic that he inherited from his father, former NHL player Warren Rychel. He has had back-to-back 40-goal seasons on a bad Windsor team. Rychel needs to work on his skating, but he is a strong, aggressive player who is a projected as a two-way power forward.

Kyle Woodlief’s mock draft for USA Today has the Canadiens picking long-shot Chicoutimi left winger Émile Poirier, but the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is more likely to be a target for Montreal with one of their early second-round choices. Poirier has good instincts and plays at both ends of the ice, but he isn’t a physical player.

Adam Kimmelman of nhl.com sees the Canadiens looking to Sweden for centre Alexander Wenneberg. The 6-foot, 175-pound centre played against men with Djurgarden in the Swedish second division and had 14 goals and 18 assists in 46 games. He’s a skilled two-way player with good acceleration and those are assets the Canadiens see as valuable.

The third member of the nhl.com crew, Mike Morreale, sees the Canadiens picking Owen Sound defenceman Chris Bigras. His stock has been rising after a solid season in the OHL and gold-medal performances at the Ivan Hlinka and IIHF under-18 championships. But this is another player who could be around early in the second round. Bigras is a star in the classroom and that’s evident in his heady play on the ice. He’s a shutdown

defenceman, but many believe the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has an offence upside.

Yahoo.com likes Laurent Dauphin from Chicoutimi and he fits the profile of several current Canadiens. He has skill and quickness and he doesn’t mind going into the dirty areas. The rub is that at 6-foot and 166 pounds, he’s not very strong and he gets knocked down a lot. His stock went up when he was a last-minute addition to the lineup for the CHL Top Prospects game. He scored a goal and an assist and was the game’s most valuable player.


683025 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators GM David Poile says Olympic job won't overtax him

Jun. 29, 2013 |

Written by

Josh Cooper

The Tennessean

NEW YORK — Predators general manager David Poile does not believe his new role as general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic hockey team will sap his drive and commitment to his Nashville job.

“I think this just gives you more energy,” Poile said Saturday at a news conference introducing him for the Team USA position. “All these experiences, I hope, are giving me more expertise in making decisions.”

In the next few months, Poile will have two daunting tasks. One will be to guide the United States to a gold medal in Sochi. The other will be to retool his Predators roster to avoid a repeat of the 2013 season in which Nashville finished 27th out of 30 teams.

Poile’s associate general manager for Team USA will be Ray Shero, the Penguins general manager who used to be Poile’s assistant.

“I’m looking at it for all of us, it enhances our knowledge of hockey as hockey people,” Poile said.

Smith on short list? Poile indicated that Nashville forward Craig Smith could be high on the list of players Poile will look to add to the Team USA roster. Smith has played on U.S. world championship squads each of the past three years.

“He’s on USA advisory committee’s radar because of how well he has played (at the world championships),” Poile said.

Wilson off list: Predators forward Colin Wilson might not be on this short list because of an injury. Wilson had double shoulder stabilization procedures this offseason and might not be able to participate in the Team USA orientation camp, tentatively set for late August.

“It might be a little bit different in that he might have to play his way onto the team based on his play in the early part of the season,” Poile said.

Tennessean LOADED: 06.30.2013

683026 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators try to pick their next star

NHL draft has talent at the top for many positions

Jun. 30, 2013 |

Written by

Josh Cooper

NEW YORK — Predators general manager David Poile was asked if he felt pressure about today’s NHL entry draft.

“It’s not pressure, it’s stress,” Poile said. “It’s usual. There’s always stress in this business.”

No matter what he calls it, Poile faces one of the more crucial days in his tenure in Nashville today. The Predators hold the fourth selection, their highest pick since they took David Legwand No. 2 overall in 1998. And coming off a disastrous 2013, Nashville needs to find a franchise-type player who can act as a cornerstone to help push the Predators out of their funk.

“It’s really exciting because we know we’re going to get a good player,” Poile said. “To me, it looks like we can get a defenseman, a winger or a centerman. That takes your team in three different directions.”

This is considered a prime year to pick high in the draft. The talent level in 2013 is deemed by many analysts as the best since 2003. That year every player in the first round played at least two NHL games. The Predators set themselves up nicely by picking cornerstone defensemen Ryan Suter (seventh), Kevin Klein (37th) and Shea Weber (49th).

The years those three were in Nashville, the Predators made the playoffs six of seven seasons.

The Predators are likely to get defenseman Seth Jones, center Nathan MacKinnon, left wing Jonathan Drouin or center Aleksander Barkov. All four are considered franchise-type players who could play next season for Nashville.

“They’re all different, different positions. They all bring something different to the table, but they all in their own way are outstanding players,” Poile said.

Colorado owns the No. 1 pick and has said it will take MacKinnon — absent of a trade.

The 6-foot-3 Barkov has become a hot commodity mostly because of his size and position. He’s a big, strong two-way center, and recent Stanley Cup champions, such as Chicago (2010, 2013) and Los Angeles (2012), have been anchored by players like Barkov.

The 6-foot-4 Jones is considered by many to be the top player in the draft, but teams seem hesitant to pick a defenseman that early. That’s why he could fall to Nashville.

Drouin is a skilled offensive winger who could help the Predators immediately. The only issue with him is he is listed at 5-foot-11 and doesn’t quite fulfill Nashville’s offseason game plan to get bigger and stronger.

“I’m not going to be comfortable until I know who we get at four,” Poile said. “It’s getting a little tense. There’s stuff written every day, but having said that it matters, but it doesn’t matter. That’s not something I’m going to be able to control.”

Nashville could trade the pick, but Poile made that sound unlikely Saturday, saying, “I doubt there’s going to be an opportunity to move up. I doubt I have any interest in moving back.”

The Predators took a major step back last season, finishing 27th out of 30 teams. Nashville had made the playoffs seven of the previous eight seasons.

Poile and coach Barry Trotz have vowed to make some changes to get the Predators moving back in the right direction.

Since 2005, only one Predators first-round pick — forward Colin Wilson — has played a full NHL season. Nashville has traded its first-round pick the past two years, though it recouped some of those losses by trading for Filip Forsberg at the 2013 trading deadline. The Capitals took Forsberg 11th overall in 2012.

Nashville’s most recent first-round pick selected by the team was Austin Watson, who has six games of NHL experience and notched 37 points in 72 games in his first professional season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League in 2013.

The most recent Hockey News organizational prospect rankings (which did not include Forsberg on Nashville) listed the Predators at 26th.

That all adds up to a team that needs to hit and hit big today with its first-round pick.

“I’m in a position that whoever is left, that’s who we’re going to take,” Poile said. “We’re going to be happy because the players are really good. I just don’t know the order.”

Top Five Predators draft picks of all time

1. Shea Weber,

49th overall in 2003

The Predators knew before the draft that they would take Weber, believing they were the only team that high on him. They were right, and Nashville got its captain and franchise defenseman deep into the second round.

2. Pekka Rinne,

258th

overall in 2004

The Predators have whiffed on a lot of goalies taken high in the draft but hit big time on Rinne, an eighth-round pick. Rinne is a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist and arguably the franchise’s best netminder in its history.

3. Ryan Suter, seventh overall in 2003

Although Suter left last offseason by free agency, his contributions to the Predators as Weber’s defense partner helped the team to consecutive Western Conference semifinal appearances.

4. Martin Erat,

191st overall in 1999

Erat has the fifth-most points of players picked in the 1999 draft. Despite being traded this past season, he also has the second-most points in franchise history and played 723 games in a Predators uniform.

5. Scott Hartnell, sixth overall in 2000

Hartnell has had his most success with the Flyers after a 2007 trade. He has turned into one of the top power forwards in the NHL and scored 37 goals two seasons ago.

NHL DRAFT

• When: 2 p.m. Sunday

TV: NBC SN

Tennessean LOADED: 06.30.2013

683027 New Jersey Devils

For the No. 1 Pick, the Avalanche May Set Aside Sentiment

By JEFF Z. KLEIN


Sunday’s N.H.L. draft at Prudential Center in Newark will begin either like a fairy tale, or like a fairy tale overturned. It all depends on whether the Colorado Avalanche take defenseman Seth Jones with the first overall pick or choose the talented center Nathan MacKinnon instead.

Certainly Jones, 18, is the sentimental choice for Colorado. He sat along the glass with his mother and brothers as the Avalanche won Game 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup finals in Denver. They received those choice tickets because Seth’s father, Popeye Jones, was playing for the N.B.A.’s Denver Nuggets and had asked the Avalanche captain Joe Sakic for advice on nurturing Seth’s hockey obsession. So there young Seth was, looking on as Sakic lifted the Stanley Cup, a sight Jones recalled a dozen years later as “unbelievable.”

Jones went on to become a 6-foot-4, puck-moving defenseman who starred for the gold-medal-winning United States world junior team, a player called “already the complete package” by B. J. MacDonald of N.H.L. Central Scouting. He could also be the first player of African-American heritage to be taken No. 1 over all.

Sakic is now the Avalanche’s new head of hockey operations, and the club’s new coach is Patrick Roy, the starting goaltender from that 2001 team. Yet despite Jones’s Avalanche connections and the club’s need for a defenseman of his caliber, Sakic and Roy have repeatedly said they are leaning toward taking a forward with their No. 1 pick. As recently as Thursday, Sakic indicated that MacKinnon, who turns 18 on Sept. 1, would be their man.

MacKinnon’s stock has risen over that of Jones since the Memorial Cup final last May, when MacKinnon’s hat trick powered the Halifax Mooseheads past Jones’s Portland Winterhawks for the Canadian Hockey League championship.

MacKinnon’s story has a fairy tale quality as well. He comes from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Sidney Crosby’s hometown. When MacKinnon was 7 or 8 and Crosby was 15, their paths crossed in an airport. Young Nathan posed for a photo with Crosby. Now MacKinnon, who scored 75 points in 44 regular-season games and 13 points in four Memorial Cup games, poses for photos with children, and he will be posing for more at the draft.

After Colorado chooses, Florida has the No. 2 pick, unless trades change the draft order. Tampa Bay is No. 3, then Nashville, Carolina, Calgary, Edmonton, Buffalo, the Devils and Dallas complete the first 10.

Whoever is chosen by Phoenix with the No. 12 pick might play in Seattle or Quebec when training camp opens in September. N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the City Council of Glendale, Ariz., must decide by Tuesday whether to approve an arena lease deal with a prospective buyer for the club. If there is no deal, Bettman said Thursday, “I don’t think the Coyotes will be playing there anymore.”

Other players expected to go high on Sunday include MacKinnon’s high-scoring Halifax linemate Jonathan Drouin (105 points in 49 games); Sault Ste. Marie defenseman Darnell Nurse, the son of the former Canadian Football League wide receiver Richard Nurse, who encouraged him to play hockey because he said it was safer than football; and the Finnish-Russian center Aleksander Barkov, whose 48 points in 53 games last season for Tappara Tampere made him the ninth-leading scorer in Finland’s top league.

Also expected to go in the first round are the 5-9 London forward Max Domi, who resembles his father, the N.H.L. brawler Tie Domi, but is a skill player with 87 points in 64 games, and Windsor forward Kerby Rychel, son of the former N.H.L. player Warren Rychel, whose 40 goals, 94 penalty minutes and 8 fights last season mark him as a skill player and an enforcer.

A player to watch in the later rounds is goalie Anthony Brodeur, son of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Anthony, who will play next season for Gatineau of the Quebec junior league, was born 16 days before his father won his first Stanley Cup in 1995.

The Islanders pick 15th in the one-day draft, shortened from the usual two days because of the lockout that delayed many late-season events. Because of previous trades, the Rangers do not have a pick until the third round.

A version of this article appeared in print on June 30, 2013,

New York Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Hockey: NJ hopefuls in line to be selected at 2013 NHL Draft

By John Christian Hageny/For The Star-Ledger

on June 30, 2013 at 5:00 AM

Bobby Sanguinetti remembers it like it was yesterday: “With the 21st pick in the 2006 NHL draft, the New York Rangers select, from Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League...”

For Sanguinetti, who played locally for Lawrenceville and gained notoriety as a member of the N.J. Rockets' 2001 Tier 1 pee-wee National championship team, those words reverberated on the sound system at the 2006 National Hockey League amateur draft at GM Place in Vancouver still ring in his ears.

“An awesome day with all my family,” Sanguinetti, who was born in Trenton and grew up in nearby Lumberton, said. "Going in you don't know where you're going, what city you'll be playing for... Being a Rangers fan growing up -- it was a dream come true.”

The eyes and ears of the next generation will be looking to fulfill their destiny as the three-time Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, for the first time in franchise history, host the 2013 NHL draft at The Prudential Center this afternoon in Newark.

For the first time since Sanguinetti's name was called in '06, all seven rounds of the draft will be held the same day.

The Devils promise to deliver a first-rate experience with 2013 NHL Draft FanFest, presented by Stronger than the Storm, set for Championship Plaza on Market and Mulberry Street at 10:30 a.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. with the draft to commence at 3.

Sanguinetti, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2012-13 with the Carolina Hurricanes, has helped break the ice for local New Jersey hockey, which has seen a total of 11 players with ties to the state drafted by NHL clubs over the last seven years.

Notable selections, James van Riemsdyk of Christian Brothers-Lincroft (Philadelphia, 2007), John Carlson of St. Joseph-Metuchen (Washington, 2008), Kyle Palmieri of St. Peter's Prep-Jersey City (Anaheim, 2009), Kenny Agostino of Delbarton-Morristown (Pittsburgh, 2010) and John Gaudreau of Gloucester Catholic (Calgary, 2011) have paved the way for tomorrow's stars.

The impact of grass roots ice hockey in the Garden State has been felt world-wide.

Gaudreau played a pivotal role in leading the United States to a Gold Medal at the 2013 World Junior championships in January, and Agostino, along with fellow Delbarton alumnus Matt Killian and Charles Orzetti, carried Yale to the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four National championship in April.

“It is quite a statement for New Jersey,” coach John Kovacs, a 26-year veteran between Mendham and Morris Knolls, said. “New Jersey high school hockey has really exploded in recent years.”

So what can New Jersey expect from its brethren at the 2013 NHL draft?

Typically, NHL General Managers hold their cards pretty close to their chest. While it is not uncommon for teams to reach out to potential draft picks prior to draft date, a whirlwind of trades and transactions throughout the day alter even the best of intentions.

Delbarton coach Bruce Shatel, who engineered his sixth straight NJSIAA Non-Public title in March, has witnessed several NHL teams court his players. One such player may be John Baiocco, the 2013 Star-Ledger Player of the Year, a potential late-round candidate.

The Next Ones: NHL Draft - John Baiocco

"He's got a bright future whether he gets drafted or not,” Shatel said. “His quick-strike is second to none. We knew he was going to be a star from day one."

In what is considered to be one of the deepest drafts in a decade, two additional prospects who have risen NHL draft boards with local ties are

Adam Erne, a Connecticut native and projected first-round selection who played for the N.J. Rockets, and Matawan native Connor Clifton (Christian Brothers).

"He's going to drafted in the same building he played junior hockey," Rockets' coach Bob Thornton said of Erne. "He'll be in the NHL one day."

Star Ledger LOADED: 06.30.2013


Politi: Seth Jones, top NHL Draft prospect, is an inspiration to Newark's young hockey players

By Steve Politi/Star-Ledger Columnist

on June 30, 2013 at 5:00 AM

Alicia Gibson heard the disbelief in the voices of other moms, and truth be told, she had started to wonder, too.

Her son had picked hockey — ice hockey! — as his favorite sport, and now she was spending her weekends, wrapped in a blanket, watching young Ty’re Reeves skate around in downtown Newark.

"Everyone is like, ‘He plays what? That’s not a sport for black people!’ " Gibson said with a laugh.

More proof to the contrary is coming today. The NHL Draft will take place at the Prudential Center, and if the projections are accurate, two black players will be chosen in the top 10 picks — with one, defenseman Seth Jones, expected to go first or second overall.

It will be a major moment for the sport and for the city acting as host. Ten years ago, no one could have imagined that the draft would come to Newark. But, 10 years from now, no one should doubt that an NHL draftee might come from Newark.

It might be a kid who will be tightening his skates for the first time this winter, one who gets strange looks from his friends. It might be a kid who looks at Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones who spurned his dad and picked hockey himself, as a trailblazer.

It might be Ty’re Reeves.

"That’s what I want," the 11-year-old said last week. He was on the ice at the AmeriHealth Pavilion, the practice rink adjacent to the Rock, taking points from Jones and the other top prospects during a clinic.

Reeves is one of the 260 kids participating in the Hockey in Newark program, one of the city’s true recreation success stories. When it was conceived in 2003 as a feeder program for the struggling East Side High varsity team, Keith Veltre and Dennis Ruppe had five kids sign up.

City leaders told them they were wasting their time. They skated on. A Zamboni broke down and froze to the ice at the Ironbound ice rink. They skated on. A player named Harry Smyre needed four coaches to help carry him off the ice the first time he tried the sport. They skated on.

East Side won two games in 2005, snapping a 36-game winless streak, and that was seen as such an accomplishment that Veltre and Ruppe were named co-coaches of the year. The team reached the state playoffs a year later. Progress was slow, but it was there.

"Really, your ZIP code determines if you play hockey in this country," Ruppe said, "and we wanted to change that."

Then came the spark the program needed: The Devils had moved to Newark, bringing their long-standing commitment to youth hockey.

"Everyone is like, 'He plays what? That's not a sport for black people!' " - Newark hockey mom Alicia Gibson

Veltre and Ruppe were able to secure more than $100,000 in donated equipment allowing them to plaster flyers all over schools in the city with a pretty good offer: "Try Hockey for Free."

Kevin Lopez saw that flyer. He had tried soccer, without much success, and became a goaltender. His commitment to the program made for a pretty good line on his college applications — good enough, it turned out, for Princeton.

"For me, it was more than a sport," Lopez said. "It was a chance to become a better individual. Hockey is for everyone."

Lopez, who now plays on the Princeton club team, didn’t start until the seventh grade. The program is now targeting kids at a much younger age, speeding their development. Matty Villacis, a seventh-grade goaltender with NHL dreams, got started when he was 6.

This is why, when asked if Hockey in Newark will have one of its players drafted in the next decade, Lopez answers, "Absolutely."

Veltre quickly fired back, "Watch the guarantees, Messier."

NHL top prospect skates with Jersey kids NHL top prospect Seth Jones skates with kids at The Hockey in Newark program's clinic for Jersey kids with 2013 NHL prospects and New Jersey Devils Alumni at the Prudential Center practice arena on Saturday, June 29, 2013. (Video by Frances Micklow / The Star-Ledger)

But that remains the goal. So you can bet the players from Hockey in Newark will be watching as Jones and Darnell Nurse, the nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, step to the stage and pull on their new jerseys today.

It will be a unique, and for the NHL, a much-needed moment. The sport needs to shed the reputation that it is a white-only game if it ever truly wants to capture a larger viewership in the country.

Jones wants to help that.

"I want to be a role model to kids who want to play the game. I know it’s a white-dominated sport, but at the same time, there are a lot more minorities playing the game, so whatever I can do to help that cause, I’ll do."

It starts with the simple act of walking onto the stage and shaking hands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The kids from the Hockey in Newark program will be watching, hoping that someday, it’ll be them. Don’t bet against it.



Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek may sell team

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

Email the author | on June 29, 2013 at 8:51 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 1:24 AM

New Jersey Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek is in talks with an investment group led by attorney Andrew Barroway to obtain a significant influx of capital and possibly cede Vanderbeek’s controlling interest in the team, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The talks are continuing and it remains unclear whether Vanderbeek will maintain control of the hockey team and its parent company, Devils Arena Entertainment. The people who spoke requested anonymity because the deal is governed by a confidentiality agreement.

The people also said there are no plans to move the team out of Newark, though they stressed the deal, first reported by Forbes.com, is very much in flux.

The news comes at an auspicious time for the Devils as the team prepares to host the National Hockey League’s annual draft today at the Prudential Center.

Vanderbeek declined to comment on the talks during a press conference Saturday announcing the NHL’s donation of 30 trees to the Newark arena. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was also at the press conference, was likewise mum.

"We are not going to confirm or deny that," he said when asked about the talks. "If we have something to announce, we’ll announce it."

This is not the first time investors have been brought to the table to help keep the financially strapped franchise afloat, only to have a deal fall through at the last minute.

In January, Vanderbeek, with the help of a loan from the NHL, negotiated a restructuring of the Devils’ debt, estimated at $190 million, and bought out longtime partners Brick City LLC.

The move bought Vanderbeek, a former Wall Street trader, some time, but the team’s financial situation was hampered by a lockout that cut the season short. It also did not help the bottom line that the Devils did not make the playoffs this year after almost winning the Stanley Cup last season.

In February, the Devils hammered out a new deal with Newark to share revenue at the arena, which has been a source of contention between Vanderbeek and the city since its opening in 2007.

Rumors have circulated for weeks that Vanderbeek had missed a payment to creditors and was looking for investors to help fill the gap.

Since purchasing a controlling interest in the team in 2004, Vanderbeek has been the public face of the Devils. He was one of the biggest proponents of moving the team to Newark and building the Prudential Center.

Since then "The Rock" has been a popular venue for sports and entertainment and has driven major development in Newark’s downtown.

Barroway, 47, is a Pennsylvania-based securities attorney. He specialized in bringing class-action shareholder lawsuits against publicly held companies, according to a report in Phillymag.com. In 2006, he led a group of investors to bid on the Philadelphia 76ers.



Devils have qualified Adam Henrique, Harri Pesonen among restricted free agents

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger


The Devils have retained negotiating rights by sending qualifying offers to restricted free agents Adam Henrique, Harri Pesonen, Mike Sislo and Jacob Josefson.

General manager Lou Lamoriello said the team did not qualify right winger Matt D'Agostini and left winger Jean-Sebastien Berube. Both will become unrestricted free agents on July 2.

"We did not qualify D'Agostini and Berube. Everybody else was qualified," Lamoriello noted.

Lamoriello said the Devils are looking into the possibility of trading up from the ninth overall pick in the entry draft, which will be held tomorrow at Prudential Center.

"We would look at anything. There are a lot of conversations going on right now in every direction-- up, down and sideways," Lamoriello said. "What will happen, I couldn't tell you right now. If we could, we'd move up and we'd go the other way if it made sense."

Devils vice president of hockey operations David Conte will wait to see whether the team keeps the ninth overall pick.

“At ninth my part will be a little bit less because some factors will come into play, whether it’s position or something else. Lou will have a lot of say in it,” Conte said. “My job is to present the options. I certainly get to say what I think.”



Report: NJ Devils may be sold to attorney Andrew Barroway

By Julia Terruso/The Star-Ledger


The New Jersey Devils may be sold to an attorney who has loaned the team money and expressed a desire to buy it, according to a memo from The National Hockey League, published on Forbes.com.

In the memorandum dated June 27, 2013, the NHL Players Association tells its members that attorney Andrew Barroway has loaned the hockey team $30 million to help with serious cash-flow issues and may buy it.

Here's the excerpt of the memo as it was published on Forbes:

“The New Jersey Devils and the current ownership group headed by Jeff Vanderbeek have recently been experiencing serious cash flow issues. This has resulted in late or missed payments (including required pension and escrow payments) and League intervention and funding. Importantly, we believe that all money owed to Players, including pension and escrow, has now been paid.”

“Recently, the Club was able to arrange a significant infusion of debt capital ($30 million) from an investor that is interested in purchasing the the Club from Vanderbeek. We understand from League officials that the new investor, Andrew Barraway, is currently negotiating with Vanderbeek and thier expectation is that either Barroway or another ownership group will end up owning the team within the next 120 days or so.”

The attorney formerly tried to buy the 76ers from Comcast, according to Forbes. The memo does not say how much debt the team or the arena are in.



Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will be on EA Sports NHL 14 cover



Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will be the cover boy for EA Sports NHL 14.

The 41-year-old goalie was selected by fans in a vote. He defeated Columbus Blue Jackets goalie and Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky.

It will be the first time a goaltender is on the NHL 14 cover since John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers appeared on the cover of NHL ‘97. NHL 14 will be available on Sept. 10 in North America.

“The support I’ve received throughout the cover vote campaign has been incredible,” Brodeur said. “My kids pushed me to participate in the campaign, and they are really excited to see their dad on the cover of the game they play all the time. I want to thank all the NHL fans who campaigned and voted for me.”

While campaigning for the cover, Brodeur and Bobrovsky each took over the @NHLPA Twitter account on the same day for question and answer sessions with fans.

“At first, I didn’t really know what I was getting into when it came to this event,” Brodeur told NHLPA.com. “I definitely got a lot of help along the way from my brother and my friends. It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. It’s been exciting.”

“I love hockey and I love to play the game. But for me, I’m happy when I see the joy through other people’s eyes. For me, it’s all about that.”

NHL vice-president of consumer products marketing Dave McCarthy said: “We would like to congratulate Marty for this exceptional recognition of his accomplished career and salute our fans appreciation for his incredible achievements both on and off the ice as they campaigned rigorously and voted him as the NHL 14 cover athlete. Throughout the cover vote campaign, our teams and fans exhibited creative and relentless support for their favorite players and their passion and dedication to hockey is the best in all of professional sports.”



NHL Draft 2013: Lou Lamoriello cares about the pick, not the place



Lou Lamoriello was asked why he decided to hold onto the Devils’ first-round pick in this year’s NHL entry draft rather than forfeit it to satisfy a penalty imposed by the league for circumventing the salary cap with Ilya Kovalchuk’s initial 17-year, $102 million contract in the summer of 2010.

Was it because the draft is being held at Prudential Center Sunday in front of Devils fans, and it would have been awkward if the home team had to wait until the second round?

"No," Lamoriello answered with a glare that would’ve been appropriate had he been asked whether he plans to let his young granddaughter make the decision on which player the team picks.

He kept the pick, he stressed, because the Devils have the ninth overall selection and expect to land a quality prospect. They will instead forfeit their first-round pick in 2014.

The fact that the draft is in New Jersey for the first time has little or no bearing on what the Devils will do Sunday.

"I’m trying really hard not to think about that. I don’t think we should be doing anything to get applause," said David Conte, the Devils’ vice president of hockey operations. "Whether we trade up, trade down, pick where we’re at, whether we take a forward or a defenseman, somebody from the U.S. or somebody from Russia, we should take the best player.

"For the player you pick, it’s kind of cool for him that the draft is in front of the home fans. For us and for me, I’m thrilled it’s here in New Jersey, but we also have a team six miles away (the Rangers), a team 25 miles away (the Islanders) and a team an hour and a half away (the Flyers). So it’s not going to be just uniquely New Jersey."

The Devils will not play to the crowd. And those at the draft table will not be looking to make it into a show.

"The focus has to be on the draft. There can’t be any distractions," Lamoriello said. "I don’t think there will be. There is a focus on the job that has to be done.

"This is kind of unique. Having it here I think is going to be great for the fans to experience. We’ve never hosted the draft before, so it will be a great opportunity to get a look at what we do in building a team. For the staff and scouts, it’s going to be business as usual."

It is not lost on Devils’ management that fans might like to see the team choose a clear-cut successor to 41-year-old goalie Martin Brodeur. A popular selection with the ninth pick — at least to some — would be Halifax (QMJHL) goalie Zach Fucale.

"There is a potential top-10 goalie in this draft," Conte said. "Zachary Fucale in Halifax had an unbelievable year on a great team. But to think of a goalie as an immediate solution, history is not on your side. We got Marty, and he was great, but it was three years before we saw him."

The Devils drafted Brodeur 20th overall in 1990 and his first full NHL season was 1993-94.

It would also be popular if the Devils drafted someone with New Jersey ties, such as defenseman Brett Pesce, who played for the junior A New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL) and North Jersey Avalanche (AYHL).

"It’s about picking the best player," Conte cautioned. "I don’t want to read newspapers (with so-called expert picks). I just want to worry about the reports we have from our people, the people we pay to do the job. We’re in good shape. If you called me and told me they moved the draft up to 5 o’clock (in early June), I’d be ready for it."

And the fact it will be conducted in Newark won’t change a thing.



NHL Draft: Ranking the Top 10 prospects


– Tom Gulitti

The following are considered the top 10 prospects for today's NHL Draft at Prudential Center, 3 p.m. The Devils select ninth overall. The Rangers don't have a first-round pick.

1. Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL)

The son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, and is the best of a deep group of big (6 feet 4, 205 pounds), mobile defensemen in this year's draft.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

Colorado Avalanche officials have said repeatedly they intend to select this future No. 1 center with the first pick overall.


MacKinnon's Halifax linemate was the QMJHL's most valuable player and is projected to be a difference-making scoring winger.

4. Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (Finland)

Top-ranked European skater already has excelled playing against men (21 goals, 27 assists) in his native Finland.

5. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Chelyabinsk (KHL)

The 6-foot-3, 196-pound power winger has allayed concerns that he'll remain in Russia next season by saying he intends to play in the NHL.


Two-way center who is strong on both sides of the puck.

7. Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL)

Competitive, playmaking center, can play wing as well.


Son of former CFL wide receiver Richard Nurse and nephew (by marriage) of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, Nurse (6 feet 4, 185 pounds) plays an aggressive, two-way game.

9. Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS Turku (Finland)

Another big (6 feet 3, 201 pounds), mobile defenseman with a big shot.


The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Russian came to North America to play major junior in 2012-13 and get ready for the NHL.

Bergen Record LOADED: 06.30.2013


Picking in top 10 rare for Devils, but they are ready to get help

Saturday June 29, 2013, 11:45 PM

BY TOM GULITTI

STAFF WRITER

NEWARK – One of the perks of being the host of the NHL Draft is having the support of the fans.

Devils director of scouting David Conte joked that the crowd reaction might not be so positive this afternoon, however, when the team’s contingent steps on stage at Prudential Center to make the ninth pick overall — barring a trade up or back.

“I’m not sure we’ll get cheered after last year,” Conte quipped, referring to the Devils missing the playoffs in 2012-13.

After not making the postseason for the second time in three years, the Devils hold just their second top-10 pick since 1996 — they took defenseman Adam Larsson with the fourth pick overall in 2011. General manager Lou Lamoriello understandably doesn’t want this to become an organizational habit.

That’s why, though having the opportunity to pick a high-quality player in what is considered to be a draft deep with talent is a good thing, Lamoriello said, “I’m not going to feel good at all about having it.”

There’s no denying this is a significant first-round pick for the organization, which is still a bit thin on top prospects, particularly at forward, and, barring a trade, will not have a first-rounder in next year’s draft in Philadelphia. The Devils have to surrender their first-round pick next year to complete the league penalty for Ilya Kovalchuk’s rejected 17-year, $102 million contract in 2010, which was ruled to be a circumvention of the salary cap.

Although Lamoriello insists, “There’s never more importance on any pick,” Conte admits, “At nine, it’s actually easier [to make the pick]. It’s just more important.” That said, Conte, who has been with the Devils for 29 seasons, doesn’t feel more pressure to get this pick right.

“I don’t consider it that way,” he said. “I’ve done this long enough. My body of work is not going to be judged on this. I consider it very important. Pressure? I don’t know what that means. You just try to get the best player and do the best thing for the organization.”

Conte has put together a list of 10 players he’d like to pick with some room for adjustment should Lamoriello find a deal worth making to move up from No. 9 or move back. Lamoriello said the team is “comfortable” with the player it believes it will get picking ninth.

“But decisions can be changed,” he said. “We can move up if we can. We can move down if we felt comfortable. There’s nothing in cement.”

Both Conte and Lamoriello say that “all things being equal,” they’d prefer to select a skilled forward. They already have a host of young defensemen, including Larsson, Jon Merrill, Eric Gelinas, Alex Urbom, Damon Severson and Reece Scarlett.

Medicine Hat left wing/center Hunter Shinkaruk, who has been compared to former Devil Zach Parise, has spoken with the Devils at least three times leading up to the draft. Other forward options include London’s Bo Horvat and Max Domi, the highly skilled son for former NHL tough guy Tie Domi, as well as Sweden’s Alexander Wennberg.

Conte also spoke glowingly, however, of this year’s tempting class of big, mobile defensemen. That group is headed by Portland’s Seth Jones, who likely will be picked in the top two, but also includes Sault Ste. Marie’s Darnell Nurse, Finland’s Rasmus Ristolainen, London’s Nikita Zadorov and Rimouski’s Samuel Morin.

It all depends on who is available when the Devils pick. Jones and Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin are locks to be the top three picks, but after that it’s a matter of preference.

“We’re going to get a good player for sure,” Conte said.

And they should get another one with the No. 39 pick in the second round in a draft that is deep well into the second round. Conte believes they’ll have an opportunity to get a second guy they have ranked in their top 30.


683037 New York Islanders

Floor’s the limit for thrifty Isles

By LARRY BROOKS

Last Updated: 4:30 AM, June 30, 2013

Posted: 12:23 AM, June 30, 2013

So The question is this: If the Islanders cannot entice a team into taking Rick DiPietro — cough, cough, Vancouver — will Charles Wang authorize an amnesty buyout of the goaltender, or will the Islanders instead use the netminder’s AHL cap hit in order to reach the floor?

It is believed general manager Garth Snow, not necessarily known as a truth-teller in his interaction with the press, has chatted with Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis about the possibility of a deal for Roberto Luongo, with DiPietro’s contract part of the package that would go the other way.

But as of yesterday, chances of that kind of a swap appeared remote. Which would leave the Islanders with a decision as they attempt to build something concrete off last season’s eighth-place finish and playoff taste.

DiPietro has eight seasons at $36 million remaining on his landmark 15-year deal that in some ways has turned out to be less an albatross than a life vest for the franchise that has employed smoke, mirrors, Nino Niederreiter and the ghost of Alexei Yashin to remain above the NHL cap floor.

Under the collective bargaining agreement adopted in January, clubs no longer can use bonuses to reach the floor. By subtracting DiPietro, who would carry a $3.575 million cap hit with AHL Bridgeport, the Islanders would be at approximately $31.49 million, or around $12.5 million shy of the $44 million floor.

Josh Bailey is a Group II free agent whose contract is unaccounted for. The same applies to defenseman Travis Hamonic and goaltender Kevin Poulin. Indeed, other than DiPietro, the Islanders don’t have a goaltender under contract.

Using an amnesty buyout on DiPietro — who would receive $1.5 million from the Islanders for the next 16 years under that scenario — would put pressure on Snow to sign a quality free agent or two, or use some of the stable of prospects to deal for a veteran.

What, for instance, would it take — and would it be smart business — to get Kris Letang out of Pittsburgh? Or is there a match with Boston if Tyler Seguin truly is available?

It’s interesting, though, if not typical: While teams across the league are attempting to figure out how to improve while squeezing under a shrinking cap, the Islanders are left pondering what moves to make (or not) in order to reach the floor.

Who said no team is an Island?

* So the Devils will have new ownership within the foreseeable future, news first broken two weeks ago by our colleague on The Post’s business pages, Josh Kosman, who exposed the franchise’s financial woes.

Following Friday’s report by Forbes that the Jeff Vanderbeek ownership had such serious cash-flow problems that it missed or was late with payments that required league intervention to remedy, Slap Shots has confirmed that it took several weeks for a number of players to receive their final payroll checks of the season.

