Columbus Blue Jackets News Clipsbluejackets.nhl.com/v2/ext/MediaClips/2015/CBJ Clips May...

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Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips

May 27‐29, 2015

Columbus Blue Jackets PAGE 02 Columbus Dispatch: Around the NHL: Goloubef’s loyalty to Jackets results in two‐

year extension Lake Erie Monsters/Prospects NHL/Websites PAGE 04 ESPN.com: Seattle arena investor Chris Hansen says no hockey‐first plan yet PAGE 06 Sportsnet.ca: Teen with Down Syndrome gets surprise prom date PAGE 07 Sportsnet.ca: NHL coach rumours: Devils, Sabres, Sharks search PAGE 09 Sportsnet.ca: ‘Five or six’ teams call on Ottawa goaltenders PAGE 10 ESPN.com: Seven players who could change the West finals PAGE 13 Sportsnet.ca: Lead investor wants Las Vegas NHL team by 2017 PAGE 14 Sportsnet.ca: Q&A with new NHL salary site General Fanager PAGE 17 Sportsnet.ca: Top 15 NHL unrestricted free agents of 2015 PAGE 23 USA Today: Ducks‐Blackhawks, Lightning‐Rangers both reach thrilling Game 7

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http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2015/05/29/goloubefs‐loyalty‐to‐jackets‐results‐in‐two‐year‐extension.html

Around the NHL: Goloubef’s loyalty to Jackets results in two‐year extension

By Aaron Portzline – May 29, 2015

Blue Jackets defenseman Cody Goloubef signed a two‐year, $1.5 million contract extension Thursday, forgoing a shot at unrestricted free agency this summer.

It’s a one‐way contract that will pay him $700,000 in the 2015‐16 season and $800,000 in 2016‐17.

“I’ve grown with these guys and with this organization,” Goloubef said. “This is where I wanted to be. (Unrestricted free agency) wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I like what we’ve got going on here, and it’s going to be a winning team.”

Goloubef was granted Group VI free agency status by the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement because he was 25 years old, had played more than three pro seasons (five, actually) and had been in uniform for fewer than 80 NHL games (53).

It was assumed by some observers that Goloubef would seek a more certain opportunity elsewhere.

“Maybe some people are surprised,” he said, “but I had a really good exit interview after the season. … They like my game, and we both agreed that there’s still room for me to improve and contribute even more.”

Goloubef, 25, played in a career‐high 36 NHL games this season, totaling no goals, nine assists and a plus‐12 rating that was tied for second‐best on the team.

Still, with Jack Johnson, Fedor Tyutin, David Savard, Ryan Murray, Kevin Connauton and Dalton Prout on the roster, there is no guaranteed spot.

The club acquired Justin Falk before the trade deadline in March. A restricted free agent, Falk’s new contract — a two‐way deal — could be announced as soon as today.

“Cody has prepared to work and show what he can do to earn his way,” assistant general manager Bill Zito said. “He’s big, he can skate, and he has improved each season. I think he’s ready to continue evolving and improving even more.”

Sabres hire Bylsma

A week after losing out on Mike Babcock, the Buffalo Sabres went with another experienced Stanley Cup winner by hiring Dan Bylsma to be their coach.

The hiring of the former Pittsburgh Penguins coach was delayed briefly because the Sabres were required under NHL rules to compensate the Penguins for hiring Bylsma, who still was under contract with Pittsburgh after being relieved of his duties a year ago.

The teams agreed on a third‐round draft pick.

Bylsma spent five‐plus seasons in Pittsburgh, where he won a franchise‐best 252 games and was the NHL’s 2011 coach of the year, before being fired a year ago.

Buffalo was forced to restart its search last week after losing out on Babcock. The former Detroit coach turned down the Sabres’ offer, instead signing with Toronto.

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The hiring leaves the New Jersey Devils as the NHL’s only other team with a coaching vacancy.

Sharks hiring official

The San Jose Sharks made it official: Former New Jersey and Florida coach Peter DeBoer is their new coach.

The hire ends a lengthy search that started on April 20 when the team and Todd McLellan announced that he would not be back for an eighth season.

DeBoer has coached seven seasons in the NHL and made the playoffs once, when the Devils lost to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup finals in 2012.

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http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/12956770/seattle‐arena‐investor‐chris‐hansen‐says‐no‐hockey‐first‐plan‐yet

Seattle arena investor Chris Hansen says no hockey‐first plan yet

By Associated Press – May 27, 2015

SEATTLE ‐‐ Throughout the process, Seattle arena investor Chris Hansen has remained open to the idea of a hockey team being the first tenant for a proposed facility in the city's stadium district even if his focus is on basketball.

One problem: Even with indications that Seattle could be a viable expansion market for the NHL, no one has come to Hansen's group with a proposal for a hockey franchise to be the initial occupant.

The Mariners' Safeco Field and the Seahawks' CenturyLink Field, rear, could be joined in Seattle by a basketball and hockey arena if investors are able to get their plan approved and secure at least one franchise. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

"We've had a lot of informal discussions with people about this, but us or the city have yet to be presented with any kind of offer. I mean any kind of even basic offer that would be the opening point for negotiating something," Hansen said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"I just want to make that clear. No one has come forward and made an offer to do this in a way that would be unacceptable or acceptable. There hasn't been any negotiation around the terms of how this could be changed. We've taken a very simple approach: Don't make it worse for us and don't make it worse for the city and use your own creativity and just come back to us with something that is fair and we don't have anything back yet."

Hansen spoke on a number of topics during the lengthy interview, including the recently completed final environmental impact statement, the prospects of Seattle landing an NBA franchise and the prospects of a competing arena in the suburb of Tukwila.

But the lack of formal discussions around a potential hockey franchise was surprising, considering his original memorandum of understanding with the city of Seattle and King County was approved more than two years ago and immediate NBA prospects have dimmed.

The original MOU calls for arena construction to begin only after the acquisition of a basketball franchise. A revised MOU for a hockey‐first scenario would need to be approved by local governments and likely would require more private investment.

