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Post by Fugazi on Dec 24, 2020 10:00:51 GMT -8
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Anthony Cirelli to a three-year contract worth $4.8 million AAV, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 24, 2020 10:16:13 GMT -8
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the country
Not a creature is skating in a game of real shinny.
No stockings are hung in the lockers with care
With hopes that soon Wheeler or Scheifele be there.
No gloves on the dryer, waiting for Ehlers
No sticks in the rack, no tunes from the speakers.
The same story told throughout all the land
The game put on ice, all crowds are banned.
When out in New York there arose such a clatter
We sprang from our shovelling to see what was the matter.
Away to our iPhones we flew like a flash
Swiped at the news that arrived here at last!
The light of the phone off our faces did glow
Gave lustre and wonder to the objects below.
What to our wondering eyes should appear
But an NHL schedule starting in the New Year.
With the swipe of a thumb, so lively and quick
We knew in a moment this would do the trick.
More rapid than eagles the games they will come
But so few opponents, a little humdrum.
Now Leafs, now Senators, now Flames and Vancouver
The Oilers and Habs, over and over.
Fifty-six in all, brought to you by Covid
One question remains: will the top docs allow it?
If not, then Gary from the top of his wall
Will say dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
To the U.S. you go, the land of the free
To take your chances against COVID-19.
Wherever they skate, in what cities they lace
The Jets will have questions and problems to face.
On top of the list, who’ll forget the day
A trade request came from Patrik Laine?
A scenery change would benefit him
When his agent said that, Jets fans were grim.
Yet Chevy stood pat, not pushed in a corner
And he’s still a Jet, despite all the clamour.
Trade winds did bring in a face so familiar
But Paul Stastny’s age is not in his favour.
He’ll likely fill in for the hurt Bryan Little
Will that be the answer for the second line’s middle?
And what of the blue line, that gang made-over
That last year lived through the Byfuglien hangover?
It’s still rather thin, a little young and quite small
To improve on their standing is an order quite tall.
One thing to count on rests ‘tween the pipes
You won’t hear complaints or even a gripe.
Last line of defence, solid as a truck
The Vezina Man, Connor Hellebuyck.
And then in a twinkling, we’ll arrive at springtime
For prancing and pawing of a whole other kind.
They missed a whole season, done in by the virus
To repeat would be a most dangerous chorus.
In blue and gold, from helmet to cleat
With rings all a-sparkling from a championship feat
The Cup still in tow, a year now or more
The Bombers are hoping to open their doors.
When they can play and tell fans to come
All up in the air, like a Collaros bomb.
Whether it be June, July or September
The return of football, a day to remember.
But who will be left to carry on the tradition
When the last thing they’ll get is a salary addition?
The stub of a pencil held tight in his fist
The GM with the mighty free-agent list.
First Harris, then Bryant, Hardrick and Medlock
No time to waste, it’s a fast-moving clock.
Demski, Alexander, end Jeffcoat too
If they don’t sign new deals, they won’t be in Blue.
Others left town for greener pastures
Like Rose and the dual-threat QB named Streveler.
Fortunate they are, employed in a pandemic
While those left behind have great cause to panic.
It’s the same ’round the globe, hardship the world over
Tears, pain and strife, like no other year ever.
The future provides some hope, though, it seems
The arrival of one or more COVID vaccines.
With few games to cheer, few athletes to view
We’ve discovered new heroes who just do what they do.
Risking their health, on the front lines they stand
With our old and our sick, throughout all the land.
This poem’s for them, when all’s said and done
For the selfless ones giving up holiday fun.
To those staying home to limit the spread
With you we share wine and break virtual bread.
We’ll look back with sadness at the year 2020
But look closely and find you still may have plenty.
It’s not what we’ve lost, a wise man did say
It’s what we have still, every single day.
So spring to your sleigh, run to your rink
Fresh air is calling, there’s no time to think.
Set fear aside, the end is in sight
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 24, 2020 10:16:33 GMT -8
The five Canadian provincial health authorities with jurisdiction over NHL games responded to the NHL’s Return to Play proposal with a joint letter on Wednesday asking for additional measures.
In the letter, written by Alberta Health chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw and obtained by TSN, the provinces presented the NHL with two options that could provide a road map to a green light to start the season with each team playing out of its own arena.
The fate of the NHL’s all-Canadian “North” division hangs on approval by Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
The first option called for a “regular testing schedule for players, staff, coaches and close contacts, with close household contact testing required if players are living at home between travel episodes.” It also asked for “enhancing the schedule … to group games into blocks to limit inter-jurisdictional travel between provinces.”
