#2021-22 NHL Season
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Lots of big things happened Wednesday in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 7-0 romp over the New York Islanders. There were records and milestones, especially for core players Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. But not Sidney Crosby.
Amazingly, Crosby had no points in the game. But don’t think he felt anything but thrilled, especially for his longtime teammates. The relationship between Crosby, Malkin and Letang is as strong as ever.
“I don’t know. It feels like it did before Christmas,” Crosby cracked Thursday after practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Yeah, they can joke like that. The three are in their mid-30s and in their 18th season together, a North American sports record for a trio of teammates with the same team. They passed the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, who spent 17 consecutive seasons together.
There have been times when it looked as if the Penguins’ three core players might be broken up, but Letang and Malkin re-signed after the 2021-22 season. Crosby has this and one more season left on his contract.
“It feels like it’s pretty good after this long,” Crosby said of the relationship among the three. “If it can get stronger, great, but I feel like it’s been pretty good. We’ve spent a lot of time together over the years, been through a lot, and it’s pretty strong at this point for what we’ve gone though.”
They have won three Stanley Cups together — the highs — and have had first-round playoff flameouts and, last season, a seat outside the playoffs – the lows. They have been there for each other during injury and medical challenges. They have been there for each other for major individual accomplishments.
All three got misty the night the Penguins held a pregame ceremony for Crosby’s 1,000th game.
Wednesday, Letang became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five assists in one period and tied a record for defensemen with six assists overall. Malkin scored twice to pass his childhood idol, Sergei Fedorov, for second place all-time in the league among Russian-born players with 484 goals.
Crosby was happy simply to be a part of the game and witness those things.
“It’s just cool,” he said of Letang’s record. “Whether you’ve played with someone for a long time or just to witness that … There’s a lot of years that have gone into the NHL, over 100. For that never to have been done and be part of that is cool.”
And on Malkin: “He probably doesn’t get the credit that he deserves for what he’s done over his career. Just to be able to be in that company now, and to pass Fedorov, someone he idolized growing up and we all loved watching, but especially being a Russian-born player … He’s a competitive guy. He’s shown that year after year. Happy to see him move up the list.”
Valtteri Puustinen also scored his first NHL goal Thursday. Crosby has always had a soft spot for those moments among his many teammates over the years. Plus Malkin and Letang’s moments that night. Crosby loves those.
“A game like that. A game where (goaltender Tristan Jarry last month) scores. Things like that are pretty cool,” he said.
There are bound to be more moments for Crosby, Malkin and Letang to celebrate together. And moments where they simply share a laugh. All those moments add up.
“We like to keep it pretty light and probably give each other a harder time, and we do more of that than we do compliments,” Crosby said. “That seems to be the way it works out, but obviously we care a lot about each other and like to see each other have success.
“Whether it’s Tanger having a big night like that or Geno moving up the list, you’re always proud to see your teammates accomplish those things like that, and especially guys that you’ve seen do things like that over the years.”
i love my core 🥹
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Rangers lose Game 1 to Penguins in OT
Rangers lose Game 1 to Penguins in OT
Igor Shesterkinmade 79 saves but it wasn’t enough.Image: Getty Images
Perhaps the one downside of the NHL game speeding up is that more and more teams look the same. It gets harder to identify a specific style to a specific team as rosters are just packed with players who can move at a high pace and are directed to just get the fuck up the ice as quickly as fucking possible. And as arenas all…
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#2021–22 New York Rangers season#Casey DeSmith#Deadspin#Evgeni Malkin#Gerard Gallant#Henrik Lundqvist#Ice hockey#Igor Shesterkin#Louis Domingue#Madison Square Garden#mika zibanejad#new york rangers#NHL#Olympic medalists#overtime#Sidney Crosby#Sports#sumo#The NHL
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Sidney Crosby was his usual humble, appreciative self on Thursday morning after being informed that he was the Penguins' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
No, he's not overcoming a terrible injury or health issue, and he didn't have to battle adversity off the ice. But with the work he puts into his game, there's nobody else that best exemplifies a dedication to hockey. With his role as a leader on the team, an ambassador to the game and just an overall great human, nobody else best exemplifies sportsmanship. And with him having the season he's having at age 36 -- 39 goals and 45 assists in 76 games, on a mission to drag the Penguins into a postseason spot at any cost, he's a model of perseverance in his own way.
While Crosby may not quite agree with his own nomination -- the second nomination of his career, after he was a finalist in 2013 after his bounce back from concussions -- his teammates sure think he's deserving.
"It's everything he stands for," Rickard Rakell said. "It's about the leadership on and off the ice, the time he puts into getting to the top of his game. It's obviously well-deserved."
"It's the way he carries himself," added Marcus Pettersson. "He represents the game, in a way. He doesn't only represent us, for a long time he's been the face of hockey, too. The passion that he brings, and the love for the game that he brings, he's a very, very well-deserving nominee."
As far as sportsmanship, Crosby is a model of that both on and off the ice. Off the ice, he's an ambassador to the game. He never turns down media, and is almost always available to speak in the locker room after games and practices. He's generous with his time, as exemplified in a story Brian Boyle recently shared of Crosby spending nearly an hour playing bubble hockey with Boyle's young son Declan after a game when Boyle's family was in town during the 2021-22 season, and taking the time to FaceTime with Boyle's kids when they were back home in the Boston area. He's accessible to fans, with Mike Sullivan noting that he's never seen Crosby turn down a kid seeking an autograph or looking to meet him.
"Some of the small gestures for me are the ones that mean most," Sullivan said. "Not everybody gets a chance to see that side of Sid."
