Fans of best-on-best international hockey aren't the only ones saddened by Wednesday's news that there will be no World Cup of Hockey in 2020.Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews admitted he was "pretty bummed" upon learning of the news, he told reporters Thursday, via TSN.Matthews was a member of the ever-exciting Team North America during the 2016 World Cup, which consisted of a group of players from Canada and the United States age 23-and-under.Since the tournament preceded Matthews' rookie campaign, it marked the first chance for Maple Leafs fans to see their prized No. 1 pick live, as the event took place in Toronto. Matthews didn't disappoint, scoring twice and adding an assist in three games while playing on a line with Connor McDavid.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames will retire former captain Jarome Iginla's No. 12 on March 2.After not suiting up for the 2017-18 campaign, Iginla returned to Calgary last summer to officially announce his retirement following 20 seasons in the NHL.A first-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 1995, he was traded to the Flames before ever playing an NHL game and was the heart and soul of the franchise for 16 years. He is the club's all-time leader in games played (1,219), goals (525) and points (1,095).During his run in Calgary, the winger was a three-time First-Team All-Star, winning two Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, an Art Ross, and the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's most outstanding player as voted by the players' association in 2001-02. He led the Flames to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004 but ultimately lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.Iginla also had stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and Colorado Avalanche to close out his career.He'll be the third player to have his number retired by the Flames, joining Lanny McDonald and Mike Vernon.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings won't give up Jake Muzzin for cheap.The team is seeking a first-round pick and a prospect in exchange for Muzzin, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun notes it's not certain the Kings will deal Muzzin ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline, but they are listening to potential offers.The 29-year-old is having a solid season with 20 points in 47 games, second among the club's defenders behind Drew Doughty. He leads all Kings blue-liners with a 50.96 Corsi For rating and is first on the team in both hits and blocked shots.Muzzin has one year remaining on his contract after this season and carries a $4-million cap hit.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have reportedly put a high price tag on Gustav Nyquist and Jimmy Howard.The club is seeking a first-round pick for each player, a source told MLive.com's Ansar Khan.For Howard, it seems his price tag has remained consistent over the last month. Back in mid-December, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Red Wings were asking for a first-round selection for the veteran netminder.According to Khan, the team doesn't expect to get that return for either player and will look to re-sign Nyquist and Howard as a result. Both will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.To each player's credit, they have performed well on a team that sits just two points out of last place in the Eastern Conference. Nyquist ranks second on the team with 40 points in 48 games. Meanwhile, Howard has gone 13-12-5 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage over 32 games while earning an All-Star Game nod.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks have acquired center Derek Grant from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for center Joseph Blandisi, the team announced early Thursday morning.Grant has appeared in 25 games with the Penguins this season, posting five points and a plus-3 rating over that span. Blandisi has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, scoring 13 goals with 28 helpers in 55 games at that level.The move added to a busy night for the Ducks, as the club dealt Luke Schenn and a seventh-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Michael Del Zotto earlier on.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks traded defenseman Michael Del Zotto to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday in exchange for Luke Schenn and a 2020 seventh-round pick, the teams announced.Del Zotto, 28, has appeared in just 23 games for the Canucks this season, recording one goal and three assists.Schenn, meanwhile, has spent the majority of his 2018-19 campaign with the AHL's San Diego Gulls, where the 29-year-old has chipped in 10 points.The deal marks the Ducks' second trade of the day, as they previously shipped forward Pontus Aberg to the Minnesota Wild for Justin Kloos.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have had trade talks with the Pittsburgh Penguins about center Derick Brassard, reports The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.It was reported on Tuesday that Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford is listening to offers on Brassard with the expectation that he'll be traded before the deadline on Feb. 25.Columbus drafted Brassard sixth overall in 2006, and 31-year-old spent the first six seasons of his career with the organization. He arrived in Pittsburgh prior to last year's trade deadline in a three-team deal that involved the Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights.Brassard has recorded 14 points in 37 games and is an unrestricted free agent at season's end.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nathan Beaulieu is seeking a new home if his role doesn't increase, his agent, Kent Hughes, told The Associated Press.The blue-liner didn't demand a trade but did request they consider moving him if he doesn't fit in their plans going forward."He's not unhappy with Buffalo, he's just looking for more of an opportunity to play," Hughes said.Beaulieu was traded to Buffalo from the Montreal Canadiens during the 2017 offseason. In his second season with the Sabres, he's notched three goals and four assists while logging 14:46 per contest.The 26-year-old carries a cap hit of $2.4 million and is a restricted free agent after this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL and NHLPA have abandoned the possibility of hosting a World Cup of Hockey in 2020, the league announced Wednesday.In October, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league hoped to host the tournament in the fall of 2020, but the running of the event was contingent upon neither the NHL or NHLPA exercising its right to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement next year - which is still unclear.After debuting in 1996 and a second running in 2004, the NHL brought back the World Cup in 2016. While Canada winning was a predictable outcome, the tournament was considered a tremendous success thanks in large part to the infusion of Team North America - the under-23 squad captained by Connor McDavid that dazzled with some of the most exciting hockey the international stage has ever seen.The 2016 World Cup also represented the most recent best-on-best tournament, and with 2020 now off the table, the future international calendar is largely unclear with labor negotiations looming.