Nov. 29, 2007, will forever be known to Tim Ramholt as the day he finally got the chance to live out his childhood dream. That's where the warm and fuzzy memories of his NHL debut begin and end, though. Nothing went according to plan once the puck dropped at Calgary's Saddledome.

Mike Keenan, then the head coach of the Flames, stapled Ramholt to the bench less than six minutes into an eventual 4-1 loss to Anaheim. Ramholt, Calgary's second-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, had been on the ice when the Ducks tied the game off some nifty puck movement early in the first period. The left-handed defenseman finished with a minus-1 rating in 45 seconds of action. A few days later, he was sent back down to the AHL.

"That was tough on me, definitely tough on me," Ramholt says now. "In this time (of my career), I had to focus on keeping it going and showing that I should be called back up."

A recall never came. After moving around in two AHL trades over the 11 months following his farm-team re-assignment, Ramholt returned to his native Switzerland to regroup. He had aspirations for a second stint in North America, but instead, Ramholt carved out a productive nine years in Switzerland's top pro league, retiring in 2018.

Since the NHL started tracking ice time in 1997, only one player - Islanders defensemen Jeff Libby - has authored a shorter NHL career than Ramholt. Libby logged 43 seconds. "That's awesome, really. It's too bad I'm not first ... " Ramholt jokes over the phone from Zurich.

In 2020, Ramholt's more than just the runner-up for the answer to an obscure trivia question. He's also the lead singer and lyricist for a hockey-flavored band called We And The Bulls. The group released its first album, "Circle Mind," on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services on Jan. 6. Ramholt describes their sound as "bluesy rock and roll with some drifty or psychedelic elements."

The singer may be retired from hockey, but most of the members of We And The Bulls still make their livings playing professionally. Guitarists Eric Blum and Roman Wick both compete in Switzerland's National League A; Blum is a defenseman for Bern and Wick is a winger for Zurich. Bassist Romano Lemm, meanwhile, plays forward for Kloten in National League B. Drummer Fabian Gass, an old friend of Wick's who works in the coffee industry, is the group's lone non-athlete.

We And The Bulls, who began jamming together in 2010, rehearse in the basement of a barbecue restaurant in downtown Zurich, congregating for a few hours a week on Wednesdays or Sundays, typical off days in the NLA and NLB calendars. As for the band name, it originates from a photo featuring Wick, Blum, and two police officers who showed up at a party years ago to investigate a noise complaint. On the Polaroid, someone wrote, "WE AND THE BULLS" - slang for police. The group liked how mysterious the phrase sounded, so the name stuck.

"This is cool, to have this other element, something artsy. Music is more intellectual, hockey is more physical. It's a great balance," Ramholt says. He adds this about dropping an album: "Nobody would have thought this is really possible. And now it's something on the map. Athletes can form bands."

The group's hockey-playing members, according to their Elite Prospects player pages, have combined for 2,788 regular-season and playoff games in the NLA, arguably the sixth-best league in the world. They also boast 315 AHL contests and eight NHL games (seven by Wick) between them. All four players were born in the Zurich area within a 24-month period from 1984-86. They've represented Switzerland in various international tournaments, including the Spengler Cup and Deutschland Cup.

Wick, a fourth-round pick of the Senators in 2004, is the only band member besides Ramholt to play pro in North America, splitting the 2010-11 season between Ottawa and AHL Binghamton. He and Ramholt crossed paths countless times over the years, with one particular stoppage during a Kloten-Zurich game a few years ago temporarily testing their off-ice bond.

Wick, Ramholt recalls, laid some lumber on his goalie's glove after the netminder covered the puck. Pushing ensued, and Wick flashed a "what the hell are you doing?!" look at his singer. Ramholt dropped his gloves, wrestled his guitarist to the ground, and laid a "pretty good one on the helmet." Laughing at the memory, Ramholt says all was forgiven in short order. "That heated up pretty quickly, but we spoke right after the game."

Hockey and music intersect on a deeper level in some sections of Ramholt's lyrics. In "My Road" - perhaps the most emotionally charged of the 11 tracks on "Circus Mind" - he pours his heart out as he recounts being forced to quit hockey in his early 30s because of injuries. He'd undergone consecutive surgeries on his back and right foot and was at a crossroads.

"Many times, on the ground, frustrated," Ramholt sings. "Because the heart wants to keep on (going). Your body can't no more. And these days came so fast, you know? Wasn't I just young and invincible?"

Ramholt has found music therapeutic ever since he first picked up a guitar in middle school. If he had trouble falling asleep following a rough game, he'd roll out of bed, reach for his acoustic guitar, and subdue his emotions. Nowadays, when inspiration hits, he either pens lyrics into a paper notebook or taps them into his iPhone Notes app. There's always been an artist in him.

"It's about the humble warrior," Ramholt says of the inspiration behind the "My Road" lyrics. "You've been defeated, you get back up, but you always know what keeps you driving. Is it passion or love? That feeling of knowing that you have made mistakes but you got back up and always know where you're going because deep in your heart you strive for another goal, another challenge. That's what the song is about."

We And The Bulls have played two concerts to date. They're just "going with the flow" right now, Ramholt says, but there are plans for more live performances in the offseason. They want to showcase the album and crowd-test new songs.

For now, Ramholt has more free time than his bandmates. The 35-year-old fills his days with a part-time job driving disabled people around Zurich, writing lyrics and fiction, and reading news reports. He also keeps active through yoga, surfing, swimming, hiking, skiing, and bouldering. After studying osteopathy in England last year, he may enroll at a Zurich university in the fall for "something in nature or science."

Ramholt technically achieved his dream on Nov. 29, 2007. And though he wishes he made a stronger impression in that blink-and-you'll-miss-it debut and enjoyed a lengthier NHL career, any lingering resentment has vanished with time.

"I didn't get a second chance, so that really sucks. It's definitely something that was hard to get over. I got over it because I really feel like I had an amazing career in going back to Switzerland," he says.

"But, not getting that second chance, that second game, that's definitely something I can write another couple of songs about."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like clockwork, the hockey world asks itself the same question every February: Is this the year most notable trade chips change hands before TV networks begin their extensive NHL deadline-day coverage?

Usually, as the deadline comes into focus, the answer is an emphatic "no." This year, however, a busy 48 hours have made "yes" a distinct possibility.

Six trades were completed between Sunday evening and Tuesday afternoon, with a seventh trade - Kings defenseman Alec Martinez to Vegas - reportedly imminent.

To recap the finalized swaps: Devils players Blake Coleman and Andy Greene have new homes in Tampa and Long Island, respectively; Kings forward Tyler Toffoli has been moved to Vancouver; and a trio of solid rental defensemen - Canadiens blue-liner Marco Scandella, Sharks rearguard Brenden Dillon, and Senators defenseman Dylan DeMelo - have been shipped to St. Louis, Washington, and Winnipeg, respectively.

Let's unpack the flurry of activity and reassess the pre-deadline landscape.

Western bubble teams beefing up

Seven teams enter Wednesday sitting within three points of the Western Conference's playoff cut line, with only five postseason spots realistically up for grabs. Of those seven teams, three have taken matters into their own hands and traded for a veteran NHLer in recent days.

The Canucks, who acquired Toffoli from L.A. on Monday in exchange for forward Tim Schaller, the rights to prospect Tyler Madden, a second-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round pick, have thrown caution to the wind. Instead of standing pat or selling assets in light of major injury news (forwards Brock Boeser, Josh Leivo, and Micheal Ferland are all out for the rest of the regular season) GM Jim Benning doubled down by adding a rental.

What a divisive trade. On one hand, it's easy to label Benning irresponsible - why sacrifice futures for the non-guarantee of making the playoffs with a banged-up roster? How shortsighted. On the other hand, one can easily dub Benning bold - why not seize the moment, do your best to make the postseason, and see what happens? The Pacific portion of the West's playoff bracket is totally up in the air, so there is logic to it. Toffoli, a play-driver who should fit nicely on Elias Pettersson's right wing, will definitely help Vancouver in the short term.

The Jets, meanwhile, have barely managed to keep their heads above water all season as they adjust to life without Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, and Jacob Trouba. Yet a playoff berth is not beyond the realm of possibility. Adding a player like DeMelo - a third-pairing blue-liner on a contending roster - won't move the needle, but the price (a third-round pick) is negligible. Acquired Tuesday, DeMelo's a low-risk rental for Winnipeg.

Then there are the Golden Knights. As the deals trickled in to start the week, we knew Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon would join the party sooner than later. The trade with L.A., assuming it goes through as reported - Martinez for two second-round picks - should provide a significant boost. Martinez, 27, is a legitimate top-four defenseman signed through next season at a reasonable $4-million cap hit. Vegas has underperformed this season. On paper, it's the toast of the Pacific. A jolt like this was necessary.

With Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Vegas setting the tone nice and early, who's next? Edmonton, Calgary, Arizona, and Nashville are the other teams on the playoff bubble. The Oilers appear hesitant to join the fray, the Flames have been a puzzle all year, and the Coyotes and Predators are both run by general managers who love to wheel and deal. Based on recent events, the smart money's on some reactionary trades, at the very least, and perhaps more from the tunnel-visioned Canucks.

