Peter Laviolette has been named head coach of the U.S. men's national team that will participate in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship, USA Hockey announced Wednesday.Laviolette, who was fired by the Nashville Predators in January, had been head coach of the Predators since the 2014-15 season. He's been a head coach in the NHL since 2001."It's great to have Peter as our head coach," U.S. general manager Chris Drury said. "He brings significant international experience, both as a player and a coach, and his passion and desire to win align with our goal of bringing home the gold medal."Laviolette has an extensive international resume. He served as head coach of the U.S. team at the same tournament in 2014, was an assistant with the 2014 men's Olympic team in Sochi, and was the head coach of the 2006 men's Olympic squad in Torino. This will be his fourth time working as a head coach at the IIHF tournament.The tournament takes place May 8-24 in Switzerland.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.No excuses after we slumped to a 1-3 night on Tuesday - in maddeningly frustrating fashion.We've had a bit of tough stretch, hovering at or below .500 for the bulk of the past week following a pretty lengthy winning run. Let's get back to our old ways, starting tonight.GOATs and scapegoatsBrayden Schenn scored 33 seconds into last night's game, setting the tone for the St. Louis Blues' 6-5 win as their contest against the Chicago Blackhawks sailed over the total for our lone Tuesday win.It really shouldn't have been our lone win, though. In fact, it's sickening that it was. We had over 5.5 goals for the game in Raleigh. After the Dallas Stars jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead and held a 4-1 advantage just over 10 minutes into the second frame, we needed one goal in the last 27 minutes of action. Literally just one goal. We got nothing, despite the Carolina Hurricanes firing 18 shots on goal in the third period. Thanks a lot, Anton Khudobin.Wednesday betsBuffalo Sabres/Colorado Avalanche under 6 (-105)The Avalanche have changed their approach slightly in the absence of Philipp Grubauer, playing stingier defensive hockey. As a result, the under is 4-1 in Colorado's last five home games. Pavel Francouz has also played well between the pipes. The Czech netminder has posted a .938 save percentage in February while allowing two or fewer goals in each of his starts, with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning the lone exception. With all due respect to the Sabres, Buffalo is no Tampa.The Sabres have scored just six goals in three road games against Western Conference teams in the 2020 calendar year. The over is 1-1-1 in those contests, but none of those tilts saw more than six goals. This total feels a bit too high.Best betEdmonton Oilers' team total over 2.5 (-110)This is a tough spot for the Oilers, who are playing the second leg of a back-to-back in Vegas after losing in Anaheim in overtime last night. But it's a spot in which they've managed to excel all season. Edmonton is 5-0-0 in road games played on zero days' rest this season and 6-0-0 on no rest overall, scoring at least three goals in every one of those contests.The Golden Knights have been playing good hockey, winning six in a row, but they still have issues on defense. Vegas has allowed three or more goals in six of its last eight games. At such a short price, how could you not back the Oilers' streak to continue?Trend of the nightThe Pittsburgh Penguins have scored at least four goals in each of their last four road games against Western Conference teams. They've done the same in six of their last seven on the road against non-conference opponents, and eight of their 11 total contests in that situation this season.The only Western road games in which Pittsburgh failed to net four tallies were against the Blues, Dallas Stars, and Vancouver Canucks. The Los Angeles Kings, meanwhile, have allowed three or more goals in seven of their last nine home games and are 2-6-1 over that span. You can get the Penguins' team total over 3.5 at -110 if you're feeling up to it.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.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Victor Mete will miss the remainder of this season due to a fractured foot, the team announced Wednesday.Mete suffered the injury during a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 18.In 51 games with Montreal this season, the 21-year-old managed four goals and seven assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Ayres' fast-track to superstardom has garnered the attention of the NHL, as the league's emergency backup goalie rules are expected to be discussed when general managers convene for their annual meetings in Florida next week.Ayres has dominated headlines across the sports world since Saturday night, when he was forced to suit up in goal for the Carolina Hurricanes and ultimately won his appearance against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite all the fun and publicity the situation created, the league will now explore if the process needs changing."I think it's a fair question," deputy commissioner Bill Daly told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "It's something we've given some consideration over the years. As recently as last year, we discussed (it) with general managers. It happens very, very rarely, but when it happens, it raises everybody's attention to the issue and whether there are fixes that need to be made to that particular issue."Ayres, 42, works for Toronto's AHL affiliate and has practiced with the Maple Leafs in the past. The last emergency backup to see game action prior to Ayres was Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant who earned a win for the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2018."There's no easy fixes to it," Daly said. "Particularly, we have to work with the (NHL) Players' Association. Who's a player? Who's not a player? What qualifies all of that? But we obviously want what's best for the game, and we want to make sure people aren't putting themselves in danger by playing goal in a National Hockey League game ... So that's obviously something we have to continue to work through."Ayres has turned into a viral sensation since living out his NHL dream. The city of Raleigh declared Tuesday "David Ayres Day," and he's been interviewed on talk shows throughout the continent, including the "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin will be out approximately four weeks after suffering a broken hand Tuesday, the team announced Wednesday.Defenseman Calle Rosen was recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies In a corresponding move.Muzzin exited Tuesday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a shot off his hand in the second period.The 31-year-old has been one of the Maple Leafs' most important players in 2019-20. He's third on the team in average ice time (21:36), first in hits (109), and first in blocked shots (110). He's also chipped in six goals and 17 assists in 53 games.Toronto is already without two key defensemen as both Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci are currently on injured reserve. Muzzin also missed a month earlier this season due to a broken foot.Muzzin signed a four-year, $22.5-million extension with the Leafs on Monday.Rosen, who was with the Maple Leafs before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche last offseason, was reacquired prior to Monday's trade deadline. He's spent the majority of his time in the AHL this season, though he did record two assists in eight games with the Avalanche.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is a big fan of his team's recent acquisition of forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau."What a great pickup by (general manager) Lou (Lamoriello)," Trotz told reporters postgame Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. "The (draft) picks are nothing, I can tell you that - a lot of picks never play."The Islanders were one of the league's biggest spenders at the trade deadline, giving up a conditional first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a conditional third-rounder to add the 27-year-old forward from the Ottawa Senators.The team immediately signed Pageau to a six-year extension with an average annual value of $5 million. He recorded a goal in his first game with his new club in Tuesday's contest against the New York Rangers.Only 10 of the 38 players selected by the Islanders in six drafts dating back to 2014 have appeared in at least one NHL game. Of those 10 players, seven were selected in the first round.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the fifth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we look at the leading candidates for the award through the first five months of the season.5. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg JetsJonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%26-20-52.722.76.918.811Hellebuyck's consistent play between the pipes has kept the Jets afloat in an extremely competitive Western Conference playoff race. The 26-year-old owns a .921 save percentage in the month of February and ranks third among netminders in expected goals saved above average at five-on-five on the season.The Jets' most valuable player is heading for familiar territory in terms of workload. With 52 starts already under his belt, Hellebuyck will likely reach the 60-start mark for the third consecutive campaign.4. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues Joe Puetz / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%28-11-72.632.53.911.860Binnington has bounced back in a big way after an ugly January knocked him off our rankings.Even after surrendering five goals Tuesday, the Blues puck-stopper has still allowed just six goals over his past four starts and has posted two shutouts in February. Binnington also ranks second among all netminders in both wins and high-danger save percentage.3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Al Powers / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%32-12-32.612.32.914.823Vasilevskiy continues to climb up our list with his sublime play between the pipes. The Russian puck-stopper leads all netminders in wins by a wide margin and ranks third in total minutes played.Prior to a forgettable two-game Western road trip, Vasilevskiy posted a record of 19-0-2 to go along with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage over a masterful two-month stretch.2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%21-13-42.452.52.922.846The league's largest puck-stopper has been a model of consistency between the pipes all decade. With three top-three finishes in Vezina voting over the last eight seasons, Bishop has put himself in a strong position to finally capture the elusive hardware in 2019-20.The 33-year-old has given the goal-starved Stars a chance to win nearly every night. He's allowed two or fewer goals in 64% of his starts and has only conceded four or more on six occasions.1. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%23-7-62.222.31.926.853Rask is back at the top of our rankings for the first time since this season's opening edition.The Finn ranks fifth among netminders in standard save percentage and third in high-danger save percentage. He sits second in goals saved above average at five-on-five. Before allowing 10 goals over his last two starts, Rask had surrendered two or fewer tallies in 11 straight outings, boasting a .951 save percentage in those games.(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick, Corsica Hockey)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin exited Tuesday's contest versus the Tampa Bay Lightning with a hand injury and won't return, the team announced.Muzzin blocked a Victor Hedman shot late in the second period and didn't come out for the final frame. The Leafs didn't have an update on his status following their 4-3 victory, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.Toronto is currently without blue-liners Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci, who are each out with long-term injuries. Muzzin missed one month earlier this season due to a broken foot.Muzzin signed a four-year, $22.5-million extension with the Maple Leafs on Monday and has arguably been the club's most reliable defenseman this season. The 31-year-old has posted 23 points while averaging just under 22 minutes per night.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many Washington Capitals fans are excited to watch Ilya Kovalchuk share the ice with Alex Ovechkin. Playing together is something the star forwards have envisioned for over 20 years."Since we were 13 years old," Kovalchuk said to reporters when asked how long he and Ovechkin have spoken about playing for the same club. "We played together on the national team but never for the same team. Usually, we battle against each other."The Capitals traded a third-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Kovalchuk on Sunday. The 36-year-old potted six goals and seven assists in 22 games with Montreal this year. His contract was terminated by the Los Angeles Kings earlier this season."I have a great time in Montreal. I think that was one of the best decisions in my hockey life that I go there," Kovalchuk added. "Now I have a chance to play for a contender so it's a great opportunity."While it's unclear where Kovalchuk will slot into the Capitals' lineup, he was practicing on the team's third line and second power-play unit at practice Tuesday, according to The Washington Post's Samantha Pell."It all depends on how I'm going to play," Kovalchuk said when asked how he'll handle a smaller role in Washington. "If I play well I might become the first-line player - you never know."Kovalchuk is slated to make his Capitals debut Tuesday when Washington takes on the Winnipeg Jets.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.With a busy trade deadline in the rearview mirror, NHL rosters are set and the playoff push is underway, with the quest for the Stanley Cup on the horizon.There was a flurry of action in the lead-up to Monday's deadline. While some general managers were busy strengthening their teams for the stretch run, others got lost in the chaos, with their respective squads' chances suffering blows as a result.Here are the updated Stanley Cup odds heading into the final six weeks of the regular season:TeamOddsBoston Bruins+550Tampa Bay Lightning+600St. Louis Blues+800Colorado Avalanche+900Vegas Golden Knights+900Pittsburgh Penguins+1000Washington Capitals+1000Dallas Stars+1100Edmonton Oilers+1600New York Islanders+1800Vancouver Canucks+2000Philadelphia Flyers+2000Carolina Hurricanes+2000Toronto Maple Leafs+2800Calgary Flames+3000Columbus Blue Jackets+3300Nashville Predators+3500Arizona Coyotes+4000New York Rangers+4000Winnipeg Jets+4000Minnesota Wild+4500Florida Panthers+5000Only displaying teams with odds +5000 or shorter.BuyTampa Bay Lightning (+600)This is a betting article, and for the purposes of winning the Stanley Cup this season, it doesn't matter to us how much teams overpay to add. The Lightning gave up a lot for the likes of Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, but is anyone going to care about that if they're lifting the Cup come June? Coleman is a smart player who should provide solid depth scoring, while Goodrow makes Tampa a tougher team to play against. And let's not forget Zach Bogosian, who elected to sign with the Bolts over a number of other suitors. Heading a team that just needed some fine-tuning, general manager Julien BriseBois hit a home run.Washington Capitals (+1000)The Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Jim Rutherford had a typically excellent couple of weeks leading up to the deadline, but Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan deserves a ton of credit for not just keeping up, but winning their divisional arms race. Brenden Dillon brings experience and toughness to the Caps' blue line, and the addition of a motivated Ilya Kovalchuk is highly intriguing. Each of those players shifts the needle more than the Penguins' addition of Patrick Marleau, which didn't make a whole lot of sense, and the re-acquisition of Conor Sheary. Pittsburgh did well to get Jason Zucker earlier in February, but Rutherford didn't do anything to address the back end, where injuries remain an issue.The Capitals solidified themselves as the cream of the crop in the Metropolitan Division, and they can be had for the same price as a Penguins team that hasn't much improved since the Zucker trade.Philadelphia Flyers (+2000)It wasn't a flashy deadline for Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher, but he did really well given his team's financial restraints. Nate Thompson and Derek Grant won't make a big impact on the scoreboard, but they're the sort of players whose presence is really felt in the playoffs. They offer important grit and depth without disrupting team chemistry. Grant is having a career year and can fill a variety of roles, while Thompson is outstanding in the faceoff circle and should prove an invaluable addition in the room.Carolina Hurricanes (+2000)I wrote extensively about the Hurricanes' odds earlier in February, and if you own a Canes futures ticket, you have to be thrilled with the deadline work of GM Don Waddell. Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen provide a massive boost to a defensive core that's been riddled with injuries, but the real prize was Vincent Trocheck, who gives Carolina legitimately impressive depth down the middle. Injuries in goal are a concern, but Alex Nedeljkovic has had success at every level and there's no reason to suggest he can't fill the void. It's not like Petr Mrazek had been playing lights out, either.SellColorado Avalanche (+900)It's not all doom and gloom for the Avalanche, who are still an excellent team with a long window to win, but it feels GM Joe Sakic missed the boat a bit here. There's nothing wrong with being patient, but it seemed like Colorado could have taken a significant step toward the Cup by adding someone like Trocheck, Chris Kreider, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, or Tomas Tatar. Colorado has great organizational depth, and it would have been nice to see Sakic flex some of that muscle to have a real go at it this season.Toronto Maple Leafs (+2800)The Maple Leafs suffered a painful loss Saturday, but the one taken by GM Kyle Dubas on Monday might have been even worse. He stood idly by as the rest of an already very strong Eastern Conference got that much better. Dubas wasn't exactly swimming in trade assets, but it was a predicament of his own making, and many would have liked to see him get creative to address any of the roster's multiple holes. On a positive note, you can't get your heart broken in Game 7 if you don't reach a Game 7.Calgary Flames (+3000)In fairness to GM Brad Treliving, the Flames were backed into a corner following injuries to Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic. He was never going to be able to replace that pair, but the addition of Erik Gustafsson is underwhelming. In a truly wide-open Pacific Division, it would have been nice to see him roll the dice a bit more. At this rate, there's a decent chance the Flames wind up missing the playoffs altogether.Florida Panthers (+5000)The Maple Leafs keep gifting the Panthers a route to the playoffs, but Florida is shockingly reluctant to accept. Not only did the Panthers not improve, but they got worse by dealing Trocheck to a team extremely close to them in the standings. There was nothing to like about Florida's deadline moves, especially with a playoff spot right there for the taking.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.If you're anything like me, you were glued to the screen Monday to follow the chaos that was the NHL's trade deadline.As the 3 p.m. ET deadline passed, you were jacked up on hockey and ready to bet on some games - only to come to the crippling realization that the NHL had just one game scheduled for Monday night. Letdown.Congratulations on making it through. As a reward, we have 13 games on Tuesday's schedule to satisfy all our hockey and betting desires.GOATs and scapegoatsHow about Tyler Toffoli registering three points in just his second game with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday? He helped spark a nine-goal outburst on home ice, as his team absolutely dismantled the Boston Bruins. That was a fun ticket to cash at +125.You know what wasn't fun? Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Not only did I pick them to win the game, but I hammered them live in the second period and again at intermission.If you don't know how that played out, you've been living under a rock.Tuesday betsVancouver Canucks/Montreal Canadiens under 6Jacob Markstrom is a significant loss for Vancouver but probably not as big as some are making it out to be. Thatcher Demko is a very promising young goalie, and he's had an excellent season thus far. I have no doubt he's ready to take the reins in Markstrom's absence starting tonight in Montreal. The Canadiens should get another typically excellent showing from Carey Price, especially against his hometown team, as goals should be hard to come by at Bell Centre. The Canucks have lost six straight in Montreal and nine of their last 10 games there, being shutout in five. The Habs are 10-2 to the under this season at home to Western Conference teams.Toronto Maple Leafs/Tampa Bay Lightning under 6.5The Lightning have been playing the best hockey in the NHL for some time. All that firepower up front has overshadowed how unbelievably strong they are on the back end and in net. Tampa Bay has won 11 straight at home, allowing just 20 goals over that span. The Maple Leafs will be aiming to put in another bounce-back performance defensively after Saturday's disaster, while it's hard to see them beating Andrei Vasilevskiy too often. Betting the under in a Toronto game can bring cruel and unusual punishment, but this game should be a lot tighter defensively than at first glance.Chicago Blackhawks/St. Louis Blues over 6The Blues broke out of their offensive rut over the weekend, scoring nine goals over two road games following a bit of a dry spell on home ice. They return to St. Louis tonight to take on the Blackhawks, who have allowed at least three goals in six of their last seven contests on the road. The last five meetings between these teams in St. Louis have gone over, averaging eight goals per game. Given the recent play of both sides, this one should sail over the number.Best betDallas Stars/Carolina Hurricanes over 5.5Alex Nedeljkovic will get the nod for the Hurricanes tonight in the absence of Petr Mrazek and James Reimer, having been called up from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, and he's actually a very capable netminder. A second-round pick in 2014, he led the Checkers to the Calder Cup title and was named the league's top goaltender in 2018-19. This year, he was named to the All-Star Game. This play isn't based on him starting the game but rather the two teams involved.The Stars have found a nice rhythm offensively, scoring at least three goals in each of their last seven away games. Somewhat uncharacteristically, however, they've been struggling to keep pucks out at the other end, allowing at least three goals in five of their last eight on the road. The Hurricanes have played to five straight overs at home and will likely need to generate some offense in this one given the injuries and new faces on the blue line. This total is simply too low at 5.5.Trend of the nightThe Florida Panthers have scored at least three goals in 10 of 11 games away to Western Conference teams this season.They've also scored at least four goals in eight of those 11 contests and will look to improve on that mark tonight in Phoenix against the Arizona Coyotes. You can get Florida's team total over 2.5 at -140 or over 3.5 at +180. The Coyotes have been playing much better hockey of late though, especially on the back end, so tread carefully.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.

Veteran forward Joe Thornton expressed his disappointment after staying with the San Jose Sharks as Monday's trade deadline passed."As you get older, you realize you only have so many shots at this thing," Thornton said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "It would have been nice to at least have a chance (at the Stanley Cup). ... I wanted a shot, you know? Believe it or not. I've been hunting this thing down for 22 years, so I wanted another shot at it."The 40-year-old Thornton signed a one-year, $2-million deal to stay with the Sharks last summer, but the team has struggled throughout the 2019-20 campaign.With San Jose sitting near the bottom of the standings, the veteran center was willing to waive his no-movement clause in order to join a legitimate Cup contender. But while there was interest in Thornton on deadline day, it didn't come from the league's "elite" teams, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun."Yeah, obviously I was willing to go somewhere, and try to win my first Stanley Cup," Thornton said. "I've been dreaming about that ever since I can remember and it just didn't come to fruition, for whatever reason. I wanted to get something back for the Sharks obviously to help them continue this process with young guys. It just didn't work out."Thornton has skated in 1,628 regular-season games throughout his NHL career, amassing 417 goals and 1,088 assists. He's also played in 179 playoff contests, reaching the Stanley Cup Final once in 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto has been listed as week-to-week due to an ankle injury, the team announced Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the club recalled forward Markus Granlund from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.Yamamoto has performed extremely well since being called up by the Oilers earlier this season. In 21 games, he's recorded nine goals and 21 points.Granlund has appeared in 32 games with Edmonton this season, managing three goals and one assist. He's skated in 17 games with the Condors, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After months of buildup, the NHL's trade deadline came and went Monday in the blink of an eye.This year's trade season brought a surprising flurry of deals. With everything now wrapped up, we're going to hand out some awards - some serious, others not so much - to the players and teams involved in the action.Best sellers 🏆Nominees: Kings, Canadiens, SharksAll three teams did a terrific job of selling assets for draft picks leading up to the