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks have traded forward Pontus Aberg to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Justin Kloos, the team announced Wednesday.Aberg, 25, had carved out a solid role with the Ducks after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in October. He managed 19 points in 37 games with the club before being traded, and his 11 goals put him in a tie for second on the team.Kloos, also 25, has one NHL game under his belt and has spent the 2018-19 with the AHL's Iowa Wild, where he's recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 34 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leaning against a wall outside the visitor’s dressing room at KeyBank Arena, Jon Cooper nodded at the suggestion that he and his coaching staff have their work cut out for them.As crazy as that may seem, with the Tampa Bay Lightning owning a double-digit point lead in mid-January in the chase for the Presidents’ Trophy, the club faces the largely unrelatable challenge of sustaining excellence over 82 games, plus four playoff rounds.“Winning: It’s a blessing and it’s a curse,” Cooper told theScore Sunday, hours before a 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The NHL’s longest-tenured head coach wasn’t being sarcastic or overly critical; he was being pragmatic.“It’s a blessing because you’re in first place and your goal is to make the playoffs and you’re giving yourself an unreal chance to do it. It’s a curse because things are going well but you don’t want to take your foot off the gas. You’re balancing - being hard on them, yet letting them play.”Scott Audette / Getty ImagesThe 2018-19 season hasn’t even reached the All-Star break and yet it feels like any type of inconsistency won’t make a sizeable impact on Tampa's location in the end-of-season standings. The Lightning, hockey's version of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, have the requisite star power and depth to maintain their pace - if everything continues to go according to plan.Cooper admits he’s monitoring for signs of satisfaction inside the club’s bubble, a necessary daily process most outsiders might not appreciate. “If you’re battling for a playoff spot, you’re grinding every single day,” he said. “When you’re at the top of the standings, you’re grinding in a different way.”Before diving into the "different" grind, it's necessary to reflect on the accomplishments of Cooper’s squad thus far.Through Tuesday, the Lightning have picked up 74 of a possible 94 points, with two of their 11 losses coming in overtime. Both their points percentage (.787) and goal differential (plus-58) are absurdly high; the Calgary Flames rank second at .681 and plus-40. Thanks to a near-perfect past two months - with no regulation defeats in December and a 22-3-1 record since Nov. 21 - Tampa is on pace for an eye-popping 129 points. The salary cap era record (124 points set by the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings) is within striking distance, while the all-time mark (132 by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens) is also within the realm of possibility.As for the roster, Cooper has enviable depth at his disposal, and there’s an argument to be made for the inclusion of a Tampa player on every positional top-10 list.Katharine Lotze / Getty ImagesTeam success has overshadowed some fine performances - Brayden Point's 61 points over 47 games, in particular. He's beloved within the Lightning organization, and though the admiration is starting to infiltrate the mainstream, those who know him best insist the 22-year-old remains grossly underrated. Still on an upward trajectory, he's a versatile three-zone center quietly piecing together an MVP-caliber season.Following an on-ice session at KeyBank, teammate Mathieu Joseph heaped serious praise on Point while the latter untied his skates a couple of stalls away: “He’s so important for our team and, personally, I think he’s one of the best players in the world.”Across the room, Nikita Kucherov, the no-nonsense Russian, concurs: "We’re in Florida, we’re in Tampa. Not a lot of attention," he said of Point. "If he played in Toronto, he’d be a superstar.”Then there's captain Steven Stamkos, a former 60-goal scorer on pace for a cool 42 this season. He legitimately - and stunningly - might be Tampa’s fifth-best player. And that's far from a hot take - it's simply the reality of the situation and a compliment to the Lightning's strong drafting, development, and asset management.“Each team is different, with different skill, different depth, different camaraderie,” Stamkos said, reflecting on his 11 years in a Lightning uniform, “but this is definitely the best in terms of overall talent.”Which brings us back to Cooper’s conundrum: How can the Lightning, in one breath, appreciate a special season, and in the next, not care about what happened yesterday, last week, or two months ago?By emphasizing group progress over personal gains.Yes, Tampa is so deep it has scheduled "rest" games for certain players - in part because the Lightning feel the drop-off in talent from, say, the 11th forward to the 14th can be offset elsewhere.Gerry Thomas / Getty ImagesThat's why a healthy Joseph, who is tied for second in NHL rookie goal-scoring, sits every once in a while. It's also why a 32-year-old Anton Stralman isn't drawing into every single game. Even Andrei Vasilevskiy, a Vezina Trophy finalist last year, is on a strict schedule that focuses on rest and recovery rather than marquee matchups.“It’s hard to convince guys," assistant coach Jeff Halpern said. "Everybody wants to play, wants to contribute. You never want anyone to feel their legs have been chopped off. When you ask guys to be leaders and they’re put in situations where they’re not in a game, it can be difficult."The difference between what the Lightning are doing and how NHL teams typically handle scratching is the transparency. There's rarely a game-day decision for Tampa as lineup alterations tend to be predetermined. It's a process designed to be "better on the psyche," mentions Halpern, a former NHLer who endured the scratch system himself.That said, nobody is going to accept the news with a beaming smile, polite approach or not.“You can do that when you have depth. It's an advantage," Joseph said. "Even though we all want to play 82 games, you can rest some guys. It’s a mentality (the staff has) and you’ve got to respect that.”CATEGORY2017-18 (RANK)2018-19 (RANK)Goals/game3.5 (1st)4.0 (1st)5v5 attempts for/60 minutes59.7 (9th)59.9 (6th)Power play percentage23.9 (3rd)29.1 (1st)Goals against/game2.9 (13th)2.8 (8th)5v5 attempts against/60 mins55.9 (8th)54.6 (8th)Penalty kill percentage76.1 (28th)83.7 (6th)The mentality is shaped by a lesson learned. The Lightning were dominant last season, too - not to the extent they have been in 2018-19, but still good enough to be the toast of the Eastern Conference.It was around this point of the schedule last season that the team hit a rut, losing five of seven from Jan. 4-20. Complacency set in, zapping them of their trademark swagger.