Rangers, Devils should be salivating

Kings GM Rob Blake has established a nice benchmark for the NHL's sellers. He's fetched three second-round picks, a quality prospect, and a fourth-line forward for a pending unrestricted free agent (Toffoli) and a 2021 UFA (Martinez). If Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks, the Kings receive a fourth-rounder too.

Two Metro Division squads - the Rangers and Devils - must be licking their chops over Blake's haul. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has at his disposal the league's most sought-after name in Chris Kreider, while Devils interim GM Tom Fitzgerald has the most coveted rental defenseman in Sami Vatanen.

Gorton and Kreider's camp could come to an agreement on a contract extension in the coming days, removing the speedster from the trade market. If an extension isn't hashed out, though, the Rangers should be able to snag a package along the lines of a first-rounder, second-rounder, and a prospect for Kreider. Win-win.

Vatanen, who's on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment, should garner plenty of interest from teams that missed out on the first wave of available defensemen. If he's ultimately deemed healthy enough to contribute down the stretch, New Jersey can start a bidding war for Vatanen's services. In terms of rental rearguards, this week's rush has left slim pickings beyond the 28-year-old righty.

Keep an eye on Bruins, Avs

It'll be fascinating to watch Boston and Colorado, two of the NHL's top six point-percentage teams, battle it out off the ice in the lead-up to the deadline. Both clubs are serious Cup contenders looking for reinforcements up front.

The Bruins' search for a second-line winger has been public knowledge all year, while the Avalanche's need for similar help intensified when Mikko Rantanen sustained a multi-week upper-body injury in Monday's game against the Lightning.

Neither team got its mitts on Toffoli. Coleman, the best bargain buy around, has been crossed off both of their wish lists thanks to Sunday's Devils-Lightning deal. One would think Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a versatile, two-way forward, is now of great interest to Boston and Colorado, if he wasn't already. New Jersey's Kyle Palmieri, a marksman on a fair contract, would also be an excellent fit for both lineups. Montreal will certainly field calls on Ilya Kovalchuk. And don't sleep on the usefulness of Ottawa's Vladislav Namestnikov.

There are decent options left. Just not a ton. This year is already a little bit different.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BUFFALO - Nick Foligno was the first man in on the forecheck late in the second period of Thursday's Blue Jackets-Sabres game. He missed his check on puck handler Rasmus Ristolainen before smashing into the end boards at KeyBank Center, while Oliver Bjorkstrand blocked off Ristolainen's passing lane on the far side of Buffalo's net. Pierre-Luc Dubois, the final forechecker to arrive, swooped in to support Foligno's pressure point.

With Columbus' three forwards below the goal line, Ristolainen shuffled the puck to Sam Reinhart. He redirected it to Jack Eichel, who transported it through the neutral zone and into the Blue Jackets' end before rifling it top corner. Goal: Buffalo. Score: 2-1 Columbus. The Sabres went on to win 4-3.

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella theorized postgame that if his squad had carried a 2-0 advantage into the second intermission, Buffalo would have been "dead in the water." Instead, the Sabres battled back and scored in overtime.

"It's just stupid and, quite honestly, selfish," Tortorella said of the fruitless forechecking sequence. He added, "Just a little bit of me-me-me instead of we-we-we. If we don't play as we, we're into some shit, I'll tell you right now."

Tortorella wasn't putting on a show for the cameras. Calling out the Dubois line was appropriate seeing as, yes, the 2019-20 Blue Jackets tend to get themselves "into some shit" when they gloss over the Xs and Os. The margin of error is incredibly thin for Columbus, a defensively minded group that not only lost a boatload of talent in the offseason but has been ravaged by injury all year. The final scores from the Blue Jackets' past five games offer proof: a 2-1 loss to the Avalanche, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Lightning, that 4-3 OT loss to Buffalo, a 3-1 loss (empty netter) to the Rangers, and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils.

As of Monday afternoon, the Blue Jackets held down the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 30-18-12 record. They've defied the odds. They're a fantastic story. Yet, it's fair to wonder if a shorthanded team that has difficulty scoring goals has begun a descent back to earth.

At the 60-game mark, let's assess what's brought Columbus to this point and what the future might hold for the NHL's feistiest franchise.

Weird season

The optimism Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen generated last season by going all-in on his club's playoff run - a mentality that paid dividends in the form of an opening-round sweep of the juggernaut Lightning - quickly faded in July. Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel all departed via free agency, with only 30-year-old Gustav Nyquist brought in to fill in the void.

Given the turnover, most preseason prognosticators pegged Columbus as a bubble playoff team with strong pieces in Tortorella and his 25-and-under studs - Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, and Dubois. If everything falls into place this year, analysts thought, the Blue Jackets could battle for a wild card. Not bad. But what if everything didn't fall into place?

The club leads the NHL in man-games lost to injury with 247 as of last week. Because of all the minor league call-ups to fill spots, Columbus has iced the youngest team in the league, according to Hockey Reference. Not helping matters is a lack of production (and availability) from two veterans. It's mid-February and Cam Atkinson and Josh Anderson - who combined for 68 goals in 162 combined games last season - have contributed just 13 goals in 70 games.

Despite all of this, Columbus has collected points at roughly the same pace as last year. The Blue Jackets had 69 points in 58 games for a .595 points percentage a week out from the 2019 trade deadline; this year, they have 72 points in 60 games for a .600 percentage. Though they've lost six of their last 10 games, the fact that the Blue Jackets remain in the playoff mix this deep into the season is borderline miraculous.

"It has definitely felt crazy," Foligno, the team's captain, said of the weird season. "It's been its own script in a lot of ways, where we've found ways through a lot of adversity - some of it self-inflicted, some unforeseen injuries - and that's just the way it's gone. We've found a way to persevere as a team."

The list of key contributors who have been sidelined doesn't stop at Anderson (34 games lost) and Atkinson (16). Defensemen Ryan Murray (36) and Markus Nutivaara (32), forwards Alexandre Texier (24) and Bjorkstrand (13), and goalie Joonas Korpisalo (out since Dec. 30) have also missed significant time. Jones, who will be sidelined until at least the start of the playoffs because of an ankle injury, is the latest and biggest blow. That leaves Nyquist, Dubois, and Boone Jenner as the only Columbus players to have appeared in every contest so far.

What's keeping this ship from sinking seems to be a combination of Tortorella's tactical genius and a buy-in from the parade of players slipping on a Columbus uniform. On a good night, when the forecheck's humming and no major defensive assignment has been missed, the Blue Jackets look like a quality hockey team. On a bad night, two points can be ripped out of their grasp rather easily. It's simple, really: A team that can't score goals must prevent goals at all costs.

Forcing lower-percentage shots by keeping the slot and crease areas clear of opposing players has been a top priority for one of the league's elite defensive squads. "Last year, it was 'safe is death' and 'let's go score some goals' and 'the best defense is offense,'" Dubois said, relaying Tortorella's biggest talking points. "This year, it's 'defense first' and then we'll counteract. Like, 'Let's protect our net, let's protect our zone, and then think about scoring goals.'"

The Blue Jackets and Wild allow the fewest inner-slot shots per game (5.4), according to The Point, while Natural Stat Trick has Columbus ranked second (8.56) to Minnesota in fewest five-on-five high-danger attempts per 60 minutes (HDCA/60). Based on this data, heat maps at HockeyViz, and the old-fashioned eye test, it's clear the players have been executing Tortorella's plan.

"If they're going to score a goal," Werenski said, "they're going to have to earn it and come through everybody."

Elvis Merzlikins, Korpisalo's charismatic replacement between the pipes, has proved to be a formidable last line of defense. The 25-year-old Latvian rookie has earned his way into the Calder Trophy discussion through 27 appearances. He owns a .930 even-strength save percentage and has recorded five shutouts. When you loop in third-stringer Matiss Kivlenieks, Columbus' goaltending has blown expectations out of the water.

"Korpi: All-Star season, goes down. Elvis: Steps up and plays great," Nyquist said. "And now Kivi, whenever he gets a chance, he's been real good and given our team a chance to win every night."

When the puck isn't in the Blue Jackets' possession, they smother the other team. Despite the example from the Buffalo game, a frenzied forecheck can often be very effective. It's led to a positive penalty differential (27 more minutes on the power play than penalty kill) and just enough goals (2.6 per game) to produce 30 wins.

"They look up and there's always a five-man front from us," Foligno said. "That's something we pride ourselves on, because we know it works. A lot's been made of us not scoring a lot of goals, but it's still fun doing what we're doing."

Long view

The most encouraging part of Columbus' bizarre season is the timing. Between last year's go-for-it mindset and this year's plug-and-play success, the small-market franchise has never been on such solid footing.

Kekalainen has, for the most part, played his cards right in terms of drafting, developing, and acquiring talent. Tortorella has instilled a strong belief system. Neither pillar was in place when Foligno arrived in 2012.

"I remember getting here and they had just come off the worst season. They were miserable," Foligno said, recalling his July trade from Ottawa. "I think (former star Jeff) Carter wanted out. There was all of this drama. (Ex-captain Rick) Nash left. It was a team that was just like, 'We're starting from ground zero and we're going to figure out how we're going to get to where we want to go.' That's what those teams were. It's almost like we were coming into the game and not even knowing who we were. Now we know who we are and we know what makes us successful."

