Tag: NHL

Sharks Select Celebrini 1st Overall in 2024 NHL Draft

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Macklin Celebrini, second from left, poses after being selected by San Jose Sharks during the first round of the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

By Mary Walsh

For the first time in their 33-year history, the San Jose Sharks held the first overall pick in the NHL Draft. On Friday, they used that pick to select Macklin Celebrini, 18 year old center from Boston University. That he would be selected first this year was widely expected. Joe Thornton announced the selection for the Sharks.

Celebrini is just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, and led the Canadian team in scoring in the World Junior Championships this year. The 6’, 197 lb center is reputed to be highly skilled at both ends of the rink.

After being selected, Celebrini said, of having his name called by Joe Thornton: “It’s super exciting he made the pick. Sharks legend and NHL legend, so that was real exciting.”

Celebrini played with the Junior Sharks, but was born in Vancouver, BC. His family came to the Bay Area after his father, Rick Celebrini, became the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Golden State Warriors.

The Sharks also had the eleventh overall pick, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 14th and 42nd overall picks. The Sharks used this second first rounder to select defenseman Sam Dickinson from the OHL’s London Knights. The 18 year old, 6’3” defenseman had 18 goals and 52 assists in 68 games this season.

After being selected, Dickinson said that he did not really start out as a defenseman. “I started my career I guess as a goalie. I was cut from the same team three years in a row and they needed a back up goalie so I was there for that.” The general view of his skills as a defenseman have improved considerably since that time.

The Sharks and General Manager Mike Grier released the following statement after the first round:

“It’s a big weekend for the organization,” said Grier. “We’re really excited. Not only with Macklin (Celebrini), but with Sam (Dickinson) too. The potential to add a top pairing (defenseman) and a first-line center doesn’t come along too often in one draft. It’s a big moment for us and we’re really excited.”

The Sharks have seven more picks to use on Saturday.

Mary Walsh is covering the NHL Draft at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup podcast with Len Shapiro: Oilers loss means Canada will have to wait a 32nd year for a Stanley Cup

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The Edmonton Oilers bench feels the pain as they came close but a goal short in their game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise FL on Mon Jun 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The loss in game 7 to the Florida Panthers by the Edmonton Oilers means Canada will have to wait another year to have a shot at winning the Lord Stanley Cup. The Panthers defeated the Oilers in game 7 eliminating Edmonton after coming back down 0-3 to tie the series at 3-3.

#2 Len, it was a close game but the Oilers just couldn’t tie it up while being down most of the game 2-1. After beating the Panthers by seven goals 8-1 in game 4 it would seem like the Oilers wouldn’t run out of bullets.

#3 It was after that game 4 that the Oilers went on a run that shocked the Panthers and for Florida it seemed like the series was getting away from them especially when the Oilers tied it up after game six with a four goal 5-1 win.

#4 Len talk about the 31 year drought that Canada has had not seeing a Stanley Cup winner since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. The Oilers last won a Stanley Cup in 1990 during the sixth year as a franchise that was when Wayne Gretzkey was on the team.

#5 Len, things to look forward to in the off season, the NHL Draft is coming on the 28th and 29th and the San Jose Sharks are favored to get first draft pick in Macklin Celebrini. If that happens do you see Celebrini being a player the Sharks will build around and what needs to be taken care of first.

Len Shapiro is an NHL analyst and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa: Oilers close the gap, stave off elimination, forcing a game 7 Monday against Panthers

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Florida Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) has an eye on the puck as the Panthers Brandon Montour (62) puts a check on the Oilers Mattias Janmark (13) in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Rogers Place in Edmonton (Canadian Press via AP photo)

On the Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 There is very little doubt that the Edmonton Oilers not only didn’t want to be eliminated in four straight games but they wanted to get back into these finals with a vengeance and managed to do it coming back from 0-3 to tying the series 3-3.

#2 The Oilers down 3-2 in game six needed the win to stay alive and avoid elimination and tie the series up they pulled it off by scoring three unanswered goals to jump ahead of the Florida Panthers 3-0 at 18:20 of the third period.

#3 The Oilers getting scoring help with their first three goals from Warren Foegele (3), Adam Henrique (4), and Zach Hyman (16).

