Veteran defenseman P.K. Subban didn't speak about his New Jersey Devils' 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.

Instead, he spoke candidly about racism just one day after his younger brother, Jordan, tweeted out that an opposing player, Jacob Panetta, directed a racist gesture toward him during an ECHL game.

That incident occurred just one day after the AHL suspended Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for directing a racist gesture at Boko Imama, who is Black.

"It keeps happening. So we can look at one incident and talk about it all we want, but tomorrow there may be another one. The next day, there may be another one," Subban said to the media.

He added, "I've lived it, so I can sit here and answer questions all you want. I've lived it, I still live it."

The 32-year-old said Jordan was doing fine and noted that moving on from troubling experiences is the status quo for his family. As part of a Black hockey family, P.K. wants to do his part to eradicate racism in the sport.

"This is life for people that look like me that have gone through the game of hockey. And that's a part of the history, whether we like it or not. We're trying to change that. I'm an advocate to change that. To do that, we gotta bring people together, and hopefully, this is another step in doing that."

He added, "We have the support of the players in the league who want to make a difference. We have to call this stuff out. ... What allows me to get up every day and come to the rink with excitement is knowing that I have the support of this organization ... and the league since I've been here."

Subban also weighed in on why using his platform for change is important to him.

"If (Jordan's) name isn't 'Subban' on the back, am I here talking about it? Probably not," he said. "But this goes to show you that racism, it doesn't matter what you do or how much money you make or how popular you are, racism is just racism. It's just hateful. It's just not right. ... We can't glaze over this and think that this is just a misunderstanding. It's not."

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Bruce Boudreau became the 29th bench boss in NHL history to coach 1,000 games Sunday night versus the St. Louis Blues.

For the Vancouver Canucks head coach, it's a dream come true.

"It's all I ever wanted to do, was be involved in hockey," Boudreau said prior to the milestone, according to TSN. "It's taken a lot of winding roads. I still pinch myself about where it's at, at this stage.

"I'm in awe with the fact that it's my 1,000th game here."

The Canucks honored him with a video tribute prior to the contest.

The 67-year-old currently holds a 577-305-117 record across 14 seasons with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and the Canucks, who appointed Boudreau as Travis Green's successor earlier this campaign.

Prior to his stint in Vancouver, Boudreau hadn't coached an NHL game since the 2019-20 season after being fired by the Minnesota Wild.

"I can only thank the Aquilinis (the team owners) for giving me the opportunity to do it," Boudreau said. "I didn't know if it would ever happen again, but it's a pretty special night for my family and myself."

For the players under Boudreau's charge, their mission Sunday is simple.

"Obviously, you want to win (this) one," Canucks forward Tanner Pearson said. "It's a special day for him. Hopefully, we get the win."

Boudreau's return to the bench has revitalized the previously struggling Canucks. Entering Sunday's game, the team is 10-3-2 under his guidance, including a seven-game win streak to start his tenure.

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The ECHL suspended Jacksonville Iceman defenseman Jacob Panetta indefinitely Sunday pending a hearing "as a result of his actions" during a game Saturday night.

Jordan Subban, a blue-liner for the South Carolina Stingrays who is Black, tweeted after the game Panetta directed a racist gesture toward him.

The ECHL's short statement made no mention of the specifics.

Jordan's brothers, New Jersey Devils rearguard P.K. and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Malcolm, called Panetta out while lamenting a lack of consequences for racist acts.

On Friday, the AHL suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for directing a racist gesture at Tuscon Roadrunners winger Boko Imama during a game on Jan. 12.

Jalen Smereck, who was the victim of a racist taunt in the Ukrainian Hockey League in September, expressed dismay at the frequency of incidents in such a short period of time and wondered how many more have taken place.

(Courtesy: Instagram/@_jsmereck5)

Stingrays president Rob Concannon condemned Panetta's actions and backed Subban in a statement Sunday.

"The South Carolina Stingrays are disgusted and appalled by last night's incident involving Jordan Subban," he said. "Our organization stands in support of our friend and teammate, Jordan, as well as all other players who continue to deal with racism and discrimination. This behavior has to stop and is unacceptable."

The Icemen said they are cooperating with the ECHL's probe of the incident but added they are waiting until after it's completed to make "decisions" or comment further.

The NHL also issued a statement, but like the ECHL, it did not mention any specific racist acts.

"Incidents of racism, whether they occur in hockey or anywhere else, are abhorrent," the league said. "The NHL will continue to make its resources available to the hockey ecosystem to educate and inform, with the goal of making the game welcoming and safe for all players and fans."

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Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is one of several intriguing blue-liners on the market, and contending teams are reportedly doing their due diligence with the trade deadline just two months away.

