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Kim Kardashian had to buy one of Kanye West’s old jackets online to give it to their daughter North West
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North West wore the same Pastelle varsity jacket as her father in July.
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Kim Kardashian said that she had to source the jacket online rather than get it from Ye.
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Kardashian said that Ye isn’t attached to his belongings, but she preserves them for their children.
Kim Kardashian revealed that she had to purchase one of her ex-husband Ye’s old jackets to give to her daughter North West, who wore the jacket in Paris.
In the season two finale of “The Kardashians,” Kardashian, North, and Kardashian’s mother Kris Jenner traveled to Paris for Paris Fashion Week. While there, North sported one of her father’s old looks — a brightly colored varsity jacket from Ye’s unreleased clothing line, Pastelle — to stop at a Balenciaga store in Paris, GQ reported.
She didn’t get it directly from her father, however, Kardashian revealed in the episode.
“Kanye tends to not care about his stuff, and gives it all away, and it ended up on the internet,” Kardashian said while having her hair and makeup done. “And I got it last week.”
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, wore the jacket to the 2008 American Music Awards, GQ reported. The Pastelle line was Ye’s first true foray into the fashion world, but it was never fully released, Complex reported.
According to boutique owner Justin Reed, who told Complex that he sold Kardashian the garment, Kardashian reached out after he had sold one Pastelle jacket for $10,000 earlier in the year. Eventually, he was able to locate another one of the jackets — likely not the exact same one that Ye wore a decade and a half prior, he said — and sell it to Kardashian.
Kardashian said that Ye is now aware of how “protective” she is of his historic items when it comes to preserving them for their children.
“Even now, when he was at the height of not speaking to me and being angry with me, he won a few Grammys and I still reached out and was like, ‘I know you just won a few Grammys, gotta add em to the vault,'” she said during the episode. “And he goes, ‘Okay.’ ‘Cause the kids want them, you know? And I want them all together, so I have them all together.”
Read the original article on Insider
Blue Jackets get Johnny Gaudreau
NHL free agency opened at noon ET on Wednesday and the biggest name’s newest team became official after 8:30 p.m.
That’s when the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that they were landing 115-point scorer Johnny Gaudreau, even though most of the hockey world was focused on the New Jersey-New York-Philadelphia area for the South Jersey native.
Free agents Claude Giroux, Andrew Copp, Darcy Kuemper, David Perron, Jack Campbell, Ryan Strome and Andre Burakovsky found new teams while Nazem Kadri, Ondrej Palat and John Klingberg weren’t announced by early evening.
The Carolina Hurricanes made two trades and the Tampa Bay Lightning signed three key players to eight-year extensions.
USA TODAY Sports’ NHL staffers track and analyze the signings and trades that occurred during the day:
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FREE AGENCY: A look at the Top 25 players testing the market
The center gets a reported $25 million over five years. The Ducks were in need of a center after the retirement of Ryan Getzlaf. Anaheim is becoming New York Rangers West after earlier signing Frank Vatrano. The Ducks have lots of young talent and these signings make them better.
Johnny Gaudreau is going to Columbus. The 115-point scorer signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million AAV), the team announced Wednesday night. The Blue Jackets hadn’t been mentioned early as a possible destination, but Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman told NHL Network that they entered the picture later in the day. It’s a huge coup for Columbus, which has seen free agents leave or be traded through the years. By being in the Metropolitan Division, South Jersey native Gaudreau will play plenty near family in Philadelphia, New Jersey and the two New York teams. The Blue Jackets also signed rugged defenseman Erik Gudbranson (four years, $16 million) earlier in the day.
With Max Pacioretty traded, Vegas had the money to re-sign for Smith (three years, $15 million) and Brett Howden (one year, $1.5 million).
