The Colorado Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen won't be holding contract negotiations until the offseason, the superstar winger revealed during his media availability at the All-Star festivities on Thursday night.

The Colorado Avalanche aren't taking any chances when it comes to the health of superstar Nathan MacKinnon.The 23-year-old will undergo an MRI on his foot Thursday and could be held out of this weekend's All-Star festivities in San Jose, Calif., Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.MacKinnon logged 18:39 of ice time and added one assist during Wednesday's loss to the Minnesota Wild.With 27 goals and 44 assists in 50 games played this season, the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native was selected to captain the Central Division team in what would be the third All-Star appearance of his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hart's time with the Philadelphia Flyers is over for the time being.The Flyers have loaned their top goaltending prospect to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms and recalled netminder Anthony Stolarz from his conditioning stint, the club announced Thursday.Hart posted a .918 save percentage in 12 games for the Flyers, the first dozen appearances of his NHL career, and went 4-1-0 with a .927 save percentage in his last five contests. He was recalled on Dec. 16.Stolarz had been on a conditioning loan since Jan. 17, when he was activated off injured reserve. He missed 16 games due to an injury suffered against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals want at least two fairly high draft picks for Andre Burakovsky, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Washington has asked for "a couple of mid- to high-round" selections in exchange for the young forward, Friedman wrote in Thursday's edition of "31 Thoughts."Meanwhile, general manager Brian MacLellan told The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan he wants to do a forward-for-forward swap and that it makes sense to do two separate moves if he's not offered exactly what he wants.The team has reportedly been listening to offers for Burakovsky, who has been relegated to bottom-six duties and has only 12 points in 44 games this season.The 23-year-old hasn't been able to match the consistency he displayed in 2015-16 when he potted 17 goals, but he does have a goal and two assists in his last three games.A first-round pick in 2013, Burakovsky is a pending restricted free agent and carries a $3-million cap hit.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 Brock McGillis, the first pro hockey player to come out as gay, and Rachel Doerrie, a former analyst for the New Jersey Devils, to discuss a variety of topics, namely:

Ryan Getzlaf has had enough.The Anaheim Ducks captain vented Wednesday night after his club managed only 13 shots on goal in a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, its seventh consecutive defeat on home ice."I'm pissed off, and I'm frustrated, and it's really, really frustrating to understand that our group's in a playoff race still after everything, and we can't come out and compete hard around our net, around their net, and (that we) do things like we did (Wednesday night)," Getzlaf told reporters postgame.The veteran center added that the notion that the team can't consistently compete is unprecedented in his Ducks tenure."Never had it in 14 years here," he said. "Never had that feeling that we're not going to compete on a daily basis. We've had three-, four-game stretches where things didn't go our way and maybe we didn't have the group that we wanted, but never for a consistent period like this have I (felt) this."The Ducks dropped 12 straight games before shutting out the Minnesota Wild last week, and they followed up that victory with a win over the New Jersey Devils, but then they were blanked by the New York Islanders prior to being dismantled by the Blues.However, as Getzlaf mentioned, Anaheim is still in the playoff hunt, sitting one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second Western Conference wild-card spot, albeit with one more game played and four fewer regulation or overtime wins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A marquee matchup between two of the better teams in the league turned ugly on Wednesday night, with P.K. Subban claiming he was bitten by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare during a skirmish in front of the net.The Nashville Predators defenseman left the incident telling referees that the Vegas Golden Knights forward had bitten his finger, something he confirmed to reporters after the contest."He bit me. My finger was bleeding," Subban said, as per Ryan Quigley of Knights on Ice. "All I tried to do was grab him. I grabbed him by the head to pull him up and he bit me. I don't know how I walk out of there with four minutes in penalties."Bellemare was not penalized in the incident, with the referees instead opting to send Subban and Ryan Reaves to the box after he came to his teammate's defense. While Subban seems certain there was a bite, Bellemare saw his opponent as the aggressor in the situation."I'm in front of the net trying to get the rebound and suddenly I'm in a headlock with an entire glove in my mouth and I'm choking," Bellemare told Vince Sapienza of FOX-5. "He started yelling like, 'I bit him, I bit him.' I don't know what you have in your mouth, but like, if you put all of your hand all the way through and you pull up you are going to feel the teeth."Bellemare wasn't done there, continuing by questioning Subban's reaction to the whole incident."I don't know why he's going absolutely crazy there," he said. "I have half a glove in my throat and playing with the back of it and pulling me up and there was no mouthguard, so it's like, those are my teeth."The teams won't have to wait too long to renew acquaintances, as the two are scheduled to meet in Vegas once again on Feb. 16.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things got a little out of hand between the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights towards the end of the second period on Wednesday night.In a scrum in front of the Predators' goal, blue-liner P.K. Subban wrapped his hand around the face of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and proceeded to react hysterically as if he was bitten by the Vegas forward.While Subban pleaded his case to the officiating crew, he had to avoid an oncoming Ryan Reaves. He eventually gestured to the Golden Knights' bench that his finger had been chomped on.Both Subban and Reaves were assessed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties while Subban was given an extra two-minute minor for roughing.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whoever becomes the next general manager of the Edmonton Oilers will inherit one of the best players on the planet, and, thanks to Peter Chiarelli, not much else.Chiarelli's tumultuous tenure with the Oilers came to an end Wednesday in what is the latest chapter of a 12-year stretch of franchise futility. And this one is the most disheartening of all. Despite boasting a generational talent in Connor McDavid, Edmonton has been unable to climb out of the NHL gutter thanks to Chiarelli's archaic philosophy and confounding roster moves.While the rest of the league focused on the draft and set up squads loaded with speed and skill, Chiarelli was fixated on building a "heavy" team, which he attempted to do through free agency and trades. And that misguided approach has left the next GM with an enormous challenge and few tangible assets with which to tackle it.The lasting damageAndy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyChiarelli's laundry list of poor decisions is no secret. There's the infamous Taylor Hall-Adam Larsson trade, the haul of picks given up for the slow-footed Griffin Reinhart, and the Jordan Eberle debacle, which resulted in Chiarelli finishing on the losing end of two separate Ryan Strome deals.Yet, despite these fireable offenses, Chiarelli's biggest mistakes may have been his careless contract signings:PlayerAAVLengthYear signedAndrej Sekera$5.5M6 years2015Milan Lucic$6M7 years2016Kris Russell$4M4 years2017Mikko Koskinen$4.5M3 years2019These four deals will account for roughly one-quarter of the Oilers' salary cap until Russell and Sekera come off the books after the 2020-21 season.And, on top of it all, the Oilers have stunted the growth of key young forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto.Puljujarvi, the fourth overall pick in 2016, was raw coming out of the draft. He should've spent an entire season, maybe more, in the AHL before he ever saw NHL action. Instead, a year of his entry-level contract was burned as an ineffective 18-year-old player, and he's now up for restricted free agency after this campaign. As a result, his confidence has likely taken a hit from bouncing up and down between the two levels and averaging just 12:30 minutes of ice time per game during his NHL career.Yamamoto's contractual situation was handled better, but he also should have spent an entire season in the AHL before making the big club. Having a recent first-rounder play fourth-line minutes is bad for everyone involved.Another rebuild?Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Oilers have attempted multiple rebuilds over the better part of two decades, so it's likely their fans have had enough of that word. But there's simply no other way around it.It's now up to Oilers owner Daryl Katz and CEO Bob Nicholson to find Chiarelli's replacement and patiently allow that person to rebuild the team through their vision. The days of patching holes with short-term fixes can be no more in Edmonton. This team won't be fixed overnight.It's projected to have just $6.5 million in cap space this offseason, which doesn't include restricted free agents Puljujarvi, Jujhar Khaira, Ty Rattie, and Tobias Rieder, according to Cap Friendly. Nor does it include Alex Chiasson or Alex Petrovic, who are unrestricted free agents. In short, the new GM will have very limited cap space to work with during their first offseason.The same can be said for the summer of 2020. Ryan Spooner ($3.1 million), Zack Kassian ($1.95 million), Kyle Brodziak ($1.15 million), and Brandon Manning ($2.25 million) will come off the books, but RFA Darnell Nurse will be due for what's likely to be a hefty extension.Barring an unlikely series of trades that somehow shed the bad contracts handed out by Chiarelli, the next GM will have to wait until the summer of 2021 to put their fingerprints on the team.By that point, they should've stockpiled draft picks along the way. Ideally, some of those picks - as well as some of the prospects Chiarelli left behind - will already be able to make an impact by the 2021-22 season.The Oilers are looking at a three-year plan before they can truly begin to turn the page on this unfortunate period. Even at that point, Koskinen will still have one year remaining on his deal, and Lucic's buyout-proof contract will have two years remaining, so Edmonton won't fully clear the roadblocks until the 2023 offseason.In what may be the biggest decision in franchise history since the Wayne Gretzky trade, the Oilers now look to appoint their fifth general manager since 2008, and if they botch this latest rebuild attempt, the next one could be kicked off by the departure of McDavid.But hey, no pressure.