The Toronto Maple Leafs signed leading scorer William Nylander to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $11.5 million, the club announced Monday.The agreement, which will keep Nylander in Toronto through his age-35 season, includes a full no-movement clause, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."This is the longest I've ever spent in one place my entire life," Nylander told reporters Monday, according to Sportsnet. "It was funny, the other day I was talking to a friend, and I said, 'And then we go home,' referring to Toronto. So without even thinking about it, this is home."The cap hit will tie Nylander with Erik Karlsson as the fifth-highest paid player in league when the contract begins in 2024-25.In terms of total value, it'll be the richest contract in franchise history, surpassing John Tavares' seven-year, $77-million deal. Auston Matthews' cap hit on his extension beginning next season is an NHL-high $13.25 million, but it's only for four years.The Maple Leafs will employ four of the 11 highest-paid players in the NHL next season, although Tavares and Mitch Marner ($10.9 million AAV) will be entering the final year of their deals.Nylander is in the midst of a career season, registering 21 goals and 33 assists in 37 games. His 54 points are tied with Connor McDavid for fifth-most in the league. Nylander's best full campaign was 2022-23 when he tallied 40 goals and 47 assists in 82 contests.The Swede's offensive underlying numbers are among the NHL's elite, although his defensive play is below average. Evolving-HockeyDespite the team's playoff failures, Nylander has arguably been the Leafs' most consistent postseason performer. He's recorded 14 goals and 15 assists in 30 playoff games over the last four years. For his career, he's produced 40 points in 50 postseason contests.The Maple Leafs drafted Nylander eighth overall in 2014. His previous contract carried an AAV of $6.96 million.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In hockey betting, sometimes you're the goalpost stuck firmly on its mooring, and sometimes you're the player sliding hard into that goalpost, taking it directly in the midsection.Those of us on the Blue Jackets on Saturday experienced a couple of those moments, metaphorically careening into the iron, heading for the inevitable, and there was nothing we could do about it - we were about to take a bad beat.

Jonathan Huberdeau and the Calgary Flames weren't thrilled with their loss to a Chicago Blackhawks squad that's decimated by injuries.It's a tough one to swallow," Huberdeau told The FAN 960's Pat Steinberg after the Flames' 4-3 loss on Sunday. "It's a game that we've got to win."Calgary captain Mikael Backlund echoed those sentiments."If we want to be a playoff team, that's a game we've got to win, find a way to win," he said. "It wasn't good enough.""I felt like we were just not dialed in enough and (there are) just no excuses for that," he added.Flames head coach Ryan Huska had a more succinct view."They were hungrier and harder than we were," he said.Colin Blackwell scored twice for the Blackhawks, including the goal that made it 4-2 and would be the eventual game-winner. Nazem Kadri replied with his second tally of the contest, but that's as close as Calgary would get.Chicago was playing its first game without Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in this year's draft who leads all rookies in scoring. The 18-year-old is also pacing his club in terms of offense, leading all three primary categories - including points by 10.But the Blackhawks were severely undermanned even before Bedard landed on injured reserve with a broken jaw. Chicago is missing eight of its top 12 forwards including Taylor Hall, plus top defenseman Seth Jones. They played Sunday's game with only 11 forwards, and currently have more salary on injured reserve than on the active roster.The Flames were playing their third road game in four nights. They went 2-2-0 on the trip, losing back-to-back against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Blackhawks on the weekend after beating the Nashville Predators on Thursday and topping the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.Calgary fell to 17-18-5 on the season with Sunday's defeat. They're only two points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but they've played four more games than the Edmonton Oilers, two more than the St. Louis Blues, and one more than the Seattle Kraken.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel declined to delve into his pending unrestricted free agency on Saturday after his agent raised eyebrows about the uncertainty of impending negotiations."Jake Guentzel is in a great spot," his agent, Ben Hankinson, said on a radio show, according to The Athletic's Rob Rossi. "What's going to happen? I don't know. But I'm going to lean on conversations I've already had with (general manager) Kyle (Dubas), including in the summer, including conversations with Jake. I think the good thing is we'll all be on the same page."Could it get ugly? Yes, it could. Kyle has to make decisions, too - which way the team is going and the investment he's going to make with Jake. Is it the same direction? It's going to come down to how they play, and we'll put our heads together. All the things that go into trade deadlines, (Kyle) might look into what he can get for Jake or what it costs to sign him. There's a lot that will happen in two months, and I don't know the answers to that."Guentzel was asked about his agent's take following Saturday's loss to the Buffalo Sabres."I mean, I'm not going to go too much into detail about it," he said. "I'm just trying to play, and we'll see what happens as we go."Guentzel expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh in October. He was drafted by the Penguins in the third round of the 2013 draft and has gone on to produce 457 points in 491 games while helping the club win the Stanley Cup in 2017. The Nebraska native has been a staple on Sidney Crosby's wing for much of his career and would be one of the biggest names on the open market this summer if he doesn't sign an extension.The Penguins are projected to have approximately $18 million in financial flexibility for next season, according to CapFriendly, but only have 13 players signed. Guentzel has earned a raise over the $6 million he's made annually since 2019, but Pittsburgh's superstars, including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, have made a habit of taking less than market value for the sake of the team.Pittsburgh is 19-15-4 on the season so far, good for seventh in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are currently two points back of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 last season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States defeated Sweden 6-2 on Friday to capture gold at the 2024 world juniors.The championship is USA's sixth at the event and fifth since 2010. The Americans entered the tournament as heavy favorites and lived up to the hype with a perfect 7-0 record.Sweden, which hosted the event, extended its championship drought to 12 years with the loss. Since winning gold in 2012, the Swedes have won five silvers and two bronzes. They also lost a gold-medal game on home soil to Finland in 2014.The United States was in control for most of the game and opened the scoring on a goal from Gabe Perreault late in the first period. Otto Stenberg equalized in the second before Isaac Howard scored two for the Americans.Jonathan Lekkerimaki brought Sweden within one with five seconds to play in the middle frame, but the momentum was short-lived as USA scored three unanswered goals in the third period. Zeev Buium netted the Americans' fourth goal of the game before a dagger from Ryan Leonard and an empty-netter from captain Rutger McGroarty.Sweden entered the championship game with only eight goals allowed in the tournament. Hugo Havelid, who was recognized as the tournament's top goaltender after the loss, posted a .952 save percentage and 0.98 goals against average before taking on the high-powered American attack.Next year's world juniors will take place in Ottawa.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the NHL universe, there are two sets of All-Stars.There's the midseason All-Stars - the 44 players picked to participate in All-Star Weekend, set this year for Feb. 1-3 in Toronto. One representative for each team is chosen by the league. Another 12 players are voted in by fans.Then there are the lesser-known end-of-season accolades for the 12 players chosen as first- or second-team All-Stars by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each "team" in this case includes one center, one left wing, one right wing, two defensemen (any handedness), and one goalie.Plenty has been written over the past few days about the first set of All-Stars, including this analysis of the 12 vote-in spots by my colleagues Josh Wegman and Sean O'Leary. So let's instead focus on the second set. Brian Babineau / Getty ImagesThe selection process for the first set of All-Stars is inclusive and done with entertainment in mind. It's for fun. The second set, which is unveiled during the annual awards ceremony, is exclusive, formal, and very much real in the sense that the results can impact a player's Hockey Hall of Fame candidacy.Using the positional designations listed on NHL.com, here's who I'd slot into the NHL's First Team and Second Team spots if votes were due this week:Center: MacKinnon, who's been on a tear for months, is a Hart Trophy favorite. McDavid's second in points (53) among centers despite appearing in just 33 games. I strongly considered Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, and Jack Hughes for Second Team, but none of them have been quite as outstanding as McDavid. (Gun to my head, Crosby's third.) Props to Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Aleksander Barkov for two-way brilliance. As usual, the position is rich in superstar talent.Left wing: Panarin was the obvious choice for First Team. I picked Forsberg over Jesper Bratt, Zach Hyman, and Jake Guentzel because the Swede has posted similar numbers with a bit less dynamic talent around him in Nashville.Right wing: Kucherov was easily the First guy, whereas Pastrnak had a serious challenger in William Nylander. In the end, the degree to which Pastrnak powers Boston's offense (18 points clear of Brad Marchand, his linemate and the Bruins' second-highest scorer) gave him the edge. If I were to fill five teams, I'd go Nylander 3; Mikko Rantanen 4; Brock Boeser 5.Defensemen: Hughes is a Hart candidate, and Makar has been fantastic, so finalizing the First Team wasn't difficult. For Second, Dobson was a no-brainer, while I debated between Morrissey, Rasmus Dahlin, and Evan Bouchard for the last spot. What tipped the scales: Winnipeg's outscored the opposition 40-18 (!) at five-on-five when Morrissey's been on the ice.Goalie: Similar to the defensemen, two goalies were a cut above the rest. Since Hellebuyck's underlying numbers are slightly better than Demko's, I gave him the First spot. Other starting netminders worthy of a shoutout here: Connor Ingram, Cam Talbot, and Ilya Sorokin. And, of course, props to the two-headed beast that is Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark in Boston.What's behind Quick's resurgence? Justin Berl / Getty ImagesJonathan Quick had nothing to prove coming into this season.He was a three-time Stanley Cup champion who won twice as the starter in L.A. and once as the backup in Vegas. He was named playoff MVP in 2012. He finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting three times. He revolutionized the position by popularizing the reverse vertical horizontal, or RVH, post-play technique.After signing a one-year, $825,000 deal (plus bonuses) with the Rangers this past offseason, he was expected to be Igor Shesterkin's mentor and not much more. After all, he turns 38 later this month and will be skating off into the sunset sooner rather than later.Instead, Quick has flourished in New York. He owns a .917 save percentage and has saved 0.61 goals above expected per 60 minutes of action, according to Sportlogiq. How good are those marks in today's offense-first NHL? Among the 54 goalies who've logged 700 or more minutes, Quick is tied for 10th in SV% and ranks seventh in GSAE/60.The No. 1 reason behind Quick's resurgence: his health. No. 2: his positioning. Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesQuick's playing deeper and much tighter to the goal line under the tutelage of Benoit Allaire, the Rangers' director of goaltending and a legend in goalie circles. In doing so, Quick's been less reliant on his trademark aggression and athleticism, letting the game come to him. Thus far, he's being beaten on the pass less frequently."Benoit is very big on simplifying a goalie's game. He's very big on being disciplined in your crease. Overall, he doesn't want his goalies to move all that much," said Rob Gherson, a pro goalie turned goalie coach who worked alongside Allaire in 2005-06 as a member of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack."And when you play deeper and stand your ground, the net disappears," Gherson said. "It's an illusion that messes with shooters' heads."Gherson, a minor leaguer from 2004-09, explained how playing tighter to the goal line widens a goalie's margin of error. The position is about responding to what's unfolding in front of you. You can't be constantly chasing the puck.Especially, in Quick's case, when your physical attributes have dwindled."For goalies who play aggressively, I think of them almost like baseball players with really long swings," he said. "When you're on, you're really good. But when something gets out of alignment, you really struggle. So, playing deeper and moving less - like Quick is doing in New York - means, naturally, fewer things can go wrong. Playing deeper makes everything more consistent."Fantilli primed for big second half Kirk Irwin / Getty ImagesThe early Calder Trophy conversation has been dominated by Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard, who leads all rookies in goals, assists, and points. Sure, Brock Faber - the minute-munching defenseman for the Wild - has commanded some peripheral attention, but the debate's been pretty boring.Watch for that to change in the second half thanks to Adam Fantilli.Consider this: the Blue Jackets center was dealt a suboptimal hand to start his career. His first coach, Mike Babcock, was fired before training camp; Columbus has failed to meet expectations as a team; and, up until recently, his second coach, Pascal Vincent, had limited his usage and deployment.The 13-19-8 Blue Jackets are still a mess. However, Fantilli has responded to Vincent taking the training wheels off by posting eight points in his past 10 games. His season total - 24 in 40 games - is first among rookies not named Bedard. Fantilli, 19, also trails only Bedard in goals (11), expected goals (10.8, according to Evolving Hockey), shots on goal (99), and shot attempts (209). Kirk Irwin / Getty ImagesThe Michigan product looked like a future franchise cornerstone as a prospect and has delivered early on. He's a full-package player with explosive skating, a lethal shot, defensive chops, an athletic build, and a physical edge. He's already established himself as an annoying forechecker and threat off the rush; his quickness is on full display every time he blazes through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick (which is often)."The one thing we don't talk about enough is his mental strength," Vincent said prior to Columbus' mid-December win in Toronto. "He's a very mature young man and he's got this swagger about him. He's got this confidence.""He's like a sponge," the coach added of Fantilli, who he doesn't envision hitting the so-called rookie wall. "He's really coachable. He's a big component of our future and our present right now. He's been adjusting really, really well."Parting shotsJonathan Huberdeau: New season, new coach, same results. After posting 115 points in 80 games during his final season in Florida, Huberdeau has recorded just 72 points in 117 games in Calgary. (For context: that's the equivalent of 49 points in 80 games.) This season, the 30-year-old winger is 11th among Flames in points, and he's still poor defensively. It's truly shocking how quickly things have gone off the rails. The worst part is, Huberdeau's in Year 1 of an eight-year deal carrying a $10.5-million cap hit. Breaking even in a trade (Calgary would have to retain salary) appears virtually impossible, and the bonuses baked into his contract make a buyout pointless. The Huberdeau contract is the NHL's worst - and it isn't particularly close.

