The New York Rangers have loaned forward Lias Andersson to HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League, the team announced Sunday.

Andersson was suspended by the Rangers without pay in December for leaving the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old also reportedly requested a trade from the organization.

Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton assessed the trade market for Andersson after his request, but nothing came to fruition.

Andersson, who was drafted seventh overall by New York in 2017, has split time between the AHL and NHL. In 66 career games with the Rangers, he's posted nine points.

Andersson previously spent three seasons with HV71 and helped the SHL club win a title in 2017.

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After watching the Canadian women edge out the Americans in the NHL All-Star Weekend's three-on-three event Friday, Mitch Marner and Frederik Andersen are voicing their support for the establishment of a viable women's professional hockey league.

"I think a lot of those players can play in this league. They got a lot of skill," Marner said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "You saw it out there. I mean, the plays some of them made and the moves they were making, it was impressive to see."

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is in favor of the NHL forming a WNHL, according to Fox.

"A lot of those players are great players, and to see them not in a league right now is disappointing," Marner said. "I really hope they get a league back up and running."

After the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) folded last year, players from both the CWHL and National Women's Hockey League announced they wouldn't play in any North American professional league for the 2019-20 season.

Instead, over 200 players formed the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). The PWHPA's stated goal is to "promote, advance, and support a single, viable professional women's ice hockey league in North America."

Members of the PWHPA have appeared at the ECHL All-Star Classic, NHL All-Star Weekend, and have toured throughout North America to showcase their talent. All 20 players that participated in the three-on-three event at All-Star Weekend are a part of the PWHPA.

Andersen, whose younger sister, Amalie, plays hockey for the University of Maine, hopes there will soon be viable opportunities for women beyond the collegiate level.

"I don't know what the right answer is, but of course I want to see a women's side in the game for young girls to dream of playing in," the Maple Leafs goalie said. "I know firsthand with my sister. She goes to college. And after that, I don't know what really is the future.

"I think it's just important we keep trying to grow it and, hopefully, down the road, they can have something to strive for besides playing college."

Canadian forward Sarah Nurse, who participated in the three-on-three event, thought the competition was a great way to help further the goals of the PWHPA.

"It was a fabulous event," Nurse said, according to The Canadian Press. "For the current state of women's hockey and what we're doing this year, it was the perfect opportunity to really get that visibility and exposure."

The next PWHPA showcase will take place in Philadelphia on Feb. 29.

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In the midst of a career-best season, Anthony Duclair, who's set to hit free agency this summer, is hoping he won't have to leave Ottawa.

"I just want to focus and really end the season on a positive note like I did last year," Duclair said at this weekend's All-Star Game, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "Really make a statement to the management and the coaching staff that I want to be a big part of this rebuild. I'm still a young guy."

Despite his desire to re-sign long term with the team, contract extension talks have yet to begin, Fox added.

Duclair, 24, was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with two draft picks at the trade deadline last year in exchange for Ryan Dzingel. After potting eight goals and 14 points in his 21-game run, he signed a one-year extension with the club. This season, he already has a career-high 21 goals and just participated in his first All-Star Game.

"When the change is gonna happen, when Ottawa's gonna become a contender, I want to be part of that," Duclair added. "So I'm working as hard as I can."

The Senators' offseason will be quite a busy one. Of the 20 skaters on their active roster, 13 of them, including Duclair, are set to become restricted or unrestricted free agents. Armed with two potential lottery picks and three picks in the second round in the upcoming draft, this summer can ultimately decide the future of the franchise.

Duclair, who leads the team in both goals and points, is putting together a strong case to make himself a viable piece for the Senators and will look to keep things rolling in the second half of the season.

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The Pacific Division squad was crowned the 2020 All-Star Game champion as it topped the Atlantic by a score of 5-4 in the final of the three-on-three tournament Saturday night in St. Louis.

San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl scored the winner - his fifth tally of the day - with under three minutes to go in the final frame. Max Pacioretty, Elias Pettersson, and Leon Draisaitl also scored for the Pacific in the contest.

Victor Hedman, Jonathan Huberdeau, David Pastrnak, and Tyler Bertuzzi were the goal-scorers for the Atlantic.

Saturday's triumph marked the third victory for the Pacific since the league switched to its current format in 2016.

The players on the winning squad will split a $1-million prize.

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Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane wasn't fazed by the boos he endured from the St. Louis Blues faithful during All-Star Weekend.

Kane was jeered Friday during the Skills Competition and again Saturday night as he scored two goals for the Central Division. The winger actually egged on the crowd to get even louder after he put away one of his goals, but he says it was all lighthearted fun.

"I thought that was a pretty cool moment," he said, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus. "Tried to like put my hand up to my ear to hear the boos but then I was showing them that, 'Hey, I'm playing with the Blues players, I've got the same jersey as them.' Just had fun with it."

As Central Division foes, Blues fans have seen plenty of Kane during his 13-year career with the Blackhawks. In 64 regular-season games versus St. Louis, Kane has recorded 63 points and added 13 more in 13 playoff contests - including two overtime winners.

"It's all in good fun," he said, according to Lazerus. "To be honest with you, sometimes you get booed, you kind of like it a little bit. It's St. Louis and Chicago, it's a huge rivalry."

Blues head coach - and bench boss for the Central squad - Craig Berube even called for mercy on the boos.

"I felt bad for Kaner," Berube said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "He comes out in his introductions and is getting booed and stuff and then he scores and they're cheering for him. Tough situation for him. Players all know. They all handle it very well. It's a fun event."

The Central Division played only one game due to a 10-5 loss to the Pacific.

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Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak was named All-Star Game MVP on Saturday despite playing for the losing side in the final.

The Atlantic Division squad, captained by Pastrnak, fell 5-4 to the Pacific Division team in the three-on-three tournament's winner-take-all finale.

Pasta recorded four goals and a pair of assists in two contests. He's the first member of a losing All-Star team to claim MVP honors since Ryan Johansen, then of the Columbus Blue Jackets, earned the distinction in 2015.

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It'll be the battle of the oceans in the All-Star Game final.

The Pacific Division team will take on the representatives of the Atlantic Division in the winner-take-all matchup after beating the Central Division squad 10-5 in the second semifinal of Saturday's three-on-three tournament.

Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl, and rookie blue-liner Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks led the way for the Pacific with four points apiece. Flames goaltender David Rittich shut the door in the second of two periods, stopping nine of 10 shots.

Tkachuk and Draisaitl teamed up on multiple goals, displaying natural on-ice chemistry despite some ongoing animosity between their respective clubs. Tkachuk laid out Oilers enforcer Zack Kassian with a pair of big hits during a game between Calgary and Edmonton earlier in January. Kassian pummelled Tkachuk with several punches to the head following the second hit, earning a two-game suspension.

Draisaitl had said he "would probably get off the ice" if he had to play with Tkachuk at the All-Star Game. Though that didn't happen, the two players didn't celebrate goals together, going their separate ways instead.

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