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking south in an attempt to help aid their blue line.The Maple Leafs continue to scout the Carolina Hurricanes' available defensemen, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Carolina is reportedly open to trading Dougie Hamilton, and teams have apparently been calling about Brett Pesce. The Hurricanes also reportedly hope to land a top-six forward in exchange for a defenseman.The Maple Leafs and Hurricanes have often been linked as potential trade partners. Toronto possesses an abundance of forward depth, while Carolina has four NHL-caliber right-handed defensemen, which the Maple Leafs lack.Hamilton has seen his production falter in his first season with the Hurricanes. He has seven goals and 10 assists after producing four straight 40-point campaigns. The 25-year-old Toronto native comes with a $5.75-million cap hit and won't hit free agency until the summer of 2021.While Hamilton has gained a reputation for his offensive abilities, Pesce has developed into one of the more reliable shutdown blue-liners in the league. Among defensemen who have played 500 minutes at five-on-five this year, he's been on the ice for the 14th-fewest scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and the 16th-fewest high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes - all while primarily being tasked with shutting down opponents' top players. The 24-year-old is signed through the 2023-24 season and carries a $4.025-million cap hit.The Hurricanes also employ right-handed defensemen Justin Faulk and Trevor van Riemsdyk, though their names haven't surfaced in trade rumors.Toronto's blue line is particularly weak on the right side. Left-handed shooting veteran Ron Hainsey plays on the right side of the team's top pairing, while Nikita Zaitsev and rookie Igor Ozhiganov hold down the right side on the bottom two units with limited effectiveness.(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers fired general manager and president of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli, the club announced Wednesday.Bob Nicholson, the team's CEO, will oversee hockey operations in the interim.Assistant GM Keith Gretzky will take on more responsibility until a new GM is hired, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The shakeup comes hours after the club stumbled into the All-Star break with a third consecutive defeat on home ice. It's the second major change in Oilers leadership this season, following the November move to fire Todd McLellan as head coach and hire Ken Hitchcock as his replacement.The decision to dismiss Chiarelli was made before the Oilers' loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, and the move itself was carried out before the game's conclusion.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has decided what game he'll sit for as part of his one-game suspension for missing the NHL All-Star Game.Ovechkin will play in Wednesday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Todd Reirden confirmed following Tuesday's loss to the San Jose Sharks. The decision means Ovechkin will miss the Capitals' first game following the break against the Calgary Flames Feb. 1.He will be eligible to return to the lineup for Feb. 3's contest against the Boston Bruins.The 33-year-old announced at the beginning of the month he would not attend this year's installment, even after being named captain of the Metropolitan Division, stating that his body "needs a rest."Ovechkin has attended seven All-Star Games during his 14-year career. With a hat trick on Tuesday, he now has a league-leading 36 goals in 49 games.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, and Google Play.In this episode, John is joined by Scott Cullen of The Athletic and NHL.com to discuss a variety of topics ahead of All-Star weekend and trade season:

The Edmonton Oilers handed a three-year, $13.5-million contract extension to goaltender Mikko Koskinen on Monday - and all indications suggest this was an unnecessary overpay by general manager Peter Chiarelli.A second-round pick by the New York Islanders in 2009, Koskinen joined the Oilers on a one-year, $2.5-million deal last offseason after spending the preceding nine years in the KHL. He's become Edmonton's No. 1 netminder, largely due to the struggles of Cam Talbot.The 30-year-old Koskinen's been inconsistent in his first season in North America in nearly a decade. He owns a .911 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average in 27 games, and he enjoyed a hot streak shortly after Ken Hitchcock replaced Todd McLellan as Oilers head coach. However, in his last 11 appearances, he's gone 3-7-0 with an .879 save percentage.Given his recent struggles, why extend Koskinen at all, let alone now?Talbot is a pending unrestricted free agent after this season and doesn't appear to be in Edmonton's plans. The franchise likely wanted to assure itself of having an NHL netminder signed beyond this season. Extending Koskinen to do so, though, compounds the Oilers' long-standing mediocrity in the crease and makes their salary-cap situation that much more hairy.What's Koskinen worth?Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyKoskinen's $4.5-million cap hit makes him the 17th-highest paid goalie for next season. Once some of the league's pending unrestricted and restricted free-agent goalies sign new deals, he'll likely be bumped into the low 20s. Still, the Oilers are paying Koskinen mid-to-low-tier starter money. The problem is, he hasn't proven to be capable in that role.If any single stat is best for evaluating a goalie, it's goals saved above average (GSAA), which Corsica Hockey explains as "goals allowed below the expectation based on shot danger faced." Koskinen's 0.44 GSAA ranks 27th in the NHL among goalies with at least 500 minutes of ice time.Using Cap Friendly's comparable contracts tool, the best match for Koskinen's extension is Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta's three-year pact with a $4.25-million cap hit, which he signed in April 2018.However, Raanta was 28 years old when that contract was signed, had 124 NHL starts under his belt, and was coming off a season where he ranked seventh in the league with a 19.95 GSAA.If the Oilers were eager to extend Koskinen this season, something in the neighborhood of Carter Hutton's deal with the Buffalo Sabres - three years with a $2.75-million cap hit - would've been more appropriate.What does it mean for the Oilers?Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Oilers project to have $6.5 million in cap space next season after committing to Koskinen. This projection doesn't include pending RFAs Tobias Rieder, Jesse Puljujarvi, Ty Rattie, and Jujhar Khaira, or pending UFAs Alex Chiasson, Kevin Gravel, and Alex Petrovic. Even if the Oilers wanted to retain just three of those six players - let's say Puljujarvi, Chiasson, and Petrovic - that would conservatively cost them around $4 million, leaving them with just $2.5 million in cap space and plenty of holes on the roster.There's no reason the Oilers couldn't have rode out the season with Koskinen's expiring deal. If he excelled, they could've likely retained him for a similar price. Alternatively, they could've explored this summer's goaltending free-agent market, which features several unspectacular but solid, affordable veterans with better track records than Koskinen.Edmonton took a major risk by investing $4.5 million annually in a goaltender who hasn't proved he can solve the team's issues in net. The lack of cap space means the Oilers will now essentially sink or swim with Koskinen as "the guy" between the pipes over the next few seasons - and that's less than ideal during Connor McDavid's prime years.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed rookie goaltender Mikko Koskinen to a three-year extension worth an average of $4.5 million per year, the team announced Monday.The contract includes a 15-team no-trade list, according to Cap Friendly.The 30-year-old Koskinen has made quite the impression since joining Edmonton on a one-year, $2.5-million deal last May. In 27 appearances for the Oilers this season, the Finn owns a 14-10-1 record with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.The netminder's latest flash of brilliance came Saturday night against the Calgary Flames when he put forward a candidate for save of the year.Koskinen made four appearances for the New York Islanders during the 2010-11 season. Eight years later, he's officially found a home in the NHL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are inching closer to signing Auston Matthews to a contract extension.On Tuesday, general manager Kyle Dubas said that the two sides have made progress on a new deal, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. Dubas added that he'd like to get an extension done as soon as possible for long-term clarity before the Feb. 25 trade deadline.Contract talks between Matthews and the Leafs began last July.The 21-year-old is a pending restricted free agent in the final year of his entry-level pact. He ranks second on the club in goals (20) and fourth in points (42) despite being limited to 34 games this season due to injury.Fellow Leafs forward Mitch Marner is also a pending RFA, but Dubas said the club isn't negotiating with Marner at the request of the winger's agent, Darren Ferris, who told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun earlier this month that his client "100 percent" doesn't want to engage in contract talks until season's end.Dubas insisted Tuesday that he isn't pressuring Matthews or Marner to sign quickly, but said that's his preference."Yes, it would be selfishly for me beneficial," the GM told reporters, according to Johnston. "But for the players, I think they have to make sure they're fully comfortable in going into any arrangement."