Joe Colborne was a polarizing figure during his time with the Calgary Flames, showing enough inconsistency to leave some unsure of his worth, but enough raw potential to convince some he was the club's greatest hidden gem.

So when Flames fans watched Colborne rattle off a hat trick in his first game wearing Colorado Avalanche colors, it seemed clear Calgary had let another one slip away.

But it looks like general manager Brad Treliving has nothing to worry about, as Colborne has fallen well short of replicating that opening-night performance.

After posting three tallies in game one and adding an assist three games later, Colborne hasn't registered a single point in the 32 games that have followed - a colossal cold streak that has spanned three months.

It isn't as if the big-bodied winger is lacking the tools to contribute. He may not be an All-Star, but Colborne has been a fairly serviceable offensive option in the past.

He potted a career-high 19 goals and 44 points in just 73 games for the Flames last season, seeing top-six minutes for much of the campaign. While it was clear he was on track for a slight regression - he posted a pretty unsustainable shooting percentage of 19 percent - Colborne had proven himself to have enough raw skill to become a decent secondary option at the NHL level.

Half a season later, it's unclear if that's still the case.

A downgrade in linemates seems to have sapped Colborne of his ability to put up numbers, as he's moved from playing with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik to spending time with the likes of John Mitchell and Cody McLeod.

That abrupt plot twist is terrible news for Colorado, as the club remains desperate for any type of offensive life. The Avalanche rank last in the league in goals per game, and - unsurprisingly - sit last in the standings as well.

Related: Avalanche's MacKinnon: 'We're pretty fragile'

Unfortunately for general manager Joe Sakic, Colborne isn't coming cheap either. The snake-bitten forward is owed $5 million over this season and the next.

For perspective, veteran Avalanche winger Rene Bourque is earning only $650,000 this season, and has nine goals to his name - tied with Gabriel Landeskog for third-most on the team.

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Life in the NHL is no peachy affair, even if you're a high-flying first overall pick in one of the game's biggest markets.

Toronto Maple Leafs centerman Auston Matthews seems well aware of that fact, as the 19-year-old recently discussed his foray into unfamiliar territory courtesy of his new league's 82-game schedule.

"It's a tough grind," Matthews told Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. "I played more games this season than I did last. It's hard on your body. You've got to recover and make sure you get enough sleep. It makes a big difference."

Matthews played 40 games in total last season, suiting up for 36 regular-season contests and four playoff games for the Swiss league's ZSC Lions. He's already topped that mark in the NHL this season, appearing in 47 games for the Leafs heading into the break - plus a few 3-on-3 All-Star tilts.

The 2016 No. 1 pick's production did tail off a tad recently as he headed into the extended schedule. He's posted five points over his past 10 games, a slight step back after tearing through his previous 20 games with 14 goals and 22 points.

There's little doubt the new franchise cornerstone will be able to adjust to the extra workload, as Matthews has already exceeded expectations in what has been an exceptional rookie year.

Resting up will be crucial, however, as the Leafs' play as of late has the club primed for a return to the postseason, meaning even more games tacked on to Matthews' new schedule.

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With over half the 2016-17 season in the books, Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau is establishing himself as one of the game's best when it comes to drawing opponents into taking penalties.

Watch a few minutes of the quick-footed forward working his offensive magic and it's no mystery why. The 23-year-old is one of the most gifted skaters in the league, able to weave in and out of the opposition, and stop on a dime to keep defenders spinning.

A combination that tends to draw a fair amount of hacks, whacks, and trips.

The third-year standout is fifth-best in the league in this regard this season, as he's drawing 1.95 minor penalties per 60 minutes of play. That's fairly impressive as is, but it's nothing compared to what Gaudreau is doing on the other side of the penalties column.

Unlike teammate Matthew Tkachuk - who is drawing the most minor penalties per 60 minutes, but is also the owner of the second-most penalty minutes among all NHL skaters - Gaudreau is drawing the opposition into trips to the box without spending any time there himself.

As in, literally any time. At all.

Gaudreau is one of only three players in the league to have appeared in more than a handful of games this season without taking a single penalty - alongside Edmonton's Oscar Klefbom and Washington's John Carlson. The Flames star has lasted 42 games without a single scolding from the officials.

Combined with his apparently elite knack for sparking power plays for his own club, it's fair to say Gaudreau has been a game-changer for the Flames' special teams units in 2016-17.

