Eric Francis
@EricFrancis
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Sr columnist/analyst w Sportsnet. Formerly w HNIC, JACK FM & Post Media. Dad, husband, author, KidSport’s OG Ambassador, Pizza Pigout founder.
Calgary
Joined March 2009
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Last Seen Profiles
The bowels of the Saddledome literally smell like purple Gatorade as the bottles were emptied yesterday as part of the thoughtful dissemination of items from the Gaudreau memorial. These sticks will be made into benches dedicated to the memory of Johnny and Matthew.
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“This is what makes me proud to be a Calgarian and is what made Johnny so proud of this city.” - Craig Conroy, on a night in which Calgary did the Gaudreau’s proud.
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Kadri when asked what he thought of the violent hit by Trouba that knocked off his helmet:
"Good hit. I took it like a man, got right back up, dusted myself off and away you go."
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“If (Kassian) doesn’t want to get hit, then stay off the tracks. I caught him three times there – you think he’d learn after the first one. If he wants to react that way we’ll take the pp, we’ll take the game winner, & we’ll move on to first place” - Matthew Tkachuk bringing gold
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Cool moment for those who watched the Flames’ 2004 playoff run, as this is the kid from the crowd they used to call Mini Kipper. His name is Brendan Peters and he now paints goalie masks for a living. Today he presented his idol w a mask he made for him.
“It’s truly an honour.”
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Drew Doughty just teed off on Matthew Tkachuk, who he'll face tonight: "No respect for him, none. I respect everyone else. I’ll never talk to him off the ice. ... He’s not respected by most of the people in the league, it’s not just me – that’s just a fact." Full story to follow
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Oilers open the evening with a tribute and moment of silence to Flames AGM Chris Snow.
Classy.
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Thousands and thousands on hand just before the vigil for the Gaudreaus begins.
Calgary sends its ❤️.
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“If you are a wild card team I sure as hell don’t want to play Colorado in the first round, because it’s going to be a waste of eight days.” - Darryl Sutter.
Pure. Effin. Gold.
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Sutter was angriest after the game at the fact it took 33 minutes to stitch up Erik Gudbranson.
“I could have done it in 5 mins. I sew horses and cows in ten minutes”
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Meredith Gaudreau gave a stirring tribute to her husband Johnny at the Gaudreau brothers' funeral, revealing she is pregnant with their third child.
"How lucky am I to be the mother of John's three babies, our last one being a blessing and so special despite these difficult
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The Calgary-based Travelling Jagrs met up with their hero in Kladno today, where none of them could replicate the current lid being sported by the legend.
The group is there to play several games, meet up with Jags and honour their founder, Trevor Freeman, who died this week.
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“Shout out to my fans in Calgary.
You know I couldn’t let Edmonton win.” - Matthew Tkachuk.
Gold.
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Can report that the alleged trade list for Tkachuk circulating that includes St. Louis, Vegas, Florida, Nashville and Dallas is not accurate.
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Jonathan Huberdeau:
“I’m open to signing in Calgary long term."
MacKenzie Weegar:
“Same here.”
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Just such a beautiful moment as the Flames bring Kelsie, Willa and Cohen Snow onto the ice for a stirring pregame salute to Chris.
They dropped the puck, tears were shed and those in attendance showed once again how much they are behind the family.
Well done.
Funeral is tomorrow.
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The emotion showed by Johnny Gaudreau after his goal stemmed from learning after last night’s game that his grandfather had died. The goal was for him.
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James Neal said he lost 8 teeth Saturday, which pales in comparison to the 13 he lost early in his career. Teammates joking Neal needs subtitles when talking.
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Joe Pavelski just revealed he had 8 staples in head: "Getting into the training room and kind of sitting there & getting the first staple in the head was when the first goal horn went off. By the time the fourth staple was going in it was going off again. It was like, 'cool.'"
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I asked Keith Tkachuk why he wouldn't throw his O'B Clark's hat from his favourite bar in St. Louis:
“I’m not throwing my hat. We’re 3-0 when I wear that hat, and the net was there anyway. I don’t listen to anybody… except Chantal (his wife).”
Keith Tkachuk was not letting go of his hat...even if it was his son who just scored a hat trick! 🤣
#StanleyCup
|
#BattleofAlberta
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Caps open evening by giving love to Chris Snow and his family.
Donation to SnowyStrong Fdtn from team, as well as giving 50-50 proceeds from tonight to ALS research.
