Jeremy Jacobs is not wailing over David Krejci’s decision to say no to playing in the World Cup of Hockey. Millions in postseason revenue, which have bypassed Delaware North’s vaults for the past two years, could go elsewhere again in 2016-17 if Krejci’s health declines for a third straight season. Jacobs pays Krejci a team-high $7.25 million to play for the Bruins, not put his body at risk in a glorified preseason tournament.
But while Krejci’s offseason hip surgery granted him a get-out-of-jail-free card, neither Patrice Bergeron nor Brad Marchand had similar luck when landing on Chance or Community Chest. Bergeron and Marchand are healthy, which made them eligible for Team Canada entry. So while Krejci was easing into his weekend on Friday and Saturday, Bergeron, Marchand, new teammate David Backes, and the rest of the players from the US and Canadian teams were plucked out of an ice bath and plopped into an inferno.
The eternal adversaries clashed on Friday in Columbus in the exhibition opener. After the game, they traveled to Ottawa. The following night, the Americans and Canadians were scheduled to square off again. Each team is carrying just two extra skaters, meaning most players were due for back-to-backs — including travel.
Had Mike Babcock tried that in Toronto with Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly, or AustonMatthews, the executives of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment would have stuffed their millions down their coach’s throat.
“Just think if you’re an NHL owner,’’ Babcock said on Tuesday, three days before his team played the Americans. “Your star players are playing back-to-back in exhibition. That’s your franchise. So they’re hoping, just like we are, that they did all their work to get ready.’’
World Cup participants are the top players in the world. They did not become the best at their jobs by treating their conditioning with disdain.
But injuries can strike the fittest players, especially those whose bodies are used to easing in to NHL seasons. It will be a shock to the system for veterans to play in as many as 10 games (three exhibition, three preliminary, one semifinal, three final) before even reporting to their club teams. Even if they stay healthy during the tournament, a 10-game dip into the checking account is a significant withdrawal for any player before the regular season.
In that way, Krejci is one of the lucky ones. He has company. Other players who withdrew from the tournament before even showing up: Duncan Keith, Jamie Benn, Jeff Carter, Ryan Callahan, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Alex Steen, Robin Lehner, Sean Monahan, Radko Gudas, and Tomas Hertl. They all cited legitimate injuries or recoveries that cannot be questioned, even if, were the Stanley Cup the prize, they would have shoved aside their grandmothers to get onto the ice. Ex-Capitals defenseman Tomas Kundratek replaced Gudas, while someone named Michal Birner took Hertl’s spot. Doug Wilson, Hertl’s employer, did not sound disappointed by his left wing’s decision.
“After speaking with Tomas, we’re pleased that he has chosen to put his commitment to the Sharks and his teammates first,’’ the San Jose general manager said in a statement. “I know he’s disappointed not to be able to represent his country, but Tomas is on track to be ready for the start of the NHL season, and he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.’’
Hertl, who missed time last year because of a knee injury, should be skating at full tilt for the start of the regular season. Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Joe Pavelski, Mikkel Boedker, and Joonas Donskoi may not be as lucky. Hertl’s San Jose teammates are seven of the 184 players participating in the World Cup.
Given the nature of hockey, the speed and strength of the superstars, the competitiveness of its participants, and the timing of the tournament, the likelihood of at least one player suffering a significant injury is high. That’s one player too many before Game No. 1 of the real stuff even begins.
Team Europe already lost Frederik Andersen when the Toronto goalie was injured during Olympic qualification play for Team Denmark. Andersen was replaced by Philipp Grubauer. The Maple Leafs have already invested significant resources in Andersen, who has yet to pull on a Toronto jersey. The Leafs traded a 2016 first-round pick to Anaheim for Andersen, then signed the ex-Duck to a five-year, $25 million contract. Career backup Jhonas Enroth will be Toronto’s starting goalie if Andersen, expected to be sidelined for 3-4 weeks, doesn’t recover from his upper-body injury in time for the Leafs’ opener against Ottawa on Oct. 12.
Babcock at least knows his No. 1 goalie is off limits for the World Cup. But he has no control over how Rielly, Matthews, Enroth, James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov, Roman Polak, Nikita Zaitsev, and Milan Michalek will be deployed by their respective federations. Babcock will have to trust his coaching comrades that his Toronto players will be in good hands, just like his counterparts are hoping the ex-Detroit taskmaster won’t ride their charges too hard. It will do Michel Therrien no good, for example, if Babcock sends out Carey Price, who played just 12 games last year, for more pucks than he needs to see.
