Sport-scan daily brief

TORONTO — When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Jay McClement to a two-year contract worth US$3-million last summer, it was done with little fanfare. There was no news conference or questions about prospective linemates. The 30-year-old was simply billed as a depth forward, someone who was going to help kill penalties and play sound defensive hockey.

Expect plenty of heat from Leafs goaltending battle between Reimer, Bernier

If he did his job correctly, you were not supposed to notice him. Instead the opposite happened.

In a shortened season where the Leafs made the playoffs and gained a reputation around the league for being difficult to play against, McClement did not fly under the radar. He had eight goals and 17 points in 48 games and at times was an alternate captain. He helped improve Toronto’s penalty killing from third-worst in the league to second-best. And his blue-collar work ethic personified Randy Carlyle’s coaching style.

For the first time in his professional career, the Toronto native could not walk down the street without being noticed.

“It’s always nice to get recognized,” McClement said. “I’m used to grinding it out and doing my thing and I’m OK with that too. [The attention is] obviously nice. It helps with your confidence. But you have to be careful with that too. I’m just trying to keep my head down and whatever happens on the outside you can never really think about.”

On the outside, expectations have been raised. Not just for McClement, who was on pace for a career-best 13 goals last season, but the entire Leafs.

Toronto, which made the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, is coming off a year where it finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and was about 10 minutes away from advancing past Boston in the first round. After a busy summer, where the team added forwards David Clarkson and David Bolland as well as goaltender Jonathan Bernier, Toronto is expected to build on last season’s success.

And while Clarkson, a 30-goal scorer two seasons ago, should add to the offence, McClement is more excited about the work ethic of the new additions.

I think when teams come into town they know it’s going to be a hard night

“That’s Randy’s style of team,” he said. “We are expected to play hard. Last year we started to build that identity. And I think to have that identity, you have to do it every night and year in and year out, so we’re going to have to live up to that as well. But it’s definitely something we started to build last year. I think when teams come into town they know it’s going to be a hard night.”

A versatile forward, McClement played everywhere from wing on the second line to centering the fourth line. He could help form a shutdown unit with Bolland and Nikolai Kulemin this season, allowing Carlyle to use his top two lines primarily to provide offence.

Toronto’s team defence, McClement said, will define its success.

“That’s the way we won games,” he said. “We kind of realized when we got away from that we didn’t give ourselves a chance to win. I think we had a good mix of that identity and skilled guys that can take advantage of scoring opportunities too.”

The Leafs, who averaged 26.3 shots per game and allowed 32.3 shots per game, had one of the worst shot differentials in the league last season. It is a reason why some believe the team was lucky to win as many games as it did.

But McClement, who had an even plus-minus rating, said the numbers are misleading. The Leafs were content giving up shots as long as they were from bad angles or far away from the net, he said, and coaches tracked advanced stats on everything from turnover-to-takeaway differential to where players were finishing their bodychecks that provided an accurate indicator of how well the team was playing.

Still, McClement understands that the team has a lot more to live up to when training camp begins in two weeks.

“I think there will be a little excitement around our team with how we did last year and the new additions,” he said. “We’re going to have to manage that the right way and get off to a good start.”

National Post LOADED: 08.28.2013

715916 Winnipeg Jets

Ladd has skills he could add to Canada

Being 50-goal man isn't everything

By: Gary Lawless

Posted: 08/28/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

CALGARY -- Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman says there are no long shots with this group but, of course, there are and Andrew Ladd is one of them.

The Winnipeg Jets captain and one of the NHL's most underrated players is considered by many to be a second-tier player slotted into a first-tier role on a bad team.

On the surface the premise holds water, as Ladd skates on the top line of a non-playoff team. But the premise breaks down for one reason: Ladd is not second-rate.

Maybe he doesn't have a skill that stands out, such as blinding speed or elite ice vision, but he puts all his tools together for a rare complete package.

