The Daily Scan: Flames stick with lines, Fox cashes in

The Calgary Flames are sticking with their last lineup in the quest for a seventh straight win Tuesday night with the Nashville Predators coming to town. Former Flames prospect Adam Fox continues to rub salt in the wound as he cashed in with the only team he ever wanted to play for. And the NHLPA will be hiring an independent investigator to investigate the NHLPA’s handling of the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.

The Flames lines, via radio play-by-play man, Derek Wills. Oh, yeah, Jacob Markstrom starts.

#Flames  lines, pairings and goaltenders at morning skate:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Coleman-Backlund-Pitlick
Mangiapane-Dube-Ritchie
Lucic-Monahan-Lewis

Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Zadorov-Gudbranson
Valimaki-Stone

Markstrom (Starter)
Vladar pic.twitter.com/QiufOLMhAy

— Derek Wills (@Fan960Wills) November 2, 2021

Bitten by the Fox: Former Calgary Flames pick inks long-term deal with Rangers

“I feel like I’ve been a part of the Rangers my whole life,” Adam Fox told reporters in New York on Monday.

“You know, from being a kid, to have this opportunity now and be with this organization for seven more years, it’s so special and there’s no place I’d rather be.”

Calgary Flames fans know that all too well. Fox, who grew up a diehard Blueshirts fan in Jericho, only wanted to play for his childhood team — and he ensured that he did.

After being drafted 66th overall by the Flames in 2016, Fox’s NHL playing rights were traded from Calgary to Carolina two years later. It was clear he would not sign here.

In April 2019, the Hurricanes shipped Fox to the Rangers in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick and what would become a 2020 second-rounder.

At least the Flames got Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm out of the deal.

Canada Hockey Now

Vancouver: Former Calgary Flames defenceman Travis Hamonic has reported to the Vancouver Canucks after a “sensitive personal matter.”

It’s been speculated he was an anti-vaxxer, but Hamonic had one shot and will soon be fully vaccinated. Rob Simpson has the Hamonic tale and some praise for those who held their criticism of Hamonic. 

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens are in a bad way. They sent Cole Caufield to the minors !?! and did some shuffling at practice, including Jonathan Drouin at center. 

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Chicago Sun-Times: In case you were wondering how hard the change has been for Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury since his surprising trade from the Vegas Golden Knights, he reflected on a brutal October, “it’s hard to smile…”

Sportsnet: Gary Bettman is being roundly criticized for his comments on the Blackhawks coverup. There weren’t many happy campers after Bettman’s first presser since Chicago cleaned house and Joel Quenneville resigned in Florida. Worse, Bill Daly also missed the mark on the Bill Peters investigation surrounding the former Calgary Flames coach’s racist comments to Akim Aliu. Daly suggested he reached out to Aliu reps and that any further actions would be coming. Aliu’s rep claimes he has heard nothing.

Following the Kyle Beach thread–the NHLPA head Don Fehr is recommending an independent counsel to investigate the NHLPA directors and their handling of Beach’s complaint. 

So, wait, Don Fehr wants an independent investigation of himself? Or, he could just be forthright and honest in the first place and let his membership decide if he should keep his job.

NYI: The Islanders are off to a sputtering 3-2-2 start. Head coach Barry Trotz ain’t so happy–he wants a lot more from his team. 

Florida: It’s a big week for the Florida Panthers and interim coach Andrew Brunette. They have lots to do in the wake of Quenneville’s resignation.

Detroit: Interesting take from Kevin Allen — The Detroit Red Wings have no right to view the Montreal Canadiens as struggling. 

NY Post: The New York Rangers locked up Adam Fox for the next seven years, and it wasn’t cheap…