“We were in a very similar situation and probably let things go a little bit," Cooper admitted. "I kinda rode the wave of success a little bit more (last year) and didn’t nip things in the bud when we probably should have.”Tampa finished atop the conference, then won two series before flaming out in seven games versus the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.Fast forward to now, and the roster looks virtually the same - again, no major holes. Jake Dotchin, Chris Kunitz, and J.T. Brown are long gone, replaced by Joseph, defenseman Erik Cernak, and Anthony Cirelli, who’s quickly become a go-to forward on a vastly improved penalty kill. The Lightning have encountered the occasional injury, sure, but nothing too serious. Overall, compared to the dog days of last season, the good times keep rolling.Now, for the glass-half-empty perspective. Discussions about limiting turnovers have crept into multiple team meetings, Joseph said, and on Sunday, Stralman lamented the group's lack of "hunger." It could be a blip on the radar, or perhaps a sign of things to come."Puck management, D-zone. There’s a lot we can improve still," Joseph added. "Rushes, boxing out, stuff like that. I think the biggest part is that we want to be good defensively and I think we’ve been getting better as the season’s gone on.”Dave Reginek / Getty ImagesNo team is perfect. Ultimately, complacency has yet to take over, and familiarity and experience help with that. “I have a better feel for each individual player and what makes them tick," said Cooper, a champion in the USHL and AHL and a Cup finalist with the 2014-15 Bolts.Halpern calls the regular season "a dress rehearsal, so to speak," with the coaches huddling on occasion to ask, "If Game 1 of the playoffs was tomorrow, what would our lineup be?” It'll be easier to land on an answer the second time around with essentially the same group.The rotation has given them more video and data for lineup optimization. All that being said, they are cognizant of disrupting rhythm. “There’s rest and there’s the possibility of losing your timing," Cooper said. "Players are habitual and in routines. You screw that routine up and all of a sudden what do you have? It’s always a fine line with me.” Given that the Lightning appear to be head and shoulders above the other 30 teams, their biggest challenge could be staying out of their own way.Of course, Tampa feels comfortable experimenting since, in essence, they are an exaggerated version of what every modern NHL squad aspires to be. They're built well, icing two-way players at forward and defense; they prioritize skill, speed, and smarts; they play a fluid, frenetic brand of hockey; and they have one of the top goaltending tandems in the league. It's a foolproof plan when you've created a buffer zone in the standings.It helps that the man calling the shots at ice level isn't afraid to think outside the box by throwing the odd curveball, like his on-the-fly goalie change Sunday.Cooper will scratch good players, is up-front about the potential for complacency and/or implosion, and is realistic about the best team in hockey's place in the world.“You never strive for perfection. Just strive for excellence," Cooper said, still leaning against the wall, reciting one of his favorite quotes. "Because you can’t get perfect. Perfect’s unattainable.”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.

Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron was suspended three games Wednesday for charging Florida Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.The incident occurred during Tuesday night's clash between the two clubs.

Despite sitting on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, the Edmonton Oilers appear to be all-in for the 2018-19 season.The Oilers' first-round pick is "definitely in play" ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.On Dec. 14, CEO Bob Nicholson said general manager Peter Chiarelli's job is safe as long as the team makes the playoffsEarlier this week, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported that the Oilers are on a "full-court press" to find forward help.The Oilers shored up the back end of their blue line by adding Brandon Manning and Alex Petrovic in two separate trades on Dec. 30. Edmonton's defense corps will also get a boost when Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera return from their injuries, but holes remain up front.Outside of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and surprisingly, journeyman Alex Chiasson, the Oilers have struggled to get consistent offensive contributions from the remaining eight forwards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Micheal Ferland is looking like a hot commodity in trade circles."The list is longer, but Boston, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver are among those interested in Micheal Ferland," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported in the latest edition of his 31 Thoughts column.Ferland would add significant forward depth to clubs like the Bruins and Penguins and could easily slot into a top-six role with the Oilers and Canucks.The 26-year-old is in his first season with the Hurricanes after the Calgary Flames traded him at last year's draft in a deal that also sent Dougie Hamilton and defensive prospect Adam Fox to Raleigh in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm.Ferland is in the midst of a strong campaign, posting 13 goals - tied for second on the club behind Sebastian Aho - and 25 points in 39 games. He ranks first among Hurricanes players with 2.9 hits per game, second in power-play goals (5), and second in game-winning goals (3).His modest cap hit of $1.75 million should also be enticing to potential buyers.The rugged winger is in the final year of a two-year contract and will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron will have a hearing Wednesday for charging Florida Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, the Department of Player Safety announced.The incident occurred during the second period of Tuesday's meeting between the two clubs.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageJamie Benn didn't hold back when he was asked to explain what happened in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night."I thought we played a pretty good game against a good team," the Dallas Stars captain told reporters, including The Athletic's Saad Yousuf, postgame, before adding, "Our power play was shit and that was the difference."The Stars went 0-for-6 and mustered only 10 shots on goal with the man advantage in the game.They failed to convert on a four-minute power play in the second period when Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman was assessed minor penalties for holding and unsportsmanlike conduct.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Make it a dozen consecutive defeats for the Anaheim Ducks.Gustav Nyquist scored the go-ahead goal with under five minutes remaining as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Tuesday night to further extend the Ducks' skid.More to come.