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Saturday 30 September 2023
Penguins add former Senators assistant GM Trent Mann to staff
Kyle Dubas continues to remake the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ front office, hiring former Ottawa Senators assistant GM Trent Mann as player development and scouting advisor, the club announced on Saturday.
Mann was let go by the Senators in July, six months after his brother, Troy, was sacked by the club as head coach of their American Hockey League farm team.
Troy Mann’s dismissal was a shock, as he had led the Belleville Senators to a 150-117-15-7 record in 289 games behind the bench.
Dubas, the former Toronto Maple Leafs GM, was hired by the Penguins on June 1 as president of hockey operations, before also being handed the title of general manager.
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England Roundup: Aston Villa routs Brighton; bad day for Manchester
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Ollie Watkins scored a hat trick as Aston Villa routed Brighton 6-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
It was Watkins’ second hat trick of the season, having also netted three against Hibernian in the Europa Conference League in August.
An own goal by Pervis Estupinan and strikes from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz completed Villa’s win, while on-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati scored a consolation goal for Brighton.
Both teams had enjoyed impressive starts to the season, with Brighton going into the game at Villa Park third in the standings. But Villa, which started the game in sixth, came out on top to inflict a third loss in four games in all competitions for Brighton.
Watkins scored his first in the 14th minute and added a second in the 21st.
Estupinan’s own goal in the 26th gave Villa 3-0 lead going in at halftime.
Fati pulled one back for Brighton five minutes after the break, but it didn’t spark a comeback.
Watkins completed his hat trick in the 65th, with Ramsey making it 5-1 in the 85th.
Luiz piled on the misery for Brighton with a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
WOLVES 2, MANCHESTER CITY 1
In Wolverhampton, Manchester City’s winning start to the Premier League season ended in a 2-1 loss on Saturday.
An own goal from Ruben Dias and a goal from Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan snapped City’s run of winning its opening six Premier League games of the season, despite a free-kick goal from Julian Alvarez.
Three days after City’s first loss of the season to Newcastle in the League Cup, the defeat to Wolves meant back-to-back losses for City for the first time since January.
Mateo Kovacic started for City in the absence of the suspended Rodri. Josko Gvardiol was replaced by Nathan Ake in the City defense with Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips on the bench.
Wolves took the lead in the 13th minute when City gave away the ball, with Pedro Neto picking up possession and advancing from his own half to the visitors’ box, where his cross was diverted by Dias past Ederson and into his own goal.
City conceded the opening goal for the fourth time in its last five games in all competitions.
City drew level in the 58th minute when Alvarez curled a fine free-kick into the top corner of the net.
Eight minutes later, Hwang restored Wolves’ lead. The South Korea international saw his first shot blocked but teammate Matheus Cunha reacted quickly to pass the rebound back to Hwang to score with his second attempt.
CRYSTAL PALACE 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After back-to-back wins, it’s back to the drawing board for Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag’s struggling team suffered a fifth defeat in nine games as Joachim Andersen fired Crystal Palace to a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
So much for the optimistic words from the Dutch coach in his pre-game program notes when he spoke of his team taking “another step forward” following the midweek win against Palace in the English League Cup.
That victory came after United had also beaten Burnley in the league. But Andersen’s first-half strike, when lashing Eberechi Eze’s free kick past Andre Onana, put a halt to United’s recent revival and raised fresh questions its prospects this season.
This latest loss typified United’s fragility after going behind for the fourth time in six league games this term. It is also successive defeats at home in the league, following the 3-1 loss to Brighton earlier this month.
Confidence was high after United had comfortably beaten Palace on Tuesday when the Londoners’ manager Roy Hodgson had benched a number of regular starters.
Marc Guehi, Eze and Anderson were among the players back in the team that included six changes. And it was Andersen who fired Palace in front in the 25th.
