With three capable goalies at his disposal, New York Rangers head coach David Quinn isn't sure who he'll start in net if the NHL proceeds with its 24-team postseason.
"You can make a case for all three guys," Quinn said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "There's a lot of reasons to take Shesty, there's a lot of reasons to start Hank, and there's reasons to start Georgie. This is such an uncertain time that that will play out over the course of the two-and-a-half weeks that we're going to have before we drop the puck."
Phase 3 of the NHL's return-to-play plan is expected to begin on July 10 and includes full training camps for teams. The Rangers are set to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a best-of-five play-in round once the league resumes its season.
Lundqvist had a subpar campaign overall but was tremendous against the Hurricanes. He logged a 3-0-0 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and .947 save percentage versus Carolina in 2019-20. By contrast, he posted a 3.16 goals-against average and .905 save percentage on the season while playing in a career-low 30 games.
Shesterkin, meanwhile, seemed well on his way to taking over as the Rangers' starter after making his NHL debut in January. The 24-year-old went 10-2-0 with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals-against average before the league halted play.
Georgiev, also 24, finished the season with a 17-14-2 record alongside a 3.04 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.
"Hank's history factors in, Shesty's season factors in," Quinn said. "Everything factors in. We're going to consider everything when we make that decision. For every player, the time that we have between when we start practicing and the start of the games is going to be pivotal, but none more so than our goalies."
Though Quinn hasn't anointed a starter, Lundqvist has a decided edge over his fellow netminders when it comes to postseason experience. The 38-year-old is a veteran of 128 playoff games, helping lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final on two occasions and the Stanley Cup Final once. Neither Shesterkin nor Georgiev has appeared in a single NHL playoff game.
Lindblom rang the bell at Penn Medical Center on Thursday to signal the end of his cancer treatments. The 23-year-old winger was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in December, which is a rare form of bone cancer.
"I can't even explain how I feel," Lindblom said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "Feels like having my birthday, Christmas, and all those holidays at the same time.
"Feels awesome to be done. Can't wait to get back to normal life again and feel like I'm living."
Lindblom returned to the ice in June with a small group of teammates for the first time since his diagnosis, but he won't participate in the league's return-to-play plan.
The 6-foot-1 Swede recorded 11 goals and 18 points through 30 games with the Flyers this season before his diagnosis.
Edmonton has been selected to host both the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final this summer, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Thursday.
Though the NHL has yet to make an official announcement, Edmonton and Toronto have reportedly been tabbed as the two hub cities that will host the 24-team playoff if the league returns this summer.
The NHL and the players' association are working toward a new collective bargaining agreement that includes the return-to-play protocols and remedies for lost revenue due to the league's shutdown. The hub cities are expected to be made official once that agreement is pending player approval.
Edmonton's hub-city plan involves a bubble spanning multiple blocks that includes the JW Marriott hotel, the Sutton Place Hotel, and Rogers Arena and its practice facility. A wall will be built around the bubble to help maintain player and public safety, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.
Training camps are scheduled to begin July 10 under Phase 3 of the league's return-to-play plan.
After recent news that Olympic participation is included in the NHL and NHLPA's modified collective bargaining agreement, it's time for hockey fans to begin thinking ahead to what the tournament may look like.
The NHL skipped the 2018 games in PyeongChang, but pending an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the biggest stars in the world will gather in Beijing in 2022 for a true best-on-best event.
In light of that, we're projecting the rosters for the top six countries involved, beginning with Team Canada.
Others in this series: USA Sweden - July 6 Finland - July 8 Czech Republic - July 10 Russia - July 12
Canada
Head coach: Jon Cooper
Mike Babcock led two separate well-oiled Canadian machines to gold medals in 2010 and 2014. But he was fired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for failing to get the most out of his star-studded roster, and it's tough to imagine him earning the nod to bear the nation's gold-or-bust responsibility again without holding an NHL job.
Babcock could be back in the league by February 2022, but we're giving the Team Canada gig to Cooper, the NHL's longest-tenured head coach. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, Cooper has proven he's adept at managing a team full of superstars.
