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From The Archive: Canucks Spurred By Towel-Waving Vancouver Fans

Welcome to this edition of "From The Archive". In this recurring series, we open The Hockey News' vault and display some of the top Vancouver Canucks related articles from the past. Today's article comes from Volume 35, Issue 32, where The Hockey News wrote about the "The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs."

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here and read the full issue here.

Canucks Spurred By Towel-Waving Vancouver Fans, Volume 35, Issue 32, May 14, 1982

The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs appeared to be catching on with Vancouver hockey fans and if anything it seemed to be providing the Canucks with the incentive they needed to knock off Chicago in their Campbell Conference final series.

The Canucks split the first two games in Chicago and then came back home to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven conference final for the right to oppose the Wales Conference winner—either the New York Islanders or the Quebec Nordiques—in the Stanley Cup final.

The Canucks, fined $11,000 by the NHL for waving towels on the end of hockey sticks in protest over the officiating, were getting some unexpected support from their hometown fans, who were shelling out $4.95 each to purchase the specially marked towels to wave at the Black Hawks.

Following are the capsule reports of the Campbell Conference final series.

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Game One: Jim Nill’s goal at 8:58 of the second overtime gave the Canucks a 2-1 victory and first blood in the Campbell Conference championship against the Black Hawks, but the real story once again was the goaltending of Vancouver’s Richard Brodeur.

The Canucks’ 5-7, 160-pound netminder stopped all but one of 47 shots hurled his way in bringing his playoff record this year to a sparkling eight wins against just one loss. Brodeur was particularly frustrating for Doug Wilson and Tom Lysiak, two of the Black Hawks’ leading scorers, who combined for 15 shots on the Vancouver goal and came away empty.

The only goal that got past Brodeur was a backhander rolled in by Terry Ruskowski in the first period which tied the contest at 1-1 at the 10:11 mark. And it remained that way for close to 79 minutes before either team could score again.

Thomas Gradin opened the game’s scoring at 8:02 of the first period when he put in a pass from Curt Fraser for his fourth score of the playoffs.

Ruskowski notched his first playoff goal after a great set-up by Rich Preston, who carried the puck out from the corner.

Brodeur kept the Black Hawks from ever gaining the lead and his mates finally got through against 39-year-old Tony Esposito, who was coming off a shutout in the series-clincher against St. Louis.

After Brodeur made another excellent stop off Wilson five minutes into the second overtime period, the Canucks got control in the Chicago end. Defenseman Harold Snepsts sent a shot which Esposito stopped but the rebound came to Nill, who was heading towards the goal. Nill flipped the puck into the top of the net and the Canucks had a win on the road.

In fact, it was the Canucks’ fourth consecutive playoff win on the road in as many tries.

Tue. April 27 VANCOUVER 2, CHICAGO 1

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Game Two: A pair of third-period goals by Chicago’s Denis Savard put the lid on the Canucks’ comeback attempts and allowed the Black Hawks to stretch a 2-1 lead to a 4-1 victory which evened the Campbell Conference final series at one game each.

The game was a long, raucous affair with 188 minutes in penalties dished out by referee Bob Myers, who banished Canucks’ coach Roger Neilson and players Dave Williams and Gerry Minor to the dressing room when the trio placed white towels on the ends of hockey sticks in apparent disgust with Myers’ officiating.

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For the second game in succession in the series, the Black Hawks dominated first-period action, finally grabbing their first lead on a goal by Glen Sharpley at 18:28. Sharpley came up with the puck behind the Canuck goal, skated out front, and while two Vancouver defensemen concerned themselves with Ted Bulley, shot one at Richard Brodeur and then flipped in the rebound.

The Canucks exerted some pressure against Hawks’ goalie Murray Bannerman in the second period, outshooting Chicago 15-9, but the only goal of the period was scored by Hawks’ defenseman Doug Feamster who scored on a drive from the point.

In the third period, the Canucks climbed back into the contest when Stan Smyl blistered a 45-footer past Bannerman and into the net at 1:01 of the period.

Then Savard took over.

First, he circled behind the Vancouver net and slipped a shot past Brodeur while swinging around the defense at 4:42. Then with less than four minutes remaining, Savard finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play, shooting into the open side after relays by Bob Murray and Tom Lysiak.

Thu. April 29 VANCOUVER 1, CHICAGO 4

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Game Three: Stan Smyl stepped out of the penalty box to score a breakaway goal which proved to be the game-winner as the Canucks held on for a 4-3 victory over Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in their Campbell Conference series.

