NHL 2021-22 season Fantasy & Chat thread

[hotcross]

2 suspensions were issued as a result of the Preseason games on Sunday -


Washington Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath suspended for 2 preseason games + 2 regular season games for an illegal check to the head of Steven Fogarty of Boston Bruins


Ottawa Senators center Ridly Craig suspended for 1 preseason game + 1 regular season game for cross-checking Pierre-Luc Dubois of Winnipeg Jets.

[mr. leisure]

Toews expected to play first game for Blackhawks in more than one year

Captain missed last season with chronic immune response syndrome


Jonathan Toews is expected to play for the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time in more than a year against the Detroit Red Wings in a preseason game Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN [JIP], NBCSCH+).

The 33-year-old captain missed last season with chronic immune response syndrome. He has participated in all five days the Blackhawks have held training camp this month, including a three-period scrimmage (15 minutes each period) Tuesday.
Toews has not played since Aug. 18, 2020 in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round when he scored one goal in a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights that eliminated the Blackhawks from the best-of-7 series.
Toews is projected to be the center on a line with Dominik Kubalik at left wing and Philipp Kurashev on the right. He said Sept. 23 he hopes to play in Chicago's regular-season opener at the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 13.
"That's my goal," Toews said, "but I think I just have to keep being patient, and I think there are things you can learn as far as how I approach the game when you're not firing on all cylinders, and the conditioning is not quite there yet. So I'm just chipping away at that and getting back into watching video and thinking the game. That's my plan. I'd love to [play in the opener], but the focus is on tomorrow for now."
Toews scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 regular-season games and nine points (five goals, four assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2019-20.
The No. 3 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Toews has scored 815 points (345 goals, 470 assists) in 943 regular-season games and 119 points (45 goals, 74 assists) in 137 postseason games. He helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. In 2010, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy voted the most valuable player in the playoffs after scoring 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 22 games.

[yisman]

- New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood said that he has chosen not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, making him potentially unavailable for some of his team's games this season.
The 24-year-old starter said he's "not currently" vaccinated, leaving open the possibility that he could still get the vaccine. He is the only Devils player not vaccinated.
"I've not decided one way or the other whether I'm doing it. I'm taking a little bit of extra time," Blackwood said. "I have a couple of health concerns and health reasons why I'm working through it a little slower. I wanted to check off a couple of boxes, and not rush to do it."

[yisman]

As the 2021-22 NHL season opens, the Arizona Coyotes are the only team with plans to fully relax their game-day dress code for players, according to an ESPN survey of all 32 teams.
The NHL is the only one among the four North American major men's professional sports league with a strict game-day dress code spelled out into its collective bargaining agreement. Exhibit 14, Paragraph 5 of the CBA reads: "Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all Club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager."

[Checkerboard]

Tuesday october 12, two games :

Pittsburgh / TB

Seattle / LV

Kraken are a big road dog in their NHL Vegas debut.

[hotcross]

Jakub Vrana will be out at least four months for the Detroit Red Wings because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

The 25 year-old forward was injured during the first 10 minutes of practice on Sunday, which was his first day in training camp after v.i.s.a issues.

Red Wings open the season at home against Tampa Bay on October 14th

[yisman]

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Friday that defenseman Travis Hamonic isn’t opting out of the NHL season, but has yet to join the team.
Benning said in a statement on Twitter that the 31-year-old player “remains at home, dealing with some personal matters” and that the team “continues to support him.”
Hamonic signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Canucks in July, but wasn’t in Vancouver when the team opened training camp Sept. 24.

[mr. leisure]

Keith skates with Oilers for first time

Defenseman expected to play on second pair, could make preseason debut Monday

EDMONTON -- Duncan Keith skated with the Edmonton Oilers for the first time Friday after completing a mandatory two-week quarantine following his vaccination against COVID-19.

