Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
On what’s already been a intriguing day due to a wild and crazy World Cup soccer match won by France over disappointing Argentina 4-3 in the knockout stage, it’s also decision time for John Tavares.
What will he decide? It’s been very quiet from the Tavares camp. Represented by CAA (not the old Devils building), the Islanders big ticket can either accept the generous offer for at least $11 million per season over a max of eight years from Lou Lamoriello, or choose from the list of five suitors, including the hometown Maple Leafs, Sharks, Stars, Lightning, and Bruins.
Is it all about winning for the 28-year old center, who’s been past the first round once in only three postseasons? Does he believe the Islanders are on the right track with a complete overhaul due to Lamoriello replacing Garth Snow and Stanley Cup winner Barry Trotz taking over for Doug Weight behind the bench?
What can’t be understated is how well the Isles did at last weekend’s NHL Draft. They had future sniper Oliver Wahlstrom fall into their lap at number 11 overall, and landed D prospect Noah Dobson with the 12th pick. Even better, projected first round pick Bode Wilde fell to 41st overall allowing Lamoriello to get a potential steal in the second round. The American will have something to prove after so many teams including the rival Rangers passed on him. So, he has something in common with Wahlstrom, who lit it up with two goals in a Blue/Orange scrimmage at rookie camp.
With top prospects Kieffer Bellows and Linus Soderstrom in the fold, there’s plenty for Islander fans to be excited about. The prospect pool is deep, which bodes well for the future.
However, everyone wants to know what’s up with Tavares. If he doesn’t accept the eight-year deal the Islanders offered before midnight, it’s off the table. That window would close making him free to continue the process on Canada Day. The July 1 frenzy gets started at high noon on Sunday. A rarity because it’s a weekend. That never happens.
You have to be nervous if you’re the Isles. Fans certainly are. They have a good plan in place finally under a proven Hall of Fame GM. The question is what will Lamoriello do for a new goalie. One is off the market with Carter Hutton signing with the Sabres as had been reported. A solid move for Buffalo that is affordable. We’ll see how E.F. Hutton does in a starter role following a good season in St. Louis where he split time with Jake Allen. The Sabres may not be done. Ryan O’Reilly could be on the move before midnight. St. Louis is rumored to be interested. If it doesn’t get done later, Buffalo is on the hook for a $7.5 million signing bonus.
So, what will Tavares decide? Is he no longer loyal due to Snow and Weight being out, and reassigned in the organization? Will he see what the Islander are building with talented Calder winner Mathew Barzal, who only will get better. A scary thought for the rest of the league. The Isles have plenty of scoring depth in 40-goal man Anders Lee, adept passer Josh Bailey, Jordan Eberle, and Brock Nelson. They still have a glaring hole on the blueline. Calvin de Haan could leave with plenty of interest from other teams. I could see the Devils swooping in and inking him to help fill a need. Thomas Hickey is also available. There’s supposedly interest.
Let’s say it’s the worst case scenario. Tavares leaves for say San Jose, who is all in after re-signing Logan Couture to an eight-year, $64 million contract. Or Tavares takes less to go to Dallas or Tampa where the tax rate is an advantage. What would Lamoriello do to counter it? You think he would’ve learned from Scott Niedermayer leaving the Devils. He tried to fill it with bandaids that never measured up. He’s too smart to repeat the same mistake.
As I look at the Isles, defense and goalie remain the biggest issues. Maybe Lamoriello can get creative and swing a trade to upgrade those positions. The market is paper thin. I can’t believe Detroit gave Mike Green over $5 million. He’s been a shell of himself for a while. Injuries really hurt his career since his Capitals days. He was awesome. There was even a scary thought he could top 100 points. The most he ever got was 76 in ’09-10 when he was at his peak. He was as dangerous as Erik Karlsson is now. Though I’m skeptical if Karlsson can get back to the level he played at in 2017 due to his feet. That’s why Ottawa should trade him. He probably won’t be worth the long-term investment.
Speaking of elite defensemen, Drew Doughty received an eight-year extension worth a reported $11 million on average. That’s insane. Sure. He’s arguably the best D in the league. But the deal will keep him in LA through 2027. He’s 28 now, which means he’ll be 37 when it concludes. I share a birthday with him. He’s a great player still in his prime. Imagine how that deal will look in five years. Yikes.
This is the same team who invested three years and an AAV of $6.5 million for a 35-year old Ilya Kovalchuk. Obsessed much? Hasan will probably get the joke.
So, all eyes are on Tavares tonight. Hell. Once Portugal and Uruguay conclude, social media will be going crazy to see what happens. Unless you’re a Yankees fan like me with the Red Sox in town. I don’t expect anything from Tavares until later tonight. And no. I don’t see him going to Boston.
Usually FA binge day isn’t on the weekend, the last time I remember being home for July 1 was an ill-fated FA period for the Devils in 2012. Granted, they didn’t lose key FA Zach Parise till the actual holiday on the 4th but that’s still what I associate with that offseason free agency. More often it seems like the Devils lose more than they gain in FA, and that might even be true this year though their two biggest FA’s are the middling John Moore and the suddenly-popular Patrick Maroon who saw little interest in the trade deadline (we got him for a third-rounder after nobody else even called Edmonton on him) – but has no fewer than six teams interested in him now.
Through this Courting Period for @NHL UFA, I’ve learned there are at least 6 teams that presently have interest in Patrick Maroon. Size, Soft hands,has played played with McDavid,Getzlaf,Perry and produced. @NHL@NHLNetwork
Although it’s been quiet vis-a-vis rumors in Devil-land, the only concrete one seems to be that they’re among the teams with interest in Maroon and bringing him back. But at what price? If Maroon has that many suitors hard for me to see Ray Shero getting into a bidding war for a slow 30-year old winger that isn’t exactly the prototype for the Devils’ speed-based system, but did seem to fit in pretty well during his brief period after the trade deadline. If you’re looking for big fish Maroon, the Leafs’ James van Riemsdyk and the Isles’ Calvin deHaan might be as big as you can get. With John Carlson re-signing with the Caps and John Tavares ruling out the Devils – and a lot of other teams – before FA, the two really big fish will be off the market by July 1 unless JT is actually leaving the Island.