And the team-wide numbers back up that assertion as well. With Gaudreau and Tkachuk both drawing a slew of penalties each game, the Flames have been gifted the third-most power-play opportunities in the league (172), which has helped them score the fifth-most power-play tallies despite only ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of actual man-advantage effectiveness.

Given how much Calgary has struggled with special-teams play in the past, having Gaudreau tilting his penalty game entirely in the opponents' direction is quickly becoming a key advantage.

The Flames still have their issues with winding up shorthanded too often, especially with Tkachuk nearing the penalty-minute century mark in just his first year in the big leagues. But at the very least it seems the club's brightest star is doing his part to balance things out, leading the way with a clean sheet.

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There's no doubt the 2017 NHL All-Star final had a different cast of game-changing characters than most expected, with Wayne Simmonds skating away as MVP while Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin went pointless in the championship game. But no All-Star benefited more from the festivities than Vancouver Canucks pivot Bo Horvat.

The 21-year-old centerman arrived in Los Angeles as the least-hyped of the All-Star bunch by a mile. Amid crowds of future Hall of Famers, veteran scorers, and well-known young guns, it was pretty much Horvat and Frans Nielsen standing alone as question marks.

And the latter forward at least enjoyed a bit of heat for suiting up alongside former New York Islanders teammate Kyle Okposo, leaving Isles fans wallowing in disappointment about their lost talent.

However, instead of fading into the background and simply enjoying the bright lights of the All-Star weekend, Horvat lit it up for the Pacific Division crew, putting his name on the map in the process.

Related: Watch: Horvat scores slick goal for the Pacific

Horvat racked up two assists during the early goings of his squad's semifinal win over the Central Division, before impressing with a beautiful chip over Devan Dubnyk's shoulder late in the second period.

He scored the last of the Pacific's three goals in the final match as well, carrying the puck up ice with speed and working a tight cycle with Johnny Gaudreau before beating Sergei Bobrovsky, giving his team a 3-2 lead.

The impressive showcase won't land Horvat a slew of ritzy endorsement deals, but it undoubtedly gave the average hockey fan a reason to watch for the quickly-rising Canucks star.

That's fantastic news for Vancouver, because if there's one thing the team's been lacking, it's elite young star power.

Few expected Horvat to cause too much of a ruckus this season, but the 2013 ninth overall pick has upped his game and proven he can be a key piece for the franchise moving forward.

Through 50 appearances in 2016-17, he's put up a team-leading 14 goals and sits tied with captain Henrik Sedin for the team scoring lead with 32 points.

If his performance this weekend is any indication, that's only the tip of the iceberg for Horvat, as the former OHL standout made it clear he has enough skill to skate with the big boys.

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The race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot is as close as it's ever been, and the Toronto Maple Leafs remain right in the mix heading into the All-Star break, sitting just one point out of a wild-card slot with a few games in hand.

But Toronto could be cruising near the top of the Atlantic Division if they could just figure out how to seal the deal in the shootout. The Leafs currently boast the most shootout losses in the league, having lost six of the seven times their games have progressed past overtime.

Points are at a premium in the East right now, with only a handful separating the wild-card clubs from the four teams tied for last place. With that being the case, those added points the Leafs left on the table could prove to be significant.

Of course, lasting past regulation time did give Toronto one point in each of those six shootout losses. Though, had they managed to come up with victories, the club would be sitting with 61 points right now - good for second in the division behind the Montreal Canadiens, and well above the wild-card chaos.

The poor shootout record is especially curious given the talent level among the team's newest crop of players. Young guns Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander have all showcased their exceptional hands on numerous occasions, but that highlight-reel skill hasn't yet translated to 1-on-1 action.

Marner's been the most proficient of the trio, tallying three times through seven attempts. Matthews sports a 1-for-6 shootout record, and no other Leaf has managed a shootout goal this season.

The Leafs' faithful likely aren't complaining, as the team's current position still represents a vast improvement over their 2015-16 performance. But as Toronto heads into the season's home stretch, finishing games through 65 minutes will be a key focus, as it's clear the shootout simply isn't their cup of tea.

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It's safe to say 2016-17 hasn't been kind to New York Islanders veteran Andrew Ladd. But last night the former Winnipeg Jet turned back the clock.

The 31-year-old, who signed a seven-year, $38.5-million deal with New York last summer, has been a major disappointment through the majority of his first season in Brooklyn, posting just 14 points through 43 games thus far.

But it seems the presence of new head coach Doug Weight is helping Ladd find his game. That was certainly the case last night, as Ladd dominated against the Montreal Canadiens, posting two goals - including a flat out snipe for the game-winner - to earn his second multi-point effort of the season.

