Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin skates against the St Louis Blues in Nashville on Sun Apr 17, 2022. The Czech Republic previously wrote a letter banning all NHL Russian players because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Republic withdrew the ban on Thursday allowing Trenin plus two other Russian players San Jose Sharks Alexander Barabonov and Evgeny Svechinkov who will now be permitted to play the opening season games in Prague on Oct 7th and 8th. (AP News file photo)
On the NHL podcast with Matt:
#1 The idea of having a ban on NHL Russian players by the Czech Repbulic was wrong in the first place but the reason why the Republic changed it’s mind was simply money. The banning of Russian players would mean the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators wouldn’t travel without their Russian players and the real losers would be the Czech fans and the Republic.
#2 As reported by our San Jose Sharks correspondent Pearl Lo in Anaheim on Friday Anaheim Ducks defenceman Urho Vaakanainen who was taken off the ice on a stretcher, Matt describe how Vaakanainen got the injury and how scary that moment was.
#3 A large donation from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Hurricane Ian relief efforts to the tune of $2 million. Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and the Bolts are making all efforts to help out in the cause. $1 million will come from the Lightning and another $1 million will come from the Vinik Family Foundation.
#4 The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Jake Allen to a two year $7.7 million contract extension Saturday. Allen will receive an average of $3.85 million per year which runs till the end of the 2023-24 season. Allen was 9-20-4 with a 3.30 goals goals against average with two shutouts in 35 games last season.
#5 The good news came for the Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Courturier when it was learned that he will not need surgery for an upper body injury. Courturier is under observation from the Flyer medical staff since camp opened up in September Courturier has been under observation.
Join Matt for the SJ Sharks podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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