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is listening to offers on Derick Brassard, and there's an expectation that the veteran center will be dealt, according to TSN's Darren Dreger."I know that Jim Rutherford is at least listening to some of the interest in Derick Brassard. The expectation is that he will get traded, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, at least, in return need a No. 3 center back," Dreger said on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Brassard was acquired by the Penguins last season in a three-way trade prior to the deadline that involved the Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights. He slots in behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on Pittsburgh's depth chart and has had trouble producing since arriving in Pennsylvania, amassing 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 regular season games.The 31-year-old has one season left on his current contract and is owed $5 million this season with $2 million retained by Vegas. Brassard also owns a modified no-trade clause that includes a list of eight teams he wouldn't accept a trade to, according to Cap Friendly.This year's trade deadline comes Feb. 25.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets will play their 46th game of the season Tuesday night, and despite the fact that they can now essentially cruise to the playoffs, this meeting is no run-of-the-mill affair.The Jets will take on the Vegas Golden Knights, who beat them in five games in last year's Western Conference Final. Veteran forward Bryan Little is just one player who hasn't forgotten."It's one of those games that we've been looking forward to," Little told reporters Tuesday. "Obviously anytime a team beats out another team you look forward to that matchup again when you see them next season, so this is one we've had circled on our calendars.""We wanna beat these guys pretty badly," he added.The heavily favored Jets seemed destined to roll through the Golden Knights after a decisive Game 7 victory against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators in the second round last season, but Vegas had other plans.After the Jets took Game 1 by a score of 4-2, the Golden Knights were victorious in the next four games en route to the Stanley Cup Final. Winnipeg managed just six goals against goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in those final four contests.Both squads remain two of the best in the NHL this season, so it's a game all hockey fans should've circled on their calendars.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's top rookie defenseman plays for Buffalo, but he has some serious competition in the Lone Star State.Miro Heiskanen, who doesn't turn 20 until July, has been a bright spot in a tumultuous Dallas Stars season. And while No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin understandably remains the apple of fans' eyes when it comes to first-year defensemen, Heiskanen could be a franchise cornerstone too.Through 46 NHL games, Heiskanen's numbers aren't the flashiest - he's got nine goals and 11 assists - but his puck-moving helps his Stars create offense. He's proven difficult to rattle, even when he makes mistakes. And the factors driving his success are the same things that endeared him to scouts and made him the franchise's highest-drafted player in the Dallas era at No. 3 overall in 2017.A key feature of Heiskanen's game is his skating, which he showed off on his second assist of a Dec. 9 game against the Vegas Golden Knights:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NHLHeiskanen skates down to retrieve the puck and builds speed as he carries it through the neutral zone and into Vegas' end - then abruptly pivots and changes position to protect the puck when an opponent moves into his lane. His edge work and agility allow him to shift direction in a split second. Rather than turning over the puck, he's able to stay on top of it and fire a pass to Esa Lindell, who eventually scores a power-play goal.Stars fans likely recall the Jan. 2 game against the New Jersey Devils primarily for Miles Wood's hit on Dallas captain Jamie Benn, but it was also the second two-goal outing of Heiskanen's NHL career. He scored the first goal in the immediate aftermath of the hit and subsequent fight, with the teams playing four on four:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NHLAt the beginning of the play, Heiskanen displays his puck control and excellent hands. His initial shot is denied, but when he gets the puck again a few moments later, he fakes out goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and makes it count. (Heiskanen would score his second goal in the game on his backhand.)Before Heiskanen was drafted, there was some concern that he needed to improve his shot, despite his quick release. Although some of his shots are obviously effective at the NHL level already, adding upper-body strength would help him put more power behind all of them.Good defensive play can be harder to recognize than good offensive play; it's more often something that you notice when it's missing. Heiskanen's game is no exception. When the Stars played the Montreal Canadiens on New Year's Eve, his defensive lapse in overtime contributed to Montreal's game-winner, but he was superb during the rest of the contest, as he is here:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NHLWith just over a minute left in the first period, the Canadiens clear the puck. Heiskanen outraces the Montreal skater, using his body positioning to hold him off, and carries the puck up ice. He successfully blows past another Canadiens player and then makes a perfect pass to fellow defenseman John Klingberg to kick off a four-on-three rush. It's a great example of how good defense can quickly turn into offense.Heiskanen also displayed his defensive prowess against the Devils:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NHLWith three minutes to go in the third period, the Devils looking for the tying goal, and goaltender Ben Bishop tied up on the other side of the crease, Heiskanen finds himself in the right place at the right time and sweeps the puck away and up the ice before it can cross the goal line.Heiskanen's a composed, steady player. That's partly because he doesn't just see where the puck is, but he's able to project where it's going to be. Of course, he makes some mistakes - he's a rookie who's still adjusting to North American ice, never mind the NHL - but he has the skill set to be successful at this level for a long time. In the first period against Vegas, he exhibited several of his best qualities on a single play:Your browser does not support the video tag. Courtesy: NHLHeiskanen receives a pass and skates the puck through the neutral zone and into the Knights' end. When it looks like the defense might cut him off, he passes to a teammate. He then heads to the net to receive a pass, firing a shot at Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury without hesitation.Though that play didn't produce a goal, it does show off Heiskanen's skating, puck skills, and perhaps the most important part of his game: his hockey IQ. Heiskanen consistently knows where he needs to be in order to be the most effective. He also recognizes when he can handle a situation on his own and when it's better for him to get the puck to a teammate (and can often do so successfully). That's mature decision-making for a teenager in his first NHL season, and it should serve as the foundation for a productive career.Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageDuring the second period of Monday night's tilt between the Wild and Flyers, Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk took exception to Philadelphia forward Scott Laughton invading his personal space.