Smyl scored at 2:05 of the third period to give the Canucks a 4-2 lead on a play which was initiated by the Black Hawks. The Hawks had controlled the play inside the Canucks’ zone for more than a minute, passing the puck although they weren’t able to shake free for any shots. Denis Savard sent the puck in around the boards behind the Vancouver net and the shot bounced off the boards and out to Smyl, who had just stepped out of the penalty box. Smyl broke in alone on Chicago’s Murray Bannerman and beat him with a shot to the far side.

Rick Paterson got the goal back for Chicago a little more than a minute later to cut the deficit to one, but it was the Canucks who enjoyed the better chances for the remainder of the period, outshooting Chicago, 14-8. Bannerman was forced to make key saves off Curt Fraser and Tiger Williams to keep the contest close.

Chicago opened the scoring at 10:18 as Glen Sharpley notched his fifth goal of the playoffs. Vancouver answered with a pair of goals, the first by Thomas Gradin, also his fifth of the playoffs, and the second by rookie defenseman Neil Belland, his first of the playoffs. The Hawks’ Doug Wilson tied the game before the period ended with his third of the playoffs, a blistering drive which Richard Brodeur partially stopped with his stick but couldn’t keep out of the net.

Fraser had the only goal of the middle period, a long slapshot which beat Bannerman at 10:03.

Black Hawks’ center Denis Savard was handed a gross misconduct after the game when he waited for van Hellemond and then swore and spat at the ref in the corridor outside the officials’ room. Savard was complaining about the Canucks’ clutch and grab tactics.

Sat. May 1 CHICAGO 3, VANCOUVER 4

ImageThe Hockey News, Volume 35, Issue 32 (Photo Credit: The Hockey News Archive)  

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Mets' Kodai Senga optioned to Triple-A after consenting to minor league stint

Mets right-handerKodai Senga, who has struggled since returning from a hamstring injury on July 11, has given his consent to be optioned to the minor leagues.

Because of a stipulation in his contract, Senga had the ability to refuse the assignment. 

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reports that the minor league stint for Senga should last about two starts, adding that the pitcher's relationship with the Mets is "in very good shape." Martino notes that Senga "felt respected by the process and consented without issue."

With Senga sent to Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets added recently-signed reliever Wander Suero to the active roster.

"As we talked to Kodai throughout this, I think it became clear that, from both of our perspectives, this was the right thing to do for the team and the player," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said ahead of Friday's game in Cincinnati. "Kodai has a very set routine, he feels very confident in his routine. So a role transition at this point didn't feel like the right thing to do for either party.

"I think Kodai also recognizes that the results right now aren't what he's looking for, what we need. He wants to figure this out. We think getting him a little bit of time away from elite competition, away from the pressure of a playoff race is the right thing to do. He was amenable to it and we certainly appreciate that."

It's been a tale of two seasons for the 32-year-old Senga, who had a 1.47 ERA in 73.2 innings over his first 13 starts of the year before getting injured.

He suffered a hamstring injury while covering first base during his start on June 12, and did not return until July 11.

Senga fired 4.0 shutout innings in his return, but has not been right since then.

In eight starts from July 21 to Aug. 31, Senga posted a 6.56 ERA (6.11 FIP) in 35.2 innings while allowing 39 hits (including eight home runs) and walking 22.

During the aforementioned eight-start span, Senga failed to complete 5.0 innings on five occasions, and never pitched more than 5.2 innings in any start.

Senga's struggles came to a head against the woeful Marlins in his last outing, when he surrendered five runs on seven hits in just 4.2 innings.

After that outing, Carlos Mendoza was non-committal about what would be next for Senga, saying all options were on the table. The right-hander's next start would've come on Sunday against the Reds in Cincinnati, but Mendoza said on Wednesday that David Peterson and Jonah Tong would be starting on Friday and Saturday, respectively, adding that Sunday's starter was to be determined.

It was reported on Thursday that Brandon Sproat will be starting on Sunday, in what will be his major league debut.

"The plan is for him to go and throw a couple of bullpens before we put him in a game," Mendoza said Friday about the plan for Senga. "So we're looking at potentially a game over next weekend. So for him to work on his mechanics, we got to get him back in sync."

As far as Senga, he has cited issues with his mechanics as one of the reasons for his downturn. 

"There’s definitely some frustration," Senga said through an interpreter following his performance on Aug. 31. "I’ve never experienced something like this for this extended period of time. There’s some confusion why I’m not able to perform, but at the same time, when I’m able to prepare well and able to do what I’m capable of out there, I know that I’m able to put up a good performance."

