Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff Apologizes to Kyle Beach After Blackhawks Investigation
Nov 2, 2021
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - JULY 23: Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff speaks to members of the media via a Zoom call at the end of the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft at Canada Life Centre on July 23, 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The 2021 NHL Draft was held virtually due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was an assistant GM for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, the year in which former player Kyle Beach said then-video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him.
As part of a press conference with Jets executive chairman and governor Mark Chipman, Cheveldayoff gave his first public comments since Beach identified himself as the "John Doe" in a lawsuit against the Blackhawks.
"Kyle was failed by a system that should have helped him," Cheveldayoff said. "I'm sorry that my assumptions about that system were clearly not good enough."
Chipman said Cheveldayoff did not have a large role in the May 23 meeting when Chicago's top executives discussed the allegations and that he believes Cheveldayoff would have taken more action if he was fully aware of the scope.
"I commit to you today that I will use my influence within the National Hockey League to acknowledge that there are systemic problems that require systemic solutions," Chipman added.
He also expressed empathy and pointed to Beach's courage:
Cites statistics about sexual assault. One in three women. One in six men.
Thus far, this is the empathic approach one would hope for in this situation.
"I need Kyle to know how very, very sorry I am and how much I admire his courage."
Acknowledges that he wasn't knocking on people's doors every day asking what the latest was. Says this comes from the assumption that the processes in place were working as they should.
CBC noted that the Jets general manager held a meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday. The league determined Cheveldayoff was "not responsible for improper decisions" made by Chicago executives at the time even though the team did not take action until following the Stanley Cup playoff, which was weeks after the May 23 meeting.
The NHL called Cheveldayoff's participation at the meeting "extremely limited in scope and substance."
The league announced it fined Chicago $2 million following an investigation. General manager Stan Bowman and senior vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac both resigned.
Beach released a statement that thanked those who supported him but pointed out that "although the results of the private investigation have been released, and the Blackhawks have apologized, my battle is really just beginning as the Blackhawks continue to attempt to destroy my case in court."
Mark Scheifele Calls Out NHL Player Safety Dept. over Suspension for Jake Evans Hit
Jun 9, 2021
WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 2: Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens is checked hard by Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets after Evans's third-period empty-net goal in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs on June 2, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Evans was injured on the play. (Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images)
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele was forced to watch his team get swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after being suspended four games for his illegal hit on Jake Evans in Game 1.
And he wasn't thrilled with the suspension, telling reporters:
"I thought I was gonna be shut down by Phillip Danault, and it was the Department of Player Safety that shut me down."
Mark Scheifele on his suspension, dealing with setbacks, and what's next for him this summer: pic.twitter.com/RmE0O5UkbN
“It’s not fun. It’s definitely not a great feeling. You feel pretty helpless when your team’s out there battling and you’re watching from the stands,” he added. “But the way you handle setbacks is what defines us. So, that’s the mentality I’m taking.”
Scheifele argued he didn't receive much communication from the Department of Player Safety about what he could have done differently on the play in question:
"I think at the end of the day, you regret the outcome of it. I said that over and over. You never want to see a guy hurt, and I'm a guy that respects this game and respects players. I would've loved an answer from [the Department of Player Safety] of what would've been a better thing to do. I've replayed the thing over and over in my mind and the only real thing is if I gave up on my teammates on that play and just didn't back check."
Whatever Scheifele's arguments, his hit was brutal and deemed illegal. He was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct.
Evans was knocked out on the play, suffered a concussion and had to be taken off the ice in a stretcher. He also missed the rest of the sweep vs. the Jets following the 5-3 win and resumed off-ice training Tuesday.
"I mean, it's scary," Canadiens forward Paul Byron told reporters after Game 1. "There's your teammate lying on the ice like that unconscious. … When you see your teammate, your friend, lying on the ice like that, it's a terrible feeling."
Canadiens Cruise Past Jets in Game 3 to Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
Jun 7, 2021
WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 4: Joel Edmundson #44 of the Montreal Canadiens battles Pierre-Luc Dubois #13 of the Winnipeg Jets in front of goaltender Carey Price #31 as they keep an eye on the play during third period action in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on June 4, 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Montreal Canadiens returned to a packed Bell Centre for Game 3 against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday and promptly delivered a 5-1 victory behind another stellar effort from goalie Carey Price (24 saves).