The Hurricanes acquired forward Max Pacioretty and defenseman Dylan Coghlan for future considerations. The Golden Knights made the move to clear out cap space. Pacioretty dealt with injuries last season, but he still scores at a 30-goal pace.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney gave an update on the status of talks with Bergeron and Krejci. “I think we’re in a really good place with Patrice,” he said. “Just the timing and working out the details of his contract and allowing him to declare he’s good to go (for another season).” Sweeney said he had numerous conversations with Krejci’s camp. The longtime Bruins No. 2 center played last season in the Czech Republic. “Going to try to continue to try to find some common ground there,” Sweeney said. “Remains positive, but I just don’t have a clear cut answer.”
Each get a one-year, $3 million contract. The Blackhawks needed players after saying goodbye to Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik. Chicago also added Colin Blackwell and Alex Stalock on inexpensive contracts. The Blackhawks could finish at the bottom of the standings this season.
He gets $27.5 million over five years. His career-best 61 points would have led the Kraken in scoring last season. Burakovsky has won two Stanley Cups and is a former teammate of Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer. The Kraken also signed defenseman Justin Schultz (two years, $6 million) and goaltender Martin Jones (one year, $2 million).
He gets $9.5 million over two years. Detroit has been one of the busier teams on the opening day of free agency and this shows again that they’re looking to move from rebuilding to pushing for a playoff spot. He’s a veteran who has been very productive in three stints with the Blues and will provide offense and leadership in Detroit. The Red Wings also made a splash with versatile forward Andrew Copp, plus added defensemen Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta.
He became a free agent when the Flyers bought out the final year of his contract. He signed for two years in San Jose. Lindblom, who came back from a rare form of bone cancer, won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance in 2021.
The then-Penguins goalie entered in the middle of overtime of Game 1 of the first round, after a meal of spicy pork and broccoli, and beat the Rangers. He referenced that after signing a two-year deal with New York.
He gets $19 million over four years. The defenseman didn’t have a strong 2022 playoffs with the Panthers, but he played an impressive shutdown role during the Canadiens’ 2021 run. The Red Wings are accelerating their rebuild after also adding Andrew Copp, Dominik Kubalik and Olli Maatta on Wednesday and trading for and signing goalie Ville Husso last week.
His four-year, $18 million deal gives the Stars a productive winger to play on the second line. He had 47 points in 54 games, a nice boost for a team that didn’t get much scoring beyond its first line. Dallas also added defenseman Colin Miller (two years, $3.7 million).
This move is about the Rangers creating cap space to re-sign restricted free agent Kaapo Kakko. The Rangers had to give up draft picks in the deal and get back 22-year-old defense prospect Ty Emberson.
The Stanley Cup-winning goaltender gets a five-year, $26.25 million deal. The Capitals were unhappy with their goaltending last season and traded Vitek Vanecek and didn’t qualify Ilya Samsonov. Kuemper had a career-best 37 wins last season and his .921 save percentage ranked fifth among league starters. Free agent goalie Charlie Lindgren (three years, $3.3 million) was signed as a backup.
The forward signed a four-year, $19 million contract, agent Dan Milstein tweeted. He had 21 goals in 53 games with the Maple Leafs last season, and he kills penalties.
The Lightning, who reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third year in a row, are keeping the core together. After giving defenseman Mikhail Sergachev an eight-year extension, Tampa Bay did the same to forward Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Erik Cernak. Sergachev averages $8.5 million, Cirelli $6.25 million and Cernak $5.2 million. Cirelli is the team’s shutdown center and Sergachev’s and Cernak’s role will grow after the trade of Ryan McDonagh. The Lightning also added defenseman Ian Cole ($3 million) and forward Vladislav Namestnikov ($2.5 million) to one-year, free agent deals.
The defenseman, acquired at the trade deadline, will get $16 million over four years. He was a good fit after arriving from Detroit. His 130 games of playoff experience make him valuable. The Blues also signed former Red Wings goalie Thomas Greiss (one year, $1.25 million, plus bonuses) as a backup. He replaces Ville Husso, who was traded to and signed with Detroit. Former Panthers center Noel Acciari signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal.
