New Jersey Devils forward Kurtis Gabriel received a one-game suspension Saturday for boarding Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick on Friday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the play:

The NHL Alumni Association has signed an agreement with Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth Corporation, alumni executive director Glenn Healy announced Saturday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Canopy Growth will finance a blind randomized study involving 100 retired players in the Toronto area, which will attempt to determine whether cannabinoids can help former players quit opioids, a source told TSN's Rick Westhead. If the results are encouraging, Canopy Growth will fund a subsequent study with more subjects."This is a crystallizing moment," neurosurgeon Dr. Amin Kassam told Westhead. "We're going to be using high-resolution imaging, biomarkers, ocular, vestibular testing. We have a big need, the right agenda and the right people."The NHL alumni are willing to commit their privacy and their souls to help others in the community and I think Canopy is the real deal when it comes to the medical science. They have the science. Their facility at Smiths Falls is best in class. It's as good a bio laboratory as you'll find in the world. They are not growing weed in the backyard."Healy will provide Dr. Kassam with the names and contact information of retired NHLers residing in Toronto in the coming weeks. From there, Dr. Kassam and his research team will determine which interested former players are appropriate candidates for the study."We hear plenty of anecdotes from athletes about how cannabinoids are helping them, but we don't have any good robust data to prove that and we're addressing this with a credible partner," Canopy Growth chief medical officer Dr. Mark Ware said.Of the expected 100 participants, 80 would be given CBD pills while 20 receive a placebo. Neither the doctors nor the subjects will know which participants receive which pills until after the study.CBD comes from the cannabis plant but doesn't possess THC, the ingredient that gets users "high." It has been used to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, chronic pain, and inflammation.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If it were up to John Tortorella, the NHL would scrap its current method of deciding games that don't end after five minutes of extra time."Get rid of the shootout (and) just play the three-on-three until a team dies," the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach told reporters Friday, the day after his club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers on Seth Jones' overtime winner."I think that's the way it should be," Tortorella added. "(Three-on-three is) exciting."The Blue Jackets are 8-2 in overtime this season, and they've played only one shootout, losing to the New York Rangers on Nov. 10."You know I'm not a gimmick guy. I think that it has to be determined within the game," Tortorella continued. "Three-on-three still isn't a total team (game), but it's still three-on-three. Let the games end there."The Columbus bench boss acknowledged considerations like television and the length of games, but he believes continuous overtime would produce a result quickly."It's not going to last long, I'll tell you right now, so let 'em play," he said.Tortorella also said he wouldn't change how games are determined in the playoffs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry will have a hearing Saturday for high-sticking/slashing Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg on Friday night, the Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the incident in question:

New Jersey Devils forward Kurtis Gabriel will have a hearing Saturday for boarding Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick on Friday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the incident in question:

The Ottawa Senators fired head coach Guy Boucher on Friday, the team announced. Associate coach Marc Crawford will take over on an interim basis.Boucher took the Senators on a miracle run to the conference finals in his first season behind the bench but couldn't replicate that success in the following two years.Crawford has served as an associate coach with the Senators since Boucher was hired prior to the 2016-17 season. He ranks 22nd all time with 549 wins as an NHL head coach, winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1995-96. His last head coaching job was a two-year stint with the Dallas Stars from 2009-2011.Chris Kelly, who suited up in 545 games with the Senators during his playing career, has been added to Crawford's coaching staff.The Senators will conduct a search for a new head coach after the season and have specific qualities in mind:

Cam Talbot's debut in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night set an NHL record, as the club used its eighth netminder in a single season.Talbot was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in February, and his start against the New Jersey Devils this evening pushes the Flyers past the 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques, the 2002-03 St. Louis Blues, and the 2007-08 Los Angeles Kings to earn the unique record, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.Here are the goalies who have appeared between the pipes for Philly this season:GoalieAgeRecordSV%Carter Hart2013-8-1.917Brian Elliott338-7-1.917Calvin Pickard264-4-2.863Anthony Stolarz254-3-3.902Michal Neuvirth301-4-1.859Alex Lyon260-1-0.806Mike McKenna350-1-1.833Cam Talbot*3110-15-3.893* With EdmontonThe Flyers' inconsistencies in goal have been a major weakness for a team that sits six points back of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference entering Friday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL Network has hired United States Olympic Gold Medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield as a studio analyst.Coyne Schofield will make her debut on ''NHL Tonight'' on Monday, March. 4 at 10 p.m. ET alongside Tony Luftman and Kevin Weekes, the network announced on Friday.On March 5 at 4 p.m. ET, the 26-year-old will be part of the second annual all-female production of NHL Network's daily show ''NHL Now'' with co-hosts Jamie Hersch and Jackie Redmond.“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to join NHL Network as an on-air analyst,” she told NHL public relations. “I’m looking forward to joining a team of expert analysts and sharing my passion for the game with hockey fans.”The Illinois native made history when she became the first woman to compete during NHL All-Star weekend in January. Coyne Schofield put her speed on display in the Fastest Skater event, posting a time of 14.5 seconds.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.In this episode, John's joined by Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic to discuss the Senators and Oilers, two struggling NHL franchises. Topics include:

Warning: Video contains coarse language

There will be no hearing for Zdeno Chara to answer for his check on Evander Kane, an NHL spokesperson told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The league did not see the hit as a violation of Rule 48, which governs checks to the head, and it believes the head is not the main point of contact, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.Chara caught Kane up high before the two players dropped the gloves in the third period of Tuesday night's game between the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.

Three periods of relentless booing from a rabid New York Islanders crowd hardly surprised John Tavares, who played his first game in his old barn as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night."I expected it was coming," Tavares told TSN after the game. "No one's walked in my shoes, I know that. I just tried to be open and honest. Obviously, no one has to like my decision."Tavares joined Toronto as a free agent on July 1 after nine seasons in New York, signing a seven-year, $77-million contract and spurning the club that drafted him first overall.Islanders fans were more than prepared to let him hear it, serenading the former captain with "We don't need you!" chants, among several others, throughout the entire game. They also launched toy snakes on the ice during warmup and set plenty of old No. 91 jerseys ablaze while tailgating to set the tone for a playoff-like atmosphere.Even the team's video tribute was drowned out by boos, despite Tavares leaving the organization with 621 points to his name - the fifth-highest total in franchise history."You must be a real special player, and a real special person, for them to honor you like that," head coach Mike Babcock said postgame. "They only boo you if you're important - for most of us, they didn't even know who we were - so what an honor that is."I thought our team handled that really good. I thought we played good, we started good - to me, the crowd had nothing to do with the outcome of the game."Though Isles fans were consistently hostile, Tavares' former teammates openly tipped their caps during the video and shared their own perspectives following the game - a dominant 6-1 victory for the home side."Maybe during the tribute, they could have maybe given (him) a round of applause," Cal Clutterbuck told Newsday's Andrew Gross. "He put everything he had into winning here. But I understand both sides."Tavares was held pointless with five shots on goal in his much-anticipated return. He's notched 68 points in 64 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators may be in a rebuilding stage, but general manager Pierre Dorion still expects more out of his team.Dorian revealed during a press conference Friday that he shared that sentiment with the players earlier in the day."I told them that our play recently wasn't acceptable," Dorion said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli."No more excuses," Dorion added.The Senators, who fired head coach Guy Boucher on Friday, are the worst team in the NHL and are mired in a six-game losing streak. Their three leading goal scorers - Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel - were traded away prior to the deadline, but Dorion remains optimistic that Ottawa can be competitive."We are fielding a team that can win games," he said, according to TSN's Brent Wallace.Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Zack Smith, Bobby Ryan, Cody Ceci, Mark Borowiecki, and Craig Anderson are the only players remaining from the team that was one win away from the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As we head into the home stretch of the NHL season, the battle to be anointed the league's most valuable player is heating up.A familiar face still leads the pack, but a group of superstar contenders ensures it'll be a compelling race that could come down to the wire.Here are our top five candidates at this point to claim the Hart Trophy in June:5. Nathan MacKinnonSteve Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOISCF%CF%6433488121:5153.0853.88The Colorado Avalanche have found it tough to break through in the ultra-competitive Central Division, but MacKinnon's strong play has kept them in a playoff position, or right on the doorstep, for most of the season.Mikko Rantanen has taken his game to another level in 2018-19, but he clearly owes some of that improvement to playing alongside the proven catalyst in MacKinnon on one of the NHL's most dangerous top lines.The 2018 Hart runner-up might have a hard time convincing voters he belongs among the finalists this time around due to Rantanen's increased contributions, but MacKinnon should once again be in the conversation.4. Johnny GaudreauBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAPATOISCF%CF%6430528220:1153.353.69Gaudreau has cooled off a bit since our last edition, but he's still the most lethal weapon on the Calgary Flames, who remain one of the league's best stories this season.Similar to the first name on this list, Johnny Hockey has some help, but there's no way the Flames are atop their division without his stellar play in 2018-19.Gaudreau is on pace to eclipse the 100-point mark, and he'll likely soon surpass his career high of 84 that he established last season.3. Connor McDavidMike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOISCF%CF%6033548722:5851.1250.61The Edmonton Oilers are probably too far out of the playoff race now for McDavid to garner enough first-place votes, but - as we've documented many times - he's arguably the NHL's most valuable player, irrespective of his team's struggles.As such, the superstar center should at least be a Hart finalist, especially given that he's figured in on an utterly astounding 48.6 percent of the Oilers' goals.No player does more to help his team than McDavid, but as the Oilers have slid further out of contention, the all-world forward's case to win the Hart has gotten tougher to justify.2. Patrick KaneGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAPATOISCF%CF%6340549422:2645.7748.07Kane has been carrying Chicago and warrants a long look for this award, even with the Blackhawks sitting outside the playoff picture.They certainly wouldn't have gotten back into the playoff mix without Kane, who potted his 40th goal of the season in dramatic fashion Wednesday night and recently reeled off a 20-game point streak. The Blackhawks are closer to a postseason berth than the Oilers, and if they manage to secure one, it would be tough not to tab Kane for this award given his impact.He has figured in on 44 percent of the Blackhawks' scoring (94 points on 214 team goals), which illustrates just how much Chicago depends on his elite production.The question is how close the team needs to get to the playoffs for his individual exploits to be rewarded. That's up to the voters, but there's no disputing how good he's been or where the Blackhawks would be without him.1. Nikita KucherovScott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOISCF%CF%65307410419:3853.1653.04It's easy to get caught up in the "most valuable" debate when it comes to Hart voting, but let's not make this more complicated than it should be.Kucherov has been far and away the league's best player on what is unquestionably the league's best team.Yes, the Tampa Bay Lightning superstar has a talented supporting cast and the team would probably be reasonably competitive without him. But it wouldn't be the juggernaut that's already broken the triple-digit point barrier in the standings if not for Kucherov, who's been putting up video-game numbers, having already surpassed 100 points of his own.He's been sensational all season long, and no one is more deserving of MVP honors than Kucherov at this point.Honorable mentions: Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Rantanen, Sebastian Aho (Hurricanes).ATOI = Average time on ice

