Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for Alex Ovechkin to chase down Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, Jaromir Jagr believes the Russian sniper can still make history.
"Earlier I thought Ovechkin doesn't have any chances to break Gretzky's goal record," Jagr said Monday, according to NHL.com. "It was six years ago. But Alex has changed and became a better and more effective hockey player than he was in (his) youth. I think he works harder now. He'll be able to (break Gretzky's record) if he can stay healthy and keep working as hard as (he is) now."
Ovechkin sits 188 goals behind Gretzky's record of 894. With 48 tallies in 68 games last season, Ovi was on pace for nearly 58 goals before the pandemic-induced hiatus.
If the NHL conducts a 48-game campaign this season, "The Great Eight" - who scored 32 goals during the lockout-shortened 48-game campaign in 2012-13 - should be able to notch around 30 tallies.
Assuming he gets to 30 this coming season and the NHL gets back to 82-game campaigns beginning in 2021-22, here's what Ovechkin would need to average to break the record:
No. of seasons
Average goals
3
53
4
39.75
5
31.8
6
26.5
Ovechkin, 35, recently said he wants to play a few more seasons in the NHL before ending his pro career with the KHL's Moscow Dynamo. It's hard to imagine him leaving for Russia if the record is within striking distance, though.
Regardless of whether or not he gets the record, Ovechkin could still be considered the greatest goal-scorer ever. During Gretzky's career, the average goals per game was 3.5. During Ovechkin's, it's been 2.85.
Additionally, Ovechkin has averaged 0.69 era-adjusted goals per game (56.6 per 82 games) compared to Gretzky's 0.50 (41 per 82 games), according to Hockey Reference.
If Ovechkin can find the fountain of youth that Jagr did and stay healthy, the record could be his.
Although the Minnesota Wild find themselves without a captain for the first time in years, general manager Bill Guerin says the team will name a new leader before the 2020-21 season begins.
"We'll name a new captain and we'll move forward," Guerin said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "Big shoes to fill, but my personal belief is it's an important position to fill and you just don't want to leave the team in limbo."
Mikko Koivu, the team's first permanent captain in franchise history, held the title for the last decade but signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason.
The Wild have a number of veteran players that could be called upon to take on the new role. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise have been associate captains since signing 13-year deals in 2012, while the team also has some homegrown options such as Jared Spurgeon.
Guerin didn't reveal who he's considering naming captain, but he said there are "some good guys here, some really good people here."
Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien hopes he can stick around in the NHL for as long as possible after successfully undergoing heart surgery in August.
"Right now, I'm back (at) 100%," Julien said, according to NHL.com's Jon Lane. "My heart is 100%. ... So, as long as my health is good and my passion and excitement remain, I'd love to keep coaching (for) as long as I can."
The 60-year-old left the Canadiens after experiencing chest pains during the 2019-20 postseason. He subsequently underwent a stent procedure.
Julien previously said he'll return to coach Montreal for the 2020-21 campaign. Despite the health scare and his age, he added that he still loves coaching and doesn't envision himself retiring any time soon.
"I love going to the rink every day to work with players and then prepare for games and practices," Julien said. "As long as you love your job and you have the energy to do it and the passion to do it, that's the most important part versus whether you feel like you should retire because you've been coaching long enough."
Julien began his NHL coaching career in 2002. He is one of four bench bosses aged 60 or older, alongside Rick Bowness, John Tortorella, and Joel Quenneville.
The Boston Bruins have signed restricted free-agent forward Jake DeBrusk to a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $3.675 million, the team announced Monday.
DeBrusk tallied 19 goals and 16 assists in 65 games last season. The 24-year-old got off to a slow start following his 27-goal campaign from 2018-19, scoring just once through his first 12 games. DeBrusk also scored just once in his final 14 contests, but he played at a 36-goal pace in his 39 games from Nov. 2 to Feb. 8.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native could get a shot to begin the season on the team's top line with both Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak likely out to start the year. However, the team expects the winger to settle on the club's second line with David Krejci and either Ondrej Kase or Craig Smith when the star duo returns.
The Bruins drafted DeBrusk 14th overall in 2015.
Boston is left with just under $3 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.
A decorated Olympian and accomplished player is joining the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
The team hired Kendall Coyne Schofield as a player development coach and youth hockey growth specialist Monday, making her the first woman to occupy the former role for the club.
Her duties will include helping to develop players as well as evaluating and scouting possible prospects for the coaching staff of the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate.
Coyne Schofield recently worked as an in-game analyst for NBC Sports. She became the first woman ever to compete in the NHL's All-Star Skills Competition in 2019, besting Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller's time in the fastest skater event.
The 28-year-old Illinois-born forward is a member of the U.S. national women's hockey team, having won gold with the squad at the 2018 Olympics and silver at the 2014 Games in addition to six World Championship titles.
Chicago now employs three women in its hockey operations department.
On Monday, the Blackhawks also promoted Meghan Hunter to the dual roles of director of hockey administration and amateur scout. Hunter was previously general manager Stan Bowman's senior executive assistant. The Blackhawks hired Mary DeBartolo as a hockey analytics coordinator in 2019, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.
The Winnipeg Jets are adding an experienced coach who also happens to have raised one of their players.
The club named Dave Lowry - father of Jets forward Adam - an assistant coach Monday.
The elder Lowry was the head coach of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings last season. The former NHLer previously served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18 and with the Calgary Flames from 2009-12.
He also has international experience, having guided Canadian teams as both a head coach and an assistant at the World Junior Championship. The 55-year-old helped the squad win gold in the latter capacity in 2015.
Lowry retired as a player in 2004. He suited up for 19 seasons in the NHL, notching 351 points and racking up 1,191 penalty minutes in 1,084 games.
