Superstars warm to idea of extended rivalry
If the Canadian division is a go next year in a realigned NHL, who's up for Connor McDavid going head to head against Auston Matthews six to eight times?
While hockey is on hiatus in Canada, two of the country's prominent stars have been whetting appetites in the Arizona heat. McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs scoring leader Matthews were on the same rink with a couple of other NHLers in what we hope is socially distanced skating and what they hope is a precursor to December training camps.
McDavid accepted Matthews' invitation to come south earlier this month, the two having struck a friendship during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey while playing for the Young Guns North American team. The unfortunate goalie on their 2-on-0 drills was recent NHLer Peter Budaj.
“I'm always trying to add layers to my game and remain as versatile as possible,” Matthews told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet by email when word of their workouts got out. “Just trying to improve in all aspects.
“The respect (for McDavid) goes back for so long. Connor's hockey IQ, speed and edges are so impressive, to say the least, and his vision at the speed he moves obviously stands out. It really is the whole package with him.”
McDavid expressed similar sentiments and said the time during the best-on-best test also allowed him “to try and add upper body strength. Using ELDOA (a form of yoga) to increase flexibility, posture and muscle tone for injury prevention. (I) also worked on faceoffs as well as defensive zone stuff.”
McDavid has 10 points in eight games against Toronto since Matthews was picked first overall a year after him, while Matthews has five points in nine outings.
The start date of next season remains up in the air, with the NHL Players' Association balking at the league's request for players to take less salary as the COVID-19 crisis continues. The goal is an early December deal to salvage a 60-game schedule, likely with the league split into divisions on either side of a closed Canada-U.S. border.
LISTEN TO THE DOC
Hayley Wickenheiser, who received her medical degree from the University of Calgary earlier this year, tweeted on Monday that she has spent an eye-opening week in a rural Alberta hospital, alongside an experienced doctor.
“My biggest fear (is not) COVID,” she said of the prevalent pandemic, “it's the patient who comes in and has waited too long out of fear (the) hospital (is) not safe (gets worse) and we can't get them to help in time. Come in if sick.”
FATHERS AND SONS
Dave Lowry has been named an assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the same team son Adam has played for the past six years.
The many roots of the Dineen family tree was the first such arrangement in the NHL.
In the KHL, meanwhile, Danis Zaripov, the 39-year-old captain of Ak Bars, returned from injury to score his first goal of the year, the same week 17-year-old son Artur debuted for Ak Bars' junior team.
DRIVE- I N HOCKEY
Russian teams are taking a page from NHL clubs, inviting COVID-conscious fans to park their cars at the rink and watch games on a big screen. Avtomobilist in Yekaterinburg did so last week, providing commentary over a stereo system.