New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk was forced to leave Thursday's game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs after Mitch Marner's skate appeared to clip him in the neck area late in the second period. He returned to the game in the third frame.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott will be out at least four weeks with a shoulder injury, the team announced Thursday.Dermott left Wednesday night's game against the Edmonton Oilers after receiving an awkward hit from Brad Malone.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Mirco Mueller has been discharged from University Hospital in Newark, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.Mueller thanked his supporters on Thursday afternoon.

Jesse Puljujarvi's season is over.The Edmonton Oilers forward will undergo hip surgery and be forced to miss the rest of the 2018-19 campaign, the club announced Thursday.

The 2018 MVP has gone under the knife.New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee earlier this week. the club confirmed Thursday.Hall will begin rehabilitation immediately and will be evaluated regularly, according to the team.It's still too early to know if or when Hall will be back this season, reports Sportsnet's John Shannon.The 27-year-old winger has been out of action since Dec. 23.He was producing more than a point per game at the time of his injury, posting 37 in 33 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz is doing his best to temper what's expected to be a frosty reception for John Tavares on Long Island."You have to respect that John gave his all for a long time for the organization … earned the right to go back home," the New York Islanders head coach told reporters before Thursday's game, including TSN's Mark Masters. "Some people are upset, but just be respectful. Cheer us on and let's have a good hockey game."Tavares will make his much-anticipated return to Nassau Coliseum after leaving the Islanders to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent last July.Many Islanders fans have voiced their displeasure since his decision, including supporters featured in a video that went viral earlier this week.The Islanders have improved under Trotz, a Jack Adams Award favorite who left the Washington Capitals to join New York after winning the Stanley Cup last June.Tavares leads the Leafs with 36 goals, and he ranks second on the club with 68 points in 63 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the fifth edition of theScore's Vezina Trophy Power Rankings. With just over five weeks remaining on the NHL schedule, we take a closer look at a group of candidates who are closing in on capturing this year's award.5. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrice has backstopped a once-overlooked Canadiens team into playoff contention. It hasn't been his finest season, on paper, but the 31-year-old has carried a heavy load, as his 48 starts and 26 victories rank first and third, respectively, among Eastern Conference goaltenders.The veteran netminder made his mark in mid-January when he led Montreal to a seven-game winning streak, during which he conceded just 10 goals. Despite the 3-5-1 record over his last nine contests, Price has given his team a chance every night, allowing two goals or fewer in five of those games.Since the new year, Price boasts a save percentage of .936 and a goals-against average of 2.04. Throw out an ugly month of November, and he's been one the best goalies in the league this season.4. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Bruins are one of many teams to adopt the platoon system in goal this season. Unfortunately, for the duo of Rask and Jaroslav Halak, the split crease time could decrease either's chance to capture the Vezina. No goaltender has won the trophy while playing fewer than 50 games - in a full season - since 1988-89, and neither is on pace to hit that mark.But how could we not recognize a netminder who hasn't suffered a regulation loss for over two months? Since Dec. 23, Rask has posted a mark of 12-1-3 and helped launch the Bruins up the standings and into second place in the Eastern Conference.With a 2.25 goals-against average and .925 save percentage over that span, he's been lights out for a Boston team that keeps on winning.3. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple LeafsKevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyFor a team that's loaded with star power, it's Andersen who often shines the brightest. In his third season with the Leafs, perhaps the best of his young career, the 29-year-old became the fastest in team history to reach 100 total wins.Andersen has thrived under pressure, posting a record of 8-1-1 when facing 40-plus shots in a game. He's faced the third-most shots this season and has responded with a save percentage of .923.He shares the league lead in wins with 30 and hasn't dropped back-to-back games in regulation since November. Andersen has gone 8-2-2 with a .922 save percentage in February and looks poised to carry his terrific play into the postseason. 2. Robin Lehner, New York Islanders Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty Lehner may have been forced from our top spot, but the Islanders netminder remains one of the favorites to capture the Vezina. Splitting time with Thomas Greiss this season has limited him to 33 starts, but it's hard to deny the raw numbers, even with a lighter workload.Lehner has gone 14-4-2 with three shutouts over his last 20 contests, conceding just 35 goals to help the Islanders remain atop the Metropolitan Division.The Swede leads the league with a 2.10 goals-against average and shares the No. 1 spot with a .930 save percentage. The Islanders rank 22nd in team scoring with 2.84 goals-per-game, which further demonstrates Lehner's invaluable contributions. History may not be on his side - in regard to the split workload - but when it comes to crowning this season's top goalie, the 27-year-old must be considered.1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyVasilevskiy may be playing behind a historically great Lightning team, but he still has to stop the puck. With a record of 9-0-2 in February, the goaltender has made it look easy by allowing just 18 goals over those 11 games.The Russian is tied for second in the NHL with 29 wins and shares the lead in save percentage with a mark of .930. His 2.28 goals-against average is second only to Lehner among netminders with at least 32 appearances, though Vasilevskiy has started seven more games.The 6-foot-4 puck-stopper has been a model of consistency this season, as he has not lost back-to-back games in regulation all year. His only two-game slide came earlier this month with both games going to extra time. It's going to be hard to slow down Vasilevskiy and the Lightning, and if he can continue his dominant play, the 24-year-old could claim his first career Vezina Trophy. Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Rickard Rakell received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Chicago Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula during Wednesday night's game.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Mirco Mueller was stretchered off the ice Wednesday night after crashing headfirst into the boards.

