It's a great day for hockey 2023-2024

Talk Sports
Post Reply
hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:42 pm

The Seattle Kraken will take the ice for the first time in Spokane for their exhibition opener, with the NHL expansion franchise touring around the state of Washington while their arena renovation is completed.

The Kraken announced Friday they will play home preseason games against the Canucks in Spokane on Sept. 26, the Oilers in Everett on Oct. 1 and the Flames in Kent on Oct. 2.

CEO Tod Leiweke said Climate Pledge Arena is “on track” to host the Kraken's first home game of their inaugural season in mid-October.

"This gives us an opportunity to partner with (Western Hockey League junior) teams, celebrate hockey across our region and grow this beautiful game," Leiweke said. "We couldn’t be more excited for these games and then to open Climate Pledge Arena.”

It's an arrangement similar to what the New York Islanders are doing while their new arena is being built. The Islanders are playing their home exhibition games in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the home of their American Hockey League affiliate, though they also may need to open the regular season on the road with UBS Arena at Belmont Park scheduled to open in November.

The Kraken are scheduled to play six total preseason games, going on the road to Edmonton on Sept. 28, Calgary on Sept. 29 and Vancouver on Oct. 5.

“These games represent the opportunity to see our roster come together for the first time outside of training camp," general manager Ron Francis said.

After no preseason leading up to the condensed 56-game 2021 season, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the NHL is going back to what's written in the collective bargaining agreement in allowing each of the now 32 teams to play six to eight preseason games.

The Kraken introduced Dave Hakstol as their first coach on June 24. They'll reveal their first 30 active players at the expansion draft in Seattle on July 21 and have the No. 2 pick in the entry draft two days later.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:44 pm

Petry: Setting broken pinky caused bloodshot eyes

Montreal Canadiens defenceman revealed Friday the pain from setting his broken pinky finger back in place caused his eyes to go bloodshot during the playoffs.

Petry said he broke his finger in Game 3 of the team's second-round series against the Winnipeg Jets when his finger got stuck in a camera hole. He returned for Game 2 of the team's third round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with bloodshot eyes, leading to his photo going viral.

"When they were setting my finger back into place, putting the cast on popped all the blood vessels in my eyes," Petry said.

#Habs Petry with more details about his pinky "going sideways" after it got caught in the camera hole, explains his subsequent red eyes: "When they were setting my finger back into place, putting the cast on popped all the blood vessels in my eyes."

— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) July 9, 2021
The 33-year-old defenceman noted he opted against having surgery on the fracture, which would have sidelined him for six-to-eight weeks.

Petry had six assists in 20 games with the Canadiens during the postseason, while averaging 24:03 of ice time. He had 12 goals and 42 points in 55 games during the regular season.

The blueliner is signed through the 2024-25 season at a cap hit of $6.25 million.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:48 pm

While most of the hockey world was focusing on last night’s Game 5 and the ensuing Cup-clinching victory by the Tampa Bay Lightning, there was one large story brewing in St. Louis. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford was reporting that Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko had requested a trade from the club earlier in the offseason. While Tarasenko trade rumors were nothing new this offseason, the declaration of a trade request definitely put the writing on the wall for his tenure in Missouri.

With more clarity coming today on the Tarasenko situation, he’s reportedly frustrated on how the Blues organization has handled his shoulder surgeries and the corresponding recoveries. While Rutherford’s reporting claims that Tarasenko now comes with a clean bill of health, the uncertainty surrounding his post-injury ceiling has got to be a bit of a red flag for teams interested.

Speaking of teams interested, Rutherford notes that both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, as well as the Edmonton Oilers are all teams who are potential suitors.

The Oilers seem like the most natural fit. After all, their struggles to find legitimate linemates for Connor McDavid in the past have been well-documented. With the Oilers getting some cap space to work with this offseason, they’ve been active in most trade rumors. Tarasenko’s no different. If the Oilers can swing a deal, it would likely consist of a defense prospect as well as a relatively high draft pick, as well as a roster player. Tarasenko would inevitably play on McDavid’s right wing, likely with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or potentially Jesse Puljujarvi on his off-wing flanking them on the left.

