Editor's note: This post is written in jestBruce Boudreau will not forget.The Minnesota Wild head coach saw his Central Division crash out of the All-Star tournament in L.A. after a 10-3 whipping at the hands of the Pacific, and his contingent of Chicago Blackhawks are to blame.Check out the horrific possession numbers of Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Jonathan Toews - three of the 100 greatest players in NHL history - from the 20-minute affair played at 3-on-3:Player Corsi ForKane23.81%Keith20%Toews23.81%The three Blackhawks were the worst possession players on the Central. They simply did not show up Sunday.After 10 minutes, Boudreau told Sportsnet's David Amber during a broadcast interview that he wasn't happy, and he questioned his team's effort. He was clearly talking about his players representing Chicago.

Hometown heroes Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty both scored, as did Connor McDavid and Brent Burns, as the Pacific Division thumped the Central Division 10-3 in the NHL All-Star tournament semifinal Sunday.Cam Fowler led the way with four points and Johnny Gaudreau paced all scorers with a pair of markers in the victory, which ensured the Pacific Division squad a spot in the championship final against either the Metropolitan or Atlantic Division.McDavid scored his first All-Star goal in highlight-reel fashion as the Pacific Division put five past Central Division goaltender Corey Crawford in the opening frame.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If it was up to the players, there'd be no doubt: They'd be playing in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang.While the NHL's Gary Bettman and Bill Daly said Saturday that its status quo on NHL participation front - which means it's less and less likely the league will participate - players re-affirmed their desire to want to attend throughout All-Star weekend."Well, personally I would love to go again," Canadian forward John Tavares said, according to the Canadian Press' Jonas Siegel. "Certainly I think big-picture there's obviously a lot of challenges to it. But at the end of the day I think we as players love representing our countries and best-on-best hockey doesn't happen very often. Those are things I think you can really enjoy as a player and appreciate."Ditto Russia goalie Sergei Bobrovsky."I would love to go there (again)," he said. "It's great to be part of it, too. To represent your country it's a huge honor."Last year, Bobrovsky's countryman Alex Ovechkin said regardless of whether the NHL's going, he'll be in South Korea next year.It comes down to money. The NHL wants the International Ice Hockey Federation to pick up the tab."We said from the outset that if (the IIHF is) not going to pay the expenses we don't even have to think about this," Bettman said Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL just wants Chris Pronger to say "Sorry."Department of Player Safety group vice president Damian Echevarrieta joined in marveling at the viral photo captivating the hockey world Sunday, "announcing" the longtime defenseman will face the music for his hit from behind on pop star Justin Bieber in Saturday's All-Star Celebrity Shootout.

Reinforcements are on the way.The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled goaltender Eddie Lack from an AHL conditioning stint as regular-season play gets set to resume Tuesday. Lack, who has missed 26 of 30 NHL games this season due to concussion, allowed three goals in 120 minutes of play with the Charlotte Checkers, posting a 1-1-0 record and a .952 save percentage.Lack's return comes with the Hurricanes mired in a five-game losing streak and in danger of falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Carolina sits seven points back of Philadelphia for the second wild-card spot with two games in hand and several other teams standing in the way.Improved goaltending would give this team a much better chance of making up that difference. In five-on-five play, the Hurricanes rank fourth in the NHL with a Corsi rating of 52.02. Their team save percentage, however, ranks dead last at 90.29. Carolina, then, is carrying play and regularly recording more shot attempts than the opposition, but is being done in by poor performances in the crease.General manager Ron Francis has assembled a wealth of talent both up front and on the blue line, and has also hitched his wagon to both Lack and Cam Ward for the balance of this season and next.The former's tenure with the club has been bumpy at best, but the hope is he can find the kind of form displayed with Vancouver, where he posted a .917 save percentage in 82 games.Ward will likely carry the lion's share of the starts right out of the All-Star break, and Lack will need to pick up the slack when called upon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Wisniewski has returned to North America after having signed a standard player contract with the AHL's Chicago Wolves."We are excited to have James as part of the Wolves organization," said general manager Wendell Young. "He brings a wealth of experience and skill to our team. He will be a great enhancement for an already outstanding group."The 32-year-old began this season playing for the KHL's Vladivostok Admirals after being released from a pro tryout with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in training camp. In 16 games in Russia, Wisniewski scored one goal and added three assists.The Wolves serve as the minor-league affiliate for the St. Louis Blues, but the contract is AHL only. An impressive showing could lead Wisniewski back to the NHL at some point, however.Wisniewski previously appeared in 552 NHL games, recording 53 goals and 221 assists for 274 points with Anaheim, Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Montreal and the New York Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL All-Star 3-on-3 Tournament

