Referee Tim Peel will no longer work NHL games now or in the future following his comments during Tuesday's game between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, the league announced Wednesday.
Peel could be heard on a hot mic admitting to targeting the Predators for a penalty after whistling forward Viktor Arvidsson for tripping in the second period.
Maybe if you're a mic'd up ref, you shouldn't express how you wanted to call a penalty against a team earlier in the game, changing how you ref the rest of the game.
"Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game," Vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. "Tim Peel's conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches, and all those associated with our game expect to deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the NHL will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity of our game."
One of the on-ice officials called a questionable tripping penalty against Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson, the team's first infraction of the contest, in the second period. During the game's broadcast, the referee could be heard on a hot mic admitting to targeting the Predators for a penalty.
Maybe if you're a mic'd up ref, you shouldn't express how you wanted to call a penalty against a team earlier in the game, changing how you ref the rest of the game.
Referees Tim Peel and Kelly Sutherland were working the game, though it's unclear whose voice was on the microphone. In 2015, Peel said the NHL wants officials to sometimes make calls with "game management" in mind - in other words, to ensure a contest doesn't get out of hand.
"It is a three-asset ask to get in on the bidding for Mattias Ekholm," reported TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading," citing sources. "Which is a first-round pick, an elite prospect, and a third asset, which can take on different forms."
The Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets have reportedly shown interest in acquiring Ekholm. The NHL's top available blue-liner has another year remaining on his current deal, which carries a $3.75-million cap hit.
Ekholm, 30, is a strong two-way defenseman. He's recorded five goals and nine assists in 25 games this season while averaging 22:46 of ice time per contest.
Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews has seen his torrid goal-scoring pace dip recently, but he isn't going to change his approach.
Despite being in the midst of a four-game goalless drought, Matthews believes the bounces will go his way again if he sticks to his game.
"I think you go through stretches like that. You try not to get too frustrated and just continue to do the things that make me successful," Matthews said, per TSN.
He continued: "When the puck's not going in the net, I think it's important to find other ways to be effective. For me, I'm just going to keep shooting."
After bagging 18 goals in his first 18 games, Matthews has found the back of the net only four times in his last 11 contests.
He missed two games with a lingering wrist injury earlier this month. Head coach Sheldon Keefe previously said the ailment is affecting Matthews' play.
Toronto's top pivot long held a commanding lead in the league's goal-scoring race. However, his recent drought allowed MVP favorite Connor McDavid to tie him at 21 tallies apiece.
With the Dallas Stars playing their 28th game on Sunday, every team has now begun the second half of the NHL season.
That makes this as good a time as any to evaluate the latest Stanley Cup oddsboard, taking what we know from the first half of the campaign and using it to gauge which teams are worth backing, and which need to be avoided at the current price.
It's a short price, but is it short enough? In reality, +550 is buying low on the Avalanche, as we won't see a better number for the rest of this season. Colorado has climbed back within three points of the Golden Knights for the division lead after seven straight wins, and a healthy Cale Makar has finally returned to the Avalanche's lineup.
But it's not just that the Avalanche are winning, it's how they're winning. They're the league's runaway leaders in both xGF% (59.77%) and CF% (59.99%) at five-on-five, and the team is only just hitting its stride. Since March 3, Colorado has posted an otherworldly xGF% of 69.09% at five-on-five. The next-best mark over that span is the Islanders' 57.94%.
Carolina Hurricanes (+1000)
Despite the Lightning's torrid pace, the Hurricanes remain neck-and-neck in the Central Division race. Carolina has impressively managed to keep up despite significant injury woes. Starting goalie Petr Mrazek has played just four games, Teuvo Teravainen has missed more than half the season, and Vincent Trocheck has been on the shelf for the last two weeks.
The Hurricanes rank third in the NHL in xGF% and CF% at five-on-five, and they boast both the league's top power-play unit and a top-10 penalty kill. When fully healthy, this roster is every bit as good as the Lightning, but you're getting it at more than double the price.
