Daily Clips – 11/21/12

Despite lockout in the NHL, the Malones can talk

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It might seem, at first blush, to be a clear violation of NHL guidelines.

After all, the league has instructed employees of its teams to avoid communicating with members of the NHL Players' Association until the lockout that has shut down the league since mid-September is over.

There's no exemption for people who are blood relatives and who, say, might end up seated across from one another at a Thanksgiving table.

Too bad, because Ryan Malone, the former Penguins left winger who now plays for Tampa Bay, and Greg Malone, who is the Lightning's head pro scout, would qualify for one.

Now, an NHL official confirmed that the regulations apply only to discussions of "official business," so Greg Malone isn't in danger of being fined if he asks his son to, say, pass the mashed potatoes.

Which might be about as close as they get to crossing any lines the league has drawn.

"The only thing we really talk about is that we both want hockey to start," Ryan Malone said Tuesday after participating in an informal workout with some former teammates at Southpointe. "I don't think we know any significant secrets to tell each other."

No, most of that kind of information can now be found in New York, where the league and union are scheduled to re-start negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement today.

They met for the first time in eight days Monday evening, and the NHLPA apparently spent much of Tuesday working on the comprehensive economic proposal the league requested.

What the union offers -- or, more to the point, how the NHL responds to that offer -- figures to have a profound impact on the prospects of a settlement anytime soon. The key points of contention appear to be the division of revenues -- the NHL wants to link the players' share to growth and make it a set percentage, while the players have sought a firm figure -- and issues pertaining to the structure and length of contracts.

At this point, if there's significant optimism on either side that an agreement is close, it's guarded. So guarded that it's under lock-and-key and hidden in a dungeon.

"It doesn't, obviously, look good," Malone said. "We just have to wait until we feel there's a fair deal out there."

Malone broke into the NHL with the Penguins in 2003-04, and is a veteran of the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season, much of which he spent playing for teams in Finland, Switzerland and Italy. Coping with this shutdown, he said, is "a little easier," perhaps because he has financial security that wasn't present eight years ago. Neither were the two young sons who accompanied him Tuesday to Southpointe.

"Last time, I didn't have any kids, so I got to tour around Europe, which was pretty cool," Malone said.

He is among the players who have joined Penguins center Sidney Crosby for workouts in Vail, Colo., and Dallas this fall, but also has spent time in Tampa. That's where he picked up his blackened right eye, courtesy of a high stick during a practice organized by Lightning players.

Although he has missed three paychecks this season, the seven-year, $31.5 million deal he accepted in Tampa in 2008 provides an obvious financial cushion for Malone. He's aware that not everyone affected by the lockout is so fortunate.

"People who love the game and people who really depending on hockey for their job or their life ... it affects more people than we think," he said. "That's what hurts the most."

Malone looked entirely at ease with his old teammates and, for that matter, on the ice where he spent so much time earlier in his career.

"Especially in this rink, it [brings back] the high school days for me," he said.

He expects to be back there again this morning, even though this extended lockout occasionally saps his motivation.

"It's kind of hard to push yourself every day when you don't really see a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

Malone plans to remain here until Saturday and seems genuinely happy to be back in familiar surroundings.

"It's always great to come back to Pittsburgh," he said. "It feels like home."

Especially when he's allowed to speak with his dad.

•

NOTE -- The group of Penguins who hold workouts at Southpointe generally take Wednesdays off, but at least a few are expected to skate today. Their usual Thursday and Friday sessions will not be held this week because of the holiday.

Fehr: Thinking 'about our next step' GAME OFF! NHL LOCKOUT 2012

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The NHL and its players association met for less than two hours Monday night in New York.

Not nearly enough time to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.

Whether it was enough to lay the groundwork for meaningful progress to be made is a little less certain.

"We are going to think about what was said and think about our next step," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told reporters when the meeting ended.

Fehr and the players won't have all that long to consider the situation, however, because they and the league are expected to get together again today.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who described himself as "frustrated," said the league has asked the union to put forth a comprehensive proposal on economic issues.

"We think it's all tied together and we'd like to hear it all together," he said.

Fehr said the league declined to discuss issues pertaining to player contracts, insisting that the division of revenues be worked out first. Daly, meanwhile, stressed that the owners will not agree to a proposal that guarantees the players a specific amount of money rather than a percentage of revenues.

Penguins player representative Craig Adams and teammate Brooks Orpik were among the 18 players who took part in the session, as well as the internal discussions that followed.

They also likely briefed at least a few teammates on the session.

Good thing, because a survey of Penguins players after their informal workout Monday at Southpointe showed that few, if any, planned to spend the evening monitoring the talks. Hitting the "Refresh" button on their computers every 10 seconds or so to see if any new bits of news were circulating wasn't on many to-do lists.

"I'll be on conference calls if there is one, but as far as waiting [to hear what was going on], I have a life," winger Pascal Dupuis said.

"We're not playing hockey right now, and I have other stuff I have to be taking care off. Obviously, it's not what I want to do right now, but it's what I have to do."

Left winger Matt Cooke was equally emphatic about his plans, none of which involved discussions about 50-50 splits, contract-term limits or revenue-sharing.

"I'll do kids stuff," Cooke said. "Kids sports. Family stuff. Stuff I've been focused on the last two months."

Monday's meeting was the first in eight days. Negotiations to this point have been so contentious, so often that simply getting representatives of both sides into the same room struck some as evidence of progress.

"I don't know what's going to come of it," center Sidney Crosby said. "At least they're talking. ... Just the fact that they're talking is always good. I'll take that over not talking."

NHL lockout costs Pittsburgh area economy $2.1M for each home game lost By Rob Rossi Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 12:01 a.m. Updated 2 hours ago

Amy Dilday and Harry Sage live in different states and have never met, yet both planned to spend money in Pittsburgh this holiday weekend.

The NHL lockout, in its 67th day, placed those plans on ice. Their canceled trips cost two city hotels and several restaurants and shops about $3,000 in expected revenue this week.

This week marks “the unofficial start to hockey season in Pittsburgh,” said Dilday, 45, of Sylvania, Ohio, who attends about six Penguins home games every season.

“I told my sister, ‘They usually play two games around Thanksgiving, so let’s go to Pittsburgh for four days, see the games, and we can do Christmas shopping at the stores,” Dilday said. She planned to cook a turkey dinner Thursday at the kitchenette inside her room at the Cambria Suites.

She canceled that four-night stay at the hotel next door to Consol Energy Center.

An average Penguins home game is worth about $2.1 million to the region, according to a study from the tourism bureau VisitPittsburgh. The Penguins usually collect between $1 million and $1.3 million in revenue, which leaves restaurants, hotels and other businesses to share anywhere from $800,000 to $1.1 million.

The NHL canceled games through Nov. 30, and the Penguins will have lost out on 11 home dates by then. If negotiators don’t reach a new labor deal — the NHL and its Players’ Association are to meet again Wednesday in New York — the league will cancel games through Dec. 15.

Sage, 39, a Uniontown native living in Maryland, scrapped his two-night reservation at the Hilton Doubletree, Downtown. His early Christmas gift to his two sons was going to be their first Penguins game, and a chance to “skate at the ice rink in (PPG Place), just like they heard about their parents doing last year.”

The lockout began when the contract expired Sept. 15. The NHL has lost an estimated $600 million, deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. Revenue hit a record $3.3 billion last season, but leaders expect financial backlash from disappointed fans and sponsors, Daly said.

No North American pro sports league had lost a season to a labor dispute before a lockout wiped out the 2004-05 NHL campaign. The NHL rebounded during the past seven years to average 95 percent capacity and land a long-term TV deal with NBC Sports worth $2 billion.

A second lost season in eight years would likely permanently damage hockey in strong markets such as Pittsburgh, said Lynn Lashbrook, founder of Portland-based Sports Management World Wide.

“I call it a fiscal cliff on ice,” he said. “It’s real, and we’re heading there.”