Mark Giordano may as well be guzzling from the fountain of youth.The Calgary Flames' captain scored the game-winning goal in his team's Wednesday night win over the New Jersey Devils, earning his 60th point of the season in the process.With the tally, Giordano became the fourth defenseman in NHL history to record at least 60 points in a season at age 35 or older, reports Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960, citing NHL Public Relations.Giordano joins Nicklas Lidstrom, Al MacInnis, and Sergei Zubov as the only blue-liners to reach the milestone. Lidstrom and MacInnis - who accomplished the feat four times and two times, respectively - are both enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.Giordano's game-winner propelled the Flames to a season-best seventh straight victory. He has 14 goals and 46 assists on the year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott is out week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Mike Babcock told reporters, including TSN's Kristen Shilton.Dermott was checked awkwardly into the boards by Oilers forward Brad Malone.

The Toronto Maple Leafs pushed to sign forward Andreas Johnsson to a contract extension last week, ​​​​​TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Johnsson's camp prefers to wait on an extension, Dreger adds.The 24-year-old entered Wednesday's action with 17 goals - second among all NHL rookies - and 17 assists in 55 games while averaging less than 13 minutes per night.A seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2013, he ranks 13th in the league in goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Johnsson is one of three key pending restricted free agents the cap-strapped Maple Leafs will try to retain this summer, along with Mitch Marner and Kasperi Kapanen.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Jake Gardiner for the foreseeable future as the defenseman is considered week-to-week with a back injury, the team announced Wednesday.The 28-year-old was ruled out for the Leafs' game versus the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the day. Igor Ozhiganov dressed in his place Wednesday night.Gardiner played slightly over 16 minutes in his last tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, nearly five minutes fewer than his season average.He's collected 29 points this season, suiting up for 60 of Toronto's 62 games so far.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Cogliano is human after all.The Dallas Stars' veteran forward will miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings with an upper-body injury, marking the first non-disciplinary absence of his 12-year career, according to Mike Heika of NHL.com.Cogliano's ironman streak for consecutive games played ended at 830 contests last season when he was suspended two tilts for a high hit on Adrian Kempe. It was the fourth-longest such streak in NHL history. Thursday will mark his first missed game since that suspension.The 31-year-old has four goals and 10 assists on the season, putting him on pace for the worst statistical campaign of his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators' plans for a new downtown arena have hit another roadblock.Mediator Warren Winkler advised the National Capital Commission that the parties involved in the negotiations over a proposed LeBreton Flats facility have been unable to reach a settlement, the NCC announced Wednesday.The commission will convene by teleconference Thursday to discuss Winkler's news, and another meeting will be held March 7 to finalize a new process.Senators owner Eugene Melnyk lamented the collapse of the project in a statement Wednesday."We are devastated that our dream has been shattered," he said. "However, we will not let our vision die or allow our enthusiasm to be diminished by this ill-fated experience. More than ever, we are determined and committed to explore alternative approaches in central locations that could accommodate a world-class hub. We are here for the long term and want a world-class venue where Ottawans will live, work, play, and enjoy the best the city has to offer. The people of Ottawa deserve this."