Where that leaves the Devils is anyone’s guess but mine is that you probably won’t see a lot from Shero until JT signs and some of the dust settles among the second-tier FA’s. Just because he hasn’t made a big trade yet, doesn’t mean he won’t. It’s been around this time the last couple years where Shero struck with trades for Taylor Hall and Marcus Johansson. I’d prefer to improve via trades than FA, especially since Shero’s record has largely been good there, Michael Grabner dud excepted. I could see him making a run for the guys I mentioned though it would be against the grain for Shero to give out long-term deals to older players.
With the weather touching triple digits on Sunday I’ll be indoors with air conditioning tuning back and forth between the World Cup and NHLN for the free agency news, but as with every July 1 I more or less have to expect the worst and hope for anything better.
It looks like the Rangers could be actually adding someone to the roster. They’ve been reportedly linked to soon to be former Maple Leaf Leo Komarov.
The New York Rangers have been in talks with forward Leo Komarov on a multi-year deal. Sounds like it's getting to that point. Wouldn't be surprised to see deal finalized on Sunday.
A gritty and versatile forward who plays an agitating physical style, the 31-year old who has represented Finland at the Olympics and World Championship, Komarov is the kind of veteran the Rangers are looking for. They want experienced guys with character. Something the annoying pest brings.
If it’s true that it’s a multi-year deal, that’s the only drawback. I would rather have Uncle Leo on a one-year contract. Given the direction the Rangers are going, short-term is better for any free agent they bring in.
Komarov loves to throw his weight around. He can get underneath the skin of opponents. His role diminished in ’17-18 under coach Mike Babcock. After consecutive seasons in which he reached double digits in goals and over 30 points, his production dropped to seven goals and 12 assists over 74 contests. He only appeared in two playoff games during Toronto’s first round series loss to Boston in seven.
If he is indeed signing here, I wouldn’t be opposed. This younger roster needs some edge. I could care less about his Corsi. You can’t have our kids being pushed around. So if it’s Komarov or Antoine Roussel, I’m for it.
As for the Rangers Prospect Camp, it sounds promising. Top pick Vitali Kravtsov has impressed with his unique skill.
Saw some Kovalev-like stunts from Kravtsov today. With puck on his stickblade, he flung his stick and the puck about 40 feet in the air, caught the stick and caught the puck with the stick … but dropped it.
Brett Howden and Libor Hajek both sound determined on trying to make the team out of training camp. Last year’s first round picks Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil feel even more ready to be on the roster as 19-year olds.
There’s also 22-year old Finnish prospect Ville Meskanen. A player they signed in the Spring. Gordie Clark likes what he sees so far. Maybe he can be a surprise addition on a team that lacks scoring. We’ll see.
In other free agent news, ex-Ranger Rick Nash sounds like he’s considering sitting out next season. If he does, it’ll be due to the concussions he sustained. He’s had a lot of injuries the past few years. When it comes to health, that’s more important along with family than playing hockey.
There were quite a few teams interested. But I think this is the best decision Nash can make. So, he’ll forego the July 1 signing period. Best wishes to him and his family.
The Sabres continue to actively try to move center Ryan O’Reilly. They have two days left before the July 1 deadline. Otherwise, they’re on the hook for a $7.5 million signing bonus that kicks in. The asking price is high. GM Jason Botterill is looking for a first round pick, second round pick and a good prospect. Montreal has interest due to their glaring center hole.
Botterill swung a deal with his former team Pittsburgh by acquiring Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick for a 2019 conditional fourth round pick. Basically, it’s a win win for both teams. The Sabres add two depth players who can help up front and on the back end. The Penguins dump salary to free up cap space. Maybe they’ll use it to add someone. Jeff Skinner possibly?
John Tavares has finished meeting with all five teams on his list aside from the Islanders. So, he spoke to the Bruins, Leafs, Lightning, Sharks and Stars. Each presentation lasted about two hours. He’s flown home to Toronto and will make a decision soon. Maybe it’ll come in the next 24 hours. But my guess is he’ll wait till June 30 on July 1 Eve. The free agent frenzy begins at noon on Sunday.
There are plenty of suitors for James van Riemsdyk, including the Devils and Rangers. I’ll take the latter with a grain of salt. As much as I like him, I highly doubt GM Jeff Gorton would pay JVR the kind of salary and term he’s looking for. It makes better sense for the Devils, who can use another finisher to take pressure off Hart winner Taylor Hall.
That’s going to do it for this post. Stay tuned for more this weekend.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 26, 2018
Yesterday, the phone call came for Martin Brodeur. The all-time winningest goalie and shutout leader will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this November in Toronto. The all-time great headlines a 2018 class that includes former Lightning Stanley Cup champion and Hart winner Marty St. Louis.
In the builders category, Willie O’Ree finally goes in. The first ever African American player to break the color barrier is long deserving. A classy man on and off the ice who’s done so much for growing the game in the community, O’Ree played parts of two seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins. Even though he only totaled 45 games with four goals and 10 assists, he had a long hockey career spent mostly in the Western Hockey League. He played until age 43 finishing with the San Diego Hawks in 1978-79. My favorite part is what P.K. Subban had to say about what O’Ree means:
Brodeur and St. Louis go in on the first ballot. Obviously, Brodeur was a lock. After former Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello traded down with Calgary to select Brodeur 20th overall in the famed 1990 NHL Draft that included Jaromir Jagr, the Montreal native quickly became one of the game’s elite netminders. As a rookie, he took them within a period of advancing to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Final, losing to the rival Rangers in double overtime. Some consider that ’94 Eastern Conference Final the best.
It was just a matter of time before Brodeur led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup, upsetting the Red Wings in ’95 by sweeping them. He was only 23 and already a Stanley Cup champion. No one could predict that he would be so durable, staying healthy for most of a illustrious 21-year career. Playing on one of the best teams that featured Hall of Famers Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, Brodeur continued to pile up wins year after year. He won over 40 games eight times including a jaw dropping 48 in ’06-07. A then NHL record since matched by Braden Holtby.
Martin Brodeur was selected for induction in his first year of eligibility, a well-deserved achievement for a three-time #StanleyCup champion and the winningest goaltender in NHL history. #HHOF#HHOF2018pic.twitter.com/wHhIEOs3d5
While he was winning consistently and continuing to put up great numbers, he also was racking up shutouts. By the time his brilliant career concluded with the Blues in ’14-15, he had NHL records in wins (691), shutouts (125), games played (1266) and total minutes. His career goals-against-average was 2.24.