Businesses are feeling the impact in Western Pennsylvania.

“The hotel industry in Pittsburgh is strong, but we’ve seen impact on both our occupancy and food/beverage revenues,” said John Hannon, COO of Horizon Hospitality, which operates the Cambria Suites. He declined to provide specifics.

Companies that are corporate sponsors such as Dick’s Sporting Goods declined to address the impact on their businesses.

A deal between the team and Oakwood-based Cellone’s Bakery ended after last season. The last lockout coincided with the first year of that contract, and Cellone’s vice president of sales Joe DiCenzo said the canceled season “was rough” for the bakery.

“There is more behind a sponsorship than selling a certain amount of product in the arena,” he said. “It also generates sales in the grocery stores because of the advertising aspect. You can’t make that up. You just don’t get your full dollar.”

The Penguins have not laid off employees and have no plans to cut salaries, though radio and TV broadcasters, like the players, are not paid during the lockout.

Penguins games on Root Sports last season averaged an 8.7 local rating —the percentage of available TV audience for Western Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. That mark was highest for any NHL or NBA team.

Root Sports will lose about $50,000 for each of the 23 games canceled.

The 550 members of SEIU Local 188 – the union representing Consol Energy Center ushers, security and cleaners – have gone from angry to complacent, union President Robert Fazio said.

“They can’t do anything about it,” he said. “There was hope in October, but now we hear they’ll be playing maybe in January, and that’s just a rumor. Why get your hopes up? Our guys think both sides are being (jerks).”

“There are people disgusted,” said Paul Elphinstone, an usher at Penguins home games for 14 years who uses his game checks to “buy presents for the grandkids.”

Retail stores take a hit because the lockout will at least impact Black Friday and perhaps the bulk of the December holiday shopping season.

“Christmas is when we do our big Penguins items – the specialized jerseys, and the hats and hoodies,” said Carla Jeke, who operates Perani’s Hockey World in Scott. “The rest of the year it’s only about 10 percent because youth hockey is so big, but at Christmas, it’s going to be down if they aren’t playing.”

Dek hockey rinks pop up in Western Pa. in effort to encourage youth play By Jeremy Boren Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012, 12:01 a.m. Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation is teaming with Highmark and Citiparks to build 12 dek hockey rinks in the next four years to encourage young athletes to try the sport.

Penguins CEO David Morehouse, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Highmark executive Dan Onorato, the former Allegheny County executive, plan to dedicate the first rink Tuesday in Banksville Park on Crane Avenue.

Plans call for a second rink in Lewis Park at the corner of Irvine and Berkwick streets in Hazelwood. Other sites are under discussion. Organizers plan four rinks for the city and eight more in the suburbs as part of the foundation’s $2.1 million youth hockey initiative dubbed “Project Power Play.”

Highmark is contributing $1.5 million and the Penguins Foundation is spending $600,000. The foundation raised some of the money from sales of popular hockey-themed Christmas ornaments fashioned by Wendell August Forge artisans from sections of the former Civic Arena’s domed, stainless-steel roof.

The Banksville rink is 155 feet by 75 feet. It has a blue, hard plastic surface surrounded by side boards, players benches and a penalty box. The rink is suitable for other sports, including lacrosse and soccer. Dek hockey is based on ice hockey but played on foot or in-line skates and with a ball or puck.

“What this may do is get a lot of kids into dek hockey instead of other sports like basketball and soccer,” said Andy Virostek, owner of Murrysville SportZone & Dek Hockey, a privately owned youth sports complex that broke ground in July on a 30,000-square-foot indoor arena to allow dek hockey year-round. “I think it’s a good thing for kids and the community.”

Virostek called demand for time on dek hockey rinks robust. He said roughly 3,000 people a week visit his facility.

Adding 12 rinks to the region would likely increase competition for private operators who charge fees to participate in leagues and reserve time on the rink, he said.

Citiparks will operate the city rinks. City of Pittsburgh employees contributed some materials and labor valued at less than $50,000 toward building the rink, said Joanna Doven, Ravenstahl’s spokeswoman.

Pens Cut Ribbon on Dek Build Project

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 3:30 PM / Features

By Brooks Bratten

Prior to his arrival in Pittsburgh, Dan Bylsma had never heard of dek hockey. The Penguins head coach and Michigan native played ball hockey on basketball courts as a kid, but never the

variety that he experienced while helping to build a rink in the city of Pittsburgh’s Banksville Park.

“I think it looks fantastic,” Bylsma said of the new dek rink. “I’ve seen adults, I’ve seen men, I’ve seen women and I’ve seen kids out playing dek hockey. I think it’s awesome.”

Bylsma and other Penguins staff, armed with mallet hammers, gathered in late September to lay the dek in Banksville. A few weeks later the project was completed with the addition of glass and a scoreboard.

There will be plenty of additional locations to play popping up around the city over the next few years, thanks to the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Highmark, the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The new facility in Banksville is the first of 12 rinks that will be built in a three-year span throughout Allegheny County as part of Project Power Play.

“Project Power Play is an idea that emerged right at the very beginning when the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation was formed,” said Penguins director of amateur hockey, Mark Shuttleworth. “The goal was to create a series of dek hockey rinks throughout the city of Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County where the youth of the city and the youth of the county can come play dek hockey for free.”

Penguins CEO/president David Morehouse, Highmark executive vice president, chief external affairs and communications officer Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl officially cut the ribbon at the Banksville Park dek rink Tuesday afternoon.

"We're thrilled to be cutting the ribbon on another recreational amenity that will be enjoyed by our young people for years to come," Ravenstahl said. "I want to thank the Penguins and Highmark for their dedication to the Pittsburgh region and I commit that we will do our part to make this one of a kind partnership a great success."

The aspiration of the project is to introduce kids to the game at the grassroots level and to keep them active while having fun. Highmark and the Penguins Foundation possess similar visions in this aspect, making the partnership a perfect fit.

“(Highmark) shares the same values that we have when we talk about kids,” said Penguins Foundation president Dave Soltesz. “The healthiness of kids and keeping them fit is our goal.”

The Penguins organization is also on board with the project. Approximately 30 Penguins staff members volunteered their time to help build the Banksville Park rink Sept. 24, along with help from Mylec, who supervised the assembling.

“Senior management talked about how to develop and get a stronger hold in the community for the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Soltesz said. “From (Penguins CEO David) Morehouse on down, everyone is committed to the project.”

Shuttleworth felt right at home with the build. He got his professional start in hockey by managing a dek rink. He believes that an event such as this is not only excellent for the community, but provides a boost in the workplace as well.

“It’s fun to work with your fellow employees,” Shuttleworth said. “You talk about things that you wouldn’t normally talk about with your co-workers and you get to know them a little better. Every time you do a work project it builds camaraderie, and I think it’s great for all of us to be out here and giving something back to the community.”

Bylsma agreed with the sentiment of being more than happy to get out and help make a difference with the construction of another platform for hockey.

“Not only from a Penguins standpoint and a Penguins Foundation standpoint, but from our team, our players and myself, giving back and getting involved is always good,” Bylsma said. “Providing opportunities for a kid not only to come out and play hockey, but come out and have something to do and have fun is great.”

The Project Power Play program is a $2.1 million project. Highmark is leading the effort with $1.5 million in funding. The Penguins Foundation is contributing $600,000. The city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are providing the land as well as maintenance services, lighting and other support.

Providing an initiation to the game for a number of kids is just the start of the project. With 11 more rinks planned, hockey will undoubtedly continue to grow in the city of Pittsburgh with the help of the project. A second rink is currently under construction at Lewis Park in Hazelwood.

“It’s really an exciting day to see the results of this and see it going up,” Shuttleworth said. “It’s a great sport, a great introduction to hockey for kids and a nice, safe environment. We’re thrilled to have this.”

NHL and Union to resume negotiations Wednesday

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 4:59 PM / News

By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association will resume negotiations toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Wednesday at the League office.