The NHL unveiled its initial 32 All-Stars on Thursday. Twelve more players (eight skaters, four goalies) will be added from a fan vote ending Jan. 11.With one player from each team being named an All-Star, there will inevitably be omissions that allow the NHL to ridiculously appease all 32 fan bases. Some choices are easier than others when it comes to the remaining spots, but we can't predict which players might opt for a sunny vacation over an All-Star nomination, or how fans will influence the vote.Regardless, theScore did its best to decipher which 12 players are most worthy of the final spots.Skaters Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyArtemi Panarin, RangersPanarin's case is simple: he has the most points among any player not already named an All-Star. He's tied for third in the league with 55 points through 38 games. Igor Shesterkin received the initial nod as the Rangers' representative, but there's no way Panarin won't be joining his fellow Russian.William Nylander, Maple LeafsAuston Matthews was Toronto's chosen representative, and for good reason. But the hosts should have another lock in Nylander. The impending unrestricted free agent has reached a new level this season, ranking fifth in the NHL with 54 points while producing 17- and 13-game point streaks. His skating and playmaking skills are also ideal for the wide-open three-on-three format.J.T. Miller, CanucksMiller's leading the charge for the first-place Canucks, pacing the club with 53 points. He may not have the household name value of some other players on this list, but it's difficult to omit a top-10 scorer. While Vancouver should be well represented at this year's festivities (more on that below), the league's insistence on bringing at least one player from every team makes this a bigger deal than it should be.Mikko Rantanen, AvalancheRantanen is a little bit of a third wheel in Colorado behind Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, but he's a bona fide superstar who deserves to play a part in the league's top-talent showcase. The Finnish dynamo is tied for eighth in the league in points (50) and has only been outproduced by seven players over the past seven seasons combined.Elias Pettersson, CanucksPettersson trails both Miller and Quinn Hughes on the Canucks' scoring list but has 48 points of his own this season and is the most marketable of Vancouver's stars. His vast toolkit makes him a prime candidate to compete in the league's new skills competition format.Cale Makar, AvalancheMakar would've been among the initial All-Stars if he was on almost any other team. But with Nathan MacKinnon having a Hart Trophy-caliber season, he'll have to wait. Makar is still a lock, though. He's one of the game's brightest stars and in the midst of another Norris Trophy-worthy campaign.Leon Draisaitl, OilersDraisaitl is having a down year by his lofty standards, but he's still posted a respectable 42 points in 36 games. The former Hart Trophy winner is more than worthy of an appearance given his star power. Draisaitl is among the most talented players in the league, making him a logical choice to partake in the revamped skills competition.Noah Dobson, IslandersThere's a strong case to be made that Dobson should've been the Islanders' initial All-Star selection considering the defenseman's 38 points are just two shy of forward Mathew Barzal's 40 for the team lead. The smooth-skating, 6-foot-4 Dobson has garnered Norris Trophy consideration for his efforts this season and trails only Drew Doughty in average ice time (25:53). At 23 years old, he's one of the game's budding stars.Goalies Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyThatcher Demko, CanucksNetminders don't get a lot of love during All-Star Weekend, and they face the unenviable task of stopping the world's best players in a glorified game of shinny. However, Demko has been one of the league's best goalies this season with 19 wins and a .916 save percentage, and he deserves the recognition.Sergei Bobrovsky, PanthersBobrovsky has followed a spectacular playoff run with a strong start to the 2023-24 season. He ranks third among NHL goalies with 30 starts, is second with 20 wins, and 15th with 8.89 goals saved above expected, per Evolving-Hockey. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has been red-hot as of late, winning his last five starts with a .926 save percentage.Ilya Sorokin, IslandersSorokin's numbers don't particularly jump off the page this season, but he's undisputedly one of the most talented netminders in the world. Last year's Vezina runner-up would be tough to beat in the shootout challenge, and he could make a notable difference for whichever team selects him for the three-on-three tournament.Juuse Saros, PredatorsIf Adin Hill were healthy, he'd be here over Saros, whose numbers are down from previous years when he received Vezina Trophy consideration. His save percentage is just .901 on the season, which is rather pedestrian, but he's been an absolute workhorse for a mediocre Predators team, ranking second in the league with 31 starts.Our biggest snubs

Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury tied Patrick Roy for second on the NHL's all-time wins list with Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.Fleury made 25 saves on 28 shots to secure his 551st win in his 1,003rd appearance. Wild rookie Marco Rossi helped the veteran netminder get the job done with the game-winner in the extra frame.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of getting William Nylander under contract for the next eight seasons."The Maple Leafs fly home from San Jose on Sunday and we could see this as soon as Monday," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines.""I do believe the (average annual value) for Nylander is going to be around $11.5 million a year," Friedman continued. "Now, obviously there's going to be a ton of debate about this. I think quite simply it came down to one fact: The Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to keep the player, they think he's a good player and a big part of their future, and this was the price that it took to get him for eight years, and that's what they're going to do."Nylander notched two goals and an assist in the Leafs' 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday."Obviously, that would be a dream to stay (in Toronto) - I mean, to play for such an organization," he said postgame when asked about the possibility of signing long term. "And I call Toronto home. So I think that'd be a very special feeling."Nylander is one of the NHL's highest-profile pending unrestricted free agents. He leads all pending UFAs in assists (33) and points (54) through 37 games this season. Only Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart has racked up more goals than Nylander among that group in 2023-24.The 27-year-old Maple Leafs star is in the final season of the six-year pact he inked with Toronto on Dec. 1, 2018. It carries a cap hit of $6,962,366, according to CapFriendly.Nylander is in his ninth campaign with the Maple Leafs, who drafted him eighth overall in 2014.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Hughes wasn't in the New Jersey Devils' lineup for their 6-4 defeat to his brother, Quinn, and the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.Hughes went down the tunnel late in the third period of New Jersey's 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday and didn't return.

Booking a marginal loss Thursday was the best-case scenario given that none of our five teams scored first. That can be an arduous watch. However, if you were on the other side, with five 1-0 leads, you'd also be annoyed if you only won three of those games. Welcome to hockey betting, where Chris Kreider can tap a goal home with his skate as long as he doesn't cock his foot back like David Beckham.The cheat sheetIf you're thinking about betting any game on the slate, here's a look at the price you should be hoping to get on the moneyline for a valuable bet.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETCGY@PHI52.4/47.6CGY -106/PHI +130FLA@COL45.6/54.4FLA +140/COL -115BUF@PIT42.8/57.2BUF +158/PIT -128TB@BOS38.9/61.1TB +186/BOS -151TOR@SJS65.7/34.3TOR -184/SJS +230NYR@MTL56.6/43.4NYR -125/MTL +154VAN@NJD44.5/55.5VAN +147/NJD -120MIN@CBJ50.6/49.4MIN +108/CBJ +113STL@CAR41.4/58.6STL +168/CAR -136NSH@DAL39.1/60.9NSH +185/DAL -150OTT@EDM37.0/63.0OTT +203/EDM -163NYI@VGK46.0/54.0NYI +138/VGK -113Best bets for Jan. 6Flames (-120) @ Flyers (+100)The Flames can be found for our target moneyline price with some line shopping. But even at -120, Calgary is worth a bet in a game between two teams that appear to be headed in different directions. The Flyers have lost six of their last seven games and have the fourth-worst xG% in that time at 43% despite getting above-average goaltending from Carter Hart and Samuel Ersson.The Flames have won six of eight despite Calgary generating below-average high-danger chances at even strength. If the Flyers continue to allow more high-danger chances than they create, the Flames should ride Jacob Markstrom - quietly second in the league in GSAx - to a road win.Pick: Flames (-120)Sabres (+150) @ Penguins (-175)The Sabres and Penguins have picked up the pace since before the Christmas break, as only the Stars and Panthers have a better xG%. Pittsburgh's seen results, going 6-2 in its last eight games, but Buffalo's better play hasn't translated yet in that same span as the team is 3-3.After taking a while to get back in the flow of things following a three-week absence, Tage Thompson's gone from four points in his first eight games to a stretch of eight in his last six.Neither team has received standout goaltending this year, making this matchup more of a toss-up than the odds suggest. So, we'd much rather take the +150 than have to lay -175.Pick: Sabres moneyline (+150)Canucks (+100) @ Devils (-120)I've downgraded the Devils without Dougie Hamilton and even more without Timo Meier. However, New Jersey has fared well without its biggest minutes-eating defenseman, winning five of its last six.The Devils are on the second game of a back-to-back, which is accounted for in our target price. But they're expected to start Nico Daws, who's won both his starts since taking over the backup role.We faded the Canucks on Thursday on the premise that their metrics are propped up by their success at home. That loss to the Blues was a high-event game, something you don't want to get into with the Devils. The Canucks found that out for themselves earlier this season when they lost to New Jersey 6-5 in Vancouver.Pick: Devils (-120)Wild (-125) @ Blue Jackets (+105)Projecting how much to downgrade a team with a missing player is an inexact science. But in two of the three games without Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild generated just four high-danger chances at even strength. In the other, they converted just one of 13 high-danger chances. Minnesota lost all three, so maybe Kaprizov is worth more to the Wild's win probability than the market's accounted for.Columbus is never a fun bet, but at least the team is expected to get Elvis Merzlikins - its best goaltending option - back after he missed some time with an illness. It's a nice landing spot at home against the Wild without their point-per-game scorer.Pick: Blue Jackets (+105)Sunday cheat sheetWith just four games on the board, here are the moneylines to target if you're looking to bet on Sunday.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETLAK@WSH58.6/41.4LAK -136/WSH +167CGY@CHI53.4/46.6CGY -110/CHI +135WPG@ARI51.7/48.3WPG +103/ARI +119DET@ANA51.2/48.8DET +105/ANA +116Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley will miss the remainder of the campaign after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery, the team announced Saturday.The 31-year-old is expected to make a full recovery.Copley suited up for just eight games this season, and his last appearance came Dec. 10 in a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers. He registered a 4-1-2 record to go along with an .870 save percentage and 3.16 goals-against average.The Kings placed Copley on long-term injured reserve Dec. 17. He suffered the ailment in practice two days prior.The journeyman emerged as a surprisingly reliable option for Los Angeles last season, posting a 24-6-3 record, .903 save percentage, and 2.64 goals-against average in a career-high 37 showings.Copley signed a one-year, $1.5-million extension in February and can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.He owns a career .899 save percentage across 76 contests, split between the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, and Kings.Los Angeles has been heavily leaning on Cam Talbot, who has been spectacular this season. The Kings currently occupy the third spot in the Pacific Division with a 20-9-6 record.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand wants to make sure people don't forget about Sidney Crosby in a discussion of the NHL's elite.The Boston Bruins winger believes the Pittsburgh Penguins star and another Nova Scotian center, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, are the cream of the crop in terms of two-way play."I think (Crosby is) still obviously one of the best in the world, but he's not really getting the credit he deserves right now," Marchand said, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. A lot of the attention is on the younger guys, but if you look at the details of the game, and full 200 feet, he's by far the best player in the league, him and (MacKinnon)."Crosby earned his ninth All-Star nod Thursday when the league revealed the first 32 players heading to the festivities in Toronto next month. MacKinnon also cracked the initial list amid a Hart Trophy-worthy season.Marchand acknowledged that much of the attention at the All-Star Game will be on younger players like the league's leading goal scorer, Auston Matthews, and three-time Hart winner Connor McDavid. But the Bruins winger lauded Crosby for the success he's had playing a different style.He's not as flashy as some of the higher-end guys," Marchand said. He's direct. He plays safe but he plays hard and direct. He plays a winning game. I think he's learned how to play the right way that you need to play in playoffs to have success. He plays that the entire season. He's not trying to beat somebody one-on-one every time he gets the puck. He tries to find open space and find the open man, he moves it quick."Marchand typically trains with Crosby and MacKinnon in the summer. All three hail from Nova Scotia; the latter two are from Cole Harbour, while Marchand is from Hammonds Plains.Crosby scored the eventual game-winner for the Penguins midway through the third period of a 6-5 victory over the Bruins on Thursday night. He netted the decisive tally about eight minutes after Marchand tied it while shorthanded. Crosby also collected a pair of assists, while Marchand's marker was his second of the contest.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks rookie sensation Connor Bedard has been placed on injured reserve due to a fractured jaw, the team announced Saturday.Head coach Luke Richardson said there's no firm timeline for Bedard's return, according to NBC Chicago's Charlie Roumeliotis.Bedard was injured in the first period of Friday's loss to the New Jersey Devils after a hit from Brendan Smith. He didn't play another shift after the collision.

Chicago Blackhawks franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard was forced to exit Friday's 4-2 defeat to the New Jersey Devils after a hit by opposing defenseman Brendan Smith midway through the first period.

