Vancouver Canucks games through April 6 have been postponed as two players and a member of the coaching staff remain in COVID-19 protocol, the league announced Thursday.
The Canucks have three games scheduled over that span. Forward Adam Gaudette and defenseman Travis Hamonic were on the NHL's latest COVID list.
More to come.
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Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson is suspended three games for elbowing Los Angeles Kings blue-liner Tobias Bjornfot on Wednesday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.
#ICYMI
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) April 1, 2021
Here was the #VegasBorn Chandler Stephenson elbow on #GoKingsGo Tobias Bjornfot
🎥 @NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/IfKtOn8yko
Stephenson was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit. Bjornfot left the contest and didn't return.
The league's Department of Player Safety faced some scrutiny earlier this week after slapping MVP-favorite Connor McDavid with a $5,000 fine for his elbow to the head of Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi. However, the NHL determined a key difference between the two plays.
"It is important to note that while we accept Stephenson's argument that he did not attempt to hit Bjornfot in the head, this is not a case where a blow to an opponent's torso or shoulder rides up and makes subsequent or glancing contact with his head. This is a direct and forceful elbow to an opponent's head, which caused an injury," the league said in its explanation.
Stephenson doesn't have any prior suspensions. The 26-year-old has contributed 20 points in 32 games this season while averaging over 17 minutes per contest.
Bjornfot, a first-round pick by the Kings in 2019, has registered four assists in 19 games this year.
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The Florida Panthers agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with defenseman Matt Kiersted, the team announced Thursday.
The North Dakota product was widely considered the top college free agent in this year's class.
"He's a very intelligent puck mover with some skill and runs North Dakota's power play," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "He's not that big or quick, but neither the size nor the quickness are so detrimental to limit him at higher levels due to the very high IQ. He should be able to defend OK versus pros while making great outlets and offensive plays.
"I could see him as a third-pair defenseman in the NHL."
Kiersted, 22, tallied 22 points in 29 games during his senior year with the Fighting Hawks. He finished as the runner-up to UND teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker for NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
"Matt is an exciting defenseman who plays the game with great speed and vision," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "His steady progression and development from an undrafted player to one of the NCAA's top defensemen is a display of his resiliency and motivation to succeed."
Kiersted is listed at 6-feet and 181 pounds and shoots left.
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The New Jersey Devils placed forward Nikita Gusev on waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The 28-year-old winger has tallied just a pair of goals and three helpers in 20 games this season. His underlying numbers haven't been strong, either.
Nikita Gusev, placed on waivers by NJ, has not worked out as expected. He ranks near the bottom of the league this season in WAR, in large part due to his horrible finishing and defensive play. Some offensive flahes but overall not... not good. #NJD pic.twitter.com/YBw2RSUft0
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 1, 2021
Gusev arrived in New Jersey with plenty of hype. The Devils surrendered second- and third-round picks for him in July 2019. He was originally a seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012 but never suited up for the team. He was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 as part of the expansion draft process before being dealt to the Devils.
The Russian winger had an excellent career in the KHL, recording 82 points in 62 games during his final season with SKA Saint Petersburg in 2018-19. He was also integral to the Olympic Athletes from Russia's gold medal at the PyeongChang Games, leading the tournament with 12 points in six contests.
Gusev was productive in 2019-20, registering 44 points in 66 games with the Devils, but was unable to replicate that success.
He's in the final year of his contract carrying a $4.5-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.
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The NHL fined Colorado Avalanche superstar center Nathan MacKinnon $5,000 for throwing a helmet at Arizona Coyotes forward Conor Garland, the league's Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.
MacKinnon and Garland were engaged in a scrum near the end of Wednesday's one-sided Avs blowout. When Garland's helmet came loose, MacKinnon underhanded it back at him.
The Nova Scotia native received a 10-minute misconduct on the play and was ejected from the contest, marking the first time MacKinnon's been fined or suspended in his career since Scouting The Refs started keeping track in 2014-15 - the 25-year-old's sophomore season.
MacKinnon was last season's Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recipient, awarded to the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The former first overall pick had 12 penalty minutes in 69 games last year but 14 on Wednesday night.
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The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.
Bernard-Docker will report directly to Ottawa following his required quarantine period.
The Senators selected the right-handed blue-liner 26th overall at the 2018 draft. He was their second of two first-rounders that year after taking Brady Tkachuk fourth overall.
"Jacob represents another key component of our future," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's very mature for his age and already possesses great gap and stick detail within his game. He's an exemplary leader and a winner who we're looking forward to seeing in our lineup."
The 20-year-old recently wrapped up a three-year NCAA career at the University of North Dakota. He tallied 18 points in 27 games during his final season with the Fighting Hawks and was named NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year on March 10.
Bernard-Docker helped Canada capture a gold medal at the 2020 world juniors, collecting one goal in seven games.
The Senators have used at least one first-rounder on a defenseman in three straight years. After taking Bernard-Docker in 2018, they chose Lassi Thomson 19th overall in 2019 and used the No. 5 pick in 2020 on Jake Sanderson.
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The North Division has been an intriguing one this season, and with the April 12 trade deadline fast approaching, it's time for some difficult decisions.
Each of the seven Canadian teams finds itself facing a unique set of circumstances. Some clubs are looking to add, others are looking to sell, and some appear to be caught in between.
Here's a look at one move each team north of the border should make ahead of the deadline.
Deadline cap space: $2.14M
Bennett's departure from the Flames has felt inevitable since his reported trade request earlier this season, and general manager Brad Treliving should deal the pending restricted free agent before the deadline to leverage Bennett's history of strong postseason play.