Hansen acknowledged having discussions with Victor Coleman, the head of a Los Angeles‐based real estate company who owns properties in Seattle's stadium district and is known to be interested in trying to bring in hockey. Those discussions have yet to yield a formal proposal.

"It's not my job to talk Victor or another perspective owner into doing this. It's my job if they would like to do it to be as accommodating as possible in helping find a way to be able to see hockey come first," Hansen said.

While most of the focus has been on hockey prospects, Hansen remains committed to trying to get the NBA back to Seattle. Despite statements from NBA commissioner Adam Silver about expansion not being a priority for the league, Hansen said he remains optimistic, saying the chances of Seattle not having a basketball team "in the next five to 10 years, pretty close to zero."

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"It's going to require patience. The league is going to expand when they're ready to expand or another opportunity will come up with a team to move that is unforeseen at the time," Hansen said. "Our job is not to speculate or pin the league down on when this will happen, our job is to have an arena plan ready so when this inevitability pops up we'll be ready to go."

Hansen said he doesn't feel pressured by a recent proposal for a privately funded arena in the suburb of Tukwila, about 12 miles south of his potential facility. Hansen said even if plans for that arena continue to gain momentum, he'll continue to push forward with his plan, citing the work his group did on determining what they believe was the best location for an arena in the region.

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/teen‐with‐down‐syndrome‐gets‐surprise‐prom‐date/

Teen with Down Syndrome gets surprise prom date

By Emily Sadler – May 27, 2015

The “Nobel Prize for kindness” has been awarded to retired Swedish hockey player Mathias Tjarnqvist.

At least that’s what Sofie Ruther’s father, Joakim, thinks should happen.

Tjarnqvist will be taking Sofie, an 18‐year‐old high school senior who has Down Syndrome, to the prom after Sofie was having trouble finding a date to the dance.

“To experience the prom again is fantastic fun, there was no doubt [in my mind] when I was asked,” Tjärnqvist, 36, told Helsingborgs Dagblad, a Swedish regional newspaper.

The story spread quickly in Sweden last week, and the Ruther family has received many well wishes as Sofie prepares for her belle‐of‐the‐ball moment. She’ll be wearing navy blue, by the way, and Mathias says he’ll be sure to match with his suit.

The Swedish hockey star actually has a long history with the family and even used to babysit the kids when they were younger. He also often sent them post cards during his four seasons in the NHL with the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes.

“So many have got in touch with us,” said Ruther. “They all think that Mathias is fantastic.”

(We think Mathias is pretty fantastic, too.)

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl‐coach‐rumours‐report‐dan‐bylsma‐sharks‐devils‐sabres‐senators‐blashill/

NHL coach rumours: Devils, Sabres, Sharks search

By Luke Fox – May 27, 2015

In our roundup of the latest rumours and reports surrounding the NHL’s coaching carousel, Dan Bylsma appears next in line to secure employment, the Devils have candidates aplenty, and the Sharks could be looking at the Ducks bench.

After losing out on the Mike Babcock sweepstakes, general manager Tim Murray told Buffalo radio that he was speaking with other candidates before, during and since the Babtalks.

“We’re looking for the best candidate for our needs and his needs,” regardless of age or experience, Murray said Thursday on WGR 550. “I’m looking for the best guy.”

The lead candidate appears to be Dan Bylsma, who coached Jack Eichel at the World Championship earlier this month. Still under contract with Pittsburgh, Bylsma is meeting with Buffalo this week, and according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo job is the one he wants.

It would be shocking if AHL Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill does not succeed Babcock in Detroit.

GM Ken Holland said Blashill would be the first candidate he speaks to about the gig this week, but Babcock let the cat out of the bag in Toronto Thursday. He said flat‐out that Blashill would succeed him: "Blashill’s going to be the next coach of the Wings."

"My ultimate goal is to be head coach in the NHL someday," Blashill told the Detroit Free Press last week. "I knew that, to do that, at some point, I needed to be and wanted to go to the AHL to be a head coach."

As New Jersey Devils management and ownership meet Tuesday to discuss their 2015‐16 budget, northjersey.com writer Tom Gulitti broke down the candidates for GM Ray Shero's first hire.

Dan Bylsma, Guy Boucher, Scott Stevens, Adam Oates and Paul MacLean are rumoured to have been considered, but Gulitti writes that fans should not expect a quick hire here.

John Hynes, the AHL coach of the Wilkes Barre‐Scranton Penguins, is an intriguing name. Hynes, 40, was originally hired for the Penguins gig by Shero, and a source tells Gulitti that Hynes is “definitely in the mix” with the Devils.

“Obviously, I worked with him,” Shero told the site. “I was pretty fortunate in Pittsburgh to have some good guys in the minor leagues.

Todd Reirden, the 43‐year‐old assistant coach of the Washington Capitals with head coach dreams, once served under Shero as Bylsma's assistant with Pittsburgh and ran the defence. Gulitti's source says the Devils have interest in him as well.

"Interim" head coach Dave Cameron, who is close to inking a new deal as bench boss of the Ottawa Senators, according to the Ottawa Sun, already had two years left on his contract as an assistant.

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No doubt he's in for a raise after guiding Ottawa on a thrilling late‐season run and qualifying for the playoffs. Kudos to Cameron for not wrapping negotiations until Todd McLellan and Babcock raised the salary standard for coaches.

Side note: A little curious not to hear Paul MacLean's name in the mix for some of these openings. The former Sens coach was fired mid‐season but won the Jack Adams Award in 2013. According to the Sun, no team has requested interview permission.

NO TEAMS HAVE ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO SPEAK WITH FORMER #SENS COACH PAUL MACLEAN OR @BSENS_HOCKEY COACH LUKE RICHARDSON AT THIS TIME.

— BRUCE GARRIOCH (@SUNGARRIOCH) MAY 25, 2015

The list of candidates the San Jose Sharks are reportedly interested in is long. Randy Carlyle, Peter DeBoer, Adam Oates and Dan Bylsma have all been rumoured to have interviewed already or will soon.