The NHL's MVP race is starting to take shape now that the calendar has flipped to 2024.A few of our previous contenders from earlier in the season are still in the hunt, but two perennial candidates who were on the outside looking in for much of the campaign's early stages are now leading the pack.Conversely, Auston Matthews is pacing the league with 30 goals in 35 games, 11 more tallies than William Nylander's notched this season. But Nylander leads the Toronto Maple Leafs with six more points than his American teammate, so it's tough to give Matthews significant Hart consideration when he's not even leading his team in the points department.Likewise, Sebastian Aho has been one of the NHL's most productive players since we last examined this award on Dec. 8. The Carolina Hurricanes star has 10 more assists and 16 more points than his closest teammates. However, Aho is still on the fringes of the league scoring race, and his underlying numbers aren't as strong as the others over the campaign.Here are our top five MVP hopefuls at this juncture:xGF% = Expected goals for percentage at five-on-five5. David Pastrnak Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%37233019:4551.22Pastrnak's bid has taken a hit, as his underlying numbers have been subpar since our last edition. But the Boston Bruins' dynamo has built up huge disparities between his own production and that of his teammates, with eight more goals, eight more assists, and 18 more points than any of them.Despite posting xGF and scoring chances for percentages below 50 over his past 12 games (47.04 and 49.67, respectively), those numbers remain above the threshold (including an SCF% of 53.44) over the balance of the season.Pastrnak no longer has as ironclad of a case as the others listed here, but he'll be in the conversation as long as he keeps carrying a Bruins team that impressively remains near the top of the league standings.4. Artemi Panarin Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%37242919:5055.74Panarin has cooled off a bit since he led this race a month ago, but the New York Rangers' catalyst is still providing plenty of value. He has four more goals, two more assists, and 15 more points than any other Blueshirts skater this season.The 32-year-old has collected eight tallies and eight helpers in 13 games since our last edition, and his underlying numbers have been excellent, both in that span and for the season. Over Panarin's last 13 games, his five-on-five xGF and SCF percentages of 56.73 and 58.2, respectively, are essentially consistent with his rates in those categories over the balance of the campaign.Panarin remains one of the NHL's top scorers and point producers while averaging what would be his most ice time since 2019-20.3. Nikita Kucherov Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%39273721:4452.44Kucherov's candidacy should be no surprise, considering he leads the NHL in points while ranking among the league leaders in both goals and assists. The Tampa Bay Lightning winger could've been the front-runner if not for two superior candidates who've been more productive lately while authoring better underlying numbers than the Bolts veteran.However, Kucherov has a strong case. The 30-year-old has 10 more goals, four more assists, and a whopping 24 more points than his closest Lightning teammates. His 34 even-strength points have been bested by a single NHLer (more on him later), and his average ice time is better than all but three other forwards in the league.Kucherov's analytic figures aren't too shabby, either. Tampa Bay has controlled 54.94% of the scoring chances with the Russian playmaker on the ice at five-on-five in 2023-24. He's also among the NHL's elite in wins above replacement, goals above replacement, and standings points above replacement.2. Connor McDavid Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%33143921:2061.92Two things hindered McDavid's case earlier on: The Edmonton Oilers' woes and the fact that the superstar (perhaps understandably) wasn't meeting the sky-high standard he'd set in recent years. Well, order has been restored to the universe as the Oilers are back in the playoff picture, and McDavid is once again playing on an otherworldly level.He's not scoring goals at his typical rate, but the reigning MVP and three-time winner is still making a major impact. McDavid now ranks fourth in the NHL in WAR, GAR, and SPAR. Leon Draisaitl and others have come close to matching McDavid's production in certain respects over the years, but the latter has 12 more assists and 11 more points than his closest teammates this season.Only our new No. 1 candidate has more even-strength points than McDavid and Kucherov, who are among those tied for second in that category. That and the fact that McDavid has vaulted up to second in the league in both assists and points (tied in the latter) is especially commendable, considering he's played fewer games than his counterparts due to his late-October injury. Whether McDavid will be able to get back on the throne remains to be seen, but the Oilers captain's status as a legitimate Hart contender in 2023-24 is no longer in question.1. Nathan MacKinnon Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%39224222:5356.96MacKinnon's performance this season had been overshadowed by that of Cale Makar, who until recently had earned some serious MVP consideration of his own. But it's the Colorado Avalanche center - not the defenseman - who's been in another stratosphere lately.Over the last month, in particular, MacKinnon has been on an absolute tear. He leads all NHL skaters in points by far since our last edition, with 28 in 13 games. Only 13 of those came at even strength, but he leads the league with 38 even-strength points on the season. The 28-year-old has also averaged more ice time in all situations this season than any NHL forward aside from teammate Mikko Rantanen, who leads by five seconds.MacKinnon has 16 more points than the closest Avalanche skater (Rantanen) and five more assists than the second-ranked Makar. The blue-liner missed five games due to injury, but those disparities are still impressive, considering how much firepower Colorado possesses. MacKinnon has dealt with injuries himself in the past, but he's played every game for the Avalanche this season, leading the NHL in assists and sitting in a tie with Kucherov for the most points.What's even more impressive is how dominant MacKinnon has been in terms of the underlying numbers. In addition to his stellar xGF and SCF percentages (the latter being 59.48 at five-on-five), he leads all NHL skaters in WAR, GAR, and SPAR. Those factor in two-way play, effectively illustrating why MacKinnon is the new Hart front-runner.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen is week-to-week with an undisclosed injury after leaving Thursday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche early due to a collision with goaltender Scott Wedgewood, head coach Pete DeBoer said, per The Athletic's Saad Yousuf.

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman denied Cole Perfetti's claim that he admitted to intentionally high-sticking the Winnipeg Jets youngster in the face during a New Year's Eve clash between the Central Division rivals.Perfetti said Hartman told him he high-sticked him in retaliation to Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon injuring Wild star Kirill Kaprizov with a series of cross-checks the night prior. Perfetti said the interaction with Hartman was caught on the mic Perfetti was wearing.

The Sharks dropped their 10th straight game after falling 2-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, marking San Jose's second double-digit losing streak this season.This is the second time the Sharks have been the victim of two separate double-digit slumps in one campaign, according to San Jose Hockey Now Sheng Peng. The first time was in 1992-93 when San Jose went on three such runs.Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi scored the eventual winner on the power play in the opening minutes of the third period, securing Winnipeg's fourth consecutive victory and 10th straight game with point.Alexander Barabanov opened the scoring for the Sharks in the second frame, but Morgan Barron netted the equalizer just over one minute later.Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves for the Jets, while Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 28 of 30 shots in a losing effort.San Jose kicked off the 2023-24 season with an 11-game losing streak. The Sharks showed some promise after that dubious stretch, going a respectable 9-7-2 before beginning their current skid Dec. 15. Their last victory came Dec. 12 against the Jets.As the losses begin to pile up again, Blackwood is trying to focus on positives."I mean, if you look at the last three games, it's one-goal games, right?" he said, per NBC Sports. "We're there, we're close, I guess. So, I guess it's just about finishing the job."The league's last-place team will get a chance to re-enter the win column Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first half of a home-and-home.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov exited Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and was unable to return due to an upper-body injury.Barkov sustained the ailment after taking an elbow up high from Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez during the first period. The blue-liner went to sweep the puck around the boards behind Vegas' net and caught Barkov in the face as the center went to complete his check.

