Two famous hockey families asked to work with Hockey Canada

The President of Hockey Canada didn’t mince words.

“Canada has to get better,” said Bob Nicholson Wednesday morning as Hockey Canada announced its coaching staff for the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship and the men’s summer Under -18.

In the last four World Under 20 hockey championships, Canada has failed to win a gold medal. In fact this year, they didn’t win a medal – at all.

In an effort to end this drought, Hockey Canada is turning to a familiar face – and a coach who has won before – as Brent Sutter takes over the coaching duties.

Sutter led Canada to gold medals at this event in 2005 and 2006.

“One of the things we wanted to do was identify who were the top coaches in this country,” said Nicholson. “And we went after them.”

Nicholson added: “He has won 2 straight world juniors. He hasn’t lost a game.”

No pressure, eh Brent?

“No,” said Sutter, the former New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames coach who is currently the coach, GM and owner of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels. “Been there, understand it.”

That he does. He went undefeated in 12 games over the two tournaments and was 7-0-1 in the 2007 Canada-Russia super series which featured both countries national junior teams.

A Sutter coached team plays with an edge and works hard. It’s those type of characteristics he hopes to bring to the junior team for the event to be held in late December – early January in Malmo, Sweden.

“Canada plays a certain way,” said Sutter. “Skill and talent can be overrated cause you need to have the other ingredients to win. The big part of it is character.”

While this tournament doesn’t get much attention in most of the hockey world, it is a huge event in Canada.

The Sports Network (TSN) has done a marvellous job of  broadcasting the tournament over the years. With it being played out over the quiet Christmas break, Canadians have become immersed in what is an annual tradition.

“It’s very exciting but it’s a process to go through,” said Sutter, who represented Canada as a player at the 1986 World Championships and in the 1984, 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups. “The expectations are always high.”

Yes they are. And this won’t be any different.

Meantime, London Knights coach Dale Hunter – who coached briefly the Washington Capitals for part of the 2012-2013 season – will coach the Men’s summer Under-18 team in August at the annual Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic.

“To represent your country it’s an honour,” said Hunter. “That’s why we jumped on it.”

Hunter has spent 11 seasons as owner, president and head coach of the London Knights leading the team to three Memorial Cup appearances, winning the title in 2005.

“It’s one of those things as a player you always want to represent your country,” said Hunter. “Unfortunately I wasn’t good enough.”

But he is good enough as a coach.

For years Hunter wasn’t on Hockey Canada’s radar. Hunter doesn’t have a polished image, and as a player he was known more for suspensions than scoring goals.

His addition to the Hockey Canada program you could say is long overdue.

“Definitely, admitted Nicholson. “ We were looking at it was that a piece we were missing along the way? It could be.”

Usually when you coach the summer Men’s Under -18 team, you usually follow that up coaching the Under -20 team.

“What he has done with London is pretty special,” added Nicholson. “It’s great for him to take the  under 18 program. He hasn’t been involved in the program . We are going to learn a lot from him.”

The Memorial of  Ivan Hlinka tournament runs August 5 to 10.

The Under 20 men’s hockey championship will take place December 26 to January 5 of next year.

Maple Leafs acquire Bernier

Dave Nonis may be in store for a busy few weeks.

"Between now and July 5th you likely will see more moves," Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis said after picking up goalie Jonathan Bernier

The first significant move made this off-season occurred on Sunday, as the Leafs acquired Bernier for goalie Ben Scrivens, forward Matt Frattin and a 2^nd round pick in 2014 of 2015.

Bernier has played only 62 games in his NHL career over the course of 5 seasons. He was a 1^st round pick and a few years ago was named the American Hockey League goalie of the year.

The 24 year-old Bernier will come into camp as the number 1 goalie. What does that mean for 25 year-old James Reimer?

“When I talked to Jonathan, I told him the same thing I passed along to Reims,” Nonis said early Sunday evening, in a conference call with reporters. “Which is ‘nothing is being guaranteed to anybody.’ “This is a situation where we feel that we’re deeper [in goal]. Both have great potential and they’re going to get an opportunity to develop and hopefully realize that potential.”

This is a deal that has been brewing for a while.

“We had talked on and off again for months,” Nonis said. “Most of this deal was in place months ago. We just had to find a time that was right for both sides.”

“This shouldn’t be looked as a knock on James at all because it’s not,” Nonis said of adding another netminder. “I believe that when you have someone pushing you, you get the most out of yourself. And I think that’s the situation here where these guys can push each other and we’re going to see some good goaltending because of it.”

By dealing Frattin the door has been opened for the likes of prospects Joe Colborne, Josh Leivo and Tyler Biggs. Can they make the step next season?

With Tyler Bozak and Clarke MacArthur unrestricted free agents, Toronto’s forward unit could have a vastly different look next season.

