Pekka Rinne hit a big milestone in a lopsided victory by the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.The veteran goaltender picked up the 300th win of his career as the Predators blew out the San Jose Sharks 7-1 on home ice, and he got emotional in the postgame interview after receiving an ovation from the crowd.

The New Jersey Devils acquired forward Michael Grabner from the New York Rangers on Thursday in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick and defenseman Yegor Rykov, the Rangers announced.The deal comes after Grabner and Rick Nash were both held out of the Rangers' lineup Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens as trade talks involving the two players intensified.In Grabner, the Devils add a forward with 25 goals and 31 points in 59 games this season. He also comes with a team-friendly cap hit of just $1.65 million.

Arizona Coyotes forward Zac Rinaldo could be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety once again.Rinaldo caught Calgary Flames forward Matt Stajan with a high hit in the first period of Thursday's game.

Auston Matthews didn't finish Thursday's shootout victory over the New York Islanders.The young Toronto Maple Leafs star left the contest in the final minutes after colliding awkwardly with Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck.Matthews went to the dressing room and did not return.The apparent injury occurred not long after Matthews scored the tying goal with about three-and-a-half minutes remaining in regulation.Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock didn't have an update on his leading scorer when asked about him postgame, stating the club would know more Friday morning, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Petr Mrazek was just one save shy of recording a shutout in his Philadelphia Flyers debut on Thursday night.The 26-year-old was perfect outside a perfectly placed wrist shot from Artemi Panarin, turning away 19 of the 20 shots he faced as the Flyers got by the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1.Mrazek was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings on Monday for two conditional draft picks, with netminders Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth currently out with injuries.With the win, the Flyers have now won four straight and have gone 8-0-2 in their last 10.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roberto Luongo gave a powerful speech before Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals, the first Florida Panthers home game since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, Fla.

New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall picked the corner on Minnesota Wild netminder Alex Stalock to push his point streak to 20 games on Thursday night.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has a concussion and will be out indefinitely, head coach Claude Julien said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.The news comes after Price missed practice on Wednesday when he began suffering from concussion symptoms, just one day removed from taking a shot to the head during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.On Wednesday, the team recalled goaltender Charlie Lindgren from the American Hockey League on an emergency basis.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers are making sure a couple of their potential trade commodities stay healthy through Thursday night's action.Rick Nash and Michael Grabner will be held out against the Montreal Canadiens, as first reported by the Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post.Trade talks for both forwards were "inching closer to completion," but a source told Cyrgalis that nothing seemed imminent just before game time.Grabner is a pending unrestricted free agent who's scored 25 goals in 59 games this season, and he carries a team-friendly $1.65-million cap hit.Action was reportedly picking up on the Grabner front Thursday, as TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported earlier in the day.Nash is also a pending UFA, but his cap hit is $7.8 million. The 33-year-old has 18 goals in 60 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman would like to give his club a boost heading into the postseason via a move at the trade deadline, but he's not willing to give up young roster players such as Brayden Point and Mikhail Sergachev to do so."At the trade deadline, when you're trying to acquire players, usually teams that are selling are looking for younger players, draft picks, and prospects," Yzerman said, according to Joe Smith of Tampa Bay Times. "At this stage, the young players on our team, we want to keep on our team and we want to add to that."We're trying to keep this team together with the hope of improving it."Further to that, Yzerman admits he'll only consider a move that makes sense for the club ahead of the deadline."I really don't want to just get a player or something at all costs," Yzerman said. "I don't believe in that. Obviously if we feel we can improve our team and it gives us a better chance to be more successful in the playoffs, that would be our goal."Of course, being just one point back in the Presidents' Trophy race means the Lightning would also be content with doing nothing at the deadline."If I can't improve the team, we'll go with the team we have," Yzerman said. "I'm good with that."