The Islanders also stand as a natural fit for the Russian winger, as the team has lacked scoring punch in recent seasons to push them over the top. However, salary is a concern for the cap-strapped Islanders, who also have Adam Pelech and Anthony Beauvillier to sign to contracts this offseason. The Rangers also are an interesting idea, considering Tarasenko would get the opportunity to play with countryman Artemi Panarin.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:10 pm

Oilers acquire Keith from Blackhawks

Duncan Keith was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday for Caleb Jones and a conditional pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Edmonton will also receive minor league forward Tim Soderlund.

Keith, who turns 38 on Friday, has two seasons remaining on a 13-year, $72 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value) he signed Dec. 3, 2009.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013 and 2015), Keith was awarded the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2010 and 2014, has twice been named to the NHL First All-Star Team (also in 2010 and 2014), and helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics.

As a result, during the NHL's Centennial season in 2017, Keith was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

"Duncan Keith was the ultimate professional with the Chicago Blackhawks," Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said. "His toughness on the ice, his leadership in the community and his dedication to the game are a few of the reasons the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups during his 16-year career with Chicago. He will go down as one of the best and most driven defensemen this game has ever seen. Recently, Duncan came to us with a request to be traded to a team closer to his son, and we were happy to work something out that was mutually beneficial for Duncan's family and the future of the Blackhawks. We appreciate all he has contributed to our team and the City of Chicago and his legacy will always be celebrated."

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:11 pm

NHL plans for return to 82-game schedule, previous divisions next season
Would begin in October, end in April; 2022 Beijing Olympics discussed during GMs meeting

The NHL is hoping and planning for a 2021-22 season with a full 82-game schedule and fully vaccinated players returning to pre-COVID-19 conditions.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on Monday briefed general managers on the guidelines for next season and a variety of other topics in a video conference called by senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell.

The regular season will begin in October and end in April followed by the Stanley Cup Playoffs concluding in June.

Fully vaccinated players will be able to travel without protocols and work out on and off the ice without limitations on the size of the group and without being tested for COVID-19, presuming vaccination rates in the United States and Canada continue to climb and the Canada government loosens travel restrictions.

The NHL and NHL Players' Association continue to discuss the procedures for unvaccinated players.

After temporarily realigning and playing a 56-game, intradivisional schedule this season because of COVID-19, the NHL is planning to return to its previous schedule format, with each team playing all the others at least twice, and its previous divisional alignment, with the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference and the Central Division and Pacific Division in the Western Conference.

As previously planned, the Arizona Coyotes will move to the Central Division to make room in the Pacific Division for the expansion Seattle Kraken, who begin play next season.

The NHL plans to release the 2021-22 schedule before the 2021 NHL Draft on July 23-24. The NHL is working on two versions of the schedule -- one that includes a break for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and another that does not -- pending the resolution to ongoing discussions with the NHLPA and the International Olympic Committee.

The NHL did not participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics after its players competed in five consecutive Olympics from 1998-2014. The NHL position has been that participation in the Olympics disrupts the NHL season, particularly when not held in North America.

But last year, when the NHL and NHLPA extended the collective bargaining agreement through 2025-26, they agreed to go to the Olympics if they could reach an agreement with the International Olympic Committee.

During a press conference before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 28, Commissioner Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Daly said those negotiations were ongoing, but the sides were running out of time to reach an agreement.

"We negotiated in good faith with the Players' Association last summer," Deputy Commissioner Daly said. "We agreed that if the conditions were right and we could reach agreement on all the material issues that we would commit and support going to the Olympics, and that remains our position. We've deferred to the Players' Association to try to work through those issues, and that continues, as I said, to be a work in progress."

The GMs also spent about 45 minutes Monday focusing on the officiating standard for the cross-checking penalty. Continuing a discussion that began in a small-group breakout session on cross-checking at the GMs' previous in-person meeting, in March 2020, NHL senior vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom led a review of video clips.

