The injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche will have two impact players back in the lineup when they resume play Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bo Byram and Valeri Nichushkin will return for Colorado's first game after the All-Star break, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Sunday, according to the Denver Gazette's Kyle Fredrickson.

There was even more good news for Colorado, as Bednar added that injured captain Gabriel Landeskog will be back "fairly soon," according to the Denver Post's Bennett Durando. Landeskog hasn't played at all in 2022-23 due to a knee injury. He underwent surgery in mid-October and was initially expected to return in 12 weeks.

Byram has been out for over three months, last suiting up for the club's 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 4. The 21-year-old defenseman missed the next 38 games with what the team called a lower-body injury. Byram practiced in a regular jersey Sunday.

The 2019 fourth overall pick collected two goals and three assists over 10 games before getting injured. He was instrumental in Colorado's Stanley Cup championship run last spring, notching nine points while averaging over 19 minutes of ice time across 20 playoff contests.

Nichushkin has been in and out of the lineup in 2022-23 after re-injuring the ankle he had surgically repaired in November. Thanks to the lengthy break, the 27-year-old winger only missed the last two games following his latest setback.

Despite sitting out for more than half of the Avalanche's schedule so far this season, he's been potent when healthy. Nichushkin has produced eight goals and 10 assists in the 20 contests he's played this campaign.

Colorado has won seven of its last 10 games and sits fourth in the Central Division at 27-18-3.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHLPA's next leader may come from outside the sports world.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is the leading candidate to succeed Donald Fehr as the executive director of the NHLPA, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan.

The union's executive board plans to meet later this week in Florida to address Walsh's potential appointment, adds Kaplan. If the board - which includes two players each from 26 teams and one each from the remaining six - moves forward with the search committee's recommendation, it'll be put to a full membership vote.

The NHLPA reportedly wants to have a new leader by the end of this regular season. Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis is also a finalist, according to Kaplan.

Walsh was the mayor of Boston from January 2014 until March 2021, when he stepped down to join President Joe Biden's cabinet following his confirmation. Walsh has a union background. The 55-year-old was the president of the Laborers' International Union of North America while serving in the Massachusetts state legislature before he was elected mayor.

Fehr is departing as the head of the NHLPA after 12 years.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Beauvillier is looking forward to having a clean slate now that he's been traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

"Honestly, I think (the) timing is perfect," Beauvillier told NHL.com's Kevin Woodley on Tuesday.

"Having a new coach and new (assistant) coaches, I feel like it can start a new page for everyone. Having the chance to start from scratch with everyone, it's exciting. I feel like everyone wants to play good for the new coaches and staff with the changes they made, so it's definitely exciting."

On Monday, the New York Islanders dealt the forward to the Canucks as part of the package that landed Bo Horvat. Beauvillier joined Vancouver along with 20-year-old center Aatu Raty and a conditional first-round pick in this year's draft.

Despite Beauviller's optimism about his change of scenery, he lamented having to leave Mathew Barzal. He met Barzal in 2012 and roomed with him at Canada's under-18 camp three years later before the Isles selected both in the first round of the 2015 draft, with Beauvillier going 28th overall.

"It's been a hell of a ride with him, and he's going to stay one of my best friends forever," Beauvillier said. "It's very emotional and sad to leave these guys, but at the same time, (you) don't want to beat yourself up too much because there's something exciting ahead."

Beauviller, who spent seven seasons with the Islanders, has yet to live up to the expectations placed on him as a first-rounder and former QMJHL star. The Quebec-born winger failed to carve out a consistent top-six role during his New York tenure, posting career highs of 21 goals (in 2017-18), 22 assists (last season), and 39 points (in 2019-20).

The 25-year-old's collected nine tallies and 11 helpers over 49 contests throughout this campaign while averaging his lowest ice time (15:47) since playing 14:39 per game in 2018-19. However, he should have an opportunity to nail down a top-six role with the retooling Canucks, who fired head coach Bruce Boudreau and replaced him with Rick Tocchet on Jan. 22.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull died at the age of 84, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Monday.

Hull is the Chicago Blackhawks' all-time leading goal scorer with 604 in 1,036 games. He also played 18 NHL contests with the Winnipeg Jets and nine more with the Hartford Whalers, in addition to suiting up for seven seasons with the Jets in the WHA.

The former winger, who earned the nickname "The Golden Jet," amassed 610 goals and 560 assists over 16 NHL campaigns, notching another 303 tallies and 335 helpers across 411 WHA contests.

Hull won the Hart Trophy twice, the Art Ross Trophy three times, and helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961. The Hall of Fame inducted him in 1983, and the NHL named him one of its 100 greatest players in 2017.

However, several off-ice transgressions overshadowed some of his on-ice achievements. In 1998, a Russian newspaper quoted him as saying Adolf Hitler had "some good ideas" but "just went a little bit too far." He denied making the comments.

In a 1986 incident, he was convicted of assaulting a police officer who intervened during a dispute between Hull and his then-wife, Deborah. He was also charged with battery, but that was dropped because she didn't want to testify against her husband. In 2002, Hull's second wife, Joanne, said he abused her.

The Blackhawks named Hull a team ambassador along with fellow franchise icon Stan Mikita in 2008, but the club removed Hull from the role in 2022.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Hartman is the latest Minnesota Wild skater to be assigned to the press box after he was scratched Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

"We talk about accountability," head coach Dean Evason said prior to the contest, per The Pioneer Press' Dane Mizutani. "He's going to be accountable for his actions."

