Twelve years ago, millions of Americans’ lives were drastically altered as terrorists launched an attack, killing nearly three thousand people.
On UAL Flight 175 were two hockey scouts, Mark Bavis and Garnet “Ace” Bailey. At the time, they were pro scouts for the Los Angeles Kings but they were known far and wide within the hockey community.
There are about a zillion tributes out there to both men (links to follow) and there have been programs and foundations created in their honor.
In the photo above, Dean Lombardi brought the Stanley Cup to the WTC Memorial as a tribute to Mark and Ace. Helene Elliott of the LA Times wrote a great article about the gesture made by the Kings’ GM in 2012 shortly after the Kings had won their first Cup in franchise history. You can find the article here: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/15/sports/la-sp-sn-kings-nhl-acebailey-mark-bavis20121015
As I mentioned earlier, there are many great stories that people who were close to the Baileys and Bavises have shared throughout the past 12 years. In my own personal opinion, I think the best tribute the Kings have made to their head of pro scouting is to name their mascot after him. Before you think I’m being funny or trying to make light of this, I’m totally serious.
Named for Ace Bailey, the Kings’ mascot waves the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion flag
The choice of a lion for mascot is pretty obvious (King of the Jungle). For many long time Kings fans the name Bailey is also pretty obvious. But for those of you who don’t know, it’s a tribute to someone who was highly respected in the organization. I recall a story I was reading about Ace Bailey (I’ll post the link at the end), about what a passion for life the man had. The author makes Ace sound so jovial and talks about his passion for hockey. Below is an excerpt from the story that was written in June 2012 during the Stanley Cup Final:
“He’d laugh and shake his head at Jonathan Quick. That guy is special, Garnet Bailey would surely say, and he’d probably nudge the person sitting next to him with an excitable poke, the kind of poke a kid might give when he’s witnessing something remarkable for the first time, and then Quick would make another save and there’d come another poke from Bailey, and another, and another, because in the eyes of the man everyone called “Ace,” hockey always brought forth the new and amazing.
He’d nod proudly at Jeff Carter, and note with another poke the veteran’s calmness, how he rarely crumbles under the pressure. Oh yes, Bailey’s smile would have brightened Staples Center like a strobe light, because these Los Angeles Kings were his kind of a team, his sort of guys.
They even named the mascot with the scraggly mane in his honor. Bailey the lion prowled the stands Wednesday night, mischievously taunting the New Jersey Devils during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals. Two nights earlier the mascot had taped cutouts of the cast from the Jersey Shore to the glass behind the visitors’ bench, harmless fun that Ace probably wouldn’t have minded, because he believed hockey always should be played and viewed with wondrous joy.”
Bailey the Mascot is a very beloved part of the Kings’ organization. Adults and children alike look upon him with wondrous joy and unbridled delight. While roaming the hallways of Staples Center, people shout his name; fans stop him and ask for pictures whenever they see him near their seats; autograph sessions are always longer than Bailey has time for. Even celebritiesare in love with like him! In short: he’s the most popular guy on the team and he doesn’t even play (that’s not to say, though that he wasn’t The Missing Piece during the Kings’ Cup run)
I won’t pretend that I ever knew Ace or ever had any connection to his family. But I hope that he’s somewhere peaceful, looking down on a team he helped build and was apart of for seven years before tragedy struck. And I hope he is watching the silly mascot with a smile which is named after him. Because while some may be offended or confused by the mascot’s antics, it’s all in good fun.
And that is something I hope Ace Bailey himself would approve of.
Remembering Mark Bavis and Garnet Bailey
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p>Thinking of Ace Bailey, Mark Bavis and everyone we lost 12 years ago. Honor them here: <a href=”http://t.co/AgOwSbHpPp”>http://t.co/AgOwSbHpPp</a> & here: <a href=”http://t.co/m7gzP165tj”>http://t.co/m7gzP165tj</a></p>— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Proteautype/statuses/377760472147451904″>September 11, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
There comes a point in every player’s career, whether you play at the elite level or you bear the late nights of a rec league, when you sustain an injury. It is inevitable in contact sports, a collision of bodies results in injury. If you are lucky, the collision is minor, and the game goes on, but in some instances a player goes down on the ice and for them it is a game changer.
By now we have all seen the video of Boston Bruins center Gregory Campbell, who broke his leg blocking a shot with his body during a power play in game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals. In case you missed it or want to relive the moment, you can watch it here. His courage and determination to rise up off the ice and play through excruciating pain is inspiring and downright insane. In Bauer’s words “Own the Moment”.
My game changing moment happened five minutes before the end of the game, on a long shift in the wee hours of Sunday night rec league. In a battle in front of the net, two players collided into the side of my knee as I worked to defend my zone. As their bodies bore down I heard the inevitable pop as my ACL gave way. I laid there on the ice and thought “I’m going to get up, but that felt wrong”. I continued to lay there and realized I wasn’t getting up. There was no way I was going to “own the moment”, no I was going to wallow in it. The game stopped and I was still there, laying on top of my crumpled knee. I got up and skated off on my own power to the locker room, in denial about the damage my knee had incurred despite the pain and swelling.
An ACL tear is the holy mother of sports injuries. Skiers, basketball players, soccer players, hockey players and even golfers are the most at risk for this type of injury due to the intense twist and plant motions required from the sport. Studies show that women are more likely to sustain an ACL tear than men when engaged in these sports. One reason for this may be the design of a woman’s hips and how that distributes torque across the joints of the leg. Some studies suggest that women rely more on their ligaments than their muscles in physical activities and another idea put forth is that different hormone levels in a woman’s body affects the strength of both ligaments and joints. Regardless of the reasons, sustaining an injury to the knee is no fun, and tearing the ACL more often than not requires surgery to fix if an athlete hopes to return to their chosen sport and compete. Unlike other ligaments in the knee, the ACL, once torn, does not heal on its own. Repairing a torn ACL is not really a repair, because the orthopedic surgeon cannot simply sew the torn ligament back together, it must be replaced and the knee re-engineered. Without getting into the nitty gritty, there are three main ways the ACL is replaced, two that use your own tissue and one that uses tissue harvested from a cadaver. No matter which option is chosen, the road to recovery is long and painful.
Some athletes choose not to have surgery to replace the torn ligament and in fact for many sports, running, biking and swimming, a functioning ACL is not necessary as long as the quadriceps and other support muscles are strong. I opted for surgery because I wanted to play hockey again at the same level of intensity and not worry whether my knee would give out during a shift. I wrestled with the idea of surgery at first. My knee felt close to normal a month after the initial injury and the thought of not being able to play hockey for a year weighed heavily on my mind. Not just hockey, but other physical activities like running and dancing would be off-limits for at least six months. ACL surgery was going to take away my life and my mind rebelled against the injury and the recovery. The toughest battle has been the mental torture of the injury, not the actual injury itself.
No matter what type of injury an athlete sustains, mental toughness is essential to their recovery. In Saul L. Miller’s book “Hockey Tough”, Peter Twist says “an injury in many ways is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to build problem solving skills and mental durability. It takes both commitment and mental toughness to tolerate the extreme efforts to get back to a world-class level.” Positive self-talk is key to a successful rehabilitation and getting back to the game. The mind can easily defeat you, planting seeds of doubt especially when the pain of the injury creeps in. Rehab can be daunting and the little victories must be celebrated, no matter how trivial they seem. As an athlete, I took for granted that my legs would know how to respond, take for instance contracting your quad muscles. Never did I think this would be so difficult but I literally didn’t know what to do. I had to mimic my good leg and celebrated the little movement I got. I have had to accept that I will have good days where progress will be made but also days where I may take more steps back than forward. Patience with the healing process is a hard pill to swallow, particularly for a high functioning athlete, but necessary if a full recovery is expected. I am allowing myself to cry, but I will not let my injury defeat me. This injury will make me a stronger athlete, a stronger person. I own this moment.
We’re launching a new series just for fun here on the Pink Puck, NHL Celebrity Look-a-Likes. Each week we will feature a player from around the league and a celebrity that we think is almost a spitting image. Have a pairing in mind? Shoot us an email pinkpuck@thepinkpuck.com!