The 24-year-old defenseman had a year left with a $4.8 million cap hit ($7.2 million base salary), and now gets a long-term deal for eight years at $8.5 million per season. Sergachev has improved his point production (to 38) and ice time (to 22 minutes, 28 seconds) in each of the five seasons of his career. His role will only continue to expand. — Jimmy Hascup
The deal is for three years, $3.65 million per year, according to HNIC’s Elliotte Friedman. Vatrano, a shrewd pickup by the Rangers at the trade deadline, showed in flashes his scoring potential in a secondary role. He will help a young forward group in Anaheim. — Jimmy Hascup
New York was seeking a backup goalie after trading Alexandar Georgiev, who was a restricted free agent, to Colorado. Halak gets $1.55 million for one year. The Rangers are tight on the salary cap and have to still re-sign RFA Kaapo Kakko. — Jimmy Hascup
The Hurricanes needed a right-shot defenseman after trading Tony DeAngelo to the Flyers. The Sharks needed to clear out cap space, and Burns had an $8 million cap hit. Burns had more points than DeAngelo last season, 54-51.
The versatile forward is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He’s a big addition for a team that’s still rebuilding. TSN reports that the five-year deal has a $5.625 million cap hit.
The two-way center will fill the No. 2 center role that UFA Ryan Strome held last season.
He’ll get $65 million over eight years, a nice bump from the $2.8 million he’ll make this season. He had a career-best 77 points and a 17-game point streak last season.
Toronto says Samsonov gets a one-year, $1.8 million deal. Samsonov gets a prove-it deal after not being qualified by the Capitals. The Leafs’ tandem next season is Matt Murray and Samsonov.
Giroux’s offseason home is in the Ottawa area. He’s still seeking his first championship. Can the Senators accomplish that in three years? Maybe not. But they’re significantly better with Giroux and trade acquisitions Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot.
The goaltender will get $25 million over five years, according to TSN. The Oilers needed an upgrade in net and Campbell was an All-Star last season. Mike Smith might not play this season and Mikka Koskinen went overseas, so the tandem will be Campbell and Stuart Skinner.
It’s noon. Free agency signing period is officially under way.
He’ll get $18 million over four years, according to The Athletic. Manson was a big pickup at the trade deadline, a solid defender who scored several key goals in the Stanley Cup run. He joins Valeri Nichushkin and Andrew Cogliano in re-signing. Darren Helm also re-signed for a year on Wednesday.
The move, reported by TSN, increases the Johnny Gaudreau-to-New Jersey speculation. Zacha is a left wing, like Gaudreau. He’s also a restricted free agent, and the Devils won’t need to re-sign him if they land Gaudreau. The move helps the Bruins, who have several forwards who’ll miss the beginning of the season with injuries. The reported return is forward Erik Haula.
The Penguins and the Russian star agreed to a four-year contract late Tuesday night worth $6.1 million annually that will keep Malkin in Pittsburgh after all. After also signing defenseman Kris Letang on July 7 to a six-year, $36.6 million deal, the Penguins have about $4 million in cap space.
Kane followed by announcing “I’m back,” in a post on his verified Twitter account in which he revealed agreeing to a $20.5 million, four-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers, where he put up 22 goals in 39 games after the team gave him a chance when the San Jose Sharks terminated the remainder of Kane’s contract for violating COVID-19 protocols while in the American Hockey League. — Jimmy Hascup
Flames general manager Brad Treliving, who had attempted to re-sign Gaudreau, said Tuesday night that the star forward was going to hit the open market. “It is my strong belief that this was a family decision and I respect that fully,” he said. “John has every right and we have nothing but respect for John the player and John the person.”
So far, Valeri Nichushkin and Andrew Cogliano are the only Avs players who have been re-signed. That leaves less than $15 million in cap space for next season, and Artturi Lehkonen (two series-clinching goals) is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Plus, the Avalanche have to think of 2023-24 and beyond because star Nathan MacKinnon can sign a contract extension. His cap hit next season is $6.3 million and that will go up significantly starting the following season.
