Vegas Golden Knights veteran Mark Stone never wore the "C" for the Ottawa Senators, but he believes newly minted captain Brady Tkachuk is the perfect fit for the honor."You could tell from Day 1 that he was the guy, you know? When I was there kind of leading the charge, he was my right-hand man - when he was 19," Stone said during the weekend's All-Star festivities, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "The way he plays speaks for itself. He brings you into the fight every night."The pair's tenures in Ottawa overlapped during Tkachuk's rookie season in 2018-19 before the Senators sent Stone to the Golden Knights at the 2019 trade deadline.Tkachuk even lived with Stone that season and rented the property from the 29-year-old after Stone's move to the desert."I loved (our time together) and still have that relationship to this day. Look forward to keeping that relationship," Stone said. "Maybe someday down the road we'll meet up again and play."The Golden Knights captain reflected on his stint in Ottawa, where he put up 311 points in 366 games."I loved my time there. Loved playing. Loved going on those playoff runs," he said. "It's kind of disappointing the way everything went down. You know, I only know a couple guys left there."Stone and Tkachuk were able to catch up during All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. Their respective squads will meet again March 6. The Golden Knights bested the Senators 5-1 in their first clash earlier this season.Vegas currently sits atop the Pacific Division, while Ottawa is in seventh place in the Atlantic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry coming off his second All-Star Game appearance amid a strong start to the season, general manager Ron Hextall certainly looks wise for sticking with him.After helping the Penguins finish atop the realigned East Division during the shortened 2020-21 campaign, Jarry struggled in the playoffs, putting up an .888 save percentage in six games against the New York Islanders en route to the Penguins' hasty first-round exit.Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke said Hextall's support of Jarry after his significant struggles was "critical.""People are saying, 'Oh, you've got to get a goalie.' Ron Hextall said to me as soon as the playoffs were over, 'We don't need a goalie,'" Burke told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Seth Rorabaugh. "And he told Tristan that: 'We're not looking for a goalie. We believe in you.'"When your (general manager) tells you that, that means a lot. But when your (general manager) was a pretty phenomenal NHL goaltender, that means even more. ... It was huge."A couple months after the Penguins' early exit, Hextall said he firmly expected Jarry to bounce back in 2021-22, and the 26-year-old has repaid the faith so far. Jarry has registered a sparkling .923 save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average heading into the All-Star break.Burke also noted that Jarry's playoff struggles weren't out of the ordinary given the fact that 2020-21 was his first year as the full-time starter in Pittsburgh following Matt Murray's departure."You look at (ex-Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury), I think had a couple of tough playoffs. (Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei) Vasilevskiy. (Montreal Canadiens goaltender) Carey Price," he said. "So for a player to scuffle a little bit early on, that's not unusual."Despite battling through a myriad of injuries, the Penguins are currently third in the deep Metropolitan Division with a 27-11-8 record.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seventy years ago in Norway, Czechoslovakia's Olympic hockey captain carried an olive branch past center ice. He was about to face Canada and wanted to hand the opponent his national delegation's flag.His sportsmanship surprised the Canadian players. They didn't have a gift for him."Already sadly deficient in (medals) in the 1952 Winter Olympics," The Canadian Press reported at the time, "Canada now has been caught with its courtesies down."In 1952, Canada and the United States combined to alienate foreign teams, fans, and sportswriters, spurring some to suggest that the Olympics should drop hockey. Onlookers in Oslo objected to their physical play. The Soviet press accused both teams of fixing the tournament finale. Processing the criticism, the head of Canada's hockey association said the country should sit out future Games.No boycott materialized, and the 1952 tournament entered Canada's lore. Only one other Canadian, speed skater Gordon Audley, medalled at the '52 Games, but the men's hockey team went undefeated. It was Canada's last Olympic championship in the sport for half a century, the wait ending once NHL stars started to play in the event.Canada won Olympic hockey gold in 2002, breaking a drought that dated to 1952. Tim de Waele / Getty ImagesSome Olympic tournaments are remembered for an indelible sight: 1980's Miracle on Ice, Wayne Gretzky's benching in a '98 shootout, Sidney Crosby's golden goal in 2010. One theme defined what went down in '52."Europeans regard the North American type of game as 'too rough,'" Robert Ridder, the manager of the American team, wrote in his post-Games report to the U.S. Olympic Committee.That hockey was played in 1952 was a small miracle. Two rival American teams boated to 1948's Winter Games in Switzerland, inciting an eligibility dispute. The IOC sidelined the squad it preferred but, seemingly out of spite, disqualified the participating U.S. team from medal contention. Canada won gold but called the referees incompetent, bashed the quality of the Swiss ice, and contemplated skipping the next Olympics.Instead, the Edmonton Mercurys were sent abroad in '52 to defend the title. The Mercurys were a senior amateur team bankrolled by Jim Christiansen, a local car salesman who employed several players at his Ford dealership. One veteran forward, originally from Saskatchewan, was nicknamed "Mr. Hockey." This wasn't Gordie Howe, but George Abel, an expert puck handler whose brother Sid won the Stanley Cup with Howe on the Detroit Red Wings.The Mercurys outscored opponents 88-5 and cruised to gold when they represented Canada at the 1950 world championships. That earned them the trip to the Olympics, and they toured Europe to play dozens of exhibition tuneups ahead of the Games. On a Swedish highway, the team bus slid into a ditch and hit a tree, according to journalist Tom Hawthorn. Injuries were limited to cuts and sore backs, and the Mercurys won that night's game 7-2.The Olympic contests were played outdoors at Jordal Amfi, a 9,000-seat rink built on time because Norwegian players volunteered to lay the piping. The Mercurys thumped Germany 15-1 in their tournament opener while wearing black armbands to mourn King George VI, whose state funeral was held in London the same day. Canada's next opponent, punchless Finland, lost 13-3 despite deploying up to four defensemen at once.The U.S. sent a plucky, all-star collective of recent college players to Oslo. (Winger Ken Yackel, representing the U.S., was the only American in the NHL when he debuted with the Boston Bruins in 1958.) The Americans started slowly, opening the tournament with a narrow victory over a Norway team that finished winless. Up 3-2 late, the U.S. goalie was caught out of his net, but Norway's shooter fired wide from close range."It was at this point that coach (Connie) Pleban almost blacked out!" Ridder wrote after the tournament.The U.S. rebounded to beat Finland 8-2 during a snowstorm - the puck came close to disappearing at points - and then blew out Switzerland by the same score. However, trouble brewed in the Swiss game. American defenseman Joseph Czarnota jumped on an unsuspecting opponent during a third-period scrum. Referees escorted Czarnota to the penalty box while the Oslo fans, some yelling "Chicago gangsters," threw orange peels on the ice."The 'sins' attributed to this minor American ice hockey player," The New York Times reported later, "so thoroughly disturbed (one Oslo) newspaper that it proposed the introduction into the Norwegian language of a word 'czarnota' as a synonym for cheat and ruffian generally."Canada annoyed the locals, too. On the day of the Czarnota fracas, the Mercurys beat Czechoslovakia 4-1 in the tournament's rowdiest and most physical game. The Canadians snubbed the opposing captain in the gift exchange, then slashed, hooked, held, and hammered his teammates all over the rink.The Edmonton Mercurys' 1952 Olympic jersey. Wikimedia Commons The Mercurys took 17 penalties, and the crowd booed their barrage of body checks, "not understanding that this is all part of hockey," The Canadian Press noted. Fed up, a Swiss newspaper wrote that "overseas teams" were polluting European hockey and urged the IOC to consider dropping the sport."If there is no hockey in the next Olympics, they may as well cancel the Games," Doug Grimston, the president of Canadian amateur hockey, said in response, per CP."Hockey is the big drawing card, and no one is kidding anybody about that."Canada's Olympic finale proved him right. Unbeaten through seven games with a plus-57 goal differential, the Mercurys had already secured gold entering their last clash with the U.S. The Americans owned a 6-1 record - Sweden beat them - and needed a point from the game to finish on the podium. A loss would relegate them to fourth.An Olympic classic transpired. Canada outshot the U.S. 58-13 but nursed a 3-2 lead in the waning minutes when American defenseman James Sedin converted a give-and-go play. Pleban and a few players huddled at the U.S. bench and decided to sit back to protect the tie."The Canadians had come to the same conclusion themselves and literally froze the puck for the remaining three minutes," Ridder wrote afterward."At the final whistle, both teams poured over the boards in sheer delight - the Canadians because they had won the championship, the Americans because they had tied the invincible Canadians and won what seemed an impossible silver medal."United Press International reported that "stony silence" greeted the Americans at the closing ceremony, though the Mercurys sparked laughs by showing up in cowboy hats. All the while, anger over the standings festered behind the Iron Curtain. The Soviet Union didn't play in Oslo, but the Moscow newspaper Trud claimed Canada and the U.S. conspired to tie so communist Czechoslovakia wouldn't medal."We expected something of that kind from Russians," Ridder told reporters, per The Associated Press. "I suppose the Reds cannot lose without throwing dirt on victors."Eager to chime in, Grimston called the accusation "about the stupidest thing I've ever heard" and later grumbled the Mercurys weren't reimbursed for their expenses while touring Europe. He told reporters that Canada ought to pull out of future Olympic tournaments.Grimston was blustering - Canada went to the next Games and placed third - but it took time to resolve the transatlantic schism. At the Summer Olympics in Finland later in 1952, the great Czech distance runner Emil Zatopek set records in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and marathon, which he entered on a whim. His motivation to dominate was unusual."It was the brutal and harsh play of the United States ice hockey team in the Winter Olympics which drove me to my most recent performances," Zatopek said, per The Associated Press. "I made a pledge to win at least two gold medals for my country."Emil Zatopek (center) at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Keystone-France / Getty ImagesBy then, the Mercurys had secured their place in history. Edmonton held a victory parade in the city center when the team returned, with players riding in Ford convertibles down Jasper Avenue as 70,000 people cheered. Christiansen, the team owner, died of pneumonia not long after the Olympics, and a group of players, including captain Bill Dawe, took over his car dealership.While Sid Abel's Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1952, George Abel headed home to Saskatchewan, where he kept playing senior hockey and helped run his family's hauling business. He died in 1996, six years before Canada's next Olympic hockey triumph.The Toronto Maple Leafs invited Dawe to a tryout when he returned from Oslo, making it possible the Mercurys would graduate a player to the NHL. Dawe, who wasn't a bruiser at 165 pounds, accepted the offer but didn't last long with the Leafs."He probably would have made the team," Dawe's son told the Toronto Star many years later. "But he said, 'I'm too small, and those guys hit too hard.'"Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rod Brind'Amour thinks highly of his team's old Southeast Division rivals.The Carolina Hurricanes head coach praised the Florida Panthers when asked about them at All-Star media day in Las Vegas on Friday."That's the juggernaut team for me," Brind'Amour said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "That management (group) has done a great job in the way (it's) assembled that team. There's no weaknesses."They play to their identity, which all the top teams do," he added. "You’re going to get high-octane. You've got to be on your toes ... It’s a fun team to watch, not so much fun to play against."The Panthers lead the Atlantic Division and are third in the NHL standings based on points percentage. Florida has the most points in the league at the break, but the club has played more games than most of the other top teams.Still, Florida has been a force to be reckoned with this season. The team is tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the league lead with 4.09 goals per game and leads the NHL with 36.6 shots per contest. The Panthers haven't been great at suppressing shots or goals overall, posting the 20th-best rate of shots against and 16th-fewest goals allowed per contest.However, Florida is dominating the possession game at five-on-five, ranking second in scoring chances for percentage and third in expected goals percentage in those situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.The Hurricanes sit atop the Metropolitan Division with five games in hand on the New York Rangers, who share Carolina's 64-point total. The Hurricanes are second in the overall standings by points percentage, with a narrow edge over the Panthers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell will become a free agent this summer, but his focus this season is squarely on helping the team succeed."I love being a Toronto Maple Leaf,” Campbell said, according to the Toronto Star's Chris Johnston. “Leafs Nation has been unbelievable for me personally, and then supporting our team. The coaches, my teammates, it’s just incredible how spoiled we are, just the support we get from them."It’s a dream to play in Toronto and I’m just so motivated to try to help us win. To win in Toronto would just be a dream come true."In his first season as a starting goalie, the 30-year-old has been one of the NHL's best netminders and just wrapped up his first All-Star appearance.In 32 contests, he owns a 21-6-3 record alongside a .925 save percentage and 14.19 goals saved above average. Campbell is currently making $1.65 million and will be in line for a significant raise this offseason against the Leafs' minimal cap space.The netminder said he tries not to think about the uncertainty surrounding his future."I mean, I’d love to say absolutely not, but of course we’re all human,” Campbell said."I just think to myself, ‘Just go out and compete for the guys.' That’s all it’s about, anyway. Obviously, we all have good days, bad days, but it’s all about just being in the right mindset for your teammates and just competing for them."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Metropolitan Division defeated the Central Division 5-3 to win Saturday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas.Metro captain Claude Giroux finished the game with two goals and was also named MVP. Jack Hughes netted the game-winner.Chris Kreider and Evgeny Kuznetsov were the other two goalscorers. Frederik Andersen let in two goals on nine shots while Tristan Jarry shut the door, allowing just one goal on 15 shots.Joe Pavelski netted a goal and an assist for the Central side, with the other two goals coming from Nazem Kadri and Clayton Keller. Cam Talbot allowed four goals on 13 shots while Juuse Saros let in one on five shots.This marks the third time the Metropolitan Division has won the All-Star Game since the NHL adopted the divisional format in 2016.The winning team earned a $1-million prize to be divided among its members.