See, Patrick Roy pays attention to analytics.The Colorado Avalanche head coach and winning goalie in the NHL Stadium Series alumni game versus the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night unleashed a flawless trolling, and also self-deprecating, quip in his postgame scrum.When asked about the win, Roy told Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski: "Yeah, but our Corsi was not very good, though."His Avalanche, ranked dead last in Corsi For percentage this season, are once again defying, or at least combating, what possession metrics reveal about performance.They hold the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.- Statistics via war-on-ice.comCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was quite the spectacle Friday, as some of the most legendary figures in the game strapped on skates, shin pads, shoulder pads, and helmets to revisit the Detroit Red Wings-Colorado Avalanche rivalry - perhaps the fiercest in NHL history - at the 2015 Stadium Series Alumni Game at Coors Field.Related: Yzerman, Sakic trade vintage goals at Stadium Series alumni gameThe Avalanche defended home ice, or field, with a 5-2 win in the reunion clash, which was markedly well-behaved compared to the standard set throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.Here are some of the best photos from the event:There was never any pressure, Henrik Zetterberg.Burnaby's own.The always colorful Darren McCarty.Mike Ricci's hair remains glorious. Chris Simon's now non-existent.Pondering multiple offers for Jonathan Drouin, probablyPondering the Avalanche's offer for Jonathan Drouin, probably.An all-time faceoff.The very-tanned Chris Chelios found one friend inside Coors Field. The rest, not so much.The obligatory wide shot.Feeling a little like Semyon Varlamov.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to load up for another Stanley Cup run.The club has acquired forwards Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Phillip Danault and a second-round pick in 2018.The Canadiens will retain 30 percent of Weise's salary, putting them right up close to the salary cap limit pending further moves.

Teddy Purcell could be heading back to Florida.TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Florida Panthers - forever in the market for a scoring winger - are believed to be making a "strong push" to acquire Purcell from the Edmonton Oilers.Though Purcell works out of a top six in Edmonton, he only loosely fits the description Panthers general manager Dale Tallon covets. Because while he's broken out a bit offensively flanking Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl, he hasn't scored more than 12 goals in a season since his career-best campaign in 2011-12 when he notched 24 goals and 65 points for the Tampa Bay Lightning.McKenzie notes that the Los Angeles Kings also have interest in the 30-year-old right-winger, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer when his $4.5-million salary comes off the books.Purcell's being held out of the Oilers' lineup for the second straight game, likely in anticipation of a deal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the eighth time in 11 seasons, Alex Ovechkin has reached the 40-goal mark. The latest snipe for the Washington Capitals superstar came against Darcy Kuemper and the Minnesota Wild.

Chris Chelios hears you, and sends it right back.The legendary defenseman heard some boos from Colorado Avalanche fans as he was introduced as part of the Detroit Red Wings alumni team at Coors Field on Friday, and it clearly didn't rattle him one bit.This rivalry appears alive and well, at least among the old-timers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shayne Gostisbehere took on an unusual request Friday, sketching the "Ghost Bear" emojis under a signed helmet for a member of the military invited into the Philadelphia Flyers room.And with hope and a Sharpie, Gostisbehere did a pretty bang-up job.

These old-timers have still got it.As the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings get set for Saturday's Stadium Series game at Coors Field in Denver, an esteemed group of hockey legends from both sides gathered to renew acquaintances and pay homage to a great modern rivalry in the alumni game.After Valeri Kamensky opened the scoring, a pair of Hall of Fame centers got in on the action, beginning with Steve Yzerman's rebound goal past Patrick Roy.Soon after, Joe Sakic displayed his still deadly wrist shot, beating Ty Conklin up high.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stan Bowman's roster re-making and cunning ability to maneuver around the salary walls that are constantly closing in on his empire is the stuff of legends.Now, this isn't to say he's bamboozled every executive brave enough to seal an agreement with a firm handshake. Brandon Saad's doing just fine in Columbus, thanks. But the Chicago Blackhawks general manager seems to make the most advantageous decision for his dynastic franchise every single time out. Even moves that prompt a few head scratches, work.So there's really no reason to suggest his latest stroke, the acquisition of the rental market's presumably most-expensive asset, Andrew Ladd, won't be another shrewd decision. One looked back at and lauded, all over again.It's a former subordinate, though, a man who won a title with Bowman and Ladd almost six years ago, that deserves a heaping slab of credit in the fallout from Thursday night's blockbuster.Because Kevin Cheveldayoff's come a long way since he tabled a lucrative long-term contract offer to the 10-year veteran who'd recently rolled off a surgical table, and whose signature would have probably victimized the singular, and most unique asset on the Winnipeg Jets' roster.The right callThe Jets GM was met with the greatest plight of his career this summer. Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien, the organization's senior pillars - who though sewn through the fabric of the organization are on the wrong side of 30 - came up for new contracts, and raises, at the same time.At first, the plan appeared to involve retaining both. However, contract talks in the summer, and even into the start of the season, seemed to focus primarily around Ladd. He was the Jets' captain, a player who recently set a career high in points, and performed valiantly through a sports hernia for a chunk of last season.Still, to someone outside the market, it seemed misguided. Ladd remains a useful top-six player with 50-point potential. And his role as captain, and in turn his value, transcends point production to a certain extent. But he's a depreciating asset playing a subsidiary position, and a player showing his 10 seasons of on-ice battles.Simply put: a long-term deal with Ladd would most certainly see the Jets paying for what he's done, not what he will do.To Winnipeg's benefit but despite its efforts, things would change. Byfuglien, who's actually a few months older than Ladd but has appeared in about 100 fewer games, emerged as Cheveldayoff's priority.And, he turned out to be a far easier sell.The Jets signed the best deal for the organization under the circumstances Feb. 8, inking Byfuglien to a five-year extension worth $38 million.Though a veteran, Byfuglien is still raw and prone to the blunder. But his footprint, overall impact, and combination of skills he'll bring over the next five years is so much greater, and so much more valuable than that of Ladd's.About timeLimiting the term on Byfuglien, a player that's either at, fast approaching, or now passing the peak of his career was most important in Chevy's dealings. But the timing of his pact with the rover, and clarity gained when the captain was pinched with weeks still leading up to the deadline shouldn't be understated.It was that defined direction that helped drive up the price over the weeks that Ladd was peddled on the open market, and Cheveldayoff received tremendous value on his asset as a result.Barring a deal, the Jets will select twice in the first round in back-to-back drafts, while Marko Dano - a former first-round pick in his own right - joins Hobey Baker challenger Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Joel Armia, and a surplus of quality prospects assembling under the Jets' banner.It wasn't without a few clumsy first steps, and assistance from Ladd's staunch negotiation, but in retaining Byfuglien and manufacturing a return on their captain, Cheveldayoff made the most of a difficult situation.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are facing the prospect of fighting for a playoff spot without one of their best players.Mike Cammalleri, who's been out of the lineup since Jan. 26 with a hand injury, suffered a setback in his recovery and could miss the rest of the season, head coach John Hynes revealed Friday.

The Chicago Blackhawks have completed another deal, trading Rob Scuderi to the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, the teams have confirmed.Both former top-four contributors, Ehrhoff and Scuderi have kicked around the league of late, and both recently cleared waivers. But for the Kings and Blackhawks, both legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, the trade gives them a player that better suits the style they employ.Ehrhoff is a puck mover who recorded 10 points in 40 games with the Kings before once again being felled by injuries. Meanwhile, Scuderi, who had a successful four-year stint with the Kings, is certainly catered better to Los Angeles' heavy game.Scuderi, who still has another season left on his contract after 2015-16, was originally acquired by Chicago in a deal that sent Trevor Daley to the Pittsburgh Penguins in December. He appeared in 17 games, and failed to register a point before being sent down.Though it's a minor deal involving depth defensemen, the transaction is quite intricate. In short, Chicago retains a 50 percent chunk of Scuderi's freight, and the Kings shoulder 15 percent of Ehrhoff's salary to make the numbers work.Thankfully, the folks at generalfanager are here to help us out:

Adam Foote still hasn't forgotten the mid-1990s rivalry that existed between the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings.The former Avalanche defenseman was asked if there was one member of the former Red Wings he would punch in the face Friday night during the alumni game, and responded with one word."Draper," he told Denver's 104.3 The Fan on Thursday morning.Kris Draper, to be exact - the former Red Wings forward who was hit into the boards from behind by Colorado's Claude Lemieux in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference final."Lemieux was frustrated simply because, the way the game was going, Detroit knew they were going to lose that series," Foote said."(Red Wings head coach Scotty) Bowman was setting the table for the following years, in my opinion. Just earlier in that game, I got hit from behind (by Vyacheslav) Kozlov, and that took 20 stitches.”Draper suffered a broken jaw, as well as shattered cheek and orbital bones on the Lemieux hit, but Foote is still not pleased with how his former rival reacted after the incident."I just didn't like the way Draper carried (himself)," Foote said. "Yeah, you can be upset (that) it was a bad hit, (but) it was a bad hit on myself and all we heard in the media for, god, over a year was (about) that hit."It's too bad that he got hurt that way, but he was always just a little bit of a pest. There's something about him that just turns my stomach the wrong way."Foote and Draper were teammates on the Canadian team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turino, Italy.The Avalanche-Red Wings alumni game takes place Friday night at Coors Field in Denver.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Famer forward Andy Bathgate died Friday.