Crosby is just a giver too, whether it be for teammates or complete strangers. I've seen him before in front of me on the drive into PPG Paints Arena for game nights, and he's cut across lanes approaching an intersection to get next to the median to give money to a homeless person. One of my favorite stories about Crosby came courtesy of Joseph Blandisi, who recalled what Crosby did for Adam Johnson after Johnson's NHL debut in Nashville in 2019.
"I remember that the day after (Johnson's) first NHL game," Blandisi told me after Johnson's death in October. "Crosby had his tailor in the dressing room and got Johnny a suit from his tailor as a congratulations for his first NHL game. That's a story I always tell when people ask me how it was playing with Sid, I always tell the story that he bought Johnny a suit after his first game. That always stuck with me."
Crosby reflected on Letang's win last season on Thursday, after he succeeded him as the Penguins' nominee.
"Given the fact that he had gone through (the stroke) once before, and then having to go through it again and seeing over the years how hard he's worked and what he's gone through to still be playing to a level that he is, it's really impressive," Crosby said. "It was much more deserving, probably, than my nomination."
sid for masterton 🥹
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woof juicy news day for us pens fans. not only do we have sidney crosby’s Seduction of kyle dubas, now we have this article on Why Hextall Sucks (and how he pissed off even sidney crosby) + some angsty Geno details that i will only relish now that he’s still with us:
Early last summer, at his spacious home in Montreal, Kris Letang finally saw the document that secured his future in Pittsburgh.
No stranger to the multi-page, standard player contract, this one was particularly special. It was his fourth, and probably his last. It contained specific elements Letang and his agent required. One line read “six years.” Another read “$36.6 million.” The line that Letang really loved?: “full no-movement clause.”
Together, those words recommitted Letang and the Penguins, the only NHL franchise he had ever known. At 35, he would finish his career in Pittsburgh.
As word spread last July 7, Letang’s phone blew up. The flood of well-wishers included teammates past and present, various Penguins personnel he’d befriended over his previous 16 seasons, and family and friends. He took only a few calls. Among them: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, his oldest and dearest teammates in Pittsburgh, who were thrilled for him.
Crosby, the Penguins captain and franchise icon, had made it clear to general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke as far back as the 2021 offseason that he wanted the team to re-sign impending free agents Letang and Malkin so the three veterans and lifetime Penguins could take another shot at a Stanley Cup together.
Would Crosby pressure ownership to sign Malkin and Letang? “I’ve never wanted to be GM,” Crosby said. “I think they know how I feel.”
While the negotiations with Letang took longer and were more difficult than expected, Hextall’s discussions with Malkin had turned dark. Only days before the start of free agency last summer, Letang, Crosby and coach Mike Sullivan worked overtime trying to calm Malkin, who was stewing over lowball early contract offers, limited communication with Hextall and veiled public shots from Burke.
“How bad is it?” Letang asked Crosby about the state of Malkin’s emotions and the negotiations.
“Pretty bad,” Crosby said.
Hextall first irritated Malkin late in the 2021-22 season by offering a short-term contract extension to his agent, J.P. Barry. In the offseason that animosity built as weeks passed without a follow-up conversation from Hextall. On June 17, Hextall told Barry that the team’s offer was “take-it-or-leave-it,” and the next day Burke used those words to characterize the negotiations during multiple media interviews. Not surprisingly, Malkin, a sure Hall-of-Famer, went from annoyed to insulted.
For weeks leading up to and after Letang’s deal was finalized, Malkin stewed at home while Crosby, Letang and Sullivan checked in with him from afar. With no deal in sight, Malkin began speaking to his small inner circle as if his time with the Penguins was concluding.
Hextall fielded daily questions from Fenway Sports Group brass about why Malkin hadn’t yet been re-signed. Hextall was also taken aback by the barrage of calls and texts — from Penguins alternate governor Dave Beeston, from Crosby and Sullivan, from president of business operations Kevin Acklin — after reports surfaced that Malkin would test free agency. He told his agent he wanted to “show Hextall and Burke” by trying the open market.
Malkin had joked during the ’21-22 season that he was “a rich guy,” insisting he didn’t need to worry about money on his next contract. He was having a laugh, but was also somewhat serious. He had taken less than market value on two previous deals with the Penguins and expected that trend to continue on his final NHL contract.
He was about to turn 36. He wanted to play until he was 40. He sought a contract with a no-trade clause. But more than money, he needed the Penguins to show they really wanted him, something he felt was lacking, especially from Hextall. By July 11, 2022, Malkin was convinced he’d already practiced in Cranberry for the last time.
After tucking in their son, Nikita, Malkin and his wife, Anna, sat on their leather couch and looked at a summary sheet of Hextall’s latest offer: four seasons, $24.4 million total, a full no-movement clause.
Malkin was fine with what he read. The sticking point was his bruised feelings.
“They not think I good player,” Malkin wrote in a text message to Crosby.
“They not want me,” Malkin texted to Letang, who had stepped up efforts to console Malkin after signing his deal.
Malkin wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, but he no longer trusted either Hextall or Burke. Crosby and Sullivan intervened. Each spent hours on the phone with Malkin as July 11 became July 12. Careful not to tell him what to do, Crosby and Sullivan implored Malkin to “not worry about those guys” — Hextall and Burke — when making a final decision. Letang, too, jumped into the mix. Together, two-thirds of the Big Three and their coach brought up every special moment, funny story and great time they could remember to remind Malkin what they had built in Pittsburgh. Malkin paced from room to room at his condo in Fisher Island, finally beginning to feel wanted again.