The meeting, the second in three days between the two sides, is expected to begin at approximately 10 a.m. ET.

After roughly 90 minutes of negotiations Monday night, the League urged the NHLPA to present a proposal detailing its position on all of the fundamental economic issues that have divided the two sides in the bargaining process.

According to a Union spokesperson, the NHLPA was holding internal meetings Tuesday.

"I can confirm that we will be meeting [Wednesday] morning," Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told NHL.com. "I don't know about the substance and I have no expectations."

NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr said after Monday's meeting that the Union wanted to have a discussion with the League on the player-contracting issues -- but according to Fehr, the League was not interested in discussing that issue as a stand-alone topic Monday night.

The NHL, according to Daly's comments Monday night, views the player-contracting issues as part of the fundamental economic issues that have to be settled for a new CBA to be reached. The League's preference is to see how close the sides are on the other economic issues before tackling the player-contracting issues.

The division of hockey-related revenue as well as the League's "make whole" proposal to deal with existing contracts that would exceed the players' share in the new CBA are the other issues under the economic umbrella, according to Daly.

The NHL and the NHLPA have been without a new CBA since Sept. 16. Games through Dec. 1, as well as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, have been cancelled.

MacKinnon, Jones top preliminary rankings for 2013

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 11:00 AM / Prospects

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

The next stage to projecting who could go in the opening round of the 2013 NHL Draft was revealed on Tuesday as NHL Central Scouting released its league rankings for the top levels of North American junior hockey and Europe.

While the lists certainly offer a good look into which players could be chosen in the early rounds, NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr is quick to note that the rankings are subject to refinement by the time the organization releases its composite mid-term report in January.

In this week's release, Marr and his staff ranked the top 25 skaters and top goaltenders of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and United States Hockey League, which has included the U.S. Under-18 National Team

Developmental Program the past four seasons. The international rankings for eight countries were also released, as was a revised "watch" list for those prospects starring in high school, college and Canadian provincial leagues.

The top storyline heading into the 2013 Draft on June 28 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is the incredible depth across the board this year. The race for No. 1, in fact, will be between a pair of North American players in forward Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL and defenseman Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL.

The European contingent is equally loaded with high-end talent, including a pair of forwards also vying for top honors in Tappara's Alexander Barkov of Finland and Elias Lindholm of Brynas in Sweden.

Not since 2005, when Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic was taken No. 1 by the Penguins, has a player from the QMJHL gone first at the draft. Some believe that will change this year with the emergence of MacKinnon, who leads Halifax with 19 goals and 37 points in 22 games. He'll look to become only the fifth player in history to go first in the QMJHL entry draft (in 2011 by Baie-Comeau Drakkar) before being selected No. 1 in the NHL Draft (Mario Lemieux, Pierre Turgeon, Alexander Daigle, Crosby).

MacKinnon, who has 12 multi-point games, heads an impressive list of prospects from the QMJHL this season.

"There are top-end prospects and a lot more high-end players from the QMJHL in the top 100 this year … more so than there have been in the past few years for sure," Marr told NHL.com. "This is a very strong year in the Q."

MacKinnon, who has also won 53 percent of his faceoffs on 516 draws this season, is followed on the QMJHL list by teammate Jonathan Drouin of Halifax. The 5-10 3/4, 185-pound forward is second behind MacKinnon with 35 points, including 16 goals, despite playing six fewer games. Drouin has recorded 10 goals and 20 points in nine games since his return from a foot injury on Oct. 24.

Barring a major setback, it's possible that MacKinnon and Drouin could become the first tandem from the QMJHL to be taken among the top five picks since Sylvain Turgeon (No. 2) and Pat LaFontaine (No. 3) in 1983.

The top-ranked player in the WHL is 6-foot-3 1/2, 208-pound defenseman Seth Jones, who hasn't missed a beat in his first season with the Winterhawks following an impressive campaign with the U-18 NTDP in Ann Arbor in 2011-12. Make no mistake, MacKinnon and Jones are the frontrunners of this draft, and it wouldn't be too far-fetched to hear that the team owning the first pick decided to flip a coin rather than make the excruciating decision of choosing one over the other.

The Texas-born Jones, son of former NBA forward Popeye Jones, opted for Portland instead of the University of North Dakota this season. A surefire starter along the blue line for the U.S. National Junior Team at the World Junior Championship next month, Jones has produced six goals, 14 points and a plus-14 rating in 21 games for the Winterhawks. He had eight goals and 31 points in 52 games with the U-18 NTDP last season.

"Seth is a big, rangy defenseman who has a nice command of his shifts," NHL Central Scouting's B.J. MacDonald told NHL.com. "He has the ability to be a game changer because he has good instincts and awareness. He's an underrated passer, possesses solid one-on-one play and can skate the puck out of danger at any time. He's already the complete package, but I get the feeling he still has another gear to go to."

There has and will be plenty of healthy debate leading up to the draft on who might be considered the top forward from the WHL with the likes of No. 2-ranked Hunter Shinkaruk of the Medicine Hat Tigers, No. 5 Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats and No. 8 Curtis Lazar of the Edmonton Oil Kings in the mix.

Shinkaruk, who may miss time due to an undisclosed injury suffered on Saturday, is sixth in the league with 35 points, including 17 goals, in 24 games for Medicine Hat.

"He's a shifty, clever forward," MacDonald said of Shinkaruk. "He has the ability to switch to another gear when driving to the net and the puck does not slow him down. He's one of the best playmakers in the Dub; very good puck sense and velvet hands. He has a great overall understanding of the game."

Klimchuk has 13 goals and 25 points in 24 contests after posting 18 goals and 36 points in 67 games last season. Lazar, who racked up 31 points in 63 games in 2011-12, has eight goals and 14 points in 22 games for the Oil Kings in 2012-13.

"Right now, Shinkaruk would have the edge on being the No. 1 forward," MacDonald said. "He has proven he can be a reliable scorer. He's very smart and is showing this year he can find other ways to contribute.

"Lazar is on a much better team and the points aren't coming as everyone might have thought because maybe expectations were a little high for him because of his strong finish last year, but what he has improved on this year is his overall play. He pays attention to detail at both ends of the rink and is developing into a solid two-way player."

MacDonald was quick to point out that wings Klimchuk of the Regina Pats and No. 11 Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Winterhawks should also be high on everyone's draft list. Bjorkstrand leads all rookies in the league with 11 goals and 21 points in 22 games. Coming in at No. 3 on the WHL list after Jones and Shinkaruk is defenseman Ryan Pulock of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

"He's positionally sound and a good puck-mover," MacDonald said of Pulock. "He has a very good awareness and an ability to run a power play because he has a big shot and gets the puck through."

The No. 1 player from the OHL is two-way center Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67's. Monahan (6-2, 186) had 33 goals and 78 points for Ottawa last season, and already has produced 11 goals and 33 points in 23 contests in 2012-13.

"His production probably would be quite a bit more if he had somebody who could finish for him," Central Scouting's Chris Edwards told NHL.com. "He gets pucks through traffic, has real good hands, real good play-making ability. He's got an excellent shot, gets it off real quick and gets himself involved in battles for pucks. He's used in every situation, double- and triple-shifted at times."

Darnell Nurse of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is No. 2 on the OHL list. The 6-3 1/2, 189-pound defenseman has four goals, 17 points and a plus-6 rating in 23 games in his second season for the Greyhounds. Nurse had one goal and 10 points as a rookie in 2011-12.

"He's just a big, steady guy that doesn't make a lot of mistakes," Edwards said. "He gets the puck and he generally makes a good pass with it. He's a real smart guy, uses his size well, [is] physical and plays with an edge and toughness. He's a good all-around guy."

J.T. Compher, who stars for the U.S. NTDP's U-18 team, is the top-rated junior skater in the USHL. The 5-foot-10 1/2, 184-pound left wing, who will attend the University of Michigan next fall, has two goals and three points in six games this season -- he's been sidelined the past 15 games with an undisclosed injury.