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL tabbed Claude Giroux as its All-Star MVP on Saturday.The Philadelphia Flyers captain collected three goals and an assist over two games - including a pair of markers in the final - to lead the Metropolitan Division to the title.Giroux is the third Flyer to earn the award, joining Reggie Leach in 1980 and Wayne Simmonds in 2017.The forward's future in Philadelphia is unclear as he's a pending unrestricted free agent. Giroux has spent his entire 15-year career with the Flyers, who drafted him 22nd overall in 2006.Giroux ranks second all time in games played, assists, and points for Philly. He also sits ninth in goals. The 34-year-old has 15 markers and 20 helpers in 42 contests this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Kyrou collected two goals and two assists as the Central Division dispatched the Atlantic 8-5 in the second semifinal of the NHL All-Star tournament on Saturday.Roman Josi buried the eventual winner off a feed from Kyrou about seven minutes into the second period.Alex DeBrincat notched a pair of goals and an assist of his own in the victory. Kyle Connor produced a goal and had another disallowed following an offside review.Jonathan Huberdeau, Auston Matthews, and Rasmus Dahlin registered a goal and an assist apiece for the Atlantic.Earlier on Saturday, the Metropolitan Division earned its spot in the final with a 6-4 victory over the Pacific.Enforcer Tom Wilson opened the scoring just 13 seconds into that matchup. Timo Meier netted the equalizer a couple of minutes later, but the Metropolitan squad carried a 3-1 lead into the intermission.The Pacific Division tied things up midway through the final frame, but a pair of goals from Jack Hughes and Jake Guentzel ultimately made the difference.The Metropolitan has won the All-Star Game twice since the NHL adopted the divisional format in 2016.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks interviewed Scott Mellanby for their general manager position, the team confirmed Saturday.The club announced Friday it has also interviewed current interim GM Kyle Davidson and Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Eric Tulsky for the role.Mellanby spent the last decade working in the Montreal Canadiens' front office. He started as director of player personnel before moving up the chain to assistant GM. He resigned in November after learning he was out of the running to become Montreal's next GM.The 55-year-old spent 21 years in the NHL as a player, suiting up in 1,431 games between the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers.Tulsky has worked in the Hurricanes' front office since 2014, beginning as an analyst. He then served as director of analytics, vice president of hockey management, and most recently, assistant GM. The Harvard grad is a widely respected analytical mind in the hockey world.Davidson became Chicago's interim GM after Stan Bowman resigned from his post in October. He previously served as the team's assistant GM and manager of hockey administration.The Blackhawks will also reportedly interview former Boston Bruins and Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli.Chicago is planning to speak to at least five candidates for the job, a source told Powers.Former Blackhawks players Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, and Eddie Olczyk are assisting CEO Danny Wirtz and president of business operations Jaime Faulkner in the GM search.Wirtz confirmed the team won't hire a president of hockey operations above the GM. The club has also stated it would like to fill the GM role before the March 21 trade deadline.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins will host the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, the NHL announced Friday.The league also revealed that the Florida Panthers will host next year's All-Star festivities at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise.Additionally, the Carolina Hurricanes' previously planned Stadium Series game at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh is now scheduled for next year. That event was originally tabbed for 2021 before being postponed due to COVID-19.If and when the Hurricanes are ultimately able to host the Stadium Series tilt, it would be Carolina's first outdoor affair.Lastly, the NHL's Global Series will make its return in 2022-23 with games in Czechia, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland. Preseason contests will be held in Germany and Switzerland, while regular-season matchups will be slated for Czechia and Finland.The remaining teams, dates, and unknown cities for these events will be revealed at a later time. The Winter Classic has taken place on New Year's Day on 13 of 15 occasions.This will be the Bruins' fifth regular-season outdoor game and the second Winter Classic at Fenway.The Panthers will host All-Star Weekend for the first time since 2003 when they did so in the same building, which was then known as the Office Depot Center. The club was awarded the 2021 All-Star Game, but that was postponed due to the pandemic. The Vegas Golden Knights got the 2022 event.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid may be in the midst of a tight Art Ross Trophy race, but the Edmonton Oilers superstar has bigger things on his mind."I truthfully do not care. I don't care about the scoring race," McDavid said during his All-Star media availability Friday, per TSN. "I don't really pay attention to where guys are at."He added: "I want to win games in Edmonton, and with the team."McDavid, along with Colorado Avalanche darling Nazem Kadri, is currently tied for third in league scoring with 60 points. The 25-year-old, who's won the award three times over the past five seasons, including last campaign, trails teammate Leon Draisaitl by three points and NHL leader Jonathan Huberdeau by four.As for McDavid's top priority, the Oilers entered the All-Star break winning five of their last six games after struggling to string together victories in December. For McDavid, he feels his team has rediscovered its groove."I just feel like in the room, everyone's got their confidence back, everyone's got their mojo back," McDavid said. "It's a good feeling in the room right now."He added: "The break, for us, kind of came at an inopportune time, just with guys starting to feel good, guys finding ways to win games. We want to keep playing, and the break came at a bad time, but we'll pick up where we left off."McDavid will compete in the Fastest Skater event at the 2022 All-Star Skills Competition on Friday night. He'll also captain the Pacific Division's squad during Saturday's All-Star Game.The Oilers return to action against the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 8.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer said injured superstar Jack Eichel could be cleared for contact shortly after the club reconvenes from the All-Star break."The doctor was adamant that three months from surgery, there would be absolutely no contact," DeBoer said, according to the Review Journal's David Schoen. "I think coming out of this break, that's going to be on the table."Eichel underwent artificial disc replacement surgery on his neck Nov. 12, shortly after Vegas acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Sabres.He's back skating, but being cleared for contact is the key remaining hurdle before a possible return to game action."There's been a couple (practices) in the last week where he's maybe the best player on the ice, so I would say he's progressing pretty well," DeBoer said, per Sportsnet."We haven't started contact yet, I think that's the next step, and that's a big step. Obviously, everything changes once we get into full contact, but from a sheer practice and skill point of view, he's elite, elite. Every day we're out with him, I think the group gets more excited."Eichel's addition to the Golden Knights' lineup could be what the franchise has been looking for to put it over the top. The 25-year-old is one of the top centers in the game, and he recorded 355 points over 375 games with Buffalo.Vegas leads the Pacific Division through 46 games with 57 points. It returns to the ice after All-Star festivities Feb. 8 versus the Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The past five months have been miserable for the Philadelphia Flyers. After two giant losing skids of 10 and 13 games, the Metropolitan Division club sits 26th in points percentage at the All-Star break.Captain Claude Giroux, the Flyers' MVP so far with 35 points in 42 games, is the team's All-Star representative this weekend in Las Vegas. He'll compete in a skills event where players are tasked with shooting pucks into targets outside at the famous fountains of the Bellagio hotel. More intriguingly, though, Giroux will reportedly sit down with agent Pat Brisson in Vegas to discuss his future.Giroux, 34, is a pending unrestricted free agent with a full no-movement clause. The careerlong Flyer, who makes $8.275 million annually against the cap, has all of the power in the lead-up to the March 21 trade deadline. "It will be Claude's decision," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher told reporters last week. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesLet's assume for a moment that Giroux does want to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere. In no particular order, here are four possible landing spots:Calgary Flames: With the Western Conference wide-open beyond Colorado and Vegas, the Flames are already primed for a playoff run. If Calgary can make the money work, why not pursue Giroux to upgrade the second line? Giroux can play both center and the wing and would have no issues blending into head coach Darryl Sutter's structure.Minnesota Wild: The Wild are going to be in salary-cap hell starting next season thanks to the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. Pursuing a rental of Giroux's caliber - while they still can - could be worth the risk. Minnesota may not be in the top tier of Cup contenders, but they're awfully close. Acquiring Giroux would reward a devoted fan base before the cap pain hits.Boston Bruins: The Bruins currently have $1.7 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly, so a third team would most likely need to be involved in a Giroux-to-Boston trade. That complicates the maneuver, of course, but the Bruins are still searching for a second-line center in the post-David Krejci era. Do desperate times call for desperate measures with only so many years left with this core?Colorado Avalanche: Similar to Boston and its cap situation, Colorado is near the upper limit, which means a third team might be required to pull off a deal of this magnitude. That said, GM Joe Sakic is undoubtedly pushing all of his chips to the middle of the table this year, so the Avs can't be excluded from any trade discussion involving star talent.Gagner still evolvingTen years ago Wednesday, Sam Gagner had the game of his life.The crafty center torched the Chicago Blackhawks for four goals and four assists in an 8-4 win for the Edmonton Oilers. To that point, a player had recorded eight or more points in a game only 15 times in league history. Gagner's explosion counts as the first and only eight-pointer this century.Gagner - drafted sixth overall in 2007 thanks to his creativity with the puck and offensive instincts - is now a Swiss Army knife and mentor in Detroit. The Red Wings acquired him ahead of the 2020 trade deadline, and the team's re-signed him to cheap, one-year deals in the past two offseasons."I like to think my perspective throughout the years has helped me stay around as long as I have," Gagner told me in November. "The things I've learned, hopefully, I can impart that on some guys in our group." Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesGagner's come full circle in a way - suiting up for the Wings during a substantial rebuild years after breaking into the league amid an Oilers rebuild. Twists and turns from his previous six stops (including two in Edmonton) have left him grateful for his role in Detroit as a bottom-six forward who kills penalties."There's only so many top-six minutes available, only so many power-play minutes available, and if you can add value in other areas, it helps you become an effective player in this league," said Gagner, who has 15 points in 47 contests while leading Wings forwards in shorthanded ice time per game."A lot of times in this league, once a player gets to a certain age, you think that's what he is," he added. "The coaching staff here has been really helpful in finding a different layer to my game and helping me get there. Hopefully, it helps me extend my career, and we can build a winner here."Russia's goalie factoryThe past two Stanley Cups were won with goaltending from a Russian (Andrei Vasilevskiy). This year's Vezina Trophy will likely be claimed by a Russian (Igor Shesterkin). The team atop the standings is backstopped by a Russian (Sergei Bobrovsky). One of the position's rising stars is Russian (Ilya Sorokin). The world's top netminding prospect is Russian (Yaroslav Askarov).You get the point: Russia is producing star puck-stoppers at a striking rate. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesBut why? Adam Francilia, a private goalie development coach/trainer who works with 10 NHLers, theorizes Russia has become so good because they don't try to shove goaltenders into a box at a young age. Instead, the "least robotic nation" encourages creativity and experimentation, which leads to well-rounded and adaptable goalies like Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin, and Sorokin."They teach all of the tools in the toolbox," Francilia said. "They expect all of their goalies to be able to use all of those tools, and then they let the goalies themselves decide which of those tools to use and how often they use them."Finland, which has adopted a similar strategy, according to Francilia, is second on the goalie guru's power rankings. Canada, Sweden, and to a lesser extent, the USA, are too "cookie-cutter" in their approach to netminder development."Goaltending is equal parts science and art - that left-brain, right-brain thing," Francilia said. "In North America, we have to do a much better job of allowing the artistic side within these guys to come out. We have to stop and say, 'OK, let's take the tools you've learned so far and go discover who the artist is.'"Jeannot does it all John Russell / Getty ImagesAt the break, there are three sure-fire Calder Trophy candidates: Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, and Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond of the Red Wings. Each has a legitimate case to win rookie of the year.Another Detroit player, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, and Florida Panthers two-way forward Anton Lundell would probably round out most voters' ballots right now.One rookie who doesn't seem to be getting his due is Tanner Jeannot, the Nashville Predators' feisty sharpshooter. Jeannot quietly leads all first-year players in goals (14), and only one has been on the power play."His game has so much substance to it," Nashville's head coach John Hynes said in a recent interview. "He doesn't really play on the power play (only 14:25 all year). He's one of our top-two penalty killers. He plays 15, 16 minutes a night total, and it's mostly hard minutes, a lot of D-zone starts. And he's producing offense in probably the most difficult way you can - at even strength."It's rare for a rookie, even one as mature as the 24-year-old Jeannot, to embody the identity of his team. The crash-and-bang Preds rank first in the NHL in total fights and fifth in hits per game, with Jeannot leading the way in both categories (eight fights and 151 hits through 46 contests). The 6-foot-2 pest feeds off the intensity."It's no fluke: Tanner's a big, strong guy who's a fierce competitor," Hynes said. "He's got the physical abilities to play physical. Him, Yakov Trenin, Colton Sissons, and Mark Borowiecki - these guys are competitive, and they play hard. They're not just guys who run around, hit guys, fight. They've got good instincts, they can score. And Tanner's definitely been a big part of that."Parting thoughtsRocky Wirtz: A few days later, I'm still trying to process the toddler-style outburst from the Chicago Blackhawks owner. Zero accountability from somebody who should be begging for the public's respect. I can't imagine how Kyle Beach (and other Brad Aldrich victims) felt while watching Wirtz's condescending and combative responses to fair questions from reporters. There could be new lawsuits filed against the Hawks soon, according to TSN.Skill competition: From a pure curiosity standpoint, I'm looking forward to the Fountains of Bellagio event this weekend. Two old-school events - fastest skater and hardest shot - also have my attention. Predictions for top three finishers: Connor McDavid (duh), Adrian Kempe, and Jordan Kyrou in fastest skater, and Victor Hedman, Adam Pelech, and Timo Meier in hardest shot.