As early morning shifted to late afternoon, Malkin had heard enough to make a decision. He called his agent, Barry, with instructions to re-engage with Hextall and take the offer. Upon calling, Barry was surprised to find a receptive Hextall.
After hanging up with Barry, Hextall bragged to his assistant GM, Chris Pryor, and a handful of staffers, that he “got him on my terms — that’s how you negotiate.” Malkin informed Crosby, Letang and Sullivan that he was staying. When talking to Crosby and Letang, Malkin sounded happy for the first time in a long time.
“We win next year,” Malkin told his friends. “Big year get back Cup.”
also these bits 🥺
After McGinn was put on waivers, he played a memorable final game with the Penguins, blocking shots and setting up Crosby for a dramatic tying goal in the third period. In the locker room afterward, his soon-to-be-former teammates named him player of the game, eliciting a massive roar from the group that could be heard through closed doors.
Hextall traded Teddy Blueger during the same trip. In the middle of a dinner with the players’ fathers, arranged by Crosby at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Blueger learned via social media that he had been dealt to Vegas. He and his dad abruptly left the restaurant. Crosby rushed to console his now former teammate and after a few minutes returned to the dinner. “That’s not how we do things in Pittsburgh,” he said. Crosby remained mostly quiet the rest of the night.
…Long after most of their teammates had left the locker room after the demoralizing 5-2 defeat, the Big Three remained.
Malkin was emotional, his voice rising as he spoke. He had been dreaming of his beloved parents, Natalia and Vladimir, returning to Pittsburgh for another postseason run. Instead, they’d stay in Russia.
Letang, in the adjacent corner of the room, spoke thoughtfully and contemplatively. He had been through hell and back all season, and the Penguins’ loss was another blow.
Then there was Crosby, who sits at the center of an arc of connected lockers. The Penguins captain, with gray hairs that seemed to grow more plentiful throughout the season, sat stoically. After finishing interviews, Crosby sat by himself, staring straight ahead before slowly walking out of the locker room.
sorry need to add the header too because i would totally watch this telenovella
#wowwwwwww#i just… the teddy detail really slayed me#sidney crosby#evgeni malkin#kris letang#teddy blueger#pittsburgh penguins
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MEDIA MANAGEMENT — JACK HUGHES (PART TWELVE)
notes: i’m finally caught up on this series! just in time for the last regular season game!
previous: eleven
next: thirteen
y/ndevils00
liked by jackhughes, lhughes_06, and 72,810 others
y/ndevils00 if you’re allergic to sappiness, you may wanna keep scrolling tonight!
first of all, i’m so proud of ALL my boys tonight! all 5 of our goal scorers, the assisters, and the ones who just played their asses off tonight!
now is where it gets sappy!
my jacky: you broke a 22 year old franchise points record tonight. YOU did that. i always knew you would do it, and i’m so grateful that i was there to see it happen. you’re my (real) best friend, my love, my heart, the father to my cat, and the best hockey player i’ve ever seen (sorry boys). the talent that you possess is constantly leaving me awestruck, and i can’t wait to see what you achieve in the future. i can’t imagine the past 3 years without you, and i hope i never have to live a future without you either. i am so unbelievably proud of you. congratulations, my sweet boy. lil satan and i love you to pluto! <3
my lukey: my little (not so little) brother for the past 3 years. for some context, i met luke when he came to a devils game literally the same month i started working for the team. jack introduced me to him and lukey and i hit it off. i ended up sitting with him at the game, we exchanged numbers, and i adopted him as my own little brother very quickly. when luke was chosen in the 2021 draft, i cried tears of joy; but those tears were nothing compared to the ones i shed tonight. my baby brother made his nhl debut tonight and i couldn’t be happier for him. i look forward to seeing you absolutely kick ass and show everyone in this league how incredibly talented you are. congratulations on your debut, smush! i love you! <3
p.s. rasmus dahlin, i am in your walls. stay away from my boyfriend.
tagged jackhughes and lhughes_06
user did she just call luke “smush”?! that’s so cute, i need the reason asap
y/ndevils00 no real story behind it! we just smush/squish each others cheeks a lot! also, we watched finding nemo for our first facetime movie night and he took up calling me “squishy” like dory called the jellyfish.
john.marino97 they really do do it often. i’ve counted 12 times in the past 2 days
jackhughes i love you to pluto, sweet girl. thank you for being by my side to celebrate this achievement. i’m so thankful that i get to spend life with you ❤️
y/ndevils00 you’re so obsessed with me
jackhughes PARTS of you, for sure
y/ndevils00 you perv! there are innocent eyes present! @/lhughes_06
jackhughes i meant your heart!
lhughes_06 we have thin walls, i know you’re lying.
lhughes_06 @/y/ndevils00 also, why would you tag me?!
lhughes_06 thank you squishy! this was really sweet but can you stop crying now?
y/ndevils00 you didn’t say you love me, so no
lhughes_06 i love you!
y/ndevils00 well now it just seems forced. i hope you can sleep through my wails and tears
john.marino97 congrats hughesy! so happy for you! and congrats little hughesy! you did great!
jackhughes thanks bro!
lhughes_06 thanks man!
y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes @/lhughes_06 yeah, you guys are so siblings
john.marino97 @/y/ndevils00 did you think they weren’t?