This week we bring you, New York Rangers’ Brian Boyle and actor Eddie Cahill. While Boyle is an offensive force at 6’7″, you might recognize his look-a-like Cahill from a different kind of on ice portrayal – as goaltender Jimmy Craig in Disney’s blockbuster flick Miracle.
“The Fastest Game on Earth’ is what hockey is called, today.
Did you know that hockey or a game like it, was played for thousands of years by the Vikings? It is written in the Icelandic Sagas. Who knew this game is so old?
The word ‘hockey’ was first used in the English form in 1363. The word ‘puck’ could be a Scottish Gaelic or a Irish word meaning ‘to poke’, ‘deliver a blow’ or to ‘punch’. Maybe that is how all the punching came to be?
A form of hockey was played in the Middle Ages till the Dutch Golden Age. Some might disagree with this as the game used a wooden bat instead of a stick. Even the Natives in Eastern Canada were playing a form of hockey hundreds of years ago. The modern form of hockey started in the 19th century. Now, there are teams from all over the world.
Players might look like they are floating and gliding from net to net, up and down the ice the teams race. If to you the players seem to skate fast? They are…..the players reach speeds from 20-30 m.p.h.
The game has two codes of play to follow. The one they use depends where and whom is playing. The first code book is the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the second book is from the Canadian and North Americans’ National Hockey League. (NHL)
Selected by the league, they used to have four officials on the ice. That was two linesmen and two referees. Most now use the three-men system, one referee and two linesmen.
In 2011 there were 85,827 female hockey players in Canada and 65,609 in the U.S.A. In the United States Hockey League (USHL) the first female to enter was in 1969-1970. The male and female leagues are basically the same except for the female league being less physical.
Now that you all know a bit more history of hockey, go out and make some hockey noise! Push up them eye-glasses and impress your friends!!
*All information came from Wikipedia under ice hockey
Despite the continued controversy swirling around Russia’s homophobic laws and their potential effects on athlete and national participation in the upcoming Olympic Games, the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team is carrying out its Fall preparations as anticipated with its eyes on a gold medal. With limited opportunities available to play against the world’s fiercest competition since the U.S. took home gold at the IIHF World Championships back in April, the women will look to sharpen their skills and build their chemistry with the “Bring on the World Tour.” The Tour will feature three games against Canada and another set of games at the 2013 Four Nations Cup.
Fans can watch the Olympic gold medal favorite Americans take on their rivals to the north in three locations across the country. The two nations will play in Burlington, VT on October 12, Grand Forks, ND on December 20, and St. Paul, MN on December 28. With all three of the games taking place in border states, tickets to the potential gold medal match preview are expected to sell-out quickly.
The Four Nations Cup, which will take place at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY, will include the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland. The Americans will open up with Sweden on November 5 before taking on Canada on the 6th and finally Finland on the 8th. All four teams will return to action on the 9th for the Third Place Game and the Championship Game.
In the meantime, the National Team, led by Harvard University coach Katey Stone, will make its home at The Edge Sports Center in Bedford, MA. Final Olympic selections will reduce the roster from 25 to 21 athletes in late December.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ from left to right: Frazer McLaren (left wing), Joe Colborne (center) and Jake Gardnier (defense), pictured with DJ Mademoiselle Sabah took some time to bond before the grueling season ahead at The Spoke Club as the famous Toronto International Film Festival faced-off.
It’s no secret that we love the beauties over at Wheels Hockey and they love us back. That’s why our September Pink Giveaway is all in thanks to them!
Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and be sure to enter to win a t-shirt of your choice from Wheels!
To enter just tweet at us @thepinkpuck@wheelshockey and include #thinkpinkwearwheels
One entry per day, but go crazy until September 30th, the more you tweet, the better your chances to win!
The NHL is full of characters and fortunately for us, the world of Twitter gives the fans the chance to see the players’ personalities. And while some of the guys on this list might not make any top ten lists for hockey, they have certainly mastered the art of social media.
Paul Bissonnette
If there were an end-of-season award for best Twitter account, it would hands down go to this man; Paul Bissonnette of the Phoenix Coyotes. Never heard of him? It’s not surprising. He hardly ever gets ice time, and the best part is… that’s what he tweets about most. He retweets people making fun of him, he makes fun of himself, and he is consistently tweeting controversial things. He even had his previous account discontinued after a remark about Ilya Kovalchuk. Lucky for Twitter fans, he came back as BizNasty2point0. Here is a quick sample of some of his top tweets over the years.
And then there’s this little conversation he had with Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin…
Andrew Ference
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrew Ference isn’t as Twitter-ly active as some of the other players on the list, but when he does tweet, you can count on it being entertaining. Or something adorable about his two daughters. Or something about saving the environment. But when he does let his humorous side out, his most comical tweets usually come from questions his fans ask.
The LA Kings
Okay, this isn’t a single player, but they had to be on this list. The LA Kings Twitter is often called the best Twitter account of any sports team. They constantly push the limit of professionalism but never actually cross the line. They chirp their rivals (and every other team) and fans who dare to engage them. And they are certainly not afraid to hurt feelings seeing as their account description says “we apologize for any future tweets that may offend you.” In short, they’re pretty awesome if you have a sense of humor.
Almost a year after the Kings won the cup, they got a taste of their own medicine with this equally (if not more) witty comeback by the New Jersey Devils…
Brooks Laich
Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is relatively new to the Twitter world, but he’s making his debut nicely. For only being on Twitter for a few short months, he has a pretty good selection of comic relief. Here is expresses his concern for golf and clothing.
So the moral of the story is: if you ever need a good laugh, just start clicking through NHL players’ Twitter accounts.
Many of you may be familiar with the children’s book “Flat Stanley“, well a close friend of The Pink Puck with long standing ties of supporting our troops (and to hockey), has altered the idea to bring you “Flat Soldier”. We have fantastic readers across the world and thought that some of you might like to participate in this fun project. It doesn’t matter what state or country you reside in, the broader the reach, the better!
Here’s what our close friend had to say about Operation Flat Soldier:
“Flat Stanley is a project that many students (and teachers!) enjoy doing to learn about travelling, map reading, and all sorts of wonderful things! I have adapted the concept and turned it around to make a fun travel book for one of my adopted soldiers currently in Afghanistan! You have in your possession a flat-version of one of my adoptees. He is ready for some adventures with friends and family!
Please take him on adventures. It could be cooking in the kitchen, going for a drive, helping in the garage, seeing the local sites, or going fabulous places!! Set him up, snap a picture, and send it to me with a description of the activity! Send as many pictures as you like. The options are limitless!! And I will put everything together in a book and send it to the soldier. Think about how much love and support will be in that book!!! It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t know you. You took the time to do this, which shows kindness and compassion! From everyday events (drinking coffee in the kitchen), which are greatly missed while deployed, to the hilarious or harrowing (PLEASE don’t let him fall ALL THE WAY down Niagara Falls!!!! But if you do, TAKE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!), photos and stories are greatly appreciated!!
It would be awesome to get some pictures of Flat Soldier doing funny things (I’ve seen pictures of a martial artist bowing to a Flat Soldier, then appearing to be flipped by him, and then having FS sitting triumphantly on his chest. Hilarious!!!!), so let your creativity flow! Mine took a trip to the Bobby Orr statue at the Garden. I taped him to the statue to make it appear like he is flying through the air with him.”
If you’d like to participate in Operation Flat Soldier, please send an email to pinkpuck@thepinkpuck.com – we’ll give you more information, the pdf for printing Flat Soldier and the email address to send your photos to by October 1st! Don’t have a printer, don’t worry – our friend will gladly mail you a pre-printed Flat Soldier so you can participate in the project as well.
We can’t wait to see what adventures our Pink Puck readers take Flat Soldier on!
We will never plug a product on our site unless someone on our roster has used it and approved it, it’s the Pink Puck way. One product in particular has us happier than the opening of hockey season, well, almost, is Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lavender Pure Castile Liquid Soap. It’s a multi-purpose miracle, at least in terms of living the rink life.
Equipment Cleaner
3 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Liquid Soap
2 cups water
Spray Bottle
Pour both ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. Lay out equipment, hockey bag, etc and spray with mixture, let air dry and voila, hockey stink gone. We’ve also sprayed this on the carpet in the trunk of the car where our equipment bag usually sits and let it air dry, it does wonders for the smell of your car interior.
