Mathew Barzal hit another impressive benchmark as his magical first season in the NHL continues.
The New York Islanders phenom nabbed the secondary assist on Josh Bailey's sweet power-play goal less than five minutes into Thursday's game against the New York Rangers, and in doing so, collected his 60th point.
Barzal became the first Islanders rookie to do that in 40 years, joining Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy as the only first-year Islanders to reach the mark, according to statistician Eric Hornick.
Mathew Barzal's assist tonight is his 60th point of 2017-18. He passes David Volek (1988-89) for the 3rd most in a season by a rookie with the @NYIslanders
Barzal might be hard-pressed to match Trottier's franchise rookie record of 95, and may find it tough to equal Bossy's mark of 91, but he's built himself a comfortable cushion atop the current NHL rookie crop in the points department.
He entered Thursday's action with a 10-point lead on Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks before at least temporarily padding it with his early helper.
During a career that saw him play 953 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Pavel Datsyuk accomplished almost everything professional hockey has to offer.
His resume includes two Stanley Cup rings, three Frank J. Selke trophies, and a World Championship gold medal from 2012. But the 39-year-old is still chasing an ever-elusive accomplishment - an Olympic gold medal. Being that the dynamic forward now plies his trade in the KHL in Russia, the opportunity to join the Olympic Athletes from Russia in PyeongChang 2018 could help him end his career in style.
Datsyuk is looking to redeem his international career and is likely trying to chase away a bitter feeling following Sochi 2014. Facing stratospheric pressure while his country hosted the Olympics, Datsyuk was named captain of Russia's 2014 squad. And though many were confident the country's hockey team would emerge victorious, Russia crumpled to an embarrassing fifth-place finish. It was a harrowing, nightmarish outcome with some fans defining the performance as "a catastrophe and shame for Russia" while others were too shell-shocked to vocalize their criticism. With NHL players barred from PyeongChang 2018, the Olympic Athletes from Russia are the odds-on favorite and there's no excuse for Datsyuk and Co. to walk away with anything less than gold this time around.
Quite simply, Datsyuk is the definitive two-way forward of his era while also boasting some of the best puckhandling skills hockey has ever seen. In fact, his style of play became a template that coaches look to when teaching young players how to play in the NHL.
And perhaps Datsyuk can put those skills to good use one last time. Over 20 years after he first broke onto the scene, an Olympic gold medal around his neck would put a bow on his decorated career.
Soshnikov played only three games for the Leafs this season due to injury and simply being supplanted on the organization's depth chart.
The 24-year-old missed 28 games with an ailment the club would only classify as being of the "lower-body" variety. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 12.
He posted 17 points in 19 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies in 2017-18 after appearing in 56 NHL games last season.
Soshnikov was signed by the Leafs out of the KHL in 2015.
DiDomenico joins the Blackhawks after splitting this season between the main club and the AHL's Belleville Senators and Syracuse Crunch. In 24 games with Ottawa, the 28-year-old put up six goals and 10 points, while recording another 15 points in 28 games in the minors.
In Pokka, the Senators get a 23-year-old defenseman who has played the past four seasons with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Originally a second-round selection of the New York Islanders in 2012, Pokka has steadily produced in the minors, putting up 28 goals and 127 points in 266 games.
Pokka will report to the Senators' AHL affiliate. DiDomenico will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Pokka will become a restricted free agent.
The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman once attended classes at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a shooter killed 17 people Wednesday.
"These things keep happening, and it just sucks," Gostisbehere told reporters Thursday. "It sucks to see. Those are the hallways (I) walked (at) one time before, but it's a tragic event - a tragic day."
Gostisbehere grew up in Florida and went to the school from 2007-08 to 2008-09, then transferred to South Kent School in Connecticut.
"They always say it's 'close to home,' but when it's actually home, it's pretty tough to see," he said Thursday. "I haven't really processed it yet. I still can't believe it. I was just in that school. I was only there for two years, but I felt safe at that school every day I was there, and just to see something like that happen to those kids and those teachers, it sucks.
"It's just a tragic day for South Florida and as a nation."
Gostisbehere said he didn't know any of the victims personally, but was familiar with some of the teachers and knew deceased football coach Aaron Feis, who stepped in front of bullets to shield students and was confirmed dead Thursday.
"He was always a great guy, always nice to me when I was there," Gostisbehere said. "(It) really shows his character, what he did, in that time of panic and emergency, putting himself on the line before others. He's a true hero, and he's the guy we need to focus on rather than the actual suspect."
Gostisbehere added that it still hasn't fully sunk in.