Jake Gardiner's head coach and teammates had his back after he was booed in a defeat on home ice Monday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs blue-liner heard boos nearly every time he touched the puck in the third period of a 6-3 loss to the Avalanche, after forward Carl Soderberg overpowered him, stole the puck, and scored a shorthanded goal to give Colorado the lead late in the second frame."That hasn't happened before, that's for sure," Gardiner told reporters postgame. "Not something you want to hear, but plays happen in the game, fans are passionate and they want to win."Leafs bench boss Mike Babcock came to the rearguard's defense, adding that Toronto fans are entitled to express themselves."He's a really, really good player, a really important piece," Babcock said. "He didn't play good. The good thing about our fans is they're passionate, they want us to win, they want us to play way harder than that. We want to play harder than that for them. I think we've done a good job over time here to be a real good team to watch. We weren't good enough to watch. They paid their money, they're allowed to say what they want. The bottom line is he's an important player for us, we need him to be good."Mitch Marner insisted Gardiner doesn't get enough recognition for his contributions."The guy does everything for this team," the forward said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "People don't give him enough credit ever ... (it was) pretty disappointing to hear that. That guy means a lot to this team not just on the ice, but off the ice as well."Fellow Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly emphasized how important Gardiner has been to the club for nearly a decade."Jake's a great player, he's been a great player for this team for eight years now, maybe more," Rielly said. "He comes to work every day like a pro, works hard. His teammates love him, he's the most popular guy in this room, he works hard. Guys make mistakes out there all night. That's the way the game is, it's played on ice so things happen that can be unpredictable. Just happens that ends up in the back of the net, if not it's probably a nothing play. He's a pro, he'll come to work tomorrow ready to go and we'll move on. Like I said, we've got a road trip to worry about."Gardiner was held pointless with a five-on-five Corsi For rating of 22.22 and an even plus-minus rating Monday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Details have emerged concerning the incident that saw the Columbus Blue Jackets withhold goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky from the team for one of their games last week.After being pulled with 11 minutes left in a 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 8, Bobrovsky went straight to the dressing room to get undressed and hit the showers, sources confirmed to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Bobrovsky was unavailable to return to the crease in the unlikely event that backup Joonas Korpisalo had to exit the game and his actions infuriated head coach John Tortorella, Portzline adds.Following the game, Seth Jones, Boone Jenner, and Cam Atkinson were among a group of Blue Jackets players that pulled Bobrovsky aside for a meeting on the tarmac before the team's flight from Tampa.In the aftermath of the incident, Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen kept Bobrovsky from joining the team for a Jan. 10 contest versus the Nashville Predators for disciplinary reasons that were kept under wraps by the team.Bobrovsky has started one game since the incident, winning a 7-5 decision over the New York Rangers on Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen returned to the crease on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.Andersen missed Toronto's last eight games due to a groin injury and more recently, the flu.He's put himself in the Vezina Trophy conversation this season on the back of a 20-9-1 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average.Andersen has arguably been Toronto's MVP this season, as the club went 4-4-0 during his eight-game hiatus - with Garret Sparks and Michael Hutchinson defending the cage - but managed a 9-5-0 record during Auston Matthews' month-long absence earlier in the campaign.Sparks missed the last five games due to a concussion, but he'll return as Andersen's backup on Monday, according to Masters.Since Hutchinson has played less than 10 games this season, he can be sent down to the AHL without having to clear waivers. The Maple Leafs traded a fifth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for Hutchinson on Dec. 29.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hours after trading away a veteran, Bob Murray revealed he's going to resume negotiations with his biggest pending unrestricted free agent.After shipping Andrew Cogliano to the Dallas Stars for Devin Shore on Monday, the Anaheim Ducks general manager explained his approach to Jakob Silfverberg's future."You take another crack at signing him," Murray said, according to the club's official website. "We're going to do that right now and we'll see where that goes. Silvy knows exactly where I'm at. He's a good hockey player. He's one of those ones right now standing up and being counted. I have to take a shot at it. We'll see where we go."Silfverberg is in the final season of the four-year, $15-million pact he inked with the Ducks in the summer of 2015. The deal carries a $3.75-million cap hit.The 28-year-old winger has been one of the few bright spots for the Ducks this campaign, leading the team with 12 goals in 41 games.He was moved up to Anaheim's top line Sunday night, playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peter Chiarelli and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers' brass are reportedly pulling out all the stops to help salvage their season.The organization is on a "full-court press" to find forward help, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.

Josh Gorges is calling it quits.The rugged blue-liner announced his retirement after spending 13 NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres.