The Washington Capitals have no NHL goaltenders under contract after trading Vitek Vanecek and not qualifying Ilya Samsonov. Goaltending was a weakness for the Edmonton Oilers on their run to the Western Conference final, plus backup Mikko Koskinen signed with the Swiss league. The Ottawa Senators, who traded Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs, upgraded their goaltending in a trade Tuesday, adding the Minnesota Wild’s Cam Talbot in exchange for Filip Gustavsson.
The NHL draft took place July 7-8. The first round saw projected No. 1 overall pick Shane Wright fall to No. 4 and the Seattle Kraken. Here’s a look at scouting reports of all the first-round picks, plus a look at the winners and losers of the draft. Wright said he’ll have a “chip on (his) shoulder” after falling, and he reiterated his “staredown” was not directed at the Montreal Canadiens, who picked first and selected Juraj Slafkovsky.
NHL trade grades – Carolina Hurricanes land Max Domi in deal with Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers
Following the bouncing puck: The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Max Domi to the Florida Panthers along with a 2022 sixth-round pick (originally Toronto’s) for defenseman Tyler Inamoto. The Blue Jackets retained 50% of Domi’s salary. Florida then traded Domi to Carolina for forward Egor Korshkov, in exchange for retaining 25% of Domi’s salary. The Hurricanes then traded defenseman Aidan Hreschuk to Columbus for Inamoto.
Now you can understand why this trade was announced about three and a half hours after the deadline. But let’s dive into how each GM did along the way:
The success or failure of Max Domi in Carolina depends on two things: His relationship with coach Rod Brind’Amour and whether his “mostly offense, not very much defense” game can blossom within the system they play.
The Hurricanes are fairly stacked at center, which means Domi should be tasked with playing on the wing, where he’s more effective as a playmaker and less of a liability on defense. He can fill the role that Jordan Martinook played until the latter returns from his “week-to-week” injury. One of the things GM Don Waddell likes about Domi is that he “plays with an edge,” and that’s always been his calling card.
The Brind’Amour part of this is intriguing, if only because Domi’s relationship with his coaches has impacted his play. There was talk he had issues with Claude Julien in Montreal. His fractured relationship with John Tortorella in Columbus is well-documented, and one of the reasons why Domi looked like a completely different player with the Jackets this season. Can Brind’Amour help him recapture what made him a notable top-six forward once upon a time, or will this end up as yet another coach clash?
It’s worth it to find out, and not just because Domi has an expiring contract. The Hurricanes are responsible for only 25% of his salary in this three-way trade. Forward Yegor Korshkov of the KHL, a former second-round pick by Toronto, wasn’t a significant loss. Aidan Hreschuk was a third-rounder in last year’s draft, who played with Boston College this season, and they moved him for Wisconsin defenseman Tyler Inamoto.
Hreschuk is undersized (5-foot-11) but plays well with the puck. He’s a better prospect than Inamoto, and could eventually make the NHL as a low-end offensive defenseman, especially if he gets better positionally to compensate for his lack of skating speed. He recently completed his freshman season at Boston College. Given that they were giving away Domi, this is fine.
Korshkov played one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019-20, spending the rest of the time in the AHL. He’s played seven seasons in the KHL and put up solid offensive numbers in his last two seasons with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He’s only 25; maybe GM Bill Zito and his scouts see something there? They also pull a sixth-rounder out of a deal in which they retained 25% of Domi’s contract.
Some are wondering why the Panthers would help facilitate a trade that enables a potential playoff opponent to acquire a player at the deadline. Perhaps it’s because the Panthers have seen Domi play.
Blue Jackets goalie died of fireworks blast at coach’s home
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died in a freak fireworks accident at the Michigan home of the team’s goaltending coach — on the same day as his daughter’s wedding, according to reports.
