Boston Bruins forward David Backes has been suspended three games for his check to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Blake Coleman during Thursday's game, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Here's the hit that earned Backes the ban:

Nathan Oystrick will no longer serve behind the bench or in the front office for the Humboldt Broncos.

With 2018 winding down, theScore looked back at the previous 12 months and voted on the top 25 sportspeople of the year. Here's the first installment, highlighting Nos. 25-21.25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 (Sat.) | 10-6 (Sun.) | 5-1 (Mon.)25. Gritty, mascot, Philadelphia FlyersIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAfter being without a mascot since the 1970s, the Philadelphia Flyers went all-in with a monstrous mess of terrifying tangerine fibers and bulbous eyes when they unveiled Gritty in September. As the antithesis of the cute and cuddly mascots running rampant across North American sports, Gritty came in like a wrecking ball and immediately built a singular online presence that's heavy on memes while distracting Flyers fans from the sorry state of their team. - Michael Chandler24. Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir, Figure SkatingROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP / GettyTessa Virtue and Scott Moir entered the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang as two of the biggest names in figure skating. They exited as the most decorated pair in the sport's Olympic history following a series of transcendent performances - including a world record in the short ice dance - that elevated figure skating into the mainstream for a few weeks. Virtue and Moir's chemistry may or may not extend beyond the ice, but that's irrelevant. Name a better duo - we'll wait. - Arun Srinivasan23. Mookie Betts, OF, Boston Red SoxAlex Trautwig / Major League Baseball / GettyIt's unlikely that Mookie Betts will ever have a better year than he did in 2018. The superstar outfielder filled his trophy case with both individual and team accolades while establishing himself as one of baseball's most dynamic players. Betts won his third Gold Glove, was named to his third All-Star team, claimed his second Silver Slugger, and became the second player in Boston Red Sox history to record a 30-30 season. If that wasn’t enough, Betts capped off his incredible year with a World Series title, an American League MVP Award, and the birth of his first child. - Brandon Wile22. Lewis Hamilton, F1 Dan Istitene / Getty Images Sport / GettyLewis Hamilton roared to a fifth world championship in 2018 due to steely driving in treacherous rain, spectacular maneuvering in dire circumstances, and an error-free finish to the season. The 33-year-old also wowed fans with an audacious triple pass at the Bahrain Grand Prix and later showed the determination and poise of a champion at the German Grand Prix, winning from 14th place on the grid. Hamilton - who's already cemented himself as an all-time great Formula 1 driver - is now in position to break Michael Schumacher's record for the most wins (91) and titles (seven) in history. - Anthony Lopopolo21. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, AlabamaJonathan Bachman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe powerhouse that Nick Saban's built at Alabama is often thought to win regardless of its quarterback, but Tua Tagovailoa's done his best to prove that notion false this year. The Hawaiian-born standout arrived as a highly touted freshman and then announced himself to the nation with a monster second-half performance in relief of Jalen Hurts during the 2018 national championship game.

David Backes will have to answer for his high check on Blake Coleman.The Boston Bruins winger faces a hearing on Friday after catching the New Jersey Devils center with a shoulder to the head late in the third period of Thursday's game.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Jake Guentzel to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6 million, the club announced Thursday.The deal includes a partial no-trade clause in the final two years, during which Guentzel can submit a 12-team no-trade list, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie.The 24-year-old Guentzel is enjoying a breakout season with 15 goals and 33 points in 36 games while averaging a career-high 18:41 of ice time per night. He was set to be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of this campaign."Jake established himself as an impact player for our team from the beginning, especially during 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "He has become a core player on the team and we are thrilled to get Jake signed long-term with the Penguins."In his short career, Guentzel's established himself as a clutch playoff performer with 23 goals and 42 points across 37 postseason contests. He helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup in the 2016-17 campaign.Based on the additional $6-million cap hit of Guentzel's contract, the Penguins are now projected to enter the upcoming offseason boasting just $5.13 million in cap space with six unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues will host the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, league sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.St. Louis hasn't hosted the annual festivities since 1988; that game was highlight by a marvelous performance by Pittsburgh Penguins legend Mario Lemieux.

The Nashville Predators are getting two of their star players back.Defenseman P.K. Subban and top-line winger Viktor Arvidsson were both activated off injured reserve, the club announced Thursday.Subban's missed the last 19 games with an upper-body ailment, while Arvidsson's been out for 21 contests with a broken thumb.However, the Predators have managed to stay competitive without Subban, Arvidsson, and Filip Forsberg in the lineup. They sit four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division, albeit with one extra game played.In a corresponding move, Nashville placed Yannick Weber on IR.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will return to the lineup Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, head coach Bruce Cassidy announced.The 41-year-old Chara missed the past 19 games with a knee injury.In that time, the Bruins went 10-7-2 and find themselves in the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot, three points back of the Buffalo Sabres for third in the Atlantic Division.Cassidey also announced that forward Jake DeBrusk, who missed the last nine games with a concussion, and defenseman Kevan Miller, who missed the last 13 contests with a throat injury, will also return against New Jersey.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators will be without Craig Anderson for the near future, as the goaltender suffered a concussion before the Christmas break and will miss at least two games, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Thursday.Anderson has started in 30 of the Senators' 37 games this season, posting a 14-13-3 record and 3.58 goals-against average. He was pulled in his last start against the New Jersey Devils after allowing five goals in two periods.The Senators play the New York Islanders on Friday before returning home to face the Washington Capitals the next night.Ottawa recalled goalie Marcus Hogberg from the AHL's Belleville Senators to fill Anderson's spot.Dorion also announced defenseman Justin Falk suffered a concussion before the break and won't play this weekend.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon were named the captains of the 2019 NHL All-Star Game on Thursday.Fan voting was used to select the captains for each division.McDavid will represent the Pacific Division for the third straight year. The 21-year-old sits fourth in league scoring with 52 points, seven back of Mikko Rantanen.Matthews will make his third All-Star game appearance in as many seasons since entering the league. By being named the captain of the Atlantic Division, the 21-year-old earned a Schedule A bonus of $212,500, according to Cap Friendly. Matthews has recorded 19 goals and 34 points in 23 games this season.Ovechkin's eighth NHL All-Star Game appearance will come this year. The game will also mark the third time in the past four years that he's been named captain of the Metropolitan Division. The sniper leads the NHL with 29 goals through 35 games.

