NHL Releases Protocol, Target Date For Phase 2
The NHL has released a memo to all teams and players, indicating that they will move into “Phase 2” of their return-to-play plan at some point in early June. That phase is made up of small informal workouts that will not include any coaches or support staff and will be limited to six players at any time. All players will be tested for COVID-19 two days before starting the workouts, and will then be tested twice a week thereafter.
This is a huge step towards the return of hockey in North America, though there are some obvious hurdles still to clear. This phase is not mandatory and players are allowed to participate even without returning to their team city. That means those residing in other markets (Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker in Minnesota for instance) will still be able to participate without having to travel.
According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, players returning to Canada from the United States will still need to go through the 14-day quarantine period before joining the skates.
It is important to understand that the league has still not set an exact date and could still delay the start of Phase 2 at any point:
Based on the current information available, we are now targeting a date in early June for a transition to Phase 2. However, it has not yet been determined when precisely Phase 2 will start or how long it may last. We are continuing to monitor developments in each of the Club’s markets, and may adjust the overall timing if appropriate, following discussion with all relevant parties.
NHL Discussing 24-Team Bracketed Playoffs
May 22: The NHLPA executive board is expected to approve the return to play proposal, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. 24 teams will take part in the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, though the announcement of approval is not expected to come with any timeline on when hockey will actually return.
May 21: Even though there are no clear timelines or even a full logistical plan on how it will work, the NHL is getting closer to a format for the resumption of the 2019-20 campaign. Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported last night that the league will be proposing a 24-team “bracketed” playoff structure to the players, perhaps as soon as today. If the players sign off on it, the NHL will finally have a plan in place for what will happen when the season resumes, though there are still countless details to work out about how it would actually take place.
The important questions for fans are which teams would be involved, and what would the matchups look like. Friedman has you covered on both bases, indicating that the tournament would be based on points percentage and have a play-in round between seeds 5-12 in each conference. That means the Boston Bruins (1st in East), Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd), Washington Capitals (3rd), Philadelphia Flyers (4th), St. Louis Blues (1st in West), Colorado Avalanche (2nd), Vegas Golden Knights (3rd) and Dallas Stars (4th) would all have “byes” for the play-in round, but would also participate in a three-game tournament (the details of which are not clear.)
According to Friedman, thee play-in round would look like this:
5. Pittsburgh vs. 12. Montreal (winner plays four seed)
6. Carolina vs. 11. Rangers (winner plays three seed)
7. Islanders vs. 10. Florida (winner plays two seed)
8. Toronto vs. 9. Columbus (winner plays one seed)
5. Edmonton vs. 12. Chicago (winner plays four seed)
6. Nashville vs. 11. Arizona (winner plays three seed)
7. Vancouver vs. 10. Minnesota (winner plays two seed)
8. Calgary vs. 9. Winnipeg (winner plays one seed)
That round would be a best-of-five with best-of-seven series to follow, and the playoffs would not include re-seeding at any point. As Johnston points out in his talk with Arash Madani of Sportsnet, that would allow for a sort of March Madness-style bracket system that could be very exciting for fans.
As with any plan from the NHL right now, it is important to remember that this is just a proposal and is still contingent on the advice and recommendations of medical professionals across North America. The league will not be coming back without sufficient testing and a plan in place to keep their athletes, support staff, and the public safe. In fact, Johnston tweeted yesterday that the proposal “does not cover other critical issues, such as testing protocols, hub cities, visas and many other things.”
There is still a lot of work to be done.
Snapshots: Alabama-Huntsville, Ottawa, Timashov
When hockey seasons were canceled or postponed all around the world just over two months ago, it was always the expectation that they would eventually return to normal. The NHL is headed toward a return of some sort this summer, while the AHL is working through models for how they can run a 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case for the University of Alabama-Huntsville hockey program, which according to Todd Milewski of USCHO is no more. UAH president Darren Dawson and athletics director Cade Smith released a statement on the situation:
After a comprehensive review of UAH’s athletic offerings and the associated long-term budget implications, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the men’s hockey, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis programs.
The UAH program is perhaps best known for producing Cam Talbot, the Calgary Flames goaltender who has played in over 300 NHL games. Talbot spent three seasons there before working his way up through the New York Rangers farm system to eventually become a starting goaltender.
- Just yesterday there was excitement in the Ottawa area when a local rink opened its doors and allowed a limited number of people on the ice, a sign that things were starting to return to normal in the hockey world. Unfortunately that hope was dashed just 24 hours later when the Minto Arena was ordered to close again temporarily. Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun reports that the rink had been completely booked, but closed the doors after authorities told them to wait until “a more fulsome discussion about the application of the provincial orders could occur.”
