Ottawa Senators forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone remain undecided about testing free agency this summer.The 28-year-old Duchene will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and understands he'll have to make a decision on his future with Ottawa before the Feb. 25 trade deadline. If he doesn't, they could deal him."The biggest thing is, if I don't have an answer for them, I would expect that they'll make a move," Duchene said, according to Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun. "You can’t really afford to let guys go for nothing anymore in this league, or probably ever; you couldn't do that. I understand that's the situation."At the end of the day, I need to be sure of what I'm doing and it's a process right now that I'm evaluating. It's not an easy one because it's the first time I've ever been in this situation. It's really hard to make in mid-season. I'm taking my time, as much time as I have here, and I'll see what happens. But we're not at that point yet.”Stone, also a pending UFA, knows the Senators could give each player a deadline to decide whether or not they intend to re-sign with the team."Yeah, for sure, but at the same time it's going to be done privately," Stone said. "I'm not going to do it through (the media)."Duchene is in his second season with the Senators after being acquired last year from the Colorado Avalanche. Stone, meanwhile, has played his entire five-year career in Ottawa. Both players have the potential to become UFAs for the first time in their respected careers.Stone and Duchene currently sit first and second in team scoring with 50 and 47 points, respectively.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teams are licking their chops at the opportunity to try and steal one of the Toronto Maple Leafs' young star players this summer."I can tell you, with certainty, that teams are 100 percent preparing an offer sheet for Mitch Marner," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."Despite the rumblings, general manager Kyle Dubas has vehemently denied any concern of losing any of his core players to an offer sheet.Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, has made it clear their intention is to wait until after the season to begin contract negotiations with the Maple Leafs. Should talks bleed into July 1, the 21-year-old would become a RFA, making him eligible to receive an offer sheet from other teams.Marner is in the midst of a breakout season in his third NHL campaign, leading the Maple Leafs with 62 points in 49 games - just eight short of setting a career high with 33 games left on the schedule.Since the 2004-05 NHL lockout, only eight players have signed an offer sheet. The last time it happened was in 2013 when the Calgary Flames signed Ryan O’Reilly to a two-year, $10-million deal, only to have it matched by O'Reilly's team at the time, the Colorado Avalanche.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 is joined by two guests - Matthew Coller of ESPN, and former NHL forward Cody Hodgson.Topics of discussion include:

Warning: Story contains coarse languageIt was vintage John Tortorella on Thursday.The Columbus Blue Jackets head coach expressed his frustration when asked about how his team's depth down the middle might help after Boone Jenner's injury."I've got one center playing. One," he told the assembled media, including TSN, in an apparent reference to first-line pivot Pierre-Luc Dubois.Tortorella repeated that several times after subsequent questions. Then he tore into his club even further while referencing Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres when asked about the matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night."It's a good team we're playing and it was a god-awful team that I coached the other night, so hopefully we'll answer the proper way," the bench boss said.When asked if the players felt the same way, he said, "They better, or they'll get their ass kicked."Tortorella added that he thought the Blue Jackets played with "absolutely no balls at all" in the defeat on Tuesday, that they were "absolute no-shows in every facet of the game," and the team needs to "reset pretty quickly."After Thursday's game in Winnipeg, the Blue Jackets return home to play the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kendall Coyne Schofield's night as a guest analyst on a national telecast may, unfortunately, be most remembered for a number of awkward comments from fellow broadcaster Pierre McGuire.At the outset of Wednesday night's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, McGuire explained how things would work to Coyne Schofield, the five-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist who stole the show at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition last week.

Antoine Vermette is calling it a career.The 36-year-old officially retired Thursday, ending a 14-season NHL career that included a Stanley Cup championship with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 and a Cup Final appearance with the Ottawa Senators in 2007.Vermette scored two game-winning goals in the championship round against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.He was skilled in the faceoff circle and became a frequent trade-deadline target as a result. The center produced 515 points in 1,046 games for the Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix and then Arizona Coyotes, Blackhawks, and Anaheim Ducks.He last played in 2017-18 and spent the final two campaigns of his career with the Ducks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks are tied for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference 52 games into the regular season, but the club's unexpected success won't alter general manager Jim Benning's plans for the trade deadline."If there's a trade to be made, players for players, and we can make the team better, I'll look at something like that," Benning told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre on Wednesday."But we have a plan in place and I'm not moving picks from this year's draft to make the team better now. It's going to be about the guys in that room pulling together and having a good run. And that will dictate whether we're a playoff team or not."The Canucks were expected to be in the thick of the race for the No. 1 selection in the 2019 draft, but superstar rookie Elias Pettersson has transformed the organization's outlook.Since 2013, the Canucks have landed Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and top prospect Quinn Hughes with first-round picks.Vancouver is hosting the draft in June, and the team owns nine picks spread across seven rounds.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the All-Star Game now in the books, the unofficial halfway point of the season has come and gone, and we are still no closer to designating this year's best goaltender.For the fourth straight edition, there is a new favorite to capture the Vezina Trophy.5. David Rittich, Calgary FlamesGerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyThe Flames are cruising, and although the club boasts the best offense in the Western Conference, Rittich has been instrumental in their success.For the first time since Miikka Kiprusoff hung up the skates following the 2012-13 campaign, Calgary looks to have some stability between the pipes. In fact, Rittich's .918 save percentage is tied for the fifth-highest mark in a season by a Flames netminder over the past 20 years. The four spots ahead of him are all occupied by Kiprusoff.In 30 games, Rittich has gone 19-4-4. His .937 save percentage at five-on-five ranks second overall among goalies to play at least 800 minutes and his .880 high-danger save percentage is the third highest. He's making a heck of a case.4. John Gibson, Anaheim DucksDarcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyLast month's favorite is beginning to slip, but his recent play is merely a byproduct of those playing in front of him.Gibson has just two wins in nine games since the calendar flipped to 2019. Over that span, he's allowed two or fewer goals on just three occasions. However, Gibson has faced the most shots at five-on-five and 55 more high-danger shots than the next closest netminder this season.The Ducks are a single point out of the final wild-card spot in the West despite scoring the second-fewest goals per game and allowing the third-most shots against. The man needs help.3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay LightningIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNikita Kucherov's monstrous campaign has been nothing short of spectacular, but through 50 games, Vasilevskiy has arguably been the Lightning's most valuable player this year.In just 29 games, he's recorded 20 wins, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average - the lowest mark of his career as a starter.The Lightning are in the midst of a potentially record-breaking season, and while the club is scoring more goals than any team in the NHL, Vasilevskiy has been no slouch.2. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple LeafsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Maple Leafs were hit-or-miss prior to the All-Star break. Luckily, they went into the weekend on a high after a big 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals, where Andersen made 41 stops.Andersen has been consistent, ranking tied for second in save percentage (.923), 12th in goals-against average (2.56), and third in wins (22). He also ranks first among all goalies with 13.46 goals saved above average at five-on-five.Of course, coming out of the break with newly acquired Jake Muzzin in the fold should make Andersen one happy camper.1. Robin Lehner, New York IslandersIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Islanders have gone from a team that allowed the most goals against per game last campaign (3.57) to the fewest (2.41) this season.Having a defensive-minded coach in Barry Trotz has played a major role, but Lehner also deserves credit. The 27-year-old has gone 15-7-4 in 27 games with a 2.02 goals-against average, which is tops among goalies to play at least 20 games. Meanwhile, his .940 five-on-five save percentage and .931 mark overall both rank first in the NHL, while his 13.19 goals saved above average sits third.After a forgettable 2017-18 in Buffalo, Lehner has been remarkable with the Islanders and could be rewarded handsomely for his stellar play at the end of the season.(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuukka Rask is ready to return.The Boston Bruins goaltender will play Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, his head coach, Bruce Cassidy, confirmed on game day.Rask missed Tuesday night's shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets and most of Boston's defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers on Jan. 19 after being concussed by Rangers forward Filip Chytil, who crashed into Rask after scoring.The veteran netminder has a .919 save percentage on the season, and he's gone 6-0-1 with a .939 mark in his last eight appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are nearing the 11th hour when it comes to making a decision on superstar winger Artemi Panarin.After Panarin - who's set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - said before training camp that he wouldn't negotiate a new contract during the season, the Blue Jackets were destined to find themselves in a pickle. And now, less than four weeks before the trade deadline, speculation on the matter is rampant thanks to a recent meeting with Panarin's agent that didn't yield much progress.

