Sat Shah and Dan Riccio breakdown a historic 10-1 win for the Canucks down in San Jose. Hear from Head Coach Rick Tocchet (27:55) and Anthony Beauvillier (1:15:05) post game. Randip Janda and Iain McIntyre (1:16:46) provide their analysis.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren won't be back in the lineup any time soon after Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand injured him during Thursday's game.
"He's going to miss ... it looks like significant time," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame. "We're not going to know for sure until we get him home and get a (scan). It’s not short term at this point, the way it looks."
Liljegren left the game after Marchand hit him into the boards with what's known as a "can opener" in the final minute of the first period and wasn't penalized for the incident.
Timothy Liljegren has been helped down the tunnel and has left the game after this play against Boston. pic.twitter.com/KOJ6YZ3XMq
“I got nothing. He just didn’t see the stick go in between his legs, a can opener, and you can go feet first into the boards in the most dangerous area of the ice," the bench boss said.
McCauley appeared to be looking right at the two players as they went into the boards.
Liljegren didn't emerge for the start of the second frame and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. The 24-year-old is in Toronto's top four on the back end, and he started the contest playing alongside Mark Giordano on the Leafs' second pairing.
The Swede collected one assist while averaging 19:23 of ice time over nine games entering Thursday.
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox won't return to Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes due to a lower-body injury, the team announced.
Fox was injured after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho in the first period. The blue-liner was slow to get up but got to his feet under his own power. No penalty was called on the play.
Fox stayed on the ice to finish his shift and took another brief shift soon after, but he ultimately departed with just over five minutes remaining in the frame.
He registered one shot in six minutes of ice time before exiting.
The 25-year-old entered Thursday's action tied for the scoring lead among all blue-liners with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in nine games. Fox is also New York's most important minute-muncher, averaging 22:44 per contest.
The Rangers also lost Filip Chytil to an upper-body injury against the Hurricanes.
Fox won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman in 2021 and was named a finalist for the hardware last season.
Dan and Sat are joined by former Canuck Jannik Hansen to talk about the benching of JT Miller, the structure the Canucks are playing with, and the play of Brock Boeser to start the season.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Dan and Sat discuss Brock Boeser's underrated start to the season and what he's been doing differently. They also get into Elliotte Friedman's comments on the Canucks potentially being aggressive. Also, hear from Sirius XM's Jonathan Davis (26:30) to talk about some of the surprises around the Pacific Division.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Unrestricted free-agent forward Jesse Puljujarvi is eyeing an NHL return in early-to-mid December as he continues to work his way back from offseason hip surgery, TSN's Chris Johnston reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."
Johnston added Puljujarvi is currently skating in Finland and that "it sounds as though he's feeling very, very good."
Puljujarvi hit the open market in late June after the Carolina Hurricanes opted not to tender him a qualifying offer, which would have been worth $3 million.
The 25-year-old is in a similar boat as Patrick Kane, who also remains unsigned after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in early June. The same surgeon did both Kane and Puljujarvi's procedures, per Johnston.
Washington Capitals forward Niklas Backstrom underwent hip resurfacing surgery in the 2022 offseason and announced on Wednesday that he'd be stepping away from hockey indefinitely due to his "ongoing injury situation."
Puljujarvi was selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft. He's amassed 51 goals and 114 points in 334 career NHL games, split between the Oilers and Hurricanes.
Big announcement day! S&P has joined The Nation Network! Matt and Blake start the show by detailing the big news and what it means for the listener going forward. Patrick Johnston of the Province weighs in on the week that’s been for J.T. Miller, and whether the Canucks realistically want or can make a trade right now. Plus, PJ's report card for the coach after a month of the season. The Daily Hive’s Rob Williams discusses the rejuvenated fan excitement around the Canucks and how a few players are already chasing down historic records in the organization. And with both the Whitecaps and Lions opening the upper deck at BC Place this weekend, Lions owner Amar Doman stops in for an assessment of the season to date and the possibility of a Grey Cup run. Still, one day left to win Whitecaps tickets, too! Presented by Applewood Auto Group.
Phil Kessel's eager to sign a contract and hit the ice as he remains without a deal a month into the 2023-24 season.
"I'm staying ready," the unrestricted free agent told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I've been skating. In the next week, I'm going to work with a skating guy here (in Arizona). We're going to do individual sessions to stay ready."
Kessel tallied 14 goals and 36 points in 82 games last season with the Vegas Golden Knights while playing a career-low 12:49 per contest. He dressed in only four postseason games as the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup, the third triumph of Kessel's career.
"I know I can still play and can still help," the 36-year-old said. "For the minutes I played last year, I thought my numbers were pretty solid, right? So I know I can help a team and contribute to a team which needs scoring.
"Obviously, I'm a little surprised I haven't got anything yet, but it is what it is, right?"
Kessel is the NHL's all-time ironman with 1,064 straight regular-season games. Though the streak would continue if Kessel signs a contract, he made it abundantly clear it's not a factor in him inking a deal.
