Sport-scan daily brief

Six-foot-four Getzlaf and Carter played the first shift of every game in the tournament with Brent Burns, another towering forward before the NHL converted him to defenceman.

The NHL lockout did make Bergeron available to the junior team when he would have otherwise been playing for the NHL’s Boston Bruins.

Bergeron, who had already played in a world championship earlier that year, led the junior tournament in scoring playing on a line with Crosby and Perry. Bergeron, Getzlaf, Carter and Crosby finished in the top six in points.

Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime against the U.S. in Vancouver for a 3-2 win. He and Getzlaf finished among the top 10 in scoring and Weber was Canada’s top-scoring defender.

All but Phaneuf and Weber have won a Stanley Cup within their first six seasons in the NHL. Crosby and Perry are already Hart Trophy winners as the NHL’s most valuable players and Bergeron earned the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 2012.

“Seeing the talent back then, just the way the guys have grown throughout the league, I think a lot of those guys are superstars in the league now,” Carter said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that there’s that many here.”

— With notes from Stephen Whyno of The Canadian Press.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 08.28.2013

715896 Montreal Canadiens

Gallagher happy to be at rookie showcase

By Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press August 27, 2013

TORONTO — Brendan Gallagher was a reluctant veteran Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Edmonton native was among 25 top NHL prospects/rookies participating in the NHLPA's rookie showcase at Mastercard Centre. A finalist for league's top rookie award last season, the Montreal Canadiens forward shared the spotlight Tuesday with Nathan MacKinnon, the highly touted 17-year-old who went first overall to Colorado in this year's draft.

"They (rookies) haven't asked me anything but I don't think I'm a veteran by any means," Gallagher said with chuckle. "I'm still learning.

"I like talking to these guys and hearing the stories they have to tell. It's fun to meet these guys, have a few laughs together and get to know them a little bit more."

The five-foot-nine, 178-pound Gallagher wasn't invited to last year's showcase, which gives Panini America and Upper Deck the chance to photograph many of the game’s top young players for trading card and memorabilia launches. After starting the lockout-shortened season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, Gallagher cracked Montreal's roster once the NHL campaign began.

The feisty right-winger not only impressed with his spirited play but finished tied for second on the team in goals (15) and game winners (three). Between Montreal and Hamilton, Gallagher had 25 goals and 23 assists in 80 combined games in his first full season of pro hockey.

Not bad for a player selected in the fifth round, No. 147 overall, in the 2010 NHL entry draft from WHL's Vancouver Giants. But Gallagher wasn't surprised.

"I never like to say it was unexpected because that's why you work and train so hard in the summer," he said. "You expect to be there but that said, you don't expect it to be handed to you, you need to work for it and can't take anything off.

"This summer I prepared the same way, did the exact same things. I'm taking nothing for granted."

Gallagher wants to prove he's much more than a one-year wonder in the NHL.

"I don't want to be complacent about a first year," he said. "I know a lot of guys have had good first years and struggle in their second so I'm aware of that.

"The most important thing is winning. I just want to be part of a winning hockey team and for me to contribute in that I need to continue to build on my season last year."

Especially after getting up close and personal with the likes of Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.

"When you're skating with Crosby and he gets the puck in the neutral zone, he's gone," Gallagher said. "You see how explosive he is, how quick he is, how his decision-making process is right there and happens so quickly.

"To play against a guy like that you see the level he's at and the obvious improvement you can make."

A fact not lost on MacKinnon, who trains with Crosby in the off-season and says the Pittsburgh superstar understands when to offer sage advice while allowing a young player to find his own way.

"He's going to let me feel it out on my own but at the same time he's said a couple of things here and there," said MacKinnon, who like Crosby, is from Cole Harbour, N.S.

But participating players also attended a seminar by the NHLPA discussing the expectations they now face as pro hockey players. Defenceman Dylan McIlrath, a 20-year-old Winnipeg native selected 10th overall in 2010 by the New York Rangers, said the message was clear.