Senga, who signed a five-year deal for $75 million ahead of the 2023 season, is under contract through 2027. His contract contains a conditional club option worth $15 million for 2028 that would kick in if he has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days between now and then.

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Notable Changes Reportedly Coming For Future Red Wings Seasons

It's been over 30 years since the Detroit Red Wings, or any other NHL club for that matter, has played more than 82 regular season games.

Following the lockout that wiped out half of the 1994-95 campaign, NHL regular seasons have been set to 82 games (aside from another lockout shortened year in 2012-13, along with the interrupted 2019-20 season at the onset of COVID-19). 

Now, the NHL is reportedly not only going to return to an 84-game schedule, but will be pushing back the start of the season to late September. 

As indicated by NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the 2026-27 NHL season will feature a return of an 84-game schedule and will begin weeks earlier than what has been a traditional early October starting dat

It will mark just the second time since the 2007-08 season (Detroit's last Stanley Cup-winning season) that regular season play started in September; the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings faced one another at the 02 Arena in London, England to begin that campaign. 

Another notable change is the preseason schedule being cut in half, reduced from eight games to just four.

With the extra pair of regular season games, the Red Wings will now face every one of their Atlantic Division opponents no less than four times a season.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The revised schedule and start dates are part of the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which takes effect next September.

During his media availability after Development Camp in early July, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman expressed his support for the scheduling changes.

“I think it’ll give more balance to divisional games,” Yzerman said. “I’m not exactly sure what the matrix is going to be as far as divisional games and what not, but it seemed to make sense to us.”

As for a potential downside to the reduced preseason schedule, Yzerman noted that it provides less time to evaluate the progression of younger players in NHL action.

“I think the four preseason games, it’s a bit of a challenge. You’re always weighing how many games your veteran players need to play," Yzerman said. "The guys that are really knocking on the door, the guys that you can consider call-ups and then those players that are here trying to push to make the team. It’s going to be hard to get everybody in a reasonable number of games with four. That’s the downside to it, but we’ll manage it.”

The last time the Red Wings played an 84-game schedule, in 1993–94, was still three seasons before their 1997 Stanley Cup victory.

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Clippers' Steve Ballmer defends self, team from accusations of cap circumvention, 'They conned me'

In his first public comments since allegations broke that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to get more money to Kawhi Leonard through an endorsement deal with a fraudulent company, team owner Steve Ballmer defended himself and the organization as innocent, saying that they were victims of scammers, like many other investors.

During a 16-minute interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Ballmer said that while the Clippers made the introduction of Leonard to team sponsor Aspiration — a "green bank" company dealing in carbon emission credits that eventually went bankrupt, and its CEO admitted to $248 million in fraud — neither he nor the team had any idea what endorsement deal Leonard had with the company. Ballmer said he was one of the many investors scammed by the company, and that his $50 million investment in it gave him less than 3% of Aspiration, and he had no board seat or control.

"These are guys who committed fraud. How would I be able — look, they conned me. They conned me. I made an investment in these guys, thinking it was on the up and up, and they conned me. At this stage, I have no ability to predict why they might have done anything they did, let alone the specific contract with Kawhi."

An explosive bit of reporting bythe Pablo Torre Finds Out (PTFO) podcast linked Ballmer's $50 million investment in Aspiration to a $28 million "no-show" endorsement contract Leonard got from the company, one where he literally did nothing to promote Aspiration in any form (there is no public record of him doing anything). Multiple Aspiration employees told PTFO that they were instructed not to question the Leonard endorsement deal, which existed to help the Clippers circumvent the salary cap.

Reporting by John Karalis of the Boston Sports Journal found Leonard later had a second deal with Aspiration for $20 million in stock options. While those stock options ultimately turned out to be worthless, at the time that would have brought Leonard's endorsement compensation up to $48 million, close to how much Ballmer invested in Aspiration.

Ballmer made his case that he and the Clippers knew nothing about the relationship and contract details between Leonard and Aspiration, and they were not trying to circumvent the salary cap. Through their public statements and this interview, the Clippers have pushed back on the allegations and said they thought they had a deal with a legit green company — the Clippers and Aspiration had a $300 million partnership tied to making the then-under-construction Intuit Dome carbon neutral — and that they broke off that deal in 2023 when Aspiration didn't live up to the contract. That was it. Ballmer said the company duped him and that neither he nor the Clippers knew any details about Leonard and his endorsement deal.

Ballmer said he welcomed the NBA's investigation, adding that the Clippers have nothing to hide and will fully cooperate.

"I'd want the league to investigate, take it seriously.... Salary cap circumvention rules are important to the league, and I'd want the league to investigate," Ballmer said.