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders and forward Josh Bailey appear close to agreeing on a multi-year extension, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.It's likely to be a five- or six-year deal with an average annual value around $5 million, according to McKenzie.Bailey is a pending unrestricted free agent in the final year of a five-year, $16.5-million pact he inked in the summer of 2013.He has already established career highs this season playing on John Tavares' wing, with 47 assists and 62 points in 57 games.Bailey was named an All-Star last month for the first time in his 10-year career, the entirety of which he's spent with the Islanders, who drafted him ninth overall in 2008.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jack Johnson saga took another interesting turn Thursday, as it was reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets have reached out to the lumbering rearguard's camp in hopes of rekindling contract-extension discussions, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.A franchise reaching out to a longstanding player in order to engage in contract talks is nothing out of the ordinary. But in Johnson's case, it's a bit peculiar given the reports surrounding his apparent trade demands from only one month ago.Since then, Johnson's name has been mentioned often in potential deals out of of Columbus, prompting head coach John Tortorella to insist that the defenseman wants to remain a Blue Jacket.The back and forth has now taken another turn, as Portzline reported that a dwindling trade market for Johnson has led to renewed interest in a contract extension from Columbus' side.Despite an up-and-down campaign in which Johnson has played a career-low 19:37 per game, the 31-year-old could potentially provide a playoff team with defensive stability for the stretch run.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers acquired forward Frank Vatrano on Thursday from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a third-round pick in 2018.Vatrano is interesting add for the Panthers, as the winger is currently on injured reserve with a lower-body issue and hasn't suited up for any game action since Feb. 6.Prior to getting hurt, the 23-year-old East Longmeadow, Mass., native had registered two goals in 25 games this season.As for the Bruins, the deal restocks their draft board for this summer, replacing the third-round pick they sent to the New York Rangers on Tuesday in the Nick Holden deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jarome Iginla is hoping for another kick at the can.Skating with the AHL's Providence Bruins for the second time this week, the 40-year-old said he's hopeful he can land another chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

If New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh is to be pried out of Broadway, one potential destination is Toronto, as the Maple Leafs are included on the list of teams he'd accept a trade to, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports.McDonagh is one of several Rangers rumored to be available as the club embarks on its path to a rebuild, and the Maple Leafs have a clear need to improve their blue line, before Monday's trade deadline.Besides the Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning are also one of the teams reportedly not on McDonagh's no-trade list, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.There's no word on New York's asking price, but a player of McDonagh's caliber would likely require numerous high-end assets. The 28-year-old has dealt with injuries this season, but has still managed 26 points in 49 games while averaging just under 24 minutes per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017-18 NHL season has been an absolute train wreck for the Edmonton Oilers. While there are many reasons as to why the Oilers have regressed so dramatically, the root of their struggles boils down to the team's inability to draft well.Yes, management has made some questionable free-agent signings and some god-awful trades, but poor drafting is at the core of all their problems. And unless the Oilers' brass improves in this area, it could very well waste away some of Connor McDavid's best years.For a team such as the Oilers, who, starting next season, will have two players (McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) with a combined cap hit of $21 million, having affordable, homegrown players constantly coming through the system is crucial for sustained success. Unfortunately for the Oilers, that hasn't been the case.Half of Edmonton's 10 homegrown players were drafted in the top 10, where the player taken is a near-lock to become an NHLer. However, the team's draft record outside of the top 10 - when it's no longer a given - is quite pitiful.Below is a list of the amount of homegrown players drafted outside the top 10 (undrafted free agents originally signed by team included) on each NHL roster, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights for obvious reasons (rosters as of Feb. 17):TeamHomegrown players outside top 10Red Wings18Kings16Bruins15Lightning14Predators13Capitals13Islanders13Senators13Jets12Ducks12Blackhawks12Blue Jackets12Penguins11Sharks11Panthers10Flames10Devils10Canadiens10Stars10Flyers9Hurricanes9Rangers9Blues9Canucks7Sabres7Maple Leafs6Oilers5Wild5Avalanche4Coyotes4The difference between a team like the Oilers and Maple Leafs, for example, is that Toronto has an abundance of prospects coming through the system. Their first-place AHL team is filled with homegrown talent in their early-20s ready for a chance in the NHL once a spot opens up. Meanwhile, the Oilers' AHL team is in 24th place, and led by mid-20s journeymen who, for the most part, don't have much of an NHL future.Here's a look at the five non-top 10 homegrown players on the Oilers' roster.PlayerDraftDrake Caggiula'16 undrafted FAAnton Slepyshev'13 3rd rd (88)Jujhar Khaira'12 3rd rd (63)Oscar Klefbom'11 1st rd (19)Brandon Davidson'10 6th rd (162)Even in a down season, Klefbom has still proven he's capable of being a top-four defenseman. Outside of him, this list is sad. Caggiula, Slepyshev, and Khaira are all early in their careers, but so far, they've left a lot to be desired. Davidson, meanwhile, is a seventh defenseman at best.The Oilers don't need to find future stars in the later rounds of the draft, they just need to find legitimate NHL players who can fill out their lineup. The Penguins and Blackhawks are prime examples of teams in the salary-cap era that have consistently been able to surround high-paid players with quality, homegrown talent on entry-level contracts.Why is this an issue for Edmonton? Well, instead of having a player groomed from within their own system and playing second-pairing minutes, the Oilers have had to go out and pay someone like Kris Russell $4 million per year. Even to a lesser extent, Edmonton's had to pay Mark Letestu $1.8 million per season to be a fourth-line center, instead of having its own prospect do it for the league minimum. It adds up, and every dollar counts.How the Oilers can fix this remains to be seen. An overhaul of the scouting staff? A new approach to drafting? Regardless, with few prospects coming through the pipeline, the Oilers will be hard-pressed to produce a consistent winner unless they fix this issue - no matter how great McDavid and Draisaitl become.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite announcing they were open for business almost two weeks ago, the New York Rangers haven't really made much noise on the trade market. But that might soon change, as more and more teams are taking a long, hard look at adding speedy forward Michael Grabner.Due to his cheap cap hit and seemingly low asking price, action has begun to pick up surrounding Grabner and a move out of the Big Apple, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Grabner would make a solid offensive-type add to any club looking to get deeper up front, as the veteran winger has put up back-to-back 25-plus goal seasons.He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will undergo surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot and has been consequently ruled out for the remainder of the 2017-18 season, the team announced Thursday.Weber hasn't played since Dec. 16."Following the diagnosis of Shea Weber's injury, it was our belief that after a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol under the guidance of our medical team, Shea would be able to return to play this season. Unfortunately, after extensive efforts to heal Shea's injury, progress has not been made as expected," said Canadiens orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Paul Martineau.Weber, 32, is in his second season with the Canadiens and is under contract until 2025-26 with an annual cap hit of $7.857 million. Before he was injured, he had recorded 16 points in 26 games on Montreal's top defensive pairing.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have signed goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a two-year contract, the team announced Thursday.The Coyotes acquired Kuemper from the Los Angeles Kings via trade Wednesday evening, in exchange for goalie Scott Wedgewood and forward Tobias Rieder.Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TSN's Bob McKenzie reports Kuemper will earn $1.85 million per season.In 19 appearances with the Kings this season, the 27-year-old has posted a record of 10-1-3 with a .932 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You name it, and Vegas will set odds for it.Such is the case for the major NHL trade-bait targets and their chances of being dealt before the deadline.All the usual suspects are included on the list of players, with set odds related to the likelihood of them playing for new teams come Monday. Those include New York Rangers forward Rick Nash and Montreal Canadiens pivot Tomas Plekanec, who are currently pegged as the most likely to be changing cities for the stretch run.Take a look at the odds Bodog has cooked up for the players it thinks are most likely to be on the move before Feb. 26:Player (Team)Odds will be tradedOdds won't be tradedAlex Galchenyuk (Canadiens)3/11/5Erik