All posts by Matt Teague

Reaves recalls old rivalry with DeBoer: ‘I would just stare at him and laugh’

Vegas Golden Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves was worried when the team hired Pete DeBoer after his creative efforts to get under the head coach's skin during their earlier rivalry.

DeBoer, who replaced Gerard Gallant behind the Golden Knights' bench in January, coached the San Jose Sharks throughout the two teams' bitter battle last season. Reaves recalled a tactic he used during one game to irritate DeBoer.

"Every shift that I went out there and there was a faceoff in the neutral zone near their bench, I would just stare at him and laugh," Reaves told TSN 1050's "OverDrive" on Thursday. "I could see it start driving him crazy."

Upon hearing that DeBoer had been hired in Vegas, Reaves admitted he was worried that his behavior could come back to haunt him.

"That's all I thought about when they said, 'Pete DeBoer is coming,'" Reaves said. "That whole game was just, like, flashing through my head. I was like, 'Oh man, I'm going to go down to the coast (East Coast Hockey League) after this.'"

Despite their history, DeBoer fit right into his new job with the Golden Knights, according to Reaves.

"It was seamless," Reaves said. "He's a great coach, he's a great guy, and it was a pretty easy transition."

The Golden Knights compiled a record of 15-5-2 after DeBoer took over and sit atop the Pacific Division with the season suspended.

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Report: Seattle franchise puts name unveiling on hold

Seattle's NHL franchise won't get a name this month.

The league's 32nd team was hoping to unveil its nickname in Q1, which ends March 31, but pushed back those plans due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Sports Business Journal's Mark J. Burns.

Seattle will join the league ahead of the 2021-22 season and will play home games at the renovated KeyArena (now called the New Arena at Seattle Center).

The NHL put its season on hold March 12 amid the coronavirus outbreak. The spread of the virus has resulted in the cancellations and suspensions of leagues and tournaments across major and amateur sports worldwide.

On Tuesday, the Ottawa Senators confirmed that an unnamed player tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, marking the first case in the NHL.

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Tie Domi: ‘Scott Stevens was the biggest phony I ever played against’

Tie Domi didn't mince words while bashing Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Steven's reputation as one of the toughest players in history.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer ripped Stevens on the latest episode of the "Cam and Strick Podcast," claiming that the 6-foot-2 blue-liner was unwilling to back up his physical play.

"Scott Stevens was the biggest phony I ever played against," Domi said. "Honestly I chased that guy for years. He was such a phony, it was a joke."

Stevens, who was known for his thunderous open-ice hits, apparently refused to answer the bell despite going after Domi's most talented teammates.

"That guy used to target all the best players on my teams and I always tried to fight him and he would never fight," Domi said. "He never stuck up for anything that, you know, is what a hockey player stands for."

Domi continued his rant by telling a story from his time with the New York Rangers.

"We had a bench-clearing brawl with the (New Jersey) Devils one time and (Stevens) bear-hugged me so hard it was unbelievable. ... Him and I ended up on the bench, he was bear-hugging so hard I said, 'Let go, I'm going to beat the shit out of you,' and he wouldn't let go, he was holding on so tight," Domi said with a chuckle.

Domi is the NHL's all-time leader in fights with 333 and ranks third in career penalty minutes (3,515). Stevens sits 14th (2,785) in the latter department.

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Senators player tests positive for COVID-19 virus

A player on the Ottawa Senators tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Tuesday, marking the first confirmed case in the NHL.

"The player has had mild symptoms and is in isolation," a statement said. All members of the team have been asked to remain isolated and monitor their health.

The Senators are notifying anyone who's known to have been in close contact with the player.

The NHL suspended its season March 12 amid the coronavirus outbreak. Commissioner Gary Bettman remains hopeful that the league will be able to resume its season at some point and award the Stanley Cup.

Ottawa played its final game before the pause against the Los Angeles Kings on March 11 at Staples Center. The Senators played in Anaheim one night prior, and their contest in San Jose against the Sharks on March 7 proceeded despite Santa Clara County public health officials recommending against large gatherings.

The World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on the same date as Ottawa's most recent game. The spread of the virus has resulted in the cancellations and suspensions of leagues and tournaments across major and amateur sports worldwide.

Nearly every NHL team has formed a plan to compensate hourly workers who've lost shifts as a result of the hiatus.

Four members of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, including star forward Kevin Durant, were confirmed to have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus earlier Tuesday.

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Penguins sign college free agent Cam Lee to 2-year contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins inked college free-agent defenseman Cam Lee to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Tuesday.

"Cam is a good-skating, offensive-minded defenseman that fits the current style of play in today's NHL," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "This signing adds more young depth at defense for us. We're excited to have Cam as a member of the Penguins organization."

Lee, 23, recently completed his senior season at Western Michigan University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The 6-foot blue-liner led all defensemen on the team with 21 points in 26 games.

Through 137 games with Western Michigan, Lee recorded 18 goals and 85 points and reached the 20-point mark in three of his four seasons.