While there may be no "smoking gun" email or direct evidence that Ballmer or anyone with the Clippers knew Leonard's endorsement deal with Aspiration was a sham — there was that paper trail with the last serious cap circumvention case in the NBA, in 2000 with the Timberwolves and free agent Joe Smith — there is a tsunami of circumstantial evidence and coincidences that are hard to explain away.

While Ballmer answered questions on Thursday by a seasoned reporter in Shelburne, he and his public relations team made a massive mistake in not responding to PTFO initially when it asked for comments on the allegations before they aired.

It was Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban who went on a new edition of PTFO to defend Ballmer, saying essentially that everyone gets scammed at some point but that Ballmer was too smart to trust this company to pull off a cap circumvention scam.

"So the minute Aspiration was under investigation, I guarantee you, in the immortal words of Charles Barkley, I guarantee it that the NBA took a hard look at it. And not only that, that Ballmer, if he did something illicit and under the table and tried to, you know, um, work around the salary cap, then he's got to be s******* bricks, right? Because at that point in time, he's the dumbest human being on the planet because he trusted these scammers to do something he knew was against all NBA rules. A) I just don't see that happening. B), the NBA would have found it easily. Three, and this alludes to the Steve Balmer can't be that dumb thing. I've been scammed. Everybody's scammable but in order for this to work, in my opinion, he has to trust that whole company. And at that point in time he trusted them enough to give them an investment at some level. But I don't see how he would trust that company to keep probably his darkest secret as an NBA owner so that it wouldn't get out. I just don't see in any way, shape, or form that all those things could happen."

Pablo Torre responded that he was on team s****** bricks — and that's where a lot of fans and people around the league are, as well.

The NBA investigation into the case is underway. The NBA's Board of Governors — the 30 NBA owners — meet next week in New York and this will be the hot topic. It already is around the league, as is what punishments the Clippers will ultimately face in this case.

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Report: Mitch Marner First Game Against Maple Leafs At Scotiabank Arena To Be Nationally Broadcasted In Canada

Mitch Marner is set to visit Scotiabank Arena as a visitor when his Vegas Golden Knights face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 23. Despite Leafs games on a Friday night usually being broadcast locally by rights-holders Sportsnet or TSN, a report indicates that the game will be free of Canadian geographical restrictions.

The news was first mentioned on the '32 Thoughts' podcast with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. While discussing the player, Friedman stated, "I know that game this year, which by the way, we have now made a national game". He added, "I mean, that’s going to be a crazy night". Ironically, this detail emerged from a broader conversation in which Friedman expressed his belief that it would be best for Marner, the Maple Leafs, and the fans to move on from the ongoing drama surrounding his departure.

Marner departed the Maple Leafs organization after spending the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the club. The 2015 first-round draft pick and one of the most prolific offensive players in franchise history, he recorded 221 goals and 520 assists in 657 career regular-season games. However, his performance in the playoffs often came into question, leading to significant criticism from fans and analysts alike.

In a recent interview with Mark Masters of TSN, Marner explained his reasons for not returning to Toronto, citing concerns for his own safety. There is no doubt that the narrative will continue to be a hot topic until Marner finally plays those games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs and Golden Knights completed a trade for Marner's rights on June 30 and the Golden Knights committed to Marner for eight years with an average annual value of $12 million per season.

For fans living in Canada outside the Maple Leafs’ traditional viewing region, this national broadcast will allow them to watch Marner's return to Scotiabank Arena without needing to subscribe to Sportsnet’s higher-tier streaming service, Sportsnet+ Premium.

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João Almeida trumps Jonas Vingegaard on Angliru for Vuelta stage victory

  • Portuguese rider wins stage 13 after brutal climb

  • Britain’s Tom Pidcock holds on to third spot overall

Portugal’s João Almeida held off race leader Jonas Vingegaardat the top of the brutal summit finish of Angliru to win stage 13 of the Vuelta a España on Friday.

The top two in the general classification battled it out for the stage win, leaving the rest behind in the final 5km. Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) did all the work on the climb and stayed ahead of Visma-Lease a Bike’s Vingegaard in the sprint to the line.

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After EA Bows Out, 2K Teases College Hoops Video Game ‘Experience’

Electronic Arts’ plans for a full-fledged college basketball video game have been shelved, the company has reportedly told schools, in part because rival publisher 2K Sports is building its own CBB offering, though it remains unclear whether that product would be built into 2K’s NBA game or released as a standalone title. Following the success …

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THN Future Watch: Ranking The Nashville Predators' Top 10 Prospects

Gold team forward Brady Martin (44) skates with the puck during the Future Stars Game at the Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, July 5, 2025. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the Nashville Predators prepare for what they hope will be a much-improved season over 2024-25, general manager Barry Trotz is faced with the task of maintaining a veteran presence while also going younger.

