Zach Bogosian's season is over, as the Buffalo Sabres defenseman will undergo hip surgery next week and faces a recovery timeline of four-to-six months, the team announced Friday.
Bogosian was originally said to miss four-to-six weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered in practice earlier this month, but Sabres GM Jason Botterill said the 27-year-old has dealt with the hip injury since the start of the season.
Since being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in 2014-15, Bogosian has played 159 games for the Sabres, recording 43 points. However, injuries have been a common occurrence for the former third overall pick, as he hasn't appeared in more than 70 games in a season since 2010-11.
With the hockey world's elite set to descend on sunny Tampa Bay this weekend for the 63rd edition of the NHL All-Star Game, we've hit the unofficial halfway point of the 2017-18 campaign.
As each club hovers around the 50-games-played mark, we felt it was an opportune time to look back at some of the major storylines that have dominated the hockey consciousness over the past four months.
Insanely tight division races, expansion buzz, and an influx of talent from south of the border - you name it, the first half of the NHL season had it.
Let's take a look at what we've learned now that All-Star weekend is upon us:
Parity reigns supreme
Unlike some other North American professional sports leagues - cough, the NBA, cough - the NHL is increasingly becoming a multi-horse race, as more than handful of teams currently have legitimate shots at taking home the Stanley Cup.
This trend is best exemplified in the Central and Metropolitan Divisions, where jockeying for playoff positioning is already in full swing:
The Jets, Predators, and Blues are three well-balanced clubs with bona fide Cup aspirations. However, don't sleep on the talent of the Stars or the experience and winning pedigree of the Blackhawks. With only 13 points separating first from seventh, this division could look a whole lot different when April rolls around.
As for the Metro, only 11 points separate first and last in a division also stacked with playoff-ready squads.
The two-time reigning champion Penguins, two-time reigning Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals, and up-and-coming Blue Jackets all possess enough talent to go on deep postseason runs. Not to mention the high-scoring Islanders or Flyers, two more teams that could also do some damage come April.
Both of these divisions are stacked, highlighting the quickly developing trend of parity in both the Western and Eastern Conference. Don't be shocked when the Metro or Central produces the 2018 Stanley Cup champion.
Americans taking NHL by storm
Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, and Jonathan Quick - American-born players who've become or are on the cusp of becoming superstars - have helped push the development of the game in non-traditional U.S. markets.
And because of it, there is a brand new wave of American rookies putting the NHL on notice this campaign. Entering the All-Star break four of the top-10 rookie scorers hail from the U.S.:
Player (Position)
Team
Place
Goals
Assists
Brock Boeser (RW)
Canucks
2nd
24
19
Clayton Keller (C)
Coyotes
3rd
14
22
Alex DeBrincat (LW/RW)
Blackhawks
6th
17
15
Kyle Connor (LW)
Jets
9th
15
14
Team USA Hockey is also booming at the international level, as the Americans have earned a medal in three consecutive world junior tournaments for the first time in the program's history.
Factor in that there are three USA Hockey products currently projected in the top 10 on the NHL Central Scouting's North American Skaters list for the 2018 NHL Draft (Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, Oliver Wahlstrom), and the invasion of American talent into the NHL is just getting started.
Coach's challenges ruining the game
Rules implemented to erase egregious offside and goalie interference calls have now evolved into a messy scenario that is quickly becoming the biggest talking point of the NHL.
Coach's challenges were enacted in hopes of getting the calls right and improving the overall quality of the game - but neither of those things have happened. Overturned goals, phantom goalie interference calls, and subsequent on-ice debates now dominate nightly hockey discussions and morning highlight shows.
This is the 33rd time this season where a "goal" was changed to "no goal" due to goaltender interference replay challenge
But, at the end of the day, that isn't hockey. The fast-paced, hard-nosed game that we all know and love is being hindered by the bureaucratic nonsense being instilled by the NHL.
Coaches don't like it. Fans hate it. And the quality of our beloved game is suffering because of it. For every time a goalie gets breathed on too heavily or a toe nail is over the blue line too soon, a game is being stopped for a painstakingly long amount of time.