New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall will miss Thursday night's road contest against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury and is considered day to day, according to Chris Ryan of NJ.com. It's the same ailment that forced the 27-year-old to miss two games earlier in December.Hall has suited up for 33 of the Devils' 35 games this year, leading his team in scoring with 11 goals and 26 assists. He notched 93 points in 76 games last season en route to winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP.His absence leaves a huge gap in the lineup for the struggling Devils. New Jersey sits last in the Eastern Conference with 31 points and only has three wins in its last 10 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada jumped out to an utterly dominant start at the 2019 world juniors, running over Denmark 14-0 on Wednesday night to open round-robin play.The defending gold medalist got contributions from just about everybody, but Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost led the way with three goals and two assists. Captain Maxime Comtois was also a huge factor, becoming just the fifth Canadian player in history to score four goals in a game at the tournament, according to Mark Masters of TSN.Canada had eight other players put forth multi-point efforts and outshot Denmark 42-12.Both teams are back in action Thursday, with Canada taking on Switzerland and Denmark facing another tough test versus Russia.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild will be without Matt Dumba for a minimum of three months after the defenseman underwent successful surgery to a repair a ruptured right pectoralis muscle, general manager Paul Fenton announced Wednesday.The 24-year-old was injured Dec. 15 against the Calgary Flames and left the contest after logging just five minutes. He fought Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk in the first period but Fenton couldn't confirm that's when Dumba was hurt.The news is a huge blow to the Wild, who currently sit seven points outside a Central Division playoff spot and two points back of the final wildcard position in the Western Conference. Dumba ranks second among NHL blue-liners with 12 goals in 32 games. He's also chipped in 10 assists while logging over 23 minutes per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens recalled defenseman Karl Alzner from the AHL, the team announced Wednesday.The Canadiens waived Alzner on Nov. 26, but he was assigned to the Laval Rocket after going unclaimed. His recall coincides with Montreal blue-liner David Schlemko being placed on injured reserve.Alzner, 30, signed a five-year, $23.125-million contract with Montreal in July 2017. He's notched one assist in eight games with the Habs this season while posting two points in 10 contests in the minors.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here are five key questions about the 2019 world junior hockey championship, which begins Dec. 26 in Vancouver.Who are the favorites?On paper, four countries stand out: Canada, Finland, Russia, and the United States. You can read more details in our team-by-team previews, but these rosters appear to be the deepest, especially when it comes to goal-scoring threats.Out of that group, Canada's likely the favorite to repeat as champion, but will be without talented forwards Gabe Vilardi and Alex Formenton due to injuries. Finland's filled with some serious skill, but is also missing several of its best age-eligible players, including Kristian Vesalainen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Russia has a deep roster, but it's a green one in terms of experience at the world juniors. Meanwhile, the Americans pack a lot of firepower up front, but will have to face both Finland and Sweden in group play.There are also potential contenders outside that top four. The Czech Republic - with AHLers Filip Zadina, Martin Kaut, and Martin Necas - is surprisingly deep up front, while Sweden's always a factor, even with a less impressive roster than usual this year.How will top NHL prospects Jack Hughes (U.S.) and Kaapo Kakko (Finland) fare in their head-to-head matchup?Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt'll sure be fun to find out.Hughes and Kakko - the top two prospects for the 2019 NHL draft - will meet when the United States and Finland face off on New Year's Eve. Here's how both players are faring in their respective leagues this season:

Finding the right role for every player is imperative to success in today's NHL. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery or a bump in the lineup for players to reach newfound heights. Here are three players who have managed to transform their roles successfully so far in 2018-19.Elias Lindholm, Calgary FlamesA new team and role have done wonders for Lindholm. The 2013 fifth-overall pick spent five seasons trying to find offensive consistency as a center with the Carolina Hurricanes, but has soared to new heights through his first campaign as a winger with the Flames.The 23-year-old has had the luxury of playing alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, one of the league's most dynamic duos. Still, Lindholm has made the most of his fresh start, already establishing a new career-high with 17 goals while also on pace for 86 points, which would nearly double his previous best total.Bo Horvat, Vancouver CanucksJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyHorvat has elevated his role to become new the leader of the up-and-coming Canucks in the post-Sedin era. He may not be as flashy or gain as much attention as younger dynamos Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, but Horvat has evolved from a promising young player to a polished two-way pivot.Simply put, he's been the Canucks' workhorse. He starts more than 60 percent of shifts in the defensive zone, yet is on pace for a career-best offensive season with 17 goals and 17 assists through 39 games. In addition, Horvat ranks 10th among all NHL centers in averaging 20:47 per contest, and has won 53.8 percent of draws in his breakout campaign.Tomas Tatar, Montreal CanadiensMinas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter multiple healthy scratches in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs and being traded twice in the span of seven months, Tatar has finally settled down and found some success in his new role with the Canadiens.A change of scenery has allowed him to transform his role from an underused bottom-six winger in Vegas to a prominent contributor in the Habs' attack. Tatar's 26 points this season leaves him just 10 shy of his entire total from last season with 45 games to go, and his hot start has helped ease Montreal's transition from a much-publicized split with the man he was traded for - Max Pacioretty.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The arrival of the holiday season has an additional meaning for hockey fans, even as NHL arenas go dark for a three-day stretch.It's officially time for the world junior hockey championship. Close friends become fierce rivals. Rivals become teammates and brothers in arms. And while the games should provide plenty of drama, fans shouldn't be shocked if it's an all-North American showdown for gold.Here's a team-by-team breakdown of this year's World Junior Championship (2018 results and team stats included).Canada (Group A)Kevin Light / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT6-0-1193911ChampionHead coach: Tim HunterStrengths: Forward depth is always a strength for Canada, and this edition of the tournament is no exception - especially since roster selection, for the most part, favored skill players over role players (which hasn't necessarily been the case in recent years).Weaknesses: Canada's defense and goaltending are good but green. Opponents would be wise to exploit this. Though the Canadians should have the depth to recover, they've got some injury concerns: It's yet to be determined whether Jaret Anderson-Dolan, recovering from wrist surgery, will be able to play center and take faceoffs, and they're still waiting on the status of forward Brett Leason, who injured his hand in a game against the U SPORTS All-Star team.Notable draft prospect: F Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski (QMJHL)Outlook: Setting out to defend last year's gold-medal win with just one returning player (Maxime Comtois) from the championship squad, Canada's chances are good. Keep an eye on players like Cody Glass, Owen Tippett, Evan Bouchard, and Ty Smith, and enjoy getting your first look at Lafreniere on the big stage. One thing to keep in mind: Beating Canada will be a battle as always - especially with this lineup - but this tournament is no longer theirs for the taking. That's good for hockey.Sweden (Group B)Marissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT6-1-0172814Runner-upHead coach: Tomas MontenStrengths: The mobile, skilled blue line ranks among the best in the tournament and features recent first-rounders such as Rasmus Sandin, Erik Brannstrom, Adam Boqvist, and Nils Lundqvist.Weaknesses: Sweden lacks big-name offensive talent to match the depth of its defense, though rearguards like Boqvist and Brannstrom can contribute on the scoresheet. No stars are here to save the day. The team's going to have to score by committee.Notable