The GMs conducted similar reevaluations in the past on the officiating standard for slashing, hooking and holding. The discussion on cross-checking will continue during a video conference meeting of the NHL Competition Committee on Tuesday, but no rule change is planned.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:13 pm

McGuire joins Senators front office as senior VP of player development
Former NBC Sports analyst returns to Ottawa, where he was assistant coach in 1995-96

Grubauer '100 percent' wants to re-sign with Avalanche: report
Goalie can be unrestricted free agent July 28, was finalist for Vezina Trophy

Lightning celebrate second straight Stanley Cup with boat parade
Thousands join party, brave rain for pictures, autographs

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:07 am

Rinne retires from NHL, played 13 seasons for Predators
Goalie Nashville's leader in games, starts, wins, shutouts, GAA, saves

User avatar
2pigpen
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 7503
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:51 am
Location: Reno

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by 2pigpen » Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:24 am

hockeygame3 wrote:
Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:13 pm

Lightning celebrate second straight Stanley Cup with boat parade
Thousands join party, brave rain for pictures, autographs
Image

=;
and they say the Rangers were too rough with Stanley :lol:
Till They Put Me Under
It's Festival Time

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:32 am

Parise, Suter to have contracts bought out by Wild
Forward, defenseman each signed 13-year deal July 4, 2012, can become free agent July 28

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:33 am

Victor Hedman is expected to be ready for next season after the Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman played the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a torn meniscus in his knee.

Hedman will have surgery Tuesday and is expected to need up to four weeks to recover. He was injured in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 30.

"He has been playing through that even since," Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said Tuesday. "He is having a meniscectomy today. Expected down time is 2-4 [weeks], so we're not concerned going forward."

Hedman missed the final two games of the regular season before scoring 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) and leading the Lightning in average ice time (24:42) and blocked shots (48) in 23 playoff games to help them win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season.

Hedman was among a number of Lightning players who played through injury, though BriseBois said none are expected to miss the start of next season.

Forward Barclay Goodrow and defenseman Ryan McDonagh each played the postseason with a broken hand. Goodrow scored six points (two goals, four assists) and tied for second on the Lightning with 68 hits in 18 postseason games. McDonagh had eight assists in 23 games and was second on Tampa Bay in ice time per game (22:50) and blocked shots (46).

Nikita Kucherov, who led the postseason with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 23 games, sustained a broken rib in the semifinals against the Islanders. The forward did not miss a postseason game after not playing in the regular season because of offseason hip surgery.

"Played with a flak jacket from that point on and also had a nerve block injection the day before every game from that point on," BriseBois said. "It makes his performance during these playoffs both before the injury and post-broken rib all the more impressive. He's a tough hockey player, he's an incredible hockey player, and all of us in Bolts Nation are happy he's our 'Kuch'. I couldn't be happier for him and he seemed really happy that we won as well. There isn't a more determined player out there than Nikita Kucherov."

Alex Killorn missed the final five games of the Stanley Cup Final after the forward was injured in Game 1 against the Canadiens.

Tampa Bay defeated the Florida Panthers in six games in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup First Round, the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the second round, the New York Islanders in seven games in the Stanley Cup Semifinals and the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the Stanley Cup Final.

"We had a number of players with some banged up shoulders, nothing of concern going forward," BriseBois said. "Obviously Alex Killorn suffered a broken fibula in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. I saw the X-ray, it was broken in two very distinct pieces all the way through. Blocked that shot, broke his leg on Monday. On a Thursday, in hopes of coming back and helping us win a Stanley Cup, had a rod inserted in his fibula and was skating by Saturday.

"That's how you win a Stanley Cup."

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:36 am

Wild Chasing Eichel?
The Minnesota Wild are clearing more than $10 million in cap space for next season with their buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and it appears the team could put that money towards adding a star centre to their roster.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said Tuesday he believes the Wild will make an offer to the Buffalo Sabres for Jack Eichel this summer, though the team does not intend to overpay.