"My grandparents live a mile away from the school, and I lived 10 minutes away. It's a tough time. It was just voted the safest city in Florida last year, and to see a tragic event like that, (there's) obviously some shock right now."
Anders Lee isn't interested in taking donations from a movement bashing New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow, whom he credits with getting his career off the ground.
In light of the team's recent struggles (seven losses in their last 10 games), Islanders fans started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for billboards with the slogan "Snow must go" on them. The goal was to send a message to team ownership that fans are less than pleased with their GM.
After reaching its goal of $2,500, the campaign started donating the excess cash to other charities, including Lee's "Kancer Jam," which raises money for organizations that support children with cancer.
Lee responded with the following statement Thursday in support of his GM:
The page set up for the billboards is no longer accepting donations, and the group says the remainder of the excess money will be given to the American Cancer Society.
Lee was selected by Snow and the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2009 draft.
MacKinnon, who is still dealing with an upper-body injury, won't travel with the team to Winnipeg for Friday's game against the Jets, according to BSN Denver's AJ Haefele. He's also questionable for Sunday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced Thursday.
The Avs have been without MacKinnon for the last seven games, going 4-3-0 in that span. The return of their leading scorer can't come soon enough, as the team sits two points out of a playoff spot.
Despite missing time, MacKinnon is still tied for 11th in league scoring with 61 points.
It's been widely reported Kovalchuk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is entertaining a return to the NHL, and the 34-year-old would be an asset to numerous teams after featuring as a prolific goal-scorer in the KHL.
Kovalchuk, possessing one of the game's most lethal releases, would provide an instant burst of offense. Below, we rank five teams from least suitable to most suitable that ought to consider making an offer to the decorated winger.
5. New Jersey Devils
Few would fault the Devils organization if they wanted nothing to do with Kovalchuk after he bailed for the KHL after the 2012-13 season. This is a different team than the one from which he fled, however, and it would be a mutually beneficial partnership.
New Jersey is currently positioned to make the playoffs, trying to fend off several clubs for a wild-card spot, and could use an offensive boost in attempting to cement its bid; Kovalchuk would help round out a young, top-heavy group largely relying upon Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier to engineer the attack. The Devils have 17 players signed through 2018-19 and could afford to meet Kovalchuk's demands - provided they aren't exorbitant, like his last NHL stint.
Kovalchuk would also serve as an unlikely mentor to Hischier, both of whom were selected first overall, 16 years apart. Second chances aren't always ideal, but this may be worth exploring.
4. San Jose Sharks
Kovalchuk would fit in seamlessly with a veteran Sharks team still looking for a first Stanley Cup in franchise history. It would be an easy transition for a man who ought to be familiar with large portions of the roster while serving as another potent offensive option.
San Jose currently ranks third on the power play and while there is an argument to be made that it doesn't need fixing, imagining Kovalchuk on a unit with Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Brent Burns may be too tempting to resist.
It appears Kovalchuk's goals align perfectly with the Sharks', and it's an option that ought to be appealing to both parties.
3. Vegas Golden Knights
No one expected the Golden Knights to be this good this soon, but if the expected regression to the mean never occurs, they could be an ideal destination for Kovalchuk. Unlike the other four suitors listed, Vegas faces minimal cap restraints and would likely be able to offer the most lucrative contract this summer.
Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith have been among the season's most surprising revelations, creating a formidable attack along with veteran James Neal, whom many expected to be the team's top scorer. While it may be unwise to count out the Golden Knights as they are now, Kovalchuk adds further credibility to an offensive unit that has completely bamboozled the rest of the league.
With the prospect of being able to offer a lucrative contract combined with the city's famed nightlife, the Golden Knights could have an unlikely allure.
2. Los Angeles Kings
A veteran team with Stanley Cup experience playing in a city with world-renowned entertainment options in picturesque California is an alluring pitch with which to begin. Add in that the Kings are starved for another offensive weapon, and Kovalchuk may be donning the silver, black, and white in 2018-19.
The Kings rank 19th on the power play and Kovalchuk's deadly release would serve as a major asset for a team that has earned a reputation for a conservative style of play. With the exception of Anze Kopitar, L.A. doesn't have a single forward with more than 40 points this season and Kovalchuk would inject new life into the group.
Kovalchuk's ambition to win a Stanley Cup is likely fueling his desire to return North America and few teams provide him with a better fit, both as an individual and from a team perspective. Rob Blake has work to do.
1. Winnipeg Jets
It would be poetic for Kovalchuk to return to the organization with which he started his career just as they are turning into a potential contender for years to come, and his experience and goal-scoring ability would surely be coveted.