The NHLPA, rather than file default claims that could have resulted in the unidentified players becoming free agents, worked with the NHL to give all parties time to deal with the issue.

* Sure, the Rangers would love to acquire Cal Clutterbuck from the Wild, but the team just doesn’t appear to have the maneuverability under the cap, let alone the choice draft picks to surrender, in order to get it done.

The decision to retain Brad Richards may make Brian Boyle vulnerable — $1.7 million is a tidy sum and cap hit for Boyle if he slots in as fourth-line center behind Richards, Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard.

Except the Blueshirts likely are to be without both Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin for the first few weeks of the season in the aftermath of their post-elimination labrum surgeries, so that Boyle likely is to be needed on the wing in October.

* There is no guarantee at all that John Tortorella would have gotten the call over Dan Bylsma to coach Team USA at the Sochi Games — the NHL’s participation in the Olympics could become official following a meeting tomorrow with the IOC — even if he had the bedside manner of Joe Torre.

But there’s also no doubt the prospect of every press briefing becoming an international incident did Tortorella no favors.

Oh, and by the way. If Tortorella truly does intend to become a new man, then bringing Mike Sullivan to Vancouver with him as assistant coach isn’t likely to help the transformation process.

Truth is that Sullivan, who only reinforces Tortorella’s us-against-the-world mentality, had alienated more Rangers by the end than the head coach.

News: Patrick Kane becomes the third straight American to win the Conn Smythe, following Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick.

Views: Perhaps it’s time for the protectionist CHL — Canadian Junior Hockey League — to ban Americans.

New York Post LOADED: 06.30.2013

683038 New York Islanders

Islanders in rare air: Middle of first round at NHL draft

Published: June 29, 2013 8:33 PM

By ARTHUR STAPLE [email protected]

The Islanders are in a rather new position entering Sunday's NHL draft: middle of the pack. They have their first non-lottery pick in six years after a modestly successful season, so the excitement surrounding their appearance on the draft floor at Newark's Prudential Center is rather muted.

And that indeed is progress.

The Islanders hold the 15th pick in what is considered a solid first-round draft class. With the salary cap going down to $64.3 million next season and free agency on the horizon Friday -- plus the buyout window currently open until Thursday -- talk around the league has tended more toward possible trades and potential signings rather than draft picks, outside of the top few teams.

But the Islanders still have another prospect to add to their stock of young talent.

"Obviously, the top end is really, really good," Isles scouting director Trent Klatt said. "But sitting where we sit, I'm confident we're going to get a player who will help this organization for a long time, no doubt."

Sitting where the Islanders sit at the NHL level is taking up most of general manager Garth Snow's time as he tries to find a goaltender, the biggest need for the team this offseason.

Contract talks with Evgeni Nabokov, who started 41 of 48 games and all six playoff games last season, have stalled. The sides are not that far apart on a one-year deal, but the Islanders are not interested in giving the 37-year-old goaltender a decent-sized raise off the $2.75 million he made in 2012-13. So Nabokov will head to free agency.

Snow has been involved in trade discussions, first for Jonathan Bernier, who went from the Kings to the Maple Leafs, and then for Roberto Luongo, who seems headed for a trade or a buyout of his onerous contract from Vancouver.

The Islanders had offered Rick DiPietro's bad contract in exchange for Luongo's, which would save the Canucks some money on a buyout and give the Isles a veteran starter in Luongo, whom former Islanders general manager Mike Milbury drafted No. 4 overall in 1997.

But the Canucks are looking for an asset in return for Luongo, so it appears the Islanders have moved on from that option for now. They would have interest in Luongo if the Canucks buy him out next week.

As for DiPietro, Snow is shopping the 31-year-old's contract -- which has eight years at $4.5 million per remaining -- to teams who would swap a player with a bad contract for the purpose of buying DiPietro out. If that doesn't happen, the Islanders have not indicated what they will do with DiPietro, but it appears as though a compliance buyout (one that does not count against the salary cap) is the best option and that the one-time franchise goaltender has worn the Islanders' jersey for the last time.

So the focus on the draft floor won't be on another top-five Islanders pick. They traded their second-round pick to the Ducks for Lubomir Visnovsky at last June's draft, so there doesn't seem to be much ammo for the Islanders to move up from No. 15.

"Even though things have changed for the better with our NHL team, we've still done our due diligence on everybody," Klatt said. "You never know what can happen."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.30.2013

683039 New York Rangers

Rangers Have Needs but Not High Picks

By DHIREN MAHIBAN


Gordie Clark, the Rangers’ player personnel director, hopes to add defensive depth and a goaltender in the N.H.L. draft on Sunday.

The Rangers do not have first- or second-round picks in the draft, at Prudential Center in Newark. In July, they dealt their first-round pick, 19th over all, to Columbus in the Rick Nash trade. On April 2, the Rangers traded their second-round pick, 49th over all, to San Jose for Ryane Clowe.

But they have five slots in the seven-round draft, including the 65th, 75th and 80th overall choices in the third round. Their final picks are the 110th, in the fourth round, and the 170th, in the sixth.

Clark, who has spent 19 years working the draft, has never skipped the first and second rounds.

“It’s going to be interesting,” he said. “You may not get the star. The one chance you can possibly get is a goalie because they go later anyway, and that’s just the way it works in the draft.”

Clark’s staff is looking for a goaltender after missing out on the 18-year-old Russian Andrei Vasilevski last year. He went 19th to the Tampa Bay Lightning, nine spots before the Rangers’ pick.

“Tampa Bay called us, and they wanted to know if we wanted to move our 28th pick for a couple of second-round picks,” Clark said. The Rangers used their first-round spot to draft Brady Skjei, now 19. “We still think Brady Skjei is a top-four defenseman,” Clark said. “We liked him in that Ryan McDonagh-John Moore mold of athleticism and skating.”

The Rangers also are seeking defensemen with size and an edge to their games.

“In the system, you’ve got to have some depth coming on defense, and we’ve got to stock that back up again,” Clark said. “Defensemen that can play the top four. Gritty guys that can step in there and play a few minutes.”

He said the Rangers were outmuscled by Boston in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, which they lost in five games.

So the Rangers are keeping a close eye on defenseman Dylan McIlrath, 21, their first-round selection in 2010. McIlrath, who is 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds, missed the first part of last season after an off-season knee injury. But he returned to pick up 125 penalty minutes, including 13 fighting majors, in 45 games with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

“To play what his game is, to match up against the heavyweights, the Milan Lucics, these guys have three, four, five years’ training as that type of person,” Clark said. “He might be a little behind. The summer training will tell us.”

The Rangers also have high hopes for goaltender Cam Talbot, whom they signed as a free agent in March 2010 from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Talbot, 25, agreed to a two-year, $1.1 million contract in February. He posted a 25-28-1 record this season with Connecticut, a 2.68 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

“You could go down to Connecticut and watch them lose 5-2 and 6-1 on a weekend and come away saying, ‘Wow, he played unbelievable,’ ” Clark said. “He got to play the whole year this year, and he’s really come along. So he’s going to give a run for the backup spot.

A version of this article appeared in print on June 30, 2013



Draft-day transaction unlikely for Rangers

By LARRY BROOKS

Last Updated: 4:10 AM, June 30, 2013

Posted: 12:26 AM, June 30, 2013

The marquee names on the market will go elsewhere if they go anywhere during today’s NHL Entry Draft in New Jersey.

The Rangers could shuffle some chairs on the deck if they’re interested in dealing Michael Del Zotto for a defenseman of the stiffer variety whose cap hit is commensurate to No. 4’s $2.55 million, but the Blueshirts don’t have the necessary space available to pull off a blockbuster.

Neither do they own a surfeit of assets to sacrifice in order to make it worthwhile for a trade partner to assume up to half the cap charge of a player whom the Rangers might be interested in acquiring — say, someone like the Maple Leafs’ Dion Phaneuf, who has one year at $6.5 million remaining on his deal.

Though there could be some work around the margins, today’s business likely is to be conducted at the draft table, where the Blueshirts aren’t scheduled to select until 65th overall after having traded their first-rounder to the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash deal and their second-rounder to the Sharks for Ryane Clowe.

Unless the Rangers can move up by bundling at least two of the three third-rounders (65, 75, 80 overall), this will mark the first Blueshirts’ initial pick in the 60s since 2000, when the club selected defenseman Filip Novak 64th overall.

Of course, that was the year the Rangers selected Henrik Lundqvist 205th overall, proving the adage that all’s well that ends well in the business of drafting.

“I’ve never had anything like this,” Gordie Clark, in his sixth year as the club’s director of player personnel, told The Post. “I’ve never had a year without a first or a second.

“Our staff puts the same amount of preparation into it, but we don’t have quite as much debate and fighting over where to rank the top players. The real debates over ranking where our [scouts] were fighting for the players in their territories that they’d seen most often came when we got to around No. 50.”

If the Rangers seek to trade up, it likely would be to the back end of the second round in order to grab a player they had ranked as a higher selection.

“Not many teams are trading a [high] second-round pick for a couple of thirds,” Clark said. “But maybe we can move into the last five picks or so of the second if we spot someone who we believe could be an impact player and has slipped through.

“If not, if we stand with our three thirds and then the fourth [110], we could focus in on positions rather than the ‘best player available’ philosophy.”

The organization is light on AHL defensemen ready to step up — hence the acquisition of Roman Hamrlik — with Dylan McIlrath, the controversial 2010 10th-overall selection held back by the dislocated kneecap he sustained during last summer’s prospect camp that forced him to miss the first half of the season in Hartford.

The Blueshirts don’t seem to have prospects up front knocking on the door, either, unless one counts Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller, which Clark does.

“They’re both so young that despite their NHL experience, you have to think of them as prospects with a good chance of starting the season with the Rangers,” Clark said. “I think J.T. would have played at the end if not for his wrist injury.

“And Chris, he basically has scored six goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs, three of them game-winners, and other than that didn’t play very much.”

* The Devils own the ninth overall pick while the Islanders are scheduled to select 15th overall, though they have made it known the pick is available for the right price.

New York Post LOADED: 06.30.2013


Northjersey.com : Sports

NHL Draft: Ranking the Top 10 prospects


– Tom Gulitti

The following are considered the top 10 prospects for today's NHL Draft at Prudential Center, 3 p.m. The Devils select ninth overall. The Rangers don't have a first-round pick.

1. Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL)

The son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, and is the best of a deep group of big (6 feet 4, 205 pounds), mobile defensemen in this year's draft.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

Colorado Avalanche officials have said repeatedly they intend to select this future No. 1 center with the first pick overall.


MacKinnon's Halifax linemate was the QMJHL's most valuable player and is projected to be a difference-making scoring winger.

4. Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (Finland)

Top-ranked European skater already has excelled playing against men (21 goals, 27 assists) in his native Finland.

5. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Chelyabinsk (KHL)

The 6-foot-3, 196-pound power winger has allayed concerns that he'll remain in Russia next season by saying he intends to play in the NHL.


Two-way center who is strong on both sides of the puck.

7. Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL)

Competitive, playmaking center, can play wing as well.


Son of former CFL wide receiver Richard Nurse and nephew (by marriage) of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, Nurse (6 feet 4, 185 pounds) plays an aggressive, two-way game.

9. Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS Turku (Finland)

Another big (6 feet 3, 201 pounds), mobile defenseman with a big shot.


The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Russian came to North America to play major junior in 2012-13 and get ready for the NHL.



Devoid of top two picks, Rangers seek falling star in draft

Saturday June 29, 2013, 11:38 PM

BY ANDREW GROSS

STAFF WRITER

New coach Alain Vigneault will be waiting to see if the Rangers can land someone they covet in the third round of today's NHL Draft.

There’s a new coach in place looking to spark more offensive flow.

But while Alain Vigneault will be at Prudential Center for today’s NHL Draft, Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark said he does not anticipate any changes to the organizational approach of choosing young talent because of the switch from John Tortorella.

“It really doesn’t affect us,” said Clark, in charge of his sixth draft with the Rangers. “Most of those guys in the minors are getting prepared by the minor league coaches, they’re the ones who dictate who’s getting called up. Coaches on any team I’ve been on really don’t get involved. They’re just there to show support.”

The draft begins at 3 p.m. The Rangers, having traded their first-round pick to the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash deal and their second-rounder to the Sharks to acquire unrestricted free agent Ryane Clowe – now unlikely to be re-signed with the team opting not to buy out Brad Richards – will not be on the clock barring further trades until a trio of third-round selections.

The Rangers have not had one of their third-round picks develop into a regular NHL player since Garth Murray in 2001 – and he only played 116 NHL games from 2003-09.

The Rangers also have a fourth- and sixth-round pick, and Clark said the organization is hoping to shore up its depth on defense and goaltending.

“We do have a couple of players we feel, if it works out that way, can be impact players,” Clark said. “It’s going to be maybe wishful thinking, but we’ve gone through different mock drafts and it’s not out of the question. If those players are gone, it’ll possibly be for what we need in positions.”

One reason for the need for defense depth was the dislocated kneecap suffered by Dylan McIlrath, the 10th overall pick in 2010, and the apparently career-ending concussion suffered by Michael Sauer two seasons ago. Sauer, who turns 26 on Aug. 7, is a restricted free agent and the Rangers are not expected to extend him a qualifying offer.

Meanwhile, Clark is hoping McIlrath can fully recover from his rare injury.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound McIlrath, 21, played 45 games for Hartford (AHL) in 2012-13 with five assists and 125 penalty minutes and has yet to play a full minor league season.

“McIlrath is a little behind because of the injury … so we probably have got to get a few more in the cupboard,” Clark said. “We’ll just see how the knee took that. He works out hard anyway. He was hurt at this time last year, so let’s hope he has a healthy summer.”

The Rangers have not drafted a goalie since Scott Stajcer in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and the 22-year-old, who has one more season remaining on his entry-level deal, spent most of last season in the ECHL. Cam Talbot, 25, was Hartford’s No. 1 goalie last season.

Five-time Vezina Trophy finalist Henrik Lundqvist, 31, has been entrenched as the Rangers’ No. 1 since 2005-06, his rookie season and has one more season left on a six-year, $41.25 million deal. The Rangers hope to sign Lundqvist to a contract extension this off-season.

“To develop a guy like Henrik is a tall task,” Clark said. “But what we’re tasked to do is to get somebody ready for five, six, seven years down the road.”

BRIEF: As expected, the Rangers will extend qualifying offers to RFAs Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello by Tuesday’s deadline.



Cap crunch has Rangers looking deep into draft

Published: June 29, 2013 9:02 PM

By STEVE ZIPAY [email protected]

With the Rangers' first selection in Sunday's NHL draft in the third round -- a rarity that hasn't occurred since 1968 -- the news of the day could develop off the board.

The club could be preparing a trade to move up in the annual gathering, which will be staged at Prudential Center in Newark, or perhaps packaging picks, prospects and players to bolster the current roster.

Having sent their first-round selection to Columbus in the Rick Nash trade last July and their second-rounder to San Jose for Ryane Clowe in April, the Rangers have five picks in the seven rounds: three third-rounders (Nos. 65, 70 and 80), a fourth (110) and a sixth (170).

"The top half of the first round is deep, and teams are holding on to those picks, so I don't see us going there," director of player personnel Gordie Clark said. "But we'll be watching to see if players we like will be available in the second round or fall. Whatever, we believe we can get good players in the third and later."

So the thinking is that the Rangers certainly will add to their stable of prospects but won't get any immediate help. Nor are they expected to be major players in the free-agent market, which opens Friday.

With Rangers brass deciding not to use a special compliance buyout on veteran Brad Richards this summer, their salary- cap space will be extremely limited compared to many teams once they sign their top restricted free agents: Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and possibly Mats Zuccarello.

The club's recent track record on third-round picks is mixed. Center Stephen Fogarty (2011, No. 72) had five goals and 10 points in 41 games as a freshman at Notre Dame. Ryan Bourque (2009, No. 80) is playing for Hartford. Forward Evgeny Grachev and defenseman Tomas Kundratek (2008, 75 and 90) no longer are in the organization. Harvard's Dominic Moore (2000) became an NHL regular.

With enough centers in the system, the Rangers -- who had always had a first-rounder since 2002 -- are expected to target wingers (especially on the left side), defensemen and a future goaltender.

"Anybody we're interested in, we've met three or four times during the season," said Clark, who along with assistant general manager Jeff Gorton and the scouting staff handles the assessment and recruiting.

On the goaltending front, the consensus No. 1, Zach Fucale (Halifax), will be gone, but the Rangers should have numerous choices in the third round, possibly the second-ranked netminder: Tristan Jarry, who led the WHL in goals-against average and save percentage.

Other options: Philippe Desrosiers, who posted a .970 save percentage in Under-18 tournament play for Team Canada; Eric Comrie (WHL's Tri-City Americans), who had some bone shaved from his right hip but has recovered; Cal Petersen (USHL), headed to Notre Dame, and Spencer Martin (OHL's Mississauga), who reminds some of Buffalo's Ryan Miller. If they prefer a Swedish youngster whom Henrik Lundqvist could mentor, there are juniors Ebbe Sionas (AIK) and Marcus Hogberg (Linkoping).

Among the blueliners who could be on the board in the third round are Brett Pesce, a Tarrytown, N.Y., native at the University of New Hampshire; Shea Theodore (WHL, Seattle), a potential power-play QB; Tommy Vanelli, one of the top high school prospects, who will play at the University of Minnesota this fall, and Sweden's Linus Arvedsson. Forwards include Nick Moutrey, Saginaw (OHL); Hudson Fasching (U.S. National Team Development Program, USHL), and Emile Poirier, Gatineau (QMJHL).

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.30.2013

683044 NHL

Bylsma Takes Dream Job as U.S. Men’s Hockey Coach

By JEFF Z. KLEIN


It is not a prerequisite for becoming coach of the United States Olympic men’s hockey team, but Dan Bylsma has watched “Miracle,” the movie about the 1980 squad coached by Herb Brooks that won the gold medal.

“A few days ago I was back in Michigan, and my son and his cousin were watching ‘Miracle,’ “ Bylsma said Saturday, after USA Hockey’s official announcement that he would lead the Americans at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. “And they did not know I was going to be named the head coach of the team.”

“The scene where Herb was in the kitchen and having a conversation with his wife — I’m like, ‘That’s me; that’s my wife, Mary Beth!’ ” Bylsma added. “Kind of a surreal moment there.”

Bylsma, 42, has coached the Pittsburgh Penguins for four and a half seasons, winning a Stanley Cup in 2009. He will have other surreal moments as he tries to lead the Americans to their third Olympic gold medal.

“On Feb. 5 and 6, I’ll be coaching Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin,” he said. “Sometime around the 9th or 10th I’ll be dropping the black and gold and putting my USA colors on, and trying to stop them.”

Bylsma has no international experience, and he said he would rely on the advice of Americans who had coached at that level before. He said he had been consulting with the former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson, who led the United States to a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games, and Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette, who led the Americans at the 2006 Turin Games.

David Poile, general manager of the men’s Olympic team and the Nashville Predators, said that Bylsma’s assistants would be chosen in the next few weeks.

USA Hockey officials announced that the team’s orientation group would be at the Washington Capitals’ Kettler training center in Arlington, Va., from Aug. 25 to 29.

A native of Grand Haven, Mich., Bylsma recalled the mix of emotions he felt while watching the Olympic final in 2010, when Crosby beat the United States goalie Ryan Miller for the overtime goal that won the gold medal for Canada. Bylsma said he was at a local rink in the Pittsburgh area, where his 10-year-old son was playing.

“I do remember it very distinctly,” he said. “I was watching that game in a restaurant at an ice hockey rink with a bunch of other U.S.A. supporters who were cheering. And I was in a corner sitting in a chair when the puck squirted free, and he broke free from the dot on that angle in front of Miller. I stood up and knew that it was going to be over. I wasn’t really that pleased about that, even though it was Sidney.”

He added: “I certainly did congratulate him when he came back, and was happy for the fact that Sidney scored that goal. But I still took a lot of pride in the silver medal that Brooks Orpik brought back.”

Bylsma said he was proud to become the 18th coach of a United States Olympic men’s hockey team. He spoke again about the Americans’ victory in 1980 at Lake Placid, and what it meant to him.

“Each day that I continue to prepare and think about being the head coach, it’s a bigger and greater honor,” he said. “For me, I go back to 33, 34 years ago, in 1980, as a 9-year-old boy. I think I dreamt about winning a gold medal longer than I dreamt about winning a Stanley Cup. It dates back to that 1980 team.”

“As an athlete, I’m not sure there’s a bigger stage than winning a gold medal for your country,” he continued. “For a very, very long time I’ve wanted to be involved. This is a gold mine, to be able to do this and to be able to coach this team. For that honor and privilege, it’s very humbling.”

A version of this article appeared in print on June 30, 2013,


683045 NHL

Seth Jones and Nathan MacKinnon vie for first overall pick in NHL Draft

By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, June 29, 2013, 9:54 PM

Seth Jones called his trip to the top of the Empire State Building on Thursday “too scary to ever do again.” But the 6-4, 205-pound defenseman originally from Texas will be sitting on top of the world once again Sunday in Newark if he’s selected first overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL draft, becoming the first African-American ever to be taken No. 1.

Jones, 18, a three-time gold medalist with Team USA — one at the World Junior Championships and two at the IIHF World U18 Championship — is the son of former NBA forward and recently fired Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Popeye Jones.

Jones will have to beat out Nathan MacKinnon, 17, a 6-0, 182-pound Canadian-born center who many expect to go first overall, in which case the Florida Panthers would waste no time pouncing on Jones at No. 2.

Both talents are intent on contributing right away.

“I want to be more than ready,” MacKinnon told NHL.com. “I don’t want to just hang on in the NHL next year and kind of watch.”

But no one can blame Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy, now running the Avalanche, for leaning towards MacKinnon, who hails from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, the same hometown as Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon led the Halifax Mooseheads to this year’s Memorial Cup, winning the tournament’s MVP award and recording a hat trick and five points in the championship game over Jones’ Portland Winterhawks.

The likely top of the draft is rounded out by left wing Jonathan Drouin, 18 (5-11, 186 pounds) from Quebec, and defenseman Darnell Nurse, 18, (6-4, 193), an Ontario product and the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

LOCAL FLAVOR

The Devils, who are hosting the draft, own the ninth pick and reportedly are most interested in drafting a forward, since they are top heavy at the position, paying Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac a combined $12.4 million per year. But Nurse grew up rooting for New Jersey and likely would be too good to pass up if he fell.

The Devils also own an early second-round pick (39th overall), an early fourth-round pick (100th) and an early sixth-round selection (160th). Previously held third-, fifth- and seventh-round picks are gone to Minnesota, Buffalo and Winnipeg via trade, respectively.

The Rangers’ goal in this draft, meanwhile, likely will be to shore up depth on defense and perhaps in goal, considering the limited firepower they have on the draft board. Of course, there is always the possibility of a draft-day splash deal.

Due to trades in 2012 and 2013, however, the Blueshirts do not have a pick until their three third-round selections. Their earliest pick is 65th overall, acquired from Nashville for the 89th overall selection in the 2012 draft. Perhaps if they make a trade or the puck bounces their way, they’ll be able to snag Bronxville product Steven Santini, 18, a righthanded shooting defenseman ranked No. 47 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He lists the Blueshirts as his favorite team.

The Rangers own Columbus’ 75th overall selection from the Rick Nash trade, since they didn’t advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in year one, plus their original picks in the fourth (110th) and sixth rounds (170th).

Normally the Blueshirts would have a lot more to work with, but they packaged the rest of their picks in trades: the first-rounder (19th overall) for Nash, both the second-rounder (49th) and third-rounder (62nd) for Ryane Clowe, the fifth-rounder to Nashville for last year’s 142nd pick, and the seventh-rounder to Minnesota for since-traded minor-league forward Casey Wellman.

The Islanders need depth across the board, particularly in net, but all three NHL.com mock drafts project GM Garth Snow selecting a forward with their 15th overall selection. They’ll then draft in the third (76th), fourth (106th), fifth (136th), sixth (166th) and seventh (196th) rounds. The Isles’ previously held second-round pick (45th overall) belongs to Anaheim.

Anthony Brodeur, 18, the son of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, is not ranked in the top 40 North American goaltending prospects but will be on hand in his first year of draft eligibility and could be a late-round pick.

New York Daily News LOADED: 06.30.2013

683046 NHL

Deep NHL draft draws comparisons to stellar 2003 haul

Michael Traikos | 13/06/29 | Last Updated: 13/06/28 10:51 PM ET

Ten years after he was a first-round bust who had a cup of coffee in the National Hockey League, Hugh Jessiman signed a one-year contract last month to play for Croatian-based team Medvescak Zagreb in Russia’s KHL. In a news release, the team’s athletic director described its new forward as a “big, explosive and powerful striker” who “can play a physical game if necessary. From him we expect a lot of good things.”

Now and then: A closer look at the 2003 NHL draft

Yes, some things never change.

In 2003, scouts were saying similar things about the 6-foot-6 prospect, who was given the nickname “Huge Specimen.” The New York Rangers thought so highly of Jessiman they selected him 12th overall, one spot ahead of Dustin Brown as well as Zach Parise (No. 17), Ryan Getzlaf (No. 19), Ryan Kesler (No. 23), Mike Richards (No. 24), Corey Perry (No. 28), Loui Eriksson (No. 33) and Patrice Bergeron (No. 45).

Out of that draft, Jessiman became the answer to a trivia question. In a can’t-miss draft that contained 24 future all-stars, seven captains and one-third of roster that won gold at the 2010 Olympics, he was the one big miss.

“Hugh Jessiman was a highly regarded prospect,” said Dave Taylor, who in 2003 was the Los Angeles Kings general manager. “He was a giant who could skate and handle the puck. Hindsight is pretty difficult.”

Heading into this Sunday’s draft, there is bound to be a Jessiman or two lurking in the first round. But in a year in which scouts are salivating at not only the top-end players but the depth of talent available, there could also be a haul similar to that of 2003.

Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin have received most of the attention so far, but scouts believe the next five — Elias Lindholm, Aleksander Barkov, Valeri Nichushkin, Sean Monahan and Darnell Nurse — are right there with them. And unlike last year, in which several prospects had missed significant time with injuries or virtually came out of nowhere, the cream of this year’s crop have been impact players on their team for not just one but two seasons.

I think this is just like 2003. I think they’re all going to be excellent NHL players

As one scout said, you know this draft has the potential to be special when Anthony Mantha, a 6-foot-4 winger who was one of only three players in the CHL to score 50 goals last year, is considered a late first-round pick.

“I think this is just like 2003,” said TSN analyst and scout Craig Button, who was general manager of the Calgary Flames in 2002-03. “I think they’re all going to be excellent NHL players. If you want to sit here and say I think MacKinnon is better than Drouin, it doesn’t matter. It’s a fine line. I can’t sit here and say you’re wrong.

“I think they’re all equally elite prospects. If you’re looking for that defenceman, it’s Jones. If you’re looking for a hard-driving, scoring centreman, it’s MacKinnon. If you’re looking for a brilliant playmaking winger, it’s Drouin.”

The same logic went into 2003, when Pittsburgh took the best goalie (Marc-Andre Fleury) at No. 1, Carolina took the best centre (Eric Staal) at No. 2 and Florida took the best winger (Nathan Horton) at No. 3. And that didn’t even scratch the surface.

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The first round included franchise players such as Thomas Vanek, Ryan Suter, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter and Brent Seabrook. But players such as Eriksson, Bergeron, Shea Weber, Corey Crawford, David Backes and Jimmy Howard selected in the second round. The real finds, of course, came much later when Joe Pavelski went in the seventh round, Dustin Byfuglien and Matt Moulson both went in the eighth and goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott, now teammates in St. Louis, went in the ninth.

“We felt like we were going to get a player,” said then-Boston Bruins GM Mike O’Connell, who selected defenceman Mark Stuart in the first round and Bergeron in the second. “There were enough in this draft where you had to.”

Los Angeles had three picks in the first round. After taking Brown, their future captain, at No. 13, they made a safe selection with Brian Boyle at No. 26, but chose Jeff Tambellini one spot ahead of Perry at No. 27.

Drafting is one part of it. But even more so is the development that the players get after that

“The reason Corey Perry goes 28th isn’t because everybody was stupid, it’s because he wasn’t a very good skater at that time,” said Tampa Bay Lightning director of amateur scouting Al Murray, who was then working for the Kings. “The reason Bergeron goes in the second round instead of the first round is because there were concerns about his skating too.

“Drafting is one part of it. But even more so is the development that the players get after that. What you had in that case were some guys who had some limitations [who] obviously worked hard at it.”

Because the NHL had yet to crackdown on obstruction, New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said many teams placed an emphasis on size back then. It is why Jessiman went as high as he did and why the 5-foot-11 Parise fell to 17th.

“We never felt that Parise would be available when he was,” said Lamoriello, who added that the 2004-05 lockout was also helpful in allowing this crop of players to spend a year developing in the American Hockey League. “Despite having the quality and quantity, they all were allowed to grow.”

So will this year’s draft class grow into franchise players? Will there be another Staal, Parise, Weber, Getzlaf and Perry? Will there be another Jessiman?

Time will tell.

“I don’t think you can do a comparable and say this year’s draft will have as many top players as the 2003 draft,” Murray said. “Anyone who is saying that is pulling stuff out of their butt. You can say it has the same features as the 2003 draft, in that there’s a high-end group of elite players who have been elite for two years and there’s a lot of depth. But to say it’s at that same level is premature.”

“We won’t know until 10 years down the road.”

National Post LOADED: 06.30.2013

683047 NHL

Now and then: A closer look at the 2003 NHL draft


Marc-Andre Fleury was the first pick of the NHL draft, while Ryan Getzlaf was No. 19.

Looking back, it is difficult to find much fault with the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Half of the first round has already played in more than 500 NHL games, nine have won a Stanley Cup and seven have gone on to become the captain of their team.

Deep NHL draft draws comparisons to stellar 2003 haul

Still, if you had to do it again, would Marc-Andre Fleury go first overall? Would Shea Weber fall to the second round? Would Hugh Jessiman even be selected?

Here is what the top 15 would look like today:

1. Pittsburgh

Then Marc-Andre Fleury

Now Shea Weber (49th in 2003)

With Weber and Kris Letang on defence, it might not matter who is in Pittsburgh’s net.

2. Carolina

Then Eric Staal

Now Eric Staal (2)

It’s tough to pass on someone who captained the Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup.

3. Florida

Then Nathan Horton

Now Corey Perry (28)

No chance Perry, an MVP and Rocket Richard Trophy winner in 2010-11, slips to 28th overall.

4. Columbus

Then Nikolai Zherdev

Now Ryan Getzlaf (19)

A year after selecting Rick Nash with the No. 1 pick, the Blue Jackets missed out on taking a centre for him to play with.

5. Buffalo

Then Thomas Vanek

Now Ryan Suter (7)

With Ryan Miller in net and Suter on the blue line, Buffalo would have been that much tougher to score on.

6. San Jose

Then Milan Michalek

Now Patrice Bergeron (45)

Still think the Sharks would not have won a Cup by now had they had this warrior in the lineup?

7. Nashville

Then Ryan Suter

Now Zach Parise (17)

The Predators have been searching for years for a forward with Parise’s scoring ability.

8. Atlanta

Then Braydon Coburn

Now Mike Richards (24)

The ultra-fierce competitor would have looked good in a Thrashers or Jets jersey.

9. Calgary

Then Dion Phaneuf

Now Ryan Kesler (23)

A forward line with Kesler and Jarome Iginla would have terrorized opposing teams’ defence.

10. Montreal

Then Andrei Kostitsyn

Now Brent Seabrook (14)

Think Seabrook and Keith are a perfect match. How about Seabrook and Subban?

11. Philadelphia

Then Jeff Carter

Now Loui Eriksson (33)

The two-time 40-goal scorer would look good playing alongside Claude Giroux.

12. NY Rangers

Then Hugh Jessiman

Now Thomas Vanek (5)

If the Rangers had taken Ericsson instead of Hugh Jessiman …

13. Los Angeles

Then Dustin Brown

Now Dustin Brown (13)

The Kings captain has been everything the team had hoped he would become.

14. Chicago

Then Brent Seabrook

Now Corey Crawford (52)

The Blackhawks would probably lose out on Seabrook, but they get their starting goalie one round earlier.

15. NY Islanders

Then Robert Nilsson

Now David Backes (62)

The St. Louis Blues captain would be the perfect defensive complement to John Tavares.


683048 Ottawa Senators

Senators players to Murray: Feel free to go on a shopping spree

In many respects, Ottawa Senators players are just like the team’s fans.

by Ken Warren

on June 29, 2013

NEW YORK – In many respects, Ottawa Senators players are just like the team’s fans.

With general manager Bryan Murray, the team’s coaching staff and scouts all hanging out together in Times Square this weekend, the players can’t help but wonder what – or shall we say, who? — is on Murray’s shopping list.

Buoyed by the return of captain Daniel Alfredsson, they wonder whether Murray can sway owner Eugene Melnyk to open his wallet a little bit wider to improve the roster.

It’s generally assumed the Senators internal player budget is in the $50 million range, well below the NHL’s 2013-14 salary cap of $63 million.

“Well, I already did my part to get Alfie back,” joked defenceman Chris Phillips, when asked if he provided Murray with a gift list before he left Ottawa. “I really have no part in that, but it’s always an interesting time of year to see what happens.”

Adding to the drama is the fact that teams with salary cap problems could be forced to trade quality players who have big money remaining on their existing deals.

Defenceman Marc Methot, who never strays far from social media updates, is well aware that countless marquee names will become available as unrestricted free agents on July 5.

“Anything that makes our team deeper, I’m all for it…as long as it doesn’t include me going somewhere else,” he said, with a laugh.

The players who could be be on the move are frequently changing, considering that top draft picks – perhaps even early first round picks Sunday – could be in play. As Saturday morning gave way to Saturday afternoon and talks picked up in the suites of Manhattan hotels, more options were presented. There will be even more on the table on Sunday, leading up to the start of the 3 pm draft.

“There are a number of players available,” Murray said Saturday, in a press briefing at the club’s hotel. “I have had a couple of managers suggest some names to me…there are a few that look like they might be moving if the right deal is available.”

Some of the questions that are resulting in the most buzz:

–Where will Vinny Lecavalier end up? When Tampa Bay bought out the remainder of Lecavalier’s contract, it immediately led to speculation that Lecavalier could end up going back home to Montreal. But would the NHL’s first overall selection want to face the intense media pressure? It is generally assumed that Lecavalier wants to stay in the Eastern Conference.

Once upon a time, the Senators were on the verge of acquiring Lecavalier – a blockbuster deal which would have sent Radek Bonk to Tampa – but it is difficult to see him coming to Ottawa now. The Senators are solid at centre, with Jason Spezza, Kyle Turris, Zack Smith, Mika Zibanejad, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Jim O’Brien currently at the top of the depth chart, but Murray isn’t discounting anything.

“I think Vincent Lecavalier would be a good fit for most teams in the league at the right dollars,” Murray said. “But I haven’t put any feelers out about him, however.”

–There have been rumblings that the Senators have an interest in Edmonton Oilers winger Alex Hemsky. Hemsky, who turns 30 in August, has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract. On the surface, that would appear to be too high of a price tag for a player who has had long bouts of inconsistency throughout his career. If the Oilers demand is a top four defenceman, the Senators aren’t about to give them one, either.