It’s not an easy balance,particularly when the team is trying to get back to the playoffs following their summer free agent splash of 2024, when they signed veterans Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. But with the additions of Brady Martin, Ryker Lee and others to the prospect pipeline from the 2025 NHL Draft, the future looks a lot brighter in Smashville.

In its 2025 Yearbook, The Hockey News ranked the Predators’ top 10 prospects, along with their estimated arrival times in the NHL. Let’s take a look.

1. Brady Martin

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

No-nonsense pivot puts on his hard hat and goes to work. He’s a driver at both ends of the ice.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

2. Tanner Molendyk

Pos D Age 20

2024-25 Medicine Hat (WHL)

Put Tigers over the top in WHL and named Memorial Cup all-star. Beautiful skater and great mind.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

3. David Edstrom

Pos C Age 20

2024-25 Frolunda (Swe.)

Stats don’t wow, but his 200-foot game can’t be quantified. Has the frame to be net-front nuisance.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

4. Joakim Kemell

Pos RW Age 21

2024-25 Milwaukee (AHL)

Offensive numbers consistent but not overwhelming. He’s a shooter and knows how to find soft spots.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

5. Cameron Reid

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Kitchener (OHL)

To maximize potential, he needs to bulk up. Skills – skating, stick and passing – of a new-age ‘D.’

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

6. Egor Surin

Pos C Age 19

2024-25 Yaroslavl (KHL)

Broke through to KHL club and became integral part of grind line en route to league title.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

7. Matthew Wood

Pos RW Age 20

2024-25 Minnesota (Big Ten)

Killer production after transfer to Minnesota. Pure quality to release. A physical presence, too.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

8. Ryker Lee

Pos RW Age 18

2024-25 Madison (USHL)

What he lacks in mobility, he makes up for in offensive instincts. He’ll pay the price to score, too.

Expected NHL Arrival ’29-30

9. Jacob Rombach

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Lincoln (USHL)

A 6-foot-6 frame is a great attribute, and he’s learned to use his size. Committed to sound defense.

Expected NHL Arrival ’30-31

10. Reid Schaefer

Pos LW Age 22

2024-25 Milwaukee (AHL)

Shoulder injury cut season short. Skilled playmaker seems set to take major step in development.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

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NHL 26 Early Access Live Now

EA SPORTS NHL 26 is officially live now for those who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition of the game.

On top of the seven-day early access who who pre-ordered get a head start and receive multiple bonuses in Hockey Ultimate Team and World of Chel. 

These bonuses for Deluxe Edition include: an 83 overall HUT choice pack, 4600 NHL Points, a HUT NHL Player Pack, a HUT Icon Choice Pack (1 of 6, 85-86 overall), HUT Heroes Choice Pack (1 of 6, 83-84 overall), a World of Chel Vanity Set, and two World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boosts.

Those who are looking to try the game before purchasing can sign-up for one month of EA Play which will give them 10 hours of access. 

EA SPORTS NHL

More on NHL 26 to come from The Hockey News this week. 

NHL 26's worldwide release is set for Sept. 12. It can be purchased here.

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.    

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'This Is The Most Confident I've Felt': Easton Cowan's Goal Is To Make The Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp

Easton Cowan has his mind set on making the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

The 20-year-old spoke with Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby during a meet and greet event at Team Town Sports in Whitby on Thursday. Cowan, who didn’t participate in the on-ice activities at Maple Leafs development camp, had a busy summer of training at EPIC (Elite Performance and Injury Centre) just outside London, Ontario.

He’s bigger and stronger, with his agent, Dave Maloney, adding that Cowan has reached 190 pounds and is six feet tall.

“It all went well,” the prospect told Hornby of his summer.

“I’ve been skating with the NHL guys who are all funneling back now. They’re all coming up to me to give congrats (for his London Knights winning the Memorial Cup) asking how my summer’s been. Little messages like that go a long way and I feel a little closer and comfortable around all of them.

“I’m feeling good out there, excited for camp.”

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Cowan. Nearly one year ago, he was cut from the Maple Leafs and loaned back to the OHL’s London Knights. Cowan could’ve taken that as a bad thing, however, he used it as fuel to help London win the Memorial Cup in the spring.

He added 29 goals and 69 points in 46 regular-season games, which also included an unofficial record-breaking point streak which ended at 65 games. Cowan also led in points during the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup, taking home the MVP honors at the Memorial Cup to cap off an incredible junior career.