The 38-year-old defenseman, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 12, will continue to skate over the weekend and could make his Oilers preseason debut against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
"I feel good and I feel like I can still contribute and help this team win hockey games," Keith said. "However the coaches see me fitting in, I'm willing to do whatever they want, whatever they need. It was a big change for me to come to a new organization, and I wanted to continue my career, I wanted to play in front of my son, for this organization. I want to play for these guys and this team and be a part of it."
A native of Winnipeg, Keith played 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, who selected him in the second round (No. 54) of the 2002 NHL Draft, before requesting a trade this offseason to be closer to his family in Penticton, British Columbia.
During his time in Chicago, Keith won the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013 and 2015), including the Conn Smythe Trophy voted as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2015. He won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2010 and 2014 and has twice been named an NHL First Team All-Star (2010 and 2014).
He has two seasons remaining on a 13-year, $72 million contract ($5.53 million average annual value) he signed Dec. 3, 2009.
"I've been fortunate to play for a great organization for a long time in Chicago, but everything that's happened since the trade with this team in Edmonton makes me feel right at home and makes me proud to be an Oiler and excited to be a part of this team," Keith said. "I can't say enough about the way I've been treated here. I feel like I've been spoiled. The organization, and even the people in Edmonton, I've had lots of help. We've got a great group and I'm excited to be part of it."

Keith is expected to play on the second defense pair with either Evan Bouchard or Cody Ceci this season for Edmonton, which finished second in the seven-team Scotia North Division last season (35-19-2) and was swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the Stanley Cup First Round, losing the final three games of the best-of-7 series in overtime.
"I want to help this team any way I can, and that's always been my goal, to be at my best, and whatever comes my way, I try to embrace that situation and that role," Keith said. "I think we have a lot of great defensemen here: Tyson Barrie, Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard -- a young up-and-coming guy -- the list goes on. We'll all try to push each other to get better and improve and I think that internal competition is good for our group to have to where we can push each other to better ourselves and ultimately our team."

[yisman]

With the curtain set to go up on the NBA and NHL season, MSG Network is alerting viewers that it is nearing a potential blackout on Comcast Xfinity cable systems in New Jersey and Connecticut.
Comcast, though it is the No. 1 U.S. cable operator, has virtually no customers in New York City, but a healthy six-figure number of them in the suburbs are at risk of losing service. The regional sports network airs New York Knicks NBA games as well as New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers and Islanders NHL contests, plus Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. The NHL season is due to start October 12 and the NBA on October 19, with pre-season telecasts of both sports already under way.

[yisman]

The NHL has reached out out to Robin Lehner to set up an interview after the goaltender made several accusations on social media, including that teams give players drugs without a doctor's consent, a league spokesperson confirmed.
Lehner claimed on Twitter on Saturday that teams had offered prescription medication to players without prescriptions.

[mr. leisure]

The NHL has reached out out to Robin Lehner to set up an interview after the goaltender made several accusations on social media, including that teams give players drugs without a doctor's consent, a league spokesperson confirmed.
Lehner claimed on Twitter on Saturday that teams had offered prescription medication to players without prescriptions.

This could get ugly .

[hotcross]

Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury.


Canucks right wing forward Brock Boeser is expected to sit out for the remainder of the preseason with an undisclosed injury. The hope is that he will be ready for opening night.

Penguins left wing forward Jake Guentzel is in the COVID-related absence protocol.

[yisman]

Philadelphia Flyers coach Alain Vigneault has pushed back against accusations made by Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner that appeared to implicate Vigneault and the Flyers in the medical malpractice of players.
Lehner posted a series of tweets on Saturday about the treatment of players by NHL teams in an effort to bring attention to the stalemate between the Buffalo Sabres and Lehner's former teammate Jack Eichel over his surgery options.
Lehner tweeted that benzodiazepines and Ambien are regularly given to players for travel and that "many teams without prescriptions just hand it out." In a follow-up tweet, Lehner seemed to imply that the Flyers were one such organization and called for Vigneault to be fired.
"I was obviously very disappointed," Vigneault said at Flyers camp Monday. "As far as me pushing pills, I don't need another income. I have no idea where that comes from. I don't know what else to say. I have no idea."

[hotcross]

Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott missed Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators due to an issue with his calf.


Senators center Colin White suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's game, had an MRI to assess.


Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's game.


Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk is expected to miss a few weeks due to an ankle injury.

[yisman]

The NHL's latest investigation of Sharks' forward Evander Kane centers around his possible use of a fake vaccination card, The Athletic has confirmed. The allegations were first reported by Front Office Sports.