–While the Senators also continue to look at the possibilities of trading for Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan – it’s generally conceded that the price tag includes an existing NHL player, a top prospect and/or a high draft pick – there are other teams in the mix that are driving up Ryan’s value.

–As far as non-Senators developments are concerned, there’s considerable buzz about what will happen with Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang. Letang, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, has rejected an eight-year, $54 million extension from the Penguins. While Letang’s agent, Kent Hughes, continues to talk to Penguins general manager Ray Shero, there’s a distinct possibility Letang gets traded. A Toronto-based report Saturday suggested the Maple Leafs could be interested.

It’s all making for great noise in the city where it’s all about noise.

Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 06.30.2013


Pittsburgh Penguins hope to find a way to hold on to Kris Letang

By Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 10:47 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 12:43 AM EDT

NEW YORK - Sooner or later, push will come to shove for Kris Letang and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

They haven't reached that stage, yet.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero said here Saturday that he has had a couple of teams call to show interest in the club's top blueliner, but Pittsburgh will try to get a contract done with him before deciding what is next for both sides.

Letang stunned the hockey world by turning down an eight-year, $56-million contract extension from the Penguins. The sense is he felt he a took a hometown discount with his present contract, accepting $3.5 million per-season, and won't do it at this time.

Shero said he explained to Letang that the club wants him but this "is a business." Last year, Shero dealt Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes when he turned down a long-term extension. That's why people have their radar up on Letang.

"He's worth waiting on in terms of making the right decisions and having all the information," said Shero. "There's a time to make a deal. To sign a player, there's also time you realize that you can't. That's not apparent to me right now.

"We're going to continue to work on it and see where this goes."

Letang is going into the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2014. The Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens both have interest in Letang, but Shero isn't ready to throw in the towel on talks.

"I know he's happy in Pittsburgh. He's a good young player at 26 years old. We certainly don't want him to go and I won't let emotion play any factor," said Shero. "I like Kris as a kid. I explained to him the other day this is a business.

"I think he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. We're going to try to see if we can make that happen but it has to make sense for both sides."

THE FIRST ROUND

There is talk the Colorado Avalanche may deal their No. 1 selection for immediate help. While they covet Halifax centre Nathan MacKinnon -- and by all accounts he can play immediately -- the belief is newcomers Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy want to wheel and deal. There is interest in the No. 1 pick, but the Avs want a big return with a player who can help right away, a top prospect and a No. 1 pick. Roy and Sakic have suddenly made the festivities interesting. "If they get the right price I think there is a chance," said league executive Saturday. "They want a lot for that pick." ... Centre Nathan Horton has informed the Boston Bruins he wants to test the market after his strong playoff.

OFF THE GLASS

As mentioned earlier this week, the Flyers are listening to offers for defenceman Braydon Cobourn. There is talk the Anaheim Ducks asked for Cobourn and the No. 1 pick in exchange for forward Bobby Ryan. The Oilers have emerged as a top trade target because they want help on the back end right away could use Cobourn. Don't forget Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish and Flyers GM Paul Holmgren are both trying to shake up their teams ... Minnesota Wild left wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard informed the club he will test the free agent market. He had a cap hit of $4.08 million last season.

THIS N' THAT

Speaking of the Wild, expect the club to move left wing Cal Clutterbuck. He has been offered up to every team because his role has diminished in Minny and the club needs to shed cash. He is an RFA who made $1.4

million last season ... The Florida Panthers haven't given up hope on signing UFA centre Stephen Weiss. GM Dale Tallon hopes to hold more talks with his camp but confirmed Saturday he has interest in bought out Tampa centre Vinny Lecavalier along with Montreal GM Marc Bergevin. As many as 15 teams have touched based with Lecavalier, who made his way to Manhattan to meet with potential teams. Dallas GM Jim Nill has been aggressive in his pursuit of Lecavalier because he would help the club.

AROUND THE BOARDS

Canucks GM Mike Gillis confirmed he has had calls about goalie Cory Schneider. "You have to listen," said Gillis. Many believe the team that called was Edmonton, but whether Gillis would actually make that moves remains a big question mark. This comes at a time when Vancouver is trying to either deal goalie Roberto Luongo or possibly buy him in the next couple of days. Gilllis is also trying to move defenceman Keith Ballard but hasn't had any luck. "We've had lots of calls and discussions we'll see where it goes," said Gillis ... The Habs may move the rights of UFA left winger Michael Ryder before Friday. They've told forward Colby Armstrong he won't be back.

RUMOURS DU JOUR

Once the dust has settled in Edmonton expect them to deal Ales Hemsky and buyout Shawn Horcoff. The club has given Horcoff permission to make his own deal and there isn't a lot of interest ... The name of Bruins centre Tyler Seguin surfaced on the trade market with talk the Bolts were interested. He hasn't been shopped to every team because not many had heard about it. Seguin's a young player, but Boston will have cap issues to deal with after getting centre Patrice Bergeron and goalie Tuukka Rask signed.

Have a nice Sunday and enjoy the draft.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.30.2013


Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray continues to try to move up from No. 17 at NHL entry draft in New Jersey

By Bruce Garrioch,Ottawa Sun

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 10:34 PM EDT | Updated: Saturday, June 29, 2013 10:41 PM EDT

NEW YORK - Bryan Murray is trying desperately to play Let's Make a Deal on Broadway.

It might take a Miracle on 34th Street for that to happen.

With the NHL entry draft set for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the Senators GM made a proposal to two teams to see if he could make a move into the top 10 from the No. 17 position.

"Both teams said they would consider it," said Murray Saturday afternoon at the club's Manhattan hotel. "Neither one of them has called me back."

The Senators are certain they'll get a good prospect who can play if they don't move up from their current spot, but Bryan Murray, assistant GM Tim Murray and player personnel director Pierre Dorion would love to move higher.

Yes, the Colorado Avalanche contacted the Senators to see if there was an interest in the No. 1 pick. The asking price was so high there weren't any real discussions, but the possibility always exists something could happen on the floor.

"To move up high in the draft is a hard thing to do," said Tim Murray. "Your scouts prepare all year, they've made their lists, they're ready to pick and it's going to be a big price.

"It could happen (Sunday). Bryan could come and say, 'They want this player off our team and the No. 17 pick,' then we'll make the call at the table and decide if it's the right choice. At this point, the prices have been extremely high."

The Senators are continuing to discuss all possible scenarios because the opportunity to move up could present itself in the middle of the first round. That's how it played out when Ottawa selected Erik Karlsson at No. 15 in 2008.

Knowing the Anaheim Ducks were ready to take Karlsson with the No. 17 selection in the draft held at Scotiabank Place, Bryan Murray was urged by Dorion to move up before the player the club wanted was gone.

Nashville Predators GM David Poile accepted an offer to move back to the No. 18 spot in exchange for that pick and a third rounder in 2009. It ended up being one of the best moves ever made by the team, but it wasn't reality until the last minute.

"Bryan came to me and asked me how much I really liked Karlsson and I said there was no doubt I'd move up to take him," said Dorion.

"It's tough because all scouts fall in love with their list and their picks and whatever. I give so much credit to Bryan. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have Karlsson now because he moved up to make that deal."

Dorion said he's confident if the Senators stay at No. 17, they will come away with a strong prospect.

"We're just going to get a good player like we've done in the past few years," said Dorion. "We just hope to get someone that's going to come in and play eventually.

"Could there be a surprise and someone comes in to challenge for a spot in the lineup? You never say no, but most likely we're looking at someone who will play next year or two years from now."

That's partially why Bryan Murray has been trying to use this draft to find a Top 6 forward that can help immediately.

The Senators have held talks with the Anaheim Ducks about winger Bobby Ryan, but the asking price is such that it would be detrimental to the team to make the deal. The Ducks are looking for a high-end defenceman in return for Ryan.

If Murray isn't able to get a scoring winger here, he could resume discussions when he gets back to Ottawa Monday or wait until players shop themselves around on the unrestricted free agent market starting Friday at noon.

"We're still going to explore what's available to us to upgrade our team," said Murray. "We hope, at some point in time through the summer, that we can maybe make a acquisition that would help."

All the draft talk can finally turn to action Sunday.



Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson will get consideration to be Team USA netminder at Olympics

By Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 12:36 PM EDT | Updated: Saturday, June 29, 2013 12:55 PM EDT

NEW YORK - Craig Anderson could get a shot at gold at the Olympics in Sochi next February.

The NHL won’t confirm its participation in the Winter Games until Tuesday, but Team USA named its Olympic staff during a press conference Saturday on Broadway and GM David Poile confirmed to the Sun that Anderson is in the mix.

Poile said the Senators' top goalie will be in a group of six players - it includes Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles), Cory Schneider (Vancouver), Ryan Miller (Buffalo) and Jimmy Howard (Detroit) - that will get consideration.

Though there has been much consternation over the way Canadian goalies are playing, the Americans feel that netminding will be one of their strengths. Anderson was one of the NHL’s top goalies last season.

“We’ve got a really good group,” said Poile. “We’ve got about six guys that we’ve talked about that are very deserving. You have to have goaltending to be successful. Our goaltending was good back in Vancouver.

“We’ve got some goalies that played really well last year. We certainly take into consideration the body of work, but the goalies certainly have to be playing well in the first three months (of the season).”

Poile said there are going to be a lot of factors that go into the selection of the goalie, but you have to think it would help Anderson if he picked up where he left off last season.

“I know who the best goaltenders are. There could be circumstances like poor play, outstanding play, injuries and stuff that could affect it,” said Poile.

“We’re going to pick three goaltenders and there’s going to be a chemistry situation. Back in 2010, we had a really good situation with (Tim) Thomas, Miller and Quick as the third goalie. We all have to talk about all those different situations.

"The bottom line is we want the best goaltenders.”

Expect Anderson to get invited to Team USA’s orientation camp in August in Washington.


683052 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers looking to draft big-shooting defenseman

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 3:01 AM

NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers would love to select bruising defenseman Darnell Nurse in the first round of Sunday's NHL draft in Newark, but unless they trade up, he probably won't be there when they make the 11th overall pick.

Rasmus Ristolainen might be a nice consolation prize.

The Finnish defenseman has a lot going for him. He's a righthanded shooter, has imposing size (6-foot-4, 207 pounds), and is regarded as a strong player at both ends of the ice.

Oh, and he plays a physical, edgy style, an uncommon trait for most European players.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Ristolainen, 18, might be NHL-ready.

"He looks like a man right now compared to some of the kids you see," Holmgren said.

Ristolainen, No. 4 on Central Scouting's list of draft-eligible European skaters, logged more than 25 minutes a game last season while playing for Finland's top league.

Other than Seth Jones, Holmgren said, Ristolainen is "probably the most ready [defenseman] to jump right in" and play in the NHL. "Offensively, he looks like a good, solid prospect with a big shot."

Scouts are divided as to whether Ristolainen will be there when the Flyers pick at No. 11.

The Flyers have six picks in the seven-round draft; they dealt their fourth-rounder to Los Angeles for Simon Gagne.

Overall, the Flyers will select 11th, 41st, 72d, 132d, 162d, and 192d. They are exploring moving up in the draft, and may dangle defenseman Braydon Coburn and winger Matt Read in a deal.

Holmgren said there would be some draft surprises.

"You have a lot of scenarios that you run through and mock drafts that you run through. . . . But I guarantee there's going to be at least one player that's taken before we pick that we didn't think would go there," Holmgren said. "And all of a sudden, it throws things into a little bit of a change of dynamic at the time."

Among the Flyers' biggest needs: landing a big, physical defenseman, and getting faster on the front line.

If the Flyers draft a defenseman in the first round - Nurse, Ristolaimen, Ryan Pulock, and Nikita Zadorov are on their radar - they will be more patient with their development, Holmgren said.

Hunter Shinkaruk, a center/left winger, is among the speedy forwards who may be available at No. 11.

Colorado has the first overall pick and is expected to select center Nathan MacKinnon, who had 75 points in 44 games for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He seemingly passed Jones with his MVP performance in the Memorial Cup, during which he had 13 points and a hat trick in the title game.

More than 20 prospects have ties to current or former NHL players, including highly touted center Max Domi, whose father, Tie, was a feisty player who was selected 27th overall by Toronto in 1988 and played across 16 seasons in the league.

NHL Draft Forecast

Projections for the first half of Sunday's first round:

Pick Team Player Pos.

1 Colorado Nathan MacKinnon C

The determined MacKinnon has all the tools, but will the Avs regret passing on Seth Jones?

2 Florida Seth Jones D

The top-rated overall player, according to Central Scouting, Jones will develop into a franchise player.

3 Tampa Bay Jonathan Drouin LW

Regarded as the draft's best playmaker, he will be setting up Steven Stamkos for many years to come.

4 Nashville Aleksander Barkov C

Viewed as a can't-miss prospect, he is the top-rated European player in the draft.

5 Carolina Sean Monahan C

Respected for his two-way play, Monahan had 31 goals and 78 points in 58 OHL games last season.

6 Calgary Valeri Nichushkin RW

The rugged, 6-foot-4, 202-pound Russian has a nose for the net and, as a 17-year-old, played in the KHL.

7 Edmonton Darnell Nurse D

The Flyers would like to move up and grab this player, who has been compared to a young Shea Weber.

8 Buffalo Elias Lindholm C

He starred in Sweden's top pro league last season, and he would bolster the Sabres' sad-sack offense.

9 New Jersey Hunter Shinkaruk C/LW

He would replace some of the offense the Devils lost when Zach Parise left for free agency last summer.

10 Dallas Ryan Pulock D

Another defenseman who is high on the Flyers' radar, Pulock has a 100-m.p.h. tracer of a slapshot.

11 FLYERS Rasmus Ristolainen D

The righthanded-shooting Finn plays with a nasty edge and is a two-way performer who could be NHL-ready right away.

12 Phoenix Max Domi C/LW

The little guy plays with quickness and power and will be a scorer, not a tough guy like his father, Tie.

13 Winnipeg Nikita Zadorov D

He moves surprisingly well for his size (6-5, 228) and will be an intimidating player on defense.

14 Columbus Sam Morin D

Another in a long list of quality defensemen in the draft, the 6-6 Morin is raw but talented.

15 N.Y. Islanders Zach Fucale G

The top goalie in the draft, Fucale will be strongly considered by several teams, including the Devils and Flyers.

Contact Sam Carchidi at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @BroadStBull.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.30.2013


Inside the Flyers: Long-term deal with Giroux should make Flyers wary

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Sports Writer

Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 1:09 AM

NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers are getting closer to signing star center Claude Giroux to a long-term contract. That would seem to be a good thing, but . . .

Going back to Chris Gratton and continuing through Ilya Bryzgalov, the Flyers have had their troubles with long-term deals.

Sometimes, it has been an injury that has caused a long-term deal to go haywire. Sometimes it has been alleged off-ice distractions, and sometimes it has just been a bad signing.

Consider the following:

Chris Gratton: Five years, $16.5 million, including a $9 million signing bonus.

He signed in 1997, when he was one of the NHL's highest-paid players. The big center was a bust. He had a disappointing 11/2-year stint with the Flyers before being traded back to Tampa Bay in 1998.

John LeClair: Five years, $45 million, signed in 2001.

A onetime superstar, LeClair saw his production dip dramatically after he signed, and he was bought out before the deal expired, helping the Flyers meet the new salary-cap requirements.

Danny Briere: Eight years, $52 million, signed in 2007.

Briere, one of the classiest players in franchise history, spent six seasons in Philadelphia after signing. He scored 31 goals in his first season with the Flyers, helping them reach the conference finals after having the league's worst record the previous season. Briere was brilliant in the playoffs, especially in 2010, when he scored 30 points and led an improbable charge to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hindered by injuries, Briere was ineffective the last two seasons and the Flyers are buying out the last two years of his deal, wiping out an annual $6.5 million cap hit.

Mike Richards: 12-year extension, $69 million, signed in 2007.

The gritty Richards had several highly productive seasons with the Flyers before they traded him to Los Angeles in 2011. They have maintained they dealt their captain simply because of the return (Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn) they received. It's also possible the trade was made because the Flyers did not like Richards' off-ice lifestyle.

Richards was traded nine years before his contract with the Flyers would have expired after the 2019-20 season.

Jeff Carter: 11-year extension, $58 million, signed in 2010.

A stunned Carter was traded seven months after signing his big-bucks contract. He averaged 38 goals per season in his last three years with the Flyers.

As with Richards, the Flyers' party line for dealing Carter was this: It was all about the return - Jake Voracek and draft picks that turned into Sean Coutuier and Nick Cousins. You can believe that, or you can refer to the Richards theory.

Carter and Richards, of course, both won Stanley Cup rings with the Jonathan Quick-led Kings in 2012.

Chris Pronger: Seven-year extension, $34.9 million, signed in 2009.

With the snarling, crease-clearing Pronger in the lineup, the Flyers had an identity - and they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season with the club. But the team seemed to lose its edge after Pronger went down with a career-ending concussion in 2011.

Because of the injury, Pronger was able to play only two-plus seasons with the Flyers, who acquired him from Anaheim for a pair of No. 1 picks, Joffrey Lupul, and Luca Sbisa at the 2009 draft.

Ilya Bryzgalov: Nine years, $51 million, signed in 2011.

Financially, the signing was a Bryzaster. Bryzgalov was paid like a star, but his mediocre play (2.61 goals-against average, .905 save percentage) caused the Flyers to cut ties two years into the deal. The Flyers announced Tuesday that they were buying out the remaining seven years of his contract.

When the checks stop coming, Bryzgalov will have been paid a little more than $39 million for his two years in Philadelphia.

Giroux's agent is talking with general manager Paul Holmgren about a long-term deal. The new collective bargaining agreement limits the length of contracts to a maximum of eight years (seven if it's a player who is new to the team).

The Flyers hope Giroux will fall into the same category as Kimmo Timonen, a player who signed a long-term deal (six years, $37.8 million, signed in 2007) and was actually productive.

In Philadelphia.



Source: Flyers eye Lecavalier

POSTED: Saturday, June 29, 2013, 8:26 PM


The Flyers are in the hunt for 6-foot-4, 208-pound veteran center Vinny Lecavalier, an NHL source confirmed.

In fact, Flyers officials met with the unrestricted free agent on Saturday. Several teams are trying to lure him. Free agents can sign on Friday.

Lecavalier is still productive after all these years. He is a terrific playmaker and would provide the Flyers with some needed size and physicality at center.

A four-time all-star, Lecavalier, 33, had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games with Tampa Bay this season. Lecavalier's contract was bought out by the Lightning a few days ago. He had over $32 million left on a deal that ran through 2019-20.



Our mock NHL draft: Flyers select Ristolainen

POSTED: Saturday, June 29, 2013, 10:31 AM


So who will the Flyers select in the first round of Sunday's NHL draft in Newark?

Here are our projections for the first half of theopening round, including the Flyers’ pick at No. 11:

Pick Team Player Pos.

1. Colorado Nathan MacKinnon C

Comment: The determined MacKinnon has all the tools, but will the Avs regret passing on Seth Jones?

2. Florida Seth Jones D

Comment: The top-rated overall player according to Central Scouting, Jones will step right into the Panthers’ lineup and develop into a franchise player.

3. Tampa Bay Jonathan Drouin LW

Comment: Regarded as the draft’s best playmaker, he will be setting up Steven Stamkos for many years to come.

4. Nashville Aleksander Barkov C

Comment: Viewed as a can’t-miss prospect, he is the top-rated European player in the draft.

5. Carolina Sean Monahan C

Comment: Respected for his two-way play, Monahan had 31 goals and 78 points in 58 OHL games last season.

6. Calgary Valeri Nichushkin RW

Comment: The rugged, 6-4, 202-pound Russian has a nose for the net and, as a 17-year-old, played in the KHL.

7. Edmonton Darnell Nurse D

Comment: The Flyers would like to move up in the draft and grab Donovan McNabb’s nephew, a player who has been compared to a young Shea Weber.

8. Buffalo Elias Lindholm C

Comment: He starred in Sweden’s top pro league last season and he would bolster the Sabres’ sad-sack offense.

9. New Jersey Hunter Shinkaruk C/LW

Comment: He would replace some of the offense the Devils lost when Zach Parise left Newark for free agency last summer.

10. Dallas Ryan Pulock D

Comment: Another defenseman who is high on the Flyers’ radar, Pulock has a 100 m.p.h. tracer of a slapshot.

11. FLYERS Rasmus Ristolainen D

Comment: The RH-shooting Finn plays with a nasty edge and is a solid two-way performer who could be NHL-ready.

12. Phoenix Max Domi C/LW

Comment: The little guy plays with quickness and power and will be a scorer, not a tough guy like his dad, Tie.

13. Winnipeg Nikita Zadorov D

Comment: He moves surprisingly well for his size (6-5, 228) and will be an intimidating player on D.

14. Columbus Sam Morin D

Comment: Another in a long list of quality D-men in the draft, the 6-6 Morin is raw but talented.

15. NY Islanders Zach Fucale G

Comment: The top goalie in the draft, Fucale will be strongly considered by several teams, including the Devils and Flyers.



Lessons to be learned from Bryzgalov mistake

Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 5:49 pm

Wayne Fish Staff writer

Posted on June 29, 2013

NEWARK – So, class, what lessons did we learn by observing the Great Bryzgalov Experiment these past two years?

/n + **Buyer beware.** If a team like the Flyers is weak on goaltending, don’t go shopping in the high-priced stores. There are plenty of bargains out there.

/n + **Do some background checks.** Surely Ilya Bryzgalov showed some signs of wacky behavior in Anaheim and Phoenix before arriving in Philadelphia. Ask around first.

/n + **Think North American.** The Flyers have had virtually no long-term success with European netminders, from Tommy Soderstrom to Roman Cechmanek to Antero Niittymaki. Not sure why, but let’s stick with the Bernie Parent and Ron Hextall types, eh?

/n + **Save your money for other positions.** Spending millions on goalies doesn’t always translate into success. Think the last two Blackhawk goalies – Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford -- will wind up in the Hall of Fame? Boston’s Tim Thomas? Cups have been won by just-above-average guys like J.S. Giguere, Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury. No need to offer up nine-year, $51-million contracts when hardly anyone else around the NHL is even interested.

That pretty much sums up what went wrong with the decision to go with the Mad Russian. Question is, will the Flyers resist the temptation to go after another expensive trinket like a Roberto Luongo (depending on his availability) at a cap hit of $5.3 million or maybe go with Steve Mason as a starter and grab a veteran such as Jose Theodore as a backup?

The latter option would appear to make more sense.

Why tie up six or seven million in goalies when that money can be spent to bring in some better position players?

Olympics-bound: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to meet with Olympics officials on Monday to hammer out the final details on an agreement for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

There had been some speculation that NHL owners might balk at competing in the Olympics, ending a run of participation which began at Nagano, Japan in 1998.

Since that first one, the NHL’s presence has made for some exciting hockey at Salt Lake City, Torino and Vancouver. Backing out this year would have been disappointing to say the least, especially after that exciting U.S.-Canada gold medal game in 2010.

The United States has already jumped the gun a bit. On Friday, the management team of general manager David Poile (Nashville), associate GM Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and player personnel director Brian Burke (Anaheim) announced Pittsburgh Penguin coach Dan Bylsma to coach the Americans.

Also reportedly in consideration were Vancouver’s John Tortorella and the Flyers’ Peter Laviolette, who coached the U.S. team at Torino in 2006.

Bylsma is a good choice. He’s won a Stanley Cup, he’s managed some strong egos in Pittsburgh (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin to name a few) and he deserves a chance.

Mike Knuble worked out with Bylsma (they both come from Michigan) when Bylsma was still playing in the early 2000s and grew to respect his work ethic.

That managing egos thing should come in handy, says Knuble, who could be parting ways with the Flyers shortly.

“When you get those teams together in the Olympics, there are a ton of them. You get 20 different egos going,’’ Knuble told the Canadian Press.

“Guys are used to being ’the man,’ so it’s how you’re going to handle that. And I seem to think that he has a good grasp on how to handle egos and keep everyone pulling in the same direction.

“He’s an up-and-coming guy. He’s proven that he can win. He coaches in a high-profile city with high-profile players and has shown that he can handle them and handle some of the egos.’’

Wayne Fish: 215-345-3070; e-mail: [email protected]; twitter: @waynefish1

Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Flyers draft: Will Flyers sit at No. 11, or move up?

Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 4:17 pm | Updated: 9:58 pm, Sat Jun 29, 2013.

By Wayne Fish Staff Writer

This might be hockey’s ultimate version of Catch-22:

The Flyers, who head into Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft (3 p.m. on NBCSN)at the Prudential Center slotted at No. 11, would love to move up and get a shot at a bona fide defenseman like Darnell Nurse, who’s been rated by some experts as high as No. 5.

But to do that, it would take more than draft picks. Roster players, specifically young roster players, would have to be included in the deal and general manager Paul Holmgren appears loathe to do that.

Asked the other day if youngsters like Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn still have “untouchable’’ attached to their names, Holmgren’s response was a simple “yeah.’’

That doesn’t mean Holmgren wouldn’t turn around and try something big, like he did two years when he shocked the hockey world by trading Jeff Carter to Columbus (prior to draft day) for the No. 8 pick plus Jake Voracek to secure Couturier.

Nurse, the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, is said to have a lot of raw ability. How soon he makes it to the NHL remains to be seen.

But the Flyers realize their defense has some age on it, plus a growing list of nagging injuries. By the end of last season, they were without Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros and Nick Grossmann.

Holmgren has watched Nurse play and came away with a good scouting report.

“I’ve seen Darnell play a few times and he’s a hard-nosed kid,’’ Holmgren said. “He’s still probably like 6-foot-4 and I’d venture to guess he weighs like 210 pounds.

“When you watch him play – he’s still a lot of elbows and knees, but he’s a rugged hard-nosed player that can fight pretty good with a puck and he continues to get better. But I have no idea if he’ll be there at our pick.’’

On the other hand, Holmgren could just sit still and hope that a talented kid like defenseman Risto Ristolainen falls in his lap at No. 11. After all, this is said to be perhaps the deepest draft since 2003, when the Flyers took both Carter and Mike Richards.

“Well it’s certainly one of the better ones probably in the last couple of years in terms of overall depth,’’ Holmgren said. “Compared to ‘03, it would be difficult now because you look back at those players and there were a lot of impact players from that draft. So, that’s probably for future debate.’’

That said, Holmgren knows his chances of landing a quality player are better at, say, No. 5 than No. 11.

“We probably have to be prepared to do anything if the right thing comes up,’’ he said. “I think every day there’s more and more talk from around the league. I know I’ve talked to more guys in the last few days, so I know there’s certainly potential for movement of picks. Up, down, I think some teams are looking to trade their picks for the right player.

“I like where we’re at. I think we’re going to get a good player at 11. I mean if you can move higher, then you know, to get into the guys you really like, that you think are probably franchise players, you probably got to get up in the top four.”

Holmgren believes there will be a lot of movement because of the compliance buyouts. The Flyers have already parted ways with Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Tampa Bay said good-bye to Vinny Lecavalier.

“I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days,’’ Holmgren said on Wednesday, “leading up to July 5.

“There’s potential for lots of things to happen because of the buyout, potential buyouts which might become another point. It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.’’



Flyers top picks last 10 years

Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 4:12 pm | Updated: 8:07 pm, Sat Jun 29, 2013.

Wayne Fish

How the Flyers' last top draft picks have fared (note: not all were in first round):

2003: Jeff Carter (11th overall). Had several big years in Philadelphia, then was traded, later wound up in Los Angeles and won a Stanley Cup last year.

2004: Rob Bellamy (94th overall). Flyers had no picks in first two rounds. Made it as high as the Phantoms for three years. Now with Elmira Jackals in ECHL.

2005: Steve Downie (29th overall). Came with a lot of baggage. A tough kid but a little out of control. Has bounced around, currently playing for Colorado Avalanche.

2006: Claude Giroux (22nd overall). Ranks with Bill Barber, Peter Forsberg and Brian Propp on the franchise's best first-pick-of-the-draft selection list.

2007: James van Riemsdyk (2nd overall). Expectations were just too high, plus he was haunted by No. 1 Patrick Kane's success. Now playing well in Toronto after trade for Luke Schenn.

2008: Luca Sbisa (19th overall). Too bad the Flyers couldn't hang onto this talented kid but someone had to go in the Chris Pronger trade. Now a regular with Anaheim.

2009: Adam Morrison (81st overall). Flyers never signed him and now he's developing in the Boston Bruin program.

2010: Michael Chaput (89th overall). There were high hopes for this kid but then the goalie was shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets (sound familiar?)

2011: Sean Couturier (8th overall). Hardly a day goes by that Paul Holmgren's phone doesn't ring with other GMs inquiring about the kid's status. As for ability, just ask Evgeni Malkin after the 2012 playoffs.

2012: Scott Laughton (20th overall). Started last year with the Flyers, then went back to junior. Holmgren believes he has a chance to challenge for a full-time job this year.

--Wayne Fish



NHL Draft: Flyers' Paul Holmgren and Co. already negotiating


By ROB PARENT

NEWARK, N.J. — There is always more excitement inside the building than out when it comes to the NHL Draft, and that’s especially true this year since it’s being held in Newark, N.J.

Much of the excitement Saturday night, however, was coming from across the river in Midtown Manhattan, where many NHL execs were gathered to discuss player movement in one way or another.

Reportedly, that included the Flyers. Despite plans to stay home until today, general manager Paul Holmgren, chief exec Peter Luukko and company were said to be heading to New York to join the bidding for Vincent Lecavalier, the longtime Tampa Bay Lightning star center that is now a pending unrestricted free agent via a compliance buyout. The Flyers would be one of several teams or more who would possibly offer up bidding packages to Lecavalier’s representatives.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have reportedly floated Braydon Coburn’s name as potential trade bait as they continue to work on freeing up salary cap space for a free-agency season that Holmgren says will be wide open.

“I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days or 9 days, leading up to July 5,” he said Wednesday. “It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.”

That would be win a Stanley Cup, not buy one.

Meanwhile, a kid named Seth Jones will have that same Cup dream dancing in his head at Prudential Center today for a draft that won’t start until 3 o’clock in the afternoon — Happy Hour in Newark.

According to Joe Sakic, now dressing himself up as the executive star in charge of the Colorado Avalanche, he’d be perfectly happy drafting Nathan MacKinnon, projected as a dominant center who indeed dominated the Quebec junior ranks playoffs this spring. The only caveat to that is that there are still a lot of people who think Sakic is blowing smoke when it comes to MacKinnon, and that Sakic’s little buddy Jones will be Colorado’s selection.

Why?

Because Seth Jones is the 18-year-old son of former NBA player Ronald “Popeye” Jones, who while a member of the Denver Nuggets made contact with Sakic. So eventually did his three sons, Justin, Seth and Caleb make real contact with the game of hockey after sitting rinkside to watch Sakic, new Avalanche coach Patrick Roy and the rest of the Avs win the Cup in 2001.

“That was kind of the moment I can remember I wanted to be a hockey player, and eventually raise the Cup one day,” Seth Jones said at a prospects luncheon Friday afternoon in nearby Weehawken.

So now shouldn’t it be expected that Sakic make Jones’ dreams come true ... especially when Jones happens to be the top-rated player in the draft according to many a hockey draft geek?

“No, not at all,” Jones said. “No. 1 is special, but at the same time, there are a lot of great players who haven’t been No. 1 and they went on to have great careers.”

Jones has drawn comparisons to premier physical defenders with an offensive touch ... a guy like Chris Pronger, for example.

“It’s pretty cool to be put in that category,” Jones said. “I’m at a loss for words for anybody to say that.”

If Jones, who cut his teeth playing for two years in the U.S. National Team Developmental Program, isn’t taken by the Avalanche, then the draft will turn instantly intriguing for the Flyers.

For as vacant as their organization is when it comes to defensive prospects, they’d love to get Jones or another defender much like him, Darnell Nurse.

It’s just that selecting at No. 11, it would be awfully difficult to move up far enough to get those guys.

“He’s a big guy, obviously,” Holmgren said of the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Jones. “He has a lot of range in his game. He’s a great skater. He’s good with the puck. I wouldn’t call him physically dominating in terms of hitting, but he dominates with his stick and his hockey sense.”

Jones might have 10 or 15 pounds on him, but Nurse is every bit 6-4, too, and is working to add bulk to a presence, which already can intimidate.

“As a player I’d like to fashion my game after Shea Weber,” Nurse said. “He has a lot of impact, not only in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone, and he just keeps it simple.”

This is not a Draft Day that would seem to go off as simple as it should. Those so-called “amnesty buyouts” and changing budgets are conspiring to produce a lot of trade talk, and positioning for the start of the free agency period July 5. The Flyers, having already dispatched Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov and their combined annual cap hits of nearly $12.2 million via compliance buyouts, could fall into that. With the amnesty buyouts, coupled with the four-year, $21 million contract Holmgren made official with defensive free agent Mark Streit this weekend, the Flyers were $4.2 million below the anticipated $64.3 million cap.

Perhaps they’re trying to clear Coburn’s $4.5 million lot in order to try to free up enough space to bid for Lecavalier or make some other grand move. And maybe not.

If they don’t make a trading move that influences their current selection spot, they could be looking at a nice consolation draft prize on defense. Perhaps they could get Ryan Pulock and his 100 mph shot, or ready-now physical defender Rasmus Ristolainen or even hulking Russian defender Nikita Zadorov.

“I think that you have to have an open mind,” Holmgren said. “Eleven is a good spot. I think we’re going to get a good player, but if we can move up the food chain and get what we agree is a better prospect, you’ve got to look at it if it makes sense.”

Delaware County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


Here's who might be available to the Flyers if they keep their draft pick


By ROB PARENT

If the Flyers don’t move up in the draft, there are a few very intriguing prospects that could be had at No. 11:

■ Valeri Nichushkin

18, left wing, 6-4, 196

A rare Russian forward in that he not only uses his size, he seems to enjoy it. Nichushkin is thought to be able to develop into the type of skilled power forward who likes to run over people, and people in the NHL will like to see that.

That said, there are some doubts about the work ethic he put into the combine, meaning that it’s possible he might drop from an anticipated top-10 spot.

■ Rasmus Ristolainen

18, defense, 6-4, 207

A Finnish defender who is almost a finished product. Played two years against men in the Finnish ranks, showing a proclivity for being physical. Needs to develop a bit more offensively, but has impressive skating, shooting and passing skills and seems just right for a defense-poor organization like Philadelphia’s.

■ Nikita Zadorov

18, defense, 6-5, 221

Another Russian playing in the Canadian junior ranks who got a strong look-see by the Flyers. The boy has already made a name for himself as a hitter, pure and simple. The Flyers tend to like kids like that.

As a bonus, he’s a willing fighter, yet puts his hands to better use than just clenching them all the time. Could be a true find.

■ Ryan Pulock

18, defense, 6-0, 211

Raw prospect, played hurt ... and still has a shot that once was clocked at 101 mph. Yes, 101.

That alone will put his stock on the rise in the first round. But right now, this converted center and his awesome slapshot could possibly be available when the Flyers’ turn comes up. He’ll need some real defensive seasoning, but his offensive prowess could be too intriguing to pass up.

