Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The world needs more people like Thomas Greiss.The New York Islanders goaltender took to Instagram on Saturday to offer food, toilet paper, and other items to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 19, 1984, one dynasty ended, and another was born.The Edmonton Oilers took on the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, trying to close out the series. The Isles were coming off four straight Stanley Cups, including a sweep of the Oilers in the 1983 final. Wayne Gretzky delivered a vintage performance to help capture his first ring.You can watch the replay below:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Greene's 14-year career won't end at the hands of a potential cancellation.The veteran defenseman plans on returning for 2020-21, regardless of whether the current campaign resumes."Oh, yeah, for sure, in my mind, I'm definitely going to play," Greene told Newsday's Andrew Gross.The New Jersey Devils traded Greene - who was the team's captain and longest-serving active member - to the New York Islanders prior to the trade deadline this season. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello actually signed Greene as an undrafted free agent in 2006 when he was the GM of the Devils.Greene, 37, is a pending unrestricted free agent but hinted that he'd be open to returning to Long Island."I loved my three weeks that I've been there," Greene said. "It's been a very unique situation. The familiarity (with Lamoriello) and the guys have been great. It's a great situation there in terms of everything they do as an organization. I'll focus and worry about what we're going through now and we'll figure everything out later and go from there."The Islanders would finish outside of the playoffs by point total if the current standings remain. However, by points percentage, they'd surpass the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild-card spot.Greene tallied 14 points in 63 games between the two clubs while averaging 19:33 of ice time per contest.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The Ottawa Senators are offering the Canadian Tire Centre, its nine adjacent parking lots, and three other arenas affiliated with the organization to the Ontario government to use during the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Canadian Press.Senators owner Eugene Melnyk approached the provincial government with the proposal this week and is awaiting a reply, a team spokesperson confirmed.Melnyk's offer includes the use of 17 private suites in the Senators' home rink and roughly 200,000 square feet of usable space.In March, Melnyk pledged to provide part-time and hourly arena staff members with the income they would have received for the remainder of the regular season prior to the league's coronavirus-induced hiatus.Earlier this week, the Senators' ownership group announced temporary staff reductions effective April 5 - the day after what would have been the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL schedule.Six members of the organization, including five players, have tested positive for the coronavirus.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL's Calgary Flames and CFL's Calgary Stampeders won't play at home until at least July, even if the two leagues resume operations by then.The City of Calgary implemented a public-event ban - including professional sports games - until June 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic."Even if before the end of June we are in a situation where we think we've seen the other side of the mountain, even if we're at a place where the number of cases are coming down, I'm no epidemiologist, but I don't think it's wise to say, 'Hey, everybody, let's have (17,000), (20,000), or (35,000) people all in one space,'" Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi told The Canadian Press.He added: "That's probably just not wise from a public health perspective."The City of Toronto also has a public-event ban until June 30, but it doesn't prohibit pro sporting events.Alberta has 1,075 confirmed coronavirus cases and 18 related deaths as of Friday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation donated $1 million to the Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief, and Recovery Task Force, the team announced Friday.Nevada has over 1,500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 43 related deaths as of Friday, according to Caroline Bleakley of 8 News Now.The Golden Knights' contribution will go toward surgical masks, respiratory masks, medical gloves, medical gowns, and other necessary supplies.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers attempted to introduce prospect K'Andre Miller to the fanbase on Friday, but the video chat's comments section was flooded with racial slurs."The National Hockey League is appalled that a video call arranged today by the New York Rangers to introduce their fans to one of the league's incoming stars, K'Andre Miller, was hacked with racist, cowardly taunts," the league said in a statement. "The person who committed this despicable act is in no way an NHL fan and is not welcome in the hockey community."No one deserves to be subjected to such ugly treatment and it will not be tolerated in our league. We join with the Rangers in condemning this disgusting behavior."The Rangers disabled the chat as soon as possible and are investigating the matter, the club said in a statement.The individual responsible repeatedly typed racial slurs into the message chat during the video call.New York selected Miller with the 22nd overall pick in 2018. The 6-foot-3 defenseman signed an entry-level contract March 13 after two seasons at the University of Wisconsin.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders forward Jordan Eberle is hopeful the 2019-20 NHL season will resume eventually, but he's being realistic about the delicate timeline."I'm for playing into later into the year. But that being said, I don't know at what point do you cut it off," Eberle said, according to NHL.com's Brian Compton. "You need to resume a full season next year and you need to have that time and that rest too. It's such a fine line."He added that if the restart keeps getting pushed back and potentially into June or July, "at some point there has to be a date where you say, 'OK, the season's lost,' and we start recuperating for next year."The Islanders, who were in the playoff hunt when the season was paused, sit just one point out of a wild-card spot."As of right now, I think everyone's mindset is that we do want to play the playoffs," Eberle said."You work all season long, all previous summer long to have a shot to win the Stanley Cup. Because of certain events that are out of all of our control, you can't do that, it's hard," he continued.New York has played 68 games this season, while the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are one point ahead of the Islanders and occupy the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, have played 70 contests. With multiple possibilities open for what the playoffs could look like if the season resumes, New York isn't guaranteed a spot."I'm sure we can make a strong case for point percentage and we'd squeak into the playoffs," Eberle said. "Regardless of what's going to happen, if we do resume and we do resume with the playoffs, there's going to be some teams upset that they're not in."Eberle recorded 16 goals and 24 assists in 58 games this season before the hiatus.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Burke seems to enjoy opening up about his would-be trades that never came to fruition.One week after saying his Anaheim Ducks made a better offer than the San Jose Sharks did for Joe Thornton in 2005, the former NHL general manager discussed another deal he didn't make, this time toward the end of his Toronto Maple Leafs tenure.

Wayne Gretzky recently gave Connor McDavid a major vote of confidence, with The Great One telling the Edmonton Oilers captain he'll win a Stanley Cup."When you guys do win - and you will win a Stanley Cup - the feeling is just over the top," Gretzky said during a lengthy interview the two did together with GQ. "You work your whole life to do that, because even at a young age you probably said, 'Connor McDavid scored in overtime, Game 7, I got the winning goal.' And if you lost you probably said, 'OK, we're going to play again.' So, you always won. But when you actually lift the Cup, it's pretty special, and you will lift it one day because you're too good."Gretzky won four Stanley Cups during his tenure with the Oilers in the 80s, and he told McDavid multiple times during the interview that winning a championship in a hockey-crazed city like Edmonton is special.The wide-ranging discussion touched on a variety of topics, including McDavid's path to the Oilers, which Gretzky says was much different than his journey to the NHL."The reality was, although there was a lot of focus on me, you were a can't-miss No. 1 pick at 16," Gretzky said. "At 16 and 17 I still had half the hockey world saying, 'Well, I'm not sure if he can play, he might be too small, might be too slow.' My path, my journey was a little different than yours because you had so much pressure.""Your pressure came from within, having to be successful and live up to the expectations," he continued. "... Each and every year you've gotten better and delivered. I don't think people realize the pressure and microscope that guys like you and Sidney Crosby and Mario (Lemieux). When they come into the league it's a lot harder than people think."Since drafting McDavid first overall in 2015, the Oilers have made the playoffs once, culminating in a run to Game 7 of the second round in 2017, with the 23-year-old collecting nine points across 13 games.This season, Edmonton appeared destined to get back to the playoffs after recording 83 points through 71 games, with McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl leading the way as the league's top two scorers when the season went on pause.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is using the NHL's hiatus as a time to reflect, and he recommends his teammates do the same."It's important that we use this downtime to really take a look in the mirror. As players, we all have to be better," he told TSN on Thursday.He added: "When hockey does resume, I think we know that we have to be better and we have to be more consistent. And I think that this time is important for the players to really think about that and know what's at stake."The Maple Leafs have been one of the most inconsistent teams this season.They followed up a February loss against the Carolina Hurricanes and emergency backup David Ayres with a win against the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning. Before the season came to a halt, Toronto dropped three straight games against a trio of basement-dwelling California clubs but responded with another victory against the Bolts."I thought that we answered the bell at times when we had to against some pretty good teams," Rielly said. "And then, obviously the downs being games where you're supposed to win, or you expect a good team to be able to win, and we weren't able to execute that."Rielly missed nearly two months with a broken foot before playing just one game prior to the season being paused. He's collected 27 points in 47 contests this campaign.The Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with a 36-25-9 record.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.New York Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello strongly believes the postponed NHL campaign will start up again in one form or another."I'm extremely optimistic that we will play at some time as far as this season," Lamoriello told Newsday's Andrew Gross on Thursday. "Whether it's in June, whether it's in July, whether it's in August, I'm not thinking about that. I'm just thinking, in my mind, knowing that we will play and using this time to get ready for that."But, prior to that, the most important thing is everyone staying safe and everyone doing the things in the best interest of their families because we're in a different world today."The league postponed play March 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the NHL reportedly extended its self-quarantine directive for players until April 15.Teams have reportedly been asked to provide available arena dates in August, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly subsequently said the league would try to fit games into that month if it had to do so.