If GM Doug Wilson decides to go with a less‐familiar name, Mercury News reporter David Pollak suggests 50‐year‐old Dave Lowry ‐‐ who played 143 games with San Jose between 1997 and 2000 ‐‐ as a darkhorse here.

And Trent Yawney, busy with his assistant coaching duties in Anaheim this week, has had his name pop up in the mix as well.

DUCKS ASSISTANT TRENT YAWNEY WOULDN'T COMMENT ON POSSIBLE CANDIDACY FOR SAN JOSE JOB. LOVES ANA BUT HE'D ALSO LIKE TO BE AN HC AGAIN.

— ERIC STEPHENS (@ICEMANCOMETH) MAY 22, 2015

DUCKS ASST. COACH TRENT YAWNEY HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS POTENTIAL SHARKS COACH BUT SHARKS HAVEN'T CONTACTED DUCKS FOR PERMISSION TO TALK TO HIM

— HELENE ELLIOTT (@HELENENOTHELEN) MAY 21, 2015

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/ottawa‐senators‐craig‐anderson‐robin‐lehner‐andrew‐hammond‐trade‐calls‐bryan‐murray/

‘Five or six’ teams call on Ottawa goaltenders

Despite already carrying two capable goalies, the Ottawa Senators plan to table an offer to pending unrestricted free agent Andrew Hammond.


When the Ottawa Senators re‐signed goaltender Andrew Hammond to a three‐year contract extension last week, a message was sent: one of either Robin Lehner or Craig Anderson must go.

“Five or six teams have called, and there has been some discussion and there will continue to be. We’ll see what comes of it,” Senators general manager Bryan Murray told the Ottawa Sun of a potential trade that would cut the Sens’ goaltending trio down to a duo.

Beat reporter Bruce Garrioch writes that the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks are among teams that will be looking for a goalie this off‐season, and that the Senators are seeking a top‐six forward.

Although Hammond backstopped the Senators into the playoffs, when Ottawa’s season was on the line against Montreal, the team turned to veteran Anderson, whose career playoff numbers are spectacular. Despite losing to the Canadiens, Anderson posted a .972 save percentage. The 34‐year‐old is signed through 2017‐18 at an average annual value of $4.2 million.

At 23, Lehner is much younger and cheaper (a $2.25‐million cap hit through 2016‐17), and thus easier to move. Plus, at the end of his current deal, Lehner will be a restricted free agent.

The Swede took a step back this season, however. His save percentage fell from .913 to .905, and a concussion limited him to just 25 appearances in 2014‐15, down from 32 the year prior. Lehner hasn't played since Feb. 16.

HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FANS! UNBELIEVABLE SUPPORT DURING OUR PLAYOFF RUN. TOUGH TO COME UP SHORT ‐ BUT WE'LL BE BACK HUNGRY! #SENSARMY

— CRAIG ANDERSON (@CRAIGANDERSON41) APRIL 27, 2015

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http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/37757/seven‐players‐who‐could‐change‐the‐west‐finals

Seven players who could change the West finals

By Scott Burnside – May 28, 2015

CHICAGO ‐‐ There is no big picture left in this rollicking Western Conference finals. As the series shifts back to Chicago for Game 6 on Wednesday night it is very simple: Do the Chicago Blackhawks have enough left to stretch out what has been a classic back‐and‐forth test of wills?

Because for all their pedigree, experience and star power, the Blackhawks have chased this series from the get‐go. They let Game 1 get away from them (is it just me, or does it feel like that 4‐1 win by the Anaheim Ducks to kick off the series took place in another century?) and they have never been able to seize control away from the Ducks. The Blackhawks battled back to win Games 2 and 4 in multiple overtime sessions, but they have been unable to translate those moments into meaningful momentum.

Today, the Blackhawks are out of chances: Find a way to force a seventh game back at the Honda Center on Saturday night or fall for the second straight season on the edge of the Stanley Cup finals. It'll be no easy feat as the Ducks emerge as the best, most complete team still playing.

Anaheim has not lost in regulation this spring and has managed to follow all three overtime losses it has suffered this postseason with victories.

Here’s a look at seven players who could have an impact on whether this wildly entertaining conference finals goes the distance or the final chapter is written on Wednesday in Chicago.

Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks

The Chicago captain is an easy one to start with, no? All he did was almost single‐handedly will his team to the brink of another trip to the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night, scoring twice in the last 1 minute, 50 seconds of regulation to force overtime. So his tying effort wasn’t a thing of beauty (see below: Andersen, Frederik) but pretty doesn’t count at this stage of the playoffs. Toews has spent most of the series playing against Ryan Kesler and it will be interesting to see in Game 6 whether Chicago coach Joel Quenneville (A) tries to get away from that matchup and (B) has Toews and Patrick Kane playing together with any regularity. Historically the two Hawks stars play together only at moments of great import and it doesn’t get any more important or dire than Wednesday’s game. Toews has three goals and an assist in his past two games.

Frederik Andersen, Ducks

If Toews is known as Captain Serious, then Andersen on Monday would have been Captain Relieved. The sophomore netminder has been a rock all spring, but he endured a miserable night in Game 5, allowing a mediocre Teuvo Teravainen shot to beat him early in the second period for Chicago’s first goal, then was not paying close enough attention and was out of position on Toews’ shot that came across the end red line and bounced into the net off Andersen’s left foot. He was disconsolate after having put his team in an overtime predicament but got a reprieve with Matt Beleskey's OT winner. Now Andersen has to rediscover his mojo for Game 6 and take advantage of the good fortune that followed his uneven play. If he can, the Ducks will be headed to the Stanley Cup finals.

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"Freddie’s really good," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He’s not perfect. None of our players are perfect. They make mistakes. We have the faith and confidence in him that he’s going to be great again tomorrow."

