Sat Shah and Bik Nizzar breakdown the Canucks 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Hear from Head Coach Rick Tocchet (46:24), Nikita Zadorov (14:36), Thatcher Demko (1:29:50) and Elias Lindholm (1:32:45) post game. Plus Randip Janda and Iain McIntyre (1:36:50) 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.

Dan and Sat discuss the potential of an arms race in the Western Conference and how that will impact the Canucks and their chances once they get to the playoffs. Also, hear from Abbotsford Canuck Arshdeep Bains on his progress this season, the potential of a callup at some point, and more.

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.

It's the Canucks Central Roundtable as Dan and Sat welcome in Bik to discuss the challenges the 3rd line will face without Dakota Joshua in the lineup and how Conor Garland has improved his game during his time in Vancouver.

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 Toronto Maple Leafs inquired about the availability of Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner Sean Walker and Nashville Predators rearguard Alexandre Carrier, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.

Toronto is reluctant to move its first-round pick this year and has been offering packages of lower selections, Johnston adds. The Maple Leafs don't own a second-round pick in any of the next three drafts.

The club has also been linked to Calgary Flames veteran Chris Tanev throughout the season, though he's expected to be one of the biggest names available ahead of the March 8 deadline. Walker and Carrier could be cheaper options to help on the right side of Toronto's back end.

Walker carries a $2.65-million cap hit before reaching unrestricted free agency this summer. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Flyers following a trade from the Los Angeles Kings last June. He's notched 19 points in 54 appearances with Philadelphia while averaging nearly 20 minutes per night.

Carrier, also a pending UFA, counts for $2.5 million against the cap. The 27-year-old has 14 points in 48 games this season.

The Maple Leafs entered Thursday's action occupying the Eastern Conference's first wild-card spot with 62 points. They're projected to have approximately $1.2 million in deadline cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins announced star winger Jake Guentzel will miss up to four weeks due to an upper-body injury sustained in Wednesday's loss to the Florida Panthers.

Guentzel's absence could be a major blow to Pittsburgh's already perilous playoff chances, as the club currently sits seven points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and is 11 points back of a divisional seed.

The 29-year-old is tied with Sidney Crosby for the team lead with 52 points, and ranks second with 22 goals in 50 games. Guentzel is in the final year of his contract and has been floated around as a potential trade candidate before the March 8 deadline.

General manager Kyle Dubas said in January that trade talk surrounding Guentzel is "pure speculation," and the player has previously stated he's open to signing an extension.

The Penguins drafted Guentzel in the third round in 2013. He's recorded 466 points in 503 career games and helped the club win the Stanley Cup in 2017.

Pittsburgh projects Guentzel could return to the lineup in early March. He has recovered early from one injury already in 2023-24, beating a 12-week timeline after offseason ankle surgery in time to play the season opener.

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Chicago Blackhawks star rookie Connor Bedard is back in the lineup Thursday for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, his head coach Luke Richardson confirmed.

Bedard's return comes earlier than expected. He hasn't played since suffering a fractured jaw off a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith on Jan. 5. The youngster underwent surgery a few days later and was given a six-to-eight-week recovery timeline. Richardson said in late January that Bedard would miss at least six more weeks.

Bedard ended up missing 14 games and the Blackhawks went 3-10-1 without him in their ranks. Despite the missed time, he still leads Chicago with 33 points in 39 contests.

He also paced all rookies in points for most of his absence, but Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber tied him with a two-point effort Monday. Bedard's 15 goals are still the most out of all first-year players.

The Blackhawks sit last in the league with a 14-36-3 record.

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Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson is making his season debut against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Los Angeles head coach Jim Hiller confirmed Thursday, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.

Arvidsson last played during the Kings' first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers in April. He's been held out of action since undergoing back surgery in October. Arvidsson also had back surgery in spring 2022, forcing him to miss that year's playoffs. He appeared in all but five games last season, totaling 26 goals and 59 points.

