SIMMONS SAYS: Corridor of Fame coach Ken Hitchcock was goalie whisperer

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The symmetry of this class of the Hockey Corridor of Fame has lined up unintentionally excellent this yr: With coach Ken Hitchcock being elected alongside three goaltenders.

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And no coach in hockey historical past ever padded goaltenders’ statistics the way in which Hitchcock did.

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A 20-year-old rookie, Steve Mason, had 10 shutouts and a 2.29 goals-against common taking part in for Hitchcock in Columbus. The yr earlier than that, Pascal Leclaire had 9 shutouts for the Blue Jackets.

Neither did something like that once more.

Taking part in for Hitchcock, Roman Cechmanek had a 1.83 goals-against common in Philadelphia. Two years later he was out of the NHL.

The journeyman Brian Elliott, has gorgeous goals-against numbers of 1.56, 2.28 and 1.96 in his first three years taking part in for Hitch in St. Louis. The veteran Jaroslav Halak, a profession 2.50 goalie, was 1.97 and a couple of.14 in St. Louis with Hitchcock.

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And the very best goaltender he ever coached, Ed Belfour, had his two greatest seasons and gained his solely Stanley Cup taking part in for Hitchcock in Dallas.

“Our groups dedicated to checking,” mentioned Hitchcock. “I believed in that. I hear the time period ‘crew defence’ getting used quite a bit as of late. I don’t agree with that. There’s a distinction between checking and checking approach and taking part in defence.”

The very best checker he ever coached, in his phrases: Jere Lehtinen of the Stars.

And if he needed to choose one goaltender for one recreation amongst this weekend’s Corridor of Famers — Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon — his alternative was, surprisingly, Vernon.

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“I beloved his competitiveness,” mentioned Hitchcock, a fellow Albertan. “I beloved the way in which he performed in large video games. He’d be my man.”

THIS AND THAT

That is Jack Campbell’s twelfth yr in skilled hockey. He has had one good, full, NHL season. The remainder have been bumpy, bouncing way back from ECHL to AHL to NHL. At occasions, Campbell has been his personal worst enemy in his growth, beating himself up for each mistake he makes. He has appreciable expertise, however has undermined it. Perhaps he’ll get again to Edmonton, however perhaps that is who he’s in purpose after 12 seasons of making an attempt to outline himself … Watching the Oilers play in latest video games is like watching 18 skaters who’ve by no means met one another. With all their expertise, there appears to be zero chemistry with this group … It doesn’t matter what was anticipated from Ryan Reaves, pro-con, both manner, you couldn’t anticipate him being on for 11 goals-against in 14 video games, and no goals-for with little or no taking part in time within the early season … The now-disgraced coach Mike Babcock had a rule that Tomas Plekanec hated for the fourth line in Toronto. Win the faceoff, get off the ice, don’t get scored on. That was it … The noise ought to be about how nice William Nylander is taking part in, at a stage past the place he’s ever been earlier than. The noise of him taking the subway to Leafs video games — pure trendy nonsense. When he performed for the Raptors, Matt Bonner took the subway to each recreation. He earned the nickname the Crimson Rocket. That was 19 years in the past … A protracted-time hockey govt on the Leafs signing Tyler Bertuzzi: “I assumed it was an awesome signing. I assumed he’d rating 30 targets taking part in with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. I suppose I used to be incorrect.” … One other long-time exec on the Leafs: “They don’t play the rating. They only play hockey. You possibly can’t win doing that.”

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HEAR AND THERE

When the Leafs signed John Klingberg, I used to be advised: “He’s not as unhealthy as you assume he’s.” Apparently, he’s. The Leafs thought his greatest assist would come on the facility play and with puck motion. To this point he has two power-play factors and many of the first power-play reps and hasn’t moved the puck properly in any respect … Coming into Saturday’s recreation towards the Leafs, Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes leads the NHL with 10 power-play factors from defence, and leads the NHL in nearly each class you’ll be able to identify … Is Nikita Kucherov the least-talked about nice participant in hockey? Don’t know if anybody within the NHL finds the open man higher than he does … Have you learnt the final time Staff Canada performed Staff USA in a best-on-best males’s event was the 2014 Winter Olympics. Canada gained a one-sided 1-0 recreation … 4 of the highest 10 NHL scorers heading into Saturday evening had been American. None had been Canadian … Connor McDavid, sporting No. 97, sat 97th in league scoring at of Friday … Patrick Kane turns 35 on Gray Cup Sunday. In his time within the NHL, solely Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have scored extra factors. The place will the rehabbing free agent Kane wind up? In all probability with some type of funky contract on a contending crew that can promise him top-six minutes … Jaromir Jagr hasn’t performed an NHL recreation in six years, however stays ineligible for the Hockey Corridor of Fame at the moment, as a result of he nonetheless hasn’t formally retired. He’s first on the unofficial record of subsequent sure Corridor members, albeit with a three-year wait post-retirement. However earlier than that, the Corridor ought to discover a method to elect Curtis Joseph, Alex Mogilny and Patrik Elias. Subsequent yr is the primary time sure-thing Corridor of Famers Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber are eligible. The road at all times appears backed up … The Leafs missed the boat on Erik Gustafsson by letting him stroll away so simply. He signed on a budget with the New York Rangers, the place he’s taking part in 18 minutes an evening and really properly for Peter Laviolette … The Boston Bruins have given up fewer than two goals-against per recreation; the defending champ, Vegas Golden Knights, only a contact greater than that. It’s no enjoyable taking part in towards these groups.