"Definitely, the spotlight is on you at all times," he said. "The biggest thing is always be professional.

"Obviously you can do what you want but always know, especially with social media these days, you have to present yourself in good manner."

The 2012-'13 campaign was a solid one for Montreal, which was second to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference with 29-14-5 record. But its season ended abruptly in a 4-1, opening-round playoff loss to the rival Ottawa Senators.

This off-season, Montreal signed centre Daniel Briere (four times a 30-goal scorer) and defenceman Doug Murray as free agents while acquiring six-foot-five, 228-pound forward George Parros from Florida.

"Daniel Briere (is) a very skilled, a smaller guy I can learn from and who I'm excited to be around," Gallagher said. "Douglas Murray is a presence to play against to say the least, a big body who is going to be effective on the penalty kill and will fit nicely into our core of six defencemen.''

Gallagher said Parros will not only boost Montreal's toughness but his presence should help keep rugged forwards like Brandon Prust on the ice more.

"Having (Parros) around, I think, just makes everyone feel more comfortable," Gallagher said. "We had guys (last year) who were willing to stand up . . . you look at a guy like Brandon Prust who would go fight (Toronto forward) Frazier McLaren, who is a much bigger guy, and he did very well.

"But for us to have Prust on the ice is big as well."

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 08.28.2013

715897 Montreal Canadiens

‘I’m taking nothing for granted,’ Gallagher says heading into second season

Posted by Stu Cowan

The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher was in Toronto on Tuesday to take part in the NHLPA’s rookie showcase, even though he isn’t a rookie anymore.

Gallagher was a finalist for the Calder Trophy last season as the NHL’s top rookie, losing out to Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers. Gallagher finished the season with 15-13-28 totals in 44 games. The only rookies to post more points were Edmonton’s Nail Yakupov (17-14-31), Huberdeau (14-17-31) and Ottawa’s Cory Conacher (11-18-29).

“This summer I prepared the same way, did the exact same things,” Gallagher told The Canadian Press about his offseason training. “I’m taking nothing for granted.”

He added: “I don’t want to be complacent about a first year. I know a lot of guys have had good first years and struggle in their second so I’m aware of that. The most important thing is winning. I just want to be part of a winning hockey team and for me to contribute in that I need to continue to build on my season last year.”

Gallagher also commented on the Canadiens’ offseason signings:

“Daniel Briere (is) a very skilled, a smaller guy I can learn from and who I’m excited to be around. Douglas Murray is a presence to play against to say the least, a big body who is going to be effective on the penalty kill and will fit nicely into our core of six defencemen.

“Having (George Parros) around, I think, just makes everyone feel more comfortable. We had guys (last year) who were willing to stand up . . . you look at a guy like Brandon Prust who would go fight (Toronto forward) Frazier McLaren, who is a much bigger guy, and he did very well. But for us to have Prust on the ice is big as well.”

Gallagher happy to be at rookie showcase, Canada.com

Goaltending remains biggest question for Team Canada at Olympics, by Cam Cole of Postmedia News

Olympic team plays ball hockey (with video), montrealgazette.com

TSN panel projects Team Canada roster, TSN.ca

Ice-making 101, Canadiens.com

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 08.28.2013

715898 New Jersey Devils

U.S. hockey's Brian Burke says Russian anti-gay law 'repugnant'

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

BY TOM GULITTI

ARLINGTON, Va. — Brian Burke, director of player personnel for the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, believes Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law is "repugnant" and says he won’t be afraid to say that when he’s in Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games.

Still, Team USA’s management and coaching staff want the players’ focus when they arrive in Russia — they take on Slovakia in their opener Feb. 13 — to be on winning the country’s first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980.

"When we get off the plane, the players are going to be instructed this is not a political mission," Burke told The Record on Tuesday after the team’s two-day orientation camp wrapped up. "We’re here to win hockey games. Don’t worry about the politics. People like me will still speak about it."