Forwards
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
LW
C
RW
Jonathan Huberdeau (28)
Connor McDavid (25)
Steven Stamkos (31)
Mark Scheifele (28)
Nathan MacKinnon (26)
Mark Stone (29)
Brad Marchand (33)
Sidney Crosby (34)
Patrice Bergeron (36)
Brayden Point (25)
John Tavares (31)
Mitch Marner (24)
(All player ages as of February 2022)
Extras: Alexis Lafreniere (20)
To nobody's surprise, Canada is set to put forth a powerhouse. There's no shortage of firepower up front, and those who've longed to see Crosby and McDavid share the ice while representing Canada will finally get their wish in what's most likely Sid's final Olympics. Crosby is no longer the lead dog, and a pair of Boston Bruins in Marchand and Bergeron flank him here, forming the same line that steamrolled the competition at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
McDavid gets top-line duties alongside the underrated Huberdeau, and one of the most lethal finishers in NHL history in Stamkos. Scheifele is moved to the wing on the second line, as there are simply too many good Canadian centers to only bring four, and the team can shift players around where it sees fit. He'll line up with MacKinnon and Stone, creating a defensively responsible line that's also capable of dominating offensively.
The fourth line features a pair of Toronto Maple Leafs in Marner and Tavares, and Point, one of the NHL's best two-way centers. Canada may opt for a checking-style line to round out its forward corps, but we went with 12 forwards who can push the pace and contribute offensively. Cooper can also easily find four forwards to kill penalties among this group.
Lafreniere, the presumptive 2020 No. 1 pick, is the 13th forward. Making the team may be a long shot for him right now, but if Lafreniere joins a contender through this year's crazy lottery system, his NHL stock could immediately skyrocket. His left-handedness would also be a welcome addition to a righty-dominated group.
Just missed the cut: Sean Couturier, Taylor Hall, Ryan O'Reilly, Mathew Barzal
Defense
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
LD
RD
Thomas Chabot (25)
Alex Pietrangelo (32)
Morgan Rielly (27)
Cale Makar (23)
Shea Theodore (26)
Dougie Hamilton (28)
Extra: Drew Doughty (32)
This blue-line unit isn't as physically imposing as some of the others Canada has found success with, but the Canadians aren't as deep at the position now. However, the game has changed since Canada's 2002, 2010, and 2014 triumphs, and these six defenders can all skate, move the puck effectively, and generate offense.
Chabot is one of the league's top workhorses, and a budding star who will get more recognition as the Ottawa Senators continue to improve. He's paired with the most proven rearguard of the bunch in Pietrangelo, and the two will face opponents' top lines while logging the lion's share of minutes.
Rielly and Makar are a swift pairing, and each blue-liner can also quarterback a power-play unit. If Makar is already dominating top competition as a rookie, just imagine what he can do two years from now with an All-Star cast supporting him.
Theodore might come as a surprise to some on the third pairing, but the Golden Knights' stud is polished in every facet of the position, and he's still only entering his prime. Hamilton matches up nicely with Theodore on the right side as an effective possession player equipped with a booming slapshot, and if Cooper wants to get more defensive, he could slide in Doughty instead. The former Norris Trophy winner has fallen off from the elite standard he set in recent years, but Doughty's track record in international competition is impeccable, and he can still contribute well in the proper role.
Just missed the cut: Shea Weber, Mark Giordano, Josh Morrissey, Kris Letang, Ryan Ellis
Goalies
Martin Rose / Getty Images Sport / Getty
G
Carter Hart (23)
Carey Price (34)
Extra: Jordan Binnington (28)
Canada is at a bit of a crossroads in net, as the nation's most established netminders are well into their 30s. However, the next generation of top Canadian goaltenders is promising with Hart leading the way. The Philadelphia Flyers' future No. 1 appears bound for stardom after posting highly impressive numbers in his first two NHL seasons.
Would Canada hand the reins to the youngster, or lean on the veteran Price, who's produced arguably the most dazzling resume of any goalie to don the maple leaf? That largely depends on what Price does during his next two NHL campaigns. But barring a dramatic decline, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Price, even at 34, wouldn't be relied upon behind such a stacked roster.
Just missed the cut: Marc-Andre Fleury, Braden Holtby, Darcy Kuemper
"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)
Former All-Star catcher Taylor (Tom Berenger) - who began the first "Major League" film in the Mexican League because of his wonky knees - is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Indians. He is a leader to the rookies, stands up to defiant veterans, and is responsible for one of the most epic gotcha moments in sports movie history. He's so knowledgeable and well-liked that he winds up as a big-league manager later in the series.