“Specifically in the early part of the season, it will be important to make these considerations wherever possible,” Dr. Hinshaw wrote.
Currently, the NHL’s protocol calls for daily testing for team members only during training camp and the first four weeks of the regular season. After that, the need for daily testing will be re-evaluated. In addition, family members are only tested “when requested,” and it is at the cost of the players.
The provincial health authorities’ request might also require the NHL to readjust the schedule that was released on Wednesday. The Canadiens, Senators and Maple Leafs all travel out to Western Canada in January in the first weeks of the season.
That is the NHL's best bet. Because the second option is decidedly less palatable. It called for the NHL to “reinstate a ‘bubble’ model for the beginning of the season, similar to what was used in the Hub City Series in Edmonton and Toronto.”
The health authorities jointly said that they would support a “phased bubble model (full bubble for 4-6 weeks and then a modified bubble following) … or a full bubble model would be most appropriate.”
If not, the provinces called for a delay to starting the season.
“Should any iteration of the bubble model not be achievable for the NHL, we would recommend that the start of the season be delayed for a few weeks to allow for disease rates to drop and our health systems to recover,” Dr. Hinshaw wrote.
For both the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, there does not appear to be any appetite to open the season in a bubble or hub environment in Canada. Sources indicated that message had previously been delivered to the health authorities during the course of their ongoing dialogue.
However, Dr. Hinshaw’s letter seemed to indicate that the provinces are jointly “committed to working towards a collective approach to reviewing the fine protocols from the NHL,” and conveyed their “collective support to allow the NHL to resume play with the appropriate risk mitigations in place.”
The NHL is expected to respond to Dr. Hinshaw’s letter on Thursday.
The clock is ticking. The puck is scheduled to drop on Jan. 13 in Canada with a Leafs/Habs and Canucks/Oilers doubleheader.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 24, 2020 11:20:44 GMT -8
NHL Network will look ahead to the tournament matchups and players to watch on NHL Tonight™: 2021 World Junior Championship Preview on Sunday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. ET, hosted by Tony Luftman with analysis from E.J. Hradek and Starman. Leading up to NHL Tonight on Thursday December 24, NHL Network will re-air Team USA’s last three gold medal-winning games from 2010, 2013 and 2017 starting at 10:00 a.m. ET. NHL Network’s complete on-air schedule for the tournament is available here and below.
NHL Network’s 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship Live Game Schedule
*all times ET; subject to change
Friday, December 25
2:00 p.m – Switzerland vs. Slovakia
6:00 p.m. – Germany vs. Finland
9:30 p.m. – Russia vs. USA
Saturday, December 26
2:00 p.m. – Sweden vs. Czech Republic
6:00 p.m. – Germany vs. Canada
9:30 p.m. – USA vs. Austria
Sunday, December 27
2:00 p.m – Finland vs. Switzerland
6:00 p.m – Slovakia vs. Canada
9:30 p.m – Czech Republic vs. Russia
Monday, December 28
6:00 p.m. – Austria vs. Sweden
9:30 p.m. – Slovakia vs. Germany
Tuesday, December 29
2:00 p.m. – USA vs. Czech Republic
6:00 p.m. – Canada vs. Switzerland
9:30 p.m. – Austria vs. Russia
Wednesday, December 30
2:00 p.m. – Finland vs. Slovakia
6:00 p.m. – Switzerland vs. Germany
9:30 p.m. – Russia vs. Sweden
Thursday, December 31
2:00 p.m. – Czech Republic vs. Austria
6:00 p.m. – Canada vs. Finland
9:30 p.m. – Sweden vs. USA
Saturday, January 2
12:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal: TBD
3:30 p.m. – Quarterfinal: TBD
7:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal: TBD
10:30 p.m. – Quarterfinal: TBD
Monday, January 4
6:00 p.m. – Semifinal: TBD
9:30 p.m. – Semifinal: TB
Tuesday, January 5
5:30 p.m. – Bronze Medal Game: TBD
9:30 p.m. – Gold Medal Game: TBD
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Post by jackalope on Dec 24, 2020 16:24:42 GMT -8
I heard Yurtukin is on unconditional waivers. That is a bit odd.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 24, 2020 20:10:15 GMT -8
via Pierre LeBrun tweets,
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly:
``On the basis of our discussions in the past week, as well as our exchange of correspondence over the last 24 hours, we believe we are aligned and in agreement on the conditions on which each of our Canadian franchises can begin ... ''
``... play in their own buildings for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season.''
