The Top 25 under 25 rolls on, as we still await official news on whether Toronto will be a hub city. The NHL also released a second set of COVID-19 test results, and in standard NHL fashion, it stops just short of full specificity. It’s great, isn’t it? The best possible place for spare and ambiguous wording is in publicly available testing data relating to a worldwide pandemic.
Also, it’s the last day of Pride Month (a tragically parade-free Pride Month) which makes it a really good day to go read this interview:
‘It’s being a part of something unique’: a conversation with two Team Trans players - The Ice Garden
Team Trans was set to play the Madison Gay Hockey Association before the pandemic cancelled the series.
There’s also this interview with former Toronto Fury (and Team Trans player) Jessica Platt:
ICYMI
NHL releases 2nd set of COVID-19 test results - Pension Plan Puppets
10 days after the first late-evening news dump, a new set of results has been issued in minimalist fashion.
Top 25 Under 25: The Case for Alexis Lafreniere - Pension Plan Puppets
Or Quinton Byfield?
Toronto Maple Leafs 2020 Top 25 Under 25: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev jumps to #15 - Pension Plan Puppets
Does SDA making the top 15 show a vote of confidence in the player or a lack of confidence in the prospect pool?
Stuff Other People Wrote
Who should win the General Manager of the Year Award? - Broad Street Hockey
Fletcher could be the Flyers’ first winner,
Who could the Maple Leafs lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? – The Athletic
While there are many difficulties inherent in trying to project who will be available a year from now, we’re taking our best shot.
Hockey Hall of Fame announces Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham to receive Foster Hewitt Memorial Award | FOX Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.
The pros and cons for Cassidy’s Bruins if Toronto is named hub city - Sportsnet.ca
Because I know what really matters to all of you is what this will mean for the Bruins.
Hardev live tweeted a Q&A with the authors of this policy paper on anti-racism in Canadian hockey. It’s a good thread:
Disappointed to not see @HockeyCanada take part in the #AntiRacistHockey program despite repeated requests over the past year and a half.
— Hardev Lad (@HardevLad) June 29, 2020
From Tuesday night:
The expectation is that NHL players will be paid their 2020-21 contract year signing bonuses tomorrow on July 1, as scheduled. That’s an NHL expenditure of more than $300 million.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020
Top 16 bonuses being paid out July 1:
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2020
A. Matthews, $15.2M
M. Marner, $14.3M
C. McDavid, $13M
A. Panarin, $12M
J. Tavares, $11.09M
R. Josi, $11M
E. Karlsson, $10M
S. Aho, $9.87M
C. Price, $8.75M
S. Stamkos/A. Vasilevskiy, $8.5M
T. Seguin/J, Trouba/B. Burns/C. Kreider/J. Benn, $8M https://t.co/kYyjFTJcyG
and there’s reports some teams are trying to defer the bonuses by negotiating with players.
Escrow will also need to be factored in on SB but at what rate? Projected 20 per cent figure for 20-21? Or a lesser number than that? As Jethro Bodine ( you kids look it up) might say, lots of cipherin to be done.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2020