The two-goal showing - which ended a six-game pointless streak for Ladd - came in the veteran's second appearance with Weight behind the bench. Ladd was sidelined with an upper-body injury for four games in mid-January, during which time Weight replaced Jack Capuano as head coach.

Ladd was quick to highlight Weight's leadership as a driving factor in his resurgence.

"I think he's brought some emotion and excitement each and every night," Ladd told NHL.com's Brian Compton. "He's a personal guy who can instill confidence in you and likes to be personable around the group, so I think that's a big part of it. I think he believes in this group. He's kind of known since the start of the year that we have what it takes in here to play good hockey and be one of the top teams."

The Islanders finished with a 3-1 win when all was said and done, earning their fourth win in five games since Weight's debut.

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After a supremely lackluster start to 2016-17, the Calgary Flames have managed to hang on and climb into a wild-card spot, due in no small part to the changing complexion of their blue line.

For the past three seasons, captain Mark Giordano has reigned as the club's most dangerous offensive defenseman. The veteran has finished among the team's top five scorers in each of the past three campaigns, posting more than 45 points each time.

The only defender to finish above him in that span was Dennis Wideman in 2014-15, doing so in 19 more games after Giordano was forced out of the lineup with a torn bicep in his 61st appearance.

In the past two campaigns, T.J. Brodie was right there with Giordano, topping 40 points in each season as the duo played a key role for a Flames club lacking in secondary scoring options.

Things have changed considerably this time around.

As the Flames head into the home stretch of the season, it's 23-year-old Dougie Hamilton that has been the unequivocal leader in terms of offense from the blue line.

The former Boston Bruin - who found himself embroiled in trade rumors early this season - has racked up seven goals and 32 points through 51 games.

Not only is that sum 10 points higher than Giordano's, and 15 points higher than Brodie's, it's also good for second among all Flames skaters - even a hair above leading duo Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.

Despite his stellar play, Hamilton is still seeing fewer minutes than his veteran counterparts. Giordano leads the blue-line corps with 23:57 minutes per game, while Brodie ranks second with 23:35.

Both have seen their points-per-game pace cut nearly in half compared to the past few seasons. Meanwhile, Hamilton - who's seeing 19:24 minutes per game - is scoring at a career-best pace, and is on track to finish with 51 points.

Things are certainly changing on the Flames' back end, as Hamilton is quickly becoming the player the club was hoping for when they acquired him prior to last season. Still young, it's only a matter of time before the smooth-skating defender moves up the club's blue line depth chart for good.

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When the New York Islanders cut head coach Jack Capuano loose, the club sat dead last in the Eastern Conference. Just five games later, the Isles have overtaken five Eastern teams and are one mediocre win streak away from a playoff spot.

That stark turnaround isn't simply the result of new bench boss Doug Weight's inspiring leadership - though the Islanders have gone 4-1 since he took over. It's just the reality of the situation for teams in the East this season, where the battle for the last few playoff spots is nowhere near finished.

Heading into the home stretch of 2016-17, the seven clubs at the bottom of the standings remain just three points apart, and all are within reach of a wild-card spot.

Four teams (the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings) are tied for last at 49 points. The next tier is only a mild step above, as the Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning all sit between 50-52 points.

After triumphantly closing the gap on the backs of their elite rookie stars, the Toronto Maple Leafs have temporarily dropped out of a postseason position. Yet they remain just one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card slot, and the Leafs have played three fewer games than Philly.

Needless to say, it's still anyone's year in the East.

Perhaps the only clubs sure to remain in their current spots are the Metropolitan Division leaders, where the Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Penguins have been rolling over the rest of the league all season. All three have cleared 65 points and don't look likely to fall too far before the year is through.

The Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens appear to be a sure thing as well, sitting with a seven-point lead over the second-place Ottawa Senators.

Past that, the rest of the conference is an all-out mess. This time last season, the bottom three teams in the East were already well behind the middle-of-the-pack clubs by a full 10 points or more, their playoff hopes all but dashed.

But the basement dwellers are hanging around this time, which should mean plenty of heated conference rivalry tilts once the All-Star break concludes.

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With veteran defenseman Andrei Markov still on the shelf and general manager Marc Bergevin looking to beef up his club's blue line, the Montreal Canadiens found a temporary solution Thursday in Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov.

