Philadelphia Flyers forward Lukas Sedlak is leaving the team to return home to Czechia."I just felt, overall, me playing in the NHL, it didn't bring me what I expected it to bring me," he said Saturday. "I would rather be home with my family. It's more than one reason, they kind of all combine together. That's why I made a decision. ... It's nothing with the organization, with the team, or anything like that."He added that he would most likely end up playing for Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga.The Flyers placed him on unconditional waivers.Sedlak signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche in June after spending the previous three seasons in the KHL. He made the defending Stanley Cup champions' opening roster but was placed on waivers after three games.The Flyers claimed him on Oct. 19, and he put up three goals and five assists while averaging 12:42 of ice time in 27 games.Head coach John Tortorella addressed Sedlak's departure Saturday."He's just decided to go home. He's done playing here," Tortorella said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "He wants to go back home. ... He's a good man. We're gonna miss him."Sedlak played under Tortorella during his time in Columbus. The Blue Jackets drafted him in the sixth round in 2011, and he spent three seasons in Ohio, starting in 2016-17.However, Sedlak opted to sign with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL as a restricted free agent at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. He didn't return to the NHL until this season.In all, Sedlak amassed 18 goals and 17 assists in 192 career NHL games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is considering increasing its regular-season schedule from 82 games to 84, sources told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Under the current format, some teams play only three games against a divisional rival, while others play four. To round out the rest of the schedule, all teams play three contests against non-divisional squads residing in the same conference and two games against each opponent from the other conference.By adding two more games into the mix, teams would then be able to take on their divisional opponents four times each in a season.The idea of an 84-game schedule wasn't formally broached at the recent board of governors meeting, but it is expected to be discussed at the general managers' meeting in March, according to Wyshynski.Sportico first reported on the NHL's consideration of a schedule shift earlier this week. General managers reportedly explored the topic in November with the goal of reducing travel, adding more games between local rivals, and ultimately bringing in more money across the league.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier, and Luke Hughes are among the 25 players the United States will have at its disposal for the upcoming World Junior Championship.USA Hockey revealed its final roster for the 2023 tournament Friday. Only 23 players can be registered to play at a time, and if someone is injured or ill, they can be replaced by one of the credentialed extras but can't return to the tourney after that, a USAH official told FloHockey's Chris Peters.This differs from the last two years, in which all 25 players on a team's roster were eligible, with 22 dressing for each game.Here's the roster, listed alphabetically by position:ForwardsPlayerClubNHL rightsJackson BlakeNorth Dakota (NCAA)Carolina HurricanesGavin BrindleyMichigan (NCAA)Draft-eligibleTyler BoucherOttawa (OHL)Ottawa SenatorsKenny ConnorsMassachusetts (NCAA)Los Angeles KingsLogan CooleyMinnesota (NCAA)Arizona CoyotesDylan DukeMichigan (NCAA)Tampa Bay LightningCutter GauthierBoston College (NCAA)Philadelphia FlyersNoah LabaColorado College (NCAA)New York RangersSam LipkinQuinnipiac (NCAA)CoyotesChaz LuciusManitoba (AHL)Winnipeg JetsRutger McGroartyMichigan (NCAA)JetsRed SavageMiami of Ohio (NCAA)Detroit Red WingsJimmy SnuggerudMinnesota (NCAA)St. Louis BluesCharlie StramelWisconsin (NCAA)Draft-eligibleThe Coyotes drafted Cooley third overall in July. He ranks fifth in NCAA point production this season with 25 in 19 games. The Flyers chose Gauthier two picks later. He has as many goals (10) as Cooley along with six assists across 13 contests in 2022-23.Cooley, Savage, and Stramel played in the rescheduled world junior tourney in August.DefensemenPlayerClubNHL rightsSean BehrensDenver (NCAA)Colorado AvalancheSeamus CaseyMichigan (NCAA)New Jersey DevilsRyan ChesleyMinnesota (NCAA)Washington CapitalsLuke HughesMichigan (NCAA)DevilsLane HutsonBoston (NCAA)Montreal CanadiensLuke MittelstadtMinnesota (NCAA)Draft-eligibleJack PeartSt. Cloud State (NCAA)Minnesota WildRyan UfkoMassachusetts (NCAA)Nashville PredatorsThe Devils drafted Hughes - whose brother, Jack, is currently starring for New Jersey - with the fourth overall pick in 2021. Hughes, Behrens, and Peart are returning after suiting up for the American junior squad in August.GoaltendersPlayerClubNHL rightsTrey AugustineUSNTDP/Michigan State in 2023-24 (NCAA)Draft-eligibleKaidan MberekoColorado College (NCAA)Draft-eligibleAndrew OkeSaginaw (OHL)Draft-eligibleMbereko and Oke are back after representing the U.S. at the summer tournament.The 2023 World Junior Championship begins Dec. 26, 2022, in Halifax and Moncton. The United States will face Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Switzerland in Group B during preliminary-round play in New Brunswick.The Americans will play two pre-tournament tilts in Canada - against Sweden on Monday and versus Finland on Wednesday. The U.S. opens its tournament against Latvia on Dec. 26.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana was reinstated from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program Friday, but head coach Derek Lalonde made it clear the team wouldn't rush him back into the lineup."It's just great to have him back ... able to practice with us. The next step is when we think he can be game ready," Lalonde said, per the Detroit Free Press. "Obviously, he's been out for almost two-plus months, it was his first skate today, we want to be really patient with it. ... We want to put him in the best position to be successful when he's game ready."When that's going to be, I don't know."Vrana, who has only played in two games this season, entered the player assistance program Oct. 19.The NHLPA released a statement earlier Friday saying Vrana is available to play after entering the follow-up care phase of the program. The 26-year-old skated with his teammates while sporting a blue noncontact sweater."It feels awesome, I'm so happy to be back, see the guys," a smiling Vrana told reporters after practice. "It was really positive. I'm just happy to be back here."He added, "(I tried) to stay in shape as much as I could, and I felt really good on the ice. Now, it's just a matter of time. Obviously, that's not my decision, I just follow the orders and do the best I can every day to stay in shape and be able to help the team."Vrana didn't get into his experiences with the program, only noting that "there's bigger things than hockey in life."Detroit acquired Vrana from the Washington Capitals at the 2021 trade deadline. He was only able to play in 26 games last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.The 2018 Stanley Cup champion has made a strong impact whenever he's been able to slot into the Red Wings' lineup; in 39 games, Vrana has chipped in with 22 goals and 10 assists.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday night was a successful one on the ice. The Panthers let us down against the Penguins, but we hit all three player props and a sweat-free under in Washington to go 4-1 overall.We'll look to pick up where we left off with a couple plays for the weekend slate.Islanders (-185) @ Coyotes (+165)

After ranking the 10 best acquisitions Thursday, we're exploring the other end of the spectrum and analyzing the 10 worst additions from the 2022 NHL offseason.Every summer, teams get desperate and will overpay in free agency and on the trade market. This past offseason was no exception. Some moves looked awful the minute they were made, while some players - despite strong track records - haven't been able to find their groove in their new surroundings.These rankings factor in how players have performed with their new teams through the one-third mark of the campaign, acquisition cost, contract, and long-term outlook. Let's dive in.

The St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers' clash Thursday night seemed to have a bit of everything.Vladimir Tarasenko forced the contest to overtime, scoring the tying goal with 20 seconds left in regulation.In the extra frame, Leon Draisaitl appeared to have won the game for the Oilers, but after a review, the goal was called back because Connor McDavid was offside.