[hotcross]

Auston Matthews remains focused on being ready for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they play the Montreal Canadiens in their regular-season opener Oct. 13.


The center had wrist surgery Aug. 13. He played through the wrist injury for most of last season, when he led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 games.

[Stallion]

Penguins without Crosby and Malkin.. wow

[yisman]

Robin Lehner unleashed fury and chaos over the weekend, but he’s had a change of heart after a talk with the NHL.

The Las Vegas goalie appeared clearly stressed as he held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon regarding his string of shocking tweets on Saturday night, in which he accused teams of illegally passing out benzodiazepines and Ambien.
“I’m always going to advocate for mental health, but moving forward I’m looking to help in a more private manner,” said Lehner, who has been open about his struggles with addiction, depression and bipolar disorder. “This weekend was a cry for help from this league. The league that I love and has given me so much, but I’m looking to protect the younger players, and the only way to affect change, in my mind, is to do it in a nonpublic fashion. I feel very encouraged about the talks I’ve had with the league.”

[mr. leisure]

NHL star Evander Kane accused of using fake vaccine card


San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane is being investigated by the NHL over allegations that he submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccine card, according to Front Office Sports.
Although the NHL has no direct policy about falsified vaccine cards — the possession of which is a federal crime — its COVID-19 protocol states that a “lack of compliance will result in significant Club and individual sanctions, including potential forfeiture of games, fines and reimbursements of expenses, loss of draft choices, and/or ineligibility for participation in training activities.”
A separate report, published by Sportsnet last week, said Kane was being investigated for a “possible violation of NHL COVID protocols.” It did not disclose any other details.
The FBI has stated that “buying, selling, or using a counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination card is a crime” and “violators face a fine and up to five years in prison.”
The Sharks and NHL declined to comment on the Tuesday report, Front Office Sports said.

The 30-year-old winger declared bankruptcy in May and was cleared in a separate gambling review by the league last month.
Last week, the Sharks announced that the organization and Kane “agreed” he will not participate in training camp “until further notice.”
News of Kane’s absence followed sexual and domestic abuse allegations made by his estranged wife, Anna Kane. The couple’s divorce proceedings are ongoing.
The team took the ice for this first time this season on Sept. 23. San Jose opens the regular season at home against Winnipeg on Oct. 16.

[BarkingToad]

NHL star Evander Kane accused of using fake vaccine card


San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane is being investigated by the NHL over allegations that he submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccine card, according to Front Office Sports.
Although the NHL has no direct policy about falsified vaccine cards — the possession of which is a federal crime — its COVID-19 protocol states that a “lack of compliance will result in significant Club and individual sanctions, including potential forfeiture of games, fines and reimbursements of expenses, loss of draft choices, and/or ineligibility for participation in training activities.”
A separate report, published by Sportsnet last week, said Kane was being investigated for a “possible violation of NHL COVID protocols.” It did not disclose any other details.
The FBI has stated that “buying, selling, or using a counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination card is a crime” and “violators face a fine and up to five years in prison.”
The Sharks and NHL declined to comment on the Tuesday report, Front Office Sports said.

The 30-year-old winger declared bankruptcy in May and was cleared in a separate gambling review by the league last month.
Last week, the Sharks announced that the organization and Kane “agreed” he will not participate in training camp “until further notice.”
News of Kane’s absence followed sexual and domestic abuse allegations made by his estranged wife, Anna Kane. The couple’s divorce proceedings are ongoing.
The team took the ice for this first time this season on Sept. 23. San Jose opens the regular season at home against Winnipeg on Oct. 16.

[yisman]

anadiens goalie Carey Price is voluntarily stepping away from the team to enter the league’s player assistance program.
On Thursday, the NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement to announce Price’s decision, and said there will be no further comment, according to ESPN.
Coach Dominique Ducharme said Wednesday that Price was “not doing well right now.”

[mr. leisure]

anadiens goalie Carey Price is voluntarily stepping away from the team to enter the league’s player assistance program.
On Thursday, the NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement to announce Price’s decision, and said there will be no further comment, according to ESPN.

Coach Dominique Ducharme said Wednesday that Price was “not doing well right now.”

