It’s been 13 years since former NHLer Pavol Demitra was killed when the plane carrying his Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team crashed near Yaroslavl, Russia. Just one of the 45 passengers survived.
On Monday, the St. Louis Blues announced that Demitra would be inducted into the club’s hall of fame by releasing a video of Keith Tkachuk informing Demitra’s wife, Maja of the honour.
Demitra played 847 games in the NHL, with eight seasons being spent in St. Louis.
Originally drafted 227th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 1993, the Slovakian centre scored 304 goals during his NHL career to go with 464 assists, for 768 points. He also spent time with the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks.
Demitra was 36 when he died. He is survived by his wife and two children, Lucas and Zara.
BUFFALO SABRES
Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi will not play in Tuesday’s game against the Senators due to a lower-body injury, according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
Lysowski reports that the Sabres are being cautious with the injury.
Instead, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could make his first start of the season when the Sabres travel to Ottawa.
Levi, 21, has made four of five starts for the Sabres so far this season, going 1-3 with a 3.26 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage.
Eric Comrie, who was in net for Saturday’s win 3-1 over the Islanders, is set to play Monday night when the Sabres host the Canadiens.
EDMONTON OILERS
Veteran NHLer Sam Gagner has signed a one-year deal with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, the team announced on Monday.
Gagner, 34, played 48 games last season with the Winnipeg Jets, collecting eight goals and 14 points. Born in London, Ont., Gagner is a veteran of 1,015 NHL games with seven teams, scoring 192 goals and 519 points.
Originally drafted by the Oilers sixth overall in 2007, Gagner has had three stints in Edmonton, who are the NHL affiliate for the Condors.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
With Saturday’s defeat to the Maple Leafs marking nine straight overtime losses, the Lightning made it an early focus at Monday’s practice, according to Eduardo A. Encina of The Tampa Bay Times.
The Lightning have already lost twice in 3-on-3 overtime this season — 4-3 to Toronto and 3-2 to Buffalo — but the streak extends through three playoff defeats to the Leafs in the spring, which was 5-on-5 hockey, and beyond. The Bolts’ last win in overtime came last Dec. 3 against Toronto.
MINNESOTA WILD
You can include Wild head coach Dean Evanson in the camp of those who are not a fan of morning skates, according to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic.
“I don’t like them,” Evason told The Athletic. “I think there’s absolutely no reason for it. I know guys want to get their touches and all that. But why would you completely put your gear on, go expend energy and then you’ve got a 15- or 18-minute warmup before the game to expend (more) energy.
“Just doesn’t make any sense to me. So all of ours are optional because some of the players do want to take it and get the touches and whatever, but there’s lots of time to touch the puck in the warmup.”
The Wild are 2-2-1 to start the season and set to host the Oilers (1-3-1) on Tuesday.
BOSTON BRUINS
Canada Post is issuing a stamp to honour Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first Black player, according to The Canadian Press.
O’Ree is scheduled to be in attendance when the stamp is unveiled Saturday in Edmonton as part of the Heritage Classic festivities. The stamp will be officially issued Monday.
O’Ree made his NHL debut with Boston on Jan. 18, 1958, and played two games with the Bruins that season.
The winger played in the minors for the next two seasons before appearing in 43 more NHL games with Boston in 1960-61, scoring four goals and adding 10 assists.
While he only appeared in a handful of NHL games over his lengthy professional career, O’Ree’s impact on the game has been significant.
The 88-year-old from Fredericton received the Order of Canada in 2008 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2018. His No. 22 jersey was retired by the Bruins on Jan. 18, 2022, on the 64th anniversary of his NHL debut.
Last year, he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, the U.S. Congress’s highest honour, for his contributions to “hockey, inclusion and recreational opportunity.”
O’Ree is the first player in NHL history to receive the honour.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed star forward Patrik Laine on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 20 with an upper-body injury, the team announced Monday.
The club has recalled forward Dmitri Voronkov from AHL Cleveland to take his spot.
The Blue Jackets say Laine is day to day.
Laine was hurt late in last Friday’s game against the Calgary Flames when he was hit by defenceman Rasmus Andersson.
Andersson was later suspended four games for charging. He is appealing the suspension.
Laine had 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 55 games with the Blue Jackets last season.
He was picked second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Voronkov has not played an NHL game.