Mitch Marner was held off the scoresheet for the first time in 24 games as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-1 to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.Marner's scorching run set a new Maple Leafs franchise record, eclipsing the 18-game point streak previously held by Darryl Sittler and Eddie Olczyk."Sometimes stuff doesn't go right for you and for the team," Marner said, per Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. "Streaks are going to end eventually. I knew that. So it's not like I'm mad about it. I knew it was coming to an end eventually. It's hard to get points in this league. It's why it's the best league in the world."Over the last 30 years, only three players have managed longer streaks than Marner's: Mats Sundin (30) in 1992-93, Patrick Kane (26) in 2015-16, and Sidney Crosby (25) in 2010-11.Marner collected 32 points - 11 goals and 21 assists - while averaging nearly 21 minutes per contest during that stretch. He couldn't break through with three shots on net over 22:38 of ice time Thursday."We all would have loved for it to continue," captain and linemate John Tavares said. "It was a hell of a run. Obviously, I didn't want to see it end, but at the same time, even though it has, it's still extremely impressive."The defeat also signaled the end of Toronto's 15-game point streak. The Maple Leafs went 12-0-3 after losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 11. They fell one game short of matching a franchise record for games without losing in regulation.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings inked forward Trevor Moore to a five-year contract extension at an average annual value of $4.2 million, the club announced Thursday.Moore, who was a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final season of a two-year pact carrying a cap hit of $1.875 million.The 27-year-old collected seven goals and 11 assists across 32 games entering Thursday's action. He established career highs with 17 tallies and 31 helpers over 81 contests in 2021-22.Moore has been a key component of the Kings' solid second line alongside Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault. Moore has been versatile, too. He plays on the team's second power-play unit as well as its top penalty-killing group. Moore's averaging a career-best 17:40 of ice time as a result.The California-born winger came into Thursday's slate boasting commendable underlying figures as well. Los Angeles controlled 55.69% of the expected goals with Moore on the ice at five-on-five and 55.17% of the scoring chances in the same situations over those 32 games, according to Natural Stat Trick.Moore is in his third full season and fourth campaign in total with the Kings. They acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the trade that sent goaltender Jack Campbell north of the border in February 2020. Moore debuted with the Leafs in 2018-19. He was an undrafted development camp invitee who ultimately cracked Toronto's roster.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason always provides plenty of player movement, and 2022 was no exception. We decided to analyze the best summer additions based on how players have fit into their new surroundings through the one-third mark of the season. We also factored in acquisition cost, contract, and long-term outlook into these rankings.On Friday, we'll rank the 10 worst acquisitions from the offseason. But first, without further ado, the 10 best:

We have an action-packed 12-game slate of games to look forward to Thursday night. Let's dive into a few of the many shot props that stand out.Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (+100)Kucherov is generally somebody to target on home ice. There, he finds himself in some more advantageous matchups, whereas on the road, teams use their best two-way players to try to slow him down.In terms of shots on goal, the Lightning star has cooled off a little of late. He has gone over the number in just three of his last 10 home dates. It's not for a lack of opportunity, though.Kucherov has averaged 7.6 shot attempts per game over that stretch in Tampa Bay. That's well above his season average of 6.2. So long as the volume continues to be there, it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting again.Luckily, Kucherov finds himself in the ultimate get-right spot. At five-on-five, the Blue Jackets rank bottom five in shot suppression over the last 10 games. Better yet, they have also spent the third-most time killing penalties.Kucherov should be able to do real damage at full strength and, if all else fails, figures to have a few power-play opportunities to help push him over the edge.Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots (-110)Caufield is another player known for his home cooking. He has gone over the number in six of his last nine games in Montreal and, like Kucherov, has generated shot attempts at a noticeably higher rate at the Bell Centre.The Canadiens forward has averaged 6.6 shot attempts over his last 10 home dates. That's a big step up from his last-10 road average of 5.1.I expect Caufield's home success to continue in a smash spot against the Ducks. At five-on-five, the Ducks sit last - by a significant margin - in shot attempts and shots on goal conceded over the last 10 games. They're also a subpar penalty-killing team. Caufield should be the primary beneficiary of that.Caufield had a four-shot, eight-attempt game against the Senators on Wednesday night. I expect a similar effort in this one.Taylor Hall over 2.5 shots (-105)Hall has quietly been shooting the lights out. He has generated at least three shots on goal in seven of the last nine games, falling just one puck shy in both of the exceptions.He is consistently going over his shot total and legitimately threatening to do so every night for the Bruins.The Kings have not been great on defense recently, ranking bottom eight in shot suppression at five-on-five. Hall doesn't get a ton of power-play time, so he needs to do the heavy lifting at even strength. This is a sneaky good spot where he should be able to do that.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday night was a good one on the ice as we hit two of our three best bets. The Wild comfortably won in regulation while we doubled up on our first period over in Calgary. Unfortunately, Elias Pettersson couldn't complete the sweep by picking up three shots or more.We'll look to keep the ball rolling for Thursday night's slate.Penguins (+100) @ Panthers (-120)The Penguins are one of the hottest teams in hockey, winning six consecutive games, eight of the last 10, and picking up at least a point in all but one game.This run is not just smoke and mirrors. Pittsburgh has controlled over 54% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, which is among the highest rates in the league. They have routinely gotten the better of the chances and taken full advantage.That being said, I think the fun stops Thursday night in Florida, and there are a few reasons I really like the Panthers in this spot.For one, they're starting to get healthy again. Aleksander Barkov recently returned to the lineup, and any combination of Carter Verhaeghe, Radko Gudas, and Spencer Knight could play as soon as this evening.Verhaeghe leads the team in goals (15), Gudas is an underrated defensive blueliner, and Knight has very clearly been the Panthers' best netminder this season.Knight has stopped 3.2 goals more than expected, while his partner in crime Sergei Bobrovsky sits at -2.1 in that category. Florida could use that extra prowess between the pipes against a team featuring the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jake Guentzel.And as the Panthers start getting healthy, the Penguins are running into injury problems. Jason Zucker and Jeff Petry will both most likely be out of the lineup for weeks.Zucker is amid a nice bounce-back campaign, having put up 20 points (ranking fourth on the Penguins) through 27 games. Petry is perhaps an even tougher injury to absorb - he averaged better than 22 minutes per night and had been playing some of his best hockey lately.Losing those key contributors will test Pittsburgh's depth and make the team less potent at five-on-five, which isn't ideal when going up against a Florida team that quietly sits fourth in expected goal share over the last 10 games.Look for the Panthers to take care of business on home ice.Bet: Panthers (-120)Stars (-115) @ Capitals (-105)Playing an under in a game with lethal snipers like Alexander Ovechkin and Jason Robertson is always a scary proposition. Value is value, though, and I see it here.The Capitals are playing fantastic hockey right now - especially at the defensive end of the ice. Washington has conceded only 2.27 expected goals per 60 at five-on-five over the last 10 games, good for sixth in the NHL. The team grades out even better when limiting high-danger opportunities, slotting into third place.With Dmitry Orlov just returning after more than a month away, there's every reason to believe the Capitals can continue to be a stout defensive side.On the other end, the Stars also fair pretty well in high-danger chances against per 60, ranking ninth over the last 10, plus they have two goaltenders - Jake Oettinger and Scott Wedgwood - giving them above-average goaltending on a nightly basis.These two sides have met three times this calendar year. No game went over the number, and only 12 total goals (four per game) were scored.With both teams defending at a high level and stable goaltending in each crease, I expect another low-scoring affair.Bet: Under 6 (-110)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin trademarked "THE GR8 CHASE" as he continues to chip away at Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record, the Washington Capitals told ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Ovechkin's family, the Capitals, the NHL, and the players' association created the logo, which will be available on merchandise at Washington's home game Thursday against the Dallas Stars. ESPN via Alex Ovechkin"THE GR8 CHASE" refers to Ovechkin's nickname "The Great Eight," Gretzky's nickname "The Great One," and Ovi's chase of the all-time goals record.Ovechkin recorded a hat trick Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks to become the third player in league history to score 800 goals.PlayerGoalsWayne Gretzky894Gordie Howe801Alex Ovechkin800The 37-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down with 20 goals in 31 games this campaign. Ovechkin projects to catch Gretzky within the next few seasons if he keeps up his current pace.