Alex Ovechkin tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, but unless that keeps him out long term, he'll still be vying for the Hart Trophy down the stretch.Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, on the other hand, has been in the MVP hunt this season, but he's no longer among the most deserving candidates due to his unspectacular underlying numbers and the superiority of his counterparts.Here are our top five Hart contenders as we move further into the second half of the campaign:5. Igor Shesterkin Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyGPRecordSV%GSAxGSAA2922-5-2.93717.0115.01Shesterkin is pulling away as the Vezina Trophy favorite, and though he's not a top MVP challenger, the New York Rangers goaltender deserves to be on the fringes of the Hart discussion.Chris Kreider's league-best goal total has obviously helped the Rangers climb to second place in the Metropolitan Division by points percentage, but Shesterkin has kept the club in games it's had no business being in.New York ranks third-last in the NHL in shots per game and has allowed more shots per contest than over half of the league's teams. Worse yet, the Rangers are last in scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five and have the fourth-worst expected goals for percentage in the same situations. Given those struggles, Shesterkin's excellence is even more commendable.Despite his club's glaring weaknesses, Shesterkin leads all NHL netminders in goals saved above expected and ranks second in goals saved above average (both at five-on-five). New York wouldn't be a particularly competitive club without the 26-year-old's stellar play.4. Auston Matthews Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%39292220:4762.3Matthews won't get as much Hart consideration as others on this list due to the Toronto Maple Leafs' stable of skilled forwards. But the 24-year-old center has done most of the heavy lifting for his team in 2021-22 and has scored at a ridiculous clip lately.Matthews has a whopping 22 goals over his last 22 games dating back to Nov. 24, with a seven-game scoring streak at the start of that run. He's tied for third in the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy race, and it's worth noting he's played fewer games than the three players above him.While all of that is remarkable, what's keeping the American in the MVP picture is his takeover of his team's offense. Matthews has scored nearly 20% of Toronto's goals and notched a point on about one-third of them, tallying 12 more goals and 11 more points than his next-closest teammates.Matthews also has a 61.97 scoring chances for percentage to go along with his sparkling expected goals for percentage, ranking fourth and third, respectively, among NHL players with at least 400 minutes at five-on-five.3. Jonathan Huberdeau Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%47174719:1154.48Huberdeau has been one of the NHL's preeminent playmakers for years, but he's been historically overlooked in MVP voting thanks to the presence of supremely skilled teammate Aleksander Barkov. The Florida Panthers have a deep supporting cast this season, but Huberdeau can no longer be a Hart Trophy afterthought.The gifted winger has excelled in 2021-22, and he's proven his worth with Barkov missing over a quarter of Florida's games due to injury. Huberdeau leads the NHL in assists and points at the All-Star break, albeit with more games played than everyone else in the top 10 in both categories. Still, few would have predicted this dominance before the season.Huberdeau has been the biggest reason for his squad's success and is red-hot since the calendar flipped to 2022, totaling six goals and 20 assists across the last 16 games.The 28-year-old has 16 more assists and 20 more points than his next-closest teammates. When Barkov was out in November and December, Huberdeau poured in 14 points over eight games. He's also collected 13 of his 17 goals (76%) and 43 of his 64 points (67%) at even strength while posting better underlying numbers than the Panthers captain.2. Connor McDavid Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%41233722:4057.97When the Oilers temporarily fell out of the postseason picture with a seven-game winless streak in December and January, McDavid's status as the season-long Hart Trophy front-runner had to be reconsidered. Then Edmonton reeled off four straight wins and returned to the playoff mix, where it narrowly remains based on points percentage.McDavid wasn't to blame for the skid, nor did he deserve all of the credit for his team's resurgence. But like it or not, modern Hart voters consider a playoff berth all but mandatory for MVP consideration; with Edmonton's postseason hopes far from certain, the club's Canadian superstar is not yet a lock for the Hart.McDavid's analytic figures are superior to those of the No. 1 name on this list, but he hasn't carried his team the way Ovechkin has buoyed his. Still, that's not to say the Oilers captain hasn't been his usual dominant self. A deeper look at the 25-year-old's underlying numbers confirms he has, and that's why he's high on this list as usual.But despite Draisaitl's flaws, the German's immense production hurts McDavid's Hart chances, especially considering how much more Ovechkin has had to do for his squad. And while Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have struggled by their standards, they're firmly entrenched in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.McDavid is still arguably the NHL's most explosive player, and he gives Edmonton a chance to win every game. But the two-time MVP is no longer the top dog in the 2021-22 race.1. Alex Ovechkin John McCreary / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%46292921:5152.41To say Ovechkin's output at 36 years old remains impressive is a massive understatement. At the most basic level, the prolific winger has been one of the best players in the league in 2021-22. He's among the NHL leaders in goals, points, and average ice time among forwards, leads the league in shots on goal and even-strength goals, and is tied for the lead in even-strength points. The Russian sniper's possession figures are favorable, too.Then there's his performance relative to that of his team, which is the ultimate indicator of value. He's scored over twice as many goals and 13 more points than his next-closest teammate, Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovechkin has nearly 100 more shots on goal (213) than his countryman (121), who also sits second among Capitals skaters in that regard.Those disparities are partly because of a slew of absences due to injuries and COVID-19, but Ovechkin has kept his team afloat when it's been shorthanded, and that's what being the MVP is all about.Ovechkin had been the only Washington player to suit up for every game in 2021-22 before his positive test forced him to miss Wednesday's contest. The Capitals captain continues to average nearly 22 minutes of ice time, and his workload this season would be his highest since his fourth NHL season in 2008-09. Playing in his 17th campaign and despite his current health setback, the Hart Trophy is Ovechkin's to lose.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition is upon us, and theScore has you covered. Below, we explain each event, introduce the participants, and predict the winners.Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Fans craving a best-on-best international hockey tournament may get their wish in February 2024.The NHL and NHLPA met last week to start planning the 2024 World Cup of Hockey, and there's a "strong possibility" it could take place in February of that year, sources told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The last three World Cups (2016, 2004, 1996) all took place in September - ahead of the upcoming seasons. The 2024 event would be the first World Cup to take place in the middle of a campaign.There were initially plans for a World Cup of Hockey in 2021, but the league called it off in December 2019 due to a lack of planning time.The NHL was supposed to attend the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, but COVID-19 derailed those plans.There hasn't been a best-on-best international hockey tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Canada won that event, sweeping Team Europe in the best-of-three final.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have contacted Peter Chiarelli and will interview him for their hockey operations vacancy, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."Interim general manager Kyle Davidson is currently running the club, and the Blackhawks indicated earlier this week that he is a candidate for the position and will also receive an interview. The team elevated Davidson to the role following longtime GM Stan Bowman's resignation earlier this season in the wake of the Kyle Beach allegations.Chicago formed an advisory panel that includes Marian Hossa, Eddie Olczyk, and Patrick Sharp to help in the search for a new GM.The St. Louis Blues named Chiarelli vice president of hockey operations in September. He began as a front office executive in 1999 when the Ottawa Senators hired him as an assistant GM. Chiarelli later became GM of the Boston Bruins from 2006-15 and the Edmonton Oilers from 2015-19.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced the assignments Thursday for this weekend's All-Star Skills Competition.The league's top players will convene Friday in Las Vegas to showcase their wide array of talents beginning at 7:30 ET.Here are the participants in each event.Fastest Skater Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerTeamChris KreiderRangersAdrian KempeKingsKyle ConnorJetsEvgeny KuznetsovCapitalsJordan KyrouBluesDylan LarkinRed WingsCale MakarAvalancheConnor McDavidOilersSave Streak Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerTeamJack CampbellMaple LeafsAndrei VasilevskiyLightningFrederik AndersenHurricanesTristan JarryPenguinsCam TalbotWildJuuse SarosPredatorsThatcher DemkoCanucksJohn GibsonDucksFountain Face-Off Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThis competition is new to the event and features plenty of Sin City flair. Players will travel by boat into the famous Bellagio fountains and shoot pucks at five targets, attempting to hit them all in the least amount of time.PlayerTeamJonathan HuberdeauPanthersClaude GirouxFlyersJordan EberleKrakenJocelyne Lamoureux-DavidsonUSARoman JosiPredatorsNick SuzukiCanadiensZach WerenskiBlue JacketsMark StoneGolden KnightsLamoureux-Davidson is a former U.S. Olympian.Hardest Shot Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPlayerTeamAdam PelechIslandersTimo MeierSharksVictor HedmanLightningTom WilsonCapitalsBreakaway Challenge Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPlayerTeamKirill KaprizovWildTrevor ZegrasDucksJack HughesDevilsAlex DeBrincatBlackhawksAlex PietrangeloGolden KnightsManon Rheaume and Wyatt Russell will serve as celebrity goalies for the event.21 in '22 Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyAnother new event, this will be a blackjack-style game where players shoot pucks at giant playing cards on Las Vegas Boulevard.PlayerTeamNazem KadriAvalancheAuston MatthewsMaple LeafsJoe PavelskiStarsSteven StamkosLightningBrady TkachukSenatorsAccuracy Shooting Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPlayerTeamLeon DraisaitlOilersClayton KellerCoyotesRasmus DahlinSabresSebastian AhoHurricanesJake GuentzelPenguinsTroy TerryDucksJohnny GaudreauFlamesPatrice BergeronBruinsJonathan MarchessaultGolden KnightsCopyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks hired Pat Verbeek as general manager, the team announced Thursday."Pat's outstanding work ethic and vast knowledge of the game as a successful executive and player throughout his 35-plus years in the NHL make him an outstanding fit to lead us forward. He brings a unique pedigree, having vast experience and serving in integral leadership roles for championship teams as both a player and executive at the NHL level," Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said.Verbeek was formerly the Detroit Red Wings' assistant GM, a role he started in May 2019.Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman brought Verbeek back to Detroit after the former teammates worked together with the Tampa Bay Lightning dating back to 2010. Verbeek had served as a pro scout with the Red Wings before joining the Lightning. The 57-year-old was also Team North America's director of player personnel at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.Tampa Bay hired Verbeek as director of pro scouting in June 2010, shortly after landing Yzerman. Tampa Bay then promoted Verbeek to assistant GM in July 2011.Verbeek suited up for five teams, including Detroit, during his 20-year playing career. The former winger collected 522 goals and 540 assists over 1,424 games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.Anaheim's previous GM and executive vice president, Bob Murray, resigned in November and pledged to enter an alcohol abuse program following a team investigation into his professional conduct. Murray had been with Anaheim as an executive since 2005 and as GM since 2008.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a quote attributed to Jacques Plante that still hits the mark today, nearly a half-century after the legendary Montreal Canadien's last game."Only a goalie," Plante said, "Can appreciate what a goalie goes through."Back then, Plante was probably talking about pain thresholds in an era of primitive equipment. In 2022, his quote can relate to the overall sophistication of the position: Playing goalie is arguably the most unique role in all of sports, and oftentimes, we non-goalies like to lean on experts for nuanced analysis.With that in mind, and with NHL All-Star festivities starting Friday, theScore reached out to five goaltending experts to form a midseason roundtable:

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz directed a tirade at a pair of reporters Wednesday at a town hall for asking questions about Kyle Beach.The town hall, which was organized by the team, was the first time the Blackhawks brass had publicly taken questions since reaching a confidential settlement with Beach in December in a negligence lawsuit against the club. Beach said former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him while he was a Black Ace for the team during the 2010 playoffs.The Athletic's Mark Lazerus asked Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz the following question:"I know we're looking forward here, but I think we have to look back, also. I think much of what happened to Kyle Beach stemmed from a power imbalance between a coach and a player and the powerlessness of a player in that situation. So, what are the Blackhawks doing, what have the Blackhawks done, what will the Blackhawks do to empower a player in a similar situation to make sure that doesn't happen again?"Rocky took the question instead and berated Lazerus.