draft prospect: D Philip Broberg, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)Outlook: Unlike past years, Sweden isn't one of the top squads here. Still, the Swedes could well surprise people and play spoiler. The Anaheim Ducks released Isac Lundestrom to play in the tournament, joining a forward group that includes Filip Hallander (Penguins) and Jacob Olofsson (Canadiens). And Sweden hasn't lost a round-robin game since 2007.United States (Group B)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT5-2-0143519Third placeHead coach: Mike HastingsStrengths: Forward depth. Last year's team scored 35 goals across the tournament, and this group is poised for an equally high-scoring performance.Weaknesses: One thing Team USA doesn't have this time around is pest Brady Tkachuk. In addition to agitating his opponents, Tkachuk lit up the scoresheet, ending the 2018 world juniors with nine points in seven games.Notable draft prospects: F Jack Hughes, U.S. National Team Development Program; G Spencer Knight, U.S. National Team Development ProgramOutlook: While the U.S. is not the gold-medal favorite, it's a strong contender. Between a deep forward corps, a blue line boasting several big-name NHL prospects, and a solid goaltending trio that should be internally competitive for the starter's spot, don't count the Americans out. If Hastings keeps them together (and he should), look out for the line of Joel Farabee, Hughes, and Oliver Wahlstrom. There's significant scoring potential thanks to their history together, both at home and in international tournaments. On the back end, keep an eye out for the highly touted Quinn Hughes (Canucks), as well as K'Andre Miller (Rangers) and Mattias Samuelsson (Sabres).Czech Republic (Group A)Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT4-3-0112734Fourth placeHead coach: Vaclav VaradaStrengths: Don't underestimate the additions of Filip Zadina (Detroit Red Wings), Martin Necas (Carolina Hurricanes), and Martin Kaut (Colorado Avalanche) - all of whom have played in the AHL this season - to the Czech Republic's already competitive lineup of forwards.Weaknesses: For all their strength up front, the Czechs are not in an easy group - and if they make the quarterfinals, they'll likely have to get through an intimidating opponent.Notable draft prospect: D Hugo Has, Tappara (U20 Jr. A SM-liiga)Outlook: The Czechs haven't medaled at the world juniors since 2005, but as usual, they're an intriguing spoiler. With forwards including Zadina, Necas, Kaut, Boston Bruins prospect Jakub Lauko, and Edmonton Oilers prospect Ostap Safin, plus Jakub Skarek (Islanders) in net, they could potentially push for a medal if things go well. More than half the players they invited to camp already play on North American ice. At the very least, expect them to make life difficult for the other teams in Group A.Russia (Group A)Marissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT2-2-171917Fifth placeHead coach: Valeri BraginStrengths: Goaltending. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Daniil Tarasov is Russia's projected starter with Pyotr Kochetkov and Amir Miftakhov backing him up.Weaknesses: Russia's only returning player is Klim Kostin, meaning the majority of its roster lacks any world junior experience. But the real question about the Russians is whether all their good pieces will add up to something more.Notable draft prospect: F Vasili Podkolzin, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)Outlook: After finishing fifth last year, expect Russia to come back with a vengeance. Most of the players have some professional experience, with a few in the KHL or the AHL full time. A few play in Canadian major-junior leagues. Keep an eye on forwards Vitali Kravtsov (Rangers), the 2018 KHL rookie of the year; Kostin (Blues); and Grigori Denisenko (Panthers). Alexander Alexeyev (Capitals) and Dmitri Samorukov (Oilers) are also worth monitoring.Finland (Group B)Nicholas T. LoVerde / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT2-2-171816Sixth placeHead coach: Jussi AhokasStrengths: Finland's forward corps is as solid as they come - starting with Aleksi Heponiemi, who has 26 points, including eight goals, for Karpat of the Finnish Liiga this season. The puck-moving blue line is nothing to sneeze at, either.Weaknesses: Finland's missing many of its best eligible players. Winnipeg Jets forward Kristian Vesalainen, currently playing with Jokerit of the KHL, turned down his invitation, and the Canadiens opted to keep forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Niklas Nordgren, a forward who plays for HIFK in the Liiga, was recently injured and likely won't make the trip to Vancouver.Notable draft prospects: F Kaapo Kakko, TPS (Liiga); D Anttoni Honka, JYP (Liiga); D Lassi Thomson, Kelowna (WHL); D Mikko Kokkonen, Jukurit (Liiga)Outlook: For a country that's perennially among the world's top hockey powers, Finland had a rough time at last year's tourney. Fortunately for Suomi fans, things are looking up. Top-two centers Heponiemi and Rasmus Kupari can hang with the best of them, and the Predators' late release of Eeli Tolvanen makes the absences of Vesalainen and Kotkaniemi sting a little less. Finland's back end is bolstered by the late additions of Blackhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju and Bruins blue-liner Urho Vaakanainen, who's recovered from a concussion that kept him out for nearly two months.Slovakia (Group B)Adam Pulicicchio / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT2-3-061217Seventh placeHead coach: Ernest BokrosStrengths: Much of this team plays together for most of the year, and should benefit from that chemistry and familiarity. Slovakia's also bringing back nine players from last year's roster, including five forwards.Weaknesses: While Slovakia can usually hang around to make everyone else's lives difficult, the country's chances of extending its quarterfinals streak could hinge on goaltending - and all three of the team's netminders are new to the tournament (Jakub Kostelny was Slovakia's third goalie last year, but saw no playing time).Notable draft prospects: F Maxim Cajkovic, Saint John (QMJHL)Outlook: While their last medal was in 2015, this team has made the quarterfinals every year since 2001 - not an easy feat. One gets the sense, however, that Slovakia feels a bit like it's time to put up or shut up. The roster is good, not great, but Slovakia's always a threat to win games it shouldn't win on paper. Keep an eye on draft-eligible Cajkovic, as well as three Calgary Flames forward prospects who will likely be counted on for leadership: Adam Ruzicka, Milos Roman, and Martin Pospisil.Switzerland (Group A)Nicholas T. LoVerde / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT1-4-031228Eighth placeHead coach: Christian WohlwendStrengths: More than half the players on Switzerland's roster already play in North America, so far fewer of them will need to adjust to the smaller ice.Weaknesses: Switzerland lacks a game-breaker. Nobody on the squad can completely take over the game like Jack Hughes or make things happen from the back end like Adam Boqvist. Any wins the Swiss achieve are truly going to be a team effort.Notable draft prospects: F Valentin Nussbaumer, Shawinigan (QMJHL)Outlook: Since the country's never won a world-junior medal, that's presumably the target, but to get there, Switzerland needs to score more than it did last year. Another key question is whether the team's goaltending will hold up against its opponents' offensive firepower. If it can, the Swiss should be able to make the quarterfinals. From there, who knows?Denmark (Group A)Yelena Rusko / TASS / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT2-4-051032Ninth placeHead coach: Olaf EllerStrengths: Tenacity is Denmark's biggest strength. It's the country's fifth consecutive year in the top division, and despite lacking big-name players, the Danes have kept hanging around and even occasionally made things tough for their competition. Eller's coaching is part of that tenacious identity and will be important again this year.Weaknesses: With no real standout offensive talent - they had two goals in non-relegation games last year - the Danes might have trouble scoring against the heavyweights.Notable draft prospects: G Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat (WHL)Outlook: Denmark doesn't want to end up in the relegation round again. To avoid that fate, it'll need to score more in round-robin games than it did in last year's tournament while relying on its netminders to keep the goal differential reasonable. While it'd be satisfying to give some of the top teams a scare, Denmark's real objective is simply to gain a sixth consecutive year in this division and a spot in next year's tournament in the Czech Republic.Kazakhstan* (Group B)Laszlo Szirtesi / Getty Images Sport / GettyW-L-OTLPTSGFGARESULT5-0-0132010Promoted*Promoted to top division by virtue of winning Division IAHead coach: Sergei StaryginStrengths: Many players on the Kazakhstan U20 squad have been playing together all season in the MHL, Russia's junior hockey league, for Snezhnye Barsy Astana. That familiarity benefits any team in a short tournament.Weaknesses: Kazakhstan faces a rough road. In a group with Finland, Sweden, and the U.S., it's going to be difficult to build momentum, never mind earn a win.Notable draft prospects: NoneOutlook: For the first time in a decade, Kazakhstan is back in the top division. And while the country won't contend for a medal, avoiding relegation could be a realistic target. Players returning from the Division I win will help, including forwards Artur Gatiyatov (37 points in 38 games, including 14 goals) and Sayan Daniyar (11 goals and 27 assists). Valeri Orekhov, a 19-year-old defenseman who's spent this season in the KHL with Barys Astana, has six points in 24 games.