Players from the U.S. U-18 NTDP account for five of the top-10 rated players from the USHL. In addition to Compher, there's No. 3 Hudson Fasching (committed to the University of Minnesota), No. 4 Steve Santini (Boston College), No. 5 Keaton Thompson (North Dakota) and No. 7 Michael McCarron (Western Michigan).

The top-rated non-NTDP skater on the USHL list is Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman and No. 2-rated Ian McCoshen, who just recently committed to Boston College next fall.

McCoshen had eight goals, 20 points, 43 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating in 55 games last season with Waterloo. He has one goal, four points and a plus-13 rating in eight games this season for the Black Hawks. He's currently sidelined due to an illness.

"He's definitely an attractive pro prospect, and you can see his game will translate well to being a pro … he has ice in his veins," NHL Central Scouting's David Gregory told NHL.com. "He handles all situations well and uses his strength. Once he starts to understand how much more he can dominate with his size and strength, he'll improve even more."

Among the goalies, Zachary Fucale of Halifax is not only the frontrunner in the QMJHL, but may also hold a slight edge among all other draft-eligible players at his position. The 6-1 1/4, 181-pound netminder is 15-2-1 in 18 appearances with a 2.65 goals-against average and .883 save percentage. Central Scouting's Al Jensen said Fucale is fundamentally and technically sound and offers excellent net coverage. With good patience and poise, the Rosemere, Quebec, native is no doubt an excellent prospect.

"He presents himself big in the net and spreads out very well," Jensen told NHL.com. "He hardly leaves any holes for shooters, and even looks and plays big even when in the butterfly. He keeps his body upright, protecting the upper corners, and makes saves look easy."

As a rookie last year, Fucale, chosen No. 11 by Halifax in the 2011 QMJHL entry draft, went 32-18-6 with a 3.16 GAA and .892 save percentage.

The top two European prospects on the board are Barkov of Finland and Lindholm of Sweden.

Barkov, the son of Russian-born Aleksander Barkov, was born and raised in Finland. The 17-year-old center, who grew up a big admirer of Eric Lindros, is lighting it up in for Tappara in SM-liiga with 12 goals and 24 points in 23 games.

"He's smart, cool, effective and creative," Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com. "He's a two-way strength, who sees the ice very well. His father was a great player, who played in Russia and then spent 10 years with Tappara. Aleksander Jr. plays the same style as his dad did."

Lindholm, who has five goals and 14 points in 22 games with Brynas in Sweden's top league, projects to be a future top-six forward with star potential. Stubb feels the 6-foot, 191-pound versatile forward "has a good chance to be a top-five pick."

"He's a complete package," Stubb said. "He could very well be the next Peter Forsberg. He's an excellent skater and great competitor who gives it 110 percent on every shift. He can skate, score and pass, and is physically strong even though he is a finesse type of player."

The top Russian player is 6-4, 196-pound wing Valeri Nichushkin. Some claim Nichushkin is the next Evgeni Malkin, and considering his blend of size, mobility and offensive skill, it's no wonder he'll command plenty of attention at the draft. At present, Nichushkin is playing for both the Chelyabinsk junior team and its senior second team. He's expected to stick with Chelyabinsk in the KHL, however.

"He's your classic Russian forward with speed, talent and skills," Stubb said. "He's very good with the puck and is very fast. He creates a lot of scoring chances with quick, surprising moves around the net."

Barkov, Lindholm top list of European prospects

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 11:00 AM / Prospects

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

The battle for top honors in the European sector of players eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft looks to be just as tight as the overall race shaping up between North American prospects Nathan MacKinnon and Seth Jones.

Leading the way are Aleksander Barkov of Tappara in Finland and Elias Lindholm of Brynas in Sweden. While there's a good chance several top players currently starring overseas will hear their name announced during the opening round of the draft in June, Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb feels Barkov and Lindholm are the surefire standouts.

On Tuesday, NHL Central Scouting revealed its league rankings for the top levels of North American junior hockey and Europe. Barkov was rated No. 1 in Finland. Lindholm was tops in Sweden.

"I have played against [Lindholm] a few times," Barkov told NHL.com. "He is clever and skillful. He skates well and is very dangerous with the puck."

At this point in the season, Stubb believes Barkov holds a slight edge.

"Both are great prospects and outstanding young players," Stubb told NHL.com. "Their style of play is a bit different. Lindholm is the better skater, but Barkov is more of a complete package. It's more or less impossible to say who is better. The World Junior Championship in Ufa [Russia] will decide who will be No. 1, and who will be No. 2 on our midseason rankings. Both are just excellent."

Barkov was named the best player at the Under-20 Four Nations Tournament in Sundsvall, Sweden, in November for silver medal-winning Finland. He had three assists in three games, finished with a plus-2 rating and won 59 percent of his faceoffs. He was on the ice for eight of his country's nine goals in the tournament.

"He's big, strong, and a hard worker in all areas of the ice," Stubb told NHL.com. "He's a sniper who can also set up scoring chances for teammates. He's a two-way center with a good understanding of his defensive duties, stickhandles well in tight situations, and always seems to come out as a winner. He'll probably go among the top three at the draft."

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen of TPS and wing Artturi Lehkonen of Kalpa round out the top three from Finland on Central Scouting's European list.

Ristolainen, regarded as one of the top overall defenders on the board, has five assists in his second full season with TPS.

"He's a very mature young defenseman playing big minutes," Stubb said. "He can carry or pass the puck out of danger, is a good, solid skater, and uses his size and physical strength well in the defensive zone. Rasmus will be a key D-man for Finland at the World Juniors. He can play physical, but does not take unnecessary penalties."

Lehkonen, a 5-10, 163-pound left wing, moved from TSP to Kalpa in the summer and is now earning regular shifts with the team in SM-liiga, Finland's top league. He has seven goals and 14 points in 22 games.

"He has very quick feet and smooth hands, plays a solid two-way game, and uses his speed and hockey sense to his advantage," Stubb said of Lehkonen. "He's full of surprises in the offensive zone, can score the big goals, and accelerates quickly, especially when in possession of the puck. While he's not very big or strong, he's still a first-round talent."

Despite the fact he didn't offer the same eye-opening offensive display that Barkov did at the Four Nations Tournament, Sweden's Lindholm remains a solid prospect in Stubb's eyes.

"His coach [in Brynas] did not give him much ice time, but he dominated the U-20 tournament in Kravare in September … he's as close to the complete package as you can get with speed, talent, skills, strength and attitude," Stubb said. "He has excellent ability to move the puck through a crowd and finds his man with smart passes and can finish. He's a very effective forechecker and, if he loses the puck, it doesn't take long before he has it back."

Following Lindholm, forwards Andre Burakovsky of Malmo and Jacob de la Rose of Leksand round out the top three prospects from Sweden.

Burakovsky (6-1, 178) is a regular in Sweden's minor league at this point, but Stubb admits it's only a matter of time before he gets his shot on the senior level.

"He has excellent acceleration and speed and is effective in traffic," Stubb said. "He's got good hands and his on-ice vision complements his playmaking skills. He can beat his opponent one-on-one, is smart and clever. His father [Robert Burakovsky] was also a great player on the international level."

The 6-2 1/4, 178-pound de la Rose was a regular with Leksand in Sweden's second-tier division last season and captained Sweden in the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August.

"He's tall, big, talented and effective," Stubb said. "He's a very good skater with a powerful stride and is tough to knock off the puck, which makes him very effective in traffic. He's got soft hands, skillful puckhandling and fine on-ice vision."

Stubb said that while there may not be first-round caliber players coming out of Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Norway or Belarus this year, Slovakian center Marko Dano is "one serious contender."

Dano is ranked No. 7 among skaters playing in Russia.