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Andre Burakovsky's time in D.C. could potentially be nearing its end.The Washington Capitals are listening to offers for the Swedish forward, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Burakovsky possesses a rare blend of size (6-foot-3), speed, and skill, but has apparently fallen out of favor with the Capitals. He's posted just 11 points in 42 games this season, is averaging a career-low 11:32 of ice time per contest, and has been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions.The 23-year-old was selected 23rd overall by the Caps in the 2013 draft. He's shown flashes of promise, scoring 17 goals as a 20-year-old during his second NHL season in 2015-16.Many expected Burakovsky to break out following the departures of top-six forwards Marcus Johansson and Justin Williams before last season, but he couldn't carve out a prominent offensive role and was eventually passed by rookie Jakub Vrana in the pecking order.Burakovsky's currently in the final year of a contract with a $3-million cap hit and will become a restricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Micheal Ferland's days as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes appear to be numbered.The club is "very likely" to move the pending unrestricted free-agent forward, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Ferland's on a team-friendly expiring contract carrying a $1.75-million cap hit, and he'd been thriving on the Hurricanes' top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen before suffering a concussion in November.The 26-year-old returned from the concussion in late December, but is now dealing with an unspecified injury.Last Wednesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Canucks were among the teams interested in Ferland. One day later, the Hurricanes landed forward Nino Niederreiter from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for fellow forward Victor Rask.Meanwhile, teams are calling Carolina about defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce, according to LeBrun, who added that the Hurricanes are willing to move a top-four blue-liner in exchange for a top-six forward with offensive skill.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in his career, Alex Galchenyuk will skate under the bright lights of the Bell Centre as a member of the visiting team on Wednesday night.Selected third overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2012 NHL Draft, the then 18-year-old star was labeled as a blue-chip prospect that many thought would undoubtedly be a part of the team's long-term plan.Despite posting 108 goals and 255 points in 418 career games for hockey's winningest franchise, Galchenyuk had trouble taking the next step in Montreal, a city that expects excellence from the Habs."I never felt pressure from the media," Galchenyuk told the Canadian Press. "It was just normal. I thought it was like (how) it's supposed to be."Six years later, the Sarnia Sting product found himself traded from one of hockey's hotbeds to one of hockey's hottest cities. The Arizona Coyotes acquired Galchenyuk from Montreal in exchange for winger Max Domi.The swap has granted both players a fresh start, but as is the case with many trades, the two have become inexorably linked - a notion that Galchenyuk is quick to dismiss."Everybody's their own player," he said. "Max is doing great and I'm happy for him, but we're two completely different players. I can't really compare myself to what he's doing."In 38 games for the Coyotes, Galchenyuk has tallied eight goals and 25 points, despite a 16-game goal drought in which he recorded just four assists."I always put pressure on myself to be productive," Galchenyuk said. "That's my job, to create offense. When I came to Arizona, it stayed the same."Galchenyuk is unsure of the response he will receive from the crowd at the Bell Centre, but he has no hard feelings towards his former club and the success they've found this season."I have a lot of great friends in Montreal," he said. "I'm definitely happy they're doing good."Despite hovering around the .500 mark, the Coyotes find themselves just four points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference heading into Wednesday's action.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some of the stars of "The Mighty Ducks" reunited in New York on Sunday to cheer on the Anaheim Ducks against the Islanders.In attendance were Danny Tamberelli, Kenan Thompson, Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine, Garette Ratliff Henson, and Vincent Larusso, all wearing jerseys with their characters' names on their backs.

New Jersey Devils forward Kyle Palmieri will replace teammate Taylor Hall on the Metropolitan Division roster for the All-Star Game, the team announced Saturday.Hall has been sidelined since Dec. 23 with a lower-body injury.

Amid escalating frustration from the Edmonton Oilers' fan base over the team's recent struggles, Connor McDavid insists he and his teammates are all on the same page."We hear the boos and we hear the stuff that's going on," the superstar forward told the assembled media, including TSN, at practice Monday. "We understand the fans are frustrated. We expect better out of ourselves, and they obviously expect better of us, so we need to be better. But the only people that seem to believe in us are the guys in the locker room, and we need to rally behind that."When asked if part of the challenge is that some of the players don't think "those 23 guys" in the Oilers' locker room can turn things around, McDavid dismissed the notion."Well, if there are guys that believe that, then they should ... get out of the room," he said. "If you don't believe in this group and you're in the locker room, then you need to leave. I don't get that sense. I don't feel that way. I think that everyone in there believes in each other and believes we'll get it done."The Oilers dropped both games of a back-to-back on home ice over the weekend, falling 5-2 to the Calgary Flames on Saturday and losing 7-4 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.Edmonton is 5-5-0 in its last 10 games, sitting three points out of a playoff position entering Monday's action.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers placed forwards Ryan Spooner and Ty Rattie on the waiver wire Monday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Spooner was acquired by the Oilers from the New York Rangers in November in exchange for Ryan Strome, who Edmonton originally received from the New York Islanders in the Jordan Eberle deal in 2017. Spooner is on the books for this season and the next at a cap hit of $3.1 million. He has only two goals and an assist in 24 games with Edmonton.Rattie began the season on the Oilers' top line alongside Connor McDavid but suffered an injury in mid-October and has been a frequent healthy scratch since his return. He's a pending restricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $800,000. Rattie has two goals and six assists in 29 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are adding a legend to their organization.Martin St. Louis will serve as a special teams consultant for the Blue Jackets, the team announced Monday.The 43-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer scored 101 of his 391 career goals and notched 216 of his 642 career assists with the man advantage.The Blue Jackets have the fourth-worst power play in the NHL, with a success rate of 14.6 percent. Columbus' penalty kill ranks ninth at 82.9 percent.St. Louis played for current Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella for seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, capturing the Stanley Cup in 2004.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the ninth edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. It was compiled by editors Craig Hagerman, Josh Wegman, and Sean O'Leary.1. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-10-2)The Lightning lost to the Maple Leafs to snap their nine-game winning streak at home and took an extremely uncharacteristic drubbing from the Islanders since the last edition of these rankings. Nevertheless, they remain the cream of the crop, holding down the top spot in the overall standings by seven points and having won 12 of their last 15 games. - HagermanPreviously: 1st2. Calgary Flames (32-13-5)No team has been hotter in its last 10 games than Calgary. The Flames have gone 8-1-1 and have a five-point hold on top spot in the Western Conference. Five players have already amassed 50 or more points and four have hit the 20-goal plateau. - HagermanPreviously: 2nd3. New York Islanders (29-15-4) ▲Barry Trotz has the Islanders playing some stingy defense, as his club is averaging the fewest goals against in the NHL. Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss have been lights-out in net, while Mathew Barzal is setting the pace offensively. - HagermanPreviously: 9th4. Vegas Golden Knights (29-17-4) ▼The Golden Knights have gone 8-2-0 in their last 10 with losses to the Sharks and Jets the only blips. Offensively, Brandon Pirri has been a revelation, but the club has received steady contributions from throughout the lineup. - HagermanPreviously: 3rd5. San Jose Sharks (28-15-7) ▲Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyEvander Kane had himself a week, posting three goals and six points in the last three games. Since the last installment of these rankings, he's collected 11 points in seven contests, leading the way for a team that is scoring in bunches of late and trails only Calgary in the Pacific Division. - HagermanPreviously: 7th6. Winnipeg Jets (31-15-2) ▲The Jets' offense has been able to erase most of Connor Hellebuyck's shortcomings of late. The typically steady goalie has conceded three or more goals in five of the seven games since the calendar flipped, but Winnipeg has gone 6-2-0 over its last eight, sitting atop the Central Division. - HagermanPreviously: 11th7. Boston Bruins (27-17-5) ▼Tuukka Rask was playing his best hockey of the season before leaving Saturday's contest with a concussion, going 5-0-1 in his last six appearances with a .943 save percentage and a 1.65 goals-against average. On the offensive end, the Bruins' top line is still doing its thing with a combined 19 points over the past seven games. - HagermanPreviously: 6th8. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-16-6) ▼Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Phil Kessel have all been contributing in bundles of late for the Penguins, scoring more than half of the team's goals over the last two weeks. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, netminders Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith haven't put forth their best efforts in that time. - HagermanPreviously: 4th9. Nashville Predators (28-18-4) ▼The Predators didn't quite look like themselves on their 3-3-1 run, scoring 24 goals and allowing just as many. However, Viktor Arvidsson has been red-hot since his return from injury, and seven Nashville players are on a point-per-game pace over the last five. - HagermanPreviously: 8th10. Toronto Maple Leafs (29-17-2) ▼Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyWhile the Maple Leafs were able to take down the mighty Lightning this past week, they've struggled to put together a string of wins. Goal-scoring slumps from the likes of Auston Matthews and William Nylander have hurt, but poor defensive play has been the real back-breaker. - HagermanPreviously: 5th11. Montreal Canadiens (27-18-5) ▲The Canadiens were winning games early in the season despite Carey Price's struggles, so it's no surprise that the Habs are 10-5-0 in their last 15, backed by Price's .948 save percentage over that span. - WegmanPreviously: 14th12. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-17-3) ▼The Blue Jackets have been one of the NHL's most consistent teams despite a down year from goaltender and pending unrestricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky. They haven't lost more than two consecutive games all season, but that distinction will be in jeopardy when the club returns from its bye week on Jan. 29 to face the Buffalo Sabres. - WegmanPreviously: 10th13. Washington Capitals (27-16-5) ▼Is this rock bottom for the Capitals? The defending Stanley Cup champions have lost a season-high five straight games, capped by an ugly 8-5 defeat at the hands of the basement-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. - WegmanPreviously: 12th14. Carolina Hurricanes (23-20-5) ▲Can the addition of Nino Niederreiter help Carolina's scoring woes? Entering Monday, the Hurricanes are tied for 26th league-wide in goals per game, despite averaging the most shots on net. They'll need to start capitalizing on their chances if they hope to make any noise down the stretch. - WegmanPreviously: 19th15. Minnesota Wild (24-21-3) ▲Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyThe Wild seem to be stuck in no man's land: not good enough to compete for the Stanley Cup, but too good to be involved in the "Lose For (Jack) Hughes" sweepstakes. Don't be surprised if new general manager Paul Fenton leans toward selling at the deadline. - WegmanPreviously: 17th16. Dallas Stars (24-21-4) ▼The Stars have been one of the league's most top-heavy teams throughout the Tyler Seguin-Jamie Benn era. With both stars producing slightly below expectations, it's no surprise that Dallas is fighting for its playoff life. - WegmanPreviously: 13th17. Vancouver Canucks (23-21-6) ▲The Canucks weathered the Elias Pettersson-less storm, going 2-1-2 in five games without their top player. With the young star back in the fold, it'll be interesting to see how the club performs over the next month or so leading up to the trade deadline. - WegmanPreviously: 18th18. Colorado Avalanche (22-18-8) ▼The Avalanche boast the league's best line (sorry, Boston), but they won't be taken seriously as a contender unless they add some legitimate secondary scoring. - WegmanPreviously: 15th19. Buffalo Sabres (24-18-6) ▼ The Sabres have won just seven games since their spectacular November and are quickly falling out of the playoff picture, as they now sit four points back of the Penguins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. - WegmanPreviously: 16th20. Edmonton Oilers (23-23-3) ▲Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Oilers are among a cluster of teams battling for the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. Adding a forward or two before the deadline would certainly help the club reach the postseason. From there, anything is possible with the best player on earth leading the way. - WegmanPreviously: 25th21. New York Rangers (21-20-7)The Rangers are riding a nice little three-game winning streak but have still lost six of 10 and are nine points out of a playoff spot. On the bright side, Henrik Lundqvist remains ageless and is on the cusp of entering the top five on the NHL's all-time wins list. - O'LearyPreviously: 21st22. St. Louis Blues (21-21-5) ▲Considering their horrid start, the Blues will probably happily accept being five points out of a wild-card spot as the All-Star break approaches. Still, there are some major problems to be fixed and they'll need some definitive answers before the trade deadline. - O'LearyPreviously: 28th23. Anaheim Ducks (21-20-9)The Ducks finally snapped their 12-game skid with a pair of wins, but then managed only 19 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Isles. It's been that kind of season. - O'LearyPreviously: 23rd24. Arizona Coyotes (22-22-4) ▲Since the beginning of 2019 (seven starts), Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper hasn't lost in regulation and owns a .928 save percentage. A win in Toronto isn't bad either. It's all about the little victories. - O'LearyPreviously: 29th25. Florida Panthers (19-20-8) ▼John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyLose seven straight, then beat the Maple Leafs and Predators on a back-to-back: 47 games in, it's still impossible to get a read on the Panthers. - O'LearyPreviously: 20th26. Philadelphia Flyers (19-23-6) ▲It's probably too late for it to save Philly's season, but Carter Hart's .919 save percentage through his first 12 starts is mega-impressive for a 20-year-old. - O'LearyPreviously: 30th27. Ottawa Senators (19-25-5) ▲The Senators don't have much going for them lately, sitting just one point out of dead last. That said, their most pressing need is off the ice, where the clock is ticking on new contracts for Mark Stone and Matt Duchene. - O'LearyPreviously: 31st28. Los Angeles Kings (19-26-4) ▼Everyone knew the Kings would struggle to score this season, and here we are, well past the halfway point of the 2018-19 campaign with Los Angeles' 2.22 goals per game ranking 31st in the NHL. - O'LearyPreviously: 22nd29. Detroit Red Wings (18-25-7) ▼The Red Wings could be among the most active sellers at the upcoming deadline, and potentially adding a bevy of additional draft picks is an eye-popper, considering Detroit is in the thick of the race to select first overall. - O'LearyPreviously: 26th30. New Jersey Devils (18-23-7) ▼Andy Marlin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Devils have just three wins along with a minus-10 goal differential in 2019. Reigning MVP Taylor Hall would be welcomed back any time now. - O'LearyPreviously: 24th31. Chicago Blackhawks (17-24-9) ▼The Blackhawks are miles out of playoff contention, but captain Jonathan Toews is on pace for 77 points this season, which would be a career high for the 30-year-old. - O'LearyPreviously: 27thCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earlier this season, after a handful of fruitless one-on-one battles versus Seth Jones, a lightbulb went off in Pierre-Luc Dubois' head.Man, this guy's impossible to defend. He's strong, mobile, and assertive."He'll have a guy on his back and, with one hand on his stick, he'll push the guy away. He'll keep skating," Dubois said, shaking his head at the commanding nature of his Columbus Blue Jackets teammate. "We laugh about that. I started to pay attention to it and I see it pretty much every game."This is one of Jones' signatures. The Metropolitan Division All-Star tends to carry the puck with self-assuredness, deploying his 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame as a shield against all puck-hungry opponents.The sequence below, from a game in November versus the New York Rangers, shows the understated skill. Watch the puck-carrier on the far side of the ice:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: FOX Sports OhioJones transports the puck from the red line to the offensive zone with three Rangers in his vicinity. Initiating from opposite sides, two of them try to steal the puck. They fail miserably, while the third glides deeper into the defensive end. Moments later, Jones wires a shot from the point. Goal.If you look close enough, these skills - let's call them signatures - can be identified in every NHL game. Two obvious examples: Auston Matthews' knack for releasing the puck from unique angles and Connor McDavid's habit of going full-tilt before stopping on a dime. Other signatures, on the other hand, go largely undetected by the naked eye.Frankly, some NHL players are much better than their peers at certain things."To be at this level, you have to do something really well," Vegas Golden Knights winger Alex Tuch said of the signature theory. "You can't just be OK at everything and be a difference-maker. No, you have to do at least one thing really well to stick out."So, who is exceptional at the covert? Who is so proficient at a specific skill that teammates and opponents can only shake their heads in disbelief from the bench? In short, who has a signature worth highlighting?Ahead of this week's All-Star festivities, theScore surveyed 15 NHLers to ask those exact questions. Here are the 10 best responses:The stick magicianAleksander Barkov is so often labeled underrated that he may actually be overrated at this point.Mind you, there's a reason why the Florida Panthers captain's stock is hard to peg. The guy's incredible at a number of subtleties, including the art of using his stick to his advantage as a defender, and more importantly, doing so legally."We just played Florida a couple of games ago and I remember Barkov was so good at his hand-eye coordination," Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson said in December. "You couldn't get a puck around him because, no matter what, he was catching it with his stick. It was really impressing all of us."There's no doubt that members of the Senators felt similarly on Nov. 11, when Barkov lifted Christian Jaros' stick at the Ottawa blue line en route to a pretty half-breakaway goal:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: FOX Sports FloridaTypical kosher stick work from Barkov, who has an astounding plus-27 penalty differential right now. Twenty-eight penalties drawn, one penalty taken through 1,043 minutes.It's not as though the rangy Finnish center is disengaged without the puck, wandering around aimlessly. He's a perennial Selke Trophy candidate in large part due to his attention to detail, timing, and hand-eye coordination on the defensive side of the puck."You try to chip it past him, it doesn't work," Johnson said. "You might try to throw a sauce pass through the seam and he always seems to knock it down and put it right back