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1709761164 NYCFC stadium project passes city mandate Club unveils The Cube

NYCFC stadium project passes city mandate; Club unveils “The Cube” entrance

NYCFC's long-standing ambition to build a stadium across the five boroughs has taken another step forward with the unveiling of a special design element.

On Wednesday, the New York City Planning Commission voted in a binding and unanimous vote to build the stadium. The plan will now go before the New York City Council, which will hold a public hearing and then a vote. If the motion is approved and the mayor agrees, there will be an appeal process. NYCFC's plan is expected to survive all of these hurdles unscathed. Once that happens, the club will be “shovel ready” to begin construction.

“We have been on parallel paths over the last 12 to 18 months,” NYCFC CEO Brad Sims told The Athletic. “The political process is one, the design process is the second and the third is the actual clearance of the site and the redevelopment of the land. … We’ll be done by late summer,” Sims said. “All three of these processes are running in parallel and very positively.”

To celebrate the landmark, Sims and NYCFC shared updated renderings of the main entrance to the planned stadium, being built in Willets Point, Queens, next to Citi Field, home of the MLB's New York Mets, and near Billie Jean King National is to become a tennis center, home of the US Open.

When fans arrive on public transport, they will encounter what the club calls “The Cube” – a seven-story-tall, LED-lined entrance to the club’s new stadium.

NYCFC stadium project passes city mandate Club unveils The Cube

Image of The Cube entrance (courtesy of NYCFC)

“You go through the whole process and think about how can we differentiate ourselves?” Sims said. “Not only among the soccer-specific stadiums in North America, but we also stand out among the other sports venues in the New York area. … I think our grand entrance through the Cube will be unlike any other feeling of arrival, of welcome at a sporting event that any of our fans have ever seen.”

The entrance will feature 11,000 square feet of LED lighting in the cube, capable of projecting videos, photos and graphic elements.

In total, the stadium project is expected to cost $780 million (all privately financed) and have a planned capacity of 25,000 people. That capacity would make NYCFC's stadium the seventh-largest among soccer-specific stadiums in the MLS, alongside Hudson River rivals New York Red Bulls.

Sims said the neighboring Mets are “good partners” with regular dialogue as the two teams work together on parking plans, game day operations, schedules and ways to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood.

“When you're in our stadium, you'll know you're in New York City,” Sims said. “Whether you're sitting near the field looking up and out, whether you're in the concourse or wherever you are in the stadium, you'll know you're in New York City.”

1709761159 999 NYCFC stadium project passes city mandate Club unveils The Cube

The stadium will be close to stops on the New York City Subway, the Long Island Rail Road and several bus lines (courtesy of NYCFC).

Sims compares the feel of the Willets Point location to that of Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs), Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox), Craven Cottage (Fulham FC) and Selhurst Park (Crystal Palace) – stadiums on both sides of the Atlantic that fit in a neighborhood atmosphere. The club is also particularly pleased with the location's accessibility via public transportation, particularly the ease of travel from Long Island.

The area where the stadium and surrounding development will be built currently consists largely of empty lots that previously housed a number of auto repair and parts workshops. The area on the other side of Citi Field is mostly a parking lot, although Mets owner Steve Cohen has proposed a plan to convert much of the area into parkland, restaurants and community spaces.

As part of the planning process, the club spoke with other MLS teams that have recently built stadiums. They want to know what worked, what they would do differently, and what lies in between. During NYCFC's first trip to St. Louis this past weekend, Sims was treated to a three-hour tour of their new stadium.

“I think our fans are going to love it,” Sims said confidently.

NYCFC was originally announced as an MLS expansion club in 2013 and debuted in the 2015 season with the idea that the team would strike a deal to build its own soccer stadium in New York City. Until then, the plan was for the club to play at Yankee Stadium. It has taken longer than expected to finalize a land deal and begin planning for the stadium, and the club has enjoyed a somewhat nomadic 'home experience' in recent seasons. In the 2022 season alone, NYCFC played “home games” at five venues: Yankee Stadium (the team's primary location, home of the New York Yankees), Red Bull Arena (home of rival New York Red Bulls), Citi Field, Belson Stadium (home of the St. John's University) and even BMO Stadium (home of LAFC).

NYCFC still plans to debut at its new stadium in 2027.

(Photo above courtesy of NYCFC)

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1709758466 A spring break in Winnebago to meet my friend Lauzon

A spring break in Winnebago to meet my friend Lauzon

NASHVILLE | Mexico, Florida, Virginia Beach – these are the type of destinations that are usually popular when it comes time for students to take advantage Spring break.

