The NBA's New York Knicks and the NHL's New York Rangers became the last teams in their respective leagues to release statements condemning racism as protests following the police killing of George Floyd continue throughout the United States."Every one of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equal society, where there is no racism, bigotry, violence, or hate. We stand with all who act for positive change," Tuesday's joint statement said.Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan oversees both the Knicks and Rangers. He initially defended his company's decision not to release a public statement after George Floyd died on May 25.In an internal email to MSG staff, Dolan stated that the organization was "not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters," which reportedly infuriated Knicks players and employees.In early April, Rangers prospect K'Andre Miller, who is black, was bombarded with racial slurs during a video call arranged by the team. The NHL later called the incident a "despicable act" and said the person responsible is "not welcome in the hockey community."Last week, Miller expressed his feelings about racial injustice, calling for a change in how the black community is perceived.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom, St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, and Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan are among the 31 finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association announced Tuesday.Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma - a type of cancer that occurs in bones or soft tissue - in December. The 23-year-old missed the rest of the regular season. The Flyers rallied around him, and their fans gave the winger a standing ovation when he attended a game in January. As of late April, Lindblom was scheduled to undergo his final cancer treatments.Bouwmeester suffered a cardiac episode during a game between the Blues and Anaheim Ducks, a February contest that was postponed as a result. The 36-year-old rearguard later underwent surgery to implant a defibrillator, which restored his heart's normal rhythm. He also missed the remainder of the regular season.Ryan took a leave from the Senators to enter the NHL and NHLPA's player assistance program in November. The winger later revealed he had a panic attack and was battling alcohol abuse. Ryan, who turned 33 in March, returned from the program in February and notched four goals in eight games, including a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks.The NHL awards the Masterton Trophy to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." The PHWA annually votes on the award and narrows down the list to three finalists before the winner is determined.Here's the complete list of 2019-20 nominees:TeamPlayer

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-150. Johnny Gaudreau, Flames Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70185818:4753.91Gaudreau wasn't nearly as efficient this season as he was in years past. After a slow start to the campaign, though, the dynamic winger caught fire in the second half. He potted eight goals and added 19 assists in 28 games after Jan. 1. Even during an inconsistent season, the 26-year-old still possesses the raw talent to dominate his opponents in elimination play.49. Matthew Tkachuk, Flames Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69236118:1852.71Few players offer Tkachuk's unique blend of scoring touch, physicality, and two-way play. The 22-year-old winger is blossoming into the face of the Calgary Flames, and it would be hard to design a player better equipped to endure the grind of playoff hockey.48. Dougie Hamilton, Hurricanes Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%47144023:1758.72Hamilton was playing the best hockey of his career before he suffered a broken fibula in January, and he'll be hungry for the chance to return to form. The 6-foot-6 defenseman is a gifted skater for his size, which is one of the main reasons he's able to dominate the possession game. Hamilton ranked in the top 10 in both Corsi For and expected goals this season, and he was 17th in high-danger scoring chances (minimum 600 minutes played).47. Kyle Connor, Jets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%71387321:0542.54You have to watch Connor on more than one occasion to fully appreciate him. He doesn't have the blazing speed or rocket shot that other elite goal-scorers possess, but he knows how to put the puck in the net. It seems he buries every chance he gets down low. Connor is a highly intelligent, hard-working player with very soft hands around the net.46. Claude Giroux, Flyers Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69215318:5953.89Giroux cooled off a bit this campaign after posting more than a point per game in 2018-19 and a career-high 102 points the season prior. However, he's still among the game's most dependable centers at age 32, and he's one of the biggest reasons the Philadelphia Flyers played so well before the break.45. Shea Weber, Canadiens Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%65153624:0054.65When Weber is healthy, he's still one of the most dominant defensemen in the league. With months to rest some nagging injuries, a recuperated Weber will be extremely valuable for the Montreal Canadiens. His ability to log significant minutes and contribute on both offense and defense will make him a lethal threat in playoff-style hockey.44. Mathew Barzal, Islanders Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%68196020:0351.57An offensive wizard on arguably the NHL's most defensive-minded team, Barzal stands out among his peers. He's one of the best skaters in the league and his vision is off the charts. He's also up for a new contract after this season, so he'll want to prove his worth with a strong playoff showing.43. Seth Jones, Blue Jackets Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%5663025:1751.24The Columbus Blue Jackets are a completely different team when Jones is in the lineup. Columbus won just three of 14 outings and allowed 3.57 goals per game after the 6-foot-4 rearguard injured his ankle in early February. Jones, an agile skater with a strong hockey acumen, ranked seventh in average ice time this season while often paired against opponents' top talents.42. Ben Bishop, Stars Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAASV%GSAA21-16-42.50.92013.29Bishop is arguably the best goalie in the NHL when healthy and on his game, though he wasn't even the best goalie on his own team this season, as Anton Khudobin led the league with a .930 save percentage. However, it'll almost certainly be the three-time Vezina finalist getting the call in the postseason.41. Cale Makar, Avalanche Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%57125021:0151.56If not for a certain Vancouver Canucks blue-liner, Makar would be the clear Calder Trophy favorite. Nevertheless, he has a strong case in his own right and is already one of the NHL's best defensemen. The 21-year-old ranked second in the rookie points race and led all qualified first-year players in points per game. The Colorado Avalanche phenom has looked more than comfortable in the league since debuting during last year's postseason, and his future looks exceedingly bright.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Xavier Gutierrez's primary task as the Arizona Coyotes' new president and CEO will be to find a way to keep the team in the desert."(Owner Alex Meruelo and I) are very focused on creating a sustainable long-term solution that keeps this team at home, here, in Arizona," he said following his hiring Monday. "This will be an area that I am especially focused on and will be taking the lead on to find the right solution."The Coyotes ranked 28th out of 31 teams in average attendance this season, according to ESPN. The franchise hasn't finished better than 28th since 2006-07 when they ranked 24th. In December, Forbes valued the team at $300 million - the lowest in the league.The location of the Coyotes' home rink - Gila River Arena - has played a part in the team's poor attendance figures. It's located in Glendale, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from downtown Phoenix. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last year that the arena "is not viable long-term."The Coyotes unveiled a design for a joint facility in Tempe with Arizona State in 2016, but the plans folded after the university ended negotiations.Meruelo officially purchased the Coyotes last July, becoming the first person of Hispanic heritage to serve as an NHL chairman. Gutierrez, who says he and Meruelo have been business associates for over a decade, became the first Latino in NHL history to hold the titles of president and CEO.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eugene Melnyk's charity previously directed a small fraction of the money it generated toward its intended cause.The Ottawa Senators owner created The Organ Project - a private, Toronto-based not-for-profit foundation - in 2016, with the goal of ending the organ transplant waiting list and "changing the current environment so that, in the near future, nobody in Canada will die while waiting for an organ transplant."However, while it gained $991,708 in revenues during 2018, it contributed barely $5,000 of that to organ donor awareness, according to Postmedia's Rick Gibbons, who cited filings from the Canada Revenue Agency.Melnyk's charity is separate from the Senators Foundation - the team's charitable arm - which announced its intent to sever ties with the club last week.The Senators Foundation budgeted $100,000 toward The Organ Project but eventually decided against donating it, Gibbons added.Of the roughly $1 million taken in by Melnyk's charity, it spent $779,464 on fundraising costs and another $238,118 on management and administration, according to the filings obtained by Gibbons, who was informed that these types of figures are "almost certain" to be scrutinized by tax officials.Unlike the Senators Foundation, the Organ Project doesn't require a board of directors to oversee operations, and according to Gibbons, the latter entity appeared to be directed solely by Melnyk. However, it shut down in 2019 and didn't fulfill a promise to reopen this spring.The Senators and their foundation will formally part ways if they're unable to resolve their dispute by July 31.