The Los Angeles Kings are "likely" to trade defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to the Chicago Blackhawks, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The season is over for Raffi Torres."I have made the decision that I will not be playing professional hockey for the remainder of the season," Torres said Friday.The 34-year-old, who had knee surgery in December, is not retiring, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."Recently, I underwent yet another medical procedure, and I need more time to recover and heal from it," Torres said. "After this most recent procedure, I want to give myself the proper amount of rest and recovery time so that my body can completely heal."The longtime NHL forward remained with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda even after being traded by the Sharks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Roman Polak deal Monday.Torres was suspended 41 games for a preseason headshot on Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg last fall.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks seem to be shifting their focus away from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis.While the Blackhawks are interested in adding depth to their blue line, the team's interest in Hamhuis has "cooled considerably," according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.In turn, McKenzie suggests the team appears to be focused on "lower-level depth options on the blue line." Given that, McKenzie believes anything is possible as the trade deadline draws closer.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sergei Plotnikov hasn't played since early January, and now we know why.The 25-year-old left winger drew the ire of head coach Mike Sullivan for expressing a desire to return to Russia, according to Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford."He started off a little bit feeling his way (through), and then I thought he had a pretty good run for about five weeks, but there came a point in time (when) he suggested he wanted to go back to Russia," Rutherford told "The Cook and Poni Show" on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan on Friday."That didn't go over too well with the coach, because he wants people here (who) are all in (and) want to be here at all costs, and that hurt him a little bit with the coach."Plotnikov has been a healthy scratch for every game since appearing in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 6.He has two points and 32 shots on goal in 32 contests.Plotnikov reportedly paid $500,000 to terminate his contract with the KHL's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl before signing with the Penguins on July 1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marko Dano won't have to wait long to debut with his new team.The 21-year-old prospect was recalled by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, and he'll join the team in Pittsburgh ahead of Saturday's game against the Penguins.He was traded by the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday - along with a 2016 first-round pick and a 2018 conditional pick - for forwards Andrew Ladd and Matt Fraser, and defenseman Jay Harrison.It was the second time Dano has been traded in the last seven months. He was dealt to the Blackhawks by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Brandon Saad swap last June.Dano registered 23 points in 34 games with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs this season.The Blue Jackets selected him 27th overall in 2013.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin looks to be in the clear.The 29-year-old skated with the team at practice Friday and expressed excitement for his expected return to the lineup Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets."Everything is good," Malkin said. "Today was a hard skate, but I'm ready to play. I'm ready to show my best."Malkin has missed Pittsburgh's last 10 games, but remains second in team scoring with 49 points in 49 games and is the only Penguins player producing at a point-per-game pace.Forward Nick Bonino also skated and, like Malkin, is expected to make his return against the Jets after missing six weeks with a hand injury."I can't wait. It's been a long six weeks," Bonino said. "We should find out the lineup tomorrow."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has no interest in dealing captain David Backes ahead of the trade deadline.Though the 31-year-old center's had an underwhelming season with just 15 goals and 33 points through 63 games, Armstrong hasn't toyed with the idea of asking Backes to waive his no-trade clause."If we were in 10th or 11th or 12th spot in the Western Conference I'd probably be going to him right now, 'Obviously you're an unrestricted free agent, do you want to go a contending team?'" Armstrong told Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch."We are that contending team. We are that team that is in the top part of the NHL. Trading David Backes for some form of a draft pick, I think, would be an injustice to the players in that room right now."With Backes not appearing to be among St. Louis' trade bait, Armstrong will have to find other means to obtain an emergency backup between the pipes.Brian Elliott is currently on the long-term injured reserve, so the Blues could be looking to add some insurance in goal. As Armstrong explains, however, such a deal would come with cap stipulations."It has to be a player that can go back to the minors when (Elliott) comes back or else we're over the cap," he said.Whether or not Armstrong can swing a deal over the next three days, he remains confident in his club as currently constructed."I believe in those players in that room," the GM said. "If I can find a way to support them, I'm certainly going to try and do that. But my belief is that group in there, I really truly believe this is the year that for us to have success, our best players, they're not looking for assistance from outside. They know the responsibilities lie on their shoulders. I think to a man they are ready for that challenge."