Brodeur backstopped three New Jersey teams to Stanley Cups, including a riveting six-game series win over defending champ Dallas. Best remembered for Jason Arnott’s sudden death winner from Patrik Elias in the second overtime. When they won in 2003, it was a surprise. Even though they were very good, not many expected them to get past the Senators. They surprised Ottawa by taking three of the first four in a unpredictable Conference Final. But the Senators came back by winning Games 5 and 6 including the sixth game in overtime on Chris Phillips’ winner to force a deciding Game 7 in Ottawa. Even with the momentum against them in a hostile environment, Brodeur and company would prevail. His remarkable stop on Marian Hossa is still shown as is Jeff Friesen’s stunning series winner with over two minutes left from deadline pickup Grant Marshall. In another odd series, the Devils would prevail in seven over the Cinderella Mighty Ducks, boosted by a 3-0 shutout by Brodeur in Game 7. A game in which rookie Mike Rupp became a unlikely hero with two goals. It was also Ken Daneyko’s final game. They were destined to win and celebrate on home ice at the old Continental Airlines Arena.
Even though they lost in seven to the Avalanche the following year, it was a memorable two-year run. Although for Brodeur, it was heartbreaking losing to idol Patrick Roy. They’re two of the greatest goalies to ever play.
Amazingly, Brodeur had one more run in him. At the young age of 40, he outplayed Vezina winner Henrik Lundqvist in the 2012 Eastern Conference Final to avenge ’94. His scorpion save to rob Marian Gaborik is still replayed. The Devils won in six on rookie Adam Henrique’s overtime winner at The Prudential Center. They didn’t win the Cup that year, falling short to the Kings and Jonathan Quick in six. But it was a memorable run.
Brodeur did it all winning three Cups, four Vezinas and helping Canada win Olympic gold in ’02 Salt Lake City for the first time since 1952. He truly is one of the game’s legends. A approachable player off the ice who conducted himself well to the media who covered him. He now is the assistant GM for the Blues.
In thinking about St. Louis’ journey, it’s one of great perseverance. A undrafted free agent out of Vermont, it took him a while to establish himself as a NHL regular. The Flames gave him his first opportunity in ’98-99. A small forward who was generously listed at 5-8, 176, he didn’t get much of a chance, lasting parts of two seasons in Calgary. He totaled 20 points in 69 games before becoming a unrestricted free agent.
It was the Tampa Bay Lightning who decided Marty St. Louis was worth a shot. He got it in ’00-01 at the age of 25. During his first full season, he produced 18 goals and 22 assists totaling 40 points in 78 games. He had 35 points in 53 contests the following season. In ’02-03, he posted career highs with 33 goals, 37 assists and 70 points in 82 games. In the playoffs, he was part of Tampa’s comeback from 2-0 down in the first round against Washington. They took the next four games after dropping the first two on home ice. They would be eliminated in the second round. St. Louis finished with seven goals and five assists in 11 playoff games.
His best season came in ’03-04 when he exploded for a NHL best 94 points with 38 goals and 56 assists with only 24 penalty minutes. He had eight shorthanded goals and eight game-winning goals. The special year resulted in his first Art Ross and only Hart as league MVP. A unreal rags to riches story that wasn’t complete without leading the Lightning to its only Stanley Cup. They beat the Flyers in seven in a very closely fought Conference Final. Ruslan Fedotenko was the hero. They then came back from 3-2 down to beat Calgary in seven. It’s best remembered for two moments. The first coming with under seven minutes left in regulation of Game 6 at The Saddledome. Nikolai Khabibulin made a controversial kick save to deny Martin Gelinas. Replays were inconclusive whether the puck fully crossed the goal line. It would go two overtimes before St. Louis scored the winner to send the series back to Tampa. True enough, I won a overtime pool by correctly picking St. Louis to win the game at my old job in Jersey City.
The Bolts would go on to win the Cup 2-1 in Game 7.
He spent most of his career with the Lightning. He played with Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier under John Tortorella. They had Khabibulin in net and Dan Boyle manning the point. It was a special group. Unfortunately, the salary cap era broke up the team. There’s no way to keep great teams together anymore. You have to be real creative to sustain success. The Blackhawks did it winning three Cups but now have fallen on hard times. So have the Penguins due to the dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Kings also won twice in three years but aren’t the same team.
In 2014, St. Louis requested a trade to the Rangers after being snubbed by Steve Yzerman for Team Canada at the Olympics. Yzerman was in charge of both the Canadian roster and the GM of the Lightning. In a first ever captain for captain trade at the deadline, he was dealt to the Rangers with a 2015 second round pick for Ryan Callahan and a first round pick in 2014 and 2015 along with a seventh.
St. Louis had wanted to play in Manhattan before his career ended. He fulfilled that dream with a memorable postseason run in ’14. The Rangers took a chance after deciding against re-signing Callahan. St. Louis paid them back by being a inspirational leader during an emotional time. It was during the second round against Pittsburgh that his Mom suddenly died. The Rangers played awfully on home ice dropping Games 3 and 4 to fall behind 3-1. That’s as frustrated as I’ve ever been leaving MSG because I felt they could win that series. It was the Pens and they’d never beaten them in the playoffs. After a huge Game 5 win on the road, the team attended St. Louis’ Mom’s funeral a day before Mother’s Day. Game 6 was as emotional as I can remember the Garden. St. Louis played because that’s what his mother would’ve wanted. This is what happened early on Mother’s Day to inspire the team to a nervy Game 6 victory:
They would show nerves of steel to edge the Pens 2-1 on a Richards power play goal from St. Louis late in the second period. Lundqvist did the rest in a tension filled third. There was a lot of anxiety. They would take care of the Canadiens in six. A series highlighted by a clutch overtime goal from St. Louis on a great keep and pass by Carl Hagelin in Game 4.
Even though they didn’t win the Cup against the hated Kings thanks to a combination of controversial goals in LA along with some poor coaching and overtime heartache, that was a great run. The only time the Rangers returned to the Stanley Cup Final since I was a senior in high school. They came within a period of returning against Marty’s former team, losing in gut wrenching fashion on home ice. That one is still unforgivable even with all our defense hurt. St. Louis decided to retire following a inconsistent year that saw him struggle to score in the postseason. It was the right move. He didn’t hang around like so many.
St. Louis finished his career with 391 goals and 642 assists for a total of 1,033 points in 1,134 games. He won two scoring titles, a Hart, Pearson, three Byngs, and was a first All-Star once.