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 © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the seventh 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 Sean O'Leary and Eric Patterson.1. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-7-2) ▲🎁: A nice, simple box of chocolates. What do you get somebody who already has it all? - O'LearyPreviously: 1st2. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-10-2) ▲🎁: A right-shot defenseman, though the Maple Leafs might have to wait a couple more months. - O'LearyPreviously: 3rd3. Winnipeg Jets (24-10-2) ▲🎁: The warmest jacket on the market so Mark Scheifele never cools down. Since Dec. 1, the 25-year-old ranks second in the NHL with 20 points in 12 games. - O'LearyPreviously: 4th4. Washington Capitals (22-10-3) ▲Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty🎁: Pucks, pucks, and more pucks, since Alex Ovechkin will eventually just put them all in the opponent's net. - O'LearyPreviously: 5th5. Calgary Flames (22-12-3) ▼🎁: A shovel to fill Matthew Tkachuk's stocking with money. With 42 points in 37 games, he's going to break the bank on his next contract. - O'LearyPreviously: 2nd6. Boston Bruins (20-13-4) ▲🎁: Bubble wrap to protect Bruins heart and soul Patrice Bergeron, because they surely don't want to face life without him in the lineup again anytime soon. - O'LearyPreviously: 16th7. Nashville Predators (22-13-2)🎁: A full lineup sheet. The Predators are battling numerous key injuries, and it's making an impact in the Central Division race. - O'LearyPreviously: 7th8. Columbus Blue Jackets (21-12-3) ▲Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty🎁: The nicest pens in the world, so superstars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky have a little more incentive to put their signatures on fresh contract extensions. - O'LearyPreviously: 11th9. San Jose Sharks (19-12-7) ▲🎁: Whatever Erik Karlsson wants most. Locking him up long term should be priority No. 1 for the Sharks organization. - O'LearyPreviously: 12th10. Montreal Canadiens (19-13-5) ▲🎁: A case of beer. The Canadiens deserve to put their feet up and relax over the break after being one of the biggest surprises in the league this season. Word on the street is their owner has a hookup on a discount, too. - O'LearyPreviously: 15th11. Vegas Golden Knights (20-15-4) ▲🎁: Some lucky sticks. Despite overwhelmingly positive possession numbers, the Golden Knights rank 24th with a 7.4 shooting percentage at five-on-five. - O'LearyPreviously: 14th12. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-12-6) ▲Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty🎁: Some swimming trunks. He's pulled off a couple of small trades this season, but general manager Jim Rutherford is always looking to make a big splash. - O'LearyPreviously: 17th13. Buffalo Sabres (21-11-5) ▼🎁: A playoff berth. Sabres fans have gone seven long years without postseason action, and this young, exciting outfit would provide fireworks in a matchup against any Atlantic Division adversary. - O'LearyPreviously: 9th14. Colorado Avalanche (19-12-6) ▼🎁: The first co-MVP award in NHL history. At this point, how do you choose between Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? - O'LearyPreviously: 6th15. Anaheim Ducks (19-14-5) ▼🎁: A wheelbarrow. Really, anything to help John Gibson carry the weight of this Ducks squad would be well-received. - PattersonPreviously: 10th16. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-3) ▼Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty🎁: A goal from Milan Lucic, which hasn't occurred since opening night. - PattersonPreviously: 13th17. Dallas Stars (16-11-3) ▼🎁: A spotlight to shine on rearguard Miro Heiskanen, whose sparkling debut season isn't getting much recognition. - PattersonPreviously: 8th18. New York Islanders (18-13-4)🎁: A moving truck. After rave reviews for the Islanders' return to Nassau Coliseum, who says no to packing up shop at the Barclays Center and heading back to Long Island?Previously: 18th19. New York Rangers (15-14-6)🎁: A "Rebuilding for Dummies" book. For a team that wanted to hit the reset button, it doesn't look like the Rangers know how. - PattersonPreviously: 19th20. Florida Panthers (15-14-6) ▲🎁: Selke and Lady Byng Trophies for Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers' first-line center has taken one minor penalty this season and drawn a ridiculous 27 against while maintaining a point-per-game pace. - PattersonPreviously: 26th21. Minnesota Wild (17-15-3) ▼🎁: Bandages. Losers of four straight heading into the Christmas break, the Wild need to stop the bleeding. A healthy Matt Dumba would be nice too. - PattersonPreviously: 20th22. Vancouver Canucks (17-18-4) ▲Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty🎁: A shield for their young stars. The Canucks can't have Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser trying to police themselves on the ice. They're easy targets and need to be protected. - PattersonPreviously: 30th23. Ottawa Senators (15-18-4) ▼🎁: An eraser. The story of the 2018-19 Ottawa Senators has been ugly so far, from the ongoing ownership issues to the Uber video scandal. Everyone in this organization would benefit from starting over. - PattersonPreviously: 21st24. Carolina Hurricanes (15-15-5) ▼🎁: Bigger nets. The Hurricanes lead the league in shots per game but have the second-fewest goals. This should also help provide owner Tom Dundon with more 5-4 games, which he really enjoys. - PattersonPreviously: 22nd25. Detroit Red Wings (15-17-6)🎁: A new social security number, because the identity of this Red Wings organization has been stolen. - PattersonPreviously: 25th26. St. Louis Blues (14-16-4) ▲🎁: Unlimited long-distance calling. Rumors are swirling about the Blues becoming major sellers as the trade deadline approaches. - PattersonPreviously: 27th27. Arizona Coyotes (16-18-2) ▼🎁: An offer sheet for Arizona native Auston Matthews. Dream big, right? - PattersonPreviously: 23rd28. Philadelphia Flyers (15-16-4) ▼Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty🎁: Nothing. Christmas came early for the Flyers ... twice. Gritty is a gift that keeps on giving and unwrapping Carter Hart in mid-December is an early present that should tide Philly over until next year. - PattersonPreviously: 24th29. Chicago Blackhawks (13-20-6) ▲🎁: Chicago Bears tickets. It's the only way the Blackhawks will get a taste of the postseason in 2019. - PattersonPreviously: 31st30. New Jersey Devils (12-16-7) ▼🎁: A cloning device. How nice would another Taylor Hall be? Kyle Palmieri is having a career year attempting to match Hall's production, but the Devils need another superstar to help carry the offensive load. - PattersonPreviously: 28th31. Los Angeles Kings (14-20-3) ▼🎁: A horseshoe. The Kings will need the luck when the first overall pick is on the line during the draft lottery. - PattersonPreviously: 29thCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FLINT, Mich. - Flint Firebirds head coach Eric Wellwood gathered his players near the end of practice on a crisp November day to announce a sudden change of plans.Practice was supposed to conclude with running stairs in the arena. But Wellwood canceled the exercise, citing his team's hard work over the previous 90 minutes. Perhaps he was also rewarding the group for capturing its first win the day before, a 7-4 triumph over the rival Sarnia Sting following an 0-16-1 start to the season.Wellwood, 28, inherited the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League three weeks prior. As evidenced by his patchy facial hair and the fact some players know him as "Welly," he is the league's youngest head coach.He wasn't looking for this job. A few years back, he became a coach practically by accident. And just six months ago, the former NHLer was out of hockey completely.Yet the sport that once nearly killed him proved once again to be his life's passion. So at the close of practice, Wellwood reclined at his desk and did his best to explain how he wound up there."What I've realized is that you can't plan for life," he said, laughing. "And you might as well just go with it."