There is no team in the NHL that wouldn't want Andrew Ladd; his versatility makes him invaluable.

"When you're building a national team there are different roles and the conversations with the coaching staff have been all about building a team," said Team Canada coaching consultant Ralph Krueger. "The 14 forwards all have to have character. Andrew might not be seen as a top six guy but Andrew understands the 200-foot game and his understanding of winning is key. Every game here is a Game 7 and when you have a player with two Stanley Cups, he understands that part of the game. Andrew is in the mix."

Ladd need only look around to realize he's not in the upper crust of this group in terms of scoring. But the quiet confidence that underpins everything Ladd has achieved as a hockey player bubbles over a bit when that fact is pushed in his direction.

"They're not looking for just goals and assists and points. That's one thing I've done pretty well in my career and that's play the right way. If the puck isn't going in that's OK. It can work the other way too. Sometimes you're not playing very well and the puck is going in, but I think I'm pretty good at knowing I have to stick to the basics," he said.

"I think I skate well enough. It hasn't been a problem for me at world championships. I've played different roles there too, from a checker to a top-six forward. I don't think I've struggled at all. I'll get there."

Krueger adds the larger ice surface used at this Olympics will provide difficulties for some players, but not Ladd.

"You have to be very good positionally and an above average skater, which Andrew is," said Krueger, who has been tasked with figuring out a way to translate the Canadian team's strengths into success on the big ice. "You have to understand the angles and he's very good at that. He's been schooled very well."

Getting off to a strong start this season is pivotal. Ladd will have to score goals to keep his name in the conversation but he can't stray from the foundation his game is built upon.

"Skating and checking for me are key. When I'm doing that I'm on the body and on the puck. If I don't do that I'm not playing my best hockey," said Ladd, who potted 18 goals last season and has 75 over the last three campaigns. "The only negative effect it can have is if you start thinking you're better than you are and you start playing the wrong way. For me, my game starts with checking and the offence comes from that. My game is skating and checking and after you get the puck you have some freedom to try and make plays."

Ladd paid close attention to the rash of contracts Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was able to complete this summer, including those of linemates Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. The suggestion was made to him on Tuesday that Cheveldayoff had done his part and now the players must do theirs and develop into a consistent winner.

"Yep, for sure. First of all those guys deserve that. They've been a very important part of our team and if they weren't part of our team going forward there would have been some big holes to fill," said Ladd. "As a group we have to be ready to take the next step."

Ladd said he'd be leaving Calgary and making his way back to Winnipeg to begin final preparations for the regular season. Putting a winning Jets team on the ice is one goal, but making the Olympic team will also be on one of his front burners.

"I'll really only be happy if I get named to the final roster. It's nice to be here but the goal is to be in Sochi. That's the only thing that will make me happy," said Ladd.

The 27-year-old also sees some benefit to having himself and a number of teammates trying to make Olympic rosters.

"We've got a lot of guys on the U.S. side (four) that will be looking to make an impression with a good start and be in contention to make that team. If we can do it as a group and have success with our team, that's good for everyone," he said.

Good for everyone, and maybe most importantly, good for Jets fans.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 08.28.2013

715917 Winnipeg Jets

Model roles Jets fuel Team USA

Four of Winnipeg's finest could be skating in Sochi

By: Ben Raby

Posted: 3:19 AM | Comments: 0

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Zach Bogosian heard all about the 1980 Miracle on Ice while growing up in upstate New York.

"I used to go watch the ECAC (Hockey) Championships in Lake Placid every year," the Winnipeg Jets defenceman said Tuesday. "I remember seeing all the USA Hockey banners and all the jerseys. You felt something every time you were there. That place just bleeds USA Hockey."

Bogosian was three years old when his parents, Ike and Vicky, drove him and his two brothers 90 minutes from Massena, N.Y., to Lake Placid for the first time. The trip became an annual tradition for the Bogosians, until Zach left home at 13 to pursue a career in professional hockey. The weekends spent at the Olympic Center though, had a lasting impact.