It's the sixth straight victory for the Habs this postseason and gives the club a 3-0 lead in their second-round series.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 6, 2021
The club is now one win away from becoming the first Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup semifinals since the Jets fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. No team north of the border has won the Cup since the 1993 Canadiens.
The loss puts Winnipeg in a dreaded position. Only four teams in NHL history have come back to win a series after going down 3-0, with the Los Angeles Kings last accomplishing the feat in 2014.
If Joel Armia's second period goal looked a bit familiar on Sunday, there's good reason for it.
The tally that put Montreal up 3-0 was nearly identical to the goal Tyler Toffoli scored in Game 2 in Winnipeg. Both goals came short-handed. Both the result of a 2-on-1 rush. Both came at the expense of Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey.
Sunday's goal proved even more of a dagger, with Montreal already up 2-0 and a raucous home crowd egging on the Habs.
With just under seven minutes remaining in the second period, Armia picked off a blind Winnipeg pass near the left faceoff dot in the Canadiens' zone and took off down the ice with Paul Byron. Only Morrissey stood in the way of the two wingers and Jets' goalie Hellebuyck. For the second time in as many games, the defenseman sprawled out on the ice to take away Armia's passing lane, only for the winger to toe-drag around him and bury a wrist shot in the back of the net.
After tying the Boston Bruins for the regular season lead with nine short-handed goals, the Canadiens now have three shorties in the postseason. Equally concerning for the Jets is the fact they've now failed to convert on seven power play opportunities against Montreal.
Montreal has reached the point where giving up the man-advantage doesn't seem to help the Jets offense at all.
It's been hard to find anything to feel good about when it comes to the Jets during the second round. Barring a significant change in Game 4, that'll mean a rather ruthless sweep at the hands of the Canadiens after Winnipeg swept the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
Through three games, the Habs have out-scored the Jets 11-4 despite barely being out-shot 90-87. Winnipeg went nearly 100 minutes without a goal in the series, finally breaking through at the end of the second period on Sunday after getting shut out in Game 2.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 6, 2021
Adam Lowry skated in on Price's weak side, took a quick pass from Mathieu Perreault and fired a one-timer past the the otherwise unbeatable Habs goalie. But what was notable about the goal wasn't just that Price's saves streak came to an end, but that the Jets were able to fire off a shot in the slot below the faceoff dots.
Montreal's ability to keep the middle of the ice clear has allowed Price to play at his best and kept the Jets from finding high-percentage looks. Even with Mark Scheifele still suspended for his hit on Jake Evans in Game 1, there's enough blame to go around in the Jets locker room for their inability to generate those chances.
While offense has clearly been the biggest issue for the Jets this series, Paul Maurice may have no choice but to swap Hellebuyck in net for backup Laurent Brossoit. Winnipeg needs to find a spark somehow, and with Hellebuyck giving up four goals on Sunday, he may be the odd man out.
That may have been the case anyways with Game 4 slated for Monday night, but Maurice will have to push whatever buttons he can to extend the series.
What's Next?
The teams will stick around in Montreal for Game 4 on Monday night. Faceoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on NHL Network.
Jets' Mark Scheifele: 4-Game Suspension for Hit on Jake Evans Was 'Pretty Excessive'
Jun 4, 2021
WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 2: Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens is checked hard by Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets after Evans's third-period empty-net goal in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs on June 2, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Evans was injured on the play. (Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images)
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele took issue Friday with getting suspended four games for his hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans during Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Scheifele addressed the suspension during a press conference, saying: "I think it was pretty excessive. I wasn't expecting that. I was pretty shocked. But that's their decision."
The hit occurred during the closing seconds of Game 1 just as Evans scored an empty-net goal on a wraparound to extend the Montreal lead to 5-3.
Evans had to be stretchered off the ice, and he is out indefinitely with a concussion, per Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette.
