CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

Francis, Canes gain future cost certainty with Slavin, Pesce extensions

Andrew Schnittker, Sports Editor

11 hrs ago

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis spent much of the 2017 offseason making moves to help the team in the short term, ensuring that its NHL-leading playoff drought ends in 2018.

He also made two calculated signings for the future. He locked in the team’s top pairing on defense through 2024, signing Jaccob Slavin to a seven-year extension worth $5.3 million per season, and his partner, Brett Pesce, to a six-year extension at $4.025 million per season.

Signing the duo now, before their contracts would have expired and they would have been restricted free agents following the 2017-18 season, is a smart move for a number of reasons.

The first and most obvious of those reasons is that Slavin and Pesce are good at what they do. After breaking in and surprising the league as rookies in 2015-16, the duo of American college hockey products emerged as a top-notch shutdown pair last season.

Slavin and Pesce were regularly matched against an opponent’s top players, and thrived doing it. They tied with a team single-season best plus-minus rating of +23. Plus minus is usually more of a team stat and is rarely effective in evaluating individual players, but this is one of those rare cases.

For Slavin and Pesce to be so far in the green given their roles on a team with a minus goal differential is very impressive. The Canes outscored their opponents by 23 goals at even strength with the duo on the ice, despite them playing big minutes and facing down a steady diet of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane and John Tavares types in every game.

They have some growing to do offensively, though Slavin did show a lot of improvement in that regard over the team’s final month, to finish the season with a career-high five goals and 34 points in 82 games, including his first-career hat trick. Pesce has, by his own admission, been working on his offensive game over the summer, particularly his shot.

There’s no reason to believe Slavin and Pesce have hit their ceilings, either. With Slavin at 23 years of age and Pesce 22, both are still a few years from hitting their prime and should have plenty more to give.

So, given what Slavin and Pesce bring to the table now, those salaries are, at the very least, fair prices for both, and could end up looking like ridiculous bargains by the time the deals expire.

Which brings us to the next point. Had Francis waited to sign Pesce and Slavin until after next season with the expiration of their entry-level deals, he could have been facing more expensive new contracts for both of them. It’s certainly possible both take another big step, particularly with offensive breakouts, this upcoming season, and then Francis would have, at the very least been looking at paying each one million more per season than the extensions ended up being.

By hedging his bets and getting the deals done now, the Canes have two talented, cost-controlled defensemen under contract for the long term. That is very important in the salary-cap world, and especially important given the Hurricanes’ upcoming contract negotiations in the next several years.

Next summer, Swedish playmaker Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin, both fifth-overall draft picks in 2013 and 2015, respectively, will be restricted free agents. If both build on what they did in the second half of last season next year, they’ll be looking at big raises.

Slavin and Pesce’s deals could be particularly important in Hanifin’s negotiation. The trio broke in together as rookies, but so far, Slavin and Pesce have outperformed Hanifin. Barring a big breakout for the Boston College product this year (which is certainly possible), Francis can reasonably hope to sign Hanifin for at or around Slavin and Pesce’s deal. Newly-acquired defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk will also be an RFA in 2018.

The big negotiations don’t stop there. In 2019, leading scorer Jeff Skinner will be an unrestricted free agent, and Finnish forward Sebastiano Aho will be an RFA. Those deals won’t be cheap, particularly if Aho continues to build on last year’s impressive rookie campaign. Finally, defenseman Justin Faulk, the team’s top puck mover and power-play quarterback, will be an UFA in 2020.

Given all these upcoming contract talks, then, it’s even more important that Francis was able to lock Slavin and Pesce in at reasonable deals, leaving as much money on the table for these other future extensions as possible.

Building a team brimming with young talent as the Hurricanes have does come with the pitfall of having to pay the young guns as they mature and develop. If Francis’ work on the Slavin and Pesce deals is any indication, the Canes’ future contract negotiations with the rest of their young core are in good hands.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

Williams eager to help young Hurricanes

Veteran right wing wants to aid in development, end playoff drought

by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

12:00 AM

VOORHEES, N.J. -- As he prepares for his 17th NHL season, Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams believes he's learned the secret to thriving at an advanced hockey age.

"I think at this point in my career … I'm probably not going to get any faster," Williams, 35, said. "I know that. The trick is not to get any slower. I'm doing all I can to make sure that doesn't happen and you don't slowly fade away. I want to be an impact player for a long time and I plan on being one the next couple years as well."

Williams was an impact player with the Washington Capitals last season with 48 points in 80 games. His 24 goals were the most he's had in a season since he scored 33 with the Hurricanes in 2006-07. He's also been durable, missing three games the past six seasons.

He signed a two-year contract with the Hurricanes on July 1 and is being counted on to bring experience and leadership to a young team. The Hurricanes had an average age of 26.8 years last season, sixth-youngest in the League according to Hockey-Reference.com.

Last season, five of the Hurricanes' top six in scoring were younger than 25, topped by forwards Jeff Skinner, who had 63 points (37 goals, 26 assists) in 79 games, and Sebastian Aho, who had 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists) in 82 games. Their defense is led by Justin Faulk, who has played in the NHL All-Star Game three times in six seasons, and Jaccob Slavin, who last season was one of seven defensemen with at least 30 points (34), a plus-20 plus/minus rating (plus-23) and 23 minutes of ice time per game (23:26).

It's that youthful core that motivated Williams to return to the Hurricanes. He played five seasons with them (2003-04 to 2008-09) and was part of the 2006 Stanley Cup championship.

"I really like the young, up-and-coming team they had," said Williams, who was among the NHL players participating in the 2017 Checking For Charity tournament at Flyers Skate

Zone this past weekend. "I think their speed, and they're tailor-made for the way the game is played right now. They have a lot of really good, up-and-coming talent that's making the transition from being average players to good players and good players to great players. I don't know where the ceiling is, but I think it's pretty high."

The Hurricanes had 87 points last season, the most they've had in seven seasons, but they finished eight points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference, their eighth straight season without a playoff berth.

To remedy that, the Hurricanes added four players during the offseason with a total of seven Stanley Cup championships in Williams, goaltender Scott Darling, defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and forward Marcus Kruger. The latter three each won with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015.

"I don't think you can ever have enough guys in your room with playoff experience, and more importantly, playoff success," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said. "That's seven Stanley Cups with those four guys alone coming into our locker room. We have a very young team and they're trying to find their way. We think the guys we picked up this summer not only are very good hockey players, but very good people and proven winners."

Williams owns three of those championships, including the two he won with the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014). That resume could make him an ideal captain for the Hurricanes, who haven't had one since Eric Staal was traded to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2016.

Williams has never been a captain at any level, and said of becoming one now, "That's something that's not on my radar."

Instead, he's focusing on helping the Hurricanes end their playoff drought and his younger teammates reaching their potential.

"I'm there to help as best I can on the ice, off the ice, make the players better around me," he said. "That's what I've tried to do throughout my career and that's what I plan on doing there."