Burke, the former GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has become a vocal supporter of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights since his late son, Brendan, came out in 2009. His son, Patrick, was a co-founder of the You Can Play Project, which works to fight homophobia in sports.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association formed a partnership with You Can Play in April and several U.S. players repeated its mantra when asked about Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law.

"The obvious stand for hockey players is ‘If you can play, you can play,’ " Devils goaltender Cory Schneider said. "I don’t think anybody here agrees with it – the Russian [law]. It almost doesn’t even warrant talking about between us because I don’t think anybody really believes in it and what they’re saying."

The law signed by Russian president Vladimir Putin on June 30 prohibits, "propaganda of homosexuality to minors" and its possible penalties include fines, up to 15 days in jail and deportation. There have been conflicting messages coming from Russia about whether this law will apply to those visiting during the Olympics and, though the International Olympic Committee has said it’s been told it will not apply, that still seems far from certain.

The possibility of prosecution won’t prevent Burke from expressing his opinion on the law when he’s there, though.

"I’m not worried about that," he said. "That’s not how I operate anyway."

Although there have been some calls for a boycott, Burke said, "I don’t think that’s fair to the athletes."

"I expect the IOC to demand that the Russian government guarantee the safety of the athletes and the support staff, officials, coaches, administrators and their families and friends not only from harassment, but from prosecution," Burke said. "People should remember these laws were enacted recently, so when Russia was awarded these Games, these laws were not on the books. In my view, the boycott that should be put in [is] Russia should not be allowed to host an international competition again until these laws are repealed."

Burke’s opinion on the issue is clear.

"We think hockey is for everyone here in the U.S.," he said. "We’re inclusive. We’re not exclusive. But once we get off the planes, we’re focused on the tournament."

Players from the U.S., Canada (Sidney Crosby) and Sweden (Henrik Lundqvist) have echoed that sentiment, but no players from Russia have publicly condemned the law, yet.

On its official Twitter account, You Can Play noted Monday that, "Russian players may be in a tough spot because of cultural pressures and other threats to themselves and their families," but added, "We feel the sentiments of several of the [Russian] players are offensive and outdated."

Ilya Kovalchuk, who left the Devils last month to return to his homeland to play professionally, is among the Russian players to publicly support the law, telling TSN in Canada, "I agree, of course. I’m Russian and we all have to respect that. It’s personal and, like I said, it’s a free world."

Bergen Record LOADED: 08.28.2013

715899 New Jersey Devils

Devils, Adam Henrique agree on six-year, $24 million contract

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

BY TOM GULITTI

Adam Henrique said in July it was only a matter of time before he re-signed with the Devils.

That time finally came Saturday when the restricted free agent center agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract. The deal was announced Monday.

"It was an exciting day," Henrique said. "My family and I are excited about it. It's something you've been working for for a long time."

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said agreeing on the length of the contract was the final hurdle.

The six-year contract takes Henrique two years beyond when he would have been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

"It was going to either be real short – either two years — or it wouldn't be anything less than six years because it had to go beyond [unrestricted] free agency," Lamoriello said.

Henrique said the ownership process that ended with Joshua Harris and David Blitzer buying the team from Jeff Vanderbeek on Aug. 15 didn't hold up the negotiating process, but it was nice to know that is was "settled" and helped him make a long-term commitment to the Devils.

"Once everything was done there, that was just more security for the team," he said.

STEPAN STILL UNSIGNED: Rangers restricted free-agent center Derek Stepan remains unsigned, but he's hopeful his new contract will be done in time for him to report for training camp on Sept. 11.

"I don't think either side expects [it] not to be [done by Sept. 11]," Stepan said at the U.S. Olympic team's orientation camp in Arlington, Va.

"As of this point right now, both sides are working extremely hard to get a deal done. I don't think anybody wants it to stretch out any longer than it should, but it's a process."