Before that United had come close to taking the lead in the 12th when Hojlund flicked a shot past onrushing goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. But as he waited to see the ball cross the line, Tyrick Mitchell raced back to clear and deny the Danish striker his first goal at Old Trafford.
LUTON 2, EVERTON 1
In Liverpool, Luton earned its first Premier League win after scoring two first-half goals and hanging on for a 2-1 victory at Everton on Saturday.
Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris scored seven minutes apart at Goodison Park before Dominic Calvert-Lewin cut the lead in half shortly before the break.
Beto missed two chances to equalize for Everton by sending headers over the crossbar — first in the 75th and again in the 86th.
A week ago, Luton secured its first point in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton after having lost its first four games of the season — its first-ever in the Premier League.
Luton last played in England’s top division in 1991-92 — the season before it was rebranded as the Premier League.
The visitors outhustled Toffee defenders on both goals. Lockyer was first to a rebound off the crossbar to poke home in the 24th. Morris then got clear of a defender and volleyed in Alfie Doughty’s free kick in the 31st.
Calvert-Lewin netted from close range in the 41st. He’s now scored in three straight games.
ARSENAL 4, BOURNEMOUTH 0
In Bournemouth, Kai Havertz scored his first goal for Arsenal as his new club cruised to a 4-0 win over the home team.
As title rival Manchester City struggled in a 2-1 loss at Wolverhampton, Arsenal eased to victory with goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Havertz and Ben White. The Germany forward had not scored since joining Arsenal from Chelsea this summer.
Arsenal made just one change from the team that drew 2-2 with Tottenham last weekend as several players overcame injury doubts. Saka, William Saliba, and Declan Rice all retained their places despite unspecified knocks. Havertz came in for Fabio Vieira in Mikel Arteta’s only alteration.
Saka put Arsenal ahead in the 17th minute, nodding into an empty goal after Gabriel Jesus’ header came back off the post.
Arsenal was awarded a penalty late in the first half as Max Aarons felled Eddie Nketiah in the box. Odegaard sent Neto the wrong way to double the lead.
Bournemouth continued to cause its own problems as a poor challenge from Ryan Christie on Odegaard allowed Havertz to convert the spot-kick in the 53rd for his first Arsenal goal. White added a goal in stoppage time with an assist by Odegaard.
NEWCASTLE 2, BURNLEY 0
In Newcastle, Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak scored as the hosts secured their third straight Premier League win by beating Burnley 2-0 on Saturday.
The win extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to five games in all competitions as Eddie Howe’s team appears to have put its difficult start to the season behind it.
Burnley, meanwhile, is still waiting for its first win in the Premier League after earning promotion back to the top flight last season.
Almiron’s second goal in a week set Newcastle up for a third-successive win in the league — including an 8-0 rout at Sheffield United — after losing three of its first four games at the start of the campaign.
His 14th-minute strike was followed by Isak’s penalty in the 76th at St. James’ Park.
But for the efforts of Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and some sub-standard finishing, the margin of Newcastle’s victory might have been even bigger.
Trafford was beaten after Kieran Trippier dispossessed Aaron Ramsey and Almiron cut inside to curl a shot across the ‘keeper.
Newcastle was given the chance to double its lead when Anthony Gordon was brought down by Ameed Al-Dakhil.
Isak sent Trafford the wrong way from the penalty spot to seal the win.
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Friday 29 September 2023
Canada disagrees with inclusion of Russians, Belarusians in 2024 Paralympics
OTTAWA — The Canadian Paralympic Committee disagreed with the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in next summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
While the IPC voted Friday to partially suspend the membership of Russia and Belarus for two years, athletes from the two countries are eligible to compete as individuals and neutrals in upcoming Paralympic, world and regional championships.
Russia invaded Ukraine eight days before the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing with the support of Belarus.
“The Canadian Paralympic Committee stood behind the decision to fully suspend NPC Russia and NPC Belarus, including from participation in the Paralympic Games,” CPC president Marc-Andre Fabien said Friday in a statement.