■ Curtis Lazar

18, forward, 6-0, 190

Anywhere there’s a draft involving the Flyers, there is at least some attention paid to the kind of player they used to solely concentrate on — gritty Canadian wingers who play responsible games.

In the tradition of Mike Ricci, comes Curtis Lazar. He’d be a safe pick, and probably an effective, two-way winger in the NHL within two years.



With so much uncertain, might as well mock the draft


By ROB PARENT

NEWARK, N.J. — What, a mock draft for the NHL? Not even the great, all-knowing Mike Mayock’s smarter and cooler brother could do something worthwhile with that. Picking what hockey team takes whatever hockey teen is anyone’s guess, especially this year, when an anticipated mass selloff of high contracts via compliance buyouts might spur a flurry of trade activity when the draft kicks off today at 3 at Prudential Center.

So from this vantage point, here’s another best guess of how that draft’s first round will go. Call it a mock “mock draft” ...

1. Colorado Avalanche to Florida Panthers: In their first draft together as Real Fantasy Bosses, former Colorado Avalanche stars Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy have fun playing the management game. The guys were honest (brutally so in the Roy’s case) players, but now they get to be professionally dishonest because, well, that’s what the job calls for. So after Honest Joe spent the past week talking up Nathan MacKinnon as a No. 1 overall choice, and talking down the idea of taking his friend Popeye Jones’ kid, defensive prospect Seth Jones, he does the right thing by everyone.

He trades the No. 1 overall pick to Florida, which takes MacKinnon, who at 17 is a year away at most from lighting it up as a scoring center.

2. Florida Panthers to Colorado Avalanche: This pick goes to the Avs, which of course use it to take Seth Jones ... keeping everyone happy in Colorado’s new extended family.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Having cut $10 million man Vinny Lecavalier from the salary cap, GM Steve Yzerman does the logical thing and replaces that spot with a 17-year-old Russian kid from Finland named Aleksander Barkov, who projects to be a point-per-game scorer at center even if he doesn’t know what country he should play for at the Olympics. As for the money he’s saving, Stevie Y decides to spread it around for free agents who might have at least some knowledge of keeping the puck out of the Lightning net.

4. Nashville Predators: Holding on valiantly to the intimidating defensive presence everyone else wants in Shane Weber, and at only $20,000 or so per minute during the season, Preds GM David Poile shocks the crowd by smiling when he takes the podium. Then he shocks everyone some more by taking Rasmus Ristolainen ... essentially an 18-year-old Weber wannabe.

5. Carolina Hurricanes to FLYERS: Continuing a long tradition that dates back 20 years, ’Canes GM Jim Rutherford consults with former colleague and lifelong friend Paul Holmgren to see if he can help him out. The result is the ’Canes trade down to No. 11, handing the No. 5 pick to the Flyers in exchange for the No. 11 and the rights to Sami Kapanen and Keith Primeau. The NHL quickly voids the deal, so Rutherford takes Braydon Coburn instead. Holmgren also agrees to send Carolina a late-round pick that the Flyers don’t want to use because they want to leave the draft early, then throws in a box of cigars for Jimmy.

With that, Bob Clarke steps up to announce the Flyers’ pick, but he forgets the kid’s name. So Holmgren takes the mic in front of red-faced model of impatience Gary Bettman and announces Darnell Nurse is the Flyers’ new D-man.

A piercing scream goes up from the crowd at Prudential Center, and the Philadelphia media quickly hone in on the source of the noise. It’s Donovan McNabb, better known as Darnell Nurse’s uncle, who is waving a white towel and yelling his support for the kid. Unfortunately, Uncle Don then gets sick at his seat.

6. Calgary Flames: Still seeking to recover from trading longtime star Jarome Iginla and then seeing their Saddledome washed away in a flood, the Flames throw out their draft plans and are still wondering why top CHL prospect Jonathan Drouin is available at No. 6. They take him, and all seems well in Rodeoland.

7. Edmonton Oilers: Having failed on several fronts to make trades in order to free up the money for a long-term contract for Sam Gagner, Oilers GM Craig MacTavish takes Valeri Nichushkin, who is projected as a 6-4 guy who likes to run over people at his wing position. The Oilers need to get a little more physical.

8. Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres, who never have a clue when it comes to drafting, developing and actually holding onto scoring talent, try again by getting Sean Monahan.

9New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello, privy to the rumors that some company is about to take majority ownership of the Devils, decides he needs a name player to keep The Kingdom of Lou as his own. So he takes Tie Domi’s kid. The attendees at Prudential Center, most of whom are given seats as compensation for helping to park cars before the draft, go crazy and anticipate a fight to break out right then and there. But aside from being the same size as his pugilistic pug of a dad, Max Domi is actually a small, skilled player. Lou figures he’ll score a lot of goals ... and if Devils fans don’t know any better, well, so what?

10. Dallas Stars: Spending all their time trying to acquire old guys with high salaries through trades and pending free agent signings, the Stars call out Elias Lindholm on a whim. He is apparently is a highly rated center. Then they get back to the phones.

11. FLYERS to Carolina Hurricanes: NOW it’s Jimmy’s turn. So he calls Paul Holmgren to ask for suggestions, then orders up a plate of Hunter Shinkaruk. Despite the stinky name, this forward will wind up to be the steal of the 2013 draft. At least he will be when all the Canadian media soothsayers tweet that he is.

12. Phoenix Coyotes: Some guy who says he represents the Coyotes is about to announce his selection when Bettman stops him. The NHL commish wipes his brow, shakes his head with an odd grin, then promptly announces he’s moving the pick to Seattle, and, oh yeah, the team is going with the pick. The now declared Seattle franchise takes a defenseman named Samuel Morin because he’s 6-foot-6, and the people of Seattle are used to basketball players.

With that, Bettman then goes back to the mic and declares the 2013 draft, which began at 3 p.m., is suddenly suspended. Apparently, NBC has decided to lock out all its union personnel after consulting with NHL officials on how to run an entire draft in seven hours.

What a perfect way to wrap up the season that never was.



Darnell Nurse isn’t picky, just wants to play in NHL


By ROB PARENT

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. — Darnell Nurse knew what his job was supposed to entail Friday. Eat a buffet lunch, shake a lot of hands, and tell the media gathered here at a posh but blazing spot along the Hudson River what their readers and listeners wanted to hear: Sure, he’d love to play for their favorite hockey team.

So to members of the Devils media came an outpouring of affection for Scott Stevens. And for the Philadelphia contingent, well, of course this still growing 18-year-old had grown up admiring former Flyers defensive star Chris Pronger.

He talked of Pronger’s ability to dominate the defensive zone, his ability to skate, his offensive contributions and, mostly, the snarl with which he played.

“That’s something you’ve either got or you don’t have,” Nurse said. “Absolutely ... I have it.”

Perhaps that’s what he’s told a series of teams interested in making him a top-shelf selection this weekend at the NHL Draft festivities, and that’s why Nurse was one of six elite prospects being put on display at this watery spot outside of a Sheraton hotel Friday afternoon.

“I was just being genuine,” Nurse said of meeting with various league scouts and management officials in recent days, “and trying to let them know who I am.”

Two of the teams that seem to be buying into his honest optimism are the Devils and Flyers, though neither is currently in a position of making Nurse their top choice. The Devils are picking at No. 9, the Flyers at No. 11 when this one-day rush of a draft commences Sunday at 3 o’clock at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Both may be poised to make trade overtures that could land them a top-5 drafting position, where both Nurse and fellow exciting defensive prospect Seth Jones are expected to go. The Flyers aren’t nearly as loaded with defensive prospects in their organization as the Devils are, which perhaps makes their interest that much more urgent. Either way, Nurse said he isn’t picking favorites.

“I would like to play anywhere in the NHL,” he said. “That’s the honest truth. I’m not going to say any specific place. It’s just always been my dream to play there.”

But to do so in Philadelphia, where Uncle Donovan McNabb was both cheered and vilified from start to finish during his long Eagles career? Nurse is the nephew of McNabb’s wife, Roxy. He was told enough as a kid about what it was like to play pro sports in South Philly.

“Philadelphia is not an easy place to play, but neither is Toronto,” Nurse said. “You get in those markets where the fans really care, and no matter how you play, good or bad, they’re going to let you know. You want to be from a town where everyone cares about their team.”

Near his Hamilton, Ontario, home, Nurse is perhaps better known as the son of Richard Nurse, once a wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Richard and his wife, Cathy, who played basketball in college, steered their son away from football for what Darnell calls “safety reasons.” Recently, he came around to their way of thinking after a session of show and tell with his father.

“His hands are mangled, he can’t move some of his fingers and he’s got an elbow that doesn’t move right,” Nurse recently told the Canadian Press. “I looked at that and thought those are battle wounds.”

But that doesn’t mean an NHL career is going to keep him from being the same way.

“I like to hit,” Nurse said Friday with a grin.

He figures he at least has a chance to make that dream career a reality as soon as this fall. He has followed the glowing scouting reports that say his skills are NHL ready. He’s listed at 6-4 and 185, but says he’s perhaps 10 pounds heavier now while acknowledging he still has some growing to do.

With mom’s help, he’s getting there.

“That’s anyone’s goal that goes through this; you want to play as fast possible,” Nurse said. “I’m 6-4 and just almost getting to 200 pounds now. Mother Nature hasn’t really taken a toll on me yet. It’s going to take some time.

“I’m not going to put any limitations on myself and say I can’t do it, but with that said, I’m going to put in as much work as I can this summer to get ready.”

And what would that involve?

“Just eating,” Nurse answered. “You work out a lot and that’s never going to change. But my mom always has the fridge full.”

Nurse is just one defensive prospect Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his staff might be targeting. He’s accompanied by Jones, still ranked at the top of many draft boards, Finnish defender Rasmus Ristolainen and Canadian junior Ryan Pulock as the four defensive prospects that in many minds could make an NHL club out of a 2013 training camp.

Holmgren had good things to say about all of them, but seems to have scouted Nurse the most.

“I’ve seen Darnell play a few times,” Holmgren said. “He’s probably going to fill out. When you watch him play, he’s still a lot of elbows and knees, but he’s a hard-nosed player. He can fight. He’s pretty good with the puck. And he’ll continue to get better. But I have no idea if he’ll be there at our pick.”

In part, that might be up to Holmgren. Claude Giroux and perhaps Jake Voracek are the team’s only untouchable assets when it comes to trade talks, though Holmgren said he’d put Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier into that group, too. It could take one of those two latter young centers to put together a package that could get the Flyers into a position for either Jones or Nurse.

If Holmgren has determined it’s a necessity to select a defenseman in the first round — he hasn’t done so to this point — he does have potential fallbacks in Ristolainen or Pulock, either of whom could slip down a bit in the first round.

Whether they’d fall as far as 11, however, seems dubious at best.

“You have a lot of scenarios that you run through in mock drafts, so you generally have a pretty good idea,” Holmgren said. “But I guarantee you there will be at least one player that’s taken before we pick that we didn’t think would go there and that all of a sudden throws things into a little bit of a change of dynamic.”

Whatever the dynamic, both Nurse and Jones should impact it once this draft, one of the deepest in years, commences Sunday afternoon.

“I think it’s cool to be a part of it,” Nurse said. “You see guys like Seth who are so especially gifted and also great guys. Those are the types of experiences you want to be around, and also to be able to meet guys like that and take things away from them.”



Sources: Finding goalie still Flyers' primary focus

NEW YORK -- On the eve of Sunday’s NHL draft at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the Flyers appear to be leaving no stones unturned in their efforts to live up to their reputation as a club that makes a splash at the league’s largest annual gathering.

Numerous sources say Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has discussions with more than a half-dozen teams about various draft scenarios and player trades.

Finding another goalie remains Holmgren’s primary focus with several side issues.

“He’s made it known he’d like a goalie with no years or one-year left where they can get a read on that player before committing,” a source said.

Several sources say a deal for St. Louis’ Jaroslav Halak, as reported by CSNPhilly.com on Friday, would make sense for both clubs, but the Flyers feel Halak’s salary cap hit of $3.75 million is a bit high. A Blues-Kings source said Halak would be "a great goalie for the Flyers right now."

The Flyers could feel differently after the draft, if they return home empty-handed.

One source said today the Flyers had also talked to the Islanders about Evgeni Nabokov and that the Buffalo Sabres had asked Holmgren if there were interest in Ryan Miller, who has a year left on his deal with a very pricey $6.25 million cap hit, even if it’s just one season.

Coburn front

For weeks now, the Flyers have floated Braydon Coburn’s name out there to various clubs as trade bait.

TSN reported earlier the Flyers would like to strike a deal with Edmonton. However, an Oilers source said on Saturday the Flyers’ target here is not Edmonton’s No. 7 overall pick but rather both of the Oilers' second round picks - No. 37 and No. 56 (from Anaheim). The Oilers want to retain their first-round pick.

The Flyers pick 41st that round. They could conceivably have three picks in that round if a deal went down. NHL Central Scouting says this draft is very deep through the second round which makes it more likely some club could strike it rich if it had multiple picks.

The Calgary Flames offered the Flyers their sixth overall pick for Matt Read, Coburn and the Flyers 11th pick - an excessive amount to ask. GM Jay Feaster feels he can get that from a team like the Flyers looking for an impact player now. Sources said the Flyers rejected the offer.

Lecavalier and the Flyers

According to a report from TSN and ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, the Flyers are "quite keen" on former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier and met with him Saturday.

Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman announced in a statement on Thursday that his team would buy out buy out the remainder of Lecavalier's 11-year, $85 million deal. The total buyout comes to $32.67 million over the next 14 years.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 1998 draft, Lecavalier helped lead the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup in 2004 and owns the team record for games played (1, 037) and goals (383). He is second to Martin St. Louis in total points and assists.

Nathan Horton

The Bruins realize he’s headed for free agency. Horton is going to generate a huge amount of interest and plays a physical brand of hockey which would be perfect for the Flyers.

Alas, Horton will command at least $6 million a year and he wants nothing less than a five-year deal.

Given the Flyers just bought out Danny Briere, who’s cap hit was $6.5 million, Horton would not be a prudent financial investment for the Flyers unless the club could lose more salary.

Kris Letang

Sometime next season, Penguins general manager Ray Shero may have to trade his most mobile defenseman, who rejected an eight-year, $56 million contract extension earlier this week.

But not just yet. Shero said on Saturday he was still hoping to get something done and time is an ally here.

“Kris seems happy in Pittsburgh and says he wants to stay here, so we’ll work at it,” Shero said.

“He’s worth waiting on in terms of making the right decisions and have all the information. There’s a time to make a deal.

“To sign a player, there’s also time you realize that you can’t. That’s not apparent to me right now.”

It goes without saying, Shero would never trade a franchise defenseman within the division to a rival such as the Flyers.



Winning gold at Sochi 'an expectation' for USA

June 29, 2013, 2:00 pm

Tim Panaccio

NEW YORK – Shortly before USA Hockey introduced Penguins coach Dan Bylsma as Team USA’s head coach for the Sochi Olympics, its president, Jim DeGregorio, perfectly framed the task at hand.

“Winning the gold medal is not a miracle,” DeGregorio said, referencing the 1980 Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid. “It is an expectation.”

An expectation that is going to weigh heavily upon Bylsma, who may have won a Stanley Cup and a Jack Adams Award, but has zero international experience.

“I don’t have any experience,” Bylsma said, laughing. “Knowing I was going to be the head coach, I started going down the road educating myself as much as possible, in terms of international hockey, competition, playing on a bigger ice surface.

“Talked to some players and coaches and continue to do that to gain as much experience on that situation on and off the ice. Getting as much experience as I can in the next several months and gaining some of that knowledge.”

Help is nearby. Penguins general manager Ray Shero will serve as Team USA GM David Poile’s associate.

The Winter Games in Socchi, Russia are 220 days away.

The Americans took the silver medal -- Canada grabbed gold -- at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

This U.S. team is expected to have two recent Conn Smythe winners on it: goalie Jonathan Quick and forward Patrick Kane, plus two emerging American players -- Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

All of which bolsters hopes that Team USA will finally win the gold after two silvers in the previous two North American Games (Salt Lake and Vancouver).

“It’s possible based on we have so many good players,” Poile said during the news conference held at Marquis Marriott. “We have a pool to choose from in 2014 that is even bigger. This is a little different challenge for us.

“Our philosophy is going to be a little different because it’s in Europe. We have not had a lot of success in Europe, whether it be World Championships or Olympic Teams.”

The challenges of playing in Russia are very different. Though the NHL still has not formally said “yes” to Sochi, it’s going to happen soon.

“Obviously, our comfort level in Salt Lake City and Vancouver were reflected in the results,” Poile said. “The ice surface and how we chose our team. It’s different in Europe. Travel is different.

“We’re going to have to cope with lots of different situations, from sleep to the size of rinks, and it probably can’t be the same type of team [as Vancouver]. We haven’t had success over there and we have to change things around.”

Poile said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, who serves on the advisory board, and former Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell, also on that board, are expected to give their input on obstacles faced while playing in Europe, since both were at the Torino Games in 2006. Former Olympians Bill Guerin and Doug Weight will also chime in.

Bylsma said the quick turnaround from the NHL schedule break to going to Russia and playing with little practice because of time constraints will be a significant factor.

“The wear and tear on players stepping into international competition, then coming back, there is an effect in planning and go in there,” he said. “Distance, travel, time zone change, planning … sleep, limited practice time.”

This will be Bylsma’s first chance behind the bench internationally, coaching against Penguin centers Sidney Crosby (Team Canada) and Evgeni Malkin (Russia).

“I’ve coached Sidney and Evgeni a long time now, four-plus years, so I am acutely aware of their strengths as players,” Bylsma said. “… having said that, I’m a little concerned [Crosby] knows me as a coach and knows my strengths and weaknesses and will bring that to the Canadian team.”

Poile said the roster will be heavily laced with players who can skate well because of the larger ice surface.

The timeline for picking the team is still in the discussion stages, although Team USA’s Orientation Camp will be held Aug. 25-29 at Ketter Ice Plex in Arlington, Va., where the Washington Capitals practice.

What are the odds Team USA wins the gold?

“We can’t bet in hockey,” Poile laughed. “Just being in hockey is a gamble itself.”

Team USA braintrust

The advisory board also includes other NHLers: Dale Tallon (Florida GM), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles GM), Stan Bowman (Chicago GM), plus Holmgren and Brian Burke, who will serve as player personnel director. Both Holmgren and Burke were not present at today’s news conference because they were not yet in New York for Sunday’s NHL draft at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.



Draft prospect Nurse models game after Pronger

June 29, 2013, 10:00 am

Tim Panaccio

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- He smiles a lot. He seems to exhibit an air of confidence you don’t expect to find in an 18-year-old.

Did we mention defensive prospect Darnell Nurse idolizes Chris Pronger and says he someday hopes to match his snarl off the ice?

He feels he already has it on the ice.

Sounds like a perfect candidate for the Flyers were it not for one thing: Nurse says the Devils and Scott Stevens remain close to his heart, even though he grew up in Hamilton, Ont., and not North Jersey.

Nurse, from Saulte Ste. Marie, is one of several defensemen the Flyers are interested in heading into Sunday’s NHL draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

He was among a short, select group of players available Friday at an NHL draft luncheon.

Ryan Pulock and Rasmus Ristolainen -- two other prospects the Flyers like -- were not invited to the event, even though NHL personnel originally said they backed out.

“I’ve always loved the Devils, ever since I was young,” said Nurse, whose uncle is Donovan McNabb. His father, Richard, was a wide receiver for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats.

“The Devils were my favorite team,” he added, “especially with Scott Stevens when they won the Cup.”

So you didn’t like Flyers if you liked the Devils?

“But I love Pronger!” Nurse laughed. “For me, I have favorite players and follow them wherever they play.”

Nurse, who is still growing, has ample athletic ability, but lacks the offense and puck skills of Seth Jones, who is the unanimous No. 1 defensemen in the draft -- ranked No. 1 overall by NHL Central Scouting.

What Nurse does bring, however, is a raw edge to his game as a shutdown defender, who also takes his share of penalties and likes to intimidate on the ice like Pronger.

“You watch the game and [Pronger] has so much room just based on the fact of how hard he is to play against,” Nurse said. “That is something I like to take away from his game.”

What about Pronger’s snarl?

“That’s something you either got or don’t have.”

Have it?

“Absolutely,” Nurse replied without hesitation. “Obviously, he showed it more, but I have it. But you haven’t seen it too much.”

How about Pronger’s sarcasm in interviews?

“I like it, I like it,” Nurse laughed. “That’s as far as I’m gonna go.”

Nurse led the Greyhounds with 116 penalty minutes, was second on his club with a plus-15 rating and third in scoring among the Greyhounds’ defensive corps with 41 points in just his second season in the OHL.

Dan Marr, director of Central Scouting, compares Nurse to Nashville’s Shea Weber.

“He’s got a little bit of a mix where he is good at the skill game, good at the physical game, got a good shot from the point,” Marr said. “He’s a pretty good package.”

Added Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards: “He’s the kind of guy who is not going to make a lot of mistakes. He’s steady and solid, and you can trust

him out there. Anytime you get a guy his size, who skates as well as he does and plays a physical game, it’s fun to watch.”

Nurse was very politically correct when answering where he would like to play.

“I’d like to play anywhere in the NHL,” he said. “That’s the honest truth. I’m not going to say anything about a specific place.”

He did mention that McNabb talked to him about being a pro athlete in a tough town like Philadelphia.

“It’s not an easy town, but Toronto isn’t an easy town, either,” Nurse said. “[They’re] markets where fans really care how you play, good or bad.

“They will let you know. It’s an atmosphere you want to be in -- a town where people care about their team. It doesn’t matter to me where I go. For me, it’s my job to get ready for whatever situation.”

The Flyers could sorely use an impact defenseman who could play right now. Jones can play now. But Nurse? Scouts feel he needs more time.

“That just depends on what they want and what they need,” Nurse said. “I’m not going to put limitations on myself and say I couldn’t do it. I will put in as much work as I can this summer for however long it takes me.

“It’s anyone’s goal who goes through this. You want to play [professional] as quick as possible. Like I said, I’m 6-4 and just getting to 200 pounds now. Mother Nature hasn’t really taken her toll on me yet. It’s going to take some time.”

Wherever he lands, Nurse plans on bulking up his frame. He needs to be Pronger-size.

His plan?

“Just eating,” Nurse laughed. “You work out and work out hard. That will never change. My mom always has the fridge full. It will come. Pizza every Friday. For breakfast, turkey bacon and omelettes, I love that.”

Left-field option

In a year when defensemen are expected to rule this draft, it wouldn’t be unusual to see the Flyers do something totally out of left field and take a goalie.

The Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, Devils and Flyers all have interest in Zach Fucale, who took Halifax to the Memorial Cup championship and has established a reputation as a kid who simply can’t be rattled -- a strong quality in a young goalie.

The Devils pick ninth, two spots ahead of the Flyers. The Sabres pick eighth and the Oilers pick sixth. There’s a good chance Fucale won’t be there when the Flyers pick at 11.

Asked about the conversations he had with the Flyers at the scouting combine in Toronto earlier this spring, Fucale said, “no comment.”



The definitive 2013 NHL mock draft

Jun. 30, 2013 2:43 AM |

Written by

Dave Isaac

Later today, NHL general managers will march up to the lectern at Prudential Center in Newark and make important additions to their teams. After months of conjecture, identifying team weaknesses and player strengths the day has come to draft the future.

We turned to media members across the globe for their two cents on the teams they cover. Here’s one more mock draft to add to your reading list before the picks start officially coming in at 3 p.m.

1. Colorado Avalanche - D Seth Jones

The Avalanche's weakness is on the blueline, and Denver-raised Seth Jones is considered the best young draft-eligible defenseman in some time. Nathan MacKinnon might contribute more quickly, but Jones is what the Avs need and they should be patient with a kid that can make a big difference on and off the ice. — Mike Chambers, Denver Post

2. Florida Panthers - C Nathan MacKinnon

With Jones gone to the Avs, the Panthers look to fill a need in MacKinnon. With the probability of losing Stephen Weiss to free agency (or, likely, his rights being traded at the draft), Florida needs to find a quality center. MacKinnon fills that bill very nicely and will slide in with Calder-winner Jonathan Huberdeau almost immediately. — George Richards, Miami Herald

3. Tampa Bay Lightning - LW Jonathon Drouin

The play-making winger has a skill set too enticing to pass up. Although a bit undersized on a team that already has some smaller players, Drouin looks to be the perfect eventual replacement for Martin St. Louis as a set-up guy and compliment for top goal scorer Steven Stamkos for the next decade. — Erik Erlendsson, Tampa Tribune

4. Nashville Predators - C Aleksander Barkov

Barkov excelled in the Finnish Elite League last season, playing against men and some NHL players thanks to the lockout. Nashville needs a strong offensive center in its system, and Barkov more than fits that mold with both his skill and size. — Josh Cooper, Nashville Tennessean

5. Carolina Hurricanes - RW Valeri Nichuskin

The Hurricanes are after a player who can make the roster as a rookie and make an immediate impact. Nichuskin, with his size and skill, could be the answer and possibly a top-six forward. The "Russian factor" probably won't be a factor if Nichuskin is available. — Chip Alexander, News & Observer

6. Calgary Flames - C Sean Monahan

Desperate for centermen and size, take Sean Monahan, a six-foot-two pivot out of Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. A character kid with offensive upside. — Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald

7. Edmonton Oilers - D Nikita Zadorov

If Edmonton can't get Monahan or Barkov I believe they will trade back, but for the sake of a mock draft, Zadorov fills a need. — Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal

8. Buffalo Sabres - D Darnell Nurse

The Sabres’ draft needs changed considerably recently. Yes, they still have a dearth of top forwards and must add scorers up front. But their defense depth has been whittled away considerably. At one point in April, they had five healthy defenders with NHL experience in the organization. Nurse might be too good to pass up on. — Bill Hoppe, Olean Times Herald

9. New Jersey Devils - C Hunter Shinkaruk

The Devils have stocked their organization with promising young defensemen such as Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill, Damon Severson and Reese Scarlett but are still thin as far as skilled forwards, so that will be a priority in this draft. Shinkaruk isn’t big (5-10, 181), but has speed and skill that will remind some of Zach Parise. He’ll have to work on his game away from the puck to fit in as a Devil, though. — Tom Gulitti, Bergen Record

10. Dallas Stars - C Elias Lindholm

They are in need of center depth in the organization, and while Lindholm is seen as a wing/center, the Stars would likely put him on a development path that would hone his play-making skills to the center position. It also shouldn't be lost that new Stars GM Jim Nill was part of a Detroit organization that has had a lot of success in Sweden, and probably has a pretty good take on Lindholm's game and how he can help the Stars. — Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News

11. Philadelphia Flyers - D Rasmus Ristolainen

The team says it will take the best available player, but defense is such an “organizational weakness” as GM Paul Holmgren said in April that they might be forced to take a blueliner and develop him. Before Flyers fans freak out at Ristolainen’s scouting report, which says he needs some work on defensive positioning, they’ll be happy to know he plays a physical game and can push opponents out of his own crease. That’s something the Flyers haven’t had in a while. Ristolainen also is an offensive force and has experience on the power play. — Dave Isaac, Courier-Post

12. Phoenix Coyotes - RW Anthony Mantha

The Coyotes lack pure goal scorers, and they could use Mantha’s skill. A centerman might top their wish list, but Mantha’s 50-goal performance this past season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League isn’t a bad alternative. — Sarah McLellan, Arizona Republic

13. Winnipeg Jets - C Max Domi

Forget that he is the son of former Jet enforcer Tie Domi. The offspring has the offensive skillset and hockey sense the franchise desperately needs. — Ed Tait, Winnipeg Free Press

14. Columbus Blue Jackets - D Samuel Morin

The biggest need in Columbus is scoring punch, but that won't be solved with No. 14 pick. If they keep this pick - a gi-normous IF - how can you pass on 6-7, 200 pound defenseman Samuel Morin? He's way ahead of Chara at this stage in his career. — Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch

15. New York Islanders - C Bo Horvat

The Islanders are always on the lookout for smart, playmaking centers, and the fact that Horvat plays for Dale Hunter (who coached John Tavares one season) doesn't hurt either. — Arthur Staple, New York Newsday

16. Buffalo Sabres (from Minnesota) - C Alexander Wennberg

If the Sabres can get a defenseman early, they might take a forward, especially a center, with the 16th pick. They haven't shied away from choosing big European forwards in the first round recently, having picked Joel Armia in 2011 and Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons in 2012. — Bill Hoppe, Olean Times Herald

17. Ottawa Senators - LW Kerby Rychel

The Senators need a power forward that can compete. By all accounts, he is a smart player who isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. This club can always use character players. — Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Sun

18. Detroit Red Wings - RW Adam Erne

The Wings' top priority with their highest pick since 1991 is to get a good-sized forward with skill. Erne can skate and is capable of playing a physical game. — Ansar Khan, MLive Media Group

19. Columbus Blue Jackets (from New York Rangers) - C Curtis Lazar

Lazar is a competitive, hardworking forward who sets the tone every night. Can't have enough of those guys. — Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch

20. San Jose Sharks - C Frederik Gauthier

Other than last year's first round pick, Tomas Hertl, the Sharks are devoid of top-end offensive prospects. Frederik Gauthier fits the mold of what they are looking for - a big, two-way center that has the ability to win faceoffs. — Kevin Kurz, CSN Bay Area

21. Toronto Maple Leafs - D Ryan Pulock

Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis insists he'll take the best available player, even if it's another defenceman. Pulock fits the bill. — Stephen Whyno, Canadian Press

22. Calgary Flames (from St. Louis) - D Josh Morrissey

Poised blue-liner from the WHL Prince Albert Riaders. Smart and a future power-play quarterback in the NHL. — Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald

* Due to time constraints, we weren’t able to get through the completion of the first round. Instead, I made the remainder of the picks.

23. Washington Capitals - D Shea Theodore

Over the years, Mike Green has become a leader for the Capitals and Theodore looks like he’s cut from a similar mold. He was eighth among defensemen in the WHL in scoring this year and played a big role in Team Canada’s World Junior Championship team. Like Green, Theodore is a power play quarterback. The Caps would love to have a player like this in their system.

24. Vancouver Canucks - RW Zach Nastasiuk

The Sedin twins are 32 and won’t last forever. Vancouver will need scoring in the years to come and Nastasiuk can help fill that need. He had 20 goals and 20 assists in 62 regular-season games for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. He can find the front of the net and provides a good two-way game.

25. Montreal Canadiens - D Mirco Mueller

In Montreal, there are six defensemen older than 25 on the roster. It’s time to replenish the blueline. Mueller is touted as a puck-moving defenseman who is good in his own end as well. He is said to be good on the penalty kill and in shot blocking.

26. Anaheim Ducks - G Zachary Fucale

With Viktor Fasth only signed through 2015 and Jonas Hiller an unrestricted free agent after next season, the Ducks need a future goalie and Fucale is the cream of the crop between the pipes in this year’s draft. Scouts say he has great positioning and is hard to get rattled.

27. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Los Angeles) - LW Valentin Zykov

The leading scorer among rookies in the QMJHL this season, Zykov could help Columbus, a team that was among the league worst in scoring last season.

28. Calgary Flames (from Pittsburgh) - D Robert Hagg

In a system that has a crop of mediocre defensemen, Hagg can provide a little help everywhere. He’s good on the power play. He can play physical and hold his own in front of his goalie.

29. Dallas Stars (From Boston) - RW Ryan Hartman

One thing the Stars could use is a little help up front. Even though he comes in a small frame at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Hartman showed in the World Junior Championship that he can find the back of the net and pack a punch in the physicality department.

30. Chicago Blackhawks - D Ian McCoshen

Last time the Blackhawks won the Cup, they lost a few defensemen. McCoshen is the kind of player Chicago will want to have in its system in case that happens again. He has a solid shot from the blueline, but needs to find a better way to use his 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame.

Courier-Post LOADED: 06.30.2013


NHL draft has come a long way

Jun. 29, 2013 11:35 PM |

Written by

Randy Miller

NEWARK — Seth Jones and other top prospects in today’s NHL Entry Draft took in the New York City skyline Saturday from atop the Empire State Building.

Today, they’ll wait for their name to be called in front of a packed house at Prudential Center and television audiences across the United States, Canada and Europe, then after getting drafted they’ll head to a big stage to throw on their new team’s jersey for the first time.

Boy, have times changed.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren shared just how much the other day when he was asked if he had any special memories from when the Flyers took him in the sixth round of the 1975 draft.

“I had no idea I got drafted,” Holmgren said. “I think somebody called me a couple of weeks later.”

Weeks?

“Yeah,” he said. “From what I remember about it, I’d already signed in the WHA and then somebody from the Flyers called me.”

Those were the days before drafts were televised ... before hardcore fans scoured internet sites for the NHL’s Central Scouting and International Scouting Service latest player rankings ... before the invention of the draft lottery ... before NHL.com, TSN’s Bob McKenzie and bunch of others (including the Courier-Post’s Dave Isaac) conducted mock drafts, some of them adding new ones every few weeks leading up to what has become a big, big day for hockey.

The draft started getting big in 1980 when it became a public event for the first time by being held in front of fans at the old Montreal Forum, and by 1985 it was moving to different cities. Next year, it’ll come to Philadelphia for the first time.

In recent years, the draft has been done over a weekend — the first round on Day 1, the rest on Day 2 — but this year’s will play out from start to finish today due to the NHL lockout shortening the offseason, which began late last Tuesday night with the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup.

Colorado will start things off at 3 p.m. drafting first overall, then all 30 teams will keep picking for 7-8 hours.

Saturday, Flyers management and several other teams reportedly met with Vincent Lecavalier, an unrestricted free agent as of last Thursday because the Tampa Bay Lightning bought out the four-time All-Star center's contract. This development is interesting because Holmgren previously had said Flyers personnel wouldn't show up for the draft until Sunday and that the organization would not be in on Lecavalier, a 33-year-old who had 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games last season.

Meantime, reports circulated that the Flyers were in talks with the Edmonton Oilers about trading a second-round draft pick for defenseman Braydon Coburn, who has a three years remaining on a contract that carries a $4.5 million cap hit.

Buyouts have added a new wrinkle into what teams may or may not do this weekend because the poll of unrestricted free agents is growing with the signing period beginning next Friday. The Flyers added to that list in the last two weeks by buying out center Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov, moves that have them $4.18 million under next season's $64.3 million cap.

Courier-Post LOADED: 06.30.2013

683068 Phoenix Coyotes

Even with a new lease deal, there will be no closure for Phoenix Coyotes fans with this mess

By Dan Bickley, columnist azcentral sports Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:38 PM

The Coyotes are a business, and a bad one at that.

But hockey is an idea. This is why it matters to me.

It’s the last bastion of nobility in sports. The Stanley Cup is treated like the Holy Grail. It’s a profession where the sincerity is surpassed only by the sacrifice.

It’s a place where players sprawl on sheets of ice to block shots with their bodies. After all, if there is no cause, then what shall we die for?

On Tuesday, the Glendale City Council likely will determine the fate of our hockey team. Will the Coyotes relocate to Seattle, demoting the Valley back to the minor leagues? Or will four votes align when the witching hour arrives?

Either way, there will be no closure. That’s just a myth.