__________Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyFrom the time he first laced his skates as a toddler, at his backyard rink in Oldcastle, Ontario - nine miles south of Windsor - Eric Wellwood had a gift for speed."People would come over, literally, around the entire neighborhood, and come and just watch me skate," he said. "Like, they would want me to do circles as fast as I could because they couldn't believe how fast I was."One of those people watching closely was Eric's older brother, Kyle, who went on to play 489 games in the NHL. He knew Eric's natural swiftness could take him a long way in hockey."He always had a skating stride right from a little kid that was above everybody else," said Kyle.Eric's skating prowess led his local team, the Windsor Spitfires, to select him in the 2006 OHL Draft. Under the new ownership of former pros Bob Boughner and Warren Rychel, the Spitfires found themselves in a similar situation to today's Firebirds: losing a lot with a young team. Wellwood was part of the group who changed that.In Wellwood's first year, Windsor finished second-last. But in 2009 and 2010, led by Taylor Hall, Ryan Ellis, and Adam Henrique, the Spitfires won back-to-back Memorial Cups. An astounding 16 players from those championship teams have since played in the NHL.Among them was Wellwood, a long-shot sixth-rounder who debuted with the Flyers in 2010. For context, only 13 players picked after the fifth round have reached the NHL in the past five years."He willed his way into the NHL with his tenacious penalty killing and his speed," Rychel said.Wellwood caught a break as a second-year pro, when the Flyers called him up for the final quarter of the regular season (and playoffs) to replace an injured player.Andy Marlin / National Hockey League / GettyA lockout forced Wellwood to start the 2012-13 season with the Adirondack Phantoms, the club's AHL affiliate. He went back to Philadelphia when the NHL season began in January, struggled to produce, and was sent down after four games.Wellwood was frustrated, but he was only 22. Sticking in the NHL takes time and the Flyers had already demonstrated a willingness to provide opportunities. This was still part of the plan.That particular plan never came to fruition.On April 7, 2013, a Sunday afternoon, he played his final professional game. His Phantoms lost on the road to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers - and Wellwood nearly lost his life.Wellwood has never seen footage of the play, but it's something he'll never forget. "I could tell you everything," he said.Bridgeport's Nino Niederreiter dragged the puck toward the blue line, put it through Wellwood's legs, and juked to the sideboards. Wellwood reacted quickly, but lost an edge and tumbled into the wall.He was in pain. He knew something was wrong. But he didn't know how bad it was as he staggered to the bench on his own.When he got there, his teammate Jon Sim looked down and said, "Welly, you're bleeding everywhere."When Wellwood fell into the boards, his left skate blade cut deeply into his lower right leg, severing three tendons in his foot and 70 percent of his Achilles tendon. He'd also sliced multiple nerve endings and his posterior tibial artery. Now, blood was gushing out the top of his skate."Panic set in," Wellwood said.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton notched his 1,041st career helper Sunday to stand alone at 10th on the NHL's all-time assist leaderboard.The 39-year-old helped Tim Heed score in the opening frame against the Arizona Coyotes, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne.Rank Player Assists1Wayne Gretzky19632Ron Francis12493Mark Messier11934Ray Bourque11695Jaromir Jagr11556Paul Coffey11357Adam Oates10798Steve Yzerman10639Gordie Howe104910Joe Thornton1041Thornton began the 2017-18 season sitting in 13th place behind six-time Art Ross Trophy winner Mario Lemieux. On Nov. 23rd versus the Vancouver Canucks, he passed Lemieux for 11th place.The four-time All-Star and 21-year NHL veteran is eight points shy of tying Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. He currently has five goals and 11 assists so far this season.Copyright © 2018 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.This week, John's joined by ESPN prospect writer Chris Peters and former OHL scout Jonathan Kyriacou to preview the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship.Topics of discussion include:

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen was forced to retire from the NHL three years ago due to concussions and has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, as he battles with depression, severe anxiety, and panic attacks."Sometimes my whole world falls apart and I can't see the light in the end of the tunnel," Franzen told Gunnar Nordstrom of SportExpressen. "All I can do then is to sleep and lay in my bed. I take antidepressants and try to feel better again. But it quickly gets dark. Very dark."The 39-year-old's last NHL contest was Oct. 10, 2015, which was the second game of an attempted comeback from a concussion he sustained in January of the same year.Franzen has continued to feel the effects of that head trauma in the years since."Most of the time I think I am moving in the right direction, but when I have the down periods there is nothing positive. I almost give up then, and it is even worse because you think you have been better for a while," he said."It's embarrassing. I can speak to one person and the next day I've forgotten his or her name."His wife, Cissi, wrote a blog in May about her husband's struggles, describing living with him as "not easy" and "like a rollercoaster."Franzen believes moving back to his native Sweden from Detroit could help ease some of his pain"I used to go to the mountains. As soon as I see a mountain I feel better."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a scary incident Saturday night, Buffalo Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret is doing well and resting at Buffalo General Medical Center, the team announced in a statement."Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, who was hospitalized at Buffalo General Medical Center last night, is resting and doing well," the statement read. "On behalf of Rick and his family, we'd like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Rick looks forward to being back in the booth after the break."Jeanneret was taken away from KeyBank Center in a stretcher during the third period of Saturday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks. He was feeling light-headed and stopped talking during the broadcast.The 76-year-old also texted The Athletic's John Vogl Sunday morning to update his status.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has been handed a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Los Angeles Kings forward Austin Wagner on Saturday night, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Here's the collision that landed Karlsson his first career suspension:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled forward Trevor Moore from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis, the team announced.Moore will fill a hole in the Leafs' lineup left by Tyler Ennis, who suffered a broken ankle during Saturday night's win over the New York Rangers.The 23-year-old is expected to make his NHL debut when the Leafs take on the Detroit Red Wings Sunday night, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.Moore signed with Toronto in 2016 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Denver. He's recorded 17 goals and seven helpers in 27 games with the Marlies this season, and was a part of their Calder Cup-winning team last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret was removed from KeyBank Center on a stretcher and taken to hospital during the third period of Saturday's contest versus the Anaheim Ducks, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.The 76-year-old was feeling light-headed and stopped talking during the broadcast, Harrington adds. Following the game, a Sabres spokesperson said there was no update on Jeanneret's condition.Jeanneret started with the Sabres in 1971 and is honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Foster Hewitt Award winner for outstanding broadcasting.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals netminder Pheonix Copley may have given himself the greatest gift this holiday season with his performance Saturday night in Ottawa.The 26-year-old backup made 35 saves versus the Senators in a 4-0 win for the first shutout of his career. The blank sheet is a nice milestone on its own but the story within the story is an all-timer.Copley's shutout came in the Capitals' final game before the Christmas break, which normally wouldn't hold much significance until you consider he hails from North Pole, Alaska.Entering the contest, Copley owned a 7-3-1 record and a .894 save percentage.Merry Christmas, indeed.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Ennis suffered a broken ankle during Saturday's game against the New York Rangers, head coach Mike Babcock said following the contest, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.Ennis, 29, left during the second period and did not return after taking a wrist shot to the ankle and skating off the ice under his own power. The Maple Leafs went on to win the contest 5-3.Babcock didn't indicate exactly how long Ennis will be sidelined but confirmed he'll be "out for a while."The Leafs and Ennis agreed in July on a one-year contract worth $650,000. In his first season with Toronto, the diminutive forward has notched seven goals and four assists, averaging over 10 minutes of ice time in his 32 games played prior to Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson will have a hearing Sunday for a hit to the head of Los Angeles Kings forward Austin Wagner, the Department of Player Safety announced.Here's the play, which knocked Wagner out of the contest and went uncalled by officials.