With the salary cap dropping from $70.2 M to $64.3 M this upcoming season, Bozak and MacArthur may have to accept less money than free agents in their situations in past years.

That’s the challenge facing Nonis and all GM’s.

“I can’t stress this enough: The cap is coming down,” Nonis said. “It’s the first time in history that it’s come down, and we have to make sure we’re spending our money wisely.

“Not to just retain all the players you have but be in a position where you can try to get a different piece or two. We have to make sure if we’re spending a significant amount of money and term on players that they line up [with what we want to spend] and that it makes sense for us.”

So what’s next for Nonis and the Leafs?

Expect them to use a compliance buy- out on Mike Komisarek and that will save them $3.75 M.

Once they do that, the Leafs will have 11 players under contract at $43.5 M.

Bernier, Nazem Kadri, Carl Gunnarsson and Cody Franson are restricted free agents and will likely see slight pay hikes from last year.

The Leafs will look to upgrade their defence and centre positions (just like all teams) and may be willing to make Dion Phaneuf as part of the package to do just that.

They may look to deal Mikhail Grabovski in an effort to shed some salary.

John-Michael Liles and his long-term contract could be a buy-out possibility as well.

The draft is a week away and you get the feeling Nonis will be busy before, during and after the draft. 

Jones and Mackinnon - who will go # 1 in NHL draft?

When Nathan Mackinnon has some down time he likes to play the “Grand Slam” tennis video game. He always takes on the role as Roger Federer.
“He never breaks a sweat,” said Mackinnon, projected to be the 1^st player taken in the NHL draft later this month. “He shows great composure and is a fierce competitor.”

Much like Federer, Mackinnon shows great composure, always seems to be in control of the situation, hates losing and is a star in his sport.

“I think I’ve had a good season and proved to the teams I can be the first overall pick,” said Mackinnon from the NHL scouting combine.
The Colorado Avalanche hold the 1^st pick and with Patrick Roy – who watched Mackinnon while coaching Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior hockey League – having a say in who the Avs pick, Mackinnon is intrigued at the possibility of playing for the hall of fame goaltender.

“He has a very competitive nature and I think I have that too, so I think it’d go really well,” said Mackinnon. “He wants to win and I’d love to play for him. It’d be great.”

Seth Jones is also getting plenty of consideration for the top pick.

As a youngster growing up in Denver and being introduced to the game thanks to watching Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche, being the first pick by the Avs would come with high expectations.

“Yes, there would be pressure,” admitted Jones.  But it’s the kind of pressure he feels would make him a better player.

Jones convinced his 6-foot-8 father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, to allow him to try his hand at hockey.

The younger Jones recalled the first time his father joined him on skates.

“That was pretty funny,” said the 6-foot-4 Portland Winterhawks defenseman. “He did not let go of the boards, literally, pulling himself around the rink. He had some custom size 15 CCM skates and an extra- long stick with a six inch knob.”

Jones is a mobile defenceman who has a great shot, is mobile, but scouts wish he had a nasty streak.

Jones and Mackinnon have in the words of the Halifax Mooseheads forward a “healthy” relationship and have been playing hockey against each other for years.

While Mackinnon was dominant in the Mastercard Memorial cup – 7 goals, 6 assists in 4 games – Jones did lead the U.S. to gold at the world junior hockey championship.
There is a mutual respect there and also a competition to be the 1^st player chosen June 30 at the NHL draft in Newark, New Jersey.

“I don’t want to get into that kind of stuff,” said Mackinnon. “There are a ton of good players in this draft and I would like to think that I’m one of them, but at the same time everybody has their own strengths.”

NHL draft is deep

In the early morning hours of the NHL scouting combine, a high ranking team executive told me, "this draft features so many great kids."

He went on to say, "I've been involved in countless interviews with prospects over the years, and this year was the best for interviews. There are just so many good quality kids."

OK, so the crop available in the draft this year features young men of high character. But can they play?

"I see 8 to 12 guys playing in the NHL from this draft next year," said a team scout. "There's a lot of high end talent."

"You can compare this draft to the 2003 draft (one of the best all-time) in terms of quality and depth," said a high league scouting guru.

"I felt bad stopping at a top 100 list," said another draft guru, talking about his top 100 projection for the draft.

Just from talking to hockey people at the combine, teams with multiple draft picks in the first round can get a big head start on rebuilding their team.

Columbus with 3 first- round picks (14, 19 and 27), Buffalo (8 and 16), Dallas (10 and 28) and Calgary (picking 6, 22 and 29) certainly should benefit.

"This is a deep draft," said a team scout. "For example, we could have a player rated 10th, while another team could have that same player at 30."

"The best draft class I've seen in my 18 years of doing this," said an editor of a draft publication. "Our #7 overall, Sean Monahan would have gone #1 in some past drafts."

So while Seth Jones, Jonathan Drouin and Nathan Mackinnon made most of the headlines, this draft is more than just the big 3.