The NHL is taking notice of what Eric Staal is doing at age 33.The Minnesota Wild forward was named the league's first star of the month for February on Thursday after piling up 13 goals and 21 points in 13 games and notching at least a point in 11 of those contests.Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was named February's second star after scoring 10 goals and racking up 21 points in 12 games.Reilly Smith of the Vegas Golden Knights earned third-star honors with eight goals and 20 points in 14 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris has been named in a New York Times report regarding possible ethics violations by White House advisor Jared Kushner.Harris, the founder of Apollo Global Management, met with Kushner on multiple occasions, sources told the Times' Jesse Drucker, Kate Kelly, and Ben Protess, in regard to a possible job for Harris in the White House. While that job did not materialize, Apollo reportedly loaned $184 million to Kushner’s family firm, Kushner Companies.The loan could be a potential ethics issue due to Kushner’s decision not to divest from his private business interests when he took on an official role in the White House as senior advisor to President Donald Trump. Kushner, who is also Trump's son-in-law, recently had his top-secret clearance downgraded by the National Security Council.Harris has an estimated net worth of $3 billion. He became managing partner of the 76ers in 2011 and majority owner of the Devils in 2013.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils will get their No. 1 goalie back between the pipes on Thursday night with Cory Schneider getting the start against the Florida Panthers, the team announced.Schneider has missed the team's last 16 games with a groin injury, having not played since Jan. 23 against the Boston Bruins.The Devils have stayed afloat in Schneider's absence, having gone 9-7-0 during that time. The club sits with the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, just two points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're now just over three quarters of the way through the season, so it's time once again to check in on the award races around the NHL. This edition was compiled by editors Josh Gold-Smith and Craig Hagerman. Our previous edition was assembled back in early January at the halfway point.Hart Trophy - Nikita KucherovPreviously: John TavaresThe Tampa Bay Lightning star is leading the Art Ross Trophy race with 82 points in 63 games, and he's tied for fourth in the hunt for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy with 33 goals.Kucherov has been dominant virtually all season long, and along with Steven Stamkos, he's helped the Lightning remain at or near the top of the league since the fall.There are certainly others worthy of consideration, like Evgeni Malkin, Taylor Hall, Nathan MacKinnon, Patrice Bergeron, and even Eric Staal, but considering the impact Kucherov's tremendous production has had on his club's unmatched success so far in the regular season, the Hart Trophy is his to lose. - Gold-SmithVezina Trophy - Andrei VasilevskiyPreviously: VasilevskiySeveral other netminders have made their case for goalie of the year, such as Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck, but Vasilevskiy still has the inside track.The Lightning netminder paces the league in wins and shutouts, while rocking a .927 save percentage and a 2.34 GAA.He's faced the third-most rubber this season and turned away the second-most shots. He's also been between the pipes for 37 of Tampa Bay's 43 wins this season, and aside from Kucherov, could be considered the club's 2017-18 MVP. - HagermanNorris Trophy - Victor HedmanPreviously: Drew DoughtyThe Lightning are primed to win a bevy of individual honors, including the award for the NHL's best defenseman, for which it's hard to argue Hedman is undeserving.John Klingberg has a legitimate case himself, leading all rearguards in assists and points for an improved Dallas Stars squad, and P.K. Subban's contributions with the best-in-the-West Nashville Predators deserve recognition, too. But Hedman has been both productive and instrumental to the Lightning's success when healthy while averaging nearly 26 minutes of ice time.Others, like Doughty and Erik Karlsson (regardless of the Ottawa Senators' record) will always be in the conversation as well, but Hedman should take home the Norris for the first time in his career if he continues to play at an elite level for arguably the NHL's best team. - Gold-SmithCalder Trophy - Mathew BarzalPreviously: Brock BoeserWith 18 games remaining, the New York Islanders phenom is just two points shy of matching Auston Matthews' 69-point output from his Calder Trophy-winning season last year.Barzal sits 15th in league scoring, has outscored teammate John Tavares, and has put up 13 more points than his Vancouver Canucks rookie counterpart Boeser.His vision and speed have been otherworldly, and with three five-point games this year, he's proven he can seamlessly take over a game at just 20 years of age. - HagermanSelke Trophy - Patrice BergeronPreviously: BergeronThe four-time Selke winner is on pace to challenge career highs in goals and points despite being slowed by injuries, and while his offensive production has been impressive, his defensive prowess at the center position remains unparalleled.No forward in the NHL is as sound in all three zones as Bergeron, and there's no reason to bet against the Boston Bruins pivot being named the league's best defensive forward for a fifth time - Gold-SmithJack Adams Award - Gerard GallantPreviously: GallantWhat else can be said about Gallant and the Vegas Golden Knights that hasn't already been said about their miraculous first season?Vegas sits second in the NHL standings, just three points back of the Lightning, while holding a 10-point advantage and a game in hand on the San Jose Sharks, who sit second in the Pacific Division.Gallant has his trail mix of players playing at an elite level and it's likely for that reason that the team made very few moves to improve the roster at the deadline. - HagermanGM of the Year - David PoilePreviously: PoileThe Nashville Predators general manager will become the winningest GM in NHL history with his club's next victory, and he won this award last year, but he's done enough this season to justify claiming it once again.Poile pulled off one of the sneakier depth moves at the trade deadline, landing 23-year-old forward Ryan Hartman from the Chicago Blackhawks, and it paid immediate dividends.His work last summer and this season has been well documented, namely signing Nick Bonino and trading for Kyle Turris. Throw it all together and he's put the Predators in position to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.George McPhee has done impressive work with the Vegas Golden Knights, but he benefited from unprecedented expansion-draft rules. And while cases could be made for others such as Ray Shero of the New Jersey Devils and Kevin Cheveldayoff with the Winnipeg Jets, Poile is the NHL's best GM until proven otherwise. - Gold-Smith(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for February on Thursday, the league announced.The 26-year-old led all rookies with five goals and 16 points in 14 games. He narrowly beat out New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, who put up two goals and 16 points in 12 games, and Kyle Connor and Nico Hischier who each had 11 points in 12 and 14 games, respectively.Gourde is one of four Lightning players to hit the 20-goal mark this season and sits third in rookie scoring behind Barzal and Brock Boeser with 49 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have added another strong prospect to their already deep pool of young stars.The team signed forward Alex Barre-Boulet to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced on Thursday.The 20-year-old paces the QMJHL in scoring, averaging just under two points per game pace with 49 goals and 104 points in 57 games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.Last season, Barre-Boulet led the QMJHL with 14 goals and 31 points in 20 playoff games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov is out with an upper-body injury for the Bolts' matchup against the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday, according to Bryan Burns of the team's official website.Kucherov left Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after playing just six shifts. Details of his ailment remain unclear at this point, but his agent Dan Milstein told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times that it is not a concussion, it is not hand-related, and nothing is broken.The 24-year-old leads the NHL with 82 points heading into Wednesday's action.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the NHL rewards Seattle an expansion franchise, it will face the same parameters as the Vegas Golden Knights when it comes to selecting a team, commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday, per TSN's Farhan Lalji.In case you've forgotten the rules, each team was allowed to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie - or eight skaters and one goaltender - leaving the Golden Knights to pluck one player per franchise to fill their inaugural roster.Additionally, all first- and second-year players were exempt, while any roster player with a no-movement clause had to be protected unless they agreed to waive it.Seattle's ownership group officially submitted it's application to the league - which included a $10-million fee - in early February and will kick off its season-ticket drive March 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal and his wife Heather released a statement to thank friends, family, and the entire hockey community for the support they've received following the passing of their infant daughter Hannah.