The Calgary Flames removed forward Michael Frolik from injured reserve on Saturday ahead of their game against the St. Louis Blues.The 30-year-old has missed the Flames' last 15 games due to an ankle injury. Prior to that he had posted seven goals in 20 games.

Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron is in the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Nashville Predators after missing 16 games with rib and sternoclavicular injuries, the team announced.Bergeron has been sidelined since Nov. 16 after being run into the boards in a game against the Dallas Stars.In the 16 games since Bergeron went down with the injury, the Bruins have gone 9-6-1. Forwards David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand have continued to produce in Bergeron's absence with a combined 10 goals and 35 points in that span.The Bruins entered Saturday's matinee in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, three points back of the Buffalo Sabres for third in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday.Sissons missed Thursday's contest versus the Philadelphia Flyers and now joins a crowded Predators injured list that also includes Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, and P.K. Subban.Prior to being sidelined, Sissons had recorded seven goals and nine assists in 35 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild will be without Matt Dumba for "a significant time" as the defenseman is expected to have surgery for an upper-body injury next week, general manager Paul Fenton announced Friday.Dumba left Saturday's game versus the Calgary Flames after playing only five minutes. He got into a fight with Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk forty seconds into the contest.Fenton could not confirm the injury occurred during the fight."When the player says, 'I don't know when it happened,' that's what I'm going on. He does not know when it happened," Fenton said, according to Sarah McLellan of the Star Tribune.Fenton added Dumba "is in a state of shock," according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "He's visibly upset."A timeline for Dumba's return is unclear but now that surgery is likely his season could be in jeopardy, sources told Russo.The 24-year-old blue-liner has suited up for 32 games with the Wild this season, notching 12 goals and 10 assists. He missed seven games in the past three years prior to this injury.The Wild sit 11th in the Western Conference with a 17-15-2 record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Todd Radom often feels like an architect, even though the longtime graphic designer doesn't dream up buildings.A specialist in sports logos, Radom believes creating a brand identity for a professional sports franchise is similar to designing the structure of a house. And the foundation for a strong identity is laid during the logo rollout."You want to build a foundation that is solid and enduring, and know that when you put your house up, you can put a coat of paint on it," Radom told theScore. "If you want to paint your house pink, go ahead and paint it pink. You want to put shutters on it, go ahead and put shutters on it. You want a flat roof? You want a peak roof? You can do some things, but without that foundation, it's going to collapse."Enter Seattle. Recently awarded the NHL's 32nd franchise for the 2021-22 season, the ownership group needs to lay a foundation in multiple senses - literally when it comes to constructing a new arena (slated to open in early 2019), and metaphorically in building an identity (no timeline for an unveiling).Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBoth projects involve enormous thought and investment, but the matter of identity - landing on an appropriate team nickname, color scheme, logo, and uniform set - sparks the imagination on a higher level.Kraken? Sea Lions? Metropolitans? Totems? Sockeyes? Seattle's in a unique situation where ownership isn't necessarily being forced into one particular style."If you are an expansion team with a clean slate, a blank canvas, you really have liberties to go places you might not otherwise," Radom said.So what exactly goes into the creation of a pro sports logo?We enlisted the help of three experts - Radom, Chris Creamer of the popular website SportsLogos.net, and Bill Frederick, creative director of sports branding agency Fanbrandz - to find out.The stakeholdersGenerally speaking, five main groups are involved in the logo development process, according to our panel of experts.First and foremost, there's the team itself, as well as the league office. The jersey manufacturer and logo designer are key influencers, too. The final group is the fan base, which may be consulted via polls, focus groups, and other outreach methods.In Seattle's case, the league's official jersey partner - Adidas Hockey - will have a major voice. The currently unannounced designer will also exert its influence during the creative stages of the multimillion-dollar process."If a team is a passenger on a plane, I need to be a seasoned pilot who is flying them across the ocean to their destination," said Radom, describing his role over the years in helping teams and leagues create identities, such as the logo for Super Bowl XXXVIII. "I need to let them out safely and they can go about their business."Frank Micelotta / GettyThere is no hard and fast time frame for finalizing a logo, Radom says, though 18 months is a typical ballpark figure now. The team will want plenty of runway to exchange mock-ups with the designer, engage with lawyers, and consult with licensees and broadcasters. At the major-league level, no stone is left unturned.The smart play, Creamer notes, is securing all necessary legal rights immediately after agreeing on a team name, but before diving into the logo design process. Without a definitively trademarked brand, a team might run into issues like those experienced by Las Vegas' NHL team, which recently fought with the U.S. Army and College of Saint Rose over the use of "Golden Knights.""I imagine the Seattle ownership group, Adidas, and the NHL are going to be so much more careful this time," Creamer said. "Maybe (they should) just trademark whatever they want right out of the gate. Make sure there's no problems."Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesWhen asked for a progress report, a spokesperson for Seattle's incoming NHL franchise issued a short statement saying the ownership group "continues to listen to fans and explore the team brand identity. Fan engagement has been, and will continue to be, a critical part of that work."Sports teams don't exist without a healthy fan base. Public input through both official and unofficial channels informs the decision-makers. Fans feel a personal connection to every scoring play, front-office transaction, and mark of the team's identity. And they're the ones forking over the cash.People care about their favorite team's logo to a degree that's unimaginable for design in other industries. There's a reason why Radom and Creamer are working on a book telling the stories behind the names and looks of every NHL franchise."Let's say TD Bank changed its logo tomorrow. Odds are, there aren't people with that TD Bank logo tattooed on their ass," Radom said with a laugh.The do's and don'tsIn the world of sports logo design, simplicity is king."You want a logo that is simple enough that a child can draw it easily, but also not something that's so simple that it doesn't represent anything," Creamer said, referencing his 5-year-old son's penchant for doodling the to-the-point logos of the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTeams should want a logo that you can spot from a distance, Creamer adds; a mark versatile enough to appear on a TV channel's ticker and not look out of place as a social media avatar. And teams can't forget about belt buckles, pocket schedules, billboards, ball caps - every surface and product a logo could be slapped on should be considered in the research and development stage.Creamer's ideal icon straddles the line between kid-friendly and edgy in order to maximize reach. "You always have to have an eye on what's going to sell," he said. "Kids don't buy merchandise, parents do." (For what it's worth, the current Toronto Blue Jays crest is the highest-rated logo on Creamer's site.)Frederick has worked on everything from the rebranding of MLB's Tampa Bay Rays to the NHL's 2019 Winter Classic and prefers a certain amount of stature in big-league logos. He mentioned growling animals as an example of an angle that might flourish in the college market but doesn't suit a world-renowned circuit like the English Premier League."It's like designing a country's flag. You're building this platform for shared values and you're establishing trust and loyalty," said Frederick, listing Liverpool FC's logo among his personal favorites. "Usually it's based on a lot of research and you're really trying to find the soul of the city."David Blunsden / Getty ImagesRadom, meanwhile, encourages teams to "think iconic" and to stay far away from the wacky, complicated stylings of the 1990s. Remember the Wild Wing mascot bursting out of the Mighty Ducks alternate jersey? No surprise that didn't last long."Think about that tribal connection with color and think about the fact that a lot of people are going to have their fingers in it," he said. "Impressions are very fleeting - now more than ever, right? We're all very challenged with our screens. ... I think with sports, especially given the cost involved with a rollout, you want to think about the future."The DNA