Imagine trying to stop a power play with Kovalchuk and Patrik Laine firing off the wing? It would be an absolute nightmare for 30 other teams to figure out. Kovalchuk would effectively replace Mathieu Perreault on the top line and a link-up with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler sounds like a nightmare, to say nothing of the added balance the ripple effect would create for the club.
Signing Kovalchuk is a feasible, sensible decision for the Jets to make, and Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff ought to be watching PyeongChang 2018 closely.
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman got a little ahead of himself this offseason, and it's a major reason why his team has lost seven straight games - including an embarrassing 6-1 loss Monday to the last-place Arizona Coyotes - and is now 10 points out of a playoff spot.
Following back-to-back first-round playoff exits, Bowman pulled off two stunning blockbuster trades on June 23, 2017:
Blackhawks receive
Coyotes receive
D Connor Murphy
D Niklas Hjalmarsson
C Laurent Dauphin
Dauphin has since been traded back to Arizona, while Hjalmarsson, 30, has a $4.1-million cap hit through next season and Murphy, 24, is signed through 2021-22 with a $3.85-million cap hit.
The trade that broke shortly after the Hjalmarsson deal was even more shocking:
Blackhawks receive
Blue Jackets receive
LW Brandon Saad
LW Artemi Panarin
G Anton Forsberg
LW Tyler Motte
2018 5th-round pick
2017 6th-round pick
Forsberg is a backup goalie, Motte is a depth piece, and the draft picks are so late that it's essentially a one-for-one deal.
However, Saad is just one year younger than Panarin, and they both have $6-million cap hits. The difference? Panarin is a free agent after next season, while Saad is signed through 2020-21.
It's clear that in both trades, Bowman was willing to trade a key member of his team for someone who is, frankly, considerably worse, in the hopes of prolonging his team's winning window.
Here's how Panarin and Saad stacked up in the two seasons prior to the trade:
Panarin
Stat
Saad
162
GP
160
61
G
55
90
A
51
151
P
106
86
Takeaways
76
54.0
CF%
52.6
This season, the comparison has been just as one-sided, even though Columbus has the league's fourth-worst offense, and Panarin is the one player opponents have to game plan around:
Panarin
Stat
Saad
57
GP
57
15
G
13
31
A
11
46
P
24
55
Takeaways
35
57.9
CF%
58.7
Panarin is also on pace to shatter his career high in takeaways, indicating that he's improved defensively in his third season. Had he remained in Chicago - and on a line with Patrick Kane, with whom he developed great chemistry - his numbers would probably be drastically improved, as would Kane's.
As for the Hjalmarsson vs. Murphy comparison, it can be broken down in a much simpler fashion. Head coach Joel Quenneville would rely on Hjalmarsson for anywhere from 21-23 minutes a night, and the Swede would do so in steady, reliable, shutdown fashion.
Murphy, however, has failed to gain Quenneville's trust, as he's averaging 15:50 per night. Having a player make nearly $4 million per season playing sixth defenseman minutes isn't conducive to success when you have two players (Kane and Jonathan Toews) making a combined $21 million per year.
Murphy's lack of reliability has forced Quenneville to give more minutes to young, inexperienced defenseman, such as Jordan Oesterle, Jan Rutta, and Gustav Forsling. Furthermore, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook still have to log huge minutes even though they're getting up there in age. Hjalmarsson would've been able to shoulder some of those tough minutes.
Down years from the Blackhawks' core - Toews, Kane, Keith, and Seabrook - have played a large part in the team's poor season. So, too, has the fact that goaltender Corey Crawford has played only 28 out of a possible 57 games this season due to injury. The absence of veteran Marian Hossa can't be overlooked as well.
If Panarin and Hjalmarsson are back in the fold, are the Blackhawks suddenly a Presidents' Trophy-caliber team? Most likely no, but they definitely could've been a playoff team. Even though hockey is a team game, both Panarin and Hjalmarsson are impactful enough that their presence would create a positive rippling effect throughout the lineup, making everyone around them better.
What Bowman should've done was held onto Panarin and Hjalmarsson, give Toews, Kane, Keith, and Seabrook the best possible supporting cast, and take one more kick at the can before the core became untenable.
The Blackhawks' undoing was inevitable, but Bowman just simply sped up the process.
Harpur signed a two-year, one-way contract extension last week and has played in 20 games for the Senators this year, registering one assist in nearly 15 minutes of ice time. In 19 games with Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Belleville, he has two goals and nine assists.
With Phaneuf and his 20-plus minutes of ice time per night gone, Harpur will have a legitimate opportunity to make a name for himself.