Only Foligno, Atkinson, David Savard, and Brandon Dubinsky remain from the 2012-13 squad that went 24-17-7 and missed the playoffs in that lockout-shortened season. Columbus hired Kekalainen in February 2013. Tortorella burst onto the scene in late October 2015. The Blue Jackets have made the playoffs in three of the coach's four seasons. And, though the margin of error is slim in his fifth campaign, a playoff berth is within reach.

Regardless of their fate this spring, the Blue Jackets seem confident they'll remain relevant.

"Respect comes with winning, comes with winning playoff rounds, comes with winning Cups," Dubois said. "Last year was the first year the organization won a playoff round. It takes time to build respect. I think we're on the right track to gain respect - not only in Columbus but in the entire league."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

First-rounders - who needs 'em?

That's essentially been Jim Rutherford's philosophy since he became general manager of the Penguins in June 2014. And, based on Monday's transaction, it appears the trade-happy executive isn't reversing course anytime soon.

Rutherford sent a first-round pick, forward Alex Galchenyuk, and defenseman prospect Calen Addison to Wild GM Bill Guerin - his old assistant GM - for veteran forward Jason Zucker. The pick, which is currently earmarked for the 2020 draft, carries a condition: If Pittsburgh doesn't make the playoffs, Rutherford can kick the first-rounder down the road to 2021.

Let's assume for a moment the Penguins make the postseason. That would set up a scenario in which the 2020 draft marks the fifth time in seven years the club doesn't pick in the opening round. The craziest part: Rutherford dealt one of his rare first-round selections (Kasperi Kapanen, 2014), leaving Samuel Poulin (21st in 2019) as the lone first-round pick still with the organization. There's "selling the farm," and then there's the Penguins.

On the surface, Rutherford seems impatient and out of control. In reality, though, trading high-quality assets has been his way of squeezing every ounce out of the golden era in Pittsburgh. The guy simply loves to go for it, and seeing as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - aged 32 and 33, respectively - aren't young anymore, it's a sensible strategy. This championship window, which has been open for more than a decade and produced three Stanley Cups, will indeed close at some point. But it hasn't yet, and that's all that matters to Rutherford and the fan base.

As for the trade itself, there are a few layers to unpack. Let's start with Zucker.

The 28-year-old's fast, hard-nosed, and can finish. He may not be enjoying his finest offensive season, but Zucker's still managed to pitch 29 points in 45 games for a mediocre Wild team. He matches well with Pittsburgh's system, and might even find a home on Crosby's left wing. Rutherford has long coveted Zucker - remember last year's aborted Phil Kessel trade? - so you know he won't be wasted one bit in coach Mike Sullivan's lineup.

Timing is key here. Zucker, who carries an annual salary-cap hit of $5.5 million through the 2022-23 season, provides a major boost to a depleted forward group. Jake Guentzel, Dominik Kahun, and Nick Bjugstad are all out indefinitely as the 34-15-5 squad tries to chase down the Capitals for the division title. Getting Zucker now, two weeks before the deadline, is huge.

All of this talk about potential brings us to Galchenyuk, whose eight-year NHL career has not gone as planned. The Wild will be the 2014 third overall pick's fourth team, and third in the past 20 months. He's gone from Montreal, to Arizona, to Pittsburgh, to Minnesota. In the first trade, Galchenyuk was swapped for Max Domi, one for one. This time around, he's merely an add-on in a four-piece deal. Those extremes illustrate how far his stock has fallen.

A pending unrestricted free agent, Galchenyuk will be afforded a short audition in front of Guerin. Yet, the usual post-trade narrative attached to a struggling player - that he just needs a change of scenery - doesn't necessarily apply. Galchenyuk, who turns 26 on Wednesday, is what he is at this point - a middle-six winger who can't stay in one place for long.

Now, by no means did the Wild lose this trade. They actually made out quite well. Don't forget, when Guerin took over in Minnesota in the offseason, he inherited an old, slow roster in need of a serious overhaul. By trading Zucker, he's freed up cap space in future years, acquired a first-round pick, and brought in a 19-year-old believed to be on his way to a lengthy career.

Addison, the 53rd overall pick in the 2018 draft and a member of Team Canada at the recent world junior tournament, is a smooth-skating, point-producing blue-liner. He's amassed 43 points in 39 WHL games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and although he is isn't considered a can't-miss prospect, his ceiling is fairly high. The Wild are getting a future NHLer.

According to NHL prospects writer Scott Wheeler, Addison "has the chance to be a competent second-pairing right-shot defenseman at even strength ... who can quarterback a power play." In Wheeler's recent evaluation of Pittsburgh's pipeline for The Athletic, Addison ranked as the organization's No. 1 prospect.

Once you peel back the layers and think about this trade from each GM's perspective, it makes plenty of sense. Not all trades need a winner and loser.

Guerin's team is younger, stocked with another promising teen, and is now the proud owner of a second first-rounder.

As for Rutherford, well, he's doing his usual all-in thing. And why the hell not?

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ST. LOUIS - Shea Weber is, if nothing else, a man of extremes.

He's extremely nasty and feared on the ice, remarkably nice and humble off it. He's a polarizing defenseman to evaluate, with his true impact in any given game rarely reflected in traditional or even advanced statistics. He's incredibly strong and, relative to his size, tremendously agile. He's equipped with an extraordinarily hard shot. And he's totally uninterested in talking about himself.

That last trait surfaced during All-Star Weekend. In a one-on-one interview, Weber - who's 24 NHL games shy of 1,000 - was asked how he's been able to maintain such a high level of play this year. His previous enthusiasm in discussing his seventh All-Star appearance - "This is awesome" - vanished instantly.

"I don't know, to be honest," the Montreal Canadiens captain said, his facial expression suddenly blank. "Dedication to training and preparation. Every year I prepare for the season. I've had some tough injuries the last couple of years, but I think I've worked hard to come back from those. I think that … I don't like talking about myself. It's just the hard work and dedication that comes with anything."

That dedication is paying off, both for Weber and Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. The hockey community roundly mocked Bergevin in June 2016 after he traded Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban for Weber, straight up. The criticism was warranted: Bergevin had sent the Nashville Predators a younger, more dynamic blue-liner than Weber, one whose contract was less of an albatross than Weber's monstrous 14-year deal. The swap was projected to be a landslide win for the Predators. Yet, in 2020, Subban is a member of the New Jersey Devils and Weber, at 34 years old, is excelling.

"You're in one place 10-plus years, and you get comfortable with the city, the organization, everything. And then everything is new," Weber said, reflecting on the blockbuster trade. "But I feel like I am at home again, and that I'm settled into my home. I enjoy playing here, and after the first year, it has felt more natural. In the fourth year now, it feels normal."

Weber - who was limited to only 26 games in 2017-18 and 58 games last year because of injury - hasn't missed a single contest this season. He's playing 24 minutes a night to lead all Habs skaters through 51 games, and he's posting the best possession numbers of his career. Though Montreal's underwhelming attack ranks a middling 17th overall in total offense, Weber's on pace to record at least 50 points for the fourth time in 15 years.

"He's a beast," New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider said of his 6-foot-4, 230-pound foe. "He's still hammering the puck. He still moves incredibly well. He's still stronger than an ox."

In a recent poll of 392 NHLers conducted by The Athletic, Weber finished second in the "best defensive defenseman" category. He trailed only Victor Hedman, five years Weber's junior and a franchise defender in his own right. Weber's managed to vault himself back into the conversation for the game's top blue-liner while many of his 2003 draft class peers - namely Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien, and Dion Phaneuf - are essentially irrelevant or out of the NHL entirely. Ryan Suter and Brent Burns - who's having a down year - are his closest competition from that class; at this point in time, Weber's the king.

"He plays, first and foremost, really well defensively," Calgary Flames rearguard Mark Giordano said. "Then, this year, we all know the type of shot he has, and he's been able to jump into the play it seems like a little bit more."

The numbers support Giordano's claim. According to advanced stats website Natural Stat Trick, Weber ranks first in on-ice shot attempts per 60 minutes among the 162 NHL defensemen who have logged at least 500 five-on-five minutes. The Habs attempt 69.7 shots every 60 minutes Weber is on the ice. Norris front-runner John Carlson is 27th in that regard, helping the Washington Capitals attempt 61 per hour. And, in all situations, Weber's averaging 2.9 shots on net per game, the fifth-highest rate of his career and highest since 2014-15.

The native of Sicamous, B.C., still has his fastball, too, with players across the league reporting widespread fear of his booming shot. The All-Star Skills Competition provided some visual evidence: Weber won the hardest shot contest with a blistering 106.5 mph blast.

Al MacInnis, one of the NHL's all-time great back-end snipers, has noticed Weber smartly fires away whenever a one-time pass enters his orbit. "I find that if you think there's another option there, the shot is taken away (by the defense)," said MacInnis, now a member of the St. Louis Blues' management group. "So, for me, when I'm watching him, that's his (go-to approach). That's why he's been able to be so effective, and he's getting shots through to the net."

Added Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck: "That thing just continues to pick up speed. I remember I had one moment (years ago) where he hit me in the chest. I had my chest kind of puffed up, and it almost acted like a trampoline. I sucked my chest pad in and launched it almost right back to him. He's definitely got one of the hardest (in-game) shots in the league."