deadline. Los Angeles, Montreal, and San Jose did what they could to salvage value amid a lost season, but only one can earn the honor.And the winner is: Montreal. Marc Bergevin did an outstanding job in acquiring Marco Scandella for a fourth-round pick before flipping him weeks later for a second. Signing Ilya Kovalchuk to briefly galvanize the fan base, then shipping him to Washington for a third-rounder shortly after was savvy work. Thanks to Bergevin's exploits, the Habs now own 14 picks in the 2020 draft.Most overzealous spenders 🏆Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyNominees: Islanders, Hurricanes, LightningNew York, Carolina, and Tampa Bay clearly announced their intentions to go all-in. The Isles paid a king's ransom for Jean-Gabriel Pageau and awarded him with a $30-million extension, while the Hurricanes made a trio of eye-popping moves. The Lightning traded two first-round picks to bolster what was already one of the NHL's best rosters.And the winner is: New York, in a landslide. A first-, second-, and third-round pick in exchange for Pageau was the highest price any team paid on deadline day. Signing him to a $5-million cap hit during a season in which he's shooting 17.8% was another audacious move. He's a good fit, but that's steep. Had the reported trade for Zach Parise and his gigantic contract not fallen through, Monday would have been disastrous for the Isles' long-term outlook.Funnest trade 🏆Nominees: Kovalchuk to Capitals, Jason Zucker to Penguins, Robin Lehner to Golden KnightsTwo of the most dynamic snipers of a generation teaming up, a new high-profile winger for Sidney Crosby, and a surprise destination for one of the NHL's best goalies. We have some strong candidates in this category.And the winner is: Kovalchuk to Washington. It may have been more fun 10 years ago, but Kovalchuk joining Alex Ovechkin in D.C. to chase a Stanley Cup is easily the best deal from an entertainment standpoint. The Capitals' power play with Kovy in the fold will be appointment viewing.Most diligent splashers 🏆Nominees: Golden Knights, Lightning, HurricanesAll three of these Cup contenders made multiple additions to boost their odds. Whether they pan out remains to be seen, but Vegas, Tampa Bay, and Carolina were easily among the busiest teams leading up to the deadline.And the winner is: Vegas. Already boasting one of the league's most lethal attacks, the Golden Knights made a series of moves to adequately fill the holes in their roster. Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury make up one of the top goalie tandems in the NHL, while Alec Martinez, Nick Cousins, and Chandler Stephenson should serve as quality depth pieces on the club's quest for a Stanley Cup.Most confusing trade 🏆Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNominees: Barclay Goodrow to Lightning, Wayne Simmonds to Sabres, Brady Skjei/Sami Vatanen to HurricanesDid you ever think we'd live in a world where Goodrow and his 24 points this season would fetch a first-rounder, the Sabres would be buyers, and the Hurricanes would add two defensemen who struggle to keep the puck out of their own end? Yeah, neither did we.And the winner is: Simmonds to Buffalo. The Sabres have enjoyed a 7-3-1 mark in February but remain six points out of a playoff spot and have a 4.4% chance of qualifying for the postseason, according to MoneyPuck. We're skeptical that adding the veteran Simmonds can change their fortunes.Least consequential trade 🏆Nominees: Brandon Davidson to Sharks, Michael Hutchinson for Calle Rosen, Matt Irwin for Korbinian HolzerNo disrespect to all the players listed here, but these certainly weren't the most exciting trades.And the winner is: Irwin for Holzer. No one batted an eye when the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks exchanged fringe bottom-pair blue-liners late Monday afternoon. Best of luck to all in their new homes.Most surprising trade 🏆Nominees: Lehner to Golden Knights, Vincent Trocheck to Hurricanes, Goodrow to LightningAll the trades in this category are projected to make their new teams better, but that doesn't mean anyone saw them coming.And the winner is: Trocheck to Carolina. Many expected the Hurricanes to be in the market for a goaltender after both their goalies went down last weekend (no disrespect to David Ayres), but instead, they added a legitimate top-six center at little cost. It's unclear why the Panthers wanted to trade Trocheck, but there's no question the Canes are a deeper team with him in the fold.Best fit on new team 🏆Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNominees: Andreas Athanasiou (Oilers), Pageau (Islanders), Lehner (Golden Knights)The Edmonton Oilers made a nice addition to their forward corps in Athanasiou, and while the cost for Pageau was too high, he does make the Isles a better team. We already mentioned what Lehner brings to the Golden Knights.And the winner is: Lehner and the Golden Knights. This match is perfect. Vegas is already the best team in the Pacific Division and has now resolved its most glaring issue. Lehner has a tremendous opportunity to make an impact down the stretch and into the playoffs, and he could become the new No. 1 goalie if Fleury struggles.Best under-the-radar pickup 🏆Nominees: Derek Grant (Flyers), Ondrej Kase (Bruins), Vladislav Namestnikov (Avalanche)When it comes to the trade deadline, it's often the smaller pieces that go on to make the biggest differences. Each of these players joined teams that should reach the playoffs, where the additions will have the chance to showcase their strengths on a bigger stage.And the winner is: Kase and the Bruins. Plenty of fans were confused when Boston forked over a first-rounder for Kase, but he checks plenty of boxes. He's incredibly strong at both ends of the rink, only costs $2.6 million against the cap for another season, and can provide the scoring depth the Bruins seek to take the pressure off their dominant top line. The former Duck is relatively unknown across the league, but that could change quickly once he suits up for the reigning Eastern Conference champs.Best tweet of deadline day 🏆Hockey Twitter went into a frenzy Monday afternoon when Johnny Gaudreau left Flames practice early. Speculation ran rampant as to whether Calgary traded its best player in the midst of a playoff push, and then ...

In the fifth edition of theScore's Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we finally have a new No. 1, while a scorching-hot newcomer enters the top three thanks to a dominant start to his NHL career.xGF%: Expected goals for percentage (five-on-five)

Visit theScore's NHL Trade Deadline Tracker for details on every deal made on and leading up to Feb. 24.With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, it's time to award winner and loser titles around the league. Deals made in the weeks leading up to the deadline were also considered for this exercise.WinnersEdmonton OilersThe Oilers filled a huge need on deadline day, adding some much-needed speed and skill to the wings in the form of Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis.Athanasiou can absolutely fly - he has speed similar to McDavid's. He's having a rough season, but who on the Detroit Red Wings isn't? He's just a year removed from a 30-goal campaign and will undoubtedly benefit from playing alongside either McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He's also just 25 years old and a pending RFA. Acquiring him for two second-rounders and Sam Gagner is a huge win.Ennis is such a good fit for the Oilers. Not only is he an Edmonton native, but he thinks the game at an elite level and has enough skill to hang with the Oilers' top centers. He can also be effective playing down in the lineup. He had 14 goals and 33 points in a middle-six role with the Ottawa Senators this season. Giving up just a fifth-round pick seems like a steal.General manager Ken Holland also landed another familiar face from his old team in defenseman Mike Green. The 34-year-old isn't the difference-maker he used to be, but he should be rejuvenated by the move to a playoff-contending team. The cost of Kyle Brodziak and a conditional fourth-rounder seems more than fair. - WegmanVegas Golden KnightsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyYou can always count on the Golden Knights to make a splash. One year after landing Mark Stone, Vegas went big again, grabbing goaltender Robin Lehner to resolve a major issue.Entering the deadline, the Golden Knights' all-situations save percentage this season was .898 - the ninth-worst mark in the league. By adding Lehner - the owner of a .918 clip in 33 appearances with Chicago - into the mix with Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas now owns arguably the best goaltending tandem in the NHL to complement an incredibly deep roster.Vegas upgraded its bottom-six on Monday by adding Nick Cousins. The team also acquired Chandler Stephenson