"I don't care," Kessel said about his ironman streak. "I think people think I care about that. I've never cared about that. I've always been a guy that feels he should be in the lineup, and if I can play, I'll play."
Kessel isn't set on exclusively signing with a handful of teams, either. The six-time 30-goal-scorer is open to all possibilities and simply wants to continue playing.
"I'm willing to kind of go wherever," he said. "Because I want to play. I love to play."
Should he sign a contract, Kessel would embark on his 18th season in the NHL. He has 413 goals and is only eight shy of the 1,000-point mark in 1,286 career games.
Headlined by a pair of inner-conference battles between teams expected to contend for the Stanley Cup, we have a juicy slate of games ahead of us on Thursday night.
While they remain one of the top teams in the league, this is a good opportunity to sell high.
The Bruins will be without star defenseman Charlie McAvoy due to suspension. It's hard to overstate how big of a hit that is to the Bruins.
McAvoy logs nearly 24 minutes per game against top competition each night. He doesn't just win those minutes; he dominates them. McAvoy owns a 57% expected goal share at five-on-five and has helped the Bruins outscore their opponents by six goals in that state.
The Bruins have only beaten opponents by a pair of goals without McAvoy on the ice, and their xG share is 7.5% lower. They are nowhere close to as good without McAvoy.
Although the Maple Leafs don't have a ton of depth, they have a pair of lethal duos in the top six. The Bruins will have a much tougher time slowing them down without McAvoy in the lineup.
This is also a spot where I expect the Leafs to have their fastball. They are coming off a complete dud of a performance against the Kings and will be looking to get back on track - and make a statement - against one of their biggest rivals.
The Leafs know they'll have to fight tooth and nail with the Bruins all year long in order to get to where they want to go. They'll put their best foot forward in this game, and without McAvoy, it should be enough.
The Oilers are a much better team than their record indicates. They have controlled better than 56% of the expected goals share at five-on-five this season, which is one of the best marks in the league.
Although that hasn't yet translated to results, it's a recipe for success over the long haul - especially when coupled with one of the league's most dangerous power plays.
The Stars are a handful to deal with, but there are some things working in the Oilers' favor here. For one, the Stars played on Wednesday. That means their tanks won't be full, and, more importantly, they won't have Jake Oettinger between the pipes.
Oettinger has saved more than six goals above expectation through six starts. That's elite-level goaltending.
His tandem mate, Scott Wedgewood, has allowed a pair of goals above expectation through two starts. It's a small sample size, sure, but we've seen a massive drop-off when Oettinger isn't in net.
The Oilers have been out of action since Sunday, meaning McDavid's had a handful of days to rest up and get closer to full health.
He knows how important it is for the Oilers to right the ship following their dreadful start (record-wise), and he knows this is a big measuring stick game against one of the best teams in the league.
I think McDavid will turn things up a notch and lead the charge en route to an important home win.
Bet: Oilers (-140)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.
Last Friday, Jack Hughes whipped the puck to Luke Hughes, his brother and New Jersey Devils teammate. Luke, running point on the power play, quickly returned it to the right flank. Jack moved to open ice, fired a shot, and scored.
The goal helped New Jersey defeat the Buffalo Sabres. Through Wednesday, the Devils own a respectable 5-2-1 record, Jack's positioned himself as an early Hart Trophy favorite, and Luke's in the Calder discussion.
About an hour after the give-and-go sequence, Quinn Hughes - the eldest of the three brothers - called for the puck in his game against St. Louis. His defense partner, Filip Hronek, faked a shot before making a cross-ice pass. Quinn, the Vancouver Canucks' captain, took two strides toward the net, loaded a shot, and beat the goalie through traffic.
The goal opened the scoring in Vancouver's victory. Through Wednesday, the Canucks are 6-2-1, and Quinn's a strong Norris contender.
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 28, 2023
The Hughes brothers are taking over the NHL in the early going of 2023-24. Quinn, the seventh overall pick in 2018, is an elite No. 1 defenseman at 24 years old. Jack, the first pick in 2019, is arguably a top-five forward on the planet at 22. Luke, selected fourth in 2021, is showing signs of future stardom at 20.
It's extremely rare for three brothers to carve out NHL careers. Two in the top 10 at their position and a third trending toward joining them? Unprecedented.
Let's take a look at how the Hughes brothers dominate - first by focusing on their shared hockey DNA, then by identifying the brothers' different strengths.
The Hughes hockey DNA
The NHL is filled with players who excel at a particular pillar of skating. One player might be an outstanding north-south skater. Another might be phenomenal laterally, zigging and zagging. A third might be awesome at speed management, slowing down and accelerating at the perfect times.
Each Hughes brother excels at all of the above; all three are exceptional north-south skaters, exceptional east-west skaters, and exceptional speed-differential skaters. It often looks like rockets are strapped to their skates. Their crossover and edge work is otherworldly. And stamina is never an issue.
"Skating is the trait that connects all three," said an NHL amateur scout who scouted each brother extensively during their draft years and beyond.