#4 The Panthers would have been shutout if it had not been for Aleksander Barkov’s third period goal at 1:28 but it wasn’t enough as the Oilers picked a four goal win over the Panthers 5-1 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

#5 The Oilers force a game 7 as the Finals moves back to Florida. The Panthers will have to use every inch of the Amerant Bank Arena as their home ice advantage. The Oilers could be the first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to come back down 0-3 and to win four straight games. Can they do it? We’ll find out Monday night Jun 24 in game 7 at Sunrise FL.

Mary Lisa is an NHL analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: McDavid’s two goals lead Oilers in game 5 win; Edmonton closes the gap on Panthers by one game

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The Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid takes a shot at the net as the Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk tries reach out and stop the puck in third period action of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in game 5 on Tue Jun 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len:

#1 The Florida Panthers got into trouble from the start in game 5 surrendering two power play goals and a short handed goal and tried rallying later in the game but fell short to the Edmonton Oilers in a 5-3 loss. The Series is now 3-2 with the Panthers up by one game.

#2 The Panthers after taking the first three games of the series were stunned when they lost game 4 on Saturday in a 8-1 seven goal loss. Is it possible that game had an effect on the Panthers going into game 5?

#3 Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said after Tuesday night’s game that the club is not feeling deflated that they’re not pumping tires, and they just have to go out prepare for game 6 in Edmonton on Friday night.

#4 Len, do you feel this series has just had a new breath of life after the Oilers who were down 0-3 are now a game away from tying this series and there is no doubt both teams battling in game 6. For the Oilers they have home ice and will battle to stay in it. For the Panthers their angry they lost their last two games in a row.

#5 Len lastly Connor McDavid came through for the Oilers scoring twice with two assists and McDavid becomes the first player in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history to have four points in back to back games. He’s going to be crucial for the Oilers in game 6 Friday.

Len Shapiro is an NHL analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks new era begins with introduction of Ryan Warsofsky as 11th head coach in team history

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San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier (left) poses with new head coach Ryan Warsofsky (center) with Sharks president Jonathan Becher at Warsofky’s introductory press conference at SAP Center on Monday JUN 17, 2023. (Sports Radio Service)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Jose Sharks introduced their newly hired head coach Ryan Warsofsky at an introductory press conference on Monday afternoon on the north concourse of the SAP Center.

Warsofsky replaced David Quinn who lasted just two years behind the bench for San Jose. Warsofsky was an assistant coach under Quinn and was in charge of the penalty kill and defense.

Warsofsky becomes the youngest active NHL head coach at 36. He says he plans to get to know the players mentally before thinking about hockey. He emphasized that, due to his age, he feels he can connect with the pressures that social media has on the new generation of hockey players. 

“We’re very excited to announce Ryan as the 11th head coach of the San Jose Sharks,” said Sharks general manager Mike Grier. “His track record of success at nearly every level of hockey as a head and assistant coach speaks for itself. Ryan knows our existing group well, has the respect of the players who he will be working with, and will be a great teacher for the young players who will be joining our organization.”

Warsofsky was emotional throughout his opening statement as he choked up periodically as he thanked all the people who helped him get to his current position as the Sharks head coach, including past coaches he’s worked with and his family. One in particular was good friend Rob Cancannon.

“I emailed the guy when my first year was done at Curry. It was an assistant job that opened in South Carolina in the ECHL. Rob Concannon, who’s here,” Warsofsky said. “I emailed him, and 10 minutes later, he called me, [which] changed my life forever. He’s got some sprinkled dust down there because he’s hired three NHL head coaches, Jared Bednar and Spencer Carberry. He’s one of my great friends, and I love you, Rob,” Warsofsky said.

When asked what type of style the Sharks will play under his guidance, Warsofsky said he wants to his team to play not only with an edge but also as an entertaining product as well.

“We want to be fast. We want to get on teams. There will be a very distinct look of what our team looks like. I can tell you that right now. I think fans will leave our building and say, wow, that was a fun team to watch, win or lose,” Warsofsky said. “The opponent will say, man, that was a tough team to play against. I think there’ll be some changes structurally for sure. But I think you’ll be proud of the team that we put on the ice. It will be clean. It’ll be structured. There will be an effort that will be distinct throughout the whole building.”