He replaces former Jets assistant Todd Woodcroft, who the University of Vermont hired as head coach in April. Paul Maurice's staff also includes associate coach Jamie Kompon, assistant coach Charlie Huddy, and goaltending coach Wade Flaherty.
"The respect goes back for so long," Matthews said of McDavid, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. "Connor's hockey IQ, speed, and edges are so impressive - to say the least - and his vision at the speed he moves obviously stands out, yet it really is the whole package with him."
The pair were teammates on an electric Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and have since taken the NHL by storm. McDavid says sharing more ice with the Maple Leafs star has allowed him to appreciate Matthews' game beyond his lethal scoring ability.
"When you watch his game, his shot is the first thing you notice. But, spending more time together, I've noticed just how smooth he is on the ice. It's very impressive," McDavid said.
The star duo's peers have taken an interest as well. Jonathan Toews joined the pair last week, while other players, including Jake Bean, Anthony Duclair, Matt Dumba, Alex Galchenyuk, and several Arizona Coyotes have also participated, according to Friedman.
Longtime Coyotes captain Shane Doan runs the practices, and the 44-year-old is impressed by what he's seen from the two world-class talents.
"They do everything at 99 percent," Doan said, per Freidman. "I don't know if there's any difference when (Matthews/McDavid) have the puck or don't have the puck. Other players aren't as fast when carrying it ... It’s just the way they do everything at top speed, so impressive."
The NHL is targeting Jan. 1 for opening day next season, which means training camps would likely open in mid-to-late December.
This NHL offseason has been unlike anything we've seen before, with free agency kicking off in October and the 2020-21 season's start date still in jeopardy. When last season wrapped up in September, the draft and free agency followed shortly after.
Though things seem to be stalled as the remaining free agents wait to see when the next campaign will begin, plenty of moves have still caught the world of hockey off guard. Let's look at the five biggest surprises.
Niskanen calls it quits
Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / Getty
Everybody seemed to be blindsided when news broke that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen was retiring. It's not too often that a 33-year-old retires after enjoying a relatively productive season, and still with one year and $5.75 million left on the table.
Losing Niskanen created a sudden hole for the Flyers. He played top minutes in his first season with the team, producing 33 points in 68 games. He was a key defender, and was featured on both the penalty kill and power play.
Niskanen didn't provide many details regarding his retirement, but if it's what he wanted, all the power to him. He finished his career 51 contests shy of the 1,000 games played milestone. Niskanen also won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018, and he earned over $43 million during his career. Not too shabby.
Hall lands in ... Buffalo?
Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty
All eyes were on Taylor Hall this offseason because he was the league's premier free-agent forward. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner didn't offer many clues about where he was thinking of signing, leaving fans all over the league hoping it was their club. The Sabres weren't on most radars, but Buffalo suddenly emerged on a Sunday afternoon in October as the 29-year-old's next team.
At first glance, the deal didn't seem to make much sense. Hall, who was originally projected to sign a lucrative long-term contract, settled for just one year on a club that could finish at the bottom of the standings. But after examing the pact further, the pieces start to fit from Hall's perspective.
Hall knew the seven-year, high-salary contract he was originally seeking wasn't going to be available due to the uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic is causing. So instead, he chose to play with one of the NHL's top talents in Jack Eichel, and now Hall is betting on himself to increase his value before hopefully enter a better market next offseason. In his introductory press conference, Hall even seemed open to staying in Buffalo well beyond the upcoming season.
Puljujarvi returns to Edmonton
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Jesse Puljujarvi roller-coaster ride in Edmonton appeared to be ending when the forward went to play overseas after demanding a trade last year, but it might not be finished yet. The winger inked a two-year deal to return to the team, and now he wants to give the NHL another go.
Over the past year, the Oilers were openly trying to trade Puljujarvi when he wanted to leave. However, with a new head coach and general manager in town, the two sides have made amends.
The 22-year-old spent last season playing in Finland's top pro league, and he really seemed to take his game to another level. He finished fifth in the league with 24 goals and fourth with 53 points, all in 56 games. He's off to another hot start this season overseas, and Puljujarvi could bring a much-needed spark to the wing in Edmonton upon his return, as his potential remains sky-high.
Blues snag Krug
Rich Lam / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Torey Krug was another top free agent who kept many guessing. There was a strong belief the Boston Bruins would re-sign the linchpin defenseman, but then Krug suddenly inked a deal with the St. Louis Blues.
During the months prior to free agency, Krug said he hoped to stay in Boston, but his departure ultimately wasn't surprising. His decision to sign with the Blues was interesting, though, as their top defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was also a free agent at the time.
The Blues letting their captain walk was puzzling, but there are worse outcomes than replacing Pietrangelo with Krug. Over the past five seasons, Krug ranks sixth among defensemen in points while becoming one of the league's best offensive defensemen.
Canadiens give Anderson the big bucks
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin made a gutsy call by sending then-restricted free-agent and fan-favorite Max Domi to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Josh Anderson. There were rumors swirling about the Canadiens being set to move on from Domi, and that Bergevin had been eyeing Anderson for some time, so the move itself wasn't too shocking.
Domi obviously didn't fit into the Canadiens' lineup long term due to his desire to play center, and Montreal desperately needed a winger. Bergevin addressed the team's need, bringing in a goal-scoring power forward. Shortly after the trade was announced, it was also revealed Bergevin handed Anderson a whopping seven-year deal worth $38.5 million.
Inking Anderson long term with a mid-range average annual value of $5.5 million is quite the gamble. The 26-year-old was limited to just 26 games during the 2019-20 season due to a shoulder injury, notching only one goal and three assists.
But in the 2018-19 campaign, he showed his true potential while potting 27 goals and adding 20 assists. Anderson's health and if he can return to that level of play are big question marks, which is what made the signing so surprising.