• Also read: NHL leader in hits: Jérémy Lauzon has found his niche in Nashville

The sun, the beach, the waves, it's good. But if your friend's brother plays in the NHL, there may be a more attractive option. Especially when it's in Nashville. Once the circuit's best-kept secret, the state capital leaves no one indifferent, especially because of the excitement of Broadway Street.

By describing this festive atmosphere, Émile Lauzon convinced a dozen friends to accompany him to Tennessee to see Predators defenseman Jérémy at work.

“Émile came last year during spring break. When he returned, he told us that we absolutely had to come too, explained Cédrik Cabana, one of the members of that group of happy men who met in front of Robert's, one of the street's legendary institutions. So we’ve been preparing for this trip for a year.”

And if you're going to make it, you might as well make it big. Within the group, five decided to travel in a recreational vehicle, the good old Winnebago.

“We left Sherbrooke, where my parents live, in my dad’s Winnebago. “We drove all the way to Columbus, where we stayed overnight in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart,” said friend Cédrik. The next day we walked the rest of the way.”

And where have all these wonderful people slept since arriving in Nashville?

“If you travel by motorhome, you will spend the night at a campsite. The others are at my house. Above my garage I have a kind of bachelorette compartment that can accommodate three or four people,” explained Jérémy Lauzon after the Predators’ morning practice.

Family and friends of Jérémy Lauzon in Nashville.

Photo Cedrick Cabana

In one piece

Except that, if our calculations are correct, there are six. As a colleague pointed out to the Preds defender, it shouldn't smell like roses.

“I haven’t dared to look yet,” Lauzon said loudly.

In addition to the game against the Canadians, the group attended the game against the Avalanche. On the way home, they stop at the University of Kentucky to watch a college basketball game. They will also stop in Pittsburgh to watch the game between the Penguins and Capitals.

They will return to Quebec just in time to continue their session at Laval University. Until then, make the best of it. Message to her friend: They are all still in one piece. But there is someone who no longer has his glasses.

“We’re going to bed early,” laughs the young Cabana, referring to the first rays of sunshine. It's even better than what Émile told us. Also, at Predators games we are in a lounge where we see the players walking by. We get free food and alcohol.”

By the way, guys, beer at Robert's is $2.50. I'll tell you the same thing.

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1709757046 NHL trade deadline Analyzing 5 players to avoid on the

NHL trade deadline: Analyzing 5 players to avoid on the market

The trade deadline is a time for the league's best teams to improve their chances by taking useful pieces away from the league's worst teams.

But it doesn't always work that way. Buyer beware.

Every deadline comes with dangers to avoid, red flags to watch out for, and snake oil to stay away from. The players who aren't worth the price of admission because the price is too high for what they bring or because their addition could be a legitimate disadvantage. The players whose reputation exceeds their performance. The players who contribute to why their current bad team could be so bad.

This doesn't mean that the players listed here are worthless or unsalvageable – it just means that you should be careful. This is especially true after starting last year's roster with Vladislav Gavrikov, who exceeded expectations with the LA Kings. He looked like a stone on the team's blue line. Oops.

This mistake provided a learning experience. While the new version of the model should limit such errors (a greater emphasis on eating minutes versus efficiency), it would still be wise to approach this year's “buyer beware” list with a little more vigilance. And while a projection is always a helpful starting point, a big change in context can drastically change a player's value. Fit is very important and it is more than possible that everyone on this list can find a new and better life with a stronger fit with their new team.

However, caution is still key. Based on Chris Johnston's recent trading forum, these are the five names I would be cautious about acquiring.

Deadline Day is often about supply and demand. Because of this, prices for some assets seem to be much higher than some would expect based on the player's skill alone. With the defenseman market appearing to be thin, particularly on the right side, this could be Arizona's gain.

In previous seasons, Matt Dumba may have been a strong contender. He had a certain offensive talent and a certain finishing ability. He was an excellent puck player who could handle difficult minutes well. Dumba was a true top four guy and guys like that are usually worth the price.

However, Dumba hasn't looked great with the Arizona Coyotes this year. There were already some signs of that in his final season with the Minnesota Wild, and his work with the Coyotes seemed to be confirmation of that.

This year, Dumba played the second few minutes with the Coyotes and scored 47 percent of expected goals and 43 percent of actual goals. Compared to his teammates, he underperformed in both categories for the third straight season.