General managers from around the league meet in Boca Raton, Fla., near the end of March. So here's hoping they come up with some sort of solution for a scenario that is quickly turning ugly.
Vegas, baby! Vegas!
Reflecting upon the unofficial first half could not be complete without mentioning the NHL's feel-good story of the season - the Vegas Golden Knights. Heck, the Golden Knights' expansion success could arguably be the feel-good story of the year across all North American pro sports leagues - and it's only January.
The Knights have been nothing short of sensational, breaking and setting records by an expansion franchise on a weekly basis.
A group of castoffs up and down the lineup, Gerrard Gallant's men have built themselves a reputation as one of the hardest working groups in the league that you better bring your "A" game against - especially on the strip.
Vegas has evolved into a home team that rarely loses, owning an immaculate record of 19-3-2 at T-Mobile Arena. A stat that could end up meaning a whole lot more if the club were to secure home-ice advantage for the playoffs.
The Golden Knights were projected to languish near the bottom of the league along with the likes of the Arizona Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres, but find themselves only three points adrift of the league-leading Lightning.
If there is one thing we've learned at the unofficial halfway point of the NHL campaign, it's that these Knights are very much for real.
Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Seth Jones will miss the All-Star festivities this weekend in Tampa due to illness, but one of his teammates is stepping up in his absence.
On Friday the NHL announced that Blue Jackets D-man Zach Werenski will be taking Jones' spot on the Metropolitan Division's roster for Sunday afternoon's clash of All-Star talent.
Werenski, 20, is having another stellar campaign in his second full season in the NHL, notching 11 goals and 11 assists while anchoring Columbus' top defensive pairing along with Jones.
This will be the first All-Star game of Werenski's career.
It's the NHL All-Star break, and while the official midway point of the season is long gone, the annual festivities - held this year in Tampa Bay - usually signifies the start of the real stretch run, otherwise deemed the unofficial second half of the schedule.
As the NHL's best head south, let's take a peek into the crystal ball and predict what may go down in the season's final two months.
Penguins push for 3-peat with deadline splash
After a tepid first half, the Penguins have started to turn it on lately, looking like the team that's won the last two Stanley Cups. Pittsburgh, at least momentarily, has slid into third spot in the Metropolitan Division thanks to a 7-3 stretch in its last 10 games, but does this outfit have the depth to push for a three-peat?
The Penguins lost Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen up front in the offseason, but there are several players said to be available who could replenish the offensive potency that's made Pittsburgh so difficult to handle in the playoffs.
Don't be surprised if general manager Jim Rutherford looks to make something happen in pursuit of another ring.
Vegas wins Presidents' Trophy
If you're still not used to the fact that the Golden Knights will be a playoff team in their inaugural season, don't hurt yourself trying to wrap your head around the very distinct possibility of Vegas winning the Presidents' Trophy.
Gerard Gallant's group leads the West with 68 points, and trail the Tampa Bay Lightning by three for first overall with one game in hand. However, with Victor Hedman hurt, the opportunity for Vegas is right in front of them.
Vegas is a virtual lock for the postseason right now, thanks in large part to a 19-3-2 record at T-Mobile Arena, where the Golden Knights will play nine of 10 in a crucial stretch in late February.
Giroux, Voracek set career highs to send Philly to playoffs
The Flyers' ascent back to playoff contention this season has largely been propelled by the nightly success of their top line, and with Sean Couturier already setting career highs across the board, it's reasonable to surmise his running mates can follow suit.
After a down season sparked a move to the wing, Philly captain Claude Giroux has bounced back in a big way. Already one point shy of last year's total with 57 points in 49 games, he's on pace to reach a new personal best of 95. His longtime partner, Jakub Voracek, leads the league with 47 assists, and is on pace to reach 93 points, smashing his previous high of 81.
Should both keep it up, the Flyers will be able to nab a playoff spot after missing out in three of the last five seasons.
Canadian team wins draft lottery
It's not where many of them expected to be, but four of the seven Canadian teams are well in the running for the No. 1 pick in June's draft.