The Anaheim Ducks traded veteran forward Andrew Cogliano to the Dallas Stars on Monday in exchange for forward Devin Shore.The speedy Cogliano, 31, is arguably the NHL's most durable player, having missed just two games in his 12-year career, which was due to a two-game suspension last season. Like most Ducks players, he's in the midst of a down year, having collected just three goals and eight assists in 46 games - well off his usual 15-goal, 35-point pace.Shore, a second-round pick by the Stars in 2012, has tallied five goals and 12 assists this season, putting him on track to match his 32-, and 33-point outputs from each of his first two NHL campaigns.The Ducks will save nearly $1 million in cap space with this trade. Shore's cap hit is $2.3 million and he'll be a restricted free agent when his deal expires after next season. Cogliano's signed through the 2020-21 campaign with a $3.25-million cap hit.The deal comes with the Ducks in the midst of an 11-game losing streak, so it's possible general manager Bob Murray was seeking a modest shake-up while adding a younger player in the 24-year-old Shore.The Stars, who currently sit third in the Central Division with 50 points, are in win-now mode and acquired a veteran forward for the stretch run.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Central Division powerhouses, the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets, are both keeping an eye on Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds ahead of the Feb. 25 NHL trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.On Thursday, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that Simmonds is "more likely than not to be traded" before the deadline.Simmonds is in the final year of his contract, but his team-friendly $3.975-million cap hit makes him one of the more attractive rental options available. He does, however, have a limited no-trade clause, in which he can submit a 12-team no-trade list.Simmonds is having a down year by his standards, but the power forward would be an invaluable addition for any team gearing up for a deep playoff run, given that physicality tends to amp up in the postseason. Nashville and Winnipeg are already considered two of the heaviest teams in the league, so adding Simmonds would make either team even more dangerous.The 30-year-old is on pace for 25 goals, but his 35 points would be his lowest mark in a full season since joining the Flyers in 2011-12. Of course, his assist total would likely be higher if he were on a better team, surrounded by better linemates. The Flyers are dead-last in the Eastern Conference, and Simmonds is currently skating with Nolan Patrick and Scott Laughton.The Predators and Jets sit comfortably atop the Central Division with 58 points apiece, but both clubs could stand to add some scoring depth up front.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 (as of Jan. 13) and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Trade for Wayne SimmondsTeam: Flyers

Randy Carlyle's job appears safe for now.Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray said as much after his club lost its 11th straight game Sunday, falling to the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime."While it's not my preference to make comments on this topic during the season, our recent play has led to many questions. Our fans are frustrated, rightfully so, and deserve a response from me," Murray said in a statement following the defeat."At this time, I am not considering a coaching change," he continued. "I am more focused on our players, specifically with who is going to step up in this situation. The way we played (Sunday night) was a step in the right direction, but we need much, much more. We have higher expectations for this group, and they should expect more from themselves."Despite the lengthy losing skid, the Ducks remain within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Little scored the overtime winner as the Winnipeg Jets overcame a pair of deficits to beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Sunday night, handing Anaheim its 11th consecutive defeat.The Jets trailed 2-0 in the first period and 3-2 late in the second before Ben Chiarot tied it with about six minutes left in the third.Anaheim falls to 19-18-9 on the season, sitting just outside the Western Conference playoff picture with 47 points. Winnipeg improved to 29-14-2, good for first place in the Central Division.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sergei Bobrovsky is in the crease for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the New York Rangers on Sunday.The star goalie was held out versus the Nashville Predators on Thursday for disciplinary reasons stemming from an unspecified incident. Bobrovsky rejoined the team Friday but served as the backup to Joonas Korpisalo in Saturday's overtime win over the Washington Capitals.The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has endured a down season by his standards, posting an 18-13-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average. Bobrovsky, 30, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Trevor Moore to a two-year, $1.55-million contract extension, the team announced on Sunday.The 23-year-old has spent the majority of this season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He ranks fourth in the AHL with 19 goals, and overall Moore has recorded 26 points in 30 games.In six games with the Maple Leafs, he's notched one goal and two assists.Moore is in the final year of his entry-level contract and was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau ripped his team on Saturday after the club lost 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings.The Red Wings outshot the Wild 29-7 over the final 40 minutes, leading Boudreau to his harsh criticism."That was the worst game that we've played since I've been here as coach," Boudreau said postgame. "Effort, compete, I don't know where it was. I don't know if they're still tired from this road trip or what have you, but I'm really disappointed in tonight's effort.""If your best players aren't your best players you aren't going to win a game," he added. "It's as simple as that. When I look down and Ek's (Joel Eriksson) line is the best line that we have out there, then we're in trouble."Minnesota still sits in the Western Conference's second wild-card spot after missing an opportunity to leapfrog the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. To Boudreau, Saturday's effort was another example of the team failing to take advantage of games against weaker squads."The reason we're in the spot we are is because we don't play well against teams that are underneath us in the standings," Boudreau said. "If we played them like we were playing Winnipeg all the time, we'd be up closer to 60 points."The Wild will have an opportunity to buck that trend and get back in the coach's good graces when they tangle with the 31st-ranked Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets took a jab at Evgeny Kuznetsov and the Washington Capitals after beating them in overtime Saturday night.Kuznetsov busted out his patented bird celebration after tying the game with just over a minute remaining in the third period. Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin then won it in the extra frame, and his teammates responded by doing the bird celebration themselves.

Braden Holtby was forced to leave Saturday's game after Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson's stick hit him through the mask.