Insider Trading: What's next for the Wild after buying out Parise, Suter?
"Well, there's some things that Bill Guerin is definitely going to be in the market for but to facilitate a double buyout of this magnitude you clearly needed a full buy-in from ownership of the Minnesota Wild into the direction that General Manager Bill Guerin intends on taking the Minnesota Wild. This is months of discussions to get to this point. Yes, we know Kirill Kaprizov is a priority. Likewise is Kevin Fiala.

"But beyond that we also know the Minnesota Wild would love to add a top line centre. Now they've been linked with interest to Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres. I believe that the Wild are going to make an offer, a trade offer on Jack Eichel, but they're also not going to blow their cap space and they're not going to overpay with trade assets. It is going to be interesting to see what Guerin does at centre ice moving forward."

After buying out Parise and Suter, the Wild have more than $26 million in cap space for this off-season. However, buying out the two veterans will leave the Wild with a cap charge of nearly $13 million in 2022-23 and close to $15 million in the following two years.

Eichel, who has been long rumoured to be headed for a split with the Sabres, is signed through the 2025-26 season at a cap hit of $10 million.


Buchnevich Headed Off Broadway?
Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic reports Pavel Buchnevich's name has come up in trade talks this month and argues it could make sense for the New York Rangers to deal the winger after a breakout season.

Buchnevich, 26, is slated for restricted free agency after posting 20 goals and 48 points in 54 games this season. After carrying a cap hit of $3.25 million this season, Carpiniello notes Buchnevich is due for a significant raise, and even with almost $23 million in cap space this off-season, the Rangers must be sure to save space in the future for extensions for Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, among others.

“I expect some talks to come up,” Buchnevich’s agent, Todd Diamond, told The Athletic on Monday. “I expect the Rangers to qualify Pavel and then depending on whatever else Chris (Drury) is working on, that could potentially affect the way the contract may look or other issues.”

Diamond, however, acknowledged that his client's name as been floated in the rumour mill.

"That’s what happens when you speak to a lot of teams,” Diamond said.

Selected in third round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Buchnevich has 79 goals and 195 points in 301 career games all with the Rangers.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:50 am

Gabriel Landeskog is unhappy he has not received a new contract from the Colorado Avalanche, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

The 28-year-old forward can become an unrestricted free agent for the first time July 28 and wants to stay with Colorado, who selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft

The Avalanche captain said he would have liked his contract "to be done eight months ago, 10 months ago."

"The uncertainty is something I've never dealt with," Landeskog said. "I've always known that come September, October, I'm going to pull on that Avs jersey.

"I can't help but be honest with you that I'm a little bit disappointed that it's gotten this far and it's had to come to this point."

Stamkos not asked to waive no-move clause by Lightning: report
Forward will not be exposed to Kraken in Expansion Draft

NHL announces complete order of 2021 NHL Draft
Round 1 is July 23, rounds 2-7 will be July 24

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:52 am

Jeff Skinner has agreed to waive his no-move clause with the Buffalo Sabres, his agent confirmed in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The decision allows the Sabres to leave the 29-year-old forward exposed to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck, which will be held July 21 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW). The deadline for a team to request a player waive his no-move clause was Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

"I spoke with (general manager) Kevyn Adams [on] Tuesday morning, whereby he asked if Jeff would waive his no-move clause in relation to the expansion draft," agent Don Meehan told The Athletic in an email. "Jeff then agreed and I advised Buffalo."

Skinner had NHL career worsts in goals (seven), assists (seven) and points (14) in 53 games this season for the Sabres (15-34-7), who were last in the NHL standings, including an NHL record 18 straight games without a win from Feb. 25-March 29. Coach Ralph Krueger scratched him from three games in February.

Skinner said at the time he didn't understand what was accomplished by being benched but stated his desire to remain with Buffalo.

"I love being a Sabre," Skinner said Feb. 26. "I love the city of Buffalo. I wouldn't have chosen to stay here if that wasn't the case.