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Carter Hutton confessed he struggled with an ongoing vision issue during the 2019-20 season.After seeking treatment, Hutton discovered he suffered from convergence insufficiency, a disorder in which a person's eyes don't move at the same time. He learned his left eye moved slower than his right and attended therapy throughout the season to correct the problem."It started to come back around big time in January," Hutton said, according to Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski.He added, "(Therapy) became part of my daily routine. I would do a ton of different eye training and things to get better at that. In the moment it was obviously tough. Now, moving forward, I learned a lot of skills to help improve that area and make my eye strength better and work on stuff. We weren't sure what it was. It was something I managed throughout the season."Hutton admitted the vision impairment made it difficult for him to track pucks on the ice, and even routine practice drills became difficult.The 34-year-old doesn't blame his eyesight for his poor play at times during the season. From Oct. 24 to Jan. 30, the veteran netminder recorded an 0-8-4 record with a 4.04 goals-against average and .872 save percentage."I didn't perform as well as I needed to at times, and obviously, I think it was 12 straight I was winless, which is really tough to swallow," Hutton said.He continued, "It's obviously something that needs to change. During the year, I can't have these lulls and I'll get back to doing what I do best. I've played in the league for a long time. I didn't just forget how to play. I had a rough go with some stuff and we'll get back to it."Hutton went 12-14-4 with a 3.18 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in his second season with the Sabres.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · ESPN prospects writer Chris PetersESPN hockey prospects writer Chris Peters joins the show to discuss a variety of NHL draft-related topics, including:

The Arizona Coyotes hired Xavier A. Gutierrez as their new president and CEO, making him the first Latino to hold those positions in NHL history, the club announced Monday.He joins the Coyotes after serving as managing director of Clearlake Capital Group, a private equity firm based in California. He has over 20 years of experience as a business executive, investor, and dealmaker, according to the team.Gutierrez fills the vacancy left by the May departure of Ahron Cohen, who moved on from the organization and his dual roles as the club's president and CEO.Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo became the first and only person of Hispanic heritage to serve as chairman of an NHL club when he took over last July.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After speaking out against racial injustice, Braden Holtby and his wife, Brandi, are putting their words into action.The Washington Capitals goaltender and his partner launched the "Get Off the Bench for Racial Equality" auction benefitting Black Lives Matter DC and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the club announced Monday.The Holtbys will donate $5,000 to each organization while matching the money raised in the auction, which is now live. It will run through June 12 at 12 p.m. ET.Items include jerseys and helmets signed by the netminder and some of his star teammates, such as Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson. A piece of wooden artwork depicting and signed by Holtby is also up for sale.Last week, Holtby authored one of the most powerful anti-racism statements in the hockey world. He lamented the damage the naming of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge has caused to the local black community and said, "America will never be great until all BLACK lives matter."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seven current and retired black NHL players have formed the Hockey Diversity Alliance, an independent group seeking to eliminate racism and intolerance in hockey, the players announced Monday.Former NHL defenseman Akim Aliu and current San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane will serve as co-heads. The executive committee includes Detroit Red Wings rearguard Trevor Daley, Minnesota Wild blue-liner Matt Dumba, Buffalo Sabres winger Wayne Simmonds, retired forward Joel Ward, and Chris Stewart, a veteran winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.Members of the new organization spoke with Colin Kaepernick in video calls in recent weeks, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. Those involved called the conversations "very powerful" and said Kaepernick offered support and guidance.The alliance plans to combat racism in society as a whole, as well as within the hockey world."Although we will be independent of the NHL, we are hopeful that we will work productively with the league to accomplish these important changes," the players said in a statement.Aliu has been at the forefront of the movement in hockey since revealing former head coach Bill Peters' past use of racial slurs toward him. Peters resigned from his position with the Calgary Flames in late November, and Aliu met with the NHL to discuss inclusion in early December. The league later pledged to better address "unacceptable" conduct.Kane has been the most vocal NHLer regarding racial injustice. He called in May for more white athletes to speak up in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody. Numerous players of varying backgrounds subsequently did so.NHL executive Kim Davis said Friday the league will create four committees to help address diversity issues across all levels of the sport.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr is applauding the many players who have taken a stand against racism and police brutality."I'm really proud of the guys," Fehr recently told The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton. "They understand it's an important moment. They understand what the issues are, at least in the grand scope. And they're making their voice heard. Not everybody, but quite a lot. And that's to their credit."Fehr is more than familiar with protests for social causes. He grew up during the civil rights era and was unable to attend his college graduation at the University of Indiana because it was scheduled to take place a week after the Kent State shootings amid peaceful Vietnam War demonstrations in 1970.He's hopeful the Black Lives Matter movement brings about significant change for the better."These are issues which have always been important and fundamental and around which you need to make progress," Fehr said. "The hope is that in one fashion or another, the current state of events will result in that kind of progress and meaningful progress being made."Over 100 NHLers have voiced their support for the cause over the last week or so, following the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25.The Floyd incident - which ignited protests around the world after being captured on video - was the latest example of white officers' or civilians' conduct leading to the death of a black person.The NHL is creating four committees to address diversity issues at all levels of the sport.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cooper Marody will honor Colby Cave with a musical ode to the late forward.Marody has written and produced a song entitled "Agape" as a tribute to his Bakersfield Condors and Edmonton Oilers teammate, according to Condors broadcaster Ryan Holt.The track will be released June 12 (matching Cave's number with the Oilers), with proceeds going toward the memorial fund established by the team and Cave's family.Cave died in April at the age of 25 after suffering a brain bleed. He had been placed in a medically induced coma following emergency surgery to remove a colloid cyst.The two forwards played together with the Condors this season and also suited up together for a game with the NHL club in 2018-19.Marody has penned two previous tunes, called "I Don't Deserve Her Yet" and "Behind Me." He posted both online last summer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings veteran netminder Jimmy Howard hopes he can move past the worst season of his professional career."I want to keep playing," Howard said Friday, according to The Detroit News' Ted Kulfan. "This year left such a bitter taste in my mouth. I want to go out there and show people I can still play in this league - I know I'm capable."The 36-year-old ended the season with a 2-23-2 record - including 20 straight losses - to go along with a career-low 4.20 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.Howard, who's set to hit free agency this offseason, doesn't believe his poor statistics are a reflection of his ability as a goaltender."I personally don't believe I represent those number (statistics), but I was a big part of the program (losing)," Howard said. "I got in my own way a lot instead of letting the play to come. I was overthinking things. I was in my head and tinkering with stuff instead of just saying, 'You can do this,' and have the confidence to go out and do it."He added: "When things got spiraling out of control, I felt like I was in quicksand, and when I tried to get out of it the more I sank."With teammate Jonathan Bernier signed for the 2020-21 season, Howard understands his time in Detroit may come to an end, though he still hopes to end his career with the club that drafted him in 2003."I love this state, this city, and this city is home to us now. I would want to finish my career a Red Wing," Howard said. "But at the same time, I've been around this game long enough to realize there comes a time when you have to separate ties. If that's the way it'll have to go, I've mentally prepared for that. My wife and I have talked about it a little bit, and if that's going to be the case, it'll have to be the case."Howard has spent his entire 14-year career with Detroit. He's compiled a 246-196-70 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly says winning the Stanley Cup last spring allowed him to rediscover his passion for the sport."I think it's completely revamped my entire hockey career," O'Reilly said on the "Hockey Sense Podcast" with Andy Strickland."In the NHL, never really getting a good taste of winning and never winning a playoff series and then coming here (St. Louis) and you win the ultimate hockey goal. It completely changed that part of me to be now known as a winner."The 29-year-old pivot spent three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres prior to joining the Blues, and admitted to losing his love for the game in 2017-18 after Buffalo finished near the bottom of the standings for a third straight season. He was traded to the Blues that summer and has seen his career take off ever since.O'Reilly potted a career-best 28 goals and 77 points in 2018-19, and earned the Selke Trophy for his dominant two-way play. In the playoffs, O'Reilly led the Blues with 23 points in 26 contests and claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.After pacing the team in scoring with 61 points through 71 games this season, O'Reilly's success has left him hungry for more."It's been amazing but also getting a taste of it, you want to do it again and when you look at our team, we're going to have another opportunity to do that so there's a lot of excitement there."St. Louis owned the top spot in the Central Division when the season was suspended in March, and will compete against the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars in a round-robin tournament to establish the top four Western Conference seeds for the playoffs.