The city of Vancouver will play host to the 2019 NHL Draft, the Canucks' media relations department announced Wednesday.In doing so, Vancouver will be the first Canadian city to host the draft since Montreal in 2009.2019 will be a big year for Vancouver, which is already hosting the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships that year. The 2019-20 season will also be the 50th in Canucks' history."Returning the draft to Vancouver allows the entire NHL family to meaningfully participate in a highlight of the Canucks' 50-year anniversary celebration," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "The 2019 NHL Draft will provide another memorable moment for the Canucks and their fans while shining the spotlight on one of the world's most scenic cities and serving as the starting point for so many NHL careers."Though it's still awfully early, American center Jack Hughes is considered the top prospect eligible for the 2019 draft at this stage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Alex Biega to a two-year, $1.65-million contract on Wednesday, the team announced.Biega was a pending unrestricted free agent and gets a slight pay raise from his previous two-year deal that paid him an annual average of $750,000."Alex has an incredible work ethic and is always prepared," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a release. "He sets an example for our younger players to follow. We're pleased to have Alex as part of our team moving forward."The 29-year-old has six assists in 31 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' newest offensive contributor is going to miss some time.Zach Aston-Reese missed Tuesday night's loss to the New Jersey Devils because he got hurt in the morning skate earlier in the day, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan revealed Wednesday.Sullivan added that the 23-year-old forward will be out "longer term" with what the coach would only classify as an "upper-body" ailment.Aston-Reese scored four goals in a four-game span earlier this month after being promoted to Sidney Crosby's wing on the Penguins' top line. He has six points in 10 games since being called up from Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.The Penguins signed the Hobey Baker Award finalist to an entry-level deal out of Northeastern University last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks signed goaltender Aaron Dell to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday, the team announced.The extension will reportedly pay Dell $3.8 million ($2.2 million next season and $1.6 million during the 2019-20 season), according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.28-year-old is in the final season of a two-year, $1.225-million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1."Aaron has met every challenge he has faced in his career head-on and our team is a confident group when he's in the net," general manager Doug Wilson said in a release. "He's a very popular guy in the dressing room and we feel that Aaron and Martin (Jones) give us one of the top goaltending tandems in the League."Dell has been solid as Martin Jones' backup this season, going 14-5-3 in 25 games with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.In his two years with the Sharks, he's amassed a record of 25-11-4 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The last few weeks have not been easy for the New York Rangers.On Feb. 8. general manager Jeff Gorton and president Glen Sather penned a letter to fans regarding the retooling of the team's roster, with the reality being that fan favorites would be traded for picks and prospects.The team stuck to its word, dealing captain Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, J.T. Miller, Michael Grabner, and Nick Holden ahead of the deadline. For goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, all that movement hit him hard on Tuesday."I woke up today and it's almost like you can't believe it," Lundqvist said on Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Kevin Woodley. "It's been so many years playing together, going through so many things, and it's just a different team."Knowing that teammates could be traded anytime between when the club released its statement and the deadline was certainly taxing on the players."It's been a really tough stretch here for a few weeks knowing this might happen," said Lundqvist. "A big part of our team, good friends, they are gone. … I've never experienced anything like this. It was new, but I totally understand where we are and what needs to be done."On the flip side, the Rangers were able to kick-start their rebuild with the moves they made, acquiring two first-round picks, a conditional first, a second, a third, a seventh, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Ryan Spooner, along with some prospects and younger players, setting themselves up nicely to quickly turn things around.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton can't help the San Jose Sharks on the ice at the moment, but he's stepping up in other ways.The veteran forward showed up to greet Evander Kane at the airport after the former Buffalo Sabres winger was traded to San Jose on Monday.

The 11th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings is put together by editors Craig Hagerman, Cory Wilkins, and Sean O'Leary.1. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-17-3)Previously: 1stThe rich get richer.The Lightning are still the top team in the league and only improved with the additions of Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller on Monday. McDonagh gives a huge boost to the back end, while the forward group remains elite.It should be clear sailing as Nikita Kucherov's injury doesn't appear to be serious. - Hagerman2. Vegas Golden Knights (41-17-5) ▲Previously: 3rdThe Golden Knights could have very well jumped into first had they been able to land Erik Karlsson. They didn't, but nevertheless, they added Tomas Tatar without subtracting from the current roster, which only helps their chances of doing something truly historic when the playoffs roll around. - Hagerman3. Nashville Predators (39-14-9) ▼Previously: 2ndThe Predators are playing tremendous hockey and reports surfaced this past week that the team also had interest in Karlsson - could you imagine?Still, the team bolstered its forward depth by acquiring Ryan Hartman. With Pekka Rinne in stellar form and Nashville's defense corps being what it is, the Predators are arguably the team to beat in the West. - Hagerman4. Winnipeg Jets (37-17-9) ▲Previously: 5thUnless the Jets have something to say about that.The club has been electric of late, and with arguably the biggest surprise deal of the deadline - acquiring Paul Stastny from the Blues - the team has cemented its place as a potential Stanley Cup favorite. - Hagerman5. Toronto Maple Leafs (39-20-7) ▲Previously: 6thThe Maple Leafs didn't get the defensive upgrade they desired, but they did add Tomas Plekanec, giving the club more depth at forward.Toronto's gone 10-2-2 in February, most recently taking four of a possible six points from the Bruins, Lightning, and Panthers without Auston Matthews at their disposal. The Leafs will look to ride this wave down the stretch. - Hagerman6. Boston Bruins (38-15-8) ▼Previously: 4thThe Bruins are starting to come back to earth after an incredible stretch from late November to early February. The team's posted a 6-4-0 record over their last 10, and appear to be going all-in.Boston acquired Rick Nash from the Rangers to help bolster the offense. The team will be dangerous, but Patrice Bergeron's fractured foot is certainly concerning. - Hagerman7. Philadelphia Flyers (34-19-10) ▲Previously: 16thDon't look now, but the Flyers are suddenly in the hunt for first place in the Metropolitan Division.The team played well enough to warrant Ron Hextall acquiring Petr Mrazek from the Red Wings, and Mrazek's gone 3-0-0 with a .948 save percentage for the Flyers. Their top line remains elite, their defense is deceptively good, and with a capable goalie, they could be a dark horse in the East. - Hagerman8. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-24-4) ▲Previously: 10thThe Penguins made their annual "of course they got him" deal when they acquired Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators last week.Thanks to some help from Vegas, they were able to fit Brassard in under the cap, and now they easily have the most center depth in the league (if they didn't already).There is no reason to believe Pittsburgh couldn't three-peat as champs. - Hagerman9. Washington Capitals (36-21-7)Previously: 9thThe Capitals have hit a bit of a bump in the road with just four wins in their last 10, but still hold top spot in the Metro.The team didn't do much at the deadline aside from adding a couple of depth defensemen, but they still have the talent to compete. However, they have also had that in the past, and we all know how that worked out. - Hagerman10. Minnesota Wild (36-20-7) ▲Previously: 11thThe Wild have quietly climbed up the Western Conference standings.They've ripped off five straight wins on the back of Eric Staal, who's posted 12 points in those games. They didn't make any significant upgrades at the deadline but, like the Maple Leafs, could look to ride the hot hand. - Hagerman11. Anaheim Ducks (31-21-12) ▲Previously: 12thThe Ducks are built to win in the playoffs and reinforced that quality Monday by picking up gritty veteran Jason Chimera from the Islanders. A healthy John Gibson is key to an extended postseason run. - Wilkins12. Dallas Stars (36-23-4) ▼Previously: 8thNo action out of Dallas prior to the trade deadline could come back to haunt a club in the thick of the playoff race. Still, the Stars may be satisfied with the addition to their lineup from earlier in February - the return of injured blue-liner Marc Methot. - Wilkins13. Calgary Flames (32-23-9) ▲Previously: 14thDespite starter Mike Smith being on the shelf, the Flames have held their own, turning to rookie netminder David Rittich. Finding offense down the stretch is needed to secure a playoff berth. - Wilkins14. New Jersey Devils (33-22-8) ▲Previously: 20thKudos to Devils general manager Ray Shero, who made a pair of savvy deadline additions in Michael Grabner and Patrick Maroon at a low price. - Wilkins15. San Jose Sharks (34-21-9)Previously: 15thIt's no secret the Sharks need offense, and GM Doug Wilson got one of the best bargains of the deadline in acquiring Evander Kane from the Sabres to round out his forward group. - Wilkins16. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-26-5) ▲Previously: 18thThe Blue Jackets weren't big-game hunters at the deadline, but made some under-the-radar tweaks in trading for Thomas Vanek, Ian Cole, and Mark Letestu. Time will tell if that's enough to help Columbus return to the playoffs. - Wilkins17. Los Angeles Kings (35-24-5) ▼Previously: 13thThe Kings were relatively quiet at the deadline, but the team's biggest pickup is likely a healthy Jeff Carter. The veteran scorer missed 55 games with an ankle injury before returning to the lineup Saturday. - Wilkins18. St. Louis Blues (34-26-4) ▼Previously: 7thFor the second straight deadline, the Blues shipped out a pending unrestricted free agent they didn't plan to re-sign in Stastny. It's good asset management, but risky for a team in the playoff hunt. - Wilkins19. Florida Panthers (29-25-6) ▲Previously: 24thPanthers GM Dale Tallon balked at the deadline prices - the team was reportedly in the mix for blue-liner McDonagh. In the end, it was a quiet deadline in South Florida, meaning the Panthers will need to look within if they are to climb into a playoff position. - Wilkins20. New York Islanders (29-27-7) ▼Previously: 19thEarlier this month, Islanders GM Garth Snow stated he's comfortable with the tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. He wasn't bluffing after all - he didn't add a netminder at the deadline, meaning the Islanders will look to the duo to carry them to the postseason. - Wilkins21. Carolina Hurricanes (27-25-11)Previously: 21stIt's been a problem all season, but ranking 30th in save percentage isn't going to get the Hurricanes anywhere, no matter how many good pieces they have up front or on the blue line. - O'Leary22. Colorado Avalanche (33-24-5) ▼Previously: 17thSince the conclusion of Colorado's 10-game winning streak Jan. 23, the Avs rank 26th in the NHL with just 36 goals in 16 games. Combine that with Semyon Varlamov's .892 road save percentage and the Avalanche's odds in the Western Conference wild-card race are slim. - O'Leary23. Detroit Red Wings (26-26-10) ▲Previously: 26thIt was a confusing deadline for the Red Wings, as the club failed to deal Mike Green but somehow managed to pull a first-, second-, and third-round pick for Tomas Tatar and his 28 points. - O'Leary24. Edmonton Oilers (27-32-4) ▲Previously: 25thThere's been lots of finger-pointing throughout Edmonton's disastrous season, but it feels the production of Leon Draisaitl hasn't gotten any attention. The 22-year-old has 57 points - 51 of them at even strength - in 59 games.See? It's not all bad, Oilers fans. - O'Leary25. Chicago Blackhawks (27-28-8) ▼Previously: 23rdAfter last season's first-round sweep, Chicago appeared to hit rock bottom. However, with just three wins in their last 10 games, it turns out things can be much worse.The Blackhawks will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and it will be interesting to monitor how the club plans to fix things during its longest offseason in a decade. - O'Leary26. Montreal Canadiens (23-29-10) ▲Previously: 27thNo Shea Weber for the rest of the season and no Carey Price for the foreseeable future. It appears the Habs are fallin' for Dahlin. - O'Leary27. Arizona Coyotes (18-34-10) ▲Previously: 31stCongratulations to the Coyotes, who come in ranked higher than 28th for the second time this season.On the strength of Antti Raanta, Arizona has actually won a handful of games recently - which, in the grand scheme of things, may not be a positive when it comes to draft-lottery positioning. - O'Leary28. New York Rangers (27-30-6) ▼Previously: 22ndThe Rangers' brass promised some changes, and delivered, hauling in a ton of assets for Grabner, Nash, and McDonagh. It will take a while to see if the accrued picks and prospects pan out, but on the surface, it looks like New York did all right. - O'Leary29. Ottawa Senators (21-31-10) ▼Previously: 28thBoy, a Karlsson trade would have been fun. Let's revisit this topic in the offseason. - O'Leary30. Vancouver Canucks (24-32-7) ▼Previously: 29thWhile most of the basement-dwellers made a point to go out and acquire future assets by dealing expendable contracts, the Canucks figured re-signing Erik Gudbranson for three more seasons was a good idea. - O'Leary31. Buffalo Sabres (19-33-11) ▼Previously: 30thThe Sabres had better hope Kane is interested in staying with the Sharks, because if the most valuable asset Buffalo acquires for one of the biggest names on this year's trade board is a second-round pick, that deal will be considered nothing but a failure. - O'Leary(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a newly acquired player, there's nothing more satisfying than making a strong first impression with your new teammates. Several players made debuts with their new clubs Tuesday night, and for the most part, they came as advertised.5. Pontus Aberg, OilersAberg was a low-risk, high-reward acquisition by the Oilers, but it didn't take long for him to show off his untapped offensive potential, setting up Jesse Puljujarvi's goal with a nifty assist. Aberg didn't get much ice time in Nashville, but could continue to flourish with an expanded role in Edmonton.4. Paul Stastny, JetsIf Stastny's willingness to lift his no-trade clause to come to frigid Winnipeg didn't win over the hearts of Jets fans everywhere, then his debut performance certainly did.The veteran center displayed an impressive two-way game, picking up a goal, an assist, a plus-2 rating, and won 74 percent of his faceoffs in Winnipeg's 6-5 loss to the Predators.3. Evander Kane, SharksThe Sharks pumped the Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday night, and Kane's multi-point effort was a massive reason why. Though it's obviously still early, his first game was a strong indication that his north-south, physical style will fit in well with the Sharks. Patrick Marleau left a void when he bolted for Toronto this offseason, and Kane seems like a prime candidate to be his late replacement.2. Ryan Hartman, PredatorsThough Winnipeg's deadline-day addition of Stastny definitely drew more attention, Nashville's under-the-radar pickup of Hartman would prove to be the difference in a crucial meeting between the two teams. The speedy forward scored the game-winning goal with one minute left in regulation, giving his new team a huge victory over a fellow Central Division powerhouse.1. Tommy Wingels, BruinsIt's hard to make a better impression on your teammates than what Wingels did on Tuesday night. Brought in to be nothing more than an energy player in the bottom six, Wingels provided that and more, picking up a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-3 overtime win against the Hurricanes.The Bruins are going to need unheralded players to step up in the absence of Patrice Bergeron, and Wingels did his part in his Bruins debut.Missed the cut: Tomas Tatar (Golden Knights), Derick Brassard (Penguins), Joe Morrow (Jets).(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau doesn't believe Eric Staal is getting the credit he deserves."If (Staal) was playing in Toronto, he'd be up for MVP, I'll tell you that right now," Boudreau told The Athletic's Michael Russo following Staal's five-point night Tuesday against the Blues.Given Staal's performance of late, and his overall numbers, it's hard to argue, considering that Minnesota is one of the league's smaller markets. The veteran center has quietly amassed 33 goals and 31 assists in 63 games in what has been a sensational encore to his bounce-back season a year ago.Following a disastrous 39-point campaign in 2015-16, Staal signed a three-year, $10.5-million contract with the Wild, making him one of the most cost-effective players in the entire league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday's marquee matchup between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets certainly lived up to expectations.The two Central Division heavyweights combined for 11 goals, with the Predators ultimately coming away with a 6-5 win after three straight goals in the third period - the game-winner scored by newcomer Ryan Hartman with one minute left on the clock.Related: Western arms race: Who's better, the Predators or Jets?