Jersey and Sock Laundry Detergent 2-3 tablespoons (depending on load size) Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Liquid Soap 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar
Use instead of laundry detergent on your jerseys, undergarments, jills, jocks and socks, pour the mixture in with your clothing and run the wash as normal. The mixture is a little less harsh on the wear and tear front than regular detergent and it does a number on sweat stains and smells!
Body Wash/Quick Body Cleaner 3 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Liquid Soap
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups water
Spray Bottle
Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. Give mixture a good shake before each use. We’ve all had those moments where you come off the ice, excited for a hot shower and you’re greeted with an arctic blast of water that doesn’t change temperature. Your shower time decreases to a quicker than quick rinse, it’s all about how fast you can get in and get out. Use the body wash for an after skate scrub down, the olive oil will help moisturize your skin while the soap will work its magic. For the days that the shower is completely broken or you just don’t have enough time (hey, it happens), the body wash mixture is perfect to spray on and towel off.
Makeup Remover 1 teaspoon Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Liquid Soap 1 1/2 teaspoons Olive Oil
1 cup Distilled water
Small pump bottle or similar container
Mix all ingredients in bottle, shake before use. Apply to a cotton ball and take off makeup, it even works on tough mascara and eye-liner. We’ve all had that moment where you’re running from a prior makeup necessary engagement, to the rink where makeup isn’t exactly preferable. Keep a little bottle of this in your bag and you’re good to go. We use it as a daily makeup remover away from the rink as well. It’s gentle and leaves your face feeling clean and refreshed. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend trying the Dr.Bronner’s Baby Mild Version when it comes to makeup remover, but it’s not 100% necessary.
We love the lavender version of the product, but it’s important to note that any of the scents offered will work – Dr. Bronner’s features 7 other scents besides lavender. The 32 oz bottle retails from $10-15 depending on where you purchase it, but it’s certainly cost efficient, one bottle will last you months and months.
The NHL Offseason is dwindling down as teams and players are preparing for training camps, which open in September. Most teams have made the big moves/splashes that will improve their rosters for the upcoming season. There may be some players starting to sign Player Tryout Contracts, or PTOs; however, most of the heavy wheeling, dealing and signing has already been completed. The exception being teams trying to lockdown those restricted free agents that are still without a contract for the upcoming season.
Some teams made very few moves or stayed the course in their rebuild. Other teams left their fans scratching their heads with some of the decisions that were made this offseason. The teams that are the focus of this article made major moves to improve their team, and are considered my winners of the 2024 Offseason.
Steven Stamkos (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)
1) Nashville Predators
The Predators made the biggest free agency splashes during the offseason so far. They managed to sign forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Brady Skjei, and goaltender Scott Wedgewood. Stamkos should help balance out the Predators’ scoring depth throughout the lineup. His wicked one-timer should be a weapon on their power play, which was ranked 16th last season. The fact that he can skate should improve the Predators’ transition game. He can log minutes and play against the opposition’s top six, as he is a two-way player.
Marchessault has good vision, and can pass the puck. He can also finish despite being on the smallish side. He will also help to balance out the scoring throughout the lineup, improve the power play with his dual threat of passing and scoring touch, and bring some leadership to the team. Skjei will help to solidify the defensive corps especially the top four. He is a mobile defenseman who can carry the puck into the offensive zone, which should help the Predators create more off the rush and in transition. Wedgewood is a journeyman backup goaltender, and it will help Juuse Saros knowing that he has a capable goaltending partner, who can step in when he needs a night off. Despite moving around the league over his career, Wedgewood has proven that he can come up with a big win over a top tier team when needed.
2) Chicago Blackhawks
The focus of this offseason seemed to be to bring in some veteran players, who can mentor the young kids while helping the team improve in the standings. The Blackhawks signed defenseman Alex Vlasic and forward Lukas Reichel to new deals. Ilya Mikheyev was an acquisition via trade, who should help bring some more scoring depth to a team that had its troubles scoring last season. Alec Martinez will provide a solid option for the Blackhawks’ top four defensemen. He should help improve a dismal penalty kill since he blocks shots, is mobile, and plays a simple game in his end of the ice. TJ Brodie is the other defenseman that was signed in the offseason, and he should help the Blackhawks create off the rush since he can skate and move the puck up the ice.
Tyler Bertuzzi (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)
Tyler Bertuzzi was the Blackhawks biggest free agent acquisition, and he will help add scoring to the top two lines. He should help to improve the power play as well, since he finds ways to get to the net to score goals. He is not afraid to get involved in scrums, and agitate the opposition. Pat Maroon is a veteran who is not afraid to stand up for his teammates and should be in the lineup to protect the younger stars. Teuvo Teravainen is a creative playmaker with good offensive instincts, and that should help his line mates pot some goals, and improve the power play. He can also help out in his own zone.
3) Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, made a few splashes in its first offseason. They re-signed key players like Liam O’Brien, Sean Durzi, Barrett Hayton, and Michael Kesselring. Their key focus seemed to be to improve the defense, and management accomplished the mission. Mikhail Sergachev was acquired via trades, and was Utah’s biggest offseason acquisition. He is a top four option on the blue line, who is physical and will block shots. Sergachev should help with the transition and off-the-rush games of Utah since he can skate, and reads the play well due to his on-ice vision.
John Marino, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in a trade, is a defenseman who can log minute and block shots, which should help the goalies see the puck better and make more saves. Marino can skate well, and contribute offensively, if needed. Ian Cole will bring leadership and a physical presence to the blue line, with his typical defensive defenseman style that he plays. Kevin Stenlund should help to improve a dismal penalty kill since he blocks shots, is usually in the right spot at the right time, and can win face-offs. He thrived last season in a bottom six role while killing penalties with the Florida Panthers.
4) New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils were one of the busier teams this offseason, as they were wheeling, dealing, and signing free agents. The Devils filled its biggest need and acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Markstrom is a big goalie, covers a lot of net and can steal games for his team by making the big save. He is the talented goaltender that the Devils needed, since this was the most glaring issue with the team last season. Paul Cotter, who was acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, is a physical depth forward, who can help on the forecheck and put up some points.
Johnathan Kovacevic, aquired from the Montreal Canadiens, could help on the power play since he has a decent shot. Brenden Dillon provides some depth on the blue line, and will help move the puck up the ice, driving play towards the offensive zone. Brett Pesce was the Devils’ second biggest acquisition of the offseason. He is one of the best defensive defenseman, will block shots, and can play in any situation. He should help cut down the opposition’s chances and let the goaltender see less shots. Stefan Noesen should help the Devils score goals since he has a nose for the net and a good shot.
5) Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are in win-now mode and this offseason proved just that. The Capitals wasted little time in acquiring forward Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Kings. Dubois is a talented player who can finish and pass. The knock on him is that he tends to not give his all and disappears if things are not going well. If he plays to his abilities, he should contribute to the offense in a big way. Matt Roy should help the Capitals with getting out of their own zone since he is a mobile defenseman. Roy can play with another offensive-minded defenseman or a typical stay-at-home guy.
Andrew Mangiapane, acquired via trade with the Calgary Flames, should provide scoring depth since he can get to the front of the net and finish. Jakob Chychrun, acquired from the Ottawa Senators, should be an asset on the power play because of his great shot. Chychrun will help solidify the Capitals’ top four on the backend, as he is a solid all-around defenseman and can play in any situation. Logan Thompson, acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, is coming off of a breakout season. He is a calm presence in the crease and his acrobatic style helps him make saves that other goaltenders would not be able to make. Brandon Duhaime will help gain puck possession on the forecheck since he is physical force in that area of the game.
Honorable Mention: San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks didn’t acquire the flashiest players, but rather, signed its own, and took chances on players that seemed to need a change of scenery. Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks’ top draft prospects signed their entry level contracts this offseason. The Sharks claimed Barclay Goodrow, who will help to improve the penalty kill. Ty Dellandrea, acquired from the Dallas Stars, is an example of a young player who needed a change of scenery. He is a talented forward that just needs the coach’s trust and playing time to show that he can make it in the NHL, and with the Sharks, he will get just that. Jake Walman, acquired in a trade with the Red Wings, is a 28-year-old defenseman that can improve the Sharks’ power play because he can rush the puck up the ice, and that should also help the Sharks create more offense/chances off-the-rush.