Karlsson (Senators)17/102/5Max Pacioretty (Canadiens)2/11/3Mike Hoffman (Senators)3/21/2Patrick Maroon (Oilers)3/21/2Rick Nash (Rangers)5/71/1Thomas Vanek (Canucks)11/102/3Tomas Plekanec (Canadiens)5/71/1Hedge your bets accordingly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Poile, the man responsible for building the deepest defensive corps in the NHL, has apparently looked into adding the game's most electrifying blue-liner. The Nashville Predators general manager reportedly "chatted" with the Ottawa Senators about acquiring defenseman Erik Karlsson, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.While the likelihood of a potential deal is unclear, the thought of adding Karlsson to a group that already includes P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis - although one of them could possibly go back the other way - is a terrifying proposition for the rest of the league.Poile has a history of pulling off blockbuster deals involving defenseman, as he swapped Shea Weber for Subban and dealt Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen. Still, prying Karlsson from the Senators, particularly before Monday's trade deadline, would be his biggest yet.After missing the first chunk of the season while recovering from foot surgery, Karlsson, a four-time All-Star and two-time Norris Trophy winner, has recorded 41 points in 54 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The price to land Erik Karlsson would undoubtedly be a steep one, but several teams are well equipped and well positioned to make reasonable pitches to the Ottawa Senators.Karlsson is once again in the spotlight with Monday's trade deadline approaching, as the Senators have reportedly been engaged in trade dialogue about the superstar defenseman with more than six NHL clubs.Teams would need to meet several criteria for a deal to make sense. They would need enough cap space to absorb Karlsson's $6.5-million cap hit this season and next, they'd need to possess elite prospects or young players already at the NHL level, and they would presumably be win-now teams.Here are three teams that have the cap space, assets, and incentive to put together a package significant enough for Ottawa to consider parting with Karlsson before the deadline:Tampa Bay LightningProjected deadline cap space: $9.7 millionSenators receiveLightning receiveD Mikhail SergachevD Erik KarlssonF Tyler JohnsonF Taylor Raddysh1st-round pick (2018)1st-round pick (2019)Why it works for the Lightning: Parting with Sergachev less than a year after landing him in the Jonathan Drouin trade wouldn't be ideal for Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman, but if it means landing Karlsson, it would be worth it.Adding Karlsson would turn arguably the league's best team into even more of a juggernaut, and pairing him with Victor Hedman would almost be unfair to the rest of the NHL.The Lightning's forward depth would make jettisoning Johnson and promising prospect Raddysh bearable, and two late first-round picks would simply be the cost of doing business, considering what the Bolts would get back.They have space to accommodate Karlsson's contract, and if the opportunity to sign the all-world defenseman to a mega-extension were to present itself on July 1, few NHL GMs are better than Yzerman at maneuvering under the cap to secure the club's core.Why it works for the Senators: If you're going to give up arguably the game's best offensive defenseman, you should be getting a top defensive prospect or an NHL-ready rearguard with a high ceiling, and that describes Sergachev to a tee.Few other teams have the assets to compete with what the Lightning can offer. If Ottawa does decide trading Karlsson is the right move, the possibility of getting Sergachev, a dependable forward with years of NHL experience in Johnson, another enticing prospect in Raddysh, and two first-round selections would be an offer worth considering for Senators GM Pierre Dorion.Johnson is under contract until 2023-24, but he's a proven offensive contributor who's being trusted with top-line minutes alongside Steven Stamkos and getting power-play time, while Raddysh is excelling with the OHL's Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, entering Wednesday with 27 points in 17 games. - Josh Gold-SmithVegas Golden KnightsProjected deadline cap space: $36.2 millionSenators receiveGolden Knights receive1st-round pick (2018)D Erik Karlsson1st-round pick (2019)F Bobby Ryan2nd-round pick (2018)F Nick SuzukiF Alex TuchWhy it works for the Golden Knights: In the spirit of Sin City, Vegas should go all in heading into the postseason and adding Karlsson would be just that.The key to this deal is that Vegas is one of the few clubs that can fit both Karlsson and Ryan into the picture, which would help bring the asking price for Karlsson down.Related - Report: Sens could discount Karlsson if team is willing to take Bobby RyanTwo first-round picks, a second, Suzuki, and Tuch is a high ask and the argument could be made that Vegas would be sacrificing a lot of their future. However, the counter to that is Vegas is so close to a Cup and nothing is ever certain so you have to go for it when you have the chance.Why it works for