Ken Hitchcock is hoping Connor McDavid turns his frustration into a positive against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night."I expect him to play well," the Edmonton Oilers head coach told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters, before the game. "He's pissed off and hopefully he stays that way from 7 to 9:30 (p.m. ET) ... he's not a happy guy right now and that's good for us."McDavid will be back in action after being forced to sit out the last two games for his high hit on New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy last Thursday. It was the first suspension of McDavid's career.The 22-year-old all-world center said Saturday that he wasn't expecting to receive the ban prior to his hearing, but figured he would be suspended upon discussing the matter with the NHL Department of Player Safety.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unlike Don Cherry and Brian Burke, Gary Bettman doesn't have a problem with the Carolina Hurricanes' post-win "storm surge" performances."I happened to talk to some of the players this morning about it, and we had a fun conversation," the NHL commissioner said Tuesday prior to the Hurricanes' win over the Los Angeles Kings, according to the club's senior web producer, Michael Smith."The players enjoy doing it," Bettman continued. "That's important. The fans enjoy seeing it. To me, that's the most important element as to what goes on after a game when there's a win."The commissioner then specifically mentioned Cherry, the "Hockey Night in Canada" pundit who called the players "a bunch of jerks" earlier this month."I consider Don Cherry a friend, and I respect him, but we can agree to disagree on certain things," Bettman said. "The fact is, how fanbases connect with our game evolves over time. What might work in an Original Six city might not work in a city or market that's newer to the game."Think back to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on opening night and (mascot) Wild Wing propelling from the rafters. People said, 'Oh, my. How could you do that?' Think about Nashville with the chants and rituals they have and involving country music. That's different. Think about what goes on now in Las Vegas. What each team does to connect with its fans is going to be tailored for their fans and their market. As long as the people involved are feeling good about (it), then who's to complain?"The Hurricanes have performed many unique victory celebrations this season, including a mimed walk-off home run, a limbo contest, bowling, and a game of duck, duck, goose. They projected "bunch of jerks" onto the ice following Tuesday night's win over the Kings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the fifth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, a fresh face makes his debut in the top five, and there's a new leader at No. 1. To view the previous rankings, click here.ATOI = Average time on ice

After leaving the New York Islanders for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer, John Tavares will finally return to Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night."I grew a lot in my time there and really thankful for the impact a lot of people had on me," Tavares said on Tuesday, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm not trying to overthink it. I just try and go out there and be myself and play and help the Maple Leafs."Tavares gave the Islanders new life, and his decision to leave cuts deep among fans of a team that hasn't experienced much success in several decades. The 28-year-old is well aware that he could face an unpleasant greeting."Yeah, I mean, you have a sense for what it might be like so whatever it is, it will be, I'll just try and go out there and try to play," he said.Tavares carved out his legacy on Long Island, scoring 272 goals and recording 621 points to rank seventh and fifth, respectively, in franchise history. In 2016, the five-time All-Star led the Islanders to their first playoff-series victory since 1993.“I really embraced being an Islander,” he said. “I loved it. It was a great place to play. I never didn’t enjoy my time there even when times weren’t going well."I did everything I could to just help the team hopefully win a Stanley Cup and unfortunately we weren't able to do that and I take responsibility, especially being the captain, not doing a good enough job consistently."The Mississauga, Ontario native is on pace for career highs in goals and points during his first season with the Maple Leafs.The Islanders blanked Toronto 4-0 in the first and only meeting between the teams this season, with Tavares recording five shots on goal.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

