With a few hours of quiet ice at Air Canada Centre before the 2016 World Cup of Hockey begins in earnest this weekend, we decided to empty the ol’ notebook.
After travelling to training camp in Columbus, watching the bulk of Team USA’s practices and all of its pre-tournament games leading into this best-on-best tournament, not everything we learned in the dressing room weaseled its way into a column.
So here’s a collection of 36 stray notes, lost tapes, and loose musings on John Tortorella’s real Americans before they open this tourney with a thunderous body check (or seven) on Saturday afternoon.
1. The very first person to step on the ice at the beginning of Team USA’s camp last Monday was assistant coach (and special teams guru) Phil Housley, who skated on the Americans’ only World Cup championship team in 1996. Pure coincidence or a bright omen?
2. By happy circumstance, the Columbus Blue Jackets prospects and non-World Cup roster players (Nick Foligno sighting!) got to observe and hit the elliptical right beside the country’s best players.
“The young guys are working out when Patrick Kane walks in and starts riding the bike. We’re all doing it together,” Tortorella raved. “It’s fantastic. They get to see some of the guys that they looked up to as they’ve gone on their journey to get to a training camp. It’s crazy how it happened because I wasn’t hired as a coach in Columbus prior to this [camp] being scheduled to start here.”
3. Cory Schneider, who has been relegated to third-string status, was savouring this experience, having not been chosen to represent his country in nine years. Not only did he get his pads done up for the occasion, but the New Jersey Devils netminder was enjoying the quality of shots he got to face in training camp.
“I haven’t played against this level of competition, even in practice, in my whole career. Maybe when I was younger at world juniors, but it’s nothing compared to facing these guys just in practice—and that’s my own team. We haven’t even got to Sweden and Canada and Russia and all the other elite talent,” Schneider said.
“It’s hard having these guys barreling down on you every single shot. There’s no wasters. There’s no guys where you think, OK, I can stop this one for sure.”
Great phrase and an alternate title to this blog: No wasters.
4. We asked all three U.S. netminders if they’d had a chance to test out the NHL’s new slimmed-down pants, intended to increase goal scoring. Schneider had a pair, Jonathan Quick tried them once, and Ben Bishop had yet to be sent any. None of them used them in World Cup camp, however.
“It’ll be interesting to see what they look like. Hopefully I’ll get a couple practices in before the games start,” Bishop said. “They said the pants are a go. The chest protector is still in the works so I don’t think it’s going to happen this season, but the pants are going to be changed.”
5. When I asked Quick if he had tried the new slimmed-down pants, he gave the best response.
“What? You mean, like, jeans?” he said, genuinely confused.
“No. The new goalie pants you guys are supposed to wear.”
“When they’re in my stall, I’ll wear ’em,” he said.
6. Autograph hounds missed a golden opportunity in Columbus. We met the one fan hanging outside the rink after Day 1 of training camp. He was excited to snap photos of the superstars.
“It’s like the [2015] All-Star Game all over again!” he beamed. There should have been more buzz created locally around the camp. Those kids who did play hooky to attend the free-to-public practices at Nationwide Arena were all smiles.
7. In contrast to, say, Team Canada, the Americans screwed around and joked very little during their practises and morning skates. The players did admit to having fun socializing off-ice, but once they stepped foot in Nationwide it was all business. Tortorella ran sharp, efficient practices and placed a heavy emphasis on defensive zone breakouts, dump-in forechecks, and special teams. They used two adjacent sheets of ice so they could walk quickly from one to another for fresh ice instead of waiting for a flood.
“You’re buddies, but when it’s time to get to work, everybody comes with their lunch pail,” Bishop said.
8. Blake Wheeler — more than impressive these last 12 days — said he knew he’d be named the Winnipeg Jets captain about a week before the announcement. He had two long, productive meetings with Jets coach Paul Maurice over the summer, who gave him the news, and hopes to live up to the leadership standard of former Boston Bruins teammate Zdeno Chara and the Jets’ previous captain Andrew Ladd: “Unbelievable. Between the two of them they have three Stanley Cups.”
9. Wheeler knows how much an overdue Team USA invite meant to teammate Dustin Byfuglien.
“I’m really happy for him,” Wheeler said. “This is his first time being able to play for Team USA, and certainly he’s deserved it in the past. It’s great for him. I know he’s always wanted to be a part of it and was thrilled to get the call.”