If a lease agreement is consummated with the Renaissance Sports and Entertainment group, there will be an out clause after five years. And it’s not like there’s a line of people outside the door yearning to buy tickets, waiting for the moment this team secures some kind of short-term future in Glendale.

By all accounts, the Coyotes will remain a small-budget team. They might lose their best goaltender, Mike Smith, to free agency. They will win games with Dave Tippett’s system and Don Maloney’s keen eye for bargains.

We’ve seen the recipe, and the result: hard-working, well-prepared, dangerous teams that constantly are skating on the fringe of the playoffs.

But they will not become a juggernaut anytime soon. They will not begin filling up Jobing.com Arena, especially with surcharges on ticket and parking fees in the future.

They will need another playoff run to rekindle the lost momentum, and that might take some time.

Will it happen within five years? If not, we could be facing relocation threats all over again. Only this time, the decision will be out of our hands.

RSE’s Anthony LeBlanc has sworn his allegiance to the Valley on more than one occasion. But there are important people very close to the situation who aren’t totally convinced. That’s frightening.

Conversely, if the Coyotes leave, it doesn’t mean forever. It will only sound like it.

There will be a probation period, for sure, a time for the NHL to frown down upon us like we’re some kind of failed partner. That will be the penalty for embarrassing the league and the commissioner.

But we’re still a destination city, a large market projected to grow even bigger in the very near future. We’re filled with television viewers and winter visitors clamoring for live hockey. Somewhere down the line, if someone figures out how to build an arena in Scottsdale, the NHL will undoubtedly return.

Just not on Gary Bettman’s watch.

Sadly, the Coyotes have been a mess for most of their existence: obstructed views in Phoenix, the regrettable failure of Steve Ellman and the City of Scottsdale to make Los Arcos a reality; the Wayne Gretzky era, when the NHL’s most iconic player sucked millions of dollars from the franchise.

And truth is, this team began to die the moment it moved to Glendale.

Can it be resuscitated? Can the math and location ever work? Yes, but probably not within five years. And whether we’re talking about moving vans or champagne corks, a terrible price has been paid along the way.

During the recent collective-bargaining sessions, Coyotes captain Shane Doan urged NHL owners to pledge 10 percent of every revenue-sharing

check to the growth of youth hockey. They declined. In Arizona, Doan says the problem is even worse, where the year-to-year existence of this franchise means little manpower or money available for the community, grass-roots kind of stuff.

Alas, for the past four years, we’ve all been saddled with the sorry business of the Coyotes, and not the idea of hockey.

It’s a sport that teaches humility and scorns vanity. In the playoffs, you can age 17 years in 17 seconds, just like they did in Boston. It’s a sport where you can fight like men, but only if you shake hands when you’re done.

There will probably be no such gestures from the losing side on Tuesday.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.30.2013

683069 Phoenix Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes will target forwards in Sunday’s NHL draft

By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:49 PM

The NHL draft is designed to build for the future, but it’s also become a playground for making changes to existing rosters.

With all 30 general managers assembled in one room, a shrinking salary cap and, therefore, rising value in draft picks, trade activity could dominate this year’s festivities in New Jersey, which start Sunday at noon.

Because of the lockout, the draft has been reduced to one day instead of the usual two.

“I think there will be a fair amount of movement,” Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. “Everybody’s looking to try and change their rosters up. We have a short period of time to do it, and history shows this is the time now before free agency starts, that’s when the deals are made. So I do think there’s going to be a lot of trades.”

On Day 1 of the 2012 draft, the Coyotes reacquired defenseman Zbynek Michalek, almost overshadowing their first-round pick of Scottsdale native Henrik Samuelsson. They could make another trade Sunday as Maloney has been engaged in talks for swapping a defenseman for a forward.

The Coyotes could also choose to move their 12th overall selection, their first of seven picks. They will also select 42nd, 62nd, 73rd, 133rd, 163rd and 193rd.

“There’s a better chance of us moving down and taking a later pick than going the other way,” Maloney said. “We can’t get high enough to make it worth the asset cost. I don’t see it.”

The Coyotes won’t trade that pick for a current roster player because they do want a relatively high prospect from what’s being characterized as an extremely deep draft.

“We’re looking 22 players deep thinking, ‘We like a player sitting on our draft board at 20, 21. You know what? If the right deal came along, we could drop,’ ” Maloney said. “That would be fine. We’d deal with it.”

Defenseman Seth Jones had been labeled the consensus top pick, but in the weeks leading up to the draft, the Colorado Avalanche have made it well-known they are not interested in taking Jones with the first pick.

That could be a bluff, but if it’s not, the honor will likely go to center Nathan MacKinnon. He and Jones have been ranked No. 1 by different scouting agencies.

Left wing Jonathan Drouin and center Aleksander Barkov are considered the next-best prospects.

After those four, though, it’s anybody’s guess what the pecking order will be. The Coyotes are targeting skilled forwards.

If right wing Anthony Mantha is still available at No. 12, he’d be a solid grab. Mantha was the only player in this draft class to score 50 goals this past season. He’s currently in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a training ground that’s bred other noteworthy players in the organization (defensemen Keith Yandle and Brandon Gormley).

Centers are arguably the toughest to acquire via trade or free agency, so it might be wise to stock up at this draft.

Frederik Gauthier plays a 200-foot game that would please coach Dave Tippett. Max Domi has the offensive instincts to be a game changer. Bo Horvat is physical and a faceoff specialist. All are ranked in the top 20 by NHL Central Scouting and projected to be among the top 15 selections.

But if a star defenseman falls out of the top 11, such as Darnell Nurse or perhaps Rasmus Ristolainen, the Coyotes will gladly scoop him up.

“We’re not going to pass up what we would think is a top-four defenseman for a third-line forward, even though we need forwards,” Maloney said.

Either way, the moves the Coyotes make at the draft could dictate the direction for the rest of the off-season. They’ll have another opportunity for an upgrade Friday when free agency opens.

“It’ll be interesting to see what changes we’ll be able to do,” Maloney said. “Time will tell.”

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.30.2013

683070 Pittsburgh Penguins

2 years after being drafted, local hockey players making name for themselves

By Josh Yohe

Updated 6 hours ago

That historical weekend in Minnesota during which four Pittsburghers were selected among the first 64 players picked in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft was just the beginning.

Two years later, all are ahead of schedule.

“It's pretty incredible that we all went that high and that things have turned out the way they have,” Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad said.

They could be on their way to stardom.

Saad currently is the headliner. He will be fitted for a Stanley Cup ring this summer. He finished third in Calder Trophy voting for Rookie of the Year and Saturday joined Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau and Montreal's Brendan Gallagher as forwards on the NHL's all-rookie team.

Saad finished with 10 goals and 27 points in his rookie campaign and has become a fixture on a team that figures to contend for many more Stanley Cups.

“That was so awesome for him,” goaltender John Gibson said.

He isn't the only of the Pittsburgh Four to appear to be on the verge of big things.

Gibson likely will begin working his way through the Anaheim system this fall. In the past six months, he twice has starred on the international stage for Team USA: He was the backbone of the World Junior championship claimed in January, and he performed admirably against numerous NHL stars while claiming a bronze medal in May's World Championships.

“You always want to get to the NHL as fast as you can, but I try not to think about it that way,” Gibson said. “You just try to take it day by day. And, yeah, playing in the Worlds, especially beating Russia, was big. Getting to play against guys like (Alex) Ovechkin was great for me.”

Center Vince Trocheck also could find himself in the NHL during the 2013-14 season. The Florida Panthers opted to leave Trocheck in the Ontario Hockey League this past season, and he responded by claiming the scoring title and league MVP.

The Panthers have made it clear that they are fond of the third-round selection and believe there will be a place for him in the NHL.

“I'm happy with the year I had,” Trocheck said. “I'm really excited about the future.”

J.T. Miller, the first of the four to be drafted, made his debut with the Rangers and could be on his way to a strong career. He scored two goals in his second NHL game and showed flashes of someone who could become notable for his goal scoring and physical play.

A few months before the Rangers dismissed John Tortorella, the fiery coach was asked about Miller by reporters at Consol Energy Center.

Tortorella isn't one to freely dish compliments, but he praised Miller.

“He's an interesting one,” Tortorella said. “He's got a chance to be really good.”

Tortorella could have been speaking about any of the four who altered Pittsburgh youth hockey.

All could be in the NHL as soon as next season.

“We're all friends, and we all keep in touch,” Gibson said. “We're all really proud to have come from Pittsburgh and proud of what we've done so far.”

Gibson hopes this is only the beginning, not only for his fellow members of the 2011 draft but also for youth hockey in Western Pennsylvania.

“Hopefully,” he said, “the kids coming behind us keep this going.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.30.2013


Penguins’ Shero gives Letang talks one more shot

By Rob Rossi

Updated 5 hours ago

NEWARK, N.J. — Ray Shero is waiting on Kris Letang.

He may not wait much longer.

A scheduled face-to-face meeting for Saturday afternoon between Shero and Kent Hughes, Letang's agent, was viewed by both parties as the last good chance to bridge a financial gap on a possible long-term contract.

Letang, a defenseman set to enter the final year of his contract, will be prime trade bait at the NHL Entry Draft on Sunday.

“He's worth waiting on in terms of making the right decisions, knowing all the information,” Shero said Saturday before meeting with Hughes. “But there's a time to make a deal, to sign a player, or maybe it's apparent that you can't, or maybe it's better to wait or do something else.”

Shero said before meeting with Hughes that he already had received calls about Letang's availability. Montreal, San Jose and Philadelphia are interested, and the Penguins would prefer to deal with a club that can return a top prospect and at least two roster players who they would control for multiple seasons.

The Penguins also would not mind a draft pick as part of a package. They do not select until the third round because of in-season trades for winger Jarome Iginla and defenseman Douglas Murray.

Shero reiterated that he would like to keep Letang and acknowledged that Letang is due a big raise on his $3.5 million salary. Letang, 26, led the NHL in points-per-game by a defenseman this past season and was a Norris Trophy (top defenseman) nominee for the first time.

Negotiations between Shero and Hughes have not gone swimmingly, and Letang has expressed frustration as this past week advanced without significant movement on a deal.

Shero stressed he wanted emotion to play no factor. “That's not beneficial to anybody,” he said.

The Penguins remain uncomfortable with a counterproposal to their willingness to pay Letang about $7 million annually on a maximum-limit eight-year contract. Shero made that offer Wednesday. Hughes countered Thursday with a proposed $7.75 million annual salary on an eight-year deal, but Shero immediately dismissed the deal.

The Penguins have not shied from spending to the salary cap since ownership authorized doing so in 2008.

At no point during their six-year run as a cap club have the Penguins entered a season with three players each counting at least $7 million against the cap. That would happen after next season if Letang is re-signed for a $7 million-or-more annual hit.

Captain Sidney Crosby has a salary cap hit of $8.7 million. Center Evgeni Malkin will count $9.5 million against the cap when his new contract begins after next season.

“It's a challenge,” Shero said. “I mean, OK, an extra $250,000 here, another $500,000 here, $100,000 more, it all adds up.

“I can't predict where the cap will be in a year or two, but I'd like to try and keep these players together. I think they're special players, but knowing the fact that you have to have a well-balanced team, it's a lot of money.”

A return to record revenues, at least $3.3 billion, was projected recently by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. That could push the cap, set next season for $64.3 million, near the pre-lockout range of $70 million for the first year that Crosby, Malkin and Letang would combine to absorb no less than $25.2 million of the Penguins' allotted space.

Even if the math works — Hughes contends that a projected rising cap in what would be Letang's free-agent summer (2014) means bids for his client would start at $8 million annually — Shero faces another challenge.

Crosby and Malkin hold full no-movement clauses, meaning the Penguins could not trade them without their approval.

Limited-movement clauses are common for players who agree to long-term deals. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and defensemen Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin have those.

Fleury, once the clear No. 3 nucleus player behind Crosby and Malkin, did not receive a full no-movement clause when signing a seven-year contract after his career-best postseason in 2008.

Letang, coming off his career-best season, wants a full no-movement clause, even though he, like Crosby and Malkin, failed to produce a point as the Penguins were swept from the Eastern Conference final.

“You do have to be careful with that because it becomes (situations) where maybe the team doesn't do as well as you hoped or maybe the player is not happy or maybe the cap doesn't go up,” Shero said. “You have to be careful in how you're doing full no-movement clauses.

“Crosby and Malkin are something, and Kris Letang is a real special player.”

Special players do get traded.

Jordan Staal did a year ago early in Round 1 of the Entry Draft.



Penguins notebook: Waiting game will play out early in draft

By Rob Rossi

Updated 6 hours ago

NEWARK, N.J. — The Penguins face a long Sunday.

They do not pick until Round 3 of the NHL Entry Draft, which will play out over the course of one day at Prudential Center.

General manger Ray Shero would like to change that.

“I think it will be hard to get into the first round this year,” Shero said, citing clubs' lack of willingness to move first-round picks in an entry draft perceived as deep.

“But the second round, there's a chance we could get a second-round pick somewhere. If we could do that, I'd like to.”

Trades during the season for winger Jarome Iginla and defenseman Douglas Murray cost Ray Shero his first- and second-round picks.

Also, Shero said, trading a first-round pick for Iginla was less distressing because of a move he made one year ago. Shero's trade of center Jordan Staal at the entry draft last summer netted him an extra first-round pick, which they used to draft defenseman Derrick Pouliot.

Tenders coming

The deadline to extend qualifying offers to restricted free agents is Tuesday. Shero said the Penguins likely will beat it, mostly because it is easiest to file the paperwork at the entry draft.

Wingers Tyler Kennedy and Harry Zolnierczyk, forward Dustin Jeffrey and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will be tendered offers, but Shero said he is hopeful of also reaching multiyear deals with some of those players.

Talks update

The Penguins and winger Pascal Dupuis are far apart on a contract that would prevent him from becoming a free agent Friday.

Shero and Allan Walsh, Dupuis' agent, met Friday. However, the Penguins believe Dupuis will test the open market — that is why they signed winger Chris Kunitz to a three-year contract Thursday.

They continue to negotiate with winger Craig Adams.



Team USA setup comforts Penguins coach Bylsma

By Rob Rossi

NEW YORK — Ray Shero could be the Kevin Bacon of USA Hockey's Olympics hierarchy — he's only a few degrees removed from the group's top officials.

However, there actually is very little that separates Shero from Team USA coach Dan Bylsma and general manager David Poile.

“I just think there's comfort there,” Bylsma said Saturday after he officially was named to his dream job as bench boss for an American Olympics squad.

“Me knowing how Ray works, and Ray knowing how David works — there's already chemistry.”

Shero is Team USA's associate general manager. He was Poile's assistant general manager with the Nashville Predators before taking control of the Penguins in May 2006.

Bylsma has served Shero as the Penguins' coach since February 2009.

Recent history suggests comfort is helpful for Olympic success.

Team Canada benefited from a then-Detroit Red Wings connection — Steve Yzerman (executive director) and Mike Babcock (coach) — on its way to gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Team USA finished second at the Vancouver Games. Its general manager, Brian Burke, and coach, Ron Wilson, were employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“When you work with somebody for years, you know how they operate … you break the ice very quickly,” said Don Waddell, general manager of Team USA for the 2006 Olympics. “There's no holding back. That makes it a lot easier to really communicate.”

Waddell, formerly the general manager with Atlanta and now a pro scout with the Penguins, is also a member of the advisory group for Team USA's upcoming Olympic efforts. He said the Penguins will benefit greatly from Shero and Bylsma going through this process of building an Olympic squad.

“It doesn't hurt the team you're with because there is way more value in getting honest feedback from other general managers,” Waddell said. “And there are players you wouldn't have a chance to evaluate as close as we all will in trying to get the right team for Sochi.”

From Poile to Waddell, all members of Team USA's management and coaching staffs are unpaid volunteers.

They seek to make a priceless kind of history, too.

Team USA has not claimed gold at the Olympics since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” That victory came in Lake Placid, N.Y. The other U.S. gold was won in 1960 in Squaw Valley, Calif.

The Americans have not medaled at an Olympics outside North America since 1972 — silver in Sapporo, Japan.

The Sochi Olympics will use an international surface — wider (by about 14 feet) and with more room (about 2 feet) behind the net.

Bylsma said a challenge is to adjust his system — a possession attack reliant on quick, precision passing starting with defensemen in their own zone — to compete with squads (such as Russia and Sweden) that excel on the international surface while also not sacrificing the physicality necessary to match up with rival Canada.

Of course, he must make those plans while also coaching a Penguins squad that again is favored to win the Stanley Cup.

Shero informed Bylsma that he was USA Hockey's chosen coach June 17. Bylsma shared the information with only his wife, Mary Beth.

He kissed the Cup in 2009. The symbolic bite of a gold medal would mean a lot — except that only Olympic athletes receive medals.

“It's interesting because I've wanted to win a gold medal longer than I've wanted to win the Stanley Cup,” Bylsma said.

“Representing your country at the Olympics is the ultimate in sports.”



Potential aplenty in 2013 NHL draft

June 30, 2013 12:18 am

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

NEWARK, N.J. -- Anything is possible, of course.

Nothing says that general manager Ray Shero couldn't work out a major trade today, one that allows the Penguins to make their first selection in the NHL draft while most of the crowd is making its way into the Prudential Center.

As things stand, however, no fewer than 76 prospects are supposed to be chosen before the Penguins make their first pick, around the middle of Round 3.

That means their chances of ending up with an impact player aren't very good.

But not necessarily as bad as some might suspect.

For while the quality of a draft class can't be accurately assessed until years later, this one has the potential to go down as one of the deepest in recent summers.

Not quite the equal of, say, 2003, but worthy of comparison to 2008.

"You go down almost any list that's out there, in publications, and you see that there are good players probably deeper than in the last several years," said Jay Heinbuck, the Penguins' director of amateur scouting.

The 2003 draft has become something of a gold standard by which drafts can be measured.

If not because of the players who were the first few to go -- Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal and Nathan Horton were the top three -- then because of the quality contributors that teams were able to pick up as the opening round was winding down.

New Jersey got Zach Parise at No. 17. Ryan Getzlaf went 19th to Anaheim. Vancouver grabbed Ryan Kesler with the 23rd choice, one spot before Philadelphia claimed Mike Richards.

After which Florida snagged Anthony Stewart at 25, Brian Boyle went to Los Angeles and, one choice later, Anaheim put an exclamation point on the round with its selection of Corey Perry.

"That was a pretty good draft," Heinbuck said. "There were a few misses in there, but geez, it goes down pretty far.

"There's sort of a drop-off after 29 or 30, then it gets to be start of a [mix] of guys who made it and guys who didn't. That certainly was a very good first round, for the most part."

And while he won't rule out the opening round in 2013 proving to be the equal of that from a decade earlier, neither does he seem eager to draw that parallel.

"Possibly, but it's hard to predict," Heinbuck said. "Boy, you have some nice players there in the 20s [in 2003], and that doesn't always happen."

There definitely are some pretty good headliners in this year's group. Center Nathan MacKinnon, defenseman Seth Jones and left winger Jonathan Drouin are universally regarded as elite prospects; the only uncertainty is which will prove to be the best pro.

Although MacKinnon is the favorite to go first overall to Colorado if the Avalanche retains that pick, that doesn't mean he's a consensus choice.

"Even within our staff, there are some guys who really like Jones, some who like MacKinnon and some who like Drouin," Heinbuck said. "They're such good players, and they all offer something different.

"Jones is that big defenseman who does a lot of things well, Drouin is such a crafty but smaller player, and MacKinnon, he's intensity with skill and grit. There's a lot to like there, and all for different reasons."

Mind you, unless Shero makes a bold move, the top three prospects might be on flights home before the Penguins make their first trip to the arena stage to announce a selection because of the trades that sent their first-rounder to Calgary for Jaroma Iginla and their No. 2 to San Jose for Douglas Murray.

With the Penguins having no choices before Round 3, their scouting staff likely spent many hours evaluating players who have no chance of being available when it's their turn to select. That, Heinbuck said, simply is an occupational hazard.

"Your ultimate goal is to try to win the Cup, and that's what we tried to do," he said. "It's exciting when you have a first-round pick, but we all understand that [trading them can be] part of the process.

"You use assets to make trades. Sometimes, the asset's an upcoming draft pick, and sometimes, it's players you've already picked. That's our job, to work with what we're given and see how it turns out."

Of course, it could have been worse. Could have been a repeat of 2008, when the Penguins didn't select until the fourth round. Or almost any other year, when the talent pool isn't as deep and diverse as this one looks to be.

"In the past, more often than not, it seems to me, we've had a pretty strong group of defensemen, but this year, it's pretty spread between forwards and defensemen," Heinbuck said. "There's a good mix."

Post Gazette LOADED: 06.30.2013


NHL draft top 10 prospects

June 30, 2013 12:17 am


Nathan MacKinnon

Center • 6 feet, 182 pounds

Had 32 goals and 43 assists in 44 games with Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. ... Was named MVP of Memorial Cup tournament after leading Mooseheads to the championship. ... Shares hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, with Sidney Crosby. ... Is widely regarded as being ready to step directly into the NHL, thanks to exceptional offensive talents and instincts. ... Highly competitive with a lot of grit even though, like most draft-eligible players, he is continuing to mature physically.

Seth Jones

Defenseman • 6 feet 4, 205 pounds

Had 14 goals and 42 in 61 games with Portland of the Western Hockey League. ... Son of former NBA player "Popeye" Jones. ... Spent much of childhood in Denver and was an Avalanche fan. ... Regarded by many scouts as the top player in the draft, but executives of Colorado, which owns the No. 1 pick, say Avalanche plans to draft MacKinnon if pick isn't traded. ... Size and strength have some scouts projecting him as a Chris Pronger-type impact player. ... Skates and passes well and is solid in his own end.

Jonathan Drouin

Left winger • 5 feet 11, 187 pounds

Had 41 goals and 64 assists in 49 games as MacKinnon's teammate in Halifax. ... Crafty playmaker who is fast, creative and shifty and is viewed by some scouts as the finest pure talent available. ... Was honored as player of the year in the Canadian Hockey League, which covers the three major-junior leagues. ... Put together a 29-game scoring streak during the regular season. ... Not only is able to get the puck to linemates but has a well-documented willingness to do so.

Aleksander Barkov

Center • 6 feet 2, 207 pounds

Had 21 goals and 27 assists in 53 games with Tappara in his native Finland. ... Lists Penguins center Evgeni Malkin as one of his favorite players. ... Fluent in English and Russian as well as Finnish. ... Projects as a top-six forward in the NHL with excellent hockey sense that complements his size and strength. ... Was knocked out of the playoffs by a shoulder injury. ... Sound and responsible at both ends of the ice. ... Physical style should ease his transition to North American hockey.

Valeri Nichushkin

Right winger • 6 feet 4, 202 pounds

Had four goals and two assists in 18 games with the Kontinental Hockey League team in his hometown of Chelyabinsk. ... Has size, speed and strength that give him the potential to be top power forward in the NHL. ... Played in the Kontinental Hockey League last season but tells anyone who asks that he wants to move to the NHL immediately. ... Has earned a reputation for producing in high-stakes situations.

Darnell Nurse


Had 12 goals, 29 assists and 116 penalty minutes in 68 games with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League. ... Nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb. ... Steady, reliable and responsible all over the ice and isn't shy about playing the body. ... Despite playing a position that often requires some seasoning in minor leagues, could move directly into the NHL if drafted into the right situation.

Sean Monahan

Center • 6 feet 2, 187 pounds

Had 31 goals and 47 assists in 58 games with Ottawa (OHL). ... His grandfather, Rick Hay, played one game for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League in 1961-62. ... Is regarded as one of the top two-way performers available and has excellent intangibles and attention to detail, which allow him to be effective in all situations. ... Has skill level and instincts required to have an offensive impact as a pro.

Rasmus Ristolainen


Had three goals and 12 assists in 52 games for TPS in Finland's top league. ... Good skater who can handle and move the puck. ... Play in his own end needs some work, which hardly is unusual for a teenager at his position. ... Is reputed to have a mean streak and is expected to get bigger. ... Has a good shot from the point.

Elias Lindholm

Center • 6 feet, 181 pounds

Had 11 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with Brynas in Sweden's Elitserien. ... Told NHL.com his favorite team is the Penguins and his two favorite players are Crosby and Malkin. ... Plays a well-rounded game that gives him a chance to move into a top-six role in the NHL immediately. ... Must fill out some but isn't shy about operating in high-traffic areas. ... Excellent hockey sense.

Hunter Shinkaruk

Center/Left winger • 5 feet 11, 174 pounds

Had 37 goals and 49 assists in 64 games with Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. ... A gifted goal-scorer and playmaker who is among the most crowd-pleasing talents in this draft. ... Has outstanding speed, but it's possible his modest size will make the challenge greater when he turns pro. ... Purported to be a good leader.



Decision on Kris Letang has no deadline

June 30, 2013 12:06 am


NEW YORK -- Eventually, Ray Shero says, a decision must be made.

At some point, negotiations on a new contract for defenseman Kris Letang will have to be wrapped up.

Still, Shero said Saturday he isn't ready to set a deadline for that just yet, which means it's far from certain Letang's future will be resolved before the NHL draft at 3 p.m. today at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

He even seemed to float the possibility that talks could be suspended at some point and picked up later, though that seems unlikely.

"There's a point in a negotiation when you have to make a decision," he said. "Kris is going to have to make one at one time, and so am I.

"That doesn't mean if you don't agree on a contract, he's getting traded. There's no guarantee, of course, but it's one of those things where maybe we just need a little break, to kind of see where it takes us."

Whether Shero and Letang's agent, Kent Hughes, can find enough common ground to strike a deal is unclear, though both sides have been consistent in saying that is their intent.

"I know he's happy in Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh's happy having him," Shero said. "He's a good person, a great kid and I believe he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

"And we're going to try to see if we can make that happen [in a way] that makes sense for both sides."

That, clearly, has been the tough part.

Late last week, Letang rejected an eight-year offer that would have doubled his $3.5 million salary. Hughes is believed to have countered with a proposal worth at least $500,000 more per year, and the Penguins obviously didn't accept it.

"An extra $250,000 here, another $500,000 here. ... It all adds up," Shero said.

Hughes said Saturday evening he had spoken with Shero and added, "We'll see what happens."

Shero said "a couple of teams" have inquired about Letang's availability in trades, but have been rebuffed.

"They read the paper," he said. " 'Just in case, if you don't do something, can you keep us in mind?' I haven't explored any of that, and I don't think that's productive at this point. Our goal is to try to sign him.

"I can't try to sign a guy and try to trade him at the same time. I'm going to try to sign him and the next day or so, we'll see how this goes."

Working out contracts with Letang and unrestricted-free-agents-to-be such as Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams, and today's draft -- with their first two selections not until Round 3, the Penguins are trying to move up to at least the second round -- are Shero's most pressing concerns at the moment, but he has added another facet to his job description.

He formally was introduced as the associate general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic team Saturday at a news conference in Times Square. Dan Bylsma was named head coach of that squad at the same time.

Team USA earned a silver medal at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, losing to Canada in overtime of the championship, and a lackluster performance in the winter in Sochi, Russia, wouldn't go over well.

"Hockey in our country has come to the point where winning the gold medal is not a miracle," USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio said. "It's an expectation."

Bylsma has not chosen his assistants yet but he, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile and Shero have discussed the qualities, such as international experience, that would enhance his staff.

Bylsma noted he has no experience coaching the international game and said he plans to immerse himself "the next couple of months" in information about matters such as national styles of play so that it doesn't interfere with his duties with the Penguins after training camp opens in September.

There won't be much time to absorb such knowledge during the Olympic break, he said, because "literally, we're going to be dropping our stuff in the NHL and getting on a plane and a couple of days later, we're going to be playing our first [Olympic] game."

Consequently, Bylsma said, he already has reached out to longtime NHL coach Ron Wilson, who led Team USA in Vancouver and has extensive international experience, and will do so with other coaches who have competed in tournaments outside of North America.

Despite Bylsma's lack of international work, Poile said he was chosen because the USA Hockey decisions-makers "wanted a winner" who could "handle star players," of which Bylsma has several with the Penguins.

Bylsma acknowledged being "acutely aware" of the challenges posed by players such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but having to deal with them in Sochi wouldn't alter his bottom-line goal.

"We have one objective," Bylsma said. "That's to go to Sochi and win gold."


683077 San Jose Sharks

NHL draft: San Jose Sharks hold four picks in the top 58

By Curtis Pashelka

[email protected]

Posted: 06/29/2013 04:16:41 PM PDT

Updated: 06/29/2013 10:16:15 PM PDT

SAN JOSE -- Sharks general manager Doug Wilson didn't try to disguise his excitement about Sunday's NHL draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., as the team holds four of the top 58 picks in what is perceived as one of the deepest draft classes in a decade.

That gives Wilson plenty of options for a draft that he said features quality players "all the way through the second round."

The Sharks have eight picks. In the first two rounds, they hold their own picks at Nos. 20 and 50, plus No. 49 acquired from the New York Rangers in the Ryane Clowe deal in April and No. 58 from Pittsburgh in the Douglas Murray trade in March. Clowe and Murray are set to become unrestricted free agents July 5.

The Sharks would not be afraid to package their early picks to move up and select a player they covet, but Wilson would also be content to keep what he has.

"We have the extra second-round picks to jump up if we want if things fall the way they do, but we may not need to," Wilson said. "To get quality and quantity, that's your ultimate goal, and we're in a really good position for that.

"We think next year's draft will be pretty good, too. But this draft in particular, it factored into the decisions we made prior to the trade deadline. To lose some players and not get really valuable picks back in a year of a strong draft would have been a double-whammy."

Depth at forward might be one of the Sharks' more pressing needs, as Joe Thornton,

Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski are set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2013-14 campaign. Considering the depth of this draft, it is not unrealistic to think that one or two of the players the Sharks select Sunday would be on the roster during the 2014-15 season.

The Sharks could also trade a player to clear up salary cap space for free agency. After re-signing defenseman Jason Demers to a one-year deal for $1.5 million, the Sharks have a little more than $3.5 million in cap space, and that does not include the deal for 19-year-old prospect Tomas Hertl.

The Sharks also have six defensemen under age 26 who played at least one NHL game this season, and Brent Burns, signed for the next four seasons, remains an option at the blue line. Goalie Antti Niemi is signed for the next two seasons, and a number of younger netminders are in the pipeline.

Two forwards who might fall to the Sharks at No. 20 are Hunter Shinkaruk of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Curtis Lazar of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Both are versatile players who can play center and the wing.

Lazar is the more realistic of the two to be available at No. 20. Thought of as a tremendous skater, Lazar had 38 goals and 61 points this season in the WHL, with a plus/minus rating of plus-25.

Wilson praised the job his scouts have done leading into the draft.

"You have to forecast to see who might be available," Wilson said. "We don't just have a list and say, 'OK, let's take our next best guy.' What we try to do is go get the guys we want. So if you have to move up to get them, we'll move up to get them."

Where the Sharks draft

Here are the selections the Sharks own going into the NHL draft Sunday (round, overall pick, how acquired):

1st, No. 20, own pick

2nd, No. 49, from Rangers in Ryane Clowe trade

2nd, No. 50, own pick

2nd, No. 58, from Pittsburgh in Douglas Murray trade

4th, No. 111, own pick



7th, No. 207, from Colorado (via Anaheim) in 2012 five-player trade

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.30.2013

683078 St Louis Blues

Blues see prospects in NHL draft

4 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford [email protected] 314-444-7135

In 2008, the Blues selected goaltender Jake Allen in the second round of the NHL draft. On Saturday, Allen was announced as the No. 1 goalie on the league’s 2012-13 all-rookie team.

Although the maturation process takes time — five years in Allen’s case — these types of developments are the driving force behind the Blues’ amateur scouting staff.

“For sure,” said Bill Armstrong (no relation to general manager Doug Armstrong), who was the Blues’ scout who pushed the club to take the goalie. “The process to be a really good goaltender in the NHL takes a long time. Jake has shown great steps, and he continues to do so. It’s an exciting time for him and a good reward for our staff, too.”

Since then, Armstrong has been promoted to director of the Blues’ amateur scouting department, replacing Jarmo Kekalainen in 2010. On Sunday, Armstrong will be in charge of his third draft with the organization and his goal is to find more players that will be labeled rewards in the coming years.

The task will be made more difficult this offseason because the Blues will enter the NHL draft, which begins at 2 p.m. (St. Louis time), with only six selections. If they indeed leave with a half-dozen players, it will match 2009 for the fewest taken in the last three decades.

The Blues’ first scheduled pick, after trading their first-rounder to Calgary for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, will be in the second round (No. 47). After that, the club holds one choice in the third round (No. 83), two in the fourth round (Nos. 94 and 113), one in the sixth round (173) and one in the seventh round (No. 203).

So Armstrong and Co. won’t be in the running for players such as Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin and Portland’s Seth Jones, but with a deep draft the Blues are expecting to come away with a significant prospect.

“If any year you’re picking 47 as your first pick, this year would be it,” Armstrong said. “This year in particular, there’s a little more depth in certain areas of the draft, and when we’re picking, it could be a pretty good player. Somebody could fall down to you that you really, really may like. So there’s good odds that that could happen.”

Two years ago, in Armstrong’s first draft, the Blues also did not have a first-round pick after dealing it away to Colorado in the Erik Johnson trade. And while it will take time before the 2011 picks can be graded accurately, the class appears to rank as one of the best overall in recent years, with Ty Rattie (No. 32), Dmitrij Jaskin (No. 41), Joel Edmundson (No. 46) and Jordan Binnington (No. 88).

Again armed without a top pick, Armstrong is hoping for a repeat.

“We hope so,” he said. “But you have to remember that when we go pick on Sunday, 46 selections are already happening in front of us. Some of it has to do with what’s left over … you get the best. Then when we pick, it’s up to us to get the right order — that whatever is sitting in front of us, we select the right one.”

There will be one difference perhaps complicating this year’s draft. In recent years, the selection process has been a two-day event, with the first round on day one and Rounds 2-7 on day two. That format gave clubs a chance to re-group after the first 30 picks.

“You don’t get the time to go back to the hotel room and do some more digging, like ‘Hey, why is this guy still on the board?’” Armstrong said. “For example, when we selected Rattie, we had a night to go back and dig. You won’t get that opportunity. We have to be over-prepared and be ready to make adjustments on the fly.”

The Blues aren’t expected to move up into the first round, but that can change. In 2010, the club dealt defenseman David Rundblad for the No. 16 overall pick and took Vladimir Tarasenko.

“Our group has always been pretty unique, and if there’s something that we really want, we’ll find a way to get it,” Armstrong said. “The management listens to us, and if this guy is coming down in the draft and we’ve got a chance to go up and get him, we’re pretty good about finding ways to move up.”

The Rundblad-Tarasenko move was pulled off by Kekalainen. This year, Armstrong’s predecessor will be at the Columbus draft table, after taking over as its general manager last season. The Blue Jackets are slated to have three first-round picks, barring any trades.

Armstrong joked that knowing Kekalainen’s tendencies won’t help the Blues know who their ex-boss will take, but “I know the guys he’s not taking. You’ve been in the room with him when he’s said, ‘I’m not going to take that guy.’ That doesn’t really help us, though, and they’re going to be swinging three times before we even get up to the plate.”