y/ndevils00 idk i was just kinda hoping that maybe ellen actually switched jack at birth and he’s not actually their son but i’m their daughter
jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 that’s the oddest way to say you love my family. you’re such a little nutcase, i love you
lhughes_06 @/y/ndevils00 you weren’t even born in florida like jack…
y/ndevils00 @/lhughes_06 you’re a brat
dawson1417 LFG BRO! SO PROUD OF YOU HUGHESY!
jackhughes THANK YOU BRO! APPRECIATE IT!
dawson1417 congrats luke!! smashed it tonight, dude!
lhughes_06 thanks dude! looking forward to playing more games with you!
trevorzegras HOLY SHIT CONGRATS BRO’S! KILLING IT! can’t wait to play against you @/lhughes_06
y/ndevils00 no.
jackhughes thanks bro! hope your game goes well!
y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes no.
lhughes_06 thanks z! excited to kick your ass next season 🔥
y/ndevils00 @/lhughes_06 yes.
y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras is officially banned from my comments until he apologizes to me. any more comments about or from him will be deleted.
trevorzegras what did i do now?
y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras it’s more what you WON’T do.
trevorzegras is this seriously because i won’t dress up as ken to see the barbie movie with you?
y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras blocking you. deleting your number. lasering off our matching tattoo.
user63 they have matching tattoos?!
y/ndevils00 @/user63 not anymore.
lhughes_06 @/user63 yeah it’s the moon and saturn
user84 am i the only one who thought she and trevor just genuinely didn’t get along?
y/ndevils00 @/user84 i feel like a lot of people think that, so i’m only gonna say this once so he can’t use it against me: trevor is actually one of my closest friends! i love him very much and i THOUGHT he loved me. if you scroll back to the summer on my account you’ll actually find loads of posts with him! we just have a funny way of showing our love but i’m actually very grateful to have a friend like him 🖤
trevorzegras 📸
y/ndevils00 @/trevorzegras i take it all back. i hate you, troll doll.
trevorzegras did you just insult my hair?! TAKE IT BACK!
_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras she literally called you a “brainless bimbo” and “the human equivalent of cat zoomies” the other day on the group call and your HAIR is where you cross the line?
_quinnhughes so proud of the both of you 💙 congrats guys
lhughes_06 thank you quinner ❤️ love ya bro
jackhughes thanks quinny! love ya ❤️
y/ndevils00 my baby boys <3
jamie.drysdale i wanna know what was running through your mind when jack looked straight at you when you took the arrival picture
jackhughes she yelled “shit! fuck! abort mission!” and dove behind the equipment boxes
lhughes_06 she scared the actual photographer and almost made them break their camera
user37 why does luke look like he has no emotions in the third slide?
y/ndevils00 it’s the hughes dead eye stare! they can all do it VERY well because they’re all emotionally dead inside <3
nicohischier proud of you guys! excited to play with you more @/lhughes_06 and can’t wait to see if you’ll break your own record next season @/jackhughes
jackhughes thanks cap!
lhughes_06 thank you cap!
y/ndevils00 he will!
#media management series <3#jack hughes#jack hughes x reader#jack hughes blurb#jack hughes fic#jack hughes imagine#luke hughes#luke hughes imagine#nj devils#new jersey devils#nhl blurb#nhl imagine#trevor zegras imagine#trevor zegras#faithlynn’s insta edits <3#faithlynn’s writings <3
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Players & team front office responses
The Florida Panthers hosted the league’s first Pride Night in 2013, and the promotion gradually spread across the league until all teams were wearing rainbow-colored jerseys and using Pride Tape during the 2021-22 season without issue. (x)
Oct 2023:
An NHL spokesperson told ESPN that Pride tape had been allowed for years as an exception to its stick tape restrictions, which otherwise would allow players to use only black or white tape. The league said the current ban on Pride tape was to prevent teams and players from using it as an "end around" to violate the new uniform policy.
Stickers and ribbons are also banned from player uniforms, although coaches are allowed to wear ribbons.
...
Commissioner Gary Bettman: "What happened last year was that the issue of who wanted to wear a particular uniform on a particular night overshadowed everything that our clubs were doing. So what we said, instead of having that distraction and having our players have to decide whether or not they wanted to do something or not do something and be singled out, we said, 'Let's not touch that,'"
ESPN
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly: “I think the primary point is that nothing’s really going to change in the sense that our clubs will continue to celebrate these special initiatives and these causes and do a lot of cause messaging around those events,” he said. “The only difference this year is we’re asking the clubs not to employ use of the players on the ice during the game. As you know, probably, we had some issues last year with players feeling uncomfortable in supporting certain causes and we didn’t want our players to be put in those situations going forward.”
Sportsnet
"Game/practice restrictions don't interfere with players' ability to support in other settings. In fact, we encourage them to. (We) just don't want to put other player(s) in a tough spot simply because they don't choose to join."
Toronto Maple Leafs
Morgan Rielly - A
“It’s unfortunate. But I think as players and as people,” Rielly said Tuesday. “We’re going to continue to support those people and those causes that we think need it or are worthy and very deserving of it. Whatever statement was made is fine, but as players, we’re going to continue to offer support and be allies. We want to be a part of this community.”
...
Rielly, for one, won’t be deterred from speaking in support of marginalized groups.
“I wish players had the right to kinda do more and be more involved,” Rielly said.
“I’m going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to those communities and those groups that want that and need that. As players, we’re going to continue to be involved, pretty much no matter what the league says.”
Brad Treliving - GM
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said that both he personally and the Leafs as an organization have always been supporters of the 2SLGPTQ+ community. Memo or no memo.
