On the ice, the Battle of Alberta might not be settled until the final game of the season. The Flames and Oilers are neck and neck, scrapping for every point.
Off the ice, the contest is not even close. Rogers Place, Edmonton’s first-year downtown home, is the most luxurious rink in the league. When Joe Louis Arena goes dark after this season, Scotiabank Saddledome will be the NHL’s second-oldest facility after Madison Square Garden. The NHL hopes Calgary’s aging building will soon join Joe Louis in the league’s archives of shuttered rinks.
“I’m hopeful the city and the Flames can be on the same page,’’ said commissioner Gary Bettman, “so this can move forward as quickly as possible.’’
Bettman is not one for hyperbole. Given his position as league steward and de facto spokesman for 31 owners, Bettman is a tire-pumper for all things NHL. Bettman regularly notes how the league and its franchises have never been stronger, even as the product’s intensity has faded on the ice and a team such as the Panthers fights to keep the turnstiles turning.
But Bettman practically spit on the Saddledome during a visit to the arena on Wednesday.
“Seriously? Have you been in any of the other buildings?’’ Bettman answered when he was asked about the Saddledome’s deficiencies. “In terms of amenities, in terms of facilities, in terms of egress and the like for all the events that go here, this building was built in the 1980s. They don’t build buildings like this anymore. It’s a grand old building. It’s got a great roofline. It’s historic in many ways. But these aren’t the hockey facilities our teams typically have. This is an old, antiquated, inefficient building. In terms of amenities for the fans, which is the most important thing, it doesn’t hold a candle to what has been done in the newer arenas.’’
The Flames are in good shape. Brian Elliott has shaken off a sputtering start and smoothed out his performance in net. Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund, and Michael Frolik make up one of the NHL’s most dependable three-zone lines. Johnny Gaudreau is a game-breaker. Ex-Bruin Dougie Hamilton is Mark Giordano’s right-hand man on the No. 1 defense pairing. The Flames have committed term and salary to Gaudreau, Giordano, Hamilton, and Sean Monahan.
But general manager Brad Treliving would be more comfortable if the franchise’s long-term finances synched up with his future roster. Even if the Flames are currently spending to the cap, they face the obligations of the lousy Canadian exchange rate and a building that falls short in pulling in corporate dollars.
The building is rocking because the Flames are winning. They ticked off 10 straight wins to tie a franchise record before the Bruins tagged them with a 5-2 loss. But the reality is the Saddledome is best suited for a junior team such as the Calgary Hitmen, the WHL club that is currently a tenant.
The Flames’ future hinges on the fate of CalgaryNEXT, the project proposed by Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the franchise’s parent. The first shovel, however, has yet to dig into dirt. It is not the pace Bettman prefers.
“I can’t tell them what to do,’’ Bettman said. “I can tell them what I think will happen. I can tell them the consequences, potentially, of things happening or not happening, because I’ve seen it so many other times. But in the final analysis, I can’t order the city to do something. I can’t order the Flames to do something. They’re going to have to resolve this on their own. I’m hoping the sense of importance, good will, and cooperation is there so it can get resolved.’’
For his example, Bettman needed only to aim his finger straight north up Highway 2. Three hours away from the Saddledome, Rogers Place has become the centerpiece of the ICE District. When the cranes finish their work, the 25-acre footprint will include a hotel, casino, restaurants, and office space. The arena will be the Connor McDavid of the area: the first-line franchise piece.
“What was done in Edmonton, frankly, is nothing short of phenomenal,’’ Bettman said. “The arena and the ICE District are incredible. If that can serve on same basis as either inspiration, motivation, or a framework, per se, to get this done as quickly as possible, that would be a good thing.’’
NOT LOOKING GOOD
Chances against going to Olympics
On Tuesday, during an off day at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, Brad Marchand noted how great it would be to play for Team Canada in the 2018 Olympics.
“I do think it’s unfair that anyone can tell you that you can’t be part of something,’’ Marchand said. “It’s so incredible. We’ll see how it plays out. Obviously, the players want to play. Depending on the situation, hopefully we can be there. It wouldn’t be right for them to deprive not only the players but the fans of watching such a great tournament. It happens so rarely, every four years. It’s the best hockey in the world. Everyone wants to be part of that. Everyone wants to watch. Hopefully the players end up being there. If not, there’s going to be a lot of disappointed people.’’