Los Angeles activated Arvidsson off long-term injured reserve earlier on Thursday, placing forwards Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte on it in the process.

It's been a roller-coaster ride of a season for the Kings, who were red-hot to start the campaign and set a new NHL record by winning 11 straight games on the road. They've floundered of late, posting a 4-8-5 record since the calendar flipped to 2024.

Los Angeles fired head coach Todd McLellan during All-Star Weekend, replacing him with Jim Hiller in the interim.

The Kings rank 15th in the league in goals per game (3.10).

Arvidsson has amassed 173 goals and 347 points in 528 career games. The Kings acquired the 30-year-old from the Nashville Predators in July 2021 in exchange for a second-round pick and a third-rounder.

He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer after playing out the final season of a seven-year, $29.75-million contract.

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Matt and Blake discuss Dakota Joshua's injury and whether it was worth fighting in Chicago just as he and that line were peaking. Ilya Mikheyev is the beneficiary of Joshua missing Thursday's home game, can he exit his 22-game slump and does he have to show something, or risk being traded, before the March 8 deadline? The guys talk about Phil Kessel's fitness level and fit, whether the Canucks should risk losing a player on waivers to add him to the NHL roster, and about retribution/vengeance with the Wings after the Nikita Zadorov hit on Lucas Raymond and Jake Walman's *Griddy* celebration.

Patrick Johnston joins and talks about his article with Jim Rutherford and the Canucks seeking depth. Patrick talks about Kessel's future with the Canucks, that fantastic third line and Joshua, the pursuit of Chris Tanev, Jake Guentzel getting injured, and bad blood with the Wings.

Rob Williams tells us why Costco was trending in Vancouver upon the Kessel news, compares Kessel to the Mats Sundin signing of 2009, wonders who he would play, and explains how he got an exclusive interview with Mark Messier, who says he was brought to captain a Canucks' (ahem) "rebuild." Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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Thursday's clash between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning will feature a battle between the top two dogs in the Art Ross Trophy race - and Nathan MacKinnon is looking forward to going toe-to-toe with Nikita Kucherov.

"Everything," the Avalanche star said when asked what he admires about Kucherov's game, per Bally Sports' Gabby Shirley. "I think he is, obviously, one of the best in the world. It's not breaking news. It's awesome to watch him play.

"I think me and him have very different games, so that's why I love watching him so much. You can take a lot of, not advice, but tips from him in watching him play. It's amazing to watch him play, and I am excited to face him tonight."

Kucherov currently leads the league with a whopping 90 points (34 goals, 56 assists) in 53 games. That's already the fourth-highest total he's ever put up in his career - and he has 28 more games to work with. He's on pace for just under 140 points, which would surpass his previous best of 128 points, a total he set in 2018-19 when he won the Art Ross Trophy.

"He slows (the game) down really well," MacKinnon observed. "I probably don't do that as well as I should. It doesn't seem like he ever misses a guy open and I think everyone takes pride in that, in seeing your teammates when they're open in the slot. I miss guys open there but he never does, it seems like."

MacKinnon is no slouch either. He's right on Kucherov's tail with 87 points (32 goals, 55 assists) in 54 outings.

The two All-Stars are battling for more than just the Art Ross Trophy. Thanks to their dominance, MacKinnon and Kucherov are putting together convincing cases for the Hart Trophy. The former sits atop the league in both goals above replacement (22.5) and wins above replacement (3.6), while the latter ranks around the top 10 in both categories, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Containing Kucherov will likely prove a challenge for the Avalanche. He's racked up 15 points during an eight-game point streak, and he's only been held off the scoresheet 10 times this season.

"These two guys are incredible hockey players," Lightning forward Brandon Hagel said. "We are fortunate enough to have one and they are fortunate enough to have one.

"I am taking our guy tonight."

Puck drops on the clash at 7 p.m. ET. The two sides last met in late November when the Avalanche won 4-1.

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