Teuvo Teravainen, Blackhawks

What a revelation the young Finn has been as this series has moved along. Outside of Toews, Teravainen was the best Blackhawk on the ice in Game 5, darting here and there, making plays and showing off his considerable offensive skill set. He not only scored but added the primary assist on Brent Seabrook's big goal in the final minute of the second period, which brought the Blackhawks to within a goal heading into the third period. It still boggles the mind that Quenneville scratched Teravainen in Game 3, which the Blackhawks ended up losing. Teravainen has a goal and two assists since coming back into the lineup in Game 4 and one wonders if there isn’t a bigger role to be had for the slight but talented forward on one of the Blackhawks' power‐play units. The Blackhawks were 0‐for‐2 with the man advantage on Monday.

"I’m confident," the 20‐year‐old Teravainen said after Game 5. "I’m a lot more confident out there than in the media right here. That’s a good thing."

Ryan Kesler, Ducks

There have been more than a few moments this spring when Kesler's importance to this team has been perfectly crystallized. In this series, he has been tasked with trying to negate the Blackhawks’ big line of Toews, Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad. It is no small feat and there have been moments when the Blackhawks' captain has had the upper hand. But in Game 5, Kesler was in beast mode scoring the Ducks’ second goal on a deflection and then setting up Beleskey's OT winner with a hard blast, the rebound of which Corey Crawford could not control. He had numerous other chances, and using his big body he contributed to the Ducks' ongoing punishment of the Blackhawks’ defenders.

Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Johnny Oduya and Brent Seabrook, Blackhawks

We know they’re not one person but the top four defenders for Chicago have become almost one entity in this series, given Quenneville’s understandable reluctance to use Kimmo Timonen and/or Kyle Cumiskey for all but the most cursory of shifts. That trend continued in Game 5 with the combined ice time of Timonen and Cumiskey not adding up to the ice time any of the top four. Timonen was on the ice for Anaheim’s first goal and Cumiskey on for the second 32 seconds later, reinforcing that Game 5 was going to be another long night for Chicago's top defenders. No reason to suspect any of that will change Wednesday but you know that the Ducks smell blood and, as Kesler suggested earlier in the series, "no human being" can withstand the punishment the Ducks have been doling out. Anaheim out‐hit Chicago 41‐23 in Game 5 and has out‐hit the Blackhawks 261‐181 through the first five games. Will the cumulative effect of such a pounding manifest itself in a meaningful way in Game 6? Blackhawks fans hope not.

Corey Crawford, Blackhawks

We noted Andersen's rough night on Monday, but he and counterpart Crawford have both endured a strange 48 hours as this series winds its way to a conclusion. Coming off two 5‐4 overtime games in Games 4 and 5 means the goalies have each allowed nine goals in two games. That’s not very good. For Crawford, it’s not so much that he has made glaring errors but that he has become simply mortal after a stretch of superlative play dating back to the end of the first round. He allowed three goals in 37 seconds in Game 4, allowing the Ducks to briefly take the lead on the way to a double‐overtime Chicago win. Then he allowed three goals in the first period of Game 5 before Chicago had registered its first shot on goal. Not bad. Not really great. That pretty much sums up Crawford’s past two games. And if you

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think back to the final six games of the Western Conference finals last season, when he gave up 25 goals to the Kings en route to a Game 7 overtime loss, you’d feel pretty much the same. Not bad. Not really good. We’re pretty sure if that trend bleeds into Game 6, then we’ll be making our last visit of the season to the United Center.

Cam Fowler, Ducks

We could have just as easily highlighted Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholm or Simon Despres, because the four young Anaheim defenders have been dynamic throughout this series. Despres scored the game‐winner in Game 3. Vatanen ripped home the Ducks’ second goal and then made a great feed to Patrick Maroon for what looked like the insurance marker late in the third period of Game 4. Fowler scored the opening goal and then started the play in overtime that led to Beleskey’s winner in Game 5. Throughout the series the Anaheim blue line has chipped in four goals and nine assists (Blackhawks’ defenders have accounted for two goals and seven assists). Fowler was especially dangerous in Game 5, head‐manning the puck and keeping the Blackhawks from gaining possession in the Anaheim zone.

Earlier, Fowler's defense partner Despres told ESPN.com he thinks there’s a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang in Fowler’s game. Look for the Ducks defenders to once again jump into the fray in Game 6.

"I think it puts more pressure on other teams defensively when they know there’s not just going to be three forwards they have to worry about. They have to worry about the second wave coming in, which might be a fourth defenseman. That changes things a little bit," Fowler said Tuesday.

"We definitely have guys back there who like to join the rush. Have been doing a great job of putting pucks on net, creating rebounds in front. As D men, you always like to pitch in when you get a chance. I think especially come playoff time, you’re going to need some people to step up and score some goals at big times. We’ve certainly had that."

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/lead‐investor‐wants‐las‐vegas‐nhl‐team‐for‐2017/

Lead investor wants Las Vegas NHL team by 2017

Elliotte Friedman sits down with prospective Las Vegas NHL owner William Foley to get his thoughts on why the NHL will work in Vegas and his connection with Wayne Gretzky.

By Scott Lewis – May 28, 2015

With the final structural beam installed in the new $375 million Las Vegas arena Wednesday, talk of an NHL franchise in Nevada is picking up.

The lead investor in the bid to land an NHL franchise in Las Vegas, Bill Foley, is reportedly set to meet with the NHL’s Board of Governors next month to continue discussing a potential expansion franchise, according to 8 News Now in Las Vegas.

Foley and his minority partners, the Maloof brothers of Las Vegas, would like to have an NHL franchise in Las Vegas by 2017.

Foley recently uprooted himself from Jacksonville, Florida, and relocated to Nevada in hopes of bolstering his bid. His mortgage and title company, Fidelity National Financial, is based out of Jacksonville.

"I know the league wants local ownership," Foley told 8 News Now. "Now I'm here, I am going to be a local owner and I'm going to be involved in the community. We're helping local charities as part of our hockey endeavour. We're going to be embedded in this community. I know we're doing everything right."

The arena is set to open in April of 2016. Approximately 11,500 deposits have been secured in the prospective ownership group's season ticket drive and an additional 735 seats in the arena's planned 42 suites have been sold.