Scheifele, who skated the length of the ice before delivering the hit, was given a five-minute charging penalty and a game misconduct.
According to Wyshynski, the NHL concluded that Scheifele was "conceding the empty-net goal" and instead decided to deliver a "hard, violent check to an opponent with the outcome of both the play and the game already having been decided."
The NHL also called it "a high, predatory hit."
Scheifele disagreed with the league's assessment (via Sportsnet):
"My intention on that play is to negate a goal... I don't go in with the frame of mind of injuring a hockey player."
Mark Scheifele explains his thought process on the hit and hopes for a speedy recovery for Jake Evans. pic.twitter.com/VKZ0o478qy
The 28-year-old veteran also pointed to his history as evidence that he had no ill intent:
The result is what sucks. Having a guy hurt is what no one wants in this league. The league made their decision. I don't agree with it. No one knows what was going through my mind except myself. I tried to portray that to the league. I keep coming back to my record. I had 12 penalty minutes this year. I had one boarding penalty in my entire career. I haven't had a charging penalty. I don't think I've had more than frickin' 20 hits a year. My intention is not to injure. It's to prevent a goal.
Jets head coach Paul Maurice agreed with Scheifele, saying:
He's a clean offensive player. I looked at that hit and I used the word 'clean,' and the reason that I used it is because the things that I call 'dirty' in a hit weren't there for me. I don't agree with the distance traveled argument, because there's no other option in that distance traveled--on a straight line, meeting at a point of contact.
Regardless of Scheifele's intent, the Jets will be without one of their best players for the next four games, which could conceivably mean he is out for the remainder of the season if the Jets are eliminated before Game 6 of the series.
During the regular season, Scheifele led the Jets in assists with 42 and points with 63. He was also tied for second on the team in goals with 21.
His 63 points were the ninth-most of any player in the NHL during the regular season as well.
In five playoff games this season, including a four-game sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the first round and one game against Montreal in the second round, Scheifele has two goals and three assists for five points.
With Scheifele out for four games and the Jets facing a 1-0 series deficit, they face an uphill battle in terms of taking the series from Montreal.
Game 2 will take place Friday night in Winnipeg, and Scheifele will be eligible to return for Game 6, if necessary, which is scheduled for June 11.
Jets' Mark Scheifele Suspended 4 Games for Hit on Canadiens' Jake Evans
Jun 4, 2021
WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 2: Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens is checked hard by Mark Scheifele #55 of the Winnipeg Jets after Evans's third-period empty-net goal in Game One of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs on June 2, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Evans was injured on the play. (Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images)
Unless the Winnipeg Jets force a Game 6, Mark Scheifele won't see the ice again this season.
The forward was suspended four games for charging Montreal forward Jake Evans in Game 1 on Wednesday, the league announced. Evans, who was taken down by Scheifele after scoring an empty-net goal, had to be stretchered off in the final minute of play.
A scary scene in Winnipeg as Jake Evans was stretchered off the ice after taking a hit from Mark Scheifele. pic.twitter.com/XFNlzcdy5I
Schiefele was tabbed with a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.
“It’s brutal," Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher, who scored the eventual winner in Wednesday's game, told reporters. "It didn’t need to happen. It’s the wrong play. He knows better."
Other Montreal skaters also chimed in. Jesperi Kotkaniemi called the play "disgusting" and said it highlighted a lack of respect, while defenseman Joel Edmundson vowed that if Schiefele returned during the series, the team would "make his life miserable."
The Jets' alternate captain isn't the only one who will miss time as a result of the play. Evans is out indefinitely with a concussion, though the 25-year-old forward wasn't transported to the hospital after the hit and was recovering under the watch of team doctors, head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters Thursday.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday in Winnipeg.
Canadiens Use Big 1st Period to Beat Jets in Game 1 of 2nd Round Series
Jun 3, 2021
TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
The Montreal Canadiens won't stop.
After winning three games in a row to upend the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, the Canadiens carried that momentum into the second round, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 on Wednesday at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg.
After a three-goal first period, Brendan Gallagher scored the eventual winner for the Canadiens, who also won Game 1 of their first-round series before dropping three in a row.