"I've played in a lot of hockey games and I don't think you learn anything extra by not being out there. This situation is maybe not that straightforward in the fact that lessons being learned is maybe more of a vague concept. In that sense, it's tough when it's so vague to come to a concrete answer. I know this is kind of a confusing way of answering the question, but it's almost like it's not a significant part of the situation in my view. I try and focus on what's important, and what's important is moving forward."

Kruger was fired March 17 and replaced by Don Granato, who on June 29 was announced as coach for next season. Skinner scored 11 of his 14 points in 28 games under Granato.

Skinner played his first eight NHL seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, who selected him with the No. 7 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. Seattle GM Ron Francis was in the Carolina front office from 2014 until April 30, 2018.

Skinner was traded to the Sabres on Aug. 2, 2018. That season, he scored an NHL career-high 40 goals and 63 points in 82 games and then signed an eight-year, $72 million contract ($9 million average annual value) with Buffalo on June 7, 2019.

Since signing that contract, Skinner has scored 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists) in 112 games.

Each NHL team can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie; or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie. Any player who has a no-move clause must agree to waive it to be exposed. The deadline for teams to submit protected lists is Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

Seattle will select one player from each team, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, for a total of 30 (at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies).

What a bust [-X [-X

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:57 am

Panthers to buy out D Yandle

The Florida Panthers are buying out the 34-year-old defenceman, who has two years remaining on his contract with a no-movement clause.

With Yandle carrying a cap hit of $6.35 million, the buyout will save the Panthers $4 million this season, but just $958,333 in 2022-23. It will also add a charge of $1.24 million in each of the following two years.

Panthers sign RFA Forsling to three-year, $7.98M deal

Penguins re-sign Blueger to two-year contract

Bruins sign Carlo to 6-year, $24.6M extension

Habs unlikely to protect Weber in expansion draft, could miss next season with injuries

Fedorov named head coach of KHL's CSKA Moscow

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:02 am

Graves traded to Devils by Avalanche for Maltsev, pick
Colorado deals defenseman, receives forward, second-round choice in 2021 Draft

Dermott signs two-year, $3 million contract to stay with Maple Leafs
Defenseman gets $1.5 million annually, could have been restricted free agent July 28

Bishop waives no-move clause with Stars for Expansion Draft: report
Goalie can be left unprotected for Kraken, has two seasons left on contract

Yandle bought out by Panthers, had two seasons remaining on contract
Defenseman signed seven-year deal in 2016, will become free agent July 28

Duclair signs three-year contract to stay with Panthers
Forward could have been restricted free agent July 28; Defenseman Forsling gets new deal

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:03 am

Kivlenieks 'died a hero,' Blue Jackets teammate says at memorial
Merzlikins: Goalie 'saved many lives' during fireworks accident

Matiss Kivlenieks died a hero.

That's what Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins said to teammates, friends and family at a memorial service Thursday for Kivlenieks, a goalie who died in a fireworks accident at age 24 on July 4.

The hourlong private service was held at a funeral home in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington, Ohio and was streamed live. Kivlenieks' parents, sister and other relatives from Latvia were in attendance.

Kivlenieks was in an open, white casket with his framed No. 80 Blue Jackets jersey next to it.

Merzlikins and Kivlenieks were in Novi, Michigan, for the holiday weekend to celebrate the wedding of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace's daughter, Sabrina.

Merzlikins said he and his pregnant wife, Aleksandra, were hugging about 20-30 feet behind Kivlenieks when he was hit in the chest with a stray mortar.

"He saved my (unborn) son. He saved my wife and he saved me," Merzlikins said. "He saved many lives. … If that wouldn't have been me, my wife or son, it would've been 50 other people. He died a hero. And that's not me saying it. That was the doctor saying it. If he would just sit, it wouldn't have happened. … I just wanted to let you know that he was a hero. He saved a lot of lives."

Merzlikins said he was grateful to spend time with Kivlenieks that day. The goalies were countrymen from Latvia.

"There were 60, 70, 80 people," Merzlikins said. "I never looked for him. I was talking to so many people and always he came to me. He looked for me. We had our last beer. Our last shot, more than one. Last cigar.

"Matiss wasn't my friend. He was my little brother."