Carl Grundstrom, traded from the Los Angeles Kings, is a physical presence when he is on the ice. Tyler Toffoli is a veteran leader and a streak goal-scorer, so the Sharks should be able to score more goals. Alex Wennberg is a playmaker, and should help to improve the scoring depth of the Sharks especially if he is paired with a goal-scorer. Cody Ceci, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, will be a veteran presence for the blue line. He is a stay-at-home defenseman and will block shots; however, he has been known to get out of position and give up chances. Yaroslav Askarov, acquired in a trade with the Predators, is probably the biggest get of the offseason for the Sharks. He is a highly touted goaltending prospect, but was not going to get playing time in the NHL with the extension of Saros. Askarov should have a chance to make the Sharks roster right out of training camp, as his competition will be Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek. Askarov has the chance of getting playing time with the Sharks, as this team is young and in the rebuilding stage, so they can take chances and let him develop while playing.
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished last season with 111 points in the regular season, and made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Maple Leafs managed to get a match up against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, and it took them six games to dispose of them. Unfortunately for the Leafs, they ran into a team that was playing good hockey down the stretch and knocked off the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The Florida Panthers made quick work of the Leafs by eliminating them in five games, and the Leafs suffered yet another second round postseason loss.
The Maple Leafs have undergone some significant changes this offseason, with the departure of Kyle Dubas and the arrival of Brad Treliving as their new general manager. Along with Assistant General Manager Derek Clancey, the team has made some bold moves to bring in experienced and gritty players. Free-agent signings such as Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Ryan Reaves, and John Klingberg have added depth and strength to the team’s roster.
Reaves and Domi will bring a toughness to the team that was missing the past few seasons. They will both stand up for their teammates, and Domi can pitch in on the offensive side of the puck. The forwards have decent size, and they should be able to show off their speed in the transition game. They have an equal amount of playmakers and guys that can put the puck in the net. The Maple Leafs have good depth up front and should have a balanced lineup from lines one through four.
The team will rely on the Core Four of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander during this season. This season the depth up front should the Core Four take a game off or get shut down, then the other forwards can step up and put some pucks in the net. The forward group is heavily loaded with veteran players who should know their roles, but there were two younger players Matthew Knies and Fraser Minten, who made the Open Night roster.
The defensive corps is probably one of the biggest questions on this team for me. Sure, they have a ton of experience on the blue line, but it seems that Treliving has more offensive-minded players on the blue line than defensive-minded players. Morgan Rielly has been playing the role of the number-one defenseman for the past few seasons, but is he that guy? They have decent size on the backend and will block shots. The blue line looks like it will be a work in progress in the defensive zone.
The defensive corps is not physical; however, they should have no problem moving the puck. They are mobile enough to skate the puck out of their zone, or they can hit that first pass out of the zone. The ability to move the puck will result in them chipping in on the offensive side, making this team a high-scoring one. The blue liners are a veteran group who should hold each other accountable. The biggest issue with this blue line could be that they are out of position and give up chances trying to pitch in on the offensive side of the puck.
The defense being the question mark on this team is not good news for the goaltending duo of Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll. Matt Murray had surgery in the offseason and is on injured reserve to start the season. Samsonov is the clear-cut number-one goaltender for the start of the 2023-24 season. Samsonov had a decent regular season for the Maple Leafs last season and will look to build off of it. He will have to make saves, as the team playing with him will give up chances. The 26-year-old will have to be more consistent in net to steal games and potentially make a deep playoff run. Samsonov will have to stay healthy to keep the number one goalie spot.
Due to injuries in the net for the Maple Leafs, Woll stepped in and played in seven games last season . The small sample size indicated that he played well having a 2.16 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. He faced 31 shots per game and gave up a little over two goals per game. Woll has good size and can produce when called upon, as he showed last season. If Samsonov struggles or gets injured, it will be interesting to see if Head Coach Sheldon Keefe would go with Woll as the starter. The 25-year-old lacks NHL experience but proved he can play at that level last season. It will be an interesting season since Woll should get more than seven games of playing time this upcoming season.
Woll should get more playing time as he made the Opening Night Roster. In the seven regular season games played last season, he proved he can make saves and keep his team in the game. With Samsonov’s injury history, Woll is likely to get more playing time and gain some confidence as the season goes on. As he plays more minutes, he should learn the shooters’ tendencies. Woll proved he could step up in big moments last year. He has decent size and the potential to be a solid goalie with more NHL experience.
Klingberg was an offseason free agency addition who the Maple Leafs are taking a chance on. The team signed him to a one-year, $4.15 million dollar contract over the summer. It is a prove-it contract, albeit a bit too high on the cap hit. Klingberg is going to have a bounce-back season with the Leafs. He is on a better team, and the Leafs style of play fits him better than Anaheim and Minnesota did last year. The 31-year-old shouldn’t play as many minutes, and his production should go up if he plays on the power play. Depending on who his partner is, he could be free to play his style of hockey, and that should help him tremendously.
The rookie, Knies, should have a breakout season with the Maple Leafs. He has the skill and speed to play with the likes of Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander in the top six. His speed and skill should keep him in the League for the season. If he uses his power and finesse along the boards to win board battles, he can have a lot of assists. Since the rookie is a better playmaker than a scorer, he should be on a line with at least one pure scorer.
Another year means the Core Four is under pressure to get past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have no problem producing during the regular season since the team leans on them for production. It’s a different story once the postseason hits. The Core Four just can’t seem to lead the Maple Leafs past the second round, no matter who the opponent is. If they do not succeed in the postseason this year, it could potentially be their last season together so do they prove themselves or fold under the pressure?
The goaltenders are going to be the key to success this season. The players in front of them are going to give up chances, but the goalies need to make both the routine and the big saves. Samsonov and Woll will need to keep the Leafs in games because there will be potential for some high-scoring games, and the Eastern Conference has improved. To have a successful season, Samsonov needs to stay healthy and Woll needs to stay ready. They will both have to avoid letting in the soft goals.
The offense is going to lead this team game after game. They have the potential to score at least four goals per game if everyone is on their game. Even if the Core Four is going through a slump, the lineup should be deep enough to produce. They will get help from the blue line since they are offensive-minded. They are also a veteran-heavy team and hopefully someone would step up and say something or lead by example if key players are slumping. They have a balance of playmakers and scorers so producing should not be an issue.
Despite all the veteran leadership and offensive production, the Maple Leafs won’t make it past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs again this year. I don’t think the defense and goaltending are going to be good enough, and this will cause the early exit again. The early exit will not be on the Core Four, as they will produce during the brief postseason run.
The Nashville Predators just missed the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but despite the 92 points, the team was still inconsistent. They were sellers at the National Hockey League Trade Deadline, and let the younger players get some more minutes during the second half of the season. The main reasons for the team’s success last season were defenseman Roman Josi, forward Filip Forsberg (when healthy), and goaltender Juuse Saros.
The team officially named Barry Trotz as the new general manager, as David Poile officially retired from that role. Andrew Brunette was name head coach several weeks after the regular season had ended with John Hynes being fired. The new regime made some head scratching moves including placing Matt Duchene on waivers with the intention of buying out his contract, and trading forward Ryan Johansen. These two moves seemed to be clearing cap space, which was spent on signing veterans Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn.
The biggest question the Predators face going into the season is can the kids up front produce at a rate to help this team win some games. They do have some speed up front, which should help on the odd man rushes and for the team to play games at a decent pace. The forwards also have some size, and that will help on the forecheck. The offense will get some help from the blue line especially from captain, Roman Josi.
There are several playmakers up front and on the blue line, but when looking up and down this roster, there are very few goal scorers. Yes, having a healthy Forsberg will help this team because he will definitely score some goals. Also, O’Reilly should be able to help Forsberg pot some goals this season. This team has a lot of younger players, who have to prove themselves, despite the NHL experience that they do have. Can Juuso Parssinen, Tommy Novak, Cody Glass and Yakov Trenin build on last year’s seasons? Only time will tell, but if the younger players can’t pitch in, there could be a potentially long season ahead for the Predators.