League commissioner Gary Bettman met with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon on Tuesday to tour Carter-Finley Stadium as the NHL considers the club's pitch to host an outdoor game in Raleigh, N.C., according to Michael Smith of NHL.com.Bettman also met with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, general manager Don Waddell, and several Hurricanes players during his visit, reports Smith."We are taking it very seriously and looking at the possibility," Bettman said of a prospective outdoor tilt at the NC State Wolfpack's 57,500-seat home stadium.Dundon has been in Bettman's ear about hosting an outdoor event for over a year and said in October that progress was being made on a potential game. The Hurricanes owner previously admitted his club plays in too small a market to host the Winter Classic but wants to stage an event for the team and its fans.If Dundon is to get his wish, Bettman said it won't be until the 2020-21 campaign at the earliest; next season's slate of outdoor games has already been announced.The Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators will meet at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Winter Classic, while the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche will play the Stadium Series at the United States Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium. The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames will also square off in the Heritage Classic, but that event has only ever featured Canadian teams.Dundon took over as owner of the Hurricanes in late 2017 and almost immediately made significant changes to the club's front office. He's garnered attention for some interesting quotes, like saying he'd never draft a defenseman in the first round.Despite the tumultuous nature of his early tenure, the Hurricanes currently occupy the second wild-card spot and have frequently been the talk of the league for their creative celebrations following home wins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey will be out until early April with an upper-body injury, head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday, according to Mitchell Clinton of Jets TV.Morrissey has been an anchor on Winnipeg's blue line this season. In 59 games, he's registered 31 points while averaging 22:24 minutes per night on the Jets' shutdown pair alongside Jacob Trouba.General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was seemingly prepared for this outcome, as he acquired two left-handed defensemen - Nathan Beaulieu and Bogdan Kiselevich - before Monday's trade deadline.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler was unwilling to waive his full no-trade clause ahead of the deadline, general manager Jim Benning said Monday, according to The Canadian Press.Benning revealed that teams did call about Edler's availability, but once the Canucks contacted Edler's agent, the player declined the option to be moved elsewhere.Edler, who's spent his entire career with Vancouver, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. It was reported Friday that the two sides are working towards an extension, which Benning confirmed during his press conference.Quality rental defensemen were a rare commodity leading up to the deadline. Nick Jensen, Ben Lovejoy, and Adam McQuaid were among the most notable pending UFA blue-liners moved in the last week.Edler, 32, has 20 points in 38 games while averaging 23:24 minutes per night. The Canucks have controlled 45.7 percent of the shot attempts and 48.2 percent of the high-danger scoring chances while Edler has been on the ice at five-on-five this season (according to Natural Stat Trick). The smooth-skating 6-foot-3 defenseman has 65 games of playoff experience.Benning was able to move one defenseman on deadline day, shipping Erik Gudbranson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Tanner Pearson.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving didn't want to go all-in at the trade deadline and shave years off the team's championship window."I wasn't prepared to start firing off A assets … just for something short term,” Treliving told reporters on Monday, according to The Athletic's Scott Cruickshank. "There's no mourning. The hearse is not driving by and none of us are climbing in."I'm going to go have a cold beer right now and still have guys like (Juuso) Valimaki in our organization - that's a pretty good day."The Flames tried to bolster their forward depth, but reportedly fell out of the mix for forwards Mark Stone and Jason Zucker.“Our goal was to try to help our team, without taking off of our team,” said Treliving. "But that caveat was always there - that we weren’t prepared to remove Juuso Valimaki, we weren’t prepared to move Rasmus Andersson, we weren’t prepared to go deep into first-round picks."Calgary added defenseman Oscar Fantenberg from the Los Angeles Kings. But the Flames stood pat otherwise while top Western Conference teams - the San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets - upgraded significantly.Despite the added pressure, Treliving wasn't going to budge.“You’re aware what’s going on around you - you don’t have blinders on,” he said. “But because your next-door neighbor buys a big car? If you can’t afford it, you don’t get the big car, right? That’s just the way it works."The Flames lead the Western Conference heading into Tuesday's action, and they're on pace for their highest point total since 1988-89 - the last season Calgary won the Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday was a whirlwind day for Mikael Granlund.The former Minnesota Wild forward was with his fiancee, who was about to give birth to their first child, when he got the call that he had been traded to the Nashville Predators."I did talk to him as a father and now a grandfather," Predators general manager David Poile said, according to Paul Skrbina of the Tennessean. "I didn't even say anything to him about the trade for five minutes. I told him how important it was for him to take care of his wife and the baby and what a great day this is for he and his family."We'll have more of a hockey conversation with him after the baby born."Wild general manager Paul Fenton told reporters he felt bad about the timing of the trade.