Weird story , hope he is alright .

[Checkerboard]

Auston Matthews remains focused on being ready for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they play the Montreal Canadiens in their regular-season opener Oct. 13.


The center had wrist surgery Aug. 13. He played through the wrist injury for most of last season, when he led the NHL with 41 goals in 52 games.

I wonder why he didn't have the surgery earlier in the summer.

[yisman]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin left the Washington Capitals' preseason finale against Philadelphia on Friday night with what the team called a lower-body injury and is set to be examined further Saturday.

[Stallion]

Evander Kane is a moron.

[hotcross]

Penguins without Crosby and Malkin.. wow

Crosby is reported to be staking with the team on Saturday morning practice

[mr. leisure]

Toews expects to play for Blackhawks in opener at Avalanche

'My game is there,' says center, out last season with chronic immune response syndrome


CHICAGO -- Jonathan Toews said he expects to play in the regular-season opener for the Chicago Blackhawks at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; TNT).

"I plan to play, but it's not my decision," the Blackhawks captain said before Chicago played the Minnesota Wild in its final preseason game at United Center on Saturday. "But I don't think that's up in the air, I'm pretty sure."
The 33-year-old center did not play last season because of chronic immune response syndrome. Toews has participated in all but two practice days during training camp (maintenance days) and will play his fourth preseason game Saturday.
"I'm pretty happy given what the last month has looked like, what I felt like going into training camp," he said. "I just feel like I've taken a step almost every day, so it's pretty exciting to think that way. I've got to stay with it and keep doing all the little things right, but ultimately, I like that I feel confident, my game is there, my energy is there, so I've just got to keep taking care of my body."
Toews had one assist and led forwards with 22:48 of ice time in his first preseason game, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 29. He played 17:39 in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 1 and had three assists and played 17:21 in a 6-4 win at the Red Wings on Monday.
He said he didn't expect to play this much in the preseason.
"To be honest with you, a week or two away from camp, I was a little worried, a little panicky," he said, "but I think I kind of just stayed with that attitude, just take it one day at a time and don't look too closely at that big picture, I guess. So yeah ... made some pretty good progress with how I'm feeling and how I'm playing out there and just trying to be smart with the puck, and just rely on my instincts and my experience and slowly everything else will come as long as I keep chipping away, so just having fun with the process.
"It's been challenging, but a lot of guys go through similar things, whether they go through surgeries and long rehabs, and you've got to find ways to find your instincts and find your game and you get back to it."
Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said Toews has responded well.
"He's already played three and he'll get his fourth tomorrow, and it's been a good test," Colliton said Friday. "It's been a hard camp and he hasn't played 12 minutes. He's had a decent load. We still have some days left before Wednesday and we'll go from there."
Prior to the preseason, Toews had not played a game since Aug. 18, 2020, when he scored in a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round. That defeat eliminated Chicago in the best-of-7 series. Toews scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 regular-season games and nine points (five goals, four assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2019-20.
The No. 3 pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Toews has scored 815 points (345 goals, 470 assists) in 943 regular-season NHL games and 119 points (45 goals, 74 assists) in 137 postseason games. He helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. In 2010, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy, voted the most valuable player in the playoffs, after scoring 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 22 games.

[yisman]

Dylan Gambrell's time with the Sharks could be over after San Jose placed the 25-year-old center on waivers on Saturday.



------

He must be a really terrible player.

[hotcross]

Rangers center Ryan Strome suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's game.

[mr. leisure]

Can`t wait for tuesday night .

[BarkingToad]

Can`t wait for tuesday night .

[Checkerboard]

Canadiens dropping like flies, could lead to slow start. Hoffman, Edmundson, Weber, Byron all IR. Then there's the Price thing.

Leafs licking their chops for opening night on Wednesday, hosting Habs.

[yisman]

The Rangers have made the long-term commitment to a No. 1 center – and he’s already in house.
Mika Zibanejad inked an eight-year extension at $8.5 million per to remain with the Blueshirts through 2030, The Post’s Larry Brooks first reported before the team confirmed with an official announcement on Sunday.

[Stallion]

Without Price the habs don't have much of a chance.

[mr. leisure]

Looks like a though year for the Habs .