On the flip side, the defense is veteran-laded with the likes of Josi, Schenn, Ryan McDonagh, and Tyson Barrie to name a few. There is a lot of depth on the blue line as it seems there is every year, despite losing Mattias Ekholm at last year’s trade deadline and Mark Borowiecki to retirement. The group can be physical, will block shots, and can log a lot of minutes. Josi and company will give up their fair share of chances; however, they also have some decent shutdown defensemen.
The defense corps is mobile and can skate, which will help them get into the offensive zone a bit easier. If someone should take a run at one of the Predators’ top players, they do have veterans like Schenn and Jeremy Lauzon, who will stand up for their teammates, if needed. They have a balanced blue line in that there are several players who will chip in on the offensive side of things like McDonagh, Josi and Barrie; however, there are some solid shut down players like Schenn, Lauzon, Alexandre Carrier, and McDonagh. There top four should be able to log some serious minutes per game.
A solid defense should help the goaltenders out this year. Saros had a really good season last year despite the team being inconsistent in front of him, and not being able to score a ton of goals per night. Saros is one of the smaller goalies in the League, but his quickness makes up for his lack of height. He can get from one side of the post to the other effortlessly, and make great saves. Saros is also a durable goalie, who can play a lot of minutes and games, if needed.
Kevin Lankinen doesn’t have much NHL experience. He is a decent size for a goalie and is 28 years old. Lankinen will put in the work as he was not drafted by a NHL team. He needs to be more consistent in his game, but that is hard to do when he isn’t playing that many games per season being Saros’ backup. It will be interesting to see how Coach Brunette handles the goalie situation. Will he give Saros more time off during the regular season and give Lankinen a chance to get some more time between the pipes, or will he just ride Saros for 55-60 games?
There are not too many players to choose for a bounce back year; however, Forsberg fits this category for one reason, he only played 50 games last season. In those 50 games, he had 19 goals, 23 assists and 42 points. If he can stay healthy, the Predators are going to need a bounce back year from him, and in a big way. When looking at this roster, as constructed, there is a big hole in where the goals are going to come from. Having a healthy Forsberg would help with that question of who is scoring the goals this season for the Predators. His speed, playmaking ability, goal scoring ability and just his presence on the ice should help the younger players on this team.
Juuso Parssinen is going to surprise fans this season with his play. In 45 games, he had six goals, 19 assists, and 25 points during the 2022-23 season. This season he should get even more playing time with the likes of Duchene and Johansen no longer with the team. He is a big, versatile forward who can play center or the wing position. The fact that he is willing to play a two-way game means he should see more ice time, which could boost his confidence. When a player has the coaching staff’s confidence, it can make him play better, and this year Parssinen will surprise some fans with his abilities.
If Lankinen can get some more games, he will have a breakout season. The defense is solid in front of him, and that should make it easier for him to come up with the easy saves. In 19 games played, he had a 2.75 goals against average and a .916 save percentage, which was pretty solid. If he can make some saves, and get some more minutes, those numbers should improve. I could very well be wrong with this pick, but I make a breakout pick every year for teams, and his name just stuck out to me on this roster. I am going with the gut feeling on this one.
Andrew Brunette, the new head coach, will be under pressure this season. John Hynes was let go during the offseason, and Brunette was hired by Trotz and company. Brunette had some success a few years ago while he was the interim head coach for the Florida Panthers. It will be interesting to see how the team adapts to his coaching style and game plan. Will the Predators get off to a quick start, or a slow one? How much can he get out of the younger players on this team? One thing that will help him in his first season is that he does have a good veteran leadership group on this team.
The key to this season is going to be the defense. If they can step up and eliminate some of the mistakes before the puck gets to Saros, then the Predators have a chance to have a decent season. Unless some of the younger players pitch in, the offense won’t score a ton, so the defense will have to play solid to keep this team in games. They have some guys that are willing to block shots and play physical, but they’ll need to limit their mistakes to help the goaltenders make easy saves, and see less rubber coming at them each game. This veteran-laded defense corps knows what needs to be done, and if they manage to pull it together, it would take some of the pressure off the younger kids to produce.
The goaltending is going to be the x-factor for the Predators this season. Saros and Lankinen are going to have to make the saves to keep their team in games. Every team makes mistakes, and these goalies are going have to make sure those mistakes don’t end up in the back of the net every single time. Saros is athletic enough to make the spectacular saves, while Lankinen just needs to make the easy ones to keep his team in games. The goaltending duo was solid last year, and will need to continue to be solid this year for the Predators to have any chance of making the postseason.
With that being said, I think the Predators miss out on the postseason again this year. The Western Conference has good teams, and the Eastern Conference is stacked. I don’t see them being in the bottom 10 in the League, but they’ll be on the outside looking in once the end of the season standings come around. I just don’t see where the goals are coming from as they don’t have too many finishers on this year’s roster.
After a two-year hiatus while the world came to terms with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to say that the 2022 Friendship Four championship game was worth waiting for. After having defeated Dartmouth’s Big Green in their game on Friday night, it was with anticipation that hockey fans flocked into the SSE Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to watch the Quinnipiac Bobcats take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen.
While Quinnipiac carried a 1-0 lead from Ethan de Jong’s power play goal (assists to Collin Graf and Zach Metsa) in the first period into the third period, the Minutemen were not giving up. They got on the scoreboard at 5:12 of the third with a five-on-five goal from Taylor Makar, assisted by Kenny Connors and Cole O’Hara.
It was looking like the game might remain knotted at 1-1 when the clock ticked under the five-minute mark of remaining regulation time when UMass’s Eric Faith was whistled for hooking at 15:03 giving Quinnipiac the opportunity on the man advantage. And it didn’t take the Bobcats long to respond on the man advantage, when Skyler Brind’Amour, assisted by Graf and Metsa, put the puck behind goalie Luke Pavicich just 43 seconds into the power play going up 2-1 with just 4:14 remaining in regulation.
While many thought perhaps the game and the victor were sealed, the Minutemen responded on the next shift, 31 seconds later, as Michael Cameron, assisted by Scott Morrow and Aaron Bohlinger once again tied the game.
The electricity and enthusiasm among the fans in the arena ratcheted up even higher as the game went into overtime. However, even the five-minute three-on-three extra inning was not enough to settle this game. During the shootout, it came down to the ability of Yaniv Perets, the Bobcats goaltender, to deny all three of the Minutemen shooters while Pavicich only blocked two of the shooters for the Bobcats.
Heard from many of the fans, it was clear they believed that this had been one of the most exciting Friendship Four championship games since the inception of the tournament. And while it was clear that the University of Massachusetts players were devastated, they can return to Massachusetts knowing that they left it all out on the ice.
After Quinnipiac’s Friday night win, head coach Rand Pecknold, who is in his 29th season as the Bobcat’s head coach, stressed that despite those saying his team were the front runners that he wasn’t going to underestimate the Minutemen. He had instilled a healthy respect of opposing teams’ abilities into his players. Pecknold did say that he would have preferred for his team to get the job done during regulation but was exceptionally pleased with his players and their ability to hoist, and ring, the Friendship Four school bell as the 2022 Friendship Four Champions.
By the end of the second day of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, the Boston Bruins managed to get six picks throughout rounds two through seven. Boston had tried to make a deal to get a first-round pick, but that never materialized.
Matthew Poitras – Round 2
Matthew Poitras
Boston’s first opportunity came in the second round at pick number 54, when they took centerman Matthew Poitras who played with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League this past season.
When scouting, Poitras was ranked 45th on the NHL’s Central Scouting North American Skaters list. Meanwhile HockeyProspect.com scouts listed him at 105 and Elite Prospects ranked him 78th. One of the most consistent comments from the scouts seemed to focus on his height (he’s 5’10”) and that he is a weak skater. However, Elite Prospects suggested that some of his intangibles cannot be easily quantified. “Poitras is one of the most energetic players in the draft, especially on the forecheck. His intensity and pace is rarely found in draft-eligible players, and because of this, they will make him an attractive draft target.” With that said, Poitras garnered 50 points in the 68 games he played this past season, notching 21 goals and getting 29 assists. Presently the scouts suggest that his simple play hurts him and that he needs to improve his creativity and deception.