In earlier years, his harsh treatment could be used as an excuse. Or that his raw defensive numbers were solid. In his move from Minnesota to Arizona, which also plays a smaller role, Dumba's weaker relative numbers have remained consistent. This suggests that you need a lot of support or an even smaller role to be successful.

He's also not quite the puck mover he used to be. Dumba can still lead a charge effectively and is good at denying entry. But when it comes to getting and leaving pucks in his own zone, his game has taken a real step backwards over the last two seasons. In 2021-22, he had 10.2 disposals per 60, 66 percent of which were controlled – both above the 80th percentile. Over the past two years, both his workload (6.1 and 9.0 strikeouts per 60, respectively) and his efficiency (43 and 45 percent controlled, respectively) have declined. The frequency with which his calls led to exits has also fallen significantly.

These underlying signs are not promising and point to a player who could be closer to a passenger than a driver these days. That can still be a useful player, and it's possible that Dumba can still play top-four minutes if he's partnered with someone who can fill the current gaps in his game.

But the question is whether he can become a true top-four defender on his own – and whether he will cost that much. If so, it's probably best not to overpay for a guy who isn't sure where he really belongs on a competitive depth chart. It's worth it more for the brand name than the quality.

NHL trade deadline Analyzing 5 players to avoid on the

Can Matt Dumba become a true top-four defenseman on his own? (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

I know, I know, I know. Everyone loves Frank Vatrano and his season was an incredible story. He scored 29 goals and 48 points in 61 games, giving him one of the most productive offensive seasons of all time. Vatrano is a good player who has always had a strong finishing instinct and makes sense in a protected role as a center forward with six goals.

The concern is what the price might be for a player whose point total could drive up his perceived value. At the right price, Vatrano can be a smart addition, especially with another year left on his contract. However, there are some warning signs that suggest caution regarding its acquisition costs.

Vatrano has scored 29 goals this season, but a lot of that has to do with his power play effort. He is Anaheim's primary shooter and has earned big in that role, scoring 4.6 goals per 60. That's an excessive shooting rate of 25 percent, which would be difficult for any player to maintain. In the last three seasons, Vatrano has taken half as many shots with the man advantage. Some may cite playing with better players on a top unit as a reason for the increase – but that's not a role he would get on a playoff team. For this reason, expectations regarding his goal tally need to be tempered.

Perhaps the bigger problem is Vatrano's play without the puck. It's worth taking his on-ice numbers with a grain of salt given his location, but it's not exactly ideal that the Anaheim Ducks have been superior and scored more points with Vatrano on the ice the last two seasons. That's probably because he plays too high up in the lineup, which is exactly what makes him look like a much more productive striker than he probably is. It shows that while he can perform in these extended minutes, his defensive acumen means the team is a net loss.

This limits Vatrano's suitability as a top-six striker. If teams understand the risks and it doesn't cost as much as the going rate, then no harm will be done. He may be a good choice as a protected scorer. However, there's a good chance its surprising score will drive up the acquisition cost. And if he's given a larger role than he can handle, acquisition costs may not be the only concern.

Teams love a veteran presence with championship experience. Coming from a former captain who is a resilient right-back? Sounds too good to be true.

That might be the case with Erik Johnson given how the season went for him. Johnson faces the weakest competition in the league and yet with him on the ice the Buffalo Sabers have conceded 0.36 expected goals against per 60 and 0.83 goals against per 60 more. This is incredibly bad when you consider how protected his interactions have been so far.

With not a single assist for him all season, Johnson's value depends on lockdown defense. It's always been that way for him, but at 35 years old, it feels like he's left the game behind him this season – a decline that only really became noticeable last year.

Johnson takes on a huge burden by getting the puck out (without control), and it's possible that by easing that burden he can focus on the little thing he does best without the puck. As long as he plays a very protected role, he could be passable enough to make his intangible element worthwhile. If the price is low enough, it's not the end of the world.

Still, it seems like there are better ways to improve defensive depth than with Johnson, whose play this season has left much to be desired – with and without the puck.

1709757042 871 NHL trade deadline Analyzing 5 players to avoid on the

Erik Johnson doesn't have a single assist for the Sabers this season. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

When it comes to fit, Dominik Kubalik is a prime example of how important it is. He had a miserable season with Ottawa, whose goals-against rate (28 percent) and expected goals-against rate (39 percent) when he's on the ice are well below what they are when he's off. He was a huge liability and didn't produce much of anything special with just 13 points in 55 games. When it comes to advancing possession, he doesn't shoot much, doesn't pass much, doesn't check much, doesn't put the puck up the ice much, and doesn't help much in his own game. That's consistent with how he looked in his final season with Chicago: like a low-calorie scorer who doesn't do much else.