New York Islanders captain John Tavares said Saturday he's willing to discuss an extension with the club as soon as he's allowed to: July 1.Now, this is hardly news.Tavares, scheduled for unrestricted free agency following the 2017-18 season, has said repeatedly he intends on staying in Long Island - er, Brooklyn - for the long haul, and a player discussing his contract situation, is, well, what players with expiring contracts do.If Tavares makes it to the Summer of 2018 without signing an extension, he'll easily be the biggest free agent of the season. So, that begs the question: should he stay or should he go?The pros and cons are weighed below:It's his teamFrom the moment he was drafted first overall in 2009, Tavares has been the face of the franchise.He's led the club in scoring all but one season of his career, when a knee injury suffered at the Olympics in 2014 limited him to 59 games.Tavares has put the club on his back time after time, reaching the playoffs on three separate occasions, in which he's scored 22 points in 24 games. His defining moment coming a year ago on his double-overtime winner to eliminate the Panthers and give New York its first series win in 23 years.The 26-year-old has displayed unrelenting loyalty time and time again to the only NHL club he's ever known, even after an arduous move to Brooklyn, a new ownership team, and numerous questionable management decisions.Tavares' commitment to his organization is beyond admirable, and he's done nothing to show he wants to leave, but should he?Is the feeling mutual?Despite Tavares' will to bring glory back to a once storied franchise, from the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like the Islanders have done much to insist their captain stays put.General manager Garth Snow has frequently let offensive talent walk away from the club, including Tavares' former linemates Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Moulson.Beyond personnel decisions, the Barclay's Center - which the Islanders hope to leave the same year the captain's contract expires - averages the third-fewest fans in the league, and has been scrutinized for faulty ice conditions.Show me the moneyThere's no question Tavares is due a raise from his current bargain of $5.5 million annually. Since 2012-13 only seven skaters have more points than Tavares' 309.A la Steven Stamkos last offseason, Tavares will assuredly be linked to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, but it will be far from a two team race if it comes to that. Talents like Tavares don't hit the market very often.Snow has work to do to fit Tavares into the Islanders' books, and when the time comes, moves such as awarding role players Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizakas a combined $6.85M through 2021 might handcuff the 10-year GM in rewarding his best player, who's new salary will be well north of $8 million.Good luck, JohnnyIt's an alienating debate that claims athlete after athlete, year after year across all sports: loyalty to the organization or money and a fresh start? Even if Tavares and the Islanders begin negotiations right away, speculation of what the future holds will grow with each passing day.This season's stretch run, and the future of the head coaching position are currently at the forefront of the Islanders' focus, but come July 1, all eyes will shift to No. 91.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson enters Sunday's All-Star Game in Los Angeles with a bit of a cold stick.The offensively gifted defenseman has failed to hit the back of the net in each of the Ottawa Senators' past 20 games dating back to Dec. 7 in nearby San Jose.Perhaps the California sun and, more importantly, the three-on-three All-Star format can help Karlsson find his scoring touch, but either way, he doesn't seem all that concerned about being stuck on seven goals through 47 games this season so long as his team continues to impress."I’ve been around long enough to know things like this are going to happen," Karlsson said, per Don Brennan of the Ottawa Citizen. "I haven’t been needing to score that many goals in order for us to win. At the end of the day, that’s the thing you can’t take away from it. Still trying out there, but we’ve been playing good hockey. Guys have been stepping up. We’ve been getting a lot of creativity and goal-scoring from different guys. Obviously that’s huge for us."Senators head coach Guy Boucher echoes the sentiment."Every game he’s so menacing, it’s not an issue. And the team is winning," Boucher said. "That’s the thing with Erik. At the beginning of the year when we talked, he says, 'Coach, I don’t care about my points. I just want to win. I’m at the point in my career, I want to win.'"For him, it’s all about winning. Big smile after every game. Goal, point, no point, it made no difference. He’s been unbelievable for that. But he is pushing hard, because he wants to make a difference. He’s a top gun, and that’s what top guns do. And he’s got character, so it’ll happen."What's more concerning, perhaps, is that Karlsson's shot rate has been dropping consistently over the past two seasons after he recorded a career-high 21 goals in 2014-15.SeasonGamesGoalsShotsShots/GP2014-1582212923.62015-16821624832016-174771082.3His shooting percentage (6.5) sits at half a percent lower than his career average (7.0), meaning a barrage of shots on net down the stretch could bring him on pace for the 15-20 goal range.The Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division at the break, but rank 11th in the Eastern Conference with 127 goals. A bump from Karlsson would go a long way to securing a playoff spot.Fire away in L.A.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Absolutely no one will be surprised if one of the usual suspects emerges from Sunday's All-Star Game in Los Angeles as the Most Valuable Player.While there's no John Scott to jump from way off the radar to steal the honor from Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, or Alex Ovechkin (to name a few), there are some underdogs capable of shining brightest among some of the very best in the game.Here are three in particular to watch out for.Cam AtkinsonTied for second in goals heading into the break, Cam Atkinson may have something to prove.