Boston’s next opportunities came in the fourth round, having traded their third-round pick (number 87) to the Ottawa Senators for the Sens’ fourth round pick (number 117) which gave the Bruins picks 117 and 119 in the fourth.
Cole Spicer – Round 4
Cole Spicer
With pick 117, Boston selected USA Hockey’s Cole Spicer, who spent this past season playing with the USA U-18 National Team Development Program. At the USHL Fall Classic last September, he slotted into the third line center position, playing with Rutger McGroarty (who was selected by the Winnipeg Jets 14th overall in round 1) and Devin Kaplan (chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers 69th overall in round 3). Spicer was ranked 120th by NHL Central Scouting and was unranked with both HockeyProspect.com and Elite Prospects. The left-shooting center amassed 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 58 games with the USA Hockey’s U-18 NTDP. Spicer is not afraid to check, and he can steal the puck. He will also make the opposition pay when they make a mistake.
“[Spicer] was a pretty prolific scorer before getting to the [NTDP]. Played a little bit down in their lineup this year on a deep team with some top centers ahead of him. Again, another kid that we think offensively has a bit of an upward trajectory and skillset, going to Minnesota-Duluth—they’ve done a great job developing players. We have a lot of comfort with the path for the player, so we’re really excited on that,” said Ryan Nadeau, Boston Bruins Associate Director of Amateur Scouting.
Dans Locmelis – Round 4
Dans Locmelis
Two picks later, at 119, the Bruins took Dans Locmelis. Another center, Locmelis shoots left and spent the season primarily in the J20 Nationell league on the Luleå HF J20 team. During the season he played 44 games with Luleå scoring 18 goals and getting 16 assists for 34 points. The Latvian native went unranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting. Elite Prospects’ David St.-Louis considers his skills as limited though he does credit Locmelis with good habits. Good habits in a game at his age means that his body already has the muscle memory for certain aspects of his game, such as crossovers on the rush and stick work away from the puck. He is obviously still a bit of a work in progress, but his creativity and good habits are likely what enticed Boston to select him.
Frédéric Brunet – Round 5
Frédéric Brunet
During the fifth round, the Bruins had a pick from the Seattle Kraken with number 132, which they used to select Frédéric Brunet, a lanky defenseman. He went undrafted last year, but his birthday is in late August, which may have had something to do with that as well as his play during the 2020-21 season. Drafted by Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL in 2019 in the fourth round, he was listed at 5’11”. He is now 6’2” showing that he is still maturing. He worked his way up to top defenseman with Rimouski this past season. Brunet was ranked 113 by NHL Central Scouting among North American players and 112 by Elite Prospects who expect him to really grow his game this coming season in the QMJHL. Competing is in the family tree. His dad competed in the 1998 Nagano Olympics in figure skating. His uncle, Dominik Gauthier was also at Nagano as a freestyle skier. His aunt, Jennifer Heil won gold at the 2006 Olympics and silver at the 2010 Olympics in freestyle skiing. In addition, during the off-season he trains in Quebec City with Boston’s very own Patrice Bergeron—offering Brunet an excellent example of what it takes to stick with an NHL team.
“I didn’t talk to Patrice directly [about Brunet]. With Brunet, we’ve watched him closely all year. We met with him here [Montreal] the other day. Just a player that we believe in and a person that we believe in, and just thought that for us, at that point, he was a pick that we felt was a chance to get a kid that we really want into our group,” said Nadeau.
Reid Dyck – Round 6
Reid Dyck
In the sixth round, Boston selected Reid Dyck with their 183rd pick. Dyck is a goaltender who currently plays for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. Dyck was the backup netminder for the Broncos this past season, limiting the games in which scouts could see him. Within the NHL Central Scouting, Dyck went from being ranked 26th at the midterm of the season to 8th as his final slot among North American goalies. He certainly has the size that most teams are looking for in goalies in the NHL standing 6’4” and weighing 194 pounds. With Jeremy Swayman in net for Boston they are not expecting Dyck to jump straight to the NHL which means he can continue to improve. However, he is definitely someone that the Bruins made an effort to see play.
“A goalie that we had had on our list and honed in. He was a backup this year, so he was hard to see at times, then ended up playing at Canada at the U18 tournament. We got some good views there, as well as some stuff we saw in Swift Current. We just think there’s an upside that our goaltending group, Bob Essensa and Mike Dunham, can really work with and hope to hone and work through,” said Nadeau.
Jackson Edward – Round 7
The Bruins’ final selection came in the seventh round with their choice of defenseman Jackson Edward 200th overall. NHL’s Central Scouting ranked him 123 among North American skaters while Hockey Prospect slotted him at 73rd. He has offensive potential but this past season he struggled to play to his strengths. If he can get back to doing that then he will get back to a level of play that everyone expected when he went 22nd in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection to the London Knights of the OHL. He’s a big player who can skate. He is a physical player, which undoubtedly appealed to the Bruins organization.
“[Edward] has a little bit of size, little bit of stiffess and bite to his game. They have, in London, especially with the young players, they have to really earn their ice and he didn’t necessarily get a ton of ice at the end of the beginning of the year, but we think his game has really rounded out and we’re expecting a big progression for him next year,” said Nadeau.
“Boston was my favorite team growing up…I liked Chara when I was younger and then Marchand became my favorite player.” — Jackson Edward pic.twitter.com/czixuT0BDd
Overall, without a first-round pick or a higher position in the second round, there were players that the Bruins definitely would have liked to have had an opportunity at. They have certainly looked to get some depth up the center. This wasn’t a particularly deep draft class, as was evidenced by how many players outside the top fifteen or so went much later than expected. There were few “high expectation” players in this year’s draft.
In the end, the Bruins acquired some players who have potential. It will come down to how committed those players are and part of that will be seen this coming week when their six newest prospects get introduced to what it means to be a Bruin at development camp.
Because of their positioning in the draft, I give the Bruins a B- in their acquisitions. I feel there is some promise in their selections and now the onus is on Boston’s player development to grow these players into real Boston Bruins.
The Boston Bruins announced on Monday, June 27, 2022, that they had signed General Manager Don Sweeney to a multiyear contract extension. The announcement came three weeks after the organization released head coach Bruce Cassidy.
Sweeney’s involvement with the Boston Bruins traces back to his time as a player when he was drafted in 1984. Before donning the Spoked-B as a professional, he played his collegiate hockey with the Harvard Crimson. He played with Boston for 15 seasons, amassing over 1,000 games in black and gold. The defenseman finished his skating career with the Dallas Stars at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Don Sweeney
After retiring as a player, Sweeney returned to the Bruins in 2006 to become part of the front office as Director of Player Development. In July 2007, Sweeney was named Director of Hockey Operations and ultimately promoted to Assistant General Manager in September of 2009. It was the release of Peter Chiarelli in 2015 that saw Sweeney take the mantle as General Manager.
Since becoming general manager, Sweeney ranks second in total wins at 313 among general managers who have been credited with a minimum of 100 regular season games, behind only the GM of the Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan. Meanwhile he is tied in seventh place within the NHL with Kelly McCrimmon, general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights with a .584 winning percentage.
Charlie Jacobs
“Under his management, the Boston Bruins have been one of the winningest franchises in the league and a perennial playoff contender year in and year out. While we recognize there is work to be done to achieve the ultimate goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Boston, I’m confident that Don’s commitment to being best-in-class on and off the ice will help us climb that mountain once again,” said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs.
Indeed, Boston is one of just four NHL teams to have made it to the postseason in each year for the past six years along with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals. In the past six postseasons the Bruins have reached the second round three times (2017/18, 2019/20, 2020/21), the first round twice (2016/17, 2021/22) and once to the Stanley Cup Final (2018/19).
It was at the end of the 2018/19 season that Sweeney was honored as the General Manager of the Year.
There is a vocal fan base who feels that Sweeney is to blame for Boston’s inability to bring home the Stanley Cup in the past seven years. However, hockey is not just about a single person. In addition to the players and the coaches, there are a number of individuals responsible for icing a competitive team. There are also many conversations that take place when cameras are not rolling that those outside of the organization are not privy to. There are times when the general manager can’t sign or trade for a specific player due to limited cap space, no move clauses in a player’s contract, or the demands of the other team simply being too high. It doesn’t mean that Sweeney did not do his job, and those who have extended his contract are much more aware as to all that he does during the season.