During that time, Cowan kept in contact with Maple Leafs management. He even spoke with Toronto head coach Craig Berube, who Cowan says was in touch just like any of the team’s leadership.

“Management does a great job staying in touch with me throughout the year,” Cowan said. “I’ve heard from everyone. They’re all being positive, so I’m being positive. The coach (Craig Berube) is like the other management, staying in touch about little stuff to help a prospect make that jump easier.”

Now, though, there’s no more going back to the OHL for Cowan. It’s the NHL or AHL for the young forward. If he doesn’t make the Maple Leafs (and it'll be tough given all the new players Toronto has brought in), he’ll surely get loads of time and opportunity with the Toronto Marlies.

Though currently, he’s focused on the task at hand: making a strong impression at training camp.

“My mindset right now is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Cowan said. “That’s my goal. We’re at an NHL camp and that’s where I’m at until further notice.

“This is definitely the most confident I’ve ever felt — faster, stronger, bigger. So that’s going to help me out a lot. I’ve put in the work this summer. Now, it’s just go out there and prove I can play.”

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Canadiens: David Reinbacher Is Healthy and Focused

Earlier this week, sports cards manufacturer Upper Deck and the NHLPA held their annual rookie showcase, and 2023 fifth overall pick David Reinbacher represented the Montreal Canadiens. Since being selected by the Habs, the 20-year-old’s path to the NHL has been challenging and plagued by injuries.

Last season, as he was getting ready to spend his first full season in North America, he sustained a serious knee injury in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and just like that, he was ruled out for five months.

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It wasn’t a wasted season for the youngster, far from it. The Canadiens have become masters of keeping their players involved when injured, a testament to the significant number of injuries sustained by key players over recent years. The blueliner was involved in team meetings, video sessions, and spent valuable time learning to be a professional hockey player on this side of the pond.

At the showcase, when he was asked about his short-term future, the youngster showed maturity beyond his years:

It’s a long-term plan. The team management knows what it’s doing. I focus on myself and my own performance on the ice daily. I try to do what’s best to influence their decision. Of course, my objective is to make the roster now, but we’ll see what happens.
- Reinbacher  on his future.

David Savard’s retirement created a big hole on the right side of the Canadiens’ blueline, but the team wasted no time in acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, not just filling that hole, but getting an upgrade. That, and the team’s acquisition of Alex Carrier from the Nashville Predators, shows the organization wants to take its time bringing the young defenseman along.

They attempted to take a shortcut with Justin Barron after acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Still, they ultimately had to end the experiment to gain more experience and stability on the blueline, electing to send him to Nashville.

Right now, it looks like the Canadiens already have their seven defensemen for the upcoming season with Carrier, Dobson, Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble. Still, the soon-to-be 21-year-old is not seeing that as an issue; he’s just planning on turning up to camp and playing his best. He adds:

I’m just happy to be able to play. We’ll see, I’m keeping a day-to-day approach. At the end of the camp, we’ll see where I’ll be.

While Reinbacher would like to make the lineup, he’s very lucid about the situation and willing to follow the plan the organization has for him. In other words, if he has to start the season with the Laval Rocket, you won’t see him feeling sorry for himself and taking time to get into gear. He’ll be ready to perform and give his team the best of himself, just like he did when he returned from injury for the end of the season and the playoffs.

While he had to be eased back into the competition last season and was getting some swelling in his surgically repaired knee, he’s now 100% healthy and eager to get back on the ice for the new season.

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Kawhi Leonard Investigation: Key Legal and Business Considerations

The NBA is investigating whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap by having Kawhi Leonard sign an endorsement deal with sustainability services company Aspiration, and there are intriguing legal and business considerations.

The controversy surfaced in a report on Wednesday by journalist and podcaster Pable Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out.

Leonard signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers as a free agent in 2019. Two years later he exercised an opt-out option and signed a four-year, $176.3 million maximum contract—which could become an important point in the legal analysis—to stay with Los Angeles. That same year the Clippers and Aspiration signed deals that contemplated a $300 million partnership for Aspiration to sponsor the Clippers’ arena and the team’s jersey patch. Ballmer was one of Aspiration’s funders, reportedly investing $50 million. 

Through his limited liability company, KL2 Aspire, Leonard agreed to a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration in 2022. Torre reports that Leonard was apparently not obligated to perform actions for payment and that the endorsement deal would end if Leonard was traded.