'The catalyst for my game is my skating. When I'm moving my feet and having that extra few feet along the wall, it makes a huge difference'

-- Blake Wheeler

"You appreciate the history, so I've always thought about it since I was a young kid," Bogosian said of representing the United States. "That was the first thing I thought of when I put the sweater on -- the guys who have their pictures on the walls at Lake Placid who did amazing things. To have the opportunity now to do it yourself is really cool."

Bogosian hopes that opportunity comes in February at the 2014 Sochi Games. The 23-year-old was one of 48 invitees to USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp, which concluded Tuesday at the Washington Capitals' training facility. He was also one of four Jets at the camp, making them the most represented NHL club on the Americans' preliminary roster.

"I think it says something about the organization and what we're trying to build," said Bogosian, who signed a seven-year, $36-million deal with Winnipeg in July and was joined in northern Virginia this week by teammates Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler as well as Jets prospect Jacob Trouba.

While the Jets are well represented at the U.S. camp, which consisted mostly of off-ice meetings and video sessions, there is no guarantee any of the four Olympic hopefuls are bound for Sochi.

Trouba, 19, admits he is treating the camp as a "learning experience" and enjoying being in the company of so many players he grew up watching. The 6-5, 265-pound Byfuglien concedes the larger international ice surface may not suit his game and both Bogosian and Wheeler acknowledge they have limited international experience.

"I feel like I've got a good shot at making it," Byfuglien said, "but then you look at the lineup and the roster sheet and you're like 'Geez, that's a lot of good guys and a lot of good players to beat out.' "

While the now full-time defenceman has proven himself to be a workhorse (Byfuglien led the Jets and was fourth among all Americans last season skating an average of 24:24 per game), his mobility could be a hindrance on the bigger international ice surface.

"You have to pick your spots and really be aware of how much space there is," Byfuglien said, adding his only experience on an international-sized rink came in a Chicago Blackhawks exhibition game in Europe in 2009. "I maybe can't get away with the same things that I do (in the NHL) as far as being (out of position) and recovering."

Byfuglien may be wary of the larger ice surface, but count Bogosian and Wheeler among the Americans who are embracing the likelihood of more open ice and a quicker pace.

"I wouldn't have to change my style too much," said Bogosian, who last played for the U.S. at the 2009 IIHF World Hockey Championships. "The big ice will probably help with my skating, but also I want to play physical. Tournaments like this tend to have some smaller players, the majority of them are skilled guys, so you get to be physical against them as long as you're aware of where they are on the ice and that's my game."

Wheeler, who had 19 goals and 41 points in 48 games last season, last represented the U.S. at the 2011 world championships. The 27-year-old spent the NHL lockout playing in Germany though, and is also looking forward to a return to Europe in 2014.

"The catalyst for my game is my skating," said Wheeler. "When I'm moving my feet and having that extra few feet along the wall, it makes a huge difference. I played (in Munich) with (2010 U.S. Olympian) Paul Stastny and that big ice suited us. I know we were looking forward to playing on it again."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 08.28.2013

715918 Vancouver Canucks

Gallagher: Time for Luongo to cut the diva routine

While management mishandled the goalie situation, the Canucks goalie isn’t blameless in the affair

By Tony Gallagher, The Province August 27, 2013

While it’s likely the Canucks are going to have more trouble scoring goals than preventing them this season — even if Roberto Luongo’s head is not in Vancouver for the short term — the lightning-rod goaltender remains the topic of conversation as the summer months close.

Having created a firestorm by not facing reality sooner than later — preferably on draft day when Cory Schneider was traded — Luongo has assured the media gong show which has been unfolding this past week on TSN and in Calgary will continue with another performance when he finally condescends to make an appearance here on behalf of the team which agreed to pay him $64 million some years ago.