19. Gordon Bombay
"The Mighty Ducks" (1992), "D2: The Mighty Ducks" (1994), and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996)
The 1990s were a low point for the fictional United States criminal justice system. Consider the case of Bombay (Emilio Estevez), whose punishment for drunk driving is ... coaching youth hockey. It doesn't take long for the hardened, win-at-all-costs lawyer to adopt a softer, more sensitive tact, and his tutelage helps push the Mighty Ducks to a championship (and a pair of middling sequels).
18. Ivan Drago
"Rocky IV" (1985) and "Creed II" (2018)
If there's one thing Drago (Dolph Lundgren) proved in Rocky IV, it's that actions speak louder than words. The freakishly strong Russian antagonist to Rocky Balboa sends shivers down your spine with famous one-liners such as, "If he dies, he dies," and, "I must break you," which account for most of what the hulking heavyweight says throughout his first appearance in the franchise.
17. Forrest Gump
"Forrest Gump" (1994)
Gump (Tom Hanks), who overcomes countless challenges to help reshape history, is one of the greatest multi-sport stars to ever grace a screen. First, he uses his blazing speed to become a star kick-returner at Alabama. Then, while recovering from a gunshot wound in the military, he learns how to play table tennis and eventually becomes one of the greatest players on the planet. He caps off his athletic dominance in the film by running across the United States for three straight years, inspiring others to follow his lead.
16. Becky 'Icebox' O'Shea
"Little Giants" (1994)
In her film debut, Shawna Waldron plays O'Shea, a scary-good youth football player who's cut from the team by her uncle even though she's the best player on the field, simply because she's a girl. "Icebox" and her dad wind up getting even as they help lead a team of other rejects to success, all while attempting to break the barriers of inclusivity in organized sports.
15. Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn
"Major League" (1989) and "Major League II" (1994)
Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) plays a convict turned pitcher who overcomes issues with his eyes to control his wild arm. Vaughn's 100-mph heater, cool demeanor, and memorable haircut make him a standout among standouts on the fictitious Indians.
14. The Hanson Brothers
"Slap Shot" (1977)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
The Hansons - Jack (David Hanson), Steve (Steve Carlson), and Jeff (Jeff Carlson) - represent hockey's id. The trio's unrestrained impulse to check, trip, slash, and spear adds a dose of chaos to "Slap Shot." Though there isn't a whole lot of depth to the characters, their collective personality really comes through on the ice.
13. Sydney Deane
"White Men Can't Jump" (1992)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
Deane (Wesley Snipes) is the brasher, more conventionally cool counterpart to on-court rival and teammate Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson). The lone strike against the hilarious performance is that Snipes was apparently terrible at basketball, whereas Harrelson can actually hoop.
12. Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski
"The Big Lebowski" (1998)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
You might be asking yourself whether "The Big Lebowski" really qualifies as a sports movie. First of all, that's just, like, your opinion, man. Also, there are a heckuva lot of bowling scenes, including "The Dude's" (Jeff Bridges) famous hallucinogenic-induced dance number.
Ironically, though much of the film is set at a bowling alley, "The Dude" is never actually seen bowling.
11. Ricky Bobby
"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)
Of all the sports-centered comedies Will Ferrell has starred in, "Talladega Nights" remains the cream of the crop. As titular NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, Ferrell unfurls a steady stream of instantly quotable one-liners while nailing the physical comedy with his doughy, man-child body.
At No. 11 on our list, Bobby would undoubtedly be disappointed in his placement. After all, "if you're not first, you're last."
Each of our six hockey editors at theScore selected a winner and two runners-up for the NHL's most hotly debated individual honors.
Those votes were then assigned values - three points for a first-place vote, two points for second, and a single point for third - and the totals were added up to determine the results.
Here's who we believe should claim the hardware, and who deserves honorable mentions for their efforts:
Hart Trophy
Bill Smith / National Hockey League / Getty
Winner: Nathan MacKinnon Second: Leon Draisaitl Third: Artemi Panarin
MacKinnon's otherworldly talents are no secret, and there's little doubt the Colorado Avalanche superstar was the NHL's most valuable player in 2019-20. He ranked fifth in the league with 93 points, a whopping 43 points more than Colorado's second-best producer.
The gifted forward carried the Avalanche to within two points of the top spot in the Central Division despite injuries to linemates Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, as well as to No. 1 netminder Philipp Grubauer.
MacKinnon came oh-so-close to winning the Hart in 2018, narrowly losing to Taylor Hall in one of the tightest votes ever. Two years later, it's clear MacKinnon is worthy of being named the league's MVP for the first time.