The 5-11, 183-pound forward has two goals, four points and a plus-3 rating in 18 games with Slovan Bratislava in the KHL this season. The fact he averages only about 10 minutes of ice time a game probably explains his low point production. Dano's Canadian Hockey League rights are held by the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.

"He's a slippery, smart center," Stubb said. "He's a Slovakian playing for a Slovakian team, Slovan Bratislava, in the Russian-dominated KHL. He's smallish, but has a good combination of speed, stick work and smarts. He plays a steady two-way game and gives a consistent effort on every shift. At the present, he's the best prospect from former powerhouses Slovakia and Czech Republic."

Stubb said that there are several Russian forwards on the board possessing the traditional speed and breakaway ability customary in players from the country.

"The only question, though, is whether or not a Russian top prospect would want to move to North America," Stubb said.

Stubb offered his top four Russian prospects currently starring overseas (Russian ranking precedes player):

1. Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Chelyabinsk 2: "He's a big, strong, two-way winger, who played both in the KHL and in the junior league during the fall. He's tough to stop when driving to the net from either wing and is a defender's nightmare in one-on-one situations when at top speed. He handles the puck well in traffic and makes good decisions in those situations."

2. Bogdan Yakimov, C, Penza: "A center with excellent size (6-5, 202), who is physically strong and can use his strength and reach without taking unnecessary penalties. He possesses a good shot, moves the puck with ease at the right time, is a steady competitor and very mobile for a player of his size."

3. Anton Slepyshev, LW, Novokuznetsk: "I was surprised nobody drafted him 2012 … maybe he wasn't interested in playing in North America? He spent the fall with Novokuznetsk in the KHL, and is the type of player who is dancing on the ice. He's an excellent skater, with an excellent skill level. He creates a lot of scoring chances with quick moves in the offensive zone."

4. Pavel Buchnevich, LW, Cherepovets: "He had injury problems during the fall while playing with Cherepovets in the KHL. But he's a classic Russian winger with speed and talent; an excellent skater and very smart. He's full of surprises."

Halifax's Fucale tops Central Scouting's list of goalies

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 11:00 AM / Prospects

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

While this year's pool of draft-eligible goaltenders may not be as plentiful as it was last June, there will still be a few big names at the top of every list at the 2013 NHL Draft in Newark, N.J.

At the 2012 Draft, five goalies were selected among the top 62 picks, including Andrey Vasilevskiy (No. 19, Tampa Bay Lightning) and Malcolm Subban (No. 24, Boston Bruins) in the first round. While there is no guarantee a goalie will be chosen among the opening 30 picks in 2013, there is one goalie from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League expected to be high on every draft list.

Many consider 6-foot-1 1/4, 181-pound Zachary Fucale of the Halifax Mooseheads to be the obvious choice to be the first goaltender chosen.

"Zach is still one of the top goalies, for sure, but he's not a clear-cut No. 1," NHL Central Scouting's Al Jensen told NHL.com.

On Tuesday, Central Scouting revealed its league goalie rankings for the top levels of North American junior hockey and in Europe. Not surprisingly, Fucale, who is 15-2-1 in 18 appearances with a 2.65 goals-against average and .883 save percentage, was ranked No. 1 among in QMJHL.

"He's very calm, patient and has a relaxed style," Jensen said. "He has played most of his team's games to date and has been very consistent. He has an excellent butterfly style and his rebound control is very good … he absorbs shots well off the ice. He has a good glove hand and offers excellent balance in his stance and when moving laterally throughout the crease area.

"Zach also has excellent leg strength for moving laterally and pushing off his post to challenge."

In the Western Hockey League, Eric Comrie of the Tri-City Americans is the No. 1-rated goaltender. Comrie is 14-7-2 with a 2.38 GAA, .920 save percentage and two shutouts.

"He's cool and relaxed, very durable and reliable," Jensen said. "He always gives himself a chance to stop the puck with his excellent angle play and butterfly coverage. He's smooth, controlled and well-balanced. Eric is good post-to-post, and on wraparounds."

The second-ranked goalie in the WHL is Tristan Jarry of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Jarry, who plays a hybrid style, is 4-3-0 with a 1.58 GAA and .935 save percentage in seven appearances in 2012-13. He's picking up where he left off last season, when he finished 8-2-1 with a 2.93 GAA and .894 save percentage.

"He's very quick, athletic, and plays an aggressive style … he'll challenge shooters well," Jensen said. "He has quick, controlled lateral movements. He's very quick to snap down in the butterfly and take away the low corners, and handles the puck well outside his crease. He shows a lot of confidence in his ability and competes very hard."

Spencer Martin of Mississauga is the top-rated goalie in the Ontario Hockey League. In 15 games with the Steelheads in 2012-13, Martin is 11-3-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .923 save percentage. The native of Oakville, Ont., has turned the corner this campaign after going 2-7-1 with a 3.98 GAA and .885 save percentage in 2011-12.

"Spencer is a big goalie with very good net coverage and is aggressive," Jensen said. "He challenges very well and has a total command of his crease. He's strong and demands space, and I really like his battle and compete level. He's got great drive and determination, good reactions in his feet and pads, and is very athletic."

Peterborough Petes goalie Michael Guigovaz, tops among all rookie OHL goalies in GAA (3.37) and save percentage (.906), is ranked No. 2 in the OHL. The 6-foot, 172-pound righty is 5-8-2 in 16 appearances for the Petes. Guigovaz might be the best skater among all the goalies in the draft.

"He's a reaction-style goalie who plays with a lot of confidence," Jensen said. "He has excellent quickness in all areas, especially his feet and pads. He absorbs a lot of shots with his good angle play and is able to track pucks very well. He's able to move laterally throughout the crease quickly and efficiently, and shows good balance. He's facing a lot of rubber and quality chances, and has steadily improved."

The goalie tandem of Eamon McAdam and Calvin Petersen of the Waterloo Black Hawks are ranked first and second, respectively, among goalies in the United States Hockey League. McAdam is committed to Penn State University and Petersen to the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 2013.

According to Jensen, McAdam (5-1-0, 2.35 GAA, .933 save percentage) offers more of a positioning, blocking style. Petersen (6-2-0, 2.63 GAA, .911 save percentage), meanwhile, possesses that athleticism within the crease.

"They are both very good," Waterloo coach P.K. O'Handley said. "I think once we get into a rhythm of playing games, [the goalie of choice] may sort itself out. But both are going to get their time, and both deserve it. They'll have to deliver and give our team a chance to win … individual success for them will come in the form of team success."

NHL Central Scouting unveils preliminary rankings

Tuesday, 11.20.2012 / 11:00 AM

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / 2013 NHL Draft blog

NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday completed the next phase on the road to the 2013 NHL Draft with the release of its league preliminary rankings for the top levels of North American junior hockey and Europe.

* An overall take on the release can be accessed here.

* An in-depth review of the top goalies can be accessed here.

* Breakdown of the top European players can be accessed here.

In the Ontario Hockey League, center Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67's is the No. 1-ranked player, followed by defenseman Darnell Nurse of Sault Ste. Marie, left wing Kerby Rychel of Windsor and London centers Max Domi and Bo Horvat.

OHL Fast Fact: The London Knights have four players (No. 4 Max Domi, No. 5 Bo Horvat, No. 7 Nikita Zadorov, No. 16 Remi Elie) listed among the top 25 skaters and goalie Jake Patterson is rated No. 6 at his position.

To no one's surprise, center Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads was regarded as the No. 1 player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was followed by Halifax teammate and No. 2-ranked left wing Jonathan Drouin, No. 3 Valentin Zykov of Baie-Comeau, No. 4 Frederik Gauthier of Rimouski and No. 5 Adam Erne of Quebec.

QMJHL Fast Fact: Halifax occupies the top two spots on the skaters' list and the No. 1 spot (Zachary Fucale) among goalies; Rimouski has five of the top 25 players on the board, including No. 4 Frederik Gauthier, No. 10 Jan Kostalek, No. 11 Maxime Gravel, No. 21 Vladimir Bryukvin and No. 22 Samuel Morin.