Kreider recalled an occasion on which he pulled the chute on his defensive assignment, choosing instead to block a Weber howitzer and wondering how his coaches would react to that decision. "I sprinted away from the guy who was basically sitting right in front of the net in the slot because (Weber) was coming downhill for a one-timer," Kreider said. "Our coaches were basically like, 'That was a good play. We'd rather anyone shoot from high in the slot than him walking in on a one-timer.'"

That particular anecdote comes from Weber's Nashville days, an 11-year tenure that included plenty of regular-season dominance but only three playoff series wins. The Predators broke through the season after the Subban-Weber swap, ultimately losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. The Habs lost in the first round of that same postseason and haven't returned to the playoffs since. Tied for 11th in the East after Monday's 4-2 loss to the Capitals, it'll take a momentous post-All-Star run for Montreal to earn a spot in the dance this spring.

"I think that (we're) headed in the right direction, with the young guys and the talent that's coming up," Weber said. "We're in a tough spot right now in the second half of the year, but you just can't ever count a team out. St. Louis proved a lot of people wrong, with the way they went last year toward the end there. You just never know. We still have belief in that room."

Though the Canadiens' playoff chances are dimming, Weber's still on the fringes of the conversation for the Norris Trophy (it's realistically a two-horse race between Carlson and Roman Josi), an honor he's never won. But is the league's defenseman of the year award even important to the guy former teammate Max Pacioretty calls "the ultimate leader"?

"No, not at all," Weber said. "Everybody talks about that award. It's a great accolade and thing to have, but for me, the most important thing to have is the Stanley Cup. It's the epitome of a team just getting the job done, from top to bottom - everyone - no matter what your role is. Two minutes, 25 minutes. It doesn't matter. It's the ultimate team accomplishment."

All things considered, that's an extremely Shea Weber response.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Takes, thoughts, and trends is theScore's monthly spin around the NHL.

Watch for Kreider, Pettersson this weekend

The final tally: 12. Yes, a dozen All-Star Weekend participants turned over in the weeks leading up to the event in St. Louis - from Metropolitan Division superstar Alex Ovechkin opting for rest, to Pacific Division bench boss Gerard Gallant giving up his spot because he lost his job.

That's far too many changes - a bad look for the NHL - regardless of each dropout's rationale. It's amazing, though, how deep the talent pool is in this league. The festivities will still include plenty of marquee names and up-and-comers worthy of the platform. Just check out some of the assignments for the skills competition. There are some intriguing dark horses.

The fastest skater event is headlined by Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Among the six other participants - Jack Eichel, Mathew Barzal, Chris Kreider, Anthony Duclair, Travis Konecny, and Quinn Hughes - I'm most fascinated by Kreider, who's quick with those long legs. Eichel and his nontraditional skating stride could surprise, too. The dude can fly.

The hardest shot competition, meanwhile, features Shea Weber. He's a virtual lock to win with that howitzer of a slap shot. But the rest of the field can hang. Seth Jones, Victor Hedman, and John Carlson are all capable of hitting triple digits on the radar gun. Elias Pettersson, a bit of an odd choice given his small stature and propensity to pass, is definitely the underdog here. I say he finishes in the top three.

Give 'em 7 minutes?

Ditching the five-on-five game for a three-on-three tournament in 2016 was a smart move by the NHL. It's made the All-Star Weekend's main event infinitely more entertaining and has given fans what they ultimately want, which is more offense.

Naturally, the topic of extending three-on-three overtime in games that matter was broached during Thursday's media availabilities with the All-Star players and coaches. The replies seemed overwhelmingly supportive of pushing the overtime period past five minutes in an effort to minimize the number of shootouts.

"I think I'd be a guy who would like to see it," Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "But I don't know if 10's the number or if it's seven, because three-on-three minutes are a lot harder to play in than five-on-five minutes."

Giordano noted that shift length is essentially cut in half in overtime, with players typically staying out on the ice for 20 seconds, versus 40 seconds in regulation. It's more taxing on the body, so there's a health consideration to keep in mind. Extending the extra period to seven or eight minutes would probably do the trick.

"I'd rather see a game decided in overtime at three-on-three than a shootout," he reiterated, before offering a hypothetical: "Are teams just going to hold the puck for five minutes and not take chances? I don't know what the answer is."

Jackets, Elvis rolling

Everybody counted out the 2019-20 Columbus Blue Jackets. They lost too much talent in the offseason and returned to training camp in September with underwhelming options up front and in net. The Blue Jackets making the playoffs? Ha.

Yet here we are, in late January, and the John Tortorella-coached squad is holding down a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and sitting 10th among all teams in points percentage. All of this despite a rash of injuries.

"We had 10 guys on the IR at one point that were on our starting roster," said Seth Jones, Columbus' lone representative in St. Louis. "The guys who have come up from (AHL) Cleveland - (forward) Nathan Gerbe, to be specific, and a couple of other guys - have done a good job giving us energy every night."

Also of note: Elvis Merzlikins has been a revelation between the pipes. The Latvian rookie has filled in admirably for an injured Joonas Korpisalo, posting a .926 save percentage in 21 games. And he's looked steady in the process.

"He's calm as can be," Jones said. "He lets in a goal and keeps moving on. Hasn't let in many as of late. Knock on wood."

There's a strong chance Columbus keeps rolling after the break. Eight of the club's 15 games in February are against non-playoff teams, including bottom-feeders like the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils.

Sleep well, Mr. Wilson

The San Jose Sharks dropped significant news Thursday when owner Hasso Plattner gave general manager Doug Wilson a vote of confidence in a press release announcing changes to the club's business operations department.

Wilson - the team's GM since 2003 - may have a sterling reputation and might not have been on the hot seat anyway, but for Plattner to come out and say he's "supportive of Doug's plan to get our team back on track" is huge. Don't underestimate the importance of job security for GMs of struggling clubs. Wilson can now approach the trade deadline with nothing but the long-term view in mind. Plus, you can bet he's getting more sleep over the break now.

Priority No. 1 when normal NHL life resumes: finding a way out of that cringeworthy goaltending situation. "Back on track" means stopping pucks.

Isles feeling loss of Pelech

It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how much one injury is affecting a team's results, yet it's obvious the New York Islanders miss Adam Pelech's presence.

Pelech, who was excelling on the Isles' top defensive pairing before being sidelined by an Achillies tendon injury, will remain out until at least the end of the regular season. In his absence, New York is 4-4-2. Not terrible, but not good. Either way, it underlines how crucial he is to Barry Trotz's program.

Hockey fans outside of Long Island wouldn't recognize Pelech if they passed him on the street. He's the definition of an effective modern-day meat-and-potatoes defenseman: tough to play against; master of the little details; rarely frazzled. If the NHL had an Unheralded All-Star team, he'd make it every year.

"He plays such a steady game. He's not flashy, but he does flashy things," Isles captain Anders Lee said a day after Pelech's injury became public. "He makes it look so easy that sometimes I think it flies a little under the radar."

Sniper settled in

Hands up if, prior to the start of the season, you had two seventh-rounders pegged as the rookie goal leaders by the break. Yeah, I didn't think so.

Dominik Kubalik, the 191st selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, has bagged 21 goals in 49 games for the Chicago Blackhawks while playing alongside Jonathan Toews for the bulk of the season. Five goals behind Kubalik is the Buffalo Sabres' Victor Olofsson, the 181st pick in the 2014 draft. He's had a spot on Jack Eichel's wing for the vast majority of his 42-game debut.

The speedy Kubalik has made a name for himself of late, potting 10 goals in nine January games. Fellow Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat labels Kubalik's shot as an "absolute bomb." It's quick and powerful.

"He's not scared to get in front of the net, too," DeBrincat said last week of Kubalik, a 24-year-old Czech who was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings. "I think that's how he's gotten a lot of his goals this year. Being right in front of the net, being ready to bang in the rebound. He knows where to be."

Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes - the lone rookie in St. Louis this weekend - were known commodities coming into the season. Kubalik, Olofsson, and the Pittsburgh Penguins' sixth-rounder John Marino - three fringe Calder Trophy contenders - have made sure to steal some of the spotlight.

Who ya got, guys?

The Professional Hockey Writers Association announced its midseason awards Wednesday. The most buzzworthy news: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and David Pastrnak were ranked first, second, and third in Hart Trophy voting, respectively.

On Thursday, I asked a handful of All-Stars to weigh in on the MVP discussion. Who's their pick at the unofficial halfway point of the campaign? The question garnered a mix of predictable and interesting responses.

Victor Hedman: "The two guys in Edmonton (McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) are doing pretty good. What else? (Pastrnak) is having a great season. There's so many guys. It's tough to tell. Even John Carlson, with the season he's having so far, he's got to be up there. … I'd probably say one of the two in Edmonton."

David Rittich: "It's hard to say. Two names go through my head: MacKinnon and McDavid."

Mathew Barzal: "You can go with anyone. McDavid, obviously, is right up there. MacKinnon. I'd throw (Alex Ovechkin) up there, too. We play (the Washington Capitals) quite a bit. I get to see him every so often, and when he wants to turn it on, there's really no one that can stop him. I think those three guys are having really good seasons."

Nico Hischier: "I'd go with McDavid or MacKinnon. I think these guys are unbelievable. … It's not easy (to defend them). You don't want to give them much space. If so, they're going to make you pay for it."