on his stick."The breakout banditAsk a group of hockey observers - fans, media, players, coaches, whomever - to name the NHL's top puck-handling goalie and Mike Smith's name will undoubtedly dominate the replies. After all, it's the Calgary Flames netminder's calling card.What about Central Division All-Star Pekka Rinne? At least one conference rival finds the Nashville Predator's passing capabilities incredibly annoying."Mostly what I hate about goalies is when they handle the puck really well. Like Pekka Rinne," San Jose Sharks winger Tomas Hertl said. "You will hammer the puck around the boards and he will jump on it. Every time you forecheck on him, he just waits. After you move, he plays it."John Russell / Getty ImagesRinne, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, is "like a sixth player on the ice," Hertl said."He fakes you out or waits you out," he added. "Because you have to go on him, and if you go on him, he just makes the easy play up the ice or off the boards. You're done and they go the other way. It's pretty hard."The no-look artistFor Martin Frk, the Czech-born Detroit Red Wings forward with a booming shot, Swedish playmaker Nicklas Backstrom is on the short list of greatest passers of his era.That's not exactly a unique take, given nobody has pocketed more assists than Backstrom since the Washington Capitals center entered the league in 2007. Instead, it's the manner in which Backstrom generates scoring opportunities for his teammates on the power play that keeps Frk enthralled from the opposing bench:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NBC Sports WashingtonWhile the above clip is from an even-strength shift and involves a quick snipe by T.J. Oshie, Frk's point still resonates."When you watch him, he's got the touch," he said of No. 19's trademark no-lookers, laughing to himself."He sometimes does this no-look pass," Frk added. "He sees the ice very well, so he can do that. Especially on the power play, when you need to score, he can make those passes and it's usually an easy tap-in for the guys there."The constant threatOn a Vegas roster filled with useful players, it's William Carrier who comes to mind for Tuch, because the fourth-liner is the cream of the crop in one specific area."Honestly, dude, it's insane," Tuch said. "He finishes every single check. So, every time the defenseman goes to retrieve a puck, he's there. By the third period, they're looking over both shoulders going, 'What the hell is going to happen to me now?' If they don't, they're going to get smoked by Will Carrier."Talk about a ringing endorsement for a player who sees fewer than 10 minutes of ice time per night.Norm Hall / Getty ImagesAlthough gaudy hit totals are not for everyone (you're usually in a position to make a hit when your team doesn't have the puck, so is it really a net-positive?), Tuch is most definitely barking up the right tree.Carrier, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound winger acquired by Vegas from the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 expansion draft, leads the league in hits with 219 in 44 games this season, while racking up just 20 penalty minutes. Sounds pretty effective.The bouncy gliderThe NHL is overrun by elite skaters. McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Dylan Larkin, Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Athanasiou, and that's just a handful of forwards.While not blazing fast, Jake Gardiner is certainly in the conversation for the best skating defenseman. The Toronto Maple Leafs blue-liner, who has taken a beating lately from a segment of the fan base, has this unique way of gliding at a high speed, during which it appears he's almost hovering slightly above the ice."He has that bounce to him, that evasive, deceptive speed," Leafs goalie Garret Sparks said. "He's an effortless skater. It's stuff like that that you can't teach."Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: CBCGardiner transitions from skating forward to skating backward - and vice versa - in immaculate fashion. Sometimes, like in the above clip, it looks as though the puck is his dance partner.There's no awkward tangling of the feet thanks to some elite edgework, and he does it all seemingly without breaking a sweat."His skating's just an extension of his mind," Sparks said of the 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent. "He doesn't have to work for it."The drag masterDamon Severson doesn't know if Bo Horvat has the best toe drag in the league, but he can attest to the effectiveness of the two-way center's "patented" move."One of my first couple of years in the NHL he came down on me, and I knew it was coming," said Severson. "But I tried to poke the puck away and I just missed it and he went by me."He comes down with speed and just kinda pulls it out, back, and then he's way out here (Severson mimics an exaggerated toe dragging motion) and goes around you. He's really good at that move."Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesNot every Horvat toe drag leads to a celebration for the Vancouver Canucks. Many of his attempts over the years have been derailed by flailing stick checks, point-blank saves, or poorly-aimed shots.The 'Bo' drag is a risky maneuver belied by a highlight-reel payoff. In Severson's case, he had the last laugh. Well, sort of."Thank goodness he didn't score or else that would be really bad," Severson said. "I had my girlfriend's dad text me after the game. He was telling me to get my jock out of the rafters."The lane makerLike clockwork, Brent Burns is again challenging for the league lead in shots on goal among defensemen. A top-five finisher every year since 2013-14, the Sharks blue-liner sits four back of Roman Josi's 176 shots.In the offensive zone, just about every puck that enters Burns' orbit eventually finds the opposing cage. The Pacific Division All-Star has an innate feel for aiming for the target and, more crucially, avoiding shot-blocking forwards."For guys who have the ability to get shots through from the point, I think Brent Burns is a name," Boston Bruins winger Danton Heinen said. "He's the best in the league at that, in my opinion."Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NBCSNSounds basic, right? Find a hole and put the puck through it. Really, though, it's complicated. Lanes disappear in an instant and there's a legitimate risk a blocked shot can send an odd-man rush the other way.According to Heinen, Burns is effective because he's fearless, can skate his way into openings, and is not afraid to get creative. This deadly combination allows Burns, who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2003 as a forward, to manufacture a prime scoring chance out of a broken play."If the puck is going back to the point, a lot of times you can get in the lane and be fine," Heinen said. "But he's good at changing the angle and getting it through, getting it by you. He somehow creates those shots. You think you're in the lane and then he either pulls it, or pushes it, or just lets it go so quickly. All of a sudden, it's through you."The point guardWhen Artemi Panarin receives the puck on his stick, the game almost always seems to slow down. The patient playmaker isn't a poor skater, he just seems to prefer a certain pace when playing keep-away with the other team.For the Russian center with 179 assists in 289 NHL games, hockey is not unlike basketball. Bring on the double-teams, he'll find a seam. And it doesn't matter if he's on his backhand or forehand, he'll figure it out."A guy with his skill set has the capability to hold onto the puck a lot longer," Blue Jackets teammate Josh Anderson said. "Anytime he does have the puck there's going to be guys double-teaming him, which leaves an open man. And he'll find that guy pretty easily."Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThere are only a handful of NHL players who fall into the point guard category. Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders is another. What separates Panarin from the pack, though, is his elusive style and willingness to engage with any and all defenders."I think it's his shiftiness," Anderson added. "He's got a lot of head fakes. Defense, half the time, don't even know what to do."The outrageous hitterRadko Gudas is playing in the wrong era, plain and simple.The hulking Philadelphia Flyers defenseman is a perfectly useful player, but his bread and butter is his physical force. And the modern NHL doesn't see eye to eye with body checking, especially those of the thunderous variety.Back in 2009-10, when Gudas was 19 and patrolling the blue line for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League, Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray had a front-row seat to the best hip-checker he's come across."It was the most outrageous thing I've ever seen," said Murray, Gudas' defense partner in Everett. "One-on-one, last man back. The player would cut to the middle and he'd just clip them ... it was just an art."The old Gudas reappears on occasion. You could say he's an artist:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NBC Sports PhiladelphiaBack in the day, Gudas' willingness to attempt a bone-crushing hit worked to Murray's advantage. A former second overall pick in the 2012 draft, he would pounce on a loose puck produced by a Gudas hit in the neutral zone and bolt north."It's kinda that moment where you're like, 'Am I going to fight this guy? Is there going to be a penalty?' Everybody would hesitate," Murray recalled. "The puck would squirt free and there were a few times when I would zip it up and score a goal."From afar, Murray has noticed a steep decline in Gudas hip checks over the years, though it's more so a commentary on the sport's changing priorities than the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Czech's abilities."I think it's a little harder in this league," Murray said. "Guys were just more unaware (in junior). They would be going through the neutral zone and you could see it coming. He would line them up. It was wild, and the fans would be going crazy. Everyone would be screaming. Full front flips on numerous occasions."The one-handed thief"Like a spider."That's how Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman describes teammate Connor Brown when the latter is deploying his one-handed puck-stripping technique, usually on the penalty kill.Icon Sportswire / Getty Images"He'll try to grab a guy from behind and he'll turn his blade upside down and then pull the puck back," said Hyman.Like a spider, or a craps dealer at a casino."We always joke about it. I've played against him for however long in scrimmages and we always try to get each other with that."Next time Columbus and Toronto face off, keep one eye on Brown, the sneaky stealer, and the other on Jones, the assertive puck-rusher, and you might see two signature skills collide in real time.