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have once again been crowned the most valuable team in the NHL.The Rangers claimed the top spot on Forbes' list of NHL team values for the eighth consecutive year with a $2.2 billion valuation, up 10% from 2021. Rounding out the top five are the Toronto Maple Leafs ($2 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($1.85 billion), Chicago Blackhawks ($1.5 billion), and Boston Bruins ($1.4 billion).The Tampa Bay Lightning, who sit in 14th place at $1 billion, experienced the biggest jump in value among the 32 teams, with a 54% increase from last year.NHL teams are now worth $1.03 billion on average - the first time the league's franchises have ever topped the $1 billion mark.Here's the complete list:RANKTEAMVALUE1-YEAR CHANGE1New York Rangers$2.2B10%2Toronto Maple Leafs$2B11%3Montreal Canadiens$1.85B16%4Chicago Blackhawks$1.5B7%5Boston Bruins$1.4B8%6Los Angeles Kings$1.3B27%7Edmonton Oilers$1.275B16%8Philadelphia Flyers$1.25B4%9Washington Capitals$1.2B29%10Seattle Kraken$1.05B20%11Detroit Red Wings$1.03B4%12New York Islanders$1.02B7%13Vancouver Canucks$1.01B22%14Tampa Bay Lightning$1B54%15Pittsburgh Penguins$990M10%16Vegas Golden Knights$965M36%17New Jersey Devils$960M24%18Dallas Stars$925M28%19St. Louis Blues$880M38%20Colorado Avalanche$860M37%21Calgary Flames$855M26%22Minnesota Wild$850M26%23Nashville Predators$810M35%24Ottawa Senators$800M52%25San Jose Sharks$740M18%26Anaheim Ducks$725M17%27Winnipeg Jets$650M13%28Carolina Hurricanes$640M16%29Columbus Blue Jackets$620M31%30Buffalo Sabres$610M22%31Florida Panthers$550M22%32Arizona Coyotes$450M12%Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators restricted free agent Alex Formenton signed a contract with the Swiss National League's Ambri-Piotta Hockey Club for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign, the team announced Wednesday.Formenton, 23, is ineligible to play in the NHL this season after he and the Senators failed to reach an agreement by the Dec. 1 signing deadline.The winger was a member of Canada's 2018 world junior squad. The team has been under intense scrutiny since details emerged this spring about an alleged group sexual assault involving eight Hockey Canada players, including some from the gold-medal winning roster.Formenton is one of the few players who has yet to comment on the investigation into the allegations. Back in September, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said the situation had nothing to do with Formenton's contract status, according to the Canadian Press.Selected by the Senators in the second round of the 2017 draft, Formenton put up 18 goals and 14 assists in 79 games last season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a small three-game slate on the docket for Wednesday night. Let's look at three bets that stand out from the rest.Red Wings (+210) @ Wild (-250)The Red Wings are starting to come down to earth following a surprisingly strong start to the season, and rightfully so.They've won just twice over the last eight games, which makes a lot of sense when you look at the numbers.Detroit has posted a putrid 43.48% expected goal share at five-on-five, which ranks 29th in the NHL, only ahead of bottom-feeders like the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Ducks. That's not the best company to be keeping for a team hoping to contend for a playoff spot.Ville Husso has done a great job of masking the Red Wings' problems this season. But they're playing at such a poor level he has little margin for error.Take Tuesday, for example. Husso conceded one goal against an excellent Hurricanes team, and that wasn't enough to help Detroit grab even one point in the standings.Now the Red Wings have to travel to Minnesota to take on a red-hot Wild team. Minnesota has won six of its last eight and stomped opponents at five-on-five, posting a remarkably strong 56.55 expected goals for percentage.The Wild should dominate the run of play against a fatigued and struggling Red Wings team. Although Husso has started both legs of a back-to-back this season, Detroit will likely turn to Alex Nedeljkovic in this spot.If that's the case, Kirill Kaprizov and Co. should be champing at the bit to get a piece of him. Nedeljkovic owns a .880 save percentage and has won just two games through nine appearances.He's also conceded 11.1 goals more than expected. Among 59 goaltenders to man the crease at least nine times this campaign, only Elvis Merzlikins has allowed more goals than expected on a per-start basis.Look for the Wild to take care of business inside 60 minutes.Bet: Wild in regulation (-155)Canucks (+150) @ Flames (-175)The Canucks and Flames are amid very strange seasons. It feels like you never know what you'll get from either on a nightly basis.Vancouver will look like it's in the Conor Bedard sweepstakes one night but then take out a top-tier team the next. The Flames will look like last season's powerhouse club one night but then lose to the Blue Jackets by multiple goals the next.However, scoring goals in the first period is the one consistent area for both teams.Only two squads - Golden Knights and Sabres - have scored more times in the first period than the Flames this campaign. Win or lose, Calgary generally finds a way to put the puck in the net early.The Canucks aren't far behind. They're tied for eighth in goals scored in the opening frame and rank fifth on a per-game basis.With each side playing high-event hockey in the early goings of contests and both clubs ranking bottom 10 in team save percentage, there's plenty of reason to expect early fireworks here.Bet: Over 1.5 first period goals (-140)Elias Pettersson over 2.5 shots (-140)Sticking with this all-Canadian matchup, Elias Pettersson pops off the page more than anybody else with regards to shot props.Pettersson has been remarkably consistent shooting the puck, generating at least three shots on target in nine of the last 10 games.He's hit against the Vegas Golden Knights twice, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, and Wild in that time, so it's not as if he's benefited from a soft schedule. He's getting the job done against strong teams.Pettersson has one of the highest shooting ceilings and floors in the league right now. He's generated 72 shot attempts over the last 10 games, which ranks eighth in the NHL behind the likes of Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews.The Flames aren't a priority target for shots. But 2.5 isn't a big ask given the volume we're seeing from Pettersson.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Stutzle has apparently dodged a major injury.The Ottawa Senators phenom will miss at least a week with a shoulder contusion suffered Monday against the Anaheim Ducks, head coach D.J. Smith announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Ian Mendes.Stutzle was crunched hard into the boards by Brett Leason.

Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said he won't tear down his club while icon Alex Ovechkin chases down Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record."I'm not gonna do what I did last time and trade everybody," Leonsis told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski."I'm sure there'll be an influx of some young players, but we're not gonna rebuild the team," he added. "To me, a rebuild is when you look the players, the coaches, the fans in the eye and say we're gonna be really, really bad. And if we were really, really bad, I don't think Alex would break the record."Leonsis, who's owned the franchise since 1999, is referencing the teardown he oversaw in the early 2000s before landing Ovechkin with the first overall pick in 2004.Ovechkin's arrival completely transformed the organization. Washington has made the playoffs 14 times since being built around the Russian sniper, winning a Stanley Cup in 2018. However, the Capitals haven't won a playoff series since their long-awaited triumph and currently sit outside a playoff spot with a 14-12-4 record.Washington has dealt with several key injuries early in the 2022-23 campaign, but Ovechkin's goal pursuit has been a bright spot. The 37-year-old has 20 tallies in 31 games and is now up to 800 for his career. Ovechkin is 94 goals from tying the Great One and a mere two from passing Gordie Howe for second on the all-time list.Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5-million extension in 2021 not only with the record in mind but in hopes of capturing another championship."He's very cognizant of doing this the right way," Leonsis explained. "Alex said, 'I'm not gonna be a third-line guy playing 8-to-10 minutes a game (where you) trot me out on the power play and let me score my goals. That's not what I want to do. Promise me you'll keep the team competitive (and) a playoff team.' And he promised to come in shape all the time and not be fixated on the record but be fixated on winning another Stanley Cup."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin joined Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe as the only NHL players to score 800 career goals when he completed a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat did his best to sidestep rampant trade speculation Tuesday, releasing a brief statement assuring his commitment to the franchise for the time being."I am focused on this season and playing for the Vancouver Canucks, helping the team in any way I can." the statement reads. "I will not have any further comments this year about my future."Horvat addressed his statement later Tuesday."At this point, it's not about me," he said, according to Thomas Drance of The Athletic. I've always wanted to keep this confidential ... I don't want to let this be a distraction ... I feel bad for my teammates having to hear all about this in the media."It was reported Monday that Horvat and his camp rejected Vancouver's most recent contract extension offer a few weeks ago, forcing the club to shift its focus toward the trade market for the 27-year-old.Horvat is a pending unrestricted free agent and is expected to earn a significant raise over the $5.5-million cap hit he's had since 2017. This past offseason, the Canucks awarded forward J.T. Miller with a seven-year $56-million extension that will kick in for the 2023-24 campaign, making it difficult for the cap-strapped club to afford a new deal for Horvat as well.Vancouver drafted Horvat ninth overall in 2013 and named him captain in 2019. The Ontario-born center is in the midst of a career year, ranking fourth in the NHL with 20 goals through 28 games while averaging nearly 21 minutes per night.The Canucks currently sit sixth in the Pacific Division with a 12-13-3 record.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A significant salary-cap increase for the 2023-24 NHL season now appears unlikely.Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is projecting a $70-million escrow balance at the end of the 2022-23 season, which would result in the cap ceiling rising by just $1 million to $83.5 million for next year, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.Bettman said in October that players were likely to pay off the escrow balance by the end of the season, which would've resulted in an increase of about $4 million.A preseason report projected an $83.5-million cap for next season but approximately $88 million for 2024-25 and $92 million for 2025-26.The NHL salary cap was stuck at $81.5 million for the previous three seasons due to pandemic-related revenue losses. It rose to $82.5 million for the current campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a massive slate of NHL games on Tuesday night, which means there are a boatload of player props to comb through.Let's take a look at three that stood out from the rest.Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (+100)Matthews took a while to hit his shooting stride, but he sure seems to have turned a corner. The superstar Maple Leafs sniper has gone over his shot total in five of his last seven games, clearing six shots on four occasions in that stretch.No. 34 is in a great spot for that success to continue at home to the Ducks. They have been horrendous defensively all season long and yet they continue to reach new lows.The Ducks have conceded more than 68 attempts, and 37 shots on goal, per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over the last 10 games. Both totals comfortably rank them last in the NHL.They aren't very good on the penalty kill, either, so Matthews figures to get plenty of looks on the man advantage as well.Given his shooting trajectory and the fact this putrid Anaheim team is on the latter half of a road back-to-back, there's every reason to expect another active night from Matthews.Gustav Forsling over 2.5 shots (-135)The following Florida Panthers have generated more shot attempts than Gustav Forsling over the last eight games:...That's right: nobody. Not Matthew Tkachuk. Not Aleksander Barkov. Not Carter Verhaeghe. Not Aaron Ekblad. Nobody.Forsling has logged nearly 25 minutes per game in that time and made the most of it, generating 55 attempts for an average of just under seven per game. That's more than enough to hit three shots on a consistent basis, which is why Forsling has gone over the number in six of his last seven.I like Forsling's chances of making it seven hits in eight tries tonight against the Blue Jackets.Columbus allows a whopping 11.51 shots per game to opposing defensemen. The Coyotes (10.58), Ducks (10.41), and Oilers (10.07) are the only other teams allowing double digits, and the Blue Jackets have distanced themselves from that group quite a bit.With Forsling logging so much ice time, he should make the most of this advantageous matchup.Timo Meier over 4.5 shots (+105)At home, Meier has gone over his shot total in six of the last 10 and two of the last six. Those are not great numbers, especially compared to what we've grown accustomed to seeing from the Sharks forward.Don't let the results take you off of him, though; the process remains as solid as ever.Meier has averaged 9.2 shot attempts per game over his last 10 at home. For the season, he has averaged 8.2 attempts at home. So he's actually shooting the puck more than he was earlier in the year, when it felt like he was automatic every night regardless of the game location.As long as he maintains his attempt volume, it's a matter of time before he gets consistent results again.As is the case with Matthews and Forsling, Meier finds himself in one of the best matchups you could ask for. The Coyotes struggle to defend at five-on-five and take a ton of penalties, allowing extra shooting opportunities for Sharks players like Meier.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At the one-third mark of the NHL season, theScore's John Matisz and Josh Wegman offer their takes on four hot topics captivating the hockey world.Which breakout superstar would you rather build a team around, Jason Robertson or Tage Thompson? Joshua Bessex / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegman: Thompson, and I swear this isn't recency bias after watching the Buffalo Sabres star's five-goal outburst last week. Both are exceptional talents, but I lean toward Thompson because he's a center, and all great teams are built strong down the middle. Plus, at 6-foot-7 with soft hands and a heavy shot, his ceiling is limitless. If we're factoring contracts into the decision, Thompson, 25, is signed through the prime of his career with an extremely team-friendly seven-year, $50-million extension that begins next season. Robertson is signed through 2025-26 at a $7.75-million cap hit before he's due for a sizable raise.Matisz: Robertson - for four main reasons. First, he's two years younger. Given their ages, this typically wouldn't be an important distinction. However, we're talking about building a team around one or the other, so the gap is a key data point. Second, Robertson's top attribute is his brain. One of the more cerebral players in the sport, the Dallas Stars winger's hockey IQ is off the charts. Thompson, meanwhile, relies heavily on physical gifts, which tend to deteriorate sooner and quicker. In other words, I'll probably prefer having 28-year-old Robertson over 28-year-old Thompson. Third, Robertson is arguably a more polished dual threat. He can facilitate scoring chances one shift and pull the trigger himself the next. Lastly, while neither is a defensive specialist, I trust Robertson's off-puck chops slightly more than Thompson's.True or false: One of the Oilers or Rangers - both conference finalists last year - will miss the playoffs. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegman: True. It's hard to imagine that the Rangers and Oilers - with as much star power as they possess - are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs at this stage of the season, but here we are. I'm less concerned about Edmonton, mainly because the Pacific Division and Western Conference are much easier. But New York is in tough playing in the much deeper Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. Igor Shesterkin masked a lot of the Rangers' issues a year ago. Now that he's playing at a human-like level, the Blueshirts are being exposed for who they really are - a team with plenty of flaws.Matisz: False. I don't care how unreliable the goaltending is, the probability of a team with prime Connor McDavid and prime Leon Draisaitl missing the playoffs is close to zero. The Oilers are in a wild-card spot with Evander Kane sidelined for half the season. Kane (wrist injury) is expected back around February, and surely a piece or two will be added before the trade deadline.As for the Rangers, there's been an overreaction to their 15-10-5 record. Sure, they're an imperfect team, but New York sits eighth in expected goals for percentage, 25th in shooting percentage, and 12th in save percentage. I'm confident the strong underlying numbers will turn into more goals and saves as the season progresses. The top of the Rangers' lineup - from Adam Fox to Artemi Panarin to Shesterkin - won't go down without a fight.Should the Devils be viewed as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegman: No. I've been a big believer in the Devils' rebuild under general manager Tom Fitzgerald. I also love the direction they're headed, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win the Presidents' Trophy this year or a Stanley Cup down the line. However, the playoffs are a different beast, and this core group of players has never been to the postseason together. Every Cup-winning team in recent memory experienced some playoff heartbreak before reaching the top of the mountain. I don't expect the Devils to go all the way in their first crack at it.Matisz: No. Not yet, anyway. Ask me in another 28 Devils games, and I may have changed my mind. The "legitimate Cup contender" label should be reserved for four or five teams per season. Based on both surface-level and underlying stats, this club deserves the title. Yet, the jury is still out on the goaltending, and we can't ignore how much the style of play changes in the postseason. New Jersey's blue line is built for playoff hockey, but is the forward group? Hard to say. Another layer to this: excluding Vegas' run as an expansion team, only seven of the 39 conference finalists over the past 10 years missed the playoffs the year prior. The Devils, who last made the dance in 2018, could end up part of that 18% - they are that good. But, again, it's too early to be fully confident in them as a legit Cup contender.NHL save percentage is down, and several highly paid netminders are struggling. What gives? Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWegman: I don't necessarily think it's a goaltending issue, per se. I think we're just seeing the game evolve positively. First, the NHL cracking down on penalties over the years (slashing in 2017, cross-checking last year) has gradually made it tougher to play defense than ever before. Second, there's just so much more skill in the game today. In Europe and North America, skill coaching is more prevalent than ever at the grassroots level, and we're starting to see that come to light at the pro level. Heck, even a veteran player like Luke Schenn, known as a physical, stay-at-home defenseman, needed skill coaching to save his career.Matisz: Where to start? All modern defensemen must be mobile and, at the very least, competent offensively. This archetype change has led to cleaner breakouts and more odd-man rushes during five-on-five play. The rulebook has changed. Through sharper video and statistical analysis, power plays have become extra efficient. Teams are also boosting the likelihood of scoring by limiting shots from the point and instead focusing on the slot. The proliferation of offensive skills coaches, better stick technology, and an industry-wide love for east-west passing have made stopping pucks more difficult than ever. Plus, the flat salary cap has forced additional younger, cheaper, defensively flawed skaters into the lineup. The list goes on and on ...Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a jam-packed night of NHL action ahead of us with 12 games scheduled for Tuesday's slate. Let's look at a couple of the best ways to attack it.Golden Knights (+115) @ Jets (-135)The Vegas Golden Knights enter this contest in quite a rut. They have lost as many times (five) over the last 10 games as they did over their first 20.When they do win, they're just squeaking by; they've picked up one regulation win over the last three weeks.Those are not flattering results and, quite frankly, they might be better than deserved. Vegas has controlled just 45.89% of the shot attempts - and 44.70% of the expected goals share - over the last 10 games, putrid numbers that leave the Golden Knights bottom six in both categories.Why have they gone from world-beaters to a run-of-the-mill team? In a word, injuries.Jack Eichel is their best, and most dynamic, player. He is out. So are Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, All-Star-caliber defensemen who combine to chew up more than 45 minutes per night.Surviving without one of those players is difficult enough. Avoiding a huge drop-off without all three is borderline impossible - and the proof is in the pudding.I think they're going to have a difficult time against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. The Jets have been better at five-on-five under Rick Bowness, they have a very dangerous power play, and Connor Hellebuyck remains one of the league's best goaltenders.There's a lot to like about this Jets team, which seems a little undervalued against a Golden Knights side that's missing a ton of punch. Back the home team at a more than fair price.Bet: Jets (-135)Capitals (-200) @ Blackhawks (+170)The Chicago Blackhawks have won just one of their last 10 games and are full value for it. They have been absolutely abysmal.At five-on-five, the Blackhawks have controlled around 40% of the shot attempts and expected goals. They sit 30th or worse in each category, keeping company with the lowly Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes.They are getting their clock cleaned at full strength every night and I don't see that changing against the Capitals, who are playing their best hockey of the season. Washington has won seven of the last 10 games and posted an xG share of nearly 54% in that time.Alex Ovechkin is firing on all cylinders, John Carlson is back doing John Carlson things, and the Caps are starting to get more balance in the lineup with better health.The Capitals should be able to create a wealth of chances against a Blackhawks team that can't defend a lick. That's especially problematic with Petr Mrazek scheduled to be in net.Mrazek owns an .884 save percentage and has conceded 7.4 more goals than expected. His average of minus-0.882 goals saved above expected per game ranks him 51st among the 56 netminders to appear at least nine times this season.I expect the Capitals - long known for their clinical finishing - to do some real damage.Bet: Capitals in regulation (-130)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada unveiled its 22-man roster for the upcoming 2023 World Junior Championship on Monday.The event takes place in Halifax and Moncton and begins on its traditional start date of Boxing Day. Canada opens the tournament against Czechia.Here's the full roster:ForwardsPLAYER CURRENT TEAM NHL RIGHTSCaedan BankierKamloops (WHL)MINConnor BedardRegina (WHL)2023 eligibleColton DachKelowna (WHL)CHIZach DeanGatineau (QMJHL)VGKAdam FantilliMichigan (NCAA)2023 eligibleNathan GaucherQuebec (QMJHL)ANADylan GuentherArizona (NHL)ARIZack OstapchukVancouver (WHL)OTTBrennan OthmannPeterborough (OHL)NYRJoshua RoySherbrooke (QMJHL)MTLReid SchaeferSeattle (WHL)EDMLogan StankovenKamloops (WHL)DALShane WrightSeattle (NHL)SEADefensemenPLAYER CURRENT TEAM NHL RIGHTSNolan AllanSeattle (WHL)CHIBrandt ClarkeLos Angeles (NHL)LAKEthan Del MastroMississauga (OHL)CHITyson HindsSherbrooke (QMJHL)ANAKevin KorchinskiSeattle (WHL)CHIJack MatierOttawa (OHL)NSHOlen ZellwegerEverett (WHL)ANAGoaltendersPLAYER CURRENT TEAM NHL RIGHTSBenjamin GaudreauSarnia (OHL)SJSThomas MilicSeattle (WHL)UndraftedConnor Bedard, Ethan Del Mastro, Nathan Gaucher, Zack Ostapchuk, Brennan Othmann, Joshua Roy, Logan Stankoven, and Olen Zellweger return from the Canadian squad that won gold in August at the world juniors.Forwards Owen Beck, Zachary Bolduc, Jordan Dumais, Ryan Greene, Riley Kidney, defensemen Carson Lambos, Evan Nause, Ethan Samson, and goaltenders Tyler Brennan and William Rousseau were Canada's final cuts.The team's star-studded roster includes three players loaned from NHL teams in Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright, Arizona Coyotes forward Dylan Guenther, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, both projected top picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, are also expected to play a significant role.The world juniors run from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks are focusing on the trade market for forward Bo Horvat after their latest contract offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Canucks captain is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.Horvat is in the midst of a career year. He ranks fourth in the NHL with 20 goals through 28 games and is playing a career-high 20:53 per night. Horvat has been dominant at the dot as well, leading the NHL in faceoffs taken and winning 57.7% of his draws.The 27-year-old has played his entire 600-game NHL career with Vancouver. He was named captain ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.Horvat's $5.5-million cap hit is manageable for contending teams that could be in the market for center depth ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eeli Tolvanen is headed to the Pacific Northwest.The Seattle Kraken claimed the 23-year-old winger off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Monday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Tolvanen was selected 30th overall by the Predators in 2017 and generated plenty of hype as a prospect. He's tallied just 25 goals and 26 assists across 135 career NHL games but has produced stellar defensive metrics.

Early this season, we tried to determine how much Aaron Ekblad affected the Panthers' win probability in any given game. The market being slow to downgrade the Panthers without Ekblad, who averages over 24 minutes per game, led to a profitable stretch of betting against Florida.Last Monday, another Stanley Cup contender got bad injury news when the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon suffered an upper body injury that will keep him out for four weeks. So how do we determine how much a star like MacKinnon matters to moneyline prices and Colorado's implied win probability?The Avs' next game came against the red-hot Bruins in Colorado. Our rating on each team has been really solid, only occasionally finding value backing or fading each team. As a result, with MacKinnon, the line was going to look something like Bruins -115 / Avalanche -105.With MacKinnon announced out, the line opened Bruins -160/Avalanche +140, and eventually closed Bruins -175/Avalanche +150. This gives us our first look at what the betting market thinks of the Avalanche's chances to win a game without their star forward:MLImplied win prob.w/ MacKinnon-10551.2%w/o MacKinnon+15040%That's an 11% change in win probability with MacKinnon out. The Avalanche lost that game 4-0 to Boston, getting dominated at even strength.Next up, the Rangers visited Denver on Friday and we projected a fair moneyline of +109/-109, so a line of Rangers +100/Avalanche -120 would be expected. Instead, New York was lined at -150 and Colorado +130. Let's look at the difference in implied win probability:MLImplied win prob.w/ MacKinnon-12054.5%w/o MacKinnon+13043.5%Look at that. Another 11% adjustment without MacKinnon, and a loss to the Rangers.Basically, it took two games for us to find out what effect a missing MacKinnon has on Colorado's chances to win on a game-to-game basis. If the Avalanche continue to get dominated, though, we'll have to adjust them down, and if they rally without their star forward, we can lower "The MacKinnon Effect" from 11%.The recipeWe started the campaign using regular-season point totals as a baseline for rating teams since it's still our best measurement. Throughout the campaign, we'll adjust club ratings using on-ice metrics to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss records (which can be skewed by outliers like special-teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events).The cheat sheetThere are no bad bets at the right price, but how do we know what a good price is?The following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel. When it comes to injured players, I do my best to estimate the impact on their team's win probability.When the betting markets open up the night before, you can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's also a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between market open and puck drop.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETDec. 12NJD@NYR+102/-102NJD +113/NYR +108CGY@MTL-159/+159CGY -153/MTL +189DAL@PIT+117/-117DAL +138/PIT -112ANA@OTT+161/-161ANA +191/OTT -154NSH@STL+110/-110NSH +122/STL +100EDM@MIN+121/-121EDM +143/MIN -116Dec. 13ANA@TOR+297/-297ANA +372/TOR -282SEA@TBL+163/-163SEA +194/TBL -156DAL@NJD+184/-184DAL +220/NJD -176LAK@BUF-112/+112LAK -108/BUF +132CBJ@FLA+317/-317CBJ +400/FLA -300NYI@BOS+170/-170NYI +203/BOS -163CAR@DET-139/+139CAR -134/DET +165VGK@WPG+122/-122VGK +144/WPG -117EDM@NSH+134/-134EDM +158/NSH -129WSH@CHI-143/+143WSH -138/CHI +170PHI@COL+125/-125PHI +148/COL -120ARI@SJS+179/-179ARI +214/SJS -172Dec. 14MTL@OTT+163/-163MTL +195/OTT -157DET@MIN+164/-164DET +196/MIN -158VAN@CGY+160/-160VAN +190/CGY -153Dec. 15ANA@MTL-106/+106ANA +105/MTL +117SEA@CAR+173/-173SEA +206/CAR -166DAL@WSH+111/-111DAL +130/WSH -106TOR@NYR+108/-108TOR +120/NYR +102LAK@BOS+148/-148LAK +176/BOS -142PHI@NJD+240/-240PHI +294/NJD -229PIT@FLA+164/-164PIT +195/FLA -157CBJ@TBL+267/-267CBJ +330/TBL -254NSH@WPG+107/-107NSH +118/WPG +103VGK@CHI-131/+131VGK -126/CHI +155STL@EDM+134/-134STL +158/EDM -129BUF@COL+104/-104BUF +115/COL +106Dec. 16CHI@MIN+309/-309CHI +388/MIN -293STL@CGY+181/-181STL +216/CGY -173NYI@ARI-151/+151NYI -145/ARI +179Dec. 17CBJ@BOS+288/-288CBJ +360/BOS -274OTT@DET+108/-108OTT +119/DET +103ANA@EDM+202/-202ANA +243/EDM -193DAL@CAR+151/-151DAL +179/CAR -145NYR@PHI-145/+145NYR -139/PHI +172TBL@MTL-168/+168TBL -161/MTL +200TOR@WSH-107/+107TOR +103/WSH +119FLA@NJD+107/-107FLA +118/NJD +103BUF@ARI-147/+147BUF -141/ARI +174NSH@COL-121/+121NSH -117/COL +143WPG@VAN+111/-111WPG +131/VAN -107NYI@VGK+138/-138NYI +163/VGK -133SJS@LAK+158/-158SJS +188/LAK -152Dec. 18OTT@MIN+186/-186OTT +222/MIN -178PIT@CAR+134/-134PIT +158/CAR -129NYR@CHI-136/+136NYR -131/CHI +161WPG@SEA+141/-141WPG +167/SEA -135CGY@SJS-157/+157CGY -151/SJS +187Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada released a list of nine nominees for its new board of directors, subject to election Dec. 17.The group of potential candidates includes: The Hon. Hugh L. Fraser (Chair), Grant Borbridge, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Julie Duranceau, Dave Evans, Marni Fullerton, Jonathan F. Goldbloom, Marian Jacko, and Andrea Poole."We are grateful to the more than 550 candidates who applied to help guide the change at Hockey Canada," said Michael Bruni, chair of the nominating committee. "The nominees we've put forward represent the very best of Canadian society: bringing together the knowledge and experience necessary to create a new era in hockey that focuses on governance and cultural evolution."Campbell-Pascall is the most recognizable name on the list. The 49-year-old won three Olympic gold medals and eight world championships in her playing career and later moved on to become a broadcaster for Sportsnet and ESPN.Those selected to the new board will serve a one-year term. Backgrounds on the prospective candidates can be seen here.Former Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith and the rest of the organization's previous board of directors stepped down in October after months of scrutiny in the wake of a sexual assault lawsuit settled in May. In the lawsuit, a woman said eight unnamed CHL players, including members of Canada's 2018 world junior team, sexually assaulted her in June of that year.