The NHL revealed the initial 32 players named to the 2024 All-Star Game on Thursday.The league's department of hockey operations chose one player from each team to send to next month's festivities in Toronto. The All-Star Weekend will run from Feb. 1-3.Instead of a division-based setup, the player draft is returning for the first time since 2015. On Feb. 1, four All-Star captains (one from each division) will pair up with celebrities to pick four teams consisting of nine skaters and two goalies.Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid have already agreed to captain two of the teams, sources told The Athletic's Chris Johnston.Eastern ConferencePlayerPositionTeamSebastian AhoFCarolina HurricanesMathew BarzalFNew York IslandersSidney CrosbyFPittsburgh PenguinsAlex DeBrincatFDetroit Red WingsJack HughesFNew Jersey DevilsBoone JennerFColumbus Blue JacketsTravis KonecnyFPhiladelphia FlyersNikita KucherovFTampa Bay LightningAuston MatthewsFToronto Maple LeafsDavid PastrnakFBoston BruinsSam ReinhartFFlorida PanthersNick SuzukiFMontreal CanadiensBrady TkachukFOttawa SenatorsTom WilsonFWashington CapitalsRasmus DahlinDBuffalo SabresIgor ShesterkinGNew York RangersWestern ConferencePlayerPositionTeamConnor BedardFChicago BlackhawksOliver BjorkstrandFSeattle KrakenJack EichelFVegas Golden KnightsFilip ForsbergFNashville PredatorsTomasHertlFSan Jose SharksKirill KaprizovFMinnesota WildClayton KellerFArizona CoyotesElias LindholmFCalgary FlamesNathan MacKinnonFColorado AvalancheConnor McDavidFEdmonton OilersRobert ThomasFSt. Louis BluesFrank VatranoFAnaheim DucksQuinn HughesDVancouver CanucksConnor HellebuyckGWinnipeg JetsJake OettingerGDallas StarsCam TalbotGLos Angeles KingsThe remaining 12 players (eight skaters, four goalies) will be chosen by a fan vote ending on Jan. 11. Fans can submit their ballots on NHL.com, the NHL app, or on X (formerly Twitter).Seven players are expected to make their All-Star Game debuts: Bedard, Vatrano, Jenner, Oettinger, Reinhart, Bjorkstrand, and Thomas. McDavid, meanwhile, will be making his seventh appearance.The Skills Competition will be held on Feb. 2, while the All-Star Game will take place on Feb. 3.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 'dogs didn't bark for us on Tuesday. The Sharks were probably the better team in their matchup with the Red Wings, but a 2-2 game became 4-2 late, costing us a small winning night.Meanwhile, the Canadiens and Maple Leafs - both showing value on paper - pulled off upsets that didn't make the cut for the best of the night, mainly because the idea of Montreal winning in Dallas and Toronto starting their (often tumultuous) California trip with a win against one of the league's best teams seemed far-fetched, even at a valuable price.The cheat sheetIf you're thinking about betting any game on the slate, here's a look at the price you should be hoping to get on the moneyline for a valuable bet.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETBUF@MTL53.9/46.1BUF -112/MTL +138PIT@BOS47.0/53.0PIT +133/BOS -108CBJ@PHI40.1/59.9CBJ +177/PHI -144CHI@NYR28.6/71.4CHI +307/NYR -238CGY@NSH48.6/51.4CGY +117/NSH +105VAN@STL50.9/49.1VAN +107/STL +115TB@MIN44.3/55.7TB +148/MIN -121COL@DAL45.6/54.4COL +141/DAL -115NYI@ARI46.1/53.9NYI +137/ARI -112FLA@VGK52.3/47.7FLA +101/VGK +121OTT@SEA44.1/55.9OTT +149/SEA -122DET@LAK36.6/63.4DET +207/LAK -166WPG@SJS57.5/42.5WPG -130/SJS +160Best bets for Jan. 4Blackhawks (+355) @ Rangers (-450)We're not about to lay -400 in an NHL game, but we're not asking the Blackhawks to beat the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.Our numbers give Chicago a 28.6% chance to win, and their +355 moneyline implies a 22% chance of winning. That 6.6% edge means it's a play worth making long-term, but it also means there's an edge in other head-to-head markets like the puck line.I'm not a fan of betting +1.5 puck lines since the premise is that I expect it to be a one-goal game late and, even if we're right, we're leaving ourselves open to an empty-netter. However, with odds rooted in a moneyline this long, we can get +2.5 for just -135. I prefer to find the middle ground, backing the Blackhawks at a plus-money price - a number that acts as insurance if the Rangers score into a yawning cage in the dying seconds.Pick: Blackhawks puck line (+2, +105)Canucks (-145) @ Blues (+125) Whether it's evidenced by an advanced metric like expected goals share (xG%) or their record, the Canucks are a visibly better team at home than on the road. Vancouver starts its longest trip of the season in St. Louis, where the Blues have a 5-3 record since firing head coach Craig Berube.The Blues have boosted their xG% from below 45% to above 48% but have been somewhat unlucky in high-danger chance conversion rates since switching coaches.By making them a considerable road favorite, the market's treating the Canucks like a team that creates more than 50% of the expected goals and high-danger chances when they hover right around the league average in both.Pick: Blues moneyline (+125)Lightning (-128) @ Wild (+110)We successfully faded the Lightning on Tuesday, questioning their rating without Mikhail Sergachev and wondering if Andrei Vasilevskiy was in form. Vasilevskiy was far better than the numbers suggest in Tampa's 4-2 loss, but the Lightning appeared to wear down late - potentially a function of playing five defensemen with Sergachev out of the lineup.Tampa's next stop is Minnesota. The Wild have hit the skids, losing three of four games following a nice run after they, too, fired their head coach. They've missed Kirill Kaprizov, but their rating in betting markets has reflected his absence. Meanwhile, the Lightning's rating hasn't taken much of a hit without Sergachev and Erik Cernak (who's questionable to play Thursday), which means there's value in picking the Wild.Pick: Wild (+110)Islanders (-115) @ Coyotes (-105)Sure, goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 35 shots and the Coyotes were tied 1-1 with the red-hot Panthers in the third period. But we thought we were getting Connor Ingram on Tuesday since the Yotes hadn't played in a while.Since Arizona stuck to its rotation, we should get Ingram Thursday night against a far less intimidating opponent in the Islanders. While we're not getting the Coyotes as underdogs, a pick'em price is good enough for a team we think wins at least 54% of the time.Pick: Coyotes (-105)Panthers (-115) @ Golden Knights (-105) In this case, a regular season matchup against the team that beat you in the Stanley Cup Final can certainly be categorized as a revenge-seeking game.With five straight wins, the now-healthy Panthers are cooking. They're returning to Las Vegas where Shea Theodore and Adin Hill aren't available to torment them as they did in June. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are 2-6 in their last eight games and are also playing without William Karlsson. All these elements aren't accounted for in the market, with this game lined at nearly a pick'em.Pick: Panthers (-115)Friday cheat sheetWith just three games on the board, here are the moneylines to target if you're looking to bet them on Friday.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETCAR@WSH55.4/44.6CAR -119/WSH +146CHI@NJD30.5/69.5CHI +278/NJD -218WPG@SJS57.5/42.5WPG -130/SJS +160Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your Seattle Kraken!"The rapper Sir-Mix-A-Lot introduced the NHL's newest team to 47,313 fans gathered inside T-Mobile Park and those watching on television Monday. The game-ready Kraken players, eye black and all, then strutted a catwalk flanked by fire and flying fish before halting for the national anthem. The Vegas Golden Knights, the league's second-newest team, were positioned nearby.Kraken goaltender Chris Driedger walks to the ice surface at T-Mobile Park Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesThe scene was a bit on the nose for a Seattle-based outdoor game. But that's the allure of the Winter Classic; it's a celebration of hockey and the host city.This particular Classic doubled as a celebration of the league. Pitting seven-year-old Vegas against third-year Seattle on New Year's Day was a victory lap of sorts for the NHL. And why not: both franchises have been wildly successful.So successful, in fact, that every time commissioner Gary Bettman is in front of a microphone, he's asked about expanding beyond 32 teams. Bettman tends to respond with two messages: Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Quebec City are all clearly interested, and expansion isn't atop the priority list."I don't have a formal expansion process on the horizon," Bettman told Bally Sports Southwest on Dec. 18. "But, we always listen when people are expressing their interest to us, and it's very flattering to know there are so many places that would also like to have an NHL team."Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman address media in Sweden Ben Jackson / Getty ImagesWhat Bettman hasn't said in these interviews is informative too. He hasn't outright dismissed expansion or changed the subject - he's left the door open."We take meetings, we listen, but we're not about to say, 'If you want an expansion team, submit your application by X date.' We're not doing that," he told reporters in mid-November, according to NHL.com's Bill Price. He added, "At some point, somebody may create a proposal that we find so intriguing that we decide to explore it and maybe pursue it. But that's not what we're doing now."Translation: It's definitely possible the NHL will expand past 32 teams one day.Should it, though? Let's discuss the cases for and against expansion.The case for expansionGolden Knights players watch the team's 2023 championship banner being raised Zak Krill / Getty ImagesThe NHL's public relations department noted earlier this week that league business was "stronger than ever" in the calendar year of 2023 and that revenues for the 2023-24 season are projected to "exceed $6 billion."Pro sports leagues want to always tout growth, and expansion can help a mature league like the NHL grow. Expansion, at a basic level, puts money in owners' pockets, gives broadcast partners more inventory, and creates jobs for the players' association.Win-win-win."If it starts with a capital 'B,' the owners are going to be interested and excited. Very, very excited," one assistant general manager for an NHL team said of the potential value of expansion fees. NHL sources were granted anonymity to freely discuss league business.Expansion fees don't count toward hockey-related revenue, or HRR, which means the players wouldn't get a kickback from, say, a $1-billion entry fee. Still, one veteran agent sees plenty of long-term upside: 23 new jobs per team, and the immense opportunity untapped markets can provide."We're in the entertainment business. We can't forget that," said the agent, who represents some of the sport's biggest names. "Players should be into this idea of expanding again. It'll grow the game, grow revenues over time."Kraken fans take in the Winter Classic in Seattle Alika Jenner / Getty ImagesVegas paid $500 million to enter the league in 2017. Seattle paid $650 million four years later. The small-market Ottawa Senators were recently purchased for $950 million by Michael Andlauer, who in turn sold his 10% minority interest in the big-market Montreal Canadiens at a reported $2.5 billion enterprise value. In late 2023, both Forbes and Sportico estimated the average value of an NHL team at roughly $1.3 billion - a 29% jump over 2022.The NHL's in a sweet spot. Franchise values are through the roof. There's proof of concept in Vegas and Seattle, which have quickly become key revenue generators and, thanks in part to favorable expansion draft rules, highly competitive teams. (Heck, there's no better advertisement for expansion than the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup in Year 6.) And, with several markets to choose from and no shortage of motivated rich people (nine groups submitted bids for the Senators), the league has power and leverage."Bettman is concerned about growing franchise values over time," said David Carter, a University of Southern California professor and a longtime sports industry consultant. "So, if you bring on a team and that team is financially stable - if it has enough money to be competitive on the ice and run a strong business operation - that team will elevate the other boats in the league."A better question might be: Why wouldn't the NHL want to capitalize on this moment of growth? The league ballooned from 21 to 28 teams in the 1990s. This could be another boom - from 30 to 34 during the 2010s and 2020s."At some point, you reach a tipping point where expanding again becomes too much. But the interest in hockey right now is very strong," said Chris Gear, the former longtime chief legal officer and assistant GM for the Vancouver Canucks. "The NHL might be wise to strike while it's hot." Claus Andersen / Getty ImagesGear, who now runs a consulting agency and law firm called Blackfin Sports Group, mentioned an interesting wrinkle: less travel. With two more teams, one per conference, the NHL could regionalize its divisions better to reduce costs, lessen the physical and environmental toll of air travel, and promote rivalries. (As for balance, the locations that Bettman commonly cites give the league options. Houston and Salt Lake City could join the Western Conference, while Atlanta and Quebec City could join the East.)One NHL GM said he isn't opposed to adding a pair of teams, as long as the expansion draft rules remain favorable. That may sound counterintuitive (why would a rival GM want to lose two good players?). However, the executive explained that if the existing owners are going to accept an infusion of cash through fees, they should be OK with handing over some NHL-caliber talent.Expansion would force dozens of players previously in lower leagues into the NHL. This could lead to a watered-down product (as discussed in the next section), but it may also create an environment that caters to true superstars."Goal-scoring is up. Maybe that's directly related to the widening of the gap between the very top and very bottom of the league, player-wise," Gear said of the jobs created by recent expansion. "More goals create more excitement, which adds eyeballs and sponsors. Expansion could be seen as a good thing for the product. It really depends on your frame of reference."Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid skates past New Jersey Devils forward Curtis Lazar in a December game Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe case against expansionThe first counterargument to expansion is the Arizona Coyotes. Unstable throughout their 27-year run in the Phoenix area, the franchise is currently playing out of a 4,600-seat arena on the Arizona State University campus.The team is finally competitive on the ice, but the search for a permanent, appropriately sized building is dragging on, and the players' union is losing patience.As NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh puts it, NHL players deserve an NHL rink."There's lots of rumors about two more expansion teams coming. I would say three expansion teams. The first one, really, is Arizona - trying to figure out what's going on with Arizona," Walsh, who's in his first full season, said in November during a keynote interview at the PrimeTime sports conference.He later added: "You can't have 31 teams playing in a full arena and then one playing in a college arena where you're the second citizen, where you're the second tenant."That last remark hits on the anti-expansion crowd's main talking point: How can the NHL consider expansion if one of its franchises is a prime candidate for relocation? (Pro-expansion types would respond: OK, that's fair. How about two expansion teams and the Coyotes relocate?)Arizona State University's Mullett Arena in Tempe, where the Coyotes also play Christian Petersen / Getty ImagesThe quality of the on-ice product is critical to the overall health of the league. By diluting the talent pool, expansion may make games less competitive and entertaining. The best league in the world should have high standards.In talking with 15 people for this story, the general sentiment was that the on-ice product has been largely unchanged since Vegas and Seattle arrived. It's perhaps slightly worse. However, growing to 33 or 34 teams would add 23 or 46 roster spots that would be filled by players currently in the minors. It's impossible to know for sure, but the league may already be up against the talent threshold."The game is growing and there's more countries playing and producing high-end players, so maybe overall there's a bigger talent pool to draw from and that balances everything out," Gear said. "But, I do think you want to be careful. If you expand too many times, too quickly - before that pool of players broadens enough - you might just be watering down the league a little bit."One assistant GM wondered about the trickle-down effect. For instance, most first-round picks don't immediately make the jump to the NHL in the current 32-team climate. At 34 teams, depth-seeking GMs might feel like the 28th overall pick is the best option to fill out their roster, even though there's a chance that playing in the NHL as a teenager will hurt his development.Forward Gabriel Perreault, selected 23rd overall by the New York Rangers in the 2023 draft Brian Babineau / Getty ImagesMore food for thought from an NHL GM: The league has perfect symmetry - 32 teams, 16 per conference, eight per division, and half of the clubs make the playoffs. Expanding would throw off this tidy setup and probably lead the NHL to alter its playoff format, which the league consistently touts as the best.Expansion wouldn't affect the way a fan follows their favorite team. But it would affect how they follow the rest of the league. The more teams and players, the harder it is to keep up. The average NHL fan in 2024 probably can't name more than three Columbus Blue Jackets players. Expand further and the average fan's connection to rival teams becomes even weaker.One NHL player sees both sides. If you want to grow the game, you grow the business. At the same time, the NHL shouldn't expand for the sake of expanding. It's a slippery slope, he said, if you're chasing money. The player added that the league can't dismiss what makes the NHL great, whether it's the history of the Original Six or the modern parity and intense competition.Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith Melissa Majchrzak / Getty ImagesThe final counterargument cited by sources is that just because the Golden Knights and Kraken have crushed it, that doesn't mean the markets expressing interest now will do the same. Quebec City has an NHL rink - but not enough corporate dollars. Salt Lake City has an impressive prospective owner in Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith - but a small population. Atlanta is a massive market - but the NHL has already given it two chances. Houston appears to check off the boxes for ownership, market size and demographics, and a building, making it the lone city that doesn't face a significant hurdle.Carter believes the NHL won't expand haphazardly. Bettman and his staff will be thorough and diligent. Still, the professor notes there's always risk involved in bringing a new owner, market, and team into the fold during a boom period."They're not just looking at money, but ultimately, money is what drives the day," Carter said. "The problem can be if the NHL allows for money to be virtually the only thing. That's when they run into trouble. They have to have owners who fulfill a strategic imperative for the league."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames assigned defenseman Oliver Kylington, who hasn't played since the 2022 playoffs for personal reasons, to the AHL for a conditioning stint on Thursday.Kylington missed the entire 2022-23 campaign, as well as the start of the current season, to focus on his mental health. He said he's in a better place now as he seeks to resume his NHL career."I feel I'm in a good place with my mental health and ready to take another step forward," he said in a statement. "Returning to Calgary has been the right decision. I've felt tremendous commitment from Flames ownership, management, and my teammates, and I am appreciative of the support and resources made available to me. I also thank my family, friends, and the fans for their encouragement. I'm looking forward to getting on the ice in a team environment and back to my everyday life. I have missed it very much."Kylington posted career highs in games played (73), points (31), and average ice time (18:10) in 2021-22 before taking time off.He was a second-round pick of the Flames in 2015 and has made 168 career appearances for the club.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season due to a torn pectoral muscle, the team announced Thursday.Dvorak missed the club's past two games due to the injury. He didn't make his season debut until Nov. 4 due to a knee injury sustained last March.The 27-year-old center logged seven points in 25 games this season while averaging nearly 16 minutes per contest. Dvorak is in his third campaign with the Canadiens since being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes for a first-round pick.He's under contract for one more season at a $4.45-million cap hit.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fourth edition of theScore's 2023-24 Norris Trophy Rankings and the third in-season version. New rankings are published once a month throughout the campaign.These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen rather than only points or reputation.While Nos. 1 and 2 remain the same, three new blue-liners crack the list this month.xGF% = five-on-five expected goals for percentage5. Noah Dobson, Islanders Cato Cataldo / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%3763025:2349.1Dobson's underlying numbers pale in comparison to others on this list - and even some who were left off. But context is important here.The 23-year-old has undoubtedly been the Islanders' MVP this season, as he's one point shy of Mathew Barzal for the team lead. But his value to the team has really come through over the past month while the club has been without fellow top-four defense stalwarts Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. The absences have forced Dobson to average 27:12 per game since the last edition of these rankings, and he's produced 14 points in 13 contests over that stretch. On the season, he trails only Drew Doughty in average ice time.The Islanders are 7-3-3 in that same stretch. They find themselves in the thick of the playoff race but wouldn't be close if it weren't for Dobson, who's generating offense at a high rate for a team that typically struggles in that department.4. Josh Morrissey, Jets Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%3662424:1654The Josh "Norrissey" campaign is starting to gain steam again.Morrissey is putting together another excellent season - one that's arguably better than last year when he finished fifth in voting after putting up 76 points in 78 games. His points per game are down from 2022-23, but his underlying numbers have vastly improved.While much of Morrissey's production came with the man advantage last year, he hasn't been quite the power-play savant this year. He's still been effective in quarterbacking Winnipeg's No. 1 unit, but more importantly, he ranks second only to Quinn Hughes with 22 points at even strength among defensemen.3. Miro Heiskanen, Stars Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%3642225:2159.7Heiskanen has been the NHL's best defensive blue-liner this season. He ranks second in the league in defensive goals above replacement. Among rearguards to play at least 20 games this season, Heiskanen sits third in expected goals against per 60 minutes, trailing only the injured Jonas Brodin and veteran Brian Dumoulin, who's playing a third-pairing role.Heiskanen is a true workhorse who ranks fifth in average ice time and matches up against opposing teams' top forwards on a nightly basis.The offense is starting to come around, too, making him one of the league's most well-rounded blue-liners. He's produced 11 points in 12 games since the last rankings.2. Quinn Hughes, Canucks Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%37103624:3050.6This past month would've been a tremendous opportunity for Hughes to usurp Makar for the top spot on this list, but both players have been somewhat pedestrian of late relative to their lofty standards.Hughes recorded 10 points in 11 games and posted a 52.7 xGF% since the last rankings. That's a month any defenseman would be happy to have, but it wasn't enough to put him ahead of Makar, who posted a similar line of 10 points in 10 games with a 51.6 xGF%.Hughes has the edge in even-strength points (29-21), but that's largely due to Vancouver's 14% shooting percentage when he's been on the ice at five-on-five. Colorado's is 10.1% with Makar on the ice at five-on-five.1. Cale Makar, Avalanche Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%3383624:2555.5Both Hughes and Makar have put up video game numbers over the season, and their play of late has been more or less even, as noted above. They've both been elite offensively, but Makar's edge defensively puts him over the top.With Makar on the ice at five-on-five, the Avalanche are surrendering 2.37 expected goals against per 60 minutes. The Canucks, on the other hand, hold a mark of 2.72 with Hughes. Furthermore, Makar edges Hughes in defensive goals above replacement 1.6 to 1.4 despite skating in four fewer games.It's a neck-and-neck two-horse race at the moment, but Makar continues to lead by a nose.(Analytics source: Evolving Hockey)Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals veteran Max Pacioretty made his long-awaited season debut Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.Pacioretty hadn't suited up in an NHL game in almost one year after tearing his Achilles tendon twice in five months. He played just under 12 minutes in the 6-3 loss to New Jersey.The winger played just five games last campaign as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. His 2022-23 debut was delayed until Jan. 5 following his recovery from offseason surgery to repair the ailment, but he aggravated the issue two weeks later. Pacioretty scored three goals before his tenure in Raleigh was cut short.He signed a one-year deal with a $2-million cap hit - plus an additional $2 million in performance-based incentives - with the Capitals as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Heading into Wednesday's game, Pacioretty had amassed 326 goals and 645 points (including 164 on the man advantage) across 855 games. The 35-year-old has eclipsed the 30-goal mark six times over his 15-year NHL career.Washington's offense has struggled in 2023-24. The Capitals entered Wednesday owning the league's second-worst goals per game rate (2.34), and fourth-worst power play (12.2%).Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes winger Jason Zucker will sit out three games for boarding Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.Zucker was ejected from Tuesday's game for the play. He was taking exception to Cousins hitting his Coyotes teammate Juuso Valimaki while Valimaki was on his knees and defenseless, and Zucker plastered Cousins into the boards from behind. Panthers blue-liner Gustav Forsling then fought Zucker.Cousins wasn't penalized for his hit on Valimaki and the league didn't schedule a hearing for the Panthers forward.Zucker had never been fined or suspended previously in his 13-year NHL career.The incident occurred in the final minute of the second period. Cousins only played one shift in the third frame and is currently in concussion protocol.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings recalled defenseman Brandt Clarke from the AHL's Ontario Reign, the team announced Wednesday.Fellow blue-liner Tobias Bjornfot was placed on waivers in a corresponding move.Clarke, the Kings' top prospect, is tearing up the AHL this season, leading the team with 32 points in 30 games. He tallied a pair of assists in nine NHL games in 2022-23 but has yet to appear in an NHL game this season.Los Angeles selected Clarke with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He tallied 61 points in 31 games with the OHL's Barrie Colts last season and helped Canada win gold at the 2023 world juniors.With the Kings, Clarke could play on the right side of the third defense pair in place of Jordan Spence. He'll also likely see time on the power play.Bjornfot, meanwhile, failed to tally a point in his lone game with Los Angeles and didn't collect any in his nine contests with Ontario this season. The Kings picked him 22nd overall in the 2019 draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the third in-season edition of theScore's 2023-24 Vezina Trophy rankings, a monthly look at the top goalies across the NHL.As has been the case in our previous versions, there's been plenty of changeover in our top five. No netminders have established themselves as clear-cut favorites, making this a more compelling race than the past few years when Linus Ullmark and Igor Shesterkin were shoo-ins to win the prestigious award by the midway point.It'll be fascinating to see if any of these contenders can pull away from the pack now that the calendar has flipped. But we're not holding our breath based on the way this season's gone between the pipes. Case in point: this is the third consecutive version of this exercise in which we have a new No. 1.Let's dive in.GSAA = Goals saved above average

For Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, placing Ilya Samsonov on waivers is a necessary step to getting the struggling netminder back on track."Obviously, we know Ilya is going through a difficult time," the executive said Tuesday. "When you go through this, you kinda look at a couple of options. You keep doing what you're doing and try to work through it, or you do something different. This plan, we looked at it, and I felt strongly that we had to do something different to help Ilya.""This isn't punishment," he added. "We need him to get back to where he's capable of getting back to, and he wants to get there. If you knew exactly all the ways to fix things, you would do it, right?"Samsonov owns an .862 save percentage and 3.94 goals-against average to go along with a 5-2-6 record this campaign. The 26-year-old ranks last among all goalies in goals saved above expected (-12.5) and second last in goals saved above average (-14.95) at all strengths, according to Evolving Hockey.The Maple Leafs put Samsonov on the waiver wire Sunday, two days after he surrendered six goals on 21 shots during Friday's overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Russian has since been loaned to the AHL, but Treliving confirmed the plan isn't for Samsonov to appear in any games for the Toronto Marlies at this point."We're using this week to get him some one-on-one time," he said. "He'll be working with (Marlies goalie coach) Hannu Toivonen back in Toronto, our development team, our performance team off the ice. Really, it's a physical and a mental reset where he can get away from preparing for the next game and all the pressures that come with it."To me, a lot of what we're seeing here is, the mental drives the bus a little bit. It's hard to correct the physical - and maybe the technical side - when there's a lot going on. I think there's a lot going on with him. We're trying to let the air out of the balloon a little bit, give him a bunch of support, and just let him reset."The Maple Leafs called up Marlies goalie Dennis Hildeby on Monday. He's now Toronto's only option behind veteran Martin Jones with rookie Joseph Woll still on the shelf.Treliving offered a humorous response when asked if he'd consider looking at alternatives outside the organization."The manager always has to do his job of continuing to look at ways to improve the team. Now having said that, I checked outside, the goaltender tree was empty. I couldn't pick one off there today. So we'll see with a little bit of sun, maybe they grow a few more."The Maple Leafs will take on the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Czechia has gotten its revenge on Canada.After losing to Canada in the gold-medal game in 2023, Czechia eliminated the two-time defending champions with a 3-2 victory in the quarterfinal of the world juniors Tuesday. It's the first time ever Czechia has defeated Canada in the knockout stage of the tournament.Jakub Stancl scored the winner for Czechia with just 11 seconds left in regulation for his second goal of the game. He swung a puck toward the goal that bounced off Canadian defenseman Oliver Bonk and into the net.Czechia jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first period. Stancl beat Mathis Rousseau to open the scoring with a short-side wrister off the rush at the 7:51 mark. Tomas Cibulka then doubled the lead with a point shot through the wickets with less than two minutes left in the opening frame.Canada made a strong push and was the better team in the final 40 minutes. Matthew Wood - the team's 13th forward - gave Canada life with a top-corner snipe on a breakaway 3:43 into the middle frame. Defenseman Jake Furlong knotted the game at 2-2 with a high point shot at the 16:40 mark."Those last two periods were some of the best periods we played in the tournament, and that's kind of the disappointing thing," Canadian head coach Alan Letang said postgame, per TSN's Mark Masters. "I don't think we got to our game quick enough, often enough."Canada continued to press in the third period, outshooting Czechia 12-6 in the final frame. However, the team couldn't get one past netminder Michael Hrabal - a second-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2023. Just when it appeared the game was heading to OT, Stancl scored the winner."Our heads are kind of spinning right now," Canadian forward Owen Beck said. "Not really sure what happened. Yeah, it's just a horrible way to end things off here."Canada outshot Czechia 30-22 overall in the contest.Captain Fraser Minten took the loss to heart."It feels like the world's ending a bit," Minten said. "Like, it's such an unbelievable opportunity for all of us in our careers, and you never really know if you're going to get another look with representing your country or playing on such a global stage."Macklin Celebrini, Denton Mateychuk, and Maveric Lamoureux were named Canada's top players in the tournament.It'll be the first time since 2019 that Canada won't medal.Czechia, meanwhile, is looking to medal in consecutive years for the first time since winning back-to-back golds in 2000 and 2001.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Hartman is caught red-handed.The Minnesota Wild forward admitted to intentionally high-sticking Cole Perfetti in the face during Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, Perfetti said Tuesday.Perfetti said he was mic'd-up during the contest, which picked up Hartman's admittance of guilt."I don't know if he realized that or not. ... To come out and blatantly say it into the mic, it worked out in our favor," Perfetti told reporters Tuesday, per Sportsnet.The audio has yet to be made public, though.Hartman was fined $4,427.08 on Tuesday - the maximum allowable under the CBA. However, in exchange for players agreeing to wear mics, none of the audio captured can be used in connection with disciplinary action, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek."He said it in kind of a respectful way," Perfetti said. "He said 'no disrespect, nothing against you, something had to happen for what happened to (Kirill) Kaprizov.'"Perfetti added: "That's what he thought he needed to do to get back at us."Here's a look at the high stick:

Nobody likes change. It's scary.So I can understand some trepidation as our No. 1 hockey handicapper, Todd Cordell, takes a brief hiatus to welcome a sizable change in his life, and you're left with me to guide the way through much of January for our daily best bets in the NHL.Using the information we usually publish in our weekly betting guide, the change you'll notice here is a penchant for grimy underdogs and, sadly, no shots-on-goal props. But at least Todd's short-term replacement won't be sleep-deprived and covered in vomit. Probably.The cheat sheetIf you're thinking about betting any game on the slate, here's a look at the price you should be hoping to get on the moneyline for a valuable bet.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETCAR@NYR48.5/51.5CAR +117/NYR +104BOS@CBJ56.7/43.3BOS -126/CBJ +154WSH@PIT41.4/58.6WSH +167/PIT -136MTL@DAL36.7/63.3MTL +206/DAL -166TBL@WPG41.4/58.6TBL +168/WPG -136CGY@MIN50.6/49.4CGY +108/MIN +113CHI@NSH43.1/56.9CHI +156/NSH -127PHI@EDM37.0/63.0PHI +203/EDM -163NYI@COL38.4/61.6NYI +191/COL -154FLA@ARI51.7/48.3FLA +103/ARI +118OTT@VAN47.1/52.9OTT +132/VAN -108DET@SJS50.6/49.4DET +108/SJS +113TOR@LAK48.6/51.4TOR +117/LAK +105Best bets for Jan. 2Bruins (-225) @ Blue Jackets (+190)Our target price for the Blue Jackets is considerably lower than a nearly 2-1 moneyline on the home underdog. So there's just shy of a 9% edge on a Columbus team that's come out of Christmas break competitive, forcing overtime in all three games against decent competition (at Devils, vs. Maple Leafs, at Sabres).Admittedly, the Blue Jackets' even-strength metrics haven't been good, but some regression could be in order. More interestingly, the Bruins have an expected goals share (xG%) and high-danger chance share below 50% in their three wins since Christmas and could be vulnerable.Pick: Blue Jackets (+190)Lightning (+115) @ Jets (-135)The Jets barely qualify as a valuable favorite, but that's enough to back Winnipeg. The Jets have emerged from Christmas break with the league's best xG% despite an OT loss to the Blackhawks. Their success at driving play shows that life with Kyle Connor isn't so bad.The Lightning have had to deal with the absence of Mikhail Sergachev, and their lone win during a three-game homestand came by one goal over the Canadiens. At just 41% in expected goals share, with Andrei Vasilevskiy (.900 save percentage, 2.94 goals-against average) playing beneath his standard midseason form, the Jets should keep rolling.Pick: Jets (-135)Panthers (-165) @ Coyotes (+140)Don't look now, but the Coyotes - a team with tempered expectations entering the season - have won six of seven around the holiday break, with a 4-1 road loss to the Avalanche a lone blemish there's no need to be ashamed of.Arizona's 12-5 at home this season, while the Panthers haven't left Florida since Dec. 18 - a five-game trip that saw them lose convincingly to Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary.Connor Ingram boasts the eighth-best GSAx this season and should be well-rested coming off a shutout of the Ducks last Friday. I was hoping to get +120 with the home underdog, and the moneyline is juicier than that.Pick: Coyotes (+140)Red Wings (-175) @ Sharks (+150)You were warned that there'd be some uncomfortable plays on our ticket for the next few weeks, and the Sharks always qualify.This bet, however, is more about the Red Wings, who probably don't warrant being a -175 road favorite against any NHL team. Detroit's allowed 13 goals in three games since the Christmas break and 18 in the four games going into the holiday, so we might get the version of the Sharks that couldn't stop scoring in early December.A trio of Kings-Oilers-Avalanche out of the break was rough for San Jose, but their even-strength metrics in those three games aren't any worse than Detroit's:TEAMxG%HDC%Red Wings43.941.1Sharks42.742.9When the Sharks have played a mediocre-to-bad team at home (Penguins, Flyers, Blues, Canadiens, Capitals, Coyotes), they're 3-3.All signs point to a 50-50 contest, and we're getting a 60-40 price.Pick: Sharks (+150)Wednesday cheat sheetWith just two games on the board, here are the moneylines to target if you're looking to bet on Wednesday's doubleheader.GAMEWIN PROB. (%)PRICE TO BETNJD@WSH51.2/48.8NJD +105/WSH +115TOR@ANA57.6/42.4TOR -130/ANA +160Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It may be a new year, but the podium on these rankings is the same as December's edition. Those three guys have just been great, OK?That being said, two new names are on the list this time. We've got to keep things fresh somehow.Here's how the Calder Trophy race is shaping up three months into the 2023-24 campaign.5. Connor Zary, Flames Derek Leung / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOI2671715:32We've gotta give Zary his flowers because he's doing great work.Unlike the rest of the rookies on this list, Zary wasn't on an NHL team to start the 2023-24 campaign. He earned a call-up to the Flames on Nov. 1 after logging 10 points in six games with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, and he hasn't looked back. Since making his NHL debut, he ranks fourth on the Flames in points and fifth in goals.Zary is trailing in the rookie scoring race thanks to the delayed start to his campaign. However, he owns the second-best point-per-game rate (0.65) out of all first-year players to appear in at least 15 contests this season. Zary leads Calgary in goals above replacement (6.7) and wins above replacement (1.1) while ranking among the top four rookies in both metrics.The 22-year-old has spent most of his ice time alongside Nazem Kadri, and his presence has provided a much-needed boost for the veteran. Prior to Zary's debut, Kadri logged just two points in the first nine games of the season. But he's racked up 24 points in his last 27 outings.Many expected Matt Coronato to be the Flames' most impactful rookie, but Zary has stolen the show.4. Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOI38112315:32Welcome to the regular-season rankings, Fantilli.Yeah, December belonged to the No. 1 guy on this list, but it also belonged to Fantilli. He led all rookies with seven goals in 14 games over the last month while ranking second with 13 points. For those who don't feel like doing mental math, that means all but four of his goals and 10 of his points came in December. It feels pretty safe to say he's starting to find his way in the NHL.Thanks to his wintery outburst, Fantilli sits second among rookies in goals and points on the season. He's also got a good shot to add to his total due to his recent promotion to the top line. The 19-year-old has slotted in as the Blue Jackets' No. 1 center since Dec. 14, with usual pivot Boone Jenner sidelined by a jaw injury. Fantilli's been up to the challenge so far, racking up three goals and seven points in eight games while averaging almost 17 minutes of ice time.The 2023 third overall pick scored in back-to-back contests and is currently enjoying a four-game point streak. Fantilli can continue staking his claim as a potential Calder finalist if he can build off that momentum in the new year.3. Luke Hughes, Devils Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOI3572119:59Hughes is the first rookie to be named one of the NHL's stars of the week this season, and the honor was well-earned.The 20-year-old's been a monster since coming out of the holiday break. Hughes amassed five points in his last three contests, and he became just the second rookie defenseman in Devils history to have a three-game goal streak, joining Barry Beck, who accomplished the feat in 1977-78. One of those goals was a spectacular end-to-end tally in the final two minutes of regulation against the Blue Jackets on Dec. 27 en route to the Devils' 4-3 overtime win. Two days later, Hughes became the first rookie rearguard to record a three-point night this campaign after he helped torch the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory.Hughes leads all rookie defensemen in goals and points while ranking fourth in the latter category among first-year skaters. He also sits third in the class in goals above replacement (7) and wins above replacement (1.1), as well as fourth in offensive goals above replacement (4.7).The Devils will need even more from Hughes with stud defenseman Dougie Hamilton out indefinitely, but his latest pop of offense is a promising step in the right direction. Barring a disaster, Hughes will likely be a Calder finalist in a few months' time off the back of his production alone.2. Brock Faber, Wild Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOI3521624:38Faber's Calder case is starting to gather steam, and for good reason. He ranks third among all rookie defensemen in points and paces the entire first-year class in average ice time, nearly four minutes clear of Simon Nemec, the second-busiest player.The 21-year-old had even more responsibility heaped onto his plate in December. Minnesota had to go seven games without blue-line stalwarts Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin due to injuries and heavily leaned on Faber to overcome their absences. Faber averaged 29:38 of ice time over that span and saw over 30 minutes of action in four of those outings. He also played 33:25 during the Wild's 4-3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 21, the highest ice time total of any player this season.Despite his increased workload, the youngster was a plus-4 when both Brodin and Spurgeon were out of the lineup, while Minnesota amazingly went 6-1-0. Wild fans, say, "Thank you, Faber."Given his poise and maturity, it's sometimes hard to believe Faber is just a rookie. The Minnesota native leads the Wild in goals above replacement (7.7) and wins above replacement (1.2) and seems primed to be a No. 1 defenseman for years to come. He's been outstanding, but it's still not enough to make him the Calder favorite.1. Connor Bedard, Blackhawks Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOI36153319:31In case there was any doubt, Bedard is him. He's just that guy.Case in point: The overtime winner he scored on Connor freakin' Hellebuyck that secured a 2-1 victory for Chicago (he potted the other goal, too) on Dec. 27. It was his first career overtime goal, but you'd think it was his 100th given how sick it was. Oh, and Bedard netted a Michigan goal in his 33rd NHL game. Gross, dude.It's been business as usual for Bedard, who still paces all rookies in goals and points - he's four goals and 10 points ahead of Fantilli in second place. But Bedard reached a new level in December. The 2023 first overall pick led all first-year players with 15 points (eight of which came in a five-game point streak) in 15 contests this past month, and he's very close to having a point-per-game campaign as a rookie. The Blackhawks have 46 contests remaining on their 2023-24 schedule, and Bedard could end the season with 79 points if he continues to play at a point-per-game pace the rest of the way. If he hits the 80-point mark, he'd be the first rookie to do so since Mat Barzal in 2017-18.It would be nice if the Blackhawks went out and got Bedard another linemate to play with, as he's seeing an astonishing amount of ice time with veteran forward Nick Foligno, which isn't, um, ideal. Still, the 18-year-old is proving capable of driving Chicago's attack on his own, leading the team in all offensive categories.Keep an eye on:

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov is expected to miss one-to-two weeks with an injury, reports The Athletic's Michael Russo.Kaprizov appeared to sustain the ailment after taking a pair of cross-checks to the back from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon during the third period of Saturday's contest. The Russian departed the game and was unable to suit up for Sunday's rematch against the Wild's Central Division rivals.

History was made in front of a sellout crowd at Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday as New York defeated Toronto 4-0 in the first Professional Women's Hockey League game.Canadian defender Ella Shelton scored the first goal in league history in the opening period when she beat Toronto's Kristen Campbell on a shot through traffic.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov cleared waivers on Monday and was subsequently assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Samsonov has been one of the league's worst netminders this season, owning a 5-2-6 record with an .862 save percentage and 3.94 goals against average. His stark decline comes after he posted career highs in his debut campaign in Toronto. Samsonov was 27-10-5 in 2022-23 with a .919 clip, prompting the Maple Leafs to re-sign him on a one-year, $3.55-million deal over the summer.The Leafs gained $1.15 million in cap space with Samsonov sent down. As of Sunday, Toronto is only $34,999 short of the league's $83.5-million limit, according to CapFriendly.Samsonov won't play for the Marlies this week, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. He'll instead work with goaltending coaches and support staff before being re-evaluated after the Maple Leafs' road trip.The Maple Leafs will likely hand starting duties to veteran Martin Jones, who's been thrust into action since Joseph Woll's injury in early December. Jones, 33, has made eight NHL appearances this season, owning a .915 save percentage.Dennis Hildeby was recalled by Toronto on Monday ahead of its upcoming trip to California.Hildeby was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and has yet to debut in the NHL. He's 7-5-3 with a .919 save percentage this season in the minors.The Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with 41 points but have lost five of their last six contests. Toronto allowed 28 goals over that span.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the sixth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2023-24 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday.In this edition, we pick a New Year's resolution for each team.1. New York Rangers (25-9-1)Previous rank: 2Don't get greedy. The Rangers spent lavishly to acquire veterans Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane before last year's deadline, and the experiment failed. New York's rolling as is, and Chris Drury should give this roster a shot to go all the way.2. Boston Bruins (22-7-6)Previous rank: 4Acquire a center. Boston's group down the middle filled in admirably in the early stages of post-Patrice Bergeron life, but the chasm the future Hall of Famer left on the Bruins' depth chart is starting to show. Elias Lindholm, perhaps?3. Dallas Stars (22-9-4)Previous rank: 9Free Thomas Harley. The 22-year-old blue-liner has impressed so far in his busiest season yet but looks capable of even more. Harley has one less five-on-five points than Miro Heiskanen in significantly fewer minutes and is on the positive side of all important on-ice metrics.4. Winnipeg Jets (22-9-4)Previous rank: 8Use Nikolaj Ehlers more, even after Kyle Connor returns. Prior to Connor's injury, Ehlers had 15 points in 25 appearances while averaging 15:35 of ice time. In the nine games since, including the contest where Connor was hurt, the Dane has 11 points in over 18 minutes per night. Utilizing Ehlers' immense talent more often is a must for Rick Bowness in 2024.5. Vancouver Canucks (23-10-3) Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 5Lock up Elias Pettersson. The pending RFA, who can become a UFA in 2025, is enjoying another excellent season with 43 points in 36 games and a strong two-way game. He's more than worthy of a long-term extension to place him among the game's highest-paid centers. The sooner that deal gets done, the better.6. Los Angeles Kings (20-8-5)Previous rank: 3Win a round. The last time the Kings won a playoff round was the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. Four first-round exits over nine years since Los Angeles' triumph have left the fan base antsy for another deep run.7. Colorado Avalanche (23-11-3)Previous rank: 12Win the division. There's a clear divide between the top six teams and everyone else in the Western Conference right now, so division winners will be at a huge advantage come playoff time with first-round matchups against wild-card teams. Colorado needs to step on the gas to come out ahead of the Jets and Stars.8. Florida Panthers (22-12-2)Previous rank: 7Save some cash for Sam Reinhart. The Panthers' season would be immensely different if not for Reinhart's huge campaign. The pending unrestricted free agent has 23 goals and 44 points to lead Florida in both stats, setting himself up for a massive payday this summer.9. Carolina Hurricanes (20-13-4)Previous rank: 15Get over the hump. The Hurricanes have made the conference finals twice in five seasons but were swept on both occasions. Should Carolina go all the way to the Eastern Conference Final again, it would be inexcusable to go winless for a third time.10. Vegas Golden Knights (22-10-5) Debora Robinson / Getty ImagesPrevious rank: 1Stop the bleeding. The Golden Knights have been great pretty much all season. But the typically dominant defensive team has allowed 38 goals in its last nine games and dropped four straight. Righting the ship quickly in 2024 is a must in the ultracompetitive Pacific Division.11. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-1)Previous rank: 11Find a suitor for Jack Campbell. Even if it requires a significant sweetener, trading the goaltender - who's struggling in the AHL in the second season of a five-year, $25-million contract - should be priority No. 1 for Ken Holland. There's a lot of good Edmonton could do with that cap space, including finding a competent replacement to pair with Stuart Skinner.12. New York Islanders (17-10-9)Previous rank: 10Negotiate with Noah Dobson. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has one more season on his current deal, but it'd be in the Islanders' best interest to learn his asking price as soon as possible. Dobson has been lights out this season, registering 35 points in 36 games while logging nearly 26 minutes per contest.13. Philadelphia Flyers (19-12-5)Previous rank: 14Reassess expectations. Head coach John Tortorella may have said the postseason isn't on his mind yet, but we're calling his bluff. The Flyers are firmly in the mix halfway through the season, and a playoff berth would galvanize a fan base that was searching for hope less than a year ago.14. New Jersey Devils (19-14-2)Previous rank: 13Find reliable goaltending. The Devils boast impressive talent at every position ... except for in the crease. Vitek Vanecek sports an .883 save percentage and Akira Schmid was just sent down. Whether young gun Nico Daws takes the reins or someone is acquired via trade, New Jersey needs a solution here sooner rather than later.15. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-10-7) Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 6Tighten up defensively. Over the previous three seasons, the Leafs ranked seventh in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. This year, they've regressed to 26th. Some of that is due to personnel changes, but most of it can be attributed to sloppy play. With a likely goalie tandem of Martin Jones and Dennis Hildeby until Joseph Woll returns, stingy defensive play is of the utmost importance.16. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-13-4)Previous rank: 22Make the playoffs. The Panthers in 2023 and the Canadiens in 2021 are two recent examples of low seeds making the Stanley Cup Final. Anything can happen once you get into the postseason. With Sidney Crosby and the rest of Pittsburgh's core still playing at a high level, all they need is a chance.17. Arizona Coyotes (19-14-2)Previous rank: 19Go for it. The Coyotes have spent the last several years acquiring excess draft capital, and they've finally reached a point where spending is justifiable. Arizona is in the wild-card hunt and has 20 combined draft picks in the opening three rounds until 2026. Make this roster stronger and bring the playoffs to the desert.18. Minnesota Wild (16-15-4)Previous rank: 18Stay out of the box. The Wild have taken the second-most penalties in the NHL and own the league's 30th-ranked penalty kill. That's a recipe for missing the playoffs.19. Seattle Kraken (14-14-9)Previous rank: 29Find their five-on-five groove. The Kraken led the NHL in five-on-five goals last season. This campaign, Seattle's scoring almost a full goal fewer at five-on-five per game to rank in the bottom 10 league-wide. The Kraken's prowess at even strength made them successful last year and has been among the biggest reasons for their drop-off this time around.20. Nashville Predators (20-16-1) Ben Ludeman / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 16Practice the penalty kill. The Predators, as always, are hanging around in the playoff race, but it will be difficult to qualify without improving their 25th-ranked kill. Nashville is operating at 76.9% while down a man.21. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-15-5)Previous rank: 20Reduce Victor Hedman's minutes. The former Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, but we may be witnessing his decline. He's been abysmal defensively, ranking last among all blue-liners in defensive goals above replacement. There's no reason he should lead the team in minutes over Mikhail Sergachev.22. Washington Capitals (17-11-6)Previous rank: 21Get Alex Ovechkin rolling again. Ovi snapped an unthinkable goal drought before Christmas but still only has two tallies in his past 19 games. Playoff hopes are beginning to slip away in D.C., so at least let the captain's pursuit of Gretzky's goal record entertain the home fans down the stretch.23. Detroit Red Wings (17-16-4)Previous rank: 17Ride Alex Lyon. Ville Husso ain't it. Even when Husso returns from injury, Lyon should be Detroit's No. 1 goalie. He dragged the Panthers to the 2023 playoffs, and there's a chance he could do the same with the Red Wings in 2024. He's been excellent, posting a .920 save percentage in nine games.24. St. Louis Blues (18-17-1)Previous rank: 23Hire a new head coach. General Manager Doug Armstrong decided it was time to move on from Craig Berube in December. With Drew Bannister manning the bench on an interim basis, Armstrong needs to identify the right person to maximize the next stage of the Jordan Kyrou-Robert Thomas era.25. Buffalo Sabres (15-19-4) Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 27Take the next step. One of the offseason's most hyped teams fell flat in the first half of the campaign. With an array of exciting, young offensive talent, the Sabres need to finally start making good on their potential in 2024.26. Columbus Blue Jackets (12-18-8)Previous rank: 30Give Adam Fantilli more ice time. The Blue Jackets' star rookie is second on the team in goals and third in points but ranks 14th among skaters in average playing time. He's the main building block for the franchise's future, so there's no harm in letting him show what he's made of.27. Montreal Canadiens (15-16-5)Previous rank: 24Trade a goalie. Carrying three netminders on the active roster for an entire season is far from ideal. With several goalie-needy teams out there, finding a new home for Jake Allen - the oldest of the trio at 33 - could work well for everyone involved.28. Calgary Flames (15-16-5)Previous rank: 25Nail the impending trades. It looks like rookie GM Craig Conroy will be one of the league's busiest executives this winter, and he has to get it right. After surprisingly modest returns for both Tyler Toffoli and Nikita Zadorov, Conroy has a chance to recoup a king's ransom for pending UFAs Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin.29. Ottawa Senators (14-18-0)Previous rank: 28Keep the puck out of their net. The Senators rank second league-wide with 3.07 goals per 60 at five-on-five. The issue: Ottawa's also allowing 2.95 goals against per 60 at five-on-five - the fourth-most. New head coach Jacques Martin needs to find a way to shut things down at their own end in 2024.30. Anaheim Ducks (13-23-0)Previous rank: 31Win the draft lottery. After finishing dead last and still missing the chance to land Connor Bedard, the Ducks find themselves in the mix for the top pick again this year. Winning the tank battle for Macklin Celebrini wouldn't be an awful consolation prize.31. Chicago Blackhawks (11-23-2)Previous rank: 32Lose as many games as possible. Winning only decreases Chicago's chances of picking first overall. Giving Bedard a running mate like Celebrini would go a long way in getting the rebuild headed in the right direction.32. San Jose Sharks (9-25-3)Previous rank: 26Get Logan Couture back. San Jose's captain hasn't played all season due to a mysterious lower-body injury that had him contemplating whether his career was over. Couture returning to the lineup and succeeding would be an important victory for the Sharks in a year when wins have been hard to come by.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators removed the interim tag from Steve Staios' title and hired Dave Poulin as senior vice president of hockey operations, the team announced Sunday.The 50-year-old joined the Senators' organization on Sept. 29 as the club's president of hockey operations and became interim general manager after Pierre Dorion's firing. He'll retain the former role while simultaneously performing his new duties as the Sens' full-time GM.Poulin has covered the Senators as an analyst since joining TSN in October 2014. He previously worked as an assistant GM with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2009-2014. The 65-year-old will report to Staios.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whenever an NHL franchise unveils a fresh jersey, logo, or full getup, an avalanche of analysis follows. Practically everyone serves up a take, from hardcore fans to casuals. That's passion and what fandom's all about.People who make a living in the sports branding space have strong opinions, too.Ahead of Monday's Winter Classic in Seattle, theScore asked two sports design gurus to rate and review six of the latest unveilings across the NHL.Bill Frederick is creative director for Fanbrandz, a sports branding agency. Todd Radom, co-author of "Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos, and Uniforms," is a freelance designer and branding expert.Golden Knights (Winter Classic) Handout / Vegas Golden KnightsHow does a franchise based in the Mojave Desert that debuted in 2017 create a sharp look suitable for the wintery, nostalgia-soaked Winter Classic?By developing a story based on what a local NHL team would have looked like in a bygone era, apparently. Vegas' Winter Classic aesthetic is heavy on the Wild West of the early 1900s: cowboy hats, horses, and gambling in a dark saloon.The end product is a fairly straightforward white, green, and gold jersey. It's regal and leathery. The stylish crest - a large "V" with curly accents - is the draw."Top to bottom, this thing is huge," Radom said of the crest. "But it fills the space nicely and it's going to look great on broadcasts. It's very wearable.""The Knights are using restraint here," Frederick added. "They certainly could have put the team name in front of or arched across the 'V.' I'm sure it was a real option. They must have just come back from that meeting and said, 'Let's just do the 'V,' we're good with that.' And that was definitely a good choice."Radom envisions this faux-back look being a quick mover on retail racks."I can see this being very popular," he said. "I was struck a couple of years ago while I was in Vegas with how deeply invested their fans are, seeing as it's not a traditional hockey market. I remember getting into an Uber and there's Knights stuff just all over the vehicle, inside and out. So, I would imagine the market is probably as saturated as it could be with that core look, given their success on and off the ice so far. Adding this jersey to the stable is brilliant."Seven stars mark the jersey's collar, one for every Vegas season to date.Frederick's rating: 8.5 out of 10