As far as commissioner Gary Bettman getting inducted when he’s still active, it’s controversial. Sure. He’s grown the game to new heights in markets nobody ever could’ve foreseen. Look how successful Vegas was in its inaugural year making a improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final. The expansion and increased revenue are big pluses. However, the lockouts including the cancellation of ’04-05 still stings. But he was proven right about cost certainty. Now, there’s more parity due to the cap and flawed points system that rewards losing in overtime and the shootout.
A very unpopular figure, Bettman is traditionally booed whenever he presents the Cup or is at the NHL Draft, including the ugliness in Dallas while he was making a nice speech about the Humboldt Broncos. The continued ignorance of the lawsuit from former players with Daniel Carcillo and now Nick Boynton leading the charge on how concussions and head injuries are related to CTE, is very arrogant on Bettman’s part along with the NHLPA run by resident jerk Donald Fehr. I understand why. He doesn’t want to say anything incriminating. He’s a lawyer. But it isn’t right that they don’t get more help for former players. It’s similar to the NFL.
Russian Alexander Yakushev and Jayna Hefford also are included in this year’s class. Yakushev is best known as one of the stars of the Summit Series in 1972, representing Russia. His playing style is compared to Phil Esposito. He also coached and was a referee.
Hefford was part of four consecutive gold medals for Canada from 2002 to 2014. She is best known for getting the gold medal winner at the ’02 Winter Games in Salt Lake. She totaled 439 goals in 418 games at club level in three leagues. She also set a CWHL record with 44 scored during ’08-09.
The disappointing aspect is that there are still a few former players still waiting for that call. Why Alexander Mogilny, Jeremy Roenick, Sergei Zubov and Theo Fleury are not in is ridiculous. All are deserving. My father has said forever that Rick Middleton and Steve Larmer deserve inclusion. They remain ignored by the Hall committee.
Earlier today, the Lightning announced on Twitter that they had re-signed J.T. Miller to a new contract. The restricted free agent who the Rangers included in a selloff with Ryan McDonagh at the trade deadline, received a five-year contract worth an average cap hit of $5.25 million per season.
The 25-year old forward had 10 goals and eight assists in 19 games following the trade. He finished with new personal bests in goals (23), assists (35) and points (58) in 82 games. He went 13-27-40 with the Rangers prior to the trade.
Even though he had good success playing on the top line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, Miller again struggled in the postseason. He only scored two goals in 17 playoff games, making it three goals in 57 career games. A dismal output for such a talented player. Overall, he went 2-6-8 with 15 penalty minutes in three rounds with the Bolts, who were eliminated in seven by eventual champ Washington.
Miller has been a productive player throughout his career. It’s now three consecutive seasons that he’s scored at least 22 goals. For a second straight campaign, he went over 50 points going from a previous best of 56 in ’16-17 to 58 in ’17-18.
Is he worth it? I’m not sure. It’s market value. He’ll need to be more consistent. Particularly in the playoffs where Tampa Bay is in search of a second Stanley Cup. At last check, they’re still pursuing free agent John Tavares with a interview set up later this week. How can they even afford the Islanders captain, who spoke to Toronto on Tuesday? I have no clue. Let’s just hope he doesn’t go there. It would be like forming a super team. An NBA term I’m sick of.
The interesting aspect of the Miller deal is how it impacts former Ranger teammate Kevin Hayes. A year older, the 26-year old pivot had his best goal output achieving a personal high with 25 to finish tied for second with ex-Ranger Michael Grabner. That trailed only Mika Zibanejad, who pumped home 27 in 72 games.
Hayes did it differently by being a better five-on-five player than Zibanejad. Seventeen of the 25 goals came at even strength with an additional two coming while shorthanded. So, 19 of his 25 were attained while either even up or a man short. He didn’t receive as much power play time until late in the season following the trades of Miller and Rick Nash. He fared well winding up with a career high six power play goals.
His point total of 44 isn’t overly impressive. However, consider the quality of competition he faced. Under former coach Alain Vigneault, Hayes was used in a checking role as a match-up center. He often went up against the opposition’s very best, doing a solid job. On a team that struggled defensively, he managed to finish plus-one in 76 games. Before he was moved, Miller was minus-one. Grabner went a team best plus-11, tying with Marc Staal. Yes. The veteran everyone wants traded.
Interestingly, Zibanejad finished a dismal minus-23. He wasn’t as effective five-on-five. Of the 27 goals he scored, 14 came on the power play. Thirteen at even strength. The Blueshirts’ top center went 13-12-25 at even strength while going 14-7-21 on the man-advantage. He did pick up one shorthanded assist.
Hayes totaled 34 even strength points going 17-17-34. Only Jesper Fast and team scoring leader Mats Zuccarello came close. Each finished with 31 even strength points. Unlike Zuccarello, who went 1-16-17 on the power play, all Fast’s career high 33 points came either at even strength or shorthanded (2 assists). Grabner had the fourth most with 29 (24-5-29) before going to the Devils. Chris Kreider went 9-16-25 in 58 games. He’s the other effective player at even strength.
So, what’s Hayes’ value? He made $2.6 million in ’17-18 with his contract expiring. Similar to Miller, who made $2.625 million before getting basically double that salary. While Miller has been a more productive player, Hayes is better overall. He plays center, faces the best competition, and has improved on face-offs and defensively.
That merits consideration for a similar contract. The question is how much do the Rangers in a rebuild value him. Hayes is a year away from unrestricted status. Don’t forget Zibanejad is signed for another four years thru 2022 with an AAV of $5.35 million.
One issue for GM Jeff Gorton is that both teenagers Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil are young centers. Each will be a key part of the future starting this Fall. While Chytil has a higher ceiling due to his skill, Andersson is a tenacious worker who gets his nose dirty. The kind of player the team has lacked. Entering new coach David Quinn’s first season, you don’t want to waste him on the fourth line. Clearly, he can have a top nine role. But not if both Hayes and Zibanejad are back.
Management might have to make a decision. If not now, then probably during the season. That also goes for Zuccarello, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him $4.5 million. A popular Ranger and teammate, the fact is he’ll turn 31 before the season starts. He will not be a bargain anymore next summer. With the club rebuilding, a player of Zuccarello’s character and work ethic could be more valuable in a trade to a contender. Something that must be explored.
So, what is the plan? Gorton also has tough decisions on Group II free agents Vladislav Namestnikov and Ryan Spooner. Is he planning to keep both? Salary arbitration could decide their fate. Jimmy Vesey is also unsigned but shouldn’t cost a lot. Brady Skjei is restricted. Do they invest long-term in the defenseman or bridge him?