Dallas Stars (+3200)
As bad as things have looked for the Stars, there's hope below the surface. They currently sit seventh in the Central, but are fifth on points percentage and still well-positioned to claim the division's final playoff spot. COVID-19 issues hampered them to begin the season, and an injury-ravaged team has also dealt with a handful of weather-related postponements.
Despite the adversity, the underlying numbers are kind to Dallas, a top-10 club in both expected goals and Corsi percentage, and a top-five squad over the past month. Positive regression is expected here.
The road to the Stanley Cup won't be easy, but this is a deep and experienced group that will be getting Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop back over the next few weeks.
Sell
Toronto Maple Leafs (+700)
There's a lot to like about this Leafs roster and the team's to come out of the North Division, but this call boils down to goaltending. Frederik Andersen looks finished, and that's been true for some time now. That puts a lot of pressure on Jack Campbell to rescue Toronto. Could he be the guy? Sure. Should you pay such a short price to find out? Absolutely not.
Looking elsewhere at the goaltending in the North Division sparks plenty of concern about the Leafs heading into the playoffs. Will Connor Hellebuyck stonewall them once more? What about the born-again Mike Smith?
And if Toronto does escape the North, the gauntlet of teams waiting for it on the other side is awfully intimidating. The Leafs' concerns in goal are legitimate and aren't something the league's other top teams need to navigate. Steer clear of them at this short price.
Philadelphia Flyers (+1800)
The same thinking applies to the Flyers, except the concerns run deeper. While Toronto is struggling to get saves, the team is playing excellent hockey overall. But that's not the case for Philadelphia. The Flyers' goaltending is disastrous, and they're also below average at five-on-five and rank in the bottom third on special teams.
The Leafs are a borderline lock to make the playoffs too, while the Flyers will likely miss the postseason. There isn't an ounce of logic that goes into backing Philly at 18-1 when you can get its Eastern Division foes the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins at the same or better prices - you know, teams that will actually make the playoffs.
St. Louis Blues (+1800)
The Blues are only this high up the oddsboard because they won the Stanley Cup two years ago. If you changed their name and jerseys, it would be hard to differentiate them from teams like the Blackhawks or Predators based on the numbers. St. Louis' underlying metrics are really poor, even amid a soft schedule.
The Blues have played 26 of their 32 games this campaign against the Coyotes, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks, but their season is about to get a lot tougher. Of their remaining 24 games, 18 are against the Avalanche, Knights, and Wild. Given how poor the Blues' numbers have been, the increasing difficulty of their schedule, and Jordan Binnington's struggles, it's possible the Kings or Coyotes could beat St. Louis out for the West Division's final playoff spot.
Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. 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, strongly believes in the power of the jinx, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
The NHL's April 12 trade deadline is fast approaching, and while this year's frenzy may be more diminished than usual, several big-name players could still be on the move.
Cross-border restrictions, quarantine protocols, the flat salary cap, the looming expansion draft, and the overall financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could all dissuade teams from completing a trade they would make during a normal season. However, the current level of parity around the league and a heightened need for playoff revenue amid the aforementioned budget concerns could lead some of the many bubble teams to become buyers when they might typically lean toward selling.
Some other big boards list players based on their likelihood of being traded, but we're basing ours primarily on the NHLers' overall impact. We've excluded some players on contending clubs because their teams seem unlikely to sell, while some injured players, like Vancouver Canucks forward Tanner Pearson, are omitted because their teams expect them to miss action through the deadline and beyond.
Here are the NHL's top 25 potential trade candidates ahead of April 12:
Last month, Hall was reportedly open to negotiating a contract extension with the Sabres. However, things have deteriorated dramatically in Western New York since then, and one would think the skilled winger is now closer to considering waiving his no-move clause as things get worse for the sinking club.
The pending unrestricted free agent has disappointed this season, but Hall's underlying numbers show his struggles may partly be the result of bad luck and poor team play. A change of scenery - but this time to a contender - could help the 29-year-old start to rediscover the form that helped him win the Hart Trophy in 2018.
Ekholm will surely be in high demand for numerous reasons. The Predators will clearly be in sell mode considering how poorly their campaign's gone and how decimated they've been by injuries to other key players.