The Vegas Golden Knights landed Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators, the team announced Monday.In return, the Senators receive defensive prospect Erik Brannstrom, forward Oscar Lindberg, and a second-round draft pick in 2020. Vegas also receives forward Tobias Lindberg in the move.Stone was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer but personally confirmed to TSN that he's agreed to an extension with the Golden Knights. He can't officially sign it until March 1, but it's reportedly an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $9.5 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The 26-year-old winger is a massive addition for the reigning Western Conference champions, who now have one of the deepest forward groups in the NHL.Stone had spent his entire seven-year career with the Senators. He has 62 points in 59 games this season and is equally effective on defense, leading all NHLers with 88 takeaways.Brannstrom was the 15th overall pick by the Golden Knights in 2017 and is one of the top defensive prospects in hockey. The 19-year-old captained Sweden at the world juniors earlier this winter and has racked up 28 points in 41 AHL games this season. Lindberg notched 12 points in 35 games for Vegas.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the fifth edition of our Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we've got our first goalie entry of the season, and another first-timer breaking into the top three.You can read the previous installment here.ATOI = Average time on ice

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.In this episode, John is joined by Gus Katsaros of McKeen's Hockey and Graeme Nichols of The Athletic Ottawa to recap the trade deadline action on Monday. Topics include:

With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, let's look at the winners and losers from a busy day in the NHL.WinnersVegas Golden KnightsBrian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyThe Golden Knights landed the top trade chip available in Mark Stone, and the two sides already agreed to terms on an eight-year extension.The price was more than fair for general manager George McPhee, as he only gave up one key prospect, a depth player, and a second-round pick. Vegas will likely go on the road to face either the San Jose Sharks or Calgary Flames in a tough first-round matchup, so without the extension, this trade would look vastly different.All indications suggest Erik Brannstrom, the top prospect heading to Ottawa, has the potential to be a special player. But Stone, 26, can help Vegas contend for a Stanley Cup this season and beyond. He's a dynamic point-per-game winger, and also one of the top defensive forwards in the game, as evidenced by his league-high 88 takeaways. - WegmanColumbus Blue JacketsOver the last three days, the Blue Jackets acquired Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid, and Keith Kinkaid. While the team's draft-pick cupboard is now bare, the only player from the active roster lost in the process was Anthony Duclair, who was becoming a permanent resident in John Tortorella's doghouse.Duchene, and to a lesser extent, Dzingel, give Columbus a formidable top-nine forward group. McQuaid provides the Jackets with grit, experience, and a right-handed shot on the bottom pairing, while Kinkaid fills a need as a backup goalie. With the Metropolitan Division more wide open than it's ever been, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen picked the right time to go for it all. - WegmanNashville PredatorsIt was obvious what Predators GM David Poile needed to do during the lead-up to the trade deadline. With his defense and goaltending tandem requiring little to no fixing, upgrading the club’s top-heavy forward group became the focus.Although Vegas ultimately won the grand prize of Mark Stone, Poile managed to acquire two second-tier talents in Minnesota’s Mikael Granlund and Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds. Exchanging just Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala, and a conditional fourth-round pick for two sure bets is some crafty work. Granlund is signed through 2019-20, and Simmonds is a pending free agent. Neither is guaranteed to stick long term, but that’s a lesser concern for a contending team.Suddenly, Nashville’s dominant top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Viktor Arvidsson has some serious company, and the Western Conference better watch out. - MatiszLosersCalgary FlamesTom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Flames’ lack of cap space killed them this trade period, forcing GM Brad Treliving to watch as rival clubs, particularly within the conference, bulked up significantly. A deal to acquire the Wild's Jason Zucker fell through, which also didn't help matters.Oscar Fantenberg, from the Kings, ended up being Calgary's lone add. The 27-year-old is a decent defenseman, though his potential impact pales in comparison to that of Vegas’ Mark Stone, Nashville’s Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund, Winnipeg’s Kevin Hayes, and San Jose’s Gustav Nyquist.The Flames' post-deadline roster leaves much to be desired among the bottom-six forwards and goalies. Calgary needs to hope unexpected starting goalie David Rittich, who’s been a tremendous story this season, doesn’t turn into a pumpkin anytime soon. - MatiszPittsburgh PenguinsPenguins GM Jim Rutherford has developed a reputation for making big-time trades, sometimes around the deadline. During crunch time this year, however, he mainly stood on the sideline.Rutherford made two low-key swaps, bringing in Erik Gudbranson from Vancouver for Tanner Pearson, and receiving Chris Wideman from Florida in exchange for Jean-Sebastian Dea. The Gudbranson move, while defensible given the state of Pittsburgh’s blue line, was a little weird because the incoming player isn't exactly a fit for the modern NHL. He's simply too slow to defend at a high level these days. Wideman for Dea, meanwhile, was essentially a minor-league transaction.So now, this is the roster Rutherford - who, to be fair, made changes from November through January - has in place as Pittsburgh battles Carolina for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Let's face it: On paper, the Penguins don't have a championship-caliber squad. - MatiszNew York IslandersThe Islanders' biggest move ahead of the trade deadline was inking 37-year-old Dennis Seidenberg to a one-year contract. If that doesn't solidify their status as a deadline-day loser, then what does?Sure, the Isles lead the Metropolitan Division, but the Washington Capitals trail them by just two points and made two notable additions, picking up Nick Jensen and Carl Hagelin. The Blue Jackets sit third in the division, but they made a bevy of moves to become contenders.The Islanders had the necessary cap room and prospect capital to be big players on deadline day and add a much-needed injection of offense. Instead, Lou Lamoriello sat on his hands.The cost for even a subtle addition up front, such as Wayne Simmonds or Marcus Johansson, was well within reach. - WegmanCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quick-hit analysis of big-league trades completed Monday, Feb. 25, updating live as each deal's made ahead of the 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline.Trade: Blues acquire Michael Del Zotto