Sergei Bobrovsky has returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he's not getting back into the crease just yet.Joonas Korpisalo is starting Saturday against the Washington Capitals, Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella told reporters before the game.Tortorella said he thinks Korpisalo - who stopped 32-of-35 shots in Thursday's victory over the Nashville Predators - deserves another start.Columbus will play the second of a back-to-back Sunday against the New York Rangers, but the Blue Jackets bench boss wouldn't say whether Bobrovsky will get the nod for that contest.Bobrovsky was held out Thursday night for disciplinary reasons. He returned to the team for Friday's practice and team meeting, after which general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said the club was moving on from the situation.Korpisalo has a .891 save percentage in 16 appearances this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle's emotions boiled over when asked about his job security following the club's 10th straight loss on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins."What do you mean? What are you trying to say? Well what do you think?" Carlyle replied, according to The Athletic's Josh Cooper.When it was pointed out to Carlyle that he had neither confirmed nor denied concern about where he stood with the club, he abruptly ended his media scrum just three minutes after it began."Well then don't ask the dumb questions," he said before walking away. The disgruntled bench boss then called the reporter a "jerk," according to Mike Coppinger of the L.A. Times.It's understandable that Carlyle would be feeling the warmth of the hot seat. The Ducks are in free fall, and their defeat at the hands of the Penguins was not pretty. Anaheim was up 3-0 after the first period, and held a 4-3 advantage heading into the third frame, but ultimately fell 7-4.Adding insult to injury, the Ducks lost at home to the basement dwelling Ottawa Senators in their previous matchup.Some of the underlying numbers suggest this type of collapse was inevitable. The Ducks allow the third-most shots in the league and take the fewest. On a per 60-minute basis at 5-on-5, they rank in the bottom third of the league in scoring chances generated, and allow the most scoring chances against. The heroics of goaltender John Gibson has covered up these warts for most of the season.A 10-game losing streak can be more than enough to ruin a season in the parity-filled NHL, but miraculously the Ducks are just a point out of a playoff spot, giving Carlyle a chance - for now - to turn the ship around and silence the critics.(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two years removed from inception, the Columbus Blue Jackets were rudderless when they selected Rick Nash with the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Nash, a behemoth of a winger who evoked comparisons to Eric Lindros and Brendan Shanahan for his enviable combination of size and scoring ability, was unfazed."Seems like a great situation to step into, so I'm very happy," Nash told the CBC at the time.It wasn't, of course. The Blue Jackets had finished dead last in the Western Conference that year, struggling more than they did in their uninspired inaugural season, but Nash was the unflappable type. This only became clearer throughout his stellar NHL career, which came to an unceremonious end Friday after 15 seasons. Reeling, still, from the concussion he sustained last March, Nash announced through his agent that he's done playing hockey, as the risk of further brain injury is "far too great."Through no fault of his own, Nash - who didn't bother fielding offers in free agency this past offseason amid persistent post-concussion problems - was constantly beset with something as a player, be it lousy teammates or an injury to his back, groin, or, too frequently, his head. In his nine seasons with Columbus, despite Nash's Herculean efforts, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs just once. With the New York Rangers, who acquired him ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, Nash was frequently ailing and eventually became a shell of the player he once was. Still, while circumstance rarely seemed to swing in his favor, Nash's talent and resilience nevertheless enabled him to compile one of the finest resumes of his generation.B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / GettyIn 1,060 games split between the Blue Jackets, Rangers, and, briefly, Boston Bruins (who landed him from New York ahead of last year's trade deadline), Nash potted 437 goals - tying him with Pavel Bure for 67th on the all-time list - while adding 368 assists. His comparably modest position on the all-time points leaderboard - with 805, he's tied with Milan Hejduk for 161st - evinces that he was often alone out there when he was at his most dominant, before the injuries started to pile up.In his first season with Columbus, an 18-year-old Nash finished third in Calder Trophy voting and tied Tyler Arnason for second in points among rookies - behind only Henrik Zetterberg - with 39. The following year, Nash blossomed into a bona fide star, leading the NHL with 41 goals to become the youngest player ever to nab the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. (Ten players have scored that many goals in a season before turning 20, with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux among them.) He also earned his first of six All-Star nominations that year, cementing himself as one of the game's most prolific scorers.From that superb sophomore campaign through 2011-12, only Ilya Kovalchuk, Alex Ovechkin, Jarome Iginla, and Dany Heatley put the puck in the net more times than Nash, a paragon of consistency who remained tireless in his efforts to lug the perpetually moribund Blue Jackets into the postseason. Once, he actually succeeded, carrying Columbus in 2008-09 to its first-ever playoff berth with a career-high 79 points. The Blue Jackets proceeded to get swept in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings. Nash, who was named the team's captain just a year prior, scored a goal and notched two assists in the series for a team-high three points.After three more decidedly on-brand campaigns - a minimum of 30 goals per, that is - Nash, who signed an eight-year extension only two seasons earlier, was traded to New York. He stills owns the Blue Jackets' franchise records for games played (674), goals (289), power-play goals (83), short-handed goals (14), game-winning goals (44), goals per game (0.43), and assists (258). But while Nash's talents went mostly to waste in Columbus, he was a boon to Team Canada on international ice, most notably helping his country secure a championship at the 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyQuickly, though, after a terrific performance (42 points in 44 games) in his first season with the Rangers - the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign - Nash's effectiveness waned as his health problems increased. A concussion sustained early in 2013-14 precipitated his least productive seasons, in terms of total points and points per game, since his rookie year. His equally disappointing postseason - 10 points in 25 games - gave him a playoff reputation he never managed to shake.Nash, then 30, rebounded with aplomb the following season, scoring a career-best 42 goals in 79 games, but decline rapidly set in; over the next three seasons, while battling a litany of groin, knee, back, and concussion problems, Nash averaged only 66 games per year, never once eclipsing 23 goals or 38 points. And now, nine months after his latest concussion, Nash's career is done, months before his 35th birthday.And it's a tragically fitting end to a career colored by rotten luck. Nash spent his best days on an awful team, after all, and couldn't stay healthy - or approximate his former self - once he finally got to play for a contender. Bad luck is an occupational hazard in professional sports, though, and Nash still carved out a damn fine legacy in spite of his. Most athletes would kill to be so unlucky.