Connor Hellebuyck: "That's tough. I'm glad I don't have to choose that right now. I think Nathan MacKinnon's been having a phenomenal year. Patrick Kane. Mark Scheifele's been phenomenal." (Hellebuyck said this with Scheifele, his teammate, within earshot. "Thanks, buddy," the forward said with a grin.)

Business as usual

Do you know who earned a few days away from the rink? Thomas Chabot.

Chabot leads the NHL in ice time at 26:27 a night. The 22-year-old defenseman has already broken the 30-minute barrier eight times this season - twice in October, four times in December, and twice in January. His career high is 37:50, which he set in a mid-December game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The crazy thing is, Chabot played 30 minutes a night in junior fairly often. The most extreme case occurred in late 2016. With his Saint John Sea Dogs down to just five defensemen and a regular-season game against the Shawinigan Cataractes requiring overtime, it's believed he hit 40 minutes. (The QMJHL doesn't track time on ice, so nothing's official.)

"I have zero analytical data to back it up, but from memory, I thought he got better the more he played," Sea Dogs general manager Trevor Georgie said. "I think back to that (2017) World Junior Championship in Montreal. He was unbelievable. He was Canada's best player and he would barely sit down. When he got to the bench, he was out next."

So, what's the secret for the Ottawa Senators stud?

"His skating is effortless, and I don't want to say it's easy for him, but he gets around the ice without expending as much energy as most," Georgie said. "I think Chabot's smarts and skating allow him to play that much. He is very much in control and calm."

Red Wings in deep

One final thing: Holy crap, the Red Wings are terrible.

With a 12-35-4 record at the break, Detroit is flirting with infamy. The club's points percentage (.275) in Steve Yzerman's first season as GM is, so far, worse than some truly terrible squads - specifically the 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche (.293), the 2013-14 Buffalo Sabres (.317), and the 2014-15 Sabres (.329).

The Wings are allowing 3.88 goals per game, the salary cap era's highest rate. They're scoring 2.12 goals per game, the era's seventh-lowest rate. For context, there have been a total of 453 seasons played by NHL teams since the cap was introduced in 2005-06.

One glance at the Wings' roster and the All-Star teams - Tyler Bertuzzi is their representative - and you realize the free fall in Detroit isn't stopping anytime soon.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Ekblad would like to offer a reminder of a frequently forgotten fact: A mere 38 days separated him from being a normal player in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League draft. If he had been born in late December 2005, not early February 2006, the troublesome "exceptional status" label that's colored the narrative of his career would have never been an option.

"It's hyped up like crazy, but realistically it's a month and seven days difference," Ekblad said in a recent interview. "I was just like any other kid going to play hockey with some older guys. It worked out for me, and it was the right play in terms of development. … To me, it felt normal."

Exceptional status allowed Ekblad to enter the OHL as a 15-year-old, and he was clearly above average. He won rookie of the year honors as an underager and, by the end of his three-year tenure with the Barrie Colts, was considered the league's best blue-liner. He was physically, mentally, and emotionally mature. But Ekblad also raises a valid point about his birthdate and how certain labels can take on a life of their own.

"When he came to us at 15, he transitioned really well," Colts general manager Jason Ford said. Then, Ford added, the crazy comparisons started. "Somebody early on threw out the name Bobby Orr, which is not really fair. When you watch him, he's not that type of defenseman anyway. The person who threw it out there must not have seen him play."

It's all a little ironic nowadays, seeing as there's a strong case to be made that Ekblad is actually underrated and underappreciated at the NHL level. Sure, he created buzz during his Calder Trophy-winning debut with the Florida Panthers. What about in the four-plus years since? He's been largely forgotten amid a slew of injuries and the incremental nature of his development. Perhaps he's simply been out of sight, out of mind.

"He's in Florida. If he were anywhere else on the planet he'd get a lot more recognition," said Willie Mitchell, Ekblad's former teammate and mentor.

Ekblad, who turns 24 on Feb. 7, battled through multiple concussions and a neck issue prior to finding his way back to elite form. The eight-year, $60-million deal he signed in July 2016 may have looked like a mistake the following season (Ekblad's self-described "weak year"), but that's not the case now. He's a legitimate No. 1 NHL defenseman in 2020.

"He's done a lot of great things for us over the years," Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck said. "But, with his skill set, he has all the tools to be a top-five defenseman in the league. He's got size, he's got speed, he's got skill, he's got a shot. He can do it all."

With five goals and 23 assists in 47 games, Ekblad is in the middle of the most productive campaign of his pro career. He's on pace for 48 points in 80 games following an offseason of specialty coaching. As a big man - 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds - in a small man's game, he's well aware that he must try his best to "stay relevant in terms of creativity and puck-handling ability."

"For me, puck handling is the biggest thing," Ekblad explained. "Can I have my head up while handling the puck and make a play? Some coaches want a high-flip kind of game, a puck-off-the-glass defenseman, but I think the game has transitioned to defensemen being more skilled, quicker, able to make plays, and be up on the rush for the five-man attack."

It's fair to suggest Panthers coach Joel Quenneville is pleased with the early returns. Powered by the NHL's most potent offense, Florida has a 28-16-5 record, which at the All-Star break places the team third in the Atlantic Division and eighth overall in points percentage. With Ekblad, the Panthers have been an objectively better squad at five-on-five. Based on the heat maps below, the club takes higher-percentage shots in the offensive zone when he's on the ice versus when he's not. Key in on the red blobs:

Ekblad, the club's ice-time leader, is 11th in relative shot differential among the 164 defensemen who have played at least 500 even-strength minutes this season. The Panthers own a cool 53.2% of the shot share when Ekblad is between the boards and only 48.4% when he's on the bench. His most common defense partners - MacKenzie Weegar, Keith Yandle, and Michael Matheson - have all seen their underlying numbers dip when they're paired with someone else, which suggests Ekblad's doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

According to Brian Campbell, his first NHL partner, Ekblad's had a certain composure since his debut in 2014. "I played too cautious myself, expecting that maybe he's going to take some time to grow and learn," Campbell said, still impressed. "It was almost more of an adjustment for me. This kid was ready to go right from the get-go."

Campbell left the organization after the following season. It was no coincidence he returned to Chicago, where Quenneville was still running the bench. "I think you'd have to give him a lot of credit for keeping it very simple for Aaron," he said of Quenneville. "For us, as players, you want to know what's going on and not have any gray areas. That's what Joel does."

Ekblad and the rest of Florida's longtime core - Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Trocheck, and Yandle - are already on their fourth coach. Ask Ekblad about his past few years and the challenges he's faced and he immediately brings up Quenneville's predecessor, Bob Boughner.

"He did a great job teaching me some things that helped me evade situations where I could get injured," Ekblad said. And these instructions led to better habits. "If the puck was dumped in my corner, it was all about knowing where guys are on the ice and know who you're up against.

"But also, get back on the puck as quickly as possible so that you have time to make a play and get your stick or put your shoulder into the guy to protect yourself a bit. The faster you can make a play the quicker you can protect yourself."

Mitchell suffered several concussions during a 900-game NHL career. He compares a player's post-concussion approach to the mindset of an overly defensive driver. You're bound to get into a car accident if you're timid behind the wheel.

"I like to look at the glass half full," Ekblad said. "I don't think they've affected me too much here. I feel good day-to-day. I'm happy, I feel healthy, and I'm learning ways of avoiding that kind of injury."

Which brings us full circle. Over the phone, Ford mentions Ekblad's numbers this season. The Colts GM is impressed by his point production and nightly workload against stiff competition and suggests there's room to grow. Maybe the "exceptional" alumnus will hit 20 goals and 40 assists one day. "He's still relatively young for a defenseman in the NHL, right?" Ford said.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin has never not been "Ovi" to the NHL fan. Since his North American debut in 2005, he's been wholly himself, and no piece of content capitalizes on this quality quite like a CCM skate commercial from 2010.

In the 30-second TV spot, Ovechkin is bodiless - a talking head, literally - stuffed inside a bowling bag.

"No one ever got better at hockey by bowling," the Capitals superstar, acting the part of a disgusted mentor, deadpans to a teen. "More practice for you."

Now, close your eyes and imagine Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin's generational peer, inside the bowling bag. It just doesn't work, right? You could say the same for this Papa John's pizza delivery boy ad from 2016, this ESPN "SportsCenter" Russian spy ad from 2011, this Eastern Motors football tryout ad from 2009, and this "NHL on NBC" vending machine ad from 2007.

Every single commercial is very … Ovi.

"The whole thing is about authenticity," said Ovechkin's longtime agent, David Abrutyn. "You can't - I think, anyway - be successful while pretending to be something that you're not."

Ovechkin, gap-toothed grin and all, is still with CCM and Papa John's. His roster of corporate partners also features global giants Nike and Coca-Cola, Hublot watches, Fanatics memorabilia, and Beats by Dre headphones. He recently launched an online store selling clothing that features the official "Ovi" logo. It's safe to say the affable 34-year-old is the sport's top pitchman.

According to Forbes, Ovechkin is set to make $5 million in endorsements during the 2019-20 season. That haul leads all NHLers, with Crosby and Connor McDavid a peg below at $4.5 million. Other top earners include Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews ($2.3M), Mitch Marner ($2M), and John Tavares ($1.7M). (Though Forbes' numbers are technically unofficial, industry insiders consider them to be fair estimates.)