Bergen Record LOADED: 08.28.2013

715900 New Jersey Devils

Devils' Cory Schneider doesn't view himself as replacement for Martin Brodeur

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

BY TOM GULITTI

ARLINGTON, Va. – Cory Schneider has had nearly two months to recover from the shock of learning about the draft-day trade that sent him to the Devils for the ninth pick overall.

Although he'd heard his name in trade rumors previously, he admits he had let his "guard down" a bit thinking his spot in Vancouver was safe and that the Canucks would trade Roberto Luongo to solve their goaltending logjam.

Now, with a little more than two weeks to go before he reports for his first training camp in New Jersey on Sept. 11, Schneider is used to the idea of being a Devil and sharing a net for at least one season with the legendary Martin Brodeur.

"It's going to be fun," Schneider said Monday at the U.S. Olympic team's orientation camp.

"Going to a new place is kind of like your first day of school. I'm going to try to do what I've been doing that's helped me be successful, but at the same time, I have to kind of figure out on the fly and adapt and adjust to how they do things and new teammates and new systems and all that stuff."

If all goes according to plan, Schneider, 27, will be the one who fills Brodeur's rather large skates as the team's No. 1 goaltender when the future Hall of Famer retires.

Brodeur, 41, hasn't ruled out playing beyond when his contract expires after this season, however, and Schneider is only two seasons away from having the chance to become an unrestricted free agent.

So, that plan isn't set in stone, yet. Regardless, Schneider doesn't view himself as the guy who will replace Brodeur.

In 30 games last season with the Canucks, Schneider went 17-9-4 with a 2.11 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and five shutouts.

In 98 career NHL regular-season games, the Marblehead, Mass. native is 55-26-8 with a 2.20 GAA and a .927 save percentage.

Brodeur is the NHL's all-time leader with 669 wins and 121 shutouts, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a four-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender.

"I understand what he's done and what he means," Schneider said.

"But, in Vancouver I was supposed to be the guy who was going to replace Roberto Luongo and I've kind of found you don't really replace guys.

"I'm not going to be Martin Brodeur no matter what I do, but I'm trying to be me and do what I've done and that just means stopping the puck.

"So, if I have the success that Marty does or if I'm able to play the game at the level he has for so long, then that's what I aim to do.

"But I don't think there will ever be another Marty Brodeur for a long time, so I don't think about trying to replace him."

Schneider said Brodeur sent him a message the night he was traded to say "welcome and congratulations," but hasn't spoken to him, yet.

He hopes they can have similar relationship to the friendly one he had with Luongo.

"You don't have to become enemies or not like each other just because you're competing for the same spot," he said.

And that's what Schneider plans to do with Brodeur. He said he hasn't talked with Devils coach Pete DeBoer, yet – "We kind of played phone tag" – so he can only make an educated guess about how the goalies will split the games.

"I don't think anyone's too worried about the situation at this point," he said.

"It's similar to Vancouver. It's good to have two guys who can play the position and with what Marty's done for that team and the kind of player he is, he's going to compete hard and probably get every opportunity just like I will, and that's how it should be.

"It's an open competition, and we're both going to want to get that starting job."

Bergen Record LOADED: 08.28.2013

715901 New York Islanders

Kyle Okposo aims for spot on U.S. Olympic team

Originally published: August 27, 2013 7:03 PM

Updated: August 27, 2013 8:51 PM

By STEVE ZIPAY

ARLINGTON, Va. - Kyle Okposo's wife is expected to deliver the couple's first child, a daughter, around Jan. 1, about when the U.S. Hockey Team will announce its roster for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

So perhaps the 25-year-old right wing, the only Islander invited to the United States orientation camp here, would prefer to skip the two-week trip to stay with his family? Just the opposite. He'll want to be in Russia even more, "just to be able to get some sleep,'' Okposo said with a laugh.

Kidding aside, Okposo, who was born in St. Paul, Minn., and has played in five international tournaments, dearly wants to wear an American jersey again. "The Olympics,'' he said, "would be another level.''

The competition to make the team, which will have four or five right wings, will be enormous. Okposo knows his play in October, November and December will have to be even better than his finish last season, when he had nine points in the final 11 games and was 3-1-4 in six playoff games.