With Rasmus Dahlin available as the top prize, tanking for the final two months of the season is worth the pain, as the No. 1-ranked prospect would immediately kick any teams impending rebuild into overdrive.
Central, Metropolitan each send 5 teams to postseason
The NHL's playoff format is considerably flawed, but the race for the wild-card spots in each conference promises to be entertaining to the bitter end with the Central and Metropolitan pressing to send five teams each.
Only two points separate second and seventh place in the Metro, while three teams outside the divisional slots in the Central are well within range of latching onto a playoff spot. With an emphasis on inter-divisional games down the stretch, seeding is destined to change frequently, but in the end, the two deepest divisions will be well represented in the postseason.
Connor McDavid was a tad agitated with the officiating in Thursday's win over the Calgary Flames, and the Edmonton Oilers captain made sure the referees knew he wasn't pleased.
In overtime, McDavid scorched the Flames en route to setting up what looked to be the game-winner, but it was controversially reversed because of apparent goaltender interference. Upon eventually scoring in a shootout, No. 97 gestured to the officials to make sure this one would count, a la Auston Matthews earlier in the week.
Connor McDavid telling the Ref to review his shootout goal after his OT goal got disallowed 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/fVrPkpK5KU
Visibly annoyed on the ice, McDavid eventually showed some remorse in his post-game comments.
"Probably shouldn't have done it, obviously, but that's the way it goes. I was frustrated," McDavid said, per Sportsnet. "I thought it wasn't the right call."
McDavid has a point, as contact in the crease appeared to be minimal, and goaltender interference has been a contentious subject all season.
"I think everyone just wants black and white. I think everyone just wants it to be goaltender interference or not," McDavid said.
Alex Ovechkin is showing no signs of slowing down at age 32.
The Washington Capitals superstar came into Thursday's action leading the league in goal-scoring, and he padded that lead with a deft deflection for his 30th of the season.
Ovechkin joined some impressive company with the goal, which gave him his 13th consecutive 30-goal campaign, and he also picked up his 500th career assist earlier in the game.
McDavid clearly wasn't happy about the earlier goal being called back, as he mockingly asked the officials to review his shootout winner a few minutes later.
The Edmonton Oilers rallied behind Connor McDavid's shootout winner against the Calgary Flames after yet another controversial goaltender interference call in overtime reversed the team's seemingly legitimate tiebreaker.
Ryan Strome looked to have scored his first goal in 13 games in the extra period, sliding a McDavid rebound past goaltender David Rittich.
The league offices reviewed the play for potential goaltender interference and to the dismay of most, they found Rittich had been hampered by interference, consequently overturning the goal.
Just saw the goalie interference call in the Oilers game. This is absurd. I am totally disillusioned with what they think they’re trying to accomplish. It’s clear the rule is “we don’t know what the rule is, so we will throw darts on each review” Signed, NHL
CAL/EDM was phenomenal tonight, maybe best game I've seen this year...but the NHL needs to take a long look at goaltender interference during the break.
Brian Boyle's unlikely trip to the All-Star Game this weekend will provide the veteran with many firsts.
The New Jersey Devils forward was named as the replacement on the Metropolitan squad for teammate Taylor Hall - who will miss the festivities due to a thumb injury. While this marks Boyle's first-ever All-Star nod, it will also give him the opportunity to finally play some 3-on-3 hockey.
"I've been dying to try 3-on-3 since it started," Boyle said, according to Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "This will be a good taste. Kind of ease me into it against the best in the world."
Boyle has been one of the year's feel-good stories. He was forced to miss training camp and the first month of the season after being diagnosed with leukemia, before making his Devils debut on Nov. 1. He's since tallied 11 goals and 17 points in 38 games, including two three-point contests. While he knows he won't bring Hall's sort of skill, he plans to cherish the moment.
"I don't really know what to expect," Boyle said. "It's cool of them to think of me. I'm not naive to the fact that there's a lot more skill there than what I can bring. But I'm going to enjoy every minute of it."
It looks as though the 2018 All-Star Game might have its latest feel-good story after John Scott took over the 2016 installment.