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

Top 20 NHL Wings

NHL Network reveals best of current crop

NHL.com @NHL

August 13th, 2017

1. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Kane led the League in points (106) by 17 and finished second in goals (46) and third in assists (60) in 2015-16. He also had a 26-game point streak (16 goals, 24 assists) from Oct. 17-Dec. 13, the longest by a United States-born player, and won the Hart Trophy (MVP) and Ted Lindsay Award (top player as voted by his peers). Kane followed that with 89 points (34 goals, 55 assists) last season, finishing second in the NHL in points and fifth in assists, and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team for the second straight season.

The 2007-08 Calder Trophy winner as the top rookie in the NHL, Kane, 28, has scored more than 20 goals in each of his first 10 NHL seasons and has 752 points (285 goals, 467 assists) in 740 games. He's won the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015). Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2013 (nine goals, 10 assists in 23 games) and was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

"He always had the skill, but now I think he's putting in the time off the ice, conditioning-wise, getting prepared for the season, doing all of the little things to go from a very good player to one of the game's best, one of the elite players in the NHL," said NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay, a forward in the League for 13 seasons (1991-92 through 2003-2004). "He has proven that the last couple of years."

2. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Kucherov, 24, had NHL career highs in goals (40, tied for second in the League), assists (45), points (85, tied for fifth), power-play goals (17, tied for first), power-play points (32, third), game-winning goals (seven), shots on goal (246) and penalty minutes (38) last season.

"He just put the Tampa Bay Lightning on his back in the second half [of last season]," Lindsay said. "They had a lot of injuries, so Nikita Kucherov [had] the ability to do a lot of stuff and create stuff by himself. He does not need a lot around him to make himself great. Tampa Bay almost got back into the playoffs because of Kucherov."

He had at least 29 goals, 36 assists and 65 points each of the past three seasons. Kucherov has 234 points (108 goals, 126 points) and is plus-63 in 285 regular-season NHL games, and has 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 45 playoff games.

3. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins

Marchand finished tied for fifth in the League in points (85) and tied for fourth in goals (39) last season. He also was one of nine NHL players to average more than one point per game (1.06, seventh). It was the fourth straight season he had at least 24 goals and the sixth time in his NHL career.

Marchand, 29, also had NHL career highs in power-play goals (nine), power-play points (24) and game-winning goals (eight), and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team. He won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and has 374 points (192 goals, 182 assists) in 534 NHL games.

4. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

Tarasenko has scored at least 37 goals, 73 points and six game-winning goals each of the past three seasons, and has led the Blues in points each of them. He had an NHL career-high 75 points (39 goals, 36 assists) last season and an NHL career-high 40 goals in 2015-16.

The 25-year-old had 64 power-play points (29 goals, 35 assists) and 21 game-winning goals the past three seasons, and has become one of the best shooters in the game. He scored on 13.6 percent of his 286 shots on goal last season and is at 13.8 percent for his NHL career. The Blues have qualified for the playoffs in each of Tarasenko's five NHL seasons.

5. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

Benn had 26 goals and 43 assists last season, his lowest totals in a full NHL season since 2011-12. However, he has been first or second in scoring on the Stars each of the past three seasons. Benn had 41 goals (third in the NHL), 48 assists and 89 points (second) in 2015-16 after winning the Art Ross Trophy in 2014-15 for leading the League in points (87).

Benn, 28, has made the NHL First All-Star Team twice and the Second All-Star Team once, and has scored at least 22 goals in each of his seven full NHL seasons. Over the past three seasons, Benn has 245 points, third in the NHL behind Kane (259) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (258).

6. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin was tied with T.J. Oshie for the Capitals lead in goals last season (33) and has been their leader or co-leader in goals each of his 12 NHL seasons. He's won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the leading goal-scorer in the League six times, including four straight seasons from 2012-13 to 2015-16. He has scored 50 or more goals seven times in his NHL career, most recently in 2015-16 when he had a hat trick in Washington's penultimate game to reach 50.

"[He's] the purest goal-scorer that we've seen come along in a long, long time in the NHL," Lindsay said.

Ovechkin has been named to either the NHL First All-Star Team or Second All-Star Team 10 times. He has won the Hart Trophy three times and the Ted Lindsay Award three times. The 31-year-old has been durable, missing 29 games in his NHL career, and his 558 goals and 1,035 points lead the League since 2005-06, his rookie season. Ovechkin was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

7. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks captain scored 29 goals last season, just missing a fourth straight season of at least 30 goals. He's had at least 22 power-play points each of the past four seasons and led the League with 11 game-winning goals in 2015-16.

Pavelski, 33, has eight 20-goal seasons and has had a rating of plus-11 or higher each of the past four seasons. He has missed one game in the past six seasons. Pavelski helped San Jose reach its first Stanley Cup Final in 2015-16, scoring 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in 24 playoff games.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

"Best in the business for the front of the net," Lindsay said. "Always presenting that stick for targets and for deflections. You're going to take a lot of cross-checks, a lot of slashes, but if you're willing to do that and you've got that kind of hand-eye coordination, you're going to end up scoring goals."

8. Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets

Laine, who turned 19 on April 19, finished second among NHL rookies in goals (36) and points (64) in 73 games and led the Jets in goals in 2016-17. He finished second in Calder voting behind Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who led rookies in goals (40) and points (69), and scored the seventh-most goals in a season by an 18-year-old in League history. He also had three hat tricks, five game-winning goals, 14 power-play points (nine goals), a plus-7 rating and a shooting percentage of 17.6.

He led NHL rookies with an average of 0.88 points per game and was second among rookie forwards with an average of 17:54 of ice time per game (Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche: 18:03).

"He uses that long reach and that long stick to get maximum whip, and that whip on that stick is what puts the power in the shot for Laine," Lindsay said. "Don't underestimate how good of a skater he is. He's big, but he has long, powerful strides."

9. Artemi Panarin, Columbus Blue Jackets

Traded from the Blackhawks on June 23, Panarin was second on Chicago in goals (31) and points (74) last season behind Kane, and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.

The 25-year-old won the Calder in 2015-16, leading rookies in goals (30), assists (47), points (77) and game-winning goals (seven), and finishing tied with Anthony Duclair of the Arizona Coyotes and Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart of the Buffalo Sabres for the lead in power-play goals (eight). His 151 points the past two seasons were tied for seventh in the League.

10. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

Gaudreau had 18 goals and led the Flames with 43 assists and 61 points last season. He also had 16 power-play points (four goals, 12 assists) and three game-winning goals. In 2015-16, he led Calgary in goals (30), assists (48) and points (78, tied for sixth in the League).

"[Wayne] Gretzky was probably the best ever of knowing where the puck was going to be and knowing where everyone else was on the ice," Lindsay said. "Johnny Gaudreau has that ability."

The 24-year-old has at least 61 points each of his first three NHL seasons and has made the NHL All-Star Game in each. Gaudreau has 204 points (73 goals, 131 assists) in 232 NHL games and won the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player in the League last season, when he was assessed two minor penalties in 72 games.

11. Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets

Wheeler has been one of the most underrated and consistent forwards in the League since 2013-14. He has 282 points (106 goals, 176 assists) the past four seasons, 12th in the League, and has had at least 26 goals and 35

assists in four straight seasons. Wheeler had 74 points (26 goals, 48 assists) last season and 78 (26 goals, 52 assists) in 2015-16.

In each of the past five seasons, Wheeler, 30, has finished in the top three in goals, assists and points on the Jets. He has missed five games over the past six seasons. Wheeler has been a key contributor on special teams, with 109 power-play points and 17 shorthanded points in his nine NHL seasons.

12. Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins

Kessel has thrived in Pittsburgh since being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2015. He had 70 points (23 goals, 47 assists) last season, ranking third on the Penguins. Kessel also was third in 2015-16, when he had 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists). He led Pittsburgh with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in the playoffs in 2016 and had 23 (eight goals, 15 assists) in 2017, helping Pittsburgh win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Kessel, who turns 30 on Oct. 2, has scored at least 20 goals in nine straight seasons after he had 11 and 19 his first two seasons in the League. He has scored at least 30 goals five times, doing so in four straight seasons (2008-09 through 2011-12). He has 649 points (296 goals, 353 assists) in 832 NHL games, including 202 on the power play (78 goals, 124 assists), and hasn't missed a game in the past seven seasons.

"That trade to Pittsburgh, I think [it's] the best thing that ever could've happened to Phil Kessel and for the Penguins," Lindsay said. "The Penguins don't win back-to-back Stanley Cups without this guy."

13. Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens

Pacioretty has flown under the radar as one of two NHL players to score at least 30 goals each of the past four seasons (Ovechkin has 12 straight 30-goal seasons). He's been Montreal's leader or co-leader in goals each of the past five seasons and has led them in points each of the past six. Pacioretty, 28, scored 35 goals, including seven game-winners, and tied his NHL career high with 67 points last season. Of his 209 NHL goals, 41 (19.6 percent) are game-winners.

"He can score goals in tight, but he has the kind of wrist shot that he can score from long distances as well," Lindsay said. "When you watch Max Pacioretty play, he plays in straight lines, north-south hockey, and that's what a winger's all about. … He is definitely the prototypical power forward."

14. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators

Forsberg, 23, burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2014-15, when he had 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) and finished fourth in Calder voting. He followed that with 64 points (33 goals, 31 assists) in 2015-16 and had 58 points (31 goals, 27 assists) last season. Forsberg was tied for second in the League with nine game-winning goals and tied for fifth with three shorthanded goals. He had back-to-back hat tricks on Feb. 21 and 23 during a stretch when he scored 10 goals in five games.

Forsberg's nine goals and 16 points led the Predators during the playoffs last season, when he helped them advance to their first Stanley Cup Final.

15. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

In 75 games last season, Pastrnak had 34 goals and 70 points, each an NHL career high that ranked second on the Bruins (Marchand had 39 goals and 85 points). Pastrnak, 21, more than doubled his goal, assist and point totals from 2015-16, when he had 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 51 games. He began the season with at least one goal in three straight games and had a five-game goal streak from Oct. 26-Nov. 8. He finished the season with six game-winning goals, including two in overtime.

16. Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Atkinson, 28, increased his goal total for the fifth straight season in 2016-17, scoring an NHL career-high 35 in 82 games. His point total increased for the second straight season (from 53 in 2015-16 to 62), and he had an NHL career-high 27 assists. Atkinson had 21 power-play points (10 goals, 11 assists) and three shorthanded goals in 18:05 of average ice time. He had a nine-game point streak from Dec. 5-23 (seven goals, seven assists) and helped Columbus finish with the most wins (50) and points (106) in its history.

17. Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes

Skinner won the Calder in 2010-11, scoring 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games, and has been a consistent scorer ever since with at least 20 goals in five of six full NHL seasons, including an NHL career-high 37 last season. Of his 180 NHL goals, 41 (22.8 percent) have come on the power play and 26 (14.4 percent) have been game-winners. Skinner, 25, has led the Hurricanes in points each of the past two seasons and in goals three of the past four.

18. Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers

Simmonds has become one of the best all-around players in the League. In each of the past four seasons, he's scored at least 28 goals and 50 points, and had at least 13 power-play goals. Last season, he had 54 points (31 goals, 23 assists), 25 power-play points (16 goals, fourth in League, and nine

assists), four game-winning goals, two shorthanded goals and 122 penalty minutes. Simmonds, who turns 29 on Aug. 26, uses his size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) to get to the net and create scoring chances for his teammates. He made his first NHL All-Star Game last season and was voted MVP after scoring the game-winning goal for the Metropolitan Division.

"This guy is tough," Lindsay said. "He'll go to the front of the net, he'll pummel you on the forecheck, and he loves to get in there tight. He's dynamic on the power play."

19. T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals

Oshie has scored at least 51 points each of the past four seasons, including 107 points (59 goals, 48 assists) in two seasons with the Capitals. He scored an NHL career-high 33 goals last season, tying Ovechkin for the Capitals lead.

Oshie made the most of his 143 shots on goal, scoring on a League-high 23.1 percent of them. The 30-year-old was plus-28 last season, the seventh time in nine NHL seasons he's finished plus-10 or better. Oshie is third in the NHL with 39 shootout goals since 2008-09, and his 54.9 shooting percentage in the tiebreaker ranks fourth in that time among players who have taken at least 10 shots.

20. Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils

Hall scored 20 goals, led the Devils with 33 assists and tied for the lead with 53 points last season, his first in New Jersey. He also had four game-winning goals. He's scored at least 20 goals in five of his seven NHL seasons and has had at least 50 points five times.

In 2013-14, Hall set NHL career highs with 53 assists and 80 points, leading the Edmonton Oilers in each category, and tied his NHL career high with 27 goals. The 25-year-old has made the NHL All-Star Game each of the past two seasons and has 381 points (152 goals, 229 assists) in 453 NHL games.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

Storm Advisory for August 15: NHL News, Rumors, Links and Daily Roundup

Phil Kessel eating hot dogs from the Stanley Cup on a golf course? Peak August hockey right there.

by Brian LeBlanc@bdleblanc Aug 15, 2017, 7:03am EDT

Reading Assignments

It’s a bit of a social media-heavy day here at Storm Advisory HQ:

• A few of the Hurricanes staff members volunteered yesterday at the Emily K Center in Durham yesterday getting ready for the start of the school year:

• Former Canes TV host Michelle McMahon is moving on from NHL Network to a more prominent role at her other outlet:

• Speaking of NHL Network, Jeff Skinner made the network’s list of Top 20 Wings Right Now. Where did he end up on the countdown?

• No way David Pastrnak is on the trade block...is there?