The Western Hockey League is once again loaded with talent. The league might also possess the best defenseman of the 2013 Draft in 6-foot-3.5, 208-pound Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks. Jones is one of three defenders among the top five, including No. 3 Ryan Pulock of Brandon and No. 4 Shea Theodore of Seattle. Coming in at No. 2 is center Hunter Shinkaruk and filling in at No. 5 is Morgan Klimchuk of Regina.

WHL Fast Fact: Seven of the top 10 players in the league are defensemen. They include Jones, Pulock, Theodore, Joshua Morrissey of Prince Albert, Mirco Muller of Everett, Eric Roy of Brandon and Madison Bowey of Kelowna.

The United States Hockey League is led by left wing J.T. Compher of the Under-18 U.S. National Team Development Program. Compher is one of five players representing the USNTDP among the top 10 skaters in the league. Defenseman Ian McCoshen of the Waterloo Black Hawks is No. 2, right wing Hudson Fasching of the USNTDP is No. 3, defenseman Steven Santini of the USNTDP is No. 4 and defender Keaton Thompson of the USNTDP is No. 5.

USHL Fast Fact: The University of Michigan, Boston College and the University of North Dakota each have two players among the top 10 in the league who are committed to the school in the fall of 2013. the Michigan recruits include No. 1 Compher and No. 6 Michael Downing of Dubuque. The B.C. recruits are No. 2 McCoshen and No. 4 Santini. Future standouts for the Fighting Sioux include No. 5 Thompson and No. 8 Luke Johnson of Lincoln.

Among the European skaters, defenseman Martin Kokes of Litvinov Jr. heads the Czech Republic; left wing Matthias Asperup of Copenhagen heads Denmark; center Aleksander Barkov of Tappara heads Finland; defenseman Tim Bender of Mannheim Jr. heads Germany; right wing Valeri Nichushkin of Chelmet heads Russia; center Eduard Simun of B. Bystrica heads Slovakia; center Elias Lindholm of Brynas heads Sweden; and Fabio Hogger of Kloten Jr. heads Switzerland.

The top-ranked goalies in each league are as follows:

OHL: Spencer Martin of Mississauga

QMJHL: Zachary Fucale of Halifax

WHL: Eric Comrie of Tri-City

USHL: Eamon McAdam of Waterloo

Czech Republic: Rene Svoboda of Vitkovice Jr.

Finland: Juuse Saros of HPK Jr.

Russia: Ivan Bocharov of MVD Balashikha 2

Slovakia: Maros Mikolas of Zilina Jr.

Sweden: Ebbe Sionas of AIK Jr.

Switzerland: Nicola Aeberhard of Kloten Jr.

Shooting Straight and no longer scratching his head

Defenseman with NHL experience wants to rebound after being a healthy scratch. TOM VENESKY

A week ago today Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Brian Strait found himself in a position he hadn’t been in for quite some time.

While his teammates took on the Springfield Falcons at home, Strait wasn’t on the ice. Instead, the fourth year pro was a healthy scratch after playing in 12 straight games.

It’s a spot Strait doesn’t want to be in again.

“You never like to sit out, but sometimes you have to take a step back if that’s what it takes,” he said after Tuesday’s practice at Coal Street. “That’s the coach’s call obviously, and there’s nothing I can do but learn from it and play better.”

Head coach John Hynes said no one is exempt from being a healthy scratch if he feels the situation warrants such a move. The end result, Hynes said, is getting all his players to play up to the level that makes the team successful.

Strait, who has appeared in 12 NHL games with Pittsburgh, admitted he isn’t happy with the way he’s been playing this season. In 13 games, he has yet to register a point, is a plus-1 and has 26 penalty minutes – a figure that at one time led the team.

Last season Strait totaled 26 penalty minutes in 41 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Cutting back on penalties is one of Strait’s immediate concerns.

“That’s frustrating. I feel like some of the calls, you might have been able to get away with a year ago but you’re not getting now,” he said. “They’re obviously calling it a little tighter at the beginning of the year and I have to be more careful out there.”

Another possible reason behind Strait’s slow start centers on the fact that he is only one of a few veterans among a defensive unit stocked with rookies.

As a result, Strait said, he may have been trying to do too much.

“At times you think because you’re a veteran guy and played in the NHL that you need to do more. Once I get back to the ‘less is more’ kind of thing, that’s where my game should be,” he

said. “Sometimes you forget that and get out of your rhythm. That’s part of what’s been happening with me.”

Strait missed Saturday’s game against Hershey due to an injury that Hynes said is minor. It’s possible that Strait will get back into the lineup tonight, Hynes said, and that’s what the veteran defenseman said he needs.

“There’s always things you feel you can improve on. Things that are simple to correct but it takes work,” he said.

NOTES: On the injury front, Jayson Megna practiced in full on Tuesday and is ready to go, Hynes said. Zach Sill practiced with the red jersey and is considered week-to-week.

Jeff Zatkoff will get the start in net tonight in Hershey. The Penguins have lost all three meetings against the Bears this season, and Zatkoff will be looked upon to put an end to the streak.

After last Saturday’s meeting featured three fights and a handful of penalties at the end of the game, the Penguins may look to dress tough guy Steve MacIntyre. “It’s always a possibility,” Hynes said. “We’ve dressed him for more than 50 percent of our games. If we feel that will give us the best chance to win, then we’ll dress him,” Hynes said.

WBS Pens hope to end struggles against Bears

By Jonathan Bombulie (Staff Writer)

Published: November 21, 2012

WILKES-BARRE - Perennial all-stars Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque may be gone, but the skill level and style of play remains the same.

That was goalie Jeff Zatkoff's assessment of the Hershey Bears as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins prepared to face their intrastate rivals tonight for the second time in five days and fourth time already this season.

"They're a very skilled team, a puck-possession team. You're not going to see them come in and waste a shot on net," Zatkoff said. "You look at all the games we've played against them, I think they've had 20 shots or so or less. That's just the way they play. They wait for a quality chance before they shoot. It makes it harder to have good numbers against them."

Harder indeed.

Zatkoff is 0-2 with an .861 save percentage against Hershey this season. He's 6-3 with a .942 save percentage against the rest of the league.

But he's hardly alone in his struggles against Hershey. As a team, in the last month, the Penguins are 0-3 against the Bears and 8-0 against the rest of the league.

On the penalty kill, the Penguins have a 75 percent success rate against Hershey and a 92.1 percent success rate against the rest of the league.

You get the picture.

"I think they've played some of their better games against us," coach John Hynes said. "They've just simply played better than we have in the games. That's the first thing. We haven't had some of our better efforts or complete team games against them like they have against us. That's really been the biggest difference."

With Aucoin in Toronto and Bourque in Providence, the Bears might not look as dangerous on paper this year as they have in past seasons, but Zatkoff thinks that's misleading.

"Look at that team. They still have a ton of talent with (Ryan) Potulny, bringing in (Jon) DiSalvatore, (Jeff) Taffe, (Zach) Hamill," Zatkoff said. "They're a very skilled team and they work hard and they're well coached."

Zatkoff will get another crack at the Bears tonight, but that's not because the Penguins are desperate to stop a losing streak against their biggest rival, Hynes said.

"I know there's this microcosm of Hershey, Hershey, Hershey because we're playing them back to back, but if we were playing someone else on Wednesday, it would have been Zatkoff playing because it's his game to play," the coach said. "To us, yes, we want to win the game against Hershey, but the bigger picture is we want to win every game we play, whether it's Hershey or somebody else. For us, it's a big game because it's an opportunity to play against another team and get two points in the standings."

The team that gets those two points might have to fight for them.

There were eight fighting majors handed out in last Saturday's game, a 4-1 Hershey victory, and two of those scraps were the kind that lead to bad feelings. Hershey's Matt Clackson, a frequent fighter, squared off with Penguins rookie offensive defenseman Joe Morrow, while Penguins agitator Bobby Farnham dropped the gloves with Jeff Taffe, Hershey's leading scorer.