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/general‐fanager‐capgeek‐salary‐cap‐hit‐serach‐database‐toronto‐maple‐leafs‐fan‐draft‐free‐agents‐gm/

Q&A with new NHL salary site General Fanager


When CapGeek vanished, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan threw a paper bag over his free time and spent 30‐to‐60 hours a week to construct a replacement.

And so when Tom Poraszka launched General Fanager in early May, traffic spiked immediately out of the gate.

There was a thirst for easy‐to‐navigate, well‐displayed, accurate salary information on NHL teams and players, and Poraszka had built a well.

“We’re still getting upwards of 10,000 people to the site a day, so it’s nice,” the 27‐year‐old Toronto resident told us recently in a phone interview. “I’ve spent way too much of my own time following hockey and participating in fantasy sports. It seemed like a good amount of time that I could delve into something more productive and something other people could benefit from.”

Like its game‐changing predecessor, General Fanager is essentially a one‐man show. During normal business hours, Poraszka works as a project manager at an interactive marketing company managing a team that runs a major automotive website.

All other hours are spent on his hobby, now a fantastic resource for NHL nerds like us.

Poraszka is responsible for the site’s design, development and data collection (mostly from CapGeek’s archives). But the hockey fan is fast to credit friends, colleagues, and his financee with assists in the project. Not to mention the fans and journalists that fact‐check his numbers on Twitter.

Picking up CapGeek’s torch, Poraszka insists that General Fanger won’t survive without community support and input. He asked that the following Q&A not include a photo of him.

In the tradition of late CapGeek founder Matthew Wuest, he says he wants to provide a service to fellow fans and he is not seeking personal acclaim.

general_fanager

SPORTSNET.CA: What is the meaning behind the General Fanager name and the logo you designed?

TOM PORASZKA: I thought “General Fanager” was playful and fun, so I went with that. There’s been some positive and some negative about the name, but it’s just a name. We had Paper Bag GM, which didn’t work at all.

I always thought it funny to see sports fans wear paper bags when they’re ashamed of their association with the team. As a Toronto hockey fan, thinking back to the Harold Ballard days when he asked his coach [Roger Neilson] to wear a paper bag when he fired him and brought him back in [in 1979], I thought it was a bizarre story. Wouldn’t it be kinda funny if you’re pretending to be a general manager but you’re wearing a paper bag to live that life?

Did you ever meet CapGeek founder Matthew Wuest?

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PORASZKA: I never met or spoke with Matthew. I gave him props on Twitter, but that was about it. I used the site daily, and after it went down, I still instinctively would start typing the web address in my browser. He put in a lot of hard work. I have a lot of respect for what he did, and it would be difficult for anyone to try to reproduce that. I’m just trying to do my best and give hockey fans a tool to use while giving credit to the man who did all the hard work and laid the groundwork.

“I USED CAPGEEK DAILY. SAYING AS A FAN I WOULDN’T BE INTERESTED IN [SALARY INFORMATION], THAT JUST ISN’T RIGHT.”

Were you already working on a site before CapGeek disappeared?

TOM PORASZKA: I was working on a general hockey site. The basis for it was the draft picks section we have now. I didn’t expect it to take off; I was doing it as a hobby to learn the programming language.

When CapGeek went down, it seemed like a good fit to start a resource that more people would benefit from and that I was missing. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to go very far. As I got closer to launching, it was something I enjoyed using so I wanted to see what other people thought. I wanted to have more tools ready before launch, but I talked to friends and colleagues, and they were saying what I had already was enough to get use out of.

CAM NEELY SAID GM CANDIDATES HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THE CAP BECAUSE CAPGEEK IS NO LONGER AROUND. HTTPS://T.CO/OCFEAOEJRY

— MARINA MOLNAR (@MKMOLNAR) MAY 20, 2015

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman downplayed fans’ interest in player salary information in April. What did you make of his comments?

PORASZKA: I understand where he’s coming from. As someone in the league, you’d prefer that information kept in the league. Any of us who work for a living don’t want our salary and compensation to be public knowledge. That’s fair.

But as a fan, first and foremost, I considered that statement inaccurate. I used CapGeek daily. Saying as a fan I wouldn’t be interested in it, that just isn’t right. And based on the reaction since we’ve got, there’s a fair number of people that share that sentiment.

There are no ads on the site. Will this be a money‐maker eventually?

PORASZKA: It’s been a passion project. It’s been a lot of fun, but I’ve put a lot of time into it. At some point I’ll put ads on the site to cover the costs I’m starting to see. With the traffic we’re getting, we’ll have to pay for servers to handle it all. We’ll be simple with advertising. This is not intended to be a big money‐maker. I just want to cover costs and keep things afloat so we can continue to offer the service.

You have a day job, but you’re doing this on the side. How many hours on this do you invest?

PORASZKA: It averages anywhere between 30 and 60 hours a week. I wake up a few hours early to work on the site, work on it at night, and then on the weekends it’s pretty much all I do. It’s been a lot of work.

Good Lord.

PORASZKA: I’ve aggressively tried to do as much as I can in as little time as I can because it seemed like something people needed and I was having fun with it. At some point, that [work rate] is not going to be sustainable.

You’re not the only one out there trying to fill the void. NHL Numbers, for example. What will make you the go‐to source?

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PORASZKA: I’m aware of quite a few, and there seems to be more popping up every few days. There’s always going to be people doing the same thing—that’s OK by us. The most important thing isn’t being the No. 1 provider of the information; it’s important that the information is available to users easily in a way they enjoy it.

I’m going to do things fans want or things I think they want, like the draft picks feature, which hasn’t been done as well in other places. I’m going to be proactive in developing new features as well as addressing user feedback – we’ve got a ton of it already. This is great; it makes it feel like a community effort.

“I’VE AGGRESSIVELY TRIED TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN IN AS LITTLE TIME AS I CAN BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING PEOPLE NEEDED AND I WAS HAVING FUN WITH IT.”

Where do you get your salary info?