Draisaitl should be lauded for his outstanding season after leading the league with 110 points and finishing fourth with 43 goals. However, 16 of those markers and 44 of those points came on the power play, when he played alongside arguably the best player in the world, Connor McDavid, who nearly tallied 100 points overall himself.
Four of our editors gave MacKinnon first-place votes, while Draisaitl received the other two. Panarin was given two second-place nods and two third-place votes, as our crew wanted to acknowledge his importance to the New York Rangers' success, and the fact he notched 20 more points than his next-closest teammate.
Norris Trophy
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Winner: Roman Josi Second: John Carlson Third: Victor Hedman
Carlson posted 10 more points than Josi (75 to 65) in the same number of games, but the Nashville Predators rearguard was the only player on his team to crack 50. That underscores how much more important Josi was to his club.
Plus, it's not all about points, especially with defensemen. Josi averaged over a full minute of ice time more than Carlson, who benefited from playing in the Capitals' high-flying, second-ranked offense featuring Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, while Josi skated with a less talented supporting cast.
The Predators blue-liner's underlying numbers were also superior, as he produced better Expected Goals For, Scoring Chances For, and Corsi For rates than his Capitals counterpart. Josi is a more complete defenseman, and he was the best player at his position in 2019-20.
Hellebuyck won our group over unanimously, and for good reason. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender was stellar despite being besieged while playing behind a depleted defense corps. The Jets played without the suspended and now-departed Dustin Byfuglien all season, and they also dealt with several other key injuries to blue-liners.
Hellebuyck suited up for more contests than all of his counterparts except Carey Price, trailed only Andrei Vasilevskiy in wins, and led the NHL in shutouts, all while facing the most shots and the third-most shots per 60 minutes among those who played 40-plus games. Meanwhile, Rask faced the 16th-most shots per 60.
The Boston Bruins netminder carved out a better save percentage, but he played 17 fewer games. Rask should be commended for his league-leading 19.69 goals saved above average (Hellebuyck ranked third with 14.33), but the Finnish veteran did that on the NHL's best team, and with a far better defensive group in front of him.
Calder Trophy
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
Winner: Cale Makar Second: Quinn Hughes Third: Elvis Merzlikins
While both Makar and Hughes put together outstanding campaigns, there's more than enough evidence to support the Avalanche phenom becoming the NHL's rookie of the year.
He led all qualified rookies in points per game (0.88), and Makar held an advantage over Hughes in both Expected Goals For percentage (53.49 to 52.85) and Scoring Chances For percentage (55.38 to 51.19), showing he drove possession better.
Makar also topped all rookie blue-liners with 12 goals (four more than Hughes), eight even-strength markers (three more than Hughes), and 31 even-strength points (three more than Hughes) despite playing 11 fewer games than his Western Conference rival.
Hughes paced all rookies in points - edging out Makar by three - while logging nearly a minute more per contest than his Colorado peer. However, the Vancouver Canucks wunderkind collected 25 of his 53 points on the NHL's fourth-ranked power play, whereas Makar only notched 19 of his 50 points on the Avalanche's 19th-ranked unit.
Jack Adams Award
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Winner: John Tortorella Runners-up: Mike Sullivan, Alain Vigneault
Tortorella has earned this honor twice before, but the quotable Columbus Blue Jackets head coach may have strung together his most impressive regular-season work to date in 2019-20.
He guided the Blue Jackets to a playoff spot despite the offseason departures of previous franchise fixtures Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, along with Matt Duchene. Columbus defensive cornerstone Seth Jones missed the club's final 14 games with an ankle injury, and earlier in the campaign, No. 1 goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was hurt in a shootout after a clock error wiped out the Blue Jackets' winning goal near the end of regulation.
Merzlikins' subsequent emergence as a capable starting puck-stopper helped the Blue Jackets finish strong, but Tortorella kept his team focused and competitive amid everything it dealt with to earn this honor.
Sullivan and Vigneault tied for second place in our voting. The Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss warrants recognition for his team's performance while it persevered through significant injuries, and the Philadelphia Flyers head coach deserves credit after his club unexpectedly finished with the NHL's sixth-best record.
Selke Trophy
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty
Winner: Sean Couturier Second: Patrice Bergeron Third: Ryan O'Reilly
Bergeron is tied with Bob Gainey for the most Selke wins in NHL history with four, and the 34-year-old Bruins star is a perennial contender for this award. However, Couturier proved this season he's now the league's best defensive forward.
