"Jake Muzzin, their best defender early this season, there have been no contract talks at all. Not this summer, not early in the season between his camp and the Toronto Maple Leafs," LeBrun said.
Muzzin is an impending unrestricted free agent and is eligible to sign an extension at any time. Yet the Leafs are reportedly waiting to see how blue-liners Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci fit before engaging in contract discussions with any of their other defensemen. Barrie and Ceci were acquired in July and are also impending UFAs.
Toronto's contract extension with Mitch Marner, among several other transactions over the offseason, presumably pushed a potential Muzzin extension down the team's list of priorities. However, Morgan Rielly is the club's only blue-liner under contract beyond this season.
Muzzin was acquired by the Maple Leafs in January for a 2019 first-round pick, as well as prospects Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi. He currently carries a cap hit of $4 million.
The 30-year-old has been rock solid for Toronto so far this season. In seven games, Muzzin has notched three points while averaging over 23 minutes per night. He also has strong underlying numbers, sporting a 55.11% Corsi For rating and 52.66% of expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Toronto has a projected $65.5 million committed to its 2020-21 roster.
"In speaking with (Wild general manager) Bill Guerin on Tuesday, he said, 'Listen, I respect Bruce Boudreau, I'm going to be patient here,' and when he says 'patient,' not just with him but with the entire roster before he starts making big changes," LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."
McKenzie said there was no truth to the notion shared by a fake Twitter account Tuesday that Hynes had been fired.
"It was not true at all, and it's not something that general manager Ray Shero is considering at this time," McKenzie said in the same segment, before adding that while Shero may have to eventually do something to shore up his lineup, "firing the coach at this moment in time is not one of those considerations."
Dreger then addressed the situation in Dallas.
"The Stars organization believes that they are a better team than their record clearly indicates," he said. "There's no sense of panic coming from management or the coaching staff."
The Wild entered Tuesday evening's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 1-4-0 record and with their lone win coming against the rebuilding Ottawa Senators.
Expectations are high in New Jersey after the Devils traded for P.K. Subban and Nikita Gusev while drafting Jack Hughes first overall. However, the team is winless with only two points in the standings through six games.
The Stars are 1-5-1 through their first seven contests.
The 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues visited the White House on Tuesday, and President Donald Trump was pleased to have them in the Oval Office.
The @StLouisBlues amazing comeback reminds us to never give up – and never lose faith. When you work hard, support each other, believe in yourself, and give it everything you’ve got, victory is always within reach! #STLBluespic.twitter.com/QeF54kqUak
The ceremony didn't start off on a high note. The White House public address announcer apparently didn't have a copy of the NHL pronunciation guide and struggled with the surname of captain Alex Pietrangelo (puh-TRAN-geh-loh).
President Donald Trump, Blues owner Tom Stillman and captain Alex Pietrangelo pic.twitter.com/EHQsxn2nn8
The president then took a jab at sports agents while bragging about the trade deal he made with China.
During White House event with the St. Louis Blues, Trump disses sports agents: "Those agents, right? They sit in bed, they weigh 350 pounds, and they complain, 'you're not playing very well today, c'mon.'" pic.twitter.com/GECGxTOMbF
Trump brought veteran forward Alexander Steen front and center to show the crowd what toughness looks like. Steen, stereotypical of hockey players, has missing teeth, and Trump jokingly asked the crowd, "Do you think I could take him in a fight?"
White House visits from the NFL and NBA champions have become either rare or nonexistent since Trump took office, but Stanley Cup winners have been a constant. MLB champions have also continued to visit, but some players and staff have declined to attend, including many stars from the 2018 Boston Red Sox and the team's manager.
As a kid, Josh Manson would dart out the door, hop on his bicycle, and pedal down a Saskatchewan dirt road to his grandparents' cabin. There, the future NHLer would often find his grandpa Harold fiddling around in the garage. The image, though simple, is forever etched onto Manson's brain.
The Anaheim Ducks defenseman couldn't help but think of Harold, an amputee, late last month as he welcomed sled hockey player Lera Doederlein into the organization's inner circle. Manson handed Doederlein a customized jersey to congratulate her on becoming the 21st Duck, an annual honor bestowed upon one fan "who embodies perseverance, character, courage, and inspiration."
Harold Manson, who died in 2012, lived an active life for 81 years. Doederlein, 16, is doing the same. Two amputees from different generations and with different stories; both unwilling to be defined by their challenges.
"When I knew him, it was never a limitation," Manson said recently, reflecting on how Harold coped with losing a leg during a railroad accident in the mid-1950s. "He was a very strong man. I don't think there was ever a point where we were feeling bad for him. That was not what he wanted.