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams can empathize with disheartened fans as the team continues to underperform in 2023-24, but the executive is standing by his squad."We're not where we need to be," he said Saturday prior to the Sabres' 3-2 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to The Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski. "I understand frustration, but I truly believe in this group. I truly believe in the players, and I also believe that we will come out the other side better for it. It's adversity, it's frustration, and we need to push through.""All of us certainly expect us to be playing at a higher level and I believe we will be," he added. "I understand that people are going to be frustrated with me, frustrated with the coaching staff, but that's part of the deal."Buffalo narrowly missed the playoffs by one point last campaign and seemed primed to snap its lengthy 12-year postseason drought in 2023-24. However, the Sabres have struggled through the first three months of the season and currently sit in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a 15-18-4 record.The bulk of fans' ire has been directed at head coach Don Granato, who has been serenaded by chants pushing for his firing. Despite rumors that Granato may be on the hot seat, Adams gave the bench boss a vote of confidence."In terms of my belief in Donnie Granato, I have a lot of faith in him," he said. "I have a lot of trust in him. He's one of those types of coaches that he looks at every situation to how he can help individual players perform at their best and then how do we get (there) collectively as a team?"And I think he's done a lot of great things during his time as head coach here, and now we're all going to just keep pushing each other to be better."Sabres captain Kyle Okposo and forward Tage Thompson also expressed support for Granato earlier in December. Granato is in his fourth season behind the Sabres' bench and has amassed a lackluster 97-106-25 record.Buffalo announced prior to Saturday's game that Granato will be unavailable due to illness. Adams said he expects Granato to also miss Sunday's contest against the Ottawa Senators, but he could return for Thursday's clash versus the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard will return to the lineup Sunday against the San Jose Sharks, he confirmed to Colorado Hockey Now's Evan Rawal.The contest will be Girard's first since entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He announced on Nov. 24 that he sought treatment for "severe anxiety and depression" that led to alcohol abuse.The 25-year-old spoke to reporters Saturday about his time away from the Avalanche and said he was "tired of hiding everything.""Feels good to talk about it," Girard said. "If you need some help, it's OK to reach for some help."Girard has appeared in 15 games this season, registering four points while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. He's in his seventh campaign with the Avalanche after being acquired in a three-way trade featuring the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators in 2017.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The sports world mourned the loss of many legends in 2023. We remember them here for their contributions to the games - and our enjoyment of them - through the years.JanuaryJan. 1 - Art McNally, 97, was the first on-field official inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. He started as a field judge in the NFL in 1959 and was promoted to referee in 1960. After eight seasons, he became the league's supervisor of officials, a position he held until 1991. As the league grew in stature, he's widely credited with making sure officials' training and professionalism grew in tandem. He's also known as "The Father of Instant Replay."Jan. 9 - Virginia Kraft Payson, 92, was the only woman among the first group of writers hired by Sports Illustrated magazine when it launched in 1954, covering outdoor pursuits like hunting, fishing, and dog training. In the 1970s, she and her second husband became prominent thoroughbred horse breeders and owners in Kentucky.Jan. 11 - Charles White, 64, was a star running back at USC, won a national championship in 1978, and the Heisman Trophy in 1979. He remains the Trojans' career rushing yards leader. He played eight seasons in the NFL but only eclipsed 1,000 yards once, his All-Pro season with the Rams in 1987.Peter Read Miller / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images Jan. 12 - Gerrie Coetzee, 67, was a uniquely popular boxer with both whites and Blacks in apartheid South Africa. He was the first African boxer to win a world title when he knocked out Michael Dokes in the 10th round in 1983 to claim the WBA heavyweight belt. He lost the belt 15 months later in his first defense when Greg Page knocked him out at the end of a controversial eighth round that may have lasted more than three minutes.Jan. 15 - Gino Odjick, 52, played 12 seasons in the NHL, primarily with Vancouver where he was beloved as an enforcer on teams coached by Pat Quinn and Rick Ley in the 1990s. Originally from Quebec, he worked with Indigenous communities in B.C. following his playing career.Jan. 20 - Sal Bando, 78, played 16 seasons in the major leagues as a third baseman. Captain Sal was a member of the 1972-74 Oakland A's who won three consecutive World Series. He was a four-time All-Star and finished second to teammate Vida Blue in MVP voting in 1971.Jan. 26 - Billy Packer, 82, covered 34 straight Final Fours and was one of the definitive TV analysts during college basketball's rise to prominence in the 1970s and '80s. He worked with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire at NBC, calling the 1979 NCAA Tournament final that featured Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. In 1981, he moved to CBS where he teamed with Verne Lundquist and Jim Nantz until 2008.Jan. 30 - Bobby Beathard, 86, worked in NFL front offices for 34 years, first as a scout and then as an executive. He was director of pro personnel for the Dolphins for six years, starting with their perfect season in 1972. He became the general manager in Washington in 1978, building two Super Bowl winners with coach Joe Gibbs. He later became the GM in San Diego, where he took the Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1994.FebruaryFeb. 13 - Conrad Dobler, 72, played 10 years in the NFL as one of the game's most feared offensive linemen, combining with Dan Dierdorf to create a formidable right side of the line with the St. Louis Cardinals. He made three Pro Bowls during his six years with the Cardinals and was featured on the cover of a 1977 edition of Sports Illustrated as "Pro Football's Dirtiest Player." His 1988 autobiography was titled "They Call Me Dirty."Feb. 14 - John Veitch, 77, trained Alydar through one of the most riveting head-to-head battles in horse racing history. Alydar finished a narrow second to Affirmed in all three Triple Crown races in 1978. Veitch trained Proud Truth, who won the 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic, and four horses who earned Eclipse Awards as year-end category champion.Feb. 19 - Greg Foster, 64, was a standard-bearer in track and field for 18 years as one of the world's best sprint hurdlers. He won gold in the 110-meter hurdles at the first three world championships in 1983, 1987, and 1991 and was the Olympic silver medalist in 1984. He was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1998.Feb. 26 - Terry Holland, 80, is best known as the head basketball coach at Virginia from 1974-90, leading the Cavaliers to two Final Four appearances in the early 1980s, and an NIT championship. The 1981-83 teams won three straight ACC regular-season titles behind star recruit Ralph Sampson. Holland became Virginia's athletic director in 1994 and held the same role at East Carolina from 2004-2013.MarchMarch 1 - Jerry Richardson, 86, was a rarity in the NFL: a former player who went on to become a team owner. Richardson played for two seasons, winning a championship with the 1959 Colts in his rookie year. He used the championship bonus money to fund his first business and eventually became a food-service industry mogul. He was awarded the expansion Carolina Panthers franchise in 1993, and sold the team in 2018.March 9 - Otis Taylor, 80, was a wide receiver on the legendary Kansas City Chiefs teams at the dawn of the Super Bowl era. He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV over Minnesota in the last title game before the AFL merged with the NFL. He was runner-up in 1971 NFL MVP voting and earned a first-team All-Pro selection once in each league.March 10 - Jesus Alou, 80, was the youngest of the three Alou brothers who made it to the major leagues out of the Dominican Republic. He played 15 seasons, primarily with San Francisco and Houston. He earned two World Series rings late in his career with Oakland in 1973 and 1974, which were more than his more accomplished brothers had (Matty earned one with Oakland in 1972).March 12 - Felton Spencer, 55, spent 12 years in the NBA playing for six teams between 1990 and 2002. After four years at the University of Louisville, he was the No. 6 pick in the 1990 draft by Minnesota. His most notable years were the three seasons he spent in Utah supporting Karl Malone and John Stockton, which included two NBA Western Conference finals appearances in 1993-94 and 1995-96.March 13 - Glen Weir, 71, was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2009 after starring on the defensive line for Montreal for 13 seasons. He was a member of two Grey Cup winners (1974 and 1977), was a five-time East All-Star, and was All-CFL three times.March 31 - John Brockington, 74, was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 1971 for Green Bay after being drafted ninth overall out of Ohio State. He was also first-team All-Pro, and helped the Packers to their first playoff appearance in the post-Vince Lombardi era the following season. Wear and tear from his physical running style took its toll after a third straight 1,000-yard season and his production dwindled over the final four years of his career.AprilApril 4 - Craig Breedlove, 86, spent the 1960s chasing a single goal: the world land-speed record. With Utah's stark Bonneville Salt Flats as his track and his backdrop, he became the first to crack the 400, 500, and 600-mph barriers in successive jet-powered cars (called the Spirit of America that he designed and built). As late as 2018, he was still designing a car to take on the current record of 763 mph.April 19 - Dave Wilcox, 80, nicknamed "The Intimidator," was a ferocious outside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers from 1964-74. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and twice was named first-team All-Pro. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.April 27 - Dick Groat, 92, has the distinction of being an MVP baseball player who is also a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He twice earned All-American honors in both sports (playing shortstop and point guard) and was the NCAA basketball player of the year in 1952. Groat briefly tried to pursue the dual track with Pittsburgh and the NBA's Fort Wayne Pistons before being drafted into the Army. Upon his return after two years, he concentrated on baseball. In 1960, he was named the National League MVP and led the Pirates to their first World Series title since 1925. He won another title with the Cardinals in 1964.April 29 - Larry "Gator" Rivers, 73, starred for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1973-77 and again from 1979-86. He apprenticed under Marques Haynes and Curly Neal as a dribbling specialist and briefly coached the team at the end of his playing career. He opened a basketball academy in 1990 and was a county commissioner in Georgia for the final three years of his life.April 29 - Mike Shannon, 83, a St. Louis native, was ingrained in the city's baseball culture for almost 60 years. He competed in both baseball and football at the University of Missouri and might have gone on to be a famous quarterback if the sport had paid better. He played right field and third base for the Cardinals from 1962-70 and then broadcast their games from 1972-2021. He was a member of Cardinals teams that won the World Series in 1964 and 1967 and lost to Detroit in seven games in 1968. He won two Missouri Emmy Awards as broadcaster of the year and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2014.MayMay 4 - Petr Klima, 58, scored 30 or more goals six times in his 13 seasons in the NHL. He'd already played four seasons in the Czech league when he broke into the NHL with Detroit in 1985 at the age of 21. He later won a Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1990. He's one of eight Czech players to score 300 or more goals in the NHL.May 7 - Larry Mahan, 79, was the first cowboy to win five consecutive all-around world championships in Rodeo Cowboy Association competition. He added a sixth title in 1973, three years after his streak. He also earned two bull-riding world titles. A documentary about him, "The Greatest American Cowboy," won the Academy Award for documentary feature in 1974. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.May 8 - Joe Kapp, 85, starred in both the CFL and NFL in his 12-year professional football career. In college, he led Cal to Pacific Coast Conference titles in both football (1958) and basketball (1957 and '58). He was a low-round NFL draft pick by Washington, who never offered him a contract. So he took the offer made by Calgary of the CFL. He made his name in the three-down league by leading the BC Lions to a Grey Cup title in their fourth year of existence. In 1967, he opted to sign with Minnesota of the NFL and led to them the franchise's only title, the 1969 NFL Championship. He's a member of both the college football and Canadian football halls of fame.Focus on Sport / Getty Images May 9 - Denny Crum, 86, was head basketball coach at the University of Louisville for 31 years, leading the Cardinals to the Final Four six times and to NCAA Tournament championships in 1980 and 1986. After playing at Pierce College and UCLA in the late 1950s, Crum became head coach at Pierce in 1964 but left to join John Wooden's staff at UCLA in 1969. After three straight titles at UCLA, he was hired by Louisville. He earned three national coach of the year awards and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and the college basketball hall in 2006.May 12 - Don Denkinger, 86, was an American League umpire for 30 years, serving as crew chief for the last 21. He worked the World Series in 1974, 1980, 1985, and 1991 (the last two as crew chief). He also was selected for two AL Division Series, six AL Championship Series, and three All-Star Games. He embraced his biggest blown call from Game 6 of the 1985 World Series by appearing at memorabilia shows and reunions in St. Louis and hung a painting of the game scene in his restaurant in Waterloo, Iowa.May 14 - Doyle Brunson, 89, literally wrote the book on poker. His early ambitions as a miler and basketball player were derailed by injury, and he started playing in illegal poker games in Texas and around the south while working after college. He was there at the birth of the World Series of Poker in 1970, winning the Main Event in 1976 and 1977 along with eight other championship bracelets. In 1978, he self-published "Super/System," which became the definitive early book on poker strategy. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988.Marlene Bauer, right, with her sister Alice in 1953. PGA of America / Getty ImagesMay 16 - Marlene (Bauer) Hagge, 89, was one of the 13 women (along with her sister Alice) who founded the LPGA Tour in 1950. She was a precocious junior golfer, making the cut at the 1947 U.S. Women's Open at age 13, the youngest ever at the time. Just 16 when she turned pro, she won 26 LPGA Tour events, eight in 1956 alone. That was the same year of her only major victory, the 1956 Women's PGA Championship, which she won in a playoff over fellow founder Patty Berg. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.May 17 - "Superstar" Billy Graham, 79, made a name for himself performing in several wrestling promotions from 1970 through the present, including the early iteration of the WWE. He won three world heavyweight titles in various circuits, and is credited as a prototype for the tan, muscled look, and speaking style of many wrestlers like Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Hulk Hogan. WWE inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2004.May 23 - Fusaichi Pegasus, 26, was the winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby in a time that remains among the 10 fastest of the 128 runnings of the race at a mile and a quarter. He raced only three more times after the Derby. Despite finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, he fetched a record $70 million in his stud auction.JuneJune 3 - Jim Hines, 76, was the first man to officially break 10 seconds in the 100 meters, running 9.95 seconds at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. That record stood for almost 15 years until Calvin Smith ran 9.93 in 1983. Hines and the U.S. men's 4x100 relay also set the world record at the same games. Earlier that year, Hines was drafted by the Miami Dolphins but his career was short-lived. He appeared in 10 games in 1969 and one more for Kansas City in 1970.June 4 - Roger Craig, 93, had a decent MLB pitching career for 12 seasons but became renowned later as a pitching coach and the father of the split-finger fastball. He didn't invent the pitch but became its best teacher, imparting it to Jack Morris and the other members of the pitching staff that took the Detroit Tigers to the 1984 World Series title. After serving on Sparky Anderson's staff in Detroit, he got a second chance to manage with San Francisco, piloting them for eight seasons including an appearance in the 1989 World Series.June 10 - Jim Turner, 82, had a 16-year career in the NFL as a placekicker for the New York Jets and Denver Broncos. He kicked three second-half field goals in Super Bowl III, extending a halftime lead in the Jets' monumental 16-7 upset of the Baltimore Colts. He was selected to the AFL's all-time team before it merged with the NFL in 1970. He's also enshrined in the Broncos' Ring of Fame.June 14 - Homer Jones, 82, an NFL wide receiver for seven seasons, is credited for inventing the spike as a touchdown celebration. After the NFL instituted a fine in 1965 for throwing the ball in the stands, which some players did to celebrate TDs, Jones decided instead to forcefully throw the ball to the ground. Jones was a two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 1968 for the New York Giants.