earlier in the year, while also nabbing Alec Martinez from the Los Angeles Kings in a recent deal to add experience to its blue line.There are now no glaring holes in the Golden Knights' roster, and they're well-positioned to do some significant damage in a wide-open Pacific Division heading into the playoffs. - O'LearySan Jose SharksDoug Wilson's Sharks are having a disastrous year, but the savvy GM made the most out of a bad situation leading up to the deadline.In three separate deals, Wilson managed to get a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick while only giving up Barclay Goodrow, Brenden Dillon, and Patrick Marleau. Netting a first-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Goodrow, even though it'll be toward the end of the first round, is quite impressive.Wilson can either use these picks to help rebuild San Jose's depleted farm system, or use them as trade bait to take another swing at things in 2020-21. Either way, it's masterful work. - WegmanJean-Gabriel PageauThe Islanders made one of the biggest moves of the day in landing Pageau from the Ottawa Senators, and let's be crystal clear right off the bat: the player is the winner here, not necessarily his new team.Having a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup after a tumultuous few seasons with the Senators is a major upgrade, but a six-year, $30-million contract to help him ease into his new surroundings on Long Island is an obvious win for the 27-year-old pivot.Pageau is having a career year with 24 goals and 16 assists, but the price New York paid for him was steep. A first-, second-, and third-round pick was one of the biggest packages given up all day, and a $5-million AAV is quite pricey for a veteran player who projects to slot into the third line. - O'LearySomewhere in betweenCarolina HurricanesBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Hurricanes' moves on deadline day have us feeling like this gif of Larry David. There's a lot to like, but GM Don Waddell also made some questionable decisions.The Vincent Trocheck trade is a steal. Trocheck is far better than Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark; the two prospects heading to Florida aren't considered to be of the blue-chip variety. Trocheck gives Carolina an impressive trio of centers - joining Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal - and is under contract through 2021-22 at a reasonable $4.75 million.The Sami Vatanen deal is fine, considering it only cost Waddell a conditional fourth-rounder, a prospect, and a depth defenseman. However, Vatanen has missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury and it's unclear when he'll be ready to contribute to Carolina's banged-up blue line. Even when he is healthy, he doesn't move the needle all that much. Here's a look at his isolated impact at five-on-five over the past four seasons:HockeyViz.comWaddell further bolstered the back end after landing Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers for a first-round pick. Skjei is just 25 years old and signed through 2023-24 at a $5.25-million cap hit. He hasn't improved since his 39-point rookie season in 2016-17, and by all accounts, isn't worth his contract:HockeyViz.comThe most puzzling part of Carolina's deadline day is that Waddell failed to address the club's biggest need between the pipes. Both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek are out with injuries, so the Hurricanes will rely on the inexperienced tandem of Anton Forsberg and Alex Nedeljkovic in the meantime. Considering an elite goaltender such as Lehner was there for the taking, it seems as though Waddell missed the boat on this one. - WegmanLosersChicago BlackhawksChicago had a pair of attractive assets to sell in Lehner and defenseman Erik Gustafsson, and the returns for both players were underwhelming to say the least.Lehner, a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, only fetched a second-round pick, Malcolm Subban, and prospect Slava Demin. Could GM Stan Bowman not have received a bigger package from teams like Colorado or Carolina, which are desperate to reinforce their creases heading into the playoffs? Making matters worse regarding the Lehner situation, he reportedly offered to take a three-year contract from the Blackhawks at a "minimal price" as he approaches unrestricted free agency. Now it appears Chicago will go back to Corey Crawford, who is significantly older than Lehner and has posted worse numbers. This is a head-scratcher.As for Gustafsson, it's bizarre he only fetched a third-rounder based on the blue-liner market this winter. Martinez cost Vegas two second-rounders, while Brenden Dillon and Marco Scandella went for a second in their respective trades as well. Gustafsson is having a down year but has shown more offensive upside in his career and is younger than all the aforementioned rearguards.All things considered, it feels like a massive swing and miss from Bowman and Co. in the Blackhawks' front office. - O'LearyToronto Maple LeafsIf the Maple Leafs end up making the playoffs, it'll be a miracle if they get out of the first round, considering they'll likely face the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning. This makes the decision to keep Tyson Barrie all the more confusing.Barrie has not been a fit with the Leafs whatsoever. While moving him would've created another hole on Toronto's weak blue line and waved the white flag on the 2019-20 campaign, it would've been far more acceptable than losing him for nothing in the offseason.Barrie, a pending UFA, was a part of the Nazem Kadri trade in the summer, but it seems highly unlikely he re-signs in Toronto, especially after Jake Muzzin's extension Monday. GM Kyle Dubas likely could've landed a second-round pick for Barrie at the very least. - WegmanJoe ThorntonChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyFirst things first, we feel terrible for insinuating Thornton himself could ever be considered a loser. If you're reading this, Jumbo Joe, it's not personal - your current situation is just less than ideal.Thornton admitted prior to the deadline that it is tempting to join a contender and chase the Stanley Cup that's eluded him his entire career. Then, after watching his longtime buddy and teammate Patrick Marleau get traded to Pittsburgh, Thornton was reportedly disappointed he didn't get the same treatment.We just want what's best for you, Joe, and 20 more meaningless games with the Sharks this season certainly isn't it. - O'LearyColorado AvalancheThe Avs had the opportunity to be big players on deadline day but ended up being awfully quiet. Colorado has boatloads of cap space and a deep prospect pool but failed to make an impact move. The team landed a decent middle-six forward in Vladislav Namestnikov from the Ottawa Senators, but that was it.Maybe they were in the hunt for Chris Kreider before the power forward re-signed with the New York Rangers for seven years at $6.5 million. However, this seems like a missed opportunity for GM Joe Sakic. At the very least, he could've acquired more depth across the lineup with the anticipation of a deep playoff run. - WegmanCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have inked defenseman Jake Muzzin to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.625 million, the team announced Monday.Muzzin, 31, was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. His new deal includes a no-movement clause for next season that becomes a no-trade clause and then a 10-team no-trade clause in subsequent years, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The 6-foot-3 blue-liner has arguably been the Leafs' most consistent defenseman this season despite missing time with a broken foot.Muzzin has mustered 22 points through 52 games in 2019-20 and leads the Maple Leafs in hits (108) and blocked shots (110). He also ranks second on the team in average ice time, logging 21:43 per game.Extending Muzzin provides Toronto with some clarity regarding the future of the blue line. Here's a breakdown of the Maple Leafs' defense corps through the 2020-21 season, along with respective players' annual cap hits:LDRDJake Muzzin ($5.625M)Justin Holl ($2M)Morgan Rielly ($5M)Timothy Liljegren ($863K)Rasmus Sandin ($894K)Martin Marincin ($700K)The Maple Leafs will also have a chance to extend Travis Dermott, who is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.Muzzin will play a key role down the stretch for Toronto with blue-chip rearguard Morgan Rielly sidelined with a broken foot. The Maple Leafs remain in the thick of a tight Eastern Conference playoff race with 19 games remaining.Toronto acquired Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in January 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets phenom Elvis Merzlikins was forced to leave Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators after Anthony Duclair skated into him in the second period.