Barclays Center does not appear to be a long-term solution for the New York Islanders.Speaking Saturday at his annual All-Star weekend press conference, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman admitted the arena isn't equipped to create optimal ice conditions, and new team owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky are considering a move elsewhere in the New York area.

Mike Smith is committed to the Arizona Coyotes.The All-Star goalie hasn't thought about potentially waiving his no-trade clause, adding he's happy in the desert and sees himself as an active part in turning things around for the 29th-place club."Obviously, everyone wants to be in a position to win and get in the playoffs and be a competitive team and that’s no different for me," Smith told Sarah McLellan of azcentral.com. "I think I want to be in a position to have a chance to win before my career’s over, but I feel like this is moving in the right direction. Things can turn around fairly quickly here. I want to be a big part of that."To sign a long-term deal at that time with young kids, to be in one place for a longer period of time and to call a place home, I think was as important as believing in what we were doing here," he continued. "I don’t regret that for a second. I think it set me up to play a lot of games."General manager John Chayka acknowledged that teams haven't been calling to assess Smith's availability due to a belief that there isn't much point in inquiring rather than a lack of interest."We’re trying to grow, and he’s a key cog of that growth for us," Chayka said.Smith, 34, remains under contract with the Coyotes until the end of the 2018-19 season at a salary cap hit of $5.67 million. While he's not racking up wins with the Coyotes, he has posted a solid .917 save percentage, no small feat on a team that low in the standings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the painfully dull Skills Competition left you yearning for any bit of excitement out of Los Angeles this weekend, don't worry, the Metropolitan Division's 3-on-3 roster will save you.Why, you ask? Mainly because the two greatest players of a generation will be playing alongside each other.Yes that's right, fans will be treated to Sidney Crosby - one of the finest point producers we've ever seen - and Alex Ovechkin - the purest scorer the game has to offer - on the same team, at last, with extra ice at their disposal.Pitted against each other as "rivals" in both the NHL and on the international scale, Sid the Kid and Ovi are looking forward to joining forces."Obviously it's going to be fun," Ovechkin told Lisa Dillman of NHL.com."Listen, I've seen him enough," Crosby said. "And I see the way he shoots the puck, so you've got to make sure you find him anywhere over the blue line and it's got a chance to go in. It's tough playing against him, but you try to take advantage of playing with him."The duo has overwhelming potential to dominate the tournament, and hopefully head coach - and fellow NHL 100 member - Wayne Gretzky keeps the two side by side all day long.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After his broadcast spot with Hockey Night in Canada at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, P.K. Subban's post-playing career in television was hot topic in online circles.But based on the manner he commanded Drew Doughty's postgame scrum, perhaps his talents would be best served on a beat?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another All-Star Skills Competition has come and gone, thankfully.Related: Atlantic wins Skills Competition, will face Metro in 2nd ASG semifinalThe NHL's top players were out in full force Saturday night, and while they did their best to power through a collection of skill-testing events, the fact is this year's edition was dry, dull, and provided few memorable moments.

The NHL All-Star Skills Competition wasn't without controversy, as many felt speed demon Connor McDavid wasn't given a fair shake in his chance to break Dylan Larkin's fastest skater record.McDavid, still catching his breath from his blazing head-to-head run versus Nathan MacKinnon, was forbidden to take the running start Larkin used to set his record lap around the rink last year.From a dead stop, McDavid broke the threshold at 13.310 seconds - or 0.138 seconds behind Larkin.The title holder addressed the controversy on social media, issuing a challenge to No. 97.