Merzlikins said their son, due in September will have Matiss as a middle name.

Other speakers included Legace, Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen, and forward Nathan Gerbe. A brief video tribute was played.

Former Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella was in attendance, and Larsen opened his remarks by saying he did not have anything prepared but Tortorella always told him to speak from the heart.

Larsen mentioned that Kivlenieks, who was undrafted, won his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Jan. 19, 2020, and earned Latvia's first win against Canada in international competition, making 38 saves in a 2-0 win at the 2021 IIHF World Championship on May 21.

"He's inspired a country," Larsen said. "He's inspired a young generation of goalies. He's impacted, gosh, so many people."

Gerbe said Kivlenieks embodied the three things that he taught his own children.

"Respect, good attitude, hard work. Isn't that 'Kivi'?" he said.

Legace choked up several times talking about Kivlenieks, who spent his summers at Legace's home in Michigan since joining the organization in 2017.

"He got to become one of my family," Legace said. "He was a brother to my daughter and great friend to our nephew. I want to thank his mom and dad for raising [him into] this world for us to share this beautiful child."

Legace said the humble and always smiling Kivlenieks would not have wanted all the attention at a memorial service.

"He would want everyone to just have a beer and go their way," Legace said.

Signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent May 25, 2017, Kivlenieks was 1-1-0 with a 3.40 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in two games this season, and 2-2-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .899 save percentage in eight NHL games (six starts) the past two seasons.

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:05 pm

Leddy traded to Red Wings by Islanders for Panik, pick
New York deals defenseman for forward, second-round selection in 2021 Draft

Edler set to leave Canucks as free agent
Defenseman has spent 15 seasons with Vancouver, is team leader in blocked shots, hits

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:06 pm

Graves traded to Devils by Avalanche for Maltsev, pick
Colorado deals defenseman, receives forward, second-round choice in 2021 Draft

Ryan Graves was traded to the New Jersey Devils by the Colorado Avalanche for Mikhail Maltsev on Thursday.

Colorado also received a second-round pick (No. 61) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Graves, a 26-year-old defenseman, scored 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 54 regular-season games this season and has scored 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 149 NHL games with the Avalanche. He has scored nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 25 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 games this season for Colorado, which was eliminated in six games by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Second Round.

"Ryan Graves has been a player we've been discussing internally for quite some time, probably close to two years, a year and a half," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Friday. "... And to nail it down and acquire a player like Ryan, we're ecstatic. He's just a player that, there's nothing fancy about him, he's just a hard-nosed, simple, puck-moving, big body (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) that can skate ... things that we admire.

"We want to be a team that's tough to play against, we want to be a team that the gap gets closed quicker, and he does that. He helps elevate our [defensemen]. We want to be a team that has maybe more of a [defense]-by-committee type of thing, but if we can continue to upgrade the back end, we know we're going to be hard to play against."

Graves led the NHL with a plus-40 rating last season and is plus-59 in his three NHL seasons. He has two seasons remaining on a three-year contract he signed as a restricted free agent on Oct. 12, 2020.

Colorado was unlikely to protect Graves from the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck, which will be held July 21 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW).

Each NHL team can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie. Any player who has a no-move clause must agree to waive it to be exposed. The deadline for teams to submit protected lists is Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

"I mean, it's definitely in the back of your mind all year," Graves said Friday regarding the expansion draft. "I knew that you could only protect a certain amount of players, so I understood that something was going to happen. I didn't know if it was going to be me, but we were all pretty aware that we were going to lose a teammate and friend in Colorado, and it ended up being me who's getting moved and that's OK. It's part of the business.

"I'm excited for the opportunity. Everyone has been so nice so far that I've talked to in Jersey, I'm excited for what's coming. It's an up-and-coming team, organization and I'm excited for the opportunity and to join it and to be part of it."

The Avalanche can now protect defensemen Samuel Girard, Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Erik Johnson reportedly has agreed to waive his no-move clause.

Seattle will select one player from each team, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, for a total of 30 (at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies).