“We continue to believe this is the right course of action to protect and defend the Paralympic values. As such, we are disappointed in the results of today’s vote and that there is not a total ban on membership and participation for NPC Russia and NPC Belarus and their athletes.
“Our position is that of solidarity with the athletes, coaches, and support staff in Ukraine who have been affected by this longtime act of aggression, which first began only days prior to the start of the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
“We believe in the power of sport to unite and make a significant impact in creating a more inclusive and accessible society, and at the centre of this is safety, security, and well-being.”
The IPC completely banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio because of host Russia’s doping scandal stemming from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
The IPC then fell in line with the International Olympic Committee in allowing athletes from those countries to compete as neutrals without flag, anthem or country colours.
But the invasion of Ukraine prompted another ban on Russians and Belarusians the day before Beijing’s opening ceremonies, with IPC president Andrew Parsons citing an “untenable” security situation in the athletes’ village and a possible boycott by other countries.
IPC members voted 74-65 (with 13 abstentions) against a full ban on Russia, and 75-56 (with 15 abstentions) against a full ban on Belarus on Friday.
Members voted 90-56 (with six abstentions) in favour of a partial suspension of Russia and 79-57 (with nine abstentions) to partially suspend Belarus “for breaches of their constitutional membership obligations.”
Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to enter athletes in team sports in Paris.
As part of their suspension, they’re also not allowed to host any event or competition involving other IPC members.
“As this was a decision taken by the IPC General Assembly, I expect all IPC members to fully respect it,” Parsons said Friday in a statement.
“With the decision now behind us, I hope the focus as we lead-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games can now be very much on sport and the performances of Para athletes.”
The 2024 Paralympic Games open Aug. 28 and close Sept. 8 in Paris.
“Our focus going forward will remain on supporting Canadian athletes to be best prepared for the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games,” Fabien said.
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Angels star Shohei Ohtani finishes 2023 with best-selling MLB jersey
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani’s soaring popularity was even more evident when it came to jersey sales.
Ohtani had the best-selling jersey in Major League Baseball this season, the first time a Japanese player finished in the top spot. The league and the Players Association released its top-20 list Friday, with rankings based on sales of Nike jerseys since Opening Day on MLBShop.com.
The Los Angeles Angels’ two-way star beat out Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Houston’s Jose Altuve, Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez, Atlanta’s Matt Olson, Houston’s Alex Bregman and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels rounded out the top 10. Trout has finished in the top 10 every year since his rookie season in 2012.
Ohtani finished in the top 10 twice before (2018, 2021), but hadn’t come close to being No. 1.
He’s the favorite to earn American League MVP honors after hitting .304, with 44 homers, 95 RBIs, eight triples and 20 steals. The right-hander also went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts on the mound.
A pending free agent, Ohtani had elbow surgery last week and was shut down for much of the season’s final month because of an oblique injury.
Ohtani and nine others in the top 20 were born outside of the United States. They represent Canada, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
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Thursday 28 September 2023
XFL, USFL announce plans to merge
The XFL and USFL announced plans to merge on Thursday, a development that could affect the CFL.
The two U.S.-based spring pro football leagues have both had several stops and starts.
The USFL had eight teams playing in four cities — Canton, Ohio; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Detroit — in the spring.
The XFL, partly owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, had eight teams in the spring: Arlington, Texas; Houston; Las Vegas; Orlando; San Antonio; Seattle; St. Louis; and Washington.
The CFL has been competing with the USFL and XFL for players.
Toronto Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and veteran linebacker Darnell Sankey played in the XFL in the spring. Sankey has since returned to the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes.
“This historic combination will anchor professional spring football with substantial capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and continue to enhance the development of the collective players, coaches and staff that are coming together,” the USFL and XFL said in a joint statement.
The leagues say more details will be released later.