PORASZKA: Ninety per cent of the info came from CapGeek, and we state that clearly. We want people to know Matthew did all that hard work to get that information. We fill in the gaps with media reports and other great sites like NHL Numbers and War On Ice.

Since we’ve launched, our [new] information comes from reporters and a couple of sources that have been really helpful. They’ve asked to remain anonymous, but they’ve been cross‐checking the information to make sure it’s accurate. These sources have access to contract information, so we trust them. Some of that info is available on our site but not anywhere else, so hopefully that will differentiate us. We want the most accurate data we can get.

How will you prepare for the upcoming draft and free agency?

PORASZKA: We’re getting some new features out before the draft—that’s the target—and I’m talking to colleagues to help out during the draft and free agency so we can stay on top of everything. We should be quick to the trigger on both days. We’ve talked to our sources to make sure they’ll confirm details, and we’ll ramp up our servers a couple weeks before July.

That’s why we’ll add ads before July, to cover the costs and make sure our servers don’t go down.

So what new features are in the works?

PORASZKA: There’s an Armchair GM feature CapGeek had; we’re putting together something that’s similar that will allow you to customize a roster and see how it affects the team’s cap positioning. We’re looking at a Buyout Calculator, too. We’ve got some others in the works, but we’re not sure they’ll be ready for free agency, so I’ll keep them closer to my chest.

Shortly after you launched, a who’s‐who of the hockey world followed you. Have you been surprised by anyone — an agent, a team, the league — that reached out?

PORASZKA: We haven’t heard from the league, but we’ve heard from fans, player agents and former GMs, and reporters I’ve followed and trusted for so long. That these people in the industry are now following the site is kinda surreal to me.

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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2015‐nhl‐unrestricted‐free‐agents‐contract‐years‐cody‐franson‐mike‐ribiero‐antoine‐vermette‐mike‐green‐justin‐williams/

Top 15 NHL unrestricted free agents of 2015

Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher joined Hockey Central at Noon to talk about making it past the Blues in the first round and how Devan Dubnyk turned his season around.


Where does the (admittedly thin) unrestricted free‐agent class of 2015 stand now, as we head toward the Stanley Cup Final and the rental players have revealed their colours?

We rank the 15 most valuable pending UFAs left on the board for July 1.

15. Michael Frolik

Age on July 1: 27

Position: Right wing

2014‐15 cap hit: $3.3 million

Contract year report: With 19 goals and 23 assists, the Czech winger enjoyed his best season as a Jet. Frolik contributed zero points to during Winnipeg’s sweep to the hands of the Ducks, however.

Latest dirt: Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press figures Frolik is worth about $4 million per year and suggests a four‐year re‐signing, but he guesses agent Allan Walsh will be looking to get his client closer to $5 million per. “The Jets won’t overspend on Frolik,” Lawless writes. “They can’t.”

14. Justin Williams

Age on July 1: 33



Contract year report: With 18 goals and 23 assists this year, Mr. Game 7 kept pace with his regular‐season production in 2013‐14. We all know he peaks in May/June, but the Kings never made it that far.

Latest dirt: Williams’ agent, Thane Campbell, told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun in January extension talks would resume after the season. “All I want to be is part of a team that can continue to win,” Williams told Kings Vision in March. “You just want to keep winning, and I think I have the best shot to do it here. I love L.A.” The Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins are just two teams openly looking to add a top‐six forward.

13. Francois Beauchemin

Age on July 1: 35

Position: Defence


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Contract year report: A reliable horse on the Ducks’ back end — he leads the club in ice time by about a minute per game — Beauchemin survived the mumps and a broken finger this season and put up 23 points in 64 games. In May he set the franchise’s all‐time record for playoff assists by a defenceman.

Latest dirt: Quiet on the contract front, likely due to the Ducks’ focus on the playoffs. Anaheim’s young blueline depth — Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm are all under 24 — could make things interesting in the off‐season.

12. Joel Ward

Age on July 1: 34


2014‐15 cap hit: $3 million

Contract year report: The late‐blooming Ward is following up 2013‐14 (a career year) splendidly. Playing top‐six minutes, he had 19 goals and 15 assists in the regular season and was a workhorse stud in the post‐season, putting up nine points in 14 games.

Latest dirt: “I’d love to stay,” Ward told Sportsnet 590 The Fan on May 15. “I had moments where I thought we could go all the way with this group. I’d definitely like to stay, for sure.” Washington is his first choice.

11. Antti Niemi

Age on July 1: 31

Position: Goaltender


Contract year report: Solid numbers (.914 save percentage) and another winning record (31‐23‐7) should make Niemi the second‐most valuable available netminder come summer.

Latest dirt: It’s widely believed Niemi’s is one contract the Sharks will be looking to get rid of at the end of this season, but GM Doug Wilson said he’s still evaluating. After the season, Niemi told reporters he and the Sharks will speak “sooner or later.” But would he like to return? “Yeah, we’ll see what happens.” Agent Markus Lehto told CSN Bay Area on April 28 there had been “no serious discussions” with the Sharks. Younger, cheaper backup Alex Stalock is less proven but is capable of nice stretches.

10. Jeff Petry

Age on July 1: 27

Position: Defence


Contract year report: When a defence‐needy Edmonton Oilers realized they wouldn’t be able to keep Petry in the fold, they traded him at the deadline to Montreal, where he play No. 3 defender minutes for the Canadiens in the playoffs and proved how good he looks when surrounded by defensive talent. Stock raised.

Latest dirt: Petry spoke highly of his Montreal experience and sounds interested in a return. “He played some big minutes,” GM Marc Bergevin told reporters after locker cleanout. “I know his strengths, and I think he fits perfect for our team and obviously will be a priority to bring back in Montreal.”

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MY FIRST PLAYOFF SERIES IN MTL WAS AMAZING. THE ENERGY IN THE BELL CENTRE FOR ROUND 2 SHOULD BE INSANE! #BLEUBLANCYOU PIC.TWITTER.COM/JMLTPYWUMG

— JEFF PETRY (@PETRYJ) MAY 1, 2015

9. Paul Martin

Age on July 1: 34

Position: Defence


Contract year report: After missing the bulk of last season due to injury, Martin — a playoff performer — got back on track toward season’s end and put up 20 points.