Atlantic 4 | Pacific 1Skills Challenge Relay | Four Line Challenge | Accuracy Shooting | Fastest Skater | Hardest Shot | ShootoutWe're set for Sunday's 3-on-3 All-Star tournament.The Atlantic Division won the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday night. It opted to face the Metropolitan Division in the second semifinal Sunday, after defeating the Pacific Division in the Shootout, the competition's final event.The Pacific and Central divisions will kick off the 3-on-3 festivities:Game Teams TimeSemifinal 1Central vs. Pacific3 p.m. ETSemifinal 2Metropolitan vs. Atlantic4:30 p.m. ETThe winners of each semifinal will battle for All-Star supremacy.On Saturday, the Atlantic advanced to the final event of the Skills Competition after Shea Weber won the Hardest Shot challenge, giving his division the tiebreaker over the Metro. Here were the results after five events:Pacific 6 | Atlantic 5* | Metro 5 | Central 2Here's a rundown of each event:ShootoutWinner: Atlantic DivisionOnly four of 20 shooters were able to find the back of the net in the shootout as the scoreboard reset for the final event between the Atlantic and Pacific divisions - and one of them was 6 years old.Brad Marchand, Shea Weber, and Sidney Crosby - as a captain's selection from the Metro, his goal worth two points - scored for the Atlantic, giving the division four points, and Saturday's Skills Competition victory.Ryker Kesler, Anaheim Ducks center Ryan's son, was the only member of the Pacific Division to beat an Atlantic goalie, going five-hole on Carey Price, who graciously allowed the youngster to score. Other than that, Price and Tuukka Rask were perfect.Watch: Ryker Kesler goes 5-hole on PriceThe shootout's results:Atlantic Shooter Result (Points) Pacific GoalieBrad MarchandGoal (1)Mike SmithNikita KucherovStoppedSmithVictor HedmanStoppedSmithShea WeberGoal (2)SmithFrans NielsenStoppedSmithErik KarlssonStoppedMartin JonesKyle OkposoStoppedJonesSidney CrosbyGoal (4)JonesVincent TrochekStoppedJonesAuston MatthewsStoppedJonesBrent Burns had the move of the shootout, dropping the puck through his legs and firing upstairs, but he hit the post behind Rask.Pacific ShooterResult (Points)Atlantic GoalieDrew DoughtyStoppedCarey PriceJoe PavelskiStoppedPriceBo HorvatStoppedPriceCam FowlerStoppedPriceRyker KeslerGoal (1)PriceConnor McDavidStoppedTuukka RaskJohnny GaudreauStoppedRaskPatrick KaneStoppedRaskBrent BurnsStoppedRaskJeff CarterStoppedRaskHardest ShotWinner: Shea Weber (102.8 mph)Guess what? Shea Weber has the hardest shot among All-Stars, for the third year running. He hit 102.8 mph on the gun, besting Patrik Laine's 101.7. By getting the Atlantic two points, the division moved on to the final. The Hardest Shot competition was the tiebreaker, with both the Atlantic and Metro finishing with five points.Watch: Weber blasts his way to another Hardest Shot crownResults:Central: Laine, 101.7 mph (1 point)

Carey Price and Tuukka Rask were virtually unbeatable in the shootout portion of the All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday night.But 6-year-old Ryker Kesler had something for 'em. Or, more specifically, Price.Despite Ryker's contribution, the Atlantic won the competition 4-1, and issued a challenge to the Metropolitan for Sunday's 3-on-3 tournament at the NHL All-Star Game.That, however, was pretty insignificant to dad."He really wanted to do it, and it's really about family (at) this event, and memories created. I'll never forget that," Ryan Kesler told NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Ryan added: "To hear the crowd's reaction was pretty special. As a father, it's probably one of the proudest moments I've had."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If there's resentment, it ain't at one another.P.K. Subban and Shea Weber - the two players involved in perhaps the biggest trade in NHL history since Wayne Gretzky's transition to Hollywood - posed for a memorable photo at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition in Los Angeles.

Shea Weber's slap shot will not be matched.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman delivered a shot registering at 102.8 mph to win the hardest shot competition for the third straight season.

As expected, Connor McDavid won the fastest skater event at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition in Los Angeles, winning his head-to-head matchup with Nathan MacKinnon with a time of 13.02 seconds.McDavid was given the opportunity to break the record held by Dylan Larkin moments after his race, but came up just short.Nevertheless, the Edmonton Oilers superstar bagged two points for the Pacific, which matched the two earned by the Atlantic courtesy of Nikita Kucherov and Vincent Trocheck defeating Cam Atkinson and Wayne Simmonds, respectively.Patrik Laine earned one point for the Central in a photo finish with Bo Horvat.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a skills competition, and Sidney Crosby has them.After helping the Metropolitan Division win the night's first event - the skills relay - Crosby went 4-for-5 in the accuracy shooting competition, breaking the quartet of targets in a winning time of 10.73 seconds.

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith won the Honda NHL Four Line Challenge for the Pacific Division with a 20-point shot from the opposing goal line Saturday in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition.With a single attempt, Smith split a tiny window located in the center of the net from almost 200 feet away.The challenge, which proved mighty difficult throughout, yielded many more misses than makes, as players readily missed the small targets from long distances.The Pacific Division already had the lead when Smith connected from 200 feet. Brent Burns lobbed a three-point shot into the top corner from the red line.