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Phillies deny emotional support alligator from entering ballpark
PHILADELPHIA — A Phillies fan and his emotional support animal, an alligator named WallyGator, were denied entrance to watch Philadelphia host Pittsburgh.
Social media posts showed the gator on a leash with a harness with his name on it outside the stadium Wednesday.
WallyGator is a working emotional support alligator owned by Joie Henney, of Jonestown, Penn. The reptile has a big presence on Instagram and TikTok.
Citizens Bank Park’s policy on support animals is posted on the Phillies’ official website. It states, “Guide dogs, service animals, or service animals in training are welcome. All other animals are prohibited.”
Henney spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer last year and said WallyGator helps him battle depression and that “he likes to give hugs.” Henney said then that the gator had never bitten anyone.
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Stone on hit from Hodgson: ‘Probably the last time I’ll ever play against that guy’
It might just be pre-season hockey but there appears to be no love lost between the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings. It also looks like Mark Stone isn’t a big fan of Hayden Hodgson.
Stone and Hodgson provided some fireworks in Wednesday’s pre-season tilt after the Kings forward laid a big hit on the Golden Knights captain, which the latter took exception to.
During the second period, Stone was retrieving a puck in his own end behind the net when Hodgson charged towards him and hit him into the boards. A brawl ensued on the ice after the hit, with Stone and linemate Brett Howden going after Hodgson in retaliation.
When asked about the play after the game, Stone didn’t hold back on what he felt about Hodgson. Stone felt Hodgson was trying to make a name for himself by going after him.
“That’s probably the last time I’ll ever play against that guy,” Stone said. “Not really much of a player, so I’ll leave it at that.”
During the scrum, Stone grabbed Kings prospect Brandt Clarke and exchanged words with the young defenceman, who didn’t appear willing to engage with the veteran forward.
“I think I scared him a little, didn’t I? Honestly, I was looking around for some of their talented players to run at them, and he was really the only one,” Stone said about his exchange with Clarke. “It’s unfortunate, you’re playing against a team like that; they’re trying to make a name for themselves.”
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Wednesday 27 September 2023
Tiger-Cats sign veteran receiver Derel Walker, defensive lineman Jamal Davis II
Derel Walker is back in the East Division.
The veteran CFL receiver signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday. The club also signed American defensive lineman Jamal Davis II.
Walker, a two-time CFL all-star, appeared in one game this year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, registering three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown Week 1 against Edmonton before sustaining a knee injury. He was released by the Riders on Aug. 9.
The 32-year-old American has suited up for 92 career regular-season games with Edmonton (2015-17, ’18, ’21-22), the Toronto Argonauts (2019) and Saskatchewan, recording 474 catches for 6,681 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Walker was the CFL’s top rookie in 2015 and also won a Grey Cup that season with Edmonton.
Davis, 28, appeared in 28 games over three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, registering 49 tackles, one special-teams tackle and nine sacks, before being released on Monday.
Davis said on social media that he asked for his release.
The six-foot-four, 250-pound Davis suited up for three games with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2019 while also spending time with the Houston Texans (2019), Indianapolis Colts (2019), Tennessee Titans (2019, ‘20), Green Bay Packers (2020), Cleveland Browns (2020) and Los Angeles Chargers (2022).
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Senators centre Josh Norris takes part in regular drills, sheds yellow jersey
Ottawa Senators fans are breathing a sigh of relief after star centre Josh Norris was a full participant in workouts with the team on Wednesday.
Norris took the ice wearing a regular jersey for the workout, shedding the yellow jersey usually designated for players who are not able to take contact. However, Sens coach D.J. Smith told reporters before the workout that Norris had not been cleared for contact.
Norris, who has missed 90 games over the last two seasons with a shoulder injury, “tweaked something” at the team’s captains’ skate two weeks ago and started training camp in a yellow non-contact jersey.
Norris was initially injured in an October game against Arizona but wanted to avoid surgery for what would have been the second time in his career. But after three months of rehab, a return in January ended after three games when he re-injured the shoulder.