the Senators: The Senators' return is obvious in its enticement: three draft picks (including two firsts), a potentially elite producer in Suzuki, a budding star in Tuch, and they get Ryan off the books.The draft picks are key for the Senators, especially since the club traded their first-rounder in this year's draft to Colorado Avalanche in the Matt Duchene deal, with the condition that if it's a top-10 pick, the Senators will retain the pick and the Avalanche will receive the team's 2019 first-rounder.Suzuki is a dynamic center who can transition to the wing if needed, while Tuch is a 2014 first-round pick who's shown great offensive upside in his rookie season.Finally, getting Ryan off the books frees up $7.25 million in cap space, providing flexibility to make a move in free agency and rebuild quickly on the fly. - Craig HagermanNashville PredatorsProjected deadline cap space: $14.9 millionSenators receivePredators receiveD Ryan EllisD Erik KarlssonF Eeli TolvanenF Pontus Aberg1st-round pick (2018)2nd-round pick (2019)Why it works for the Predators: Do the Predators need a defenseman? No. But Karlsson would not only give them forward-like production from the back end, but he'd help them form what could legitimately be considered the best defense corps of all time.Ellis will demand a raise from his $2.5 million AAV when his contract is up after next season. The upgrade from Ellis to Karlsson would be well worth the proposed cost. With Scott Hartnell and Alexei Emelin as their only pending UFAs, the Preds are well equipped to make a Stanley Cup run not only this year, but next as well.Why it works for the Senators: Ellis would give the Senators an NHL-ready replacement for Karlsson, albeit a significant downgrade. At 27, he still has plenty of good years ahead of him and would be much easier than Karlsson to sign long-term after next season.Tolvanen is a blue-chip, can't-miss prospect. Drafted 30th overall in 2017, the Finn has 17 goals and 17 assists in 47 KHL games this year - outstanding numbers for a teenager. Aberg, 24, has shown flashes of brilliance, put up great numbers in the AHL, and seemingly just needs a chance to play top-six minutes - something he isn't getting in Nashville. - Josh Wegman(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

Alex Tuch made history of his own before his team did as a whole.The Vegas Golden Knights forward picked up the first Gordie Howe hat trick in club history with a goal, an assist, and a fight in a 7-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.Tuch scored in the second period, picked up a helper on Luca Sbisa's marker early in the third, then fought Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic midway through the final frame.With the victory, the Golden Knights set the NHL record for most points in the standings earned by an expansion team.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights made more history Wednesday night, securing the most points in a single season by an NHL expansion franchise with a 7-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.They now have 84 points and continue to sit atop the Pacific Division with a 40-16-4 record.The Golden Knights broke the previous mark set by the 1993-94 Florida Panthers, who finished with 83 points and a 33-34-17 record.Vegas also won its 23rd game at T-Mobile Arena, establishing a new league record for most home victories in a team's inaugural season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A milestone night was also a victorious one for Joel Quenneville.The Chicago Blackhawks head coach guided his club to a 3-2 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, coming out on top in his 1,600th career game coached in the NHL.Quenneville became only the third head coach to reach that mark, and he's now only seven games from tying legendary former New York Islanders bench boss Al Arbour for second on the all-time list.Scotty Bowman holds the records for games coached (2,141) and wins (1,244). Quenneville picked up his 877th victory Wednesday and remains in second place all time in career coaching victories.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The bus carrying the Ottawa Senators to the United Center ahead of their clash with the Chicago Blackhawks was involved in a minor collision Wednesday.There was no damage to the team vehicle and players and coaches were transferred to the rink in a second bus, according to TSN 1200.The bus involved in the collision had to remain on scene until police arrived.For head coach Guy Boucher, this marked the third time he's been involved in a bus accident. The other two other incidents occurred when he was in junior, he told Sportsnet's Christine Simpson.No players were hurt, Boucher said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes reportedly remain intent on re-signing goaltender Antti Raanta, according to Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan, despite the fact that they just traded for Los Angeles Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper and apparently signed him to a two-year, $3.7-million extension.Coyotes general manager John Chayka chimed in on the potential of a Kuemper-Raanta duo after Wednesday's trade.

