Scouting this year's draft-eligible prospects could be difficult since many haven't hit the ice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the NHL is looking into an interesting solution.

The league is exploring the idea of holding a prospect showcase tournament ahead of this year's draft, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

"One thing that has been discussed is a tournament, a series of games, what have you, at some point in the spring, in which those players could play," Johnston said Saturday during Hockey Night in Canada's "Headlines" segment.

"Obviously you could invite scouts or have them watch from a safe distance through video, but it might be a way to get some eyeballs on these guys, because it's been a tough year on those teenagers, too," he added.

Neither the OHL nor the WHL have played games this season, although there are plans for teams in both leagues to begin a condensed schedule later this year. The QMJHL is the lone major junior league in Canada that has played, but it needed to take more than a month-long pause.

The NCAA, the USHL, and most overseas leagues have played games this season.

The CHL holds an annual top prospects game, but it appears the NHL's potential idea would be to stage more than just one contest.

The 2021 NHL Draft is tentatively set for July 23-24.

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain George Armstrong died at 90 years old, the team announced Sunday.

Armstrong, who played all 21 of his NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs, was the team's captain for 12 years and led the club to four Stanley Cups, including the team's most recent championship in 1967.

"George is part of the very fabric of the Toronto Maple Leaf organization and will be deeply missed," said team president Brendan Shanahan. "A proud yet humble man, he loved being a Maple Leaf but never sought the spotlight even though no player played more games for Toronto or captained the team longer.

"Always one to celebrate his teammates rather than himself, George couldn't even bring himself to deliver his speech the day he was immortalized on Legends Row."

Armstrong is one of 14 Maple Leafs players to have a bronze life-sized statue outside of Scotiabank Arena, known as Legends Row. The organization retired his No. 10, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

The Skead, Ontario, native ranks first in franchise history with 1,188 games played and fifth in points with 713. Armstrong was one of the first players of Indigenous descent to play professional hockey.

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Pierre-Luc Dubois hasn't revealed the exact reason why he wanted to be traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he did acknowledge that head coach John Tortorella wasn't a factor in his decision.

"Before I got drafted to Columbus, I knew what kind of coach he was, and I heard from players that played for him in the past, some when he was in Tampa. I heard from Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. The consensus I got, and this is my opinion, is he helps guys," Dubois told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Saturday.

"He pushes guys, he motivates guys, he gets guys going. It's hard sometimes to see it when you're 20 or it's in the moment, but all those guys all said the same thing: 'One day when you're older you'll look back at it and you'll remember that he did great things for your career.'"

"I know for some people it might be that's the reason, but it's not. He was a hard coach and I can take it, nothing's personal," Dubois added. "I grew up from a dad that coached and he told me if a coach challenges you it's never personal, he just wants what's best for you, and that's how I see Torts - I have nothing but respect for him."

Dubois was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets earlier on Saturday in a blockbuster trade for Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic, and a third-round pick. The 22-year-old made it known in late December he wanted a change of scenery.

Dubois was benched for the majority of his last game with the Blue Jackets, finishing with 3:55 minutes of ice time. Despite the tough love from Tortorella, Dubois said he understands the importance of it.

"He did good things to challenge you and to make you more mature and for you to grow up, and that's something that I know wasn't always easy, but you have to appreciate the honesty and you have to appreciate he was trying to make me a better player, trying to make me a better person," Dubois added.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was reportedly planning on being patient in finding a trade partner for Dubois, but the benching made it clear that a deal would have to come sooner than later.

It's unclear how long Dubois will need to quarantine before he can make his debut for his new club, as the Canadian government requires people to isolate for 14 days upon arriving in the country. The Jets have asked the government to reduce his quarantine period to seven days, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

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Carter Hart acknowledged he let his frustration get the best of him Saturday night.

The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender repeatedly slammed his stick against his net after allowing six goals on 26 shots in a 6-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

"(I) just kind of boiled over," Hart said postgame, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "I regret doing that. (I'm) not a guy who gets angry too often, but just frustrated. It was unprofessional of me to do that there at the end. So I apologize for anyone who saw that. Just heat of the moment."

The Flyers trailed 3-1 after two periods, but Brad Marchand scored twice in a span of less than four minutes early in the third and Patrice Bergeron added his second goal of the game midway through the frame to put it out of reach.

Hart is one of the NHL's best young netminders, but he's struggled early this season. The 22-year-old has allowed 14 goals over his last three starts and has given up at least four in all three defeats.

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Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has already had preliminary talks with Patrik Laine's camp about a contract extension, he told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

Laine, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday as part of a blockbuster trade, is playing out the final year of his current contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Blue Jackets hold his rights through the 2022-23 season.

Kekalainen indicated he wants Laine in Columbus for the long haul.

"We're going to try to build a long-term relationship with him," Kekalainen told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

With Winnipeg retaining a portion of Laine's salary, the Finnish sniper carries a cap hit of only $5 million for Columbus this season. However, as one of the game's most prolific goal-scorers at 22, he'll certainly require a substantial raise - especially on a long-term deal.

Columbus projects to have over $25 million in cap space this summer, according to CapFriendly, with veterans Nick Foligno, David Savard, and the injured Brandon Dubinsky coming off the books after this season.

Laine's averaged 38 goals per 82 games since entering the league in 2016-17.

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