Norris, 24, is entering the second year of an eight-year, $63.6-million contract signed in July 2022.
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Maple Leafs’ Cowan will ‘never forget’ greeting at Kraft Hockeyville
Just two seasons ago, Easton Cowan was playing junior B hockey at the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas, Ont., as a member of the Komoka Kings.
On Wednesday, he’ll be in the same rink — but it will be just a slightly different atmosphere.
The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 2023 first-round pick, who grew up about 40 minutes northwest of St. Thomas in Strathroy, will be the centre of attention for a national television audience as the Leafs face the Buffalo Sabres in the annual Kraft Hockeyville game (Sportsnet One, Sportsnet+, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT).
“Basically the whole rink will be my family and friends,” said the 18-year-old forward, who figures he’ll have at least 25 people he knows well in the rink.
“It will be exciting and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Cowan had a goal and an assist in his pre-season debut on Monday against the Ottawa Senators, earning strong reviews from the coaching staff and teammates.
The London Knights product was reliving memories of his junior B days with reporters on Wednesday, but he experienced nothing like the scene in the morning — as tons of kids crowded around the rink to greet the players.
“It was awesome, I couldn’t believe it,” Cowan said. “I was sitting beside (fellow rookie Fraser) Minten on the bus and we were like, ‘Wow, this is crazy, we’ve got to go out first.’ It was pretty special. You kind of give back to the young guys (because) you were once a young guy. It was awesome, not a lot of words to be said. Just special and a moment I’ll never forget.”
Another Leafs youngster, Matthew Knies, noted there was nothing similar growing up in Arizona.
“I think there’s Leaf pride everywhere,” he said. “It’s fun to come out to a town like this and see how much joy it brings to the kids and just how much they cheer for the Leafs. It’s pretty cool to see. Especially coming from a smaller suburb in Arizona, it’s not such a hockey hotbed. But when you come over here, it’s cool to see that every community is so involved in hockey.”
The town of West Lorne, Ont., actually won the Hockeyville competition, but opted to play the game in nearby St. Thomas, where there is a bigger rink, with a capacity of about 2,500.
John Tavares, Max Domi and John Klingberg are the headlining veterans on the Leafs roster scheduled to play, while the Sabres have Owen Power and Dylan Cozens on the trip.
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Tuesday 26 September 2023
Report: Jets adding veteran QB Trevor Siemian to practice squad
With their starting quarterback out for the year, the New York Jets are signing veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to their practice squad, pending a physical, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Jets star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the team’s opener — pushing backup Zach Wilson into the starter’s role.
Wilson, a former first-round pick, lost the starter’s job last year before the team signed Rodgers this off-season. The Jets are off to a 1-2 start.
Siemian joins Wilson and veteran Tim Boyle in the Jets’ QB room.
The Cincinnati Bengals cut Siemian after training camp this season.
Siemian has played for seven NFL teams, including the Jets in 2019. The former seventh-round pick has made 30 career starts.
The Jets host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
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UEFA moves toward partially reintegrating Russian teams, match officials
NYON, Switzerland — UEFA made two moves toward partially reintegrating Russia into European soccer on Tuesday despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The European soccer governing body decided to try reintroducing Russian under-17 teams into its competitions this season. That’s an easing of a blanket ban on national and club teams from international play imposed within days of the Russian invasion starting in February 2022.
UEFA said it was “aware that children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults and is firmly convinced that football should never give up sending messages of peace and hope.”
The UEFA executive committee decision was announced during a Women’s Nations League game in Armenia that was the first European game handled by Russian match officials during the war.
Russian referees were not specifically banned by UEFA from its games but none were chosen until Vera Opeykina and three assistants were picked this month for the Armenia-Kazakhstan game. Kazkahstan won 2-1 in Armavir.