“Nothing’s gonna change that,” Treliving said. “We’ll figure out our ways that we make sure that we do the right things and support as we always have and stay true to what we believe in. There’s always challenges in in the world, but that doesn’t affect how we support.”
sportsnet
Mitch Marner - A
“That’s something that I think a lot of people in our organization take pride in and have supported that community for a long time,” Marner said on the Jeff Marek Show Tuesday. “I know I have a lot of friends, I’ve got family, so that’s something close to my heart. I think I’ve said before, but everyone in this world should be able to express themselves as best as possible, and love who they love. They shouldn’t be looked at any differently… It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. We’re still obviously going to support those communities, and still got a lot of love for them.”
Sportsnet
Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid - C
"I've expressed disappointment in not being able to wear the various jersey or the tapes ... whether that's Pride tape or pink tape," McDavid said Tuesday.
"Is it something that I'd like to see back into place one day? Certainly," McDavid added.
ESPN
"In terms of a league standpoint, is it something that I'd like to see put back into place one day? Certainly. You know, but that's not the way it is right now," he told reporters at Rogers Place.
...
"I've commented on this before. I think everyone knows how I feel," said McDavid, a three-time MVP of the NHL.
"I've enjoyed all the nights that we've celebrated here in Edmonton, whether that's Pride night or military night or Indigenous night, all the various nights that we've had and had a chance to celebrate. I've always enjoyed them. I can't speak for anyone else or the league."
Zach Hyman
McDavid's teammate, Zach Hyman, also used the word disappointing when asked about the ban on Pride tape but suggested he won't stop supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community.
"We'll be able to support them individually, but collectively that's out of the players control. Disappointing, but out of our control," Hyman told reporters.
"It's out of our hands. I know personally I enjoyed wearing the Pride jersey, the Pride tape, the military jersey, we had Willie O'Ree night, Indigenous night, all those great things that we support."
CTV News Edmonton
Nashville Predators
Ryan McDonagh - A
"It's a fine line in today's world and today's sports culture," McDonagh said before the Predators faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in their 2023-24 season opener at Amalie Arena. "You want to be your own self, be your own individual, represent yourself. But you also represent your company, your brand and your employer —everybody that you're working for.
"I think it's a work in progress as far as what's right and what's not. Ultimately the individual has the final say. I think that's what you found out last year with guys that made certain stances on things. That has to be continually discussed ... letting people make their own choices."
...
McDonagh said there are other ways players can show support for causes, though. For example, the rule doesn't prohibit players from wearing supportive shirts in arenas.
"Just because I'm not given the opportunity to wear a jersey doesn't mean I can't speak out for something I believe in," he said. "One opportunity closes, another opportunity opens.
"If you feel strongly for something, there's a will and a way to support anything you want in this world."
The Tennessean
Calgary Flames
Mikael Backlund - A
"I mean, it's their decision," said Flames captain Mikael Backlund.
"We're going to support Pride any way we can, other than the tape, and we're going to follow the rules and do what we're told."
Rasmus Andersson
"I mean, it sucks," said Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson.
"It's something that's close to my heart and something I would love to support but, you know, it is what it is and we've got to find other ways to support it."
CTV News Calgary
Jonathan Huberdeau - A
“I fully supported it, and still support it,” Huberdeau said. “For me personally I still support it, and if I get the chance to do it, I’ll do it.”
Sportsnet
Vancouver Canucks
Patrik Allvin - GM
"Decisions like that, that’s something we follow the NHL, what they recommend,” said Allvin. “I think this organization has done a lot of good things in the community…we will continue to do that. But we definitely follow the league rules and what they’re telling us to do.”
Quinn Hughes - C
"I preached it before, last year in this locker room, this organization, with Pride, will always support that,” said Hughes. “It starts at the top of the organization with the Aquilinis on down. Whether we’re wearing the tape or the jerseys, it’s something that we’ll always support. We may not be doing anything on the ice but we’ll still be doing things off the ice to support it.”
Ian Cole - Canucks’ NHLPA union rep [fr??!]
"I know the reputation that this organization has,” said Cole. “When I came here, it was a really great selling point of this organization — how they approach these things…I think it is very important.”
...
“I think that the NHL wants zero controversy, which inevitably gave them controversy,” said Cole. “Unfortunately, they are the iron fist there and what they say goes…They’re the ones that make the rules. Unfortunately, as employees, we don’t get a ton of say in it. But I really respect and like what the Vancouver Canucks have done.”
[sidenote: this dude's got his own horrendous serious issues (tw: sa) so consider this the worst person you know said something passable. Also he had the NHLPA's support when he was suspended for the allegations so it makes me wonder if he gets at all that they need to take a stand here.]
Vancouver Is Awesome
Winnipeg Jets
Josh Morrissey - A
"It's always been something that I've tried to embrace, the different theme nights and, obviously, the inclusivity around the game of hockey," Morrissey said. "Try and have everyone feel comfortable to either play or watch or be a part of what I think is the greatest game on earth. So that won't change, I guess, as a goal personally to try to grow the game, regardless of what the memo says."
Kevin Cheveldayoff - GM
"I do know that this organization takes great care in wanting to be inclusive and the theme nights," Cheveldayoff told reporters in Winnipeg. "What the specifics of the memos are, I really can't speak to. I don't really have that yet.
"I'll have to obviously get briefed on that a little bit more. But I do know that the commitment from an organization standpoint is we'll do everything we possibly can."
CBC
San Jose Sharks
Anthony Duclair
"I know a lot of guys are supportive of that. I have no problem in the past to do it. It sucks that’s not going to be part of the league moving forward,” Duclair, who has worn both Pride jerseys and used Pride tape on his sticks in previous years, told San Jose Hockey Now. “It’s a little weird to me, a little puzzling to me.”