In a statement, the Clippers refute that they tried to circumvent the cap. The team says they ended their relationship with Aspiration during the 2022-2023 season when Aspiration defaulted on obligations. According to a bankruptcy court filing dated March 31, Aspiration owes the Clippers and KL2 Aspire $30.1 million and $7 million, respectively. The list of creditors also includes the Boston Red Sox, who are listed as being owed $5 million.

Leonard’s situation bears some resemblance to a recent dynamic in college sports, when some so-called “NIL collectives” pay recruits to attend and remain at a college. That type of compensation is not reflective of NIL, which is intended to resemble an endorsement deal. An NIL and endorsement deal captures the use of an athlete’s right of publicity, a legal right that ensures compensation for use of a person’s identifying traits. Some NIL collectives’ payments are instead more akin to pay-for-play, which is prohibited by NCAA rules. The House settlement features a clearinghouse, NIL Go, that reviews NIL deals to ensure they are compliant with pay-for-play rules.

The NBA’s investigation will center on Article XIII of the CBA. This provision prohibits salary-cap circumvention, meaning arrangements by teams to compensate players outside of their employment contracts.

The basic logic of Article XIII is to promote fair play among the 30 teams and prevent teams from cheating. To that end, Article XIII forbids teams from signing side deals with players, such as paying a player to serve as a scout, business partner, endorser or some other position.

The most infamous example of an Article XIII violation is when the Minnesota Timberwolves signed free agent forward Joe Smith to a one-year, $1.8 million deal on Jan. 22, 1999, which was two days after the NBA and NBPA ended their lockout. The contract was surprising since Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, was expected to land a more lucrative deal. The 23-year-old had earned $3.2 million in the previous season when he averaged 15 points and six rebounds a game. 

Eyebrows were raised once again a year later when Smith, who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game for the Timberwolves, signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal to stay in Minnesota. An NBA investigation discovered that Minnesota, which used the extra cap space to sign other players, had plotted with Smith and his representatives. The team agreed to later sign Smith to a long-term, lucrative deal after they acquired “Larry Bird rights,” which let a team go over the cap to keep a player. NBA commissioner David Stern denounced the scheme as undermining fair play and furnishing the Timberwolves an unfair advantage over other teams. Stern ordered the forfeiture of five first-round picks and a $3.5 million fine.

Leonard’s situation is clearly different in ways that could favor the Clippers. For one, Leonard signed a max contract—unlike with Smith and the Timberwolves, there’s no claim Leonard and the Clippers plotted a scheme where he’d be paid less in the short term in exchange for being paid more later. For another, the Leonard situation involves a separate, non-Clippers company, Aspiration, that would be the wrongful payer; with Smith, the Timberwolves were the payer. 

It’s also worth considering how the language of Article 13 applies. Section 1 indicates the NBA can infer a prohibited agreement when two conditions are met: The endorsement compensation exceeds fair market value for services rendered, and the team’s compensation to the player in his NBA contract is “substantially below the fair market value” of the contract. 

As to the first condition, if Leonard was paid without an expectation of performing any services, the compensation would have exceeded fair market value; Leonard being paid to do nothing would resemble pay-for-play or a “fake” NIL deal. 

But if it turns out Leonard performed services, or offered to perform services, the analysis will shift since he would have fulfilled his contractual obligations. Another factor is whether Aspiration’s financial problems played a role in demanding, or not demanding, Leonard to perform services. If Aspiration was in turmoil, it might not have prioritized the use of celebrity endorsers.  Whether the company had other endorsers and used them during this time would be a useful point of analysis.

As to the second condition, Leonard signed a max contract with the Clippers. The contract would not have been “substantially below” fair market value, since it paid him the most he could have earned. 

Section 2 of Article 13 is also relevant. It prohibits unauthorized agreements, which includes arrangements between a player and a team or team affiliate in which the player receives compensation. If the Clippers and Aspiration agreed that Aspiration would pay Leonard a side deal to further the Clippers’ employment relationship with Leonard, Section 2 would be a problem for the Clippers. But if the evidence shows Aspiration merely wanted to pay Leonard to get his endorsement, a conspiracy theory involving Ballmer and the Clippers would take a hit. 

Ballmer’s relationship with Aspiration is a relevant factor. Ballmer reportedly invested $50 million in the company. It’s unclear, however, whether he was more of a passive investor or played a meaningful role in the company’s operations, or something in between. It’s also unclear how many investors there are in addition to Ballmer and and the amount of their relative contributions. 

A team’s sponsors signing endorsement deals with that team’s players is not necessarily problematic. For example, the Red Sox have a longstanding relationship with Sam Adams, a beer company that has partnered with Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman on the release of Bregman’s Beer. Also, when Michael Jordan owned the Charlotte Hornets, a number of Hornets players, including Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller, had deals with Nike’s Jordan Brand. So long as there is separation between the team and the endorsing company, it’s generally OK.