"It's always a little bit uneasy when you don't know where you're going to be going next year or if you're staying or what it is," Graves said. "That's been the case for guys around the League all year who are unsure of how it's going to shake out for them. Yeah, it's settling; now you can get into your summer routine and you know what's coming for you, the season ahead. I'm excited for it, just prepare for the upcoming season."

Selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (No. 110) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Graves was traded to Colorado by New York for defenseman Chris Bigras on Feb. 26, 2018.

Graves said he is looking forward to see where he fits in with the Devils.

"I don't think there's one thing that sets me apart," he said. "I think that I fit the age group and fit what they're trying to build. They have a couple D-men there who are offensive and can really move the puck. I could be an asset for a couple of those guys and to help kill penalties and kind of be a shutdown guy against top lines.

"... It's something new in my life. It's always exciting, and you take it with an open mind and open arms and go in full steam ahead."

Graves said he was intrigued with the possibility of being used on the power play under coach Lindy Ruff, who will begin his second season with the Devils.

"We'll see on that," Graves said. "If that's where they want me to slide in, then I'm more than happy to be in that role. I actually met Lindy a few years ago, he was the [defensemen] coach for the Rangers and I met him there, it was my last year there I think. ... There have been points in my career when I've played on the power play and done things like that. But my bread and butter and what will always be part of my game and my success is the penalty kill and to be a shutdown guy against top lines. I think that's kind of where I'll fit in mostly, and then we'll see after that."

Maltsev, a 23-year-old forward, scored nine points (six goals, three assists) in 33 games this season, his first in the NHL. He was a fourth-round pick (No. 102) by New Jersey in the 2016 NHL Draft.

The draft pick the Avalanche received was acquired by the Devils from the New York Islanders in a trade for defenseman Andy Greene on Feb. 16, 2020.

"When you value players, there's always a give and take, right?" Fitzgerald said. "You're never getting players for free, that's for sure. So you have to be willing to give up some value. The way we looked at it, this is months of Andy Greene to the Islanders and Mikhail for Ryan Graves, who has the experience of playing in Stanley Cup Playoff games, the size, the mobility, we control him for a couple of more years.

"He gets to test-drive us, we hope this is a place where, we believe, people are going to want to come play. ... There's always a value on what you have to give up. Is something too much, too less? We wanted the player at the end of the day. We know he helps us, and that's what we value."

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:32 pm

Carey Price, Shea Weber and Vladimir Tarasenko headline the group of players who are under contract and available for the Seattle Kraken to select in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN1, SN NOW).

Price, the Montreal Canadiens goalie; Weber, the Canadiens defenseman and captain; and Tarasenko, the St. Louis Blues forward, are among the NHL players left unprotected by their teams. The NHL released the protected and available lists Sunday.

Price had to waive his no-move clause to be left exposed in the expansion draft so the Canadiens could protect goalie Jake Allen.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog are included on the list of pending unrestricted free agents who were left unprotected by their teams and available for the Kraken to sign and select.


Seattle has an exclusive window to sign any pending unrestricted free agent or restricted free agent who was left unprotected from 10 a.m. ET Sunday through 10 a.m. ET Wednesday. If they sign a player during that window, he counts as their choice from that player's former team in the expansion draft.

The Kraken have until 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday to submit their final selections to the NHL and NHL Players' Association. They must select at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies, and can only select or sign one player from each of the 30 other NHL teams, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, who are exempt from the expansion draft.

Several other veteran goalies who are under contract were also left available for the Kraken to select, including Stanley Cup winners Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Matt Murray (Ottawa Senators) and Braden Holtby (Vancouver Canucks).

Ben Bishop (Dallas Stars), Vitek Vanecek (Washington Capitals), Martin Jones (San Jose Sharks) and Kaapo Kahkonen (Minnesota Wild) are also available.

Chris Driedger (Florida Panthers), Frederik Andersen (Toronto Maple Leafs), Petr Mrazek (Carolina Hurricanes), Mike Smith (Edmonton Oilers), Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) and Jaroslav Halak (Bruins) are among the top pending unrestricted free agent goalies left unprotected.