Fans offer up hearty support.
Touching.
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Stirring to see how the tributes to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau continue to grow outside the Saddledome.
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Just watched a beautiful Father’s Day moment unfold at our community baseball wrap-up as ace pitcher Cohen Snow pitched to his dad
@ChrisSnowCGY
. Three years after being diagnosed with
#ALS
dad took the ball deep, followed by a special hug.
Love to all the Dads today. ❤️
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I touched base with David Rittich after he landed in Toronto last night and he said we’d talk Wednesday. I said, “you mean Tuesday?” He said, “no, tomorrow is game day.”
Expect the Flame-turned-Leaf goalie to start against his former team tonight. Awesome.
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Thank you
@RexChapman
. Just, thank-you. So much hatred, anger and sadness on Twitter. You and your precious finds shine through it daily. You’re making a difference. You’re making people smile. We need more Rex Chapman. We need more smiles. What power you wield. Thank you.
This beautiful and brave little girl with cerebral palsy is walking up the stairs by herself for the very first time.
That smile.🌎❤️😊
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Mark Giordano during his intermission interview following his 500th point: “I’ve got my little guy, Jack, at home and it’s his birthday and I told him I'd get one for him. That’s for you buddy.”
Wonderful moment.
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So beautifully handed by
@ryanlesliemedia
and such poise and grace from Kelsie.
Kelsie Snow joins
@ryanlesliemedia
to chat about the ceremony for Chris Snow, his legacy, and his family.
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Fans asked to turn on their phone lights for a moment of silence to honour Chris Snow before tonight’s preseason game.
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"They've got one player that plays half the game and is playing some great hockey right now.” - Matthew Tkachuk
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As we gather to share memories of Chris Snow, I want to share a video from Father’s Day 2022 of him at our kids’ year-end baseball jamboree.
Despite limited use of his right arm, he’s swinging for the fence while with his son.
It’s how I’ll remember him - grateful for every day
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For all three Flames road games the hosts have paid tribute to Chris Snow.
Buffalo fans responded wonderfully tonight.
Heartening.
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If you are a Flames fan, or a fan of dads, you won’t see a better video in a long time.
The post game celly here in Tempe tonight was epic.
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Rittich on Oilers stick flip react: “We’re not able to celebrate in this league anymore or what? I didn’t want to do anything more - I just celebrate. Why I should change myself? I’m going to do it (again). I’m that guy who is showing emotions, who is celebrating goals & wins.”
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A travesty.
The league is going to take a big hit on this one.
McDavid wins it in OT.
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As a Calgarian I’m thrilled to report that on Monday the Flames, city and province will officially start the building of the $926 million Event Centre with a sod turning event.
I’m told design renderings will also be unveiled Monday, almost nine years after Ken King unveiled the
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Flames players, Lanny McDonald, Craig Conroy and others assemble on the steps of the Dome as the vigil opens. Chants of “Johnny, Johnny” ring out.
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Nikita Zadorov doubled down today on his YouTube interview in which he condemned Russia for the Ukrainian invasion:
"I think it’s important for me to speak personally. I think I hopefully can change something in this world.
"It just sucks what’s going on over there right now and
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Hug your kids, be thankful for those in your life, and say a prayer for the Gaudreau family today.
Johnny always did.
His priority was always family.
My look at the essence of Johnny Hockey:
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Tkachuk to Fla for massive haul: Huberdeau,
Weegar, 1st rounder and
prospect.
Ladies and gents, there will be no rebuild.
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Hockey Canada and the Western Hockey league will formally announce the granting of exceptional status to 14-year-old Calgarian Landon DuPont on Monday.
He’ll be the ninth player in CHL history, and second in the WHL behind Connor Bedard, to be cleared to play junior at age 15.
A
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"Anybody that thinks we’re going to fight is an idiot." - Matthew Tkachuk on facing brother Brady tonight and the next four games.
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Darryl Sutter just can’t bring himself to buy into the city’s excitement over Jakob Pelletier’s debut.
Asked what he thought of his game, he asked what number he was, grabbed the game sheet and read his stats.
“21 years of age, he’s got a long way to go.”
Wow.
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The fact that Keith Tkachuk’s title with the Blues’ is Director of Player Recruitment adds a fantastic wrinkle to the whole Matthew Tkachuk situation.
I keep picturing the subtle lobbying that goes on every time they pass one another in the kitchen.
