Fan voting was used to select the captains for each division.
McDavid will represent the Pacific Division for the third straight year. The 21-year-old sits fourth in league scoring with 52 points, seven back of Mikko Rantanen.
Matthews will make his third All-Star game appearance in as many seasons since entering the league. By being named the captain of the Atlantic Division, the 21-year-old earned a Schedule A bonus of $212,500, according to Cap Friendly. Matthews has recorded 19 goals and 34 points in 23 games this season.
Ovechkin's eighth NHL All-Star Game appearance will come this year. The game will also mark the third time in the past four years that he's been named captain of the Metropolitan Division. The sniper leads the NHL with 29 goals through 35 games.
Alex Ovechkin on being at least 10 years older than the three other all-star captains (McDavid, Matthews, MacKinnon).
“I’m kind of the old horse over there, but still getting recognized by the fans, so it’s very important.”
MacKinnon, playing in his third straight All-Star game, will lead the Central Division, ending Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban's two-year run as captain. The 23-year-old sits third in NHL scoring with 56 points.
The annual 3-on-3 tournament takes place Jan. 26 at the SAP Center in San Jose.
New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall will miss Thursday night's road contest against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury and is considered day to day, according to Chris Ryan of NJ.com. It's the same ailment that forced the 27-year-old to miss two games earlier in December.
Hall has suited up for 33 of the Devils' 35 games this year, leading his team in scoring with 11 goals and 26 assists. He notched 93 points in 76 games last season en route to winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
His absence leaves a huge gap in the lineup for the struggling Devils. New Jersey sits last in the Eastern Conference with 31 points and only has three wins in its last 10 games.
Canada jumped out to an utterly dominant start at the 2019 world juniors, running over Denmark 14-0 on Wednesday night to open round-robin play.
The defending gold medalist got contributions from just about everybody, but Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost led the way with three goals and two assists. Captain Maxime Comtois was also a huge factor, becoming just the fifth Canadian player in history to score four goals in a game at the tournament, according to Mark Masters of TSN.
Canada had eight other players put forth multi-point efforts and outshot Denmark 42-12.
Both teams are back in action Thursday, with Canada taking on Switzerland and Denmark facing another tough test versus Russia.
The Minnesota Wild will be without Matt Dumba for a minimum of three months after the defenseman underwent successful surgery to a repair a ruptured right pectoralis muscle, general manager Paul Fenton announced Wednesday.
The 24-year-old was injured Dec. 15 against the Calgary Flames and left the contest after logging just five minutes. He fought Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk in the first period but Fenton couldn't confirm that's when Dumba was hurt.
The news is a huge blow to the Wild, who currently sit seven points outside a Central Division playoff spot and two points back of the final wildcard position in the Western Conference. Dumba ranks second among NHL blue-liners with 12 goals in 32 games. He's also chipped in 10 assists while logging over 23 minutes per night.
The Canadiens waived Alzner on Nov. 26, but he was assigned to the Laval Rocket after going unclaimed. His recall coincides with Montreal blue-liner David Schlemko being placed on injured reserve.
Alzner, 30, signed a five-year, $23.125-million contract with Montreal in July 2017. He's notched one assist in eight games with the Habs this season while posting two points in 10 contests in the minors.
Here are five key questions about the 2019 world junior hockey championship, which begins Dec. 26 in Vancouver.
Who are the favorites?
On paper, four countries stand out: Canada, Finland, Russia, and the United States. You can read more details in our team-by-team previews, but these rosters appear to be the deepest, especially when it comes to goal-scoring threats.
Out of that group, Canada's likely the favorite to repeat as champion, but will be without talented forwards Gabe Vilardi and Alex Formenton due to injuries. Finland's filled with some serious skill, but is also missing several of its best age-eligible players, including Kristian Vesalainen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Russia has a deep roster, but it's a green one in terms of experience at the world juniors. Meanwhile, the Americans pack a lot of firepower up front, but will have to face both Finland and Sweden in group play.
There are also potential contenders outside that top four. The Czech Republic - with AHLers Filip Zadina, Martin Kaut, and Martin Necas - is surprisingly deep up front, while Sweden's always a factor, even with a less impressive roster than usual this year.
How will top NHL prospects Jack Hughes (U.S.) and Kaapo Kakko (Finland) fare in their head-to-head matchup?
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
It'll sure be fun to find out.