Live, quick-hit analysis of big-league trades completed Monday, Feb. 24.Lightning nab GoodrowLightning acquire: Barclay Goodrow, 3rd-rounder in 2020

The Carolina Hurricanes added another defenseman at the deadline Monday, acquiring Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers in exchange for a first-round pick, the team announced.Carolina will have the option of deciding which of its first-round selections to give to the Rangers as part of the deal prior to the draft.The deal came shortly after the Canes traded for fellow blue-liner Sami Vatanen. The Hurricanes also added forward Vincent Trocheck from the Florida Panthers on Monday.Skjei has accumulated 23 points, 41 penalty minutes, and 91 blocked shots across 60 games this season.The 25-year-old, along with Vatanen, are joining a Hurricanes defense corps that includes Jaccob Slavin, Jake Gardiner, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Haydn Fleury. Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce are both out with long-term injuries.Carolina currently holds the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot but is tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at 74 points apiece. The Rangers and Florida Panthers are also not far behind.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded goaltender Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced.Chicago is receiving a second-round pick in 2020, netminder Malcolm Subban, and defense prospect Slava Demin in return.The Golden Knights will also receive prospect Martins Dzierkals from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2020 fifth-round pick. The Maple Leafs are retaining a portion of Lehner's salary. Toronto will eat 44% of the 50% retained by Chicago, which amounts to $1.1 million in cap space and roughly $190K in salary owed, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Lehner is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 after signing a one-year, $5-million deal with the Blackhawks in the summer. The 28-year-old owns a .918 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average in 33 games this season.With Marc-Andre Fleury already in the fold, the Golden Knights now possess one of the league's top goaltending tandems. However, Fleury is having one of his worst statistical seasons in years, posting a .906 save percentage and a goals-saved above average of minus-4.55.Subban, a former first-round pick, has struggled to the tune of an .890 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average in 20 games this season.Demin, a fourth-round pick in 2018, has nine points in 30 games at the University of Denver in 2019-20.Dzierkals, 22, was a third-round pick by the Leafs in 2015. The Latvian winger has 10 points in 31 games in the Finnish league this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Derek Grant from the Anaheim Ducks for forward Kyle Criscuolo and a 2020 fourth-round pick, the team announced on Monday.Grant, 29, recorded a career-high 14 goals with the Ducks this season while also adding six assists. Originally the Ottawa Senators' fourth-round selection in 2008, Grant has appeared in 257 career games, tallying 30 goals and 35 assists.Criscuolo, who went undrafted, has appeared in nine NHL games and has yet to log a point. He's skated in 40 contests with the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season, notching eight goals and 24 points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils traded defenseman Sami Vatanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Janne Kuokkanen, defenseman Fredrik Claesson, and a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick, the team announced Monday. New Jersey will retain 50% of Vatanen's salary in the transaction.If Vatanen plays in five regular-season games this campaign, it will remain a 2020 fourth-round pick. If he plays in 12 regular-season contests or 70% of playoff games, it will become a 2020 third-rounder, according to Michael Smith of the Hurricanes' official website.Vatanen, 28, recorded five goals and 18 assists in 47 games with the Devils this season. He's been out of action for the last 10 contests due to a lower-body injury.Kuokkanen, 21, was selected in the second round by the Hurricanes in 2016. He's appeared in 11 NHL games, going pointless. This season, he's scored 12 goals and added 30 assists in 52 games with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.Claesson, 27, has played 150 career NHL games, recording six goals and 20 assists. He's spent the entire season with the Checkers, mustering three goals and 16 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators agreed to swap defensemen at the deadline as Korbinian Holzer was traded for Matt Irwin and a 2022 sixth-round draft pick.Adding Holzer was Nashville's only addition on Wednesday. The team currently sits two points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.The 32-year-old Holzer has suited up for 46 games in 2019-20, scoring four points, blocking 85 shots, and averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per game.Irwin, meanwhile, amassed two assists in 27 contests for Nashville this season. He had been in and out of the lineup because of the Predators' deep blue line.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames bolstered their defense corps on deadline day with the acquisition of Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2020 third-round draft pick.Calgary also added Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2021 conditional fourth-round selection.The Kings will retain 25% of Forbort's salary, according to Sportsnet's Ryan Leslie. If the Flames make the Western Conference Final this spring and the defenseman plays in half the games, or if he re-signs this offseason, the pick becomes a third-rounder in 2022, per Wes Gilbertson of Postmedia.Chicago will receive the earlier of Calgary's two third-round picks in 2020.Flames General manager Brad Treliving was hoping to improve his team's back end ahead of the deadline. The Flames currently occupy the Western Conference's first wild-card spot despite being the only club with a negative goal differential while holding a playoff position.After recording 60 points last season, Gustafsson's output has cooled somewhat in 2019-20. He's amassed 26 points in 59 games this year.Forbort, meanwhile, has missed most of the current campaign due to a back injury. He's a steady third-pairing blue-liner when healthy.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have traded defenseman Brandon Davidson to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations, the team announced Monday.Davidson was held pointless in seven games with the Flames this season but posted 20 points in 34 AHL contests.The 28-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning added forward Barclay Goodrow in a deal with the San Jose Sharks, the team announced Monday.A 2020 first-round pick and forward Anthony Greco head back to the Sharks. Tampa Bay recently acquired Greco from the Florida Panthers.The Bolts also receive a third-round pick in 2020.Goodrow has spent his entire six-year career in the Sharks organization after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2014. The 26-year-old winger played all 82 games last season and has recorded a career-high 24 points in 62 games with the Sharks in 2019-20.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have dealt forwards Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Dominik Kahun, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Kahun, 24, is on the final year of his contract and will become a restricted free agent July. 1. He's tallied 10 goals and 27 points through 50 games this season, his first with the Penguins.Rodrigues, 26, inked a one-year deal with the Sabres last summer and is set to hit restricted free agency at season's end. The 5-foot-11 winger asked to be traded in December, per TSN's Darren Dreger. He's tallied five goals and nine points through 38 games in 2019-20.The 27-year-old Sheary has contributed nine goals and 19 points across 55 games this season. The speedy winger spent his first three NHL campaigns with the Penguins after signing ahead of the 2015-16 season. He's a pending unrestricted free agent.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has been busy as the deadline approaches. The Penguins acquired forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild earlier in February and veteran Patrick Marleau from the San Jose Sharks on Monday morning.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings traded forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Ryan Kuffner to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Sam Gagner, a second-round pick in 2020, and a second-rounder in 2021, the team announced Monday.Athanasiou, 25, is in the final year of his current contract and is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.The 6-foot-2 winger has tallied 10 goals and 24 points through 46 games this season. Athanasiou's speed and skill could fit nicely alongside either star center - Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl - in Edmonton.The deal marks the second trade between the teams in the last 14 hours. The Oilers acquired defenseman Mike Green from the Red Wings late Sunday night.Detroit owns a minimum of nine picks in the 2020 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators traded forward Tyler Ennis to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2021 fifth-round pick, according to TSN's Gord Miller.Ennis recorded 14 goals and 19 assists with the Senators this year. Originally the Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick in 2008, the veteran forward has racked up 131 goals and 178 assists in 604 career games.The 30-year-old inked a one-year contract with the Senators last summer worth $800,000. He'll join Andreas Athanasiou and Mike Green as Edmonton's newest additions after a busy trade deadline day.