• The Minnesota Wild did themselves no favors in trying to convince Russian prospect Kirill Kaprizov

to jump ship from the KHL to North America. [Hockey Wilderness]

• How did Adrian Dater break the news of the Quebec Nordiques moving to Denver in 1995? [BSN Denver]

• The best part of this? The NHL’s official Twitter account actually retweeted this photo:

TODAY’S LINKS http://www.technicianonline.com/sports/article_59a797b8-8153-11e7-8c32-7fe9b93a7b41.html https://www.nhl.com/news/justin-williams-wants-to-help-develop-hurricanes-youth/c-290661806

https://www.nhl.com/news/top-20-wings-nhl-top-players/c-290655480 https://www.canescountry.com/2017/8/15/16148234/storm-advisory-nhl-news-rumors-phil-kessel-hot-dog-stanley-cup-nhl-network-top-20-david-

pastrnak https://www.canescountry.com/2017/8/14/16140642/carolina-hurricanes-jaromir-jagr-free-agent-contract-florida-panthers-nhl-olympics

CAROLINA HURRICANES

NEWS CLIPPINGS • Aug. 15, 2017

1072275 NHL

Bombers weigh in on Charlotteville protest

Paul Friesen BY PAUL FRIESEN, WINNIPEG SUN

They're not the most outspoken bunch on the planet, these Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

But that doesn't mean they won't stand up against injustice or denounce racism.

Offensive lineman Travis Bond and receiver L'Damian Washington took to Twitter on the weekend to weigh in on the troubling events in Charlottesville, Va..

“It's ok for them to hold that confederate flag up in Charlottesville Va but Collin Kaepernick can't knee for his beliefs on the wrong in USA,” Bond (@tbond252) tweeted on Saturday.

Washington, meanwhile, (@MizzouMonstar2) retweeted this poignant comment, along with a picture of the protest scene in Charlottesville.

“Confederate flags, Nazi salutes, and Klansmen having their rights protected by a black police officer. This picture hurts.”

As the Bombers returned to practice following Saturday's romp over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton, the two players took some time to share their thoughts, Monday,

Bond said scenes like that -- the clash resulted in one death and left 19 people injured – break his heart.

“We as a people gotta take it as another step to move forward,” he began. “Not as a race, but as people we've got to take it as a big step to move forward.”

Bond also retweeted a shout out to NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, who sat in protest during the national anthem of the Raiders pre-season game against the Cardinals, Saturday.

Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett also sat for the anthem in the Seahawks game.

Bond, who's from Windsor, North Carolina, is all for it, even if it's not what he'd do if he were playing in the NFL.

“I stand behind it because of what he's doing and what it's meaning to him,” he said of Lynch, specifically. “It's not a disrespect to the flag. He's sitting for a cause. People gotta look beyond, you gotta think outside the box. Elevate your mind. We've got to speak up, as people. You've got to speak your mind sometimes.

“A lot of things that have happened in the U.S. -- you just can't keep quiet no more.”

The only problem with speaking up is the backlash.

Case in point: former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who still can't find a job after making headlines with his kneel-downs during the playing of the anthem, which began one year ago, Monday.

“I feel for him,” Bond said. “Because I don't think he's a bad quarterback. He's an awesome quarterback. He should be playing somewhere. We as players know he can play.”

Washington saw that first-hand when he was with the 49ers.

He feels for Kaepernick, too, but is confident he'll be much better off in the long run, whether he plays in the NFL again or not, having stood up for what was right.

“A guy like that wins in the end,” Washington said. “He's doing the right thing. People don't always recognize greatness exactly when it's right in front of your eyes, and then they give you credit years down the line. But God is going to bless him. I don't know what his life was like after football before that. But now he's always going to have a job, a vocal leader leading our community and our kids.

“He's a great guy. I just wish him the best.”

Washington hails from Shreveport, Louisiana, and at 26 has already gone through enough struggles to last a lifetime, losing both his parents at a young age.

If anyone has a reason to be angry or bitter, it's him.

But he's the opposite.

Soft-spoken and thoughtful, he's living proof of that beautiful Nelson Mandela quote, the one he also retweeted on the weekend.

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." is how it begins.

The original tweet was from former U.S. president Barack Obama.

“I feel like we have to go backward before we go forward,” Washington said. “We've got a country that's run by... I don't really want to get into politics, to be honest with you. But it's saddening, for sure.”

That Mandela quote ends like this:

“People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

Washington ended like this:

“I grew up in Louisiana. I went to an all-black high school, wasn't really around someone of a different race until I went off to college. But you learn to love those people, because guess what – you're all born the exact same.

“I wish our country the best. I wish all African-Americans and Caucasians and people of all ethnicities the best.”

Seattle Times LOADED: 08.15.2017

1072276 NHL

Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders demand binding deal for events at proposed Sodo arena

By Geoff Baker

Representatives of the Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders ownership are demanding that Chris Hansen’s proposed arena for NBA and NHL use in the Sodo District be required to enter into a “binding agreement” on event and game scheduling.

Hansen has applied to the City of Seattle for a new vote on vacating part of Occidental Avenue South so his project can proceed. But representatives of the three team owners, as well as the city’s annual RV show and the public stadium authority overseeing CenturyLink Field, have written the city’s transportation department to say an initial agreement between all parties in April 2016 has yet to be solidified as intended.

Hansen’s group referenced having a scheduling deal in his latest application, in February, to the city asking for a new Occidental vote. But the new team letters, obtained by The Seattle Times, seeking the binding

CAROLINA HURRICANES

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pact were submitted in late March during a comment phase on Hansen’s proposal and have yet to be made public by the city.

First & Goal Inc., formed by Seahawks owner Paul Allen to run the team’s business, states the previous deal must “be made more specific and incorporated into a binding agreement among the venue owners and operators,’’ as initially intended.

“This has not happened,’’ wrote First & Goal vice president David Young. He suggested that the city’s transportation department consider the lack of a binding agreement before recommending whether to proceed with a new vote. “It should be noted that CenturyLink Venues and Safeco Field have such a binding scheduling agreement.’’

Jack McCullough, an attorney representing Hansen’s group, wrote in an e-mail Friday to The Times that a “scheduling condition” is in place.

“Last year, during the City Council review process for the (proposed) street vacation, a comprehensive understanding on Arena scheduling was negotiated among the teams and the venues and SDOT, under the watchful eyes of the City Council. That understanding was embodied in an elaborate scheduling condition imposed on the street-vacation proposal.

“ … This scheduling condition covers the issues that would be addressed in a scheduling agreement, so a separate agreement is unnecessary. As we have re-commenced the street-vacation process this year, we have been quite explicit that this condition would be carried forward in an approval of the vacation. The condition will govern future operations at the Arena.”

Anne Kawasaki Romero, executive director of the Washington State Public Stadium Authority that oversees CenturyLink Field operations on taxpayers’ behalf, alleged that Hansen’s new street-vacation petition is misleading on scheduling.

She wrote that Hansen’s petition “suggests that it has finalized an events-scheduling agreement with the two existing venues (CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field). Unfortunately, that assertion overstates the current situation.”

She also wrote that a binding deal and additional environmental review by the city must occur before the city acts on Hansen’s petition.