Warsofsky said he was excited about getting to coach all of the Sharks up and coming prospects including Will Smith, Filip Bystedt and the 2024 number one overall pick, who the Sharks have the first time in franchise history, which is expected to be Macklin Celebrini out of Boston University who just turned 18 two days ago.

Warsofky’s familiarity with the current Sharks lineup and his ability to connect with the players is what won him over with Grier and Sharks president Jonthan Becher.

Warsofsy joined the Sharks as head coach of the Chicago Wolves (AHL). He led the Wolves to the AHL’s best regular-season record with a 50-16-5-5 record (.724%) in 2021-22 and captured the 2022 Calder Cup, his second Calder Cup Championship, earning a 14-4 record over four different series during the playoffs. The year prior in his first stint with Chicago, Warsofsky guided the team to the third-best record in the league (21-9-1-2), but the AHL did not hold a formal playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his two seasons, the Wolves amassed a 71-25-6-7 record and the team’s penalty kill ranked in the Top-10 twice (2021-22, fifth; 2020-21, ninth) and the power-play ranked fourth in 2020-21.

Prior to his time with Chicago, Warsofsky worked with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) for two seasons. He started as an assistant coach in 2017-18 and helped the team capture the Calder Cup 2017-18, overseeing the top penalty killing unit in the League (86.6%). The following year in the abbreviated season, he was named as the League’s youngest head coach (31) on July 10, 2019 and guided the team to a 34-22-5-0 and ranked third in both power-play and penalty kill percentage.

As head coach in the AHL with Chicago and Charlotte, Warsofsky earned a 105-47-11-7 record (.671%).

Warsofsky also worked with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays for five seasons, including two seasons as head coach/director of hockey operations (2016-2018) after starting as an assistant coach. In his two seasons at the helm, South Carolina posted an 88-44-10-2 record and the team advanced to the Kelly Cup Final in 2017. Warsofsky has also worked as an assistant coach in the NCAA with Curry College for one season (2012-13).

Internationally, Warsofsky served as an assistant coach to Team USA’s 2023 World Championship staff, helping guide the team to a fourth-place finish at the tournament. 

NHL Finals podcast with Titus Wilkinson: Oilers unload on Panthers in game 4 avoid elimination

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Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks on as the Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman (18) celebrates a goal in the second period of game 4 in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday June 15, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton

NHL Finals podcast with Titus Wilkinson:

#1 Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers was no longer someone that the Florida Panthers could hold back any longer. McDavid scored one of the eight goals for the Oilers with three assists and four points.

#2 The Panthers were able to defend McDavid which was key for the Panthers in the first three games after the 8-1 win on Saturday is it too early to say the Oilers have turned a corner?

#3 Panthers starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was just pelted with shots from the Oilers and five of those shots got through Bobrovsky, Bobrovsky got pulled for back up goaltender for Anthony Stolarz who gave up three goals in his own right.

#4 Titus, no matter what happens from here game 4 was a life or death situation for the Oilers and they owned the Panthers in this one scoring three goals in the first and second periods and adding two more in the third to avoid being eliminated.

#5 The Oilers still have a long way to go they need the type of offense they had in game 4 to keep this thing going against a team like the Panthers. The last team to come back down 0-3 and win four in a row in the Stanley Cup Finals were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.

Titus Wilkinson is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast: Oilers backs against the wall it’s going to take a miracle now against Panthers

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Frustrations built up on the ice and the Florida Panthers Dimitry Kulikov (7) and the Edmonton Oilers Dylan Holloway (55) both rough up each other in game 3 on Sun Jun 13, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Thu Jun 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals:

#1 The Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov assisted for a goal and scored a goa in game 3 on Thursday. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved 33 shots and prevented the Oilers from getting back in the game when they cut it down by one goal. The Panthers with the 4-3 win now up 3-0 in the series.

#2 Barkov said of not letting your guard down against the Oilers for game 4, “We know it’s going to be the hardest game for sure. We don’t take anything for granted. Every single day is one day at a time. Whether it’s one period, one shift.”