"It's all about your mindset, and that's something Lera has as well. For her to have gone through (so much) and to have the attitude that she has - a nothing-you-can't-accomplish mindset - it's inspiring."
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Lera Doederlein was born Chueva Valeria Valerivna in Russia on April 15, 2003.
Immediately, doctors in the southwestern city of Saratov identified a serious problem: she had joint contractures in both of her legs, and would later be diagnosed with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare, incurable condition that severely limits mobility.
Valeria was put up for adoption the next day. It was at a nearby orphanage where she took on the nickname of Lera and, about 15 months later, endeared herself to her future parents.
David and Fami Doederlein, devout Christians from Minnesota with three biological children, were a world away when they first laid eyes on her. In a video shared by a friend, Lera won them over instantly. "It was her bright eyes, inquisitive look, and the way that she was very attentive," David recalled.
The adoption process took about six months. Not yet two, Lera had gained a new family, a new country, and a culture willing to confront her medical condition.
"The attitude in Eastern Europe is very different than it is around here," David said. "I would say those attitudes are somewhat backward, knowing what we know about people with special needs being able to thrive in so many ways. When Lera was born - and her doctor and her mother saw she had these birth defects below the hip - the doctor encouraged her mother to give her up for adoption because they lived in a very poor area of Russia. He convinced her that, if she were adopted, she might have a better chance at a better life."
Lera at age 9. Doederlein family
Lera was unable to do much physically growing up, confined by braces that would run from her ankles to her knees, and a set of complex crutches. Surgeries offered little relief. So, at age 14, Lera opted to undergo a double above-knee amputation.
"I just wanted to take control of my life," Lera said of her decision. "From there, I had no idea what would happen, but obviously it took a good turn."
The medical bill - which included the operation, physical therapy, prosthetics, and a wheelchair - was offset somewhat by insurance and a fundraising drive run by Lera's brother Isaac Doederlein, a professional Brazilian jiu jitsu competitor. The family covered a large sum out of pocket, but the payoff has been immeasurable.
Lera had so desperately wanted to be free, mobile in some way, and prosthetics granted her that freedom. Not long after the surgery, she took an interest in adaptive sports like surfing, hand cycling, and sled hockey. She was invigorated.
"Getting her legs gave her such a sense of freedom that she can do all of these things that she didn't think she could do before," said Sarah Bettencourt, Lera's teammate on the San Diego Ducks sled hockey team. "That's her mentality, her personality that we all love. She's willing to try anything, and give it a go, see what sticks and see what doesn't."
Manson, Lera, and Getzlaf salute the crowd Debora Robinson / Getty Images
It was San Diego coach Nick Hurd who nominated Lera to become the 21st Duck, largely because she's blossomed into one of the top ambassadors for the adaptive sports community. Not only is she excelling in the sled hockey world, where only 2½ years into her career she's joined Bettencourt as a member of the U.S. national development team, but she's also a strong surfer and cyclist, competing in national events in those sports as well.
"A lot of people get into other sports in the offseason, dabble with it to stay in shape," Hurd said, "but she's really excelling in hand cycling and surfing, really anything that people are putting in front of her. She's taking the bull by the horns and going with it."
Lera, the fourth recipient of the 21st Duck honor, recently shared her story with Anaheim players before joining them on the Honda Center ice for practice. She then arrived at the home opener in a Lamborghini driven by team captain Ryan Getzlaf, walked the ceremonial orange carpet with him, and received a standing ovation under a spotlight during player introductions.
"It shows you there's a lot more important things in hockey out there," Manson said. "At the end of the day, we're very fortunate to go out and play a sport for a living."
Lera on the orange carpet with Getzlaf Debora Robinson / Getty Images
Lera's perks as the 21st Duck include a season-long open invitation to join the team at practice, and she has her own stall inside Anaheim's dressing room. The Ducks opened the season with two home wins and on Monday wrapped up a four-game road trip. The club is now 4-2.
Manson is impressed by Lera’s resilience, maturity, disposition, and on-ice skills: "I’d love to get on a sled and try it one day," he said. "She'd skate circles around me, I'm sure. It doesn't look easy (overall), but she makes it look pretty effortless."
Lera, who's described as a quick, aggressive, cerebral forward with a scoring touch, has thought about studying biomedical engineering at university. Still in 10th grade, she's in no rush to pick a career path, though something involving prosthetics and orthotics is possible.
"Part of my motto is to always stay positive and to look at the brightest side possible," Lera said. "You should always surround yourself with good people who care about you and your life."
For the first time in the 53-year history of the program, the Johnstown Warriors Cambria Youth Hockey Program rostered an all-girls team this season, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played a big role in making it happen.