“It is not acceptable to defer these critical operational questions to an undetermined date in the future.”

Mariners lawyer Melody McCutcheon stated that the transportation department should order a supplemental environmental review of the entire Sodo project and a full evaluation of alternative KeyArena options before any recommendation on a new Occidental vote.

McCutcheon wrote that the current scheduling deal was rendered “moot” after Hansen lost an Occidental vote last May and is too basic to proceed further. “It was always understood — by everyone — that those basic parameters would have to be developed into a separate, much more detailed, enforceable agreement,’’ her letter states.

Sounders chief operating officer Bart Wiley also wrote that the initial scheduling deal was merely “baseline” and not enforceable. Wiley wants a binding deal imposed before Hansen’s project advances any further and suggested the city might require additional study and reporting on Sodo-area traffic impacts.

The Sounders had not commented on the proposed arena until now. Wiley wrote that the team supports having NBA and NHL teams here, but noted its own plans are to increase average attendance from 44,000 to 65,000 in coming seasons.

“There is a place in Seattle for all five major sports franchises, and planning for that future is one important track,’’ he wrote.

All three sports ownerships stated that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Sodo project, released in May 2015, is either lacking in scope or accuracy.

First & Goal vice president Young wrote the FEIS failed to consider non-sporting events at CenturyLink and Safeco Fields that would overlap NBA and NHL games. Young said the team has no position for now on whether the arena should be located in Sodo or at Seattle Center.

Mariners lawyer McCutcheon stated that the FEIS estimate of only 130 pedestrians using the block of Occidental after Mariners games is

“blatantly wrong’’ and that an independent expert hired by the team showed 2,800 is more accurate.

McCutcheon wrote that the FEIS based its pedestrian analysis on a single May 2013 game in which the Mariners drew one of their lower crowds in franchise history, 12,936. She added that the team’s average attendance of 31,995 since Safeco Field opened in 1999 is much higher.

Sounders COO Wiley wrote the FEIS fails to appreciate differences in pregame and postgame travel between his team’s fans and those of the Mariners. “The vast majority of our fans arrive late,’’ he wrote. “Within the final twenty minutes before kickoff.’’

Hansen’s petition must be forwarded to the council for a new vote, which wouldn’t likely happen until next fall. The city is first exploring whether any of two proposed KeyArena renovations for NBA and NHL could work before forwarding a recommendation to Mayor Ed Murray by late June.

After that, the council could have to choose between a KeyArena remodel or Hansen’s revised, all-private Sodo project.

Two groups have submitted proposals to the City of Seattle to renovate KeyArena.

Seattle Times LOADED: 08.15.2017

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Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rumours: Pastrnak waiting on Oilers’ Draisaitl contract?

Luke Fox

It’s a gorgeous mid-August day. The only ice of importance should be floating in your Arnold Palmer.

So, naturally, your mind is on hockey rumours.

Here’s the latest buzz being generated on the unsigned (Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak, Jarome Iginla), the unextended (Paul Maurice), the untraded (Matt Duchene), and the unimpressed (Evgeny Kuznetsov).

Pastrnak waiting for Draisaitl to make him richer? Or is a trade on deck?

All due respect to your Connor Brown paranoia, but of the 19 restricted free agents who remain jobless in mid-August, the most important contract negotiations are those involving Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Boston’s David Pastrnak — two versatile, explosive, 21-year-old point producers coming off career seasons.

According to CSNE.com Bruins insider Joe Haggerty, Pastrnak’s camp is waiting on Draisaitl to set the financial bar for second-most dangerous forward on a team.

Boston and Pastrnak, Haggerty notes, had made progress on a long-term deal around six years at $6 million per, which would slide him under Brad Marchand’s $6.125 million cap hit. The big money earned by Connor McDavid, Ryan Johansen and Evgeny Kuznetsov this summer could benefit Pastrnak, who could end up making more than the more accomplished Marchand after all.

That former NHL general manager and current NHL Network analyst Brian Lawton tweeted the possibility of a Pastrnak trade Monday did little to calm the nerves of Bruins fans, a group who has seen its share of dynamic 21-year-olds moved ahead of their prime.

With what I am hearing I would not be surprised if David Pasternak @NHLBruins is traded. #contractproblems @NHLNetwork

— Brian Lawton (@brianlawton9) August 14, 2017

We recently asked former Bruin Dominic Moore, who had a front-row seat to the Czech’s breakout campaign, just how good Pastrnak is.

“He’s one of those run-and-gun kind of guys with nothing to lose. He plays a happy-go-lucky style. He’s incredibly athletic and gifted. Guys like that are always learning, too,” Moore said.

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“He had a long streak in the season where he didn’t score a goal. He can put too much pressure on himself. Guys like that are at their best when they’re free, with nothing to lose.”

Haggerty reports that the notion of Draisaitl making $9 million a year is too rich, and that he can see both RFA forwards settling more in the $7 million to $7.5 million range, using Vladimir Tarasenko’s 2015 contract as a comparable.

Funny that Peter Chiarelli could have an affect on the Bruins’ big summer re-signing.

Jets’ Maurice remains unsigned beyond 2017-18

The notion of a lame-duck head coach or GM doesn’t quite fly in today’s NHL. Even if the man in charge enters a season on the hot seat, he’s usually given an extra year on his deal to help soothe egos and keep those dasdardly rumour mongers at bay.

So the Anaheim Ducks extended Randy Carlyle and the Columbus Blue Jackets took care of John Tortorella this summer, well in advance of camp opening.

Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice hasn’t enjoyed the recent success of those previous two bench bosses, however, and does not have a job in place beyond 2017-18.

Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press examined the situation, throwing out a few possibilities for the delay.

With head coach salaries on the rise, does Maurice want a juicy raise? Or more than a one-year extension in term? Is Cheveldayoff hesitant to give an extension to a coach who has yet to deliver a post-season win over three-and-a-half seasons?

“Paul has my full support,” Jets GM Kevin Chevaldayoff assured at the Jets’ season-ending press conference.

“Every contract I’ve ever done took about 10 minutes,” Maurice said.

That was more than four months ago.

“Actually I haven’t heard anything lately,” Jets spokesman Scott Brown told Wiecek. “But it’s not a topic I ask about until told.”

It’s a topic worth monitoring.

Iginla fit for the Oilers?

As unrestricted free agent Jarome Iginla continues to weigh his options, fans and content-makers are happy to push the future Hall of Famer toward certain teams.

Like, the Edmonton Oilers, on a one-year, bonus-heavy deal and a bottom-six role. Hey, he was born there! And, oh, how Flames fans would hate it.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal is not entirely convinced, though.

“If Iginla is willing to play a Grumpy Old Man role (third line wing and second unit power play), it’s possible he could help the Oilers. He will amp up the pressure on Puljujarvi and Slepyshev to compete for and earn a spot. But if the two younger players were to win this competition, would Iginla be OK sitting in the press box? Would he be OK playing 50 or 60 games in a more limited role, taking on that Matt Hendricks roster spot?” Staples writes.