- Dmytro Timashov finally looked like he was going to get a better opportunity in the NHL before the coronavirus put a halt to the 2019-20 season. The young forward had been claimed off waivers by the Detroit Red Wings and played in five games with the team, but may not be sticking around to play another. A report out of Russia has Timashov close to a deal with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, though obviously nothing is official at this point. The Red Wings season technically isn’t finished until the league announces the return-to-play format (something that could happen this weekend), while Timashov isn’t actually a free agent until July 1 when his entry-level contract expires. In 44 total games this season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Red Wings, Timashov recorded nine points.
Snapshots: Expiring Contracts, Hall, Summer Showcase
Though it has been assumed by many, the NHL has not actually officially announced that player contracts that are scheduled to expire on June 30th will be extended through the eventual end of the 2019-20 season. Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) reports today that that uniform slide of all player contracts is expected to happen, meaning pending unrestricted free agents will have to wait until the Stanley Cup is awarded (or the season is canceled) to hit the open market.
More importantly, Russo writes, are the contracts for coaching staffs and scouts all around the league that are also set to expire at the end of the normal season. These employees are not part of a union like the NHLPA, meaning extensions may have to be negotiated individually (though the league could create a standard extension document). In the piece, Russo examines the coaching situations around the league that could be affected by the extension decisions.
- Among the players who are pending unrestricted free agents is Taylor Hall, who at one point pre-coronavirus looked like he was a lock for a huge long-term contract this summer. While some have suggested that Hall (and other premium free agents like Alex Pietrangelo and Torey Krug) could maximize their earning potential by taking a one-year contract and hoping the salary cap bounces back, Hall doesn’t sound like he wants to go down that road. Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet told ESPN On Ice that Hall told him “he doesn’t want to go through another year trying to play on a one-year contract. He wants to get settled somewhere.” The Coyotes are “a team he’s very interested in staying with” according to the Arizona coach.
- USA Hockey is still planning on holding the World Junior Summer Showcase, though Hockey Canada won’t be participating. Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports that the tournament is still scheduled for late-July between the USA, Finland, and Sweden. Nothing is certain in the world right now, but you can bet scouting staffs around the NHL perked up when they heard that they may get the chance to see many of the best young players in the world battle this summer. The tournament is a proving ground for the rosters that will take part in the World Juniors at the end of the year.
OHL, WHL, QMJHL Announce Most Outstanding Players
The three leagues that make up the CHL have each announced the winner of their respective Most Outstanding/Valuable Player award, with Alexis Lafreniere grabbing the headlines once again. The expected first-overall pick has taken home the award for the second straight season in the QMJHL, joining only Sidney Crosby and Mathieu Chouinard as the only repeat winners.
Obviously Lafreniere is hoping for a hockey career that comes a little closer to the former than the latter, given that Chouinard played exactly one NHL game and was out of professional hockey after just six years. After scoring 297 points in 173 career games for the Rimouski Oceanic, Lafreniere is a near-lock as the first-overall pick whenever the 2020 NHL draft takes place.
In the WHL, it is Adam Beckman that takes home the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy after scoring a whopping 107 points in 63 games for the Spokane Chiefs. Beckman was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Wild and still has another year of junior hockey before he’s eligible for the AHL. It’s hard to top a year where you lead the league in goals, points and win the top award, but he’ll certainly be trying.
Given that Lafreniere is locked into a top spot for the draft, the most interesting award today may be the one given to Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s. The Austrian-born forward spent his minor hockey years in Switzerland but absolutely dominated the OHL this season, scoring 120 points in 56 games. Rossi is eligible for the 2020 draft and was ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
Prospect Notes: Kaprizov, CHL Defensemen, Draft
The Minnesota Wild and their fans are still waiting to see Kirill Kaprizov hit the ice with the team five years after they drafted him. The 23-year old forward is widely regarded as one of the best players outside the NHL, but for years there was little indication he wanted to come to North America. Now that there is—Kaprizov has made it clear that he is ready to sign with the Wild—the current league pause is getting in the way.
Despite being on the reserve list of the Wild, Kaprizov (and other players like him in similar situations around the league) isn’t being allowed to sign with the team for the 2019-20 season because of the current pause. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is still holding out hope that the league will change their mind, telling Dan Myers of NHL.com that both sides are just taking it “day-by-day” and not jumping into an agreement for 2020-21 until it is necessary. As Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) has explained several times, a delayed start to 2020-21 could pose a threat for the Wild should Kaprizov decide he doesn’t want to wait around for the season to begin, but it does seem like finally, both sides are on the same page.
- Each of the three leagues that make up the CHL have announced their Defenseman of the Year awards. Ty Smith repeats for the WHL, taking home the award for the second consecutive season and joining Kris Russell, Dion Phaneuf and Nolan Baumgartner as the only back-to-back winners. The New Jersey Devils prospect recorded 59 points in 46 games for the Spokane Chiefs and looks ready to make the jump to the NHL in short order. Noel Hoefenmayer doesn’t have quite the same name recognition as Smith, given that he was a fourth-round pick in 2017 and failed to sign with the Arizona Coyotes, but he was just as impressive this year in the OHL. Hoefenmayer recorded 82 points in 58 games for the Ottawa 67’s, an incredible total even if he was playing his over-age season. Hoefenmayer recently signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, his hometown minor league team. Jordan Spence takes home the award for the QMJHL, more exciting news for the Los Angeles Kings whose prospect pool is bursting at the seams with talent. As Scott Wheeler of The Athletic points out on Twitter, Spence now has a QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year award in his cabinet, but still isn’t even one of the very best prospects in the Kings’ system.