The silver lining was what he was in Detroit. Sure, he was still a liability on defense, but he did enough offense to make up for it while scoring 20 goals and 45 points. He created average chances and looked like a capable midfielder.

The difference? He spent a lot of time with Dylan Larkin, where he scored 1.87 points per 60. Without him it was 1.29. Compare that to the mix of bottom-six talent he played with in Ottawa, and it's easy to see why he doesn't score like he did in Detroit.

And there lies the dilemma. Kubalik only seems useful when playing with other experienced players. This goes back to his time in Chicago alongside Patrick Kane. He's someone who can complete plays, but doesn't often start or advance them. That's a good skill in the right situation, but is that the right situation for a contender if it means they're exposed higher up the lineup? Probably not. So a team either has someone who can play too high up in the lineup or a player who can't do much and is a liability further down the lineup. A poor man's Vatrano.

This makes Kubalik a very difficult candidate for a playoff team. Maybe he's working on a protected goal line with a game-winning center who can keep up without the puck, but that seems like a very rare combination and probably goes against what many teams expect from a bottom six.

Kubalik probably won't be an expensive signing, but he doesn't look like someone who would work well in a contending squad.

I understand the appeal of Andrew Peeke. He is 1.80 meters tall, weighs 100 kilograms and is a tough player who stops a lot of shots and hits a lot of people. He also doesn't receive as many penalties as some defenders of his ilk. This type of defender is one that many teams covet for the playoffs.

From 2021-22 to 2022-23, his expected goals ratio wasn't that bad compared to his teammates, just slightly below average. The fact that his actual rate was between 42 and 44 percent is not a good sign, but his less dire relative numbers mean he may be able to compete in a better environment.

That's the best case scenario: that he can keep up.

However, the worst-case scenario makes him truly risky, and that starts with what he's done this season.

It's never a good sign when one of the league's absolute worst defensive teams doesn't have room for you in the top six. Peeke has spent many nights as a healthy backup and has seen his role shrink significantly compared to last season. He only played 21 games and those games weren't pretty. He has scored just 35 percent of expected goals for a relative expected goals ratio of minus 1.21, the worst in the league. This is difficult on a bad team in the simplest role possible. If Peeke wasn't good enough for the Blue Jackets of any team, how likely is it that he can be good enough for a true contender?

The other problem is that things look worse when it comes to actual goals. This has been consistent in each of the last three seasons. In the last three years, his goal percentage has been 40, 32 and 42 percent – all lower than the team average. During that span, no defenseman was outscored more than Peeke at 36.6 percent, and only four defensemen were worse compared to his teammates, with Columbus' goal differential per 60 dropping by 0.63 when Peeke was on the ice.

His data collected by Corey Sznajder doesn't paint a particularly flattering picture either. As expected, he offers next to nothing in the offensive zone, in the defensive zone he doesn't move the puck often or well, and he can only stop controlled attacks. All indications are that what we're seeing from Peeke's on-ice numbers probably isn't a complete mirage, especially considering his usage.

Based on his projected net rating, Peeke is worth minus-9.2 goals – one of the absolute lowest ratings in the league. Maybe he can figure it out somewhere else with more structure and support. It's just not a risk I would take, especially given its price.

– Data on Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick and all three zones

(Top photos of Matt Dumba, Erik Johnson and Frank Vatrano: Christian Petersen / Getty Images, Jeff Curry and Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

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Coaches in the NHL From Heroes to Zero

Coaches in the NHL: From Heroes to Zero

And seven! That's the number of National Hockey League coaches who have fallen by the wayside in the league so far this season. The last in line, Lindy Ruff, who was released by the New Jersey Devils on Monday, was a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy last year.

• Also read: And the peak is…

For Jacques Lemaire, the title of Coach of the Year was a poisoned chalice. He humorously asked voting journalists from the electronic press to forget his name when voting.

The latter awarded him the Adams Trophy in his first season on the bench of the New Jersey Devils, 1993–1994. Inspired by the outfit of a rookie goalie named Martin Brodeur, the Devils reached the Prince of Wales Association final against the New York Rangers. New York won in overtime in the seventh game. The less young will remember the exuberance of the Rangers scorer, who shouted at the top of his lungs “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau, Matteau, Matteau!” when the Abitibian colossus scored the winning goal in the final game.

The following year, the Devils won the Stanley Cup for the first time. They then missed the playoffs. Then, after two good seasons followed by a quick playoff exit, Lemaire lost his job.