Rask will be out until at least mid-January following hip surgery and has said he will sign only with the Bruins.

New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban was left available for Seattle, meaning he and Weber, the players involved in the blockbuster trade between the Canadiens and Nashville Predators on June 29, 2016, could both be picked by the Kraken.

Other defenseman signed through at least the 2021-22 season who are available to the Kraken include Mark Giordano (Calgary Flames), Kevin Shattenkirk (Anaheim Ducks), Shayne Gostisbehere (Philadelphia Flyers) and Erik Johnson (Avalanche).

Pending free agent defensemen available include Dougie Hamilton (Hurricanes) and Vince Dunn (Blues), who can become a restricted free agent.

The Predators left forwards Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen exposed to Seattle. The New York Islanders did the same with forwards Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle. The Ducks left forward Adam Henrique available, and the Buffalo Sabres did not protect forward Jeff Skinner.

The Philadelphia Flyers left forwards James van Riemsdyk and Jakub Voracek unprotected, choosing to protect the likes of Oskar Lindblom, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Scott Laughton instead.

The Tampa Bay Lightning protected four defensemen (Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak) and four forwards (Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli), meaning Seattle can select one of forwards Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde or Pat Maroon.

Seattle could also sign and select pending unrestricted free agent forwards Taylor Hall and David Krejci (Bruins), Brandon Saad (Avalanche), Phillip Danault (Canadiens), Kyle Palmieri (Islanders), Zach Hyman (Maple Leafs) and Jaden Schwartz (Blues).

hockeygame3
RatDog.Org Member
RatDog.Org Member
Posts: 21497
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: more or less in line

Re: It's a great day for hockey 2020- 2021

Post by hockeygame3 » Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:13 pm

Kraken hold NHL Expansion Draft in Seattle
Select 30 players, will begin play next season

The Seattle Kraken revealed their selections in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck on Wednesday.

Jeremy Lauzon, a defenseman, was the first player disclosed by the Kraken. He was their selection from the Boston Bruins.

The selections were revealed in alphabetical order by team by division, going from the Atlantic Division to the Metropolitan, Central and Pacific.

Seattle will begin play next season as the NHL's 32nd team. It had to submit its selections of 30 players to the NHL by 10 a.m. ET Wednesday.

The Kraken selected one player per team, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, who were exempt after joining the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18. Seattle selected 15 forwards, 12 defensemen and three goalies.

Other players selected were forward Yanni Gourde from the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning; forwards Jordan Eberle from the New York Islanders and Jared McCann from the Toronto Maple Leafs; defensemen Mark Giordano from the Calgary Flames, Adam Larsson from the Edmonton Oilers, and Jame Oleksiak from the Dallas Stars; and goalies Chris Driedger from the Florida Panthers and Vitek Vanecek from the Washington Capitals.

"It was a little bit weird yesterday knowing that I wasn't going to go back to Calgary, but coming into the city, driving in, this is my first time here," Giordano said. "It's a beautiful city and you could feel the buzz, so I'm ready to go and I feel great."

The Kraken found out who would be available to them Sunday, when the NHL approved and distributed the 30 lists of available and protected players.

They had an exclusive window to interview, negotiate and sign any pending free agent who was exposed to them in the expansion draft from 10 a.m. ET Sunday until they submitted their picks Wednesday. Any free agent signed in that window (Larsson and Driedger) counted as the Kraken selection from that player's former team.

Seattle's selections had to account for 60 percent to 100 percent of the NHL salary cap, which will remain $81.5 million for next season.

The other 31 teams remain in a roster freeze and signing/waivers moratorium until 1 p.m. ET Thursday.

The 2021 NHL Draft will begin Friday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN NOW).

The first contract buyout period ends July 27 at 5 p.m. ET, and the deadline for teams to sign their pending unrestricted free agents to the maximum eight-year contract is 11:59 p.m. ET.

The free agent market opens July 28, which is also when teams can start signing players to a contract extension that would begin in 2022-23.

Post Reply