The St. Louis Blues are picking a really bad time to be playing their worst hockey of the season.St. Louis lost it's seventh straight game and ninth since the All-Star break Tuesday night, getting completely embarrassed by the Minnesota Wild in a lopsided 8-3 contest, prompting head coach Mike Yeo to rip into his team postgame."The turnovers that we have and the lack of respect that we have for our goaltenders and for the game of hockey, that’s ridiculous," said Yeo, according to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Over the seven-game stretch, the Blues have been badly outscored 29-10.The latest loss continues an awful month for Yeo's men, as the Blues have managed only three wins since the calendar flipped to February, allowing 41 goals while struggling to generate much offense - especially lately.One of the main reasons for St. Louis' tailspin has been its inability to bury the biscuit, as the Blues have managed only 36 goals in their last 12 games, which included a goalless stretch of 150:23.Entering the season, St. Louis was considered a dark-horse pick to take home the Cup. But, as it stands, the Blues find themselves on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture looking in.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without winger Josh Anderson for approximately four weeks, as he'll be sidelined with a knee sprain, the team announced.Anderson was injured late in Monday's contest versus the Washington Capitals.The 23-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Blue Jackets in October, and has produced 18 goals and 11 assists in 61 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Say it with us, Lightning fans: "Everything is going to be OK."Related: Kucherov leaves game vs. Maple Leafs with upper-body injuryHowever, it didn't exactly seem that way Monday night when Tampa forward Nikita Kucherov left the game with an upper-body injury in the first period and did not return.Luckily enough, the injury to the NHL's top point getter is not believed to be serious, and he could even be ready for the Lightning's next game against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith.Kucherov is having an All-Star season in which he currently paces the league in points with 82.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders fans might not have the on-ice product they had hoped for this year, but at least they can run a solid GoFundMe campaign and draw some major attention to their displeasure with general manager Garth Snow.Related: Islanders' Lee defends GM following 'Snow Must Go' campaign

The NHL draft will be coming north of the border for the first time since 2009, as Vancouver is set to host the 2019 event, according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar.An announcement is set for Wednesday, where the Canucks are expected to make the report official.

John Tortorella broke one of his own rules.The Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss detests when coaches interact with the opposition, but that was just the situation he found himself in Monday after Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin fell victim to a butt-end.Ovechkin was knocked to the ice and left bloodied by Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert after he was hit with the end of Calvert's stick. But that wasn't the angle Tortorella saw from the bench, as he accused Ovechkin of diving.

NHL general managers really flexed their creative muscles ahead of this year's deadline and pulled off some elaborate deals.Related: Ranking the 5 biggest deadline dealsIn the days leading up to the deadline, the league saw two three-team trades and on more than a handful of occasions, salary was retained on players who were traded.The salary cap has forced teams to get creative and at no time was that more apparent than over the last couple days. Of course, while players will always be at the forefront of all moves made on trade deadline day, don't forget the other big motivator ... the money.Good trades come in threesWhen it comes to pulling off a blockbuster trade, things are no longer as easy as they once were. With draft picks at a premium and the salary cap being what it is, it's not always possible for a single club to provide all the assets needed to get it done. So, when that's the case, you need to call on your friends.The three-way deal between the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche in November in which Matt Duchene was dealt to the Senators and Kyle Turris went to the Preds seemed to motivate other general managers to get in on that action.On Feb. 23rd, the Senators pulled off their second such trade of the season, involving the Vegas Golden Knights in a deal that saw Derick Brassard shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Then, on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Predators pulled off a trade that moved Pontus Aberg to the Oilers and Mark Letestu to Columbus.While the second deal was fairly straightforward, the first included eight different pieces, including players, prospects, picks, and even some salary retention on Brassard.Money was tight in Pittsburgh and the Golden Knights - with all the cap space in the world - ultimately got in on the action to retain 40 percent of Brassard's salary. The Penguins likely couldn't have made this deal without the Knights' involvement.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford called the trade the most complex deal of his career, but they could become the norm as cap-stricken teams look for ways to balance the books.Salary retention, no problemNHL clubs appear to be in the giving mood these days.If there is one trend we saw more than any other during this deadline, it was that teams don't mind eating salary if it means getting more value in a trade.In the four days leading up Monday's 3:00 p.m. ET deadline, five players had salary retained by their former club.DealSalary RetainedRangers trade Nash50%Bruins trade Beleskey50%Blues trade Stastny50%*Golden Knights trade Brassard40%Canadiens trade Plekanec50%* = Brassard traded from Senators to Golden Knights, from Golden Knights to Penguins.In each deal, it seems, in retaining salary, the receiving club was able to get something more from their counterparts. In all four trades above (Nash and Beleskey were included in the same deal), three included a first-round pick and the other - the Plekanec trade - included a second-round pick.With Nash, Plekanec, and Stastny on expiring contracts, the salary retention is not a long-term endeavor, so the retaining teams aren't handcuffed going forward. In the end, it comes down to the old adage: "help me help you."Rangers free up a pretty penny in McDonagh dealThree weeks ago, the Rangers brass warned fans the team could be parting with many fan favorites, and after the dust settled on Monday night, the Rangers had given up just Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller after trading away Nash and Michael Grabner days earlier.In dealing the two to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a giant five-player, two-pick deal, the club freed up over $5.5 million in cap space, giving it a cushion of $14 million.The space means very little now as New York looks to be trending toward a potential lottery pick with its poor play of late, but it sets the Rangers up nicely to potentially be active in free agency.The team should have roughly $25 million in cap space going into next season and that number could go up if it looks to sell off further pieces at the draft.Related: A look at each team's stockpile of picks ahead of June's NHL draftAll in all, Jeff Gorton has done well to kick the club's rebuild into overdrive.