The Flyers center - who finished second in award voting two years ago - remains arguably the game's most underrated player. He posted excellent possession rates while consistently matching up against his opponents' best players and being deployed in all situations. He plays a true 200-foot game and is ultra-durable. Couturier suited up for every contest in 2019-20, and he's missed only two games combined over his last three seasons.
O'Reilly, the defending Selke recipient, produced another strong campaign both offensively and defensively, but Couturier has made the best case and is primed to take home the hardware for the first time.
"The Karate Kid" (1984), "The Karate Kid Part II" (1986), "The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and "The Next Karate Kid" (1994)
Before his role as mentor to Daniel LaRusso in the first three "The Karate Kid" films, Pat Morita was mostly known as a comedy actor on television shows like "Happy Days." His portrayal of Mr. Miyagi, a soft-spoken and big-hearted karate instructor who helps "Daniel-san" with real-life issues, helped revitalize his career and earned him an Academy Award nomination.
29. Amanda Whurlitzer
"The Bad News Bears" (1976)
In an environment where it was frowned upon for a girl to play on a boys' baseball team, Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal) rose above the ignorance with her beaming fastball and two-and-a-half-foot-breaking curve. But, even talented 11-year-olds like Whurlitzer have problems to deal with, like constant rejection by her coach and mother's ex-boyfriend, Morris Buttermaker, whom she views as a father figure.
28. Paul Crewe
"The Longest Yard" (1974)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
Just coming into his talents as a leading actor, Burt Reynolds deftly threaded the needle between comedy and emotional sensitivity as Paul "Wrecking" Crewe, a former star NFL quarterback turned inmate.
Of course, Reynolds was no novice on the gridiron. Before his distinguished acting career, he played halfback at Florida State in the mid-1950s until injuries derailed his athletic career.
27. Monica Wright
"Love & Basketball" (2000)
Few movies are told from the vantage point of female characters; even fewer feature Black women as protagonists. Through Wright (Sanaa Lathan), director Gina Prince-Bythewood explores all aspects of basketball - both the on-court trials shared by male athletes and the off-court expectations that are wholly unique to women in sport.
26. Benny 'The Jet' Rodriguez
"The Sandlot" (1993)
Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) had a lot going for him in "The Sandlot." He was far and away the team's best player and navigated even the most intense situations with ease. But, the coolest thing about "The Jet" was his acceptance of Scotty Smalls. Rodriguez was a better person than his peers and welcomed the new kid on the block into the team even though he wasn't very good at baseball. His reward? A friend for life.
25. 'Fast' Eddie Felson
"The Hustler" (1961) and "The Color of Money" (1986)
Few actors exuded cool as effortlessly as Paul Newman, making him the perfect pool shark in "The Hustler," then mentor to Vincent (Tom Cruise) in the sequel 25 years later.
His performance in "The Color of Money" finally won Newman an Academy Award after eight previous nominations.
24. Doug Glatt
"Goon" (2011) & "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" (2017)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
After more than a decade of playing frat boys and jocks in films like "Dude, Where's My Car?" and the "American Pie" series, Seann William Scott both played into and subverted that typecasting with Doug Glatt. Despite his success as a minor-league hockey enforcer, Doug is ultimately a noble meathead with an undercurrent of sweetness and sensitivity.
23. Scott Howard
"Teen Wolf" (1985)
As metaphors for puberty go, literally turning into a werewolf is on the nose. While not quite as notable as his star-making performance in the "Back to the Future" series, Michael J. Fox's boy-next-door charm is still on display (even when obscured by prosthetics and makeup). The moral of the story: No one cares what you look like as long as you're really good at putting the basketball in the net.
22. Adonis Johnson/Creed
"Creed" (2015) and "Creed II" (2018)
In the two "Creed" films, Michael B. Jordan helps rejuvenate the "Rocky" franchise by playing the extramarital son of former boxing champion, Apollo Creed. The younger Creed follows a nearly identical path to boxing fame as Rocky, whom he convinces to become his trainer, but also tugs on the audience's heartstrings by helping the retired fighter battle through severe illness.
21. Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh
"Bull Durham" (1988)
Warning: Video contains coarse language
LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) is a hotshot pitcher with a million-dollar arm and a 10-cent head in "Bull Durham." The character, who is based loosely on real-life pitcher Steve Dalkowski, aggravates at first because of his cockiness and know-it-all personality but becomes someone to root for as he blossoms into a big leaguer under the tutelage of Crash Davis and Annie Savoy.