Another practical consideration is the increasing role of private equity in the NBA and, more generally, pro sports. 

The NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS all allow for up to 30% of franchises to be owned by private equity; the NFL permits up to 10%. While each team has a controlling owner, that same team could have many minority owners, some of whom may have investments in companies that could sign endorsement deals with athletes. It’s a complicated fact pattern, and leagues need to be reasonable in policing player endorsement deals that are indirectly, with several degrees of separation, tied to an owner. To that point, players’ associations will remind leagues that their union members have broad rights in signing endorsement deals that can’t be curtailed absent collectively bargained changes. 

The NBA’s investigation into Leonard and the Clippers will rely on the league’s extensive expertise in probing controversies. Many of the league’s top officials, including commissioner Adam Silver and executives Rick Buchanan, Dan Rube and Dan Spillane, are seasoned attorneys. They have the power to require Ballmer and Clippers officials to answer questions and share relevant evidence, including emails and texts. 

At the same time, the league is a private entity; it lacks subpoena powers and can’t compel testimony or cooperation from persons outside of the league. That is true of Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sandberg, who last month agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and who federal prosecutors say used his position “to deceive investors and lenders for his own benefit, causing his victims over $248 million in losses.”

Even if Sandberg cooperates and shares relevant information, his admitted misconduct will raise questions about his credibility and whether his cooperation might be intended to portray himself in a more favorable light before a judge sentences him.

Don’t expect the NBA to rush to a conclusion, either. This is a multilayered fact pattern that won’t be an investigatory slam dunk.

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Duncan Keith, Steve Larmer Elected To Blackhawks Hall Of Fame

Earlier this year, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they would introduce the Blackhawks Hall of Fame. This is an institution that will honor the most extraordinary players to don the Blackhawks sweater. 

The inaugural class will have 11 players elected. The first nine are the players who have their numbers retired by the franchise. That includes Glenn Hall, Pierre Pilote, and Keith Magnuson, Chris Chelios, Bobby Hull, Denis Savard, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, and Marian Hossa.

The other two would be named via a fan, media, and alumni vote. On Friday, the results of that voting were revealed by the team. Duncan Keith was named from the “Modern Ballot” and Steve Larmer was named from the “Heritage Ballot”. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XChicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XAs voted on by you, media, and alumni, Steve Larmer and Duncan Keith are going to the Blackhawks Hall of Fame‼️👏

“We are beyond proud to announce the inaugural Blackhawks Hall of Fame class will include Steve Larmer and Duncan Keith,” Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “The incredible participation we saw from Blackhawks fans, Alumni, and media is a testament to the lasting influence that each of these individuals have had on our storied franchise.”

Keith, Larmer, and the other 9 elected Blackhawks alumni will be honored on April 11th ahead of Chicago’s game vs the St. Louis Blues. There will be a pregame ceremony, activities, and experiences that honor their impact on the organization. 

Duncan Keith is the greatest defenseman in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. Keith scored 106 goals and 540 assists for 646 points while playing a suffocating style of defense. 

His regular-season stats earned him two Norris Trophies and multiple trips to the All-Star Game. In the playoffs, Keith got even better. He anchored Chicago’s blue line to three Stanley Cups. One of the three runs saw him win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. During the NHL’s centennial season, Keith was named one of the league’s 100 all-time greatest players. 

“An anchor of three Stanley Cups, Duncan’s impact on the game of hockey is nothing short of astounding,” Wirtz said. “Through his elite playmaking, grit, and leadership both on and off the ice, Duncan helped shape a modern dynasty while cementing himself as one of the best to ever play.”

As for Larmer, he was a high-octane winger who played in 1006 NHL games, compiling 441 goals and 571 assists for 1012 points. His rookie season saw him score 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points in 80 games, which was good enough for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. 

“One of the most prolific scorers the team has ever seen, Steve set the bar for what it means to be a Blackhawk,” Wirtz said. “From his remarkable production to his extraordinary Iron Man streak, Steve quietly laid the foundation for generations of future Blackhawks players and fans alike.”

Larmer played in the Stanley Cup Final with the Blackhawks in 1992, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Larmer, after 13 years with the Chicago Blackhawks, did play for the New York Rangers for two years. In the first of those two years, he finally got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. 

Although he has a worthy resume, Larmer is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Keith, on the other hand, was elected with the class of 2025. Now, they will both be enshrined together as Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famers forever. 

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