(Salary cap information courtesy: Cap Friendly)(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robin Lehner didn't want to go anywhere.The Buffalo Sabres netminder was not dealt prior to Monday's trade deadline, nor was he hoping for a move, despite a report indicating the opposite."That was fake news," Lehner told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "It's funny how it works. Some blogger puts something out. I don't even know who that guy is and people jump on it."It's hilarious. This day and age, you don't have to put a source on it. It's not true."A pending restricted free agent whose future in Buffalo remains undetermined, Lehner was a candidate to move Monday, given the limited goaltending market and the possibility that a few teams were likely seeking some insurance between the pipes.In the end, Lehner remained a member of the Sabres.Lehner has held the No. 1 duties in Buffalo for the past three campaigns and has posted a 13-23-8 record and .910 save percentage in 46 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the end, Erik Karlsson got what he wanted.The Ottawa Senators captain wasn't dealt ahead of Monday's NHL trade deadline - despite reports that the Vegas Golden Knights pushed hard for him - and he said he's happy to be staying in Canada's capital, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Related: Karlsson still a Senator after Golden Knights reportedly made final-hour pushKarlsson also said he never requested a trade and he's open to signing a long-term contract with the Senators, but he'll leave that until the summer, according to Garrioch.Following Monday's deadline, general manager Pierre Durion​ ​​​​​​told reporters he plans to offer Karlsson a long-term deal if he's still a Senator on July 1.Related - Report: Predators 'chatted' with Sens about KarlssonAs for Karlsson, he can put the trade deadline noise behind him and focus solely on playing his game. The club has lost four straight, but the 27-year-old has been productive, putting up six points in his last seven games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has been sidelined with a fractured right foot and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team announced Tuesday.Bergeron suffered the injury Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Initial X-rays were negative and Bergeron played Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres.Further evaluation revealed a small fracture.Bergeron missed five games earlier this season with a lower-body injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings were unable to find a taker for Mike Green ahead of Monday's trade deadline, but an extended stay in the Motor City may be an option for the veteran blue-liner.The Red Wings have expressed an interest in a contract extension, reports Ansar Khan from MLive.com.A prime candidate to be moved Monday, Green was still with the Red Wings when the deadline came. The fact he's been sidelined for the past six games with an upper-body injury may have impacted his trade value.The pending unrestricted free agent has a full no-trade clause, but was reportedly willing to accept a trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning or Washington Capitals.Green signed a three-year, $18-million deal with the Red Wings in July 2015.Through 56 games this season, Green has six goals and 23 assists, good for first among Detroit defensemen.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray has been sidelined with a concussion, coach Mike Sullivan announced Tuesday.Murray left practice early Monday after defenseman Olli Maatta hit him in the mask with a puck.No timeline has been provided on how long Murray could be out of the lineup.An extended absence could have playoff implications, as the Penguins currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with the trailing New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets still in the mix.Murray has appeared in 41 games this season, posting a 23-13-2 record with a .909 save percentage.In the interim, the Penguins will turn to backup netminder Tristan Jarry.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Details on every move made before Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.Feb. 26: Rangers, Avs make minor dealRangers Receive Avalanche ReceiveD Chris BigrasF Ryan GravesFeb. 26: Canadiens get Mike Reilly from WildCanadiens Receive Wild ReceiveD Mike Reilly5th-round pick (2019)Feb. 26: Oilers trade Patrick Maroon to DevilsDevils ReceiveOilers ReceiveF Patrick Maroon3rd-round pick (2019)F J.D. DudekFeb. 26: Jets acquire Joe Morrow from HabsJets ReceiveCanadiens ReceiveD Joe Morrow4th-round pick (2018)Feb. 26: Sens trade Nick Shore to FlamesFlames Receive Senators ReceiveF Nick Shore7th-round pick (2019)Feb. 26: Lightning land Ryan McDonagh from RangersLightning ReceiveRangers ReceiveD Ryan McDonagh1st-round pick (2018)F J.T. MillerConditional 1st-round pick (2019)F Vladislav NamestnikovD Libor HajekF Brett HowdenNotes: Conditional pick remains a 1st if Tampa Bay wins the Stanley Cup this year or next, otherwise becomes a 2nd-round pick.Feb. 26: Red Wings trade Tomas Tatar to VegasGolden Knights Receive Red Wings ReceiveF Tomas Tatar1st-round pick (2018)2nd-round pick (2019)3rd-round pick (2021)Feb. 26: Bruins trade for Tommy WingelsBruins ReceiveBlackhawks ReceiveF Tommy WingelsConditional 5th-round pick (2019)Notes: Becomes a 4th-round pick if Boston advances to 2nd round or if Wingels re-signs with Bruins.Feb. 26: Penguins acquire Josh JoorisPenguins Receive Hurricanes ReceiveF Josh JoorisF Gregg McKeggFeb. 26: Blue Jackets acquire Thomas VanekBlue Jackets ReceiveCanucks ReceiveF Thomas VanekF Tyler MotteF Jussi JokinenFeb. 26: Sharks land Evander Kane from SabresSharks ReceiveSabres ReceiveF Evander KaneConditional 1st-round pick (2019)Conditional 4th-round pick (2019)F Daniel O'ReganNotes: 1st-round pick in 2019 becomes a 2nd-round pick if Kane hits free agency; 4th-round pick can be pushed to 2020 and will then become a 3rd.Feb. 26: Ducks acquire Jason Chimera from IslesDucks Receive Islanders ReceiveF Jason ChimeraF Chris WagnerFeb. 26: Coyotes, Jackets swap minor leaguersCoyotes ReceiveBlue Jackets ReceiveF Jordan MalettaF Ryan KujawinskiF Carter CamperFeb. 26: Vegas, Vancouver swap Leipsic and HolmCanucks Receive Golden Knights ReceiveF Brendan LeipsicD Philip HolmFeb. 26: Jets land Paul Stastny from BluesJets ReceiveBlues ReceiveF Paul StastnyConditional 1st-round pick (2018)Conditional 4th-round pick (2020)F Erik FoleyNotes: Blues to reportedly retain 50 percent of Stastny's salaryFeb. 