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.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Teuvo Teravainen to a five-year contract extension Monday with an average annual value of $5.4 million, the team announced.Teravainen's been a reliable offensive contributor for the goal-starved Hurricanes this season. He ranks second on the team in points with 39 in 48 games - 12 points more than the team's third-leading scorer, Justin Williams.He had a breakout 64-point campaign a year ago, and the crafty Finn has built nice chemistry with countryman Sebastian Aho during his time in Raleigh.Teravainen gained prominence during the 2015 playoffs, where he posted 10 points in 18 games for the Chicago Blackhawks en route to their most recent Stanley Cup victory.A little over a year after his stellar postseason performance, the Blackhawks traded Teravainen, along with Bryan Bickell, to the Hurricanes in exchange for a second- and a third-round pick. The trade turned out to be one of former Carolina general manager Ron Francis' best moves.Teravainen, 24, was set to become a restricted free agent July 1. With his deal taken care of, GM Don Waddell will likely turn his attention to Aho, the club's leading scorer, who is set for restricted free agency this summer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Note: Due to the Jan. 24-27 All-Star break and the surrounding bye weeks, this fantasy week will account for 14 days (Jan. 21-Feb. 3) in the majority of leagues.Plan your adds in accordance with bye weeksThe bye weeks that surround the NHL's All-Star break are a bit of an inconvenience for fantasy players. However, crafty players can use them to their advantage.With four adds at your disposal, pick up one or two players who play a pair of games before the All-Star break. But, only do this if you have a drop-worthy player who has no more than one game before the interval.On Jan. 24 (when the All-Star break begins), try to use your remaining adds on Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, or Winnipeg Jets players, as each of these teams plays a league-high four games between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3.Using your adds with precision over the next two weeks will help your fantasy team accrue more total games than your opponent, and should help lead to victory.Make a bye-week-centered tradeEliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyThis isn't as crucial as planning your add, but it's certainly worth it to explore the trade market over the All-Star break for a minor deal. With four adds to be used over a 14-day stretch rather than over the customary seven days, making a schedule-based trade can help win this week, and perhaps in the future.Entering Jan. 28, the aforementioned Flyers, Penguins, and Jets will be tied with the Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New Jersey Devils for the fewest games played at 48.If you own a player on a 52-game team (San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators) or one of the many clubs with 51, try to work a trade in exchange for a player on a 48-game team during the All-Star break. It will maximize your games played, and three or four extra ones could help in the long run.Obviously, trading for a lesser player is not conducive to success, but if you can find an evenly matched deal, it's worth pulling the trigger.Pick up Thatcher DemkoTeam: Canucks

Adam Larsson didn't mince words on his own performance after the Edmonton Oilers dropped a 7-4 contest at home to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday."They came out hot, we didn't and a lot of that is on me," Larsson said after the contest. "I'm playing so bad right now, I don't know what it is, but I need it to stop as soon as possible."The 26-year-old was a minus-3 in just under 18 minutes of ice time against the Hurricanes, marking the fourth time in his last seven games that he's posted that rating. The Oilers have posted a 3-4 record in that span, and have lost 11 of their last 16 contests.As for the reasons behind the struggles? Larsson doesn't think it's a lack of effort."I feel like I'm working hard, I feel like I'm just too passive, not skating," he said. "This is as bad as it's been and it's as bad as it will be. I can guarantee you that."Larsson gets his next chance to break out of his funk on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Cal Clutterbuck scored twice in the first period and Robin Lehner made 19 saves as the New York Islanders downed the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 on Sunday for their fifth straight win.The victory was the 15th in 18 games for the Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders, who have surged past Washington and Columbus over the past month. The Islanders have one game remaining - Tuesday at Chicago - before the All-Star break.Clutterbuck opened the scoring at 4:50 of the first with a power-play goal. The 31-year-old forward completed a slick passing sequence by whipping the puck from the slot past former Islanders goaltender Chad Johnson. It was the sixth straight game in which the Islanders scored first.Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauviller assisted. Bailey moved past Bob Nystrom on the team's all-time assist list with 279 and into a tie with Pat LaFontaine for 12th place. Bailey, who is tied with captain Anders Lee for second on the team in points with 37, has three goals and three assists in last seven games.Clutterbuck scored again from a nearly identical spot midway through the first for his sixth goal of the season.Clutterbuck, in his sixth season with the Islanders, also scored in Friday's 2-0 win at Washington, which moved the Islanders past the Capitals into the division lead.Leo Komarov scored his sixth this season with 29 seconds remaining in the second period.The Islanders are 12-2-0 since rookie defenseman Devon Toews, who assisted on Komarov's goal, joined the lineup for the first time on Dec 23.Lehner, who leads the league in goals-against average, won for the 11th time his last 12 games. The 27-year-old Swedish goalie has been a revelation since he signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Islanders last summer after he was let go by the Buffalo Sabres.Lehner improved to 15-7-3 on the season and registered his third shutout.The Islanders have allowed one goal or less 16 times this season, including each of their last four games. They have surrendered two goals or fewer in nine of their last 12.The Islanders held the Capitals and Devils to less than 20 shots in their previous two wins, and then did it again against the Ducks, who came in with a two-game winning streak after losing their previous 12.NOTES: The Islanders scratched F Tom Kuhnhackl, F Ross Johnston and D Luca Sbisa. ... Anaheim scratched Ds Michael Del Zotto and Andre Sustr and F Justin Kloos. ... The Ducks won this season's previous meeting, 4-1, on Oct. 17 at Anaheim.UP NEXTIslanders: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night before the All-Star break.Ducks: Host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday before All-Star break.---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CHICAGO (AP) Jonathan Toews had three goals and two assists, Patrick Kane added two goals and two assists, and the Chicago Blackhawks handed the Washington Capitals their season-high fifth consecutive loss with an 8-5 victory on Sunday.Brandon Saad and Alex DeBrincat also scored and Dylan Strome added an empty-netter as last-place Chicago stopped its own five-game slide. Collin Delia made 34 saves, including impressive stops on John Carlson and Tom Wilson in the second.Washington's defensemen accounted for each of its five goals while star forwards Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov were kept off the scoresheet. Carlson scored twice, Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen each had a goal and an assist, and Brooks Orpik got his second of the season.Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby allowed four goals on 11 shots before he was replaced by Pheonix Copley 2:30 into the second.It was Washington's first game in Chicago since Devante Smith-Pelly heard chants of ''basketball, basketball, basketball'' while the black forward was sitting in the penalty box in the third period of a 7-1 loss last February. The fans were promptly ejected, and then banned from Chicago's home games.Smith-Pelly was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second period of Sunday's loss, but there was no sign of any incident.Carlson trimmed Chicago's lead to 4-3 when he blew a one-timer past Delia 3:09 into the third. Kane responded with a power-play goal, and Toews sent a wrist shot past Copley to make it 6-3 at 7:20.It was Kane's 14th goal in his last 14 games. He has seven goals and 12 assists during an eight-game point streak.After Washington pulled within one again on goals by Carlson and Niskanen, Toews danced around Orlov and beat Copley with 5:03 remaining. Toews' 21st goal made it 7-5 and completed his sixth career hat trick.It was part of an up-and-down day for Orlov, who got his third goal of the season when his shot from the left boards went under Delia 15:24 into the second. But he also batted a puck out of the air and over Holtby to hand Toews his first goal 14:53 into the first.NOTES: Blackhawks D Henri Jokiharju was a healthy scratch. The 19-year-old Jokiharju has no goals and 12 assists in 36 games in his first NHL season. ''We've got some young players. Eighty-two game season, it's hard to keep that level night-in and night-out,'' coach Jeremy Colliton said. ''So we may end up with a rotation where they're able to, it's not necessarily performance specifically why they're coming out.'' ... First-year Capitals coach Todd Reirden is from nearby Deerfield, about 30 miles north of Chicago. ''I didn't have to get a lot of tickets. I do have a lot of passes,'' a smiling Reirden said. The varsity and junior-varsity hockey teams from Deerfield High School were part of the group from Reirden's hometown expected at the game. ... Blackhawks F Brendan Perlini (concussion protocol) was scratched. John Hayden replaced him in the lineup.UP NEXTCapitals: Host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.Blackhawks: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks phenom Elias Pettersson is in the lineup Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings after missing the last five games with a knee injury, the team announced.