Each player on the 12-and-under team, which is based outside of Pittsburgh, first began playing the game in Crosby's Little Penguins "Learn to Play Hockey" program, and the squad was surprised with tickets to see their idol play last week versus the Anaheim Ducks.
"Every single girl, all 17 of them, started with the Little Penguins. That's why we have a team now," head coach Sheri Hudspeth told Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' website. "This doesn't happen without him. We are so grateful."
The Warriors thought they were on the way to play a game, but their bus stopped in front PPG Paints Arena for the NHL contest.
"We told the girls that since they all played Little Penguins, they're here to see the big Penguins," Hudspeth added. "They came off the bus just screaming."
The team showed up early to see Crosby during warmups. It also gave him a jersey signed by every player, along with autographed individual photos of the entire roster and a plaque.
The gesture and the program's appearance at the game - during which Crosby recorded a goal and an assist - resonated with the longtime Penguins superstar.
"I think that's really cool," he said. "That's what it's all about. It doesn't always work out that way, but the fact that they made a team and are all continuing to play is great. My sister Taylor grew up playing hockey, and sometimes growing up, we had girls on our team. The fact there's enough girls to make a full team tells you that girls' hockey is doing pretty well. It's great to see."
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Although this midweek preview consists of only three days as a result of the holiday, there's no shortage of games for us to pad our wallets ahead of the weekend.
Among them, the Toronto Maple Leafs head to the United States capital, two Atlantic Division heavyweights clash at TD Garden, and the New Jersey Devils search for their first win.
Game betting
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (Tuesday)
The Canadiens are playing a fast, exciting brand of hockey early in the season, and the Lightning can score goals at will. However, Claude Julien tends to tighten things up against offensive powerhouses, while Tampa will be eager to get things in order on the back end. The total is set at 6.5, but eight of the last 10 meetings between these teams have finished under that number.
Arizona Coyotes at Winnipeg Jets (Tuesday)
Following a disappointing start to the season, the Coyotes appear to be rounding into form, though scoring has proved to be a real issue for them, which should play right into the hands of the defensively shorthanded Jets. Arizona have lost all nine of their visits to Winnipeg since the 2012-13 lockout. At a short price of -130, back the Jets to make it 10 in a row over the Coyotes north of the border.
Dallas Stars at Columbus Blue Jackets (Wednesday)
It's hard to pass up getting the better team (the Stars) at a significant discount due to their poor start to the season. Dallas' losses have come against the Bruins, Blues, Red Wings, Flames, Capitals, and Sabres. It's been a tough schedule, but four of those five losses have been by just a goal. Expect a bounce back from the Stars after being blanked in Buffalo.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (Thursday)
The Bruins are home on two days rest after hosting the Ducks on Monday. It's a spot they typically excel in under Butch Cassidy, going 7-2 since he took over for Claude Julien. Back the scorching-hot Bruins at a short price on Thursday.
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (Thursday)
This is a strange spot for the Rangers, who will be playing just their fourth game of the season when they take on the Devils at the Prudential Center. The Rangers are 2-6 in their last eight games in New Jersey, while losing nine of their last 10 on at least four days rest, which is what they have here. Bet the Devils to finally claim their first win of the season in what will be their seventh game.
Game props
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights (Tuesday)
This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Predators and Golden Knights. There have been just four goals scored in the first period of their previous six contests, with each of them staying under 1.5 goals in the opening frame. At +135, that's gravy.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)
The Leafs faced this situation four times last season - traveling for the second game of a back-to-back after playing the first at home. They were 1-3 in those contests, but more importantly, allowed 23 goals over that span. Play the Capitals team total over 3.5 at plus-money, as well as the over 4.5 at close to +300 if you're feeling it on hump day.
Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes (Thursday)
Arizona may not be scoring many goals these days, but it isn't conceding many either. The Predators have scored just 11 goals in their last seven visits to the desert. Play their team total under 2.5 at plus-money, while the under 1.5 in the first period is also worth a strong look.
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings (Thursday)
In their last four road games in the second of a back-to-back, the Sabres have just four goals. They've also been shut out in four of their last six visits to Los Angeles, with the Kings winning each of those games 2-0. Buffalo's team total under 2.5 should be priced around +140 given the rate they've been scoring, and certainly warrants a play here.
Player props
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)
Alex Ovechkin has a higher goals per game rate against Toronto than any other Eastern Conference team with 39 goals in 48 career games. He's also potted six in his last six against the Leafs the past two seasons. Back him to add to his total in this game.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (Thursday)
Over the past three seasons, David Pastrnak has 15 points in 12 games against the Lightning. He had six in three against them last season, including five assists. Trust him to get another helper on Thursday at the Garden.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