But if the Blues make no moves, they will get six swings themselves and the club is planning to come away with a few prospects like Allen.

“It’s exciting,” Armstrong said. “It’s like before a hockey game, you’re nervous and that’s a good thing. Here we go, let’s go, let’s go get it. You work all year, you travel through all of those snow storms, all the plane flights, and now you’ve got a chance to get these kids. It’s an addicting job.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.30.2013


Strauss: Stillman insists club ‘not sitting idle’

4 hours ago • Joe Strauss [email protected]

The Blues enter today’s NHL draft between a puck and a hard place, a locale that offers hard financial truths and difficult perceptions stemming from an abrupt postseason exit.

Good enough to enter a strike-shortened season billed as a viable Stanley Cup contender, the Blues lost their first-round playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Kings without selling out at home. Worse than just losing, they teased a fatalistic fan base by winning the first two games and leading the fourth by two goals before being dismissed in six games.

The Kings might have been defending Cup champions but for the second consecutive spring they entered seeded lower than the Blues.

A year ago, the Kings rolled the Blues. This time the Blues played the Kings shift for shift, a show of progress. However, losing by a sliver rather than a chasm only enhanced a sense of “what if?”

The Blues see themselves as a team still ascending but a crestfallen fan base sees a team that failed to duplicate its opening series win of 2011-12 and suspects a plateau, even regression.

So close to breaking out its city’s third pro sports franchise, the Blues instead hear the “same old” accusations.

New ownership and a decorated general manager and head coach see momentum. Much of their fan base is getting over the irritation from being asked to commit to a season-ticket price hike in order to retain priority for this year’s playoff seats. A number of fans saw the demand as insulting so soon after a lockout truncated the regular season by 34 games.

Ownership compares the franchise now to where it stood two seasons before – nearly bankrupt and not part of the postseason. The fan base awaits its first Cup since the club’s inception almost a half-century ago. It’s no fun being labeled “the Chicago Cubs of the NHL.”

The Blues see themselves doing it the right way, developing their own talent, refusing to overextend for players past their prime.

Fans wonder if the franchise has the jack to push itself over its historical hump. Meanwhile, owner Tom Stillman pledges payroll will escalate significantly before next season.

The Blues have indicated a willingness to retain their restricted free agents and have opened talks with unrestricted free agent defenseman Jordan Leopold. Financial pressures, insists Stillman, will not manifest themselves on ice.

“We didn’t buy this team with the idea of just participating,” he says. “The intention here – the plan – is for this team to win Cups. That’s plural. And I’m not backing away from that.”

There is much to like about a franchise that boasts local ownership and men such as general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Ken Hitchcock who have constructed a champion in Dallas. The Blues remain a young but not necessarily inexperienced team. If the adage holds that a player fully develops after appearing in 300 games at this level, only star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo awaits further definition. A postseason that a front office might consider invaluable to taking the next step may strike many outside the building as underachievement stacked atop immaturity.

The Blues can endure a difference of opinion with their fans. They can not, however, survive disconnect.

Stillman purchased the team from a carpet-bagging front man while hopeful that the lockout would provide small-market teams another $10 million or so via revenue-sharing. Whether naïve or sandbagged, it doesn’t really matter. Stillman’s group got nothing except another year of operating in crimson.

Popular as the sport is here, hockey has not worked in St. Louis for decades.

The Blues operate with an atrocious concessions deal negotiated in a fit of desperation by former owner Dave Checketts to enhance cash flow. That

same leadership fabricated attendance figures. A poor deal with cable rightsholder Fox Sports Network doesn’t expire until 2018, when a partnership with the Cardinals on a regional sports network may prove appealing if this group can hang on. The Blues don’t enjoy the same tax breaks as the behemoth down Clark Street. Stillman pared more than 40 jobs from the franchise’s business side after purchasing the club. He sold the Peoria affiliate. But sources insist the club isn’t close to breaking even.

Loathe to provide specifics about the team’s balance sheet, Stillman has set a goal of advancing revenues by at least $10 million before next season. A ticket price hike covers a small fraction. Stillman’s emphasis is on the local and regional corporate community.

“That’s our project for this offseason,” he says. “Our group came in. We reduced the debt in half. We cut non-hockey payroll expenses. We cut our other expenses. We started increasing our revenue in various ways. But now we need to develop a much bigger increase in our revenues. That has to come with more businesses on board. We’re grateful to the companies that give us great support. You can see those names around the arena. We need to get fuller participation from the business community. We need to get that participation or I don’t see how the Blues can be successful long-term here....We need to do it now.”

Stillman faces an uphill climb. The city has bled corporations for the last decade while others embrace the Cardinals or Rams. Making the Blues cool – something success typically accomplishes – seems imperative.

The Blues have not cut hockey operations. And Stillman insists he has not plans to do so. Pursuing the kind of player needed by an offensively-challenged roster, the Blues have engaged free agent and former Tampa Bay Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier in talks, according to league sources. Also, Armstrong is aggressively defining the potential market for goalies.

Any suggestion that the Blues were satisfied with their first-round exit causes Stillman’s voice to raise an octave. He squirms a bit in his seat and tries to control his decibel level. Complacency, he realizes, would be a death sentence to this ownership group.

Success on the ice hasn’t guaranteed profits in the past but a lack of success will certainly assure an erosion of support.

“Believe me, we know what’s at stake here,” Stillman says. “We’re not sitting idle. Everything we discuss is about getting better, not just staying where we are.”

There are worse things than to be caught between a puck and a hard place. You can move the puck. Freezing it, however, is no longer acceptable.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.30.2013

mailto:[email protected]


Next wave of Blues prospects shows bright promise


By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

While the St. Louis Blues have continued to assimilate their top prospects onto their NHL roster, the next wave is coming and has displayed plenty of promise.

Some of these names could end up with the Blues' new Chicago minor-league affiliate and will likely get a look in training camp:

Ty Rattie, winger

Age: 20

Size: 6-foot, 167 pounds

Drafted: 2nd round (32nd overall) 2011

Team: Portland, WHL

2012-13 stats: 48 goals, 110 points in 62 games, plus 20 goals and 36 points in 21 playoff games.

In the last two seasons, Rattie has piled up an incredible 105 goals and 231 points in 131 games with the Western Hockey Leagues Portland Winterhawks.

"He's an exciting player because his brain processes the game on the offensive side of the puck very quickly," said Bill Armstrong, the Blues' Director of Amateur Scouting. "He's really detailed in his game as far as working hard on the defensive side of the puck and he's made huge strides that way."

Armstrong knows that Rattie's off-the-charts numbers suggest something special. However, his size could be a concern in the NHL.

"He's got crazy numbers where he's scored the most playoff goals in the WHL of all time, (50)," Armstrong said. "With somebody with that type of offensive hockey sense, it takes some time to develop and his game has to translate into the NHL, so that's going to take a little bit of time with the strength and speed factor."

Jani Hakanpaa, defenseman

Age: 21

Size: 6-5, 218 pounds

Drafted: 4th round (104th overall) 2010

Teams: Finland Blues, Peoria, AHL

2012-13 stats: 3 goals, 9 points, 40 penalty minutes in 48 games.

The Blues believe they have quite a find in Hakanpaa, a large, mobile defenseman with plenty of upside. He finished last season with the Peoria Rivermen, his first season in North America.

"He's the kind of guy that flies a little bit under the radar because other guys get more attention," Armstrong said. "I'd put him on the (top prospect) board because he's a big man with a lot of effort. I'd keep my eye on him, there's a lot of people on staff that like him.

"He's played in the Finnish Elite League for a couple years now and has had some good seasons over there."

Jordan Binnington, goaltender

Age: 19

Size: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds

Drafted: 3rd round (88th overall) 2011

Team: Owen Sound, OHL

2012-13 stats: 32-12-6, 2.17 goals-against average, seven shutouts, .932 save percentage

The Blues drafted Binnington more on potential than anything back in 2011 and since then have been rewarded with excellence. He played for Tam Canada at the last World Junior Championships and is considered one of the top goaltending prospects in his age group.

He could see time with the Blues' new minor-league affiliate in Chicago this season depending on his progress.

"With goaltending when they're draft eligible sometimes they don't play a lot in the junior ranks so they're tricky to draft," Armstrong said. "There always seems to be some question marks. Where we really liked him was his long, lanky body type with a lot of room to grow."

Armstrong and several Blues scouts watched Binnington help lead Owen Sound to the 2011 Memorial Cup tourney, one of the top honors in Canada.

He was named the top goaltender at the event.

"He's playing in a national championship tournament and here's this kid's as cool as a cucumber and fluid in his motions where nothing rattled him," Armstrong said. "There's this young kid playing in net and he was just great. We were all convinced that he was going to be a good goaltender. It was just a little bit of luck that he falls on your plate."

Binnington earned Ontario Hockey League Goaltender of the Year and Owen Sound MVP honors this season, posting seven shutouts.

Most teams are fairly patient with goaltending prospects. Jake Allen spent much of the past three seasons in minor-league Peoria after being drafted in the second round in 2008.

"You can't really be in a rush with these guys," Armstrong said.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 06.30.2013


Blues know success in the NHL draft combines hard work and a little bit of luck


By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

During a St. Louis Blues pre-draft meeting in 2010, General Manager Doug Armstrong was listening to opinions on two players being considered for a first-round pick.

After listening to the pros and cons about college forward Jaden Schwartz and Russian forward Vladimir Tarasenko, one of the Blues' scouts offered his thoughts.

"We were all sitting in the room and Doug had asked a question about the players," said Bill Armstrong, the Blues' Director of Amateur Scouting. "Dan Ginnell said 'What the heck. Let's go get both of these guys, we love them.' That kind of planted a seed with Doug and the (staff). The next thing you know, we're walking out of the first round and we had both Schwartz and Tarasenko."

The Blues, who had only one first-round pick heading into the draft, made it happen by acquiring Ottawa's No. 1 pick at 16th overall for former first-round pick and defense prospect David Rundblad.

They drafted Schwartz at No. 14 and Tarasenko two picks later. Two years later, both were on the Blues' opening night roster and made significant impacts at times last season.

Right now, the Blues don't own a first-round pick in Sunday's NHL Draft in New Jersey, having traded it to Calgary last season for veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

But with Doug Armstrong's track record for under-the-radar deals -- and the Blues apparently shopping goaltenders and looking for forward help -- don't rule anything out.

"It would be difficult right now to move up into the first round," Doug Armstrong said, "because I think we're a team that's positioning itself as trying to compete at the upper echelon right now.

"The way we're currently sitting I wouldn't predict us moving into the first round."

While the Blues typically stress a need to take the best player available, they're not picking until 46 other players have been selected. They own one pick in the second and third rounds, two in the fourth, none in the first and one each in the sixth and seventh.

Bill Armstrong believes the Blues will leave this draft with talent despite not having a first-round pick.

"I just think the depth of the draft is there," he said. "Sometimes you get into certain areas and you wouldn't be as excited with the talent level there. This year after you get through the first round it just runs for a long time and there's some exciting players there that could be pushed back.

"There's going to be a good player that comes down the pipe to us."

Armstrong talked about the 12 months of work that go into making the Blues' NHL draft day a successful one.

"It is a great job in a sense because you work as a team," he said. "There's a team on the ice and a team of scouts off the ice that are relentless in their pursuit of information about players. We've got a lot of passionate guys that have been around the Blues for a number of years, but it's all about projecting and looking into the future.

"When you do get one that works out, it's certainly worth the time you put in to get them."

Does it bother the scouting staff when picks and prospects are included in trades?

"Not really because if you look to win a Stanley Cup, you have to have a good amateur scouting side and a good pro side," Armstrong said. "There's

so many different divisions of the hockey club and if you want to be successful, everybody has to take part in that.

"We get attached to them, but the scouts understand we have to put the best team on the ice."

The Blues have scouts around the globe scouring their particular areas for talent. Much cross-checking is done and players are seen numerous times searching for tendencies and potential flaws.

The team also does in-person interviews with players and coaches and anyone else connected to a prospect.

After that, the scouting staff meets and compiles a draft board list of talent from which the selections are made.

"We go back and massage it a little bit with new information that we find out in the weeks before the draft," Armstrong said. "We keep working at it and plugging along until there's a complete list on the board."

Before a pick is made, the Blues' braintrust of Doug Armstrong, Bill Armstrong, senior advisers Al MacInnis and Larry Pleau and vice president Dave Taylor all have final input.

"There's a lot of good hockey minds that sit around that table," Bill Armstrong said, noting that Doug Armstrong has the final say. "The main thing is to get the talent through the door."

Through the years the Blues have endured more first-round misses than hits.

They used the 17th-overall pick on goalie Marek Schwarz (six NHL games) in 2004, the 30th-overall pick on Shawn Belle (20 NHL games) in 2003 and the 48th overall pick in 2002 on Alexei Shkotov (never played in the NHL).

However, those same drafts produced David Backes (second round, 2003), Lee Stempniak (fifth round, 2003) and defenseman Roman Polak (sixth round, 2004).

In 1987, the Blues drafted Keith Osborne (16 NHL games) 12th overall only to see future Hall of Famer Joe Sakic go to Quebec (later the Colorado Avalanche) three picks later.

Signability is also important when considering European players, especially those from Russia. Many get lucrative offers from the KHL, the Russian pro league, and some use that as a stepping stone to the NHL.

The team was disappointed earlier this year when one of their top forward prospects, 2008 draft pick Jori Lehtera from Finland, passed on the Blues' offer to come to North America this season and instead signed with a KHL team.

"There' a lot of different factors when you draft players from overseas," Armstrong said. "Sometimes when you talk to them, you can see that in his personality and his commitment that he's already made up his mind that he wants to come over and play.

"You meet with these kids and try to talk to everybody and do a background search."

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 06.30.2013

683082 Tampa Bay Lightning

Top-five draft picks in Lightning history

By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff


The The Lightning hold the No. 3 overall pick in today's NHL entry draft, marking the 10th time in franchise history Tampa Bay has held a top-five pick. Seven times the team used its pick to select a player - in 1999, Tampa Bay traded the No. 1 overall pick and in 2002, Tampa Bay traded the No. 4 pick to Philadelphia. Here is a look at the players the Lightning chose in the top five:

Year Player Pick Pos.

2009 Victor Hedman No. 2 Defenseman

Comment: Hedman continues to improve his overall game as a top-two defenseman, showing marked gains in each of his first four seasons. The 23-year-old, under contract until the 2015-16 season, has 16 goals and 89 points in 258 games.

2008 Steven Stamkos No. 1 Center

Comment: Stamkos is one of the game's top scorers and a two-time Richard Trophy winner as the league's goals leader. No other player has scored more goals than the 185 Stamkos has during the past four seasons. The 23-year-old is under contract through the 2014-15 season.

2003 Alex Svitov No. 3 Center

Comment: The big, two-way center never panned out for the Lightning - or any other team. Tampa Bay traded him to Columbus for Darryl Sydor in 2004. He is currently in his native Russia, playing the last six seasons with Salavat Yulaev in the Kontinental Hockey League.

1998 Vinny Lecavalier No. 1 Center

Comment: Lecavalier played his entire career with Tampa Bay before being bought out on Thursday and is the franchise leader with 383 goals. While not the 50-goal scorer he was while winning the Richard Trophy in 2006-07, the former team captain is a consistent 25-goal, 75-point threat, and his defensive game has improved.

1995 Daymond Langkow No. 5 Center

Comment: After four up-and-down seasons with the Lightning, which included a suspension for failing to accept a minor-league assignment, Langkow was traded to the Flyers. After scoring 27 goals in four seasons with Tampa Bay, he went on to score 270 goals in 1,090 career NHL games.

1993 Chris Gratton No. 3 Center

Comment: Gratton never lived up to his power-forward potential, but he played three stints with the Lightning. He first left the team as a free agent after four seasons. He returned in a trade with the Flyers in 1998 and served as Tampa Bay's captain for the 1999-2000 season. But in March 2000 he was traded to Buffalo. After subsequent stops in Phoenix and Florida, Gratton was traded back to the Lightning in 2007. He was off to a good start in 2007-08, but a hip injury marked the beginning of the end of his career. He retired with a respectable 214 goals in 1,092 career games while playing for seven teams.

1992 Roman Hamrlik No. 1 Defenseman

Comment: An offensive defenseman, Hamrlik was the first draft pick in franchise history. He played five-plus seasons with Tampa Bay before being traded to Edmonton. After 20 seasons and seven teams, he's still active during an NHL career that has spanned 1,395 games, the most by any active player.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 06.30.2013


Impact player on the way for Lightning

By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff


NEWARK, N.J. - Franchises adapt and evolve. Players come and go.

But the transformation of a team can take place with one move, one right selection on draft day.

The Lightning have that chance this afternoon when the 2013 NHL Entry Draft takes place at Prudential Center.

While each draft has its own personality, strengths and weaknesses, there is one consensus heading into today - holding the No. 3 pick gives Tampa Bay the chance to reshape the roster with a franchise player.

"You are going to get a player that can potentially impact your franchise for the next decade,'' NHL director of scouting Don Marr said of holding a top-three pick this season.

Tampa Bay has been here before in previous drafts and is holding a top-five pick for the 10th time in franchise history after making seven previous selections.

There have been varying degrees of success with those picks: Vinny Lecavalier, Roman Hamrlik, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman made substantial and positive impacts. But Alex Svitov, Daymond Langkow and Chris Gratton did not have the same sort of impression on the franchise.

Of those seven selections, Lecavalier, Hamrlik, Stamkos and Hedman were taken with a top-two pick. Svitov and Gratton were selected with the third pick and Langkow was a fifth overall selection.

There are no guarantees that Tampa Bay's selection - assuming it holds on to the pick - will turn into a star player or help turn the Lightning into a perennial playoff contender.

But the potential is there.

"This draft is very strong at the top,'' Lightning director of scouting Al Murray said. "If you have a pick in the top five, you might be getting a star player who can really help carry your team to another level.

"We are going to get one of those guys and hopefully that guy can come in and have that kind of impact on our organization. ... Lots of impact players in this draft and you don't get that every year.''

This year's draft class is already drawing comparisons to the 2003 draft that produced Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Thomas Vanek, Ryan Suter, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards and Corey Perry, among others.

Marr believes there is the potential for some of the top players in this year's draft to have an even bigger impact on the league than the class of 2003.

In particular, playmaking winger Jonathan Drouin out of Halifax has drawn some heavy comparisons.

"A lot of older scouts in the business have told me, and I agree with them, I think Joe Sakic is a good comparison,'' Marr said. "(Drouin) has the potential to be a Hall of Fame player.''

With Drouin's ability to make plays, find seams and set up teammates in the offensive zone, the potential of him playing alongside center Steven Stamkos could prove a dynamic combination.

"Oh for sure, (Drouin) would set him up all night and day, all day long,'' Marr said. "Anyone that gets to play alongside Jonathan Drouin really appreciates him, and there will be guys who want to play with him.

"Everyone talks about playing on the third line, but you may have some of those first- and second-liners wanting to play with him because he will feed him the puck.''

There is the same potential impact, albeit in a different manner, with players such as defenseman Seth Jones, center Nathan MacKinnon, center Aleksander Barkov or winger Valeri Nichuskin.

And with the Lightning holding a top-five pick, one of them has the potential to help steer Tampa Bay back in the right direction.

"We are hopeful in that top five that you will be getting a player that will play for you for 15 to 18 years and be a real good player for you,'' Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. "And I think if you go back and analyze the drafts every year, there are very few that really kind of turn a franchise around.

"Everybody picking that high, we are all hoping we get one of those couple of guys. Real impact players are hard to get, so it's important, and there is a little bit of luck involved, but you can really set yourself up for a long, long time.''

Rumor of the day

The days leading up to the draft are as rumor-filled as the days leading up to the trade deadline.

One of the biggest rumors Saturday had Tampa Bay showing interest in acquiring Boston winger Tyler Seguin. The third-year pro was the second overall pick in 2010 and will begin a six-year, $34.5 million contract next season that carries a $5.75 million salary cap hit.

In three seasons with the Bruins, Seguin has 56 goals and 121 points in 203 games.

Draft party

The Lightning are hosting a draft party from 2-5 p.m. today at Champps at International Plaza.

Team broadcasters Rick Peckham, Bobby Taylor and Dave Mishkin will be on hand for a special edition of "Lightning Hockey Night" that will air from 3-5 p.m. on 1250 AM. Former Lightning all-star Brian Bradley also will be present.

Fans in Lightning attire will receive a 10 percent discount on food and beverage, while season-ticket holders wearing their jerseys or who present their STM card will receive a 15 percent discount.

There will also be giveaways and raffle prizes.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 06.30.2013


Lecavalier meeting with several teams

Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, June 29, 2013 4:30am

Vinny Lecavalier cannot sign with a new team until Friday, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. But with the buyout of his contract, the former Lightning star is free to negotiate with any team except Tampa Bay.

Lecavalier, 33, and his camp met in New York on Saturday with the Stars, Flyers, Blues, Ducks, Maple Leafs and Canadiens, and will meet with the Red Wings and Flames today, Canadian media reported.

"We're trying to move the process forward as quickly as possible," Lecavalier's agent, Kent Hughes, told the Tampa Bay Times. "We haven't set a definitive timetable."

Up to 15 teams are said to have shown interest in Lecavalier, including the Sharks and Panthers. Lecavalier hoped to have a list of teams in which he is seriously interested by this morning, to help teams with their draft-day strategies, reports said.

Lecavalier, whose $32.667 million buyout is the richest in league history, has not spoken publicly since Thursday's buyout announcement.

Asked how his client is handling the realization his 14-season career with the Lightning is over, Hughes said, "It's been a whirlwind. First, dealing with the media and then trying to figure out in short order what his future has in store. So, I don't know how much time he's had to sit back and think about it."

Bruins: Wing Nathan Horton told the team he wants a new beginning and will become an unrestricted free agent Friday, reports said.

Canucks: General manager Mike Gillis said teams have inquired about trading for goaltender Cory Schneider, the latest twist in Vancouver's year-long saga of what to do about its goalie situation. For months the team has been trying to get rid of Roberto Luongo, 34, who has nine years left on a deal with an annual salary cap charge of $5.33 million, but the deal has been hard to trade because of the money and the haul the team wants in return. Luongo also has been the subject of buyout speculation.

All-rookie team: As voted by Professional Hockey Writers' Association, the members are forwards Jonathan Huberdeau (Panthers), Brendan Gallagher (Canadiens) and Brandon Saad (Blackhawks); defensemen Jonas Brodin (Wild) and Justin Schultz (Oilers); and goalie Jake Allen (Blues).

Olympics: As expected, the Penguins' Dan Bylsma was named by USA Hockey as coach of the team for next year's Games at Sochi, Russia. Bylsma, 42, has no international coaching experience; he said he would rely on the advice of Americans who had coached at that level before.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.30.2013


No bad options in draft for Lightning at No. 3


Saturday, June 29, 2013 6:31pm

NEWARK, N.J. — Jonathan Drouin said exactly what he likely was coached to say when asked what he anticipates from today's NHL draft at the Prudential Center.

"It's been a long process," he said. "A lot of hype. I just want to be in a great organization."

But when pressed about perhaps being taken by the Lightning with the No. 3 overall pick and maybe one day playing on a line with Steven Stamkos, the left wing perked up.

"For sure," he said. "Tampa is a team I really like. They have a lot of young prospects. They have a really good team, so, obviously, I'd like to go to Tampa."

If things play out as many expect, Drouin, 18 — the MVP of the junior Quebec league last season and whom Al Murray, the Lightning's director of amateur scouting, called "as good a play-maker as there is in the draft" — might be Tampa Bay's choice.

Then again, the Lightning, desperate for an impact center after the buyout of Vinny Lecavalier, could go with Finland's Aleksander Barkov, who some believe is most NHL ready.

On the other hand, there are scenarios in which defenseman Seth Jones, ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the No. 1 North American skater, might fall to No. 3. If so, he would merit serious consideration.

The point is, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said, "regardless of who goes one and two, we get a really good prospect."

Yzerman is comfortable enough with his options, he said, that he doesn't feel a need to trade up or down.

That said, the Bruins, whose first pick is No. 60, want to move up and were rumored to have engaged Yzerman in talks for speedy right wing Tyler Seguin. How much traction the talks had was unclear. There also have been plenty of rumblings Yzerman is willing to part with left wing Ryan Malone. Tampa Bay also has a deep well of prospects with which to deal. (For more on the Seguin rumors, go to tampabay.com/blogs/lightning.)

Otherwise, what Tampa Bay does is dependent on what happens with the Avalanche at No. 1 and Panthers at No. 2. Colorado has indicated it will take right wing Nathan MacKinnon. Reports point to Florida taking Jones.

If it plays out that way, Tampa Bay might be deciding between Drouin, who last season had 41 goals and 105 points in 49 games for Halifax, and Barkov, whose 48 points last season were second for Tappara and a record for a 17-year-old in Finland's elite league.

A separated shoulder sustained in the first round of the playoffs is not expected to affect Barkov's status.

"He's big, and he's a very good skater," Murray said of the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder he compared to San Jose's Joe Thornton. "He doesn't run all over the place. He's not the first guy in on hits, but he's very conscious of his defensive positioning."

As for Drouin, "he will set (Stamkos) up night and day, all day long," said Don Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting. "Anyone who gets to play next to Drouin really appreciates him. Everybody talks about the kid playing on the third line, but he may have some of those first- and second-liners wanting to play with him."

The Lightning certainly will need another playmaker once Marty St. Louis, who turned 38 this month, calls it quits, and Drouin on Saturday met with Tampa Bay.

There still is plenty of time for intrigue. Trade chatter heated up for the Avalanche on Saturday.

"And I have no idea what Florida is thinking right now," Yzerman said. "I know (GM Dale Tallon) has considered moving back to four (from No. 2), so that could change things if Nashville were able to move up (from No. 4). We could potentially have to make a decision."

One that, it seems, will provide a good outcome.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at [email protected].

Top of the list

The Lightning likely will choose one of these players with the No. 3 overall draft pick today.

Aleksander Barkov

AGE: 17

POS: C

HT/WT: 6-2; 205

Need to know: Ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the No. 1 European skater. … Second on Tappara (Finland) with 48 points on 21 goals, 27 assists.

Jonathan Drouin

AGE: 18

POS: LW

HT/WT: 5-10;186

Need to know: The junior Quebec league's MVP with 41 goals and 105 points in 49 games for Halifax.

Seth Jones

AGE: 18

POS: D

HT/WT: 6-4; 205

Need to know: Ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the No. 1 North American skater. … Led the junior Western league at plus-46 and with 56 points on 14 goals, 42 assists in 61 games for Portland.

Nathan MacKinnon

AGE: 17

POS: C

HT/WT: 6-0; 182

Need to know: MVP of the Memorial Cup (the Canadian junior championship) with a tournament-best seven goals, 13 points in 13 games for winner Halifax.

Valeri Nichushkin

AGE: 18

POS: RW

HT/WT: 6-4; 202

Need to know: Had four goals, seven points in six games for Russia at the 2013 under-18 world championship. … A poor NHL combine hurt his status.

Draft details

Makeup: All seven rounds are today

Lightning picks: First round (third overall), second (33rd), fifth (124th), sixth (154th), seventh (184th and 186th)

Lightning watch party: 2-5 p.m., Champps Americana Sports Bar, International Plaza, Tampa

Draft order

First round

1. Colorado

2. Florida

3. Tampa Bay

4. Nashville

5. Carolina

6. Calgary

7. Edmonton

8. Buffalo

9. New Jersey

10. Dallas

11. Philadelphia

12. Phoenix

13. Winnipeg

14. Columbus

15. N.Y. Islanders

16. Buffalo (from Minnesota)

17. Ottawa

18. Detroit

19. Columbus (from N.Y. Rangers)

20. San Jose

21. Toronto

22. Calgary (from St. Louis)

23. Washington

24. Vancouver

25. Montreal

26. Anaheim

27. Columbus (from Los Angeles)

28. Calgary (from Pittsburgh)

29. Dallas (from Boston)

30. Chicago



As rumors swirl ahead of draft Lightning said to have interest in Bruins' Tyler Seguin


Saturday, June 29, 2013 3:49pm

The rumor mill kicked into high gear on Saturday and the Lightning had a prime place at the table as there was speculation it had interest in speedy Bruins right wing Tyler Seguin.

The basis for this rumor: Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli were seen speaking at the Jersey City hotel that is headquarters for both organizations ahead of Sunday’s draft in Newark N.J.

Of course, as one report noted, perhaps they were just making dinner plans. Still, Canada's RDS television network reported the Lightning was "one of many teams in the mix."

That said, it was unclear if the talks really had any traction, but they apparently were instigated by Boston’s wish to move up in the draft. The Bruins first pick is No. 60. Their first-round pick (No. 29) went to the Stars in the Jaromir Jagr deal.

The Lightning has the No. 3 overall pick. There also have been plenty of rumblings Yzerman wouldn’t mind parting with left wing Ryan Malone. Tampa Bay also has a deep well of prospects at forward with which to deal.

Yzerman has said he feels no need to move up or down because of the high quality prospects available at the top of the draft. On the other hand, for a team looking to get faster and younger and add an immediate impact player, Seguin might be an attractive asset.

Seguin, 21, had 16 goals, 32 points and was plus-23 in 48 games last season. The No. 2 overall pick of 2010 has 56 goals, 121 points in 203 career games. But he is expensive with five years left on a six-year, $34.5 million contract that pays $5.5 million next season.

The Lightning, thanks to its buyout of Vinny Lecavalier’s contract, has about $9 million of salary cap space.


683087 Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL draft: Maple Leafs have plenty of possible picks at No. 21

By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Sat Jun 29 2013

In the first round of Sunday’s NHL draft (TSN, 3 p.m.), the Maple Leafs pick 21st overall (barring a trade). Leafs GM Dave Nonis promises to take the best player available, regardless of position, in the first round. Here’s a look at some players who might be available at No. 21.

C Peter Lodge, Saginaw Spirit

Lodge is rated the 21st-best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. He had 28 goals and 39 assists in 64 games for the Spirit, a substantial jump from his rookie season (eight goals, four assists in 45 games). He represented the United States at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, getting two assists in four games. His parents moved from Pennsylvania to Toronto so he could play for the Toronto Titans of the GTHL.

C Bo Horvat, London Knights

Horvat, ranked 15th among North American skaters, scored a league-leading 16 goals in 21 games during the 2013 Ontario Hockey League playoffs, including the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the OHL championship with 0.1 seconds left in regulation. The six-foot, physical centre was named the most valuable player of the OHL playoffs. In 2012-13, Horvat had 33 goals and 28 assists in 67 regular-season games. He represented Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka tournament with four points in five games for the gold-medal team.

C Max Domi, London Knights

Domi is the 19th-ranked skater in North America, according to NHL Central Scouting. His stock seems to be rising the closer we get to the draft. A slick playmaker, the five-foot-nine Domi led the Knights and finished second overall in playoff scoring with 32 points (11G, 21A) in 21 games. Domi also tied for eighth in regular-season scoring with 87 points (39G, 48A) in 64 games. He’s a Type 1 diabetic and celiac, which may scare a few teams. The Leafs drafted his father, Tie, 27th overall in 1988.

LW Kerby Rychel, Windsor Spitfires

Speaking of sons of former Leafs, Rychel is ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Warren Rychel’s kid led the Spitfires by scoring 40 goals for the second consecutive season and finished in a tie for eighth in the OHL with 87 points in 68 games. Rychel won bronze with Team Canada at the 2012 under-18 world championship, tying for the team lead in goals (5), and won gold as an alternate captain at the 2011 Hlinka tournament.

F Frederik Gauthier, Rimouski Oceanic

Gauthier is ranked seventh among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, but one respected mock draft — by TSN — has him dropping down.

He ranked fourth among first-year players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 60 points (22G, 28A) in 62 games during the 2012-13 season. He also led all first-year players in faceoff winning percentage (46.6 per cent). He helped Team Canada earn gold at the 2013 under-18 world championship with a goal and three assists in seven games. All three assists came during playoff games.

G Zachary Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads

Fucale is the top-rated goalie in the draft. He posted a 16-1-0 record in the QMJHL playoffs before backstopping Halifax to its first Memorial Cup. In 2012-13, Fucale led all QMJHL goaltenders with 45 wins (45-5-2-1) and was second overall with a 2.14 goals-against average. He is almost certain to be Canada’s goalie next year at the world junior championship.

D Rasmus Ristolainen, Finland

There’s been a lot of pre-draft buzz about Ristolainen, the fourth-ranked European skater. He’s a physical defenceman, patterning himself after Shea Weber. He competed for Team Finland at the 2012 and 2013 world

junior championships, totalling nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 13 tournament games.

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.30.2013


NHL draft: Tyler Seguin, Cory Schneider in trade buzz


NEWARK, N.J.—There may be more NHL trade rumours than there are draft picks.

It was a wild Saturday on the eve of the draft, if speculation is what you’re after: Now both Vancouver goalies on the trade market, Tyler Seguin is available from the Boston Bruins, David Perron from the St. Louis Blues, Cal Clutterbuck from the Minnesota Wild.

Everybody — except Chicago, apparently — wants Vincent Lecavalier. The Maple Leafs and Flyers met with the bought-out Lightning star on Saturday.

Some teams are pressed up against the salary cap. Some are trying to move up the draft ladder.

“A lot has to do with the buyouts and the cap number going down,” said Florida GM Dale Tallon. “The next five or six days, there’ll be an explosion.”

On the hard-news front:

The Maple Leafs have tendered contracts to all of their restricted free agents: Nazem Kadri, Joe Colborne, Frazer McLaren, Carl Gunnarsson, Cody Franson, Mark Fraser and Jonathan Bernier. Fraser appears ready to turn down the two-way deal he was offered. The deadline for acceptance is July 15. Teams retain a player’s rights, but they become eligible to accept offer sheets.

Nathan Horton has told the Bruins he’ll be leaving to test the free agent market. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent July 5.

“This was his choice,” Horton’s agent, Paul Krepelka, told CSNNE.com. “This wasn’t a monetary decision. This was the choice that Nathan thought was best for him.”

The Bruins are taking offers on Seguin, who has a six-year deal that will start paying him $5.75 million per season beginning next year. They want to open up some salary cap room to give Patrice Bergeron a mega-deal.

The goaltending mix, which already includes Ilya Bryzgalov, bought out in Philly, got more crowded with word the Sabres are shopping Ryan Miller. Buffalo sniper Thomas Vanek is also said to be available from the rebuilding team.

Minnesota Wild centre Pierre-Marc Bouchard, a 10-year veteran, will also test free agency, said agent Allen Walsh.

Lecavalier, meanwhile, also met with the Dallas Stars, who have money to spend.

“Vincent Lecavalier would be a good fit with most teams in the league at the right dollars,” said Ottawa GM Bryan Murray.

The circus that is Vancouver’s goaltending situation took a surprising turn when GM Mike Gillis revealed he’s been asked about Cory Schneider, with rumours suggesting Edmonton is after him. The Canucks, of course, have been trying to trade Roberto Luongo for months. Gillis said he may have to buy out Luongo, but nothing was certain.

“You have to listen,” Gillis said Saturday. “If you’re in any business, you have to listen to what the proposals may be and act accordingly. That’s what we’re doing.”