Latest dirt: “I am most comfortable playing with him,” partner Kris Letang told Trib Live of Martin, who has been praised by Sidney Crosby as well. A Jan. 30 report by Dejan Kovacevic said not to expect any contract talks till season’s end. With the Penguins tight against the cap, expect Martin to move elsewhere unless he’s willing to take a pay cut.

“It may mean [our UFAs] going into July and testing the free‐agent market to see how much they can get out there,” GM Jim Rutherford told the Post‐Gazette. “Because of our [salary‐cap situation], they may work their way back to us with a more reasonable number.

“I don’t think I’ll be saying that we don’t want anybody back until we at least get into July, to see how the dust settles.”

8. Antoine Vermette

Age on July 1: 32

Position: Centre


Contract year report: With Mike Ribeiro gone, Vermette stepped up for Arizona and was flipped to the Blackhawks at the trade deadline. He left as the Coyotes’ leading forward (35 points) but failed to click in Chicago and was even a healthy scratch to start the playoffs. Vermette’s line rebounded nicely in the Anaheim series, however.

Latest dirt: With Chicago tight against the salary cap, Vermette is a pure rental expected to see what he can fetch on this summer’s open market.

7. Martin St. Louis

Age on July 1: 40



Bargaining chip: A respected leader, Cup and Olympic winner and two‐time NHL scoring champ who wanted to be in New York so bad he demanded out of Tampa Bay, St. Louis still produces in his dotage. His 21 goals placed him second on the Rangers; his 52 points were good for fourth on the team.

Latest dirt: St. Louis made it crystal clear this April in a New York Post interview that he wants to re‐sign as a Ranger and has zero intention of retiring, but his lack of production in the 2015 playoffs is noteworthy.

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6. Matt Beleskey

Age on July 1: 27

Position: Left wing


Contract year report: Perfect timing for a breakout season. Beleskey scored a career‐high 22 goals to go with 10 assists and a plus‐13 rating. His solid playoff performance, including a showtime OT game‐winner in the Western final only improved his stock. A raise awaits.

Latest dirt: “We continue to work through the process,” Beleskey’s agent, Murray Kuntz, told Pro Hockey Talk in March. “Matt’s priority is to remain in Anaheim for many years to come. Hopefully we can make that happen.” Sportsnet’s Doug MacLean believes the Maple Leafs should take a run, and Elliotte Friedman figures he’ll be asking for something in the ballpark of $5 million a year now.

5. Carl Soderberg

Age on July 1: 29

Position: Centre


Contract year report: The Bruins’ second highest‐scoring centre (behind all‐star Patrice Bergeron) has 35 points. Late to the league, the Swede has fit in nicely and could triple his salary this summer.

Latest dirt: Tight against the salary cap, the Bruins have not begun negotiations with Soderberg’s camp. He’s playing like a No. 2 centre, but the Bruins’ might be hard pressed to give him top‐two‐centre dollars. Boston made RFAs Tory Krug and Reilly Smith more of an in‐season priority, but Soderberg maintains he wants to re‐sign.

CARL (UFA) NOTES HOW HE LOVES IT HERE & WANTS TO STAY IN BOSTON. "HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION TOGETHER" PIC.TWITTER.COM/1TAY6NXJQZ

— BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) APRIL 13, 2015

4. Cody Franson

Age on July 1: 27

Position: Defence


Contract year report: After three consecutive one‐year deals, Franson stepped up his game with unrestricted free agency in sight and earned a trade back to Nashville. The big body with a nasty point shot had a career high in points (36) but never fit in with a deeper Predators blue line.

Latest dirt: Franson is expected to swing for the fences on a multi‐year deal this summer, and a Nashville return is unlikely. He hit the campaign trail early, saying he’d be open to a Toronto return and would love Vancouver to be in the mix. In hindsight at his year‐ender, Predators GM David Poile essentially said he regretted trading for Franson, a right shot who contributed two assists in the playoffs.

POILE ON FRANSON/SANTORELLI TRADE: "THE FACT THAT FRANSON WAS A RIGHT‐HANDED SHOT…WASN'T THE PERFECT SITUATION FOR FRANSON OR FOR US."

— ADAM VINGAN (@ADAMVINGAN) APRIL 28, 2015

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3. Mike Green

Age on July 1: 29

Team: Washington Capitals

Position: Defence


Contract year report: Though he used to be a No. 1, Green’s minutes placed him fifth on a good‐looking Capitals team. Nice little bounce‐back campaign for an under‐30 defenceman who has 38 points and was a plus player (+15) for the first time in three years.

Latest dirt: “My heart and soul is here in Washington,” Green told CSN Washington on Jan. 20. “I want to win a Cup here.”

Wherever he goes, it comes with a pay cut. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has said he’s been impressed with Green this season but is still evaluating. With McLellan needing to pay free agents Braden Holtby, Joel Ward, Jay Beagle, Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov… well, Green appears to be the odd man out.

“I want to play a significant role, whatever that is,” Green told reporters after the season. “I take pride in whatever my role is on the team. I feel like I can play top‐two [pairing] for sure.”

2. Mike Ribeiro

Age on July 1: 35

Position: Centre


Contract year report: David Poile’s low‐risk gamble has paid off big‐time, but now he (or someone else) will have to pay up. A resurgent Ribeiro racked up a team‐high 47 assists (and 15 goals) for a major Western Conference threat and added five points in six playoff games.

Latest dirt: “I would love to be back,” Ribeiro said after the Predators were eliminated from the playoffs. Poile echoed that sentiment in his end‐of‐year conference. “It was exactly what the doctor ordered,” the GM said. “If we don’t have Mike Ribeiro, it would’ve been hard to make the playoffs.”