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SCENE AND HEARD

Ed Rogers is taking all types of warmth for Maple Leaf Sports activities & Leisure failing to bid on an WNBA franchise. But when chairman Larry Tanenbaum actually believed the $65-million growth charges to get into the WNBA was a sensible funding, he’d make it himself. One, he can afford it. Two, if he doesn’t wish to pay for all of it, he may discover companions moderately simply. Three, he simply offered a portion of MLSE possession for primarily what it prices to get into the ladies’s league … And this can be a time to become involved in ladies’s skilled sport. The WNBA is charging $50 million for growth groups. The Girls’s Professional Soccer League is charging $53 million for growth charges. The WPSL simply did TV offers with ESPN, CBS and Amazon for greater than $200 million a yr … Don’t really feel sorry for Vince McMahon, as he’s pushed out of the wrestling firm he based and constructed. When his inventory will get offered, he’ll stroll away with some $700 million … It’s good that Jays GM Ross Atkins believes Alek Manoah can return to type subsequent baseball season. However his perception is predicated on what? … There’s a feel-good factor to the potential for 40-year-old Joey Votto signing as a chosen hitter with the Blue Jays. However it has to come back with an understanding: His numbers are in decline. If Votto comes dwelling to play, he’s nowhere close to the Corridor of Fame-calibre Votto. However he hit a house run each 15 at-bats in Cincinnati whereas Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a house run each 23 at-bats with the Jays … There are eight nice quarterbacks within the AFC, 9 should you depend Aaron Rodgers, however only one, by my definition, within the NFC. And is there a greater NFL crew proper now, a extra full crew than the Baltimore Ravens? … The WPHL is about to start within the new yr. Nonetheless no crew names. Nonetheless no schedule. Nonetheless no logos or jerseys on the market. Nonetheless no advertising and marketing. Form of arduous to get enthusiastic about one thing new with none element … I noticed goaltender Vernon on the Corridor of Fame ring ceremony. I requested him: What had been you doing 44 years in the past as we speak? His reply: “Speaking to you.” Vernon performed tier-two junior hockey with the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. It was the primary crew, first league, I ever lined.

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AND ANOTHER THING

How beneficial is a big-league supervisor? When you observe the Blue Jays, you most likely assume not an excessive amount of. However the Chicago Cubs simply spent $8 million a yr to woo Craig Counsell from Milwaukee. That’s probably the most anybody has ever spent on a supervisor … Chad Kelly ought to develop into the seventh Argo to win the CFL’s most excellent participant award subsequent week. The opposite six: Invoice Symons, Condredge Holloway, Pinball Clemons, Doug Flutie, Damon Allen and Chad Owens … If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers win on Saturday evening, that shall be 4 straight journeys to the Gray Cup for coach Mike O’Shea … So many baseball individuals count on Shohei Ohtani to stay in California, both with the Dodgers or the Giants. However don’t rule out Seattle. Ohtani loves the place … Ohtani returned dwelling to Japan and acquired hundreds of baseball gloves for top faculties. If there’s such a factor as an ideal famous person, it’s him … I assumed the Raptors could be 1-7, not 4-4 after eight video games. Clearly, I assumed incorrect. I didn’t depend on wins over Milwaukee, Dallas and towards Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio … Toronto is a captivating sporting metropolis at this second, with Nylander lighting it up and Scottie Barnes and O.G. Anunoby taking part in the basketball of their lives … Masai Ujiri has to discover a method to signal Anunoby … My spell-check hates the names Votto and Anunoby. Needs to vary them to vote and annoy each time … It’s early, however they’re in love with Nick Nurse in Philadelphia. The 76ers are taking part in very properly within the younger season and the joke in Philly, the place sports activities are taken so significantly, is {that a} Nurse is best than a Doc (Rivers) …This isn’t the very best of occasions to be a sporting legend: Invoice Belichick, Ken Holland, Lou Lamoriello, all of their groups struggling on the identical time … Ted “Teeder” Kennedy’s closest hockey affiliate rising up in Port Colborne was a participant named Don Gallinger. The 2 are the best-known gamers within the city. Kennedy went on to captain the Leafs to 5 Stanley Cups, get enshrined within the Hockey Corridor of Fame and have statue tribute outdoors Scotiabank Enviornment. Gallinger went on to get suspended for all times for playing on hockey whereas taking part in for the Boston Bruins. Simply completed studying the brand new guide Gallinger, A Life Suspended by historian Fred Addis. Extremely advocate … Not less than one big-league crew thought-about John Gibbons for its managerial opening this low season … There was quite a bit to dislike concerning the late Bobby Knight, however his basketball IQ was off the charts. Earlier than Michael Jordan performed a recreation within the NBA, he known as him the very best participant he’d ever seen … Barrasso’s all-time favorite goalie: Tony Esposito … Many are calling for the now-struggling Barry Melrose to get Hockey Corridor of Fame recognition, which might imply profitable the Foster Hewitt Award for broadcasting. However the fact is, beneath the moderately small guidelines of the NHL Broadcasters’ Affiliation, he isn’t eligible. Neither is Ron MacLean, Dave Hodge or Don Cherry. Solely play-by-play males and color analysts are eligible by the foundations of the play-by-play males and analysts. Hosts usually are not eligible. Any person from contained in the Corridor wants to vary this. It ought to have occurred years in the past … Melrose, who was primarily the voice of hockey in America for 30 or so years, ought to be acknowledged by the U.S. Corridor of Fame as properly … Pleased birthday to Al Michaels (79), Elias Pettersson (25), Mark Hunter (61), Tonya Harding (53), Tomas Hertl (30), Michael Moorer (56), Sammy Sosa (55), Neil Younger (78), Paolo Banchero (21), Russell Westbrook (35), Jason Grilli (47) and Nadia Comaneci (62) … And hey, no matter grew to become of Johnny Rodgers?

ssimmons@postmedia.com

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