Injuries and unreliable goalkeepers

When Ruff arrived, the context at the Devils was different. The team began a comprehensive rebuild. The first two seasons were difficult. But last year, without us really seeing it coming, the Devils had a 112-point season. Fallers defeated the Rangers in the first round, eliminating them in seven games, and then defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the next round.

The situation has worsened this season. The absence of defender Dougie Hamilton hurts. Center player Jack Hughes missed ten games.

Finally, the goalkeepers are terrible.

Nico Daws, Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek, who is currently nursing an injury, have an efficiency average of under .900. With an overall batting average of .891, they rank second to last in the NHL in this regard. A team can't aim for the Stanley Cup with stats like that.

Nevertheless, general manager Tom Fitzgerald hopes to be able to save the season. Heading into Tuesday's games, the Devils were eight points shy of a playoff spot with 21 games remaining. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the Devils to close this gap.

Good luck, Travis Green!

Roy didn't leave the inn

Patrick Roy's Islanders have been doing better for ten days. On Tuesday night, they earned their fourth straight win, defeating the Saint Louis Blues. This meant they came within four points of making it into the playoffs

The defense has strengthened under Roy's leadership, but the offense isn't quite as broken yet.

To be honest, Patrick didn't inherit a great team. The islanders are not young. With an average age of 29.6 years, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL.

In addition to 24-year-old defender Noah Dobson, the other members of the core team are 26 years old and older. Matthew Barzal will turn 27 in May and Bo Horvat will turn 29 in April. Kyle Palmieri turned 33 in early February and Brock Nelson will reach that age in October.

Starting goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin will celebrate his 29th birthday in August, while his backup goalkeeper Symeon Varlamov will celebrate his 36th birthday in April.

There will be a lot more work to do on the Long Island side soon.

Things are heating up for Keefe

Finally, let’s talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Their 4-1 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday is a bad omen for a potential playoff showdown. Frankly, the Toronto team is in a bad place. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander continue to rack up goals and points, but the team continues to go in circles. For his part, John Tavares is showing signs of slowing down.

The status of Sheldon Keefe, who is set to sign a two-year extension next year, has been called into question more than once this season. If the Leafs stumble again at the start of the playoffs, it might be too much for him.

This is the life of a coach. They are hired to be fired.

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Sources Oilers acquire Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Ducks

Sources: Oilers acquire Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Ducks

  • Sources Oilers acquire Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Ducks.png&h=80&w=80&scale=crop

    Greg Wyshynski, ESPN March 6, 2024, 1:53 p.m. ET

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      Greg Wyshynski is ESPN's senior NHL writer.

The surging Edmonton Oilers have acquired forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Edmonton traded its 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick to Anaheim, which will become a fourth-rounder if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup this season. The Oilers also received a seventh-round pick from the Ducks.

Both Henrique and Carrick are unrestricted free agents this offseason.

Henrique, 34, is a versatile veteran who can play in both midfield and left wing. He has scored 42 points in 60 games this season, an average of 17:35 minutes. He can play on the power play and is an effective penalty killer.

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  • Sources Oilers acquire Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Ducks.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center

Henrique scored 20 goals three times with the Ducks and three more with the New Jersey Devils, his original team. In 2012, he sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals with an overtime goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers.

Henrique was the No. 7 player on ESPN's deadline trade board. His cap hit was $5.825 million.

The 31-year-old Carrick is an effective checking forward with 11 points in 61 games this season and an average of 12:37 of ice time.

The Oilers have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL for months after coach Jay Woodcroft lost his job after 13 games following a slow start. Under coach Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers have a 35-11-1 record and a five-game winning streak.

Given that success and his team's limited cap space, GM Ken Holland has talked about making moves to increase depth. The addition of two veterans in Henrique and Carrick fits that mindset.

The Ducks have been shopping Henrique for three seasons. They placed him on waivers in 2021 before welcoming him back after no team claimed him.

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And the summit is The Montreal Journal

And the summit is… | The Montreal Journal

The number of firings among NHL coaches this season – seven – is not a record. But it's not far. The mark of nine was reached in the 1981-1982 season. The league had 21 teams at the time.

• Also read: Coaches in the NHL: From Heroes to Zero

In 2019-2020, eight pilots did not return to base – Pat Burns' favorite expression at such times. I actually still see him on the Saturday morning that Michel Bergeron was fired by Phil Esposito from the New York Rangers.