The Rangers have plenty of cap space. They’re near the bottom of the league currently. A rarity. A good chunk of the money will go to their own players. Some of it could go to proven vets who can provide depth and leadership in a secondary role. A few candidates are Devante Smith-Pelly, Antoine Roussel and Ryan Reaves. Would they consider bringing back Anthony Duclair following Chicago not qualifying him. He’s still only 22. But things have sure changed. I see him winding up in a Canadian market such as Vancouver or Ottawa.
As for Hayes, I’d like to keep him. I like what he brings. He definitely proved he was more committed in a unfamiliar role. He’s a big forward who can possess the puck and play in any situation. Something I never envisioned not too long ago. Having that kind of character player is vital in a rebuild. If Chytil develops into a scoring center, maybe Zibanejad becomes expendable. He is an asset when it comes to scoring on the power play where he can unleash his bomb from the off wing. But he does have four years remaining.
The team needs to improve on the blueline. There’s not much out there. I don’t want them overpaying some bandaid anyway. It looks like Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk should be the top pair. That would leave Staal with Neal Pionk. Third pair remains confusing. Brendan Smith will get another opportunity in camp. How healthy will Tony DeAngelo be? Is John Gilmour an NHL defenseman? I’m most curious to see Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajek.
As the school year officially comes to a close, July 1 is fast approaching. Though I can’t recall the first day of the free agent frenzy ever coming out on a Sunday. It will this weekend with the usual assortment of TSN coverage picked up by NHL Network.
Even with a weak free agent class, there are still a couple of headliners. None more so than Islanders captain John Tavares. He’s spent the past nine years in both Long Island and Brooklyn. The former top pick of the 2009 NHL Draft has totaled 621 points (272-349-621) in 669 career games. Having only been to the postseason three times where he’s notched 11 goals and 11 assists in 24 playoff contests, the 27-year old Canadian is speaking to five other NHL teams before making his decision.
The five other suitors are the Bruins, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Sharks and Stars. He will meet with the Islanders tonight after talking to Toronto. The Isles are the only team that can offer the extra year. They reportedly offered in the neighborhood of $88 million over eight years, which would project to an average cap hit of $11 million. About what I figured. I said $92 million over eight. So, I was in the right ballpark.
Tavares opted not to speak to the Canadiens, who are a mess. They are actually considering signing former disgraced Kings defenseman Slava Voynov. He spent two months in jail for domestic abuse of his wife a few years ago. That caused the NHL to suspend him from the league. He went home to Russia in the KHL, and also represented his country at the Winter Games where they won a gold medal. This is the same Habs who distanced themselves from P.K. Subban, who is runs a children’s charity at a hospital in Montreal. They traded him for Shea Weber.
Another team not on Tavares’ list was the Rangers. This wasn’t a surprise as they’re the Islanders’ biggest rival and aren’t close to competing. I thought the Golden Knights would be one of the five teams. But somehow, Tampa is in again on another free agent. If they land Tavares, I will eat my shoes. They would have to cut some salary. I didn’t foresee Boston being one of the teams. It strikes me as a odd fit. They did cut David Backes loose.
The Leafs has to be in with Tavares being from Toronto. Imagine if they could convince him to come home and team with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Yikes.
Dallas being in is unsurprising. They could team Tavares with Tyler Seguin for a deadly one-two punch. Jamie Benn plays on the top line. They can seriously contend if Tavares goes there.
The best fit aside from the Islanders is San Jose. Boasting a talented roster that includes Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane, Brent Burns, Martin Jones, the Sharks would be loaded if Tavares joins them. The idea of Tavares on the same roster as Couture, Pavelski and Kane is scary. Not to mention the caveman, Mr. Burns. They would be a serious Stanley Cup threat.
I guess it all depends on Tavares. If he stays put in Brooklyn which will eventually become Belmont, he can be part of the next wave of Islanders. Under Lou Lamoriello and Stanley Cup winning coach Barry Trotz, they have a lot more appeal. Don’t forget ultra talented Calder winner Mathew Barzal. Along with a good crop of forwards that at the moment includes Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier, Tavares staying would make the Islanders formidable up front.
Scoring isn’t the issue. Keeping pucks out of the net is. Lamoriello must find a new starting goalie. He also must address a defense which struggled mightily. Trotz can help with a more defensive system. There will be a renewed commitment to defense. But with Calvin de Haan on the market, the Isles will desperately need to find a suitable replacement. That’s assuming Tavares stays. Scott Mayfield, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk and Adam Pelech need help.
It would be wise if the organization could get Linus Soderstrom signed. He can then adjust to the pro game in North America at Bridgeport. Ilya Sorokin remains a uncertainty.
What’s the plan with former Garth Snow first round pick Josh Ho-Sang? Is he going to be given a chance or get traded? One thing is certain. Kieffer Bellows is a future star who’s probably a year away. He’s going to be a good scorer. I really enjoyed watching him represent Team USA the past two years at the Under 20 World Junior Championship.
With Lamoriello doing well at last week’s Draft where he landed Oliver Wahlstrom, Noah Dobson and Bode Wilde, the future looks bright. All good reasons for Tavares to stay. Plus free bagels for his family freshly delivered. The hashtag is #bagelsfor91.
Day Two of the NHL Draft was mostly about defense for the Rangers. Of the six players selected, four were D meaning that the team totaled six blueliners over the two days. Six of the ten picks are D. While there was a need for it, did they take too many at the expense of filling a scoring need?
It seems as if GM Jeff Gorton’s eggs are all in one basket. By going off the board to select talented Russian Vitali Kravtsov at ninth overall last night. He definitely has high end potential. After looking at some highlights, he’s got the size and hands to become something special. It’s a boom or bust pick. They’re banking on him to deliver. It’s the only way to justify not selecting Oliver Wahlstrom, who fell to number 11 right to the Islanders.
Don’t forget the team moved up four spots to grab K’Andre Miller, who really sounds like a mature player that should bolster the blueline in the long run. I love how he told Amanda Borges how he wanted to give back to the community. He seems like a great kid with good upside. Adding a quality skater like Nils Lundkvist at 28 seems good on paper. He’s not flashy but should be a solid NHL player. Maybe not top pair. But a three or four is possible.
I can’t help but wonder why Gordie Clark reached for 17-year old Swedish goalie Olof Lindbom at number 39. He wasn’t ranked as high as some of the other netminders, who were still available. Is goalie really a need with top prospect Igor Shestyerkin a year away from coming to North America? Don’t forget they also have Adam Huska and Tyler Wall in the system. Plus Alexandar Georgiev expected to be the backup goalie behind Henrik Lundqvist.