...
“For me, you’re also banning Black History Month,” the San Jose Sharks winger, of Haitian descent and also an outspoken member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, opined. “I think we’re taking a step backwards, to be honest.”
...
All these guidelines might affect Duclair, who famously, before Martin Luther King Day during the 2020-21 season, wore skates that featured, per The Athletic, “the letters ‘BLM’ to support the Black Lives Matter movement, a raised fist logo and the phrase ‘Change Hockey Culture.’ The left skate also [featured] the logo of the Hockey Diversity Alliance.”
Duclair isn’t sure if such on-ice statements are now banned during Black History Night.
"That’s something I’ll have to ask,” he said. It sure looks like it though.
But one thing that Duclair knows, the NHL, is once again, falling behind other leagues, by not opening the door for new fans to feel welcome.
“That’s why the NBA, NFL, leagues like that, they’re always growing year after year, always getting new fans, new viewership,” he said.
San Jose Hockey Now
Pride Tape
The Pride Tape team is extremely disappointed by the NHL's decision to eliminate Pride Tape from any league on-ice activities.
The league has used language in recent days which would prohibit the tape from any proximity to NHL Hockey. We hope the league - and teams - will again show commitment to this important symbol of combating homophobia. Many of the players themselves have been exceptional advocates for the tape.
For the last six years we are grateful for the clubs and their players' support and visibility for inclusion in hockey. The NHL's amplification and global influence has been integral to Pride Tape connecting with players, parents, coaches, officials, fans at all levels in over 40 countries.
Seven years ago, Pride Tape was born out of adversity as a grassroots hockey initiative that remains resilient, and optimistic about our plans with hockey clubs, organizations and their partners at every level.
Thank you to everyone around the world who has had the courage to speak up for inclusion and stand up to the idea that Hockey is For Everyone. Despite this setback, we are encouraged for what lies ahead based on our recent conversations from every corner of the sport.
You Can Play
If Hockey is for Everyone, this is not the way forward.
It is now clear that the NHL is stepping back from its longstanding commitment to inclusion, and continuing to unravel all of its one-time industry-leading work on 2SLGBTQ+ belonging. We are now at a point where all the progress made, and relationships established with our community, is in jeopardy. Making decisions to eradicate our visibility in hockey- by eliminating symbols like jerseys and now Pride Tape immediately stunts the impact of bringing in more diverse fans and players into the sport.
We continue to be encouraged by our ongoing work and conversations with individual clubs, where we are working collaboratively to ensure Pride Nights remain vibrant events, providing visibility and a message of inclusion to the entire hockey community all year-round. We know this issue is not within the hundreds of dedicated staff within individual clubs who go to work daily to create a culture of belonging for everyone, everywhere in the hockey ecosystem.
We call on all allies, players, fans, and coaches at every level in hockey to amplify their voices and join us in this important conversation and to remind the NHL #WhyThisMatters. This includes the NHLPA and the NHLCA. Hockey is safer and better when more of us belong.
#saw some player quotes and went news googling and well thought i might as well share all the ones i found#words are just words. I'm curious to see what action comes of these quotes#nhl garbage league#hockey is for everyone#toronto maple leafs#morgan rielly#brad treliving#mitch marner#edmonton oilers#connor mcdavid#zach hyman#nashville predators#ryan mcdonagh#calgary flames#mikael backlund#rasmus andersson#jonathan huberdeau#vancouver canucks#quinn hughes#ian cole#winnipeg jets#josh morrissey#san jose sharks#anthony duclair#pride jerseys#pride tape#florida panthers#gary bettman#hockeyblr#tw homophobia
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kensington hughes
Kensington Grace Hughes
Number: 3
Class: Freshman
Position: F
Height: 5”5
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
S/C: L
NHL: PP
Prev School: USNTPD
NHL
• Selected 2nd overall (first round) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft.
International
• 2024 World Junior Championship - Gold Medal, 11 G, 7 A, 7 GP
• 2023 World World Championship- Bronze Medal, 8 G, 6 A, 7 GP
• 2023 U18 World Championship- Gold Medal, 9 G, 8 A, 7 GP
• 2022 U18 World Championship- Silver Medal, 7 G, 6 A, 6 GP
Freshman Year (2023-24)
•First Year at Boston Collage, 17 G, 11 A, 21 GP
Before Boston Collage
• Played two full seasons with the USNTDP.
• Totaled 215 points (135-80--215) in 126 games with the USNTDP, the most points and goals ever in USNTDP history.
• First on the team in scoring in 2021-22 with 77 G, 40 A for 117 P in 61 games with the U17 and U18 team.
• Scored 110 points (78-40--118) in 63 games with the U18 team in 2022-23, First on the team in scoring.
Personal
• Born July 3, 2005
• Daughter of Jim and Ellen Hughes
• Has three siblings, Quinn, Jack, Luke.
• Intended major is Musical Arts
•Was accepted into Boston College, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Princeton University, Harvard University, University of Wisconsin.