Hughes and Kakko - the top two prospects for the 2019 NHL draft - will meet when the United States and Finland face off on New Year's Eve. Here's how both players are faring in their respective leagues this season:
Hughes: 10 goals, 38 assists in 25 games (U.S. National Team Development Program)
Kakko: 9 goals, 11 assists in 27 games (Finnish Liiga)
It's also important to put those numbers in context. The U.S. National Team Development Program plays against college and USHL opponents, while Kakko is facing men in the Finnish Liiga - a much more difficult situation for a 17-year-old. In both cases, the production is very impressive.
And of course, a player's performance in a short tournament can only affect their draft stock so much. It would take an overwhelmingly good tournament from Kakko (and a pretty bad one from Hughes) for the top-pick conversation to shift significantly in the former's favor. Even then, it's unlikely Kakko would overtake Hughes, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy watching them battle it out.
Can the Americans replace Brady Tkachuk?
Tkachuk was a big reason that Team USA claimed bronze at the 2018 world juniors, but he'll be sticking with the Ottawa Senators this time around. So, who can help replace his combination of point production and tenacity?
From an offensive perspective, the Americans have serious forward depth. Contributions from guys like Joel Farabee, Ryan Poehling, Jack Hughes, and Oliver Wahlstrom, among others, should lead to plenty of goals.
But how about replacing Tkachuk's feisty, irritating nature? One possible answer might surprise you. In Team USA's final pre-tournament game against the Czech Republic, defenseman Quinn Hughes (Jack's brother) decided he didn't like a hit from Jakub Lauko, and the gloves flew.
"I think me and him were going at it the entire game, and I saw him hit a couple other guys a little dirty, so I just didn’t really appreciate that too much," Quinn said afterward.
When it was pointed out that fighting isn't usually part of his game, the defenseman noted that "it can be." Maybe he got some tips from Tkachuk, his old roommate with the U.S. National Development Team.
How will Kazakhstan stack up against heavyweights?
Laszlo Szirtesi / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Kazakhstan's back in the top division of the world juniors for the first time in a decade, but finds itself in a difficult group that includes the Americans, Sweden, and Finland. One good sign? The Kazakhs won all their pre-tournament games against Canadian university teams, which should at least boost their confidence level.
Their best chance for a win in group play is likely against Slovakia, and even that would be tough to pull off. It's likely we'll see the Kazakhs in the relegation round - will they survive and return in 2020, or end up being a one-and-done?
Meanwhile, Germany won the lower-level tournament earlier this month, earning a spot at the world juniors in 2020.
Who will be the top scorer?
In short tournaments, a wide range of players can end up with the most points. And the scoring race will be impacted by how often players see the ice and whether they're given power-play opportunities - those on deeper rosters will face more competition for minutes from their star teammates.
Meanwhile, the top scorer will likely come from a team that goes deeper into the tournament, which is no guarantee for anyone - even the favorites. From a viewer's perspective, that unpredictability is fun.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. And every edition of the world juniors also winds up featuring an under-the-radar player who lights it up.
That's the beauty of a short tournament - almost anything can happen.
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.
Finding the right role for every player is imperative to success in today's NHL. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery or a bump in the lineup for players to reach newfound heights. Here are three players who have managed to transform their roles successfully so far in 2018-19.
Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames
A new team and role have done wonders for Lindholm. The 2013 fifth-overall pick spent five seasons trying to find offensive consistency as a center with the Carolina Hurricanes, but has soared to new heights through his first campaign as a winger with the Flames.
The 23-year-old has had the luxury of playing alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, one of the league's most dynamic duos. Still, Lindholm has made the most of his fresh start, already establishing a new career-high with 17 goals while also on pace for 86 points, which would nearly double his previous best total.
Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / Getty
Horvat has elevated his role to become new the leader of the up-and-coming Canucks in the post-Sedin era. He may not be as flashy or gain as much attention as younger dynamos Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, but Horvat has evolved from a promising young player to a polished two-way pivot.
Simply put, he's been the Canucks' workhorse. He starts more than 60 percent of shifts in the defensive zone, yet is on pace for a career-best offensive season with 17 goals and 17 assists through 39 games. In addition, Horvat ranks 10th among all NHL centers in averaging 20:47 per contest, and has won 53.8 percent of draws in his breakout campaign.