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Post by fireandice on Dec 24, 2020 21:09:27 GMT -8
I heard Yurtukin is on unconditional waivers. That is a bit odd . Wants to play CSKA I guess |
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Post by galtfan on Dec 25, 2020 7:15:41 GMT -8
Been thinking it over and I think I'll start watching hockey again, but as soon as they start with the politics, BLM or any of the crap I'm out. It's amazing how much more time I have since I stopped watching pro football.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 25, 2020 10:11:58 GMT -8
Been thinking it over and I think I'll start watching hockey again, but as soon as they start with the politics, BLM or any of the crap I'm out. It's amazing how much more time I have since I stopped watching pro football. Welcome back. Well for now |
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 25, 2020 18:51:24 GMT -8
USA vs Russia on NHL Network
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Post by John96 on Dec 27, 2020 5:58:35 GMT -8
Coyotes trade Derek Stepan to the Senators for a second round pick.
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Post by cjelli on Dec 27, 2020 9:37:40 GMT -8
Coyotes trade Derek Stepan to the Senators for a second round pick. Heh, another supposed Chayka's "robbery" goes nowhere. |
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 9:54:56 GMT -8
from Jackie Spiegel of The Sporting News,
Following a tough 4-3 loss to the Russians on Christmas, the Americans bounced back in dominating fashion as they easily beat the Austrians 11-0 on Boxing Day.
"I was very happy with the response," said head coach Nate Leaman. "We know we left something on the table last night and they weren't happy about it all day. ... It was good that we faced a little adversity in the first period with only being able to score one on the 23 shots. I'm happy that the guys stuck with it.
"I'm glad that the guys are building the mental toughness to kind of stay with things."
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Post by cjelli on Dec 27, 2020 10:42:57 GMT -8
from Jackie Spiegel of The Sporting News, Following a tough 4-3 loss to the Russians on Christmas, the Americans bounced back in dominating fashion as they easily beat the Austrians 11-0 on Boxing Day. "I was very happy with the response," said head coach Nate Leaman. "We know we left something on the table last night and they weren't happy about it all day. ... It was good that we faced a little adversity in the first period with only being able to score one on the 23 shots. I'm happy that the guys stuck with it. "I'm glad that the guys are building the mental toughness to kind of stay with things." Except that the loss to the Russians was 5-3. The quality of the journalists... |
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 11:20:26 GMT -8
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 11:25:33 GMT -8
There are 123 teams among the Big Four North American Men’s Sports Leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL).
Only one of them received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program.
That team is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who received a loan of $4.82 million through the program authorized by the CARES Act.
According to the Small Business Administration’s website, “The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.”
The Post contacted the Penguins, who have a $650 million valuation according to Forbes, and who are owned by the Lemieux Group LP, with Mario Lemieux co-owner/chairman and Ron Burkle co-owner, concerning their application of the loan.
The organization responded immediately.
“With our arena being ordered closed since March and without any event revenue, we requested that our landlord, the Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA), consider a temporary deferral of our annual rent payment due in September. This request was denied,” the Penguins replied.
“Accordingly, we borrowed $4.8M under the CARES Act program in mid-August and applied the funds to our $6.1M September rent payment to the SEA, which was used by the public agency to make its required bond payment.
“The SEA indicated it is facing similar financial difficulties due to the closure of the SEA-owned Convention Center, and we are pleased these funds were used to support an important public agency during these challenging times.”
The Penguins furloughed 40 employees through the summer, though they maintained full health benefits.
“Our furloughs were in effect from June to September,” the organization said. “We brought back staff on Sept. 1 to prepare for next season.”
In unrelated news, Burkle — whose net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion by Forbes — recently purchased Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., for $22 million.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 11:29:05 GMT -8
From Larry Brooks at the NY Post:
I’m not about to substitute my judgment for those far more knowledgeable about the coronavirus who have deigned it safe for the NHL to operate out of its home cities in the 2020-21 season, which is on target to commence Jan. 13.
But it is counterintuitive, is it not, that the NHL went dark through the spring and early summer and then only resumed play inside two hermitically sealed bubbles in Canada, but is now set to go full bore through a winter in which infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths are generally occurring at a higher rate than when the league deemed it unsafe to play?
Health agencies across the continent have given their blessing to the NHL’s plan, so it is not as if Gary Bettman is running an outlaw operation here. Indeed, the commissioner has been eminently responsible through the pandemic.
And I don’t blame the league. I don’t blame the players. I don’t blame anyone. I do not think this represents a money grab. I think the effort to play 2020-21 is about maintaining the viability of the business moving forward and saving jobs, not for those in uniform, necessarily, but those who operate in support positions across the industry.