As for the draft, there was all kinds of speculation that Colorado would trade the No. 1 overall pick. Patrick Roy, the Avs’ new coach and a member of the club’s complicated front office, was not speaking on Saturday.

Florida’s Tallon, who holds the second pick, said he wasn’t holding his breath about Colorado’s decision.

“I know we have four guys or five or six guys we really like,” said Tallon. “We’re going to take the best player we think will help our franchise. We’re very fortunate to have the second pick in such a deep draft. Whatever Colorado does, I can’t control.”

Nashville, at No. 4, had seemed likely to trade its pick, but GM David Poile sounded like he was staying put.

“I’m not going to be comfortable till we know what we get at four,” Poile said.



NHL draft: ‘It’s all guesswork,’ professor says


NEWARK, N.J.—This is the day NHL general managers will boast that they can’t believe a certain player was still around.

This is the day that will give rise to those backstories down the road about the guy taken in the fifth round who scores the winning goal in the Stanley Cup final.

The top of Sunday’s NHL draft is almost too easy to predict. We know Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin are going to be taken, just not the order. It’s the bottom of the draft where careers are made and myths are born.

It’s all a bit much to Peter Tingling, a business professor at Simon Fraser University in B.C. who has analyzed years of NHL drafts looking for insight into how decisions are made.

His conclusion:

“It’s all guesswork,” asserts the professor. “Our research says nobody is particularly good at making (draft) decisions. There are people who have the reputation of having made great decisions. There’s this myth of Detroit as a great late-round chooser.

“I would tell you it’s a bit of a myth. They do a great job (scouting) in Europe, not so good in North America. But what Detroit is absolutely tremendous at is retaining and developing players.

“At some point, drafting well is useless if you can’t develop and retain (the players), as many teams know.”

Tingling looked at the 1995-2003 draft years — he even presented a paper called “Better Off Guessing” before reaching his conclusions.

“What teams are really good? “ said Tingling. “The short answer is no team is consistently good. Central Scouting does an amazing job of identifying the first 60, 70 players, maybe 100. After that, it basically flatlines.

“There doesn’t appear to be any decision process at all,” added Tingling. “Teams generally hope to not be unlucky in the first round.”

Some findings:

A top-10 pick works out 88 per cent of the time.

An 11-to-30 pick works out about 65 per cent of the time.

A pick in rounds 2 and 3 works out about 22 per cent of the time.

A pick in rounds 4 to 7 works out about 12 per cent of the time.

Tingling defines a player who got into at least 160 NHL games as one who worked out.

He’s noticed a couple of other trends along the way. For instance, NHL GMs last about 5.4 years in the job. Those who are early in their tenure take more risks than those in the later years of their tenure.

This particular scenario fits the new front office in Colorado of Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy. They face a great deal of pressure to pick Jones, the local product deemed by Central Scouting to be the No.1 skater in the draft. The Avs have made it clear they’re not taking Jones first overall and they’ve been very loud about possibly trading the pick.

“It would take an incredibly bold GM to not pick the top one or two guys,” said Tingling. “It also depends on how long you’ve been GM for.

“When you’re a GM in the early part of your tenure, you could probably afford to take a few risks. Toward the end, your leash is shortened, you have to make more conforming decisions in many ways.”

Most teams say the goal in the seven-round draft is to go seven-for-seven. None have. But it is possible, says Tingling, because every year late-round draft picks make it.

“Very few teams actually measure their scouts in terms of the quality of their decision making,” said Tingling. “Success has many fathers and failure is an orphan.”

He cites the story of some Ottawa scouts telling their GM in 1992 that the Senators should pick Chris Pronger instead of Alexandre Daigle. The pressure was on the Sens to take a francophone scoring phenom.

“Wouldn’t you want to know who those scouts were? That’s the key question,” Tingling said. “People don’t really track that stuff, and they probably should.

“I would say NHL scouts have a memory somewhere between a goldfish and a mutual fund manager.”



n one season.

By: Tim Alamenciak News reporter, Published on Sat Jun 29 2013

The NHL lockout will soon pay dividends for hockey card collectors.

For just the second time, next season’s batch of cards will include two valuable rookie series instead of one, after none were released during the recent abbreviated campaign.

“The rookies are the juice that keeps this industry simmering,” said Steve Edgar, manager of From Hockey to Hollywood, a Toronto collectibles store.

After the lockout of 2004-05, fans scrambled for boxes of Upper Deck’s Series 1 for a shot at Sidney Crosby’s rookie card, now valued at $300. Boxes — containing 192 cards in 24 packs — that were hoarded and kept sealed from that season more than tripled in value in just two years, according to Edgar, adding there was bedlam at the time of that release. The cartons sold for $79.99 at first, then went for as much as $300 as they became harder to get.

“You sold through whatever you could get, and then you’d try and find them on the secondary market,” Edgar said of the 2005-06 sets, which also included Alex Ovechkin’s rookie card.

Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau will be among the drawing cards when the new sets hit the market, starting with the Trilogy series on July 2 — just two days after the NHL draft. The premier Upper Deck Series 1, though, won’t reach stores until early November. One game of NHL experience makes a player eligible for a rookie card.

The unpredictable timing of the end to the recent lockout meant companies couldn’t get cards printed in time, said Upper Deck spokesperson Chris Carlin, resulting in this year’s rookie double cohort: “What you have is a situation where there’s a tremendous amount of value.”

Gregg Lang, who first took up card collecting after that 2004-05 lockout, says he spent $100 a week that first year and doubled his money because of the extra rookie content.

“It’s like a lottery ticket. You just get lucky or you don’t,” he said. “As an investment opportunity, these are probably the world’s most colourful stock and bond. When you pop open a pack, the new card smell is very addictive to people. There’s often jokes that they put a little whiff of heroin inside.”



Leafs have sit-down with Lecavalier

By Lance Hornby ,Toronto Sun

First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 11:32 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 12:02 AM EDT

NEW YORK — - Like hopefuls trying to land a big part in a Broadway play, the Maple Leafs joined the lineup of teams being auditioned by Vincent Lecavalier.

General manager Dave Nonis and his assistant/salary cap specialist Claude Loiselle came to a hotel in midtown New York late Saturday for a meeting with the surprise free-agent catch of draft weekend.

Lecavalier and agent Kent Hughes spoke to about half the 30 teams as day and night wore on with more to come Sunday.

Nonis would not comment on the vibe of the meeting when contacted by the Toronto Sun.

Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia and Montreal were among the suitors granted a few minutes to make a pitch and one team (not the Leafs) met with him at least an hour. Toronto, with a need for size and experience down the middle, even if UFA Tyler Bozak returns, have obvious interest in a quick fix such as Lecavalier.

Though he’s now sitting on a $30 million US compliance buyout from Tampa Bay spread over the next 14 years, the 33-year-old Lecavalier is adamant he has something to offer the right team if a dollar figure is reached. He had a $7.7 million cap hit last year, but would take a haircut after his production numbers began to fall off a few years ago.

As a team, the Leafs are in much better shape than if this chance had arisen a couple of years ago, but there is likely concern from Lecavalier about the optics. Picking Toronto means snubbing his home-province of Quebec, which has fantasized about his return for years.

Fraser phased out?

While chasing Lecavalier, the Leafs might be saying goodbye to one of their hardiest performers last season. Defenceman Mark Fraser, who fought his way back to the NHL through the Marlies and helped Toronto forge its abrasive identity, has rejected a two-way qualifying offer, according to a TSN report.

Such a move on the Leafs’ part would not have sat well with Fraser, whose season ended with a frontal skull fracture after being struck with a puck in a playoff game against the Bruins.

“He rejected his offer which was tendered simply to retain his rights,” Nonis said in an e-mail. “(It was) not unexpected.”

Fraser’s agent, Larry Kelly, could not be reached for comment.

Burke back to work

The last time Team USA named its Olympic Games hierarchy, Brian Burke and Ron Wilson were chortling how unpopular they would be in Toronto and Canada as GM and coach, respectively, if the Yanks won.

They did get within a goal of a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, but wound up being reviled in Leafs Nation for other reasons. For 2014, Burke has an undefined player personnel role, in a group including six current NHL GMs. Wilson has been replaced as coach by Pittsburgh’s Dan Bylsma.

Burke, who was hired as a scout in Anaheim and has mostly kept a low profile since his dismissal in January, and Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren were the only execs absent at a Team USA press conference on Saturday in New York. Burke was changing planes in Moscow said an official.

Rushing Jake to Russia

When Poile said he would put a premium on skating for his team on the big ice in Sochi, Russia, next year, Jake Gardiner’s ears must have perked up.

Why not look at the young Leaf defenceman, who glides almost effortlessly, can pinch and get back in a flash? Poile agrees youth will be part of his

August orientation camp in Washington, ., in fact 2013 star draft pick Seth Jones is on the radar. But before Poile could be asked about other potential Leafs such as Phil Kessel, John-Michael Liles and James van Riemsdyk, he said he had not discuss current NHLers until his staff meets.

“I don’t want to offend anyone,” Poile said.

Loose Leafs

The Leafs and all teams will be closely monitored on the three-minute rule per pick on Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark as the NHL attempts to get all seven rounds completed between

3 p.m. and the 11 o’clock news. The league intends to chop one hour off the usual ceremonies in the first round alone. “It’s going to be rock and roll,” said Florida GM Dale Tallon .... Among those at the Leaf table on Sunday will be Nonis, Loiselle, VP Dave Poulin, amateur scouting director Dave Morrison, advisors Cliff Fletcher and Steve Staios, player development director Jim Hughes and European scout Thommie Bergman ... A rare sight Sunday will be a Leaf wearing Mats Sundin’s 13. Drafted juniors are getting the franchise leading scorer’s number for the photo-op because it’s the 2013 class, but it will likely remain as sacrosanct as Wendel Clark’s 17 has the past decade ... Toronto could get the 2017 draft as part of their 100th anniversary ... This is the 50th anniversary of the first NHL draft, when only 16-year-olds were eligible. The Leafs first pick was Walt McKechnie, who didn’t start out in blue and white but was traded to Toronto in 1978. Garry Monahan, picked first overall by Montreal, also eventually played for the Leafs. Defenceman Jim McKenny was also among the 21 picked that year.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.30.2013


Two weeks to fix a franchise: Toronto Maple Leafs


The Leafs need to figure out whether to keep unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak or look elsewhere.

With the National Hockey League Entry Draft taking place on Sunday and NHL free agency right around the corner, the league’s general managers will have a chance to retool or reload for the next season. Throughout the week, we’ll look at the seven Canadian teams and the moves they could make. Our last piece: the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Two weeks to fix a franchise: The Ottawa Senators

2013 season 26-17-5, third in Northeast, fifth in the East

First-round picks No. 21 overall

Moveable pieces Toronto already traded backup goalie Ben Scrivens and forward Matt Frattin to Los Angeles for Jonathan Bernier, but with a bevy of young defencemen (Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner, Jesse Blacker, Stuart Percy), there is another potential deal to be made.

Buyout-bound Mike Komisarek, who was buried in the minors last season, has one year remaining at US$3.5-million.

What should happen The Leafs, who acquired Bernier to challenge James Reimer for the starting job, addressed their goaltending situation. Now it is time to look elsewhere in the lineup. The biggest hole is still up the middle, where the team lacks a legitimate top-line centre. The defence could also use a big body to play in the top four, as well as some size and skill on the wings to replace the losses of Frattin, Leo Komarov, and potentially Clarke MacArthur.

What shouldn’t happen The Leafs should not automatically assume that last year’s success will be replicated and try to get by with the same lineup. Sure, impact players such as Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk are likely to get better as they mature, but this team was exposed down the stretch and is still not good enough to advance past the first round. The acquisition of Bernier is an indication that general manager Dave Nonis also believes this roster needs to get better.

Immediate needs Before the Leafs can hit the open market they have to take care of some house-cleaning. Kadri, Franson and Carl Gunnarsson need new contracts — and they will not be cheap. From there, the team needs to figure out whether to keep unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak or look elsewhere.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Luis M. Alvarez

Best-case scenario The Leafs let Bozak walk and send Franson to the Colorado Avalanche (and perhaps a second-round pick) for centre Paul Stastny. The team, which has just 11 players under contract and US$19-million in available cap space, signs both David Clarkson and Andrew Ference.

Worst-case scenario Nonis overpays for Bozak, who is seeking around US$5-million, and is once again forced to rely on a minor-leaguers such as Mark Fraser and Mike Kostka or a teenager like Morgan Rielly to play a big roles on defence.

Post-script Will the Leafs take a chance on Vincent Lecavalier? He might not be the same player who scored 50 goals, but he is still an upgrade over Bozak and the closest thing this team would have to a No. 1 centre since Mats Sundin.


683093 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ practice facility to host 2014 U.S. Olympic men’s team camp

Katie Carrera

June 29, 2013 at 4:33 pm

USA Hockey announced Saturday that the Capitals’ practice facility, Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, will host the 2014 U.S. Olympic men’s national team orientation camp from Aug. 25 to 29.

Designed to prepare the team that will compete during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, the camp will be an offseason highlight in the Washington area not long before the start of NHL training camps in September.

“We are thrilled that Kettler Capitals Iceplex has been chosen by USA Hockey to host their 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team Orientation Camp,” General Manager George McPhee said in a news release. “This selection is a testament to the growing popularity of hockey in the Washington area and we feel there is no better place to hold the U.S. Olympic camp than the Nation’s capital.”

Details about the camp, including whether the sessions will be open to the public, have not been released yet.

Also on Saturday, USA Hockey named Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma as head coach of the 2014 U.S Olympic men’s team.

Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile, who was the Capitals’ GM from 1982 to 1997, will serve as the squad’s general manager. Pittsburgh’s Ray Shero will join as associate general manager while Brian Burke will be director of player personnel.

While the NHL and the International Olympic Committee have yet to reach a formal agreement that allows NHL players to participate in Sochi, the sides are expected to strike a deal soon. A resolution could even come as early as Monday, when officials from the NHL, IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation are scheduled to meet in New York.

Washington Post LOADED: 06.30.2013

683094 Winnipeg Jets

Manitoba's big shooter

Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- When there wasn't a microphone stuck in his face or an NHL GM probing his psyche this week, Ryan Pulock's mind invariably drifted back to one place. The memory of his younger brother Brock.

"I've thought of him a lot this week. I wish he was here. My whole family does," said Grandview's Pulock.

The 18-year-old Brandon Wheat Kings captain is predicted to be a first-round selection in today's NHL Draft and, according to TSN draft expert Bob McKenzie, owns the best shot in the draft.

Pulock spoke to the Free Press on Saturday from his hotel in Newark, surrounded by eight family members including his father Dave, mother Tannis and older brother Derrick.

Younger brother Brock was killed in a car accident in March of 2010.

"Most of my memories of Brock this week have been from our time playing minor hockey together or just fooling around at the rink. We were only a few years apart in age and we were close. We spent a lot of time together," said Pulock. "If I get to hear my name called on Sunday, I'll turn to mom and dad first and I know all of us will be thinking about Brock."

It doesn't take much to realize whatever team drafts Pulock will be getting a lot more than a shot that has been compared to that of Hall of Famer Al Macinnis.

"His defining trait is his shot. He's got an elite NHL shot right now," said Brandon Wheat Kings GM and owner Kelly McCrimmon. "He makes the simple play and he passes the puck hard and on the tape. He's a powerful guy. He's already 214 pounds. But there are a lot of intangibles with Ryan.

"He's from a great family. He has great commitment and does everything possible to be the best player he can be. He's got great leadership qualities and is very respected by his teammates. (He) shows all people respect. He'll give himself every opportunity to be a good pro."

McCrimmon drafted Pulock and brought him to Brandon just a few short months after Brock died. He carefully watched over Pulock to make sure he was OK on the ice and emotionally.

In September of 2011, McCrimmon lost his own brother and long-time NHLer Brad, in an airplane crash involving the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League.

"March 29th is the day Brock died and it's also Brad's birthday," said McCrimmon. "As it turns out that day has some significance to the both of us."

Pulock agrees.

"It's an important day for both us. It's a unique situation," he said. "We'll both think of our brothers on that day forever. Brock has been in my family's hearts and minds a lot this week. One hundred per cent I'll be thinking of him (Sunday). He'll be right along there with us as the experience unfolds."

Pulock quickly adjusted to life in the WHL, scoring 42 points as a rookie to break the franchise mark for 16-year-old defencemen previously held by Wade Redden (39 points).

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's a top-pair NHL defenceman, but as a fallback he's for sure a second-pair D-man," said McCrimmon.

As for the big shot, Pulock says it's part hard work and part genetic.

"When we went to the rink as kids I took a lot of shots. I might have inherited some of it. My dad played junior in Dauphin and they tell me he could shoot it, too," Pulock.

Any playful banter in the house over who had the better shot?

"Nope. He doesn't bring it up. Which makes me think I have the better shot," said Pulock with a laugh.

Pulock may have a lot more fans after an NHL team and its supporters latch on to him today, but he won't forget the folks in Grandview, a town of 800 people located 45 kilometres west of Dauphin.

"The support I've been given from the people at home in Grandview, they've been great to me. I wish I could have brought them all with me," said Pulock.

While all of Grandview won't be in the Prudential Center today when the NHL Draft gets underway, many local folks will be gathered to watch one of their favourite sons go through a moment of a lifetime.

The Grandview Kinsmen Community Centre will be full of his friends and neighbours.

"There will be more than 200 of us," said Grand Plains minor hockey volunteer Jeff Legaarden via telephone. "If you know the Pulock family, you know what great people they are. And if you know Ryan, you know what a respectful young man he is. He's great with people of all ages. Whether it's the two-year-old kids hanging around at the rink for the first time or their 85-year-old grandparents that are there to watch them, Ryan has time for all of them. And a way with all of them. It's not too often that a Parkland kid has the chance to get drafted, let alone go in the first round. It doesn't matter if it's the first or second round, it'll be pretty wild when they call his name. We're proud of Ryan as a community."

Pulock said he's ready for the moment.

"I'm feeling good. Getting a little excited. This is what all kids think of when they're skating on the rink or just dreaming about hockey," he said. "This is the first step towards playing in the NHL."

As for where he gets drafted, Pulock says it doesn't matter, but admits there would a something a little special about hearing one team call his name.

"I just want to play in the NHL one day and whatever team it may be, I'm going to be thrilled by it," he said. "Being from Manitoba and playing all of my hockey in Manitoba, Winnipeg would be pretty cool. Any team will make me happy but the Jets would be special and unique for obvious reasons."

The Jets, eh? We all understand hockey is a business and they'll have to do what is best for the team when their number comes up. Pulock is ranked a little deeper in the first round than Winnipeg's pick at 13th.

So it's an unlikely scenario.

But part of the package teams look for is the quality of the person. It's not just about the best player and I can tell you this, the Jets couldn't draft a better person.

Not this year. Not any year.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.30.2013


Jets' Enstrom victimized in robbery, beating

Ed Tait

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Toby Enstrom probably wishes he could put 2013 in the rear-view mirror.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman was robbed and assaulted in his hometown of ñrnskldsvik, Sweden Friday night but is recovering with only minor injuries. Swedish website SportExpressen.se first reported the 28-year-old defenceman was beaten by three men and robbed.

The Jets became aware of the incident Saturday morning.

"We've done some digging through our team security," said Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff Saturday at his media conference in advance of Sunday's NHL Draft in Newark.

Minor cut

"Apparently Toby was out for dinner with his family and went to pick up the cheque and went to the ATM to get some money and was robbed by three people. Supposedly, to the best of our knowledge, those people have been apprehended by police. Toby is fine. He received a minor cut above the eye. He's putting it behind him."

Cheveldayoff spoke Jets' security and later Saturday to Enstrom himself and was assured Enstrom was OK.

Enstrom is coming off a frustrating campaign with the Jets in which he appeared in only 22 games because of injuries. But he remains a key cog in the team's defensive corps and, before being injured, was leading NHL defencemen in scoring.

The Jets are breathing a sigh of relief the assault left Enstrom with just minor injuries.

"They're like your kids and when they go away for the summer you're always worried about different things like that," said Cheveldayoff.

"Toby's such a good guy, and to have it happen to him is unfortunate, but it just goes to show you're never safe and you always have to be on guard."



Time for Jets' scouts to relax

Ed Tait

NEW YORK -- The Winnipeg Jets have stockpiled 10 picks in the 2013 NHL Draft, tied for the most among their rivals with Buffalo, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Now the question is, will director of amateur scouting Marcel Comeau and the scouting staff hear 10 different names called out by his boss Kevin Cheveldayoff, or will some of them be moved?

WINNIPEG PICKS

Round 1: 13th

Round 2: 43rd, 59th, 61st

Round 3: 74th, 91st

Round 4: 104th

Round 5: 134th

Round 6: None (164th traded to Pittsburgh for Eric Tangradi)

Round 7: 190th, 194th

Prepared

"My staff, I told them to be prepared in the event we don't use them," said Cheveldayoff.

"They're all good about it. When the phone rings and you're on there with someone and (Jets' scouts) hear a third- or a fourth- or a fifth- (round pick), they're not paying attention as much.

"They hear second or they hear first and it's like they have to strain their neck a little bit.

"They're invested in making this organization better. They're the ones, on the amateur side, they don't get to watch the Jets play 82 times. They're out on the rinks, they're out pounding the pavement, going through the snowstorms to try and find that player that is going to put us over the top. That needs to be respected.

"We're very focussed on working to keep our RFAs and working to build through the draft to develop an organization that is strong and has lots of depth. It starts right here."

The Jets have their first-round pick, 13th overall, and three in the second round -- their own at 43rd, a compensatory pick at 59 for not signing 2008 first-rounder Daultan Leveille and the 61st choice as part of the deal that sent Johnny Oduya to Chicago at the trade deadline in 2012.

"It's been a lot of work, but this is a day you look forward to," said Comeau. "Right now everybody's got a smile on their face, all the work we've put in is just around the corner and we're going to get something for it.

"We're all in this together, we all want to see this team get better as soon as we can, so whatever pieces we can add is all for the good as far as I'm concerned. Our job is to acquire assets for management to manage."

Hailed

This draft is being hailed as among the deepest and best in over a decade, drawing comparisons to the star-studded lot of 2003 that included Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Ryan Suter, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, Brent Seabrook, Dustin Brown, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards and Corey Perry.

Comeau, like a lot of NHL types, figures there are at least five players who are NHL-ready right now.

"It's really good," Comeau said. "There's going to be some really good players who go in the second round, and as you go deeper into the draft, players (will) need more development time and have a couple more warts than some of the guys who went in front of them.

"There's a lot of scouts saying this (draft) is the best in quite awhile."



Chevy looking to move up

Ed Tait

WHO MIGHT BE THERE AT NO. 13?

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- There was a moment Saturday when the tall and the short of the 2013 NHL Draft -- both literally and figuratively -- was on display in a hotel lobby, with the diminutive Max Domi spotted walking alongside mammoth defenceman Samuel Morin.

Upstairs conference rooms were buzzing as four NHL teams -- the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames -- are all sharing space in the same hotel, all conducting last-minute player interviews, all sharing chatter and gossip in the hours before today's draft.

"Right now the happiest people are the phone companies, there's no question about it," said Jets' GM Kevin Cheveldayoff with a grin. "There's lots of GMs with cellphones attached to their ear.

"It's unpredictable. Each draft seems to take on its own life and certainly there's lots of new factors that come into play on this one. At some point in time I imagine some trades will start to happen. Will they happen today, tomorrow on the floor or after the draft... people have mentioned compliance buyouts... there's lots of different nuances and complexities."

The Jets, who hold the 13th pick in the first round, three more in the second and 10 overall, conducted interviews with 88 players at the draft combine earlier this month and planned to chat again with 10-12 players this weekend. Sources say the last three interviews Jets conducted Saturday included Domi, Morin and Curtis Lazar of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

Other prospects spotted Saturday at the Jets' hotel included Ottawa 67s centre Sean Monahan, Valeri Nichushkin of the KHL's Chelyaninsk, both of whom are now expected to be plucked before Winnipeg picks at 13... unless the Jets make a deal to move up in the first round.

"We're trying," Cheveldayoff admitted. "It's different for different teams to try and move up. Sitting at 13, depending on where you want to go, sometimes it's a roster player (being asked for) and you have to decide whether you have that ability to move a roster player to move into that situation, and sometimes it's pick. A lot of times the teams you are talking to don't want to commit until they know who's there for them. If it's a player (available) that they like, then all your work is for naught.

"Similarly, teams below us are making the calls and the requisite overtures and you set your prices from those things. You're here to re-stock and stock your teams with young talent and future building blocks for your organization."

And it's here where the Jets must weigh filling the current holes on their roster vs. stockpiling young talent. Cheveldayoff has key restricted free agents to re-sign, such as Blake Wheeler and Zach Bogosian, and nine unrestricted free agents -- a good half dozen of which are likely to leave -- that leave some significant question marks on the depth chart.

There has been talk about compliance buyouts and the usual assortment of trade rumours -- the speculation swirling even more so this year because of the drop in the salary cap that has handcuffed teams pushed up against it.

"There's lots of conversation and it goes in both directions, players that we've asked about, players (of their own) that have been asked about us," said Cheveldayoff. "Obviously at the draft here, draft picks are en vogue part of the conversation. You make certain calls to different teams depending on their situations and where they are in the draft, about maybe potentially moving up and seeing what that price is, what their appetite is and when they are going to do it or if they are going to do it."

It would be shocking if the Jets used their first-round pick to grab a goaltender and there are some young defensive prospects in the system, including last year's first-rounder, Jacob Trouba. The Jets have some serious needs, both with the big club and in their system, along the right side, and so the consensus from draft watchers is they will likely go with a forward with their first pick.

"I do have several No. 1 priorities," said Cheveldayoff. "We're a team that's made it well known that we'd like to find some things on the right side, on the right wing, but we're looking to enhance any position.

"There is some unpredictability. I can only go back to last year and think about the excitement that was beginning to brew at our table when it looked like Jacob Trouba was going to potentially be there for us. When that came to fruition, you almost wanted to run up to the podium and make sure it is your turn.

"To say that (a player) will ever be there when you're in your meetings and then you catch yourself and say, 'Well, you never know...' especially when you are getting into that realm.

"Scouting is an art, not a science, and like many artists, they all have different styles. Every scouting director is going to look at different things. That's what makes for the most intriguing part of the draft: the unpredictability."



Cheveldayoff focused on priorities as buzz builds at NHL Draft

Ed Tait

06/29/2013 9:23 PM

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — There was a moment Saturday when the tall and the short of the 2013 NHL Draft — both literally and figuratively — was on display in a hotel lobby, with the diminutive Max Domi spotted walking alongside mammoth defenceman Samuel Morin.

Upstairs conference rooms were buzzing as four NHL teams — the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames — are all sharing space in the same hotel, all conducting last-minute player interviews, all sharing chatter and gossip in the hours before today’s draft.

"Right now the happiest people are the phone companies, there’s no question about it," said Jets’ GM Kevin Cheveldayoff with a grin. "There’s lots of GMs with cellphones attached to their ear.

"It’s unpredictable. Each draft seems to take on its own life and certainly there’s lots of new factors that come into play on this one. At some point in time I imagine some trades will start to happen. Will they happen today, tomorrow on the floor or after the draft... people have mentioned compliance buyouts... there’s lots of different nuances and complexities."

The Jets, who hold the 13th pick in the first round, three more in the second and 10 overall, conducted interviews with 88 players at the draft combine earlier this month and planned to chat again with 10-12 players this weekend. Sources say the last three interviews Jets conducted Saturday included Domi, Morin and Curtis Lazar of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

Other prospects spotted Saturday at the Jets’ hotel included Ottawa 67s centre Sean Monahan, Valeri Nichushkin of the KHL’s Chelyaninsk, both of whom are now expected to be plucked before Winnipeg picks at 13... unless the Jets make a deal to move up in the first round.

"We’re trying," Cheveldayoff admitted. "It’s different for different teams to try and move up. Sitting at 13, depending on where you want to go, sometimes it’s a roster player (being asked for) and you have to decide whether you have that ability to move a roster player to move into that situation, and sometimes it’s a pick. A lot of times the teams you are talking to don’t want to commit until they know who’s there for them. If it’s a player (available) that they like, then all your work is for naught.

"Similarly, teams below us are making the calls and the requisite overtures and you set your prices from those things. You’re here to re-stock and stock your teams with young talent and future building blocks for your organization."

And it’s here where the Jets must weigh filling the current holes on their roster vs. stockpiling young talent. Cheveldayoff has key restricted free agents to re-sign, such as Blake Wheeler and Zach Bogosian, and nine unrestricted free agents — a good half-dozen of which are likely to leave — that leave some significant question marks on the depth chart.

There has been talk about compliance buyouts and the usual assortment of trade rumours — the speculation swirling even more so this year because of the drop in the salary cap that has handcuffed teams pushed up against it.

"There’s lots of conversation and it goes in both directions, players that we’ve asked about, players (of their own) that have been asked about us," said Cheveldayoff. "Obviously at the draft here, draft picks are en vogue part of the conversation. You make certain calls to different teams depending on their situations and where they are in the draft, about maybe potentially moving up and seeing what that price is, what their appetite is and when they are going to do it or if they are going to do it."

It would be shocking if the Jets used their first-round pick to grab a goaltender and there are some young defensive prospects in the system, including last year’s first-rounder, Jacob Trouba. The Jets have some serious needs, both with the big club and in their system, along the right

side, and so the consensus from draft watchers is they will likely go with a forward with their first pick.

"I do have several No. 1 priorities," said Cheveldayoff. "We’re a team that’s made it well-known that we’d like to find some things on the right side, on the right wing, but we’re looking to enhance any position.

"There is some unpredictability. I can only go back to last year and think about the excitement that was beginning to brew at our table when it looked like Jacob Trouba was going to potentially be there for us. When that came to fruition, you almost wanted to run up to the podium and make sure it is your turn.

"To say that (a player) will ever be there when you’re in your meetings and then you catch yourself and say, ‘Well, you never know...’ especially when you are getting into that realm.

"Scouting is an art, not a science, and like many artists, they all have different styles. Every scouting director is going to look at different things. That’s what makes for the most intriguing part of the draft: the unpredictability."



Jets' Enstrom robbed, assaulted in Sweden

Ed Tait

06/29/2013 7:11 PM

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Toby Enstrom probably wishes he could put 2013 permanently in the rear-view mirror.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman was robbed and assaulted in his hometown of Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Friday night but is recovering with only minor injuries. Swedish website SportExpressen.se first reported the 28-year-old defenceman was beaten by three men and robbed.

The Jets became aware of the incident Saturday morning.

"We’ve done some digging through our team security," said Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff Saturday at his media conference in advance of Sunday’s NHL Draft in Newark.

"Apparently Toby was out for dinner with his family and went to pick up the cheque and went to the ATM to get some money and was robbed by three people. Supposedly, to the best of our knowledge, those people have been apprehended by police. Toby is fine. He received a minor cut above the eye. He’s putting it behind him."

Cheveldayoff spoke to Jets’ security and later Saturday to Enstrom himself and was assured Enstrom was OK.

Enstrom is coming off a frustrating campaign with the Jets in which he appeared in only 22 games because of injuries. But he remains a key cog in the team’s defensive corps and, before being injured, was leading all NHL defencemen in scoring.

The Jets are breathing a sigh of relief the assault left Enstrom with just minor injuries.

"They’re like your kids and when they go away for the summer you’re always worried about different things like that," said Cheveldayoff.

"Toby’s such a good guy and to have it happen to him is unfortunate, but it just goes to show you’re never safe and you always have to be on guard."



Jets gear up for future

Ken Wiebe

June 29, 2013 11:48 PM CDT

NEW YORK CITY -- It's down to a matter of when the Winnipeg Jets will make their first pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and ultimately, who it's going to be.

Going into what is likely to be an incredibly long day, cramming seven rounds into Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the Jets hold 10 selections, including six in the first three rounds in what is being called the deepest draft in recent memory.

Currently holding the 13th overall selection, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff reiterated hat he's interested in moving up in the draft but based on reports, the price tag right is still pretty high right now.

"Ultimately, you're here to restock and stock your teams with young talent and future building blocks for your organization. That is really the first and foremost topic on our minds," said Cheveldayoff. "We spent a lot of time with our scouts, our scouts have spent the whole year putting their hearts and souls into the list. It's an exciting time for them and it's an exciting time for the organization."

Cheveldayoff said it's important to keep an open mind and be able to adjust on the fly, exploring all options.

With that in mind, the Jets brought in Ottawa 67s centre Sean Monahan in for a second interview on Saturday afternoon and he's projected to be picked between fifth and eighth.

The Jets brought roughly 12 players back for second interviews this week after meeting with 88 guys at the NHL combine in Toronto.

One of the interesting dynamics at play is the fact the Jets hold three second-round picks.

Whether the Jets hold onto all three picks or end up sacrificing one for a player that can help them win now is one of the more intriguing storylines to follow going into Sunday.

"It certainly creates a great deal more conversation pieces, it gives you a lot more opportunity to get into the game, if you want to get into the game," said Cheveldayoff. "But there's still so many different things that come into play, when you even go to use one of those pieces for a player. You have to make sure that you keep one eye always looking at where you're at right now and where you need to be in the future."

Jets director of amateur scouting Marcel Comeau made it clear that the fact the organization has only selected North American players during the past two drafts since the NHL returned to Winnipeg is merely a coincidence.

"It really is," said Comeau, noting the scouting staff took a few extra trips overseas this year. "There's obviously some high-end players over there. We wanted to make sure we had some good viewings on those players.

"We have nothing against drafting European players. We have some of those players in prominent spots on our list this year, so it's just one of those things. Certainly no bias on our part."

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.30.2013


Jets ready to pick up ‘building blocks’ in 2013 NHL Entry Draft

Ken Wiebe

Saturday, June 29, 2013 12:21 PM CDT

JERSEY CITY, N.J - The Winnipeg Jets are huddling up one last time to put the finishing touches on their draft list.

Going into Sunday’s draft with 10 picks, including six in the first three rounds, it’s now a question of whether the Jets are going to use them all or package one (or some) of them in a deal to help them win right now.

“We plan things accordingly,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said on Saturday afternoon at the hotel where the team is meeting. “Ultimately, you’re here to restock and stock your teams with young talent and future building blocks for your organization and that is really the first and foremost topic on our minds.

“We’ve spent a lot of time with our scouts and our scouts spent the whole year putting their hearts and souls into the list. It’s an exciting time for them and an exciting time for the organization. Sometimes, draft picks can be overvalued and undervalued and you have to look at that.”

The Jets currently hold the 13th pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

While the primary focus is on the draft, there are plenty of calls and meetings regarding potential trades.

“There’s lots of conversation,” said Cheveldayoff. “It goes in both directions, players that we’ve asked about and players that have asked about us. You’re at the draft here, so draft picks are an in vogue conversation. You make different calls to different teams, depending on their situations, where they are in the draft and potentially about moving up and seeing what that price is and what their appetite is.

“You get a lot of groundwork laid to see if anything does come into place.”

Cheveldayoff said he’s met with several of the agents for Jets’ prospective restricted and unrestricted free agents.

