Byfuglien fell to the ice with Greer, but then got to his knees and landed several more punches before the officials separated the two combatants.
The Jets blue-liner was assessed five minutes for fighting, as was Greer, but Byfuglien was also handed a 10-minute misconduct and a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Brian Gionta could return to the NHL following a stint as captain of Team USA at PyeongChang 2018.
This according to agent Steve Bartlett, who's already engaged in talks with multiple teams in regards to a contract for the balance of this season, building off interest expressed in Gionta last summer when he was unwilling to move from Buffalo or spend a full year away from his family.
"I (told Gionta) maybe you could get a playoff run with a team, and a couple of months away from the family is better than all year," Bartlett told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "He liked that idea. So it’s been in the back of our mind as he prepared for the Olympics. I’ve had discussions with three-four (NHL) teams, and we’re kind of focusing in on one right now that I think is the front-runner."
The 39-year-old is the oldest American competitor at the Winter Olympics, and has failed to record a point in two tournament games. He appeared in 82 contests for the Sabres last season, scoring 15 goals and adding 20 assists.
There's still some gas left in the tank, and Bartlett is confident Gionta will be back in the NHL for the stretch run.
"Assuming that those talks continue to move forward, I think he’ll have a landing spot when all is said and done," Bartlett said. "We’re optimistic. I’ll continue to have discussions with interested teams, but right now our list is getting pretty short as far as what we think is a good fit for him and vice-versa."
It carries an average annual value of $5.35 million for a total of $32.1 million.
Here are more details, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
First year 2.0SB and 3.85salary for 5.85 total, second year same as first, year 3 4.35 salary, then three final years 5.35 salary. No Trade for 3 years, Modified NTC for final 3. https://t.co/htOtTBdj0J
Jeff Gorton isn't going to give any of his club's top prospects an extended look just yet, regardless of whether the New York Rangers follow through on their apparent plan to restructure the roster.
"We are not going to burn the first year off any contracts," the Rangers general manager told Larry Brooks of the New York Post on Friday.
That would indicate neither Lias Andersson nor Filip Chytil - the team's first-round picks last June - will hit the 10-NHL-game threshold that triggers the first season of entry-level deals.
Both players are impressing so far in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, albeit in limited sample sizes. Andersson has eight points in 10 games, while Chytil has produced nine goals and 26 points in 31 contests.
"They’re both playing very well and we’re very happy with their progress, but it will be a day-by-day decision depending on the situation with Hartford, too," Gorton said. "We want to give Hartford a chance to make (the playoffs)."
Andersson hasn't yet played an NHL game, while Chytil appeared in two back in early October.
The Wolf Pack sit in sixth place in the AHL's Atlantic Division with a record of 24-22-4-3, as of Friday afternoon.
Gorton and club president Glen Sather admitted the franchise could part with "some familiar faces" in a letter to fans that was released last Thursday.
Last year, the Rangers drafted Andersson seventh overall and then selected Chytil with the 21st overall pick.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson returned to practice Friday following a lengthy absence from the team due to the sudden death of his father in January.
Larsson hasn't suited up in a game since Jan. 23, and head coach Todd McLellan said there's no word on when he might get back into game action.
In 40 games this season, Larsson's notched three goals and three assists while averaging over 21 minutes per night.
Reinforcements are on the way for the Florida Panthers, as No.1 goaltender Roberto Luongo is set to return from his 27-game injury absence Saturday night against the Calgary Flames.
"I'm good to go, 100 percent," Luongo said Friday.
Luongo has been recovering from a lower-body issue suffered during the Dec. 4 contest against the New York Islanders when he was injured while making a save. He was activated off injured reserve Wednesday.
The Panthers have been utilizing the goaltending tandem of James Reimer and upstart Finnish rookie Harri Sateri in Luongo's absence - Florida has gone 15-10-2 during that time.
Prior to getting hurt, Luongo registered a 6-6-1 record to go along with a 2.61 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
With under two weeks to go until the trade deadline, the reigning Western Conference champs may be content to stand pat.
Though he may simply be trying to avoid tipping his hand, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile gave the impression that his club could enter the playoffs as currently constructed rather than adding more pieces before Feb. 26.
After making a series of moves since last season's run to the finals, Nashville leads the Central Division with 77 points - two clear of the Winnipeg Jets with a game in hand. Since falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 last June, Poile added Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell in free agency, and brokered a midseason blockbuster in acquiring Kyle Turris from the Ottawa Senators in November.
The Preds have a realistic chance to compete for the Stanley Cup yet again, and Poile doesn't want to risk altering the chemistry his roster has developed by bringing in new blood.
"The worst thing that I could possibly do is to make a trade where somebody didn't fit in," Poile said.
Despite sitting fifth in league scoring and remaining on pace to shatter his previous career-high points total, Phil Kessel isn't caught up in the hoopla of individual accolades.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star winger has 66 points in 59 games and an outside chance at catching Nikita Kucherov (76 points) in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, but the self-proclaimed hard-working, hockey-loving nice guy has his focus set elsewhere.