Jacobs and his fellow owners understood the tournament’s drawbacks before giving it the green light. You can’t blame them. It’s free revenue that didn’t exist before, via ticket sales, ESPN TV rights, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise hawking. No businessperson would say no to such income. In turn, the players are not treating the World Cup like charity. Every player is receiving a stipend of an undisclosed sum. The stipend increases for players on the four teams that advance to the semifinals. Players from the winner and runner-up will receive a bonus that they will split with their federations. Regardless of the money involved, the World Cup is risky business. Such is reality when you’re flying around on ice with blades on your feet and blunt instruments in your hands. It is no secret that hockey can be hazardous to your health.
WELCOME ADDITION
Tortorella guest Cohan fits right in
John Tortorella takes military service seriously. Son Nick is a member of the US Army Rangers. Tortorella, coach of Team USA, threatened to bench any American player who does not stand at attention during the national anthem.
As such, Tortorella tried to incorporate themes of service in team-building prior to the World Cup. Greg Cohan Jr., a 26-year-old Army Ranger and Hamilton native, was Tortorella’s guest in Columbus during the Americans’ training camp. Tortorella extended the invitation to Cohan, an acquaintance of his son, to speak to the players about his experience with the Rangers. Cohan has been deployed to Afghanistan eight times. He is based at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga. Cohan addressed the players on Wednesday. He skated with the players and ate dinner with them on Thursday. He was scheduled to be on the bench on Friday in the exhibition opener against Canada.
“He would have stressed what he went through in Rangers school and what he’s done under combat,’’ said father Greg Cohan. “He’s a squadron leader, so [Tortorella] wanted him to talk about how he interacts with all his guys and what it’s like being an American soldier. [Tortorella] told him, ‘We’ve had generals in to do PowerPoints. But what the players want to hear from you is about teamwork, working together for a common goal, and working together on a team.’ ’’
For Cohan Jr., a hockey player from mites through Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, skating with the Americans was an on-ice thrill.
“We’re so happy for him,’’ said father Greg. “We know what he’s been through. We know how hard he’s worked to get where he is. To go from basic training to Rangers school is really difficult, then to go to war eight times. When Rangers go to war, they’re in the heart of it. He’s lost buddies. So for him to be with a sport he loves and get to meet those people, there’s a lot to be said about hockey players. They’re pretty good guys. We’re so happy for him.’’
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
Babcock admires Weber’s character
Like all coaches, Mike Babcock believes in character. He likes a room where professional players oversee business, not require babysitting from their coaches.
From the way Babcock gushes over Shea Weber, Michel Therrien will be getting a more than adequate replacement for P.K. Subban. “Physically, he’s man-mountain,’’ Babcock said of the ex-Nashville captain. “When he looks at you, you know it’s business. He’s as good a human being as I’ve ever been around. Period. He doesn’t have to say much. He just has to look at you and you snap into shape. He makes you a better coach. If you haven’t been cross-checked in the ribs by him, you find that he cuts a big swath out there. He shoots it so hard no one wants to stand in his lane. But what I like about him best is that when he walks in the dressing room, you know it’s business. He’s a culture-type person. He makes your franchise better when he walks in that room. Bar none.’’
It is a powerful endorsement for a 31-year-old defenseman under contract through 2026 for $7,857,142 annually. Weber’s contract is not kind, especially considering his game is going the wrong way. But Babcock’s description underscores how character and culture were critical in the Canadiens’ decision to ditch the younger, better, and more exuberant Subban. In Weber, Therrien will have an established, dependable, and consistent commodity. Subban was always a wild card, both as an on-ice freelancer and a polarizing personality in the room.
The question is whether Weber’s off-ice presence is powerful enough to overcome Subban’s departure. Nobody could rein in Subban. But that’s what makes him a dynamic player. He can trigger a one-man breakout, hammer pucks on net, and strip pucks with his strength or speed. No amount of good-guy persona can make up for the loss of Subban’s electricity.
PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS
Panthers’ payroll stretched to limit
On Wednesday, the Panthers locked up Jonathan Huberdeau to a six-year, $35.4 million extension. Huberdeau was coming off a two-year bridge deal worth $3.25 million annually. The 23-year-old is Florida’s No. 1 left wing, a good 200-foot complement to Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Huberdeau’s signing adds to a payroll that is downright bloated compared with the budget team’s earlier books.
Between extensions to Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, and Derek MacKenzie, and new deals for James Reimer, Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, Colton Sceviour, and Jonathan Marchessault, the Panthers have committed $239 million in future salary to their players this offseason. All their critical pieces are in the fold long term save for Jagr, who will be unrestricted after this season.
“On paper, we look great,’’ ex-Bruin Shawn Thornton said in August. “That and $1.50 will get you a Starbucks, though. We still have to perform. But you can tell they’re committed to trying to win and making steps on last year. To be completely honest, I thought the hockey gods weren’t with us a little bit in the playoffs last year. I thought we dominated the majority of that series and deserved to win it. We didn’t. But I’m glad they have confidence in the group and tried to improve on it so we can hopefully take another step next year.’’
ETC.
Muzzin no fluke on Team Canada
Jake Muzzin made Team Canada partly because of his partnership in Los Angeles with Drew Doughty. Coaches want chemistry in short tournaments, and there are few pairs more familiar with each other than the dependable Muzzin and the go-go Doughty. But Muzzin, originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 2007 but unsigned by the Penguins, has been an excellent all-around left-side defenseman since becoming a regular for the Kings in 2012-13. Muzzin has been a positive possession player in each of his four full NHL seasons.
He is a perfect fit for coach Darryl Sutter’s puck-possession approach: quick to close down opposing rushes and sharp with his zone exits. Muzzin made his international debut for Team Canada in the 2015 World Championship. “You know these guys are good, but then you practice with them and you’re like, ‘Oh, these guys are really good,’ ’’ Muzzin said. “This is just a continuation of that. I know everyone’s really good. You see it a little more in practice, how good these guys are and how hard they work.’’
Number switch for Hellebuyck
Former UMass Lowell puck stopper Connor Hellebuyck wore No. 37 during his two seasons as a River Hawk. Last year, during his first full season with Winnipeg, Hellebuyck switched to No. 30 out of respect to Dan Snyder. Snyder, who wore No. 37 for the Thrashers, was killed in a car crash in 2003 before the franchise moved to Winnipeg. This season, with the Snyder family’s approval, Hellebuyck will return to his old number and become the organization’s first player to wear No. 37 since 2003.
Late change of direction
Warrior Ice Arena, the Bruins’ practice facility in Brighton, opened on Thursday, just over two years after a major shift in the rink’s footprint. From the start of the project’s conception, the rink was designed to be part of a sports complex on the south side of Guest St. Cost, space, and other logistical roadblocks, however, made it difficult for NB Development Group to stick with the original plan.
On Sept. 3, 2014, the Boston Zoning Commission approved plan modification to shift the 75,000-square-foot arena to a parcel termed Block C on the north side of Guest St. In retrospect, placing the rink closer to the highway and improving its visibility was a good move for the Bruins.
“Just from constructability and feasibility, it just wasn’t going to work,’’ said NB Development Group managing director Jim Halliday. “Somebody finally came up with the smarter idea of putting it out on the Mass. Pike. We were already going to be building an office building with a parking structure. So we could set on the ice arena on top of the parking structure.’’
Loose pucks
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Team Canada’s roster is its power down the middle. Patrice Bergeron is one of seven centers playing out of position. Eleven of the team’s 13 forwards play center for their NHL teams: Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf, Steven Stamkos, Logan Couture, Jonathan Toews, Tyler Seguin, Joe Thornton, Matt Duchene, and Claude Giroux . . . Wayne Cashman will be honored at The Tradition, the Sports Museum’s annual fund-raising event. The lifelong Bruin scored 277 goals and 516 assists in 1,027 games. Cashman also spent 1,041 minutes in the penalty box. Tickets are $300. For tickets or more information, visit www.sportsmuseum.org . . . Parts of Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators’ home rink, were flooded during building maintenance last month. The flood was caused when a contractor accidentally broke a water main. Original guesses pegged Eugene Melnyk as the culprit after the owner cried one too many times over Chris Kelly’s happy homecoming.
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.