Travel issues around Europe for Russian citizens — facing difficulties on visas and with limited flight options — have been a factor in UEFA not appointing referees, and it was not immediately clear Tuesday where Russian youth teams could now play.
UEFA said it would now try to draft rules for including, and adding, Russian youth national teams for boys and girls — even if competitions draws already were made.
“It is particularly aggrieving that, due to the enduring conflict, a generation of minors is deprived of its right to compete in international football,” UEFA said, adding all games involving Russian teams “shall be played without the country flag, anthem, national playing kit and not on the Russian territory.”
“At the same time, the executive committee reiterated its condemnation of Russia’s illegal war and confirmed that the suspension of all other teams of Russia (clubs and national teams) will remain in force until the end of the conflict in Ukraine,” UEFA said.
UEFA last year also terminated a long-time Champions League sponsorship deal with Russia state energy firm Gazprom. The 2022 Champions League final also was moved from the Gazprom-owned stadium in St. Petersburg to Paris at three months’ notice.
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Monday 25 September 2023
Honda Indy Toronto returns for 2024 IndyCar season
TORONTO — The Honda Indy Toronto will return in 2024.
The only IndyCar race in Canada is one of 17 races on the 2024 series schedule.
Toronto’s Exhibition Place will host the 36th edition of the event July 19 to 21.
Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard won the IndyCar race this year.
The 2024 IndyCar Series season starts March 10 with the Firestone Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, Fla.
North America’s premier open-wheel series will criss-cross the continent, including a stop for the 108th Indianapolis 500 on May 26, with the championship finale on Sept. 15 in Nashville.
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Sunday 24 September 2023
Angels’ Trout to be sidelined for remainder of season with wrist injury
Mike Trout‘s season ended Sunday because of a wrist injury that limited him to one game after July 3.
The Los Angeles Angels moved the three-time AL MVP to the 60-day injured list because of their series finale against the Minnesota Twins.
Trout, a 32-year-old center fielder, fractured the hamate bone in his left wrist on July 3 while fouling a pitch off against San Diego’s Nick Martinez, returned Aug. 22 and went 1 for 4 against Cincinnati. Trout said he felt pain when he fouled off pitches, and he went back on the IL.
He had said he hoped to return late in the season.
An 11-time All-Star, Trout hit .263 with 18 homers, 44 RBIs and a .858 OPS. In 2021, he missed all but 34 games due to a right calf strain.
Los Angeles activated infielder Mike Moustakas from the injured list; selected the contract of right-hander Carson Fulmer from Triple-A Salt Lake; placed left-hander Tyler Anderson on the 15-day IL because of left knee pain, a move retroactive to Thursday, and placed infielder C.J. Cron on the 10-day IL because of lower back inflammation, a move retroactive to Friday.
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Canucks sign defenceman Sawyer Mynio to entry-level contract
The Vancouver Canucks signed defenceman Sawyer Mynio to a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday.
Vancouver selected Mynio in the third round, 89th overall, during the 2023 NHL Draft in June.
“Sawyer has gained some valuable experience since we drafted him, taking part in our summer development camp, Penticton Young Stars Tournament and our training camp in Victoria.” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement.
“We have liked the way he has looked on the ice and our staff is looking forward to helping him improve his game and skillset in the years to come.”
Mynio is coming off a 31-point regular season (five goals and 26 assists) and a run to the Memorial Cup tournament with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
The 18-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., also had one goal and three assists in 19 playoff games as the Thunderbirds captured the WHL championship.
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Saturday 23 September 2023
Why John Klingberg is supplanting Morgan Rielly on Maple Leafs’ top power-play
TORONTO — Hey, Toronto, remember Tyson Barrie?
Remember when the right-shot power-play specialist was brought in via 2019’s Nazem Kadri trade… only to be used sparingly on the power-play?
Well, the Maple Leafs have learned their lesson.
This time around, they are leaning into their new right-shot offenceman’s strengths and making him feel part of the star group, starting in training camp.
