Matt and Blake discuss the signing of centre Pius (pronounced P-yoos) Suter by the Canucks Friday. Lots to like about this player, at this price point. The guys also discuss the Lions' dominating victory over Calgary Saturday, and the four Canadians -- including 3 B.C. boys -- who advanced to the second stop on the PGA Tour playoff calendar. Other topics include the return of the Whitecaps to B.C. Place, the Mariners and Jays on a collision course for the final AL wild card, the astonishing achievements of the Vancouver Canadians, and Vancouver resident Stephen Ames tearing it up on the Champions Tour. Hockey Hall of Fame writer Kevin Allen stops by from his office in Detroit to evaluate the Suter signing, tell us about the player he knows, and speak to Filip Hronek and how he'll work in Vancouver. Canadian international and new Whitecap Sam Adekugbe joins us to talk about his football journey since leaving Vancouver, coming back home to the Whitecaps, and his viral-sensation mother cheering him on from back home in Calgary. Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov died at the age of 21, the team announced Monday.

Amirov was diagnosed with a brain tumor in February 2022.

"The entire Maple Leafs organization is devastated by this tragic loss," team president Brendan Shanahan wrote in a statement. "Over the duration of his courageous battle, Rodion's positivity inspired everyone around him, and he made lasting impressions with our team and fans in his brief visits to Toronto.

"It's incredibly sad to see a young man with so much promise taken from us so soon. We offer our deepest condolences to Rodion's family and friends as we mourn this loss together."

The Maple Leafs selected Amirov 15th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career," Amirov's agent Dan Milstein wrote. "We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile, all of the great things about him."

Amirov played for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL and also represented Russia on the international stage on numerous occasions.

He never played a game in the NHL, but he did attend the Leafs' home opener this past season and was honored by the fans with a standing ovation.

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Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar will grace the cover of the NHL 24 video game, EA Sports announced Monday.

Makar is only the fourth defenseman ever to be the game's sole cover athlete, joining P.K. Subban (NHL 19), Dion Phaneuf (NHL 09), and Chris Pronger (NHL 2000).

He's also the third Avalanche player to be on the cover after Joe Sakic (NHL 2004) and Peter Forsberg (NHL 98).

The 24-year-old is arguably the top blue-liner - and one of the best players overall - in the NHL. He recorded 66 points in 60 games while battling injuries last season.

Makar enjoyed a historic 2021-22 campaign, winning the Norris Trophy with 86 points in 77 contests. He also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, producing eight goals and 21 assists in 20 playoff contests during the Avalanche's Stanley Cup triumph.

Colorado drafted Makar fourth overall in 2017. He won the Calder Trophy in his 2019-20 rookie campaign by racking up 50 points in 57 games.

EA Sports will release an official trailer for the video game Wednesday.

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Boston Bruins center David Krejci is hanging up his skates after 16 seasons in the NHL, the veteran announced Monday.

Krejci spent his entire career in Boston, racking up 231 goals and 786 points in 1,032 contests. He chipped in with 16 tallies and 40 assists in 70 games this past season during his triumphant return to North America after spending the 2021-22 campaign in his home country of Czechia.

A master of consistency, Krejci eclipsed the 50-point mark nine times as a Bruin and surpassed the 60-point plateau on six occasions. He also hit the 20-goal benchmark four times. Krejci's best statistical seasons came in 2008-09 and 2018-19 when he amassed 73 points. The forward also netted a career-high 23 tallies in 2011-12 and 2016-17.

Krejci was instrumental to the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship in 2011, leading the team with 12 goals and 23 points - including 19 at even strength - in 25 contests. Six of those points came in the Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks.

Krejci totaled 128 points in 160 career postseason contests - tied with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand for the second most in franchise history. The Bruins selected him in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft.

Krejci's departure further marks the end of an era for the Bruins, who are now entering the 2023-24 campaign without their top two centers. Bergeron announced his decision to retire in late July.

Boston's depth down the middle now consists of Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, Morgan Geekie, and Jesper Boqvist.

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Johnny Gaudreau is hoping his Columbus Blue Jackets can take some teams by surprise in 2023-24.

"The amount of skill we have on our team with some of the young guys, it's pretty fun to watch every day in practice and in games," he said in a recent interview with NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "Hopefully, a few teams keep sleeping on us.

"I know we have the talent in our locker room and the right guys, and hopefully, we can build together as a team and come together as a team and do something special."

Columbus was decimated by injuries last season. Star defenseman Zach Werenski missed the vast majority of the campaign due to a shoulder injury, while sniper Patrik Laine had three stints on the shelf and last suited up for a game in March.

No player on the roster skated in all 82 games, but Gaudreau was close, leading the team with 53 assists and 74 points in 80 contests. The Blue Jackets finished the year with a 25-48-9 record, 33 points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus responded by firing bench boss Brad Larsen after two seasons, replacing him with Mike Babcock, who last coached in the NHL in 2019.

Along with the much-needed time off to get healthy, Gaudreau is confident that the coaching change will do wonders for the Blue Jackets after a "tough year."

"We need that hard-nosed coach that's going to push us in practices and in games," he said. "I'm excited to get out there and start the season off with him, and I think we're going to have a good year this year."

Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25-million contract with the Blue Jackets last summer after posting 40 goals and 115 points during his final season with the Calgary Flames.

The 30-year-old said he's feeling "a lot more comfortable" ahead of Year 2 in Columbus.

"I know all the guys, the whole organization," Gaudreau said. "Getting to know the city really well. ... Just starting to feel more like home. That's what we wanted."

The Blue Jackets added Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and 2023 third overall pick Adam Fantilli to their ranks as they look to make their first playoff appearance since 2020.

Columbus' 2023-24 campaign opens Oct. 12 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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