"I almost feel like every team I've been on has had a rivalry with Hershey," said first-year Penguins center Trevor Smith. "Hopefully we can get back on track and get some wins there."

Back-to-back Bears 11/20 November 20th, 2012

1 Comment and 4 Reactions

Back-to-back games against the Hershey Bears bring some different storylines into focus.

For one, in the last month, the Penguins are 0-3 against Hershey and 8-0 against the rest of the league. Their penalty kill has a 75 percent success rate against Hershey and 92.1 percent against the rest of the league. Jeff Zatkoff’s save percentage against Hershey is .861 against Hershey and .942 against the rest of the league.

Get the picture? There’s something about the Bears that is bringing out the worst in the Penguins so far this season. More about that in tomorrow’s paper.

Speaking of bringing out the worst, there’s some potential for tomorrow’s game to get a little ugly, since both teams have a reason to feel wronged after the last meeting, a 4-1 Hershey win last Saturday. The Penguins might not have liked an experienced fighter like Matt Clackson fighting rookie offensive defenseman Joe Morrow. The Bears might not have liked pest Bobby Farnham fighting Jeff Taffe, their leading scorer. Plus there were two other scraps at the buzzer.

So tomorrow, things could be a little testy. A more likely scenario, though, would see Steve MacIntyre dressing and everyone being on their best behavior as a result.

Coach John Hynes after practice today on whether MacIntyre will dress: “That’s always a possibility. We’ve dressed him for more than 50 percent of our games. If we feel that’s what gives us the best chance to win the game, then we’ll dress him.”

Not exactly bulletin board material there.

Some notes:

– Jayson Megna (lower body) practiced without restriction today and will likely be in the lineup tomorrow. Brian Strait is day to day with an undisclosed injury. He might play as well. Zach Sill (upper body) is skating with a red no-contact jersey and is still considered week to week.

– With all that in mind, here’s a rough look at the way the team is lining up. It’s guesswork especially on D because of the Strait situation.

Tangradi-Smith-Dupuis Bennett-Peters-Thompson

Holzapfel-Megna-Ferriero Farnham-Veilleux-MacIntyre Gibbons-Uher-Kuhnhackl

Strait-Bortuzzo Despres-Dumoulin Morrow-Reese Samuelsson-Mormina-Grant

– Goaltending matchup is expected to be Zatkoff vs. Braden Holtby, who has stopped 61-of-63 shots against the Penguins in two games this year (.968).

– The AHL is keeping hybrid icing for the time being, then will revisit the issue when the NHL resumes play. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind them going to no-touch icing completely. I’ve found I don’t miss the icing races much at all. Anyone agree/disagree?

– Thanks to Jason Iacona for filling in for me Saturday in Hershey. He captured the spirit of the thing and the wedding was great. Good times all around.

Bye for now,

jb

Now and then: Comparing lockouts

Updated: November 21, 2012, 9:18 AM ET

By Scott Burnside | ESPN.com

With each passing day, the feeling of deja vu grows.

As mind-boggling as it is to consider, every day that the NHL and its locked-out players continue their stare-off puts us closer to another lost season.

That the circumstances are completely different this time around doesn't seem to matter at this stage and, of course, the longer this goes the more closely linked the two work stoppages become.

Here's a look at some similarities and differences between the 2004-05 season-long lockout and the current work stoppage:

Differences: The two sides have actually spoken on a fairly regular basis since the start of the lockout on Sept. 15. The fact deputy commissioner Bill Daly and his NHLPA counterpart Steve Fehr didn't speak for a few days last week was a marked departure from the relatively open lines of communication that have marked this negotiation. Now, sometimes the talks have been short, such as when the league walked out after examining a trio of player proposals for 10 minutes. Other meetings have been more substantial. In the previous lockout, there were long periods of icy silence, most notably from mid-September to early December 2004 that set the tone for the historic lost season. Most observers believe that constant contact, however minimal it might be, is imperative to a deal getting done in a timely fashion and saving at least some of the 2012-13 season.

Similarities: The frustration level on both sides of this battle is significant. The owners don't like Donald Fehr and his passive-aggressive style of negotiation. He's not a screamer, he doesn't storm out of meetings and he is, for the most part, extremely measured with the media. In short, he's driving the owners crazy. The players, of course, have it in for commissioner Gary Bettman, and the league has done a nice job of stepping on land mines every few weeks (See: walking out of meetings after 10 minutes, trying to discredit Fehr through the media and authorizing managers to talk to players without informing the union), which has served to reinforce the players' will in standing united in the face of another lost season. Last lockout, the palpable disdain between then-NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow and Bettman was a key impediment to saving the season. What began as a more cordial interplay has dissolved recently, and the constant shots being taken at Bettman -- funny how the players always seem to forget their own owners when these diatribes are unleashed -- has ramped up the antagonism between the two sides. But, hey, it's a labor negotiation, not circle time at kindergarten, so this is to be expected, right?

Differences: The core issues, of course, are markedly different, as the league was trying to enforce a salary cap last time and also got a 24 percent rollback on salaries. This time the league is coming off five straight years of record revenue growth, so talks are about redefining the sharing of the revenue pie. The players and owners still can't get straight how the league will honor all or most of all the existing contracts, while sorting through the contractual restrictions the league wants. In short, these are important issues, but ones most observers believe are eminently solvable, especially given that both sides seem to accept that revenues will get to a 50-50 split at some point in a new deal and revenue sharing must be enhanced to ensure league stability from top to bottom.

Differences: One big difference that enhances the players' desire to stand firm on having existing contracts honored (funny how the NHL appears to be the only pro sports league where honoring deals made by owners is a subject for negotiation) is the number of players under contract now compared to eight years ago. According to the NHLPA, there were 592 players under contract at the start of the 2004 lockout. This fall, 658 players were under contract. If the owners are waiting for the players to crack as they did last time, the fact that so many are fighting for money they're already owed is a significantly different dynamic.

Differences: The structure of the NHLPA is much different this time with Fehr introducing a more horizontal style of organization. There is a 30-player executive board made up of the 30 team player reps and a negotiating committee of 31 players. Eight years ago, the NHLPA had a player president, Trevor Linden, and a smaller executive committee that took in all of the meetings. Now literally dozens of players have taken in at least some of the bargaining sessions. Recently, players like Johan Hedberg, Ron Hainsey, Kevin Westgarth and Martin Biron have been regulars, although players not on the negotiating committee have also taken in some meetings (like Brad Richards last week and Sidney Crosby before that). Does it matter? Certainly players publicly insist they feel there has been complete transparency in what has been discussed during negotiations and the information they're getting. But the question remains: if players are afraid to ask questions or raise issues on conference calls or with Fehr himself, how do their concerns get voiced? There is little doubt Fehr is in absolute control of the information dispersed to the players in a way that is markedly different than eight years ago.

Similarities: Throughout the 2004-05 lockout, there was much discussion about the damage being done to the game. As it turns out, the damage was minuscule and the NHL returned in 2005-06 with a new set of rules, new faces in Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and fans returned in record numbers. This time around the debate continues to rage about how this stoppage will impact the league. There are again dire predictions, but the problem for the league and its players is that there appears at this stage to be no new face to put on the game to try and erase the shame of another lockout. Fans see the labor dispute as a clash of egos over money as opposed to a systemic fight about redefining the game. Fans will come back in Canada because that's what they do. But what happens in places like St. Louis, Florida, Los Angeles and Phoenix (yes, whole different issue there with ownership) -- all markets that had strong seasons a year ago but where they must fight to carve out a niche in their sporting communities? No one knows how much damage has been done this fall and what the recovery time will be this time, but the prevailing feeling even from top executives is that fans will stay away in more places and for longer periods.