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders acquired forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional third-rounder in 2022, the Islanders announced Monday.Pageau also signed a six-year extension, the club announced. The deal carries an average annual value of $5 million, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.If the Islanders pick in the top three in June, the first-round selection in 2020 shifts to a first-rounder in 2021, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The third-round pick in 2022 will only convert if the Islanders win the Stanley Cup this year.Pageau, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has enjoyed a career year in 2019-20, leading the Senators in both goals (24) and points (40) through 60 games.With the move, the Islanders add to their depth down the middle, as Pageau joins Mat Barzal and Brock Nelson to form a group of reliable two-way pivots.The Senators traded forward Vladislav Namestnikov to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2020 fourth-round pick earlier Monday. Ottawa now owns a minimum of 13 selections in the 2020 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils traded forward Wayne Simmonds to the Buffalo Sabres, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.In return, the Devils receive a conditional 2021 fifth-round pick that could become a fourth if the Sabres make the playoffs and Simmonds plays 10 games, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. The Devils will also retain 50% of Simmonds' $5-million cap hit, TSN's Pierre LeBrun adds.The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Devils in the offseason. He recorded eight goals and 16 assists in 61 games for New Jersey.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt goaltender Michael Hutchinson to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Calle Rosen, the team announced Monday.Hutchinson suited up for the Leafs 15 times in 2019-20 but struggled to a 3.66 goals-against average and a 0.886 save percentage. Toronto placed the netminder on waivers on Feb. 13 after acquiring fellow goalie Jack Campbell from the Los Angeles Kings.Rosen is returning to the Maple Leafs after being traded to the Avalanche last offseason as part of the deal that included Tyson Barrie and Nazem Kadri. He played eight games for Colorado but spent most of his time with the organization's AHL team.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin suffered a broken rib in a car accident Sunday, the team announced Monday.Shesterkin will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich was a passenger and is considered day-to-day.The rookie netminder has been impressive through his first 10 NHL starts, posting a 9-1-0 record with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.Buchnevich has contributed 14 goals and 37 points through 61 games this season, his fourth with the Rangers.New York is 8-2-0 over its last 10 outings and enters Monday's action four points back of the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers signed forward Chris Kreider to a seven-year contract extension, the team announced Monday.The contract carries an average annual value of $6.5 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Kreider, who was set to hit free agency this summer, had been in the NHL's rumor mill all season as one of the biggest potential trade targets.In 60 games of 2019-20, the 28-year-old has recorded 24 goals and 45 points, putting him on pace to establish career highs in both categories.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Patrick Marleau from the San Jose Sharks, the team announced.San Jose is receiving a conditional third-round pick that becomes a second-rounder if Pittsburgh wins the Stanley Cup this season, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Marleau signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Sharks in October and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. San Jose is reportedly willing to sign the veteran again on July 1.The 40-year-old has contributed 10 goals and 20 points through 58 games in 2019-20, his 22nd NHL season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have shown interest in acquiring San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Marleau inked a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Sharks in October and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The 40-year-old would be welcomed back to San Jose on July 1 if he wishes, LeBrun adds.The veteran forward has contributed 10 goals and 20 points while logging 15:36 of ice time per game through 58 contests this campaign.Pittsburgh added forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 10 in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk, defenseman Calen Addison, and a conditional 2020 first-round pick.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When David Ayres rolled out of bed on Sunday, he probably wondered if any of Saturday night's events actually happened.Did he really stop eight of 10 shots on Hockey Night in Canada in relief of two injured Carolina Hurricanes goalies? Did he, the freaking Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies, really beat the Toronto Maple Leafs to become the first emergency backup goalie to record an NHL win? Did his performance really inspire, among other tomfoolery, countless tweets and a customized T-shirt, and one helluva motivational postgame speech?Yes, all of those things happened, and Ayres' evening led to a fantastic story. But the NHL isn't a day-to-day grind for the 42-year-old. He'll ride out his 15 minutes of fame and then transition back to normal life. It's all gravy from here on out.Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesAs for the players and staffs of the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes, well, Saturday night came with actual consequences.There were two important points up for grabs, and Carolina snatched both partly due to Ayres' efforts, but the Hurricanes also played well. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, can't claim to have put forth much of a fight in the 6-3 loss while embarrassing themselves in the process. Incredibly, Ayres even finished with a shot on goal, which was more than the shot total of seven Toronto skaters.After rewatching the game's second half (Ayres played 28:41) to identify what went so horribly wrong for the Leafs and wonderfully for the Canes, here's what we learned and what it says about each team.Zone exits and entriesJohn Tavares is a world-class player who often makes the difficult parts of his job look easy. On Saturday, though, he made just about everything seem hard.The Leafs captain may have scored on the first shot Ayres faced, making it 4-2 with 6:24 left in the second period, but he otherwise struggled to contribute. Tavares turned the puck over at the offensive blue line at least three times when Ayres was between the pipes, including here:Your browser does not support the video tag. What's going through Tavares' head during this sequence? That tip from William Nylander gives him the entire neutral zone. However, instead of going wide and using his speed to beat Joel Edmundson - who's not the fleetest of foot - Tavares stickhandles right into the Hurricanes defenseman's orbit. Edmundson uses his long twig and cleanly gains possession. Carolina, at this point comfortably up 6-3, then dumps the puck out of harm's way.The Leafs experienced serious trouble both exiting their zone and entering Carolina's zone, while the Hurricanes served up a master class on how to exit their own territory. Check out how quickly this prime scoring opportunity for Zach Hyman dissolves into nothing:Your browser does not support the video tag. It takes Carolina eight seconds to turn a key chance against into a line change. First, Hyman is harassed, then Auston Matthews is too before Jaccob Slavin responsibly skates the puck to a safe area, flips it out of the zone, and heads for the bench.Those two highlights display Toronto at its worst and Carolina at its best. Under head coach Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs put themselves in a position to win when they're able to turn a two-on-two into a three-on-two or two-on-one and avoid turning the puck over at the blue line. Under head coach Rod Brind'Amour, the Canes win games when they pounce on loose pucks and direct as much of the action as possible toward the opposing goalie.Puck managementIn terms of precision, the night also belonged to the Canes. The Leafs were awful with the puck on their sticks. Passers outright missed their intended targets, had their passes intercepted, or they tried a pass when everybody watching knew an extra pass was one too many.Toronto finished with 18 giveaways, the team's third-most in 63 games this season. Losing virtually every puck battle - even on the power play, like in the second-period clip below - sure is one way to accumulate so many giveaways:Your browser does not support the video tag. Tavares' pass there is right in Mitch Marner's skates, but the crafty winger can usually pop the puck up to his stick with ease. There's one turnover, and then Tavares kills more power-play time by bobbling the puck. And once it's finally transported to Matthews in the neutral zone, the Canes swarm again.It was a comedy of errors for a Leafs group already in the doghouse with Keefe following back-to-back 5-2 losses earlier in the week. Marner, one of the club's most reliable forwards, was particularly sloppy Saturday. Postgame, he called his effort "dogshit."Meanwhile, Carolina suffocated Toronto on numerous occasions, as the Hurricanes tend to do when they're humming. Below, all five white sweaters are in the picture, with each player locked in on the puck and in position to support a breakout:SportsnetWarren Foegele (No. 13 in white) then scoops up the loose puck, evades a check from Matthews, and finds an open teammate. That teammate finds another teammate, and suddenly Carolina is attacking.It's all very clean and precise, and it's classic Brind'Amour hockey.Shot selectionThe Leafs' shot decision-making completed the trifecta of issues plaguing them Saturday, and in a handful of other losses this season.Toronto is built to hold onto the puck longer than typical teams. The Leafs are incredibly skilled and play with a philosophy of maintaining possession until an opportunity to advance up the ice presents itself. That means they regroup often and don't tend to force shots. It's a fine approach nine times out of 10.However, given the bizarre circumstances, Saturday's game should have been the one out of 10. Throwing everything at Ayres - slap shots from center ice, wrist shots from the point, backhands from the corner - should have been the team-wide mentality. No questions asked. Just do it.Rookie Rasmus Sandin has been tremendous for the Leafs since joining the big club full time in January. He's gone through the odd hiccup along the way, though, including not shooting directly on net three-plus minutes into the third period when his team was down 5-3 and facing an amateur goalie:SportsnetSandin tries a little too hard here. Simply wristing the puck on net, as rudimentary and uncreative as it sounds, was the right play. Trying to set up teammate Alex Kerfoot for a nice deflection was not.There was also a great encapsulation of Toronto's shot-selection problem and Carolina's good gap control at four-on-four in the dying seconds of the game:Your browser does not support the video tag. Trevor van Riemsdyk plays Nylander perfectly, blocking shooting lanes and keeping the Leafs winger to the outside. Nearby, Slavin is boxing out Tavares, and two Canes are keeping a close eye on Travis Dermott.Heck, when you watch the clip a third time, it dawns on you that the sequence doesn't just sum up the Leafs' shot-selection problem. It sums up the entire game - and the best and worst versions of these teams - quite well.