Summer break is officially over — at least for select NHL stars.
Connor McDavid, Brady Tkachuk, John Tavares, Jack and Quinn Hughes, Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel are among the bevy of standouts set to speak with press at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Here’s the latest news, notes and quotes you’ll want to know:
Jack Hughes insists he went outside this summer.
With brother Quinn set to reach free agency at the end of the season, speculation about a potential team-up is primed to ramp back up.
But Jack said it’s not top of mind.
“I think people think we’re just at home all day, just talking about it. We’re not. We’re enjoying the summer. That’s what summer’s for, to get away from it and enjoy yourself,” Jack said, per Mark Lazerus of The Athletic.
Meanwhile, the 2019 No. 1 pick is curious to see how the last member of the first-overall club, Gavin McKenna, fares in Toronto.
“He might be the guy that a) might have the spotlight on him the most, but b) might be in the best spot because they should have a good team — the Leafs probably shouldn’t have had the first overall pick — and on top of that he has (Auston Matthews) and John Tavares,” Hughes said, per Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff, citing two others who have gone No. 1 in the draft.
Hughes said McKenna, who is already set to live with John Tavares, should be able to lean on both.
“There’s no better person in the league for him to listen to than Auston Matthews, because AMats has been through all that stuff 10 years ago, so it should be a great setup.”
Werenski dishes on chaotic summer
By his own admission, Zach Werenski‘s summer “got a little bit crazy.”
The star Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman and Norris Trophy winner reportedly requested a trade during the off-season, which he was granted with a proposed move to the Dallas Stars before he vetoed the deal.
He also told general manager Don Waddell he wouldn’t be signing an extension after his contract expires in two seasons. Then, things changed.
“At a certain point there right around the draft, things got a little crazy, and me and Don spoke a few days later and had a good conversation then, and I was just saying this had gone farther than any of us wanted it to go and it got a little bit crazy and let’s just get it back on the rails,” he told Sportsnet’s Sean Reynolds.
“We did just that and it’s been great ever since.”
Now, Werenski said he has one goal for the season: “making the playoffs in Columbus.”
M&M&M line ready to feast in Calgary
A trio that clicked toward the end of last season, Coronato told Reynolds he sees high potential to keep the good times rolling.
“Frost has so much talent, so much skill, he’s such a good centre. And then Gridin, he’s gonna be an awesome, awesome player. He’s so young still, but with his size, the way he can shoot the puck, the way he makes plays, I think he’s only going to continue to get better and he’s gonna be a big, big piece moving forward for our group,” Coronato said.
Coronato and Frost led the Flames last season with 45 and 43 points, respectively, while Gridin contributed 20 points in just 37 appearances.