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After participating in a peaceful protest in Boston on Friday, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara shared some of his thoughts on the growing fight against racism and inequality in America."For the last 13 days I have been sick about George Floyd's murder. I have taken time to think and listen," Chara's statement on Saturday read. "Time to find bravery and time to try to find the right words, though I'll admit I'm still struggling."First thing is first and let me be clear: I stand with the black community. Black lives matter. There is no room in this world for racism, period."The 43-year-old Slovakian acknowledged that as a foreigner in America, he's dealt with his share of adversity over the years. But Chara's challenges were "not made harder, or impossible" because of his skin color."I will never know what it's like to walk down a street and feel unsafe," his statement continued. "No one should have to experience that feeling. We have to take better care of each other and. Equality must be a priority. Anything less is unacceptable."Chara made it clear he'll continue to educate himself and others going forward."I learned a lot yesterday and had good, honest conversations," he added. "Not only did we take steps in a walk but we made strides in learning and educating together. But it doesn't stop there."I will continue to stand - and walk - with you. I have your back."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Chris Tanev is hopeful he can iron out a new contract with the only NHL team he's ever suited up for."I've been here now for 10 years and I've loved every minute of it," Tanev told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "There's definitely a trust between me and management and the ownership group, which has been awesome to me."Whether it's one year or many years (on the next contract), I'd love to play my whole career here. Who knows what's going to happen? But I love it here, I want to stay here, I think the team is going in the right direction, and if we come back to play this year, I think we're going to have a real good shot at competing and going far. I'd like to be part of that in the future."Due to this season's lengthy layoff and the uncertainty surrounding next year's salary cap, Tanev admitted there's a possibility that UFAs around the league take less term on new deals this offseason."I definitely could see a lot of guys signing a one-year deal and then hoping the league gets financially better next summer," he said.Tanev, 30, has played 514 games for the Canucks since joining ahead of the 2010-11 season. He's developed into a veteran presence on a young, up-and-coming team, which is something general manager Jim Benning sees plenty of value in."There are guys who really help other players along, and I would say Chris Tanev is one of those guys," Benning said. "I'd like to try to figure out a way to bring Chris back because I think he's a good leader and our younger players look up to him."The Canucks have just over $20 million in projected cap space with 14 players signed to the roster. Tanev's current deal pays him $4.45 million per season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is creating four committees to help address diversity issues across all levels of the sport, executive vice president for social impact, growth initiatives, and legislative affairs Kim Davis told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.The committees were first discussed at the Board of Governors meeting in December after multiple players shared stories about racial and physical abuse from their coaches.With so many NHLers recently making public statements condemning racism in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody last week, Davis believes it's imperative to uphold the same message in the future."We know how unprecedented this is for our sport," Davis said. "How we capture that and keep that momentum going is really what I've been focused on. Two weeks from now, two months from now, two years from now ... how do we have this same feeling? How do we ensure that everybody feels that they can be a part of our sport?"The Executive Inclusion Council - made up of five team owners, five team presidents, and two general managers to be named publicly at a later date - will take action on the recommendations from the other committees.The Players Inclusion Committee will feature former and current players, as well as Canada and USA women's national team members. It will bring ideas to build "stronger pipelines" for youth in the sport.The Fan Inclusion Committee will consist of chief marketing officers from NHL teams and a variety of partners to improve reaching out to underrepresented groups.Lastly, the Youth Inclusion Committee will be made up of representatives from Hockey Canada and USA Hockey to make youth hockey more welcoming to children of color.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane is fighting racial injustice in the United States with both his words and his actions."Racism and injustice in our country must end," Kane tweeted Friday. "As a white male in this society, I will never truly understand. But I want to help in this fight for change - and I know I cannot do that in silence."He announced he was contributing to Chicago charity My Block, My Hood, My City and the Chicago chapter of the national nonprofit All Stars Project, and he encouraged people "to learn more about the many inspirational and impactful organizations serving the black community."Protests across the country began last week after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis while in police custody.Kane said he was inspired by My Block, My Hood, My City founder Jahmal Cole, who challenged those looking to denounce racism and spark change to think about "something simple I can do that will have a positive influence on my block."The 31-year-old winger also shared a video explaining systemic racism that Kane credited for helping him begin to understand the problem.Former NHL defenseman Mark Fraser, who is black, urged the hockey community to go beyond the internet in order to create true change."Social media posts are great, but it can't end there," Fraser wrote Friday. "Don't let an Instagram story be the only thing you did. That's not enough. We need more. George Floyd needs more! Trayvon Martin needs more! Breonna Taylor needs more! Eric Garner needs more! Ahmaud Arbery needs more!"Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin joined a protest in Dallas on Thursday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL will initiate Phase 2 of its Return to Play Plan on June 8, meaning teams will be permitted to reopen training facilities and host up to six players and limited staff for voluntary individual workouts, the league announced Thursday."The various measures set out in the Phase 2 Protocol are intended to provide players with a safe and controlled environment in which to resume their conditioning. Phase 2 is not a substitute for training camp," the NHL said in the release.The 2019-20 season was put on pause March 12. The league decided to end the regular season May 26 and announced its plans for a 24-team playoff played within a timeline yet to be determined.Phase 3 will include training camps, which won't begin before July 10. Cities will also need clearance from medical and civil authorities before the NHL can proceed.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame forward Igor Larionov has been named head coach of Team Russia for the 2021 World Junior Championship, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced Friday."This appointment is a great honor for me," Larionov said. "The task of replacing a coach such as Valeri Bragin, who headed the U20 national team for many years, is very difficult."Larionov was an assistant under Bragin at the 2020 world juniors. Bragin, who served as Russia's bench boss at the event for the last six years, will instead coach the national team at the 2021 World Championship, which is set for May 7-23, 2021 in Belarus and Latvia."A difficult task gives me additional energy," Larionov said. "We have many good players who are on the radar of the U20 national team. I see that our team has very big potential. ... I am optimistic about entering a new position and want to help our hockey become a leader on the world stage."Larionov, 59, captured three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002) while playing for the Detroit Red Wings. He was a member of the "Russian Five," a nickname given to the group of Russian players from the Soviet Union that played for the club in the 1990s.The 5-foot-9 pivot won two Olympic gold medals for the Soviet Union in 1984 and 1988 and was an integral member of the Soviet squad that captured the 1981 Canada Cup.Russia earned silver at the 2020 world juniors, losing to Canada in the final. The 2021 tournament is scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2021 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Fraser is encouraging those involved in hockey to continue speaking up about racial injustice and bigotry."Please don't stop making noise," the former NHL defenseman wrote in The Players' Tribune on Friday. "Please don't go silent. Silence is violence in this case. Be proud to know that you are not only standing on the right side of the fence, but you are also actively using your voices and letting yourself be heard in support of our cause and our fight for justice and equality. Show us your love. Show us you love us. To quote (U.S.) Senator Cory Booker, 'What does love look like in public? It looks like justice.'"Fraser urged the hockey community to go beyond merely expressing support online."Social