Kivlenieks, 24, was in a hot tub at the home of Manny Legace in Novi when a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and struck him in the chest Sunday as it fired toward a group of people.
The wedding of Legace’s daughter, Sabrina, to real estate agent Nick Howell, was held at the home earlier in the day, the Daily Mail reported.
An ensuing “night of relaxation and uninhibited revelry” was held at the home, with guests clad in Hawaiian-style dress, according to the report, which cited the couple’s wedding website.
Police Lt. Jason Meier said Kivlenieks tried to avoid the fireworks blast while in the hot tub with several other people. Authorities earlier said the Latvian died of an apparent head injury, but preliminary autopsy results released Monday afternoon clarified his cause of death of chest trauma.
“At the moment, we’re pretty certain this was a tragic accident,” Meier said.
There’s no indication the person who lit the shell-and-mortar-style fireworks had been drinking alcohol, Meier told the Detroit News.
Legace declined to comment when reached early Monday, the Detroit News reported. The president of a neighborhood homeowner association, Kendall Joy, confirmed to the newspaper that the incident occurred at Legace’s home. The goaltending coach and former NHL netminder joined the team in 2018, according to his team bio.
Kivlenieks’ teammate and fellow Latvian native, Elvis Merzlikins, posted a photo of the pair on Instagram in Hawaiian shirts, thanking Kivleniek for being such an “amazing person” and sharing details of their final moments together.
“I really love you, I’ll miss you, we had our last basketball game in the pool and we enjoyed before you left me right after,” Merzlikins wrote. “We love you and fly high baby, fly high! You saved your last puck! You will be our guardian angel.”
Police said Kivlenieks was roughly 10 feet away from the mortar when he was struck, the Daily Mail reported. He died from a percussive injury caused by the blast, causing major damage to his heart and lungs.
Firefighters and paramedics responded to Legace’s home at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday. Kivlenieks told one teammate not to get into the ambulance with him, according to the Daily Mail.
“[Kivlenieks] didn’t want him to have to see that,” the late goalie’s agent, Jay Grossman, told the outlet.
Kivlenieks, a native of Riga, Lativa, who signed with the Blue Jackets in 2017, was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
A moment of silence was held for Kivlenieks prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Monday between Tampa Bay and Montreal. The Canadiens won Game 4, but trail the Lightning 3-1 in the series. Tampa Bay’s coach, Jon Cooper, addressed Kivleniek’s family after his team’s overtime loss.
“It’s an awful tragedy for anybody, any family to go through that,” Cooper told reporters. “But somebody in the NHL family, as close as we all are as the teams even battling out there, from all the Lightning, our condolences.”
With Post wires
Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks dies from fireworks explosion at Novi holiday party
An initial autopsy report determined Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died from a “percussive injury,” the extreme force from the powerful blast of exploding fireworks, Novi police confirmed Monday afternoon.
Kivlenieks died Sunday night after a fireworks mishap at a Novi holiday house party. He was 24.
He suffered major damage to his heart and lungs, police said.
Initial reports, including a team statement from the Blue Jackets, cited a head injury, which he did suffer while trying to get out of a hot tub during the fireworks accident. Novi Police Lt. Jason Meier said Kivlenieks slipped getting of the hot tub, and hit his head on the concrete. Multiple people were in the hot tub at what Meier called a “large gathering.” There were no other injuries.
Police received the 911 call shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, paramedics were on the scene within five minutes, and Kivlenieks was transported to Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi, where he was pronounced dead.
Meier declined to say whose home Kivlenieks was at for the July 4 holiday gathering.
Meier said it’s still unknown if Kivlenieks actually was struck by a firework. There was no fire, Meijer said. Meier also said there was no alcohol involved with the person lighting the shell-and-mortar-style fireworks.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 18 fireworks-related deaths in 2020, up from 12 in 2019. The agency estimates there were about 15,600 fireworks-related injuries that were treated in an emergency-room setting in 2020. Private firework use reportedly increased in 2020 amid the pandemic, with many municipalities canceling their shows.