Tomas Tatar, Montreal Canadiens
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
After multiple healthy scratches in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs and being traded twice in the span of seven months, Tatar has finally settled down and found some success in his new role with the Canadiens.
A change of scenery has allowed him to transform his role from an underused bottom-six winger in Vegas to a prominent contributor in the Habs' attack. Tatar's 26 points this season leaves him just 10 shy of his entire total from last season with 45 games to go, and his hot start has helped ease Montreal's transition from a much-publicized split with the man he was traded for - Max Pacioretty.
The arrival of the holiday season has an additional meaning for hockey fans, even as NHL arenas go dark for a three-day stretch.
It's officially time for the world junior hockey championship. Close friends become fierce rivals. Rivals become teammates and brothers in arms. And while the games should provide plenty of drama, fans shouldn't be shocked if it's an all-North American showdown for gold.
Here's a team-by-team breakdown of this year's World Junior Championship (2018 results and team stats included).
Canada (Group A)
Kevin Light / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
6-0-1
19
39
11
Champion
Head coach: Tim Hunter
Strengths: Forward depth is always a strength for Canada, and this edition of the tournament is no exception - especially since roster selection, for the most part, favored skill players over role players (which hasn't necessarily been the case in recent years).
Weaknesses: Canada's defense and goaltending are good but green. Opponents would be wise to exploit this. Though the Canadians should have the depth to recover, they've got some injury concerns: It's yet to be determined whether Jaret Anderson-Dolan, recovering from wrist surgery, will be able to play center and take faceoffs, and they're still waiting on the status of forward Brett Leason, who injured his hand in a game against the U SPORTS All-Star team.
Outlook: Setting out to defend last year's gold-medal win with just one returning player (Maxime Comtois) from the championship squad, Canada's chances are good. Keep an eye on players like Cody Glass, Owen Tippett, Evan Bouchard, and Ty Smith, and enjoy getting your first look at Lafreniere on the big stage. One thing to keep in mind: Beating Canada will be a battle as always - especially with this lineup - but this tournament is no longer theirs for the taking. That's good for hockey.
Sweden (Group B)
Marissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
6-1-0
17
28
14
Runner-up
Head coach: Tomas Monten
Strengths: The mobile, skilled blue line ranks among the best in the tournament and features recent first-rounders such as Rasmus Sandin, Erik Brannstrom, Adam Boqvist, and Nils Lundqvist.
Weaknesses: Sweden lacks big-name offensive talent to match the depth of its defense, though rearguards like Boqvist and Brannstrom can contribute on the scoresheet. No stars are here to save the day. The team's going to have to score by committee.
Outlook: Unlike past years, Sweden isn't one of the top squads here. Still, the Swedes could well surprise people and play spoiler. The Anaheim Ducks released Isac Lundestrom to play in the tournament, joining a forward group that includes Filip Hallander (Penguins) and Jacob Olofsson (Canadiens). And Sweden hasn't lost a round-robin game since 2007.
United States (Group B)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
5-2-0
14
35
19
Third place
Head coach: Mike Hastings
Strengths: Forward depth. Last year's team scored 35 goals across the tournament, and this group is poised for an equally high-scoring performance.
Weaknesses: One thing Team USA doesn't have this time around is pest Brady Tkachuk. In addition to agitating his opponents, Tkachuk lit up the scoresheet, ending the 2018 world juniors with nine points in seven games.
Notable draft prospects: F Jack Hughes, U.S. National Team Development Program; G Spencer Knight, U.S. National Team Development Program
Outlook: While the U.S. is not the gold-medal favorite, it's a strong contender. Between a deep forward corps, a blue line boasting several big-name NHL prospects, and a solid goaltending trio that should be internally competitive for the starter's spot, don't count the Americans out. If Hastings keeps them together (and he should), look out for the line of Joel Farabee, Hughes, and Oliver Wahlstrom. There's significant scoring potential thanks to their history together, both at home and in international tournaments. On the back end, keep an eye out for the highly touted Quinn Hughes (Canucks), as well as K'Andre Miller (Rangers) and Mattias Samuelsson (Sabres).
Weaknesses: For all their strength up front, the Czechs are not in an easy group - and if they make the quarterfinals, they'll likely have to get through an intimidating opponent.