The Los Angeles Kings have traded goaltender Darcy Kuemper to the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday for forward Tobias Rieder and netminder Scott Wedgewood.Arizona is subsequently signing Kuemper to a two-year, $3.7-million contract extension, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports. He was a pending unrestricted free agent who'll carry a cap hit of $650,000 before his new deal kicks in.Kuemper excelled in a backup role with the Kings, posting a .932 save percentage and a 10-1-3 record in 19 appearances.The Coyotes are retaining 15 percent of Rieder's salary in the trade, according to McKenzie. The German winger has eight goals and 19 points in 58 games this season.He's a pending restricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $2.225 million.Wedgewood has a cap hit of $650,000, and he's also a pending RFA.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will not play Thursday against the New York Rangers, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie.The news comes after Price missed practice to undergo treatment a day after taking a shot to the head during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.The team on Wednesday recalled netminder Charlie Lindgren from the Laval Rocket of the AHL on an emergency basis.Price has gone 15-22-6 this season with a 2.98 GAA and a .904 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have reportedly let it be known that superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson's price in a potential trade could be discounted if their trade partner takes forward Bobby Ryan as part of the deal, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Related: Report: Senators open to trading Karlsson ahead of deadlineRyan comes with an annual cap hit of $7.25 million through the 2021-22 campaign - his age-34 season.To say Ryan has been a disappointment since coming over to Ottawa from Anaheim in the 2013 offseason would be an understatement. His play has declined further over the past two seasons, as he's collected just 20 goals and 25 assists in 101 games.The Senators are reportedly aware that including Ryan would reduce the quality of the package they would receive in a potential Karlsson trade, but getting out from under his contract would help the small-market team in a potential rebuild.By no means does a possible Karlsson blockbuster have to include Ryan, McKenzie reports, and the Sens aren't interested in moving Karlsson simply as an avenue to dump the forward's contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson's time as a member of the Ottawa Senators could be near an end, as the team is reportedly open to the idea of trading the captain ahead of the deadline, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie."The reality is Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has been, and still is, engaged in some level of trade dialogue for Karlsson with multiple NHL teams, certainly more than a half-dozen," wrote McKenzie.McKenzie notes that to the best of his knowledge, the team has not received any formal offers for Karlsson, and in conversations about him, Dorion has laid out the defenseman's potential price.That asking price is reportedly between five and seven pieces, a package that McKenzie says would include "some combination of good, young roster players, top prospects, and first-round picks."The Senators have reportedly also informed teams that landing Karlsson would require fewer notable pieces if their trade partner took on Bobby Ryan's contract as well.A deal for Karlsson would be more than just a rental, as the two-time Norris Trophy winner is under contract through next season at a cap hit of $6.5 million.The 27-year-old is having a down year by his standards, with five goals and 41 points in 53 games this season, but still sits tied for seventh in scoring among all defensemen - and second in scoring for Ottawa, behind forward Mark Stone.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings are poised to welcome back one of their best scorers in the near future, as forward Jeff Carter has been cleared to return to practice, the team announced Wednesday.Carter has played in just six games this season. He's been sidelined since Oct. 18, when he was clipped by a skate and suffered tendon damage in his ankle. The injury ultimately required surgery.The 33-year-old recorded just three assists before being sidelined, but led the Kings with 66 points last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators appear set to add an Olympic standout to the roster.Fresh off an impressive showing for Finland in PyeongChang, highly touted prospect Eeli Tolvanen can expect to hear from the NHL club in short order, assistant general manager Paul Fenton told The Athletic's Craig Custance."We’ll have a contract in place to be able to execute and have him come over here," Fenton said Wednesday. "That’s the plan. Funnier things have happened. I don’t want to say 100 percent. I never do that in our business. Yes, our plan is to have him."Tolvanen was selected 30th overall by the Predators in 2017 and has recorded three goals and six assists in five games at the Olympics, where Finland lost to Canada in the quarterfinal round.He also recently played for Finland at the World Junior Hockey Championship and has registered 17 goals and 17 assists for KHL club Jokerit this season, his first as a pro.Expect Tolvanen to sign his entry-level contract soon and possibly help the Predators on a Stanley Cup run after a loss in the Final a year ago.