The Minnesota Wild have dealt forward Mikael Granlund to the Nashville Predators for forward Kevin Fiala, the clubs announced.Granlund, who notched 49 points in 63 games with the Wild this season, averaged 68 points per season over the previous two campaigns.A proven playmaker, he led the Wild with 18 power-play points this season. The Predators currently own the NHL's worst power play with an efficiency rate of only 12.6 percent.The 26-year-old is on the books through 2019-20 at a cap hit of $5.75 million.Fiala spent parts of five seasons with the Predators after they selected him 11th overall in 2014. He collected 10 goals and 32 points with Nashville in 2018-19. The 22-year-old is a pending restricted free agent with a cap hit of $863,333.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What seemed to be a "done deal" between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild involving forward Jason Zucker reportedly "fell through" Monday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, although it's not clear why.Zucker recorded a career-high 64 points last season, and the Wild rewarded the speedy winger with a five-year, $27.5-million deal. The 27-year-old has 15 goals and 16 assists this season.It was reported Monday that talks between the Flames and Ottawa Senators regarding forward Mark Stone also fell apart late Sunday night.Calgary managed to acquire defenseman Oscar Fantenberg from the Los Angeles Kings, but any attempts to bolster the Flames' forward depth at the trade deadline were unsuccessful.On the other side, it was a busy weekend for Wild general manager Paul Fenton, who played both deadline buyer and seller. The Wild added forwards Kevin Fiala and Ryan Donato while parting with forwards Charlie Coyle, Matt Hendricks, and Mikael Granlund.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have agreed to a two-year extension with forward Eric Staal, the team announced.Staal's contract carries an average annual value of $3.25 million, and the 34-year-old center will earn $3.5 million next season and $3 million the following year.The veteran has found new life since joining Minnesota. After seeing his offense regress in his final years with the Hurricanes, Staal bounced back with 28 goals during his first season in Minnesota, and 42 goals in the 2017-18 campaign - his highest mark since his sophomore year.The 6-foot-4 forward has contributed 18 goals and 41 points so far in his third season with the Wild, and he ranks second in team scoring.Approaching the trade deadline, Staal remained adamant about staying with the team and submitted a 10-team no-trade list, making it difficult for general manager Paul Fenton to move him.Minnesota sits a point up on the Colorado Avalanche for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference heading into Monday's action.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a buzzer-beater trade on Monday prior to the deadline.The Flyers are sending forward Wayne Simmonds to the Music City for Ryan Hartman and a draft pick, the team announced. The draft choice is a fourth-round pick in 2020, but it will become a third-rounder if Nashville advances past the first round in the playoffs, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.Simmonds, 30, carries a $3.975-million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He's scored 16 goals and recorded 11 assists in 62 games this season.Simmonds played his first two seasons in Philadelphia under Peter Laviolette, who's now the head coach in Nashville.He's the Predators' second major addition of the day after they landed Mikael Granlund from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Kevin Fiala.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have traded defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to the Winnipeg Jets for a sixth-round draft pick, the team announced Monday.Beaulieu carries a $2.4-million cap hit in the final season of a two-year contract before becoming a restricted free agent this summer. He's notched seven points while averaging 14:42 per contests in 30 games this season.The 26-year-old blue-liner is one of several additions the Jets made Monday, along with Kevin Hayes, Matt Hendricks, Par Lindholm, and Bogdan Kiselevich.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt forward Par Lindholm to the Winnipeg Jets for forward Nic Petan, the team announced.Lindholm collected 12 points in 61 games with the Leafs. The 27-year-old is in his first NHL season and is a pending unrestricted free agent. He carries a cap hit of $925,000, according to CapFriendly.Petan, 23, was in his fourth season with the Jets and had two points in 13 contests this season. Winnipeg drafted him 43rd overall in 2013. He's a pending RFA with a cap hit of $874,125.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Michael Del Zotto to the St. Louis Blues on Monday for a 2019 sixth-round pick, the Blues announced.Del Zotto is a pending unrestricted free agent on the books for $2.25 million, according to CapFriendly.The 28-year-old chipped in three points in 12 games with Anaheim after the Ducks acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in January. He managed a goal and three assists in 23 contests with the Canucks in 2018-19.Del Zotto's played parts of 10 NHL seasons with five different teams. The New York Rangers drafted him 20th overall in 2008.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.