The Metropolitan Division reigned supreme in the skills relay on Saturday, finishing with a top time of 1:21.70.The Metro got off to a hot start thanks to a near-perfect one-timer section headlined by Seth Jones, Alex Ovechkin, and Wayne Simmonds.John Tavares would go next in the passing accuracy portion, and after a clean skate around the cones by Justin Faulk, Sidney Crosby stole the show - surprising no one - with a clean streak in the stick-handling portion.

Chris Pronger's enjoying his Saturday night very much, thanks for asking.The former NHL all-world defenseman didn't pass up an opportunity to rough up Justin Bieber in the corner during the All-Star Celebrity Shootout:

Eventually, the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation are going to run out of time.Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the issue of NHL involvement at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang on Saturday at All-Star weekend in L.A., and his comments - along with his deputy Bill Daly's - didn't sound promising."I think there's concern from teams about the ongoing disruption in the season," Bettman said, writes Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski. "The schedule. A whole host of other things. I've never said that just raising the money was the issue."Daly's comments were even more pessimistic in tone."If the status quo remains, I don't expect us to be in the Olympics," he said. "As of right now, there's not a will (to go).The issue was brought up very briefly with the Board of Governors, largely due to the fact nothing's changed."Quite frankly, we don't see what the benefit is from a league standpoint to Olympic participation," Daly added.Should the league not attend next year's games, that means an All-Star Game will take place. The NHL will look at a destination if and when it's decided it won't be involved in South Korea.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't quit your day job, Justin.Pop icon Justin Bieber laced them up on Saturday for the All-Star Celebrity Shootout. As fate would have it, the Biebs would be awarded a penalty shot. But as he often does, he left many heartbroken.Bieber would subsequently be given a second chance at a penalty shot later on, but would once again be stopped by former Los Angeles Kings netminder Jamie Storr.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will not be putting advertisements on jerseys anytime soon.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman held a state-of-the-league press conference on Saturday afternoon - ahead of the All-Star Skills Competition - where he noted, barring something unforeseen, ads on jerseys would not happen."It would take an unusual circumstance for us to even think about it," Bettman said, according to CSN Chicago's Tracey Myers.That "unusual circumstance" sounds like it could be money and a lot of it.

Peter Karmanos' openness to sell the Carolina Hurricanes in no way means the franchise will be uprooted, according to Gary Bettman.The NHL commissioner swiftly dashed the speculation Karmanos engendered when he told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun on Saturday he was willing to sell, stating incisively at his media conference: "the franchise is not moving."Bettman suggested LeBrun caught Karmanos in a candid moment, and that his interest in potentially unloading the franchise was discussed "whimsically," according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.He said that Karmanos' stance hasn't changed, and that he remains committed to having hockey thrive in Raleigh.Bettman also noted that there's no formal sale process.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Start saving.With the expansion Vegas Golden Knights set to begin play in the NHL later this year, in the 2017-18 season, expect the league's annual midseason showcase to head to the desert shortly thereafter.

With All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, Justin Bieber is taking advantage.The pop sensation and pride of Canada is taking part in Saturday's All-Star Celebrity Shootout, and made sure to get a picture with a couple of handsome Swedish defensemen before hitting the ice:

Pete DeBoer was scratching his head.The San Jose Sharks head coach indicated that he took issue with Joe Thornton's omission from the NHL's "Greatest 100" players list revealed Friday in Los Angeles as part of NHL All-Star weekend."I did expect him to be there," DeBoer said Saturday, according to Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski. "I was actually shocked that he wasn't there."Forever underappreciated, Thornton is a top 25 scorer in the history of the NHL and second to only Jaromir Jagr among active players. And there's plenty left in the reserve.Thornton tumbles below recognized forwards Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Patrick Kane when comparing production on a points per game basis, but his numbers are superior across the board to that of Jonathan Toews - one of three members of the Chicago Blackhawks dynasty to make the list.Thornton isn't the only active player with damning evidence to suggest that he's deserving of one of the 100 slots. Evgeni Malkin's 1.178 points per game is 14th all time, and ahead of Ovechkin, Jagr, and Kane; Jarome Iginla ranks 16th all time in goals; and Zdeno Chara racked up six Norris Trophy nominations in the space of 11 seasons, wherein which he ruled with an iron fist.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine has set his mark as he prepares for his first career All-Star Skills Competition.Laine will be among those taking part in the accuracy shooting contest, and - with a certain swagger - is hoping to improve on his time in the Jets' skills contest."I think I'm pretty good at it, but there are a some others guys who are pretty good too," Laine told reporters. "So, let's see how good I am against these guys. Try to improve my time from the Jets' skills competition."name chanO-f course, that will be easier said than done. Laine torched the Jets' skills competition going 4-for-4 in a time of just 8.4 seconds.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares might simply be repeating cliches, but he hasn't ruled out the idea of staying with the New York Islanders for the long haul.The captain told reporters gathered at the All-Star festivities in L.A. on Saturday that he's open to discussing a contract extension with the Islanders this summer, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Tavares is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $5.5 million. He'd become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018 if no extension is consummated beforehand and would surely command a hefty price tag on the open market, but he says he's encouraged about the Islanders' future."I’m excited about where the Islanders are headed and hopefully we can work something out," he added Saturday, according to Newsday's Mark Herrmann, who made it clear that this isn't the first time the star forward has implied he'll consider re-upping with the Islanders.