The brothers were taught how to skate by their mom, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, a former college and U.S. women's national team player. Their dad, Jim Hughes, has also been an invaluable resource as a former college player and NHL/AHL coach. Now the director of player development for CAA Sports - the agency that represents all three brothers - Jim is regarded as one of the top skills coaches in North America.
Countless hours on outdoor hockey rinks, where unstructured games rule, helped build a formidable base for their skating. On-ice and video work with dad, consultation with mom, and world-class coaching elevated and polished it. All three spent two years at the U.S. National Team Development Program, while Quinn and Luke both spent another two at the University of Michigan.
Andy Marlin / Getty Images
Another defining characteristic of the Hugheses is vision. All three can read the play at an incredibly high level, which really shows in how frequently they find open ice. Jack is the Devils' offensive catalyst, with the flow of play running through him every time he's on the ice. Quinn assumes a similar role with the Canucks, albeit from the back end. Luke has the skill set of a future catalyst.
The skating and IQ are married by what the scout calls a "go-for-it mentality." There's minimal hesitation and maximal swagger in the brothers' games.
"Whenever they have the puck, they feel like they can be the guy who makes a difference," the scout summarized. "They don't back down from anybody."
The differentiating skills
Jack, the Devils' top center, has exploded out of the gates with five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in eight games while skating for 21:48 a night. He leads the league in assists and points, and his underlying data is equally notable.
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images
Jack's second in the NHL in both zone exits per game and zone entries per game, according to Sportlogiq. A transition king who consistently keeps his head up while handling the puck, Jack rarely wastes a trip down the ice. On a per-game basis, the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder ranks first in both scoring chances generated off the rush and offensive-zone puck possession.
The scout says Jack's the smartest player among the super-smart Hughes brothers. His skating attracts the eye, but it's his brain that inflicts most of the damage. For example, Jack loves to operate between the top of the circle and blue line in the offensive zone. Multiple times a game, he'll retrieve a loose puck along the side boards and regroup up top, scanning for scoring options.
"No one uses the high ice in the offensive zone more than Jack," the scout said. "He's really pioneering it. Other guys use the high ice sometimes, but he's living there right now." Here's an example of Jack pursuing the "high ice":
There's a natural difference between Jack and his brothers since he's a forward and they're defensemen. What separates Quinn from his siblings is his constant motion. That's not to say Jack or Luke are in any way inactive, it's just that Quinn might be the most active among the NHL's 700-plus skaters.
Quinn's never static or flat-footed, making him hard to account for in all three zones. His mobility also allows him to manipulate defenders in a unique way.
For instance, if the Canucks are in the offensive zone for 30 seconds, Quinn may man the point for 15 seconds, hang out in the upper slot area for five, creep below the goal line for five, and cruise around the hash marks for five. He's a calculated risk-taker who manages to remain responsible defensively. He'll probe over and over again, but it's rarely, if ever, done recklessly.
No NHLer has had the puck on his stick more often this season than Quinn - 3:22 per game. The eldest Hughes also ranks second in the league in loose-puck recoveries - 29.1 per contest.
That last data point is especially impressive because it suggests Quinn - who's listed at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds - often escapes dangerous areas unscathed. He'll happily engage in a board battle to win a 50-50 puck, yet through smarts and skating, he evades bruising body checks and thus injury.
Here Quinn Hughes creates two scoring rushes and blocks and disrupts a zone entry. Just filthy stuff.
I repeat for those in the back: You don't need to throw huge hits and be 6"5 to be a Norris candidate if you have the puck on your stick all times and no one can touch you. pic.twitter.com/TK1GIHgU7R
Luke joined the Devils at the tail end of the 2022-23 regular season, then appeared in three playoff games. In 13 career games, he's racked up 10 points while skating for 19-plus minutes a night, typically on the third pair.
The scout believes Luke will blossom into a true No. 1 defenseman - and boy, wouldn't the Devils, who are loaded at forward, love that. The main difference for Luke is that he's already 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds. He has the power and length to impact the game at a basic physical level - he can be more forceful.
"Maybe a Rasmus Dahlin arc," the scout said of Luke's five-year trajectory.
Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
One thing to remember is that the Hughes brothers don't bulk up for the sake of bulking up. Jack and Quinn are both stronger than they were as rookies but remain lean. They haven't lost any agility. Luke will likely chase the same physique. After all, despite being tall, his calling card is straight-line speed.
In fact, straight-line speed is Luke's chief differentiating skill, according to the scout. It's crazy to think that's the case given Jack's and Quinn's speed-infused highlight reels, but it's true. Luke has in his arsenal what the scout labels "running back plays." He'll weave through a defense by combining his elite skating, elite vision, and "go-for-it mentality" with his physical gifts.
"Luke's a little bit more of a downhill guy," the scout summarized.
Jack and Quinn have set the bar sky-high. But Luke's capable of joining them in whichever tier you'd like to place them at the moment - stars? Superstars?
John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).