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The Ottawa Senators announced temporary staff reductions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Thursday."Effective April 5, which would have marked the end of the Ottawa Senators NHL season, our full-time workforce will be reduced, and the hours of some of the staff will be furloughed," Capital Sports & Entertainment said in a statement Thursday.The company created an unemployment plan that will supplement employee insurance benefits until July. Of those employees who are not temporarily laid off, some will be placed on furlough and some will have their salaries reduced. There will be no interruption in employees' access to health benefits.Senators owner Eugene Melnyk previously pledged to pay the income for part-time and hourly arena staff of both the NHL club and the AHL's Belleville Senators through to the end of their respective seasons. On Thursday, Melnyk extended that commitment to pay these employees what they would have earned for all scheduled event shifts through the month of April."Our employees have continued to work with dedication during these difficult times," Melnyk said. "We want to thank them for their continued loyalty by providing support, as we all face extraordinary challenges. Although the sports and entertainment industry is being impacted severely, we will pull through by staying committed together."The 2019-20 NHL season was officially suspended March 12 due to the spread of the virus. Several teams around the league have also agreed to pay employees who've been affected by the pandemic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban is in favor of having every team compete in a league-wide postseason when the NHL returns from its hiatus."It was kind of floated around. I remember around the pause time when everything kind of shut down, I saw a few things on social media and I like that," the New Jersey Devils defenseman said while appearing on ESPN's "First Take" on Thursday."For my team specifically, we were pushing to make the playoffs down the stretch, so I would like to see our team have an opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup, but obviously as days go by ... if (the resumption of the season) did happen, I would love to see a 31-team playoff and give those pesky Devils an opportunity (to bring) the Stanley Cup back home to New Jersey, so I'd love to see that."It remains to be seen how the league will conclude the campaign. Whether it resumes at all, how many teams would be involved in the playoffs, or whether the rest of the regular season would be scrapped are all questions that understandably remain unanswered.Some stars, like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, have said they'd be open to going straight into the playoffs upon a resumption of the season. However, Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov believes his club deserves a chance to try to qualify for the postseason, as the team sat three points behind the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand when the league halted operations on March 12.The 31-team playoff is one of many radical ideas being suggested during the pause. At least one team has reportedly submitted a proposal that included a tournament for lottery teams to compete for the first overall pick.Subban's squad had the third-worst record (28-29-12) in the Eastern Conference when the NHL postponed the season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hunter Drew locked both hands to the steering wheel of his white Kia Forte - one at 10 o'clock, the other at 2 o'clock as if he were taking a driving test. He cranked the windshield wipers to maximum speed and directed his focus straight ahead, his eyes wide and heart racing.He was terrified. A few moments earlier, the San Diego Gulls' rookie defenseman had lost control of his vehicle in the middle of a Colorado blizzard. His car, purchased in California without winter tires, had been moving gingerly on a winding road through the Rocky Mountains. No issues - until he hit one particular hill."I spun out twice on both sides," Drew said in a recent interview. "If I would have gone over to the right side 5 feet, I was going off and into the mountains. On the left, I was about three inches from T-boning a car."I just caught myself. Luck of the draw," the 21-year-old continued, reliving the close call from March 19. "It was the scariest thing I've ever been a part of."Drew salutes Gulls fans San Diego GullsNow isolating at his family home in Kingston, Ontario, Drew laughs off the incident over the phone. It took him three long days to arrive in Canada. The AHL, like the NHL and the rest of the sports world, has been paused to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Gulls players were forced to travel home - more than 2,700 miles in Drew's case - on short notice.It's fitting, really, that a simple Point A-to-Point B road trip turned into an unpredictable journey that produced a memorable story. Drew's career could be characterized similarly. Four years ago, he was a hockey nobody. "I was done," he said. On Monday, the Anaheim Ducks announced Drew, a quintessential late bloomer, had signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract.––––––––––It was spring of 2016 and Drew had come to terms with his apparent ceiling as a hockey player. He'd spent the previous two seasons with the Junior B/C team in nearby Gananoque, earning the odd call-up to the Junior A Kingston Voyageurs. His options that fall were limited. He'd almost certainly have to pay to play, which is not the most attractive proposition for an 18-year-old looking to make something of himself.Drew turned his attention to education, enrolling in a business program at hometown college St. Lawrence, with mom and dad footing the tuition bill. That payment sealed it: His lifelong pursuit of hockey was effectively over.Well, kind of. The family had already paid for a summer trainer. Drew figured it wouldn't hurt to stay in shape - why waste the money? - so he hit the gym.One day, Drew's training partner rang up his Junior A coach on the sly to tell him about this kid who had recently quit hockey. The coach pitched Drew on his program in Nova Scotia soon after. He would have to pay to play, but some expenses would be reimbursed at season's end. Attracted by a new adventure, and with nothing to lose, Drew agreed to a tryout in the fall.Drew skating for the Islanders Darrell Theriault / Charlottetown IslandersBefore he could leave for Nova Scotia, though, Drew was offered a second out-of-province tryout, this time for a major junior club. Charlottetown Islanders GM/head coach Jim Hulton and scout Rob Ridgley - both Kingston guys - had watched Drew compete in a three-on-three scrimmage with and against local pros at a preseason tuneup event. Impressed, the Islanders extended the raw blue-liner an invite to QMJHL camp.Drew, who was never drafted to the OHL, had slipped through the cracks of Ontario's elite hockey system. A potentially big opportunity awaited on tiny Prince Edward Island. "He saw something in me that a lot of people didn't see," Drew said of Hulton.Drew showed up to his first camp with mediocre puck skills, decent but unspectacular skating, and a soft shot. His above-average size, willingness to play a physical game, and organizational fit - right-handed defensemen are in short supply at all levels - landed Drew a spot on the Islanders' blue line."He just had a lot of things where it made you go, 'Man, we've got to keep this kid around. There's something about him,'" said Charlottetown assistant coach Guy Girouard, who works closely with the team's defensemen. "You can't quite put your finger on it, but you know he can probably help us."As a rookie, Drew appeared in 42 of 68 regular-season games, registering three assists in a dual role as a D-man and occasional winger. The Islanders, whose stacked roster featured NHL picks Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Daniel Sprong, and Filip Chlapik, made it deep in the 2017 postseason. Drew wasn't quite ready for prime time, dressing only once in the squad's 13 playoff contests.The downtime allowed him to get a head start on an important offseason of weight training and skill development. Once Drew had settled in Kingston for the summer, he hit the ice 8-10 times a week in an effort to improve all facets of his game. His dad, Brian - who had already convinced Drew to drop junior-level lacrosse to focus on hockey - insisted on a slower pace. Brian worried Drew might burn out or suffer an injury in July.Drew heeded Brian's advice - and it paid off. He opened the 2017-18 campaign looking "like a different player," Hulton said. "Assertive with the puck. Comfortable. Confident. Making skilled plays. Jumping up into the play." Suddenly, Hulton's spare defenseman was capable of shouldering top-four duties.Drew handles the puck for the Islanders Darrell Theriault / Charlottetown IslandersPost-practice sessions with Girouard helped inch Drew away from the "raw" label. Over time, he began to master basic footwork and hand-eye coordination drills, such as accepting passes in his skates and knocking pucks out of the air while skating backward. He was flashing pro potential."His game grew so much in a short period of time that it caught us all by surprise. You had to keep raising the bar and he always wanted more," Hulton said. "Part of the reason why he's had that success is because he's been able to keep that chip on his shoulder as the underdog. It's served him really well."Drew, who finished with eight goals and 31 assists across 64 games in his sophomore season, would actually surprise himself on occasion by pulling off a fancy deke. An in-game toe drag amused the Islanders bench and put a smile on his face. "It's almost like it all fell in place for me," Drew said.The Ducks selected the 6-foot-2 Drew in the sixth round, 178th overall, in 2018. Though he knew getting drafted as a 19-year-old was a possibility, Drew wasn't holding his breath. One of his agents, Darrell Young, broke the news via phone after waking him up from an afternoon nap. The Drew family was understandably elated. The QMJHL walk-on was now an NHL draft pick."Walking on is not that rare. Walking on and being drafted pro a couple of years later is very rare," Hulton, a longtime junior coach and manager, said."It's a great story," Gulls head coach Kevin Dineen said. "Any time you hear that - that somebody's at a crossroads and decides to stick with it and finds success - it's a pretty neat deal."––––––––––Dating back to the Brian Burke era, the Ducks organization has put a premium on toughness. They're a little old school, drafting and developing players with, in Dineen's words, "plenty of testosterone and a level of abrasiveness."Nicknamed "Bam Bam" as a toddler, Drew fits in nicely. He takes pride in sticking up for teammates and has the receipts. In 2017-18, his breakout season in the QMJHL, Drew led the league with 159 penalty minutes and nine fights, for better or worse. The next year, in three fewer games, he finished with 141 penalty minutes and six fights."He's almost like the boy you'd want your daughter to marry, but not the guy you'd want your son to play in a hockey game," said Andrew Maloney, Young's colleague at Maloney & Thompson Sports Management.This past season, his first exclusively against grown men, was a transition year. Jumping from junior to pro can be arduous on the sport's most talented players. It was especially difficult for Drew - who split his time between AHL San Diego (29 games) and ECHL Tulsa (five games) - because he had to relearn where the line between productive and unproductive toughness lies.Drew's confidence sagged at times. Instead of establishing himself physically during play, he was taking penalties after whistles. His unpolished skill set made him a target, too. Opponents used their pro speed to force him into vulnerable defensive positions. "There's a different learning curve for every player," Dineen said, "and I think it goes doubly so for defensemen."Make no mistake, there's optimism in Dineen's voice. The veteran bench boss is well aware of the quantum leaps that Drew made in Charlottetown. An inquisitive learner, Drew's leaned on Sylvain Lefebvre, San Diego's defense coach, in the same way that he leaned on Girouard. He's moldable, and that alone is a huge asset.Drew signing his NHL contract HandoutDineen has been pleasantly surprised by Drew's offensive upside. His shot, previously a negative on his scouting report, is now feared. He can make a clean first pass out of the defensive zone under pressure or exit the zone himself. There's always going to be more simplicity than complexity in Drew's game, but he's trending in the right direction. He's by no means just a fighter.Drew wasn't a special talent in minor hockey - heck, he got cut from his Bantam AAA team - so he will need to continue to hone his fundamentals. He'll also need to refine his strength and conditioning to catch up to his peers within the Ducks organization and beyond. "This year he's really going to be able to dedicate himself to being a professional hockey player," Dineen noted, later adding that Drew is "just scratching the surface."The Ducks have invested in the Kingston kid's future. The three-year contract gives Drew stability and validation that his journey - the one on the ice with his teammates, not on the road in his Forte - is far from over."It doesn't have to work out for you when you're 10 or 12 years old," Drew said, when asked if he takes pride in being a late bloomer."I want to be a testament to that."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers signed free-agent forward Justin Richards to an entry-level contract beginning in 2020-21, the team announced Thursday.The 22-year-old played three seasons for the University of Minnesota Duluth, winning two national championships and earning the honor of Best Defensive Forward in the conference in 2019-20.In 120 collegiate games, Richards notched 26 goals and 40 assists.He's the son of Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Todd Richards.