Inside the NHL: Why Olympic participation is in peril, Rogers aftershocks and Dion Phaneuf gets his due

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Were it not for the burning desire of the NHL’s best players to return to the Olympics, there’s no way we’d even be this close to the Beijing Games with the possibility they may still get there.

Existential threats are growing around hockey’s next best-on-best event, from a surge in COVID-19 cases that’s started to disrupt the NHL schedule to the growing discussion of boycotts over the treatment of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.

There’s little evidence yet that it’s caused a stir among those most invested in seeing the NHL’s commitment to participating actually happen. Hockey players tend to be notoriously strong compartmentalizers and appear to be placing their faith in the process.

“From my experience with this stuff I try not to follow it too (much) day to day,” Sidney Crosby, Team Canada’s captain-in-waiting, said over the weekend. “There’s a lot of different storylines and a lot of different things could happen.

“I think everyone feels pretty strongly they’d like to be there, but I try not to think too far ahead and get too caught up in it.”

Still, the Jan. 10 deadline for the NHL and NHL Players’ Association to opt out without penalty looms large here. That’s incredibly late in the game with the men’s tournament scheduled to begin Feb. 9, and it’s a sign of the unpredictability of our times.

So real is the deadline that the national federations aren’t planning to unveil their full rosters until after it’s passed.

Basically, we won’t be sure the Beijing tournament is happening until everyone is on a plane bound for China. And even then …

The fact three Ottawa Senators games needed to be rescheduled last week because of a COVID outbreak armed the NHL with the ability to pull the chute on its deal with the International Olympic Committee. Those games alone won’t actually prompt the league to do that, but the 2021-22 schedule matrix doesn’t include much room for moving things around while also observing an Olympic break should other teams be required to shut down.

Hence the alarm bells that will now accompany any surge in COVID protocol additions, such as those made by the New York Islanders over the weekend. There will be more to come as winter sets in, too.

The truth of the matter is the Olympic decision may end up being made by a body much more powerful than the NHL. U.S. President Joe Biden is already discussing the possibility of a diplomatic boycott of the Games, and it’s hard to imagine Canada not following suit with whatever action our neighbour takes even if it’s eventually upgraded to a full boycott.

That’s in the wake of international concern for the safety of Peng, who recently accused a former senior member of China’s Communist Party of sexual assault and hadn’t been heard from until Sunday, when a video call with the IOC finally confirmed she’s OK.

Against this backdrop, the fate of a hockey tournament seems awfully small.

One of the fundamental reasons NHL players elected to reopen and extend their collective bargaining agreement in June 2020 was to get the Olympics back on the books. They are willing to go to Beijing despite not having COVID insurance for their NHL contracts, despite facing three-week quarantines if they test positive in China, despite not being able to bring their families over, despite likely having to wear tracking devices in the Olympic Village and despite not being paid a dollar to do so.

Even that might not be enough to get them there.

“With some of that stuff you just can’t control,” said Crosby. “I’m preparing like we’re going, and I think that’s just the best way to kind of look at it.”

Backroom politics

Not to be overlooked in the aftermath of Edward Rogers going to court to wrestle back control of Rogers Communications from Melinda Rogers-Hixon earlier this month is that the siblings each occupy a prominent place on the city’s sporting scene.

They are two of seven sitting members on the board of directors for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, joining chair Larry Tanenbaum (Kilmer Sports Inc.), Mirko Bibic (BCE and Bell Canada), Dale Lastman (Goodmans LLP), Bernard le Duc (BCE and Bell Canada) and Glen LeBlanc (Bell Canada).

How exactly the very public Rogers feud might impact the board, or not, isn’t yet clear. Even those who have worked with that entity in the recent past profess to being unsure to what degree it might trickle down into the front offices of the Leafs, Raptors and other entities under its control.

But it does spotlight potentially interesting times ahead, especially in light of the recent story from the Star’s Christine Dobby and Doug Smith about the internal battle waged by Edward Rogers over Masai Ujiri’s extension.

These are not harmonious times at the top levels of MLSE. This one is to be continued.

#AskCJ

If the Oilers upgrade their goaltending, are they legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? What about if they don’t? — @vickyyyf

The first upgrade to the Oilers goaltending will happen when they get Mike Smith healthy and playing again. He’s only made three appearances all season. Whether or not they make a move beyond that will likely hinge on Smith’s performance after he returns from a lower-body injury. But no matter where Edmonton settles on any positional upgrades, I find it impossible not to look at the sublime play of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl this season and call them anything but a legitimate contender.

Do the Flames have a shot to make it all the way? — @juniorsmith101

Yes, plain and simple. I’ve got them a small notch below the Oilers right now, but don’t sleep on the fact Calgary is off to a sizzling start despite playing 12 of 18 games on the road. Darryl Sutter is getting buy-in, Jacob Markstrom has been a rock, Oliver Kylington has taken a giant leap forward and Andrew Mangiapane’s Olympic dream seems to get a touch closer to reality with each passing week.

What is the most likely all-Canadian Stanley Cup final matchup this year? — @bigdaddybustard

There was a definite theme to this week’s questions. With apologies to Winnipeg, I’d say Edmonton/Calgary vs. Toronto.