media posts are great, but it can't end there," he wrote. "Don't let an Instagram story be the only thing you did. That's not enough. We need more. George Floyd needs more! Trayvon Martin needs more! Breonna Taylor needs more! Eric Garner needs more! Ahmaud Arbery needs more!"Fraser added, "Police are shooting peaceful protestors in the face with rubber bullets and tear gas. Whites and blacks alike. Encourage people to vote and get real leaders in positions of influence who actually want to see change happen. Educate yourself on our struggle. Try to disarm your privilege to better understand. Educate your children about equality. ... But please don't go back to being silent. That will only hurt us in the end."The 33-year-old played parts of seven NHL seasons and suited up for 219 career games, more than half of which he spent with the New Jersey Devils. Fraser last played in the league in 2014-15, but he's been plying his trade overseas for the last three campaigns, appearing in 50 games for the German league's Schwenningen Wild Wings in 2019-20.His grandfather, Cecil Fraser, immigrated to Kingston, Ontario, from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1954, and became a lawyer. His father, Hugh, was also a lawyer and competed for Canada as a sprinter in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators Foundation will no longer be associated with the NHL club as of Aug. 1, the charity announced Thursday."On July 31, 2020, the agreement between the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the club, which grants the foundation the right to use club trademarks, including the Ottawa Senators name, expires," the foundation said in a statement."As a first priority, we will look to fulfill our current operational, legal, and charitable obligations by July 31, 2020, after which we will focus on the Foundation's future," the foundation added.The Senators responded Thursday by announcing the club would begin a request-for-proposals process to consider other philanthropic options.The organization claimed it informed the foundation "months ago" it planned to initiate that process, and that "foundation leadership protested" and told the team it wouldn't comply.The Senators Foundation has been primarily dedicated to youth programs in the Ottawa community.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like many of his peers, Jaccob Slavin has been reflecting on systemic racism in North America over the past 10 days."If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor," he tweeted Monday, quoting Desmond Tutu, the South African anti-apartheid leader and human rights activist.Slavin has a different vantage point than the typical white NHL player. A year ago, the Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman and his wife Kylie adopted a daughter, Emersyn, who is black."Right now she's a very adorable little black baby. But one day she's going to grow up and people aren't going to see her as a cute baby anymore," Slavin said from the family's home in Raleigh, North Carolina."We want to make sure that when she does grow up, that our country is in a much better spot, where they respect her just as much as anybody else walking down the street or sitting in their own home." Instagram / Jaccob SlavinSlavin then brought up Breonna Taylor, an unarmed black woman shot in her home by Louisville police during a fruitless drug raid in March. The thought of an older Emersyn finding herself in a similar situation because of the color of her skin troubles the Slavins."For myself and my wife, we hate that it took having a black daughter to open our eyes to everything that's going on. That was kind of our starting point," said Slavin, 26, who grew up north of Denver. "We're learning, we don't know everything, but we definitely want - as white people, as people with a platform - to make sure we're standing together with people of color to end the injustices and the racism that's going on."He added: "We want to make sure if we see racism going on, to be bold in those moments and to call them out. It's easy to do over social media. It's easy to make a post and then stay behind your phone, but to actually call it out in person is a lot more difficult. So, moving forward, we want to make sure that's what we're doing."Slavin says his family has encountered racism since the adoption. For instance, someone might offhandedly state something like: "Oh my goodness, she is so lucky to have you guys as parents.""It's not necessarily racism towards Emersyn herself but it's the comments people make," Slavin said. "And they may think they're making them with no intention to be racist, or if you asked them they probably wouldn't say they're racist, but you can see their heart behind some of the things they do ask." Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesJaccob and Kylie Slavin, married since 2015, are devout Christians. They've considered changing churches eventually because the one they attend now is predominantly white and they'd like Emersyn to be exposed to black culture and black role models."For us," Jaccob said, "the church is probably going to be the best place (for the family to integrate) because we'll be able to build Christian relationships with people of color, and Emersyn will know who she is in Christ and who she is as a black woman."Slavin echoed a few of the common messages from a week of discourse about how people who don't experience racism can combat it: Be active. Staying silent isn't good enough. Call out racism when it happens. He talked about petitioning for justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rodney Reed, and supporting social justice groups like Black Lives Matter, AND Campaign, and Color of Change."The first step is to educate yourself and learn from black people what they've been experiencing and have been experiencing their whole lives," Slavin said.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL star Jarome Iginla is encouraged by the sight of thousands across North America protesting in the wake of George Floyd's death while in police custody in Minneapolis last week.Notably, the 42-year-old is pleased to see people from all walks of life publicly united in fighting racial injustice."I like to see that it's not just black people out protesting together; it's white people, black people, all races sharing a message," Iginla said on Sportsnet's "31 Thoughts" podcast.Iginla stressed the importance of the demonstrations and trusts that they can bring about positive change."I believe in them and what they're about and having change. I do hope they continue. I do, I think they're powerful and people are hearing the message," he said.Iginla is the league's most recent black captain, serving as the Calgary Flames' leader from 2003-2013. He amassed 625 goals and 675 assists over 1,554 NHL games and won two "Rocket" Richards, an Art Ross, and two Olympic gold medals.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has put the finishing touches on its 24-team playoff format.The league announced Thursday that after the best-of-five play-in rounds, the remaining four series of the playoffs will all be best-of-seven. Teams will also be reseeded after each round, instead of using the traditional bracket.The reseeding format will ensure that the highest surviving seed will play the lowest surviving seed in the next round, and so on.The top four seeds in each conference will be determined by the three-game round robin that teams will participate in, with regular-season points percentage acting as the tiebreaker.The players have been pushing for both items to be implemented in the league's return in order to keep the integrity of the playoffs, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.There is still no tentative date that the NHL is aiming to return by. The league sent out a memo to teams late in May that it hopes to transition to Phase 2 of its return to play plan in early June, which would allow players to begin voluntarily working out at team facilities.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.An unnamed player on the Pittsburgh Penguins tested positive for the coronavirus but has since recovered and is feeling well, the team announced Wednesday."The Pittsburgh Penguins were advised today that a player tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," the team said in a statement. "The player is not in Pittsburgh and has been in isolation at his home since first experiencing symptoms. He is recovered and feeling well. Those in close contact with the player leading up to his diagnosis have been notified."Nine players have now tested positive for the coronavirus since the NHL season was suspended March 12. All have since recovered.The NHL plans to continue its season this summer by staging a 24-team playoff split by conference between two hub cities.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are fully aware that getting past the Chicago Blackhawks, who still roster several top players from their three Stanley Cup victories last decade, will be no small task in their best-of-five play-in series this summer.“You look at Chicago, the thing that jumps out at you is the championship pedigree they have in (Jonathan) Toews, and (Patrick) Kane, and (Duncan) Keith," Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector."They’re top, top players - elite players. And you have to respect where they’ve been, what they’ve done."The Oilers finished with a much better points percentage (.585) than the Blackhawks (.514) and thus own the higher seed in the No. 5 versus No. 12 matchup.Edmonton, however, enters the play-in round with considerably less postseason experience. The Blackhawks' roster features eight players who've played in at least 65 career playoff games, while the Oilers boast just one who meets that mark in veteran winger James Neal. Despite the discrepancy, Tippett expects his club to be up to the task."We're going to concentrate on what we have to do to be successful," Tippett said. "We'll be prepared for what we have to do, and also look at Chicago and see if there's anything we have to be aware of going into the series."League play was suspended March 12. Tippett predicts that players will respond to the long layoff differently, and that will have an impact on the Oilers' lineup strategy.