10. Wheeler was modest and mostly accurate when describing his greatest goal: “None of my goals are good goals. They’re normally tips or rebounds. Any time I get it to go in the net, it’s a bit lucky.”
11. Outside of Kane, Joe Pavelski and (hopefully) Max Pacioretty, that’s the M.O. with this group: Charge the crease, create traffic, score ugly.
We asked Canada’s Braden Holtby for his analysis.
“Pavelski—his shot is pretty good. He’s good in front of the net. They have a lot of those hardnosed players who score a lot in tight, so that’s what you’ve got to be aware of with them,” Holtby said. “That’s more the style instead of outside sniping. That makes it challenging but also fun at the same time.”
12. At the same time, Holtby doesn’t like to spend much time studying video of the opposing shooters.
“I don’t like to overthink things during the game,” says the 2016 Vezina champ. “Goaltending is all reaction and reading—at least for me. A little homework but not too much.”
13. Derek Stepan didn’t know the World Cup sweaters would feature advertising on the shoulder. When we broke that tidbit to him, he didn’t flinch.
“I have no problem with it,” he said. “I played in Europe during the lockout.”
14. We had to explain the tournament’s overtime and shootout format to T.J. Oshie. Tortorella hadn’t told the players who his shooters would be if a round-robin game does go the distance, but Oshie likes his chances of getting tapped on the shoulder. He should.
15. Tortorella was thrilled (and borderline emotional) to reunite with USA assistant and Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. Sullivan served on Torts’ bench for two years in Tampa, four years in New York, and one (yucky) year in Vancouver.
“I was the biggest cheerleader of Mike Sullivan in the playoffs,” Tortorella said. “I miss him. As far as working with him, we had a blast together.”
16. Team USA and Team Canada stayed in the same downtown Columbus hotel the night before their first game. Somewhat unusual. Captain America Joe Pavelski ran into San Jose Sharks teammates Brent Burns, Logan Couture and Joe Thornton on his way out to dinner. A quick hi, and they kept moving along.
17. “Hey, John Tavares. Who is the most undervalued member of Team Canada?”
“Marc-Edouard Vlasic doesn’t get talked about enough,” was his response. “Steady, steady defenceman, and he was great in Sochi.”
18. Mike Babcock addressing concerns that Carey Price may not be ready for best-on-best action after a nine-month layoff: “I think you’d sleep like a baby if you had him.”
19. Babcock shutting down a reporter when it’s suggested that Team North America was born out of a marketing gimmick: “I don’t know if it started out as a gimmick. In 2010, Doughty would’ve been on that team, and he was a dominant player at the Olympics. There’s lots of good players. It’s the future of the National Hockey League. I think it’s a great, great thing. They look like they can turn and burn pretty good to me.”
20. Kane gave his $10.5-million twin Jonathan Toews a new nickname last week: “Mr. Social Media.” Colleague Chris Johnston wrote a nice piece on Toews opening himself up to the public via Twitter and Instagram.
“I was getting into it last year as a fun thing, not only to interact with fans and get my personal side out there, but to use that tool as much as I can for non-profit and charity work I want to get into,” Toews said in Columbus. “It’s building a relationship with fans. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
21. As well-roundedly awesome as Toews is, no, he did not land this wakesurf 360 on the first try. It took him “a few” attempts.
22. Despite the rash of pre-tournament injuries, Toews believes players can’t be cautious or be preoccupied about their club team at a time like this.
“If you’re trying to avoid injury too much, that’s when accidents do happen,” he warned.
23. Andrew Shaw is one of Kane’s best friends. Of Chicago’s off-season departures, Shaw’s trade to the Montreal Canadiens stung the most.
24. Kane’s favourite player growing up was fellow American and fellow Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick.
25. Kane is chuffed to have veteran Brian Campbell back in Chicago—our pick for best budget signing in free agency.
“That’s the one piece we were missing last year—that fourth defenceman who can give a bit of a break to Keith and Seabrook and Hjalmersson on the back end. We have another guy who can eat up minutes,” Kane said.
“I worked out with him all summer. He’s in great shape. Thirty-seven years old, but he’s in better shape than you could imagine. He looks ready to go. He wants to prove himself, too, and keep playing in the league. Win another championship. It’s a great addition by our management group once again.”