26: Predators acquire Ryan Hartman from BlackhawksPredators Receive Blackhawks ReceiveF Ryan Hartman1st-round pick (2018)5th-round pick (2018)4th-round pick (2018)F Victor EjdsellFeb. 26: Sens trade Ian Cole to Blue JacketsBlue Jackets ReceiveSenators ReceiveD Ian Cole3rd-round pick (2020)F Nick MoutreyFeb. 25: Predators add depthPredators ReceiveSharks ReceiveF Brandon Bollig6th-round pick (2018)G Troy GrosenickFeb. 25: Oilers trade Letestu to Preds in 3-team dealOilers ReceivePredators ReceiveBlue Jackets ReceiveF Pontus Aberg4th-round pick (2018)F Mark LetestuFeb. 25: Canadiens trade Plekanec to Maple LeafsCanadiens Receive Maple Leafs Receive2nd-round pick (2018)F Tomas PlekanecF Kerby RychelF Kyle BaunD Rinat ValievNotes: Canadiens retain 50 percent of Plekanec's salary.Feb. 25: Bruins acquire Rick Nash from RangersRangers Receive Bruins Receive1st-round pick (2018)F Rick NashF Ryan SpoonerD Ryan LindgrenF Matt Beleskey7th-round pick (2019)Notes: Rangers retain 50 percent of Nash's salary; Bruins retain 50 percent of Beleskey's salary.Feb. 24: Oilers send Davidson to IslandersIslanders Receive Oilers ReceiveD Brandon Davidson3rd-round pick (2019)Feb. 23: Penguins nab Brassard in 3-team swapPenguins ReceiveSenators ReceiveGolden Knights ReceiveF Derick BrassardD Ian ColeF Ryan ReavesF Vincent DunnG Filip Gustavsson4th-round pick (2018)F Tobias Lindberg1st-round pick (2018)3rd-round pick (2018)3rd-round pick (2019)Notes: Golden Knights retain 40 percent of Brassard's salary.Feb. 22: Devils grab GrabnerRangers ReceiveDevils Receive2nd-round pick (2018)F Michael GrabnerD Yegor RykovFeb. 22: Bruins ship Vatrano to FloridaPanthers Receive Bruins ReceiveF Frank Vatrano3rd-round pick (2018)Feb. 21: Coyotes, Kings make swap involving two goaliesCoyotes ReceiveKings ReceiveG Darcy KuemperF Tobias RiederG Scott WedgewoodNotes: Coyotes sign Kuemper to two-year extension worth reported $3.7 million.Feb. 21: Capitals add more depth on defenseCapitals ReceiveCanadiens ReceiveD Jakub Jerabek5th-round pick (2019)Feb. 20: Maple Leafs ship Fehr to SharksSharks ReceiveMaple Leafs ReceiveF Eric Fehr7th-round pick (2020)Feb. 20: Rangers trade Nick Holden to BruinsBruins ReceiveRangers ReceiveD Nick HoldenD Rob O'Gara2018 3rd-round pickFeb. 19: Red Wings send Mrazek to FlyersFlyers ReceiveRed Wings ReceiveG Petr MrazekConditional 4th-round pick (2018)Conditional 3rd-round pick (2019)Feb. 19: Blackhawks deal Kempny to CapitalsBlackhawks ReceiveCapitals Receive3rd-round pick (2018)D Michal KempnyFeb. 15: Maple Leafs ship Soshnikov to BluesBlues ReceiveMaple Leafs ReceiveF Nikita Soshnikov4th-round pick (2019)Feb. 15: Senators trade DiDomenico to BlackhawksBlackhawks ReceiveSenators ReceiveF Chris DiDomenicoD Ville PokkaFeb. 13: Senators deal Phaneuf to KingsKings ReceiveSenators ReceiveD Dion PhaneufF Marian GaborikF Nate ThompsonF Nick ShoreNotes: Senators will retain 25 percent of Phaneuf's salary.Feb. 8: Devils send Loov to WildWild ReceiveDevils ReceiveD Viktor LoovF Christoph BertschyF Mario LuciaFeb. 5: Kings trade Zac Leslie to VegasGolden Knights ReceiveKings ReceiveD Zac LeslieFuture considerationsFeb. 3: Predators trade O'Brien to Stars for McNeillPredators Receive Stars ReceiveF Mark McNeillD Andrew O'BrienJan. 31: Lightning acquire Pasquale from OilersLightning Receive Oilers ReceiveG Edward PasqualeFuture considerationsJan. 22: Kings send Zatkoff to Blue JacketsBlue Jackets Receive Kings ReceiveG Jeff ZatkoffFuture considerationsJan. 22: Coyotes get Ramage from Blue JacketsBlue Jackets Receive Coyotes ReceiveFuture considerationsD John RamageJan. 10: Coyotes trade Duclair to Blackhawks for PanikBlackhawks Receive Coyotes ReceiveF Anthony DuclairF Richard PanikD Adam ClendeningD Laurent DauphinJan. 4: Canadiens ship Montoya to OilersCanadiens Receive Oilers Receive4th-round pick (2019)G Al MontoyaDec. 30: Flames trade Lack to DevilsDevils Receive Flames ReceiveG Eddie LackD Dalton ProutDec. 19: Stars trade Oleksiak to PenguinsPenguins Receive Stars ReceiveD Jamie Oleksiak4th-round pick (2019)Dec. 19: Penguins acquire Leighton from CoyotesCoyotes ReceivePenguins ReceiveF Josh ArchibaldG Michael LeightonG Sean Maguire4th-round pick (2019)6th-round pick (2019)Dec. 19: Panthers receive Chase from OilersPanthers Receive Oilers ReceiveF Gregory ChaseFuture considerationsDec. 14: Coyotes trade Latta to DevilsCoyotes Receive Devils ReceiveF Ryan KujawinskiF Michael LattaDec. 8: Canucks trade Jordan Subban to KingsCanucks Receive Kings ReceiveC Nic DowdD Jordan SubbanDec. 4: Red Wings trade Wilson to SabresRed Wings Receive Sabres Receive5th-round pick (2019)F Scott WilsonNov. 30: Ducks trade Vatanen to Devils for HenriqueDevils Receive Ducks ReceiveD Sami VatanenF Adam HenriqueConditional 3rd-round pick (2018)F Joseph Blandisi3rd-round pick (2018)Nov. 30: Habs deal Holland to RangersCanadiens Receive Rangers ReceiveF Adam CracknellF Peter HollandNov. 23: Kings land Mitchell from HabsCanadiens Receive Kings ReceiveConditional 4th-round pick (2018)F Torrey MitchellNov. 14: Kings, Oilers swap Cammalleri, JokinenKings Receive Oilers ReceiveF Jussi JokinenF Michael CammalleriNov. 14: Coyotes trade Domingue to LightningCoyotes Receive Lightning ReceiveG Michael LeightonG Louis DomingueF Tye McGinnNov. 10: Panthers, Stars swap D-menPanthers Receive Stars ReceiveD Ludwig BystromD Reece ScarlettNov. 5: Duchene, Turris on the move in 3-team blockbusterAvs Receive Preds Receive Sens ReceiveF Shane BowersF Kyle TurrisF Matt DucheneD Samuel GirardG Andrew HammondF Vladislav Kemenev1st-round pick (2018)2nd-round pick (2018)3rd-round pick (2018)Oct. 28: Devils trade Wedgewood to CoyotesCoyotes Receive Devils ReceiveG Scott Wedgewood5th-round pick (2018)Oct. 21: Penguins acquire Riley SheahanRed Wings Receive Penguins ReceiveF Scott WilsonF Riley Sheahan3rd-round pick (2018)5th-round pick (2018)Oct. 21: Rangers trade Puempel to Red WingsRed Wings Receive Rangers ReceiveF Matt PuempelD Ryan SproulOct. 9: Ducks trade Tokarski to FlyersDucks Receive Flyers ReceiveFuture considerationsG Dustin TokarskiOct. 6: Maple Leafs acquire Pickard from VegasGolden Knights Receive Maple Leafs ReceiveF Tobias LindbergG Calvin Pickard6th-round pick (2018)Oct. 4: Canadiens send Martinsen to ChicagoBlackhawks Receive Canadiens ReceiveF Andreas MartinsenF Kyle BaunOct. 3: Habs trade Redmond for DeslauriersCanadiens ReceiveSabres ReceiveF Nicolas DeslauriersD Zach RedmondOct. 3: Canucks land Pouliot from PenguinsCanucks Receive Penguins ReceiveD Derrick PouliotD Andrey Pedan4th-round pick (2018)Sept. 17: Coyotes get Demers from PanthersCoyotes Receive Panthers ReceiveD Jason DemersF Jamie McGinn(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils should soon have their starting netminder back in the fold.The team assigned Cory Schneider to the Binghamton Devils of the AHL for a conditioning loan on Tuesday, the team announced.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Patric Hornqvist to a five-year contract extension worth $5.3 million per season, the team announced Tuesday.A two-time Stanley Cup winner, Hornqvist has recorded 32 points through 51 games this season, good for seventh place in team scoring.