The extension comes before the 2022 NHL Entry Draft which will take place in Montreal, Quebec on July 7 and 8, 2022.
On Monday, June 6, 2022, the Boston Bruins announced that they had released head coach Bruce Cassidy from his position as bench boss. The furor on Twitter from fans was not surprising as they saw a winning coach—Cassidy’s record was 245-108-46 in 399 games over six seasons as head coach in Boston—dismissed. There appeared to be no apparent reason and it happened just 23 days after the Bruins first round postseason exit.
Within the organization, Cassidy had been involved with the Bruins for 14 years. He was promoted from his position as head coach of the Providence Bruins—where he had been head coach of Boston’s AHL affiliate since the 2011-12 season—in February, 2017 when GM Don Sweeney relieved Claude Julien as head coach.
Bruce Cassidy (Photo: Alan Sullivan)
During Cassidy’s time behind the bench, he took the Boston Bruins to the playoffs in all six seasons. The problem? They had two first round losses, three second round losses and there was the Game 7 Stanley Cup Final loss on home ice in 2019 to the St. Louis Blues.
There is no denying that when Cassidy was brought to Boston that the team responded. New voices in a locker room are always head. This past season saw some troubling trends with the team though.
There was the loss of David Krejci who elected to return to Czechia to play this year. It was overheard that in part Krejci’s choice was motivated by the revolving wingmen and not having David Pastrnak on his line. The two played in the IIHF World Championship on the same line this past May and earned the bronze medal for Czechia–eliminating Team USA.
Sweeney brought in Taylor Hall to put on the Krejci line and perhaps had Pastrnak been on that line things would have been different. For whatever reason, Cassidy seemed determine to keep Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Pastrnak together on the top line.
Slow starts were becoming more apparent especially at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. The team certainly hit a hot zone in January and February. Hall was paired with Erik Haula and ultimately Pastrnak was added to the second line. They began to make things happen. No one expected Haula to take up the second line center position, but the linemates found some good chemistry and contributed to the team.
The Bruins managed to get themselves in a solid wild card position for the playoffs, but opposing goals scored within the final minute or two of periods was an ugly trend as the season wore on, one that there seemed to be no answer for.
Jake DeBrusk let the Bruins organization know he was hoping for a trade. The news, and his lack of willingness to truly spell out his reasons, unfortunately made it look like he was the unreasonable one in the situation. Given how things have shaken out, one has to wonder if his request was in response to things in the locker room that the fans never saw.
Don Sweeney
During Sweeney’s press conference on Tuesday morning, he also alluded to some difficulties that Cassidy had with assistant coach Kevin Dean.
“I had met with the coaching staff like I normally do to go over not only the year and their feeling of where our team was and what we were capable of achieving. And then I met with Bruce afterwards as well talking about his staff. At that point in time, he had made a decision that Kevin Dean wasn’t going to be extended. We had talks during the course of the year about he and Kevin and their relationship. Everybody was aware that there was a little friction there at some point in time,” Sweeney said.
Apparently, the players were also voicing some concerns in their exit interviews.
“We have gone through exit meetings. I have done it at every level. They’re not driving the bus in terms of making my decisions. I honestly believe that they impact our hockey club more than any of us. They’re invested and I think they want to know how invested the organization is. I think taking anything away from what they’re trying to accomplish as a group, you know, I honestly believe it doesn’t matter what they’re necessarily saying individually. It’s collectively as a group and how much they think they can accomplish, and they agreed with me because I had used a statement that we left something on the table, and they felt the same way. Young or old, I think there is a message delivery that I think a new voice will resonate with them,” Sweeney said.
“We left something on the table.” — Don Sweeney
No one can deny that Cassidy has passion for the game and for winning. He’s always shot from the hip when dealing with the media and the players. He has never called out a player publicly that he hadn’t already taken aside and shared his criticism. Cassidy could be considered an “old school” coach who wants things done a specific way. That approach can work in some locker rooms, though like other methods there could be a shelf life to such a coaching strategy.
The Bruins as an organization are waiting to hear Bergeron’s decision in regard to the future of his career. There have been multiple surgery announcements that will keep Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk, and others out for five or more months. The team will be relying on some of their younger players, and perhaps Sweeney decided now was a good time to make a coaching change.
Only time will tell if this was the right decision or if the organization ultimately needs to look higher up on the org chart to get the team back to what Boston is known to be—a hardworking, physical, winning team.
Usually there is a lot of talk about the Boston Bruins top line, as there should be. However, it was their third line that was making all the plays and putting the pucks in the back of the net Saturday night. The Bruins played host to the Arizona Coyotes, who came into Boston riding a four-game winning streak.
Third line right winger, Craig Smith, didn’t care about their winning streak, though he certainly was aware of it. Instead, he put the Bruins on the scoreboard 2:33 into the first period with the help of fourth liners Tomas Nosek and Nick Foligno as the third and fourth lines were slowly changing out. The fighting for the puck beforehand showed that the Bruins weren’t just going to give up a bouncing puck, and that tenaciousness paid off.
Eight minutes later, Smith had his second goal of the game and the period, giving Boston a nice two-goal lead early in the game. This one came with helpers from his line mates Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle. Despite being caved in along the boards back in the Bruins end while Frederic carried the puck into the offensive zone and shot a good cross-ice pass to Coyle, Smith managed to get back on his feet and into the zone to receive Coyle’s pass. While Smith’s first attempt was saved by the Coyotes’ Karel Vejmelka, the goaltender coughed up a rebound that Smith put home.
The “Numbers Line” has been having success in recent games. Smith came into Saturday’s game with five goals and one assist to give him six points in three of his last four games—which began with a hat trick on March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. He now has seven goals and one assist for eight points in four of his last five games. Coyle had a goal in the Bruins home win over the Blackhawks on Thursday night. Frederic notched a marker in Monday’s home game against the Los Angeles Kings. One or both of the other line mates have figured into most of those goals in the last few games, showing the chemistry is coming.
“You know, I think we’re still a work progress. I think we’re all three working hard trying to get in the right areas. I’m trying to shoot the puck more. Like that’s been an emphasis when we get in the zone. Charlie [Coyle] and Trent [Frederic], they are so good at protecting the puck. We can create stuff off of that and having them move their feet I think we can find lanes and get in spots where we can get pucks in the net,” said Smith.
A disturbing trend continues to dog the Bruins—the giving up of goals with seconds remaining in a period or the game. And the game against Arizona was no different. Clayton Keller’s slap shot off of Phil Kessel’s pass got past Jeremy Swayman with under a second remaining in the second period. It was so close that the play had to be reviewed. Of course, this gave the Coyotes some life and they came out and tied things up just 2:15 into the third when former Bruin Nick Ritchie’s snap shot quieted the crowd at TD Garden.
The clock showed under five minutes remaining in the third with things still knotted when, from below Swayman’s goal line, Charlie McAvoy got the puck up the boards to Frederic, who managed to get it to Coyle. Coyle took off like a shot, hounded by the Coyotes back checkers who were doing their best to give him no options. Coyle had Smith coming into the zone, and he knew it, but he also knew that his choices were limited. He elected to put a backhand shot on Vejmelka in the hopes that Smith might pot the rebound. Smith wasn’t needed in this instance as Coyle’s shot hit the back of the twine and gave the Bruins the lead with 3:21 remaining in regulation.
“I think just consistently playing together that always helps and you get to know your teammates, your line mates’ tendencies and you learn more about them and their roots and how they play and where they like to go. So that helps kind of like on that first goal, I guess that second goal that [Smith] had when I turned up and he likes to find that soft spot and be in there.
“And a lot of talking. You get comfortable with each other and talk more and then you can read off each other a little more. And then you get rewarded a little bit and you start to gain confidence and make plays.
“We’re always positive with each other. We don’t harp on each other. We are always there to support each other, whether it’s on the ice or off the ice talking. And we’re always looking to improve and that’s what you need. So, everyone’s doing their job and you do that consistently. Do it the right way then good things are gonna happen for you,” said Coyle.
There are still things to work on, but right now the Bruins third line—the Numbers Line—is keeping those in black and gold in a pretty good spot.