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have acquired defenseman Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick in either 2020 or 2021, the Oilers announced Sunday.The Red Wings will retain 50 percent of Green's cap hit and salary in the trade, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The pick heading Detroit's way is a fourth-round pick in 2020, but if the Oilers make the Western Conference Final this spring and Green plays in half the games, it turns into a third-rounder in 2021, per Sportsnet's Mark Spector.Green, 34, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and has a relationship with Oilers general manager Ken Holland due to their time together with the Red Wings. Holland signed Green to two different contracts in Detroit after the defenseman left the Washington Capitals in 2015.Green has appeared in 48 games this season, notching three goals and eight assists while averaging just over 21 minutes per contest.Brodziak has been on long-term injured reserve all season due to back issues.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid returned to the lineup Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings, the team announced.McDavid missed the club's last six games with a quad injury."A little boost like that would be good for us right now," said head coach Dave Tippett, according to NHL.com's Dan Greenspan. "When you can add a player like that to your lineup, it just gives another whole dimension to our team."The 23-year-old ranks second on the Oilers in both goals (30) and points (81) through 55 games this season.With Leon Draisaitl leading the way while tallying four goals and 12 points, the Oilers posted a 3-2-1 record in McDavid's absence.Edmonton sits third in the Pacific Division entering Sunday's action.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers will likely trade forward Chris Kreider before Monday's deadline after the two sides failed to agree to a contract extension, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.New York preferred to extend Kreider, but the club offered six years and he was seeking a seven-year deal, Brooks adds.Kreider is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. His speed, physicality, and offensive abilities - combined with a cap hit of only $4.625 million - make him one of the top rental options for contending teams.The Rangers drafted Kreider 19th overall in 2009, and he's played 520 games with the club over eight seasons. He's notched 24 goals and 21 assists in 60 contests this campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens shipped forward Ilya Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals for a 2020 third-round pick, the Capitals announced Sunday."Ilya is a talented offensive player who we feel will provide us with additional depth and flexibility up front," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "He is a skilled forward who can make plays and contribute to our offensive game."Montreal will retain 50% of Kovalchuk's $700,000 salary in the deal, meaning he'll cost Washington only $77,151 in cap space for the rest of the regular season, according to Cap Friendly.The Los Angeles Kings terminated Kovalchuk's contract earlier this season after he was a healthy scratch for 18 straight games. He then signed a one-year deal with the Canadiens in January and posted 13 points in 22 games.Montreal will try to lure Kovalchuk back when he becomes a free agent on July 1, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Kovalchuk, 36, has registered 872 points in 919 games during his NHL career but has appeared in only 32 playoff contests over that span.The Canadiens have 13 picks in the 2020 draft, 11 of which are in the first five rounds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild will host the St. Louis Blues in the 2021 Winter Classic at Target Field, the home of MLB's Minnesota Twins, the league announced Sunday.

Following a historic game when he became the first emergency backup goalie to win an NHL contest, David Ayres took a moment to reflect on his improbable journey."I went through a kidney transplant 15 years ago, I never thought I was going to play hockey again at that moment," Ayres said, according to TSN's Mark Masters."It's unreal right now," he added. "It's hard to put into words, to be honest."Ayres, a 42-year-old Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies, earned the decision for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.When netminders James Reimer and Petr Mrazek exited the matchup with injuries, Ayres was called upon for the opportunity of a lifetime."When I saw the text message, I was like, 'Are these guys playing with me right now? I'm going in?'" Ayres said.After the Maple Leafs scored on their first two shots, Ayres stopped all seven he faced in the third period to collect the win. He credited the unwavering support from his teammates during the intermission for his success."They said, 'Have fun with it, don't worry about how many goals go in,'" Ayres recalled. "They said, 'This is your moment, have fun with it.'"Following the game, the Hurricanes put Ayres T-shirt jerseys up for sale on their website, with a portion of the proceeds going to a kidney foundation of his choice.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a one-year, $1.3-million contract, the team announced Sunday.The Buffalo Sabres recently suspended Bogosian for failing to report to their AHL affiliate in Rochester. The team then placed him on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract, leaving him free to sign with a new club.The Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Colorado Avalanche were among the other suitors for Bogosian, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Bogosian was in the final year of a seven-year, $36-million contract he signed with the Winnipeg Jets in 2013.The 29-year-old has appeared in only 19 games this season, posting five points while averaging under 17 minutes of ice time per night. He'll likely serve as a depth option on a blue line that also includes Erik Cernak, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Luke Schenn on the right side.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings will be without some key players Sunday night versus the Calgary Flames, as forward Andreas Athanasiou and defenseman Mike Green will be scratched for trade protection, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.There are no deals known to be on the table for either player, but Sunday is the final night of games before the trade deadline. The last-place Red Wings are sure to be sellers.Both Athanasiou and Green are on expiring contracts and could serve as attractive trade options for teams looking to bolster their rosters for a playoff push.Athanasiou, 25, is one of the fastest skaters in the league and has posted 10 goals and 14 assists in 46 games this season. While his numbers aren't eye-popping, he's only one year removed from a 30-goal campaign and has been hampered by an 8.7% shooting percentage in 2019-20.The 34-year-old Green has a modified no-trade clause, which includes 10 teams. He's posted just 11 points in 48 contests this season, but the right-handed defenseman has been known as a solid puck-mover for his entire career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Ayres' dream weekend continued on Sunday, as he learned the city of Raleigh will honor him on Tuesday, declaring it "David Ayres Day," announced mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.The emergency backup goalie who starred for the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday will also sound the siren at PNC Arena during Tuesday's tilt against the Dallas Stars.Since the 2008-09 season, the Hurricanes have invited a celebrity, season-ticket holder, or fan to activate the hand-cranked siren that makes a storm warning sound as the team hits the ice at the beginning of each period.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated goaltender Joonas Korpisalo off injured reserve, the team announced Sunday.Korpisalo, 25, suffered a knee injury during a shootout against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 29 and has missed the Blue Jackets' last 24 games.The Finnish puck-stopper has recorded a 17-10-4 record with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage this season. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game but didn't play due to the injury.The Blue Jackets received sensational goaltending from netminder Elvis Merzlikins in Korpisalo's absence. The rookie has authored a .922 save percentage and five shutouts through 31 contests.Columbus remains in the midst of a tight Eastern Conference playoff race with 19 games remaining.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin has entered rarefied air.The Washington Capitals star netted career goal No. 700 against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, becoming the eighth player in NHL history to reach the elite regular-season scoring mark.

The Carolina Hurricanes contacted the Chicago Blackhawks about potentially acquiring a goaltender after their two netminders were injured Saturday night, sources told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.Both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were forced to leave Saturday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injuries. Carolina still managed to win the game with 42-year-old emergency goalie David Ayres between the pipes.Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said postgame that Reimer will be out for a while and Mrazek's status is unknown, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Chicago's two goalies, Corey Crawford ($6 million) and Robin Lehner ($5 million), are both pending unrestricted free agents.StatLehnerCrawfordRec.16-10-511-16-3GAA3.012.82SV%.918.915GSAA10.475.32GSAA = Goals saved above averageThe Blackhawks allow the most expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, allow the 15th most.Crawford has won two Stanley Cups with Chicago and ranks third on the franchise's all-time wins list.Lehner signed a one-year deal as a free agent this summer after he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist a season ago with the New York Islanders.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.