#KensingtonGraceHughesAu#kh3#jack hughes x reader#nhl x reader#jack hughes#jh86#luke hughes#quinn hughes#quinn hughes x reader#will smith hockey x reader#ryan leonard#gabe perreault#boston college#pittsburgh penguins#sidney crosby x reader#evgeni malkin#luke hughes x reader#qh43
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Mitchell Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marner led the NHL in takeaways with 104, becoming one of just seven players to reach the century mark since the statistic was introduced in 1997-98, as the Maple Leafs improved to seventh League-wide in team defense (2.68 goals-against per game). The team had finished 19th overall in 2021-22 at 3.07. Only four NHL forwards received more ice time than Marner, who logged a career-high 1702:06 (21:17 per game). Notable in that ice time was duty on the Maple Leafs' top penalty-killing unit; he ranked second among Toronto forwards and 13th among all NHL forwards in total shorthanded time (182:59). In the 25 years ice time has been officially tracked, the only players with 99+ points and that amount of total shorthanded time in a season are Marner and Paul Kariya (Anaheim, 1998-99). Marner, a first time NHL Awards finalist, is vying to become the second Maple Leafs player to win the Selke exactly 30 years after franchise legend Doug Gilmour (1992-93) became the first.
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I always breathe easier when Geno's back in the U.S. ...
From TH, September 5, 2023
The KHL is setting a scary precedent with the handling of Russian prospects who were drafted by NHL teams.
A timeline, to catch you up:
June 2015: Flyers draft goalie Ivan Fedotov in the seventh round. Fedotov develops into one of the top non-NHL goalies in the world.
2021-22 season: Fedotov signs for a year with the KHL club CSKA. CSKA is owned by a Russian state-run oil company.
February 2022: Fedotov says publicly in interview at Olympics that he intends on moving to the NHL
May 7, 2022: Fedotov signs one-year deal with Flyers
Early June 2022: Fedotov arrested by Russian law enforcement for suspicion of evading military service and sent to remote military base in eastern part of the country
July 1, 2022: Fedotov becomes sick and rushed to hospital. His lawyer said that Fedotov had been given some kind of injections on the base, and that he and Fedotov's family weren't allowed to see him in the hospital. Fedotov is released from the hospital after a couple of days, but misses the entire 2022-23 season while at the military base. His contract with the Flyers slides a year to 2023-24.
July 8, 2023: Fedotov's KHL club CSKA signs him to a two-year extension, giving him two competing and active contracts.
Aug. 14, 2023: The IIHF completes its investigation of the competing contracts and rules in favor of the Flyers, saying that the CSKA contract is invalid. The IIHF gives CSKA a one-year ban on signing players for international transfers. Fedotov is also suspended from international competitions for four months, which is irrelevant given that Russia isn't competing in national tournaments anytime soon. The IIHF suspended Russia from international play after the invasion of Ukraine. The IIHF suspension of Fedotov doesn't affect his ability to play in the NHL.
Sept. 1, 2023: CSKA has its regular season opener ... and starts Fedotov. KHL president and former Penguin Alexei Morozov releases a statement essentially saying that because they disagree with the IIHF ruling, they're going to do what they want: “The KHL accepted this roster in accordance with our central database, therefore Fedotov can play. Neither the KHL nor the club agree with the IIHF’s decision, which infringes the constitutional rights of a Russian citizen to work. Russia’s prosecutor general spoke in defense of the player, and sent a message to the Russian Hockey Federation, the club and the league about the consequences of violating his right to work and insisting that Fedotov be allowed to take part in the championship.”
Fedotov allowed five goals in a loss in the opener.
That same day, the IIHF fined CSKA 5,000 Swiss Francs (roughly the equivalent $5,600 USD) for playing Fedotov, and says that if Fedotov continues to play, CSKA will be subject to further sanctions.
Since then, CSKA has played two games. Fedotov has been dressed and listed as the backup for both. Those are still violations, even though he didn't start.
To sum things up: The KHL is going rogue and setting a dangerous precedent. This is the first time the league has totally disobeyed the IIHF, and it'll be interesting to see how the IIHF moves forward here.
The Penguins have three prospects in Russia: Goaltender Sergei Murashov, drafted in the fourth round in 2022 and the Russian junior league's top goaltender last season; forward Kirill Tankov, drafted in the seventh round in 2021 and playing in the Russian second league after missing all of last season with a broken neck; and forward Mikhail Ilyin, drafted in the fifth round this summer and starting the year in the KHL.
NHL signing rights don't expire for players drafted out of Russia because of the lack of a formal transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia. The Penguins hold onto their NHL rights indefinitely.
Russian teams playing dirty to try to keep their top players isn't new. Evgeni Malkin had to escape to get to Pittsburgh in 2006. His club Magnitogorsk convinced him to play one more year in Russia after he was drafted by the Penguins to show his loyalty to the city and country. He did that, but the next summer team officials followed him to his home and coerced him into signing a one-year deal. The team had his passport, so he couldn't leave on his own. Magnitogorsk had an August tournament in Finland to start the year, so Malkin had his passport, and he hid in Finland for a few days until he could get a U.S. visa and flight to Los Angeles.
With Russian teams and the national teams not playing in other countries now because of the bans due to the invasion of Ukraine, prospects like Fedotov don't have the same opportunity to escape while in another country.
As an aside, this whole situation shows why the hope some fans had to ban Russian players from the NHL because of the invasion of Ukraine is totally misguided. ... You have the league and its government-owned teams doing all they can to keep one guy sticking around at home, even sending him to a military base in Siberia for a year. Giving the KHL all their top players back would be a dream for Russia and the KHL.
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tom’s really going for it tonight huh?
