National Hockey League

One More Long Cup Run For The Bolts?

from John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times, If this were a movie, the credits would have rolled months ago. The story of a team’s rise through setbacks and heartbreaks to become back-to-back champions before falling valiantly, maddeningly close to a third consecutive title. Cue the theme music as they skated off the Amalie Arena ice after Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against Colorado, never to perform together as a band of mismatched brothers again. But tell me, what if that wasn’t really the end? What if the Lightning have a sequel to tell? It’s not likely. The idea of another Stanley Cup run, that is. The gap between the Lightning and the rest of the Eastern Conference has been growing narrower over the years and may finally have flipped. The Panthers. The Maple Leafs. The Hurricanes. Oddsmakers say all three teams are more likely to win the conference than Tampa Bay this season. Realistically, the idea of a team reaching the Stanley Cup final five times in nine years is unheard of in the salary-cap era of the NHL. continued

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It’s Simple

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now, New coach Derek Lalonde is officially in charge of the Detroit Red Wings, Naturally, comparables are a popular topic in training camp. One of the main themes is going something like this: Throw Jeff Blashill under the bus without saying that your throwing Jeff Blashill under the bus. There’s been plenty of talk paralleling Lalonde’s desired style of play to that of deposed Red Wings coach Blashill. The early returns from players comparing the systems of the two coaches is that the differences are stark.... There’s another trait that the players appear to be quickly embracing about the Lalonde way of doing things. They’re appreciative that the structuring is in simplicity and predictability. “Knowing our options and knowing where the puck’s going,” Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen was listing as his favorite aspect of Lalonde’s systems. “I think if everyone’s on the same page and everyone knows the reads, it just makes it predictable and easy. “For me I would say that’s the biggest thing that stands out. It’s easier to play when you know where the puck’s going. Everyone’s on the same wavelength as far as the plays and the spots to put the puck.” more

Jakub Vrana’s Offensive Skill Set

from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Derek Lalonde had a couple compliments for Jakub Vrana that hint at the relative newcomer's potential to impact the Detroit Red Wings. Though Vrana has been with the Wings for 18 months, he only squeezed in 11 games after arriving at the 2021 trade deadline, and missed the first 56 games last season recovering from shoulder surgery. Vrana has 21 goals in the 37 games he's played in a Wings uniform, and his ability to score sometimes seemingly out of nowhere registers with new head coach Derek Lalonde, who saw that in spades while an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Offense is tough to come by and you need some of those offensive playmakers," Lalonde said Friday. "I came from a team where it did not take much for us to create offense, and it just helps with those guys, those elite finishers — you need them. That’s the reality of it, if you’re going to be successful in this league. We certainly have one in him." Coaches like a guy who can score, but love a guy who plays a complete game. That's what the Wings need to see from Vrana, 26, and his response to their instructions just from the first day of camp to the second were an encouraging sign. "In yesterday’s practice, we addressed some things, pointed out some things where he can be a little bit better away from the puck," Lalonde said. "He’s impressive with the puck, certainly. Sometimes you know guys are skilled guys, but until you’re actually with them on the ice, you don’t get an appreciation of how skilled. Man, he’s got a special shot. He’s got some offensive tools that are very special. But, hopefully a little more accountable away from the puck. To his credit, I thought he was better today on the whole. He stood out with some effort and some compete. He had his nose in everything, the high-compete drills, the physical reps. He looked good." continued Below, watch two minutes with Ville Husso.

On Joe Thornton’s Possible Return To San Jose

via Sheng Peng at NBC Sports Bay Area, Is the door still open for Joe Thornton to play for the San Jose Sharks?I New GM Mike Grier didn’t slam it shut, when asked specifically in what capacity that Thornton would be welcome back to the Sharks. “Things are kind of up to him. I don’t know if he wants to play or not play,” Grier said on the opening day of training camp. “When he figures that out, and his family figures that out, then I’m sure I’ll have a conversation with him at some point.” Thornton was not on the Sharks’ initial training camp roster, released on Tuesday. There was some thought that San Jose could offer the 24-year NHL veteran, the No. 1 pick of the 1997 Draft, a PTO. “I think he’s enjoying being a dad and being around his kids and helping coach his kids, and then kind of coming in here and skating with the guys,” Grier said.

Simon Edvinsson Following Advice

from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now, Detroit Red Wings Swedish prospect Simon Edvinsson is adjusting so quickly to life in North America that he says he has already started dreaming in English. Edvinsson said he couldn’t explain what his dream was about. It would be a dream-come-true for the Red Wings if Edvinsson showed he’s ready to play in the NHL on opening night. That’s 21 days away. Everyone seems to be trying to encourage, maybe even push, 19-year-old Edvinsson to go all in to make the Detroit roster. “(Coaches) put expectations on me,” Edvinsson said. “I feel like they communicate good with me. They want me to be better every day.” Edvinsson is heeding the advice that Yzerman gave him.“He said play your game of hockey,” Edvinsson said. “That’s why you’re here. Listen to the guys who have been in the league and try to learn from them. That’s what I’ve done. I’ve worked hard,” continued