Notable draft prospect: D Hugo Has, Tappara (U20 Jr. A SM-liiga)
Outlook: The Czechs haven't medaled at the world juniors since 2005, but as usual, they're an intriguing spoiler. With forwards including Zadina, Necas, Kaut, Boston Bruins prospect Jakub Lauko, and Edmonton Oilers prospect Ostap Safin, plus Jakub Skarek (Islanders) in net, they could potentially push for a medal if things go well. More than half the players they invited to camp already play on North American ice. At the very least, expect them to make life difficult for the other teams in Group A.
Weaknesses: Russia's only returning player is Klim Kostin, meaning the majority of its roster lacks any world junior experience. But the real question about the Russians is whether all their good pieces will add up to something more.
Notable draft prospect: F Vasili Podkolzin, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
Outlook: After finishing fifth last year, expect Russia to come back with a vengeance. Most of the players have some professional experience, with a few in the KHL or the AHL full time. A few play in Canadian major-junior leagues. Keep an eye on forwards Vitali Kravtsov (Rangers), the 2018 KHL rookie of the year; Kostin (Blues); and Grigori Denisenko (Panthers). Alexander Alexeyev (Capitals) and Dmitri Samorukov (Oilers) are also worth monitoring.
Finland (Group B)
Nicholas T. LoVerde / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
2-2-1
7
18
16
Sixth place
Head coach: Jussi Ahokas
Strengths: Finland's forward corps is as solid as they come - starting with Aleksi Heponiemi, who has 26 points, including eight goals, for Karpat of the Finnish Liiga this season. The puck-moving blue line is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Weaknesses: Finland's missing many of its best eligible players. Winnipeg Jets forward Kristian Vesalainen, currently playing with Jokerit of the KHL, turned down his invitation, and the Canadiens opted to keep forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Niklas Nordgren, a forward who plays for HIFK in the Liiga, was recently injured and likely won't make the trip to Vancouver.
Notable draft prospects: F Kaapo Kakko, TPS (Liiga); D Anttoni Honka, JYP (Liiga); D Lassi Thomson, Kelowna (WHL); D Mikko Kokkonen, Jukurit (Liiga)
Outlook: For a country that's perennially among the world's top hockey powers, Finland had a rough time at last year's tourney. Fortunately for Suomi fans, things are looking up. Top-two centers Heponiemi and Rasmus Kupari can hang with the best of them, and the Predators' late release of Eeli Tolvanen makes the absences of Vesalainen and Kotkaniemi sting a little less. Finland's back end is bolstered by the late additions of Blackhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju and Bruins blue-liner Urho Vaakanainen, who's recovered from a concussion that kept him out for nearly two months.
Slovakia (Group B)
Adam Pulicicchio / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
2-3-0
6
12
17
Seventh place
Head coach: Ernest Bokros
Strengths: Much of this team plays together for most of the year, and should benefit from that chemistry and familiarity. Slovakia's also bringing back nine players from last year's roster, including five forwards.
Weaknesses: While Slovakia can usually hang around to make everyone else's lives difficult, the country's chances of extending its quarterfinals streak could hinge on goaltending - and all three of the team's netminders are new to the tournament (Jakub Kostelny was Slovakia's third goalie last year, but saw no playing time).
Notable draft prospects: F Maxim Cajkovic, Saint John (QMJHL)
Outlook: While their last medal was in 2015, this team has made the quarterfinals every year since 2001 - not an easy feat. One gets the sense, however, that Slovakia feels a bit like it's time to put up or shut up. The roster is good, not great, but Slovakia's always a threat to win games it shouldn't win on paper. Keep an eye on draft-eligible Cajkovic, as well as three Calgary Flames forward prospects who will likely be counted on for leadership: Adam Ruzicka, Milos Roman, and Martin Pospisil.
Switzerland (Group A)
Nicholas T. LoVerde / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
1-4-0
3
12
28
Eighth place
Head coach: Christian Wohlwend
Strengths: More than half the players on Switzerland's roster already play in North America, so far fewer of them will need to adjust to the smaller ice.
Weaknesses: Switzerland lacks a game-breaker. Nobody on the squad can completely take over the game like Jack Hughes or make things happen from the back end like Adam Boqvist. Any wins the Swiss achieve are truly going to be a team effort.
Outlook: Since the country's never won a world-junior medal, that's presumably the target, but to get there, Switzerland needs to score more than it did last year. Another key question is whether the team's goaltending will hold up against its opponents' offensive firepower. If it can, the Swiss should be able to make the quarterfinals. From there, who knows?