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Tkachuk: “It had nothing to do with the hits or anything like that – I just didn’t like getting pummelled at home like I did. A lot of people didn’t want me to do it, but I wanted to. It was just kind of a way for me to stick up for myself."
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Nice touch by the Penguins and the crowd here to honour Chris Snow. The 50-50 proceeds tonight will be donated in his honour.
Players tapped sticks, crowd applauded and even the referees were clapping.
Wonderful.
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This pic hangs in my office of Jarome Iginla after a great fight with Brendan Shanahan in 2001. Iginla told me afterwards it was an honour to fight one of his heroes. Shanahan’s response: “The honour was mine. He’s gonna be one of the game’s top power forwards.”
#passingthetorch
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Sutter’s mockery of Pelletier’s debut wasn’t just bad leadership – it lacked human decency.
My column on the unnecessary and embarrassing performance from the Flames coach.
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If you live in Calgary I guarantee you smiled when you heard Andrew Mangiapane was named MVP of Canada's World Championship-winning team. What a story.
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Excited to announce I have joined Sportsnet full-time as a Senior columnist and TV analyst. I will remain in Calgary, focusing on the Flames and continuing my role on the broadcasts at home, while also traveling more with the team. Pumped join the talented Sportsnet team.
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After 28 yrs with Postmedia I’ve decided to leave the newspaper biz. I’ll be forever grateful the Calgary Sun hired me, introducing me to a wonderful city where I met my wife & started a family. This is home. In days I’ll be off the grid until fall w news of an exciting new gig
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Emotional pause from Treliving when asked about Chris Snow not being part of the war room:
“He had a tough night last night. He’s battling. So when you think it’s a hard day… that’s a hard day. He’s texting from the emergency room. That tells ya about Chris Snow.”
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Since Matthew Tkachuk fought Zack Kassian last year the Flames winger has fought 7 times and Kassian has fought once. So much for the turtle talk.
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As if consummating the Kadri deal and finalizing a deal to trade Sean Monahan aren't enough, Brad Treliving is doing it all on his 53rd birthday, while in Texas, moving his daughter into university.
The ultimate multitasker.
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Toffoli said he wanted to sign extension in Cgy but requested a trade after contract talks weren't initiated.
"I was waiting for an extension conversation and there was none coming and didn’t feel like there was one in the future.
It didn’t sound like there was any sort of need
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Just ran into Darryl Sutter and asked what a fella like him did on a beautiful day off in St Louis yesterday.
“Took the crew to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. Amazing.”
I did not see that coming.
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Thrilled to report that Flames assistant GM Chris Snow has not tested positive for Covid-19.
Some rare good news in all this.
Oh, and it's his anniversary today.
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Cheers to one of the best people in the business, Rick Ball, the new TV voice of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Steak houses & sommeliers across Calgary will be devastated, as is our Sportsnet family.
But we’re all thrilled for ya pal.
Will miss that smile and those Tommy Bahama shirts.
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“You try to say goodbye to everyone because you never know what’s going to happen.” - Johnny Gaudreau
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Go ahead and try telling an Albertan we don’t have some of the best golf experiences and vistas on the planet.
I dare ya.
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A touching letter to Calgary Flames fans from Johnny Gaudreau, explaining his mindset on leaving town.
A good read with plenty of insights on how tough a decision it was.
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Tons of rinkside signs greeting Gaudreau in warmup.
The most savage so far:
“Hey Johnny, Meredith wants you home by 10.”
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In 9 years of overseeing the Flames, I don’t recall seeing Brad Treliving on the bench for morning skate, as he was before the last game of the season.
He told Don Maloney that morning he was walking away.
I took the photo because I sensed he was taking it all in one last time.
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Hilarious moment as Johnny Gaudreau's teammates all boo him the first time he touched the puck during this morning's skate.
He laughed.
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Happy for Mark Giordano to be able to live out a childhood dream of playing for his hometown Leafs.
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Firing Sutter is the right move.
He cost the organization its GM and was poised to cost it so much more by creating an untenable environment for players and staff to work under.
Good on Don Maloney and ownership for seeing the light, despite owing the coach $4+ million each of
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Met a special 11-yr old, Olivia Lettich, who fought eye cancer and w special glasses is watching 1st Flames game. 👍
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"The city has taken some body shots. Quite frankly it pisses me off. It’s a wonderful community. We’ve got a top team in the league. People have the right to pick and choose where they want to go but as a community and org we do not have to apologize for anything." - Treliving
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Muzzin flips puck at Tkachuk after final horn and the Flames winger is livid. Bush league move by the veteran defenceman, especially after a win.