He's the nephew of former NHL netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

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Report: Jets will pay part-time employees for lost shifts

True North Sports and Entertainment will compensate part-time and casual workers who lost shifts with the NHL suspended as a result of the coronavirus.

"As a follow up to yesterday's communication, we wish to share with you today, that regardless of whether we resume play in either the NHL or AHL, True North casual and part-time employees will be paid in full for remaining Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose home games through the end of March 31 - as though the games occurred," the company said in a statement, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates.

The company has reversed course after initially stating it would not support its workers who lost shifts as a result of the hiatus.

"They work when we work," Jets chairman Mark Chipman said Thursday, according to the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen. "So, regrettably, to the extent that we're not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work."

Calgary Sports and Entertainment also announced a compensation program on Sunday for part-time workers after reportedly saying they would not pay employees.

Several other teams, athletes, coaches, and executives around the NHL have pledged to support workers who have lost shifts due to the stoppage in play.

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Flames announce compensation program for part-time workers

Calgary Sports and Entertainment have announced an income bridge support program for part-time employees who lost shifts with the NHL suspended due to growing concerns over the coronavirus.

"This program will provide part time employees who are affected by this temporary halt in our operations and are applying for and are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to receive a top up payment from CSEC, which will provide an overall benefit of up to 95% of your regular average insurable earnings (which is the maximum allowable by Service Canada), to the conclusion of the Flames regular season," the company said in a statement Sunday.

"If you are not eligible to receive EI benefits due to not working sufficient hours you will receive the equivalent CSEC top up portion," the company added.

Last week, CSEC reportedly released a statement saying that employees would be paid for their March 12 shifts because the notice of cancelation was less than 24 hours prior to the cancelation. The company added that no payments will be made for shifts canceled with more than 24 hours notice.

Raymond Lau, a former hourly employee and a longtime season-ticket holder, started a GoFundMe page on Saturday after learning that CSEC would not be compensating workers who lost shifts. In response, several Flames players pitched in on the fundraiser.

Lau said if the company ends up deciding to pay its workers, the money raised will be donated to the Flames Foundation, to a local charity, or it will be used in a way that still benefits the hourly and event staff. The campaign began with a target goal of $10,000 and over $62,000 has been raised as of Sunday.

Several other teams and players around the league have made efforts to compensate part-time workers who have been impacted by the hiatus.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Flames announce compensation program for part-time workers

Calgary Sports and Entertainment have announced an income bridge support program for part-time employees who lost shifts with the NHL suspended due to growing concerns over the coronavirus.

"This program will provide part time employees who are affected by this temporary halt in our operations and are applying for and are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to receive a top up payment from CSEC, which will provide an overall benefit of up to 95% of your regular average insurable earnings (which is the maximum allowable by Service Canada), to the conclusion of the Flames regular season," the company said in a statement Sunday.

"If you are not eligible to receive EI benefits due to not working sufficient hours you will receive the equivalent CSEC top up portion," the company added.

Last week, CSEC reportedly released a statement saying that employees would be paid for their March 12 shifts because the notice of cancelation was less than 24 hours prior to the cancelation. The company added that no payments will be made for shifts canceled with more than 24 hours notice.

Raymond Lau, a former hourly employee and a longtime season-ticket holder, started a GoFundMe page on Saturday after learning that CSEC would not be compensating workers who lost shifts. In response, several Flames players pitched in on the fundraiser.

Lau said if the company ends up deciding to pay its workers, the money raised will be donated to the Flames Foundation, to a local charity, or it will be used in a way that still benefits the hourly and event staff. The campaign began with a target goal of $10,000 and over $62,000 has been raised as of Sunday.

Several other teams and players around the league have made efforts to compensate part-time workers who have been impacted by the hiatus.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bobrovsky pledges $100K to support Panthers’ arena staff

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is pledging $100,000 toward the salaries of the team's arena workers who are being displaced during the pause in the NHL's schedule, according to NHL.com's Alain Poupart.

Bobrovsky's teammates are committed to matching the donation, and Panthers ownership will "contribute to help part-time employees compensate for lost wages due to canceled or postponed events at BB&T Center," Poupart writes.

Several other NHL clubs have also announced an intention to compensate arena staff during postponed games.

The league officially suspended play Thursday due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, following the NBA's lead. Many other professional sports leagues and events worldwide have also been canceled or postponed.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love donated $100,000 through his foundation on Wednesday to support local staff affected by the NBA's suspended season.

Bobrovsky, 31, joined the Panthers this offseason after signing a seven-year contract in July.

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Report: Rangers sign 2018 1st-rounder K’Andre Miller

The New York Rangers have inked defenseman K'Andre Miller to a three-year, entry-level contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

New York drafted the 20-year-old with the 22nd pick in 2018.

The 6-foot-4 blue-liner has tallied seven goals and 18 points through 36 games during his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Miller represented the United States at the world juniors in 2019 and 2020, capturing a silver medal at the former event.

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