John Klingberg — the club’s $4.15-million free-agent signing and most significant blueline addition — will supplant Morgan Rielly running point on the Eastern Conference’s most dangerous power-play unit.
Klingberg quarterbacked the team’s loaded top group of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares during Saturday’s first PP practice under new assistant Guy Boucher.
Rielly led a secondary group of Max Domi, Calle Järnkrok, Timothy Liljegren, and Tyler Bertuzzi.
“He’s an experienced guy. Extremely skilled offensively and a lot of poise back there,” Matthews said. “So he’s pretty comfortable being in the position he is up top. And hopefully, we can just work together and start to build chemistry, starting with today.”
Surely, Klingberg — whose reach, vision and booming point shot are his best attributes – discussed his role with head coach Sheldon Keefe and GM Brad Treliving before inking his one-year deal with Toronto.
And while some may argue not to mess with a good thing — the Leafs’ 26 per cent power-play was second only to the otherworldly Oilers’ 32.4 in 2022-23 — the silky Swede ushers in a fiercer shooting threat from up top. Rielly is more of a distributor.
Klingberg’s shooting percentage last season was 8.9. He’s a career 6.6.
Rielly’s shooting percentage last season was 3.2. He’s a career 4.7.
Since Rielly entered the league, he has 13 power-play goals and 139 power-play points in 719 games.
Over that same span, Klingberg has 21 power-play goals and 158 power-play points in 619 games.
“His deception with [the puck] makes it very hard to defend him,” Marner said. “What makes him so good at holding the puck and making plays is he’s got a very long body, he’s very sneaky, and he can make plays around people.”
Playmaking has long come natural to Klingberg, who played forward — and loved it — until age 14 or 15, when his father and grandfather approached him with a decent proposal: switch to D.
“They thought that if I see the ice ahead of me, it’s a better way for me to play. I’ve been able to find those passing lanes and move the puck my entire career, even as a forward. So obviously, I’m happy that they convinced me to switch. I’ve been playing D now for 15 years, so that’s my game now,” Klingberg explained.
“Back then, I thought it was a bad idea… but I tried it a few times in practice and played a couple of games, and I realized pretty fast that I could still be offensive but playing from the back end.”
Under Boucher, the Maple Leafs are looking for more aggression, more net-centred havoc from its 5-on-4 attack.
For Saturday’s session, the assistant had fluorescent-orange lines sprayed on the ice to focus action between the dots, make sure the shooters were following up for rebounds. He also threw two pucks in play during some reps.
“I haven’t done that before,” Klingberg smiled. “Just gets your brain going a little bit.
“Obviously [this power-play] has been [near] the top of the league last few years. It’s very exciting for me to come in and be able to be part of it.”
Not part of the top group — for now, at least — is Rielly. (Keefe says the Leafs can always go back to Rielly on PP1; they know he works.)
Remember what happened with Barrie?
When Barrie’s confidence and production sagged early that season, Rielly approached the coaching staff and suggested Barrie take the reins for the better of the team. Rielly never complained when a young Rasmus Sandin snagged his job for a spell, either.
“Morgan’s probably one of the best people in this world just human-quality-wise, and I don’t think anything gets him put down,” Marner said of the switch.
“He wants this team to win as bad as anyone else, so I know he’s always ready for the opportunity. And this happened before — and nothing changed about his attitude at all. So we’re very lucky and fortunate to have a guy like that.”
Rielly says Klingberg’s patience and puck skills are “unmatched” on the power-play.
“It’s a great chance for our team to improve off what we did last year and for him to make a huge impact,” Rielly said. “I mean, you want what’s best for your team, and the coach wants what’s best for the team.
“Having John on the ice with those guys at any point, it’s good for the team. So, it’s a chance again for our power-player to take a step forward and improve.”
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Funeral today for voice of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John’s, N.L. The service is set to begin at 2 ...