Tuukka Rask is on the verge of a return, and it could come as soon as his team's next game.Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Wednesday there's a "good chance" the veteran goaltender plays Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.Rask has been out since Jan. 19, the night he was concussed by Filip Chytil. The New York Rangers forward was pushed into the netminder by Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy after scoring a goal.Boston lost its only game since that contest, a 4-3 shootout defeat to the Winnipeg Jets, on Tuesday night.Rask is 14-8-3 with a .919 save percentage in 26 appearances this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the fourth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, the five defensemen remain unchanged, though there's a new blue-liner in the top spot. To view the previous rankings, click here.ATOI = Average time on ice

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been placed in Stage 2 of the NHL and NHLPA's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, the league announced Tuesday.The treatment is in relation to "his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse," the release states. Under the terms of the program, Watson will be suspended without pay until he is cleared by administrators.

In the fourth edition of theScore's Calder Trophy Power Rankings, four of the five players from the last edition remain the same, with one freshman returning to the list for the first time since November. You can read the previous installment here.ATOI = Average time on ice

BOSTON - When the Boston Bruins lost captain Zdeno Chara and alternate captain Patrice Bergeron to month-long injuries in mid-November, they needed someone new to wear an "A."And in a decision that surprised some observers, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy slapped the letter on forward Brad Marchand’s sweater. Yes, the same Marchand who's been suspended and fined by the NHL on numerous occasions, and who'd recently shown up officials by mocking Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons for embellishing a high-sticking penalty, earning an additional 12 minutes in the box."I picked (Marchand) to show that he's a leader, and maybe that'll help him with the refs a little bit if they see that," Cassidy told theScore.Things didn't start well. After receiving a questionable slashing penalty against the Dallas Stars during his first game wearing the "A," Marchand earned an additional 10-minute misconduct for "waving the white flag" with a towel on his stick - not exactly the behavior expected from those in leadership positions."There's times when things go right or things go wrong. I think that things just happen, and I was ending up in the box," Marchand told theScore. "I was definitely retaliating for some things and maybe I wasn’t happy enough with my game or how things were going."Indeed, Marchand went into a slump when Bergeron was injured, scoring just once in the first 11 games without his linemate. But then - more importantly - he also began to stay calm.In fact, Marchand hasn't been whistled for a major infraction or misconduct since the Dallas game, and he's spent just two minutes in the penalty box over his last 13 appearances."I feel a lot more in tune with my control, my emotions, and stuff like that," Marchand said of his newfound discipline. "Out on the ice, I don’t feel like I’m getting as heated as I was early in the season."It's a key development for Marchand, who's one of the NHL's most productive players - he entered the All-Star break with 19 goals and 53 points - but who's also served six suspensions and paid three fines since breaking into the league (not to mention his involvement in many more confrontations, including the infamous licking incidents from last year's playoffs, which drew a warning from director of hockey operations Colin Campbell)."(Staying calm) can easily change in a split second but I wasn't doing a very good job of being disciplined for the group or the team early on," Marchand continued. "So I definitely had to be better at that. I feel that I have been the last little bit. I can’t be in the box every game."The Bruins certainly hope those split seconds will take place less and less as the 30-year-old Marchand matures. And there's optimism that he can make it happen given his burning desire to succeed, which has already carried him further than most expected.__________Richard Wolowicz / Getty Images Sport / GettyConsidering all the notoriety Marchand's gained since becoming an NHL regular eight years ago, it’s hard to believe he once flew under the radar.Nova Scotia-based performance coach J.P. MacCallum was there during the forward's humble beginnings - long before the 30-goal seasons, the 2011 Stanley Cup championship, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey gold medal, and the much-publicized run-ins with NHL disciplinarians."It's certainly been a wild ride with Brad," MacCallum told theScore."It’s been 17 years now, 17 offseasons that we’ve worked together. So starting with when he was a 13-year-old, at the Bantam level in Nova Scotia. He always had the competitive spirit. … You saw the competitive factor, he was a good player, but there was nobody that would've said at the time that he was going to play in the NHL.”As an undersized player coming up just before the NHL's evolution into a smaller man's game, Marchand wasn't an obvious target for scouts. Still, he committed to proving himself and saw that hard work pay off as a second-round selection in the 2004 QMJHL Draft, and then as a third-round pick (71st overall) by the Bruins in the 2006 NHL Draft. His junior career was highlighted by an 80-point season with Val-d'Or in 2006-07 and two selections to Team Canada's world junior rosters, leading to a pair of gold medals."And still the doubters were always there," MacCallum recalled. "The guy that never doubted was Brad. 'I’m going to make it, I'm going to make it, I’m going to do it.' He competes hard for everything and he hasn't stopped. That's what got him on the Bruins and what keeps him there and made him an elite player in the world.”While following in the footsteps of smaller players like Theo Fleury and Martin St. Louis, Marchand - now listed at 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds - has worked to cancel out his size disadvantage by improving his elusiveness. And to do so, Marchand and MacCallum designed workouts that largely target the forward's legs.“I think in hockey if you look at a lot of the guys, their body makeup, a lot of them have very big lower bodies,” Marchand said. “That’s a focus nowadays. Before I think a lot of guys worried about their strength and getting big and strong, but the game, the way it is now, it’s all speed and endurance and skill, so you know it’s pretty much all legs.”Scouts and coaches alike marvel at Marchand’s ability to win battles in tight areas and to pull up on rushes to make plays. The drills he does and the videos he watches - often of other players around league - help him improve and conjure up new moves every summer. In 2015-16, he cracked 30 goals for the first time and finished with 37. That earned him a spot on Team Canada for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but Marchand wasn’t satisfied with just being named to the elite team.“If it was possible, his focus sharpened even more (heading into the World Cup)," MacCallum said. "I think he really got a taste of, 'Now I can do it.' Not that he ever doubted himself, but he knew he needed a little bit more focus in the offseason - a little bit more work on his on-ice focus in the offseason could take him to that next level. And when you’ve already got a guy that’s ultra-competitive and finds a way to dial it in even more, you see incredible results.”Amid a star-laden Team Canada roster at the World Cup, Marchand wound up playing on a top line with Bergeron and Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. He helped lead the team to gold while recording seven points in 10 games.Marchand's positive momentum continued in the NHL, as he scored 39 goals for Boston the following season and another 34 in 2017-18. This year, he's on pace to surpass 30 yet again.__________Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyThere are other sides to Marchand beyond the dynamic two-way player and the noted super-pest. There's the Marchand who paid for a family to attend the 2016 NHL All-Star weekend, which is the same Marchand who once rescheduled a summer training session with MacCallum to work with a young, aspiring player instead."He shows this 12-year-old kid, 'Wow, this is what it takes, this guy’s doing it,'" MacCallum said. "And (the kid is) completely baffled that an NHLer is his training partner for the day. But (it was) an incredible experience that kid will never forget."These days, Marchand's also a family man, as he got married in 2015 and gained a stepson in the process. Now with a young daughter as well, his new responsibilities off the ice are contributing to his maturity as a player.