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and will be unavailable indefinitely, the league announced Sunday.McCarron will continue to be paid during his absence and will return to the Predators once cleared by program administrators for on-ice competition.He has played 15 games for Nashville this season, tallying one goal and two points. McCarron appeared in the Predators' 5-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday but didn't play Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.The 27-year-old played a career-high 51 contests in 2021-22 with Nashville, scoring seven goals and 14 points.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Marner may grab most of the headlines due to his ongoing 22-game point streak, but the Toronto Maple Leafs were sure to praise William Nylander after his five-point performance propelled them past the Calgary Flames on Saturday night."Last season, (Nylander) set a new standard for himself. … He's got a long ways to go still in terms of what his potential is and what he can do," head coach Sheldon Keefe said after his side's 5-4 overtime win. "You're seeing that. He's producing at a higher clip, he's been very consistent to start the season here."To me, I think Willy can and should be in that top, elite tier of players in the league. He's working his way there."Keefe noted that the likes of Auston Matthews and Marner are already in that tier, and that Toronto's star trio will only continue to push each other to reach "greater heights."Saturday's contest was a banner night for Nylander, who scored two goals and three assists to eclipse his previous career high of three points in a single game.His first goal of the game helped Marner extend his point streak, and he also recorded an assist on the overtime winner.Goalie Matt Murray was thankful for Nylander's performance after the back-and-forth affair."He's just a stud. He's incredibly gifted, he works hard," Murray said. "I've said this a bunch of times, but he seems to win a ton of 50-50 battles, and I think that goes to his strength and just his athleticism and his dedication to win those battles."He gets a lot of second pucks, a lot of second chances, and obviously tonight, he carries our team. He's basically the reason we get two points. Heck of a player."Nylander, 26, leads the team with 17 goals in 29 contests. He's on pace for a career-high 48 tallies and 93 points but said he isn't focused on potential totals."Look, you just want to do better than the year before, always trying to get better," he said. "Whatever that number ends up being, I'm not too worried about it right now."Drafted by the Leafs eighth overall in 2014, Nylander has 376 points in 468 career NHL games, all with Toronto.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Battle of Alberta is headed outdoors for the first time.The Edmonton Oilers will host the Calgary Flames in the 2023 Heritage Classic, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's "32 Thoughts" segment.The NHL hasn't set a date for the event at Commonwealth Stadium, but it won't take place during this campaign.Next year is the 20th anniversary of the first Heritage Classic, which Edmonton hosted at the same venue - the home of the CFL's Edmonton Elks - in front of approximately 57,000 fans. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Oilers 4-3 in the inaugural edition, and the Flames beat the Habs 4-0 when they held the next one at McMahon Stadium in 2011.Edmonton took part in one other Heritage Classic, blanking the Jets 3-0 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg in 2016. Calgary also played in a second Heritage Classic, losing 2-1 to the Jets at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than two weeks after suffering the second stroke of his career, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup during Saturday's 3-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres.Letang led all Penguins skaters with just over 22 minutes of ice time and seven hits in the contest."It feels great. As I was starting to feel better, you get anxious, you want to go back out there," Letang told reporters postgame, according to team beat reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "With the schedule, we don't have a chance to practice that much. So, tried to prepare the best I could. Timing needs to get a little better, but the legs were there."When I started feeling better, obviously I ramped up the intensity in practice," he added, "but there (were) a couple of things we had to wait on. Like blood tests, stuff like that, just to make sure I can go into contact. Once it was clear, I got the green light."The 35-year-old missed five games, and the Penguins went 4-0-1 in his absence.Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan was pleased to have the workhorse back in action."We're a whole different defense corps when he's in the lineup," he said, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports' Taylor Haase. "I'm stating the obvious in saying he's an elite defenseman."Letang was out for over two months in 2014 after his first stroke. Head team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas said Thursday that Letang's stroke "was much smaller than it was last time.""He's always surprised us with how well he heals," Vyas said. "We don't think this is accelerated in any way, we're taking all the right precautions to make sure he is safe to go out and play. And when that time comes, we'll let him go back to playing his sport."The three-time Stanley Cup champion was back skating with teammates on Dec. 8, which was a welcome sight for Sullivan."He's obviously a huge part of this team," Sullivan said after Thursday's practice. "He's close friends with all of his teammates, we all care about him. So to see him on the ice, I think for all of us, it's a little bit of a sense of relief."Letang paces the team in average ice time per game this season and has one goal and 11 assists in 22 games.He signed a six-year, $36.6-million extension to remain with the Penguins last summer.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak has been suspended three games for delivering an illegal check to the head of Washington Capitals blue-liner Alexander Alexeyev, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Saturday.Oleksiak caught Alexeyev in the head with his shoulder Friday. The Kraken defender was ejected and given a five-minute major for the hit.Oleksiak has been suspended one other time in his 11-year NHL career. The 6-foot-7, 255-pounder was banned two games for an illegal check to the head in 2016 while he was with the Dallas Stars.Alexeyev, meanwhile, was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's contest with an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old rookie becomes the third injured Caps defender with Dmitry Orlov and Martin Fehervary already sidelined.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner has been suspended three games for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins star Jake Guentzel on Friday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Skinner and Guentzel engaged in a skirmish late in regulation. Both were penalized for slashing, but Skinner received a five-minute major for catching Guentzel up high.

Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter was highly complimentary of the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of Saturday's matchup between the two Canadian clubs."Toronto is on a really good roll, back-to-back shutouts, points in 13 straight," Sutter said. "Based on that, they're the best team in the league right now."The Maple Leafs got off to a bumpy start to the campaign, capped by a disastrous 0-2-2 West Coast road trip. However, Toronto is 13-1-4 since the calendar flipped to November. The team's .833 points percentage in that time is second only to the New Jersey Devils' .861 mark.On the season, the Leafs rank third in the league in points percentage (.714) behind the Devils (.796) and Boston Bruins (.827).Sutter believes the Maple Leafs' top players are setting the tone for the rest of the team."With Toronto, and I saw it last year, too, when we played them early there. Their top players - Matthews, Marner, and Tavares - those guys have taken another whole level in terms of their leadership," he said. "They're by-example-type players. It's so evident when you watch them."While Auston Matthews isn't quite matching the pace from his Hart Trophy-winning campaign last season, Toronto's "Core 4" is thriving. Mitch Marner is riding a franchise-best 21-game point streak, William Nylander is on pace for a career year, and captain John Tavares has remained a near-point-per-game player.The Flames, meanwhile, are sputtering. Despite some lofty preseason expectations after one of the busiest offseasons in team history, Calgary is fighting for its playoff life. Sutter said it's up to the star players to right the ship."The big thing is, our top players have to take a step up here," Sutter said. "It's really been missing on the road this year. We've won three games on the road ... It tells you that our best players are not playing up to what we need them to do to get points."Calgary fell 3-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, dropping its road record to 3-6-2.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nick Robertson's bad luck on the injury front continues.The Maple Leafs forward is projected to miss six-to-eight weeks due to a shoulder ailment he suffered in Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Kings, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. He'll forgo surgery and undergo rehab.Robertson left the contest after Kings defenseman Matt Roy hit him up high in the first period. The hit occurred on Robertson's fourth shift, and he didn't return. The officials handed Roy a minor penalty.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner will have a hearing for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel during Friday's contest, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced postgame.The pair got into it with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation after Guentzel took an extra whack at Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak was ejected for his hit on Washington Capitals blue-liner Alexander Alexeyev during the second period of Friday's matchup.Oleksiak caught Alexeyev up high while the latter was playing the puck behind the Kraken's net. Officials handed Oleksiak a match penalty for an illegal check to the head, which gave Washington a five-minute power play.The Capitals announced Alexeyev wouldn't return to the contest due to an upper-body injury.