Pat was in disbelief. On that first day of that month in 1989, he thought it was an April Fool's joke. He had gone to his office to make a phone call. When he returned, he had a dejected expression on his face.

It was very true.

Bergie had just lost his job with two games left in the regular season. The Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in four games by the Pittsburgh Penguins and it was bye, bye, Phil!

Six coaches crowned

Among the nine changes made during the 1981-1982 season, the most significant was the one made by the Vancouver Canucks. Harry Neale returned to his general manager's office to hand over leadership of the team to Roger Neilson.

Despite trailing 30-33-17 – at which point the top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs – the Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced tougher opponents. They were defeated by the New York Islanders, who won the third of four Stanley Cup championships.

Ultimately, six coaches won the Stanley Cup when they were hired during the season. They are: Dick Irvin Sr. with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1932; Al MacNeil with the Canadian in 1971; Larry Robinson with the New Jersey Devils in 2000; Dan Bylsma with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009; Darryl Sutter with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012; and Mike Sullivan, also with the Penguins in 2016.

And the summit is… | The Montreal Journal Read More »

Tarasenko was traded by the Senators to the Panthers for

Tarasenko was traded by the Senators to the Panthers for two draft picks

Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Senators on July 27, who will retain 50 percent of his salary and become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The 32-year-old forward has 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 57 games this season and joins a team that has already had seven double-digit scorers, led by Sam Reinhart (45), Carter Verhaeghe (30) and Matthew Tkachuk (21).

“I’m not thinking about it,” Tarasenko said on February 12 about trade speculation. “I think about the game tomorrow, I think about things today. You know, if you focus too much on the past and the future, you just lose focus on the present, lose excitement and get stressed every time. I might think about it.” Sometimes yes, but mostly I try to put it aside and prepare for the upcoming games.

Florida (43-16-4) leads the league with 90 points and has won six straight games since Jan. 22 with a record of 16-2-0. The Panthers host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, NBCSP).

Tarasenko will try to help the Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year after losing five games to the Vegas Golden Knights last season as they advanced to the finals after finishing second Wild cards from the Stanley Cup playoffs were drawn from the Eastern Conference.

“Vladimir is a highly skilled and experienced scorer who provides our club with another dynamic offensive option as we begin the remainder of the season,” said Panthers General Manager Bill Zito. “We are excited for him to join our team and compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

Tarasenko was selected in the first round (No. 16) of the 2010 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues and has 615 points (287 goals, 328 assists) in 732 regular season games for the Senators, New York Rangers and Blues, as well as 64 points ( 44 goals, 20 assists) in 97 Stanley Cup playoff games.

Tarasenko won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

NHL.com independent correspondent Callum Fraser contributed to this report

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Devils The coaching change is not yet paying off

Devils: The coaching change is not yet paying off

Interim coach Travis Green will have to wait to get his first win at the helm of the New Jersey Devils after his team was beaten 5-3 by the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center.

Lindy Ruff's successor tried to quickly get the organization back on track at home, but fans were treated to the Nick Cousins ​​​​show instead. The former Montreal Canadiens forward recorded his first double since January 18, 2020.

• Also read: Anthony Mantha is moving to the Golden Knights

• Also read: A Playstation-worthy Canucks trade?!

It was the Panthers' little Panther who broke the ice early in the game. He struck again in the third period and was again served by Matthew Tkachuk. The latter received a third assist on the net from Evan Rodrigues on the power play.

Supported by Jack Hughes, who made a rare start on the wing, the Devils put up some resistance. The young American scored on the power play and became Colin Miller's accomplice midway through the third period.

Sam Reinhart scored his 45th goal of the year into an empty net.

Smith increases in value

In Pittsburgh, forward Reilly Smith scored three points in the Penguins' 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The name of the veteran, who won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights last spring, is generating a lot of conversation in transaction rumors. The Ontario native won't become a free agent until the summer of 2025, but his profile remains of interest to several teams.

Smith added a goal and two assists to his scoring record and totaled 29 points in 54 games this season. If the Penguins want to sell, he could be their second-most popular winger behind Jake Guentzel.

Jesse Puljujarvi failed to score in his first eight games with the Penguins and finally scored his first goal with the team. The 25-year-old right winger was alone against goalkeeper Jet Greaves in the first third and didn't miss his chance by hitting him under the glove.

The fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft fought hard to return to the National Hockey League and initially enjoyed a professional trial contract in the American Hockey League with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. After proving himself with the school club, he signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh in early February.

Tristan Jarry was solid in front of the cage for the Penguins with 33 saves.

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