“It’s no coincidence, you’re committed to a partner at the same time you’re committed to a family. ... I think (it) only increased his focus," MacCallum said.For their part, the Bruins previously showed faith in Marchand's development by inking him to an eight-year, $49-million contract extension in September 2016 - 10 months before he could’ve become an unrestricted free agent. The deal all but assured Marchand would be a big part of the team for years to come, and it came with the hope that his maturity would catch up to his skill set.It appears he's now taking that step by accepting a bigger leadership role with the Bruins. It earned him the "A" during Bergeron's absence, and the leadership ability was evident when Marchand took the lead in personally addressing 21-year-old defenseman Charlie McAvoy's tardiness issues this season.To Marchand's teammates, this side of his persona was always present, but it was often hidden beneath his public image."He’s certainly the clown still, but he sometimes wears a different hat while he’s in the clown suit," David Backes, another one of Boston's alternate captains, told theScore."He’s a guy that on the ice, he’s got some antics, but they're good-intentioned to help our team win or try to distract the opponent. And when you’re outside the circle and you’re looking at it, especially if you’re not a Boston fan, he's annoying and he’s a pest and you throw darts at his picture on a dartboard perhaps.“But when you’re in the room, those guys tend to be the best teammates and he’s not an exception there. He cares about his teammates, he’ll do anything for you, and he’s a 'win at all cost' kind of guy, and you love those kind of guys.”Of course, you don’t reach the heights Marchand's reached without exhausting all means to get there. And it's an approach that will probably push him over the line again, regardless of how hard he tries to stay out of trouble. On the other hand, Cassidy's decision to hand over an "A" - even a temporary one - showed that Marchand's leadership skills and discipline are trending in the ideal direction."It’s going to be a process and I’m not going to sit here and say that I’m not going to make mistakes, because I’m not going to promise the world and not deliver,” Marchand added. "So, it's a fine line that I got to watch and work on, and hopefully things can play themselves out the right way.”Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It took a couple of weeks of trade talk, according to general managers Rob Blake and Kyle Dubas, but on Monday, the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs finally agreed on the first big trade of 2019.Impact defenseman Jake Muzzin is off to Toronto in exchange for AHL forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to prospect Sean Durzi, and the Leafs' first-round pick in the 2019 draft."When he joined Los Angeles coming out of junior, they were at the same stage that we’re at now," Dubas said of Muzzin and the Leafs during a conference call. "He had that experience of seeing a team mature from being a team that wanted to contend, to contending, and then ultimately winning."Sitting at opposite ends of the standings, Dubas and Blake made a straightforward deal that - as anti-climactic as it sounds - could be a win-win for both franchises.What this means for the LeafsThe Leafs' top pairing of Morgan Rielly and Ron Hainsey, locked in all season long, appears to be toast.Dubas wouldn't confirm it, saying head coach Mike Babcock would need to speak with the affected players first. However, it's safe to assume the left-handed Muzzin, who'll turn 30 on Feb. 22, will slide into Hainsey's spot on Rielly's right side Friday when the Leafs come off their bye week for a road game against the Detroit Red Wings.Muzzin, an all-around defender who won the 2014 Stanley Cup alongside Drew Doughty, is a gigantic upgrade on the 37-year-old Hainsey, whose rapid decline in 2018-19 frustrated Leafs fans to no end.Here's an educated guess at Toronto's revamped defense pairings, assuming everybody is healthy - Jake Gardiner is out with back spasms at the moment. Hainsey would slide down the depth chart but not out of the lineup:LD (shoots)RD (shoots)Morgan Rielly (L)Jake Muzzin (L)Jake Gardiner (L)Nikita Zaitsev (R)Travis Dermott (L)Ron Hainsey (L)Martin Marincin (L)Igor Ozhiganov (R)A penalty killer, minute muncher, and puck mover with strong possession numbers, Muzzin is exactly the type of defenseman the Leafs - who own the league's fourth-best offense, but can sometimes leak scoring chances - needed.Goalie Frederik Andersen may be the greatest beneficiary of this trade, given Muzzin's defensive ability. On second thought, perhaps this is Rielly's big break. It's amazing, really, that he's having a Norris Trophy-caliber season and is about to start skating with a legitimate running mate."I think he's an elite defenseman," Blake said of Muzzin moving to the Eastern Conference. "He's going to bring the physical aspect, but he has poise and patience to make plays. I think the adjustment will come naturally for him because he's a top defenseman."Rene Johnston / Getty ImagesThe cost for Muzzin isn't negligible, so Dubas doesn't look like a thief by any means. Still, considering his track record and contract - Muzzin's signed through next season at $4 million per year - and the fact that the draft pick will most likely be in the mid-to-late 20s, it's a smart, cap-friendly bet.Muzzin, a 2007 fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has 51 goals and 162 assists for 213 points in 496 career games, all in a Kings uniform. He was born two hours west of Toronto in Woodstock, Ontario.What this means for the KingsSpeaking of term, Blake wouldn't budge when a reporter asked if the Kings are shopping or taking calls on players under contract past this year.Los Angeles' record through 50 games (20-26-4, rivaling only the woeful Ottawa Senators), and Blake's willingness to ship out useful players months ago, suggests most - if not all - the names on the roster may be on the table.But neither of the players acquired from the Leafs will join the NHL club immediately. "We’re at the bottom of the league," Blake said. "We made this deal for the future of the organization."Graig Abel / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn Grundstrom, the Kings are receiving a first-year Marlies winger with top-nine NHL potential. "His compete, his effort, and work have been mainstays," Blake said of the 21-year-old Swede. "His sense and his poise is above average and (he’s) a strong skater."Meanwhile, Durzi is an unsigned late bloomer still playing in the OHL for the Guelph Storm. The 6-foot, 196-pound defenseman was drafted in the second round by the Leafs in 2018, his second year of eligibility. Blake likes the 20-year-old's hockey IQ and skating ability.The Kings, who won two titles in three years to start the decade, have fallen on tough times after failing to adapt to a faster style of play. Blake has been able to get his team nine selections in the 2019 draft - one pick per round, plus the Leafs' first and a fifth-rounder from the Arizona Coyotes.The main takeawayBy pulling the trigger on a deal of this magnitude four weeks away from the trade deadline, Dubas made life difficult for rival GMs looking to bolster their blue lines in the leadup to Feb. 25.All of a sudden, Dougie Hamilton, the other prized defenseman said to be available, is a white-hot commodity. Some would argue the Carolina Hurricanes should command a hefty return regardless. But now, with Muzzin off the market, the price for Hamilton will be steeper.In the same breath, the pressure is completely off Dubas and the Leafs. Barring a major injury or a last-minute desire to go all-in on the 2018-19 season, the Muzzin trade may be the only significant move necessary. Expect improvements around the edges of the roster, not more fireworks.On Monday, Dubas alluded to the organization's multi-year contention plan, reiterating what he's noted in the past about the type of players his club desires. "Our preference was to acquire players who did have some term on their deals," he said.Muzzin certainly accomplishes that. And, based on Blake's tone during his conference with the media, the rebuilding Kings will miss his play and presence - and potentially other key pieces of their Cup-winning core as they move to restock the cupboard."Terrific player, terrific person," Blake said. "(Muzzin) took a huge step in leadership over the last few years here. Very difficult day here for us to move players that have brought so much to this organization."John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kendall Coyne Schofield will join NBC's broadcast of Wednesday's matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins as an analyst, the company announced.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Derick Brassard was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct after delivering a dangerous hit on New Jersey Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen during Monday's contest.