“There are going to be guys who have an extra jump in their step, and there might be some guys where the pause has taken a toll on their bodies. We'll monitor that," said Tippett. "Some of it is, we'll look at our opponent and see if there are some matchups that are better than others. There are a lot of questions."Both the Blackhawks and the Oilers last appeared in the postseason in 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every draft produces selections and storylines that, given time, become generational talking points or fade from view. Our writers are throwing it back a decade to tell some tales about the classes of 2010. The series begins with the NHL.It's invitingly easy to contrast Dalton Smith's NHL career, all 86 seconds of it, with that of his dad, Derrick, a reliable depth center for elite Flyers teams in the 1980s. Or those of his uncles, Keith and Wayne Primeau, who combined to play 1,683 regular-season games. Or that of 20-year-old Cayden Primeau - Keith's son, Smith's cousin, Carey Price's emergency backup, and the youngest goalie to appear in the league this season.If the Smiths and Primeaus aren't hockey royalty, they're surely part of its noblesse. Hailing from a family so accomplished is a blessing and a challenge, Smith said over the phone recently from Oshawa, Ontario, his hometown east of Toronto. The members of the hard-nosed old guard press him to finish his checks and stay in top shape. They suggest little ways he could refine and raise his game, knowledgeable guidance he's fortunate to have and for which he's grateful.The attendant obligation that's shaped Smith's time in the sport: trying at once to add to their legacy and to fashion his own distinct story."Growing up and seeing them and always idolizing them and wanting to be like them, it's obviously a lot harder to do than to dream of," said Smith, 27, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound left winger in the Buffalo Sabres organization. "That's always been a tough part: trying to get there."Dalton Smith debuted in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 31. Bill Wippert / NHL / Getty ImagesOn New Year's Eve 2019, Smith got there, finally and then fleetingly. Nearly a decade after he was selected 34th overall in the 2010 draft, he delivered on the promise that that draft slot conveys for one minute and 26 seconds, the ice time Buffalo entrusted him with in a revenge game of sorts against Tampa Bay. In his NHL debut, he also earned a two-minute roughing penalty.Fittingly for a veteran minor-league grinder, these numbers make Smith the rare player (one of 10 in the past 20 years) whose career penalty minutes total exceeds his NHL time on ice. Buffalo returned Smith to the AHL's Rochester Americans early in January, so as it stands, he owns the NHL's seventh-shortest career since 1997, when ice time became an official stat - one second less than former Sabres winger Sean McMorrow's 1:27, and less than everyone else who took a shift in 2019-20."Hey, I'll take it," Smith said. "It was the best time of my life so far."That this designation doesn't rankle Smith speaks to the significance of the twists and trials - a trade, several AHL contracts, an ECHL demotion, his necessarily continued effort to keep pace in a faster and increasingly skillful game - he faced en route to his stint in the show. Smith played exactly 400 games for six teams in the minors before the Sabres, who were coming off three straight losses, were hobbled by injury at forward, and were seeking to augment the muscle in their lineup, signed him to a two-way deal and recalled him from Rochester on Dec. 30.Even for a high second-round pick, it's difficult to reach the NHL under any set of circumstances and for any duration. Sometimes, it's nice to notice and celebrate even the briefest cameo, as those around Smith did around the time of his call-up.Dalton Smith (in blue) pursues the puck for the Rochester Americans this season. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe day before the game against the Lightning, Rochester forward Rasmus Asplund told the AHL team's website that Smith's value as a leader and energizer belies the minimal media attention he tends to receive. "I'm really happy for him, so I hope he gets a couple minutes to enjoy it as well," Asplund said, more prophetically than he perhaps intended. Speaking to the Olean Times Herald a few days after Smith's debut, Wayne Primeau called his nephew "the ultimate team guy" and praised him for never quitting on his dream."He'd been looking for this moment for the longest time. Nothing better than getting to call him in my office and let him know he's been recalled," Rochester head coach Chris Taylor told theScore recently. "I could just tell on his face: It was the best thing that's ever been told to him in a long time."Back in 2010, Smith was coming off a 21-goal, 129-PIM season with the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67s when the Blue Jackets drafted him at No. 34, an endorsement of his work ethic, combativeness, and offensive punch that ran counter to NHL Central Scouting's assessment of his standing within the class (the bureau rated him 73rd among eligible North American skaters). Smith's scoring chops never translated to the pros, and at the 2014 trade deadline Columbus dealt him to Tampa Bay, along with Jonathan Marchessault, for Dana Tyrell and Matt Taormina.After his entry-level contract expired the following year, Smith bounced between a few farm clubs - Boston and Philadelphia's AHL affiliates; Carolina's outpost in the ECHL - before latching on with Rochester in 2017. Mentioning his limited production there across the past three seasons (four goals and 15 points in 135 games) prompts Taylor to counter, "I wouldn't go off his stats too much." His coaches and teammates appreciate that he asserts his presence on the ice, believing that his physicality and dogged forechecking create space and scoring chances for his linemates. He fights, too, 78 times in all as a pro.Smith's breakthrough call-up came a month after Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak elbowed Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin in the face and was suspended two games. At Tampa Bay's morning skate on Dec. 31, fellow blue-liner Luke Schenn pulled Cernak aside for a quick tutorial on how to fight, contingency training in case the likes of Smith sought retribution.

Hockey trailblazer Willie O'Ree, who became the first black man to play in the NHL in 1958, is troubled by the death of George Floyd and the violent confrontations between police and protestors that have followed in the United States."I'm 84 years old and didn't think I'd witness some of the stuff that's going on, but this dates back to the slavery age," O'Ree told The Canadian Press."It's very discouraging to see what's going on now."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed last week in Minneapolis while in police custody. The video of his death circulated on social media, sparking protests across the U.S. that have been met with police force in some cities.Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, whose knee was on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The first charge was upgraded to second-degree murder Wednesday, and the three other officers involved in Floyd's death were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. All four officers were fired last week."It's just a tragedy that every time an unarmed black man is killed there's really nothing done about it at that particular time," O'Ree said."It's like you're here today and gone tomorrow. Your life is just snuffed."Current and former NHL players including Evander Kane and Akim Aliu, who are part of the small minority of black men to have played in the league, have used their platforms to denounce racism and police injustice while calling for further education and discussion on the issue."I think it starts with educating yourself," Aliu said. "Find a way. It's 2020, just look at the history, look at what our ancestors have been through to get to where we are now."O'Ree has been the NHL's diversity ambassador for over two decades. He's also the league's director of youth development under the Hockey Is For Everyone banner.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

General manager Kyle Dubas understands there's a lot more that the Toronto Maple Leafs can and should do to help combat systemic racism."What the last week has shown us is that merely living a good life yourself and treating other people well yourself ... that's great, but it's not quite good enough in order to enact change in the greater swaths of society," Dubas said Wednesday on Sportsnet's "In Conversation with Ron MacLean.""I think what we've learned, especially in the last number of days, is that with the Maple Leafs and with our players and with our staff ... we need to be doing more on the anti-racism side of things. Not only with our statements and our words and our tweets and what we put out there but with our actions, and we know that people will be watching us and holding us accountable in that regard."Dubas added, "I won't hide it, it is reactionary rather than being proactive, which I certainly wish we were. And that's on me ... that we are reacting versus having a plan in place, and it's something that we will be better at as we move ahead."The 34-year-old believes the onus ultimately falls on him to guide his players and staff in the right direction by providing leadership, education, and proper resources."What we're trying to do now is build out a proper protocol where we can educate our entire organization - meaning the Leafs - on what organizations they can get involved with if they want ... and how we can help them moving forward as well as what organizations can help best educate our group," he said.Dubas is happy with what he's seen so far from his players and staff, many of whom have already reached out to see how they can help."One of the most positive movements that we've seen internally ... is that our players and our staff have all been reaching out and asking us what they can actually do rather than what they can say," Dubas said.He continued, "In the last couple of days, as our players and our staff have asked what more can we do, we've begun to investigate different groups in Toronto, in Canada, and in the United States that our people can be involved with, whether it's donating their time, donating their platform and visibility to those different groups, or financial activism."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In addition to Sidney Crosby, Braden Holtby, P.K. Subban, and Shea Weber, several other NHL players spoke out against racial injustice Wednesday.Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron released his statement through the team's Twitter account, offering to educate himself while pledging to donate to two separate initiatives.