But the league and those invested in it should be prepared for a bumpy ride. This is one time neither the NHL nor the NHLPA is in control. Control has been ceded to the virus. Control has been ceded to government health agencies.
Teams might have to, at least temporarily, move out of their home bases if deemed unsafe to play by officials, the way the Sharks have been forced to relocate to Arizona for training camp, which commences Thursday, and the start of the regular season. There might be postponements. And there might be games in which one team must play with diminished capacity due to COVID-19 protocols that were adopted last week. The hockey world should be prepared for the same touches of chaos that struck baseball and football and are now intruding on basketball. More likely than not, uncertainty will become a prime element of the 2020-21 season.
The players have assumed some risk here. That’s understood. But the demographic suggests that the population of athletes — with exceptions for those with underlying conditions — is among the least vulnerable. In fact, anecdotal telling from sources across the industry indicate that a fairly significant number of players contracted the virus through the offseason but recovered without ever showing symptoms. Perhaps that means more players have immunity entering the season.
There is only one certainty approaching the 2020-21 season, and that is uncertainty. The more the hockey world understands and accepts that reality, the better it will be.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 11:31:50 GMT -8
The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Craig Anderson to a professional tryout.
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Post by John96 on Dec 27, 2020 18:09:49 GMT -8
Blues sign Mike Hoffman to a PTO.
Lightning trade Cedric Paquette and Braydon Coburn to the Senators for Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson, who’ve both been placed on LTIR and won’t play this season.
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Post by John96 on Dec 27, 2020 18:13:16 GMT -8
Ottawa has a weirdly tough team; Austin Watson, Erik Gudbranson, Josh Brown, Micheal Haley, Brady Tkachuk, and now Coburn and Paquette from the Bolts.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 18:29:07 GMT -8
And Doug Wilson is sitting in a tanning booth with his finger up his ass
It's gonna be a long season
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 27, 2020 18:30:22 GMT -8
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 28, 2020 8:33:32 GMT -8
The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Corey Perry to a one-year, $750,000 contract.
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 28, 2020 8:58:20 GMT -8
Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has announced that he will undergo open heart surgery for an “aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement.”
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 28, 2020 9:04:04 GMT -8
from KatyaKnappe of PensionPlanPuppets,
It’s waivers time again. Yes, it is weird that the waivers period is starting before training camp this season, but that’s hardly the weirdest thing about this year. We will have to learn to roll with it.
In a normal season, the waiver period starts 12 days before the end of training camp. The purpose of starting it so early in camp, when most waived players go through on the last two days, is to give teams who are sending players off to an AHL training camp in a distant city time to get the player there.
That’s what waivers are for. They are applied to all players, who are not exempt, when they are cut from the NHL to be sent to the minors. It isn’t a mark of questionable character or an attempt to get rid of a player. Teams are not hoping the bum gets taken in 99.9% of cases.
Waivers exist to prevent teams from stockpiling extra players capable of holding down NHL jobs. A team that claims a player on waivers has to keep them in the NHL. If they try to cut them to the AHL, the originating team can just grab them back and pop them on their AHL team. That’s why waiver claims are very rare. There’s usually a dozen or so a year, and the bulk of them are goalies.
That’s a normal year. This year, the new season rules state the waivers period is today, December 28, which is more than 12 days before opening day and before training camp even starts, even for the non-playoff teams. So what’s up?
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Post by John96 on Dec 28, 2020 10:45:18 GMT -8
Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has announced that he will undergo open heart surgery for an “aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement.” Wow. I had something very similar done in October (actually had surgery on my 30th birthday of all days). Had a Ross procedure which went very well. Hoping for the best for King Hank. |
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Post by carolinasharksfan on Dec 28, 2020 10:56:49 GMT -8
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Post by carolinasharksfan on Dec 28, 2020 10:58:59 GMT -8
Been thinking it over and I think I'll start watching hockey again, but as soon as they start with the politics, BLM or any of the crap I'm out. It's amazing how much more time I have since I stopped watching pro football. Yeah, I’m thinking the same...but only on free tv as I don’t want to give the NHL any money yet. Canceled Center Ice today. |
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Post by Fugazi on Dec 28, 2020 11:23:41 GMT -8
Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has announced that he will undergo open heart surgery for an “aortic valve replacement, aortic root and ascending aortic replacement.” Wow. I had something very similar done in October (actually had surgery on my 30th birthday of all days). Had a Ross procedure which went very well. Hoping for the best for King Hank. I'm glad to see you're still here and your procedure went well. And belated Happy Birthday |
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Post by John96 on Dec 28, 2020 12:11:53 GMT -8
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