Denmark (Group A)
Yelena Rusko / TASS / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
2-4-0
5
10
32
Ninth place
Head coach: Olaf Eller
Strengths: Tenacity is Denmark's biggest strength. It's the country's fifth consecutive year in the top division, and despite lacking big-name players, the Danes have kept hanging around and even occasionally made things tough for their competition. Eller's coaching is part of that tenacious identity and will be important again this year.
Weaknesses: With no real standout offensive talent - they had two goals in non-relegation games last year - the Danes might have trouble scoring against the heavyweights.
Notable draft prospects: G Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Outlook: Denmark doesn't want to end up in the relegation round again. To avoid that fate, it'll need to score more in round-robin games than it did in last year's tournament while relying on its netminders to keep the goal differential reasonable. While it'd be satisfying to give some of the top teams a scare, Denmark's real objective is simply to gain a sixth consecutive year in this division and a spot in next year's tournament in the Czech Republic.
Kazakhstan* (Group B)
Laszlo Szirtesi / Getty Images Sport / Getty
W-L-OTL
PTS
GF
GA
RESULT
5-0-0
13
20
10
Promoted
*Promoted to top division by virtue of winning Division IA
Head coach: Sergei Starygin
Strengths: Many players on the Kazakhstan U20 squad have been playing together all season in the MHL, Russia's junior hockey league, for Snezhnye Barsy Astana. That familiarity benefits any team in a short tournament.
Weaknesses: Kazakhstan faces a rough road. In a group with Finland, Sweden, and the U.S., it's going to be difficult to build momentum, never mind earn a win.
Notable draft prospects: None
Outlook: For the first time in a decade, Kazakhstan is back in the top division. And while the country won't contend for a medal, avoiding relegation could be a realistic target. Players returning from the Division I win will help, including forwards Artur Gatiyatov (37 points in 38 games, including 14 goals) and Sayan Daniyar (11 goals and 27 assists). Valeri Orekhov, a 19-year-old defenseman who's spent this season in the KHL with Barys Astana, has six points in 24 games.
Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.
This is the seventh edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. It was compiled by editors Sean O'Leary and Eric Patterson.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-7-2) ▲
🎁: A nice, simple box of chocolates. What do you get somebody who already has it all? - O'Leary
Previously: 1st
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-10-2) ▲
🎁: A right-shot defenseman, though the Maple Leafs might have to wait a couple more months. - O'Leary
Previously: 3rd
3. Winnipeg Jets (24-10-2) ▲
🎁: The warmest jacket on the market so Mark Scheifele never cools down. Since Dec. 1, the 25-year-old ranks second in the NHL with 20 points in 12 games. - O'Leary
Previously: 4th
4. Washington Capitals (22-10-3) ▲
Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty
🎁: Pucks, pucks, and more pucks, since Alex Ovechkin will eventually just put them all in the opponent's net. - O'Leary
Previously: 5th
5. Calgary Flames (22-12-3) ▼
🎁: A shovel to fill Matthew Tkachuk's stocking with money. With 42 points in 37 games, he's going to break the bank on his next contract. - O'Leary
Previously: 2nd
6. Boston Bruins (20-13-4) ▲
🎁: Bubble wrap to protect Bruins heart and soul Patrice Bergeron, because they surely don't want to face life without him in the lineup again anytime soon. - O'Leary
Previously: 16th
7. Nashville Predators (22-13-2)
🎁: A full lineup sheet. The Predators are battling numerous key injuries, and it's making an impact in the Central Division race. - O'Leary
Previously: 7th
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (21-12-3) ▲
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
🎁: The nicest pens in the world, so superstars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky have a little more incentive to put their signatures on fresh contract extensions. - O'Leary
Previously: 11th
9. San Jose Sharks (19-12-7) ▲
🎁: Whatever Erik Karlsson wants most. Locking him up long term should be priority No. 1 for the Sharks organization. - O'Leary
Previously: 12th
10. Montreal Canadiens (19-13-5) ▲
🎁: A case of beer. The Canadiens deserve to put their feet up and relax over the break after being one of the biggest surprises in the league this season. Word on the street is their owner has a hookup on a discount, too. - O'Leary
Previously: 15th
