All posts by Brandon Maron

Eichel, Sabres nearing resolution on treatment for neck injury

The Buffalo Sabres and captain Jack Eichel are heading toward a resolution over how to treat the star's herniated disc in his neck, his agent, Peter Fish, told The Associated Press' Joe Yerdon on Thursday.

Eichel told reporters in May that he was upset with how the Sabres were handling his injury, saying there was a "disconnect" between the parties. He implied he wanted to have surgery to repair the injury but the club forced him to try to rehab it without undergoing the procedure.

General manager Kevyn Adams insisted the team's position remains the same, and he had a lengthy conversation with Eichel and his agent recently.

"Our stance hasn't changed and where we're at. It's in the hands of the medical experts," Adams said, according to Yerdon. "That's what I said previously and it's where we're at right now. That's the best I can give you."

Eichel missed the final two months of the campaign due to the injury. His future with the Sabres remains unknown, with a number of teams reportedly calling Buffalo about him. He has five years remaining on his $80-million deal, with a no-movement clause that doesn't kick in until next season.

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Report: Oilers finalizing 8-year, $41M extension with Nugent-Hopkins

It appears Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is staying in Edmonton.

The Oilers are finalizing an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.125 million with the former No. 1 overall pick, a source confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The deal includes a no-movement clause.

Nugent-Hopkins, 28, saw a dip in his production during the 2020-21 season after putting up career-high numbers the previous two campaigns. In 52 games this season, he managed 16 goals and 19 assists. Last year, he scored at a 77-point pace over 82 games.

His new contract figures to keep him in Edmonton for the majority of his career as it's set to expire when he's 35 years old.

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Maple Leafs re-sign Simmonds to 2-year contract worth $1.8M

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed forward Wayne Simmonds to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $900,000, the team announced Tuesday.

Simmonds, 32, appeared in 38 games in his first season with the Leafs, recording seven goals and two assists. He ranked second on the team with 45 penalty minutes and 8.43 hits per 60 minutes.

Toronto brought in the veteran prior to the season on a one-year, $1.5-million contract. He's collected 258 goals and 250 assists in 947 career games during his time with the Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators.

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Blackhawks launching independent review of 2010 sexual assault allegations

The Chicago Blackhawks have hired a former federal prosecutor to lead an independent review of the sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010, team CEO Danny Wirtz wrote in an internal memo on Monday, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.

“We want to reiterate to you that we take the allegations described in these lawsuits very seriously,” Wirtz wrote. “They in no way reflect this organization’s culture or values.”

In May, an unnamed former Blackhawks player sued the organization and said Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate over a decade ago. Earlier this month, it came out that a former Michigan high school player also sued the franchise. The player says the Blackhawks provided a positive reference letter to future employers despite knowing about the prior sexual assault allegations, according to TSN's Rick Westhead.

Aldrich was previously convicted in Michigan of criminal sexual conduct involving an unnamed student in 2013, according to WBEZ Chicago, which adds that the former coach is a registered sex offender in that state. It's not known if it is the same student who recently sued the Blackhawks.

Last week, former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti said Chicago's management group was aware of the allegations the club's former player made against Aldrich, and there was a meeting around the time of the Western Conference Final in 2010 to discuss the matter. However, the team decided not to take further action.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, who was the director of player personnel for the Blackhawks in 2010, said on Sunday he wasn't involved in the meeting and was unaware of what was happening at the time.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic's Lazerus, Katie Strang, and Scott Powers last week that the league has spoken to the Blackhawks, but the NHL isn't investigating the team right now.

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Armia taking private jet to Tampa after clearing COVID-19 protocol

Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia is a game-time decision for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being cleared from the league's COVID-19 protocol, acting head coach Luke Richardson said Monday.

Armia is en route to Tampa Bay via a private jet since he didn't travel with the team on Sunday. The Canadiens placed the 28-year-old into the COVID-19 protocol for an unknown reason.

Jake Evans - who hasn't played since Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele injured him in the opening game of Round 2 - was in Armia's place on the fourth line during Monday's morning skate.

Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Monday night.