Do The Pittsburgh Penguins Have Another Long Playoff Run In Them?

from Wes Crosby at NHL.com, Even with Malkin at 36 years old, and Crosby and Letang each 35, Hextall said he remains confident that core can be the catalyst for another deep run. If he's right, it would mark the first time the Penguins won a playoff series since Hextall was hired as GM on Feb. 9, 2021, and their first series win since 2018. "There's urgency. Every year is a new year," Hextall said. "Like, 'OK, we lost the last two years in the playoffs, since I've been here.' We felt like we certainly could have won both series. But I think that's what gives you the hope that it's still there. These guys are still very good players. "We felt like this group could still go on a run and do a lot of damage. We're happy with our group. I'm really excited about where we are right now, as a team. The feeling around the room, there's a lot of hunger. … I like where we're at. So it's hard to win in this League. It's hard to win a round in the playoffs. It's certainly hard to win the Stanley Cup, but that's our mission." more

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Video- Media Interviews Today

Michael Rasmussen first, Jakub Vrana below. I will add more videos to this post when the next session is done.

Imagine The Leafs Missing The Playoffs

from Michael Traikos of the National Post, What does a successful season look like for the Toronto Maple Leafs? How about an unsuccessful one? Two days into training camp, the latter is once again starting to pick up some steam. After all, the Leafs have major question marks in net. Two of their top-six defencemen are already out with injuries, while another is in a contract holdout. And based on the betting odds, both their general manager and head coach appear to be on borrowed time. Forget about failing in the first round. Is there a chance that Toronto, which has qualified for the post-season for six straight years, might miss out on the playoffs entirely? That might sound unrealistic — if not unfathomable — after the year the Leafs had last season, having finished with the fourth-best record in the NHL, with Auston Matthews leading the league in goals and Mitch Marner ranking 10th overall in points. Then again, a lot has changed since then. Not so much with Toronto, but rather with the teams around them. With non-playoff teams, such as Ottawa, Detroit and possibly Buffalo, are all expected to make a major push for a playoff spot, the already tough Atlantic Division just got a whole lot tougher. Toronto, along with Florida, Tampa Bay and Boston, is still considered one of the favourites to grab one of the top-3 seeds. But a lot still has to go right for the Leafs to get into the playoffs. Or rather, a lot can’t go wrong. And this year, there’s a lot that can go wrong. continued

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A New Attitude In Vegas

from Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, It can be one of the more contrived sources of motivational tactics in sports. It can also work if used in the right way. Us Against the World. It seems that’s how the Golden Knights might prefer to approach the season, to know what outside noise suggests but certainly not buy into it. The team that missed the playoffs for the first time in its short franchise history last season opened training camp Thursday and to a man insisted there is much to prove. “You always try to bring different motivation to the team, a different energy, ideas to bond together and try to generate great chemistry quickly,” forward Reilly Smith said. “We know we fell short last year because of injuries or whatever — it doesn’t matter. We have high standards for this group, and if we don’t make the playoffs, it’s on us. “We’re focusing on what we can do in this room. We just have to make sure we’re keeping each other accountable.” They’re certainly not liked by other teams and their fans. Haven’t been since advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in that magical expansion season of 2017-18. Shouldn’t matter. Rarely has. continued

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The New Look Carolina Hurricanes

from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer, Rod Brind’Amour had to pause for a moment to count up the new faces his head. It doesn’t seem, in this season of continuity and expectations, that all that much has changed for the Carolina Hurricanes, even with the turnover on the roster. “I think we’ve got, what, seven new guys? Out of 20, that’s a lot,” the Hurricanes coach said Thursday. “I think we had eight last year. Same kind of thing. It’s just the nature of the game, how it goes. But it’s the pieces that we do always seem to keep, that’s our core group, and we love them, obviously.” There’s always a sense of newness and novelty on the first day of training camp, inexorable and unavoidable. But despite all the new faces it’s more muted this year than it ever has been. The core group remains intact, the goalies are back, the staff remained intact, the captains are intact and the mission hasn’t changed. continued

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David Perron Plans To Be A “Difference Maker”

from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, David Perron made an immediate, favorable impression on the first day of training camp. The veteran forward exuded energy, helping to feed the freshness that permeates the Detroit Red Wings after a makeover that extended to players at every position and the coaching staff. Perron, 34, is the oldest player on the team, and has played 973 career NHL games, but he is eager to prove how much of an impact he can make as the Wings move forward in the rebuild. "I think for me at the stage of my career that I am at, I want to be a difference maker on the ice, still, bring some of the stuff that I was doing in St. Louis," Perron said Thursday. "Team-wise is really where I want to make a difference also, leadership-wise, team identity, talking about some of the details. Kind of being an extension if you will, kind of preaching the right stuff in the room by talking and by my play. Making sure that the staples defensively and throughout our system are there consistently." Perron's enthusiasm on his first day in a new job earned rave reviews from coach Derek Lalonde. "Even in his want to push practice today, what’s been really exciting about David in talking to him throughout the summer, he’s self-admitted that he’s had to evolve in his career," Lalonde said. "I think it’s an unbelievable example —here he is now, he expects practice to be at a high pace, he wants guys to work throughout the entire practice. I think he’s embracing that role. It’s something we talked about, something he wanted to embrace in the offseason, and Day 1, he stayed true to his word." continued