Twitter is abuzz following the Toronto Maple Leafs' big splash nearly a month out from the Feb. 25 trade deadline.After the club landed defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, recent draft pick Sean Durzi, and the team's first-round pick in this year's draft, the NHL community took to the social media platform, chiming in with relatively kind words towards the Maple Leafs. However, some questioned the haul Toronto gave up to acquire Muzzin.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to defenseman Sean Durzi, and Toronto's first-round pick in the 2019 draft, the team announced Monday."We feel this trade was necessary for the future of the organization," Kings general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. "Moving Jake was not easy as he has been a key player for us and a significant part of our most historic and memorable achievements. We are grateful for his contributions to the Kings and we wish him the best of luck in the future."Muzzin gives the Maple Leafs an immediate boost to their back end, something the team has desperately been lacking for some time.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin will not be discussing his future with the team until the end of the season, his agent, Dan Milstein, announced Monday.After meeting over the weekend in Miami, Milstein called a second meeting with his client before informing the team on Panarin's willingness to negotiate a new contract, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.The decision puts Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen in a difficult spot, as he must now decide whether to deal the star forward before the Feb. 25 deadline. If he chooses to try and sign Panarin in the offseason, he risks losing him for nothing.The 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and will draw immense interest around the league.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, the teams announced Monday.Coincidentally, the Penguins acquired Oleksiak from the Stars in December 2017 for the same cost.Oleksiak was a first-round pick (14th overall) of the Stars in 2011 and spent the first six seasons of his career in Dallas, racking up 22 points in 140 games.In Pittsburgh, the towering blue-liner appeared in 83 regular-season contests, with 25 points to his credit.Oleksiak signed a three-year contract with the Penguins in July and carries a $2,137,500 cap hit until 2020-21.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Feb. 25 trade deadline looming, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher is making it clear that he will not be moving team captain Claude Giroux."We have a lot of good players here, but I would never say never to almost anybody besides Giroux," Fletcher said, according to Philly.com's Sam Carchidi. "He's probably one of the best players in the history of the franchise."Although the GM discussed Philadelphia's potential to shake things up at deadline day, Fletcher doesn't appear interested in trading assets for a rental."I don't expect us to trade our first-round pick for a rental, but we could both buy and sell," he said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.The Flyers sit 14 points out of a wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference heading into Monday night's action. Although Fletcher acknowledged Philadelphia was a long shot to make the playoffs, he remains hopeful the team can earn a postseason berth."We're at a stage where we need a big run here," he said, according to Carchidi. "We finished well before the break and we have an opportunity here - six of the next eight are at home - and clearly we need to get a lot of points."Fletcher has said longtime Flyer Wayne Simmonds - who's a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the year - could be moved before the deadline if the two sides can't come to terms on a new contract.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl won the Premier Passing event at Friday's All-Star Skills Competition in San Jose, but he didn't have the fastest time.That belonged to Brianna Decker, a U.S. Olympic gold medalist and member of the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. She demonstrated the event for the NHL participants in front of a sold-out crowd and completed the challenge in 1:06, three seconds faster than Draisaitl.Draisaitl, like all Friday's event winners, earned a $25,000 bonus, which sparked some outrage among the hockey world.Enter hockey manufacturing brand CCM, who announced Saturday that it will be providing Decker with her rightful earnings.

The NHL's finest tested their skills on Friday night, leaving fans hungry for Saturday's main event. Here's a look at the result of each contest.Fastest SkaterKendall Coyne kicked off the evening in historic fashion, becoming the first woman to compete in the All-Star Skills Competition. The U.S. women's national team forward clocked in at 14.346 seconds in the Fastest Skater event, beating Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller.“This is definitely a top three moment in my career,” she told TSN's Frank Seravalli.Connor McDavid, however, registered a time of 13.378 to clinch his third straight victory in the event.