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David Pastrnak announces death of newborn son

Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak announced Monday morning on Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Rebecca Rohlsson, lost their newborn son, Viggo Rohl Pastrnak, last week.

"We have an Angel watching over us and we call him SON," Pastrnak wrote. "You will be loved FOREVER."

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Lightning’s BriseBois: If Carey Price retired now he’d in the HOF

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois praised Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price on Sunday ahead of the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the two teams.

"He's got a Hall of Fame career if he retires right now," BriseBois said, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "That's just the reality."

BriseBois was the director of player operations with the Canadiens in 2005 when the team selected Price with the fifth overall pick. He said the club's management considered Price a "generational prospect."

Price has long been viewed as one of the league's elite netminders. He's won virtually every award and championship that a goalie can throughout his career, except a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy.

The 33-year-old led Team Canada to gold at the world juniors in 2007, at the Olympics in 2014, and at the world championship in 2016 with dominant performances. He was named the NHL's MVP in 2015 while also winning the Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award - becoming the first goalie to win all four in the same season.

Price's regular-season play has declined significantly over the past few years, and his performance has been inconsistent. However, the veteran has proven in the playoffs he can still be one of the league's top goalies.

The Canadiens are in the midst of an improbable playoff run, and they're playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. Price has been a big reason for the club's postseason success while recording a .934 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average.

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Canadiens’ Armia in COVID-19 protocol, won’t travel to Tampa

Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia missed Sunday's practice due to NHL COVID-19 protocols and won't travel with the team to Tampa, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin told reporters, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Bergevin said there will be an update on the 28-year-old's status Monday morning. Montreal faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.

Armia tested positive for COVID-19 in late March, which resulted in the postponement of several Canadiens games.

Jake Evans slotted into the lineup in Armia's absence. Evans, 25, hasn't played since being injured by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of Round 2.

Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme has been away from the team since Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights after testing positive for COVID-19. He's expected to return for Game 3 of the finals after completing his 14-day quarantine.

Armia has been a key player for the Canadiens during their playoff run, playing alongside veterans Eric Staal and Corey Perry on Montreal's fourth line.

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Lehner: Playing with Fleury is a ‘privilege’

Robin Lehner is more than happy to be sharing the crease in Vegas with teammate Marc-Andre Fleury.

"I’ve played with some really good goaltenders in my career and playing with Marc-Andre is a privilege," Lehner said during his season exit interview Saturday. "We’ve grown a lot closer to each other and it’s been a pretty special couple of seasons here."

When the Golden Knights signed Lehner to a five-year, $25-million contract in October, many figured he would overtake Fleury for the starting role. However, with Lehner sidelined for much of the season with an injury, it turned out to be a different story.

Fleury put together one of the best seasons of his career and was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the first time. He appeared in 36 games to Lehner's 19 while recording a 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.

Even though Lehner was healthy heading into the postseason, the Golden Knights stuck with Fleury for all seven games in Round 1 against the Minnesota Wild. Lehner ended up appearing in just three playoff games, with two coming in Round 3 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Head coach Pete DeBoer made it clear he's aware he was lucky to have the tandem this season and devoted much of his team's success to the goalies, but said "next year is a different year," according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. He pointed to the fact next season the schedule won't be condensed.

Fleury has just one more season remaining on his contract before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. During his exit interview Saturday, Fleury said he hasn't given much thought about the future but hopes he can finish his career in Vegas.

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Canadiens’ Ducharme expects to return for Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said Saturday he should return to the team's bench for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Las Vegas after Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Golden Knights and has been away from the Canadiens since. He's been symptom-free since his diagnosis but is serving a 14-day quarantine.

The Canadiens beat Vegas in six games to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 under the guidance of assistant coach Luke Richardson while Ducharme watched from home. The 48-year-old said he's pleased with what the team has accomplished.

"I think, right now, our guys are not thinking. They're just executing, just playing," Ducharme said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I think that's what we wanted to create was for things to become automatic, just second nature. ... I'm really enjoying seeing the team play that way together."

The Canadiens will face the Lightning in Game 1 in Tampa on Monday, with Ducharme on track to return at Montreal's Bell Centre on July 2.

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