The NHL is holding its annual All-Star gathering in St. Louis this weekend, an event where on-ice brilliance, off-ice personalities, and corporate interests collide. Ovechkin has opted out of the festivities - citing a need for rest for the second year in a row - but the show will go on. Dozens of promotional shoots, public appearances, and other marketing activities have been scheduled by the league, player agencies, and the NHLPA.

With the event approaching, theScore reached out to a variety of people who deal with player endorsements for help answering three central questions:

• How do NHLers and their agents process an endorsement offer?
• What does a typical endorsement contract look like?
• What attracts companies to hockey players as pitchmen in the first place?

Here's what we learned from those on- and off-the-record conversations.

Filtering the offers

Professional athletes are inherently cool, and cool sells. Since hockey is Hollywood in Canada, players for Canadian teams are considered desirable spokespeople. In the United States, with basketball, football, and baseball pros ahead in the queue, the average NHLer isn't exactly swimming in endorsement offers. The bulk of the money is gobbled up by a small pool of players who have serious name value - think Ovechkin and the other top earners, plus guys like P.K. Subban, Taylor Hall, and Patrice Bergeron.

A player's approach to endorsements ultimately sets the tone, no matter how sought after a player might be in the local, regional, and national marketplaces. Some players choose to hustle and others don't care to get involved, while the bulk of the NHL's talent lands somewhere in the middle - interested in crafting a personal brand yet concerned about being labeled a shill.

For instance, future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist, who's as handsome and stylish as they come, has become synonymous with Head & Shoulders shampoo but not much else. This is by design. The Rangers goalie says he's drawn to offers that promise fun experiences and can be stretched out over a long term. "It's about being more than just being a name or a face," he said. "I look at that opportunity and try to be a little creative, too."

"There's a lot of variables that go into it," Stars netminder Ben Bishop said. "It's not just, 'Hey, yes, no.' What are they asking for? What do they want? What can you provide?" Wild defenseman Matt Dumba follows a similar mental checklist: "Do I have a passion towards that? Do I actually use the product a lot?"

Patrick Kane, who's been in the public eye for 15 years, has adjusted his mindset over time. "It definitely changes from when you first get in the league to when you're an established player," the Blackhawks winger said. "You review everything, whether it's the term, compensation, what kind of brand it is, what kind of message it's sending."

Traditionally, a company's first point of contact is the player's agent (though the NHLPA, through its group licensing program, will take the lead if the offer involves three or more players). Fan meet and greets, commercial shoots, and social media posts are a few of the most common requests from companies. The time commitment required from the player almost always makes or breaks the deal.

Coyotes forward Derek Stepan, for example, is hesitant to sacrifice family time for a few extra bucks. Occasionally, he would sign autographs at a Chase Bank branch during his stint with the Rangers, but he doesn't currently have a single endorsement. His change in teams has limited his opportunities, but Stepan says he's happy sitting on the sidelines at this point.

"If I'm not all-in on something, it's just not acceptable. I have to push everything. I have to be totally into it," said Stepan, who described the Chase deal as feeling more like a chore than anything else. "If I'm having the thought of, 'Ah, why did I do this event tonight?' - then why am I doing it?"

As Jeff Jackson of the Orr Hockey Group agency notes, "These companies don't just throw money at players. There's obligations on the player side." Jackson represents McDavid, arguably the best player on the planet. The agency curates McDavid's portfolio, guarding against overexposure and burnout. Yes, there's such a thing as having too many endorsements.

"Their time is valuable," Jackson said. "They have a grueling season, and then they have an offseason, and then they're back training. They don't have a ton of free time, particularly during the season. Every single one of these deals requires a time commitment of some sort. If you take on too many of them and then add them up in the end, you're looking at a lot of hours per year."

Coming to terms

Not unlike other types of contracts, no two endorsement deals are exactly the same. All of them include plenty of copy-and-paste legalese - morality clauses, exclusivity language, and the like - but each player-company contract has unique terms and conditions.

In most cases, compensation is highly dependent on the team's market. Places such as Toronto, Boston, Vancouver, Philadelphia, and Montreal usually make up the top tier, whereas Carolina, Florida, San Jose, Tampa Bay, and Arizona tend to be considered bottom-tier markets. So, if a Canucks player is traded to the Panthers in the middle of an endorsement deal, he ultimately earns less; the post-trade checks would be only 50% or 75% of what he could have earned in Vancouver. Companies are all about return on investment, and they've determined that return is different in traditional and nontraditional hockey markets.

Another interesting condition: There's a "minimum games" clause in many of these contracts. It states that the player's compensation will be calculated based on how many NHL games he appears in during a given season (i.e. if the minimum is 50 games and he plays 25, he'll get half the payout). The reason why a player misses action - injury or demotion - isn't contractually important. The company has lost some visibility either way.

On the flip side, just like a player-team contract, players are sometimes eligible to receive performance-based bonuses. Let's say a player's base compensation is $75,000. Depending on the market, bonuses could be $10,000 (for leading the team in scoring), $15,000 (named to All-Star Game), $15,000 (team advances to conference final), and $25,000 (team advances to Stanley Cup Final). That's an extra $65,000 in possible earnings.

Equipment is a longtime staple of the endorsement space, and as a result, players and companies approach it differently. A player may settle on endorsing skates, sticks, pants, and helmets from one company but have a separate agreement with another company for gloves. This diversification could be a personal choice - maybe the player has worn Bauer gloves his entire career and is too superstitious to change - or the result of shopping around and capitalizing on a bidding war.

The occasional partnership, usually in the fashion arena, might open the door for some creative control. In these situations, players receive a commission, which gives them an incentive to promote the product as much as possible. One effective way to get the word out is by pumping up the product or service through the player's social media feeds. Almost every endorsement deal now includes a negotiated number of "#ad" posts. A single tweet or Instagram upload can net an NHLer tens of thousands of dollars.

Social media has given players leverage they didn't have 10 or 20 years ago. It's no coincidence that Paul Bissonnette, who scored seven NHL goals in 202 games, is likely raking in the most money from endorsements among retired NHLers. Bissonnette brings a rare combination of humor, unfiltered storytelling, and 1.5 million Twitter/Instagram followers to the negotiating table. In partnering with Bissonnette, a company can essentially talk directly to a targeted customer.

Moving the needle

Sonnet Insurance is constantly trying to grab the attention of Canadians, says Brian Long, the company's vice president of marketing. But, since insurance is a grudge purchase, customers automatically tune out advertising. This is where NHLers provide value as spokespeople. "People don't necessarily want to make the purchase, but when they do, they want to feel comfortable about what they're doing," Long said. "Having a personality, or having a personality around your brand, is a very important thing."

Sonnet's recently tapped the acting skills of active and former players like Morgan Rielly, Johnny Gaudreau, Doug Gilmour, and Mike Vernon to illustrate how the insurance industry has evolved. In 2020, customers purchase insurance online, not over the phone or in person, in the same way that wooden sticks have given way to carbon-fiber sticks. The campaign, which started last season, is a prime example of the NHLPA's role in the endorsement space, with Sonnet and the union working hand in hand on the ads.

Overall, the NHLPA has overseen a 25% increase in multi-player marketing deals over the past few years, according to Devin Smith, senior director of marketing and community relations. The PA has more than 30 hours of marketing activations scheduled for All-Star Weekend. That package includes everything from autograph signings with fans to face time with corporate executives.

"They are influential in what they do, and how they do it. And they don't need to be in their jerseys," Smith said of players embracing the business side of hockey. "These guys," he added, "know there's brands to build, and they do it well."

Look no further than McDavid. Notoriously stoic with reporters, the Oilers captain comes out of his shell in certain situations. The above ad for Electronic Arts promoted the NHL 18 video game while revealing McDavid's comedic charm. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

"We're not trying to make him into a comedian, or any player into a comedian, but you do have to show (your true self)," Jackson said. "There is a serious side to these guys - that's the most important thing, that they care about being really good teammates, good leaders - but when you get them away (from the rink), there's very few hockey players who don't have a great sense of humor. The dressing room is just ripe with comedy, right? It's nice to see some of that come out because it gives people a different side."

What separates Ovechkin from the pack is that, 15 years and 692 goals into his career, the "Ovi" brand is crystal clear. Abrutyn says Ovechkin's official brand plan is centered around six things: Family, loyalty, generosity, tenacity, leadership, and fun. This foundation gives prospective corporate partners an idea of what marketing ideas might attract him. His ability to resonate locally (in the Washington, D.C., area), nationally (United States), and internationally (Russia, Canada, and elsewhere) has opened countless doors since 2005.

Last fall, Ovechkin took his persona to another level with the release of Ovi O's, a cereal product Abrutyn calls "a natural extension of who he is and what his brand represents." Ovechkin hopped behind a till at a D.C.-area grocery store and rang through some orders to promote the launch. He was accessible, energetic, and self-deprecating. He was wholly "Ovi."

"That's why (companies) are drawn to celebrity talent," Abrutyn said of Ovechkin's longstanding authenticity. "It's because of their nature to break through in a world that's filled with thousands and thousands of messages."

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - "Who is Neal Pionk, and how did he shut down our No. 1 line?"

Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice walked out of Madison Square Garden on Dec. 2, 2018, with those two questions percolating through his brain. Some defenseman named Pionk had teamed up with Marc Staal to keep stars Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler off the scoresheet during five-on-five action.

Roughly six months later, the Jets sent Jacob Trouba to the Rangers in exchange for Pionk and a first-round draft pick. Like Maurice in New York, the hockey world had questions: "Pionk's the only player included in a trade for a stud blue-liner like Trouba? Who is this dude, anyway?"

Fast forward another eight months, and Pionk's stock has skyrocketed. Folks across the league have taken notice because the 24-year-old's impact on the 2019-20 Jets - a 24-16-4 squad that's scratching and clawing to stay in contention amid a crowded Western Conference - is simply undeniable.

"Fantastic in all areas, really," Maurice said this week when asked to evaluate Pionk's tenure as a Jet.

"He's taken an opportunity here and ran with it," Wheeler, the team's captain, added. "He's been outstanding all year."

"Opportunity" is the operative word for Pionk and the Jets, who last offseason took a stick of dynamite to their defense corps in order to create room on the payroll for raises up front. Not only did the club bid farewell to Trouba, but it also let Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot leave in free agency. A fourth defenseman - longtime anchor Dustin Byfuglien - has been MIA all season and may never return to the NHL.

When the dust settled, Josh Morrissey and Dmitry Kulikov were the lone holdover D-men from the group of 2018-19 regulars. This season, relative unknowns like Pionk have filled out the lineup card through 44 games.

"We know we need to battle every single night, and it's going to take every guy in this locker room," goalie Connor Hellebuyck said of overcoming the talent gap. The first-half returns - wins in 14 of 20 one-goal games and an overall goal differential of plus-3 - suggest the grind-it-out mentality has been working, at least for now.

Following a thrilling 4-3 shootout win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, Winnipeg moved past Calgary to claim the first wild-card spot in the West. The Jets are also two points behind the Dallas Stars, who sit second in the Central Division, heading into a Thursday night meeting with the Bruins. Considering the circumstances - the aforementioned talent purge on defense, and more than 150 man games lost to injury or illness - the Jets have been surprisingly steady.

"We haven't played horrible games," forward Nikolaj Ehlers said before facing Toronto. "I think that we're happy with where we're at. There's still lots of room to improve and we're doing that day by day."

Pionk, who's seen the ice for a team-high 23 minutes and 17 seconds per night, has effectively replaced Byfuglien. Already, he's established personal bests in assists (25) and points (28). He's carved out a well-rounded role, manning the point on the power play and chipping in on the penalty kill.

While the coaching staff tends to toss Morrissey and Tucker Poolman over the boards to face the opposition's most dangerous forwards for even-strength shifts, Pionk is leaned on during tense situations, too. "I would say the hallmark of his game isn't necessarily how well he skates or how well he moves the puck - those have been all good - it's been his consistency," Maurice noted.

Pionk's deployment and usage is also a comment on Winnipeg's lack of depth. The team's defensive pairings - various combinations of Pionk, Morrissey, Kulikov, Poolman, Luca Sbisa, Nathan Beaulieu, Anthony Bitetto, Sami Niku, and Carl Dahlstrom - routinely get exploited at five-on-five (the Jets rank last in Expected Goals and 24th in Corsi) and are partly responsible for the NHL's worst penalty kill.

But while the Jets' high-end forwards - Scheifele, Connor, Wheeler, Ehlers, and Patrik Laine - have shouldered the vast majority of the offensive workload, the defense has provided just enough support for Hellebuyck, the team's MVP and a serious contender for the Vezina Trophy thanks to a .929 even-strength save percentage in an NHL-high 37 appearances.

"He's been doing it all year," forward Mathieu Perreault said of Hellebuyck. "That's the difference, really. And we've got two lines, with our top six, that is as good as anybody's in the league. They provide offense for us, and the rest of us, we just try to defend and make sure we keep it out of our own net and do the things that help you win the game. If you're not scoring a goal on this team, you're defending hard, you're blocking shots, you're being physical."

At the heart of the Jets' identity is Maurice, the league's second-longest-tenured coach. He was hired in January 2014, an eternity ago in the current NHL climate. The Jets have made the playoffs in three of five seasons during the Maurice era, peaking with a trip to the 2018 Western Conference Final.

Ask around about Winnipeg's ability to keep its head above water so far, and you'll quickly be directed to Maurice and the way he works a dressing room. The 52-year-old connects with players on a deeper level than most bench bosses do, and he's not afraid to make in-game adjustments. Above all, he's figured out how to keep his message fresh six years into the gig.

"He just gets us. He feels what we feel," Hellebuyck said. "That allows him to be the best coach that he can be. He doesn't stray away from affection."

"He's been really good. Especially for me as a new guy coming in," Pionk said. "Being able to say what he wants of me as a player and out of us as a team, I think he's really good at vocalizing that."

The next month will further challenge every member of the Jets, Maurice included. The team, which has enjoyed one of the easiest schedules to date, according to Hockey-Reference, is about to start a nasty 11-game stretch. The difficult run will include two games against each of Boston, Nashville and St. Louis, and one against each of Vancouver, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Carolina, and Columbus.

That means the scrappy Jets, who've thus far survived their offseason talent purge, will learn a lot about themselves in the days ahead. And if they manage to stick in a playoff spot, they'll have Hellebuyck, Maurice, and their no-name D - led by the surprising Pionk - to thank.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Takes, thoughts, and trends is theScore's monthly spin around the NHL.

Lacrosse-goal fever

First, it was Nils Hoglander in October during a Swedish league game. Then it was Andrei Svechnikov a few days later during an NHL game. Then it was Svechnikov again in early December. And, as if to say "let me catch up here," Hoglander did it again last week at the World Junior Championship.

The so-called lacrosse goal was all the rage toward the end of 2019. A Minnesota high schooler recently got in on the fun as well:

Svechnikov, the fantastic Carolina Hurricanes sophomore, isn't the only NHLer capable of filling the highlight reel with such skill. Someone will join him soon.

Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews has tried to pick the puck up behind the net numerous times this year. Elias Pettersson, the wizardly Vancouver Canucks center, is open to the idea. Might Jack Eichel, whose puck skills are off the charts, attempt a lacrosse goal in the near future?

"Probably not. ... If the opportunity presented itself, maybe, I don't know," the Buffalo Sabres captain said this past weekend. "You've seen it done a few more times, so teams are probably a little more prepared for it. It's tough to do. To be able to do it as smoothly as (Svechnikov's) done it, it's really, really impressive. You've seen a lot of guys try and not be successful, and he's done it twice. It's awesome, honestly."

Old-school Boston Bruins forward David Backes - who, at 35 years old, admits he would never try to pull off a lacrosse goal - is intrigued by the recent development and tips his cap to Svechnikov. As he explains, so much goes into the result.

"Fresh ice, fresh stick, warmer puck - all of those things. What you've got on your stick for tape or wax. Everything can factor into how easy or difficult that would be. Or, if it just hops (onto the toe of your stick) as you're going behind the net, maybe you can fling it in there. I'm impressed by them," Backes said before adding with a smile: "Would I try to take a run at that guy in the next shift against him? I certainly would. But that's my thought process."

Fully evolved Eichel

Speaking of Eichel, he's firmly in the Hart Trophy discussion. For my money, Nathan MacKinnon has been more valuable to his team, but if the Sabres break their eight-season playoff drought, Eichel has a chance with voters. It's been a treat to watch him level up to bona fide superstar status.

Always a strong skater, a neutral-zone champion, and the heartbeat of the Sabres, it's this year - his fifth in the NHL - that's been Eichel's most impressive. He's produced 52 points in 39 games, and at times, he's been unstoppable. The 23-year-old plays 21:51 a night, second on the entire squad.

Asked what he's learned about Eichel since joining the Sabres in training camp, forward Marcus Johansson's eyes widened.

"I didn't know that he could be so dominant so consistently like he's been. I don't know how many games he's won for us this year. He's got something special," said Johansson, who has also played for the Capitals, Devils, and Bruins over a 10-year career. "There's only a couple of guys, maybe, that have that. He can take over games completely, and he puts the team on his shoulders. It's impressive. I don't know what to say - if it's a talent or what it is - but it's special."

What exactly is Eichel doing so well when he's dominating?

"(It's about) how in control he is," Johansson said. "He's got the puck on his stick a lot. It's anything from making moves to unbelievable passes, unbelievable shots. There's just nothing that he can't do. To be as big as he is and to have all of that skill, it's pretty fun to watch."

Johansson didn't mention the sequence below as an example of this evolved form of Jack Eichel, but it qualifies, with a tremendous mix of skill, confidence, and patience on display:

The Marchand Show

Based solely on raw production, Brad Marchand is 2019's king.

Counting regular-season and playoff action, the Bruins star ranks first in points, first in assists, and second in goals, with only Tuesday's 13-game slate remaining in 2019. Marchand, who has appeared in 105 total games and faces the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday afternoon, obviously benefited from team success. Nevertheless, the "Little Ball of Hate" accomplished a ton.

Marchand has piled up 140 points in the calendar year. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ranks second with 121 points, and his teammate Leon Draisaitl is third with 117. Just eight others have hit triple digits - among them Marchand's center, Patrice Bergeron.