The steady defenseman has another year left on his deal after this one. However, that extra season of team control could mean the 30-year-old is more likely to be moved because it would fetch Nashville a greater return than the franchise would get for a rental. The acquiring side would also benefit from his team-friendly cap hit, and given both of those factors, it would be surprising if the Predators didn't trade Ekholm.
Rakell is another NHLer with terms extending beyond this campaign, but the talented forward would also be a tantalizing trade candidate like Ekholm if the Ducks opt to move him. Rakell is streaky, but he's a solid two-way player who posts impressive analytic figures - particularly his stellar share of individual scoring chances.
There's been no indication Palmieri won't re-sign with the Devils. However, New Jersey isn't contending in 2021, and the once productive pending UFA winger would be the club's most attractive trade chip if the Devils and Palmieri's camp both decide to shop him.
It's been another forgettable year for the Red Wings, but Bernier is posting shockingly solid numbers. The goaltender's resurgence has been especially remarkable, considering he's a 32-year-old backstopping one of the NHL's worst teams. Bernier could be a reliable backup option for clubs in need.
6. Mikael Granlund
John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty
Team
Signed through
Cap hit
Predators
2021
$3.75M
Ekholm will be the most coveted Predators skater ahead of the deadline, but Granlund should have his share of suitors, too. The 29-year-old forward hasn't matched his past production with the Minnesota Wild since they traded him to Nashville in February 2019, but his underlying numbers are favorable - and so is his cap hit.
The Blue Jackets are still figuring out whether they'll be buyers or sellers, but knowing their long history of parting with pending UFAs, it would come as no surprise if they dealt Savard. The underrated 30-year-old defenseman plays a shutdown role with plenty of size and will surely entice teams looking to bolster their blue lines.
8. Nick Foligno
Team
Signed through
Cap hit
Clause
Blue Jackets
2021
$5.5M
MNTC/NMC - 10 teams
Foligno's another player Columbus could move. The 33-year-old's in his ninth season with the Blue Jackets and his sixth as captain, but a forward with his experience and versatile skillset would be a solid addition to a contender if Columbus isn't firmly in the playoff picture in April.
9. Brandon Montour
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team
Signed through
Cap hit
Sabres
2021
$3.85M
The nosediving Sabres have a slew of pending UFAs, but Montour is the second-most valuable chip the club possesses at the moment. The blue-liner hasn't put up the numbers with Buffalo like he did with the Anaheim Ducks, but he'll turn 27 a day before the deadline and carries a relatively reasonable cap hit.
10. Eric Staal
Team
Signed through
Cap hit
Clause
Sabres
2021
$3.25M
MNTC - 10 teams
It's amazing to think the Sabres could part with both of their big offseason acquisitions in the coming weeks, but that just illustrates how much things have devolved in Buffalo. Staal is 36 years old and can't make an impact the way he once could, but the battle-tested center should get a look from contenders, given his vast experience and hockey IQ at his position.
The number of lottery draws is reduced from three to two, so the last-place team can't draft lower than third overall (starting 2021)
Clubs can move up a maximum of 10 spots, so only 11 teams can win the No. 1 pick instead of 16 (starting 2022)
No team can win the draft lottery more than twice over a five-year period (starting 2022)
NHL general managers reportedly requested in October that the league give teams lower in the standings higher odds to win the draft lottery.
Because the third change won't come into effect until 2022, previous lottery victories won't count toward a team's total.
The New York Rangers, who finished 18th in the league standings and participated in the 24-team playoff, ended up winning the 2020 draft lottery and landing No. 1 prospect Alexis Lafreniere. Meanwhile, the last-place Detroit Red Wings, who finished 40 points back of the Rangers, fell all the way to fourth. The first and second alterations will prevent this scenario from reoccurring.
Detroit isn't alone in its misfortune, as the last-place team has landed the top pick just twice since 2011. Three of the last four top selections have been won by a club with the 14th- (2020), third- (2019), and fifth- (2017) best odds.
The Edmonton Oilers drew the ire of opposing fan bases after picking first overall three years in a row (2010-12). They then won the lottery again in 2015 but finished last in the league in only two of those seasons.