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning inked defenseman Braydon Coburn to a three-year contract extension Friday.The deal carries an average annual value of $3.7 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.It includes a full no-trade clause starting now and extending over the first two seasons, then a limited no-trade clause in the final year, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Coburn was a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $4.5 million this season.The 30-year-old has nine points and a five-on-five Corsi For percentage of 50.82 in 60 games with the Lightning.Tampa Bay acquired him in a deadline-day trade with the Philadelphia Flyers last March.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For Stanley Cup hopefuls, the NHL trade deadline is a day to make one last push to build a roster strong enough to capture the chalice, while for others, it may be the first day of a potentially painful rebuild.Over the past handful of years, the deadline has seen deals that nearly cemented championships before the playoffs began - and other moves that not only crippled teams' chances of success at the time, but derailed potential future glory.Here are the five biggest deadline-day trades since 2010:Martin St. Louis to the New York RangersOn March 5, 2014 the Tampa Bay Lightning dealt team captain and leading scorer Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers for forward Ryan Callahan, a conditional pick in the 2014 draft, and the team's first-round pick in 2015.Beyond the significance of the player, what made the trade so monumental was the building tension between St. Louis and general manager Steve Yzerman that preceded it.Though it became known that St. Louis had requested a trade to the Rangers earlier in his career in order to be closer to his family, St. Louis was believed to hold a grudge about being the final player cut from Team Canada's 2014 Olympics roster by his very own GM, which didn't bode well.St. Louis was ultimately added to that squad thanks to a Steven Stamkos injury, but the damage was done, and soon after, his ticket to the Big Apple was punched.Filip Forsberg to the Nashville PredatorsWhile this trade did little to aid either team for its playoff push, it had drastic implications later.On April 3, 2013, the Washington Capitals traded 2012 first-round pick Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators for forwards Martin Erat and Michael Latta.The move was a complete head-scratcher: Why did the Capitals give up on a budding prospect so early for a question mark in Erat?Erat failed miserably in his tenure with his new club, putting up just one goal and three points in the final nine games of the 2013 season and going pointless in the postseason.He managed just one goal in 53 games with the Capitals the following season before being shipped to the then-Phoenix Coyotes. He's now playing in the KHL.Meanwhile, in his first taste of the NHL last year, Forsberg impressed by tallying 26 goals and 63 points - marks Erat never hit in 12 full seasons in the league.Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue JacketsMarian Gaborik has become one of the more talked-about bodies at recent trade deadlines.In 2013, the Rangers traded Gaborik (and defensemen Blake Parlett and Steven Delisle) to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, John Moore, and a 2014 sixth-round pick.It was interesting to see the Rangers deal Gaborik - who'd tallied 41 goals just one season earlier - as the team was heading into the playoffs.The trade appeared to work out for the Rangers, though: Brassard went on to lead the team in scoring in the postseason, totaling 12 points in 12 games, and remains a key piece of the club's roster to this day. The move also set up Gaborik for success later - but not with Columbus.Ben Bishop to the Tampa Bay LightningThe 2013 trade deadline was a fun day.The Lightning and Ottawa Senators got in on the action as the Senators shipped goaltender Ben Bishop to the Lightning for forward Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick in 2013, previously acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers.After setting the American Hockey League on fire, Conacher burst onto the scene in Tampa, potting nine goals and 24 points in his first 35 games. The Lightning appeared to know his capabilities and sold him at his highest value, acquiring their potential franchise goaltender in the process.Conacher has since been traded twice more and is now producing effectively in the Swiss Elite League, making it fairly easy to name a winner in this transaction.Bishop, meanwhile, has amassed 104 wins as a member of the Lightning and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final last season, falling just two wins shy of hockey's ultimate prize.Marian Gaborik to the Los Angeles KingsAfter the 34-year-old was shipped out to aid a club in 2013, one year later, Gaborik was the key piece in a move to construct a Stanley Cup champion.Gaborik was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Matt Frattin, the Edmonton Oilers' third-round pick in 2014, and the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick in 2015.The deal paid immediate dividends for the Kings as Gaborik was reborn on the West Coast, putting up five goals and 16 points in 19 games to conclude the regular season.However, he truly demonstrated his value during the playoffs when he went off for 14 goals and 22 points in 26 games, making a large contribution to the Kings' second Stanley Cup in three seasons.-With h/t to Today's SlapshotCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens' blue line will take a hit as defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will be out two-to-three weeks with a lower-body injury.He suffered the ailment during Montreal's 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday, and finished with 24 shifts and 21:25 of ice time.The 23-year-old is enjoying his second full season in the league and has amassed two goals and 17 points in 56 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without defenseman Jack Johnson for the foreseeable future.The 29-year-old is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.Johnson was forced from Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils with the injury in the second period.He had dressed in 60 of the team's 62 games this season, recording six goals and 14 points. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are expected to call up a replacement from their American Hockey League affiliate.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a six-year contract extension worth about $24.5 million, the team announced Friday.The deal carries an average annual value of $4,083,000 and runs through the 2021-22 season.Maatta was a pending restricted free agent with a cap hit of less than $1 million this season.The 21-year-old ranks third on the Penguins in average time on ice at 19:35, logging less than only Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby.Despite posting only 16 points in 53 games, he's driving possession with an even-strength Corsi For percentage of 51.1, according to War-On-Ice.The Penguins buy two of Maatta's hypothetical unrestricted free agent years with the six-year pact, as Sportsnet's Chris Johnston points out.The extension includes a limited no-trade clause in the last two seasons, when Maatta can provide an eight-team list of clubs to which he can't be traded, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid already has plenty of endorsements, but you can't put a price on this one.Wayne Gretzky believes the 19-year-old center is ready to be captain of the Edmonton Oilers."I have a great deal of respect for him," Gretzky told Michael Traikos of The National Post. "In my point of view, I think he's mature enough that he can handle it at any age."The Oilers elected to name four alternate captains for the season - Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and former captain Andrew Ference.McDavid has led by example when healthy, racking up 28 points in 25 games despite missing 37 contests with a broken clavicle.Gretzky called the 2015 first overall pick "the best player to come into the league in the last 30 years," and explained why he thinks McDavid can deal with the responsibility that comes with wearing the 'C.'"I think that the best players in the game, the best athletes in their particular sport, are guys that want that pressure," Gretzky said. "They want that demand put on them. No question, he understands who he is and the focus and everything that is bestowed upon him."Despite the struggles of the Oilers and the Calgary Flames, The Great One says there should be plenty of optimism about the future of Alberta's NHL franchises."If you look at both organizations, they're both building from within and they're young and they're hungry and very talented," Gretzky said. "I think the future is bright and it is exciting. You can build your teams around Connor McDavid in Edmonton or Sam Bennett in Calgary, so I think both teams are definitely going to be teams to watch next year."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How do you get the best out of Matt Bartkowski? Tell him he might be traded.One day after it was reported that the Vancouver Canucks had named him as one of seven players available at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old went off for a career-best, three-point night - scoring two goals and adding an assist - in a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.Bartkowski picked up a point on the first three Canucks goals, and after his second goal knotted the score at three apiece, the team's Twitter account couldn't help but acknowledge the man keeping them in the game.

Mark Stone was understandably pumped after netting his 20th goal of the season against the Vancouver Canucks, immediately skating to the glass to high-five some traveling Ottawa Senators fans in the corner after the shorthanded tally.The goal gave the Senators a 2-1 lead as they looked to extend their winning streak to six games.The 23-year-old needs six more goals to match his career high from a year ago.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Winnipeg Jets blew a 3-0 lead Thursday against the Dallas Stars, Mark Scheifele restored a one-goal advantage in the third period before Joel Armia scored a beautiful goal to help put the game away.The Finnish forward skated the puck through the neutral zone before completely undressing defenseman Johnny Oduya on his way to the Stars net where he beat Kari Lehtonen for his second of the night and fourth of the season.His first didn't require near as much effort, as he threw a soft wrister at Lehtonen, beating him five-hole.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago ain't seen nothing yet.Well, aside from three championships in six seasons.Former Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd, re-acquired by the Blackhawks on Thursday in his sixth season with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise, believes he'll surprise some people in Chicago when he makes his return.Related: Jets trade Ladd to Blackhawks for Dano, 1st-round pick"I think my game has really evolved since (2010)," he said. "I'm excited to come and show what my game's all about now."Ladd detailed the past few weeks, and the realization he would be moved after Dustin Byfuglien signed a lucrative long-term extension to stay with the Jets. And though re-upping with Winnipeg might have been what he envisioned, reuniting with the Blackhawks was the next best thing."Knowing that I was probably going to end up being traded, I think Chicago was on the top of my list for places I wanted to be."Ladd was one of the pioneering cap casualties in Chicago's run of success. He and Byfuglien were dealt weeks after Chicago ended its 49-year Stanley Cup drought in 2010.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrej Nestrasil will remain in Toronto for evaluation after being knocked out of Thursday's loss to the Maple Leafs by a devastating hit from Nazem Kadri.Nestrasil was ruled out for the remainder of the game following the hit and wheeled into the Carolina locker room on a stretcher, according to Ken Campbell of The Hockey News.No penalty was called on the play.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's almost impossible to believe the Chicago Blackhawks made the playoffs only once between 1998 and 2008. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane arrived in 2007 as teenagers, Joel Quenneville in 2008, and nothing has been the same since.In five of the last seven springs, since 2009, the Blackhawks have been one of four teams left standing. They've been to the Stanley Cup Final three times, winning each. It's been a remarkable run. The fruits of a lost decade, you could say. And there are zero signs it's ending, thanks to a man who's never seen the ice or the bench: general manager Stan Bowman.And another oneBowman traded for Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd on Thursday evening, adding to an already formidable Chicago roster. It's a fantastic fit, Ladd a strong possession player and two-time Cup winner, one of which came with the Blackhawks. It made too much sense to not happen.The cost, for a Blackhawks team with a .653 winning percentage, third-highest in Quenneville's tenure, was Marko Dano, who has four goals and 19 assists in 34 AHL games, and a first-round pick in 2016. A price any reasonable Blackhawks supporter will tell you is more than fair.DynasticDano may turn out to be a fine player - there's something there, if the Jets can tap into it. And a conditional third-round pick is worth another Cup. But by adding Ladd without touching his roster, Bowman is proving it may indeed be possible to put together a dynasty in the salary cap era. The point is: He's trying. And that's damn exciting. While Michal Handzus and Antoine Vermette contributed to two previous Cups, Ladd is a far more dynamic player, and there's no reason to think he won't thrive in his new old home. He's got a contract to play for.The Blackhawks have the Western Conference's best goal differential, allowing 24 fewer goals than the Dallas Stars, the West's "best" team. Quenneville and Corey Crawford - for some reason - don't get enough credit outside of Chicago. Whatever they're doing, it works. It's still working. Chicago doesn't need Ladd. But perhaps this move is about more than simply fit, because the Blackhawks have played a lot of hockey over the years. That's the price winners pay. We can't see it, but there's mileage on the legs of Kane, Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa, and Niklas Hjalmarsson. This is the beauty of Bowman, and his ability to remake his team while somehow keeping his core intact. Ladd's played four playoff games in five years. Artemi Panarin hasn't played one.As for the first-round pick, that's another price to pay for winning. No matter. Bowman inherited the only three he truly needed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have scratched forward Teddy Purcell and defenseman Justin Schultz ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings.Both players are among a number of Oilers who may be dealt ahead of the Feb. 29 deadline. TSN's Bob McKenzie added that though a Purcell deal isn't imminent, they want to ensure the forward stays healthy.

After Jakub Voracek said the Philadelphia Flyers' season would come down to a six-game homestand starting Thursday, goaltender Michal Neuvirth did his part by helping to secure two points against the Minnesota Wild in incredible fashion.With 1.6 seconds remaining and the Flyers up by one, Neuvirth reached back in desperation to rob Charlie Coyle on the goal line. The play was reviewed, but ultimately ruled a save.The Flyers now sit just three points out of a wild-card position held by cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The end appears to be nigh for the Edmonton Oilers' core group of young players.Taylor Hall is well aware that change is likely afoot as the team nears yet another last-place finish, and admits almost no one is safe from being dangled on the trade market, either before the NHL's trade deadline or at season's end."I could be gone, it could be Jordan (Eberle), it could be (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins)," Hall told Rob Tychkowski of the Edmonton Journal. "I don’t know what’s going to happen, but the fact of the matter is that nobody, aside from Connor (McDavid), has played well enough to solidify a spot on this team, and everyone realizes that."This admission comes days after general manager Peter Chiarelli put his club firmly in the sellers camp, stating plainly that changes will be made to the underachieving roster."Everyone has kind of heard that they might or they will (shake up the core)," Hall said. "Certainly nothing is in stone until it happens, but the fact is we’re not where we want to be. If we were closer to a playoff spot, or in one, I don’t think (Chiarelli would) be saying those things. It’s all because we haven’t played the way we can."Everyone is accountable, everyone knows there’s a target on their back. I don’t think anyone is safe."Winners of four of the past six NHL draft lotteries, the Oilers are once again in position to have the odds in their favor, and the possibility of adding another high-end forward prospect would only increase the likelihood of Edmonton shaking things up through a trade.Hall leads the team in scoring, and McDavid is the only player on the team averaging more than a point per game, meaning they're as close to untouchable as it gets on the Oilers, even if Hall isn't placing himself in that category.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another crown for King Henrik.With his 11th of 12 first-period stops against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Henrik Lundqvist passed Mike Richter for the New York Rangers' franchise record for most career saves.The milestone adds one more Rangers record to the 33-year-old's resume, which already includes franchise highs in wins (368), shutouts (59), and games played (670) among goaltenders.Since taking the team's starting goalie job at the start of the 2005-06 season, Lundqvist has been named to three All-Star games, won a Vezina Trophy in 2012, and was named the Rangers' MVP for seven consecutive seasons, ending in 2013.The only trophy left for the Swede, and one Richter raised back in 1994, is a Stanley Cup. Lundqvist backstopped his team to a Finals appearance in 2014, but they lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.The Rangers went on to win 2-1.

Though the Columbus Blue Jackets will likely miss the playoffs for the second year in a row, they certainly found a winner in Brandon Saad.The 23-year-old matched his age with his 23rd goal of the season against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday to equal his career high, which was set a year ago with the Chicago Blackhawks.