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Matthew Highmore and goaltender Kevin Lankinen to two-year extensions, the team announced Thursday.Highmore's deal carries an average annual value of $725,000 while Lankinen's pact is worth $800,000 annually. Both are two-way contracts in the first year and transition to one-way deals in the second.The team also signed forwards Evan Barratt and Andrei Altybarmakyan to three- and two-year, entry-level contracts, respectively. Chicago selected both players in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft.Highmore, 24, appeared in 36 games for Chicago in 2019-20, contributing two goals and six points. He also netted four goals and 12 points through 21 games with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.Lankinen, 24, owned an 8-10-2 record with a 3.09 goals-against average and .909 save percentage with the IceHogs this season. He led Finland to a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, posting a 7-1-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.After examining which teams were most profitable on home ice this season, let's break down the squads that built reputations as road warriors.If you had bet $100 on every road team this year, here are the profits that the most successful ones would have earned.1. Colorado Avalanche, +$1,212Getting away from the altitude seemed to do the Avalanche some good this season. They possessed the NHL's best win percentage away from home with a straight-up record of 24-13 (64.8%), and they raked in the profits thanks to an average line of -116, which ranked fifth-shortest in the NHL. Their total got a major boost from a run of nine successive road victories between Feb. 4 and March 2.2. New York Rangers, +$1,209Just $3 off top spot, the Rangers settle for second place on our list of road warriors. They managed a win percentage of 55.9% away from home with a record of 19-15 SU, but they earned some bettors small fortunes thanks to an average line of +144. Only six teams had longer such averages, and none of those clubs had a road win percentage better than 42.9%. Oddsmakers severely underestimated the Rangers and failed to adjust to their road success.3. Edmonton Oilers, +$950The Oilers were third in overall profits away from home despite owning the league's seventh-best win percentage on the road. No team was more profitable as a road 'dog, with Edmonton posting a 19-14 record in that spot to net $1,237 in profits. Conversely, the Oilers were just 1-3 as road favorites (-$287).4. Washington Capitals, +$711The Capitals finished one win shy of matching Colorado's SU record on the road, but they were fourth among teams on this list with an average line of -122. To understand the full impact of the average line on the relationship between record and profits, look no further than the Tampa Bay Lightning. They were 21-15 SU on the road this season but had the NHL's shortest average line at -145 for a net figure of -$165.5. Florida Panthers, +$423Boasting the worst road winning percentage of any team on this list are the Panthers, who finished 18-16 SU away from home. Twelve other teams netted profits on the road this season, but Florida earned its place in these rankings thanks to a strong second half: The Panthers posted an 11-6 record away from home in 2020, a stretch that accounted for all of their campaign's road profits and then some (+$587).Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2019-20 NHL season on pause - if not over altogether - some players have been left hoping for a chance to redeem their underwhelming campaigns.Here are seven players, including former Vezina Trophy netminders and perennial goal-scorers, who disappointed before the hiatus.Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida PanthersMichael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyBobrovsky was supposed to take the offensively gifted Panthers to the next level after he signed a seven-year, $70-million pact last summer. Instead, it was the same old story for a franchise that was on track to miss the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 20 seasons.During 2019-20, the Russian netminder conceded four or more goals in 19 of 50 starts and owned a save percentage south of .906 in four of five months. And, when comparing Bobrovsky's goals-against average (3.25) to his expected goals against per 60 (2.82), it's clear he simply didn't stop nearly as many pucks as he should have. Of the 49 goalies who made at least 25 starts this season, Bobrovsky ranked 45th in goals saved above average (minus-14.91).Overall, watching your $70-million puck-stopper get significantly outplayed by a 25-year-old rookie in Chris Driedger - who's just one year removed from playing in the East Coast Hockey League - is about as far from ideal as it gets.Phil Kessel, Arizona CoyotesIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Coyotes enjoyed a 94% renewal of season tickets - their highest mark since moving to Glendale in 2003-04 - after Kessel was acquired. But so far, "Phil the Thrill" hasn't lived up to his moniker.Instead of providing the type of offensive star power that's been rare in Arizona, Kessel ranked sixth on the team in points this season and at best served the role of a second-line winger. Now stuck at 14 goals, Kessel is likely to fall short of 20 for the first time in 12 years. He also posted a team-worst minus-21 rating before the hiatus, which is even more jarring considering the second-lowest mark on the club was minus-9.P.K. Subban, New Jersey DevilsBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn Subban's defense, not much went right for a Devils team that had high aspirations for 2019-20. Following a dreadful 2-5-4 start, New Jersey was never close to being in the playoff picture, and the 2013 Norris Trophy winner's subpar play was one of many impediments the team faced.The 30-year-old blue-liner has never fallen short of the 30-point mark, but with just 18 points through 68 contests this season, he was on track for a career-low 22. New Jersey also owned just 47.03% of high-danger scoring chances with Subban on the ice at five-on-five - the second-worst mark among Devils defensemen.Sean Monahan, Calgary FlamesSean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyFollowing a career-high 82-point season in 2018-19, Monahan saw a massive drop-off in his production this season. With 48 points through 70 games, the Flames' top pivot sat 35th in scoring among NHL centers.Monahan's game suffered the most at even strength. The 25-year-old mustered a career-low 11 goals at five-on-five and his minus-16 rating ranked last on the team. Monahan's possession numbers took a hit as well, as the Flames owned only 48.03% of expected goals and 48.02% of high-danger scoring chances with the Ontario native on the ice at five-on-five, putting him on the wrong side of those metrics for the first time in three seasons.Jeff Skinner, Buffalo SabresIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHas anyone seen Jeff Skinner? The Sabres' 40-goal man from 2018-19 was a shell of himself this season after inking an eight-year, $72-million deal in June.When the campaign was suspended, Buffalo's second-highest-paid player sat seventh on the club in scoring and had been a non-factor on the power play, failing to contribute even a single goal. Overall, Skinner was on pace for a career-low 27 points, which would have marked (shield your eyes, Sabres fans) the lowest-ever single-season point total for a player carrying an annual cap hit of at least $9 million.In Skinner's defense, he saw two fewer minutes per contest under head coach Ralph Krueger and missed 10 games with an upper-body injury that may have had lingering effects. Furthermore, that Skinner scored all 14 of his goals at even strength isn't necessarily a bad thing.Still, for the Sabres to make significant strides going forward, the 27-year-old must return to form.Joe Pavelski, Dallas StarsGlenn James / National Hockey League / GettyThe Stars' big offseason splash didn't live up to expectations. A goal-starved Dallas team acquired Pavelski for an offensive boost, yet the 35-year-old ranked sixth on the club in goals (14) and seventh in points (31).Pavelski's dip in production shouldn't have been a complete surprise, considering his 38-goal campaign in 2018-19 was bolstered by an unsustainably high shooting percentage (20.2%). However, the 5-foot-11 winger was on pace for fewer than 20 goals across a full regular season for the first time since his sophomore campaign in 2007-08.Perhaps most alarming for the Stars, Pavelski ranked 40th in points per game out of 41 NHL forwards who made at least 25 appearances and carry an annual cap hit of $7 million or more.Pekka Rinne, Nashville PredatorsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRinne is only two years removed from his Vezina Trophy season, but it appears Father Time is catching up to the Predators' 37-year-old puck-stopper. The towering Finn didn't look like himself in 2019-20, and he seemingly lost his starting role to youngster Juuse Saros as a result.This season, Rinne's .895 save percentage was the worst of his career by far, and he allowed four or more goals in 14 of 36 games after conceding that amount just 10 times across 56 appearances in 2018-19. Additionally, after winning eight of his first 10 starts to begin the latest campaign, Rinne earned consecutive victories just once.(Advanced stats sources: Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two days after the NHL featured The Great One, Super Mario got his turn.On Wednesday, the league revisited the Pittsburgh Penguins' blowout win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 1993. It was a truly memorable night for Mario Lemieux, who scored five of the Penguins' 10 goals and helped the club set an NHL record with its 16th straight victory.Watch a replay of the YouTube stream below:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the NHL ends up resuming its season, Dean Evason's job as the Minnesota Wild's interim head coach is safe.General manager Bill Guerin said Wednesday he won't interview coaching candidates during the NHL's pause."Other people can do what they want, but to me personally, it doesn't seem the time or place to do that," Guerin said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "If we come back (this season), hopefully we do, we already went through one coaching change. I want to give the guys the consistency of Dean's thoughts and give Dean that opportunity, too. And I'm very happy with him."In his first season on the job, Guerin fired head coach Bruce Boudreau despite the fact the team was 7-3-1 in its previous 11 games. In total, the club was 27-23-7 at the time Boudreau was fired, sitting three points out of a playoff spot. The Wild were 8-4-0 under Evason."He's done a great job and the guys have responded well," Guerin said. "He's got good communication with the players. He's got an ability to see it as a former player. I like the passion that he brings, but also the detail in the game that he brings. Dean's a good coach."Guerin will evaluate Evason's future after the season is complete, whenever that may be."I'm going to figure (it) out afterward," he said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs inked defensemen Filip Kral and Kristians Rubins to entry-level contracts, the club announced Wednesday.Kral, who signed a three-year pact, racked up 49 points in 53 games with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs this season. The Maple Leafs selected the 20-year-old in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.Rubins, who agreed to a two-year deal, spent this season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies after splitting 2018-19 between them and the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers. The 22-year-old joined the Leafs organization when he signed with the Growlers in August 2018.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Four additional members of the Ottawa Senators organization tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Wednesday. All players and staff have been self-isolating since March 13, and everyone who tested positive has since recovered.Six members of the Senators have now tested positive - five players and one staff member - reports The Athletic's Hailey Salvian, who adds that the group doesn't include TSN 1200 color analyst Gord Wilson, who confirmed last week he tested positive.With those cases factored in, there are now seven known cases among NHL players, including two on the Colorado Avalanche.Meanwhile, the NHL on Tuesday reportedly extended its self-quarantine measures until at least April 15.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL campaign remains paused, but more than a few players can still take some solace in the fact they made significant strides this season.From those who unexpectedly burst onto the scene, to productive youngsters who took their game to the next level, here's a collection of players who broke out in 2019-20.Dominik KubalikFew outside Kubalik's homeland or NHL market had heard of the Czech-born forward at the start of the season, but the 24-year-old rookie - whom the Los Angeles Kings drafted in the seventh round in 2013 before trading him to Chicago for a fifth-rounder in January 2019 - exploded for 30 goals in 68 games. His team boasts some elite playmakers, but Kubalik didn't play with Patrick Kane at even strength often and did much of his damage in a supporting role.David PastrnakMaddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyYes, Pastrnak was arguably already a star, having authored 30-goal efforts in each of the previous three campaigns. However, he rose to absolute superstardom in 2019-20, pouring in 48 goals and 95 points in 70 games. At the time of the postponement, Kubalik's 23-year-old countryman was tied for the league lead in goals, ranked third among all NHL skaters in points, and was on pace for 56 markers and 111 points over an 82-game span.Mika ZibanejadBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyLike Pastrnak, Zibanejad was coming off a 30-goal season of his own, but he became unstoppable as 2019-20 progressed. The New York Rangers center missed 13 games with an injury early on, but dominated upon returning. He piled up 41 goals and 75 points in 57 games - including a five-goal night in early March - and collected a mind-blowing 23 goals over the final 22 games, besting his 74-point output from 2018-19 in 25 fewer contests.J.T. MillerJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyMiller was a solid depth player for the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, but his production skyrocketed after the latter club traded him to the Vancouver Canucks in June. Playing alongside Elias Pettersson certainly factored into that, but nevertheless, Miller more than clicked with his new team, establishing career highs with 27 goals and 72 points in 69 games.Kevin FialaIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOnly Zibanejad was hotter than Fiala down the stretch. The Minnesota Wild winger went on an absolute tear, pouring in 14 goals and 26 points over the final 18 games prior to the pause. Fiala ultimately tied his career high of 23 markers and surpassed his previous best of 25 assists by six in 16 fewer contests, producing 54 points in 64 games.Tony DeAngeloBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyJacob Trouba was the big addition on the Rangers' blue line entering 2019-20, but DeAngelo nearly doubled Trouba's point total and posted surprisingly stellar offensive numbers in his third season with New York. DeAngelo tied for third among all NHL rearguards with 15 goals and ranked fourth in the league at his position with 53 points in 68 games, surpassing his previous career-bests by far.Elvis MerzlikinsKirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyMerzlikins was the Columbus Blue Jackets' goalie of the future, but he became the goalie of the present following an injury to starter Joonas Korpisalo in late December. After taking over as the starter, Merzlikins went 13-5-4 with a .935 save percentage with five shutouts in 23 games. He also led all NHL netminders in goals saved above average during that span.Tristan JarryIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJarry began this season as the Pittsburgh Penguins' backup goalie, but he snatched the No. 1 job from Matt Murray and held onto it for a while after outplaying the two-time Stanley Cup champion. Jarry faltered right before the pause and effectively lost the starting gig, allowing 18 goals combined in four straight losses. However, he excelled beforehand, posting a .931 save percentage in 29 appearances prior to the four-game slide.Bryan RustHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyRust was another Penguins player who enjoyed a breakout season. The 27-year-old forward had never registered more than 18 goals or 38 points in one campaign. However, he needed only 55 games to squash those career highs in 2019-20, piling up 27 markers and 56 points. He had some help from Evgeni Malkin, but it was an impressive campaign nonetheless. Travis KonecnyLen Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettyThe Philadelphia Flyers were one of the NHL's best teams before the postponement, and Konecny played a significant role in that resurgence. The 23-year-old needed 15 fewer games to match his career-high 24-goal output, and bested his previous high of 49 points - achieved in 82 contests - with 61 in only 66 games. He was on pace for 73 points, which would have been a 24-point improvement over his 2018-19 production.Honorable mentions: Igor Shesterkin, Jakub VranaCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Home-ice advantage is a term that's thrown around a lot in sports. While it's important to be aware of home/road splits when it comes to betting, they don't offer much of an edge, as oddsmakers generally factor them heavily into the lines.Still, some teams did a much better job than others of defending home ice this season. If you had bet $100 on every home team this year, here are the profits that the most successful ones would have earned.1. Philadelphia Flyers, +$1,272No team came close to rivaling the Flyers' success at home this season. With a 25-10 straight up record, their 71.4% win percentage was the league's best. Oddsmakers never did quite adjust. Philadelphia had an average line of just -137 at Wells Fargo Center this season - 15th among home rinks - netting the $100 bettor a hefty $1,272 in profits.2. Los Angeles Kings, +$674Despite only having the league's 12th-best home record, the Kings rewarded their backers with a nice return, largely thanks to an average line of +112 at the Staples Center - only the Ottawa Senators (+124) and Detroit Red Wings (+165) had lower lines on home ice. What really bumped the Kings up this list, however, was rattling off six successive home wins before the season was suspended. Los Angeles earned the $100 bettor $780 in profits over that stretch, heading into it with a negative ROI on the campaign.3. Vancouver Canucks, +$520Home ice was kind to the Canucks this season, who sported a 22-13 SU record at Rogers Arena - only five teams had a better win percentage. Like the Flyers, oddsmakers didn't show Vancouver the respect they should have, as the Canucks sported an average line of -129 at home, which was 18th in the NHL.4. Buffalo Sabres, +$392The Sabres were solid at home but far from spectacular. Buffalo posted a 20-15 SU record at KeyBank Center, netting a profit thanks to its success as a home underdog. The Sabres were 10-8 as 'dogs this season, netting $397 in profit. As home favorites, however, they lost bettors $5.5. Pittsburgh Penguins, +$361Despite boasting the NHL's second-best home record this season, the Penguins place fifth on this list thanks to an average line of -175. Interestingly, the Pens sported the same SU record on home ice as the St. Louis Blues (23-12), who had a lower average line (-167). Pittsburgh still netted a marginally higher profit, as it picked its spots well.Other teams to net a profit on home ice this season included the Blues (+$356), Senators (+$333), Columbus Blue Jackets (+$135), Tampa Bay Lightning (+$85), Winnipeg Jets (+$35), Minnesota Wild (+$17), and New York Rangers (+$7)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh is holding out hope that he and his team will have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this season."For what our team has done, how we set ourselves up and the additions we made ... you just hope and pray that there is a scenario where we can finish the season," McDonagh said in a video call Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.McDonagh added it would be a "huge disappointment" if the season doesn't eventually resume.The Lightning were among the NHL's top teams this year, compiling a 43-21-6 record before the pause. They earned more points than any other team since the calendar flipped, going 22-8-2.Tampa Bay was one of the biggest buyers at this year's trade deadline, as it parted ways with two first-round selections and top prospect Nolan Foote to acquire forwards Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow.Despite the NHL reportedly extending its self-quarantine period for players to at least April 15, McDonagh can still envision a return to the ice."(We'll) just be excited to, especially for our group, to be able to continue on our successful season that we’re having," he said, according to team beat writer Bryan Burns.McDonagh believes players would probably only need 7-10 days to get back into game shape.The 30-year-old recorded one goal and 10 assists across 49 games in his third season with the club.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Admiral Vladivostok of the Kontinental Hockey League will not take part in the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team announced Tuesday, per Alliance of European Hockey Clubs managing director Szymon Szemberg.The regional government of Primorsky Krai, where the city of Vladivostok is located, has pulled funding from its sports teams in an effort to help combat the COVID-19 virus. Admiral's main private sponsor "is also experiencing crisis" and likely couldn't make up the shortfall, the team's statement said, meaning the club wouldn't be able to meet the KHL's minimum-wage requirements.Many KHL teams won't be able to survive without government funding, according to TSN's Rick Westhead, and Szemberg describes Admiral as the "first club in (a) European league to be (a) victim of the pandemic."The KHL officially canceled its playoffs March 25 after initially postponing them until April 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks secured commitments from a pair of NCAA standouts.Forward John Leonard and defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk both agreed to join the Sharks organization, the club announced Tuesday.Leonard is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, handed out annually to the nation's top men's college hockey player. The 21-year-old center led all Division I skaters with 27 goals in 33 games during his junior year at UMass-Amherst in 2019-20.The Sharks selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft.Pasichnuk racked up 37 points in 36 contests with Arizona State this season while serving as captain for the second straight campaign in his senior year. The 22-year-old led the nation's blue-liners in shots on goal (121), tied for second in goals, and finished third in points in 2019-20.He leaves the Sun Devils as their all-time leader in games played, points, and assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pete DeBoer wouldn't be opposed to playing postseason games deep into the summer."I can imagine playoff hockey in Vegas in August. It would be 120 degrees, it would be awesome," the Vegas Golden Knights head coach told Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan on the ESPN On Ice podcast Tuesday."You'd have to change the dress code for the players coming to the rink, but ... I think people by that point would be starving for hockey," the bench boss added.DeBoer also expressed how difficult it would be to not conclude this campaign with a postseason."I know, to a man, the players want to have an ending to this season and want to end it the right way," he said. "I know (with) our group, (when) you get this far into a year, you can taste the Stanley Cup Playoffs and you want some closure to that. So, I think whether we play in July, August, (or) September, I'm all for figuring out a way to get some closure to this season before we roll into the next."As the NHL remains paused amid the coronavirus pandemic, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said last week the league may have the ability to play in August and would fit games in if necessary. TSN's Bob McKenzie previously reported the NHL asked its teams for available August arena dates.Daly has also indicated the league wants to avoid anything less than a full 2020-21 campaign.When the NHL paused its season on March 12, the Golden Knights sat atop the Pacific Division with a 39-24-8 record.Vegas played until June 7, 2018, back in its inaugural season, losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Washington Capitals in five games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Tuesday prospect Nick Robertson will be given a chance to crack the team's opening night roster next season."Come training camp we’ll give (Robertson) every opportunity to potentially make the team and put the ball in his court and see what he can do in the fall,” Dubas told The Athletic's James Mirtle.The 5-foot-9 winger was selected 53rd overall by the Leafs in the 2019 draft. He led the OHL with 55 goals in just 46 games as an 18-year-old with the Peterborough Petes this season, where he was linemates with fellow Leafs prospect Semyon Der-Arguchintsev. Robertson also tallied five points in five contests with the United States at the world juniors.The Athletic's Corey Pronman had Robertson ranked as the 11th-best prospect in hockey at the midway point of the season."He’s got the hands to dangle at a high level, and despite not having a lot of assists, his vision is of the highest grades," Pronman wrote back in January. "I may be biased because I’ve been in attendance for some of his highlight-reel assists, but I do think his hockey IQ is elite. He also has a great shot and can pick corners from long distance. He’s small and has an awkward skating stride, but he competes very hard and earns the praise of any coach he plays for because of his work ethic."TSN's Craig Button compared Robertson to Pittsburgh Penguins' 40-goal winger Jake Guentzel.“Jake was very similar (early on) - small, hadn’t physically matured, needed more time. But if you go back, all Jake did was produce," Button said. "It was going to take him a little bit of time to get that physical maturity, and now you watch Jake Guentzel, and I think Nick Robertson is like a clone."Toronto's left wing depth chart is comprised of Zach Hyman, Andreas Johnsson, Ilya Mikheyev (pending RFA), Pierre Engvall, and Kyle Clifford (pending UFA). The emergence of Robertson, a left-handed shot, could potentially allow the Leafs to trade from their surplus of wingers in exchange for help on defense.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Takes, thoughts, and trends is theScore's monthly spin around the NHL.––––––––––Crosby still the players' champAndy Devlin / Getty ImagesLast Thursday, we learned equipment giant Bauer would be producing face shields for medical professionals who are fighting the coronavirus pandemic. A day later, Ryan Getzlaf hilariously showed off his chicken coop during a video call with fellow players and reporters. This week, Zdeno Chara revealed Tuukka Rask has "awful" farts, while former goalie and social media star Eddie Lack was showered with praise after announcing his retirement from hockey.Amid all the anxiety and tragedy surrounding COVID-19, there's been some good coming out of the hockey world. As trivial and silly as some of this stuff is, don't be afraid to soak it all in. Smile, shake your head, tweet a joke. Sports are supposed to be a vice in trying times. Just like binge-watching "Tiger King," they offer us periods of harmless diversion. They're designed to distract us from real-life problems.The NHL Players' Association is doing its part. On Tuesday, the union released results from its players poll, an annual exercise that features a wide-ranging survey filled out by hundreds of NHLers. This year's edition included nearly 600 participants.In my opinion, the biggest takeaway from the 2020 poll is that Sidney Crosby, at age 32, remains the players' champ. Despite Connor McDavid seemingly overtaking Crosby as the best in the world among fans and media, it appears NHLers aren't ready to go there quite yet. Reading between the lines of the poll results, it's clear Crosby continues to be the gold standard in the eyes of his peers.Crosby won "Most Complete Player" honors over Patrice Bergeron with 45.54% of the vote, while McDavid didn't even crack the top four. Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, also won the vaunted "If you need to win one game, who is the one player you would want on your team?" category. McDavid finished second, with 30.53% to Crosby's 44.03%.Now, McDavid did pick up "Best Forward" - and that great distinction shouldn't be dismissed. Nor should the margin of victory, as McDavid earned 68.35% of the vote to second-place Crosby's 14.93%. Clearly, the players weren't ragging on McDavid in any way. However, in their collective view, Crosby remains The Guy. The one who can do it all. And win.Like mentor, like menteeIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesSpeaking of Crosby, it's well-known that he hails from the same hometown as Nathan MacKinnon - who finished third in "Best Forward" voting - and that the pals took similar paths to the NHL by mixing prep school with major junior.But are there other parallels we're missing? Earlier this season, I found myself wondering just that while chatting with Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole, a rare NHLer who's played alongside Crosby and MacKinnon."Both are hypercompetitive, and really dialed-in, and just really searching for that next little 1%, 2% advantage," Cole said. "Whatever that is, they're willing to try it and see if it works with their life. You've got to appreciate that and I think, as a teammate, you need to look at that and, while it may be a little different, you need to let them do their thing."Are there particular examples?"Nutrition, eating habits," Cole replied. "You can go right down the list of all the things. (MacKinnon's) so obsessive, but in a good way. He's a fantastic player, and he's going to be one for a long time with how well he takes care of himself."That description of MacKinnon sounds just like his mentor. Despite dealing with a handful of injuries throughout his career, Crosby was in the middle of his 15th season before the pause.Forgetful year for SharksBruce Bennett / Getty ImagesAside from the woeful Red Wings, no team endured more misery than the Sharks this season. Virtually everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.General manager Doug Wilson fired longtime coach Pete DeBoer just 33 games in, yet San Jose's record under new bench boss Bob Boughner didn't improve. Goalies Martin Jones and Aaron Dell were both awful, finishing with save percentages of .896 and .907, respectively. Stars Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture, and Erik Karlsson missed a combined 54 games, while players who appeared in all 70 contests, such as Timo Meier, Brent Burns, and Kevin Labanc, had down years offensively. Generally, the club's trademark - a potent attack - disappeared.All of this is to say that whenever the offseason officially begins, the Sharks sorely need a reset. The roster's old, the coach still has an interim tag, and their 2020 first-round pick is in the late 20s instead of the single digits thanks to the Karlsson trade in 2018 and the recent Barclay Goodrow deal with Tampa.Facing a crossroads, does Wilson change directions and bail on this core group? Or does he simply chalk this season up as The Year Everything Went Sideways for a team that nearly made the Stanley Cup Final last spring?In appreciation of YandleEliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesA gap in on-ice action allows for some goofing around on Hockey Reference and the NHL's official records website. A takeaway from my recent trip down the rabbit hole: We need to do a better job of appreciating Keith Yandle.Yes, Yandle is far from a perfect player. The Panthers blue-liner has always prioritized offense over defense, which can be an issue given that a large chunk of a defenseman's duties involves playing defense. His near-historic durability and underrated production, on the other hand, deserve serious props.You occasionally hear about Yandle's iron-man streak, which is stuck at 866 straight games, but probably not often enough. He hasn't missed a contest since March 2009 (!) and is a year and a half away from surpassing Doug Jarvis' all-time record of 964. Still just 33 years old and under contract for at least three more full seasons, Yandle has plenty of runway to hit 1,000 games in a row.As for his offensive output, Yandle ranks behind only Burns, Karlsson, and Duncan Keith in points by an NHL defenseman since 2006-07, a season when he appeared in his first seven games. Just eight rearguards have amassed 500 points over that 14-season span, while Yandle's 573 points in 976 games place him fourth in points per contest. The three defenders ahead of him? Perennial Norris Trophy candidates Karlsson, Burns, and Kris Letang.By no means am I suggesting Yandle belongs in the conversation for best defenseman of the last 15 years. But maybe we should give him a little more credit.Keep an eye on DuboisEzra Shaw / Getty ImagesPierre-Luc Dubois - with a 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame, a high-end skill set, and two-way smarts - possesses the tools necessary to become a legitimate star.Dubois' development was under the microscope this season, his first without former running mate Artemi Panarin. He didn't disappoint, but he also didn't break out the way many had expected. Despite leading the Blue Jackets in scoring with 49 points in 70 games, Dubois found himself in coach John Tortorella's doghouse on multiple occasions. A few days before the pause, Tortorella said he wanted his No. 1 center to ramp up his intensity down the stretch.Truthfully, it's difficult to judge the body of work from any Columbus player in 2019-20. The team was crushed by injuries all season while adjusting to life without Panarin, who handles the puck a ton at five-on-five, and other key departures. But for what it's worth, Dubois has blue-liner Zach Werenski's seal of approval."He's done awesome," Werenski said last month when asked to assess his teammate's performance this season. "He's a full 200-foot player. Big body, he can skate, he's so hard to knock off the puck. I think this year, he's really taken a step forward for us in terms of driving play. There's so many shifts where I'll see him get the puck in our zone and next thing I know I see him behind the net with the puck, shielding guys off, making plays, getting to the net. He's been huge for us."The upcoming negotiation between Dubois and the Jackets will be fascinating to monitor. He's part of an RFA class headlined by the Islanders' Mat Barzal.Blue-line breakdownIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesA friend recently asked which defense corps I'd like to inherit if I was an NHL general manager. If you could pick one, just one, of the 31 groups to resume play with, he asked, which would it be?It's a surprisingly tough question, especially when you consider all of this downtime for injured players. By the time hockey resumes, virtually every NHLer will be healthy and ready to jump back into the action.There are six elite groups: those in Boston, Carolina, Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay. Each has a different makeup, from the Blues somehow icing three All-Star-caliber D-men on the right side to the Stars' very top-heavy contingent led by John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell.With a gun to my head, I would take the Hurricanes' blue line - a versatile group that's unmatched in the depth department. The Predators, anchored by Roman Josi, would be a close second. The Blues would round out the top three.Overall, the drop-off from Carolina's stars (Dougie Hamilton, Jaccob Slavin, and Brett Pesce) to its up-and-comer (Haydn Fleury) to its role players (Sami Vatanen, Brady Skjei, Jake Gardiner, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Joel Edmundson) is minuscule compared to that of the average NHL blue-line corps. That's the Canes' edge.Long live Blake's KingsScott Audette / Getty ImagesWhen the Kings hired Rob Blake as GM three years ago, it was difficult to see his master plan working out in relatively short order. You want to contend once again with aging stars Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty? Good luck! Blake had an old and slow lineup, a number of dead-weight contracts on the books, and a prospect pipeline that was decent but unspectacular. It didn't add up.Well, Blake's vision really began to materialize this season. For starters, the Kings, who at the pause ranked 28th in points percentage, did everything you could ask for from a poor team by putting up an honest fight on most nights. They also produced strong underlying numbers for a bottom feeder, continued to ship out veteran pieces deemed not part of the rebuild (such as Tyler Toffoli and Alec Martinez) in exchange for future assets, and learned that 25-year-old Cal Petersen will most likely be the heir to Jonathan Quick's long-held goaltending throne.By the way, that prospect pipeline is now brimming with potential. Alex Turcotte. Tobias Bjornfot. Arthur Kaliyev. Samuel Fagemo. Rasmus Kupari. Akil Thomas. Gabe Vilardi. Tyler Madden. And on and on and on.Plus, L.A. owns 11 picks in the upcoming draft, including four selections in the opening two rounds. Currently, the team's lottery odds sit at 9.5% for the first overall pick and at 28.8% for a selection in the top three.Give this franchise another two or three years, and it'll be back in the playoffs with a full head of steam. By then, Doughty will be 32 or 33, and Kopitar will be 34 or 35. Will they be washed up? Maybe. Maybe not. But that's out of Blake's control. What he's done elsewhere must be applauded.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo says teammate Jay Bouwmeester is feeling better and has remained in St. Louis during the league's hiatus, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen."Bo is good," Pietrangelo said on a video conference call Tuesday. "He's still here. His plan was to be here no matter what. His kids are in school here, too, so I think once he wraps all that up he might try to get home if the doctors feel comfortable."Bouwmeester, 36, suffered a cardiac episode on the bench in a game Feb. 11, during which he had to be revived with a defibrillator. He then underwent an implantable cardioverter defibrillator procedure to restore his heart's normal rhythm and later announced he will not return to play hockey this season."We all kind of live in the same area here so guys are stopping by, seeing how he's doing," Pietrangelo said. "He's out and about walking. He was at the rink pretty much every day that we were home when we were playing. That was a breath of fresh air for us knowing he was out and about, hanging out with the guys."On Tuesday, the NHL extended teams' self-isolation periods to April 15, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL has extended its self-quarantine period for players and staff until April 15, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.On March 16, the league allowed players to fly home if they self-quarantined until March 27. That date was pushed until April 4 and has now been extended a third time.The NHL suspended play of the 2019-20 season March 12 amid growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. The prolonged mandate plus local isolation guidelines make it "almost impossible" for the league to reopen team facilities, adds TSN's Darren Dreger.Four unnamed players - two on the Ottawa Senators and two on the Colorado Avalanche - have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus to date.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHLPA released its annual player poll on Tuesday, giving players a chance to provide their input on who among their peers is tops in several categories. The poll also includes what players think about different arenas, mascots, and jerseys.Broken into three categories - on ice, off ice, and arenas/teams - we've compiled the results for the majority of the questions.On IceBest forward: Connor McDavidHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteConnor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers68.35%Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins14.93%Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche6.65%Nikita Kucherov - Tampa Bay Lightning2.88%For the second consecutive year, McDavid earns the honor, running away with the vote. The 23-year-old has racked up an incredible 34 goals and 97 points in 64 games this season.Best defenseman: Victor HedmanIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteVictor Hedman - Tampa Bay Lightning37.88%John Carlson - Washington Capitals21.35%Roman Josi - Nashville Predators9.04%Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings6.54%Brent Burns - San Jose Sharks6.54%The 2017-18 Norris Trophy winner has been voted the top rearguard in back-to-back years. Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson makes his first appearance on the list amid a career-best campaign.Best goalie: Carey PriceIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteCarey Price - Montreal Canadiens41.55%Andrei Vasilevskiy - Tampa Bay Lightning17.09%Marc-Andre Fleury - Vegas Golden Knights8.93%Sergei Bobrovsky - Florida Panthers5.63%It's hard to believe Price has been stifling his opponents for over a decade. The 32-year-old puck-stopper continues to be among the game's elite at his position entering the back end of his career.Choose one player to win one game: Sidney CrosbyBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteSidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins44.03%Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers30.53%Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche4.11%Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins3.33%With three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe trophies, and two Olympic gold medals, is there a better answer here than No. 87?Most complete player: Sidney CrosbyPlayer - Team% of voteSidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins45.56%Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins25.44%Aleksander Barkov - Florida Panthers7.50%Ryan O'Reilly - St. Louis Blues5.33%Again, after winning nearly every individual award the NHL offers, it's hard to argue anyone other than Crosby is the game's top all-around talent.Best trash-talker: Brad MarchandBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteBrad Marchand - Boston Bruins25.87%Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings13.37%Ryan Reaves - Vegas Golden Knights11.05%Patrick Maroon - Tampa Bay Lightning3.78%The game's most infamous talent has done it again. Marchand earned top honors in this department last season, and he's clearly continued to run his mouth while dominating opponents on the scoresheet.Worst trash-talker: Brad MarchandPlayer - Team% of voteBrad Marchand - Boston Bruins10.59%Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings6.85%P.K. Subban - New Jersey Devils6.85%Nick Cousins - Vegas Golden Knights5.61%You've got to be pressing the right buttons to be voted both best and worst trash-talker. Kudos to Marchand and Doughty for this hilarious achievement.Best female player: Marie-Philip PoulinKevin Light / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayer - Nation% of voteMarie-Philip Poulin - Team Canada39.92%Hilary Knight - Team USA36.29%Kendall Coyne Schofield - Team USA15.52%Emily Matheson - Team USA1.41%Known for her ability to perform in the clutch, Poulin has helped Canada capture a pair of Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014), and she served as team captain at the 2018 Games.Off iceFunniest player: Keith YandleEliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyPlayer - Team% of voteKeith Yandle - Florida Panthers17.98%Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings6.94%Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins5.68%Phil Kessel - Arizona Coyotes4.73%Yandle has been voted the class clown for the second consecutive year. Please treat yourself to the 33-year-old's comedic chops:

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Arizona Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen and president of hockey operations and general manager John Chayka will donate 20% of their salaries "over the coming months" to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Arizona, the team announced Tuesday.The donations will go to the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund and other Arizona non-profits. The fund is initially focused on paying for personal protective equipment for medical personnel, helping non-profit organizations such as food banks and homeless shelters, and assisting low-income students in accessing online learning.Chayka, 30, is the league's youngest general manager. He says the efforts of Arizona's frontline workers inspired him to donate."Kathryn (Chayka) and I could not be more grateful to the health care workers, doctors, nurses, EMTs, and grocery store and food service workers who every day sacrifice so much so their neighbors can stay healthy and safe," he said.Cohen has been with the Coyotes organization since 2015 and was named president and CEO in 2018."Arizona has been our team's home for nearly 25 years and this community has rallied around the Coyotes in good times and bad," said Cohen. He added, "I see this as our privilege and responsibility to help support the people of this great state. I know we will make it through this challenge as a result of all of us Arizonans rallying together."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Yesterday, we dove into the favorites that were most kind to bettors this season. Today, we'll break down the teams that were most profitable as underdogs.Note: Profits listed for $100 bettor1. New York Rangers, +$1,323The season's most profitable 'dog resides in the Big Apple. The Rangers were underdogs an overwhelming 54 times, as oddsmakers never quite believed in them. The team found success as a home 'dog, turning a profit with an 11-11 record, but did most of its damage on the road. Away from Madison Square Garden, the Rangers went 17-15 as underdogs with an average line of +150, turning a profit of $1,009 for the $100 bettor. That was largely thanks to a run of eight successive victories between Jan. 16 and Feb. 27 (+$965).2. Edmonton Oilers, +$1,268The Oilers sit just behind the Rangers in terms of profit despite a better winning percentage (23-18, 56.1%). Inconsistency and unpredictability were a common theme for Edmonton this season, as the team would lose to an opponent like the Sabres one night and then beat the Bruins the next. Like the Rangers, the Oilers experienced most of their success as 'dogs on the road, where they posted a 19-14 record for a profit of +$1,237.3. Colorado Avalanche, +$701The Avalanche didn't have nearly as many opportunities as underdogs, but they enjoyed plenty of success when given those chances. Additionally, with an average line of +120, the Avs weren't priced particularly high when they were 'dogs, but they were efficient when their price climbed. As underdogs of +130 or longer, Colorado went 3-1, including a 6-2 victory in Tampa at +179.4. Dallas Stars, +$659With an underdog record of 13-10, Dallas comes in fourth on this list. The Stars were decent early in the season as 'dogs, posting a 6-6 record (+$148). After firing head coach Jim Montgomery, they improved their play in this spot, embarking on a 7-4 underdog run (+$511) to close out the season.5. Washington Capitals, +$611No team produced a better winning percentage as 'dogs than the Capitals, who posted a 9-4 record (69.2%) in this spot. However, low volume relegates them to fifth on this list. Washington started the season on a 7-1 run when priced as the underdog.There were nine other teams that returned profits as 'dogs in 2019-20: the Predators (+$521), Jets (+$498), Blues (+$431), Canucks (+$194), Hurricanes (+$160), Lightning (+$133), Blue Jackets (+$131), Penguins (+$69), and Panthers (+$27)Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Everyone wants to hit on that lottery ticket, or be the one at the end of the night saying "I told you so" when that +240 underdog cashes.But there's an art to picking favorites as well, and being able to identify which ones to back. Here are the favorites that most rewarded bettors during the 2019-20 regular season.Note: Profits listed for $100 bettor1. Philadelphia Flyers, +$1,136When it comes to profitable favorites, the Flyers were in a league of their own this season. No team sported a better record or return on investment than Philadelphia, who were an astounding 23-8 (74.2%) when favored. The Flyers were an even more impressive 17-4 (81%) when laying at least -130. They were consistently profitable as home favorites, posting a 19-5 (+$1,105) record in that spot, compared to just 4-3 (+$31) on the road. They closed out the season on an 8-0 run as favorites.2. Minnesota Wild, +$494A surprising inclusion on this list, the Wild returned the second-highest profit as favorites this season. That being said, they were barely in the plus column entering the final week of February. However, Minnesota closed out the season on a 5-1 run as favorites to thrust it into second on this list, finishing the year with a 21-12 record when laying juice.3. Boston Bruins, +$452The Bruins were favored 61 times through 70 games this season and were the owners of the league's second-best win percentage as favorites, posting a 41-20 record. Still, with an average line of -182, betting $100 on the Bruins every time they were favored would have only netted a profit of $452. That's a long walk for a short drink of water.4. Los Angeles Kings, +$220It's probably safe to assume no one expected the Kings on this list. Los Angeles was favored 11 times this season and won seven of them, but that was enough for a small profit thanks to an average line of just -128. The Kings were 4-0 when laying at least -130.5. Pittsburgh Penguins, +$200It speaks to the volatility that comes with backing favorites consistently that the Penguins are so high on this list despite yielding the $100 bettor just $200 in profits over 49 games as a favorite, finishing with a 31-18 record. Road deficiencies prevented the Penguins from being higher on this list. They were just 8-7 (-$261) when favored away from home, compared to 23-11 (+$461) at PPG Paints Arena.The St. Louis Blues (+$168), Chicago Blackhawks (+$130), Florida Panthers (+$114), and Winnipeg Jets (+$42) were the only other teams that returned a profit as favorites this season.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With all scenarios on the table regarding what a potential return of the 2019-20 NHL season would look like, Florida Panthers star Alexsander Barkov believes his team should get a shot to compete for the Stanley Cup."I don't think it would be right if we’re left out," Barkov told The Athletic's George Richards. "We are close to a playoff spot and have 13 games left. We just started playing as well as we did before the All-Star break, the bye week. We were feeling pretty good, playing with confidence."After sitting in a playoff position for most of the season, the Panthers currently find themselves three points behind both the second wild-card spot and third place in the Atlantic Division. However, they also had games in hand on some of the teams just ahead of them when the campaign was suspended.When asked what he hopes would happen if the season does resume, Barkov indicated he favors one of the more creative possibilities."The best-case scenario is probably the (play-in) tournament," he said. "Thank God I don’t have to decide anything. I'm just here, waiting to see what the league does with the season and trying to stay healthy.”While hockey is on his mind, Barkov also remains aware of the bigger picture and understands the severity of the situation."Obviously, this thing sucks and health is first. I think the league made the right decision, the world has been making the right decisions," Barkov said of the measures being taken due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We need to keep people inside, stay away from each other right now. That’s a good thing for everyone. We’ll take a little break and we can be back sooner than later.”Before the NHL season was suspended, the 24-year-old Barkov had recorded 20 goals and 42 assists in 66 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes are considered the favorites to sign Russian forward Alexander Barabanov, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Barabanov's agent, Dan Milstein, will begin interviewing interested NHL teams Tuesday, Dreger adds.The 25-year-old winger has played seven seasons with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg and racked up 11 goals and 20 points through 43 games in 2019-20. He captured a pair of Gagarin Cups in 2015 and '17.Internationally, Barabanov won a bronze medal for Russia at the 2014 world juniors and earned gold at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few things can accelerate an NHL team's plans to contend like winning the draft lottery and securing the No. 1 overall pick.The opportunity to transform a team's core can be had by a painful year of tanking or some lottery luck, but no matter how it comes about, it's imperative the club in the driver's seat uses it on the right player. Over the past decade, multiple teams have altered their trajectories by nabbing a generational talent at the top of the draft board, while others have made mistakes with their golden ticket.With nothing on the pro sports landscape but time to reflect, let's look back and rank all of the previous decade's No. 1 picks.N/R - Jack Hughes (2019)GPGAP/GP617140.34It would be unfair to label the most recent No. 1 pick as the decade's worst in a season he may not even get to finish, so we're not ranking him. Still, there's no denying Hughes' debut campaign fell way short of expectations before the 2019-20 season went on pause. He showed flashes of the tantalizing skill that sprung him to the top of every draft board prior to his first year but he clearly had a difficult time adjusting to life at the NHL level. No problem, though - he has plenty of time to develop and prove he can be the New Jersey Devils' cornerstone.9. Nail Yakupov (2012)Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAP/GP35062740.38Yakupov was the Edmonton Oilers' third No. 1 overall pick in a row, and easily the most disappointing. The "Fail for Nail" hype while the dynamic winger lit up the OHL was real, and Edmonton believed drafting a forward for the third consecutive year was the right strategy. It's easy to blast the Oilers for their whiff now with the benefit of hindsight, but any other choice would have been highly criticized at the time. With that in mind, any of Morgan Rielly, Hampus Lindholm, Mathew Dumba, or Jacob Trouba - all first-rounders that year - would have been a better fit in the long run.8. Nico Hischier (2017) GPGAP/GP20959840.64Hischier has proven to be a solid player through his first three seasons with lots of room still to grow. He and Nolan Patrick were the two presumptive best options at No. 1 in 2017, but looking back at the three picks that followed those two (Miro Heiskanen, Cale Makar, and Elias Pettersson), it appears the scouts had their rankings a tad out of order.7. Aaron Ekblad (2014)GPGAP/GP458711410.46Ekblad's stock heading into the 2014 draft was sky-high, as he was the first defenseman to ever be granted exceptional-player status in the OHL in 2011, and he went on to author a tremendous career with the Barrie Colts. The combination of size, skating, and offensive ability he showed in junior carried over into the NHL, but he hasn't quite become the expected generational rock on the Florida Panthers' blue line. He probably wouldn't retain his top spot in a re-draft due to the success of fellow 2014 first-rounders Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak.6. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011)GPGAP/GP6041692740.73It's rather incredible Nugent-Hopkins is in his ninth NHL season at just 26 years old. The Oilers counted on him to contribute immediately, and while he may not be the star he was in junior, he appears to have found a more suitable role as a reliable secondary scorer since the arrival of Draisaitl and another to-be-named Edmonton star. There was some elite talent throughout the 2011 draft, namely Jonathan Huberdeau, Mark Scheifele, Nikita Kucherov, and Johnny Gaudreau, but Nugent-Hopkins was the safe pick then and remains a strong choice today.5. Rasmus Dahlin (2018)Kevin Hoffman / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAP/GP14113710.69Dahlin's produced a small sample size to date but has definitely lived up to his No. 1 overall status through his first two seasons. He consistently shows the offensive flashes that had many compare him to Erik Karlsson, and his career points-per-game rate ranks second among all teenage defensemen in the NHL's modern era, trailing only Hall of Famer and former head coach Phil Housley. Stepping into the NHL as an 18-year-old and immediately contributing the way he has is no easy feat, and he projects to be a foundational piece with the Buffalo Sabres, alongside captain Jack Eichel, for many years to come.4. Taylor Hall (2010)GPGAP/GP6272183450.89Hall beat out Tyler Seguin in the infamous "Taylor or Tyler" draft to start the decade and has gone on to establish himself as a bonafide NHL star. He never led the Oilers where many thought he would, but he proved how good he can be when healthy in his 2018 Hart Trophy campaign with the Devils. Hall trails only Seguin in points among all players in his draft class but has played almost a full season less than Seguin due to injuries. The 28-year-old Hall's been as advertised throughout his entire career and should still have many good years ahead of him, but he doesn't quite compare to the top three on this list.3. Nathan MacKinnon (2013)Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAP/GP5251903050.94On the strength of three consecutive 90-point seasons, MacKinnon has established himself as one of the NHL's most dominant players. That said, "Nate the Great" didn't begin his career anywhere near the level he's at today, which his why he earns the No. 3 spot in our rankings. MacKinnon won the Calder Trophy but struggled in the following three seasons, topping out at 53 points for a Colorado Avalanche squad that appeared to lack direction. Now at 24, he's a perennial MVP threat leading a club that looks poised to compete for Stanley Cups for much of the next decade.2. Auston Matthews (2016)GPGAP/GP2821581271.01Since Matthews joined the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2016-17 season, only Alex Ovechkin has scored more goals. Once drafted, Matthews made an immediate impact and went on to win the Calder Trophy thanks to a 40-goal campaign. This season, he was on track to eclipse 50 tallies for the first time while having already established a new career high in points before the coronavirus-induced break. The 22-year-old is head and shoulders above everyone else in the 2016 draft class at this point and appears to be getting better on both sides of the puck each year.1. Connor McDavid (2015)GPGAP/GP3511623071.34There's really no debate. McDavid was dubbed as the next generational NHL superstar before he even made the OHL, and it's safe to say he's delivered. His 1.34 career points-per-game rate ranks fifth in NHL history among all players with a minimum 300 games played, and he's already won an MVP and two scoring titles at 23 years old. McDavid is far and away the most electrifying player in the NHL, and there's a whole lot of hardware left to claim in his future.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.In an NHL video conference call Monday, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk revealed that his teammates who were diagnosed with COVID-19 are "doing well.""We're a tight group, so we're always in contact with one another," Tkachuk said, according to The Canadian Press.Two unnamed Senators players were separately diagnosed with the coronavirus in the days after the NHL shut down operations March 12 amid the worldwide pandemic. Gord Wilson, a member of the club's radio broadcast crew, also tested positive."All of us are concerned about (the Ottawa players) and everybody impacted by it," Tkachuk said.Two players on the Colorado Avalanche have tested positive for COVID-19, the only other known cases to date among NHL players.Before the NHL's pause, the Senators held a 25-34-12 record, with Tkachuk chipping in 21 goals and 23 assists across 71 games in his sophomore season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Members of the NHL community are showing their appreciation for medical professionals battling the coronavirus pandemic on National Doctors' Day in the United States.Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares expressed concern over the situations in both his current and former NHL homes while acknowledging those who are most at risk.

With no live sports to tune into these days, the best us fans can do is rewatch old classics.Monday night gave us the perfect opportunity to do so, as the NHL livestreamed Game 1 of the 1983 Western Conference Final, when Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers trounced the Chicago Blackhawks 8-4 to set the tone for a commanding series sweep. The Great One notched one goal and four assists, while fellow future Hall of Famers Jari Kurri and Mark Messier had four and three points themselves, respectively.Watch the full replay of the stream below:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While major professional sports are on hiatus, theScore's writers are exploring what they'd do if this pause allowed for changes to the rules and structures of various leagues. After tackling Major League Baseball in Part 1, the National Hockey League is up next.Reimagine the draftThe current draft lottery system is flawed. Since lottery odds are determined by inverse order of regular-season standings, teams eliminated from playoff contention early (Detroit this year and Ottawa last year) have no incentive to win games down the stretch. This produces an influx of AHL and junior call-ups, too much crease time for backup goalies, and other measures designed to curtail on-ice success. Realistically, can you blame these clubs? Finishing dead last in the NHL gives a team an 18.5% chance of obtaining the first overall pick. Finishing 25th earns a 6.5% chance. The wrong crowd is being rewarded.But what if the draft order was determined by points collected after elimination from playoff contention, as it would be under the so-called "Gold Plan" first introduced in 2012 at the Sloan Analytics Conference? Teams would have to keep trying to win after being eliminated from the playoff race in order to claim the No. 1 pick. Under those terms, all 82 games for all 31 teams matter. Now, a potential obstacle for this proposal is education. The lottery is already a convoluted exercise, an event that can be hard for casual fans to wrap their heads around. Effective communication would be paramount here.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesAs for the draft itself, I have a solution to the periodic debate around first-year eligibility rules. What if the NHL introduced a hybrid draft, in which the opening five rounds are reserved for 18-year-old players and the final two rounds are reserved for players aged 19 or 20? The current rules - players must be 18 years old by Sept. 15 of the draft year and under 20 years old by Dec. 31 in order to be eligible - seem perfectly fine, but over the years, many within the hockey world, including NHL general managers, have suggested that raising the entry age to 19 would be better for the sport.Advocates of the higher draft age argue most players could use more time for mental, physical, and emotional development, while teams could benefit from an extra season of evaluation. In this hybrid iteration, early and late bloomers get their respective dues and, over time, scouts would probably strike out less frequently at the draft table.Clean up officiatingThe NHL routinely touts its referees and linesmen as the best in the world. I'm not here to make a case against that claim; officials' jobs are incredibly difficult and, on aggregate, I believe they get far more calls correct than incorrect. But one area in which the league could improve is transparency. Aside from occasional reports about certain officials losing out on playoff assignments because of poor performance, there's no external accountability for refs and linesmen. Mistakes are made, fans and media go nuts, and there are no explanations or repercussions.Why can't a member of the crew speak to a pool reporter postgame to provide the officials' side of the story? Maybe fans would learn something new about the rulebook, or about how hard it is for a human being to be mistake-free on the job. Maybe we'd start accepting the fact that officials are people too, and collectively give them a break every once in a while. The current protocol - virtually no transparency for missed or blown calls except after extreme circumstances in the postseason - creates a barrier between officials and many of the game's other stakeholders, most notably fans.While we're on the topic of officials, why is it that only members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote on the recipient of the Lady Byng Trophy? Don't those at ice level, such as refs and linesmen, have infinitely better intel on players' gentlemanly conduct? Including them in the voting block for that award would also help bridge the gap between officials and fans. Just a thought from a PHWA member.Len Redkoles / GettyAnother officiating issue can be traced to the rafters of every NHL arena. It's been proven time and again that off-ice record-keepers - part-time officials who track shots, faceoffs, takeaways, giveaways, hits, etc. from the press box - don't log game events in a uniform manner. On the surface, this may seem an inconsequential issue, but standings points, award cases, and career legacies are all ultimately determined by these results.Consider the Vezina Trophy. How much of that award's narrative revolves around a statistic like save percentage? If an off-ice worker in one particular arena is a generous shot-counter, the resident team's goalies will have save percentages that look much better than they should over the course of a full season. It's possible the long-awaited arrival of player and puck tracking will solve this recording glitch. That would be fantastic. Accurate stats are important. Until then, though, these snafus should be addressed in some way. Maybe the NHL could hire a team of auditors to fact-check and correct inconsistencies?Widen the ice surfacePatrick Smith / Getty ImagesAdmittedly, this proposal is both unoriginal (see: Mark Messier's plea way back in 1987) and a hard sell - hence its position further down this list of ideas. It's true that players are bigger, faster, and stronger than when the game was first conceived. Advances in equipment have helped raise the speed of play to a previously unimaginable caliber, while the introduction of the four-official system in the late 1990s added an extra body to an already-crowded playing surface. Yet the NHL's ice surfaces have remained roughly 200 feet long and 85 feet wide.I truly believe widening the rink by 10 feet would decrease the number of unintended collisions - which would hopefully limit concussions - and increase the level of creativity - which would hopefully promote scoring. You might say, "Well, scoring is already up and the game is in great shape, thank you very much. Leave it be." To that, I'd say, "You're totally right, but short-term pain could make the game even better in the long run." It's time to modernize ice surfaces around the league.Of course, one gigantic obstacle for this proposal is money. The cost of such rink renovations would be tough to swallow, while the revenue lost in removing a row or two of premium seating makes for a difficult pitch to owners.Low-hanging fruitNow for some quick hits:

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers are letting go of a significant number of employees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation is laying off approximately half of its full-time workforce - or about 150 people - for 60 days beginning April 13, the Flames announced Monday. The affected employees were given two weeks' notice.The team is also implementing salary reductions of 10% to 25% for the remaining staff, with the rate of the respective reductions increasing with salary levels, meaning executive management will take the highest percentage cuts.Calgary will initiate an unemployment benefit plan for the laid-off employees, which will provide an Employment Insurance top-up payment to those affected.Meanwhile, Oilers Entertainment Group is temporarily reducing its staff by 139 employees and trimming compensation for those still working from home, the club announced Monday.OEG will ensure that all non-executive employees - whether they've been laid off or are still working from home - will continue to receive 75% to 90% of their respective salaries. That mirrors the Flames' salary reductions, but Edmonton's move applies to all staff rather than just those who remain.The Flames reportedly informed hourly workers earlier this month that they wouldn't be compensated for lost shifts during the shutdown, though the club reversed course and implemented a compensation program for part-timers.On March 24, the Oilers' senior hockey and business executives decided to temporarily forgo half to all of their respective salaries to help the organization financially.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player deemed to be most valuable during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A total of 47 different men have earned the award since its introduction in 1965, while netminder Patrick Roy has received the honor a record three times and became the youngest winner ever in 1986.With the 2019-20 NHL season currently suspended, we're ranking every Conn Smythe performance from the last decade and including a signature moment for each recipient.10. Sidney Crosby, Penguins (2015-16)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)246131920:2658.74You could argue that Phil Kessel should have claimed the Conn Smythe in the Penguins' first of back-to-back Cup runs. But while he tallied more goals and points than Crosby did, the captain's leadership and ability to perform in the clutch proved vital throughout the playoffs.Thanks to Crosby's heroics, the Penguins narrowly escaped a grueling seven-game Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. All three of No. 87's game-winning goals that postseason came in this series, highlighted by a beautiful solo effort on the road in a must-win Game 6.9. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks (2012-13)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)239101920:5657.21Kane's Conn Smythe Trophy season was ironically the least productive of his three Stanley Cup runs. But on a strange and unlikely path to the title - which saw grinder Bryan Bickell rank second on the Blackhawks in scoring - Chicago needed a hero, and Kane was up to the task.The electric winger contributed five points in six games during the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, including a pair of tallies in the crucial Game 5.However, Kane's signature moment came one round earlier in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Kings. With two goals already in the contest and the Blackhawks one win away from advancing, "Show Time" delivered the heartbreaker in double overtime to complete the hat trick and seal the series.8. Justin Williams, Kings (2013-14)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)269162516:4952.68On a Kings team loaded with talent, Williams reigned supreme throughout the 2014 playoffs. He delivered at least five points in each round and played a significant role in helping the Kings erase a 3-0 series deficit against the San Jose Sharks with a pair of two-goal games."Mr. Game 7" also lived up to his moniker in the deciding contest of the Western Conference Final against the defending champion Blackhawks, scoring in the first period and dishing out the game-winning assist on Alec Martinez's overtime clincher.Next, Williams' signature moment came when Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers went into extra time.7. Ryan O'Reilly, Blues (2018-19)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)268152321:0049.5O'Reilly capped his Selke Trophy-winning regular season with a Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup to complete one of the greatest individual campaigns in St. Louis Blues history.The 6-foot-1 pivot was an absolute menace throughout the postseason, sharing the league lead in points and pacing all Blues forwards in average ice time.O'Reilly's final act was one for the books, as the Ontario native scored goals in four consecutive Stanley Cup Final contests - a feat that hadn't been accomplished since Wayne Gretzky in 1985. He netted five goals during that stretch, with the final tally breaking the deadlock in Game 7.6. Sidney Crosby, Penguins (2016-17)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)248192719:2450.38"Sid the Kid" was sensational in the Penguins' second straight Stanley Cup run, leading all players in assists while ranking second in points and first among Pittsburgh forwards in average ice time.Crosby caused headaches for every opponent, tallying at least six points in each series, including seven in five games against the rival Washington Capitals during Round 2 (he played just 2:11 in Game 3 before exiting with an injury).It also didn't take long for Crosby to make an impact in the matchup with the Capitals. In a scoreless Game 1, he buried a pair of goals just 52 seconds apart to spark Pittsburgh's third consecutive series win over Washington in the Crosby-Ovechkin era.5. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals (2017-18)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)2415122720:4455.76After a decade of heartbreak, Ovechkin wouldn't let the Capitals be denied in the 2018 postseason. The "Great Eight" notched a playoff-leading 15 goals during his journey to hockey's summit - the highest total by a Conn Smythe recipient since Joe Sakic buried 18 in 1996.Ovechkin, who recorded a point in every game of the final round against the Vegas Golden Knights, became the second Russian-born player to be named playoff MVP.And though he found the net in the title-clinching contest against Vegas, Ovechkin's most important tally came in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Capitals captain fired home his patented one-timer just 1:02 into the game, setting the stage for a 4-0 win over the top-seeded Lightning.4. Duncan Keith, Blackhawks (2014-15)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)233182131:0752.91Keith redefined what it means to leave it all on the ice during his legendary Conn Smythe run. The tireless blue-liner became one of four players in the last 20 years to log at least 700 postseason minutes, playing more than 40 on three occasions. His most impressive outing came in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, where he logged 49:51 in a triple-overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks.The two-time Norris Trophy winner also played a pivotal role offensively. Keith's 21 points tied Chris Chelios for the most by a Blackhawks defenseman in a single playoff run. Plus, all three of his goals were game-winners, with the final tally serving as the Stanley Cup clincher in Game 6 against the Lightning.3. Tim Thomas, Bruins (2010-11)RecordGAASV%SO16-91.98.9404Thomas stifled his opponents for two straight months to become the 15th goaltender in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He remains the oldest player to earn the honor, doing so at 37 years old.The puck-stopper was incredibly clutch, collecting shutouts in Game 7 of both the Eastern Conference Final and the Stanley Cup Final. In the championship round against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks, Thomas allowed only eight goals in seven games.His most memorable moment wasn't stopping the puck, however. Known for an unorthodox playing style and a short temper, Thomas cemented his place in the hearts of Bruins fans by flattening Canucks captain Henrik Sedin during Game 3 of the Cup Final.2. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks (2009-10)GPGAPATOIxGF% (5-on-5)227222920:5855.35At just 22 years and 41 days old, Toews became the second-youngest player - and the youngest skater - in history to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy en route to his first of three Stanley Cups.Toews' 29 playoff points tied a franchise best for a single postseason and ranked second among all players that year. The Blackhawks captain rode an incredible 13-game point streak into the Stanley Cup Final, where he added three more assists against the Philadelphia Flyers.His defining moment came two rounds earlier. Toews torched the Canucks with a hat trick and five points on the road in Game 4 to give Chicago a 3-1 series lead. The Blackhawks eventually won that matchup in six games.1. Jonathan Quick, Kings (2011-12)RecordGAASV%SO16-41.41.9463Quick's 2012 Conn Smythe run is simply unmatched. The 6-foot-1 netminder set modern-day playoff records with his sparkling 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage, leading the eighth-seeded Kings on their Cinderella Stanley Cup run.To break down his historic journey, consider the following: Quick allowed one or zero goals in half of his 20 postseason starts and never gave up more than three, conceding that number just twice. In the opening round against the league-best Canucks, Quick surrendered eight tallies through five games and recorded 40-plus saves in multiple appearances to help L.A. pull off the upset.Relive Quick's monumental run through some of his highlights and the reactions of his teammates and coaches:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings head coach Todd McLellan took an unsurprising stance when asked about a reportedly proposed draft lottery tournament if the 2019-20 season is officially canceled."I'm not a fan of it. Not one bit," McLellan said Monday, according to The Athletic's Lisa Dillman.Last week, one team executive suggested the league could hold a tournament in which lottery teams would compete for the top selection if the season is lost, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.But McLellan's Kings are near the bottom of the standings (28th), so it's easy to see why the bench boss has an issue with the idea."For me, it's a little counterintuitive to do it that way," McLellan said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris.With the season currently on pause, the Kings would hold 9.5% odds to land the No. 1 selection under the traditional lottery format.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have told defenseman Philip Broberg they want him to stay in Sweden next season rather than make the leap to North America, according to The Edmonton Sun's Jim Matheson.The Oilers selected Broberg with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft. He played this season with Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League."Obviously when you take a player eighth in the draft and he’s a defenseman you want some offense, but Philip was an 18-year-old playing in a men’s league this season,” Oilers general manager Ken Holland said. "We feel he’s in a good place at Skelleftea, Philip was happy this year and we’d like to see him on more specialty teams next season."Broberg recorded just one goal and seven assists in 45 contests while averaging approximately 14 minutes of ice time per game in his first season with the Swedish club.Holland believes Broberg's lack of production so far has been due to his role. Turning 19 in June, Broberg mainly served as one of his team's bottom-pairing defensemen. Holland also pointed to a similar situation at the world junior championship but is hoping to see more from him at next year's tournament that will take place in Alberta.Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom took a similar path after being drafted 19th overall in 2011. Klefbom spent two seasons in the same Swedish league before coming over to join the Oilers' organization as a 20-year-old.Holland added he's not in a huge rush to get Broberg into his team's lineup, and is willing to wait for him to develop adequately."We’re hoping Broberg can be a (NHL) player at 22 years of age. We hope he’s an impact player," Holland said. "To me that means top-four defenseman, No. 1 goalie, or one of the top seven or eight forwards. That’s what impact means to me."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong doesn't think the NHL's hiatus will impact his club's ability to defend its Stanley Cup title should the 2019-20 season resume."With the knowledge of what we did last year, and that we have a mature team, we're not worried about whether they're preparing or what they're doing off the ice, eating correctly and doing whatever workouts they need to be doing; I know they are because they've shown that year in and year out," Armstrong told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."We feel excited that if we get the opportunity again that we'll be in a very good spot to put our very best foot forward."The Blues continued their elite play this season and occupy the top seed in the Western Conference with the campaign on pause. The core group that brought the franchise its first Stanley Cup remains intact and star winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who missed most of this season following shoulder surgery in October, should also be back in the fold."You need to plan that you're going to play again," Armstrong said. "And we are planning that we're going to play again. We're very fortunate that we have a mature group, and the majority of our team is coming back that was here last year at this time. They did a really good job of putting themselves in a good spot throughout the regular season."St. Louis pulled off one of the most incredible runs in NHL history in 2018-19. After sitting last in the league on Jan. 1, the Blues went on a 30-10-5 run that propelled them into the postseason and eventually to the Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry and his wife, Julie, opened up $2,500 tabs at two local restaurants to provide free meals to hospital workers during the coronavirus pandemic."Anything we can do to show our appreciation," the family said, according to the team's website. "To show that we're thinking of them, standing behind them, supporting them and that they're in our thoughts and prayers."Dozens of professional athletes have stepped up to help those in need while their respective leagues are on hiatus. Canadiens teammate Carey Price and his wife, Angela, recently donated $50,000 to the Breakfast Club of Canada's emergency fund to help children at risk of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.Petry has 40 points in 71 games in his sixth season with Montreal.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.