Tuukka Rask departed Saturday's game against the New York Rangers after Filip Chytil crashed into the Boston Bruins goaltender while scoring late in the first period.Rask suffered a concussion and was ruled out for the rest of the game, the team announced during the second period.Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy hit Chytil into the netminder, who had to be helped off the ice.

Elias Pettersson says he'll likely be in the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon."There's a good chance I will be playing (Sunday), but I will check in with the medical team later (Saturday night) and (Sunday) morning and see how I feel, and we'll make the decision after that," Pettersson told reporters after practice on Saturday.The rookie scoring leader was a full participant in Saturday's session.Pettersson has missed the Canucks' last five games due to a slight knee sprain suffered after getting tangled up with the Montreal Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Jan. 3.Despite missing time with that ailment and a concussion earlier in the campaign and playing only 38 games, Pettersson still comfortably leads first-year players in goals (22) and points (42).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist made history on Saturday night when he recorded his 446th career win in a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins, passing Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk on the NHL's all-time wins list.Lundqvist now ranks sixth all-time.

The Colorado Avalanche avoided a major scare Saturday, as superstar Mikko Rantanen was held out of the third period versus the Los Angeles Kings for precautionary reasons, according to Ryan Clark of The Athletic.The 22-year-old is set to play the club's next contest Monday versus the Nashville Predators, Clark adds.Rantanen had another huge game, burying two goals in Colorado's 7-1 rout. However, after his second of the contest, he appeared to take a bit of an awkward fall.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour didn't hold back when assessing his team's performance following Friday's 4-1 loss at home to the Ottawa Senators."We were so bad, I almost dressed and got out there. I might have been as good as what we were throwing out there," Brind'Amour told the media postgame, including Fox Sports Carolinas.After a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday, the Hurricanes were looking for a bounce-back performance. However, they were in a 3-0 hole midway through the second period on Friday night."We just didn't want to play the way we were supposed to," Brind'Amour added. "I didn't know what I was watching. That’s the first time all year I can say that."It's been an up-and-down season for Brind'Amour's squad. The Hurricanes struggled while posting a 4-8-1 record in December, then bounced back with a strong January, winning six of their last eight games heading into Friday.Carolina now heads to western Canada for a three-game road trip before the all-star break.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander knows he's mired in a funk, and on Friday night he said his lack of production is weighing on him."It affects you," the Toronto Maple Leafs forward told reporters after a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. "Obviously, you want to score and you want to produce, that's why you're here. You've just got to dig deep and work harder and harder. Do all the little things you can do to get better."Nylander, who has recorded only one goal and two assists in 18 contests this season after posting 61 points in each of his last two campaigns, added that his struggles so far in 2018-19 are unprecedented for him."I think the chances have been there throughout a lot of the games and I just haven't been able to find the net," he said. "(Friday night) was a little tougher. I've never had a slump like this in my life. I'm just trying to find a way to work through it. I've just got to work harder and harder."The 22-year-old held out until Dec. 1, when he and the Leafs came to an agreement on a six-year deal just minutes before the 5 p.m. ET deadline to sign restricted free agents.Nylander downplayed the notion that his poor season so far has been tougher to deal with because of his new $45-million pact with the Leafs."I don't know if it's necessarily because of the contract," he said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "It's more because of the missed time and being out of it for a while ... (the) past couple games have been getting better, but now it's time to score some goals."Nylander isn't the only struggling Leafs player lately, as the team has now lost three of its last four games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby returned to the crease Friday against the New York Islanders.The 29-year-old said earlier in the day that he was feeling 100 percent and would make his first start since exiting the Jan. 12 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after taking a stick to the eye, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.Holtby was forced from the contest at the midway mark and has missed the club's last two games - both losses to the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. The Capitals have been shaky as of late, winning just four of their past 10 while slipping out of top spot in the Metropolitan Division.Holtby, meanwhile, has gone 17-10-2 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average in 31 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Ryan Johansen will sit for two contests after high-sticking the Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele on Thursday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Friday.Johansen swung his stick and caught Scheifele in the head late in the first period, and the Predators center was assessed a two-minute minor for high-sticking.

The NHL's Feb. 25 trade deadline is just over five weeks away. For teams on the playoff bubble, their results over that span will likely dictate whether they load up for a postseason run or make moves for the future.With that in mind, let's predict the buyers and sellers among the NHL's fringe playoff teams.Note: The Montreal Canadiens were excluded from this exercise since general manager Marc Bergevin already expressed his deadline plans.Anaheim DucksJonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential48490 (outside playoffs due to tiebreaker)-27The Ducks, mired in a midseason slump, just snapped a 12-game losing streak. The near future doesn't seem much brighter, as 10 of their next 14 contests will be played on the road.General manager Bob Murray has expressed a desire to re-sign forward Jakob Silfverberg, but if the two sides can't agree on a deal before the deadline, Murray would be foolish to keep his best rental trade chip.Prediction: SellerEdmonton OilersJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential47490 (outside playoffs due to tiebreaker)-12The Oilers have a slightly favorable upcoming schedule, with eight of 14 games at home leading up to the deadline and seven against clubs outside the playoff picture.Edmonton's been so streaky this season, it's anyone's guess as to how the Oilers will perform. But considering CEO Bob Nicholson said in December that Peter Chiarelli's job will be safe if the team makes the playoffs, the GM will likely pull out all the stops.The work on defense is likely finished - Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera are nearing their returns from injury, and the team made a pair of minor deals for blue-line reinforcements in December - but the Oilers are reportedly on a "full-court press" in search of forward help.Prediction: BuyerMinnesota WildIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential4749---6The Wild may have the most favorable schedule in the league leading up to the deadline. They play 16 games, with only five against teams currently holding a playoff spot.Despite the possibility of a hot streak, however, the Wild may be inclined to sell. Paul Fenton took over as GM last offseason, and given the competitive Central Division, he may want to retool the roster, as he began to do with Thursday's trade of Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask.Fenton could otherwise stand pat, but with limited cap space this coming summer, that could also mean losing pending unrestricted free agent Eric Staal for nothing.Prediction: SellerVancouver CanucksKevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential48481-13Sitting in the thick of the playoff mix, the Canucks will play meaningful games down the stretch for the first time since 2015. That will provide valuable experience for a young team - and a winning streak before the deadline could always change the franchise's strategy - but it just doesn't seem like the right time to add to a group that's still a few years away from peaking.Vancouver's best move for the long term would be acquiring assets in return for its top potential rental, defenseman Alex Edler. He'd need to waive his full no-trade clause, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Edler wearing another uniform before eventually returning to the Canucks on July 1.Prediction: SellerBuffalo SabresBill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential47542-3Losing Jeff Skinner in the offseason would be a massive step backward for the Sabres on their long path to relevance. And the best way to keep the pending UFA around - other than money, of course - is by winning.With a breezy seven-game home stretch beginning when the calendar flips to February, the Sabres will have a good chance to move up the standings. Doing so would nudge GM Jason Botterill toward buying at the deadline, even if Skinner remains without a new contract.It's hard to see Buffalo making a major deal, but some under-the-radar veteran additions up front could provide experience and help this young team make the playoffs.Prediction: BuyerCarolina HurricanesIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPointsPoints back of playoffsGoal differential46497-11The Hurricanes are surging, and we're not talking about the club's post-win celebrations at home. They've won seven of nine - putting themselves into the playoff hunt - and could sustain the hot streak, with just six of their next 16 games against current playoff teams.But while owner Tom Dundon wants to reach the postseason, he doesn't seem inclined to lose valuable players for nothing, which explains why pending UFA Micheal Ferland's name has been floating around. The Hurricanes are also reportedly open to trading Dougie Hamilton, but there's no rush considering he's signed through 2020-21.It's also unlikely that Dundon will be looking for rentals. Perhaps the Hurricanes will acquire a player who's signed long term, or maybe they'll pull off another "pure hockey deal" such as Thursday's Rask-for-Niederreiter trade - potentially even involving Hamilton.Prediction: SellerCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When it comes to the future of the Ottawa Senators, much of the attention has been on pending unrestricted free agents Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. But the team is also reportedly getting calls about a lower-profile player.Other NHL clubs have contacted the Senators to see if they'd consider trading defenseman Cody Ceci, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie."Unlike Stone and Duchene, he is not (a pending) unrestricted free agent. He's a (pending) restricted free agent. And yet, there are teams out there that have been calling Ottawa to see if there's any interest in moving him," McKenzie said of Ceci on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading.""That's also a decision-making process that the Senators have to go through between now and the deadline," McKenzie added.Ceci signed a one-year, $4.3-million deal to stay with the Senators in August.The 25-year-old ranks second on the club in ice-time this season, averaging 22:45 per game. He has 13 points in 43 games.Ceci is in his sixth season with Ottawa after the Senators drafted him 15th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Ryan Johansen will have a hearing for high-sticking Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced on Friday.The incident occurred late in the first period of Thursday's contest and saw Johansen assessed a two-minute minor. Scheifele stayed in the game and logged 20:27 of ice time, the most among all Jets forwards.