Former NHL goaltender Kevin Weekes believes the league can make progress with the multitude of racial issues it faces."I want to see people be real - you're real about other things - be real," Weekes said on the "ESPN on Ice with Wyshynski and Kaplan" podcast. "'Hey, you know what? This is a problem,' 'Hey, you know what? We do have qualified women, we do have qualified transgender people, we do have qualified people of color.'""... Let's just put the best people in the position," he continued."If you have knuckleheads, get them outta there," he added. "Root them out. You're gone. It's a three-year ban, it's a lifetime ban as a managerial person or coach. You're out. Bye. ... If you're a fan (who's racist)? Bye."Weekes, who spent 11 seasons in the NHL, pointed to some personal experiences to highlight racial issues in hockey."If you're at your place of work, and I've had this numerous times, and ironically Philly being one of them - and I love Philly - but I've had this a lot of times. Why are you cheering for Allen Iverson? You're booing Donovan McNabb, but you're still cheering for him. But you're cheering for Allen Iverson, but now you're yelling racial epitaphs at me behind the bench?" Weekes said. "And then you're gonna come after Wayne Simmonds comes and you're gonna cheer for Wayne Simmonds?""As a black goalie specifically - and a lot of times, people in Canada will say, 'Oh, well that's an American problem' - they couldn't be any further from the truth," he said.The now 45-year-old also said he would often be racially profiled on his way to the rink in Canada. He estimates it happened a "minimum 20 times.""I'd have my goalie pads, and my two sticks, and my goalie bag, and next thing you know, cops pull me over. 'Hey, is this your vehicle? Can we see the license and registration?'" he said.Weekes became the first black NHL analyst after retiring from the league in 2009. He currently works for the NHL Network.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid released a statement Wednesday condemning racism and vowing to educate himself and initiate societal change in the wake of George Floyd's death in police custody."Like everyone else, I watched the horror of George Floyd's murder and felt helpless and sick to my stomach," McDavid said. "And as I have watched the many protests against racism and social injustice that have been taking place around the world, I realize that I need to do more to educate myself ... that I need to learn more about the history of racism in our countries and to listen to the voices and the perspectives of the black community and other racial minorities to try and understand how I can help to affect positive change going forward."As a young white male and pro athlete, I recognize that we live a very privileged life. I believe that the time is now for all of us to get out of our comfort zones, to not sit idly on the sidelines, and to be part of the solution to ensure we end racism in our society."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground.McDavid is the latest NHL star to speak out against racial injustice amid nationwide protests over the killing of Floyd. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also released a statement Wednesday, saying what happened to Floyd "cannot be ignored."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby strongly condemned anti-black racism in a powerful message Wednesday.The Washington Capitals goaltender opened his statement on Twitter by pointing out that a local landmark, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, is named after a former U.S. president who enacted racist policies.Holtby referred to the bridge as "monstrous" and called Wilson "an outspoken white supremacist.""The bridge sits there mocking every black person who has to travel across it while reading that name as a reminder of how much pain has been inflicted on their race," he wrote.Holtby then denounced systemic racism and racial injustice as a whole."The injustice and hatred-infused power we've seen recently is anything but new," he wrote. "To say there have been improvements is very naive. In today's age of information and communication at our fingertips, the change is far too minimal."The amount of inhumane, hate-based, racial crimes that have been committed in the centuries of American history is enough to make your skin crawl in discomfort and your eyes well with tears. Yet it's still happening. In 2020. It should never happen. Yet it still is."The Capitals netminder also offered words of encouragement for protesters and closed by rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign slogan while affirming his own support for the black community."For everyone standing up and marching for what is right, your voices are not going unheard," Holtby wrote. "You're bringing pride to every person who believes in the universal value of a human being. Keep fighting, and I vow to demonstrate and educate what you are fighting for. Not only to myself but my children, family, and anyone else who will listen. Because America will never be great until all BLACK lives matter."Holtby is Canadian but has spent his entire 10-year career with the Capitals. He declined an invitation to the White House last year, saying, "I've got to stay true to my values."Numerous players and teams have issued statements over the past week following the killing of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, died in police custody after Derek Chauvin, a white officer, kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes while holding Floyd in handcuffs on the ground.Floyd's death has sparked protests across the United States.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban is speaking up in an effort to end racial injustice and is determined to help those affected by it.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has issued a lifetime ban to former Chicago-area youth coach Tom "Chico" Adrahtas following its investigation into sexual abuse allegations against him, according to The Athletic's Katie Strang.Adrahtas is prohibited from coaching in any USA Hockey-sanctioned event or any activity that involves a national governing body under the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic committee's purview.In a Feb. 21 article in The Athletic, multiple former players said Adrahtas sexually abused them.The SafeSport investigation into Adrahtas found that he "engaged in a pattern of exploitative and abusive sexual misconduct with multiple young athletes he coached, egregiously abusing a position of authority to manipulate and deceive young male athletes he mentored and coached, for sexual purposes." It also states that evidence "overwhelmingly" reveals that Adrahtas exploited at least six other athletes in addition to the three interviewed by SafeSport officials.USA Hockey president Jim Smith remains under investigation for his handling of the allegations. Smith is accused of turning a blind eye to the allegations against Adrahtas during his time with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), which included a stint as president from 1985-88.For years, AHAI officials refused to nominate Adrahtas into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame because of "innuendo and rumor" about abuse. However, in 2010, Mike Mullally, who was the association's president at the time, said a group that included Smith decided to "put him through anyway." Adrahtas took himself out of consideration after Mullally confronted him about allegations from a former player.USA Hockey was not officially informed of his admission to the Hall of Fame because Smith and Tony Rossi - who were both Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame committee members - were high-ranking members of USA Hockey at the time and already aware of the situation, Mullally said.Adrahtas also coached at Robert Morris University - which is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) - for 10 years from 2008 to 2018. Adrahtas abruptly resigned after SafeSport's investigation began in 2018 following former junior player Mike Sacks' letter to the ACHA detailing sexual abuse by Adrahtas over a 20-month span when he was a teenager.The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 following the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, during which former doctor Larry Nassar was accused of assaulting over 250 young women and girls.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the United States facing one of its biggest crises in more than 50 years, sports leagues and stars took to social media Tuesday with black screens - under the hashtag #BlackoutTuesday.LeBron James and Steph Curry were front and center among NBA stars.