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher expects winger Bobby Ryan to be in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to TSN's Brent Wallace.Ryan has been sidelined for almost three weeks with a hand injury, the latest in a string of similar issues in recent years.In 39 games this season, Ryan has recorded seven goals - one of which came in the game during which he was injured - as well as 13 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider has been medically cleared to play after a blood clot was discovered in his right arm in December, head coach Alain Vigneault announced Wednesday.Kreider also underwent surgery to have a rib resected since he's been sidelined, and while he won't travel with the Rangers on their current road trip, Vigneault said he could return to the lineup Friday or Sunday at home.The 26-year-old hasn't played since Dec. 27, and will rejoin a Rangers squad that's fallen out of playoff contention and into firesale mode ahead of Monday's trade deadline.In 37 games this season, Kreider's recorded 11 goals and 11 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Jakub Jerabek to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2019, the team announced.The deal marks the second time this week the Capitals have dipped into the blue line market, as they acquired Michal Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-rounder on Monday.In 25 games this season, Jerabek, 26, has recorded one goal and three assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gabriel Dumont is back in Tampa Bay.The Lightning claimed the 27-year-old winger off the waiver wire Wednesday, the team announced.Dumont was waived Tuesday by the Ottawa Senators, who had claimed him off waivers from the Lightning on Nov. 22.In 23 games with Ottawa, he recorded one goal and one assist after failing to record a point in seven appearances for the Lightning earlier this season.Dumont has been assigned to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Petr Mrazek may have been the first domino to fall in Detroit.With his team set to miss the playoffs for the second straight year, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is looking to restock the cupboards with draft picks and prospects with a view to the next wave of success."I want us to be a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup," Holland said Tuesday, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "We are not quite where we need to be. In order to be there, we need to acquire draft picks, and we need to hit on those draft picks, or young players through trades. It’s about trying to acquire pieces that I think are going to impact this team three, four years down the road in order to build a team that’s a playoff team that’s got a young foundation. That’s the goal."I’m open for business," he added, "(but) I also believe that’s important to have team that’s competitive."After dealing Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Red Wings now have seven draft picks in the first four rounds this year, and another seven from rounds one to five in 2019.Defenseman Mike Green is in the final year of his contract and is a logical candidate to be dealt prior to the Feb. 26 deadline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a disappointing result for his native Sweden, Erik Karlsson has a backup plan.The Swedes were upset by Germany 4-3 in Olympic quarter-final action on Wednesday, dashing the country's medal hopes after it earned the top seed in the preliminaries. Alas, the Senators defenseman will now be pulling for the country he's called home for the last nine NHL seasons.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, there's uncertainty in Toronto as to whether forward James van Riemsdyk will remain with the Maple Leafs for the balance of the regular season and into the playoffs.The 28-year-old winger can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and the Leafs have to decide whether to flip him prior to the deadline or hold on and allow him to hit the open market in the offseason.For head coach Mike Babcock, the situation isn't cut and dry."I don't think anything is an easy decision," Babcock said Tuesday after a 1-0 win over Florida in which van Riemsdyk scored the lone goal. "We've talked about this a bunch, you always have this plan but your plan can always change."It depends on what people want. There's lots of times you're going through and not planning on doing anything and you end up doing something. We don't really know, in the end, what's available and what we could pursue either."The game-winner gave Van Riemsdyk 25 goals, putting him on pace for a new career high. He's averaging only 14:35 of ice time, though, his lowest as a Maple Leaf. On top of that, Toronto is allowing 34.2 shots per game, and could certainly use help on the blue line.At the end of the day, Babcock believes general manager Lou Lamoriello will do whatever he deems to be in the best interest of winning."The way I look at it is, instead of worrying about that stuff, you just keep playing good and give ourselves the best opportunity," he said. "Then, whatever is best for our team, Lou will do."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie recorded five points Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks - enough to set a franchise record for most points in a regular-season game by a defenseman.Risto Siltanen is the only other player in franchise history to record five points in a game, as he did so for the Quebec Nordiques in a playoff game against the Hartford Whalers in 1987.Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock recorded five points in a game earlier this season, and the feat was twice done in 2015, but prior to that, the five-point mark hadn't been reached by a blue-liner since 2009.The Avs were victorious 5-4 in the contest, as Barrie assisted on Nathan MacKinnon's overtime blast.All five of Barrie's points came with the man advantage. The Avs scored five power-play goals for the first time since 1992, according to NHL PR.Barrie now has 36 points in 45 games in another productive offensive season for the 26-year-old blue-liner.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche played a goal-free opening 20 minutes on Tuesday night.Then, the floodgates opened.When the buzzer sounded to end the second period, the Canucks led the Avalanche 4-3.The clubs erupted for those seven goals in a span of less than 19 minutes, beginning with Canucks winger Darren Archibald's marker 34 seconds into the frame and ending with Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog's power-play goal with 37 seconds remaining in the period.