There are those who would paint Luongo as the man who has been so dreadfully put upon while earning this meagre sum, but let’s try to review the facts here while grasping for perhaps a slightly differing emphasis on historical proceedings.

Having pledged their loyalty to the goaltender with their hearts, captaincy and money, the team found that he didn’t work out as well as they’d hoped as captain. Then, after taking the team to the final of the Stanley Cup with many terrifying ups and downs along the way, his performances in Boston were not what anyone would have liked.

And despite some tremendous play mixed in, he was largely viewed less well by the fan base than when the deal was signed both then and now. Along the way, Cory Schneider appeared and eventually everyone, including those writing the cheques, perceived him to be a better goaltender until he stubbed his toe a little, pulling the chute in the first two games of the most recent playoff disaster this May.

Deciding the two both needed to be starters at some stage in this opera, the Canucks tried to trade Luongo. They misapprehended the market on a number of occasions, but each time it was because they thought more highly of Luongo than did the rest of the league, so much so that they never approached him with a specific request to waive his deal until the most recent trade deadline.

The problem wasn’t disrespect, it was too much respect. Everything fell through because they thought Luongo was worth more than they were being asked to take back by anyone, including the Leafs who asked at the last-minute for Vancouver to pick up some of his contract at the trading deadline attempt.

And, in fact, there is evidence to suggest Toronto was just messing with Vancouver, trying to make life difficult for them rather than expressing a real willingness to trade for Luongo.

To summarize, after earning and signing a deal which would pay him a monstrous amount of money — certainly more than any other team was willing to assume — Luongo played well, but not so well that a friend and rival didn’t come along and seemingly play better behind the same team. Attempts to move him were thwarted because the team showed him too much respect at first, then when the CBA landscape changes fully hit, couldn’t move him at all. So they traded the guy they could move and somehow this completely surprised Luongo?

Further, despite the fact it gives him a better chance at winning longer term by introducing some new blood up front, he was stony silent all summer despite the fact the team dispatched the owner himself to hold his hand in Florida. Then the GM and his assistant made a pilgrimage to his Florida shrine to genuflect and beg forgiveness for their sins, yet still there was silence.

There are those who would argue that Luongo is the totally blameless, aggrieved party in this whole sorry mess. And reading into his long period of silence, maybe Luongo was buying into that type of thinking as well, and in his heart of hearts, perhaps he still is.

But enough. Cut the melodrama already.

Yes, he mentally had checked out at the end of the season, and was expecting a trade, and that didn’t happen, and we understand that.

Fair enough, it was tough and very unusual. But couldn’t he have rolled with the punches a little better? Couldn’t he imagine he’d been traded — to Vancouver? After all, with Alain the goaltender roaster gone, there will be a whole new direction to this team, and some new, young faces.

To his credit, even Luongo might finally be realizing that no matter how badly he might be feeling, this diva routine is getting a little embarrassing. As badly as the Canucks management misplayed this affair — and let’s be clear, they wholly miscalculated the goalie market — his response since June has not been as professional as his worshippers would have you believe.

Let’s hope for the sake of all concerned that his previously long-admired professionalism has finally returned, marked with his own words when he said: “I just want to play hockey.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 08.28.2013

715919 Websites

No big-ice excuses for U.S. GM Poile

August, 27, 2013 4:01PM ET

By Scott Burnside | ESPN.com

ARLINGTON, Va. -- If you received a dime for every time you heard either Canadian or American Olympic officials talk about the importance of adjusting to the big ice surface in Sochi, you would end up a wealthy person.

But U.S. GM David Poile made it clear Tuesday that he’s not going to tolerate using the bigger sheet as an excuse for not having success at the 2014 Olympics.