The NHL wants to ensure Ryan Reynolds is involved in the Ottawa Senators' new ownership group regardless of who ultimately wins the bidding.Commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy Bill Daly are making interested parties aware the league wants the actor to be a minority partner, Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch reports. The NHL has told every group that signed a non-disclosure agreement before entering the process to contact Reynolds, Garrioch adds.The NHL apparently envisions Reynolds documenting the sale of the club with his production company Maximum Effort, and league marketing executives admit they can't buy the kind of publicity he can generate.Reynolds has reportedly spent the last three weeks talking to prospective bidders to gauge their interest in his involvement. During an early November appearance on "The Tonight Show," the 46-year-old confirmed he was exploring buying the team but quipped he'd "need a partner with really deep pockets."One night later, he attended Ottawa's home game against the Vancouver Canucks at Canadian Tire Centre, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.The Vancouver-born "Deadpool" star's net worth is $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Sportico valued the Senators at $655 million when it broke the news of the sale Nov. 1. The transaction will be contingent upon keeping the team in Ottawa.Reynolds, whose films have amassed more than $5 billion at the box office, briefly lived in Ottawa during his childhood. He co-owns Welsh football club Wrexham AFC with fellow actor Rob McElhenney. That franchise is the subject of an FX docuseries called "Welcome to Wrexham."Anna and Olivia Melnyk took over as the Senators' owners after their father - longtime team owner Eugene - died in March.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Pierre Engvall was suspended one game for high-sticking Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Engvall hit Durzi in the back of the head with his stick during an exchange in Thursday night's game.

Tony DeAngelo will take a seat Friday.The Philadelphia Flyers are making the defenseman a healthy scratch against the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced.Cam York will draw into the lineup in DeAngelo's place.Scratching DeAngelo comes as a rather big surprise, as he leads all Flyers defensemen in points (14) and average time on ice (24:19) in 26 games this season.However, DeAngelo's minus-13 rating is the worst among Flyers blue-liners, and his minus-6.4 defensive goals above replacement is the worst among all NHL skaters, per Evolving-Hockey.Philadelphia acquired DeAngelo and a seventh-round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in the offseason in exchange for a second-round pick, a third-round selection, and a fourth-rounder. The Flyers then signed him to a two-year, $10-million contract.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's MVP race continues to take shape, with nearly two months of action in the rearview mirror. The legitimate Hart Trophy candidates are solidifying their cases, but one particular player has rocketed up the rankings with his otherworldly exploits.Most contenders have posted gaudy numbers so far this campaign. But more importantly, the award is all about the immense value they provide to their clubs, and that's what voters will ideally consider at season's end.Here are our top five MVP candidates at this point in the campaign.Expected goals for percentage, goals saved above expected, and goals saved above average figures in charts are at five-on-five5. Ilya Sorokin Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPRecordSV%GSAxGSAA1910-8-0.92713.57.67The New York Islanders are among the NHL's worst teams in terms of xGF% and have the second-most expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five in the league. In other words, they're not controlling play, and their defense has been uncharacteristically suspect. The Isles' offense is also mediocre, which is customary in this era.Despite all that, New York occupies fourth place in the Metropolitan Division at 16-11-0, and Sorokin is the biggest reason for that. The Russian goaltender is the current Vezina Trophy favorite, and his standout performance should also garner him some Hart consideration.Sorokin's record doesn't accurately reflect his dominance. The 27-year-old boasts elite underlying numbers and stellar counting stats even though his teammates haven't given him much help. That's truly an indicator of value, and Sorokin's provided it in spades.4. Jack Eichel Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%26131618:4660.2Eichel doesn't have eye-popping conventional numbers this season like some of his contemporaries, but posting over a point per game so far is commendable. The Vegas Golden Knights center's worth comes through most in the analytics, and those figures are strong enough to make him a Hart candidate. That was true a month ago, and it hasn't changed despite a new contender emerging to knock Eichel down a spot.The ex-Buffalo Sabres forward leads the NHL in both wins above replacement and goals above replacement. He ranks top 20 league-wide in five-on-five xGF% among players with at least 300 minutes in those situations, and only the No. 1 name on this list has done better among the skaters mentioned here. Additionally, the Golden Knights have controlled a favorable 54.08% of the scoring chances with Eichel on the ice at five-on-five.Eichel's production relative to his teammates cements his status as a Hart hopeful. The 26-year-old leads Vegas in points by seven this season despite playing two fewer games than the next six players below him. The Golden Knights have very good goaltending, but Eichel's consistency is mainly why they sit comfortably atop the Pacific Division.3. David Pastrnak Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%25181819:5456.9Speaking of netminding, Linus Ullmark has been terrific for the Boston Bruins. But Pastrnak has been the most valuable weapon for the club leading the NHL in points percentage.The pending unrestricted free agent has collected seven more goals and 15 more points than the closest Bruins skaters (Taylor Hall and Patrice Bergeron, respectively) while leading the team's forwards in average ice time. Pastrnak has logged over a minute more per contest than the closest teammate, Brad Marchand (who missed time post-surgery), and nearly two minutes more than Bergeron, who's played the same number of games as his Czech teammate.Pastrnak has also stayed hot since the last edition of these rankings. The 26-year-old has notched 10 goals and seven assists over the past 14 games, including nine tallies in his last eight contests. Contract years are historically great motivators, and while Pastrnak doesn't need one to play at a high level, his significant on-ice value this season is undoubtedly driving up his eventual price tag.2. Connor McDavid Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%27242822:4352.88Any time McDavid's not in first place on these lists - which is rare in recent years - he has to be wondering, "What more do I need to do?" The two-time MVP leads the NHL in goals, assists, and points while topping the league in the latter by a considerable margin. He leads all NHL forwards in average ice time, and his underlying numbers are favorable.Unlike the top dog below, McDavid has 2020 Hart winner and fellow game-changer Leon Draisaitl leading his supporting cast. McDavid has proven his importance to the Edmonton Oilers' success regardless of Draisaitl's contributions, but the German center sits second in the Art Ross Trophy race, with a remarkable 40 of his 44 points (91%) coming by either goals or primary assists this season.McDavid's underlying figures are barely in the favorable range compared to the others listed here, which is surprising. One player can't impact team performance in hockey like they can in other sports, but seeing Edmonton sit fifth in the Pacific by points percentage doesn't help McDavid either. He remains a prime MVP candidate, but another player currently has a stronger case.1. Jason Robertson Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%27231818:0260.46Robertson set the bar high with a 41-goal, 38-assist effort last season, but he's on pace to sail over that bar and has pushed himself to the forefront of the Hart race. The Dallas Stars forward was previously an unlikely contender, but now there's no shortage of evidence to support his candidacy.For starters, the 23-year-old reeled off an 18-game point streak that set a Dallas record and fell two contests short of the franchise mark. Robertson piled up more than a goal per contest and nearly two points per game during his white-hot run from Oct. 27 through Dec. 4, registering 21 goals and 13 assists in that span.But a point streak alone doesn't make someone an MVP favorite - Robertson has scored more than twice as many goals and posted nine more points than the closest Stars skater (Roope Hintz with 11 and 32, respectively). He's one tally behind McDavid for top spot in the "Rocket" Richard Trophy race with the same number of games played, and his 17 even-strength goals lead the NHL, meaning he's done 74% of his scoring at even strength.The American winger sits fifth in the league in SCF% among qualified skaters, as the Stars have controlled 63.24% of the scoring chances with Robertson on the ice at five-on-five. Robertson ranks eighth in the NHL in individual expected goals at five-on-five compared to McDavid at 47th. Robertson is tied for 32nd in xG per 60 minutes in the same situations, while McDavid's tied for 220th in that category.The MVP race is about more than just point production and ice time. Robertson's superior analytic figures and success relative to his teammates put him over the top for now, but this should make an intriguing debate for the rest of the season if he keeps it up.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau wants Calgary Flames fans to know he didn't mislead his former club before leaving this past summer."It was super close," he told Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson. "I know a lot of people thought I was just stringing Calgary along, but no. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I was sitting there, it was, like, 8 o'clock on the night before free agency, and I was still thinking about re-signing in Calgary."So yeah, it was super close. I know that a lot of people won't believe me, but I remember sitting there with my mom and (my wife) Meredith, and it was just really, really hard. I didn't have an answer. I didn't know what to do."Gaudreau was the 2022 offseason's prized free agent, and he shocked the hockey world by inking an seven-year, $68.25-million deal with the Blue Jackets - a contract below market value for a player of his caliber on a team that no one expected to be in the race.The Blue Jackets and Flames meet in Columbus on Friday for the first time since Johnny Hockey switched uniforms, and Gaudreau stands by his decision."At the end of the day, I felt what was best for me was to play a bit closer to home, to spend a lot more time with my family, see people that I don't get to see a lot throughout the year. And it's been great," Gaudreau said.Gaudreau racked up 609 points in 602 games across nine seasons with the Flames, including a career-best 115-point showing in 2021-22. The Blue Jackets currently sit last in the Metropolitan Division with a 8-15-2 record, but their top winger leads the club with 28 points in 25 games - a total that would also pace the Flames.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie got back into the lineup for Thursday's clash against the Los Angeles Kings after missing 12 games with an oblique injury.Brodie was to be deployed with multiple partners throughout the contest, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said before the tilt, according to Sports Illustrated's David Alter. Here's how the Leafs lined up at practice:

Shane Wright is being loaned to Canada ahead of its national junior team selection camp, the Seattle Kraken announced Thursday.The rookie forward wasn't among the 29 players Hockey Canada chose Monday for the camp, which will run from Friday through next Monday. Canada's hockey brass selected the forward for the original 2022 world juniors, but the tournament was canceled after two games due to COVID-19. Wright didn't take part in the rescheduled August event.Wright has already had a roller-coaster 2022-23 season. Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol barely played him before making him a healthy scratch for five straight games, allowing Seattle to send the 18-year-old to the AHL for a conditioning loan on Nov. 20.The former OHL star buried four goals in five contests with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the Kraken recalled him Tuesday for a game against the Montreal Canadiens, who passed on him with the first overall pick in July's draft, triggering his fall to Seattle at No. 4. Wright scored his first NHL goal in the loss to Montreal.The Canadian junior squad will be further bolstered by the addition of Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke, a defenseman who the NHL club chose eighth overall in 2021. The Kings loaned him to the national junior team earlier Wednesday.Clarke collected two assists in nine games with Los Angeles and one tally and one helper in five contests with the AHL's Ontario Reign this season. He'll turn 20 in February.The world junior tournament begins Dec. 26 in Halifax and Moncton.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the third edition of theScore's 2022-23 Norris Trophy Rankings and the second in-season version. New rankings are published once a month throughout the campaign.These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen rather than just points or reputation.

Tage Thompson etched his name into the record books multiple times with a five-goal, six-point game in the Buffalo Sabres' 9-4 rout of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.Thompson buried four goals before the first intermission, helping the Sabres jump out to a 6-0 lead. He added his fifth of the night in the second period.The 25-year-old tied a Sabres single-game record with his handful of tallies, matching the feat Dave Andreychuk accomplished in 1986. Thompson also set a new team mark for points in a period with the four he collected in the opening frame.Thompson's five goals were the second-most ever in a road game, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. Gordon "Red" Berenson collected six in Philadelphia while playing for the St. Louis Blues in 1968.The Sabres forward's early-game explosion also put him in rarefied air. Thompson's outburst - which took only 16:40 - was the second-fastest four-goal effort to begin a game in league history. Only Joe Malone bested that mark, doing so in 8:45 with the Hamilton Tigers in 1921.Thompson's four first-period markers also tied an NHL record for goals in a single frame, and he became the fourth player ever to do so in the opening period.The 6-foot-6, 220-pound center downplayed his historic performance after the game."You can’t be satisfied," Thompson said, according to the Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski. "Obviously, it’s a great achievement. You want to be happy for yourself. But at the same time, there’s more to do. We’re not where we want to be as a team, and it’s my job to help us get there."Sabres head coach Don Granato wasn't as critical as his breakout superstar."That was an amazing performance by Tage," Granato said, according to WGR 550's Brian Koziol. "To have a history with Tage like I do, to see him as a teenager, to see his growth and development, it's really special to see his success and rewards like this ... a really special night."On the flip side, Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine was miffed with his club's effort."We sucked pretty much the whole game," he said, according to team reporter Jeff Svoboda. "It’s just embarrassing how we played tonight. That’s all I have to say."Thompson has amassed 21 goals and 19 assists in 26 contests this season, ranking among the league leaders in those two offensive categories and points. He achieved Wednesday night's remarkable exploits in only 13:56 of ice time.The Phoenix-born pivot signed a seven-year, $50-million extension in August after racking up 38 goals and 30 assists through 78 games last campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi has hit a new low.The slumping winger, who entered Wednesday with just one goal and five assists in 26 games this season, offered a candid self-evaluation Tuesday in an interview with Finnish outlet YLE's Tommi Seppala, who translated the conversation for Sportsnet's Mark Spector."Twenty games in, and I have one goal. It's sad," Puljujarvi said. "I've been thinking a lot how to do things differently. Right now, I just don’t have the answer."The 24-year-old has largely underwhelmed since the Oilers selected him fourth overall in 2016, ahead of players such as Matthew Tkachuk, Clayton Keller, and Mikhail Sergachev. Puljujarvi tallied 47 goals and 57 assists in 285 NHL games.Following three unproductive seasons to begin his career, Puljujarvi returned to Finland's top professional league in 2019-20. He excelled that season and parlayed his strong play into a 15-goal campaign with the Oilers in 2021 and a 14-goal showing last year.But Puljujarvi questions whether he can be a true difference-maker in the world's best league."Of course I'd like to be a productive top-line player," Puljujarvi said. "But right now, it looks like I can't do that in NHL. Maybe some other league."He added, "I'm trying to find out who I am as a player, since it looks like I don't fit anywhere (in Edmonton)," he said. "I've started checking a lot and lead the team in hits. At least that's some positive."Despite his offensive struggles, Puljujarvi has demonstrated good physicality and stellar defense. His 2.37 expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five ranks second on the team behind Ryan McLeod, per Natural Stat Trick.But while physical, low-event hockey is often commended for fourth-liners, the same can't be said about fourth-overall picks.The Oilers haven't been able to get the most out of Puljujarvi offensively despite extended stints on a line with Connor McDavid."It takes a lot to play with a superstar like him," Puljujarvi said. "You have to win battles and make plays at the same time. It's a high-quality game, and it takes a good player. You have to be a really good player to play with him."It’s hard to tell why I'm not scoring," he continued. "I've been thinking about it a lot. I scored earlier, and I think now I'm older, more experienced, and a better player. Yet I'm not scoring."If you play with Connor, you have to score. Maybe I just don't have it."Puljujarvi carries a $3-million cap hit and will be a restricted free agent at season's end.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe had nothing but praise for defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren following a hard-fought victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night."To me, those guys had an incredible game tonight," Keefe said following the 4-0 win, per The Athletic's Jonas Siegel. "Those two young guys took on a lot here tonight, and they were really, really good."Keefe also touched on the pair's recent elevated roles as the Maple Leafs have battled three key injuries on their blue line."I think you learn a lot about their character," Keefe said. "The team needs them to step up in a big way, and they've done exactly that. Like, those guys played hard today. They played a lot of minutes tired, too."Sandin and Liljegren were thrust into second-pair duties after veterans Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, and T.J. Brodie went down with injuries in November.Both youngsters had mainly been deployed in sheltered roles before Toronto's injury crisis, but Sandin and Liljegren have thrived with tougher assignments so far. In seven games together, the pair has only been on for one goal against at five-on-five while owning 56% of expected goals.Sandin said he and Liljegren are embracing the opportunity."It's lots of fun," Sandin noted. "We get to try something out. Usually, we play on the third pairing and (have) a little bit more limited ice time. Now, when some of our key guys (are) gone, it's up to the other guys to step up a little bit as well and try to fill those shoes, and I think we've been doing a pretty good job of it."Toronto drafted Liljegren (17th overall) and Sandin (29th overall) with first-round picks in 2017 and 2018. They signed matching two-year, $2.8-million extensions this past offseason.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.