The Metropolitan Division will be under the command of The Great One on Sunday.Wayne Gretzky will replace absent Columbus Blue Jackets boss John Tortorella as Metropolitan Division head coach for Sunday's All-Star Game in Los Angeles, the NHL confirmed.Gretzky has played a big role in festivities this weekend, as the icon has been front and center for the league's centennial celebration, including the unveiling of the NHL's Top 100 players, which took place Friday night.Among the players Gretzky will have at his disposal are fellow Top 100 members Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos is apparently willing to sell the team, depending on the offer, he told ESPN's Pierre LeBrunThe news comes just months after Hurricanes' president Don Waddell denied Karmanos had interest in selling, potentially to a buyer planning to relocate the franchise.

The "NHL 100" list is stirring plenty of debate, but it's also creating an opportunity to let the imagination run wild.When Wayne Gretzky joked Friday night that he, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr "would have been pretty good at 3-on-3," that got us thinking: Who else among the league's list of its greatest players could form tantalizing trios in the relatively new overtime format if it had existed in their day?Here are three of the many dream combinations that could be assembled from the NHL's centennial collection of modern superstars and past legends:Sid, Ovi, and KaneLet's begin with the current crop, and this triumvirate is as good a place as any to start.Picture Alex Ovechkin on the left wing, Sidney Crosby down the middle, and Patrick Kane blazing down the right side and you have an unstoppable line that would simply be as unfair as they come.Crosby and Ovechkin might get the chance to form two-thirds of this hypothetical trio when they suit up together for the Metropolitan Division All-Stars in the 3-on-3 tournament this weekend.We may never see Kane play with them, but as Meatloaf once sang, two out of three ain't bad.Bure, Hull, and SakicSeriously, how amazing would it have been to watch Pavel Bure in 3-on-3?Lining him up with two of his legendary 1990s contemporaries would be icing on the cake, and imagine how dominant the "Russian Rocket" could be playing on the left side with Joe Sakic in the middle and Brett Hull on the right wing.Bure's dynamic scoring ability, Hull's knack for goals of all kinds, and Sakic's mix of playmaking and his patented wrist shot would give goalies nightmares for years.Gretzky, Bourque, and GartnerThe Great One's dream trio of himself, Lemieux, and Orr would be arguably the best of all time, but there are still plenty of salivating sets of stars to ponder if we stick with our theme of using players from the same era.How about a 1980s unit featuring Gretzky, Mike Gartner, and Ray Bourque, for example?The most productive player ever would have a 700-plus-goal scorer on his wing and the most prolific offensive defenseman in NHL history manning the blue line.It's also tempting to wonder how Gretzky would have fared in 3-on-3 with his former Edmonton Oilers teammates, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey.Given the sheer number of intriguing possibilities, it's a shame that the new overtime format was only enacted last season. Now we just need to figure out how to build a time machine so we can go back and see how this all would have played out.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add another name to the list of NHL greats that have high praise for Connor McDavid: Peter Forsberg.Forsberg, one of the finest examples of size and skill the NHL has ever seen, crafted a remarkable career, recording 885 points in 708 games, winning two Stanley Cups along with the Calder, Art Ross, and Hart Trophy.With a resume like that, it should come as no surprise that Forsberg was one of the 100 NHLers honored Friday night in Los Angeles.While rubbing shoulders with the game's best, Forsberg was asked which player in today's NHL reminds him of himself. Enter the Oilers' captain."I wish I could say Connor McDavid, but he's better at everything than I was," the 2014 Hall of Fame inductee said, according to Matt Larkin of The Hockey News. "He skates faster. He sees the game. But I really enjoy seeing him play. He's everywhere on the ice, and he's making his team win. If I could start over I'd like to be like him."McDavid has certainly done his part in earning the kind words, as the 20-year-old has 107 points in 96 career games, already becoming one of the most captivating players the league has to offer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second straight year, the NHL All-Star weekend will feature a 3-on-3 tournament in place of the traditional two-team game.Last year's tournament was a welcomed and thrilling change of pace to All-Star Games of the past, thanks to a cash incentive to the winners of the tournament which gave players a reason to put forth a greater effort than that seen in your local beer leagues.Of course with 3-on-3 hockey, fans can expect speed, skill, and chaos above all else. With that in mind, here are some potential trios from each team that could make for must-see TV:AtlanticKucherov, Matthews, KarlssonThis trio would make for one fun, fast, and dynamic line.Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov up front represent the two purest scoring talents in the Atlantic. Enter Erik Karlsson, who along with ridiculous speed hones arguably the most lethal scoring ability of any defenseman in the league.MetropolitanCrosby, Ovechkin, TavaresNo defense, no problem.Yes, in a conventional trio, coaches would like to have at least one defenseman on the ice, but hell, this is the All-Star Game and we want to see goals.Of course, the idea of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin teaming up is always compelling, and with Evgeni Malkin sitting the tournament out (he would have been the third member of this trio), John Tavares slots in as a very capable replacement.Bring on the goals.CentralKane, Laine, SubbanNow this one would be fun.We have the former Art Ross Trophy winner and stick-handling magician in Patrick Kane, the rookie sniper in Patrik Laine, and the new King of Nashville in P.K. Subban.Kane can create plays, make defenseman look silly, and would serve as the perfect setup man for either Laine or Subban, who both boast incredible releases.PacificMcDavid, Carter, BurnsIn this corner, we have the league's leading point-producer, the second-highest goal scorer, and the Norris Trophy frontrunner.The 2017 edition All Star Game will mark a first for Connor McDavid, and unfortunately, the pressure will likely be on him to mesmerize. Sorry Connor, people can be so demanding.McDavid can take over any game he is in with his incredible speed. He will also have one of the purest snipers in the game in Jeff Carter at his disposal. Then there's Brent Burns, who is also flirting with the NHL points lead.Sure, there's no John Scott-type player in this year's game, but with a plethora of talented players on each squad, there shouldn't be any less excitement this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might seem like a no-brainer, but Mario Lemieux appears open to the idea of Jaromir Jagr's No. 68 one day hanging from the rafters in Pittsburgh.“Oh, absolutely. He’s been a big part of our franchise,” Lemieux said Friday when asked if he could envision Jagr being immortalized in this manner, according to Yahoo Sports' Sean Leahy.“He’s won two (Stanley Cup championships) in Pittsburgh," the Penguins co-owner added. "He’s a Hall of Famer, by far, and I’m sure he’ll be up there eventually.”Jagr played 11 seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2001. Despite an apparently acrimonious departure at the time and a rude welcome upon his return to Pittsburgh (and the NHL) with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011, there's no denying his place in the Penguins' franchise lore.Here's where the ageless forward sits on the club's all-time lists:CategoryFranchise RankTotalGoals2nd439Assists2nd640Points2nd1079Game-Winning Goals1st78Shots on Goal2nd2911Games Played2nd806The man ahead of Jagr in most of those categories, of course, is Lemieux himself, one of only two players, along with the late Michel Briere, to have his number retired by the Penguins.Jagr is obviously still playing for the Florida Panthers, so it's a bit of a moot point until he retires, but Lemieux's status in the Penguins' board room means his comments are relevant, regardless of how non-committal or speculative these may have been.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL honored its 100 greatest players Friday, tying together a century's worth of the game's best in a glamorous ceremony in Los Angeles.On the list were six active NHLers: The ageless Jaromir Jagr, the core trio of the Chicago Blackhawks' modern dynasty in Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith, along with generational icons Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.While the aforementioned players have accomplished a great deal in their respective careers, there's certainly room for a few more active players on the list.Here's the case for three current NHLers that should have been honored:Evgeni Malkin"Geno" should have been a lock.It's easy to play second fiddle when you share a roster with Crosby, but Malkin has put together a Hall of Fame resume in 11 seasons with the Penguins, as one of the most consistent scorers hockey has ever seen.Malkin's 1.178 points per game (814 points in 691 contests) ranks 14th all time. Not to mention, he's recorded 129 points in 124 playoff games.He's a three-time first-team All-Star with two Stanley Cups, while his trophy case includes the Calder, the Conn Smythe, two Art Ross Trophies, the Hart, and the Ted Lindsay Award. A friendly reminder: he's 30-years-old.