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson opened up about his mental health struggles in an Instagram post on Friday, saying his arrest last year stemmed from a relapse after 23 months of sobriety.The soon to be 27-year-old voluntarily entered the NHL's substance abuse program after the events that unfolded in June 2018."I am currently sober and committed to living a healthy lifestyle so that I can be the father, partner, teammate, and person I want to be," Watson's post read.Watson - who admitted to dealing with anxiety, depression, and alcoholism since the age of 18 - was handed an 18-game suspension after being arrested for domestic assault.He pleaded no contest and agreed to a judicial diversion program that would dismiss the charge if he served three months probation and completed treatment and batterer's intervention programs.Both Watson and his partner Jennifer struggle with alcoholism."Jennifer and I are in a good place. We are healthy, happy and committed to our own individual sobriety as well as continuing to strengthen our relationship. We have learned from our mistakes and are excited to move forward in our relationship. We wish only to raise our daughter Olivia in the most healthy and loving atmosphere as we can provide."The NHL initially suspended Watson for 27 games but an arbitrator reduced the suspension to 18. He was reinstated in November and has six goals and two assists in 28 games with the Predators this season.Here is Watson's full statement:

The Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are hoping to put a recent incident that saw the former Vezina Trophy winner benched Thursday in the rear-view mirror.A day after the club announced Bobrovsky was being held out against the Nashville Predators for failing to meet certain "expectations and values," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told TSN's Pierre LeBrun that the issue has been resolved and the Blue Jackets are "moving on" from the situation.Speaking to reporters Friday, Kekalainen refused to divulge what exactly the incident entailed, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. The club's GM wouldn't comment on whether the team had asked Bobrovsky to waive his no-movement clause.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.25 million, the team announced Friday."Casey has excelled for us at every level, first in Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and now here in Pittsburgh," general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement.The 27-year-old is enjoying his longest stretch of games in the NHL after just 14 appearances with Pittsburgh last season. In 26 games in 2018-19, DeSmith has gone 12-7-4 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average.DeSmith's extension will keep him with the Penguins through the 2021-22 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon says his outburst directed at head coach Jared Bednar during Wednesday's game was unacceptable.The 23-year-old was seen screaming at Bednar on the bench in a game the team dropped 5-3 to the Calgary Flames."That's unacceptable on my part," MacKinnon said on Friday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I can't be doing that stuff... I was just really frustrated, but I love playing for Bedsy.""We spoke after the game and Bedsy’s the least sensitive guy ever, so it’s all good."

Six-time NHL All-Star Rick Nash is retiring, citing ongoing concussion symptoms and the risk of further brain injuries, his agent announced in a statement Friday.

Brad Marchand and Lars Eller chirped each other through the media after a heated Thursday night tilt between their clubs.The dynamic Boston Bruins pest and the Washington Capitals forward criticized each other after a 4-2 Capitals victory, during which Eller tried to instigate a second-period fight that Marchand refused."Everyone saw what he is," Eller said postgame, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan. "There's not a lot of integrity in his game."Marchand was ready with a response when asked about it shortly thereafter."I really don't feel the need to try to prove anything," he said, according to the Boston Herald's Marisa Ingemi. "He plays 10-12 minutes a night and I'm playing 20."Eller received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his role in the sequence.Marchand had a typically eventful game, jawing with Capitals agitator Tom Wilson after Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov was hurt in a collision with the Bruins' Ryan Donato.

St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn is drawing trade interest around the league, TSN's Pierre LeBrun said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."The underachieving Blues are in "full listening mode," according to LeBrun, including in conversations concerning the team's core players.Schenn would be more than just a rental if he's moved before the Feb. 25 trade deadline; he's signed through next season at a $5.125-million cap hit.The 27-year-old set career highs in both goals (28) and assists (42) last season - his first in St. Louis. Like most of the Blues, he's regressed in 2018-19 with just nine goals and 15 assists in 37 games.Nonetheless, Schenn's ability to play both center and wing while providing a physical presence in a team's top six certainly makes him an attractive commodity.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a better chance Wayne Simmonds gets dealt before the trade deadline than stays with the Philadelphia Flyers beyond it, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.On Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading", McKenzie reported new general manager Chuck Fletcher could move the longtime Flyers forward. Fletcher is reportedly looking to add a goaltender, a top-four defenseman, and a top-nine center."Will he trade veterans between now and the deadline? Absolutely," McKenzie said. "Wayne Simmonds is more likely than not to be traded. Not 100 percent, but more likely than not."And while Fletcher could get draft picks and prospects coming back in for a guy like Simmonds or another veteran player, he's also planning on using draft picks, prospects and younger players to try (to) go out and achieve those things; the goalie, the defenseman, and the center."Simmonds is in the final year of his contract, carrying a cap hit of nearly $4 million. He came into Thursday's action ranking third on the club with 13 goals in 43 contests.Philadelphia sat dead-last in the NHL entering play Thursday, although they have a game in hand on the Ottawa Senators and the Los Angeles Kings.The NHL's trade deadline for the 2018-19 campaign is Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tortorella isn't interested in divulging the reason Sergei Bobrovsky was disciplined by his team.The Columbus Blue Jackets head coach repeatedly stated "the (press) release will speak for itself" when asked to elaborate on the situation Thursday.Earlier in the day, the club announced the goaltender would not be with the team for its game against the Nashville Predators, with Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen revealing in the release that an incident occurred in which Bobrovsky failed to meet "certain expectations and values" established within the organization.Kekalainen also said it was an internal matter and that the club would have "no further comment at this time.""There's no sense asking," Tortorella told reporters when asked about it Thursday. "My answer is the release will speak for itself, and as far as the players (go), I've already told the players. There's no sense in talking to them, either. This will be handled inside (the team). Jarmo and I will do the speaking on it if any more speaking needs to be done, but the release speaks for itself."The Blue Jackets bench boss was later asked by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline if there's a chance Bobrovsky has played his final game with Columbus."How can you ask me that question?" Tortorella replied after beginning to answer with his familiar refrain about the press release."I'm just worried about this hockey game," he added. "I'm not trying to be inconsiderate. We have a game to play, and it's a very important game for us. As you need to worry about the fans, I need to worry about the hockey team."The incident in question took place sometime between the latter stages of the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and before the team flew home an hour or so after the game, sources told Portzline.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.