For the Jets, who hadn't played since sweeping the Edmonton Oilers on May 24, Kyle Connor gave them an extra chance by scoring their third goal with six skaters on the ice, but it wasn't enough as Jake Evans potted a fifth for Montreal on an empty net.
Evans took a scary hit after scoring and was stretchered off the ice with 58 seconds left to play. Mark Scheifele was sent off with a five-and-10 for charging.
The Canadiens got off to a fast start, scoring a pair of goals within 1:40 in the first five minutes of the game. The action came from two separate lines, highlighting the power present throughout the roster.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi got things going at 3:30, continuing his strong postseason play.
On prend l'avance tôt grâce au 4e but des séries de Kotkaniemi!
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 3, 2021
The offensive onslaught kept going, with another puck in the net at 1:44 left in the period, though it was ruled no good due to goalie interference. Still, Montreal broke out with an energy that was just lacking from the opposing side.
Even when the Jets showed resistance, making it a one-goal game with under 11 minutes to play, Brendan Gallagher increased the distance, and it was enough to stave off a Jets comeback late.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 3, 2021
Early Injuries Keep Jets Short
The Jets had a little hangover from their nine days off, allowing the Canadiens to dominate early. That was something head coach Paul Maurice said he was afraid of heading into the opening game of the series.
#NHLJets coach Paul Maurice seemed a bit worried about how his team might start the game tonight after 9 days off. And that concern was clearly warranted, given the rough start here to a Montreal team riding an emotional high after 3 straight elimination game victories.
But rest aside, the Jets were also missing Paul Stastny, who was responsible for a pair of points throughout the first round series. They also suffered a defensive loss early, with Dylan DeMelo, who skates on the team's first defensive pairing, ruled out with a lower body injury early.
That gave the Jets just five defenders to hold off a fast-flying Montreal offense.
With the Canadiens ready to go for more on the power play while already up 2-0, Adam Lowry found the back of the net for a short-handed goal.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 3, 2021
As the clock wore on, what was left of the Jets lineup laid it all out on the ice. Mathieu Perreault needed to be helped off the ice after blocking a shot from Shea Weber, though he returned back to the bench after a quick trip down the tunnel.
The Jets had some renewed energy in the second period, but Canadiens goalie Carey Price was on his game, making 21 stops to keep Winnipeg at bay.
At the start of the third, the Jets showed some signs of life, controlling the period early. It paid off when Derek Forbort scored his second career postseason goal, making it a one-point game with under 11 minutes to play.
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) June 3, 2021
A depleted Jets lineup pushed but couldn't make up for the hole it fell into following Montreal's quick start.
What's Next? Game 2 is Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Jets Clinch Postseason Spot with Win vs. Flames; Latest 2021 NHL Playoff Picture
May 6, 2021
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) is hugged by center Jack Roslovic, center, after scoring the winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
The Winnipeg Jets are heading back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth straight season after clinching their spot Wednesday with a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Winnipeg becomes the third team in the North Division to reach the playoffs alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. The NHL realigned the conferences for the 2020-21 season to better accommodate restrictions at the border between the U.S. and Canada in line with coronavirus guidelines.
In the postseason, the Jets will face another North team in the first round—and the second round, should they make it—before the division sends its winner to face a team in the United States for the first time this season.
It's quite an accomplishment for Winnipeg after the club dealt elite goal-scorer Patrik Laine with Jack Roslovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets in late January for center Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick.
Instead, it's center Mark Scheifele who leads the Jets on the scoresheet with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) while left wing Nikolaj Ehlers has added 21 goals and 25 assists as four Winnipeg players have netted at least 15 goals. Much of that damage came on the power play, where the Jets excelled this season with a 24 percent success rate, good for fourth-best in the NHL entering Wednesday.
That helped cover up for a middling defense that allowed 2.80 goals-against average despite a .912 save percentage from starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets will look to get Hellebuyck on a hot streak heading into the playoffs as they try to bring the Stanley Cup to Winnipeg for the first time in franchise history.