With the NHL trade deadline in the rearview mirror, it's time to reflect on the biggest moves made over the past 48 hours in the lead up to Monday's 3 p.m. ET cutoff.Five trades in particular stand above the rest, and below, NHL editors Josh Wegman and Flip Livingstone rank the deals from the buyer's perspective from least to most valuable based on the following criteria:

With the NHL trade deadline in the rearview mirror, it's time to reflect on the biggest moves made over the past 48 hours in the lead up to Monday's 3 p.m. ET cutoff.Five trades in particular stand above the rest, and below, NHL editors Josh Wegman and Flip Livingstone rank the deals from the buyer's perspective from least to most valuable based on the following criteria:

Rumors swirled all week about the Montreal Canadiens potentially trading their captain Max Pacioretty, but a one-way ticket out of the hockey hotbed was not something he wanted."I did not ask for a trade," Pacioretty said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I still have 20 games to worry about finding my game and you know what, I’m not on social media and I don’t have all this stuff."But even just having the TV on today I hope you guys can realize I'm a human being with three kids, and there's been a lot of stuff … whether it be … I don't want to go into details… but there's been a lot of stuff and some of it has been hard to swallow and I care because I care so much about playing here."Both the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks were reportedly interested in the services of Pacioretty, but a deal never came to fruition.The 29-year-old is having a down year by his standards, with 17 goals and 37 points in 61 games. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not the Washington Capitals. Not even the Columbus Blue Jackets. None of those Metropolitan juggernauts currently lead the tightest division in all of hockey.That honor goes to the surging Philadelphia Flyers, who - as of Monday night - lead the Metropolitan Division with 78 points, one point ahead of the reigning two-time Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals and two ahead of the reigning two-time Cup-winning Penguins.Perhaps most impressively, the Flyers now have points in 12 consecutive games. And, with their win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, have now won seven consecutive road games.

Ryan McDonagh, Paul Stastny, and Evander Kane made most of the headlines on trade deadline day, but the following five players could very well fit in admirably with their new teams, making their general managers look like geniuses. For some players, all it takes is a change of scenery.Michael Grabner, DevilsIt's rare that a player with 25 goals on the season flies under the radar after being moved, but Grabner found a way. Maybe it's because he got dealt four days before the deadline, or maybe it's because New Jersey isn't exactly a sexy destination.Regardless, Grabner will provide a scoring touch and game-breaking speed to a team that is already considered one of the quickest in the league. With Taylor Hall, Miles Wood, and Grabner all on separate lines, there will be no place for opponents to hide a slow defense pairing, or a slow defenseman in general.Pontus Aberg, OilersRather than acquiring a draft pick in exchange for Mark Letestu that probably won't make an impact at the NHL level for at least three seasons, the Oilers decided to take a chance on a talented, young forward in need of an opportunity.Aberg, 24, has recorded just 10 points in 52 career NHL games, but has shown flashes of brilliance along the way, despite averaging under 12 minutes per game. He has, however, produced in the AHL:SeasonGPGAP2014-15691618342015-16742515402016-17563121522017-184426Totals2037656132While his scoring touch hasn't translated to the NHL thus far, a chance alongside a playmaker of Connor McDavid's caliber could be all it takes to succeed.Jason Chimera, DucksDespite recording back-to-back 20-goal seasons prior to 2017-18, the Ducks didn't acquire Chimera for his offense. They likely traded for him to provide an elite forechecking presence. Even at 38 years old, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound forward can still skate like the wind.Though it won't show up on the stat sheet, someone like Chimera who can get in on opposing defensemen, be physical, and disrupt the timing of breakouts, is incredibly valuable in the playoffs - especially considering the Ducks might eventually have to go through the Nashville Predators again, who might move the puck better than any team in the league.Frank Vatrano, PanthersVatrano, 23, seemed primed for a breakout season this year, but it hasn't even come close to materializing, as he has just two goals and zero assists in 25 games while averaging less than 10 minutes per game.Last season he had 10 goals on 116 shots in 44 games, and with many spots up for grabs in Boston's top-nine forward group this season, a 20-goal season seemed within reach, but he was passed on the depth chart by fellow youngsters such as Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk.Now in Florida, with the opportunity to potentially play alongside Aleksander Barkov or Vincent Trocheck, the former goal-per-game player in the AHL could flourish if given a chance. Considering the Panthers gave up a third-round pick for him, expect he will be given said opportunity.Mike Reilly, CanadiensReilly was acquired from the Wild in exchange for a fifth-round pick shortly after the Canadiens shipped out Joe Morrow for a fourth-round pick. Essentially, Reilly is a low-risk, high-reward option to replace Morrow on the team's blue line.Reilly has failed to produce offensively in his 84-game NHL career, but frankly, he hasn't been given much of a chance, averaging just 12:16 of ice time. On Montreal's fairly immobile blue line, the smooth-skating Reilly should play at least five more minutes a night, given that Morrow averaged 17:47.With more ice time, and a prime candidate to quarterback the team's power play, the 24-year-old could very well find success. After all, he put up big numbers in the AHL and at the University of Minnesota, and defensemen generally take longer to develop.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger and NHL leading point man Nikita Kucherov left Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period with an upper-body injury and will not return, the team announced.Kucherov played six shifts and 5:19 of the first period, but was not seen on the Tampa bench to start the second, subsequently missing the entire frame.Needless to say, it would be a massive blow to the Lightning if Kucherov were to be sidelined for any amount of time, as the Russian sniper currently leads the team in goals and assists with 33 and 49, respectively.However, Kucherov's agent Dan Milstein told the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith the injury isn't concussion related and that Kucherov did not break any bones.No official update was provided by the Lightning postgame.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert was ejected and assessed a match penalty for butt-ending Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin at the end of the first period of Monday's matchup between the two division rivals. Here's a look at the play:

With the dust still settling on trade deadline 2018, front-office executives across the NHL are undoubtedly analyzing and assessing where their rosters stand for the playoff push and how their teams stack up for the coming June 22 draft in Dallas.A part of that process will assuredly include a look at the type and number of selections at each general manager's disposal. To save you the hassle of waiting till summer, we beat the GMs to the punch with a quick breakdown of each team's draft stock.Here's a look at the number of picks each team has by division with a few significant notes also included where needed.Metropolitan DivisionTeamNo. of 2018 picksNotesCarolina Hurricanes7Columbus Blue Jackets6New Jersey Devils6No pick in 2nd or 3rd roundNew York Islanders8Four picks in 1st two roundsNew York Rangers10Seven picks in 1st three roundsPhiladelphia Flyers9Two 1st-roundersPittsburgh Penguins6No 1st-round pickWashington Capitals6Atlantic DivisionTeamNo. of 2018 picks NotesBoston Bruins5No 1st-rounderBuffalo Sabres7Detroit Red Wings11Florida Panthers6Montreal Canadiens10Four 2nd-round picksOttawa Senators*6Only one pick in 1st three roundsTampa Bay Lightning7No 1st-rounderToronto Maple Leafs7*1st-round pick Sens sent to Avs in Matt Duchene deal is not included, even though it is top-10 protected.Central DivisionTeamNo. of 2018 picksNotesChicago Blackhawks8Two 1st-roundersColorado Avalanche9Sens' 1st goes back to Ottawa if it's top 10Dallas Stars8Minnesota Wild8Three third-round picksNashville Predators3One in 3rd and two in 5thSt. Louis Blues8Blues' 1st owned by Philly can be moved to 2019 if it's top 10Winnipeg Jets6No 1st-rounderPacific Division(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Team No. of 2018 picks NotesAnaheim Ducks7Two 3rd-roundersArizona Coyotes6Calgary Flames5No picks in 1st or 2nd roundEdmonton Oilers6Los Angeles Kings7San Jose Sharks6Vancouver Canucks6Vegas Golden Knights7No 1st- or 3rd-round picks(Draft pick info courtesy CapFriendly.com)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nobody has been a bigger mainstay in Washington than Alex Ovechkin.Competing in his 984th career game Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Capitals captain became the franchise's all-time leader in games played, passing former Caps blue-liner Calle Johansson:Player Games TenureOvechkin9842005-18Johansson9831988-2003Peter Bondra9611990-2004Kelly Miller9401986-99Dale Hunter8721987-99Meanwhile, Ovechkin is also the franchise's all-time leader in goals (596) and points (1,105). Teammate Nicklas Backstrom sits first in assists with 570, with Ovechkin in second at 509.Through 62 games this season, Ovechkin has tallied 38 goals and 32 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan McDonagh hopes to make his debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in about a week.The former New York Rangers defenseman has been sidelined for the past nine games with an upper-body injury.