Welcome to the fourth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings.These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen based on this season's results rather than just points or reputation.

Washington Capitals superstar forward Alex Ovechkin is out for Wednesday's clash versus the Edmonton Oilers and will miss All-Star Weekend after testing positive for COVID-19, the team announced.Teammate Tom Wilson will replace Ovechkin in the Metropolitan Division All-Star squad, while Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux will take over the "C," the league announced.Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault has been added to the Pacific Division outfit as well.Wilson is having the best offensive season of his career with 31 points in 42 contests while averaging nearly 20 minutes per night.Ovechkin is in the midst of an MVP-caliber campaign. The 36-year-old is fifth in the league with 58 points and third with 29 goals. He's been to seven All-Star Games in his career and was suspended one game for skipping the event in 2020.All-Star Weekend begins Feb. 4.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Extended time off is the last thing red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner wants right now.He's fresh off a four-point showing versus the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night and is riding a career-best seven-game goal streak, but he won't return to the ice until Feb. 7 due to the All-Star break."Obviously, (the timing) is a little unfortunate with the heater our line is on," Marner told reporters on Wednesday, per TSN.Marner played only one game in December due to injury, then missed three more in January due to COVID-19 protocol. Since returning to the lineup on Jan. 15, he's recorded eight goals and eight assists while helping the Leafs to a 6-1 record.Linemate and reigning "Rocket" Richard winner Auston Matthews gave Marner some credit for his recent goal-scoring prowess."He's so deceptive, so when he's got the puck, I think a lot of people anticipate him passing it sometimes," Matthews said. "You've seen it the last couple games, him being able to beat the goaltender clean."Matthews added: "He's got a great shot. Might need to get a little more juice on it, but he's definitely really accurate."Marner is up to 14 goals on the season and is on pace for a career-high 30 tallies.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have five games on the docket before the All-Star break.While that's not a lot to work with, I see plenty of value on the board. Let's comb through it with today's best bets.Oilers (+100) @ Capitals (-120)The Edmonton Oilers are coming off a disappointing loss to the Ottawa Senators. Don't let that fool you, though: They're playing pretty good hockey right now. Across all game states, the Oilers controlled 54.28% of the expected goals over the last 10 games, good for the NHL's eighth-highest total.With Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins healthy again - as well as Evander Kane joining the fray - there's reason to believe the Oilers can sustain their strong underlying numbers.Edmonton's depth up front hasn't been matched at any point this season, which will serve it well Wednesday against a very strong team in the Washington Capitals. While the Oilers generally aren't a side you like to target on home soil, this is a good spot.Washington is in the latter half of a back-to-back. It played a taxing overtime game in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, which came at a cost. Vitek Vanecek was forced out of the game early due to injury, and replacement Ilya Samsonov was forced to face 45 shots. That's an insane workload to handle, especially if he needs to start again tonight.Back the Oilers as road 'dogs.Bet: Oilers (+100)Wild (-165) @ Blackhawks (+140)The Minnesota Wild are getting healthy again, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.They've posted a remarkable 8-1-1 record over the last 10 games and are full value for their success. In that span, they controlled 54.25% of the expected goals at five-on-five. That sandwiches them between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes - pretty good company to keep.Things are not going as well for the Chicago Blackhawks. Their share of the expected goals sits below 46% over the last 10 games, with the lowly Arizona Coyotes their closest comparable. Not great.Minnesota already beat the Blackhawks twice this season. The Wild were undermanned in those games, but that didn't matter much: They outscored Chicago 9-4 and won the Grade A chance battle 21-11 in aggregate.I expect the Wild to best the slumping Blackhawks once again - and inside 60 minutes.Bet: Wild in regulation (-115)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the NHL called Manon Rheaume a couple of weeks ago to ask if she'd be interested in participating in the All-Star Skills Competition - set for this coming weekend in Las Vegas - her answer was a no-brainer."Yes, of course," Rheaume thought. "I mean, why not!?"One problem: Rheaume, the long-retired goaltender who made history by appearing in an NHL exhibition game in September 1992, didn't own suitable gear. Bauer quickly sent Rheaume brand-new equipment so the former Canadian Olympian could squeeze in a few warm-up sessions before Vegas."I had not been on the ice in forever," Rheaume said Tuesday in an interview."I didn't realize how easy it is to get dressed now as a goalie and how light this stuff is. You can play with it right away. It's all broken in." Bally Sports DetroitRheaume, who covers the Red Wings as a TV analyst and reporter for Bally Sports Detroit, is one of four "special guests" taking part in Friday's skills event at T-Mobile Arena. The pro hockey trailblazer and current under-12 girls coach will face off against world-class danglers in the Breakaway Challenge, which also features Anaheim Ducks sensation Trevor Zegras."I hope the puck is going to touch me at some point," Rheaume joked.While waiting at the airport for her flight from Detroit to Vegas, Rheaume chatted with theScore about a variety of topics - breaking new ground 30 years ago, the state of women's hockey, the rebuilding Wings, and more.(Note: The following conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.) Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesLet's go back to 1992. You arrive in Tampa, Florida, for Lightning training camp. What are your expectations for the on-ice portion of the camp and also for how you'd be received off the ice by teammates, coaches, etc.?It's funny, because back then I was 20 years old, and I had zero expectations. I had no idea how this whole experience would change my life. When I was younger, a lot of people would say no to me because I was a girl. They didn't want me to play at the highest level. And then suddenly, after getting cut three or four times, one coach picked the best goalie, and he picked me. So I played two years, bantam AA. And then (the next level) was midget AAA, and they invited everyone who had played AA except for me. Because I was a girl.I faced so much of that along the way that when I got invited to Tampa, I told myself I didn't want to have any regrets, and I need to take this chance because, obviously, it's never going to come back. (laughs) And I just went there with zero expectations. I didn't know how I would be received. My English was not very good, so I just went there and tried to do my best.I remember thinking that first time I stepped on the ice was probably going to be the most important moment. We started right away with a mini-tournament, and I did not allow any goals on 14 shots. I was the only goalie in that game who did not allow a goal. That totally changed how people saw me, too. It's almost like I gained respect from the players and the media and the people that were there.It's after that performance that (then-Lightning general manager Phil Esposito) announced that, by the way she played today, maybe you'll see her in an exhibition game.You made seven saves on nine shots in that exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. What are the flashbulb memories 30 years later? What really resonates still to this day about the period you were in goal?The walk from my locker room to the ice. It was probably the most nervous I've ever been. I remember my heart beating so fast. It felt like it was coming out of my chest.But the cool thing is, when I stepped on the ice, I kind of forgot that I was playing an NHL game and what I was about to do. I just stepped on the ice, and the butterflies went away, and I was just ready to play a hockey game. That feeling was probably the coolest feeling I've ever had. It's almost like, "This is what you've been doing all of your life. This is what you love to do. And this is what you're about to do right now."It was really, really a cool feeling. And then, right away, we got a penalty. They were on the power play, like, within the first minute of the game, and I'm thinking to myself, "Really!?" (laughs) But it was probably the best thing because I had two or three shots right away, and it got me into the game. And the Tampa players, too, they started to feel good about it. After the first period, it was 2-2, so for me, it was a big victory.Women's hockey action at the Beijing Olympics starts this week. Do you recall what you were doing and how you were feeling a day or two before the 1998 Olympic tournament began in Nagano, Japan?One memory is the bus pulling into the (athletes' Olympic) village, and you step out of the bus, and you're seeing the village in front of you, and it was just a very overwhelming feeling. Like, wow. It made it real.The other moment is the opening ceremony. I remember, as a kid, always watching the opening ceremony, and every time Canada would come through (the stadium), I'd try to see how they were dressed. You had that pride of seeing your country walking around, and this time it was me. So I couldn't take the smile off my face the entire time I walked around.If I'm picturing the Canadian athletes from Nagano correctly, you guys were wearing those famous - or infamous, depending on who you ask - red Roots caps. Do you still have the cap? Is it a souvenir?I still have all of my Roots stuff. I have my jackets. I have my boots. I kept everything. It was an iconic hat, right? Like, everyone talked about that hat. We'd put it backward. It was just so cool. Yoshikazu Tsuno / Getty ImagesWhile Finland has made up some ground in the women's game recently, the sport is still dominated by Canada and the United States. Heading into Beijing, who's your gold medal favorite? And why?I played hockey in Canada, (I've) had a lot of friends on Team Canada over the years and some who continue to be involved. But I live in the States, so I've coached a lot of the young girls that play now. I coached Kendall Coyne, Alex Rigsby (Cavallini), Megan Bozek, Abbey Murphy. I have ties on both sides, knowing people. And I've just been enjoying watching the games.What is really cool about the women's game is that when Canada and U.S. are on the ice, they're competing. They want to win. But they have such a respect for each other because they've all tried to grow the women's game. When we started, Canada and USA, we used to dislike each other (off the ice, too). The rivalry was different. Now, they still compete and fight, and there's intensity. But they're all also growing the women's game.As far as looking at (who's going to win gold), Canada won the last world championship, but the U.S. had the last five. The U.S. won the last Olympics, but Canada won the last four. So, it could be either/or.The (tune-up) games prior to the Olympics, yes, Canada won four of the six, but three of them went into OT. It could have gone either way, so to me, the way that I look at the Games is that it's going to come down to goaltending. Who's going to be the hottest goalie in the (gold-medal game)? And also discipline. In a lot of those big games, not a lot of goals are scored five-on-five. A lot of the goals are scored on the power play. So the team who is going to be the most disciplined and who has the goalie that's the hottest, to me, that's the team that's going to win.You mentioned coaching Kendall Coyne. We all know about her incredible speed after her performance at the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition. What else should people know about Kendall?I coached her for quite a few tournaments, and I knew she was going to go far in life. Not just in hockey but in life. Because it was her drive, her work ethic, and she was always the best player on any team that I coached. But she also never acted like she was the best player. She always worked harder than anybody else on the ice, off the ice. Just a great person with a great work ethic, and really, a great team player. Sam Wasson / Getty ImagesThe women's professional game remains in a holding pattern of sorts, where it seems like the consensus long-term solution is to establish a sustainable top league. What's your hope for the future?You cannot have two or three leagues going at the same time. You're just fighting for players and splitting up players. Women's hockey is not big enough to have something like that. You need to have one league with the top players available to play in that league.I think it would be important to have maybe a second league to give a chance to some young girls who maybe aren't making the team right away but could eventually. Or even some woman who doesn't make the top league but can still play somewhat professionally and make some money out of it. But trying to compete and have two pro leagues, or three, is just never going to work. It would be like having two NHLs. It's not going to work.Speaking of the NHL, we're seeing women assume key roles in hockey operations, whether it's through management, player development, scouting, analytics. Have you given any thought to working in the NHL?Of course. If the right opportunity would come, with all of the experience I have gained over the years, between coaching and building a (youth hockey) program and having two boys that play at a high level, I would consider it.It's funny, sometimes I see some kids my sons played with that get drafted, or not drafted, and you just know the type of player they are when they're younger, and then you're like, "Ah, not surprised this person didn't make it." Or, "I knew this kid was going to make it." Because you saw what they were doing at a younger age, with their character and everything else. Knowing what you need to get to the next level, you have a good idea of who can make it. Hockey's been my life. Between playing and having kids that play, coaching. So, definitely, it would be something that I would consider if the right opportunity would come.Do you know new Canucks assistant GM Emilie Castonguay?I don't know her personally. But I do know her story. Obviously, she did an amazing job as an agent. Well-respected. It's the same thing you have in Montreal with (new GM) Kent Hughes, and we saw it with Pierre Lacroix years ago with Colorado. These are agents becoming managers. They understand the player side, and they also have dealt with management over the years, so they have a certain experience that other people may not have. I think that can be very beneficial, having been working on the other side for (so long).Valid point. It can go as far as somebody who hasn't played high-level hockey bringing a fresh mind to the analytics department, right? It's smart to have different perspectives in your organization, period.And it's not to have diversity just to say you have diversity. That's what, I think, people need to understand. Bringing diversity is bringing different ideas.They made that book, "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus," because we think differently, which means maybe we approach things differently. It doesn't mean one is better than the other one. But, as a team, as an organization, or even a company, the reason why you should want to find diversity is because you have different ideas, different views. Getting that perspective, that view, is just so valuable.The reason I truly believe in this is because when I was coaching my boys at a younger age, I had so many parents that would say to me that the way that I was approaching coaching, because I'm a mom, was different. I communicated with the kids better, and I was more about positive reinforcement and trying to get to know the kids. You know which kids you need to be a little harder on, which kids you need to be more positive. You get to know how each kid reacts. Some of the male coaches, then, didn't have the patience to deal with it. And it's not bad, or it's not good, it's just their way.That's where I feel bringing diversity to a team or a company can be very beneficial. It's a different look or a different view. Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty ImagesOK, let's finish with some Red Wings talk. Plenty of breakout years from rookies, including goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. From your perspective as a former goalie, what's been most impressive about Alex's season?I like a lot of things about Nedeljkovic. But what I think I like the most is how competitive he is and how he is able to, at a young age, move on from a bad goal. That's a big strength as a goalie. Being a goalie - it's so much in your head.He can read the play very, very well. And he's athletic. So he reacts to the play and to the shot. He's not a blocker, and that's why sometimes he makes those amazing saves, where it looks like he's doing whatever he needs to do to stop the puck. He's reacting to what's in front of him. He doesn't have the size (at only 6-foot-1) to be a blocker.I also like the way he plays the puck. To me, a goalie who can play the puck is huge. It's like your third defenseman. Coaches know how important it is, defensemen and forwards know how important it is, but a lot of hockey fans don't understand the difference it can make.Detroit could make the playoffs this season, but it's highly improbable at this point. How would you evaluate the state of the Red Wings and their rebuild? How far is this team from returning to prominence?Bringing Steve Yzerman back to Detroit (as GM) was really the start of getting back to where the Red Wings want to be. It's never going to be like it was back in the day. That was before the salary cap. (laughs) They were able to get whoever wanted to win the Cup. They were all coming to the Red Wings. They were able to build those amazing teams. Now, with the salary cap, it's a little different.But you saw what he did with Tampa Bay, building a Cup-winning team. Even just the decisions he's made so far in Detroit, drafting (Moritz) Seider. People were wondering why he picked him so early (at sixth overall). Same thing with (Lucas) Raymond. Yzerman just has this amazing hockey mind. He knows what it takes as a player because he was successful. He knows the style of player that he needs, and he knows now how to build a team after being in Tampa Bay. He knows he needs to be patient.I truly feel that this season, with having Seider, Raymond, and Nedeljkovic, it has not been just a few good games. They've been consistent all year long, as players and as a team. They've sped up their rebuilding. They're a few years away from really making (a deep playoff run). We'd like to see them in the playoffs this year, but it's going to be a hard battle to get there.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shot props were not kind to us Tuesday night. All three players we backed fell short, with Mark Scheifele and Jakob Chychrun finishing at two shots apiece despite having a period or more to get their third.Sadly, that's the cost of doing business sometimes. We'll look to rebound Wednesday and enter the All-Star break on a winning note.Tyler Bertuzzi over 2.5 shots (-118)Bertuzzi is quickly becoming a priority target on home ice. He's registered at least three shots in four of his last six games at the Red Wings' Little Caesars Arena, averaging 3.5 shots on goal per game in that span.He's also generating lots of shot attempts, which is reason to believe his success can continue. In his last outing, for example, Bertuzzi registered nine shot attempts. Only two hit the net, but that trend should lead to success more often than not.The Kings are one of the best shot-suppressing teams in the league, but they do give up more volume on the road. I like Bertuzzi to go over the number.Jakob Chychrun over 2.5 shots (-112)Chychrun is a player you want to back on home ice. He's recorded at least three shots on goal in 10 of 13 home games (77%), including eight of the last nine, and his volume is significantly greater at Gila River Arena than it is across other NHL venues.Chychrun averages 7.38 shot attempts and 3.8 shots on goal per game in Arizona. Those numbers dip to 5.75 attempts and 2.5 shots on goal on the road.With the Coyotes hosting the Flames tonight, he's a very attractive player at this price.Patrick Kane over 3.5 shots (-106)Kane averages 4.2 shots per game on home ice and has gone over the number (3.5) in five of his last six games. Whenever you can get him priced at near even money, you should.The Wild aren't pushovers, but Kane has proven he can get the job done against tough competition. He recorded at least four shots in both of the Blackhawks' meetings against Minnesota so far this season, and he's hit the number in home games against the Wild, Hurricanes, Penguins, and Avalanche, among others.I like his chances of coming through for us again in this one.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NHL player Eric Staal is the captain of Canada's men's Olympic team, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.Rounding out the Canadians' leadership group in Beijing are forward David Desharnais and defenseman Maxim Noreau, who will serve as assistant captains."The opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics is very special, and being named captain is an honor and something I take a lot of pride in,” Staal said. "David and Maxim are great leaders and players, and they are deserving of this recognition. Our entire team is excited for the opportunity to be a part of Team Canada, and we look forward to competing for a gold medal in Beijing."Staal, 37, signed a professional tryout contract with the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate on Jan. 13 to help him assess his physical conditioning in hopes of making Canada's Olympic roster. He last suited up for an NHL game in July when the Montreal Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.He made the most of his AHL stint, registering three assists and two goals in four contests.Desharnais, 35, currently plays for HC Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss National League, where he's put up 32 points in 38 games so far in the 2021-22 season.Noreau played for Canada at PyeongChang 2018. He logged seven points in six games en route to the Canadians' bronze-medal victory. The 34-year-old plays for the Zurich Lions of the Swiss National League, where he has 25 assists and six goals in 39 games this season.Staal, meanwhile, played for Canada when the country won the gold medal during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. A veteran of 1,293 NHL games, he scored 441 goals and 593 assists across stints with the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Wild, Buffalo Sabres, and Canadiens.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rebecca Johnston never doubts Marie-Philip Poulin in overtime. Last August in Calgary, Poulin reminded people why. The Canadian hockey captain took a pass in stride in the world championship final, then roofed a wrist shot high-glove, ringing the puck off iron and in and out of the American net.Play kept going for 40 seconds before the horn sounded, but Johnston was ready to rejoice: "We all knew on the bench that it was in."Two powerhouse teams rule women's hockey, and Johnston and Poulin lead one of them in mileage. When the Winter Games start in Beijing this week, they'll have played together at four Olympics, including the 2010 and 2014 tournaments that Poulin capped with golden goals. The United States lost those finals but broke through in 2018, besting Canada in the sixth round of a gold-medal shootout.Marie-Philip Poulin in 2014. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesBrianna Decker (right) and Kendall Coyne Schofield in 2018. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesBeijing 2022 is a rubber match for 11 era-defining players. Canada's Melodie Daoust, Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque, and Natalie Spooner are at their third Games, as are Americans Kendall Coyne Schofield, Brianna Decker, Amanda Kessel, and Lee Stecklein. U.S. forward Hilary Knight is a four-timer now, as familiar as anyone with the ill will this border rivalry stokes.Fans aren't allowed at the Games because of COVID-19; good thing U.S.-Canada matchups make for gripping TV. These teams are fast and unapologetically physical in a sport that penalizes hits. They'll face off Monday night to end the Olympic preliminary round, teasing what seems certain."I guess we can't really say that we'll both be in the finals," Johnston said in a recent interview. "But that's what we expect. We want to be in the finals and that's what we've been working toward: to win that gold medal. If it's against the Americans, then really taking that back this Olympics."I could play them every day," she added, "and every game, it would be exciting."Both sides lean on their leaders. Larocque, women's hockey's first Indigenous Olympian, is Canada's oldest player and steeliest defender at age 33. Beset over the years by serious back, hip, and Achilles injuries, Johnston still leads the national roster in career games played. Daoust was the MVP and top scorer at last summer's world championships, followed atop the leaderboard by Jenner, Spooner, and Poulin.The U.S. counters with Decker, the edgy playmaker and No. 1 center who could stickhandle in a phone booth, as Knight described her ahead of the Games. Coyne Schofield is as fast as speedy NHLers, and proved as much at the All-Star skills competition in 2019. When Stecklein was named best defender at the 2021 worlds, she deposed Jenni Hiirikoski, the Finn who'd won the award six straight times.Knight is her generation's Cammi Granato, the captain who led the U.S. to Olympic gold in 1998."No one’s Cammi. But when you look at someone who carries the weight of this sport on her shoulders like Cammi did … you can put Hilary Knight in that category," Coyne Schofield told the Associated Press recently."What does Hilary Knight mean to this game? You can’t put it into words. You just watch it evolve in front of your eyes." Derek Leung / Getty Images Derek Leung / Getty ImagesDerek Leung / Getty Images Like Poulin, Knight's known to rise in big moments. She's scored in overtime in two major finals, spoiling Canada's run at the world championships in 2011 and 2017. If such thing as a clutch gene exists, it's indispensable at worlds: since the tournament's inception in 1990, eight of 19 Canada-U.S. finals have required OT.Their Olympic encounters tend to be dramatic and heated. Twenty years ago, the U.S. beat Canada in eight straight tune-up games, but Canada won gold in Utah despite being whistled for 13 penalties (to the U.S.'s six) in the final. In the span of 10 seconds postgame, Hayley Wickhenheiser slammed the officiating, accused the Americans of insulting Canada's flag, and offered to sign said flag for them."Much like when I played those eight straight games against the Americans leading into 2002, with every game it gets a little more physical. After the whistle, there's a little more in the scrum. There's a little more chirping," said Cheryl Pounder, the CBC Olympic broadcast analyst who played for two Canadian gold-medal teams."Any time you step on the ice, you're trying to prove to yourself and those around you that you are that team - that you are the best in the world," Pounder told theScore. "This game often defines that."By brawling twice ahead of Sochi 2014, Canada and the U.S. set the stage for an epic final. The Americans led 2-1 late when an empty-net clearing shot from the opposite blue line gently plunked the Canadian post and stayed out. Poulin tied the score with a minute left, Knight cross-checked Wickenheiser on an overtime breakaway, and Poulin's snipe on the ensuing 4-on-3 prolonged Canada's Olympic reign.That memory's dated now, seeing how the U.S. erased a third-period deficit to prevail in the 2018 shootout. Each veteran cohort has a triumph and a letdown to use as fuel."I think about (winning in 2014) all the time," Johnston said. "The joy, the excitement, the passion you have on the ice … It almost is an encouragement. It pushes you, especially on days when you're tired and don't feel like working out or practicing. It helps with the motivation: I'm so close to being able to win a gold medal again."This Olympic quadrennial roiled women's hockey. After Canada's pro league folded in 2019, players from both national teams quit the top U.S. league, too, to form a traveling association of stars. They toured the continent to lobby for a living wage in a new, NHL-backed league that would be financially stable. The U.S. league - now called the Premier Hockey Federation - added a Toronto franchise, plans to expand to Montreal, and recently raised its salary cap to $750,000.COVID-19 disturbed everyone's momentum. Outbreaks in last season's PHF bubble delayed the playoffs by two months. Unable to travel much, the collective of national-team members - the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association - trained in regional hubs and played a handful of showcase games at NHL arenas. This fall, Canada and the U.S. met six times in exhibition play, but three more rivalry games were canceled when Omicron emerged. Derek Leung / Getty ImagesNeither national squad has played since mid-December, when Canada won back-to-back overtime affairs in St. Louis. The overall scoreline in the series favored the Canadians, but only 13-11, and three goals was the most either team scored in a game. Barring rust or a major upset, they're trending toward another white-knuckle final."Every four years, I find it's what's talked about after (the Olympics): how great the women's hockey was and how great that final game was," Johnston said."The gold-medal final is heavily watched," said Pounder, "from boys, girls, men, women, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas. You name it. Doesn't matter. People want to hear about emotion. They want to hear about story. They want to hear about what the process is to get to the top."Pounder added, "This Olympics is an opportunity for visibility. Coming out of these Olympics, it would be my goal that the eyes stay on this sport." Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesBoth teams sooner have to worry about beating Finland - "the elephant in the room," Pounder said. The Finns open the round robin against the U.S. on Thursday, face Canada on Friday, and are right to believe they could bounce either favorite prematurely. Consider:

In our fourth edition of the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy power rankings, we have a couple of newcomers as well as a new netminder on top.5. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks Debora Robinson / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: N/ARECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA15-10-82.492.97.922.85913.81The Ducks have been a pleasant surprise this season and Gibson is finally getting the chance to backstop an overall solid team. Anaheim has struggled mightily over the past few years, and while there have been improvements, Gibson has been making up for some of the defensive woes that have plagued the team. He ranks third in the league with 17.93 goals saved above expected, while the Ducks give up the seventh-most shots per game in the NHL (33.2).4. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 3RECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA23-8-62.212.48.923.82714.81Jarry finally has the benefit of backstopping a fully healthy Penguins lineup after the club battled numerous ailments throughout the majority of the first half of the season. His dominant play helped keep his team in games early on, and he's still not slowing down. He's won 13 of his last 17 contests and will certainly be looking to keep it up down the stretch.3. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators Christopher Mast / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: N/ARECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA24-11-32.352.75.927.86621.57Saros has been a model of consistency since taking over the crease from Pekka Rinne in Nashville. He's as solid as they come and gives the Predators a legitimate shot to win every single time he's in the crease. The team wasn't expected to be too competitive this year, but Saros' play is keeping them afloat in the standings.2. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 4RECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA24-6-02.012.72.929.82516.52Andersen had a scorching hot start to the season with the Hurricanes but came back down to earth a little bit. Unfortunately for the rest of the NHL, he's heating up again. He's won 13 of his last 14 starts and has allowed over three goals just once during that span. The well-rounded Hurricanes tend to make life a bit easier for Andersen, but he's a big reason the club is firmly sitting atop the Metropolitan Division.1. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers Brad Penner / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 2RECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA22-5-22.102.98.937.87125.67Is the trophy Shesterkin's to lose at this point? The Rangers continue to hover near the top of the league standings, and so much of their success hinges on the goaltender's play. He ranks first in the league with an astute 25.67 goals saved above average and ranks second with an impressive .871 high-danger save percentage. It's even fair to say Shesterkin has a legitimate shot at the Hart Trophy if he keeps it up in the second half of the season.Honorable mentions: Jack Campbell, Jacob Markstrom, Andrei Vasilevskiy(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two of the NHL's most electrifying players will battle for the title of fastest skater at the upcoming All-Star Skills Competition in Las Vegas.Connor McDavid and Cale Makar will headline the event along with six other speedsters, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reports.Here's the reported list of competitors:PlayerPositionTeamCale MakarDColorado AvalancheDylan LarkinFDetroit Red WingsConnor McDavidFEdmonton OilersAdrian KempeFLos Angeles KingsChris KreiderFNew York RangersJordan KyrouFSt. Louis BluesEvgeny KuznetsovFWashington CapitalsKyle ConnorFWinnipeg JetsMcDavid is a three-time winner, having taken the title every year from 2017-2019, and he can break Mike Gartner's all-time record for victories in the event if he prevails. New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal defeated McDavid in 2020, and there was no event last year.Makar was a finalist for the Norris Trophy in 2021 and won the Calder in the previous campaign. He's captivated the hockey world this season, with his elite skating ability leading to several jaw-dropping goals.Kreider entered Tuesday's slate tied for the league lead with 31 goals. Larkin was the competition's victor back in 2016.The skills competition will be held Friday night before the All-Star tournament takes place Saturday afternoon.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes' continued rebuild could benefit cap-strapped contenders ahead of the trade deadline."The Coyotes have let it be known that they're willing to take on contracts or money in exchange for future assets, just as we saw them do with a few transactions over the summer," TSN's Chris Johnston reported on Tuesday's "Insider Trading."In Arizona's first offseason under general manager Bill Armstrong, the club took on a bevy of undesirable contracts. The Coyotes traded for Andrew Ladd, Shayne Gostisbehere, Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, and Anton Stralman without giving much of anything. Instead, Arizona acquired several draft picks and prospects in exchange for taking these unwanted contracts.Johnston also noted that the length of the contract and the type of player the Yotes are receiving would play a factor in these negotiations. Ladd and Gostisbehere are the only two aforementioned players signed beyond this season, and both their contracts expire after 2022-23.Arizona currently has $7 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday night was a mixed bag. The Detroit Red Wings came through for us against the Anaheim Ducks, but the Edmonton Oilers were unable to extend their winning streak in Ottawa.We'll aim for better with our best bets for tonight's massive 11-game slate.Canucks (+150) @ Predators (-180)This game has under written all over it. At five-on-five, the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks both rank in the bottom half of the league in expected goal generation over the last 10 games. Each offense is potent, but neither will overwhelm its opponent with high-danger chances on an average night.But what really stands out to me is the goaltending matchup. Even if the two sides generate more opportunities than usual, each team has a high-end netminder to help clean up the mess. Juuse Saros owns a remarkable .927 save percentage and has saved 19.1 goals above expectation, which ranks fourth among all goaltenders.Although Thatcher Demko's numbers this season aren't as strong as Saros', he has played at an elite level for quite some time. Demko owns an absurd .935 save percentage since Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach in early December. He is routinely keeping the Canucks in games (or downright stealing them), which you love to see when you're backing a game to be low-scoring.The cherry on top is that these teams' previous meetings this season were very low-event games. Both went under the number and featured an average of just 20 high-danger chances per contest. That's very low.Don't expect many goals in this one.Bet: Under 5.5 (-125)Flames (-125) @ Stars (+105)The Calgary Flames hit a rough patch, but they appear to be coming out of it. They have won three of their last four games and outscored opponents 15-7 in that stretch.Four games is four games. However, their underlying numbers suggest this breakout was a long time coming.At five-on-five, Calgary generated 117 high-danger chances over the last 10 games. That ties the team for fourth in the NHL. The Flames have been just as effective at prevention, allowing fewer high-danger opportunities than every club except the Bruins, Kraken, and Wild.Combine the Flames' prowess at both ends of the rink and it's no surprise their share of high-danger chances (61.26%) leads the NHL over the last 10 games.The Dallas Stars (50.78%) are no pushovers; however, their numbers don't hold a candle to what the Flames are putting up right now.Also working in Calgary's favor is Braden Holtby's absence. The Stars will turn to Jake Oettinger as a result, and he is struggling mightily with a woeful .885 save percentage over his last nine starts.Couple Calgary's strong five-on-five performance with a clear edge in goal and I like the Flames to stay hot.Bet: Flames (-125)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NHL player Eric Staal is the captain of Canada's men's Olympic team, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.Rounding out the Canadians' leadership group in Beijing are forward David Desharnais and defenseman Maxim Noreau, who will serve as assistant captains."The opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics is very special, and being named captain is an honor and something I take a lot of pride in,” Staal said. "David and Maxim are great leaders and players, and they are deserving of this recognition. Our entire team is excited for the opportunity to be a part of Team Canada, and we look forward to competing for a gold medal in Beijing."Staal, 37, signed a professional tryout contract with the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate on Jan. 13 to help him assess his physical conditioning in hopes of making Canada's Olympic roster. He last suited up for an NHL game in July when the Montreal Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.He made the most of his AHL stint, registering three assists and two goals in four contests.Desharnais, 35, currently plays for HC Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss National League, where he's put up 32 points in 38 games so far in the 2021-22 season.Noreau played for Canada at PyeongChang 2018. He logged seven points in six games en route to the Canadians' bronze-medal victory. The 34-year-old plays for the Zurich Lions of the Swiss National League, where he has 25 assists and six goals in 39 games this season.Staal, meanwhile, played for Canada when the country won the gold medal during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. A veteran of 1,293 NHL games, he scored 441 goals and 593 assists across stints with the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Wild, Buffalo Sabres, and Canadiens.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a jam-packed NHL card to work with today as 22 of the league's 32 teams will be in action.There is no shortage of props to work through and, thus, plenty that stand out. Let's dive into three of my favorites.Aleksander Barkov over 3.5 shots (-134)Whatever you think of the Rangers as a whole, the reality is they aren't good at preventing shots. At five-on-five, they've allowed 61.66 attempts per 60 over the last 10 games, with only the Canadiens, Sharks, Sabres, and Blackhawks faring worse. Put simply, the Rangers are a team to target with shot props.Perhaps no total is more appealing than Barkov's; the Finnish star has registered at least four shots on goal in six consecutive games. With last night's contest being a blowout, he only had to play 17 minutes, which should help keep the Panthers star fresh for this back-to-back situation. Expect Barkov to stay hot in a smash matchup.Mark Scheifele over 2.5 shots (-118)Scheifele is quietly starting to heat up. He ranks second on the Jets behind only Kyle Connor in both shot attempts and shots on goal over the last 10 games. He's actually been a little more productive on the road, too, going over the number in six of his last 10 while averaging 3.1 shots per contest.Scheifele isn't an automatic hit, but he's certainly someone who can be relied upon in the right matchup. I would classify a date with the Flyers as such. They've allowed 33 shots per game over the last 10. Without the likes of Sean Couturier and Ryan Ellis, they don't have high-end defensive players to slow down the opposing team's best weapons.Jakob Chychrun over 2.5 shots (-125)Chychrun is a sneaky good play tonight. He's been a shooting machine since returning to the lineup, attempting a team-high 36 shots through just six games. That kind of volume makes him a threat to hit on any given night.While the Avalanche are one of the league's elite teams, they do give up a fair amount to defenders. They concede 9.5 shots on goal per game to defensemen, which slots them 24th in the league. Colorado is susceptible to blue-liners, and Chychrun is shooting more than anybody on the Coyotes. I think this total should be at 3.5.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have one newcomer and a shakeup within the top three in our fourth edition of the 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings.5. Matthew Boldy, Wild Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: N/AGPPATOIXGF%9916:2962.05%Boldy's sample size is significantly smaller than the rest of our candidates, but he's made a notable impact to start his NHL career. The 12th overall pick from 2019 has already worked his way into Minnesota's top six and doesn't look out of place, posting nine points - the second-highest total of any rookie since our last installment - and sterling analytics to boot.The Wild have lacked dynamic offensive playmakers for much of their existence, but Boldy's emergence within the attack alongside the likes of Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello makes Minnesota a major threat.4. Moritz Seider, Red Wings Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 3rdGPPATOIXGF%462922:3948.87%Seider's slight drop in our rankings isn't an indictment on his play; it's just a matter of being the odd man out against a highly competitive top three separated by razor-thin margins. Detroit's No. 1 defenseman of the future is still humming along, logging over 23 minutes per night and leading all freshmen in assists. He's been consistent the entire campaign, and he's likely to work his way back up this list before the season ends.3. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 2ndGPPATOIXGF%463518:0549.04%Raymond's overall contributions have him firmly in a finalist position, but the Red Wings sniper has gone cold with only two goals in 22 games since Dec. 1. He's added 12 assists in that span, but Raymond appears to have hit a wall after looking like a lock to win the award through the first two months of the season.He still leads all rookies in scoring and is neck-and-neck with our top candidate in almost every offensive category, but he hasn't done enough lately to maintain a top-two spot.2. Anton Lundell, Panthers Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 4thGPPATOIXGF%423216:2553.15%Lundell is the league's hottest rookie, racking up 17 points over the past month - including a five-point outburst against the Blue Jackets - despite being slotted behind a bevy of Panthers superstars. His play of late is creating enough buzz to garner national attention for Calder voters after a quiet start, and he looks the part of a future two-way superstar.Florida has scored 67.77% of its goals when Lundell has been on the ice at five-on-five, and the Panthers have also tasked the rookie with key faceoffs and penalty kill minutes. His poor numbers on the kill blemish his overall impact, but it speaks volumes that the 20-year-old has earned enough trust from his coach to be in those critical situations.1. Trevor Zegras, Ducks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 1stGPPATOIXGF%423217:2653.33%If the Calder Trophy were a popularity contest or viral highlight showdown, Zegras would have it sewn up. The absurdly skilled Ducks rookie continues to dazzle night in and night out, and he's established himself as a household name midway through his first full season.Michigan goals aside, Zegras is tied for the rookie lead in points per game and has strong individual metrics, helping Anaheim hang tough in the Western Conference playoff picture. It's his trophy to lose at this point.Honorable mentions: Tanner Jeannot (NSH), Michael Bunting (TOR), Kaapo Kahkonen (MIN)(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes may be new to his post, but he's already examining some of his options as he likely finds himself staring down a rebuild.Defenseman Ben Chiarot has already been mentioned in recent trade rumors, and Hughes added fellow blue-liner Jeff Petry into the mix Sunday.In an interview with La Presse's Guillaume Lefrancois, Hughes said he and Jeff Gorton, Montreal's executive vice president of hockey operations, recently met with the struggling Petry to address his future."We are aware of what's going on in your life. It's not the ideal situation for playing. At the same time, you are a part of this team. If there's an opportunity for a trade that works for both sides, we will trade you," Hughes said of their message to the veteran, as translated by theScore."But until that ideal situation presents itself, you are part of the Canadiens, and you have to give maximum effort."Hughes said Petry didn't request a trade.The Canadiens are at the bottom of the league with an 8-29-7 record, which is a far way to fall after the team made the Stanley Cup Final last season."I would say we're viewing it as we're open to everything," Hughes said of the organization's position with the trade deadline approaching, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."We don't feel this immediate need to get everything done at the trade deadline," he added.Petry has registered one goal and five assists in 37 games this season, a significant drop from the 2020-21 campaign when he put up 42 points over 55 contests.The Michigan native was key to Montreal's playoff run last year. He posted six points while averaging over 24 minutes of ice time across 20 games.Petry is playing out the first season of a four-year contract carrying a $6.25-million cap hit. His deal includes a 15-team no-trade list, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild inked forward Jordan Greenway to a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $3 million on Monday.Greenway has 13 points in 33 games so far this season while averaging 14:29 of ice time. The 6-foot-6, 231-pound winger ranks third on the Wild in hits with 82.The 24-year-old is currently playing out the final season of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $2.1 million, according to CapFriendly.The Wild selected Greenway in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He has 30 goals and 68 assists in 243 career NHL games, all with Minnesota.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A heavy helping of Sin City flair will feature in this year's skills competition during NHL All-Star Weekend.The league announced the addition of two new outdoor events that will take place on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