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jaylen knox vail was born june 22, 2003 making him a cancer. jaylen is a junior at the university of michigan. jaylen is vancouver canada.
jaylen also so plays hockey for umich. he’s number 65, he plays defense. jaylen played for world juniors with connor bedard, the two came quick friends, jaylen taking him under his wing.
jaylen and connor are still friends to this day, jaylen always looking out for him.
jaylyn met his now boyfriend, luke hughes, during freshman season. they were stall mates. and sometimes d-pairs. jaylen manly paired with ethan edwards.
jaylen was drafted in 2021, 29th overall (first round) to the new jersey devils. jaylen doesn’t plan to join the nhl till after college.
jaylen and luke started dating on may 18, 2022. so the two have been dating 1 year, 10 months and 20 days.
jaylen and luke are doing good (ish) with long distance. calling each other everyday when they have time.
jaylen takes trips over to new jersey when he can, also taking trips to chicago to see connor, ever since he broke his jaw.
today, the couple are working on their long distance and trying to make it work. but still happy and healthy.
#jaylen vail au#luke hughes#male!oc#mlm#bxb#umich au#umich#umich hockey#nhl au#new jersey devils#jack hughes#quinn hughes#nico hischier#dawson mercer#hockey
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drawn arrows unseen
part 16 / previous installments/tags
The news about Connor breaks before world juniors. The tone of the draft year coverage immediately shifts. Before, Connor was undersized but built for hockey. Now Connor’s too short to stick as an NHL centre. Before, Connor was the undisputed 1OA. Now mock drafts are showing Fantilli or Carlsson going first. When Connor tries a lacrosse goal in Canada’s embarrassing loss in their opening game, suddenly there’s a bunch of hot takes about whether Canada can win with omegas on the team.
Mason’s furious about it. He watches every game, willing Canada on. Willing Connor on. Trevor tries to talk some shit and ends up baiting Mason into a bet. “When USA wins you have to wear my jersey for arrivals,” Trevor grins at him, crinkle-eyed, obviously not taking this seriously at all. “Or the other way around.”
“Yeah, it’s fucking on,” Mason growls at him. Canada’s going to pull this off, with Connor leading the way. Mason’s not going to have to wear a goddamned Team USA jersey. Trevor’s probably wouldn’t even fit him anyway.
Mason leaves Connor a screaming unhinged voice note after Connor wins the quarterfinals in OT with the slickest goal Mason’s ever seen. And then they win the whole thing, and Connor gets the same MVP award Mason got last summer, and Mason’s so unbearably proud of him it’s easy to focus on that and not on Adam Fantilli or whatever alphas Connor might be playing alongside.
Especially since Connor’s rooming with Zelly. No worries there. doesn’t steal my bars, Connor texts him, but he probably doesn’t know the capital of France. It’s one of the only texts Mason gets during the tournament. Connor’s busy.
The day after Canada wins gold, Trevor reminds Mason to bring his jersey to the game. “Gotta pay up,” he laughs, like it’s no big deal.
As Mason takes his jersey from world juniors off its hanger on his wall, he considers forgetting it instead. Absolving Trevor. But a bet’s a bet. And Trevor doesn’t give a shit anyway, laughing his fool head off about it when he meets Mason at parking to pull Mason’s jersey on over his gameday suit. Mason gamely mugs for the camera as they walk in, but he’s glad to reclaim his jersey and hang it safely in his street locker.
After the game, as they’re getting ready to go out, Trevor reaches in and snatches it off its hook. He starts to tug it over his head. Mason yanks on the sleeve to stop his momentum. “What the hell?”
“Just for fun.” Trevor pops his face through the neck of Mason's jersey, grinning his stupid grin.
Mason’s not going to get into a tug of war with a bratty omega. “Are you going to make him stop?” he asks Jamie instead.
“It’s not a big deal.” Jamie blinks his mild eyes earnestly at Mason. ‘He’s having fun, and it doesn’t bother me, so you don’t have to worry.”
Mason tries to unclench his fists. If Trevor’s mate doesn’t mind him wearing another alpha’s jersey, unbonded Mason doesn’t have any room to complain. It’s not like Mason even wants to see Connor wearing his jersey. He likes Connor in his own Canada jersey, side by side with Mason. Winning together.
When Jamie makes him pose for a picture at the restaurant, Mason wonders if Connor will see. But he never hears anything from Connor about it.
[never forget that this bet is canon]
The hot takes don’t stop after Connor torches world juniors. Dom at The Athletic comes up with a model to analyze the value of presented omega prospects compared to other prospects. The story includes an analysis of Jack Hughes’ performance and how his stats exploded partway through the 2021-22 season after it came out that he and Nico Hischer were bonded.
Mason hates the suggestion that Connor needs an alpha to play his best hockey. Connor can handle himself. Nobody knows that better than Mason.
Shayna Goldman writes a companion piece examining five different bottom-feeder teams as potential destinations for Connor Bedard based on their unbonded alphas. Mason skims it and of course his own shitty team is on there. The story notes that Anaheim’s short on alphas, with only Commer and Fowler left after Verbeek sold everyone off last spring, so he’s probably not going to take a chance on an omega in the 2023 draft.
A week later, Shayna retweets a link to the story with this:
Rumor has it there’s another alpha who’s presented in sunny SoCal, and Team Canada says he’s got great chemistry with a possible 1OA pick.
xoxo
It’s stupid to hope that Connor will get drafted to Anaheim and everything will be okay. But Mason hopes anyway. Connor on his line forever, the two of them putting this lousy franchise on their backs and dragging it into a new era. Connor, living in Anaheim, his draft year behind him, finally eighteen. Mason could finally tell him everything.
As the season rolls on and the Ducks get worse and worse, he texts Connor after especially bad games with a joke about the draft lottery. Sometimes Connor responds. Sometimes he doesn’t.
(next)
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