Related: Canadiens add defensive depth in trade for Nesterov

The Canadiens acquired Nesterov in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick and defender Jonathan Racine. With the 23-year-old Nesterov likely to debut after the All-Star break, here are a few things for Montreal fans and interested observers to keep in mind:

1. He gets a thumbs-up from fancy stats

While Nesterov was fairly sheltered through the 35 games he played in Lightning colors this season - starting 66 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone - he did come out on top when it came to his possession metrics.

Nesterov led all Lightning defensemen in even-strength Corsi For rating, posting a strong mark of 54 percent this season. That percentage was also good for fifth-best among all Lightning skaters.

He hasn't been wholly consistent in this area, as he finished with 50 percent in 2015-16. However, Nesterov topped 54 percent in his 27-game go-round in the big leagues in 2014-15 as well.

2. He's as versatile as they come

The young rearguard manned both sides of the rink for the Lightning this season, splitting time with partners Braydon Coburn, Jason Garrison, and Anton Stralman. He even spent a fair chunk of time with Tampa Bay's blue-line leader, Victor Hedman.

Of course, the most obvious example of Nesterov's versatility is the fact that he's been used as a forward on a number of occasions. He first got the call to play on the front lines during his time in the KHL. But Lightning coach Jon Cooper has tried him out on the club's fourth line at times as well - and Nesterov hasn't disappointed.

"He can skate, he's physical, he engages, he's got a good stick," Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith in December. "He can do them both at forward and D. He's been kind of a utility guy."

3. He's a project, but he's cheap

For all his skill and potential, Nesterov comes with an extraordinarily reasonable contract, as he's owed only $725,000 this season. He's in the midst of a one-year deal signed with the Lightning after playing out his three-year entry-level pact.

He's a restricted free agent after this season, but since Nesterov hasn't exactly lit the league on fire throughout his 119 career games, it's fair to assume he'll be paid a pretty reasonable sum on his next deal as well.

That's excellent news for Montreal, as the club houses four defenders making over $4 million per season - with those annual salaries stretching as high as $7.9 million for Shea Weber.

Nesterov didn't cost the organization very much in terms of the trade itself either. Racine - who's the same age as Nesterov - has earned only one game in the big leagues, and the sixth-round pick won't set the club back much.

All in all, it's a strong move by Bergevin to bring in Nesterov as the perfect low-risk, high-reward option on the Canadiens' blue line.

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While the NHL is enjoying a golden age of high-flying rookies fighting tooth and nail to make their names, a few members of the old guard are nearing the end.

It's never easy to watch the heroes of past decades wind their careers down, but competing against the new wave of elite young talent on a nightly basis serves as a clear reminder that the NHL remains a young man's game.

With that in mind, here are a trio of veterans heading into the final chapter of their careers:

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

The monstrous captain of the Boston Bruins has established himself as a presence like none other over his nearly 20-year career. Such is the case when you hit the ice at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds.

Zdeno Chara has been a dominant force throughout his time in the NHL, finishing near or above 40 points on 11 different occasions while dishing out over 1,400 hits. Of course, he also snagged a Norris Trophy along the way (in 2009) and lifted the Stanley Cup (in 2011).

At age 39, it's clear Chara is on the final legs of an exceptional career on the blue line. Next season is the last on his current deal with the Bruins, and at age 40, 2017-18 could very well be his final go-round in the big leagues.

Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche

Few players to ever suit up in the NHL have embodied their role as flawlessly as Jarome Iginla, who's been the definition of "power forward" throughout his two decades on the ice.

The Colorado Avalanche winger and longtime Calgary Flames captain already ranks as one of the game's most gifted goal-scorers - his 617 career tallies sit 16th in the history books. With just nine more goals, he'll pass his current general manager Joe Sakic on that list, finishing his career in the top 15.

Set to enter unrestricted free agency at age 40, it's unclear whether Iginla is willing to hold on for another shot at the Cup. If a genuine contender comes calling, perhaps another season is in order. But either way, it seems the historic sniper's final game isn't too far off.

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

One of the finest playmakers of his generation, San Jose Sharks veteran Joe Thornton still seems to fly under the radar as one of the game's best, despite already ranking 24th among the NHL's all-time scorers.

Perhaps his most impressive performance - aside from his 96-assist, 125-point effort in 2005-06, which netted him the Hart and Art Ross trophies - was last season. At age 36, Thornton turned back the clock and finished fourth in league scoring and second in assists, converting at a point-per-game pace.

He clearly isn't ready to hang them up just yet, but considering he's playing out the final year of his deal in San Jose, the veteran has some tough decisions ahead of him as he navigates what will likely be the final contract negotiation of his career.

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