NHL Trade Rumors: Analyzing Latest Buzz on Patrik Laine's Future with Jets
Dec 29, 2020
Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
With a new NHL season set to begin Jan. 13, the league's 31 teams will soon be holding training camps. There will always be buzz about potential moves that could take place now or before the trade deadline.
Patrik Laine's name has been heavily featured in trade rumors this offseason, yet as the season draws closer, the 22-year-old forward remains on the Winnipeg Jets' roster. That doesn't necessarily mean he wants to be there, though.
On Monday, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Laine is expected to be at the Jets' training camp, which begins Sunday, but that "his mindset hasn't changed; he'd still prefer a move." However, there may not be a potential deal on the horizon, despite Laine's feelings toward his situation.
"It doesn't sound like a trade is close, but it's something to keep tabs on," Pagnotta tweeted.
Pagnotta wrote that the Jets have been "taking calls" regarding Laine, who didn't formally request a trade, although his agents told TSN in October that both Laine and Winnipeg would benefit from a deal. Two months later, nothing has materialized despite those reports.
"It is unclear if talks with any of those teams are currently ongoing," Pagnotta wrote. "While a trade out of Winnipeg is preferred, a transaction before the start of the regular season on January 13 might not be in the cards unless Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff finds a package he deems acceptable. So far, talks have lingered."
Laine was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, and he's still only 22. Over his first four seasons with Winnipeg, he's tallied 138 goals and 109 assists in 305 games. Last season, he had 63 points (28 goals and 35 assists) in 68 games, and he may have gone on to set a career high had the regular season not ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If Laine doesn't get traded before or during the season, it's still possible he could leave the Jets next offseason. He only has one year remaining on his current contract (he's set to make $7.5 million) before he becomes a restricted free agent in 2021.
Winnipeg has made the playoffs in three straight seasons, but it's lost in the first series each of the past two postseasons. The Jets could be poised to get back there in 2021, and Laine may end up being a key reason for that.
However, with speculation and rumors set to continue, Laine's situation is something to continue monitoring as the new season gets underway.
Report: Paul Stastny Traded to Jets; Golden Knights Get Carl Dahlstrom, Pick
Oct 9, 2020
Winnipeg Jets center Paul Stastny (25) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Stastny made 19 appearances for the Jets during the 2017-18 NHL season after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues.
The 34-year-old Canadian is coming off a down year offensively for the Golden Knights, recording 38 points (17 goals and 21 assists) in 71 appearances. It was the lowest total of his 14-year career in a season where he played at least 50 games.
His performance represented a sharp decline from his first year in Vegas when he recorded nearly a point per game (13 goals and 29 assists in 50 appearances) despite limited power-play time (four PP points).
Paul Statsny isn't the guy he was during his last stint in Winnipeg, but he's still a strong top six center. pic.twitter.com/XbtwVam4JF
Winnipeg is betting on a bounce-back campaign as he heads into the final season of his three-year, $19.5 millioncontract.
Stastny enjoyed a productive, albeit short, first stint with the Jets. He scored 13 points in 19 games during the stretch run of the regular season and added 15 points in 17 contests during the 2018 playoffs.
Paul Stastny, reportedly headed back to WPG, has seen his on-ice shooting percentage plummet, but is otherwise still a great playdriver and top six centre. #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/S7Y56j1aX4
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff tried to retain him when he hit free agency two years ago buttold reportersthey couldn't match the offers he received on the market:
"We were able to cross the first hurdle and try and create the ability to just speak with him when we made the move to clear some cap space. If we were fortunate enough to have gotten him, there would have been a lot more surgery that would have been needed on the roster as well. It was never a situation about willing to pay or do anything like that. It was what we were able to do. While we offered the same term, obviously it wasn't the same money."
Now Cheveldayoff was able to bring the veteran center back without as much of a financial commitment.
Stastny should slot in as the Jets' No. 2 center behind Mark Scheifele to open next season. He's projected to skate on a line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine, though the latter winger has been the subject of trade rumors early in the offseason.
Now, it's serious. Though Winnipeg Jets right winger Patrik Laine has been a popular mention in myriad trade stories for months, the chatter surrounding the 22-year-old Finn ...