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time,” Blue Jackets president John Davidson said in a statement Monday morning.
“Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.”
Kivlenieks, a native of Latvia, played eight games for the Blue Jackets. He signed with them in May 2017.
A junior star in Latvia, he came to the United States in 2016 with the goal of playing in the NHL. He wasn’t drafted, but signed a $2.5 million, three-year contract with the Blue Jackets. He played mostly for the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL the last three years.
His two NHL games this season were against the Red Wings, on May 7 and 8. He lost May 7 and won May 8, his final NHL game.
When with the Blue Jackets, his goalie coach was former Red Wing Manny Legace, who declined comment when reached by The News on Monday morning. Legace lives in Novi.
The Red Wings offered their condolences on Twitter on Monday.
“The National Hockey League was saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “On behalf of the NHL family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates in both the Blue Jackets organization and his native country of Latvia. His love for life and passion for the game will be deeply missed by all those who have been fortunate to have him as a teammate and a friend.”
Said NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Matiss Kivlenieks at the age of only 24. His passion and drive enabled him to reach the top level of hockey, which included winning his final NHL game on May 8 with Columbus and representing Latvia at the recent World Championship. Our condolences go out to Matiss’ family, friends and teammates during this difficult time. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
tpaul@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tonypaul1984
Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks dead at 24
Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday night as a result of what the organization described as a “tragic accident,” in which he suffered an apparent head injury after a fall. He was 24.
In a statement Monday morning, the Blue Jackets said medical personnel was called immediately to attend to Kivlenieks, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said in a statement. “Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.”
Michigan police told the Associated Press that Kivlenieks was attempting to jump out of a hot tub with others after a fireworks malfunction before he slipped and hit his head on concrete. He was pronounced dead on the scene after medical personnel arrived.
Kivlenieks, who had recently competed for his native country Latvia at the IIHF World Championships, started in two games for Columbus this NHL season. The undrafted netminder had six NHL starts and eight appearances to his name dating back to 2019-20. He was expected to compete for more playing time next season.
“Life is so precious and can be so fragile,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen tweeted. “Hug your loved ones today. RIP Matiss, you will be dearly missed.”
After signing with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2017, Kivlenieks made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 19, 2020. He turned aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced to lift Columbus to a 2-1 victory over the Rangers.
Kivlenieks, who was dubbed the 2017 USHL Player of the Year, finishes his NHL career with a 2-2-2 record and a 3.09 goals-against average with a .899 save percentage.
“The National Hockey League was saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Monday. “On behalf of the NHL family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates in both the Blue Jackets organization and his native country of Latvia. His love for life and passion for the game will be deeply missed by all those who have been fortunate to have him as a teammate and a friend.”
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, 24, dies in ‘tragic accident’
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday at the age of 24.
The team said Kivlenieks died as the result of a “tragic accident,” suffering an apparent head injury in a fall.
“Medical personnel were called immediately, but he succumbed a short time later,” the team said in a statement.
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said in a statement. “Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.”
Kivlenieks started in two games for the Blue Jackets last season and had recently played for Latvia at the IIHF World Championships. He played in eight total games in his NHL career and was expected to compete for more playing time next season.
“One thing I loved and appreciated about him was he had a great smile and always was in a good mood,” Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno told ESPN in a text message. “I know it’s cliché, but that’s exactly the kind of guy he was. Just enjoying his life as a 24-year-old living out his dream and you could tell he didn’t take one day for granted, which makes this tragedy even more hard to bear. Praying for his family and all of us who knew him. Hard day for a lot of people in that organization.”
Kivlenieks, who was undrafted, signed with Columbus as a free agent in 2017. He made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 19, 2020, stopping 31 of 32 shots to beat the New York Rangers 2-1.
Last week, Kivlenieks and fellow Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made an appearance at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a ride-along event. Kivlenieks was spending the summer in the United States and was there at the time of his death, a source told ESPN.