11. Vegas Golden Knights (20-15-4) ▲
🎁: Some lucky sticks. Despite overwhelmingly positive possession numbers, the Golden Knights rank 24th with a 7.4 shooting percentage at five-on-five. - O'Leary
Previously: 14th
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-12-6) ▲
Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty
🎁: Some swimming trunks. He's pulled off a couple of small trades this season, but general manager Jim Rutherford is always looking to make a big splash. - O'Leary
Previously: 17th
13. Buffalo Sabres (21-11-5) ▼
🎁: A playoff berth. Sabres fans have gone seven long years without postseason action, and this young, exciting outfit would provide fireworks in a matchup against any Atlantic Division adversary. - O'Leary
Previously: 9th
14. Colorado Avalanche (19-12-6) ▼
🎁: The first co-MVP award in NHL history. At this point, how do you choose between Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? - O'Leary
Previously: 6th
15. Anaheim Ducks (19-14-5) ▼
🎁: A wheelbarrow. Really, anything to help John Gibson carry the weight of this Ducks squad would be well-received. - Patterson
Previously: 10th
16. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-3) ▼
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
🎁: A goal from Milan Lucic, which hasn't occurred since opening night. - Patterson
Previously: 13th
17. Dallas Stars (16-11-3) ▼
🎁: A spotlight to shine on rearguard Miro Heiskanen, whose sparkling debut season isn't getting much recognition. - Patterson
Previously: 8th
18. New York Islanders (18-13-4)
🎁: A moving truck. After rave reviews for the Islanders' return to Nassau Coliseum, who says no to packing up shop at the Barclays Center and heading back to Long Island?
Previously: 18th
19. New York Rangers (15-14-6)
🎁: A "Rebuilding for Dummies" book. For a team that wanted to hit the reset button, it doesn't look like the Rangers know how. - Patterson
Previously: 19th
20. Florida Panthers (15-14-6) ▲
🎁: Selke and Lady Byng Trophies for Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers' first-line center has taken one minor penalty this season and drawn a ridiculous 27 against while maintaining a point-per-game pace. - Patterson
Previously: 26th
21. Minnesota Wild (17-15-3) ▼
🎁: Bandages. Losers of four straight heading into the Christmas break, the Wild need to stop the bleeding. A healthy Matt Dumba would be nice too. - Patterson
Previously: 20th
22. Vancouver Canucks (17-18-4) ▲
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
🎁: A shield for their young stars. The Canucks can't have Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser trying to police themselves on the ice. They're easy targets and need to be protected.- Patterson
Previously: 30th
23. Ottawa Senators (15-18-4) ▼
🎁: An eraser. The story of the 2018-19 Ottawa Senators has been ugly so far, from the ongoing ownership issues to the Uber video scandal. Everyone in this organization would benefit from starting over. - Patterson
Previously: 21st
24. Carolina Hurricanes (15-15-5) ▼
🎁: Bigger nets. The Hurricanes lead the league in shots per game but have the second-fewest goals. This should also help provide owner Tom Dundon with more 5-4 games, which he really enjoys. - Patterson
Previously: 22nd
25. Detroit Red Wings (15-17-6)
🎁: A new social security number, because the identity of this Red Wings organization has been stolen. - Patterson
Previously: 25th
26. St. Louis Blues (14-16-4) ▲
🎁: Unlimited long-distance calling. Rumors are swirling about the Blues becoming major sellers as the trade deadline approaches. - Patterson
Previously: 27th
27. Arizona Coyotes (16-18-2) ▼
🎁: An offer sheet for Arizona native Auston Matthews. Dream big, right? - Patterson
Previously: 23rd
28. Philadelphia Flyers (15-16-4) ▼
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty
🎁: Nothing. Christmas came early for the Flyers ... twice. Gritty is a gift that keeps on giving and unwrapping Carter Hart in mid-December is an early present that should tide Philly over until next year. - Patterson
Previously: 24th
29. Chicago Blackhawks (13-20-6) ▲
🎁: Chicago Bears tickets. It's the only way the Blackhawks will get a taste of the postseason in 2019. - Patterson
Previously: 31st
30. New Jersey Devils (12-16-7) ▼
🎁: A cloning device. How nice would another Taylor Hall be? Kyle Palmieri is having a career year attempting to match Hall's production, but the Devils need another superstar to help carry the offensive load. - Patterson
Previously: 28th
31. Los Angeles Kings (14-20-3) ▼
🎁: A horseshoe. The Kings will need the luck when the first overall pick is on the line during the draft lottery. - Patterson
