Around hockey: Walter remembered, Seabrook accepts playing days are over
Walter Gretzky may have been the nicest man ever, and his passing is a loss for us all. Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe recalled a day back when he was coaching Tier 2 Pembroke and Wayne Gretzky’s dad came for a visit at an NHL old-timers game.
“I had some time to chat with him there,” Keefe said after word of Walter’s death on Thursday night. “Great man. So many great memories. Wayne’s legacy, but really throughout his entire life he gave so much to the game.
“The one thing I remember is him just sitting around, seemed for hours: throughout the game signing autographs, taking pictures with everybody that wanted one, and chatting with anybody that wanted to talk. It was pretty cool to see someone of his stature — and what he means to the game, and what he’s brought to the game — come all the way out to Pembroke, Ont., and take part in an event like that for people that normally wouldn’t get such an opportunity.”
Seabrook send-off: Veteran defenceman Brent Seabrook’s NHL career is over. He hasn’t officially retired with a lingering hip injury. That would mean forsaking the remainder of his contract. He has three years after this one and is due another $15.5 million. But it won’t count against the Chicago Blackhawks’ salary cap because he is medically unfit to play — known around these parts as being sent to Robidas Island … The 35-year-old Seabrook issued this statement: “After several surgeries, countless hours of rehab and training to get back on the ice at the level of my expectations, it will not be possible for me to continue playing hockey.” … His name is on the Stanley Cup three times. He has an Olympic gold medal and world junior gold, too. á Hockey thoughts: Don’t know about you, but I don’t like that the Scotiabank logo on the Maple Leafs’ white helmets is red . ... Think what you will of Alberta politics, but where would Canadian sports be without them: Stanley Cup, world juniors and now Canada’s other great ice sport: curling. The Tournament of Hearts went off without a hitch, and now it’s the Brier ... Speaking of Alberta, I had a nice quote from Geoff Ward that I was going to include this week. Seems pointless now ... There’s a trend in the North: Play bad against Ottawa, fire your coach. Ward is the latest casualty in Calgary, replaced by Alberta’s own Darryl Sutter for another go-round … There may not be a Greater Toronto Hockey League season at all, with the quality of ice across all rinks an issue even if they are allowed to open up. That’s a big problem for the OHL, which needs to somehow find a way to draft 15-year-olds … The IIHF women’s world championship in Halifax and Truro, N.S., has been delayed because of the pandemic, with new tentative dates set for May 6 to 16 . ... TSN’s Frank Seravalli raised an interesting point: If the vaccine rollout in Canada is slow or there is some other unforeseen coronavirus whammy on the horizon, the NHL may have to go with the same alignment next year. I don’t know how I feel about that. I want the vaccine, of course. But I also like this alignment. á Fire Benning? While two Canadian teams have fired their coaches so far this season (Montreal and Calgary), the one guy who is under the gun more in this country might be Vancouver GM Jim Benning. His team is the epitome of underachieving and the knives are out for him. He faced some tough questioning Friday.
“I look at it as, adversity is a good thing,” said Benning. “People are hard on you, but you try to figure out a way to get better. We have to be mentally tough to get through these tough times, but I think once we get through them it’s going to make you know everybody’s stronger.”
He tried to lower the temperature and temper expectations, explaining how a lack of practice time has affected the team. He also defended coach Travis Green, and he pleaded for patience.
“Realistically our core players still need to mature a little bit yet,” said Benning. “In two years time, I think we’re going to be real competitive and have a chance to compete for the Cup.”