“I like the idea of more depth and more competition, but team chemistry is also crucial. If Iginla expects to be a top-six forward or to hell with it, he’s not a good fit here. But if his mindset is to do all he can and anything he can to help a young team on its path to Stanley Cup contention, then he might be able to help.”

We prefer the idea of Iginla going full Team Canada this winter instead.

How the Red Wings can soothe their cap issues

Detroit currently sits atop the league’s Cap Trouble leaderboard, reaching about $3.95 million above the ceiling, and that’s with RFA Andreas Athanasiou unsigned. (Johan Franzen’s $3.95 million cap hit will be stuffed on long-term injured reserve, though.)

Never say never, but few hockey men not named Ken Holland are pegging the Red Wings as a playoff contender this season, which makes his cap situation all the more concerning.

Big spenders better be big winners.

MLive.com takes a look at ways the Wings can get cap compliant.

Tomas Tatar, Luke Glendening, Ryan Sproul and Niklas Kronwall are all recovering from injuries, so there may be opportunity to place another player on LTIR before the season begins. Sproul, Riley Sheahan, Darren Helm, Peter Mrazek, and Mike Green could all be used as trade bait if/when a competing team loses a player to injury in camp — although we see Green, especially, as more of a deadline rental.

Failing that, Detroit may be forced to waive a player like Sproul at the risk of losing a 24-year-old right-shot D-man.

Lawsuit may dampen St. Louis arena improvements

The Scottrade Center’s proposed $64-million makeover will have to hurdle a legal snag.

Alderwoman Cara Spencer, former state House Rep. Jeanette Oxford and former city counselor James Wilson name the city, the St. Louis Blues and the Blues’ ownership group, Kiel Center Partners, in a lawsuit arguing that the publicly funded renovation project is unconstitutional, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Kiel Center Partners said in a statement to the Associated Press that it considers the lawsuit “frivolous.”

NHL retirement could be Ovechkin’s ticket to Olympics

Will Alex Ovechkin join former NHL stars Ilya Kovalchuk, Andrei Markov and Pavel Datsyuk on a Russian national squad that may have its best shot at Olympic gold since 1988?

It’s a question that will undoubtedly pop up at training camp and could linger into January.

The “easiest” way for Ovechkin to make good on his vow to participate at PyeongChang Games, Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey points out in a column, might be retirement. (Hey, Kovalchuk and Datsyuk did it.)

Ovie could easily become the KHL’s most handsomely paid sniper, but such a move his would mean turning his back on a guaranteed $40 million the Washington Capitals have committed to him through 2020-21. That kinda cake buys a lot of dreams.

Ovechkin appears to be holding his breath for a last-minute change of heart on NHL policy, but this could get sticky.

“It is an individual club decision on whether he would go,” NHLPA chief Donald Fehr said last month.

Tocchet: ‘Animal’ Chychrun won’t be out for a year

We’re thinking the new Arizona Coyotes coach will be good with the quotes.

Rick Tocchet recently spoke to NHL.com and offered up some strong words on prospect Dylan Strome’s big-league hopes.

“I don’t’ want him to come in and think we’re going to stick him on the checking line and play three minutes a game,” Tocchet told the league’s site. “If he’s going to make our team, we’ve got to play him and let him be creative with the puck … I want him to be able to hang on the puck and make plays. I don’t want him to all of [a] sudden try to be a checker or a guy who just keeps dumping the puck in because he’s nervous or whatever. I want him to make plays.”

Although there is no estimate for the return of defenceman Jakob Chychrun, who underwent knee surgery for a training injury this month, Tocchet is certain he’ll be back sometime in 2017-18.

“He’s just a beast,” Tocchet said. “If this happened to somebody else, you might have a guy who’s out for the year. I don’t know the timeframe, but it’s not for the year. It’s something that he’s going to bounce back [from]. He’s an animal. It’s almost like we’ve got to crank this kid down a little bit.”

Duchene rumours will not go away until he does

With Matt Duchene opening up about his frustration, we have to wonder if the push for a trade will intensify as training camp approaches.

The Penguins and Predators continue to be linked to the centre in rumours, and now the Sabres have popped into the conversation.

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Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen — firmly in go-for-it mode — was asked by NHL.com if he’s still in the hunt for Duchene.

“If there’s a good player available that helps our team, we’ll look at it. It has to make sense for us in the long term as well as the short term. We’re not going to sell all our assets to try and get better for this year or the next little while. We have to keep our long-term options in mind,” Kekalainen said.

Matt Duchene has some sweet hands : pic.twitter.com/CCksNnMCNR

— From The Faceoff (@FromTheFaceoff) August 12, 2017

Daily reminder: Jaromir Jagr needs a job

31 General Managers, $218,525,971 of total cap space between all teams and Jaromir Jagr is still unsigned. pic.twitter.com/faxbSygM3n

— The Hockey Gods! (@HockeyGods) August 11, 2017

Kuznetsov hears your Capitals hating, and he does not approve

With the off-season departures of so many core contributors, some analyst types believe the Presidents’ Trophy winners have taken a step backwards this summer.

This ticks Evgeny Kuznetsov off.

“I don’t like when people say we’re a bad team right now,” Kuznetsov told NHL.com during the European Player Media Tour. “That’s bull to me. It’s not about the names. It’s about the guys when they come together.”

Departing free agents will be replaced with youth from within the Caps’ system. Get familiar with names like Jakub Vrana, Nathan Walker, Madison Bowey, and Christian Djoos, all of whom are in their early 20s.

“Our goal is to get a playoff spot,” Nicklas Backstrom said. “We should go one step at a time, get ourselves in the playoffs, and then we’ll go from there. As you know, everything can happen in the playoffs.”

Mazanec leaves Predators

When Czech goaltender Marek Mazanec filed for arbitration with the Nashville Predators this summer, GM David Poile promptly placed him on waivers, as if to prove that no NHL team wanted to pick him up.

Though Mazanec and the Preds did settle on a one-year, $650,000 contract in late-July, the 26-year-old netminder has instead opted for the KHL, where he’ll see more ice time and be closer to home.

Mazanec inked a one-year deal with Slovakia-based HC Slovan Bratislava, the club announced Monday.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.15.2017

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Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Shane Doan should captain Team Canada

Luke Fox

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep.

1. That was no way to go out.

Shane Doan being told his tenure as the NHL’s longest-serving captain was over in a 10-minute, “we’re going younger” meeting this summer with the only franchise he’s ever known.

So, don’t go out that way.

Go out this way instead:

Picture a 41-year-old Doan, a familiar “C” on the upper left of his red-and-white Team Canada sweater. The national anthem is playing, and a medal is draped over his neck. Tears are in his eyes. Maybe yours too.

Doan is still a free agent. Four or five teams have reached out, according to his agent, Terry Bross. It’s possible Doan waits until mid-September, right before training camps open, to decide whom — if anyone — he’ll play for.

How about Canada?