The NHL and NHLPA have discussed the possibility of hosting a smaller World Cup of Hockey in the middle of the 2020-21 season, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The event would be a part of a larger international calendar both sides hope to negotiate during upcoming CBA talks, LeBrun adds.Last week, the league announced it's abandoning the possibility of hosting a World Cup in September 2020 due to an unrealistic timeline in terms of preparation.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall skated before team practice on Sunday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury, according to NJ.com's Chris Ryan.“He’s really trying to work through some things to feel better,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “He is progressing. It’s just not at the rate we or he would have liked or anticipated.”The reigning Hart Trophy winner has been sidelined since Dec. 23 and has missed the team's last 13 contests. New Jersey is 7-7-1 without Hall in the lineup this season.Despite the time missed, the 27-year-old winger remains second in team scoring with 37 points in 33 games. He earned the fifth All-Star selection of his career but was replaced at the event by teammate Kyle Palmieri, as the injury kept him from participating.The Devils headed into the All-Star break fresh off a bye week, and are slated to play their first contest in nine days on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin's agent wants a second meeting with his client before informing the Columbus Blue Jackets of the forward's attitude toward negotiating a new contract, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.Dan Milstein met with Panarin in Miami during All-Star weekend to discuss the pending unrestricted free agent's future, a plan that was first reported in November.The meeting holds significant weight for the Blue Jackets, as Panarin already informed the club prior to training camp that he wouldn't negotiate a contract extension in-season.If the 27-year-old doesn't have an interest in staying in Columbus, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have to work swiftly to deal the dynamic winger before the Feb. 25 trade deadline or risk losing him for nothing in the offseason. The team could also opt to keep him for a playoff run.Panarin is putting together another outstanding campaign, leading the Blue Jackets with 53 points in 46 games. He carries a $6-million cap hit.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers were close to acquiring two-time All-Star defenseman Ryan McDonagh in a 2016 deal, according to a report from Larry Brooks of the New York Post.Less than a week after Peter Chiarelli was fired as general manager of the Oilers, new details have emerged regarding a potential move that could have altered the club's future.According to Brooks' sources, the foundation of the trade would have sent McDonagh, a member of the New York Rangers at the time, to the Oilers in exchange for the fourth overall selection in the 2016 NHL draft.Talks reached a serious stage according to Brooks, but the deal failed to come to fruition, as Chiarelli held onto the pick and selected Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujarvi instead.Though underwhelming with 37 points in 132 career games so far, Puljujarvi was a consensus top lottery pick, making the decision defensible even three years after the fact. It's what came later that has left a sour taste for Oilers fans, and makes this latest revelation more difficult to grasp.Less than a week removed from their chance to nab McDonagh, the Oilers made a bold gamble by shipping star forward Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson.The decision to pass on McDonagh and trade Hall, has set Edmonton back at both ends of the ice. Hall went on to capture a Hart Trophy as league MVP, while Larsson has failed to round into form for a young and vulnerable defense core.The Oilers currently own the league's 19th ranked offense and 23rd ranked defense, with 144 goals for and 163 against this season, despite rostering the game's top talent in Connor McDavid.For a team that's been mired by poor judgement, this latest discovery adds to the Oilers' laundry list of sliding door moments.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SAN JOSE - At its core, the NHL's All-Star weekend is designed to remind.It reminds us that hockey is a sport worth celebrating and that there's nobody better to celebrate with than thousands of young fans. It reminds us that the players in attendance - oftentimes cliche-spouting robots - are actually human. In vacation mode at the midseason showcase, their guards are down. The result: tales of cheetah bites, videos of former teammates riding scooters, and revelations of totally-unrelatable-slash-awesome bets.Brian Babineau / Getty ImagesAnd this year, although not by design, per se, the weekend also reminded us of the brilliance of Sidney Crosby, Henrik Lundqvist, Pekka Rinne, Blake Wheeler, and Brent Burns. The old dudes - which in the modern NHL includes anybody 30-plus - might count as the minority group nowadays, having already handed over the keys to millennials and Generation Z'ers. But they're still kicking.Especially Crosby, whose eight points in two three-on-three games earned him MVP honors in the main event. He reminded us that, hey, this 31-year-old three-time Stanley Cup winner, currently overshadowed by Connor McDavid's generational talent, is building a case for yet another piece of hardware. There's no defending during All-Star weekend, yet Crosby's mere presence brought the Selke Trophy debate to the forefront.Adding a Selke to his robust award collection - two Harts, two Rocket Richards, two Conn Smythes, two Art Rosses, three Lester B. Pearsons/Ted Lindsays - is not beyond the realm of possibility for Crosby. The #Sid4Selke campaign is officially underway."I'd like to be in the conversation, for sure," Crosby said of the annual honor for the league's top defensive forward. "I mean, I think your play has to earn that. Anyone can say that, but I think I definitely want to be known as a player who's responsible defensively. I want to be good offensively, but do it the right way. And I think for the most part this year that's been the case."A lengthy breakdown of Selke candidates is a task for another day (spoiler: the list would include usual suspects Aleksander Barkov and Patrice Bergeron). In the meantime, here's a quick snapshot of Crosby's 2018-19 season through 48 games:In his 700-plus minutes at 5-on-5, the Penguins have owned 70 percent of the goals, 58 percent of the scoring chances, and 56 percent of the shot attempts, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. In all situations, he's won 52 percent of his faceoffs and is a plus-four in penalty differential. All this while producing 57 points in 20:42 of ice time a night.In passing, that sounds Selke-worthy.Tension following Oilers everywhereOn one hand, the All-Star break couldn't have come at a better time for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Less than a week after polarizing general manager Peter Chiarelli received his pink slip, the Oilers' best players escaped the Edmonton bubble for a few days with the team now on its bye week.On the other hand, the timing of Chiarelli's dismissal wasn't ideal for Edmonton's stars, given all the media responsibilities and public appearances associated with the All-Star festivities. Though questions tended to focus on levity, there was no avoiding the debacle back home."It is what it is," Draisaitl told theScore following the Pacific Division's elimination from Saturday's three-on-three tournament. "We're responsible for what's going on there, no one else. We've got to find ways to win hockey games. That's all we have to do."Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesMcDavid - who rarely cracks a smile when the cameras are on, regardless of circumstance or his team's performance - squirmed in his seat during media day. "Oh. My God," he said Thursday as Edmonton-related questions eased into lighter topics. "I was gonna get off the seat, it was so hot. I love the three-on-three."The Oilers are off until Feb. 2, when they visit Philadelphia to face the Flyers and begin a stretch of five games in eight days. Based on the jammed-up Western Conference standings, the season could quickly get away from Edmonton if it stumbles in the early going of the post-break schedule. But nothing's been decided yet."We're three points out of a playoff spot," McDavid noted a day before winning the Fastest Skater competition. "I think that gets lost. I think that really is lost. We're going through a lot of different changes, but we're three points out and have a chance to make the playoffs."Players not caught up in tracking buzzIt turns out the league's new toy, the player and puck tracking system unveiled over the weekend, isn't at the forefront of players' thoughts.Asked about the pros and cons of the investment in microchip technology, with a full rollout scheduled for the 2019-20 season, many All-Stars shrugged. Others admitted they were simply uneducated on the topic of tracking in general. The players' reactions are slightly surprising, considering it's their on-ice data being collected and shared with the world."To be completely honest, I haven't done much homework on the whole concept," Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos said. "I was around when ESPN or FOX used to do the puck tracker (in the 1990s), back when we had standard-definition TV and no one could see the puck. I think we've come a long way from that."Len Redkoles / Getty ImagesLike most of his peers, Stamkos sees the benefits of tracking from a fan engagement perspective and as a tool for broadcasters and media. But he added, "We don't know exactly how that information is going to be used yet." (The NHL and NHLPA have agreed that tracking data will be exempt from the contract negotiation process, including arbitration hearings, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly.)Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle admitted not knowing a single thing about the matter. Even some of the game's most studious competitors, like Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues' Ryan O'Reilly, aren't jumping for joy. Despite the buzz, tracking seems very blah for players."I'm not a big fan of it," O'Reilly said. "As a player, there's so much feel involved in the game … there's certain reads you have that I don't think a device can assess. That's one of the things I love about the sport."NBC incorporated tracking data into its broadcast for the three-on-three tournament. From the bench, Scheifele thought it looked too busy and drew attention away from the on-ice action."If I'm going to watch a game I like it to all be gone," he said of the name tags, zone time, skating speed, and other advanced stats. "Just because I'd rather see everything that's going on in (the game itself). When you start showing a bunch of random stats it might trick the eyes a little bit."

Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier was one of three people sent to a Tampa Bay hospital following an accident that involved three buses Saturday.The accident occurred around 1:40 p.m. on the Selmon Expressway when the lead bus was hit as it slowed down to exit the toll road by a trailing second bus, the Florida Highway Patrol said, according to Fox 13 News. A third bus then ran into the back of the second bus.All three buses were en route to Tampa's annual Gasparilla parade.The three passengers sent to the hospital all sustained minor injuries. Lecavalier's agent, Kent Hughes, said the 38-year-old is OK, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Two drivers have been cited for careless driving in relation to the incident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol's accident report, per Fox 13 News.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Commissioner Gary Bettman says the inclusion and incredible performance of Kendall Coyne Schofield during Friday's Skills Competition highlights what the league stands for."Whether it's women or whatever your background or orientation is, this game is about inclusion," Bettman told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean during intermission of the All-Star Game on Saturday. "We take pride in our diversity and we think being inclusive and diverse makes the game stronger. And, as importantly, we think we can use the game to teach life lessons."Coyne Schofield became the first woman to ever participate in the NHL's Skills Competition, and she was joined by fellow female stars Brianna Decker, Rebecca Johnston, and Renata Fast in San Jose. During the game Saturday, the NHL announced it will make $25,000 donations in each of their names to the charities or hockey programs of their choice."Having women as part of the weekend really elevates the game for everybody," Bettman said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If hockey fans learned anything during Saturday night's NHL All-Star Game, it's that Sidney Crosby is nowhere near finished.The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar picked up his first All-Star Game MVP award Saturday, tallying eight points over two games en route to leading the Metropolitan Division to victory in the four-team tournament.Despite his league-wide dominance over the last 14 seasons, Crosby has been selected to just eight All-Star teams - mostly due to bad luck. Concussion issues plagued the star early in his career, while the NHL lockout in 2013 and the Winter Olympic Games in both 2010 and 2014 marked years with no All-Star Game at all.With another piece of hardware under his belt, the 31-year-old has added to a laundry list of accomplishments that is unmatched by most.From the moment he hit the ice on Friday night, Crosby was showered with boos from the San Jose crowd. In 2016, he lifted his second of three Stanley Cups at the SAP Center after defeating the Sharks in six games.Crosby will be taking home more than just the hardware. The All-Star Game MVP is also rewarded with a new Honda vehicle.

Another year of All-Star festivities is in the books.From the awe-inspiring talent on the ice, to the light-hearted hijinx off of it, Saturday's All-Star Game provided fans with a great mix of what makes the NHL and its players so special.Here are some of the best images from an incredible weekend.Hometown heroesBrian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettySnow angels down southEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyLegends of the gameBrian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyGritty gets into the actionBrian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyStamkos gets sneaky for beautiful goalEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyGrand larcenyBrandon Magnus / National Hockey League / GettyWhen rivals become teammatesBrandon Magnus / National Hockey League / GettyFlying through All-Star weekendEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyFriendly and familiar facesBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyMillion-dollar teamBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Metropolitan Division won the 2019 All-Star Game on Saturday night with a 10-5 victory over the Central.Sidney Crosby led the way with a five-point performance in the final, helping himself and his teammates to the $1-million prize. He frequently teamed up with Mathew Barzal, who had five points of his own in the tournament-clinching victory.After ousting the Atlantic in the first game, the Metro jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the final and cruised to its second title since the NHL adopted the three-on-three format in 2016.The NHL's second-leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen, led the way for the Central in the final with two goals and one assist in the losing cause.Next year's All-Star festivities will take place in St. Louis.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Metropolitan Division booked its ticket to the final of the 2019 NHL All-Star Game, defeating the Atlantic Division, 7-4.Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby opened the scoring just 15 seconds in with his first of two goals in the game. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones also added a pair of goals, and Penguins' Kris Letang potted the eventual game-winner with just under four minutes to play.Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares led the way for the Atlantic with a goal and an assist, while Steven Stamkos and Jeff Skinner put forth their respective bids for goal of the night.The result offers a complete reversal from one year ago, as the Atlantic Division topped the Metropolitan by the same score, 7-4, at the 2018 All-Star Game.The stage has been set, as the Metropolitan Division is slated to meet the Central in the championship game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Central Division started the NHL All-Star Game with a bang, dominating the Pacific en route to a 10-4 victory to advance to the finals.In the game's first half, the Central lit up Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson with seven goals on nine shots, much to the chagrin of the home crowd, who were cheering on their San Jose Shark representatives to advance.The Central was led by Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog, who each posted four points, while Patrick Kane and Mikko Rantanen posted three of their own.The Pacific got two points apiece from Joe Pavelski, Erik Karlsson, and Brent Burns.With the first game in the books, the Central awaits the winner of the Atlantic-Metropolitan clash to determine their opponent for the grand prize.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Gaudreau's All-Star squad had some added insight at its disposal Saturday.The star forward's father, Guy, joinsx the Pacific Division team on the bench for the three-on-three tournament after being invited to do so by head coach Bill Peters, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Peters also coaches the younger Gaudreau's Calgary Flames.Guy Gaudreau starred at Norwich University in the late '70s, and spent 11 years as the head boys' coach at Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey. He was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.His son made his fifth All-Star appearance and is tied with Connor McDavid for third in the NHL with 73 points, albeit in two more games played.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SAN JOSE - Gary Bettman turned to face a gigantic TV screen inside a trendy restaurant on the Friday afternoon of All-Star weekend, and stared. Alone on stage, he watched the future and the past collide.Playing was a presentation of the NHL's player and puck tracking system, the league's much-anticipated dive into the microchip technology realm. Tracking, which is being promoted heavily this month as the league's next big endeavor, will debut next season. Welcome to the future.To demonstrate how far the NHL has come on the tech file, a clip of the famous Fox Sports glow puck ran as part of the video's intro. As if that nostalgic kick wasn't enough, a young Bettman flashed on the screen for a soundbite about the late-1990s broadcast experiment. A blast from the past.In his 40s then, Bettman had the look of a pro sports executive who had the world in front of him. Contemporary Bettman's lost some hair, played a starring role in the second and third lockouts of his quarter-century tenure, and endured endless booing from fans everywhere. The pros far outweigh the cons, mind you. Now 66, he has a resume as diverse as it is long and, despite the eyebrow-raising timing, is a well-deserving Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesWith the game in tremendous shape and his birth certificate hinting it might be time to consider the idea of retiring sooner than later, the question was asked: Will you be slowing down in the near future, Mr. Commissioner?“I haven’t given it any thought,” Bettman said at the tail end of a Q&A with reporters following the tracking presentation, joined on stage by his longtime right-hand man Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner."Anybody who knows me knows I don’t operate on timeframes like that. I love what I do. I feel energized every day. The owners seem to be pleased with the way the organization functions, and I suppose if any of that changes I might have to re-evaluate. But you’re going to have to put up with me for a bunch more.”Whether he ends up working two, five, 10, or 15 more years, Bettman’s most certainly in the legacy-building phase of his career. He may at times be self-deprecating (Exhibit A: His Hall of Fame speech) and generally tries to avoid the spotlight whenever possible, yet there's unfinished business to attend to.Specifically, there's one task that would elevate his legacy to bulletproof status among most hockey fans, media, and colleagues. The task: Avoiding another lockout.Oddly enough, given the history of testy labor relations between the NHL's contingent of franchise owners and the NHL Players’ Association, it’s entirely plausible. If the vibe in Silicon Valley this weekend is any indication, it’s looking more likely than not that, for the first time in the Bettman era, we'll have labor peace.Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesWhile the current agreement doesn't expire until after the 2021-22 season, it can be terminated by either side this September, putting deadline pressure on the relationship. Usually, that means lockout - or, at this stage in the process, the icky feeling of a looming lockout. Not this time, apparently.“We’re not looking for a fight,” is how Bettman framed the "cordial" ongoing collective bargaining. A few weeks earlier, during a visit to Seattle, he said something similar. “We’re exploring the possibility of whether we can bridge gaps early," Daly said, piggybacking on Bettman's message. "Earlier the better."The NHLPA hasn’t exactly barked back with anything to discredit the league's message. "We’re able to have these discussions now without that tension," said Mathieu Schneider, special assistant to NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, "without any walls being build up." That doesn't mean walls won't be erected in the coming months, of course. However, it's an encouraging sign and a pleasant development for the hockey world.The long and short of CBA talks moving forward: the ball appears to be in the players' court because the status quo is working just fine for the owners, who are turning record profits. Therefore, the union's plan of attack will set the tone. It's up to Fehr and the membership to determine if hot-button issues like escrow, hockey-related revenue, and Olympic participation are hills to die on (to steal a Daly phrase from the last lockout), medium-sized bones of contention, or mere annoyances.Christopher Morris / Getty ImagesBettman, who assumed his position in 1993 after 12 years helping run the NBA, loves to brag about how the sport of hockey, and by extension the NHL, has never been better, more entertaining, more profitable. To be fair, he's not wrong. Skill is probably at an all-time high, goal-scoring is on the uptick, the sport is growing exponentially at the grassroots level in markets deemed "non-traditional" a decade or two ago, and franchise fees are skyrocketing.When Bettman came on board, the 24-team league was worth roughly $400 million. Twenty-five years and eight teams (including Seattle) later, it's a $5-billion business. And though, as Schneider notes, "there's no question that the players have given back billions of dollars over the course of the past two negotiations," they still get a nice slice of the pie. Salaries are up, too.The NHL also has a seemingly endless list of grow-the-game projects on the go, including: preseason and regular season games overseas, in both Europe and Asia; an environmental sustainability initiative called NHL Green, which is highlighted this week by the eco-friendly All-Star jerseys; a dedicated esports push, headlined by the NHL Gaming World Championship; a sports betting partnership with MGM Resorts; and real-time data collection and analysis a la the aforementioned player and puck tracking system.To varying degrees, all of those areas of exploration will be attached to Bettman's legacy when he loses his fire for the gig and decides to step aside. He may not be the lead on every project, but the buck stops at the commissioner. It's the same dynamic for issues that have haunted the NHL. Bettman's the face of several franchise relocations, the withdrawal of NHL talent from the 2018 Olympics, the denial of CTE's link to hockey in the wake of a concussion settlement with former players, the lockouts of 1994-95, 2004-05, and 2012-13, and more.Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyBettman's not terribly old by industry standards, with old boss David Stern, the former NBA commissioner, retiring at 71, and ex-MLB commissioner Bud Selig calling it quits at 80. But he won't be a spring chicken come 2022. If all goes according to script between now and September, and Bettman stays on long term, the union will be sitting across from a 69-year-old commissioner to negotiate a new CBA. Based on track record, there's no telling what the dynamic between the two sides might be then.“We wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t have a system that corrected some of the ills in the past," Bettman said of previous lockouts. "We have stability, we have competitive balance and the game is able to grow. That’s good for everyone involved with the game.”That's why this next stretch of talks could be Bettman's CBA swan song, the icing on the cake of a highly controversial yet highly successful run as the most powerful suit in hockey. He'll get booed no matter what - it's a time-tested tradition, after all - but the respect level might be raised and the narrative might change.It could be a legacy sealer like no other, a way to go out on a high note, even if the retirement papers aren't filed immediately.John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After reportedly undergoing an MRI Thursday, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon will not participate in the 2019 All-Star Skills Competition in San Jose, Calif., Friday night.Kendall Coyne Schofield of the U.S. women's national team has been chosen to replace him in the fastest skater event, the league announced.Coyne Schofield will become the first woman to ever compete in an event at the NHL All-Star weekend, but she is no stranger to playing against men at the professional level. The forward suited up in the Chicago Pro Hockey League this past summer, the lone woman in a league composed of 80 professionals and 80 amateurs.The 26-year-old won gold with the United States at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and silver at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kendall Coyne Schofield understood the magnitude of the moment when she made history at the NHL's annual skills showcase Friday night.The 2018 Olympic gold medalist became the first woman ever to compete in the All-Star Skills Competition, captivating fans, superstars, and legends alike when she led off the Fastest Skater event with an impressive lap after being named Nathan MacKinnon's replacement earlier in the day."My first impression was, I can do this," she told reporters afterwards, according to The Associated Press. "My speed is definitely my strength. Obviously, I was a little nervous. I knew it was a moment that could break a lot of barriers and a moment that would change the perception of our game and show support to our game."Coyne Schofield added that the atmosphere in the SAP Center in San Jose also helped her overcome the nerves."The crowd was electrifying," she said. "To hear the USA chants, everyone erupted when I started. Definitely gave me some momentum and the adrenaline was pumping."She finished in 14.346 seconds, beating Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller's 14.526.Coyne Schofield's performance more than impressed Cammi Granato."I was blown away," the Hockey Hall of Famer said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. "I thought it was incredible and inspiring. She was within a second of Connor McDavid. We’ve always wanted to be known as hockey players, not women trying to play a man’s sport. This was another huge step forward."McDavid, who became the first player to win three Fastest Skater titles with his victory Friday night, also heaped praise on Coyne Schofield after seeing what she could do."When she took off, I was like, 'Wow!"' the Edmonton Oilers star said. "I thought she might have won the way she was moving. She was a really good skater and that was an amazing thing for the game to see her participate like that in an event like this."Coyne Schofield had a message to impart after her trailblazing efforts."I would say, especially to young girls and to women, follow your dreams and believe in yourselves and there is nothing you can’t accomplish," she said, according to theScore's John Matisz. "I think (Friday night) was an example of that."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's top talent will be on full display at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday night in an exhilarating three-on-three tournament to cap off the 2019 All-star weekend.The league is changing rapidly, with youth, speed, and skill the bellwethers for long-term success. This year's All-Star festivities feature 19 players under the age of 26 as the NHL welcomes a handful of fresh faces to the big stage.With so much talent on the ice, you may have trouble deciding who to watch. You've surely seen what Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, and Auston Matthews can do, so here are three must-watch players making their All-Star debuts.Mikko Rantanen, Colorado AvalancheMatthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettySelected with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Rantanen followed up a solid rookie season with an incredible 84-point sophomore campaign. What would come next, though, is a force that's shaking the hockey world.After 50 games this season, Rantanen ranks second with 74 points, and he's put together 22 multi-point games. The 22-year-old and teammate Nathan MacKinnon became two of just six players to record 65-plus points over a team’s first 43 games of a season since the 2005 NHL lockout.The 6-foot-4 power forward leans on his incredible combination of size and skill to overmatch opponents, keeping the puck on a string while using his stature to protect it.The Finn is on pace to eclipse the 120-point plateau, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Sidney Crosby hit it on the nose in 2006-07. Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg are the only Avalanche players to reach the 100-point mark.Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg JetsGlenn James / National Hockey League / GettyWhen the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in 2011, Scheifele was the first player selected (seventh overall) for a newborn Jets team looking to restore its identity. The 25-year-old has since become the lifeblood of the franchise, and watching him lace up for his first NHL All-Star Game will be special for Jets fans everywhere.With 59 points through 48 games this season, the Ontario native is on pace for a career-high 100 points. He's scored 25 goals, putting him in a tie for the team lead, and Scheifele is second in both points and assists.At 6-foot-3, Scheifele is a swift skater, and he uses his size to compete in the gritty areas of the ice. A clutch performer, the forward has a team-leading five game-winning goals, including three in overtime.A serious shoulder injury sidelined Scheifele for 22 games last season, erasing him from All-Star consideration.Thomas Chabot, Ottawa SenatorsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe rookie defenseman has given Senators fans hope during one of the most tumultuous seasons in team history. Chabot has been exceptional in his sophomore campaign, flashing the potential to succeed Erik Karlsson on the Senators' blue line.Despite being sidelined for eight games with a shoulder injury, the 6-foot-2 rearguard has recorded 39 points in 42 games, and he ranks fifth among defenseman while averaging 0.93 points per game. His 11 multi-point games also rank fifth among defenseman, tying him with Karlsson.Chabot is carrying a heavy load for a defensively weak Senators team, logging a team-high 23:54 of ice time per game, often against the opposition's top scorers.The Quebec native has already scored the second-most single-season points in team history for a defenseman who's 21 years old or younger. Karlsson's 78-point record is a tall task, but with Chabot's ability, that mark isn't completely out of reach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks aren't rushing contract negotiations with Erik Karlsson.Karlsson, a pending unrestricted free agent, was asked about the situation at his media availability during All-Star weekend and said he and general manager Doug Wilson don't have a time in mind to begin talks."We have no timetable on anything," he told Eric Gilmore of NHL.com. "Whatever goes on is going to be handled privately. Doug Wilson has been great with us ever since we got here. He's been very respectful. I appreciate that a lot, both me and my wife do. When the time comes for a decision to be made, whenever that is, I think they've done everything they possibly can to give us the most information we need to make the right decision."Karlsson is in his first year with the Sharks after spending nine seasons with the Ottawa Senators to begin his career. His trade out of Canada's capital was the story of the offseason, and his upcoming free agency decision will attract similar attention.The 28-year-old took some time to adjust to his new surroundings. Lately, he's been dynamite for the Sharks, ranking fifth among defenseman with 43 points in 47 games this season, and his 59.84 Corsi-For rating at five-on-five tops all NHL blue-liners, via Corsica.After taking the plunge to acquire him, the Sharks will likely push to retain Karlsson with a long-term contract. However, core veterans Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski are playing on expiring contracts, while emerging star Timo Meier is playing out the final season of his entry-level deal.The Sharks are projected to have roughly $21.9 million in available cap space heading into the 2019-20 season, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition

The NHL is poised to make a major leap in analytics by implementing puck and player tracking for the 2019-2020 season, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday during the All-Star weekend in San Jose, Calif.The league is partnering with German company Jogmo World Corp. to insert microchips in players' shoulder pads as well as the game puck. These new tracking devices are designed to provide a near-exact calculation of player performance and ability."The puck and player tracking system can track pucks at a rate of 2,000 times per second in real-time with inch-level accuracy," Bettman said. "We'll instantaneously detect passes, shots, and positioning precisely. It will be equally accurate in tracking players - their movement, speed, time on ice - you name it."The league will not permit the leveraging of this new data when it comes to salary arbitration, contract negotiations, and other player-related decisions and transactions, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.Fans won't have to wait until next season to see this technology in action, as the devices will be used during this weekend's All-Star Game.

The Colorado Avalanche will host the Los Angeles Kings at the Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium as part of the NHL's Stadium Series, the league announced.The outdoor game will be played on Feb. 15, 2020.This will mark the Avs' second outdoor contest after hosting the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field in 2016.The Kings have played in three prior games outside, two as part of the Stadium Series and the first occurring in Las Vegas circa 1991.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is set to represent the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time at this year's All-Star festivities and is looking forward to another three-on-three showdown.“The competitiveness amps up a little bit,” Tavares said, who is making his sixth All-Star appearance. “You try to score a few goals, make a few nice plays, and try to show that side of the game.”The NHL has struggled to come up with an All-Star format that best engages the fans and players, but with the modern day game trending toward speed and skill, the three-on-three play has become a great way to showcase the NHL's elite.“Also, with the more space and more room, and with the creativity and the speed of the game ... guys can really go out there and put on a good show for the fans. Because I think that’s what it’s obviously meant to be about,” he said.The 2019 All-Star Game will mark the fourth consecutive season the NHL has used this format while splitting teams by their respective divisions.“You go to battle so many times against those guys over the years, that sometimes it’s kind of nice to be on the same side for a little bit,” Tavares said. “I think you have to enjoy that, put the competitiveness aside for a day and show that mutual respect you have for each other.”The Maple Leafs are currently one of the league's deadliest teams at three-on-three play with a record of 5-2 in overtime this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will face the Nashville Predators at the 2020 Winter Classic, the league announced Friday.The game will be held at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas on Jan. 1.During the 2019 Winter Classic broadcast between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Stars would host the event and would choose their opponent.This will serve as the first outdoor game for each team and will be the southernmost event held in the league's history.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will miss Friday's All-Star Skills Competition due to illness, the league announced, according to theScore's John Matisz.Crosby still plans to play in the All-Star Game on Saturday, Matisz adds.The 31-year-old participated in the Accuracy Shooting Competition the last two years and won the event in 2017.This is the eighth time Crosby has been named an All-Star, but he will make just his fourth appearance in the game. He currently leads the Penguins in scoring with 21 goals and 57 points in 45 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things have not gone according to plan for the St. Louis Blues after an active offseason seemed to situate them among the NHL's elite.The Blues sit three points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference but forward Ryan O'Reilly remains confident the club can contend."We haven't been perfect, but we are starting to get back into this fight and I am confident that we are going to play in the playoffs because of the way we work," O'Reilly said during All-Star Game media day, according to NHL.com's Shawn P. Roarke.St. Louis has gone 6-3-1 in its last 10 games. O'Reilly, who attributes the turnaround to new-found confidence in the locker room, has posted 12 points over those 10 contests."We're starting to get a lot more consistent and we have a lot more confidence in our game," he said. "When bad things happen, we don't deviate from our game plan and we get back into it and understand that bad bounces happen and there are going to be breakdowns. But when that happens we have to come together and work out of it, and that has been the trend for us lately."The Blues will exit their All-Star Game bye week with tough matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators within their first five contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.