factorAlso in vogue: Throwbacks.NHL Seattle might want to pursue a modern look, but the explosion of alternate jerseys and a general thirst for simplicity has created a gigantic secondary market for legacy organizations. Vintage merch sells, both because it looks sharp and because it makes people feel warm and fuzzy about their community.Exhibit A: The Golden State Warriors' main crest - one of the world's most recognizable sports logos - is a blast from the past for the Bay Area."Nostalgia is a powerful emotion," Radom said.Noah Graham / Getty ImagesAligning a brand identity with the market's DNA is a must. It can really make a logo sing and, unlike the vintage angle, can be leveraged by expansion franchises. The Golden Knights, for instance, tastefully tapped into their city's cultural identity."The DNA in Vegas, as a community, is far different than any other market, right?" Radom said. "What that franchise did in terms of little, subtle glint in the gold color on their sweaters, and a little pattern which almost looks like gaming chips - that was exceptionally intentioned and very well executed. There's something to be said for blinking your eyes and feeling a sense of place and community."The new NHL team in Seattle - a city known for the Space Needle and monorail, thriving tech and music scenes, and a little coffee chain called Starbucks - has an opportunity to draw upon its prospective fan base's deep-rooted values and interests as well. Even the relatively benign choice of a green color scheme would likely please the masses in Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders territory.Ric Tapia / Getty ImagesAbove all else, teams need to have one eye on the short term and the other on the long term. NHL Seattle must ask itself, "What does the world look like in 2021 and in 2031?""You don't want to go for a sugar rush," Radom said. "You want to build something with the future in mind. Something people will be proud of and use for years to come."John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Zach Hyman for at least three weeks as the forward is sidelined with an ankle sprain, the team announced Thursday.Hyman, 26, suffered the injury when he slid feetfirst into the boards while chasing a loose puck during Tuesday's game against the New Jersey Devils.In 32 games this season, Hyman has recorded seven goals and eight assists.Thursday's 6-1 victory against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Place marked the third game of the 2018-19 campaign that Hyman has missed after playing all 82 in each of the previous two seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock hopes to get more out of Jesse Puljujarvi and believes slotting him alongside Connor McDavid on the team's top line may be the solution."I feel like his next step is to get his tempo higher," Hitchcock said after moving Puljujarvi to the top unit during the Thursday's practice. "So why not play him with the fastest player on the team, and maybe even in the league and see if he can keep up."Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the other member of the Oilers' first line after Hitchcock's changes.Puljujarvi, 20, has played in 24 games with Edmonton this season, recording three goals and an assist. He also suited up for four games with the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.The 2016 fourth overall pick has yet to live up to the high expectations of being selected shortly after Auston Matthews and fellow Finn Patrik Laine. He's recorded 32 points in 117 career games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Matt Duchene will make his return Friday against the New Jersey Devils, the team announced.Duchene missed the Senators' last six games after leaving their Dec. 6 tilt against the Montreal Canadiens with a groin injury.At the time of his injury, he was leading the Sens with 34 points in 29 games. He is still on pace to pass his career high of 70 points from the 2012-13 season with the Colorado Avalanche.In Duchene's absence, the Senators went 3-2-1 and currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference with 34 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee pleaded guilty to a harassment charge stemming from an incident in May involving a hotel shuttle driver, the Canadian Press reported.Lee entered the plea Thursday before his nonjury trial was set to begin.The 57-year-old had been charged with making lewd comments and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male driver at the NHL's pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo. He originally pleaded not guilty.For his guilty plea, Lee was sentenced to time already served - one night in jail - and paid a surcharge of $120.He was suspended by the Senators in June and later resigned in August after spending 23 years with the organization.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said Thursday that chasing down the Tampa Bay Lightning, who lead the NHL with a 26-7-2 record, will be extremely difficult."It looks to me like Tampa's better than us," Babcock told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "It looks to me like they're better than everybody."With 54 points, the Lightning lead every other team by at least eight. And they've been even hotter in recent weeks, going 9-0-1 across their last 10 games, including a 4-1 win over second-place Toronto."I'm not saying they're deeper, I'm not saying they're more talented," Babcock added of the Lightning, according to Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press. "But their maturity level to play every night and find a way to win seems to be there."As Babcock alluded to, Tampa Bay's will to win has been on display this season, as the team went 12-2 while star netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was sidelined with a broken foot.Babcock and the Leafs will have three more cracks at the Lightning in 2018-19 - two of which are at home - starting with a matchup on Jan. 17.Copyright © 2018 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.This week, John's joined by Canadian Press hockey writer Josh Clipperton. The duo gets into the holiday spirit by handing out the perfect Christmas gifts to 10 NHL teams.Topics include the state of the Canadiens, Rangers, Senators, Maple Leafs, Golden Knights ... and more!Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira has been suspended two games for his cross-check on St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced on Wednesday.The incident occurred midway through the third period of Tuesday's game. Khaira was assessed a five-minute major for cross-checking and a match penalty.

The Vegas Golden Knights placed forward Max Pacioretty on injured reserve Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, according to NHL.com's Danny Webster.The designation is retroactive to Dec. 17 and means that Pacioretty will be out until at least next Monday. He will subsequently miss at least three games, including Saturday's contest that will see the Montreal Canadiens visit T-Mobile Arena.Pacioretty will miss the opportunity to face his former team for the final time this season. Last month, he was held pointless in his return to Montreal, despite firing a season-high nine shots on goal.The 30-year-old was forced from Monday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after appearing to suffer a lower-body injury on a play in the second period.In 30 games this season, he has recorded 10 goals and 19 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk is "good to go" and should be in the Los Angeles Kings' lineup for Saturday's game versus the San Jose Sharks, head coach Willie Desjardins told reporters Wednesday.The 35-year-old recovered from an ankle bursectomy procedure ahead of schedule after the Kings announced on Dec. 3 that he was expected to miss approximately one month.Kovalchuk signed a three-year, $18.75-million deal to return to the NHL in the summer but his comeback hasn't gotten off to a particularly hot start. He's notched five goals and nine assists in 25 games for the last-place Kings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"Did I just see that?"New York Rangers studio host Al Trautwig couldn't contain his amazement. He had just witnessed bloodied MSG Network colleague John Giannone conduct a live TV hit moments after taking a puck to the face."Wow, that was scary…" a flabbergasted Trautwig continued, quickly throwing to a commercial break so he could scoop up his jaw from the floor.While the incident occurred in early 2013, Giannone is still commonly identified as the dude who had his nose broken by a Marc Staal clearing attempt.You're not that guy, people will ask him. Oh, I am that guy, he will respond, explaining that the between-the-benches role is one of inherent danger. In fact, 'might get cracked by errant objects' is practically a bullet point on the job description."To this day, I don't really know why I was looking at the scoreboard. It's not like I was jumping on the ice for a shift," Giannone said, having a laugh at his own expense during a recent interview."I remember I was driving home with my wife and I got a text from my daughter saying, 'You're trending.' I was still fairly new to the whole Twitterverse, so I didn't really know what that meant."As someone whose office is embedded in a battleground, the between-the-benches analyst, or in Giannone's case, the reporter, is forever vulnerable. Among other dangers, a puck skimming across the width of the neutral zone may suddenly rise above the sideboards and into the small, cubical-sized area separating rival clubs."You might