One day later, just down the hall from where Marchand made his declaration, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did not make it sound like the left wing would get his wish.
“There are lots of constituent groups that are telling us they have an interest in us attending, but none of them seem to be particularly motivated to give me an opportunity to try and change the attitude of the teams,’’ said Bettman of the NHLPA, IOC, and IIHF. “This is not anti-Olympics. This is anti-disruption of our season is where the sentiment is coming from.’’
At the beginning of the season, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who serves as the chairman of the board of governors, noted he was not excited about the NHL going to South Korea. Since then, Bettman has echoed Jacobs’s opinion, which is shared in corner offices around the league. Bettman’s description of the board’s attitude: “Overwhelmingly negative.’’
“There shouldn’t be any confusion as to where we stand,’’ Bettman said. “Is it possible that one of the other constituent groups may come up with an idea that is so overwhelmingly creative and influential that the board might change and vote? I don’t know. Maybe. I think it may just run out of time on its own steam.’’
ETC.
Shore came long way to Vancouver
The Bruins thought they had a tough commute. After beating Philadelphia at home in a matinee on March 11, they flew to Vancouver the next morning, including a refueling stop in Milwaukee. They hit the Rogers Arena ice for a brief skate at approximately 4 p.m. local time to shake out the plane legs, then played the Canucks the following night.
Drew Shore had it far worse.
At approximately the same time the Bruins were playing the Flyers, Shore was on the ice for Kloten HC of Switzerland’s National League A. Shore, formerly Florida’s second-round pick in 2009, concluded his final game in a Kloten uniform, signed with the Canucks, and traveled to Vancouver via Frankfurt the next day. On March 13, his body still parked eight hours ahead in Swiss time, Shore made his Canucks debut against the Bruins. The right wing recorded one assist and one shot in 14:07 of ice time, not bad for a player who should have been fast asleep.
NHL teams do not often sign European imports in the middle of the season. Such players must clear waivers before reporting to their new clubs. While the Swiss league is improving (it helped Auston Matthews acclimate to pro hockey), its players do not have regular success in finding NHL employment.
But the Canucks, whose postseason hopes are withering, believed the former University of Denver forward was worthy of a one-year, $600,000 contract. Last season, while playing mostly for Stockton, Calgary’s AHL affiliate, Shore scored 10 goals and 28 assists in 59 games. Like Shore, current Canucks Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund also played in the Calgary system.
“They’ve come in and shown they can be really impactful players in this league,’’ Shore said of his fellow ex-Flames. “It’s exciting for a guy like me. I want to come in here, show my game, and hopefully let them know I can help them win some games.’’
Shore has teenage ties to Vancouver. As a bantam, the native of Littleton, Colo., settled in British Columbia to play for the North Shore Winter Club alongside future NHLers such as Martin Jones, Evander Kane, Jordan Weal, and Stefan Elliott.
“Growing up, we didn’t really have Triple A hockey in Colorado, so I was able to come up here and spend two years with the North Shore Winter Club,’’ Shore recalled. “That really started my career as a young hockey player. I’m excited to get back here. It’s been a while. But it should be fun.’’
Shore has never been a full-time NHL player. From 2012-14, he appeared in 67 games for the Panthers while seeing even more time (91 games) in San Antonio, Florida’s former AHL affiliate.
It remains to be seen whether a one-year Swiss stop will give Shore, unrestricted at season’s end, greater NHL traction. Shore scored 24 goals and 24 assists for Kloten, good for seventh place in the league scoring race (former Yale standout Mark Arcobello paced the NLA with 59 points). Peter Mueller flipped a two-year stay with Kloten into a contract with Malmo of the Swedish Elite League, which in turn prompted the Bruins to invite the forward to training camp.
“To be honest, I was kind of excited,’’ Shore said of playing in Switzerland. “I want to be in the NHL. I think I’m an NHL player. It was a difficult summer. But it was something in talking to the GM there that I’d get a lot of opportunity, playing time, and play with some good players. I got to see a different part of the world. So that was really exciting and fun.’’