"I don't care. I've got two Cups," Kessel said when asked about the pursuit of the scoring title, per Pens Inside Scoop.
Kessel has been one of the league's hottest players in the New Year, recording 24 points in 19 games since the calendar flipped to 2018. The 30-year-old's surge is one of the main reasons the Pens have been unstoppable of late, going 14-4-1 in that span.
Despite sitting fifth in league scoring and remaining on pace to shatter his previous career-high points total, Phil Kessel isn't caught up in the hoopla of individual accolades.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star winger has 66 points in 59 games and an outside chance at catching Nikita Kucherov (76 points) in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, but the self-proclaimed hard-working, hockey-loving nice guy has his focus set elsewhere.
"I don't care. I've got two Cups," Kessel said when asked about the pursuit of the scoring title, per Pens Inside Scoop.
Kessel has been one of the league's hottest players in the New Year, recording 24 points in 19 games since the calendar flipped to 2018. The 30-year-old's surge is one of the main reasons the Pens have been unstoppable of late, going 14-4-1 in that span.
The Florida Panthers may have struggled to hit their stride over the first half of the NHL season, but they're now finding their form at the most opportune time.
Winning six out of the last seven games, Florida finds itself within striking distance of the playoffs in the tightening Eastern Conference wild-card hunt, and in prime position to be buyers ahead of the fast-approaching Feb. 26 trade deadline - for more than one reason.
Of course, sitting seven points back of a postseason seed with half of February already in the books is far from the ideal scenario. But, seven points really isn't that much when you consider the advantages Florida has going for it.
Here's a look at the reasons why the Panthers should be buyers over the next 10 days:
Games in hand - Always a crucial number on which teams and fans keep a keen eye. Florida has at least three games in hand on the teams ahead of it in the Eastern wild-card race, so the opportunity to gain ground is real.
Heating up - Since the All-Star break, the Panthers have been on fire. A 6-1 record has resurrected their playoffs hopes to the point where general manager Dale Tallon should be actively working the phones to get his team over the top.
Clean bill of health - With starting netminder Roberto Luongo returning any day, Florida finds itself without a single player on injured reserve, a huge bonus as the 82-game grind winds down.
Favorable March schedule - The rest of February won't be easy. But seven March games against non-playoff teams including three against the Ottawa Senators and two against the Montreal Canadiens should set the Panthers up nicely for the spring.
Plethora of picks - Tallon and Co. have the privilege of owning a pick in every round of the draft for the next three seasons, which includes Arizona's 2018 second-round pick. So, they basically have two first-round selections for the upcoming draft.
Available cap space - Never a team to really splurge, the option is there if Tallon feels inclined to make a high-priced rental splash. At least $7 million in currently available cap space should be more than enough room to add the couple pieces the team is looking for.
But what pieces?
Like a lot of bubble teams, the Panthers need to get deeper offensively, as a quick glance at Florida's forward group reveals a lineup that is top-heavy:
A winger like Michael Grabner of the New York Rangers would provide head coach Bob Boughner with the flexibility to spread the club's offensive talent more evenly among his four lines. The Panthers have been following a smart blueprint of drafting high and grooming quality, homegrown players that have formed their core, so sacrificing one of those pieces just doesn't make sense.
But, acquiring a player like Grabner (23 goals, six assists this season) would obviously cost much less than the Max Paciorettys and Mike Hoffmans of the world.
And he would slot nicely into Florida's top nine without giving up a core piece, providing added scoring to a team that struggles to bury the biscuit - the Panthers sit 19th in league scoring with only 156 goals.
If Florida wants to make a serious playoff push, reinforcements will also be needed on the blue line, as the Panthers have become a team against which opposing squads pad their stats.
Boughner's men allow the second-most shots on net per game at a staggering average of 34.7. And the top-three defensive group of Aaron Ekblad, Keith Yandle, and Michael Matheson is currently relied on far too heavily for the team to be successful come April and May - all three players average well over 20 minutes a night.
A defenseman such as Columbus Blue Jackets' Jack Johnson could be the type of player that solidifies Florida as a genuine threat with playoff aspirations.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
He can log heavy minutes, kill penalties, chip in with a timely goal or assist, and take some of the workload away from the top-three guys. But, perhaps most importantly, Johnson's asking price is likely much more affordable than some other high-end blue-line trade targets like Detroit Red Wings D-man Mike Green or Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh.
Despite playing most of the season in John Tortorella's doghouse, Johnson still holds value as a reliable defenseman with over 20 games of postseason experience under his belt.
Florida is far from a Cup favorite. But as it stands, the Panthers find themselves in perfect position to be major players between now and Feb 26.
If Tallon can pull a few strings and augment his stellar young core with the right veteran or two, don't be shocked to see the Panthers competing in the first round.