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the San Jose Sharks signed Mikkel Boedker to a four-year, $16-million contract on July 1, 2016, they probably expected the 50-point player he had become during his time with the Arizona Coyotes.If those were indeed the expectations, then last season's 26-point campaign would have been conceived as a huge disappointment. Through the first 48 games of this season, it seemed like much of the same for the 28-year-old, as he collected a measly 17 points.However, in his last four games, Boedker has seemingly busted out of his year-and-a-half-long slump, scoring five goals and adding two assists during that span, including a tally and a helper in the Sharks' 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.Whether this is just a fluky hot streak, or a player finally starting to meet expectations remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - it couldn't have happened at a better time.With Joe Thornton still sidelined, the Sharks need all the offense they can get. Thanks to a 5-1-0 record in their last six games, they remain ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in a competitive Pacific Division, and Boedker's recent play is a big reason why.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The more shots Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen receives, the better he plays - and it isn't even close.Andersen stopped all 40 shots he faced Tuesday night in a 1-0 win over again the Florida Panthers, further improving his numbers this season when facing 40-plus pucks directed at him:40+ shotsStat< 40 shots7-0-2Rec.23-16-21.89GA/G2.87.959SV%.9122SO3Is it crazy to think that the Leafs might be better off if they allow their opponents to take more shots from the outside?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price moved into second place on the franchise's all-time games played list by a goaltender, surpassing the legendary Patrick Roy with his 552nd appearance Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, per NHL Public Relations.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt forward Eric Fehr to the San Jose Sharks for a seventh-round selection in 2020.Fehr played only four games with the Leafs this season and appeared in just one with Toronto in 2016-17 after being traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal for defenseman Frank Corrado last March.San Jose was looking for a fourth-line center before making the deal, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Fehr notched 17 goals and 28 points in 34 games this season with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. The Leafs loaned him to the organization back in November.It was a cost-cutting move for Toronto, which reduced its long-term injured-reserve spending by $975,000, while increasing its accessible salary pool cap space to nearly $6.5 million ahead of the trade deadline, according to CapFriendly.It also freed up a contract slot for the Leafs, who now stand at 48, two under the limit.Fehr scored three goals for the Penguins during their 23-game run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The men's hockey tournament at PyeongChang 2018 has reached the quarter-final stage, and with that in mind, we rank the top eight remaining players to keep an eye on as the games become much more meaningful.8. Viktor Fasth - SwedenThe top-seeded Swedes have had the luxury of impeccable goaltending thus far, as former Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Viktor Fasth has surrendered just one goal in two starts, equaling a .972 save percentage.7. Linus Omark - SwedenA once-promising NHL prospect who entered the league to a ton of fanfare due to his flashy shooutout moves, Omark is having himself a strong tournament for the Tre Kronor. Omark leads the Swedes in points with five assists in three games.6. Derek Roy - CanadaThe catalyst for most of Canada's offense, Roy's notched five assists in three contests as the team's top center. He also leads all Canadian forwards in ice time, logging 19:29 per game.5. Kirill Kaprizov - OARPlaying on a team stacked with talent up front, Kaprizov has already had a strong offensive showing at PyeongChang 2018. He sits tied for the tournament lead in goals with Ryan Donato and teammate Ilya Kovalchuk at four. Don't be shocked if the Minnesota Wild's fifth-round pick is playing in North America, sooner rather than later.4. Ryan Donato - USAThe NCAA's most dangerous goal-scorer has continued his run of dominance in South Korea, netting four goals and one assist for the United States so far. His tallies are tied for the tournament lead, and his opening goal versus Slovakia in a must-win game injected life into a team struggling to find any answers.3. Sami Lepisto - FinlandA staple on blue lines throughout the KHL since leaving the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012, Lepisto has been rock-solid for the Finns this tournament. Logging 21:49 in ice time per game, no one has been on the ice more for Finland at PyeongChang 2018. The former Washington Capitals third-round selection has also chipped in offensively, notching two goals and three assists.2. Ilya Kovalchuk - OARIf Kovalchuk is using this tournament as a showcase for a potential return to the NHL, he's started with a bang. The Russian sniper put forth a dominant two-goal performance in a win over Team USA, and ranks third in the tournament with five points in three games.1. Eeli Tolvanen - FinlandTolvanen has been nothing short of sensation so far for the Finns, pacing the tournament with nine points (three goals and six assists) in four games. Speed, a strong shot, and slick hands, Tolvanen already can do it all at only 18 years old. The Nashville Predators' 2017 first-round selection is making a strong case to be playing NHL hockey in the near future.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just when it seemed things couldn't get worse for the nosediving Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Tuesday defenseman Jake McCabe will undergo shoulder surgery and miss the next four-to-six months.McCabe was placed on injured reserve Feb. 11 after undergoing surgery to repair a thumb injury suffered while blocking a shot, but his most recent ailment is of the shoulder variety.In 53 games this season, he registered three goals and nine assists in 19:30 of ice time per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.