It'll be a second tour of duty in Chicago for Andrew Ladd.The Winnipeg Jets dealt their captain, and perhaps the most coveted rental asset on the market, back to the Blackhawks in exchange for a package including forward Marko Dano, a first-round draft pick, and a conditional draft selection in 2018.

Winnipeg Jets captain and prime trade target Andrew Ladd has been scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars.While the reason for the scratch is unknown, conversations between the Jets and Chicago Blackhawks in regards to a potential trade are believed to be heating up, according to Gary Lawless of TSN.Including Thursday's game in Dallas, the Jets have two games remaining prior to the NHL's Feb. 29 trade deadline.Ladd recorded a goal and saw almost 21 minutes of ice time in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Dallas.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed that forwards James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul will miss the rest of the regular season due to injury, according to multiple reports.Van Riemsdyk was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks of action, but is still in a walking boot after suffering a broken foot in January. He is expected to be ready to represent the United States at the World Cup of Hockey in September.

The Boston Bruins don't appear ready to flip Loui Eriksson on the trade market.Speaking on the "Felger and Mazz" show on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston on Thursday, team president Cam Neely admitted a new offer had been made to Eriksson and his camp in recent days."There have been recent discussions," Neely said. "(GM Don Sweeney) had sent something (Eriksson's) way the other day. We have not got a response yet, but yes, there's ongoing discussions."Neely couldn't say whether the two sides are close to an agreement pending Eriksson's response, and was then asked if he was surprised about not yet hearing back."Not really," he said. "It's kind of the way it's been going, so not really."He was then asked if the team is simultaneously taking trade calls on Eriksson while sitting in an Eastern Conference playoff spot."I know Don’s talking to teams about a number of different things," he said. "Not specifically Loui, but just, 'How are we going to improve our club today and tomorrow?'"Meanwhile, word out of Boston is the Bruins may be bending on term for Eriksson's next deal.

It will be an all-NHL roster, at least on initial release, when Russia names its outfit for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Alexei Zhamnov, a member of the country's brain trust, told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston that the 16 players selected to Russia's initial roster will be NHLers, exclusively."(For the remaining) seven spots, we'll discuss," Zhamnov said. "Maybe some players from KHL, too. Right now it’s most important for us to make the list of 16 players."Related: Projecting the 5 European World Cup rostersRussia has 16 players in North America more than capable of making the roster. In fact, it may have the tournament's best collection of forwards. But this decision likely isn't without a nudge from the NHL, which designed the event in order to showcase and celebrate its brand specifically."If we want to bring KHL players they will be the right players for the national team - that's all," Zhamnov said. "We come for the World Cup and we don't want to lose like every game, right? We want to win."If we take the players from KHL it's going to be good players."Question is, how is Ilya Kovalchuk classified?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are far and away the best team in the NHL at this stage of the regular season, and general manager Brian MacLellan realizes the opportunity to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup will present itself in the immediate future.But in today's salary cap world, things can change quickly, so he realizes the importance of striking while the iron is hot."I view it as a two-year window," MacLellan said Thursday, according to Chuck Gormley of CSN. "We’re going for it this year, we're going for it next year, and then after that we're evaluating where we're at. We're going to have some decisions to make as far as veteran players, and our young guys are going to be due for some pay raises."T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams have played a huge part in the current roster's achievements this season, but both are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2017, along with defenseman Karl Alzner.On top of that, key young players like Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky will be in line for big raises as restricted free agents.The Capitals have a 10-point advantage in the race for the Presidents' Trophy, and seem to have their best shot at winning in the Alex Ovechkin/Nicklas Backstrom era, especially with Vezina favorite Braden Holtby locking things down in net.It's not quite now or never for Washington, but anything less than a trip to the Final would be a disappointment.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - If anyone can understand the difficult spot Eric Staal is in, it's probably his Carolina Hurricanes teammate - and younger brother - Jordan.In the summer of 2012, Jordan Staal signed a 10-year, $60-million contract with Carolina. He was reportedly offered a similar deal to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was traded after turning it down. The lure of playing alongside Eric was too good to pass up.Now four seasons into playing together as teammates, Eric’s name is front and center as the Feb. 29 trade deadline approaches. Although it's entirely Eric’s choice if he wants to stay or go, the club's recent success complicates matters a little bit.Playoffs, or the future?Carolina is 4-2-2 in its last eight games heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Staal scored his first goal in 17 games in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. His production has dipped, his 32 points far below what's expected of a No. 1 center. But at times he shows flashes of the player he used to be.The Hurricanes' recent run has the team in the thick of the wild-card race. Only two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins in its push for the playoffs, trading Eric could send a message to the team that its goal is to win in the future, not today."It's obviously been a tough time for Eric and it is what it is," Jordan said. "It's a business and we want to make the playoffs. We're trying to push for that and that's been my goal."Perception is keyAlthough trading