“Even at the draft here, we’ve had an opportunity to meet with some representatives,” said Cheveldayoff. “It’s an ongoing process, we’ve had great dialogue going back and forth and again, to try to predict timing and everything like that is premature for me.”

Cheveldayoff also said he hasn’t told any of those free agents that their services won’t be required next season, though he expects some of them to test the market on July 5.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.30.2013


Winnipeg Jets' Toby Enstrom robbed, assaulted

Paul Friesen

June 29, 2013 02:50 PM

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Toby Enstrom suffered minor injuries when he was robbed and assaulted in his native Sweden, Saturday night.

The Jets have confirmed reports at aftonbladet.se and expressen.se that say Enstrom was in the town of Örnsköldsvik when he was confronted by three men with knives.

“Apparently Toby was out for dinner with his family and went to pick up the check, and went to the ATM to get some money and was robbed by apparently three people,” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said at the NHL draft in New Jersey. “And supposedly, to the best of our knowledge, those people have been apprehended by police and Toby's fine. He received, I think, a minor cut above his eye and is fine.”

Cheveldayoff said he hadn’t spoken to Enstrom, personally, instead receiving the information from the Jets security person.

Saying Enstrom apparently received stitches, Cheveldayoff expressed relief the results of the incident aren’t more serious.

“They're like your kids,” he said. “When they go away for the summer you're always worried about different things like that. Toby's such a good guy and to have it happen to him is unfortunate, but I think it just goes to show you're never safe. You always have to be on guard.”

Enstrom’s home town is listed as Nordingra, Sweden.

Injuries limited the smooth-skating 28-year-old to 22 games (four goals, 11 assists) last season.

Enstrom goes into next season with a new, five-year contract that will pay him $5.75 million per season.

It’s not the first time a member of the Jets has made headlines in the summer.

Last year, goalie Ondrej Pavelec was convicted of drunk driving after he crashed a car in his native Czech Republic, while prospect Ivan Telegin sliced his hand open, forcing him to miss the Jets’ July development camp.

The year before, defenceman Dustin Byfuglien was charged with impaired boating in Minnesota.

683103 Vancouver Canucks

Lack of prospects heightens’ Canucks draft needs

Ben Kuzma

NEW YORK — Trading a goaltender is of immediate concern to the Vancouver Canucks.

However, with a genuine lack of prospect depth at forward and defence, the club should be concerned about being ranked 27th by Hockey’s Future in an assessment of picks projected to play in the NHL.

The Canucks didn’t even have a player rated in the top 50. Part of that is picking late in five years with general manager Mike Gillis at the hockey operations helm — 26th, 29th, 115th, 22nd and 10th — and part of it is bad drafting.

The best year in the last 10 was 2004, in which Cory Schneider (26th), Alex Edler (91st), Mike Brown (159th) and Jannik Hansen (287th) were selected. With an annual pledge to pick the best player when the Sunday selection process begins in Newark, N.J., it should also come a real need to fill a roster void with picks at Nos. 24, 85, 115, 145, 175 and 205.

The Canucks could lean toward a history of picking by position because they’ve taken 11 defencemen and seven centres the last five drafts. With Derek Roy not back and Maxim Lapierre an unrestricted free agent, they may shore up the middle.

Then again, there’s a lack of organization depth at left wing with Mason Raymond expected to also test unrestricted free agency. The Canucks don’t have a second-round choice, having surrendered it along with Kevin Connauton at the trade deadline.

With new coach John Tortorella looking for more bite and the Canucks drafting bigger centres in Brendan Gaunce, Alexandre Mallet and Joseph Labate, they could use the same amount of size and sandpaper on the left side with their 24th pick — if they don’t move up by swapping selections or in a possible Cory Schneider trade.

“We’ve talked to some teams about that possibility and you would always like to,” said Gillis. “You don’t know who’s available at No. 24 until you get into it. You have your list and you’re asking me questions I can’t answer.”

A trio of left wingers could provide that answer.

Kerby Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires in coming off successive 40-goal OHL seasons and Adam Erne of the Quebec Remparts had a 72-point QMJHL campaign. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound Rychel is the son of former NHL forward Warren Rychel, and the Canucks are attracted by the hockey lineage and the fact the Spitfires winger plays a hard, physical game and goes to the net to battle and fight for rebounds and deflections. Skating is said to be an issue, but the Los Angeles native had 87 points (40-47) last season and 94 penalty minutes.

“A typical power forward with a big, booming shot,” said NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr. “He was used a lot on the point on the power pay and is good down low. He protects the puck well coming out of the corner.”

The 6-foot-1, 210 pound Erne has that certain snarl and nastiness that Tortorella would also favour. He’s not only able to drive the net, the New Haven, Conn., native has a good scoring touch and soft hands to bring an added dimension to the left side. A banger and a crasher, he won’t hesitate to hit and agitate. Another consideration is Valentin Zykov of Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL. The 6-foot, 210 pound native of St. Petersburg, Russia had 40 goals and 75 points in 67 games.

If the Canucks are looking at defensive depth, 6-foot-1, 211 pound Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Ryan Pulock should be of interest. The Grandview, Man., native had 14 goals and 45 points in 61 games.

“He’s probably a little underrated but he has one of the best shots,” said Marr. “He can move the puck and has all the ingredients to be a potential all-star in the league.”

OF NOTE — Gillis will interview former New York Rangers assistant coach Mike Sullivan to possibly team with Torotrella behind the Canucks bench. Scott Arniel is being considered as an assistant.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.30.2013


Luongo Watch: Canucks considering Schneider trade card

Ben Kuzma

NEW YORK — It was supposed to be about No. 24. It's now about No. 1 and No. 35.

Whoever the Vancouver Canucks were supposed to select with the 24th pick in the NHL draft on Sunday has already been overshadowed by what becomes of those who wear No. 1 (Roberto Luongo) and No. 35 (Cory Schneider). The never-ending Luongo trade watch went off in another direction Saturday morning with reports that general manager Mike Gillis was considering dealing Schneider because of failed attempts to move Luongo's mammoth contract. It was never the plan to trade Schneider, but it could become reality.

The Edmonton Oilers would have obvious interest because Devan Dubnyk has one year left on his contract at $3.5 million US and Nikolai Khabibulin is an unrestricted free agent. The possible return of a first-round draft choice — the Oilers pick seventh Sunday — and a prospect are more than the Canucks would get for Luongo. At the trade deadline, they asked the Toronto Maple Leafs for two second-round picks and goalie Ben Scrivens.

"It all depends on the team and the pick," Gillis said Saturday afternoon. "Things are really busy and I'm getting lots of calls and discussions. You have to listen to what the proposals may be and act accordingly. We'll never say never. Cory is a very good young player and teams are after them all the time."

Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets had more than just passing interest in Schneider before settling their situations. And the added intrigue of this draft day is that five teams above the Canucks in the selection process have unsettled goaltending situations. Calgary, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Phoenix and the Islanders pick sixth, seventh, 11th, 12th and 18th respectively, so the Canucks could have two first-round picks Sunday and a prospect in a possible trade.

The crease conundrum is simple math. The Canucks can't tie up $9.3 million in cap space between two stoppers with the ceiling falling to $64.3 million and they're already at that figure with 17 roster players signed for next season. The nine years and $40.5 million remaining on Luongo's 12-year contract — it pays $6.7 million the next five seasons and has a salary cap hit of $5.3 million — is a tough fit for any club.

Then again, Luongo is 34 and not 44 and can handle a heavy workload and will play for many years. Schneider has a bright future as a 27-year-old under contract for two more seasons at $4 million, but it remains to be seen whether he can handle the bulk of an 82-game schedule. Splitting the slate with Dubnyk makes sense and taking over as the starter the following season would be a satisfying scenario in Edmonton.

If Schneider is moved, the Canucks would be more confident in Eddie Lack and Joacim Eriksson competing for the back-up position because Luongo logged 68 games in 2009-10. Schneider played a career-high 33 in 2011-12 which could forced the Canucks to find a veteran presence next season if he stays because Lack is coming off hip surgery and Eriksson is untested against NHL competition. Joe Cannata is the other goaltender under contract and the Canucks may consider adding to their depth Sunday.

Schneider went 17-9-4 in the lockout-shortened season before sustaining a groin strain April 22 in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. However, when Luongo lost the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks, it was somewhat surprising that Schneider got the call because his injury was kept quiet. He was yanked in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 28 shots but did respond with a 43-save performance in Game 4 as the Canucks lost in overtime to be swept aside. Even so, there was some surprise with Luongo not starting the season finale because it wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that Schneider wasn't 100 per cent healthy.

Schneider's strong regular season is another reason for heightened interest. He was eighth in goals-against average (2.11) and fourth in saves percentage (.927) to prove he has the potential to handle more starts. Luongo was 2.56 in GAA (25th) and .907 in saves percentage (31st). And as much as the past season created a strange situation, trying to come up

with a workable Luongo trade scenario has been just as strange. One even had the swapping of big contracts to raise some eyebrows.

With the Islanders expecting Evgeni Nabokov to flee to unrestricted free agency, Luongo could return to a team that drafted him and be the big draw in Brooklyn. The trade has been broached in theory and could work under the right circumstances. The Islanders could get the bonafide starter in exchange for the Canucks acquiring Rick DiPietro's huge contract and then buying it out — If the Islanders also send at least a roster player their way. But buying out DiPietro's at $1.5 million over 16 years and Keith Ballard at $2.6 million over two years may be tough for the owner to swallow. The compliance buyout window closes July 4 and Gillis said Saturday he wasn't sure if he was going to go that route with Ballard.

"We've got a lot of balls in the air and we have to sort through some different proposals," summed up Gillis.



Canucks Draft Day: Trading a goalie overshadows need for left wing depth

June 29, 2013. 9:11 pm

NEW YORK — Trading a goaltender is of immediate concern to the Vancouver Canucks.

However, with a genuine lack of prospect depth at forward and defence, the club should be concerned about being ranked 27th by Hockey’s Future in an assessment of picks projected to play in the NHL. The Canucks didn’t even have a player rated in the top 50. Part of that is picking late in five years with general manager Mike Gillis at the hockey operations helm — 26th, 29th, 115th, 22nd and 10th — and part of it is bad drafting.

The best year in the last 10 was 2004, in which Cory Schneider (26th), Alex Edler (91st), Mike Brown (159th) and Jannik Hansen (287th) were selected. With an annual pledge to pick the best player when the Sunday selection process begins in Newark, N.J., it should also come a real need to fill a roster void with picks at Nos. 24,85,115,145,175 and 205. The Canucks could lean toward a history of picking by position because they’ve taken 11 defencemen and seven centres the last five drafts. With Derek Roy not back and Maxim Lapierre an unrestricted free agent, they may shore up the middle. Then again, there’s a lack of organization depth at left wing with Mason Raymond expected to also tested unrestricted free agency. The Canucks don’t have a second-round choice, having surrendered it along with Kevin Connauton at the trade deadline.

With new coach John Tortorella looking for more bite and the Canucks drafting bigger centres in Brendan Gaunce, Alexandre Mallet and Joseph Labate, they could use the same amount of size and sandpaper on the left side with their 24th pick — if they don’t move up by swapping selections or in a possible Cory Schneider trade.

“We’ve talked to some teams about that possibility and you would always like to,” said Gillis. “You don’t know who’s available at No. 24 until you get into it. You have your list and you’re asking me questions I can’t answer.”

A trio of left wingers could provide that answer.

Kerby Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires in coming off successive 40-goal OHL seasons and Adam Erne of the Quebec Remparts had a 72-point QMJHL campaign. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound Rychel is the son of former NHL forward Warren Rychel and the Canucks are attracted by the hockey lineage and the fact the Spitfires winger plays a hard, physical game and goes to the net to battle and fight for rebounds and deflections. Skating is said to be an issue, but the Los Angeles native had 87 points (40-47) last season and 94 penalty minutes.

“A typical power forward with a big, booming shot,” said NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr. “He was used a lot on the point on the power pay and is good down low. He protects the puck well coming out of the corner.”

The 6-foot-1, 210 pound Erne has that certain snarl and nastiness that Tortorella would also favour. He’s not only able to drive the net, the New Haven, Conn. native has a good scoring touch and soft hands to bring an added dimension to the left side. A banger and a crasher, he won’t hesitate to hit and agitate. Another consideration is Valentin Zykov of Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL. The 6-foot, 210 pound native of St. Petersburg, Russia had 40 goals and 75 points in 67 games.

If the Canucks are looking at defensive depth, 6-foot-1, 211 pound Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Ryan Pulock should be of interest. The Grandview, Man. native had 14 goals and 45 points in 61 games.

“He’s probably a little underrated but he has one of the best shots,” said Marr. “He can move the puck and has all the ingredients to be a potential all-star in the league.”

OF NOTE — Gillis will interview former New York Rangers assistant coach Mike Sullivan to possibly team with Torotrella behind the Canucks bench. Scott Arniel is being considered as an assistant.



Luongo Watch: Canucks reportedly considering playing Schneider trade card

June 29, 2013. 8:01 am

Ben Kuzma

NEW YORK — It’s always been the ace up their sleeve, but the Vancouver Canucks have never wanted to play that card.

In attempting to trade Roberto Luongo and his mammoth contract — the nine years and $40.5 million US remaining on his 12-year pact pays $6.7 million the next five seasons and has a salary cap hit of $5.3 million — general manager Mike Gillis continues to talk to four or five teams about moving the 34-year-old stopper. Those talks haven’t produced much because he’s reportedly considering what the market might be for Cory Schneider. It could a matter of kicking the tires, but if nothing comes to fruition with moving Luongo here at the NHL draft — league’s new trade deadline — then the reality of keeping Luongo and trading Schneider has to be at least broached. And Schneider doesn’t have no-movement or no-trade clauses in his current contract.

Simply put, the Canucks can’t tie up $9.3 million in the crease next season with the league’s salary-cap ceiling falling to $64.3 million and already being maxed out with 17 players signed.

The Edmonton Oilers would have rumoured interest in Schneider and the possible return of a first-round pick and a prospect is more than the Canucks are going to get for Luongo. The Oilers own the seventh-overall selection in the 2013 draft on Sunday in Newark, N.J. They have Devan Dubnyk under contract for one more season at $3.5 million and Nikolai Khabibulin is an unrestricted free agent. Other teams would also be interested and this is certainly a means to gauge interest.

If Schneider is moved, the Canucks would have Luongo, Eddie Lack, Joacim Eriksson and Joe Cannata in their stable of goaltenders. Although confident in his stoppers, Gillis may add to that group with seven rated in the first two rounds of this draft. The Canucks pick 24th, but surrendered their second-round pick and Kevin Connauton in the Derek Roy trade-deadline acquisition.

At the trade deadline, the Canucks wanted two second-round picks and back-up goalie Ben Scrivens from Toronto but the Maple Leafs wouldn’t budge. Two years ago, there was considerable interest in Schneider from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets. Schneider has two years left on his contract at an attractive $4 million salary cap hit. More importantly, at age 27, he would be attractive to pair with a stopper now or be the starter after going 17-9-4 in the shortened regular season before sustaining a groin strain April 22 in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. With Luongo losing the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks, Schneider laboured and was yanked in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 28 shots. He responded with a 43-save performance in a 4-3 loss in Game 4 as the Canucks were easily swept aside.

Schneider was 0-2-1 in the series with a 4.62 goals-against average and .880 saves percentage. In the regular season, he was eighth in GAA (2.11) and fourth in saves percentage (.927). Luongo went 0-2-1 in in playoffs with a 2.57 GAA and .915 saves percentage after posting a 2.56 GAA (25th) and .907 saves percentage (31st) in the regular season. Earlier this week, Gillis was somewhat confident that Luongo could be moved as opposed to waivers or a costly compliance buyout option.

“I remain optimistic,” he said. “We’ve been talking to teams like we have for a long time. At the draft, I’m not sure what’s going to happen but we will continue to have discussions with a group of teams and we’ll see how it works out. In this business, you have to be absolutely firm in what you want to do. And that’s what we’ve done.

“There are a lot of moving parts in a Roberto Luongo deal which lots of people want to ignore. He does have a no-trade clause and a contract perfectly legal and ratified by the league at the time. We have to be patient enough to sort through it.”

Gillis will address the media on Saturday afternoon.


683107 Websites

ESPN / Bylsma eager to test international waters

Scott Burnside

NEW YORK -- Dan Bylsma figures there have been a couple of times in his life that he would describe as surreal.

The moment he found out he would coach the U.S. hockey team at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, ranks as one of them.

“When I was first told, there was about a 15-minute period of a lot flashing before your eyes,” Bylsma told ESPN.com on Saturday after he and the rest of the U.S. management team were formally announced.

There were memories of other Olympics, the 1980 Miracle on Ice gold-medal team, his own hockey experiences growing up and a long-held desire to get this kind of opportunity.

“A lot of things that pass in front of you,” said the Pittsburgh Penguins coach.

But if there was one overriding impression upon learning he had the gig, it was that the road to the medal podium in Sochi begins now.

“Daily, the honor this represents gets bigger,” Bylsma said.

There were a number of qualities USA Hockey and the management committee, charged with creating a team that can build on 2010’s dramatic silver medal, were looking for in a head coach.

Ron Wilson was the man behind the bench in Vancouver, but he has not worked in the NHL since being fired by longtime friend and then-Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke in January 2012. The committee, under GM David Poile, was looking for an NHL coach who had won, who exuded passion for the game and who could handle star players.

The fact Bylsma had little in the way of international coaching experience wasn’t a deterrent for Poile and the committee members. Er, scratch that -- not little, none.

“I don’t have any experience, so ‘very little’s’ wrong,” Bylsma said with a smile.

He is the fastest coach to 200 wins in NHL history, has won a Stanley Cup and has handled some of the game’s biggest stars, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Bylsma recalled watching the gold-medal game between Canada and the United States in an arena after his son’s youth hockey game. As he saw Crosby gain possession of the puck deep in the U.S. zone in overtime, Bylsma got out of his seat.

“I had a pretty good idea he was going to put that home,” he said.

Bylsma will have some input into who rounds out the coaching staff, and although it’s possible that Tony Granato, one of his assistants in Pittsburgh, may find his way onto the staff, it’ll be hard to ignore new Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella, who was an assistant to Wilson in 2010, and Scott Gordon, an assistant in Toronto to Randy Carlyle who was also on Wilson’s Olympic staff and has significant international coaching experience.

Among the many hurdles to clear in forming a contender in a short period of time, Bylsma said, is the challenge of flying halfway across the world and playing meaningful tournament games in the space of two days. If there is a goal, he has said it will be in introducing an atmosphere to which the team can build on a day-to-day basis, reaching for its best when it matters most.

After all, he said, the team that’s the best at the end of the tournament is going to win.

“That’s a great challenge,” Bylsma said. “That will be part of our message and part of our approach.”

ESPN LOADED: 06.30.2013

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ESPN / As U.S. GM, David Poile in tuneup mode

Scott Burnside

NEW YORK -- Of the many memorable hours leading up to the epic gold-medal game at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 between Canada and the United States, this is one that has stayed with us.

It was a conversation with then-U.S. associate GM David Poile the day before that game.

He had spoken earlier in the process about the importance of the Olympics, specifically the impact a strong showing might have on future generations of U.S. players. About how the 1980 Miracle on Ice team became a beacon for a generation or more of American players as well as -- to a lesser degree -- the U.S. team that defeated Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship.

As the gold-medal game approached, it was hard not to be swept up in the emotion of what lay ahead.

“I don't think anybody knew how good we'd be. We didn't know how good we'd be,” Poile said that Saturday. “Let's call it like it is.”

The Americans would be denied a shot at Olympic immortality by the slimmest of margins, a Sidney Crosby goal in overtime, from a bad angle at that.

We were reminded of the legacy -- or at least the potential legacy -- of that team Saturday, when we were swept up once again in the quest for Olympic glory as Poile was formally announced as GM of the U.S. team for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Part of the charm of the Vancouver team was the fact it was the youngest team in the tournament. As GM, Brian Burke was fond of repeating that no one gave the Americans a spit of a chance to earn a medal, let alone battle for gold.

No question the dynamics will be dramatically different in Sochi on a host of fronts.

“In Vancouver, we were turning the page,” Poile told ESPN.com on Saturday.

That team was the first that didn’t hearken to the glory days of Brian Leetch, Chris Chelios and Keith Tkachuk et al. The idea was that if the team had any success at all, it would provide a good base on which to build for 2014.

The Americans’ run to the silver (going 5-1 in the tournament) means they will not sneak up on anyone in Sochi. Not with the past two Conn Smythe Trophy winners on the roster in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Quick. Throw in top-end talent like Ryan Suter, who in our book was the hands-down best defenseman in the NHL this season (finished second to P.K. Subban in Norris Trophy voting), Minnesota Wild teammate Zach Parise, David Backes, Joe Pavelski, Phil Kessel and Dustin Brown and there will be a strong core returning from the Vancouver squad.

Still, trying to handicap Olympic contenders based on results from a tournament four years in the past is a mug’s game. Yes, some continuity is important. Understanding the routines of an Olympic tournament, the media, the schedule and the ebbs and flows of a short, high-drama competition is critical to how a team comes together.

But each tournament represents a different world, and that is where the management structure and coaching staff are so critical to a team’s success.

USA Hockey neatly sidestepped a potential public relations problem early on by structuring its management team in the manner it did. Poile moved up the ladder and will be joined by Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero, who will act as associate. The two worked together for the Nashville Predators and were part of the U.S. management committee that helped put together the 2010 team.

But Burke, the architect of that team, has been kept in the fold as director of player personnel. He will accompany the team to Sochi.

It was Burke who came up with the idea of opening the process of selecting teams for international competition to American GMs. He invited colleagues like Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings), Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers) and former Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell to join in the process.

The openness and inclusiveness established by Burke was universally praised by those involved, and as Poile pointed out Saturday, the validation of the process was in the result -- a silver medal.

That Burke, dismissed from his post as GM and president of the Toronto Maple Leafs on the eve of the lockout-shortened regular season in January, continues to have a strong voice in the building of the 2014 team is an important nod to what he’s accomplished. To have marginalized him would have sent a disappointing message.

“He will have a big part in the formation of this team in 2014,” Poile said.

But a nod to the past is also being balanced by a nod to the future, which is critical given that neither Canada nor the U.S. medaled in the two Olympics held away from North American soil since the NHL began participation in 1998 in Nagano. (2006 in Torino was the other.)

A bigger ice surface, time issues and different cultures will conspire to make life in Sochi exponentially more difficult than it was in Vancouver and, before that, Salt Lake City in 2002, when Canada defeated the U.S. for the gold medal.

The committee, which represents 150 years of NHL GM experience and six Stanley Cup championships, will have to keep all those things in mind, Poile said, when making selections, just as it did in choosing the Pens’ Dan Bylsma as head coach.

Burke built a team that could play an NHL-style game with a blend of hard-nosed forechecking, strong defense and goaltending mixed with opportunistic scoring, but the style of play in Sochi may make some of those qualities less important.

Clearly, skating and puck movement will be at a premium on the big ice surface, which suggests players like Keith Yandle, Kevin Shattenkirk and perhaps Matt Carle or John Carlson may be more attractive than other, more physical defensemen.

What about a speedy, skilled forward like Alex Galchenyuk, who had a strong rookie campaign for the Montreal Canadiens?

“Our philosophy is going to be a little bit different because this is in Europe,” Poile said. “We have to tune up our thinking a little bit.”

One thing Poile made clear is that, while a résumé of strong play has historically been a factor in inclusion on the final roster handed in late in December, getting off to a good start next fall will be key in the committee’s final decisions.

In introducing the management team Saturday in New York, president of USA Hockey Ron DeGregorio suggested that an American team is no longer the stuff of miracles but rather the stuff of expectations.

A fine sentiment, and after Vancouver, it would seem it is true. Now it’s up to Poile and the rest to meet those heady expectations.

“This is the ultimate honor and challenge,” Poile said.


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ESPN / Horton out; B's willing to listen on Seguin

Pierre LeBrun

NEWARK, N.J. -- The Boston Bruins appeared ready to shake things up Saturday on the eve of the NHL draft.

All confirmed by sources:

• Nathan Horton's camp informed Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli on Saturday afternoon that the unrestricted free agent winger was leaving the organization.

“Nathan Horton has informed the Bruins that he is going to explore his options via unrestricted free agency," agent Paul Krepelka reiterated to ESPN.com, a statement that he first gave to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

• Tyler Seguin’s name was making the rounds in trade chatter, with the Bruins willing to listen.

• The Bruins would like to move up in the draft.

• And add Boston to the long list of teams that have inquired about UFA center Vincent Lecavalier.

The Bruins have a lot of balls in the air, a rival team executive told ESPN.com, and they are talking to a lot of teams about a lot of things. Chiarelli was spotted at one point Saturday chatting closely with Lightning GM Steve Yzerman. Could it have been about Seguin? Hard to say. Maybe Chiarelli was getting a scouting report on Lecavalier. Or maybe they were making a dinner date.

Meanwhile, Lecavalier and agent Kent Hughes were in the process of reducing their list of suitors. The expectation was that they would have a short list by the end of the night or early Sunday.

Hughes was also meeting with interested teams Saturday. Aside from Boston, other confirmed teams that have expressed varying degrees of interest for Lecavalier include the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues. As reported Friday, some 15 teams have called.

Don't sleep on Dallas. The Stars have serious interest in Lecavalier. They want to make the playoffs next year, and new GM Jim Nill sees Lecavalier as a perfect addition.

But you can scratch the Chicago Blackhawks off that list. A source told ESPN.com on Saturday that the Hawks are not interested. Some fans may have dreamed of having Lecavalier fit in as the team’s No. 2 center, but the Hawks aren’t going to enter the fray, instead focusing on trying to re-sign winger Bryan Bickell. The Hawks and Bickell’s agent, Todd Diamond, have had constant dialogue throughout the week and spoke again Saturday.

The reasoning behind the Lecavalier camp wanting to produce a short list in quick order is that the teams involved need to know as soon as possible. For whichever teams are seriously in the hunt, it could have a domino effect on what needs to be done with the rest of their rosters and potentially in the draft.

So in fairness to that reality, the Lecavalier camp is keen to try to expedite the process this weekend.

He can’t officially sign with a team until July 5, but all the leg work can be done now.

Schneider in play

Saturday got off to quite a bang in NHL circles with my colleague Darren Dreger of TSN breaking the story via Twitter that the Canucks were suddenly putting Cory Schneider in play.

Hello!

After trying without success for a year to unload Roberto Luongo and his monster contract, could it be the Canucks figured they had to move the younger goalie instead?

“To be honest, it makes sense in a way,” a rival GM told ESPN.com on Saturday after the news broke.

With a lack of trade interest in Luongo, the thinking is that if a team pays big for Schneider, the Canucks can improve and still have a world-class goalie in net.

Another player who generated a lot of calls toward Vancouver is defenseman Alex Edler. His no-trade clause kicks in July 1, but teams are already calling.

Schneider would be a good fit on teams like the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames or Edmonton Oilers.

“He’s definitely in play,” an agent told ESPN.com on Saturday afternoon.

Schneider has two years left on his deal at $4 million per season.

Thing is, dealing away Schneider wouldn’t necessarily solve the Luongo mess. I believe Luongo wants out regardless. Trading Schneider, I don’t think, would change his feelings on that.

Oye, stay tuned ...

Elsewhere

• Hearing positive vibes out of the talks between pending UFA netminder Mike Smith and the Phoenix Coyotes. GM Don Maloney and some of his staff met with Smith in Vancouver last week to have a heart-to-heart session. Still a factor is the future of the franchise, so I wouldn’t expect Smith to be willing to sign until after that July 2 Glendale lease vote. But the re-signing of coach Dave Tippett was an important move in terms of Smith wanting to stay. If he does sign, I believe it will be a six-year deal.

• Hughes, the agent for Kris Letang, was slated to meet with Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero on Saturday afternoon in the N.Y./N.J. area. In the wake of Letang rejecting Pittsburgh’s $56 million, eight-year offer Thursday, sources around the league confirm that Shero made some calls to other teams Friday to lay the groundwork for potential trade talks. But Saturday’s meeting, I think, is being viewed by both sides as a chance to salvage the situation and find common ground on keeping Letang in Pittsburgh. We shall see.

• The Canadiens hold the 25th pick in the first round Sunday. I’m told they would like to move up and have made some calls to that effect. But I think the Habs will wait until the draft has begun and see how it progresses before making a move in that regard. It will depend on whether certain prospects they have circled on their scouting list are still available.

• The Flyers are taking calls on blueliner Braydon Coburn, multiples sources confirm. He has three years on his deal with a $4.5 million cap hit.

• USA Hockey announced its coaching staff for the Olympics on Saturday, and the Penguins’ Dan Bylsma gets the nod as head coach. If the NHL and NHLPA can wrap up the Olympic deal at Monday’s meeting with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation, the plan is for Hockey Canada to announce its coaching staff shortly thereafter, perhaps within a day or two. As I reported in April, the Canadian coaching staff will have Mike Babcock at the helm again, along with Ken Hitchcock, Lindy Ruff and newcomer Claude Julien (who replaces the retired Jacques Lemaire).


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NBCSports.com / NHL to Glendale: July 2 deadline is no bluff

Jason Brough

Jun 29, 2013, 1:12 PM EDT

If Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers thinks the NHL is bluffing about July 2 being the deadline for the city to approve an arena-management deal for the Coyotes, deputy commissioner Bill Daly has a message for him, via Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona.

“He can characterize it the way he wants, but it is what it is,” said Daly. “We either get certainty in Glendale by July 2, or we immediately pursue our other options outside of Glendale. We have already gone past the date we were comfortable accommodating in the first place. I hope for the sake of the Coyotes fans in Glendale that they don’t lose the team because of a miscalculation made by members of the City Council.”

You may recall prior to the Stanley Cup Final when Daly characterized the situation like this: “No decision could be a decision.”

Translation: if the city waffles too long, the NHL will have no choice but to relocate the Coyotes.

NBCSports.com / LOADED: 06.30.2013

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USA TODAY / U.S. hockey team might have different look at Sochi

Kevin Allen

3:02 p.m. EDT June 29, 2013

NEW YORK – Newly named U.S. general manager David Poile believes that the return of Olympic hockey to the larger European-size hockey rink means the Americans have to expand their thinking on the team they should send to Sochi.

"A player who was successful in Vancouver in 2010 may not be successful in Sochi," Poile said.

The Sochi games will be played on the standard 200 by 100-foot international rink, meaning it will be 15 feet wider than the 2010 Vancouver rink.

"(In 2010) you heard Brian Burke talking about words like truculence," Poile said. "I'm not trying to say that's not important, but maybe it's less important in 2014."

The NHL started allowing its players to participate in the Olympic Games in 1998, and the Americans have won silver medals in both Olympic Games in North America (2002 in Salt Lake City and 2010 in Vancouver) and didn't medal in the two Olympics on foreign soil (1998 in Nagano and 2006 in Torino).

"We have not had a lot of luck in Europe," Poile said, making it clear that figuring out why would be a point of emphasis for his new management team.

"It can't be the same type of team," Poile said.

Poile didn't discuss specific players, but he said the expected there would be a large core group of players that will return. That group would include Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter and Jack Johnson, among others

He said he wouldn't reach any final conclusions about how the team should be different for Sochi, until he has met with his advisory group.

"I know everyone has a slightly different opinion and we have to mold them together," Poile said.

One general theory is that teams need more speed on the wider ice because players have more space to make a move.

Joining Poile on the management team will be associate general manager Ray Shero, the Pittsburgh Penguins GM who previously worked with Poile in Nashville, plus Anaheim Ducks consultant Burke, who was the GM for the silver medal team in 2010. He will be the director of player development in Sochi.

In 2010, Burke developed an advisory council to help him decide who should be on the team and Poile will use the same approach. The advisors will include Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings), Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers), Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers) and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh).

Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma was introduced as the U.S. coach. His assistants haven't been named.

One new wrinkle in the 2014 Games is an increased roster size. Team will be allowed 22 skaters, instead of the 20 they were allowed in 2010.

That would allow the Americans, for example, to take a young skilled player such as Alex Galchenyuk, who could be inserted into the lineup to give the team an offensive boost.

The Americans could also add a ninth defenseman with toughness, just to use in the expected physical game with Canada.

When a reporter pointed out in a question that Bylsma had no international coaching experience, Bylsma corrected him by saying he had no international coaching experience.

But Bylsma has plenty of experience coaching high level players because his Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Malkin.

He joked that he does have inside knowledge on Sidney Crosby that could help the Americans.

"But I'm also a little bit concerned (Crosby) knows me as a coach, my strengths and my weaknesses he's going to bring that to the Canadian team,'' Bylsma added.

One of the themes of the news conference was that Americans believed they were going to Sochi to win the gold medal. Poile said it. Bylsma said it. USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio called it an "expectation."

Someone pointed out that Burke talked boldly in 2010, offering his assessment of the USA's chances. Poile was asked whether he might provide some odds for American success.

Said Poile: "We can't bet in hockey."

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.30.2013

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USA TODAY / Who are the top Americans at the draft?

Kevin Allen

6:04 p.m. EDT June 29, 2013

NEWARK - The American talent pool can claim the best defenseman in Seth Jones and maybe the best sleeper pick in Jimmy Lodge heading into Sunday's NHL draft.

"(Lodge has) got great hands, phenomenal hands," said USA Hockey's director of hockey operations Jim Johannson.

Lodge is ranked 20th by Central Scouting, and mock drafts don't give him much love as a first-round possibility. But NHL scouts seem to like his chances of sliding into the 25 to 40 range.

The complaint about Lodge, a Pennsylvania native, is that he is skinny, listed as 6-0, 166. He scored 28 goals and 67 points in 64 games with Saginaw (Mich.) of the Ontario Hockey League.

MORE: Kyle Woodlief's mock draft

This is not projected to be a strong year for Americans, at least in terms of first-round selections.

Jones, who played youth hockey in Colorado and Texas, is ranked No. 1 on many lists, although the Colorado Avalanche are suggesting that they will take Halifax (Nova Scotia) forward Nathan MacKinnon with the first overall pick.

Chicagoan Ryan Hartman (Plymouth Whalers, OHL) and Connecticut native Adam Erne (Quebec, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) are projected to go in the middle of the first round. Hartman is a feisty, prickly, scoring winger and Erne is a power forward.

The possible late first-round projections include forward J.T. Compher and defenseman Steve Santini who played with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Compher is a smart, two-way forward and Santini is a rugged, hard-nosed defenseman.

MORE: Expect some trades at draft

Their teammate John Hayden, a center, rose late in the season after he recovered from a knee injury. The 6-2, 220 center is expected to be taken at the top of the second round. He has committed to Yale.

Ian McCoshen, a 6-3 defenseman for Waterloo (Iowa) in the United States Hockey League, could go anywhere from late in the first to the middle of the second round. He had 11 goals and 44 points in 54 games.

"He is thick, sturdy and real competitive," Johannson said.

Another possible second-rounder is U.S. National Team Development Program winger Michael McCarron.

"He's 6-5 and he can skate," Johannson said.

Scouts also like the pedigree and playing style of Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Boston College recruit is the son of respected former NHL player Tom Fitzpatrick. The elder Fitzpatrick is an assistant to general manager Ray Shero in Pittsburgh.

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.30.2013

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