Penguins add Aston-Reese
Pittsburgh landed one of the top college free agents Tuesday when they signed four-year Northeastern forward Zach Aston-Reese to an entry-level contract. Aston-Reese, Hockey East’s Player of the Year, has reported to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, to play for Clark Donatelli. The left-shot forward, a Hobey Baker finalist, drew interest around the league because of his strong senior season, scoring 31 goals and 32 assists for an NCAA-best 63 points. Aston-Reese joins fellow ex-Husky Jay Heinbuck, an amateur scout, in the organization. The Penguins have invested heavily in collegians, perhaps not surprising given the ties that assistant general managers Jason Botterill (Michigan) and Bill Guerin (Boston College) and coach Mike Sullivan (Boston University) have to college hockey. The best example Aston-Reese could follow is Melrose native and ex-UMass Minuteman Conor Sheary, who also was undrafted. Sheary has settled in as Sidney Crosby’s left wing.
Point looks like a keeper
The Lightning hit a four-bagger when they spotted an undersized Tyler Johnson scoring in bunches in the WHL and signed the undrafted center on March 7, 2011. Tampa may have turned the trick again by drafting Brayden Point in the third round in 2014. It has taken Point until this season to break into the NHL. The 21-year-old appears to have made it to the league at just the right time. While the 5-foot-8-inch, 183-pound Johnson required two seasons of AHL prep work after aging out of Spokane, Point played just nine games for Syracuse, Tampa’s farm club, at the conclusion of his junior career last year. Unless something goes terribly wrong, the 5-10, 166-pound Point will never play another AHL game. Through 56 games for Jon Cooper’s varsity, the rookie has 12 goals and 15 assists while averaging 16:16 of ice time per outing, a good stat line for the right-shot forward. Most recently, with Johnson sidelined because of a knee injury, Point replaced the top-line pivot between Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Point is not one of the original Triplets, but he has played with Johnson’s speed, skill, and fearlessness. “He came to us and he looked more undersized than he is now, but I truly believe that when you have a commitment and a work ethic, that’s the first thing you notice about a player,’’ Cooper told Tampa reporters after the Lightning’s 3-2 win over the Rangers on Monday. “Everything else will fall into place. That’s what that kid has. He goes into a corner and it doesn’t matter the size of the player he goes against. I’m always thinking, ‘He’s going to go for this.’ You’ve got to have a will, and he does.’’
Good fit for Bartkowski
It did not hurt Matt Bartkowski’s midseason employment with Calgary that his current boss was familiar with his game. First-year Flames coach Glen Gulutzan was an assistant in Vancouver last season when Bartkowski played for the Canucks. Last year, the defenseman scored six goals and 12 assists while averaging 18:37 of ice time. Vancouver wasn’t interested in bringing Bartkowski back this season. But the Pittsburgh native made enough of an impression that Gulutzan approved of the transaction when Calgary GM Brad Treliving signed the ex-Bruin to a two-year, $1.225 million contract on Feb. 16. Bartkowski had been playing on an AHL contract in Providence before landing in Calgary. On Wednesday, Bartkowski played against his old team while skating on the third pairing alongside fellow ex-Bruin Dennis Wideman. “I had Bart in Vancouver the year before, and I just saw him as a good fit for our group with the way he skated,’’ Gulutzan said. “Good partner for Deryk [Engelland] as we went on. We needed some depth on defense. I was real happy that Brad went out and got Bart. He’s been real good for us.’’
Loose pucks
Based on the results that coaching changes have produced in Boston, Montreal, St. Louis, and Brooklyn, it’s worth wondering if something similar could have taken place had the Canucks dismissed Willie Desjardins. It’s too late now for the Canucks, who are due to miss the playoffs for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years. Desjardins has one year remaining on his contract. Ex-Bruin Travis Green, coach of Vancouver’s farm team in Utica, would be in line for a promotion if the Canucks decide to cut ties with Desjardins at season’s end . . . Naturally, Corey Crawford fell flat on his back on Tuesday after Shea Weber steamed a one-timer off the Chicago goalie’s mask. The force of Weber’s cannon could have launched Crawford into Quebec City.
USA Hockey invited five players from Massachusetts to its annual National Team Development Program evaluation camp: Matthew Boldy (Millis), Sean Farrell (Hopkinton), Patrick Moynihan (Millis), Braden Doyle (Lynnfield), and Henry Thrun (Southborough). Three of the five players are still 15 years old, but they already have made college commitments to Boston College, Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard, respectively. The camp, which will help determine the next crop of players for the U-17 team, will run March 24-28 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