daydream. You might be looking up in the stands, or looking down the bench, or looking down at your monitor," said Sportsnet's Louie DeBrusk, ostensibly speaking for every ice-level media member ever. "Next thing you know, you've got a stick or a puck in your face."Andre Ringuette / Getty ImagesThere's a certain kind of intimacy one experiences from being the only analyst standing with the players and coaches on the other side of the glass. "It's almost like you're back on the bench again," said TSN's Jamie McLennan, who served as a backup for the bulk of his 12 NHL seasons. "You're living the game from a player's perspective."An innovation of NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood, the between-the-benches role has been a staple of NHL broadcasts since 2006. Nearly 13 years later, nothing really compares in the sports media world.'Not a place for bravery'The first rule of calling a game from the trenches: Pay attention or pay for it later."That's the key," said Mike Johnson, who works for TSN, NBC, and NHL Network. "If you get caught working - talking to the producer, looking at your monitor, checking your notes - that's when you're in trouble. You lose track of what's going on on the ice."However, sometimes being attentive isn't a sufficient deterrent. For instance, Johnson lost a watch in 2012 when Claude Giroux unintentionally breached the analyst's office space and whacked him across the wrist, inflicting some serious damage."When his stick came flying over towards me, I instinctively stuck out my forearm to block the stick from hitting me in the head. His blade hit my watch. I looked down and the watch was in two pieces on the ground," Johnson said, before joking that he's "still waiting for Mr. Giroux to reimburse me for my troubles."Ray Ferraro, who's become synonymous with the role during his time at TSN and for his annual appearance in the EA Sports NHL video game, maintains a simple approach. "This is not a place for bravery," he said. "If you think there's a puck or stick flying in there, you better get out of the way. You bail before it's happening."Every now and then, though, even when the money-making face is shielded and both eyes are glued on the play, the world conspires against the between-the-benches analyst.Case in point, Ferraro’s cup of coffee took the brunt of the impact one night in 2014 as Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks' Benn Ferriero collided inches away. As the replay ran, Ferraro provided insight only someone in his position could: "I'm pretty tired," he said. "I need this coffee … right there … not to be on the floor."Ferraro's face and suit went untouched. "That was close," he recalled over the phone, later plainly stating his mindset: "I'm 54. My desire to be hit with a stick or a puck is very limited."Pierre McGuire was the first to call an NHL game from between the benches. Over the years, it's safe to say nobody has been caught in the middle of more blood-boiling arguments than McGuire. One particular incident that's etched in his memory comes from the 2012 postseason. Why? Well, seconds before Peter Laviolette of the Philadelphia Flyers and Penguins assistant Tony Granato engaged in an epic shouting match over a controversial hit, McGuire narrowly escaped being clipped by helicoptering debris."Laviolette broke a stick across the glass and the blade of the stick went whizzing by my head," he said. "It was a wet blade, so I actually felt the water of the blade come across my face. The blade ended up in the Penguins bench."Conventional wisdom suggests the between-the-benches analyst should aspire to be a fly on the wall versus an active participant. Ultimately, they are, as McGuire phrases it, "infringing upon the workplace" of players, coaches, trainers, and officials.With that in mind, most analysts proceed with caution in the battleground environment. Don't relay to the audience everything you overhear, they tell themselves. Translate vulgarities into softer language and any over-the-line remarks should remain rinkside and off the record. Above all, since you're privy to exclusive sights, sounds, and interactions, and are being trusted to keep everything PG, don't go rogue with the commentary.Ferraro calls this exercise the "decency filter." As in, "I'm not going to say, 'Joe told Pete to go f--- himself.' I'm not going to say that, but I can say that Player A told Player B to go take a hike.""I will sugarcoat it," DeBrusk agreed. "If two guys are going back and forth and they're f-bombing this, f-bombing that, talking about each other's mothers, I'm not going to go into detail about what they're talking about. I'm going to say, 'These guys are really going at one another. These guys are getting nasty.'"Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images'Get off your phone!'Although players are focused on pursuing the puck and analysts are balancing their responsibilities in calling the game and avoiding errant objects, the between-the-benches role can allow for organic interaction between the athletes and the media."You read the situation," said Johnson, who suited up for 661 NHL games for five different teams. "Generally, if they want to engage with me, they'll either look at me and check out the monitor, or squirt water on me. Or, if you have a pre-existing relationship, then you can feel more comfortable initiating the contact."Brian Babineau / Getty ImagesOn the final day of the 2014-15 regular season, the Dallas Stars leaned on Johnson for out-of-town updates because captain Jamie Benn was neck and neck with New York Islanders captain John Tavares for the scoring title. It became a running bit all game."Tyler Seguin would come over and ask, 'So, what does he have to get in the third period?'" Johnson said. "And I'm like, 'He needs two points to tie him but he's got more goals, so he'd win.' And he's like, 'OK,' and would skate off." (Benn went on to claim the Art Ross Trophy by a single point.)Other interactions are plain odd and unexpected, as Bryce Salvador can attest. Last month, MSG's Devils analyst, and a former New Jersey defenseman, watched Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou hop into his space between the benches in an effort to avoid a too-many-men penalty."It was one of those slow-motion type of events where all you're thinking is that he's going to land on your feet and slice my toes off," Salvador said with a nervous laugh.

Patrik Berglund's brief stint with the Buffalo Sabres has come to an end, as the 30-year-old has been placed on unconditional waivers with the intent of terminating his contract, the club announced Wednesday.Berglund was suspended indefinitely by the team on Dec. 15 after failing to report. Prior to his suspension, he missed two games with what the team declared as an illness.He was acquired by the Sabres along with Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson, and two draft picks in the summer's blockbuster trade that sent Ryan O'Reilly to the St. Louis Blues.Berglund appeared in 23 games for Buffalo, recording two goals and two assists. He had three more seasons at a $3.85-million cap hit on his contract before being let go.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't appear The Magic Man will be returning to the NHL any time soon.In the midst of his third KHL season since leaving the Detroit Red Wings, Pavel Datsyuk has shown no interest in returning to North America, his agent, Dan Milstein, told TSN's Bob McKenzie."Every year we sit down and talk about options but (returning to the) NHL isn't something he has entertained," Milstein said.Datsyuk had one year left on his contract when he decided to head home to Russia following the 2015-2016 season. That contract was traded from the Red Wings to the Arizona Coyotes during the 2016 draft. The Coyotes still own his rights but the 40-year-old would be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.In 14 seasons with the Red Wings, Datsyuk notched 918 points in 953 games, winning two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng trophies, and three Selke trophies. He captained the Olympic Athletes of Russia to a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics and has 28 points in 32 contests with SKA St. Petersburg this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira made an early exit from Tuesday night's game against the St. Louis Blues.Khaira received a five-minute major for cross-checking and a match penalty after hitting defenseman Vince Dunn in the head midway through the third period.Here is the incident that led to the ejection:

Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season, the team announced.The defenseman is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp.The Canucks medical staff determined that surgery was the best option for the 20-year-old's long-term health.Juolevi was selected fifth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has yet to make his NHL debut, but has 13 points in 18 games with the AHL's Utica Comets this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera is scheduled to appear in court in January - a specific date has not yet been announced - for his alleged involvement in a Finnish drug ring, according to Sam Carchidi of The Philadephia Inquirer.Lehtera is reportedly not one of the main suspects in the case, which will begin trial on Dec. 31.It's unknown if he will miss any time with the Flyers.The 30-year-old denied any involvement with the cocaine ring in September.Lehtera has suited up for 24 games this season, recording one goal and two assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.