Patrick Maroon will have fond memories of Edmonton.So much so that the new member of the New Jersey Devils is open to returning to the Oilers should he reach unrestricted free agency this summer."Nothing but good things to stay about this organization," Maroon said, as per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The veteran forward has played alongside Oilers superstar Connor McDavid since arriving in Edmonton in 2015. Last season, he posted a career-high 27 goals and 42 points.Maroon, 29, carries a $1.5-million cap hit this season. Given he's tallied 30 points through 57 games this year, he could be due a sizable raise come July.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson didn't go anywhere, but there were still a few major moves on this trade deadline day.A quick flurry of midday activity and then a typically timed barrage of transactions around the 3 p.m. ET buzzer punctuated the day, but some teams made out much better than others.Here's a look at which clubs excelled and which ones faltered on the day of the NHL's trade deadline in 2018:WinnersWinnipeg JetsThe Jets made a move no one saw coming (how often does a team beat the insiders to the punch for a significant swap on deadline day?), landing Paul Stastny from the St. Louis Blues. His acquisition turns one of the best top-nine groups in the league into arguably the NHL's deepest.Sure, Stastny is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Winnipeg gave up a couple of conditional picks (including a first-rounder) as well as college forward Erik Foley to get him, but it's a worthwhile gamble, given Stastny's passing ability and faceoff prowess.Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff deserves credit for capitalizing on the Blues' losing streak that reportedly put the plan to trade the center in motion, and Winnipeg will only be on the hook for 50 percent of the strong two-way player's $7-million salary.Tampa Bay LightningSteve Yzerman didn't get Karlsson, but he landed quite the consolation prize in Ryan McDonagh - as well as talented winger J.T. Miller - in a blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers.The Lightning GM certainly paid a price for the duo, but didn't have to give up as much as he could have, considering the two impact players he got in return, and also considering the package he would have had to part with if he'd pulled the trigger on a deal for Karlsson.Tampa Bay ultimately bolstered its roster for a potential Stanley Cup run with two key pieces while parting with two picks, two less-than-elite prospects, and Vladislav Namestnikov, who has 20 goals this season for the first time in his career, and who benefited from playing alongside Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov.Miller and Namestnikov aren't too far apart in terms of skill, but landing both McDonagh and Miller was clearly going to cost the Lightning, and this move was certainly smarter for Yzerman than giving up multiple first-rounders, a better prospect, and the likes of Mikhail Sergachev and/or Brayden Point for Karlsson.Detroit Red WingsYes, the Red Wings could have jettisoned Mike Green, but GM Ken Holland made up for that in spades by dealing Tomas Tatar to the Vegas Golden Knights for three picks - a first-, a second-, and a third-rounder.Tatar's a skilled scorer who will no doubt boost the Golden Knights' offensive attack, but that's a huge return for a player who, despite some moderately productive seasons, has never topped 29 goals and who is still on the books for three more seasons at a cap hit of $5.3 million.LosersBuffalo SabresThe Sabres succeeded in trading Evander Kane before the deadline, but that's hardly an accomplishment worth lauding considering the disappointing return in the deal.Buffalo only managed to get a conditional 2019 first-round pick (which reportedly drops to a second-rounder if the pending UFA walks in free agency), a 2020 fourth-rounder, and 24-year-old prospect Daniel O'Regan.Just how bad was this for the Sabres? To put it in perspective, the Chicago Blackhawks essentially got more for Ryan Hartman and a fifth-round selection (a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder, and prospect Victor Ejdsell) than the Sabres received for Evander Kane.Vancouver CanucksJim Benning didn't get enough for Thomas Vanek, plain and simple.The Canucks GM failed to land a draft pick in his deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, settling on journeyman forward Jussi Jokinen and prospect Tyler Motte.

The Ottawa Senators plan to offer captain Erik Karlsson a contract extension if he remains with the team this season, GM Pierre Durion told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.While Karlsson is still in Ottawa following Monday's trade deadline, several teams were reportedly interested in acquiring the superstar blue-liner."Erik is a franchise player and we felt there was no franchise deal out there," Dorion told Garrioch.Karlsson can sign an extension with the Senators as early as July 1, but the possibility remains that the team could consider trade options prior to that day, potentially at the June draft.In 56 appearances this season, Karlsson has five goals and 37 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and forward Patric Hornqvist are "very close" to agreeing on a contract extension, general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday.The 31-year-old was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the deal is expected to keep Hornqvist in Pittsburgh for five more years with an average annual value of $5.3 million, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports."Over my career, I've done very few contracts in the middle of the year," Rutherford said following Monday's NHL trade deadline. "I think it says a lot about what Patric Hornqvist means to us to do this now... If everything goes well, the deal should be done tomorrow."The gritty, two-way forward has 17 goals and 32 points in 51 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Mike Reilly from the Minnesota Wild for a 2019 fifth-round pick, which was previously acquired from Washington.Reilly was drafted 98th overall in 2011 (fourth round), and has four goals and 14 assists in 84 career NHL games.He's spent the bulk of his professional playing days in the AHL, where he's averaged 0.52 points per game.His addition offsets the Canadiens dealing Joe Morrow to Winnipeg earlier in the day.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have sent defenseman Joe Morrow to the Winnipeg Jets for a fourth-round selection.Morrow had 11 points in 38 games with the Canadiens after signing with them July 1.The 25-year-old spent his first three NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.