With an NHL contract, Doan becomes a bottom-six winger on a decent team or maybe a second-line forward on a bad team.

Join the national team, as he proudly has on so many occasions, and Doan is an instant leader and a real contributor.

Despite a World Cup gold, two world championship golds and three silvers, Doan is not an Olympic medallist. The one year he did rep Canada in the Winter Games (2006), the nation finished seventh and Doan’s own participation fell under a cloud of controversy and litigation.

Doan can help his (underdog?) country and help write his own last chapter on a grand stage.

Become an Olympian again, and Doan maintains one-NHL-franchise-for-life status, he won’t have to move away from his wife and kids, and he gets to exit — win or lose — in an event so much more memorable than an otherwise meaningless 3-1 April loss in the desert to the Minnesota Wild.

2. Team Canada’s brass absolutely has its collective eye on the cluster of aging NHL veterans who might be in tough to secure employment for the 2017-18 season.

“When you start thinking about those names, it’s an interesting group of people,” Hockey Canada president Tom Renney told Sportsnet 960 this week. “Some of those people I’m sure would love to be part of the team. They are people we’re paying attention to.”

Management plans to wait until NHL camps wrap to make commitments on these active legends — after they’ve exhausted their professional opportunities. but we don’t have to wait to draft our Old Guy Dream Team, which includes Martin Brodeur in a rare management-goalie role because as if he doesn’t want it:

Doan-Fisher-Iginla

Beauchemin-Wideman

Brodeur

There are also a few Canadians whose NHL careers are either officially or unofficially done. We’re wondering if any of the following could be lured out of the woodwork for a shot at an Olympic medal: Brian Campbell, Mike Ribeiro, Andrew Ference, Cody Hodgson, Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier.

is more fun than racing.

racing is harder than .https://t.co/hM6Z32jCbA pic.twitter.com/SvSGOedSD8

— Andrew Ference (@Ferknuckle) June 29, 2017

3. Let’s make a generational shift.

Canada’s assistant coach, Dave King, has identified four potential junior players who could make the nation’s Olympic squad — and no player, regardless of age, is being ruled out in what is being painted as a true meritocracy.

The catch with evaluating juniors is that you’re gauging how they play against kids on small ice, not professional men on big ice.

As the prospective roster stands now, Canada GM Sean Burke says it’s unlikely a teenager makes the cut.

“That doesn’t a month from now, two months from now, a guy doesn’t emerge,” Burke qualified to Prime Time Sports. “A guy who plays his [nine] NHL games might be sent back. Is he a guy who comes into the picture? It’s a bit of a moving target.”

Nolan *cough* Patrick.

4. Remember when Ted Nolan transformed the Latvians into a respectable hockey force in 2014, then spun that showing into another NHL head coaching gig with Buffalo?

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Certainly the No. 1 goal of those involved at every level of Canada’s men’s squad is gold, but a happy byproduct of a stellar performance at PyeongChang could mean an NHL stock spike for players, managers and coaches alike. Burke would love to go from scout to GM status. It’s a safe bet Ben Scrivens would leave Minsk for, say, Calgary. And Willie Desjardins, Canada’s bench boss, is explicit about his desire for another kick at the can.

“For me? Sure, I hope it happens,” Desjardins told Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup.

The 60-year-old is a hockey lifer, a coaching’s-in-my-blood guy who’s enjoyed success internationally as well as the AHL and WHL levels. He was fired because he couldn’t turn the Vancouver water into wine.

“That was a tough go there. There were challenges. A different situation certainly can have different results,” a diplomatic Desjardins said of his Canucks tenure. “You learn from that experience, and you come back a better coach.”

Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup

Willie Desjardins: It's going to be an exciting journey

Originally aired July 27 2017

5. When the Montreal Canadiens signed 39-year-old defenceman Mark Streit — last seen as a healthy scratch on a depleted Penguins roster — a segment of Habs fans vehemently disapproved. It’s impossible to argue that Streit is an upgrade over the homeward-bound Andrei Markov, but a one-year commitment for $750,000 is a fine rate.

Upon Streit’s signing, one of my favourite hockey reporters, NHL.com’s Arpon Basu, pounded out a thread of tweets. I’ve pasted them here:

A little story about Mark Streit.

I had to interview him for a story I did on Nico Hischier and Swiss hockey during the Cup Final. Seeing as Streit was a healthy scratch for the Penguins and it was a game day, I asked if I could wait to speak with him and was told yes. Streit was on the ice with the other Penguins scratches and they were put through a heavy workout after the morning skate. I was waiting outside the Pens room, and there was a little monitor with a live feed on the ice, so I could see when they came off.

After about 45 minutes, I noticed the Penguins were leaving the ice, and then saw them walk into the room one by one. Almost all of them were young AHL guys, and I was looking out for Streit so I could tell him I wanted to talk to him when he was ready.

Except Streit wasn’t there.

So I looked back at the monitor and saw that Streit was still on the ice, doing laps at top speed. Streit, a 39-year-old veteran, was the only player on the ice and did those laps for another 15 or 20 minutes after everyone else was done. When he finally came off the ice, sweat literally dripping off every inch of him, I went up to him to say I wanted to talk to him. He said, no problem, give me a sec. I expected him to change and shower and get dressed before coming out to talk to me, but no.

Streit was there two minutes later, still drenched in sweat having only removed his equipment standing in a freezing cold hallway. Streit spoke to me for 15 minutes, spoke eloquently about Hischier, the state of Swiss hockey and his role as a pioneer for his country.

At the end, I thanked him for his time, and he apologized for making me wait. I repeat, HE APOLOGIZED FOR MAKING ME WAIT.

If you don’t think Streit is worth a chance this season for a hair over the league minimum, we can’t agree. If you’re not following @ArponBasu on Twitter, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

6. Interesting parallel between the Rangers and Senators as we approach massive years for their No. 1 centres. Mika Zibanejad and Kyle Turris have gone from being in a friendly battle for the 1C role in Ottawa to being the undisputed No. 1 pivots on two Eastern clubs with playoff expectations. Both, ultimately, were unwanted by the teams that drafted them.

Turris is heading into a critical contract season; he’s set to be 2018’s most desirable UFA centre not named John Tavares. With a Derek Stepan trade and a $26.75-million payday, Zibanejad just sung his way to New York’s man in the middle.

“Even before signing, seeing Derek being traded was a little bit of an alert to me that I might get a chance to play a bigger role,” Zibanejad said on Tuesday’s conference call. “You always want more responsibility and a bigger role. I’m working really hard to make sure that I’m taking advantage of the chance I’m getting.”

Centre depth could be an issue for the Blueshirts, prompting beat man Larry Brooks to twice float the idea of a Tyler Bozak trade.

Kevin Hayes moves up to No. 2 centre, new guy David Desharnais is the best best for No. 3, and the fourth spot looks to be decided in camp.