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Can't imagine Flames fans are at all happy that Gaudreau left upwards of $15 million on the table to leave Calgary for Columbus, especially considering it's an 8 hour drive from Jersey to Columbus.
We'll see what he has to say about it soon.
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Grandpa Don came up w these beauties, modelled by Brady, Taryn & Matthew Tkachuk, which will be worn by almost 40 family members and friends Sunday in Ottawa when the two brothers meet in a game for the first time in their lives. Mom has one rule: “No fighting!”
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Amazing to to hear Paul Maurice is labelling the Tkachuk hit "...intentional. It was a filthy, disgusting kick to the back of the leg."
Maurice said "He could have ended the man's career."
Wow.
Perhaps someone should show him the video.
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As if there weren’t enough reasons to be thrilled for Matt Phillips tonight, the game’s first star against his former club wanted to send his thoughts and support to the Snow family before he answered any questions post game.
Class act.
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Just got off the phone with Chris Tanev who said it's been an emotional 24 hours, as he loved his time in Calgary.
He took me through the process that led to his trade to Dallas, which he is excited about.
“We had brief talks in training camp and then basically a couple weeks
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The Calgary Flames have offered grief counselling to its players and staff, as they navigate through the heartbreak of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s death.
Only three players who played with Johnny in Calgary are still on the roster, but the impact is being felt league-wide.
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For those who may have forgotten, Huberdeau was the one who tied Gaudreau for second in NHL scoring this year with 115 points.
Not a bad replacement on the left side.
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As I’ve reported the last few days, Tkachuk will be traded imminently.
Him telling the Flames several days ago he won’t sign an extension prompted the two sides to start working together to land him somewhere he’d be open to inking an 8-yr extension.
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Milan Lucic said he wants to play again next year and will weigh options in terms of where.
“To be honest I’m really happy this contract is over because of the heaviness of it. It was hard to deal with at times.”
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After all he’s gone through injury-wise, who isn’t happy to see Sean Monahan score a late goal in his Canadiens debut.
On his birthday no less.
Great to see.
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After touching base with various stakeholders in this ugly situation, I can no longer see any scenario in which Bill Peters remains coach of the Flames.
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“I just want to apologize to our fans. We’re playing like shit right now” - Nikita Zadorov
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If there was one guy you'd pick for the shootout in Calgary, wouldn't it be Toffoli?
Either way, season over.
Flames lose in shootout.
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Told story on air last night about Cale Makar and bro visiting the Varsity 7-11 for a Slurpee run. It caused so much commotion they left without paying, prompting the Cup keeper to run back in to settle up. Problem was, they didn’t know what to charge. Settled on $7.50. Good deal
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“Forty years - that’s enough.” - Darryl Sutter, revealing he’s finished with NHL coaching and is now a happy, full-time rancher.
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It is with a heavy heart we report legendary Flames trainer Jim “Bearcat” Murray passed away this morning at age 89.
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Family, above all, was what Gaudreau cared most about.
My piece on this horrific tragedy.
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I love my city, my country and the game we call our own. But on a day like today what I’m most thankful for is that my 8-year-old son decided he no longer wants to be a goalie next year. Amen. The bad news: the thousands I’ll save on goalie gear is destined for orthodontic work.
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Marty Gelinas to me in the Saddledome elevator between periods, regarding the Frolik goal eventually proven conclusive by the NHL’s war room: “I wish they had that technology in 2004.”
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According to sources, no one in hockey history can rock Nikes with a purple suit like Kris Versteeg.
#SNTrade
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“Best day of my life” - Adam Klapka, who makes his NHL debut tonight in front of his parents, who made the trip from Prague.
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Milan Lucic on Zack Kassian: "I had fun being his teammate for three years, but push come to shove, Matt (Tkachuk) is my teammate and I’ll do whatever I have to to step up for him."
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Brad Treliving has permission to talk to the Maple Leafs about their vacant GM post, but it’s with the understanding he cannot participate in any discussions about the draft or amateur scouting until after the draft.
Despite reports to the contrary, he’s had the same permission
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Conroy on the trade:
"What I was looking for in return, I got it. I was looking to get younger, and picks, and a roster player - they checked all the boxes, and it was the best deal moving forward.
"I'm thinking it’s a fair deal. A good hockey trade for both teams."
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