- Everyone is waiting to see when the draft will be for this season, but the push to have it take place in June before finishing the season has seemingly come to an end. In fact, Bob McKenzie of TSN asked some general manager around the league yesterday, who told him they have “no clue” on when it will be. McKenzie reports that the entire focus is on returning to play right now and that the decision on when to hold the draft “won’t be made anytime soon.”
AHL Announces 2019-20 First, Second All-Star Teams
After revealing their All-Rookie Team yesterday, the AHL has handed out another set of accolades for the best players in the league. The 2019-20 First and Second All-Star selections have been released, awards that are voted on by coaches players and media. Impressively, two of those All-Rookie players are also among All-Star groups—Joshua Norris and Brogan Rafferty.
While these teams do not predict future NHL success as well as the All-Rookie group, there are still plenty of NHL stars that have been awarded AHL All-Star honors in the past. This year’s group is especially young, including seven players age 23 and under.
First All-Star Team:
G Kaapo Kahkonen, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
D Jake Bean, Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
D Brennan Menell, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
LW Reid Boucher, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
C Joshua Norris, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
RW Sam Anas, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
Second All-Star Team:
G Connor Ingram, Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
D Jacob MacDonald, Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)
D Brogan Rafferty, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
LW Gerald Mayhew, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
C Alex Barre-Boulet, Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
RW Drake Batherson, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Jesper Olofsson Signs AHL Contract
Victor Olofsson scored 20 goals and 42 points in his rookie year with the Buffalo Sabres, so the organization is climbing the family tree. Jesper Olofsson, his older brother, has signed a one-year contract with the Rochester Americans of the AHL for the 2020-21 season. He spent the last five seasons in the SHL, but will try his hand on North American ice next season.
Olofsson, 28, was never a top prospect in Sweden, failing to earn himself a spot in the World Juniors or a draft pick from the NHL. Instead, he slowly made his way through the ranks until finding success as an older rookie in the SHL during the 2015-16 season. Since then he’s been a capable member of whatever SHL he played for, but it’s hard to imagine him becoming an impact NHL talent at this point.
What he can do however is provide some experience to the Rochester squad while giving his younger brother a little comfort in his sophomore season. If his proximity gives Victor any sort of confidence boost, you can bet the Sabres will chalk the signing up as a win regardless of how he performs at the AHL level.
Brian Gibbons Linked To NLA
If the NHL season (or postseason) does commence at some point this summer with expanded rosters, you can bet that Brian Gibbons would be an ideal candidate to provide some depth for the Carolina Hurricanes. The veteran forward has plenty of NHL experience but has spent most of this season in the minor leagues. Even if he does spend some more time with the Hurricanes however, he might be headed elsewhere when the season concludes. A report out of Switzerland today suggests that Gibbons will sign a contract with Lausanne HC of the NLA for next season.
Lausanne recently parted ways with Petteri Lindbohm, another former NHL player, but Gibbons would be joining Mark Barberio and Cory Conacher among the foreign players for the team. The 32-year old forward played 15 games for Carolina this season but failed to register a single point, recording 18 in 26 minor league contests instead.
Gibbons has over 200 games in the NHL, but it is clear that his best chance to be an impact player at that level is behind him. He did score 12 goals and 26 points in just 59 games for the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18, a total that looks like it will end up his career-high.
With a new transfer agreement in place between the NHL and NLA, Gibbons’ contract with the Hurricanes will need to expire before he’s technically allowed to sign a new one with Lausanne—if in fact that’s where he’s heading next season.
3ICE Announces Coaching Group For 2021 Season
Missing the thrill of 3-on-3 overtime action? Well a new hockey league is soon coming to North America that will service that itch. 3ICE, an independent professional 3-on-3 hockey league is scheduled to debut in June of 2021, providing hockey fans with something to watch between NHL seasons. Though it’s hard to drum up excitement for any sporting league during the current pandemic, 3ICE has certainly grabbed some attention today with the reveal of their first batch of head coaches.
According to Chris Bumbaca of USA Today, the inaugural 3ICE season will have Grant Fuhr, Bryan Trottier, Guy Carbonneau, John LeClair, Angela Ruggiero, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen and Eddie Johnston behind the benches. That’s six members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, if you weren’t counting. Craig Patrick serves as the league’s commissioner.
When the league begins to play, games will be broadcast by TSN and CBS Sports on Saturday nights. 56 players, none of which have been announced yet, will make up the league. All eight teams will compete each week in a tournament-style showcase.