The 24-year-old forward has just four goals and seven points through 34 games this season, but he's assembled a strong body of work in the playoffs. Bennett led the Flames with eight points and five goals through 10 games in the bubble last season, and he has 11 goals and 19 points through 30 career playoff outings.
Calgary is clearly in need of some sort of shake-up. Any major changes to the core should wait until the offseason, but moving Bennett ahead of the deadline could net the Flames a future asset while giving him a fresh start.
Deadline cap space: None
Though it's been inconsistent, this group is probably the best the Oilers have assembled during the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era. Edmonton should look to add another talent up front, and hometown boy DeBrusk could be the perfect fit.
The Boston Bruins made DeBrusk a healthy scratch earlier this season, and he's struggled to find his form. Perhaps a change of scenery and a chance to play alongside Draisaitl or McDavid could revitalize the former 27-goal scorer.
DeBrusk, 24, is signed through 2021-22 at $3.67 million per season, so the Oilers would need to move out money to acquire the winger. Edmonton has a few impact players on expiring deals, but general manager Ken Holland would likely need to move draft picks or a prospect to sway Boston. Still, the Oilers finally appear ready to contend, and Holland shouldn't hesitate to get aggressive.
Deadline cap space: $448K
Marc Bergevin already made one move after claiming salary-cap constraints would likely keep him idle ahead of the deadline, and the Canadiens' savvy general manager could have another trick up his sleeve. Trading for Eric Staal was probably the largest splash Montreal will make, but it could still improve in a few areas.
Jake Evans hasn't quite found his stride in his first full NHL campaign, and the Canadiens could benefit by filling his spot in the lineup down the stretch. Sutter would come as a rental on an expiring deal, wouldn't have to quarantine upon arriving, and provides strengths in areas of need for the club.
The Canucks veteran ranks fifth among all centers in shorthanded ice time and would give Montreal's 21st-ranked penalty kill a reliable option. The Canadiens also struggle mightily at the faceoff dot, and the 32-year-old's 55.5% efficiency on draws would be beneficial in critical situations.
Deadline cap space: $37.83M
The Senators have started carving out an identity as the season has progressed, but general manager Pierre Dorion shouldn't overthink things at the deadline. Ottawa should continue to sell for future assets, and it has a few pending unrestricted free agents who are worth shopping.
Ryan Dzingel, one of the original "Pesky Sens" from the club's wild run in 2016-17, has revitalized himself in his second stint with Ottawa, scoring five goals in 11 games since rejoining the Senators at the start of March. He's not going to fetch a large haul, but Dorion would be wise to continue collecting assets when possible and ship the 29-year-old to a contender.
Braydon Coburn, 36, and Erik Gudbranson, 32, are both on expiring deals as well. They could be useful for playoff teams looking to shore up their defensive depth.
Deadline cap space: $1.1M
Why not? Players of Hall's ilk rarely become available for far less than they're worth, and the Maple Leafs should take advantage. The 29-year-old winger hasn't been anywhere close to his normal self this season; if surrounding him with star talents on a team positioned for a deep playoff push doesn't bring the best out of the former Hart Trophy winner, we're not sure what will.
Toronto would need to do some cap maneuvering to acquire Hall, but as we explored in March, it's absolutely possible. The Maple Leafs are already one of the NHL's top offensive teams, and adding a player like Hall would give them arguably the most lethal top-six forward group in the league:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Zach Hyman | Auston Matthews | Mitch Marner |
| Taylor Hall | John Tavares | WIlliam Nylander |
After years of opening-round failure, no team will face more pressure this postseason. Playing out of the North Division offers a unique opportunity for success, and Maple Leafs should go all-in.
Deadline cap space: None
The season has progressed far enough to conclude the Canucks overachieved in the bubble last season. As such, the club should focus on the future rather than the present. Vancouver sits sixth in the North Division and has a 7% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn. The club also has some significant housekeeping to do this summer.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning inked breakout netminder Thatcher Demko to a five-year pact reportedly worth $25 million on Wednesday, but franchise cornerstones Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are set to become restricted free agents and have earned healthy paydays of their own.
With Demko emerging as Vancouver's No. 1 goalie, the team is paying Braden Holtby $4.3 million to be a backup. The Canucks would likely need to retain some of his salary to make a deal work, but several teams are looking for insurance in net, and Holtby's championship pedigree could be valuable during a playoff run.
Perhaps a more realistic option would be a deal involving Jake Virtanen, whose name has surfaced in previous trade rumors. Moving the 24-year-old winger would clear $2.55 million off the books for next season while fetching Vancouver additional assets.
Deadline cap space: None
The Jets boast a lethal offense but have yet to fully replenish their blue line after losing several key rearguards during the 2019 offseason. The club is still one of the league's worst teams analytically and will likely need more than Connor Hellebuyck's brilliance in goal to make a Stanley Cup push.
Winnipeg has reportedly expressed interest in Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm, but with Nashville back in the playoff picture, it's hard to gauge the Swedish blue-liner's availability. The Predators are battling a slew of injuries that could mire their postseason push, so it's likely Ekholm could still be had for the right price.
Another somewhat under-the-radar option is Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson. The 6-foot-3, right-shooting rearguard would give the Jets a physical presence they've lacked on the right side since Dustin Byfuglien's departure, and his defensive metrics have been consistently strong.
Manson and Ekholm are both under contract through the 2021-22 season. Since neither is a rental, the Jets would need to move money out to bring one of them in. Perhaps Mathieu Perreault and his expiring $4.12-million cap hit could be a starting point.
(Salary-cap source: CapFriendly)
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