26. Curious as to why Columbus defenceman Jack Johnson was named to Team USA instead of, say, Kevin Shattenkirk? We’ll let Tortorella explain:
“The biggest thing in the discussions around Jack Johnson making this team was his play underneath the hash mark. We know Jack can get up the ice; I’d still like to see that more out of him. But just his physical play underneath the hash mark against big players. His willingness to go in the corners, his willingness to use his body. He’s as low-maintenance a guy I’ve been around. He just wants to play the game the right way.
“I think he’s selfless. He’s not looking for accolades. He wouldn’t be in this business at this level if he didn’t have an ego, but he has the right type of ego. It’s not about him. Especially in this situation, it’s about his team and his country. That’s really neat to have in a short period of time when you’re trying to build this type of camaraderie.”
27. Toronto’s James van Riemsdyk, who has recovered from a broken foot, had his best game against Finland Tuesday night. The U.S.’s second-highest point-getter in Sochi has been healthy-scratched, bottom-sixed and top-sixed. He’s seen action on the power play and the penalty kill. Will be interesting to see how he’s used when the games matter.
“I’ve always prided myself on being able to play in a lot of situations,” he says. “I haven’t in the last couple years played in this [checking] role, but I’m ready to embrace that challenge. It’s something I can be successful at.”
28. JVR admits there’s still a “bitter taste in my mouth” from Sochi’s fourth-place finish.
“You’d be lying if you said you weren’t a little salty with how things ended last time,” he says.
29. The Leafs’ van Riemsdyk considered the possibility he may get booed at his home rink next week when the U.S. plays Canada at Air Canada Centre. He has also thought about Borje Salming representing Sweden at the 1976 Canada Cup.
“He said it was one of the coolest experiences of his life when he got introduced, the reception he got,” JVR says. “I’m sure it’ll be different [for me] because Canada-U.S. is such a rivalry, but it’s exciting to play in a city like Toronto in front of the passionate fans we have.”
30. Ryan McDonagh, nephew of retired NFL quarterback Steve Walsh, is picking the Minnesota Vikings to win the Super Bowl.
“They could surprise some teams,” McDonagh says. “The loss of Teddy Bridgewater hurts, but I see no reason why their defence can’t carry them the way Denver’s did, so I’ll go with the hometown.”
31. Your thoughts on this important matter, Max Pacioretty?
“I hope the Giants, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
You’re losing trust in Eli?
“The last couple years… Well, they got good receivers so maybe that’ll make up for it.”
32. For my first five days in Columbus, the only cannon that blasted (mercifully) was Byfuglien’s slap shot.
“We don’t need to talk about his shot. We know how good it is, how hard it is. The thing I like about him is he’s thinking shot, too. It’s not about overpassing, especially on the power play,” Tortorella said.
“He may not score, but it’s probably the best pass. Him shooting, how hard he shoots, something good is going to happen if it doesn’t get in the net. There’s going to be rebounds and puck retrievals.”
33. Need a great restaurant recommendation in downtown Columbus? Erik Johnson is your man, apparently.
34. I asked David Backes about the time he demolished Alex Pietrangelo in that first U.S.-Canada doozy. The former St. Louis Blues captain hammering the new one:
“I knew it was him. I figured he knew I was gonna jump and finish him and he’d sidestep me or something,” Backes explained. “I was able to get a lick on him, but he made some plays. He’s still one of my great friends and we’ll hug it out later.”
35. A source close to the Blues (not Backes) says he can’t see coach Ken Hitchcock leaving the game for even a yearlong break when he hands the reins to Mike Yeo.
“Not a chance,” he said. “Hitch eats, sleeps, breathes hockey. That’s it.”
36. Class act, that Zach Parise. He served as Team USA’s captain in 2014 but will not wear a letter in Toronto. Still one of seven members of the club’s official “leadership group,” Parise was the first player ready to face the media following the news.
“[Pavelski] has done a lot of good things in San Jose. He brought his team to the Cup Final. He’s a guy that plays the right way, plays hard all the time. A reliable player that you know will show up every game. To me, he’s a guy that leads by example. A great choice for us,” Parise said.
“Look around the room. Off the top of my head, we’ve got 15 or 18 guys that wear letters on their [NHL] team. In a short tournament, you rely on a big group to be leaders.”