The race for the Art Ross promises to be a good one. Five players have at least 58 points, while nobody has amassed more than 62.We've seen very little separation to date and, with the way things are shaping up, the quest for the Art Ross could come down to the wire.Let's take a look at the current oddsboard from Barstool Sportsbook, as well as the best way to attack the market.PLAYER ODDS GP POINTSConnor McDavid-1063958Leon Draisaitl+1504061Jonathan Huberdeau+3004562Alexander Ovechkin+8004558Nathan MacKinnon+50003143Mikko Rantanen+50004053Steven Stamkos+50004451Nazem Kadri+60004059Kirill Kaprizov+100003952Auston Matthews+100003745Timo Meier+100004047Note: only listing players with odds 100-1 or shorterBest bet: Connor McDavid (-106)Sometimes the best bets are the simplest ones. I think that's the case here with Connor McDavid. He's a hair behind Leon Draisaitl in the points-per-game race, but I think the tables will turn in time. McDavid is the better playmaker, and he's generating scoring chances at a higher clip. Draisaitl is definitely the better finisher, but he could be in for a bit of regression while I think McDavid's increased volume can help him score a little more - whether he converts at a high clip or not.Fade: Nathan MacKinnon (+5000)I don't see how Nathan MacKinnon enters this race. He was already at a disadvantage in games played, and his recent injury won't help matters. His point-per-game output would have to be enormous to come close to making up lost ground already. I'm not sure he matches McDavid or Draisaitl in points per game, let alone soars past them to the extent necessary to get back in the mix.Best value: Jonathan Huberdeau (+300)I don't think Jonathan Huberdeau - or anyone - will best the Oilers' duo, but the Florida Panthers' star forward probably has the best chance. He's the current leader in total points, he plays for the league leaders in goals scored, and he's in a very top-heavy division. He'll see a lot of the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings. All four of those teams rank in the bottom seven in goals against per game, which will undoubtedly help Huberdeau's cause.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We ended last week on a high note by going 2-0 with my weekend preview picks.We'll try to pick up where we left off as we look at the best way to attack tonight's five-game slate.Oilers (-205) @ Senators (+170)The Oilers are heating up in a big way. They've won four consecutive games and have outscored opponents 18-9 in that span, good for an average differential of 2.25 per contest.They're playing some of their best hockey in months, which isn't surprising given the current state of the roster. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman recently returned to the lineup, while the addition of Evander Kane gives them another weapon on the wing.As such, the Oilers can balance their lines and trot out potent duos of Connor McDavid and Kane on line one, Leon Draisaitl and Jesse Puljujarvi on line two, and Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman on line three.While the Oilers still have holes throughout their roster, very few teams can match up against that kind of scoring depth up front. Slowing down even two of those lines is a tall order for most teams, including the Senators.Ottawa is a poor team at the best of times, and with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson out of the lineup, the Senators are paper-thin up front. Their team defense isn't going to help mitigate those issues; nor is their inconsistent goaltending.The Senators are a hard-working team, but that's only going to take them so far against the dynamic attack Edmonton can trot out.I expect the Oilers to pick up another victory tonight, and I don't think it'll take more than 60 minutes.Bet: Oilers in regulation (-140)Ducks (-110) @ Red Wings (-110)The Ducks are staying afloat in the standings - thanks in large part to John Gibson - but they're not playing great hockey right now.At five-on-five, Anaheim has controlled just 43.7% of the expected goals over the last 10 games. That ranks near the bottom of the league, sandwiched between the Blue Jackets and Coyotes.The Red Wings haven't been world-beaters in that category, but they have certainly fared better than the Ducks. Their xG share is 48.35% over the same spell, which slots them just below the Penguins and Jets; much better company.Detroit has faced the Maple Leafs, Penguins, Predators, and Stars over the last handful of games as well, so coming close to 50% is respectable.I see them having an edge in the run of play tonight against the Ducks, especially given the schedule spot. This will be Anaheim's fourth road game in six nights and their fifth since last Monday. The Ducks have had a successful road trip to date, and I could see this being a letdown spot as they try to get back home.Priced as a near coin flip, I like the Wings to take care of business in their building.Bet: Red Wings (-110)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Eberle sat in front of a computer screen this past Friday, fielding questions from familiar voices while sporting a Seattle Kraken baseball cap.Over Zoom, New York-area reporters asked the former New York Islander about the Kraken's inaugural season and life on the West Coast. In one response, Eberle made an apt comparison between his old and current teams."We didn't really have that juggernaut offensive talent, and we weren't going to outscore teams," Eberle said of those well-structured Islanders squads."And we're no different here," he said of the 14-25-4 Kraken. Joel Auerbach / Getty ImagesFor various reasons - including a dearth of goal scoring - Seattle sits 30th in the NHL standings, besting only the woeful Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens in points percentage. If the Vegas Golden Knights were a tidal wave that engulfed the sport, the Kraken have been a cold shower and a startling reminder of how elusive on-ice success can be for a brand-new franchise.With help from Kraken forward Yanni Gourde, Root Sports TV analyst JT Brown, and HockeyViz.com's Micah Blake McCurdy, let's take a look at what's gone wrong so far and what to keep an eye on moving forward.The glaring issue Steph Chambers / Getty ImagesAfter the dust settled on an offseason of roster building through the expansion draft and free agency, the Kraken opened their first-ever training camp with a lineup that, on paper, looked primed to challenge for a playoff spot in Year 1.The team featured a promising goaltending tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger, a well-rounded defense corps anchored by 2019 Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano, and a solid yet unremarkable collection of forwards. They had the hockey world believing the Kraken would be imbalanced, yes, but also competitive."I pegged them as being very weak offensively and very strong defensively," McCurdy said. The season preview he wrote for his website predicted the Kraken would finish third in the Pacific Division, behind Vegas and the Calgary Flames.And here we are, just past the midway point of the season, and Seattle is already being counted out by predictive models at MoneyPuck.com, The Athletic, and McCurdy's HockeyViz.com. The Kraken - whose latest loss came Sunday against the New York Rangers - have dug a hole so deep that they've been given a roughly 0% chance of making the playoffs by all three models.The primary source of disappointment through 44 games? Goaltending.The Kraken's team save percentage is .876 - a shockingly poor rate given the Grubauer-Driedger duo had been widely celebrated as a strength before the season, even if it was unlikely Grubauer would replicate his Vezina-caliber performance from 2020-21. (For context, the 1999-00 Tampa Bay Lightning and '99-00 Atlanta Thrashers at .876 and .877, respectively, count as the last teams to finish an NHL season with a save percentage below .880.) Christopher Mast / Getty ImagesKraken skaters have ostensibly done a bang-up job limiting the quantity and quality of shots fired toward their netminders during five-on-five action. Evolving Hockey ranks Seattle second in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes, second in shot attempts against per 60, second in unblocked shot attempts per 60, and second in shots on goal against per 60.Those underlying numbers suggest the goalies (including third-stringer Joey Daccord, who's appeared in four games) simply aren't holding up their end of the bargain. Gourde, for one, disagrees with that line of thinking, insisting the Kraken's forwards and defensemen haven't provided nearly enough support."I don't see it that way," the veteran center told theScore this past Friday. "We weren't playing solid as a team. Most of the time, (the goalie is) the last layer. If you're not playing well in front of them, it's easy to make them look bad. I don't think it's on them. As a whole, we weren't satisfied with our game."You'll notice Gourde used the past tense in the above quote. That's because, at the time of our conversation, the Kraken had won four of six, with Grubauer posting single-game save percentages above .900 in four of his five appearances. It was the best stretch of the season for the entire group."The goalies been excellent lately, and they give us confidence," said Gourde, who's third in team scoring with 23 points in 36 games. "Every single night, we know we have a chance to win, and that's really helpful."As Eberle noted, the Kraken aren't built to regularly outscore the opposition, and they've largely lived up to that characterization. Jared McCann may lead the team with 18 tallies, but he's outside the NHL's top 25 in goals, while Eberle (12) and Gourde (10) are the only other Seattle players in double digits.The Kraken are scoring 2.6 goals a game, which makes the calculus pretty easy in a league where the typical contest features six total goals scored. "If you're going to play that way, you don't have much margin for error," McCurdy said. "Because if your goalie lets in a bad goal, that's the whole game."The underlying problems Christopher Mast / Getty ImagesIn contrast to Eberle's old Isles teams - who played responsible, straight-line hockey under coach Barry Trotz - Seattle has been too inconsistent from shift to shift, period to period, and game to game under bench boss Dave Hakstol.Often, the Kraken have either started poorly and then been unable to find that next gear to mount a comeback (as evidenced by the club's 3-18 record when trailing after the first period) or started well and then been unable to keep the lead. "Teams always talk about 'finding a way to win' even when you're not at your best," Brown said. "That's one thing that Seattle hasn't been able to do."This is a particularly concerning trend from the first half because the Kraken's team identity is supposed to be grounded by an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality. Whether it's forwards backchecking hard, defensemen taking care of the puck, or the special teams following the pre-scout and executing in-game, attention to detail is hugely important within Hakstol's system."Knowing how much talent there is in this league, and how difficult it is to win in this league," Gourde said, "you have to think about your own end first." Christopher Mast / Getty ImagesGeneral manager Ron Francis made a few debatable selections during the expansion draft by choosing a largely defensive-minded crop of players. What's interesting in hindsight is that Francis didn't have a bunch of all-around, two-way forwards sitting there waiting to be picked. "Maybe two or three, with Eberle and McCann, and they got them both," McCurdy said."After that," McCurdy continued, "you have to choose guys who have an obvious flaw of one kind or another in their game. You can choose guys who are weak offensively and who are strong defensively, or you can choose guys who have some finishing talent and who are weak in their own end."Gourde and free-agent signee Jaden Schwartz are two other Seattle forwards who have offensive pop. Like Eberle and McCann, they could easily assume a prominent role elsewhere in the NHL. And while the production could be better from these four quality NHLers, they're not necessarily the problem. Instead, a lack of elite talent to lead the attack is what's ailing the Kraken."The Kraken basically have a second line and then three third lines. And that's what you get when you're putting your team together from an expansion draft, right?" McCurdy said with a laugh.The positive spin Christopher Mast / Getty ImagesThe sky isn't falling in Seattle."If we have this same conversation at the end of the season and look at the splits - first half, second half - I think it's going to look a lot different," Brown said.That bounce-back prediction is in part reliant on the Kraken's 23 players settling in, both individually and as a group. Let's not forget, they're still relatively new to the city, organization, and Hakstol's system. It's reasonable to expect the Kraken to look more cohesive in the back half of the schedule.Brown, who played six full NHL seasons as a forward for the Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild, also believes Seattle's goaltending is slowly moving in the right direction. And, when asked for a breakout pick in the coming months, he tapped Joonas Donskoi, the versatile ex-Colorado Avalanche winger who has 14 assists but no goals in 43 games."Once he gets the first one, it's going to turn around for him," Brown said.As for the big picture, McCurdy notes outside observers can't forget the fact that the Kraken clearly have a concrete plan in place - an internal idea of how to build a sustainable winner. Francis was conservative in the expansion draft, and aside from signing Grubauer and Schwartz in free agency, put his phone away in the offseason. This patient approach has positioned Seattle nicely from a financial standpoint, which is extremely valuable in the salary cap era. Christopher Mast / Getty ImagesWith five pending unrestricted free agents on the roster, it's likely Francis adds to his prospect pool and/or draft pick haul in the leadup to the March 21 trade deadline. Giordano, the No. 1 defenseman and captain, is the most appealing trade chip, and he's made a significant impact on the Kraken in a short time."Guys like that, they haven't been around this league for this long for no reason," Gourde said of Giordano, 38 years old and undrafted. "It's not about luck, it's about work ethic, and he brings it every day. Seeing what he does every single day, I think he can inspire a lot of people on our team, and hopefully, some of the guys take that and build a little bit on their own."Ultimately, the Kraken are attempting to build a winning culture from scratch. Exactly like Vegas five years ago. This time, however, the process is taking longer than a few months - which is normal, given the circumstances."I'm not going to go out there and say they're going to win 20 straight and somehow earn a playoff spot," Brown said. "But it's all about being competitive. That should be the main goal, especially for an expansion team."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the ninth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2020-21 season. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we pick the MVP for each team as we hit the midway point of the season.1. Colorado Avalanche (32-8-3)Previous rank: 3rdSorry, Nazem Kadri, but there's no way the Avalanche's midseason MVP isn't Cale Makar. The 23-year-old blue-liner is on pace for nearly 40 goals this season. He'd join Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey as the only defensemen ever to accomplish the feat.2. Florida Panthers (31-9-5)Previous rank: 1stJonathan Huberdeau has long been a superstar, but he's hit a new level this season. The Panthers winger has played his way into the Hart Trophy conversation and currently leads the league in points and assists.3. Carolina Hurricanes (31-9-2)Previous rank: 2ndFrederik Andersen has been exceptional, but the MVP has to be Sebastian Aho. The star center is Carolina's best all-around player and leads the squad in points.4. Tampa Bay Lightning (29-10-6)Previous rank: 4thThe back-to-back defending champs deserve a lot of credit for overcoming a ton of key injuries, but Tampa Bay would be nowhere without Andrei Vasilevskiy. He's registered a .922 save percentage and 12.9 goals saved above average across 35 appearances this season.5. Pittsburgh Penguins (27-11-7) Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 6thWhere would the battered yet triumphant Penguins be without Kris Letang this season? His 40 points in 41 games rank second among all Pittsburgh skaters, behind just Jake Guentzel. The 34-year-old plays a demanding 25:44 of ice time a night, which is sixth-most among all NHL defensemen.6. Minnesota Wild (27-10-3)Previous rank: 8thKirill Kaprizov is Minnesota's MVP by a landslide. Some teams are easier to pick for this assignment.7. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-10-3)Previous rank: 5thEven though Jack Campbell is beginning to look just a little bit more human as of late, there's something to be said about his performance this season. He's authored a tidy .926 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average in 30 appearances. The newfound No. 1 starter role looks great on the 30-year-old late bloomer.8. New York Rangers (29-13-4)Previous rank: 7thThere's no way the Rangers are where they are without Igor Shesterkin. The poised netminder leads the league in goals saved above average (22.59) while playing behind a squad that ranks near the bottom of the league in expected goals against and high-danger scoring chances allowed.9. Boston Bruins (25-14-3)Previous rank: 9thBrad Marchand probably looks at all the columns about the Bruins' aging core and their closing contention window and laughs. The 33-year-old has an outlandish 47 points in 37 games and is on pace to eclipse the 40-goal mark for the first time in his illustrious career.10. St. Louis Blues (26-13-5) David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 12thThe Blues have several options here - the sign of a well-rounded team - but we're going with Ryan O'Reilly. The captain is still the heart and soul of the squad, is arguably the best defensive center in the league, and has tallied a respectable 29 points in 40 games.11. Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-3)Previous rank: 13thAs good as Chandler Stephenson has been this season with linemates Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty missing so much time, we have to go with Shea Theodore. The 26-year-old defenseman is second on the team with 31 points in 41 games and is logging 23:18 per contest.12. Washington Capitals (24-12-9)Previous rank: 10thSurprise, surprise, the Capitals' MVP is Alex Ovechkin. It feels like the 36-year-old is going to break the record for most amount of records broken in a single season. His climb up the NHL's all-time goals list is required viewing; with 29 goals already this season, he's just eight away from passing Jaromir Jagr for third place.13. Calgary Flames (21-13-6)Previous rank: 18thIf this is how it ends for Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, then he's going out in style. The revitalized 28-year-old, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, leads the Flames with 52 points in 40 games. He already surpassed his point total from last season and is only six points away from matching his performance in 2019-20.14. Nashville Predators (27-14-4)Previous rank: 11thJuuse Saros should be a Vezina Trophy finalist and has been the catalyst for Nashville's resurgence this season. The netminder owns a .927 clip and a whopping 20.6 goals saved above average so far.15. Edmonton Oilers (22-16-2) Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 20thBoth Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are tearing it up, but we're giving the edge to McDavid. Opponents still fear No. 97 more, and his defensive metrics are a bit better than No. 29's.16. Anaheim Ducks (23-16-8)Previous rank: 17thTroy Terry and Trevor Zegras have both been great, but the main reason the Ducks are still in the playoff picture is John Gibson. The netminder has posted a .922 save percentage in 32 games and ranks fourth in the league in goals saved above expected.17. Los Angeles Kings (23-16-7)Previous rank: 14thTip your cap to Drew Doughty. He leads all Kings defensemen with 23 points in 27 contests, good for a breezy 0.85 points per game rate. The Kings also control a stellar 60.6% of the shot attempts with the 32-year-old veteran on the ice at five-on-five. Doughty has pulled all this off while eating the most amount of ice time per contest (25:32) in Los Angeles.18. Dallas Stars (23-17-2)Previous rank: 18thAge simply isn't a factor for Joe Pavelski. The 37-year-old paces the Stars in assists and points, and he's just outside the top 10 in league scoring.19. New York Islanders (15-16-6)Previous rank: 22ndIlya Sorokin has arrived. The wins are hard to come by this year, but Long Island's starter of the future has done all he can with a .923 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average.20. Vancouver Canucks (19-19-6) Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 19thMany of Vancouver's forwards are having down years, but J.T. Miller is not one of them. He's posted 44 points in 42 games while playing multiple positions and being asked to drive different lines. If the Canucks decide to trade him before the deadline, they'll get a haul.21. Winnipeg Jets (18-16-7)Previous rank: 15thThe Jets are stumbling quite a bit, but the last person who should take the blame for their struggles is Kyle Connor. The 25-year-old leads all Winnipeg skaters with 24 goals, 20 assists, and 44 points. For comparison, Pierre-Luc Dubois has the second-most points on the team with 32 in the same amount of games.22. San Jose Sharks (22-20-3)Previous rank: 21stTimo Meier? More like Timo Fire. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a career season with 47 points through 40 games and is posting sparkling underlying offensive numbers to boot.23. Detroit Red Wings (19-20-6)Previous rank: 23rdRookies Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have been exceptional, but captain Dylan Larkin gets the nod. The 25-year-old center is having a huge bounce-back year, collecting 41 points in 40 games.24. Chicago Blackhawks (16-21-7)Previous rank: 25thPatrick Kane is the club's leading scorer and perhaps the obvious choice - and has been for much of the past 15 years - but we're going to give it to Alex DeBrincat and his 26 goals, which is more than double the total of Chicago's runner-up.25. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-21-1) Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 24thThe Blue Jackets struggle to generate offense, so the fact Zach Werenski is on pace for 50 points as a defenseman earns him the crown.26. Seattle Kraken (14-26-4)Previous rank: 31stThings haven't exactly gone to plan in the Kraken's inaugural season, but Jared McCann has proven to be a savvy expansion pick. He leads Seattle with 18 goals and 28 points.27. Ottawa Senators (13-21-4)Previous rank: 28thDrake Batherson was playing great before his injury, but we're going with Thomas Chabot. He's not having his finest season points-wise, but he averages an NHL-high 27:08 per game and his underlying numbers are off the charts.28. Buffalo Sabres (14-23-7)Previous rank: 29thRasmus Dahlin has taken a major leap in his development in his first full season under head coach Tony Granato. The 21-year-old has been an offensive catalyst from the back end, as he's on pace for nearly 60 points.29. New Jersey Devils (15-23-5)Previous rank: 26thNot many expected Jesper Bratt to be New Jersey's top offensive player this season, but here we are. The 23-year-old winger is on pace to shatter his career bests across the board, operating at a near point per game pace 40 games into the season.30. Philadelphia Flyers (14-22-8) Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 27thCaptain Claude Giroux is having another fine season despite the team's struggles, posting 35 points in 41 games. Will he waive his no-movement clause ahead of the deadline? If so, the Flyers will get a nice return.31. Arizona Coyotes (10-29-4)Previous rank: 30thHe doesn't have a whole lot of help up front, but Clayton Keller is putting together a quality offensive season with a team-leading 35 points through 43 games.32. Montreal Canadiens (8-29-7)Previous rank: 32ndIt's hard to find anything positive from Montreal's season, but Nick Suzuki has posted strong defensive metrics and leads the team in points.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price says he's hopeful he'll be able to suit up at some point this season.Price is still rehabbing a knee injury that's kept him out of action since last summer's Stanley Cup Final. He addressed the media for the first time this season on Sunday."It's definitely an objective for me this season," Price said on returning to the Canadiens, per Sportsnet's Eric Engels."It's part of my identity," Price added, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.On top of his injury, Price voluntarily entered the NHL's player assistance program in October. He exited after one month."It was very difficult," Price said. "I was in a position where I definitely needed to reach out and it was a trying time for sure. ... It was one that needed to be made, and ultimately it was successful. Very thankful for the help that I got."The Canadiens sit dead last in the NHL standings and overhauled their front office this season. Price would be an attractive trade chip for contending teams in need of help in goal if he's healthy enough to play, but the former MVP says he's committed to Montreal."Me and my family are very happy here," he said. "We're settled in. This is our home. There's a reason I signed the contract I did here with a no-movement clause. As of right now, I have no plans to be anywhere else."Price is under contract at $10.5 million per season until 2026. He waived his no-movement clause prior to the Seattle Kraken expansion draft but wasn't chosen.The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Habs after they selected him fifth overall in 2005. He's one of the most decorated goaltenders of his generation, with Hart and Vezina Trophies on his resume along with a .917 save percentage across 707 career contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb to a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $2.85 million, the team announced Sunday.McNabb has been with the Golden Knights since Day 1. The club selected him from the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 expansion draft, and he's been a stalwart on Vegas' blue line ever since.The 31-year-old has suited up in 314 games for the Golden Knights - the second-most in franchise history. The squad doesn't count on McNabb for offense, but the 6-foot-4 rearguard is a physical defensive presence on the back end. Through five seasons in Vegas, he's tallied 57 points, 824 hits, and 634 blocked shots while averaging 19:44 per contest.The Knights also signed forward Michael Amadio to a two-year extension with an AAV of $762,500 and goaltender Logan Thompson to a three-year extension with an AAV of $766,667.Vegas claimed Amadio off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this campaign. The 25-year-old's produced four goals and three assists over 25 games with the Knights in a fourth-line role.Thompson, 24, has posted a .928 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average in 21 contests with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights this season. He's only appeared in two career NHL games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL added Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi and Washington Capitals star Evgeny Kuznetsov to the All-Star Game roster, the league announced Sunday.Josi and Kuznetsov will join the Central and Metropolitan All-Star teams, respectively, to replace the injured Nathan MacKinnon and Adam Fox.In addition, Dallas Stars veteran Joe Pavelski - who was already named to the Central Division squad - has been promoted to captain with MacKinnon sidelined.Josi ranks third among all defensemen this season with 43 points in 43 games. This will be his fourth All-Star appearance.Kuznetsov has bounced back in a big way from a disappointing 2020-21 campaign, collecting 43 points and earning his second All-Star nomination.All-Star Weekend runs Feb. 4-5 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Chicago Blackhawks bench boss Jeremy Colliton took over as head coach of Canada's men's Olympic team, Hockey Canada announced Sunday.Claude Julien, who was initially named head coach earlier in January, is no longer able to travel due to injury. The 61-year-old slipped on the ice during a team-building activity at training camp in Switzerland and fractured his ribs.The medical staff deemed him unfit to fly to Beijing."While it is difficult to fill in for a coach that has a pedigree like Claude Julien, I am honored to be considered as the person to lead Canada's men's Olympic team as head coach," Colliton said."We have a very close-knit, experienced coaching staff that has gained a lot of knowledge from Claude in our short time together, and I know our staff will continue to support each other as we look to achieve our goal of winning an Olympic gold medal."Colliton, 37, was originally tabbed as an assistant coach for the 2022 Beijing Games after the Blackhawks fired him as head coach earlier this season. He has an NHL coaching record of 87-92-26.As a player, Colliton won gold medals for Canada at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship."We are fortunate to have an experienced coaching staff, and Jeremy is a talented, young coach with a long career ahead of him," Team Canada general manager Shane Doan said. "We know he will do an exceptional job leading our team behind the bench in Beijing."Doan added that Julien is in "great spirits."The former Montreal Canadiens head coach will have to remain in Switzerland for another two-to-three weeks, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Canada's men's team will kick off its Olympic competition in a preliminary-round clash against Germany on Feb. 10.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers received a five-minute major and a match penalty for dishing out a high hit on Calgary Flames forward Trevor Lewis on Saturday.

Undrafted free-agent goaltender Mack Guzda is generating quite a buzz.The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to sign the netminder, and they met with him this week, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek. The Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins are also interested in his services, Marek added.The 21-year-old is currently playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts. Guzda's recorded a .935 save percentage and a 1.89 goals against average in 13 games this season. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native is listed at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds.Amid Toronto's interest in Guzda, the club is also getting calls about one of its own goalies.The Maple Leafs have not initiated any conversations about Petr Mrazek's availability, but teams have contacted them anyway, Marek reported. However, Toronto likely wouldn't consider trading Mrazek until the summer, if at all.Mrazek joined the Leafs as a free agent this past offseason, signing a three-year contract with a $3.8-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. He's missed most of the 2021-22 campaign due to injuries, though, sporting a .896 save percentage and a 3.20 goals against average in six games.Jack Campbell has taken the starting job and run with it in Mrazek's absence, posting a .926 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average in 30 appearances.Campbell's $1.65-million cap hit expires after this season, and he'll almost certainly require a significant raise. Toronto would likely need to shed cap space - potentially through trading Mrazek - if the organization hopes to re-sign Campbell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.