The New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers are among the clubs interested in acquiring the 23-year-old's services, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported on Saturday's edition of "32 Thoughts."

The Coyotes are reportedly looking for a young player, a prospect, and a first-round pick to pry Chychrun from the desert. Arizona has "at least one offer" that fits the bill, Marek added.

The Rangers have discussed including 2018 first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov in a potential deal, but it's unclear if the 22-year-old forward would significantly pique the Coyotes' interests, per Marek.

Kravtsov didn't make New York's opening night roster this season, and the team reportedly granted him permission to seek a trade in October. The club loaned him to the KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk in November.

However, the Panthers may be the "team to watch," according to Marek.

The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Columbus Blue Jackets are also reportedly interested in Chychrun.

The sixth-year defenseman has struggled this season, recording two goals and six assists over 28 games with the basement-dwelling Coyotes. Chychrun broke through offensively during the 2020-21 campaign, registering 41 points in 56 contests.

He's currently in the third season of a six-year deal with an annual cap hit of $4.6 million.

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The Washington Capitals have looked into the possibility of adding free agent Evander Kane to their roster, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's edition of "32 Thoughts."

"Another team that has at least discussed it and considered it is the Washington Capitals," Friedman said. "There's nothing done, no contract or anything like that, but the Capitals are another team, in addition to the Oilers, that have looked into this."

Kane became a free agent Jan. 9 after his contract with the San Jose Sharks was terminated due to a breach of contract and violation of the AHL's COVID-19 protocol.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland said earlier in January that he believes in "second chances" and had spoken to Kane's agent. Kane is reportedly free to sign with another club as he awaits the results of the grievance the NHLPA filed on his behalf.

The NHL is still investigating the situation, and it remains unclear if Kane will be suspended further for his actions. The 30-year-old was banned 21 games earlier this season for violating the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.

Kane skated with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda for five games this year, recording eight points. He had 22 goals and 27 assists in 56 games with the Sharks last season.

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The NHL will showcase its biggest viral star at the league's All-Star festivities in Las Vegas next month.

Trevor Zegras confirmed Saturday that he's participating in the Breakaway Challenge event in the skills competition.

Zegras wasn't voted into the All-Star tournament, but he's one of the league's most exciting players. The 20-year-old entered Saturday's action ranked third among rookies in goals and assists, as well as second in points. He was also the catalyst of the most talked-about play of the season when he served up an "alley-oop" assist to Sonny Milano in December.

The Ducks will now have three representatives at T-Mobile Arena. Anaheim goaltender John Gibson was selected on the initial ballot, and forward Troy Terry made it in as one of the final four.

The Breakaway Challenge will make its return this year after being discontinued in 2016.

The 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the three-on-three tournament is scheduled for the next day beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

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Eric Staal appears to be heading back to the Olympic Games.

The veteran center is among the players selected to the final roster for Canada's men's hockey team in Beijing, reports The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. Fellow forwards Daniel Carr, Adam Cracknell, David Desharnais, Landon Ferraro, Kent Johnson, and Daniel Winnik are also on the squad, as are defensemen Mark Barberio, Jason Demers, and Owen Power.

Staal signed a pro tryout contract with the AHL's Iowa Wild on Jan. 13. The 37-year-old planned to evaluate his physical conditioning during the stint in hopes of playing in the Olympics. He told The Athletic's Michael Russo at the time that there were still some complications outside of hockey, so his participation wasn't guaranteed. Staal has two goals and three assists in four games since joining Minnesota's affiliate.

The former Carolina Hurricanes captain hasn't played in the NHL this season after helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

Staal was a member of Canada's gold-medal-winning side at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. He's also represented his country at three world championships, winning gold in 2007 and silver one year later.

Power, the Buffalo Sabres' No. 1 overall pick in 2021, was reportedly named to the 2022 team in early January. He and Johnson, his Michigan teammate who was drafted four picks later, excelled for Canada at the most recent World Junior Championship before the remainder of the event was canceled.

NHL players aren't participating in the Games this year due to COVID-19 concerns.

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The Winnipeg Jets activated captain Blake Wheeler and moved forward Nikolaj Ehlers to long-term injured reserve Saturday, the team announced.

Wheeler hasn't played since Dec. 10 due to a leg injury. His status for Saturday's matinee with the Boston Bruins is unknown.

Ehlers took a knee-on-knee hit from the Washington Capitals' Dmitry Orlov on Tuesday; the defenseman was suspended two games for the incident. Ehlers was ruled week-to-week with an MCL sprain, but the move to LTIR means he can't return until Feb. 14 at the earliest.

Wheeler has produced one goal and 16 assists in 22 games this season while Ehlers has tallied 25 points in 34 contests.

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