Sidney Crosby has joined the growing number of NHL players speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality."What happened to George Floyd cannot be ignored," the Pittsburgh Penguins captain wrote in a statement from his foundation Wednesday. "Racism that exists today in all forms is not acceptable. While I am not able to relate to the discrimination that black and minority communities face daily, I will listen and educate myself on how I can help make a difference."Together, we will find solutions through necessary dialogue and a collective effort."Crosby is the latest player to offer thoughts in the wake of Floyd's death in police custody, which has led to protests throughout the United States.San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who's black, called last week for white athletes "like Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby" to make their voices heard about "what is right, and clearly in this case, what is unbelievably wrong."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground.A multitude of athletes and the majority of North America's pro sports teams have since issued statements condemning systemic racism and inequality.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 16 teams now set to compete for the final eight postseason spots during the play-in round if the 2019-20 NHL campaign resumes this summer, some clubs will surely be leaning on a netminder to help secure a playoff berth.Let's take a look at five goalies who can steal a play-in series.Connor Hellebuyck Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyThe Winnipeg Jets' success this season started and ended with Hellebuyck. He was the team's backbone, carrying the Jets and keeping them in games, all while playing behind a decrepit defense and an injury-riddled squad.He started the second-most games and finished second in wins. Hellebuyck also put together a 31-21-5 record alongside a .922 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average. He did that while facing the league's most shots (1,796) and high-danger shots (509).The Jets only took on their play-in series opponent, the Calgary Flames, once this season, winning 2-1 in overtime. Hellebuyck shined, turning away 29 of 30 shots. After a hectic season, he would enter the play-in series following a ton of rest, and with a healthy team in front of him.Pegged as a Vezina Trophy favorite this season, the 27-year-old can absolutely help steer the Jets past Calgary and into the playoffs.Carey Price Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe unfair advantage the Montreal Canadiens could hold during a short play-in series with Price in net led to plenty of debate. Players have made their fear of Price clear, and they ultimately know best.While he shows flashes of his former brilliance, Price's play this season was far from what's expected of him. Montreal has worked him hard, with Price leading the league in starts (58), and he's managed a mediocre 27-25-6 record, along with a .909 save percentage and a 2.79 goals-against average. He also trailed only Hellebuyck in shots faced (1,755) and high-danger shots against (469).Similar to the Jets, the Canadiens will only succeed in their play-in series and take down the Pittsburgh Penguins if Price is in top form.Sergei Bobrovsky Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyComing into the 2019-20 season, expectations were sky-high for Bobrovsky. He inked a monster seven-year, $70-million contract with the Florida Panthers, and the Russian was seen as the team's missing piece to become a contender. Things didn't go as planned in the Sunshine State, and Bobrovsky failed to find his footing from the get-go.Entering the season as the league's second-highest-paid goalie, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner posted one of his worst career campaigns, going 23-19-6 with a .900 save percentage and 3.23 goals-against average. Shifting to a new team isn't always easy, and he may have just needed time to settle.The Panthers dropped all three of their contests this season against the New York Islanders, their play-in series opponent, but fingers can't be pointed at the goaltending. Bobrovsky started two of the three games, logging solid performances while stopping 34 of 36 shots in one outing, and 27 of 29 in the other.Jacob Markstrom Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMarkstrom was enjoying a career-best season for the Vancouver Canucks before getting injured in late February. With time on his side to fully recover and not rush back, Markstrom will look to pick up where he left off if the Canucks-Wild play-in series goes ahead.The 30-year-old appeared in 43 games this campaign, compiling a 23-16-4 record and a .918 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. Before his injury, which would have sidelined him for most of what remained of the season, Markstrom's name was floating around in Vezina talks. He furthered his candidacy with a monster 49-save shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 12.Markstrom faced the Wild three times this season, and he recorded only one good performance, allowing four goals on 37 shots in one loss, and three goals on 28 shots in the other defeat. He stopped 23 of 24 shots in the win.The Canucks ranked fourth in the league in shots against per game (33.3), and if their defense can't suppress the Wild's offense, Markstrom will need to step up to the plate.Elvis Merzlikins Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyIt's not entirely clear how the Blue Jackets will approach their goaltending situation for the team's potential play-in series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Joonas Korpisalo could get the nod over Merzlikins to kick things off, or the two might split starts. However, Merzlikins put together a great rookie season, and he should be the go-to guy for the time being.Merzlikins dropped the first eight contests he appeared in this season, but then he excelled when Korpisalo suffered an injury, and the Latvian netminder became the club's undisputed starter. At one point he went on an eight-game win streak, which included five shutouts. He produced a 13-9-8 record, with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average in 33 games.The 26-year-old has yet to face the Leafs in his career, but Merzlikins showed this season he can catch fire at any moment. He'll get the opportunity to continue his impressive rookie season, and will need to bring his A-game against a potent Toronto offense.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · Kings prospect Akil ThomasLos Angeles Kings prospect and Canadian world junior championship hero Akil Thomas joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Akim Aliu believes it's time for society, and particularly white-dominant hockey culture, to educate itself regarding racism and what minorities deal with daily.In a TSN interview on Tuesday alongside San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, the former NHLer shared his perspective on the protests that have swept across the United States after George Floyd died while in police custody in Minneapolis last week. He discussed how change for the better can begin."I think it starts with educating yourself," Aliu said. "Find a way. It's 2020, just look at the history, look at what our ancestors have been through to get to where we are now. Hockey's a tough sport to sell that message to because, for the most part, you need to come from privilege to be able to sustain economically, to be able to play the game."But I feel like if you take that upon yourself to learn and educate yourself on what black people, people of color, and indigenous people have been through to get to where they are now, and still to be treated like this, there isn't much more we can take. I think it's just come to a boiling point with what we're seeing around the world, but I think the first step is starting to educate yourself, try to understand what it's like in our shoes for a day, a week, or even a month, and they'll realize it's not something they want to be apart of."In November, Aliu shared that then-Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters called him the N-word during their time together in the AHL. Peters admitted to using the offensive language and ultimately resigned.Aliu has since been publicly involved in pushing for more inclusivity in the sport at all levels. He met with commissioner Gary Bettman in early December to share his stories and ideas for change, and then Aliu wrote a powerful piece on The Players' Tribune in May detailing the racial abuse he dealt with his entire career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Madison Square Garden Company chairman James Dolan, who owns the NBA's New York Knicks and NHL's New York Rangers, issued a second email to his employees Tuesday defending the lack of a public statement regarding George Floyd's death in police custody.Dolan's email reads as follows, courtesy of SNY's Ian Begley:

Former NHL forward Georges Laraque spoke Tuesday about the ongoing protests across North America in the fight against racism."I think racism, if we want it to stop it, it starts with one another, all ourselves. Because if you look at racism, yeah, we can say that some white people are racist towards black people, but there's even black people that are racist," Laraque said on "Oilers Now" with Bob Stauffer."If we want things to change, we all have to look at one another in the mirror and tell ourselves, 'OK, what kind of person am I?'" he added. "If I want change in society, I'm gonna start with myself. Accepting the differences because we're all one, we're all equal, and I gotta raise my kid the same way. Because until we all do so, if we don't raise all our kids the right way, things are never going to change and in 10 years we're going to have the same discussion."Laraque, who retired in 2010, said he experienced racist taunts throughout his career, primarily during his years prior to entering the NHL.He added that while posting messages on social media to raise awareness is helpful, there won't be actual progress until real action is taken."We have to look at one another and say, 'You know what? I'm going to be a change today, I'm going to be a good influence around people that are around me, so that this chain of racism that keeps going is going to stop on my side, on my family, in my circle of friends,'" he said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Kodie Curran to a two-year contract, the league announced Monday.Curran's deal carries an average annual value of $1 million, according to CapFriendly.The 30-year-old was named MVP and Defenseman of the Year in the Swedish Hockey League this past season. He led all blue-liners with 12 goals and 37 assists in 48 games. His 49 points were the second most in the league.Curran hasn't played in North America since the 2015-16 season. After spending five campaigns at the University of Calgary, he split one year between the ECHL and AHL. He then spent one season in Norway, one in Denmark, and the last two in Sweden.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba released a statement Tuesday supporting the anti-racism movement across North America after George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, was killed by a white police officer last week."I've been sad, angry, and disturbed by the senseless unjust we have all witnessed this past week. I have been scared for the families in my community. I know I do not want to feel this way ever again; the feeling of helplessness. The feeling too many have to face each day. I am here for you. To lean on, to listen, to embrace, to have a voice and to be a leader in our community!"We all must be there for each other and never forget about these tragedies. People learn to hate, I hope one day we can drown that hate by teaching our youth how to love and respect one another no matter of ethnicity."I'm disappointed I haven't talked sooner on these issues. Yet I know for certain I will not be silent about any racial injustice in our society again. I will actively work toward equity for all, especially my black family and friends who have been neglected for too long. I am anti-racist."Dumba is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, but he's spent his entire seven-year career in Minnesota.