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- Morning Skate - Wednesday, August 3
Morning Skate - Wednesday, August 3
Morning Skate - Happy 71st Birthday Marcel Dionne
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Last Night's News 📰
KYLING(TON) IN CALGARY: On Tuesday, the Calgary Flames agreed to a two-year, $5 million contract with defenseman Oliver Kylington, avoiding arbitration with the restricted free agent. The 25-year-old had a career-high 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 73 regular season games and three points (one goal, two assists) in 12 playoff games this past year.
DOUGH FOR THE BREAD EATER: In addition, the Flames signed forward Andrew Mangiapane to a three-year, $17.4 million extension, avoiding the hearing set for Friday. Mangiapane recorded 55 points (35 goals, 20 assists) over 82 games with Calgary last season, all career highs.
LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN: Yesterday, Canada announced its roster for the 2022 World Junior Championship—for the second time in less than a year. Set to begin on Aug. 9 in Edmonton after being postponed due to COVID-19, Canada features the likes of Connor Bedard, Kent Johnson, and Mason McTavish returning, while Dylan Guenther, Shane Wright, Kaiden Guhle, and Owen Power will be among those missing from the original squad.
WJC ON NHL NETWORK: Tuesday, the NHL Network released the World Junior Championship live game schedule. Starting Aug. 9, NHL Network will air every contest across U.S. airwaves, including the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Aug. 17, semifinals on Friday, Aug. 19, and the gold and bronze medal games on Aug. 20.
WRANGLING THE HEAT: After announcing the move of its AHL affiliate, the Calgary Flames have rebranded its farm club. No longer the Stockton Heat after moving to Calgary, the team will now go by the Wranglers moniker and will share the Scotiabank Saddledome with the Flames.
Who Said It
"Obviously, I'm going to need to have a good season, and the team is going to need to have a good season as well. If the team's successful, I'm going to be successful. I had a great talk with the [team's general manager] as well with where we think it's going to be at with the team in the future. We're going to take this year to start off with and see where we're at."
Jesse Puljujärvi
Jesper Bratt
John Klingberg
"I want to show a different way of hockey. It's the most traditional sport and probably the most segregated sport we also have in the western world. I'm trying to open up that space. That can be more dynamic than what it is. We need that to attract different types of people to the sport and grow it."
Dustin Byfuglien
Johnny Oduya
J.T. Brown
"To me, the No. 1 responsibility I have as a coach here is managing our players—putting them in the position to have the most success they possibly can. Make them the best players they can possibly be. Sometimes you've got to be hard on them, and sometimes you need to lay off, and I think you're always trying to find that balance as a coach."
David Quinn
Jim Montgomery
Derek Lalonde
Answers can be found at the bottom of the email.
One Last Lap?
In the never-ending cycle of pro sports, retirement is a fundamental part of the routine. Every athlete reaches that point where they realize their time is up and it's time to step aside (unless you are Jaromír Jágr, apparently). This summer, Dustin Brown and Duncan Keith stand among the marquee names to call it a career, following closely behind the likes of Patrick Marleau and Tuukka Rask.
Just as we know that a new crop of talent will make their NHL debuts this season, there will also be some farewells. Here are a few notable veteran names who might be embarking on their swan song season.
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
It's been an uncomfortable few years in Chicago, watching team captain Jonathan Toews struggle with the age curve. Once the linchpin of three Stanley Cup victories, Toews is now mustering just 37 points while earning $10.5 million. That massive contract, along with long-time teammate Patrick Kane's deal, comes off the books after this season, and while the slightly younger Kane will still be in demand as a free agent, the 34-year-old Toews may see the writing on the wall.
Corey Perry
Corey Perry, Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
When Corey Perry does decide to retire, we will celebrate a Hall of Fame-caliber career that included a Stanley Cup, Hart Trophy, Rocket Richard Trophy, two All-Star appearances, and triumphs at just about every level of junior hockey. For now, unfortunately, he's more widely known for losing in three straight Cup Finals (as if reaching that point is somehow insignificant). Win or lose—this year could mark the end of an incredible career for Perry.
Lots of Goalies
Mike Smith, Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
If you want to enjoy a prolonged tenure in the league, you probably want to slap on some pads. Goalies tend to experience outsized longevity compared to their skater teammates, who endure more physicality and are more vulnerable to injury. But even they have a shelf life. While star netminders like Carey Price and Marc-André Fleury probably aren't done, Craig Anderson, Jonathan Quick, and Mike Smith could all be close to the end.
By the Numbers - Marcel Dionne
Hockey Hall of Famer
, considered one of the best players in NHL history, turns 71 years old today. The 5-foot-9 Canadian center, nicknamed "Little Beaver," played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers during his 18-year NHL career, most of his time coming with the Kings. Here are some other notable numbers on Dionne.
Marcel Dionne in 1984 (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images)
2 -
Overall selection by the Red Wings in the 1971 NHL Draft, behind fellow Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur (whom the Montreal Canadiens selected with the No. 1 pick). Three players from that draft class became Hall of Famers, with the other being Montreal's second-round pick (20th overall)
.
137 -
Points Dionne scored during the 1979-80 season, the most in any single season in his career. Those 53 goals and 84 assists earned him the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point-scorer.
8 -
Seasons in which
points. He had 121 in 1974-75, 122 in 1976-77, 130 in 1978-79, the aforementioned 137 in 1979-80, 135 in 1980-81, 117 in 1981-82, 107 in 1982-83, and 126 in 1984-85. Only two players in NHL history (Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux) have more 100-point seasons than him.
1,771 -
Points Dionne scored during his career. In 1,348 NHL games, he had 731 goals and 1,040 assists,
(PPG) as a pro. His points, PPG, and goal totals rank sixth all-time, while his assist total ranks 11th.
0 -
Stanley Cups he raised during his career. In his 18 seasons, Dionne never made it past the second round of the postseason and only made it past the first round three times (1976, 1977, and 1982). He finished with 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 49 career playoff games. He is the
that never won the Stanley Cup.