It’s a puzzling pick. If they were gonna go mostly D, why not take Bode Wilde in that spot? He dropped despite being highly thought of by Pierre McGuire and other scouts. He could’ve been that big, righty defenseman the team lacks. Instead, he fell right into the Islanders’ lap at number 41. Much like the first round with Wahlstrom. Lou Lamoriello really had a great draft.
That isn’t good news for Garden faithful. There was a lot of frustration with this draft. Myself included. It remains to be seen how the players they took will pan out. Hopefully, we’re just overreacting. It’s easy to be negative when it comes to this team’s history. They’ve passed on good players numerous times. We don’t want to revisit anymore nightmares of Rangers past. I almost feel as though I’m describing Scrooge’s Christmas past.
Both Jacob Ragnarsson (son of former NHLer Marcus) and Nico Gross sound like promising prospects. Ragnarsson has the pedigree and Gross sounds like he has the character that Canadians love. I don’t know much on Joey Keane but he plays on the same junior hockey team as Gross. They both play for the Barrie Colts in the OHL. Keane is American while Gross is Swiss. Keane put up 44 points and a hefty plus-45 in ’17-18 while adding seven helpers in the playoffs.
One of the pressing needs remains a righty shooting forward who can finish. Outside of top pivot Mika Zibanejad, the current roster doesn’t boast anyone else who’s a big threat. Jesper Fast is our second best righty. He’s all grit and heart. But not more than a 15-goalscorer in a good year.
I harped on this issue in the last post along with the lack of Finnish players. Well, they finally took one in the fifth round, grabbing Finn Lauri Pajuniemi at number 132. He’s not a big player going 5-11, 182. However, he sounds like a hard worker in the Finnish mold. Watching him speak to Borges in a draft interview, you can tell he was overjoyed and shy. A kid like that is worth rooting for. Here it is:
He obviously has never been to Madison Square Garden. Let’s hope one day he’ll make it. He will get to participate in prospect camp. Always fun to follow.
The final pick was another Swede in defenseman Simon Kjellberg. He went in the sixth round at number 163. There isn’t much on him. I guess I’ll have to look into it.
It’s hard to gauge this draft. It seems like they could’ve done better. Maybe even gotten both Wahlstrom and Kravtsov. Maybe they should’ve moved down if they really loved Kravtsov and recouped another pick. Who knows.
I wonder about all these defensemen and how they’ll fit into the long-term plan. This isn’t a short-term fix. We’re talking about players who are years away. What about Ryan Lindgren, Libor Hajek, Brandon Crawley and Sean Day? Is Tony DeAngelo still part of the team’s plans? What about John Gilmour or Rob O’Gara? Both seem like fringe NHLers who can be backups.
Will Gorton invest long-term in Brady Skjei or make him earn it on a bridge deal? He doesn’t feel like a top pair guy. Not everyone is. They think Miller has a higher ceiling. I hope that’s true.
What is clear is one thing. The Rangers are going to be bad. For how long, I don’t know. With the Hurricanes making a very interesting five player trade with the Flames by acquiring Dougie Hamilton, unsigned prospect Adam Fox and grinder Michael Ferland in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm, they likely improved. They’re expected to move Jeff Skinner freeing up salary with gifted second overall pick Andrei Svechnikov likely ready. Look for them to trade Justin Faulk.
Everyone in the division is better on paper. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless you’re Henrik Lundqvist. It’s never easy to do this. But it has to be done. I’m glad Ilya Kovalchuk signed with the Kings, fulfilling his destiny. Let them have him.
The first round of the NHL Draft was completed Friday night in Dallas. It marked the first time they hosted one. Maybe it should be the only instance with some unruly fans booing commissioner Gary Bettman as he spoke about the Humboldt Broncos. It was despicable. I get booing the universally loathed Bettman, who revels in it, always cracking jokes. But the timing was poor. As he said, boo him the rest of the night after the tribute to Humboldt.
Once Bettman got the Draft underway, picks came in fast and furious. As expected, the Sabres took consensus number one Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin first overall. He should be able to step in right away and make a impact on the Buffalo blueline. With the club expected to move center Ryan O’Reilly either this weekend or after July 1, there should be more excitement in Western New York.
The Hurricanes quickly went for highly touted Russian scoring forward Andrei Svechnikov with the number two pick. A gifted player with great skill level, he scored 40 goals and added 32 assists in 44 games for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). This is a player who can make a big difference on Carolina, who is expected to move Jeff Skinner tomorrow, freeing up salary. They are not close to re-signing RFA Elias Lindholm. The sides are far apart, which means he could be dealt. One player they should retain is defenseman Noah Hanifin. It would be a huge mistake not to re-sign him.
Following the top two picks, things didn’t go as expected. With the third pick, the Canadiens passed on Filip Zadina to grab rising Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. A player who sounds very complete as most Finns are. Considering the draft need for a center along with the rumors they were high on him, it wasn’t too surprising. Most Montreal fans preferred Zadina, who slipped to number six where the Red Wings surprisingly grabbed the high scoring Czech right wing, who scored 44 goals with 38 assists in 57 games for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Most expected Detroit to go D and select American prospect Quinn Hughes. Instead, he fell to seven where the Canucks grabbed him.
Picking fourth, the Senators had highly ranked American forward Brady Tkachuk fall into their lap. There had been some talk that perhaps Montreal was interested. Instead, the youngest son of Keith Tkachuk goes to Ottawa where he’ll be a focal point of their rebuild. Similar to older brother Matthew Tkachuk, who is adept at scoring in front of the net for Calgary, Brady combines strong skating with nice touch and edge. He definitely was a player I would’ve liked to see the Rangers trade up for. But it was painfully obvious that wasn’t in the cards. Ottawa is the midst of a revamp, which will include moving defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer. Unless they have a change of heart and think they can re-sign him, the superb two-time Norris winner will have a new home. They’ll continue to be a interesting team to follow following the Mike Hoffman/Karlsson mess involving Hoffman’s fiancée, who stalked Karlsson’s wife. At least Hoffman was dealt. They just didn’t foresee San Jose rerouting him to Florida.
At number five, Arizona reached for center Barrett Hayton. A Canadian player from Ontario with character, who has played for Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL. He registered 21 goals and 39 assists in 63 games during the season. His playoff performance must’ve helped. He tallied 21 points (8-13-21) in 24 games. There were higher rated players available such as Zadina, Wahlstrom, Adam Boqvist, Hughes, Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard. They would fall like dominoes afterwards.