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's 2019-20 postseason will feature even more superstars than usual thanks to an expanded field. But there are also several less heralded players who are primed to make an impact for their respective teams.Here are five key contributors who have a chance to be the difference in their best-of-five series:Kailer YamamotoWhile the Edmonton Oilers boast two MVP-caliber forwards in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as well as a solid secondary scorer in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Chicago Blackhawks would be unwise to forget about Yamamoto.The 21-year-old right-winger piled up 11 goals and 26 points across 27 games this season, thriving instantly after his December call-up and ultimately helping the Oilers maintain a playoff position.Edmonton's play-in opponents will understandably be focused on containing the aforementioned trio. Yamamoto could capitalize on that and help his club reach the round of 16.Jason Zucker Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyZucker's production had been on the decline since his 33-goal season with the Minnesota Wild in 2017-18. But he immediately clicked with Sidney Crosby after the Wild traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February.Filling the void left in the wake of Jake Guentzel's injury, Zucker racked up six goals and six assists in 15 games with the Penguins. His average ice time also increased by nearly two minutes following the move out of Minnesota.Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang will command most of the Montreal Canadiens' attention during the play-in round, and rightfully so. But Zucker could certainly do some damage in his own right, even if Guentzel returns and retakes his top-line role.Mikael Granlund Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGiven the dominant manner in which Kevin Fiala finished his season, it seems safe to say the Wild won the one-for-one trade that sent Granlund to the Nashville Predators - at least for now. The latter forward has shown he can be an effective, albeit streaky scorer, and if the Arizona Coyotes overlook him, they could be doing so at their own peril.Granlund finished with only 17 goals and 30 points in 63 games this season, but he was on fire from late December to late February: He poured in 13 of those 17 markers over a 26-game span, including 11 after John Hynes replaced Peter Laviolette as the Predators' head coach.Nashville isn't exactly known for its offense, but it has a host of weapons to keep Arizona preoccupied, including Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, and Granlund's linemates, Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene. If the Coyotes are forced to give Granlund a little extra space as a result, he could help put the Predators over the top.Pavel Buchnevich Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyBuchnevich certainly benefited from playing alongside Mika Zibanejad this season, but that wasn't the sole reason for his late-campaign success. The Russian winger actually played better without his dynamic linemate, posting a superior expected goals for rate away from the Swedish star.Like several players on this list, Buchnevich finished strong in 2019-20, netting nine goals and 21 points over the New York Rangers' final 21 regular-season games.New York's play-in opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes, will be tasked with defending Zibanejad and another elite sniper in Artemi Panarin, which could allow Buchnevich to shine in a supporting role.Mikael Backlund Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt's well documented that the Calgary Flames possess their fair share of firepower in the form of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan, and Elias Lindholm.In addition to that quartet, the Flames got a late-season boost from a skilled but less celebrated player. Backlund led the club in goals and points down the stretch, notching 10 and 19, respectively, over Calgary's final 14 games. He's long been a dependable two-way center, but he raised his offensive game over the latter portion of the season, producing 13 goals and 30 points over the final 33 contests.The Winnipeg Jets will have their hands full trying to neutralize Backlund's peskier and more talented linemate, Tkachuk. That could open the door for the Swedish pivot to provide series-altering contributions.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers prospect K'Andre Miller released a statement Monday in support of the Black Lives Matter movement amid protests across the United States in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis last week.Miller was racially abused in the comment section of a Zoom introductory press conference in early April following the signing of his entry-level contract. The team and NHL released statements condemning the behavior, but Miller says he stayed quiet because he didn't want to take the spotlight in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic.But in light of recent incidents, Miller, a Minnesota native, felt it was time to speak up."In the midst of the senseless death of George Floyd, at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, the peaceful protests and violent riots have become the focus for all of us," Miller said. "I want to express my growing concern for the safety of our citizens of color, specifically in my home state, given recent events. I support the Black Lives Matter movement."I struggle because I've never been fully accepted by either the black community or the white community. I struggle because for years I have been one of the only people of color on my hockey teams. I have been targeted because of my race when I was in youth hockey by some coaches, parents, and players, but I refused to give up because of my love for the game."You can only imagine how it felt to have an organization like the New York Rangers draft me, the hockey player. For that one moment in time I didn't have to be defined by the color of my skin but rather on my hockey skills, athletic ability, and character. This is how it should be all the time. It's time for action, time for change, and once and for all, it's time to let black people be judged based on who we are and not what we look like."The Rangers drafted Miller 22nd overall in 2018. He's spent the past two years playing at the University of Wisconsin.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin has spoken out against racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death."RIP George Floyd. So sad to see (what's) happening everywhere and (in) DC," Ovechkin said Monday on Twitter. "It is so important for us to respect and love each other no matter what we look like! We need (to) listen and do change ... please stay safe ... take care (of) each other and family."Protests against police brutality and racial injustice began across North America following Floyd's death Monday while he was in the custody of Minneapolis police. Derek Chauvin, the now-former police officer who pinned Floyd's neck with his knee for over eight minutes while he was handcuffed on the ground, was fired and has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who is part of the small minority of black NHL players, challenged high-profile athletes to use their platform to denounce racism.Since then, several NHL players, including Blake Wheeler, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, and Kane's teammate Logan Couture have spoken out against racial injustices. Kane said Monday that it's "a small step in the right direction" to see white NHL players taking a stance against racism.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Madison Square Garden Company chairman James Dolan sent an email to employees Monday defending the organization's decision to not release a public statement following the death of George Floyd, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews."This is a turbulent time in our country. The coronavirus and civil unrest have taken their toll on our way of life," Dolan wrote. "We at Madison Square Company stand by our values of a respectful and peaceful workplace. We always will."As companies in the business of sports and entertainment, however, we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters. What's important is how we operate. Our companies are committed to upholding our values, which include creating a respectful workplace for all, and that will never change. What we say to each other matters. How we treat each other matters. And that's what will get us through this difficult time."New York Knicks players and employees are furious that the team, which Dolan owns through MSG, has not released a statement, according to ESPN's Pablo S. Torre.The New York Rangers, also owned by Dolan, have yet to release a statement despite several other NHL franchises doing so, including the New York Islanders.Numerous sports executives, franchises, leagues, and other organizations across North America have condemned racial injustices faced by African-Americans following Floyd's death while in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is challenging himself and others in a place of privilege to approach the fight against racial injustice with compassion and empathy."Compassion to me is at least trying to feel and understand what someone else is going through," Toews said on Instagram. "For just a moment maybe I can try to see the world through their eyes."My message isn't for black people and what they should do going forward. My message is to white people to open our eyes and our hearts. That's the only choice we have, otherwise this will continue."Protests against racism and police brutality began across North America in response to George Floyd's death Monday in Minneapolis. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after now-former police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground with his knee for over eight minutes while Floyd was in handcuffs. Chauvin was fired and has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter."I can't pretend for a second that I know what it feels like to walk in a black man's shoes," Toews wrote. "However, seeing the video of George Floyd's death and the violent reaction across the country moved me to tears."It has pushed me to think how much pain are black people and other minorities really feeling? What have Native American people dealt with in both Canada and the U.S.? What is it really like to grow up in their world? Where am I ignorant about the privileges that I may have that others don't?"San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who is part of the small minority of black players in the NHL, challenged high-profile athletes to use their platforms to denounce injustice.Toews joins several other players, including Kane's teammate Logan Couture, Blake Wheeler, Anze Kopitar, Kyle Turris, Brian Boyle, and Connor Carrick who have since spoken out. Kane said it's "a small step in the right direction" to see white NHL players taking a stance against racism.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.