Hi C.J.! It feels like every team is talking about being banged up, playing short-handed w/ multiple key players on IR/LTIR. It’s only been a month since the season started. What’s going on? — @HanaMelJ

Welcome to a flat cap environment. There was no increase on the $81.5-million (U.S.) ceiling from last year to this year, so that’s tightened things up across the league. When you add in the fact that there’s no special cap exemptions for players who enter COVID protocol, well, you get half of NHL teams in need of long-term injured reserve prior to U.S. Thanksgiving.

What was the last thing that you bought? — @stewspringsteen

A beautiful new running jacket. I love it. It’s getting pretty chilly out there on the waterfront trail.

When the Packers and Cowboys are playing at the same time, which game gets top billing at home? — @saraorlesky

It’s a one-TV household, so this is a touchy subject. Let’s just say the Cowboys fan — me — has to make alternate arrangements when there’s a conflict. And also whenever the Cowboys play the Packers.

Dion’s night

It always felt like Dion Phaneuf was a little misunderstood in Toronto.

Beloved by teammates and staff with the Leafs, and incredibly fair in my experiences as a reporter who covered the teams he captained, Phaneuf wasn’t always embraced so warmly by the fan base.

That’s what made the reception he got inside Scotiabank Arena last Tuesday so special while dropping the ceremonial puck alongside wife Elisha and daughter Zaphire following his retirement.

Phaneuf hopes to eventually launch a post-playing career in hockey and would prefer to land a gig with the Leafs. For what it’s worth, team president Brendan Shanahan believes he has a lot to offer an NHL front office — although it doesn’t sound like there have been any specific discussions on what a job might look like with Phaneuf currently based out of Los Angeles and busy with his growing young family.

Timing is everything.

After Phaneuf officially closed the book on a 1,048-game NHL playing career, dozens of former teammates shared their well-wishes. Many of them came from players he spent time with in Toronto.

Nazem Kadri: “Great teammate. Better friend.”

James van Riemsdyk: “Congrats to one of the best teammates.”

Jonathan Bernier: “It was an honour to play with you.”

Jake Gardiner: “You always held everyone accountable and were a great teammate and leader.”

Congratulations, Dion.

Tidbits

Jim Rutherford is itching to jump back into an NHL front office as either a president or general manager … Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: There are whispers about a group of well-respected investors looking to build an arena in Hamilton … It wouldn’t be surprising to see Chris Drury land a role with USA Hockey’s Olympic staff … Mangiapane, first mentioned in this space as being on Team Canada’s Olympic radar, now has 14 goals in 18 games … Flames defenceman Juuso Välimäki has been healthy scratched for 11 straight games and expressed frustration about his situation to Ilta-Sanomat’s Ville Touru: “There have been so many games missed in recent years due to injuries that now it feels pretty stupid that I am healthy and would be able to play, but it is not a given,” he said in Finnish … It’s still unclear what becomes of San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who is eligible to rejoin the team from suspension after next Sunday’s game vs. Chicago … Prediction: Josh Ho-Sang, currently filling the net for the Marlies while playing on an AHL-only contract, will appear in NHL games this season … Prediction, part deux: The Arizona Coyotes will set up shop temporarily at Chase Field, home to the MLB’s Diamondbacks, at some point before their eventual permanent new home is built … Interviews are underway by Toronto law firm Cozen O’Connor on the NHLPA’s handling of the Kyle Beach matter … It’s far from guaranteed Beach will participate in the investigation … One general manager pointed out that his organization would typically hold amateur scouting meetings in November and start ranking the top 2022 draft prospects, but won’t do so this year because they don’t have enough information on players because of the pandemic … The same GM said he could see any of five teenagers going No. 1 overall in July, noting that presumed top prospect Shane Wright hardly played games in 2020-21 … Mason McTavish, returned to OHL Peterborough from Anaheim over the weekend, should provide a major lift for Canada at the world junior tournament.

C.J.’s Top Five

The North Division was unfairly maligned last season, at least to these eyes, especially when you see how well the Canadian teams are performing back in the typical divisional setup. Here are my top five performers in Canada so far:

1. Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid Edmonton

I refuse to separate the two-headed monster in Edmonton. Draisaitl has 18 goals in 17 games and McDavid has at least a point in every game so far. Chef’s kiss.

2. Jack Campbell Toronto

Those growing “Souuuup!” chants at Scotiabank Arena are entirely deserved. Campbell is tops in save percentage (.944) and second in wins (10) leaguewide, while serving up the most wholesome sound bites going.

3. Jacob Markstrom Calgary

He’s only a hair behind Campbell at this point with five shutouts already on the season. The biggest difference-maker in the Flames’ surprisingly strong start.

4. Kyle Connor Winnipeg

Generating more shots than any NHL player per game and filling the net for the Jets. He’ll only fly below the national radar for so long.

5. Johnny Gaudreau Calgary

Keep your eyes on Contract Year Johnny. This is shaping up as a big bounceback year for a player who’s both producing points and helping drive play in a major way.

Parting thought

With Hockey Canada sending European-based pros to the Channel One Cup in Russia and the Spengler Cup in Switzerland next month, it will get a close look at the Plan B options should the NHL be forced to make a late withdrawal from the Beijing Olympics.

Better safe than sorry.

Chris Johnston is a Toronto-based journalist with a new gaming company. His work will be seen on the website and app for the new gaming company, and also in the Toronto Star. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterchris

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