After Detroit surprised some by taking the high scoring Zadina at number six, the Canucks went for defense with top rated American prospect Hughes. A very smooth skater who isn’t the biggest in stature (5-10, 170), the left shooting D from Orlando will help the Vancouver blueline. He can really fly and jump into the play offensively. He represented Team USA well at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship. In his freshman year at the University of Michigan, Hughes did well posting five goals and 24 assists in 37 contests. He is going to be fun to watch. Ironically, younger brother Jack Hughes is the projected first overall pick in next year’s Draft. He spoke to NHL Network’s Jackie Redmond about his brother’s maturity.
The big question when Chicago picked was would Wahlstrom fall. Given that the Blackhawks have an aging blueline with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook no longer the same players, the answer was yes. The Blackhawks went for Boqvist. The righty Swede can score with the best of them, even drawing comparisons to Karlsson. A couple of concussions set him back, which probably explains why he slipped. Only listed at 5-9, 154, he’ll obviously need to get stronger. He’s very fast and has a good shot. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly he progresses on a now rebuilding team even though they still have Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
I was clamoring for the Rangers to take Wahlstrom. A classic North American scoring forward, who could project as one of the best finishers in this Draft. Of course, it was too good to be true. As soon as Pierre McGuire mentioned how much they loved Russian Vitali Kravtsov, I knew he was the pick. It’s not that he won’t turn out good. He sounds like a potential first liner but has a year left with Chelyabinsk Traktor of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). When it comes down to taking Russian players, there’s always a risk they could stay for a while. I’m hopeful Kravtsov, who goes 6-3, 170, can develop well and come over to North America in ’19-20. I just wonder what Gordie Clark was thinking. With some ranking him as low as 24, what was the rush? I would’ve preferred Wahlstrom, who from all accounts sounds like a can’t miss. He’ll go play for Boston College in the Fall. But it’ll be as a member of the dreaded Islanders, who scooped him up with the number 11 pick. They also landed Dobson. A high scoring Canadian defense prospect who put up 69 points (17-52-69) in 67 games for Acadia-Bathurst of the QMJHL. It sounds like Lou Lamoriello did it once again at the expense of the Rangers. Cue the flashbacks to Hugh Jessiman going before Zach Parise. Maddening.
Edmonton also did well landing Bouchard at number 10. They desperately needed a defenseman. The big Canadian exploded for 87 points (25-62-87) in 67 contests for the London Knights of the OHL. Yikes. Imagine what he could do with Connor McDavid. Oh boy.
At number 17, the Devils went with D landing Canadian Ty Smith. He’s played for Spokane of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he went 14-59-73 in 69 games. Impressive numbers for sure for the left shooting defenseman who’s listed at 5-10, 176. If he pans out, New Jersey could have him along with impressive Will Butcher, who paced all rookie blueliners in points (44). A definite need for a improving team that now boasts the first ever Hart winner in franchise history, Taylor Hart Hall. Combined with Nico Hischier, they’ll continue to be lethal.
Committed to a rebuild, the Rangers had two more first rounders thanks to trades with Boston and Tampa Bay. They originally had the number 26 and 28th overall picks. But they decided they liked someone enough to move up to number 22 where they grabbed potential steal K’Andre Miller. A big defenseman who goes 6-3, 206 from Hopkins, Minnesota, the African American left shooting D spent the past two years playing for the U.S. National Team in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Raved about by the TSN panel, they loved the pick. To get him, Rangers GM Jeff Gorton swapped the number 26 and the number 48 picks (second round) to move up four spots. Most intriguing is Miller made the switch from forward to D at age 15. He sounds like a guy with big time potential. Exactly what the Rangers need.
Their final pick was a somewhat familiar name. They took defenseman Nils Lundkvist from Sweden at number 28. No. Not that Lundqvist. It is spelled differently. I’ve heard of him due to Lundkvist representing Sweden at the WJC. Not as highly touted as teammates Dahlin or Boqvist, he is a good skating D who plays more of a two-way game. He sounds pretty cool when hearing him interviewed.
Considering that one of the pressing needs was defense, the Blueshirts addressed that area with the additions of Miller and Lundkvist. Both are lefties. I’m wondering about the two prospects they picked up from Boston and Tampa. Where do Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajek fit in? Both are 20 and will be looked at in training camp.
There’s still a need for a right defenseman. It’s interesting to note that nobody took Bode Wilde in Round One. Why not? McGuire couldn’t understand it. Now listed at 6-4, 198, he sounds like a dream. The American prospect, who combines size and strength with good skating ability as evidenced by his 11 goals and 25 assists for the US Development Team. He was ranked 17th among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Three spots lower than Devils pick Smith. Someone could wind up with a steal on Saturday.
The other need in my book is a righty shooter who can finish. Let’s face it. The Rangers under Gorton, Glen Sather and Clark love lefty shooters. How many is enough? Outside of Mika Zibanejad, they don’t boast enough quality righties who can snipe. Last year’s first round picks Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil are lefty centers. Kevin Hayes is a lefty. Chris Kreider is too. Mats Zuccarello is lefty and mostly a passer. Pavel Buchnevich is basically the same. Are we sensing a trend?
Until they address the lack of a right-handed shooter, they’ll be easy to defend. Zibanejad is the only quality righty they got. That doesn’t cut it. Neither does passing on North American players who can project as that top finisher the team has lacked.
Finally, when is the last time this team took a Finn? You have to go all the way back to Lauri Korpikoski, who was part of the regretful Brian Leetch deal with Toronto. A Sather special. Most Finnish players are polished. They play the game hard and don’t take shifts off. Korpedo had a nice career in a secondary checking role. He wasn’t great but fared well with the Coyotes after that awful trade.
If they want to preach change, I’m all for it. Even if that means finishing in last place in our division the next two to three years. But they need to not be so predictable. Get tougher. It can’t always be about skating and finesse. That doesn’t work. You need a combination of both. We’ll see what Day Two brings.
Keep an eye on Max Pacioretty and Jeff Skinner. Both are expected to be moved. Figure there to be some real trades later today. John Carlson is also close to re-signing with the Capitals before Sunday. That’s when he can talk with other teams prior to July 1.
The expected is about to happen. Once Barry Trotz left his post with the Capitals after guiding them to their first Stanley Cup, he was going to become the next coach of the New York Islanders. The only question was would Minnesota have interest.