Differences: The public relations fight is markedly different this time. Thanks to the explosion of social media, fans are able to voice their opinions more often and more candidly than eight years ago. The owners and Gary Bettman have, for the most part, taken a beating via Facebook and Twitter from players, agents and fans (although, as mentioned earlier, players have been very circumspect about calling out the men who actually pay their salaries). What will be interesting is how sponsors respond to that. Do they shy away from returning or extending existing contracts based on the anger and resentment that seems to be much more prevalent this time? Why wouldn't they? Eight years ago, fans in general, and especially in Canada, believed getting a salary cap and controlling costs was imperative for stabilizing the game in Canada and for small-market teams. It didn't exactly work out that way, but this time the perception at least is that fans are a lot angrier, and that anger is much more easily shared.

Similarities: At some point, time is going to run out on both sides. It ran out in early 2005 as the season was cancelled in mid-February, although there was a last-ditch effort to resurrect the campaign a week later. The prevailing thinking is that owners will not wait as long this time

around to close down the season for good. And with the number of concessions owners at least perceive they have made, the digging in has already begun. Many observers believe that if a deal isn't done by late December or early January, owners will simply turn out the lights for good. The good news is that many of those same observers also believe a deal could be hammered out in a matter of days if the two sides got down to serious give and take in the near future. Go figure.

Similarities: At the end of this, when a new deal is finally cobbled together, the players will still get paid millions of dollars (the salary cap went from $39 million to just over $70 million since the last lockout thanks to five straight years of record revenues), and the owners will still be stinking rich. Players and agents will almost immediately begin to exploit holes or flaws in the new CBA, and the fans will be completely ignored in the process, as will those who rely on the sport for income like bar and restaurant owners, ushers, parking lot attendants and souvenir sales folks.

Similarities: Stupid. Careless. Arrogant. All the adjectives used to describe both sides and the failure to get a deal done without the embarrassment of a lockout.

Opening of NHL free agency period could be shifted to June in new CBA, says report

By Sean Leahy

The NHL calendar for the month of June has typically gone: award Stanley Cup; hand out the trophies; announce that year's draft picks; and then everyone begins to look forward to the following season beginning July 1 with the opening of the free agency period.

That appears to be about to change once the NHL and the NHLPA finally nail down a new CBA. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides on Wednesday morning the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran has learned some details as far as what common ground has been made and where things stands on certain issues.

One item of change will be moving up the opening of free agency to June 15 or 24 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded. According to McGran, the PA prefers whichever date is later and that topic was "one of 13 NHLPA issues (out of 17) that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has publicly acknowledged the league has "agreed" to."

(You'll recall Pierre LeBrun reported in September that the NHL proposed free agency begin July 10.)

Among the other reportedly agreed upon points is the elimination of re-entry waivers, cap space to be included in deals (Brian Burke's baby) and a neutral, third party to handle discipline appeals. We know contract restraints and the splitting of HRR and revenue sharing are still to be worked on and have been the main hurdles in these negotiations. And while nothing "agreed" upon is set in stone, it's hopeful that urgency is setting in and things are moving toward progress and not more PR posturing.

On Wednesday the NHL is expecting to finally see a full PA proposal to understand just exactly what Donald Fehr and players are seeking and how it would affect a new CBA as a whole.

NHLPA EXPECTED TO DELIVER NEW CBA PROPOSAL WEDNESDAY

The Canadian Press

NEW YORK -- The ball is back in the hands of the NHL Players' Association.

With collective bargaining talks set to resume at the NHL head office on Wednesday morning, the union is expected to table a new proposal. It comes on the heels of a 90-minute meeting on Monday evening where the league asked NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr to put together a comprehensive offer that includes how to split revenue and rules governing player contracts.

"We've never heard a full proposal from them," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "We've heard their proposal on economics, they're still suggesting that they're moving in our direction on economics. Until we know exactly where they stand on economics ... we think it's all tied together.

"We'd like to hear it all together."

The meeting on Wednesday comes at the same time the league is expected to cancel more games. According to sources, the NHL has decided to wipe the first two weeks of December off the schedule, which will bring the total lost during the lockout to more than 400 games.

In addition to revenue split and player contract rules, the sides need to work out how to pay for the damage caused by the lockout. In the NHLPA's most recent offer, which was tabled Nov. 7,

the union asked for the players' share of revenues to jump in fixed increments of 1.75 per cent each season starting from the $1.883-billion they took in last year.

That proposal didn't include the mechanism that would be used to account for the reduced revenue generated during a shortened 2012-13 season.

The NHL would prefer a proposal based on a percentage of annual revenue.

"If their proposal continues to be a guaranteed player amount, sitting here on Nov. 19, that's not a proposal that would ever be acceptable to us," said Daly. "If that happens to be where we are, we will be a long way apart."

The league and union must also find agreement on contract rules. The NHL would like to see entry-level contracts reduced to two years, unrestricted free agency pushed back to age 28 or eight years of service and all deals limited to five years maximum.

So far, the union has only shown a willingness to make system changes that would discourage teams from signing players to long-term, back-diving contracts.

Now in its 10th week, the lockout has already cost the players three paycheques and the league millions in lost revenue. The sides considered taking a break from negotiations last week, but the NHLPA urged the league to continue meeting.

"It's hard for me to see how you make an agreement if you aren't talking and so you talk," said Fehr. "Sometimes it doesn't lead anywhere, perhaps very often it doesn't lead anywhere, but if you aren't talking it's 100 per cent sure it doesn't lead anywhere."

FLYERS' GIROUX LEAVES GERMANY FOR TREATMENT OF NECK INJURY

TSN.CA STAFF

Philadelphia Flyers centre Claude Giroux is leaving his Eisbaren Berlin club in the German league to seek medical attention for a neck injury, his agent Pat Brisson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com Tuesday.

"We want to make sure we get the right diagnosis with the neck injury, it's a precaution," Brisson said. "We believe it's a minor injury. He felt better yesterday. But we just don't want to take any chances."

Giroux, who suffered the injury in a game last Friday and underwent concussion tests in Germany over the weekend, said via text message that he would be "fine."

Brisson added that Giroux will visit with Dr. Ted Carrick in Atlanta next week. He's the same doctor that has worked with Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews.

Giroux was third in NHL scoring last season with 28 goals and 93 points.

WHL: HITMEN BEAT HURRICANES TO STAY ATOP CENTRAL DIVISION

The Canadian Press

The Calgary Hitmen remain atop the Central Division thanks to a big night from goalie Chris Driedger.

Driedger made 42 saves as the Hitmen edged the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday.

The win kept Calgary (15-5-3) one point ahead of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who stayed in the hunt by beating Swift Current 2-1.

The Hurricanes (13-11-2) meanwhile are five points back of Calgary after dropping their third straight game.

Elsewhere in the WHL it was: Red Deer 4, Medicine Hat 0; Prince George 4, Regina 3 (SO); and Victoria 5, Saskatoon 2.

At Lethbridge, Alta., Greg Chase, Alex Roach and Carson Samoridny each scored for the Hitmen.

Ryan Pilon and Jay Merkley replied for Lethbridge, which capitalized on just one of eight power-play opportunities.

Hurricanes goaltender Ty Rimmer meanwhile finished the night with 17 saves.

Oil Kings 2, Broncos 1

At Edmonton, Stephane Legault scored two power-play goals for the Oil Kings (14-5-4) in a win over Swift Current (9-12-5).

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Rebels 4, Tigers 0

At Medicine Hat, Alta., Patrik Bartosak stopped 43 shots for Red Deer (13-11-2), which blanked the Tigers (11-14-1).

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Cougars 4, Pats 3 (SO)

At Prince George, B.C., Daulton Siwak and Carson Bolduc each scored in the shootout for the Cougars (8-11-4), who scored three times in the second period against Regina (10-12-3).

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Royals 5, Blades 2

At Victoria, Jamie Crooks scored two goals, including one shorthanded, to lead the Royals (12-11-0) past Saskatoon (10-11-1).