"I had some personal success toward the end of the year,'' he said, "but I struggled in the first half, so it was nice to get invited.''

The larger surface in Sochi would be familiar to Okposo, who played on an Olympic sheet at the University of Minnesota. "The angles are different, but you're still trying to put the puck in the net and people are still trying to stop you,'' he said. "Most of us have played on big ice, so there's no real advantage.''

Making the cut, Okposo said, "is going to be in the back of your mind, but what's going to dictate you being on the team is how you play with your NHL club. It's definitely motivation.''

The Islanders also should be motivated. "The division didn't get any easier in the offseason [with Washington, Carolina and Columbus added], but that's good for us,'' Okposo said. "We're going in with higher expectations. Last year, we wanted to make the playoffs. Our expectations are to make a run this year.''

The Islanders want to become a Stanley Cup contender before they shift to the Barclays Center in 2015.

"I'm excited to see it [Barclays]" when the Isles face the Devils on Sept. 21. "We have a loyal fan base on Long Island, and some are upset that we're leaving, but we're not going to Kansas City, we're going right down the road. Brooklyn's a hopping spot right now.''

The same could be said for Sochi this winter.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 08.28.2013

715902 New York Rangers

Devils, Adam Henrique agree on six-year, $24 million contract

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

BY TOM GULITTI

Adam Henrique said in July it was only a matter of time before he re-signed with the Devils.

That time finally came Saturday when the restricted free agent center agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract. The deal was announced Monday.

"It was an exciting day," Henrique said. "My family and I are excited about it. It's something you've been working for for a long time."

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said agreeing on the length of the contract was the final hurdle.

The six-year contract takes Henrique two years beyond when he would have been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

"It was going to either be real short – either two years — or it wouldn't be anything less than six years because it had to go beyond [unrestricted] free agency," Lamoriello said.

Henrique said the ownership process that ended with Joshua Harris and David Blitzer buying the team from Jeff Vanderbeek on Aug. 15 didn't hold up the negotiating process, but it was nice to know that is was "settled" and helped him make a long-term commitment to the Devils.

"Once everything was done there, that was just more security for the team," he said.

STEPAN STILL UNSIGNED: Rangers restricted free-agent center Derek Stepan remains unsigned, but he's hopeful his new contract will be done in time for him to report for training camp on Sept. 11.

"I don't think either side expects [it] not to be [done by Sept. 11]," Stepan said at the U.S. Olympic team's orientation camp in Arlington, Va.

"As of this point right now, both sides are working extremely hard to get a deal done. I don't think anybody wants it to stretch out any longer than it should, but it's a process."

Bergen Record LOADED: 08.28.2013

715903 NHL

SEE IT: Nike unveils new USA hockey sweaters for 2014 Sochi Olympics

By Bernie Augustine / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, August 27, 2013, 4:39 PM

Red, white and blue never looked so eww.

Illustrating its inability to leave well enough along, Nike unveiled new sweaters for the U.S. men’s ice hockey team Tuesday, replacing the clean and classic USA on the chest with a meaningless crest and adding screen-printed stars to the shoulders and fake laces under the collar.

One nice touch to the new Nike USA Hockey jerseys is the inclusion of the ‘Land of the Free, Home of the Brave’ phrase in the neckline.

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

One nice touch to the new Nike USA Hockey jerseys is the inclusion of the ‘Land of the Free, Home of the Brave’ phrase in the neckline.

“I think it is classy and humble and something we can stand behind — that shield,” St. Louis Blues captain David Backes said.

The shield, which appears on both the white and blue versions of the jersey, has drawn comparisons to both the K-Swiss and Union Pacific Railroad logos. The badge-like crest is outlined in gold, reads “USA” across a blue top portion with vertical red and white stripes below. The sleeves on the blue jersey have red and white bands over the bicep while the white jersey has a red stripe across the chest and a blue shoulder area.