"HOPEFULLY IT'S A MARRIAGE THAT WANTS TO CONTINUE HERE IN NASHVILLE." ‐POILE ON MIKE RIBEIRO #PREDS

— BROOKS BRATTEN (@BROOKSBRATTEN) APRIL 28, 2015

1. Devan Dubnyk

Age on July 1: 29

Position: Goaltender

2014‐15 cap hit: $800,000

Contract year report: From a believed‐to‐be washout to the hottest goalie in the league, Dubnyk turned his career around in Arizona, then found a whole other level in Minnesota. The third highest‐paid goalie on Minny’s roster ranks among the league leaders in goals‐against average (2.08), shutouts (six) and save percentage (.929).

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Latest dirt: “It just doesn’t make sense right now to introduce a contract negotiation dynamic into the room,” Wild GM Chuck Fletcher told Hockey Central at Noon earlier this post‐season. “We’re a good fit for Devan, and he’s a good fit for us, and there will be plenty of time at the end of year to address this.”

Complicating matters, Wild backups Darcy Kuemper ($1.25 million cap hit) and Niklas Backstrom ($3.417 million) are both signed through 2015‐16. Talks between Fletcher and Dubnyk’s agent were set to begin May 26, reports Michael Russo.

Fletcher told Russo a Dubnyk deal will get done. “It was a pretty good fit for both parties,” the GM said. The deal will be well north of $3 million per year, Russo writes.

On the Radar

Forwards: Eric Fehr (Capitals), Jiri Tlusty (Jets), Brad Richards (Blackhawks), Mike Fisher (Predators), Drew Stafford (Jets), Erik Cole (Red Wings), Curtis Glencross (Capitals), Shawn Matthias (Canucks), Jay Beagle (Capitals)

Defencemen: Marek Zidlicky (Red Wings), Andrej Sekera (Kings), Johnny Oduya (Blackhawks), Lubomir Visnovsky (Islanders), Christian Ehrhoff (Penguins), Barret Jackman (Blues), Zbynek Michalek (Blues)

Goaltenders: Jhonas Enroth (Stars), Karri Ramo (Flames), Michal Neuvirth (Islanders), Viktor Fasth (Oilers)

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2015/05/28/anaheim‐ducks‐chicago‐blackhawks‐new‐york‐rangers‐tampa‐bay‐lightning‐conference‐finals‐game‐7‐stanley‐cup/28117825/

Ducks‐Blackhawks, Lightning‐Rangers both reach thrilling Game 7 climax

By Kevin Allen – May 29, 2015

Former NHL player Tom Laidlaw predicts there will be "no Knute Rockne speeches" made by anyone before either of the Game 7s that will be played this weekend.

"Going into a Game 7, it's always about preparing exactly the same way you always prepare," Laidlaw said. "If you do something different, then you are getting off your game A lot of guys are superstitious and if you always tie your left skate up first, you are going to tie you left skate first this time. You don't want it to seem like it is a bigger deal, even though it is."

The players may try to act as if it is business as usual, but there is nothing routine about Friday's Eastern Conference Final Game 7 with the Tampa Bay Lighting at the New York Rangers (8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network) or Saturday's Western Conference Final Game 7 with the Chicago Blackhawks at the Anaheim Ducks (8, NBC).

"I can't imagine that we could have drawn up a better script for the National Hockey League than these four teams playing in the semifinals and now both series going to a seventh game," said Nashville Predators general manager David Poile. "Now this is the ultimate."

Two Original Six teams in the Final four. One Game 7 played in California. A Florida team competing in the other Game 7. One of the games on network television. We've seen multiple‐goal comebacks, double‐overtime, triple‐overtime, goaltending battles, unlikely heroes and stars rising up.

"If I were to describe these playoffs in three words, I would use: exciting, unpredictable and sensational," Commissioner Gary Bettman told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm looking forward to a memorable weekend of hockey and the suspense of two 'best‐of‐one' games for the privilege of playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

Anaheim defenseman Francois Beauchemin said the Ducks‐Blackhawks series has been "for sure the most exciting series I've ever been a part of.

"It seems like every game, the team that was down, found a way to come back and make a game of it," Beauchemin said. "Even if you're down by two or three goals, the other team has found a way to come back."

This is only the second time in the post‐1967 expansion era that both conference finals have gone to a Game 7.

"This is like having two title fights on back‐to‐back nights," Flames president Brian Burke said. "Tonight feels like Christmas Eve."

The New York Post, in a column written by long‐time hockey columnist Larry Brooks, said Friday's Game 7 at Madison Square Garden is the most important Rangers game since New York's Game 7 win against the Vancouver Canucks in the 1994 Stanley Cup Final.

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Everyone you ask struggles making a prediction. "I can't tell who the better team is," Poile said. "Within every game I watch, it looks like this team will win, and then, 'No' the other team looks like it will win. It's the ebb and flow that we always talk about. These games are too close to call."

The numbers from each of series can make you dizzy. The Rangers‐Lightning series is a match‐up between the No. 1 and No. 3 offensive teams in the league, and yet both teams have been limited to two or fewer goals three times in the six games. Still, both are averaging more than three goals per game in the series. The Ducks, meanwhile, had not lost in regulation in these playoffs until Game 6 against Chicago.

There are storylines aplenty in both series. Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau is 1‐5 in his coaching history in Game 7s. Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf is third in playoff scoring with 19 points in 17 games, but he insists that he played "terrible" in the Ducks' last game.

The expectation is that Henrik Lundqvist's exceptional Game 7 history will be a factor. He is tied with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most Game 7 wins (six) by a goaltender in NHL history. He is 6‐0 with a .973 save percentage in his last six Game 7s. The big question in Tampa is whether Ben Bishop, their 6‐7 goalie, can measure up.

It's challenging for coaches and players involved to appreciate how entertaining this series has been because they are fully invested in an agonizing quest to win.

"I've asked people, is this a good series?" Boudreau said. "Is it entertaining? You're caught up in the moment of winning and losing. People say it's unbelievable. But we look at it as a little different right now. It might be something you appreciate one way or another in six months."

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