"The fact that we have won the silver medal two times in a row over in North America [in 2002 and 2010] and got nothing over in Europe [in 1998 and 2006], I can’t accept that," Poile said. "These are good players. These are smart players. They’re skilled players. It’s different, yes, so let’s figure it out. I do not at the end of the [tournament] want to say, 'If this was in North America, we would have won; in Europe, we played and we lost.' That doesn’t make any sense to me.

"Ice surface is not something that should come up as a reason why we didn’t do well."

Not having a ball

Much was made on Twitter and in the media about Canada’s ball hockey experiment at orientation camp in Calgary. Neither the Canadian nor the American players worked out on the ice during their camps because of insurance costs, but Canadian coach Mike Babcock had his troops play some ball hockey while explaining various systems the coaching staff hopes to implement in Sochi.

We asked U.S. coach Dan Bylsma how far he felt his team was behind Canada given that the Americans didn’t play any ball hockey.

He laughed. And then he laughed again.

"I think that means we’re marginally ahead," Bylsma said.

Poile laughed as well.

"I’m pretty sure our coaches accomplished every bit as much as Canada did without the visual," Poile said.

Johnson aiming high

One of the pleasant surprises of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for the Americans was the play of defenseman Erik Johnson. Then with the St. Louis Blues, Johnson, a former first overall draft pick, was traded to Colorado in a blockbuster deal in February 2011. Since then, the Avs and Johnson have struggled.

He acknowledged Tuesday that last season he played poorly.

"I played like s--- last year," the solid 6-foot-4 defenseman said.

But, he added, he feels that working on his consistency will help play him back onto the U.S. Olympic radar.

"I knew I didn’t play very good last year,” Johnson said. "I knew I had a good enough body of work to obviously be here. I know if I play well that I have a good chance of making it. That probably goes with everybody here. Everyone probably thinks if they play well, they’ll have a good chance to make the team, and that’s probably true."

One of the reasons Johnson is optimistic things will turn his way this season is the dramatic changes within the Avalanche organization, including the hiring of Hall of Fame netminder and Avalanche legend Patrick Roy as head coach.

"Just from talking to Patrick a little bit, I think you’ll see that passion behind the bench like he was as a player,” Johnson said. "He’s a fiery guy. He’s intense. I think that’s the jolt our team needed.

"That fresh blood will be good for us."

One thing is for sure: If Johnson does play his way onto the 2014 team, he will try to take time to smell the roses along the way in Russia after the Vancouver tournament seemed to go by in a blur.

"I don’t think you appreciate it as much when you’re playing," he said. "When it wore off and you got back to your NHL team, you realized how cool it was and what an honor it was to be a part of it. I think if I’m lucky enough to do it this time, you really want to soak it up."

Coaching conundrum

Bylsma, as with all NHL coaches who coach at the Olympics, will find himself wearing a number of hats early in the NHL season. Along with making a game plan for his Pittsburgh Penguins, he will also be watching U.S. Olympic hopefuls and, as the Olympics draw closer, thinking about game plans for Team USA, game plans that might include trying to shut down some of his own NHL players, such as captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

He was asked what advice he would give Ryan Suter before sending him over the boards against Crosby.

"Why would I tell you that right now?" Bylsma said, joking. "I think you’re talking about a familiarity with the players we have on the Pittsburgh Penguins that I’ve coached maybe for three and four and five years. The first thing I thought of is they probably know me better than I know them."

Bylsma conceded that there might be some advantage to having familiarity with Crosby’s game.

"Yes," he said a bit reluctantly. "The answer to that question is yes."

ESPN LOADED: 08.28.2013

715920 Websites

Ryan Miller has something to prove

Updated: August 28, 2013, 1:44 AM ET

By Scott Burnside | ESPN.com

ARLINGTON, Va. -- There is the history, the emotion, the sentiment, and then there is the cold reality. Somewhere in the middle is netminder Ryan Miller.

In the coming weeks and months, the most valuable player of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament will strive to move his reality back to those warm fuzzy moments in Vancouver when he earned the mantle as the best goaltender on the planet.