Daily Links

NYHN Daily: Jimmy Hayes Impact, Hockey Hits Netflix & More

Published

3 years ago

August 31, 2021

Kevin Hayes, the brother of the late Jimmy Hayes, shared an amazing story about how his brother changed a child’s life and how that story embodied the kind of person he was. Netflix shares the story of the family in the latest installment of the Untold docuseries titled “Crime & Penalties.”

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

It’s been a sad week in the hockey world since the death of Jimmy Hayes last Monday. Jimmy Hayes, a Boston native, died unexpectedly on August 23rd at the age of 31. It’s been a particularly sad week for the Boston hockey world and, by extension, the Philadelphia hockey world. Jimmy’s younger brother, Kevin Hayes, is a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. The service took place on Monday and Jimmy shared a magical story about his brother. (Philly Hockey Now)

As the Detroit Red Wings look to take that next step, they have adjusted their coaching staff. Pro scout Bruce Haralson and amateur scout Marty Stein, long-time Red Wing employees, have been replaced. Greg Hawgood and Corey Crocker are additions to Detroit’s amateur scouting staff, with Tommy Boustedt and Eric Soltys are joining the team’s pro scouting staff. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Back in 2004, on April Fool’s Day, “the real Tony Soprano” bought his hockey-loving son his very own pro team. It wasn’t a prank. That’s just the beginning of the journey of James “Jimmy” Galante and his son, AJ Galante. Netflix shares the story of the family in the latest installment of the Untold docuseries titled “Crime & Penalties.” It takes a closer look at the mafia, hockey and the short-lived Danbury Trashers hockey club that established itself as the “bad boys of hockey” in the UHL, an affiliate of the NHL at the time. (Washington Hockey Now)

It looks like Ivan Chekhovich saw the writing on the wall. This summer, the San Jose Sharks added Nick Bonino, Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen, Nick Merkley, and Lane Pederson to a forwards corps that already features Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, and for now, Evander Kane. None of these skaters are waiver-exempt, while the 22-year-old Chekhovich is. Chekhovich appeared AHL and Barracuda-bound this coming season. That is, until today, when the San Jose Sharks and Chekhovich agreed to a mutual termination of his contract. (San Jose Hockey Now)

In case you missed it, the newsletter Hockey Wanderlüst broke the story Sunday ahead of the deadline that the NHL will be participating in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This will impact many of the Vancouver Canucks. Forward Elias Pettersson would be a part of Team Sweden, as would defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. I say forward for Pettersson because of a potential logjam at center and some decision-making that might push him to the wing. What about Nils Hoglander getting a look-see depending on injuries and how he performs early in the season. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Mitchell Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs led NHL right wings with 67 points (20 goals, 47 assists) in 55 games last season, one more than Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. Rantanen led the position with 30 goals, and Kane was the leader with 51 assists. The race for most points among right wings should be even tighter this year with Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins healthy heading into training camp. (NHL)

Eeli Tolvanen signed a three-year, $4.35 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Monday. It has an average annual value of $1.45 million. The 22-year-old forward was a restricted free agent. He scored 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 40 regular-season games for Nashville but was held without a point in four Stanley Cup Playoff games last season. Tolvanen led the Predators with six power-play goals, tied for second among NHL rookies with Josh Norris of the Ottawa Senators, two behind Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild. (NHL)

His heartbroken, he knows in some ways beyond repair, Jean Ratelle considers a part of himself that is lost forever. “Rod Gilbert wasn’t just my best friend in hockey,” Ratelle said Sunday. “He was my best friend, period.” It had been a week since the New York Rangers announced Aug. 22 that Gilbert, the legend known as Mr. Ranger, had died at age 80. On Sunday, having just appeared at a collectibles show in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Ratelle was on the road back to his home in Cape Cod. Himself a Rangers icon, Ratelle would think a great deal about his late friend during the 80-mile drive, their bond unshakable for nearly seven decades. (NHL)

There has been ample debate over whether the Canadiens should match or decline and accept the compensation after the Hurricanes offer sheeted Jesperi Kotkaniemi. I think this debate is quite nuanced and there is merit to both sides. But do not let amusing press releases and $20 signing bonuses serve as the basis for why you think this is merely a front office acting spiteful. This isn’t a revenge story; it’s simply how offer sheets work. (TSN)

It did not take much time off after he and the Edmonton Oilers were swept out of the playoffs in the first round. The unanimous NHL MVP returned to the ice in July and worked hard to improve his defensive game with an eye on building off a 105-point season in just 56 games. McDavid’s preparations take another step this week, skating with more than a dozen other players at the annual BioSteel pro hockey camp, and becoming a better all-around player is his focus. “This is one of those weeks where guys are really trying to ramp it up and dial in their details, and I’m no different,” McDavid told The Associated Press. “I’m trying to keep the details where they need to be, and that way when it comes camp it’s not just a light switch.” (TSN)