For rookie Jack Ahcan, Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks had some surreal moments. Playing for the Boston Bruins in only his eighth game with the NHL club, he had the opportunity to make a dream come true with the scoring of his first career NHL goal.
“Yeah, it was kind of crazy. I think I just said, ‘Let’s go’ and I was pretty fired up. I thought it hit the post and went wide. I didn’t really see it. It’s just, it’s such a great feeling. You know, you do picture it over and over in your head before it actually happens. And I don’t think once it was like that, but it was a pretty awesome goal and nice to get out of the way,” Ahcan said.
And though he likely never dreamed of being in a four-on-one rush in which he was the lone player back with the likes of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat bearing down on him, even that was something special for him, even if DeBrincat scored.
“Yeah, obviously the first thing I’m thinking is like oh here we go, Kane, I’ve watched him all my life. I knew he was gonna pass. I tried to kind of bait him into, you know, passing it a little bit earlier. He’s such a good player. I probably should have just kept my stick in the lane. You know, it’s a four-on-one but I probably should have kept my stick in the middle. So, definitely a good learning experience and next time I’m in a four-on-one I think I’m just gonna keep my stick to the middle,” he said.
Ahcan was recalled from the Providence Bruins on February 22, 2022. That recall put him with Boston as they headed out west for a two-week, six-game road trip. The longer road trips are always a bonding experience, no matter when in the regular season they take place. And for Ahcan, this was an opportunity to get closer to the team.
“Yeah, I’d say so. Getting on the road with the guys for two weeks. Getting to know them on a personal level, practicing with them every day. I didn’t get a game on the road trip, but practicing every morning, hanging out in the hotel, different things like that, definitely made a big difference just with a [comfort] level. So, it made a big difference and go on from there,” Ahcan said.
That camaraderie with the team was evident before Ahcan notched his goal, but their reaction to his goal perhaps made it even clearer. And Brad Marchand, who got the primary assist, made sure to grab the puck for the rookie.
“Yeah, they’ve been awesome ever since I signed here coming into camp. And having those guys on the ice scoring a goal it was pretty overwhelming. It’s, you know, like I said the second period there’s a goal. I don’t want all the attention to be on me, but you do have to kind of soak it in, first NHL goal, but it was kind of a weird thing because it’s like let’s get back to this game and win this game, but everybody was so happy for me and they’ve all been awesome and great to me lately, actually since I signed. So, it was just kind of overwhelming like I said,” he described.
Jack Ahcan on the road. (Photo: Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
Ahcan did show some good moves beyond just the goal. As with all rookies, though, those first games are a learning process. He has to not only understand his role on the ice, but also remember what got him on the team in the first place.
“Well, he’s got to play to his strengths and when he has the puck on his stick he’s got to be moving and making plays that result in opportunities at the net. I thought he started to do a better job of that in the second period. Scored a goal, made a play down low to [Marchand]. Understand the power play—where to shoot, you know, where does it run through. He hasn’t been here a lot for that part but, you know, he’s gonna have to pick it up quick. On the defensive side of things it’s just angles. Like that goal, the second one. I thought he did a not bad job he keeps the guy low and outside on his backhand. The guy happens to wrap it around. I don’t think that’s a poor play by the D. Where it got muddled is when he went to cut him off at the far post his stick, I think, got stuck in [Jeremy Swayman] so, you know, you got to clean that up but how he played the play was fine and that’s what he has to do if you can’t end it in the corner. So, you know, I think there’s some learning curves in that part of it. Transition game, being the value in every touch I think is the message to him. Every touch he has to value. It’s like when [Matt Grzelcyk] came up. That’s your bread and butter, it’s going to be, you know, passing the puck up the ice and giving the forwards some transition opportunities in those areas. He has to make sure he’s very clean with those otherwise if he’s not then most teams are going to prefer a bigger body to do the other things. So, that’s where he has to be good and we’ll keep working with him,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.
The Boston Bruins looked like they had found that higher gear that they have shown in years past as they began play after the COVID pause. However, their last four games have not been up to that level, and it is difficult to tell if it is due to a lack of certain players, a need for a bonding road trip, or something else altogether.
If they do need a bonding trip, then good news, they are about to embark on a short three-game roadie that kicks off with their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (Feb. 26th) before taking on the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (Feb. 28th) and finishing up against the Dallas Stars on Sunday (Feb. 30th).
While there have been some players out for different reason including injuries and COVID-19 protocol, the biggest change in the last few games has been the return of Tuukka Rask. He was originally supposed to get a couple of AHL games under his belt against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but those games ended up being postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Phantoms. So, instead, Rask saw his first action on January 13 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Since then, he has started in three additional games—having been pulled after the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has a 2-2-0 record.
Looking back at the Bruins games since January 1, the results are as follows:
January 1 vs Buffalo Sabres, OT Win 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 2 at Detroit Red Wngs, Win, 5-1, Goalie: Jeremy Swayman
January 4 vs New Jersey Devils, Win, 5-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 6 vs Minnesota Wild, Loss, 3-2, Goalie: Jeremy Swayman
January 8 at Tampa Bay Lightning, Win, 5-2, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 10 at Washington Capitals, Win 7-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 12 vs Montreal Canadiens, Win, 5-1, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 13 vs Philadelphia Flyers, Win, 3-2, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
January 15 vs Nashville Predators, OT Win, 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 18 vs Carolina Hurricanes, Loss, 7-1, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
January 20 vs Washington Capitals, Win, 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
January 22 vs Winnipeg Jets, Win, 3-2, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
January 24 vs Anaheim Ducks, Loss, 5-3, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
In looking at these games, Ullmark has played the most with seven games, plus 40 minutes of the Carolina Hurricanes game. He has compiled a .901 save percentage having seen 202 shots and stopping 182 of them.
Swayman has played the fewest in January, as he was sent down to the Providence Bruins to make room for Rask. In his two games he was 1-1-0. He saw 54 shots and stopped 50 of them for a save percentage of .926.
Tuukka Rask (Photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)
Rask has now played in four games. He came out strong against the Philadelphia Flyers allowing just two goals on 27 shots. However, when the Carolina Hurricanes hit town, he struggled—as did the whole team to be honest—but of the 12 shots he faced, he only stopped 7 and that was in a 20-minute period. He bounced back against Winnipeg, once again allowing only two goals in a game that saw 24 shots. Unfortunately, against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night he let in five goals on 27 shots. His save percentage through four games is .844 having allowed 14 goals on 90 shots.
Yes, he hasn’t had much preparation time since returning. However, the Bruins can’t be squandering points this far into the season if they hope to make it to the playoffs. And all the problems cannot be dropped at Rask’s skates.
In the Anaheim game, Charlie McAvoy was a -3 on the night—the most of any of the players. Yes he is an offensive defenseman, but he needs to perhaps step up his defense especially if his netminder is struggling.
In the statistics that are tracked the giveaways (aka turnovers) seldom seem to match up with what was seen in the game, and perhaps it is limited to unforced giveaways. Monday’s game against the Ducks, Brad Marchand led the team with three while Craig Smith had two.
Meanwhile in the shellacking by the Hurricanes when it came to plus/minus, most of the defensemen found themselves with a -2, the exceptions being Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk who were each -1. Forwards Charlie Coyle and Urho Vaakanainen each finished the game -3.
While the goaltenders need to stand up and make the important saves, the players in front of the backstop need to play smarter, especially when it comes to passing the puck. There were numerous times when the Bruins put the puck directly onto the stick of an opposing player in Monday’s game, and these weren’t cross ice passes.
Perhaps the most important thing to take away though from these games is that in the 13 games they have played so far in January, they have actually won 10. Regrettably, a couple of the recent losses have been so horrendous that it looks worse than it is. Yes, there have been struggles, but the team is still solidly in a wildcard position with eight points separating them and the next closest team, the Detroit Red Wings, on whom Boston has three games in hand.
Rask is here to stay for the year and he will improve. His career statistics back this up. In the 564 games he has played he has seen 15,575 shots allowing just 1,230 for a .921 save percentage. While he is getting back in the groove though, his teammates need to step up and protect the house a little better. They need to assume that the opposition is gunning for them from the first puck drop and stand up to it.