#3 One of the things the Panthers have done successfully in these Finals is keeping Connor McDavid under wraps. The Oilers did get within one goal but the goaltending of Bobrovsky stopped the remaining shots by the Oilers towards the end of the game and prevented the Oilers from tying the game.

#3 The Oilers need to come back down from 0-3 and win their next next four straight games without any hic ups in order to win the Stanley Cup. At this point that would take a miracle. Only four teams in NHL history have come back down 0-3 to win a series three times in the playoffs and once in the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals.

#5 So it boils down to the tonight’s game 4 for the Oilers in Edmonton with home ice at Rogers Place it’s now or never but right now for the Oilers it’s going take a miracle to make a comeback.

Mary Lisa is an NHL analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Oilers Draisaitl dodges suspension after hit on Panthers Barkov, will be in line up Thursday

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The Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov kneels on the ice after taking a hit in the jaw from the Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl in the third period of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals game 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Edmonton (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len:

#1 The Florida Panthers are making easy work of the Edmonton Oilers taking the first two games of these Finals. The Panthers shutout the Oilers in game one and won game two by three goals.

#2 Len, how lucky is Leon Draisaitl avoiding suspension for the hit he put on the Panthers Aleksander Barkov who had to leave game 2. Draisaitl didn’t even get a disciplinary hearing for the hit he put on Barkov.

#3 The Oilers are having all sorts of issue there is the injury of Darrell Nurse and a question as to whether he’ll be able to play in game 3 on Thursday.

#4 Draisaitl put an elbow on the jaw of Barkov who some say Draisaitl was finishing a check. The hit put Barkov on the ice. So Len how much of the hit was a it a matter of finishing the check or was Barkov a target being the best player on the Panthers?

#5 It’s game 3 between the Panthers who have a two game lead and the Oilers who will have to play desperate hockey Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena in Edmonton. How do you see game 3 coming up?

Len Shapiro is an NHL analyst and does the NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa: Oilers-Panthers one week break over as puck drops tonight in game 1

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The Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stops a shot against the Dallas Stars in the third period in game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals on Fri May 31, 2024 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The Oilers have had a 5 day lay off and face off against the Florida Panthers who’ve had a 7 day layoff. Sat Jun 8, 2024 for game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals ( AP News photo)

#1 Mary, talk about how the NHL scheduling went for these Finals and why the wait all the way until Saturday for the first game.

#2 The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers face off on Saturday for game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers are up for the task as they got huge help from center Connor McDavid who has five goals in post season so far.

#4 Zach Hyman leads the Oilers in goals for the playoffs with 14 goals. Len would you say Hyman was one of the keys for the Oilers to beat the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals?

#3 Oilers center Leon Draisaitl also is supplying some great offense with ten goals the Oilers wouldn’t be where they are without his help.

#5 The Florida Panthers took out the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. The Panthers just got by in game 6 with a 2-1 win. The Panthers certainly can rely on their goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky whose been a stopper between the pipes.

#6 Mary, talk about the Panther center Carter Verhaeghe leads the Panthers with goals scored in the post season with nine. Verhaeghe has been key for the Panthers in getting them here.

Mary Lisa is an NHL podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservicce.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Oilers-Panthers face off in game 1 on Saturday in Florida

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Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13), right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (10), defenseman Brandon Montour (second from right), and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate winning game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals at Sunrise FL on Tue Jun 4, 2024. The Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers in game 1 of the NHL Finals Sat Jun 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Len, talk about how the NHL scheduling went for these Finals and why the wait all the way until Saturday for the first game.

#2 The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers face off on Saturday for game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers are up for the task as they got huge help from center Connor McDavid who has five goals in post season so far.

#3 Oilers center Leon Draisaitl also is supplying some great offense with ten goals the Oilers wouldn’t be where they are without his help.

#4 Zach Hyman leads the Oilers in goals for the playoffs with 14 goals. Len would you say Hyman was one of the keys for the Oilers to beat the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals?

#5 The Florida Panthers took out the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. The Panthers just got by in game 6 with a 2-1 win. The Panthers certainly can rely on their goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky whose been a stopper between the pipes.

#6 Len, talk about the Panther center Carter Verhaeghe leads the Panthers with goals scored in the post season with nine. Verhaeghe has been key for the Panthers in getting them here.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Finals podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com