NHL All-Star Skills Competition

The NHL revealed its top 100 players in league history on Friday night and the Twitterverse was quick to chime in. Here were some of the best responses:

The NHL unveiled its top 100 players in league history on Friday, a list decorated with hockey greats who claimed countless accolades.No doubt a list of this variety is difficult to compile, but it's worth noting the names who should have been included in the final cut.Pierre PilotePilote manned the blue line for the Chicago Blackhawks for 13 straight seasons, a run that saw him capture three consecutive Norris Trophy wins from 1963 to 1965 as the NHL's top defenseman. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 1961.Pilote spent the final season of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, one that spanned 890 games, in which he tallied 80 goals and 418 assists.Dale HawerchukHawerchuk made his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets in 1981 after being selected first overall by the club. In his rookie campaign, he posted 45 goals and 58 assists en route to Calder Trophy honors.Hawerchuk spent nine years with Winnipeg before moving on to the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers. Through 1,188 career games, Hawerchuk tallied 1,409 points, while his 1.19 points per game ranks 13th all time.Ed BelfourAn undrafted free agent, Ed Belfour took hold of the starter's role with the Blackhawks in the 1990-91 season. That year, Belfour appeared in 74 games and finished the season with the Vezina and William M. Jennings Trophies, as well as Rookie of the Year honors.Belfour's career also included stops with the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999. His 484 career wins ranks third all time.Mark RecchiOnly 11 players in NHL history have scored more points than Recchi. Making his NHL debut in 1988, Recchi's career spanned 22 years and included stints with seven different teams.Recchi won the Stanley Cup with three different teams, hoisting the Silver Mug with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991, the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and five years later with the Boston Bruins. Recchi finished his career with 1,533 points in 1,652 games.Phil HousleyHousley joined the NHL ranks with the Sabres in 1982 after spending the previous year playing at the high school level. He appeared in 77 games with the Sabres in his freshman season, scoring 19 goals and 47 assists.Housley sits as the fourth-highest scoring defenseman of all time, and first among American-born blue-liners, finishing his career with 338 goals and 894 assists in 1,495 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Hamm's foot, meet Jon Hamm's mouth.During the actor's hilarious monologue - which even included an Atlanta Thrashers joke (they were a joke) - Hamm took a shot at the Washington Capitals and their tendency to choke in the playoffs.Related: NHL unveils 100 greatest playersFollowing the joke, Hamm apologized to Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. Unfortunately, he couldn't help calling him "Sergei."

The list many have been speculating about for weeks was finally unveiled on Friday night.The NHL announced its list of the 100 greatest players. The list extends from 1917 to 2017, encapsulating the league's 100-year history.With any list of this magnitude, there are sure to be many omissions and surprises.Nevertheless here are the 100 best players separated by decade:Original 33 (1917-66)Sid AbelSyl AppsAndy BathgateJean BeliveauMax BentleyToe BlakeJohnny BowerTurk BrodaJohnny BucykKing ClancyCharlie ConacherAlex DelvecchioBill DurnanBernie GeoffrionGlenn HallDoug HarveyTim HortonGordie HoweRed KellyTed KennedyDave KeonElmer LachTed LindsayFrank MahovlichDickie MooreHowie MorenzJacques PlanteHenri RichardMaurice RichardTerry SawchukMilt SchmidtEddie ShoreGeorges Vezina1970sBobby OrrBrad ParkLarry RobinsonSerge SavardKen DrydenTony EspositoBernie ParentBobby ClarkeMarcel DionnePhil EspositoJacques LemaireStan MikitaGilbert PerreaultJean RatelleDarryl SittlerYvan CournoyerBob GaineyBobby HullGuy Lafleur1980sJarri KurriMike GartnerMike BossyBryan TrottierPeter StastnyDenis SavardMark MessierPat LaFontaineWayne GretzkyRay BourquePaul CoffeyAl MacInnisDenis PotvinBorje SalmingGrant FuhrBilly Smith1990s Patrick RoyDominik HasekScott StevensScott NiedermayerBrian LeetchChris CheliosPavel BureBrett HullLuc RobitailleBrendan ShanahanSergei FedorovPeter ForsbergRon FrancisMario LemieuxEric LindrosMike ModanoJoe NieuwendykAdam OatesJoe SakicMats SundinSteve Yzerman 2000s Teemu SelanneChris ProngerNicklas LidstromPavel DatsyukMartin BrodeurCurrent Patrick KaneDuncan KeithJonathan ToewsAlex OvechkinSidney CrosbyJaromir JagrCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What better way to capture the moment.Brendan Shanahan, Luc Robitaille, and Brett Hull were all named among the NHL's 100 greatest players on Friday night. To capture the moment, Robitaille made sure to capture the trio in a selfie.