A Thorough Review Of Day 1

from George Malik of The Malik Report, The Detroit Red Wings began their time under the mentorship of coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday morning at Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena, on a blustery day that’s significant in terms of marking a new chapter for the rebuilding team and a significant day in the life of this blogger (more on that later). The Red Wings’ 67 roster players were divided into three groups, Team Lindsay, Team Howe, and Team Delvecchio, and they were preceded on the ice by a set of injured players. I was surprised to see Andrew Copp (abdominal surgery), Jake Walman (shoulder) and prospects Jake Uberti and Tnias Mathurin (undisclosed) skating together when I got into the rink around 8:15 AM, with goaltenders Andrew Oke and Jan Bednar working with Grand Rapids Griffins goaltending coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson at the other end of the ice. It’s also worth noting that, after the gents took a leisurely skate, I did see Oskar Sundqvist (undisclosed), Robby Fabbri (ACL) and Mark Pysyk (Achilles) taking part in the video sessions ahead of Team Lindsay’s 8:30 AM-to-9:30 AM practice. continued

KK- Feeling Great

Today was the best I have felt in the last six months. I was getting used to feeling sluggish, tired, blurry eyesight and no appetite. Yesterday and even more so today, I feel like a new man. All the symptoms and ailments I described have left my body. I feel invigorated, ready to face what comes next and best of all, ready to work. Thanks again to all for your prayers and well wishes, I do believe they played a part in my recovery.

Kirill Kaprizov’s Summer

from Sarah McLellan of the StarTribune, Kaprizov's status remained unclear until he arrived back in the Twin Cities on Aug. 2. Kaprizov needed a work visa, and Guerin said the Wild had "some very, very special people" helping secure that. "It was more difficult than we thought it was gonna be," Guerin said. "We just had some issues getting him back in the U.S. We did get help from some friends in Washington D.C., and we're extremely grateful for that. "Kirill was really patient. Did exactly what he had to do. It was just a really tough time for him." With his linemate Mats Zuccarello by his side, Kaprizov was asked after practice Thursday about the situation, but Zuccarello was first to respond, "We're not going to talk about that. We'd only like hockey questions." Kaprizov, however, did mention through an interpreter that he wasn't worried about making it back for the season before eventually saying, "If we could just keep the questions to hockey-related topics at this time, I think that'd be best." While Guerin said he didn't believe Kaprizov was in a position that was "life-threatening or anything like that," he did acknowledge the Wild didn't know about Kaprizov's safety initially. Guerin said he wasn't sure if this would remain an issue for Kaprizov. more

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TSN Insiders Tonight

TSN Hockey Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on contract extension talks with Canucks captain Bo Horvat, the NHLPA's search for a replacement for Donald Fehr, former Islanders bench boss Barry Trotz's plans to return to coaching in the NHL, and more. Watch at TSN

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Video- Brad Galli Goes One On One With Derek Lalonde

INTERVIEW: Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde talked after his first day running training camp. He feels the passion of Wings fans. "I would do the media quite often in Tampa, and in the Zooms I'd face three people. We're no longer in Tampa anymore, with the hockey media," he said. pic.twitter.com/lwPj7oNdJV — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 22, 2022

Afternoon Line -Tony DeAngelo

“So we were watching all the other guys go off, and then they were telling us how hard it was on purpose, just to piss us off a little bit.” “But we expected this, we’ve had guys here since Sept. 1. We never did six laps” like on Thursday. “Some guys did four just to get a feel for it. But no matter how many times you do it at practice, your legs kind of give out a little bit. They die. It’s just work. I think everybody worked hard.” -Tony DeAngelo of the Philadelphia Flyers after day 1 of camp under John Tortorella. Sam Carchidi of Philly Hockey Now has more.

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Videos- More Media Interviews From Today

Coach Lalonde up first, Dylan Larkin is below.

Tough News For Ryan Ellis

from Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff, For the first time, the Philadelphia Flyers revealed the nature of a devastating injury that may bring a premature end to the playing career of defenseman Ryan Ellis. Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher told reporters on Thursday upon the opening of training camp that Ellis suffered a torn psoas muscle in 2021. The torn muscle, which runs from the lower spine through the hip, has caused significant hip and core issues for Ellis. Officially, Fletcher said that Ellis is “out indefinitely,” unlikely to play this season, and acknowledged the possibility that Ellis may never play again. He has not played since Nov. 13, 2021. Ellis, 31, skated in four games with the Flyers last season before sustaining the injury, which sources said is unrelated to any prior injury. continued

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It’s Connor Bedard And Everyone Else