Something smells here.The Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes completed a one-for-one trade on Thursday, with Nino Niederreiter heading to Raleigh, and Victor Rask off to St. Paul. The deal reeks of foreshadowing for both franchises, and it's perhaps a precursor to higher-impact moves in the near future.Carolina, a club that's missed the playoffs nine straight years, is seven points out of the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. About five weeks from the trade deadline, general manager Don Waddell’s team is straddling the seller-buyer line.Minnesota, meanwhile, is hanging on for dear life. Heading into Thursday’s slate of games, GM Paul Fenton’s squad occupied the final Western Conference playoff spot, barely ahead of five clubs. Fans in Minnesota, the state of hockey, haven't watched their team make it past the second round since 2003.What this means for the WildOn a micro level, the trade is puzzling for Minnesota.Rask, 25, isn’t a hot commodity. He's struggled mightily over 26 games in 2018-19, recording only six points after recovering from a season-opening hand injury. The Swede ranked last in even-strength shot attempt differential among Carolina's everyday players - which is particularly notable because the Canes are a puck-possession powerhouse.“I think (Rask) needed a change of scenery,” Fenton said on a conference call, “and I’m hoping he gets back his scoring and his distribution so he can be very productive for us.”The first-year GM's rationale continued: Rask is versatile as a left-handed center fully capable of slotting in on the wing; he's six months younger than Niederreiter; and the exchange of contracts (neither club retains salary) leaves the Wild on the hook for $4 million instead of $5.25 annually.Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesRask, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds, is in the third year of a six-year, $4-million-per-season deal. The 2011 second-round pick’s finest offensive years, the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, featured 48 and 45 points, respectively, so there's a history of production to latch onto.On a macro level, Fenton is starting to assert himself on the trade market.Following eight months of relative inactivity, the Niederreiter-Rask swap is Fenton’s second trade in as many days. The Wild acquired winger Pontus Aberg on Wednesday for minor leaguer Justin Kloos.Fenton made it clear the organization isn't pleased with the dips in performance (including a 3-8 stretch in December) that have led to a 20-23-2 record a week from the All-Star break.“One day I’m thinking that we have the opportunity to try to go forward ... and one day I’m thinking it’s not that great of a team,” he said of the Wild. “I’m letting the players convince us where they are.”What this means for the CanesNiederreiter is simply the more useful player. He's been on the right side of the puck more often, and generated more offense, all despite being deployed frequently in a defensive role:CATEGORYNIEDERREITERRASKGP498339G11263PTS231163PTS/601.31.0CF%52.351.0OZS%50.858.8PTS/60 = 5-on-5 points per 60 minutes; CF% = 5-on-5 shot attempts for percentage; OZS% = offensive zone start percentageCarolina ranks 27th while averaging 2.7 goals per game. While Niederreiter is no world-beater as a scorer, he has a wicked shot and has recorded three 20-goal seasons. He brings decent upside and is potentially a nice fit on the third line and second-unit power play.The fifth overall pick in 2010 - who's now on his third team - is shooting 11.1 percent this season, almost 2 percent below his career average. Percentages don't always even out, but there's no denying Niederreiter is due to start scoring more (in fairness, so is Rask).Niederreiter, who has banked just nine goals and 14 assists in 46 games in 2018-19, is in the second season of a five-year contract paying him $26.25 million. Forward Jordan Staal is the only other Canes forward on a long-term deal.That will change once star center and restricted free agent Sebastian Aho re-signs, but the team's lack of commitment at the forward position is glaring. Carolina, a franchise known for shedding salary, is taking on additional dollars here, which is something to monitor in the coming weeks.The main takeawayThere's only a small chance that Waddell and Fenton are done. Neither appears eager to sit on his hands as the trade deadline approaches.The 22-19-5 Hurricanes always seem to be attached to trade rumors. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour is thirsting for finishers, and the club didn't help itself by shipping pending unrestricted free agent Jeff Skinner to Buffalo this past summer.Who's next out of the door? If you believe in "where there's smoke, there's fire," either winger Micheal Ferland or defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Or both.The Wild are a little less predictable, though Charlie Coyle's name has been thrown around as a potential trade chip. The 26-year-old center is signed for $3.2 million per year through next season, and he could very well be in Niederreiter territory after wearing out his welcome in Minnesota.The common thread: The Wild and Hurricanes are a) middling, and b) hungry for change as the Feb. 25 deadline creeps closer. Buckle up.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.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher is not going to let Wayne Simmonds leave for nothing."That won’t happen," Fletcher told Philly.com's Sam Carchidi. "The goal would be to either have him signed or moved by the trade deadline."The veteran forward, who is expected to be dealt, is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.Fletcher understands what Simmonds brings to the team, but knows he has to consider the financial impact."I have a tremendous amount of respect for Wayne Simmonds, but we have to look at our cap situation moving forward," Fletcher said. "(Simmonds) has been a warrior for this franchise and is still a heck of a hockey player."The 30-year-old is in his eighth season with the Flyers and has tallied 202 goals and 373 points in 569 games with the franchise. This season, Simmonds ranks second on the Flyers with 15 goals and leads the team with 67 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Bobby Orr Topps rookie test card up for auction is set to fetch a hefty amount.Bidding on the card, which auction site Lelands.com describes as "quite likely the most sought-after hockey card in existence," has topped $160,000 with two weeks left in the auction, according to Darren Rovell of Action Network.

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, and Google Play.In this episode, John's joined by Gus Katsaros of McKeen's Hockey and theScore's Josh Wegman to discuss a variety of topics:

Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov was benched during the latter half of the first period in Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Kings, and he agrees with the move."I got benched," Radulov said after the 2-1 defeat, according to the Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks. "It was the right decision by coach. I wasn't playing good and I talked back with (head coach Jim Montgomery) and he basically sit me until the end of the period."It's the right decision and I can't do that. It's been an issue in my career, but I got to learn from it. I got to be better. Try not to make those mistakes again."Radulov ended his fifth and final shift of the opening frame at the 10:20 mark, and he didn't play again until the start of the second period. He appeared for eight shifts in the middle stanza and eight more in the third, ultimately logging 19:09 minutes of ice time in the game.The 32-year-old winger picked up the primary assist on Esa Lindell's goal in the third period, and he's recorded 14 goals and 26 helpers this season over 38 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One new player up front may not be enough for the Carolina Hurricanes.The club still hopes to land another top-six forward before the Feb. 25 trade deadline in exchange for a defenseman, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Carolina boasts a wealth of solid blue-liners, including Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Calvin de Haan, Justin Faulk, and Dougie Hamilton.The Hurricanes acquired winger Nino Niederreiter from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Victor Rask on Thursday.Niederreiter joins a forward group that includes Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov, and Micheal Ferland, who's reportedly garnering interest from several other clubs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild traded winger Nino Niederreiter to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for center Victor Rask, the team announced Thursday.Niederreiter, 26, is in the midst of a down season with nine goals and 14 assists in 46 games. The former fifth overall pick averaged 23 goals per 82 games over the last four campaigns.Rask, 25, began the season on injured reserve after he accidentally sliced his hand in a kitchen accident this past summer. He hasn't quite found his footing since returning to the lineup, picking up a goal and five helpers in 26 games while averaging a career-low 12:02 minutes of ice time.Both players will become unrestricted free agents following the 2021-22 season. Rask's contract has an average annual value of $4 million, while Niederreiter's cap hit is $5.25 million.The Hurricanes will look for Niederreiter to add scoring punch to a team that sits 27th in goals per game despite ranking first in shots on goal.Meanwhile, Rask could fill a future need at center for the Wild. Eric Staal, 34, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and 35-year-old Mikko Koivu's contract expires after next year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.