Beleaguered Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov is doing his best to stay positive despite his struggles this season."The last three games, I didn't see a lot of luck. ... It's easy to put your head down and just cry and be sad," he said following his team's 6-5 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, per Sportsnet. "I'm sad about this, but I need to continue to work. Maybe next game, maybe next three games, the luck is back."Samsonov made just 15 saves on 21 shots Friday night and conceded 4.4 goals above expected at all strengths, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Maple Leafs outshot the Jackets and held a two-goal lead on two separate occasions, but Johnny Gaudreau sealed Columbus' comeback in overtime."Tough game for me, bad result," Samsonov said. "I don't know, a lot of emotion right now after the game. I need to prepare for the next game, this game's over. If you start thinking too much, it's probably worse. It's (my) first game after Christmas break, just head up, continue to move."The Russian owns an .862 save percentage this campaign, which is the worst clip by a Maple Leafs goalie through his first 15 starts of a season since Allan Bester in 1989-90 and the lowest by any NHL netminder since Dan Cloutier in 2006-07, according to Sportsnet Stats.Only Carolina Hurricanes netminder Antti Raanta (.855) has a worse save percentage among the 60 goalies who have made at least 10 appearances this season.Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe suggested he wanted more out of the whole team after Samsonov's latest setback."We gave up 21 shots, so I don't know how poor defensively we were, but we made bad mistakes at bad times that you can't make," he said. "That's what we've got to do better. Play that game over 100 times, we probably win it 99 times, but you can't make those types of mistakes with the way Sammy's going through it right now."Keefe added, "We've got to support him better if we want to win the game, but we score five, we should win that game nearly every time."The Maple Leafs will turn to third-string goalie Martin Jones on Saturday against the Hurricanes. Promising rookie Joseph Woll remains unavailable due to an ankle injury. 22-year-old Dennis Hildeby is enjoying a remarkable campaign with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, but this is his first full season in North America."It's the NHL, we need saves, we need points, and we need wins," Keefe said, per The Hockey News' David Alter. "So I'm sure (general manager Brad Treliving) is going to consider everything."The Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with a 17-9-7 record.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After five games behind the bench and 11 contests since rejoining the organization, Jacques Martin's evaluation of the Ottawa Senators is becoming more clear: there's a lot of work to be done.Martin spoke candidly about the team's growing pains following Friday's 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils."One of our biggest problems was the gap between our (defensemen) and our forwards," Martin said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "I didn't think our forwards came back hard enough. When the D got the puck, (the forwards were) too far. A lot of passes got intercepted. We have to be more composed and ready to compete harder. This team has a lot of learning to do."Martin was known as a detailed, defensive coach during his first run with the Senators from 1996-2004. But it hasn't been smooth sailing in his second tour of duty, as Ottawa has surrendered 22 goals in five games (4.4 per contest) since Martin was named interim head coach. The Sens are 2-3-0 since the change.The club appeared to be making progress after reeling off back-to-back victories entering Friday, making it a frustrating defeat for a team that's longest win streak on the season is just three games."We took a step back," Martin said. "There's no sense being angry. But there's disappointment because I feel like the team was going in the right direction, making some progress. To a man, we have to be better. We're capable, we've shown it."Defensive inconsistency has plagued the Senators in recent years. They rank 29th this season with 3.58 goals against per game and haven't finished higher than 20th since they last made the playoffs in 2016-17.The Senators are tied for last place in the Eastern Conference in points percentage (.419) after entering the season with playoff aspirations.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year in sports was defined by inspiring stories, historic achievements, and surreal events that not even Hollywood could script. We loved them all. With 2023 drawing to a close, theScore is looking back on 50 moments that resonated most with us over the past 12 months. The five-part series wraps up below with our 10 favorite moments from our latest trip around the sun.Dec. 1Dec. 8Dec. 15Dec. 22Dec. 2950-4140-3130-2120-1110-110. All aboard the Bedard hype train

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is expected to be sidelined week-to-week after an awkward collision with Ondrej Palat forced him out of Wednesday's loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes won't let his club rest on its laurels down the stretch despite exiting the holiday break atop the Western Conference standings."Sometimes after games, you're like, 'Holy crap, we're right there (in first place).' But we haven't earned the right to just like put our feet up and cruise to the playoffs," Hughes said, per Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "So every game is a test for us, a challenge for us to keep it going. And that's good for us."Vancouver is 23-9-3 so far, two points clear of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the West as well as the Pacific Division with a game in hand. The Canucks are tied with the New York Rangers for the top spot in the NHL but have played two extra contests compared to New York.Some critics expect Vancouver to regress in the second half of the campaign based on its potentially unsustainable on-ice results. The Canucks lead the league in five-on-five shooting percentage at 12.2% while also ranking fourth with a .929 save percentage at even strength, according to Natural Stat Trick."I don't blame anyone for saying anything," Hughes said. "I mean, we're not a team where we've been in the playoffs the last five years ... I think we have a great team. I mean, we're going to go through a stretch here where we lose a couple of games, but we're also going to go through stretches where we win a lot of games."The Canucks went on a 7-1-2 run before Christmas, but head coach Rick Tocchet was impressed by his players not getting carried away with the success."Guys are pissed about some games," he said. "I sleep at night when I hear that from players. I like the feeling that guys are uncomfortable, that they're not happy. They're happy in certain respects, but they're unhappy about some of the play. And I like that."Tocchet is in his first full season behind the Canucks' bench. He's 43-21-7 since taking over in January. Vancouver has only made the postseason once since 2015, winning two series in the bubble playoffs in 2020.The Canucks return to the ice Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders forward Mat Barzal summarized his team's 7-0 lashing at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night with two words."Just brutal," he said, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross."You can imagine what it felt like," Barzal continued. "It wasn't fun. It was 2-0, 3-0, had a couple looks in their end and then back the other way and they would score."The matchup was goalless heading into the second frame. Islanders head coach Lane Lambert called a timeout to settle his team when Rickard Rakell and Jake Guentzel broke the deadlock, but the latter quickly netted his second goal of the game once play resumed.Evgeni Malkin scored the next two tallies before Radim Zohorna capped off a six-goal middle stanza for the Penguins."Just a weird lull in the second period that obviously cost us the game," Barzal lamented. "A sold-out rink like that tonight in front of our fans, it's unacceptable."The loss marked the Islanders' worst defeat since falling 7-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 25, 2017.Islanders captain Anders Lee was disappointed in New York's inability to turn the tide."I think the concerning part is just our lack of ability to stop the bleeding and have a response," he said. "They're going to have moments where they pop one or two quick, but to let it get to where it got, it's just not a part of our DNA. It was tonight, and that's the part that's frustrating the most."In Pittsburgh's dressing room, Kris Letang was the man of the hour.The veteran defenseman factored in on all but one of the Penguins' goals and logged five assists in the second period alone, becoming the first blue-liner in NHL history to record that many helpers in a single frame."That's an unbelievable feat when you think about it," Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan said, per The Associated Press' Scott Charles. "Especially in today's game when the parity in the league is so high. Against a good team like the Islanders, it's not an easy thing to do. Couldn't be happier for him. Obviously, he's an elite player for us."When the final horn sounded, Letang had tied the record for the most assists (six) by a rearguard in a single game, joining Gary Suter (1986), Paul Coffey (1986), Ron Stackhouse (1975), Bobby Orr (1973), Pat Stapleton (1969), and Babe Pratt (1944).Letang's son, Alex, seemed to have a gut feeling that Wednesday's game would be a big one."Alex was actually talking to me before I left this morning," Letang said, according to team beat reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "He said, 'I'm gonna watch the entire game.' I'm like, 'No, no, no - we have to get going on the ice tomorrow morning.' He was like, 'No, I really want to watch this one!'"So, I hope he got to see it all. I think he's going to be pretty pumped."The Penguins and Islanders meet again Dec. 31.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.