Eric Staal could be a sign Carolina's looking to the future, an argument could be made that pulling the trigger on a deal won't do much damage to the team's playoff hopes. His 0.52 points per game this season is his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2003-04, when he had 31 points in 81 games. A change of scenery for No. 12 could be a win for both him and the team.But Eric isn’t going it alone. His support system is better than most going through a similar situation. He has his brother by his side, who he can vent to and talk things out with, and that helps in keeping the speculation from becoming a distraction."It is a weird situation. Obviously we are close and we talk," Jordan said. "He’s been doing really well with it. He hasn't brought it into the room or anything like that. It's an awkward situation, but he's come to the rink, ready to work and ready to play everyday and that's all you can ask for."Raleigh to Broadway?It's up to Eric to decide if he wants to stay or go. Much like Jordan’s desire to leave Pittsburgh to play with his brother, Eric can decide he wants to play out the remainder of the season in Carolina - thanks to a no-movement clause in his contract, which expires this summer. There's also the substantial $8.25-million cap hit that any interested team would have to absorb - and many contending teams are tight up against the cap. Trading for Eric has to be worth it. And only one team comes to mind: The New York Rangers.With family an X-factor in his decision-making process, there exists an opportunity for Eric to play with another Staal brother - Marc, who anchors the blue line in Manhattan. And the Rangers' chances at a Stanley Cup are far greater than the Hurricanes'. It’s arguably the situation that makes the most sense.Other contending teams aren’t likely to trade for Eric Staal, due to the cost and the fact he'll be taken out of his comfort zone. He's only known the Hurricanes. So it becomes Carolina or New York.“Brothers stealing brothers, that’s not what I want to see,” said Jordan, with a smile.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Expect some fire under the bellies of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.Jakub Voracek didn't leave room for interpretation when describing the importance of the six-game homestand the Flyers will navigate over the next 11 days."We've got to make at least 10 points out of these next six games," he said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman."This is going to define if we're going to make the playoffs or not; this homestand."Five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card position and 12th in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia will host the Wild, Coyotes, Flames, Oilers, Blue Jackets, and Lightning before taking to the road for seven of the next nine.The Flyers have points in 20-of-28 games at the Wells Fargo Center, but have earned the full two only twice in their past nine.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray held court with the media Thursday, talking about his team's options ahead of Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.After a horrific start to the season, the Ducks are flying. They've won six in a row and are only two points back of the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division."I'm sure not selling now," Murray said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Helene Elliott. "I've saved enough in my budget to do something if I think it will help us."Murray added that addressing the club's depth on the wing "is a fair assumption," as reported by the Orange County Register's Eric Stephens on Twitter.The Ducks will have over $35 million in cap space on deadline day, according to generalfanager.com.The executive also talked about Anaheim's early season struggles."The start of the year was a circus and I couldn't get control of it quick enough," he said. "I've got to be harder on certain situations in the years going forward."Murray praised his coach and his players for digging themselves out of a deep hole. He also said he tried to negotiate new contracts with some of his restricted free agents - Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, and Rickard Rakell need new deals - in December, but "got nowhere.""It's going to be an interesting summer around here, I'll tell you that," he said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With his name flying around in trade rumors ahead of the NHL's Feb. 29 deadline, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis gave a candid interview on TSN 1040, reiterating that he hasn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause.Related - Report: Blackhawks have 'serious interest' in Canucks' Hamhuis, Vrbata"Everything is in the realm of possibility because there's so many moving parts," the pending unrestricted free agent said. "It's not fun seeing all the speculation."Hamhuis is in the final season of a contract paying him $4.25 million while carrying a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 33-year-old is from British Columbia, so potentially leaving the team he came home to play for presents an agonizing decision."This is not what you play for," he said. "You play to be in a playoff race."The Canucks are 10 points back in the Western Conference wild-card race. It's all but officially over, and the team's reportedly "open for business" in the trade market.Hamhuis could waive his no-trade clause, go to a contender to try and win a Stanley Cup, then return to Vancouver as a free agent in the offseason.

James van Riemdsyk's season might soon be over.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward's injury is more complicated than originally thought and he could miss the rest of the season, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.The 26-year-old left winger - who's been out since early January with a fractured foot - was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.He had 14 goals and 29 points in 40 games before the injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh is back, again.The captain will play Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues after missing two games following a headshot from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov on Feb. 18.Related: Maple Leafs' Komarov suspended 3 games for elbowing Rangers' McDonaghThe injury came while McDonagh was playing in just his second game since being punched and concussed by Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6.Marc Staal will also return to the lineup Thursday night after missing Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.