Hartman acknowledged he deserved to miss a game.

Hartman enjoyed a breakout season in 2021-22, establishing career highs with 34 goals and 31 assists while suiting up for all 82 games. However, he's had trouble replicating that success in this campaign. The 28-year-old has been limited to 25 contests due to injury in 2022-23, but he's produced only five goals and nine assists in that span.

The American has indeed had trouble staying out of the sin bin lately, racking up 21 penalty minutes over his last three games. Hartman has collected only two points - both assists - in his last eight contests. His ice time has taken a hit in this campaign, as his average (14:25) is down nearly four minutes from last season's career-best mark of 18:11.

Hartman's success last season can be partially attributed to the fact that he played on a line with superstar Kirill Kaprizov, but he's barely gotten that opportunity - let alone a spot in Minnesota's top six - in 2022-23.

The gritty forward is in his fourth campaign with the Wild, who signed him as a free agent in July 2019.

Evason hasn't shied away from sitting uninjured players this season. Last week, he made defenseman Matt Dumba a healthy scratch against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Andrei Kuzmenko to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.5 million, the club announced Thursday.

The deal includes a 12-team no-trade clause, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Kuzmenko was a pending unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year contract with Vancouver this past July. He currently carries a $1.8-million AAV and a cap hit of $950,000, according to CapFriendly.

The Russian winger, who turns 27 on Feb. 4, has 21 goals and 22 assists in 47 games this season. He joined the Canucks after eight KHL campaigns.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry will miss at least the next two games.

Jarry won't be available for Thursday's road clash with the Washington Capitals or Saturday's home date with the San Jose Sharks due to an upper-body ailment, head coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday, according to team reporter Michelle Crechiolo.

The Penguins' All-Star break begins Sunday, and they won't play again until Feb. 7, when they host the Colorado Avalanche.

Jarry was a late scratch for Pittsburgh's 7-6 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Before that, he made consecutive starts after missing seven games because of an injury he sustained in the Winter Classic on Jan. 2.

The 27-year-old is 16-5-5 with a .921 save percentage - the latter of which would tie his career high if he sustains it - over 27 contests this season. Jarry ranks 10th in the NHL with 9.03 goals saved above average at five-on-five, and he sits 18th with 5.49 goals saved above expected in those situations, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Casey DeSmith and Dustin Tokarski will fill the void in the Penguins' crease.

Jarry has spent his entire career with the Penguins, who drafted him 44th overall in 2013.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones has ALS, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Tuesday.

"Bob and his family's wishes are to take the courageous step of making his condition public in an effort to drive ALS awareness as he fights this disease," the GM said in a statement.

Jones will continue coaching, and Dorion said the coach has the Senators' full support to take any time away he requires during the season.

"The thoughts and well-wishes of the entire National Hockey League family are with Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones and his family," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Tuesday. "We admire his courage in making his battle with ALS public, and we will support him and his family in this fight."

Jones is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Senators. He previously worked in the AHL and coached in the OHL for over 20 years.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease that gradually paralyzes the individual as the brain becomes unable to communicate with muscles in the body.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Gaudreau says he understands if Calgary Flames fans are upset about his departure ahead of his first game back in the city with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

"Sports is awesome," Gaudreau told NHL.com's Craig Merz on Friday. "It brings people together, and I got to play there for 10 years, nine years, and I had some great memories, and they're probably a little upset that I'm not there anymore. I get it."

Even though the skilled winger isn't expecting a warm welcome, he's looking forward to suiting up at the Saddledome again.

"They love their team, and that's why I loved playing there so much, and I loved being part of that organization for 12, 13 years," he said. "It's going to be fun going back."

Gaudreau's current teammates had some fun with him at Monday's morning skate, perhaps preparing him for what's to come in the evening.

Gaudreau stunned the hockey world when he signed with the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent in July. His departure wasn't necessarily shocking, as many expected him to land with either his hometown Philadelphia Flyers, the New Jersey Devils, or the New York Islanders. But Flames fans can be forgiven if they still feel a little bitter about Gaudreau's exit.

The American played eight seasons with the Flames after debuting with the club for a single contest in 2013-14. Gaudreau ranks fifth in assists and points, as well as ninth in goals in franchise history. Last season, the 29-year-old set career highs in goals (40), assists (75), and points to finish fourth in Hart Trophy voting for the second time.

Gaudreau said in December his intent during free agency wasn't to string the Flames along. A few weeks earlier, he mentioned he didn't regret his decision to join the Jackets, noting he wouldn't change it "for the world."

The Blue Jackets have disappointed this season, entering Monday sitting last in the NHL at 14-30-2. Gaudreau isn't producing at last season's elite clip, but he's posting nearly a point per game with 44 in 46 contests. The dynamic forward has scored 12 of his 13 goals in 2022-23 at even strength.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Norris' return was short-lived, as the Ottawa Senators forward will have shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season, the club announced Monday.

The same injury forced him out for 38 games earlier this campaign. Norris played three contests after re-entering the lineup last week, scoring the Senators' lone goal in a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

The 23-year-old tallied two markers and added an assist over eight games in 2022-23. He notched 35 goals and 20 helpers over 66 contests last season.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.