Can't be more excited to be back playing at the MSG and in front of the best fans for the next 5 years! Wanna thank everyone involved! pic.twitter.com/263Zu3s5mu

— Mika Zibanejad (@MikaZibanejad) July 25, 2017

7. The fans are on top of ya. The Detroit Red Wings are rolling out a six-part video tribute to Joe Louis Arena, The Final Farewell. The first three installments (watch below) feature memories from fans, current Wings and alumni. A nice eulogy.

"It's played out to so many great moments and great memories." #Farewell2TheJoe

The Final Farewell | Presented by: #RedWingsTV pic.twitter.com/hmuFNtazH4

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 25, 2017

"We played for each other.. it was like a big family." #Farewell2TheJoe

The Final Farewell | Presented by: #RedWingsTV pic.twitter.com/b9DJEDX1Ir

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 26, 2017

What is your favorite memory from The Joe? #Farewell2TheJoe

The Final Farewell | Presented by: #RedWingsTV pic.twitter.com/2aIWyxeVGk

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 27, 2017

Game 1,456. #Farewell2TheJoe

The Final Farewell | Presented by: #RedWingsTV pic.twitter.com/IXnqwdVAb5

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 28, 2017

8. The backdrop for McDavid’s Olympic comments Wednesday was a fun, kid-friendly marketing event for the Rogers Cup tennis tournament.

McDavid competed with Genie Bouchard and injured Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez on a Toronto tennis court in a series of mini games. These can be terribly awkward but insightful exercises: How do these masters of their own domain act in a wholly, unusually and terribly public situation?

"So… do you like stuff?" #connormcdavid #geniebouchard

A post shared by luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) on Jul 27, 2017 at 7:07am PDT

Bouchard, who won the event, came off the most at ease. She has a wicked sense of humour and embraces her role as a tennis ambassador.

Post-victory, she was asked what athletes from other sports can learn from each other when they meet in situations like this.

“That they can be really bad at other sports,” Bouchard quipped. Everyone laughed.

Sanchez played it straight: “For me, it’s cool to see their grind. As an athlete you understand what they go through to be at the level they want to be at. Interacting, seeing what their life’s about, maybe there’s something you can work into your routine.”

McDavid’s handling of the scene stood out the most.

The MVP is still a low talker, but his volume and confidence in front of the microphones and cameras has elevated two notches over the past year. He cracked jokes, took a stance, and remained humble when he beat Sanchez in a pitching accuracy competition: “I can’t throw a ball 100 mph.”

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During the event’s scrum, all three fielded questions at the same time. The first four questions were all directed toward Bouchard, so McDavid jumped in on a question about Genie’s hard court preparation.

“I feel great, thanks for asking,” McDavid piped. “My hard court game is really nice.”

We’re not talking P.K. levels of charisma here, but McDavid is finding his voice, a level of comfort in the make-believe.

Here’s hoping the heir to Crosby’s throne keeps on this track of revealing himself a little more each year. Hockey robots are impressive, but we prefer our heroes as human as possible.

Connor McDavid just beat Aaron Sanchez in a pitching competition. “I might have to” start playing hockey, says Sanchez.

P.S. Sanchez is so atrocious at hockey, he couldn’t help but swear into a hot mic as he tried in vain to slap balls into a target net. Earmuffs, kids.

Aaron Sanchez with a blistering slap shot. #firsttimeplayinghockey

A post shared by luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) on Jul 26, 2017 at 7:56am PDT

9. As strong as McDavid’s stance on the Olympics is, there’s another level to reach. Young players like McDavid, Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel and Mark Scheifele are taking the hit for the older stars not ensuring Games participation wasn’t written into the CBA. Lesson learned.

When the next round of negotiations start, we’d love to see McDavid get involved. The NBA is a players’ league because its best players take an interest off the court.

10. Bouchard says she doesn’t look at her social media mentions, so the tennis star missed Mikhail Sergachev (no longer a member’s of Bouchard’s Canadiens) firing back and defending fellow Russian athlete Maria Sharapova this week.

Lol she has no regrets and no titles compare to Sharapova https://t.co/gNl8skH5QG

— Mikhail Sergachev (@sergachev31) July 26, 2017

Sharapova has won titles when she hasn't been taking meldonium tho ,everyone makes mistakes,but she's the real champ

— Mikhail Sergachev (@sergachev31) July 26, 2017

11. I co-hosted the Tape II Tape podcast with Ryan Dixon this week (listen below), and we had a chance to pepper Vegas Golden Knights beat writer Steve Carp about the team he covers. Some interesting things Carp said:

• GM George McPhee will likely shop David Perron and James Neal at the deadline, hoping for second-round picks in return but probably settling for thirds.

• Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas’s other impending UFA scorer, is likely to re-sign, partly due to his relationship with coach Gerald Gallant.

• Vegas still holds 11 defencemen, nine of them lefties. McPhee would love to move Luca Sbisa. “He’s 27 but he’s got a lot of money [owed to him],” Carp said. “I”m not sure if George didn’t overplay his hand a little bit in taking all these defencemen thinking he could flip ’em quickly for picks.”

• Carp’s money is on Neal for the Knights’ first captain. He said there’s no indication that McPhee has interest in bringing in a veteran UFA like Doan, Iginla or Jaromir Jagr.

Tape to Tape

Mid-Summer Edition ft. Steve Carp

Originally aired July 26 2017

12. So many of the 30 arbitration cases filed by RFAs this summer have resulted in long-term settlements, including testy ones, like Tomas Tatar’s, and ones based on a single good year, like Viktor Arvidsson’s.

He’s combustible, sure, but Robin Lehner’s numbers playing behind some pretty defensively suspect teams suggest he’s a legit No. 1 goalie in this league.

The Sabres goalie ended up with a one-year, $4 million deal. This is new GM Jason Botterill saying, “Prove it. We need to see more.”

I like it. Ask Ken Holland how he feels about giving Peter Mrazek $4 million for two years when he hit RFA status last summer.

“I like this city and I want to keep building with this team. There’s a lot of potential here and I want to be a part of it,” Lehner said in a Buffalo radio interview. “I just want to keep getting better.”

Lehner will be a restricted free agent again next summer and could really put the screws to management with a stellar winter. Or give Botterill cause to keep costs down.

Robin Lehner has a higher career save % than Ryan Miller.

— Jeremy White (@JeremyWGR) July 25, 2017

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 08.15.2017

Los Angeles Kings

Matt Greene has officially re-joined the Los Angeles Kings as a Pro Scout, the team officially announced on Monday. Greene, who had his contract bought out in late June, was expected to serve as the club’s Pacific Division AHL scout as a part of his job description, according to team sources at the NHL Draft. Additional coverage from earlier in the summer is available here and here.

New York Islanders

The Islanders announced on Monday that Shane Prince will miss 4-6 months after having recent ankle surgery.

Prince had ongoing problems with a high ankle sprain last season. The veteran center appeared in just 50 games last season, scoring five goals with 13 assists.

The Islanders said in their statement that Prince was experiencing discomfort with his ankle as he trained for the upcoming season. Prince notified the Islanders’ medical staff, who referred him to a specialist, according to the team.

END