The lone player to accrue 80 assists in 2019, Marchand is at 88. McDavid is second with 79. As for goals, David Pastrnak, the third member of Boston's top line, has scored one more than Marchand's 52. Draisaitl (51) and Washington Capitals gunslinger Alex Ovechkin (50) are the only others who have bagged 50 in the calendar year.

The main takeaway here is that Marchand, 31 years old, is bucking the typical NHL aging curve. He didn't really arrive as a top-line producer until he was 27, and he is wrapping up his finest year four seasons later. Quite a career arc.

Duclair, Sens a match?

Sixteen players on the Ottawa Senators' 22-man roster are on expiring contracts, but none of them are showcasing themselves like Anthony Duclair.

The 24-year-old pending restricted free agent can start negotiating a new contract with the Sens on Wednesday. Since October, general manager Pierre Dorion must have been asking himself: Is Duclair's breakout season for real, and is he part of the club's long-term core?

If the answer is "yes" to both questions, there should be a fit.

Now with his fifth NHL organization, Duclair seems to have found stability in the form of playing time and production. In just 40 games, he's set a career high in goals with 21. He was named an All-Star on Monday.

Rare 1-2 punch

Fun fact: 1966-67 was the last time defensemen finished first and second in Calder Trophy voting. Bobby Orr was crowned rookie of the year, while tough-as-nails Ed Van Impe earned runner-up honors.

More than 50 years later, with Vancouver's Quinn Hughes and Colorado's Cale Makar dominating the first three months of the 2019-20 season, we may finally witness another one-two showing. (Just 11 defensemen have won ROTY in the Calder's 82-year existence.)

Only a drastic drop-off in production or a severe injury to Hughes or Makar, and/or a transcendent second half from another rookie, can derail the tandem's momentum. They're simply peerless in the crop of first-years.

The best part? The numbers suggest neither player is running away with the award:

If we're splitting hairs, Hughes has been a smidgen better. Through the prisms of advanced stats and the eye test, the Canucks cornerstone is a more well-rounded player. On several occasions, the 20-year-old has demonstrated the rare ability to control the flow of an entire game.

But, again, it's stupidly close. Makar, who has missed some time due to injury, has proven his 2018-19 playoff performance was no fluke. He's 21 and already a legit star. Flashier and more productive than Hughes, Makar has no problem keeping up with MacKinnon and the Avalanche's other skilled forwards.

It'll be interesting to see if either stud earns a spot on his divisional team ahead of All-Star Weekend in late January. Both can be added to the festivities in St. Louis through the NHL's "Last Men In" fan vote. Something to remember: Hughes' competition in the Pacific (Getzlaf, Keller, Gaudreau, Nugent-Hopkins, Doughty, Hertl, Pacioretty) pales in comparison to Makar's rivals in the Central (Toews, Benn, Suter, Duchene, Perron, Laine).

The ideal scenario, of course, would be the inclusion of Hughes and Makar. These super rookies are made for the skills event and three-on-three tournament.

Fascinating rookie class

Behind Hughes and Maker is a lengthy list of lesser-known freshmen who haven't encountered the dreaded rookie wall so far.

Victor Olofsson of the Sabres leads all rookies in offense with highs in goals (16) and points (34). Ilya Mikheyev, the leader in even-strength points with 22, has been a crucial component of Toronto's attack. Edmonton's Ethan Bear and Pittsburgh's John Marino are playing 20 minutes a night as defensemen and, for the most part, looking comfortable in their high-profile roles. Adam Fox of the Rangers, another blue-liner, has quietly recorded 17 points in 38 games.

The rookie goalie group is holding its own, too. Washington's Ilya Samsonov (.918 save percentage in 14 games), Vancouver's Thatcher Demko (.907 in 13), and New Jersey's Mackenzie Blackwood (.906 in 29) have quickly established themselves at the NHL level, which is much easier said than done.

If I were to fill out my Calder ballot right now, I'd put Hughes first, Makar second, Olofsson third, Marino fourth, and Mikheyev fifth.

McCann's new groove

Scouts say Jared McCann had a pro-level shot at 14 years old. He had worked tirelessly on his wrister growing up in the London, Ontario, area, and it had started paying off early. At 18, he became a first-round NHL draft pick.

Yet it wasn't until the former Canucks speedster landed in Pittsburgh four years later that he really hit his stride at the NHL level. Playing mostly center for the Penguins, McCann's built off a strong finish to the 2018-19 season by collecting 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 37 games this year.

That's big-time production compared to his stint with the Florida Panthers, where McCann struggled to cope with dry spells. He sought professional help in Florida and found it made a world of a difference for his mental health.

"The pressure of playing well every single night weighs on you. It really does," McCann, 23, explained. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a good player, and when you have a bad night, and everybody's on you - like the media, and stuff. It's not fun. It gets into your head. Even if you say it doesn't, it does."

"You don't need to take everything so seriously," he added. "But that's the kid I am, right? Growing up in a construction family, when you do a job you do it right and you move on. But going through that stuff is tough, and you need to talk to someone. You really do."

McCann emphasized that his struggles weren't overly serious; he wasn't diagnosed with any condition, as his issues were mainly linked to on-ice success. Still, he seems to be playing freer in Pittsburgh, and it's nice to see.

Sharks still drowning

No underachieving club has a steeper hill to climb in the 2020 portion of the 2019-20 campaign than the San Jose Sharks.

Unlike three of the NHL's four other coaching changes this season, the Sharks' fire-and-hire earlier in December hasn't yielded much success:

Yes, seven games is a small sample size. That's why concluding anything definitive about Bob Boughner and his job as Pete DeBoer's replacement would be unfair. The facts are the facts, though: A team is in trouble when it doesn't get the usual new-coach bump. Time is running out for the Sharks.

Heading into Tuesday's tilt against Detroit - San Jose's 41st of the season - the team is eight points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Only the Red Wings, Devils, and Kings, squads firmly in rebuild mode, have accumulated fewer points than the 17-20-3 Sharks.

Terrible goaltending, porous five-on-five defense, and an uncharacteristically mediocre offense have put the Sharks in a peculiar spot: They are in great danger of missing the postseason during a year in which they don't own a first-round pick. It's a cringeworthy reality for one of the NHL's top franchises.

And the most puzzling part is their special teams, which rank first (penalty kill) and 28th (power play). Such an odd dynamic. The most recent NHL team to finish a season with the top-ranked penalty kill/power play and also a bottom-five PK/PP was the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild (1st in PK, 27th in PP).

Disaster in the Pacific

How crazy is it that, at what's essentially the midway point of the season, no Pacific Division team has banked enough wins and overtime/shootout losses to crack the league's top 10 in points percentage?

The fast-starting Canucks, at .575%, are now 14th among 31 teams; the sleeping-giant Golden Knights, at .571%, are 15th; the steady Coyotes, at .561%, are 16th; the roller-coaster Flames, at .549%, are 19th; the reeling Oilers, at .537%, are 23rd; the retooling Ducks, at .474%, are 26th; the disappointing Sharks, at .463%, are 27th; and the lifeless Kings, at .439%, are 29th.

What a gong show.

Winter Classic beauties

In my humble opinion, the Dallas Stars' Jan. 1 attire is among the best in Winter Classic history. It's truly a wonderful work of art:

The look, in part a tribute to the Dallas Texans of the 1940s, strikes a balance between clean and creative. It's simple from a design standpoint, yet the jersey's large "D" logo and the colors of the throwback gloves and pants command attention. The state of Texas arm patch is a neat touch.

This year's event - Stars versus Predators on Wednesday at the Cotton Bowl - is the 12th of its kind, which means there have now been 24 Winter Classic looks. The 2009 Red Wings, 2010 Bruins, and 2017 Blues donned noteworthy ensembles. But let's be honest: The 2020 Stars look deserves a stall alongside the 2008 Penguins and 2016 Bruins in the Winter Classic Looks Hall of Fame. (That is, if such a museum existed ...)

Empty-net dreams

One final thing: Whatever happened to goalie goals?

The beginning of the decade produced three - Cam Ward in December 2011, Martin Brodeur in March 2013, Mike Smith in October 2013 - but there hasn't been a single, glorious netminder tally in the six-plus years since.

On the surface, it doesn't add up. NHL teams send out an extra attacker more frequently than in previous eras. And the sixth skater typically hops over the boards earlier in the third period. Oftentimes, the trailing team is down by two or more goals, which gives the goalie on the leading team a prime opportunity to shoot their shot. Despite all of these factors, however, no five-on-six empty-netters have come to fruition.

Since I'm far from a goalie expert, I reached out to InGoal Magazine writer Paul Campbell for his take on the disconnect. He shared three rough theories.

"If I had to guess, I'd say that teams can’t obstruct like they used to, so goalies get far fewer chances to do it. Like a QB with a bad O-line," Campbell said, referring to the lack of quality shooting opportunities and lanes available to netminders in an NHL that disincentivizes forms of interference.

The modern goalie operates on his knees regularly throughout a game, "which is great for sealing the posts, but bad for playing the puck," Campbell noted.

"I also think we're seeing the aftermath of the trapezoid rule now," he added. "Goalies and goalie coaches have been prioritizing puck handling far less, so we have a generation of goalies that isn't so confident with it."

Hmm. Maybe 2020 won't be the year of the goalie goal after all.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.