It looks like it’s definitely happening. With the first round of the NHL Draft a day away, figure Lou Lamoriello to announce the hiring of Trotz. He will no longer be underpaid. But make a reported salary of $4 million per season in Brooklyn, and eventually Belmont.
Both Darren Dreger and Elliotte Friedman reported it on Twitter. Here’s a tweet from Friedman on the particulars.
For the Islanders, it gives them more stability as a franchise. They are clearly headed in the right direction under new President and GM Lamoriello, who knows a thing or two about being a successful executive. Even now, he’s doing things his way. The country club atmosphere is dead.
Next, figure them to convince John Tavares to stay and sign an eight-year contract worth around $90 million. That would be an AAV of $11.25 million per season. Maybe a little less. Who knows.
Assuming Tavares re-signs, they still need a goalie and a defenseman. I’m sure Lamoriello will address both needs in short order. He’s not messing around. The Islanders are no joke anymore.
This wasn’t your normal Awards show. Once again, the NHL celebrated its best in Las Vegas. In a longer than usual show, there was plenty of emotion and tears for hockey fans, players, etc.
The highlight for me was the emotional first ever presentation of the Willie O’ Ree Award, which recognizes the person most dedicated to the community.
Wife of Humboldt Bromcos coach Darcy Haugen proudly representing the hockey community as the winner of the Willie O’Ree award pic.twitter.com/MizhMXV2w7
It was over two months ago that tragedy struck the Humboldt Broncos as their bus traveling to a playoff game crashed into a tractor trailer. Sixteen didn’t survive. That included well respected coach/GM Darcy Haugan. On a night 10 of the 13 survivors reunited on stage to thunderous applause from the crowd, the Humboldt Broncos were there as their coach was announced the winner by O’ Ree. His wife Christina Haugan accepted the award in his honor, making an emotional speech about what her husband was all about. The team and fair play. It was emotional to see her up there with those players, including a couple in wheelchairs. Injuries prevented three from attending. They’re still recovering in the hospital.
I can’t imagine there were any dry eyes left after that. This wasn’t just any award. It was special and paid tribute to Haugan’s dedication as a community hero. Something O’ Ree can relate to for breaking the color barrier in hockey. He should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s such a classy and elegant man. Very soft spoken and always donning his classic hat, I hope one day he makes it in Toronto.
The awards themselves went pretty much to form. Mathew Barzal won the Calder, besting Brock Boeser and Clayton Keller. Barzal becomes the first New York Islander to win Rookie of The Year since Bryan Berard in ’96-97. The 21-year old Barzal is the fifth Islander to ever win the Calder, joining Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Berard.
Pekka Rinne took home his first ever Vezina as the league’s top goalie. He easily outdistanced runner-up Connor Hellebuyck with Andrei Vasilevskiy finishing third. The lone surprise was Vasilevskiy didn’t receive one first place vote. He won 44 games and had eight shutouts for Tampa. The best part of the presentation was having emergency winning Blackhawks goalie Scott Foster announce the winner with noted Chicago fan Jim Belushi. That was nice.
The Norris went to Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman. His first after a standout season for the Lightning. He beat out runner-up Drew Doughty with 94 first place votes. Forty-two more than the former Norris winner. P.K. Subban finished a distant third followed by future winner Seth Jones.
Anze Kopitar took home the Selke for league’s best defensive forward. He edged Sean Couturier with Patrice Bergeron coming in third. I don’t have any issue with Kopitar winning. He’s been overlooked throughout a brilliant career. I’m glad he was recognized with a nomination for the Hart. I would’ve voted for Couturier. He was awesome on a Flyers team that wasn’t expected to make the playoffs. Bergeron could win it every year. He’s one of my favorite players. Aleksander Barkov came in fourth. He could be a Hart candidate next season.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 21, 2018
Vegas Golden Knight William Karlsson won the Lady Byng. He was a good choice as the top center who was third in goals scored, is a clean player who plays the game the right way. Ryan O’Reilly finished runner-up. He’s expected to be moved soon by the Sabres. Barkov was third followed by Kopitar.
The Jack Adams went to none other than deserving Vegas coach Gerard Gallant. He beat out Bruce Cassidy and Jared Bednar. I know Boston wasn’t expected to be that good due to a influx of rookies. But they still had arguably the best line in Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. How did Bednar finish behind Cassidy? And why was John Hynes only sixth? At least there were no votes for Alain Vigneault.
GM of The Year was none other than George McPhee. He did a masterful job building the Golden Knights. He also was largely responsible for the Stanley Cup champion Capitals, who bested the Knights in five. I liked the irony of Nicklas Backstrom presenting him.
Mark Messier presented his Leadership Award to Deryk Engelland. I really loved the choice. He was the emotional leader of Vegas following the tragedy. A Vegas resident, the rugged defenseman was a true leader on and off the ice. He was very deserving, beating out Wayne Simmonds and Blake Wheeler. He epitomized the toughness and resiliency of the Golden Knights.
Alexander Ovechkin was outside celebrating during his latest win of the Rocket Richard as the game’s top goalscorer. He would later be one of four winners to present the most talked about award. The Hart Trophy. Joined on the stage by Eric Lindros, it was cool to see them announce Taylor Hall as the winner of the league MVP. He’s the first Devil ever to win the prestigious award, and is quite deserving. The way he carried his team while hurt in the second half was amazing. The voting was a little strange. How did anyone have Hall or runner-up Nathan MacKinnon not in the top three. Fifteen writers are fools who didn’t see what MacKinnon did for the Avalanche. Seven ignored Hall. There were 30 total votes for the game’s best player and back-to-back Art Ross recipient Connor McDavid, in the top three. I don’t see how. The Oilers stunk. Anyway, here’s the voting.
To say this was perplexing would be the understatement. How do these people get to cover games when they don’t watch half the time? The vote should’ve been closer. Kopitar finished third followed by Claude Giroux, and rounded out by McDavid. Oh btw…Sidney Crosby had one total vote. How times have changed.
Well, now the moniker will stick. He truly is Taylor Hart Hall. What he said in his speech about Humboldt was truly touching. All class. He thanked the Devils and his teammates.
Lastly, Brian Boyle deservedly won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship to hockey. His courageous battle with cancer and successful comeback was truly inspiring. He really is a great person. Someone many people can learn from. I’m so happy for him and his family. Congrats Brian. #BoyleStrong!
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