London Knights forward Matthew Tkachuk is turning heads in his first OHL season.
With an assist in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers, the 18-year-old became just the third player in OHL history to hit the 100-point mark in his rookie season.
He joins Erie Otters forward Alex DeBrincat, who achieved the feat last season, and Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov, who did so with the Sarnia Sting during the 2011-12 season.
Tkachuk is indeed the son of former player Keith Tkachuk and should have bragging rights over his old man come June: Matthew's expected to be selected before pick No. 19, the pick the Winnipeg Jets used to select Keith in 1990.
DENVER - Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was suspended Thursday for three games by the NHL for a cross-check on an Anaheim defenceman.
Landeskog hit Simon Despres in the neck area with his stick midway through the third period of...
As the video explains, Landeskog raised his stick into Despres' head, knocking him to the ice.
In the league's eyes, the play was not a battle for the puck or an attempt to establish positioning, and was deemed to be a reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous cross-check.
Landeskog suspended 11/13/2015, counts as repeat if last 18 mths. Forfeited salary would be $89,861.74 had he not been a repeat offender.
Pominville's picked up a lower-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup against the Edmonton Oilers, the club announced, and end his consecutive games streak at 231, which is tied for the longest in club history.
NHL senior vice president Don Renzulli, the league's outdoor games czar, is quitting his post, according to TSN's Rick Westhead.
Renzulli's been with the league since 2007, and this year's Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens was the 16th outdoor game he's been the lead in organizing.
It's possible that Renzulli is leaving to go and work with former NHL COO John Collins, who left his job in November to head up On Location Experiences, a company "which markets unique fan access to events such as the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and the NFL draft," writes Westhead.
One of Westhead's two sources on the story called Renzulli "Mr. Outdoor Games," and said "his loss is definitely a blow to the NHL."
The league announced another set of outdoor games Wednesday, headlined by the Centennial Classic in Toronto on Jan. 1 and the Winter Classic on Jan. 2.
The Ottawa Senators have their eyes on a special outdoor game during the 2017-18 season.
To celebrate both the NHL's 100th anniversary and Canada's 150th birthday, the club wants to host the Montreal Canadiens in an outdoor game on Parliament Hill. And according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the league hasn't ruled out the venue, despite the fact a temporary stadium would need to be erected to accommodate the event.
The easier option would be to have the game played at TD Place Stadium, site of the 2017 Grey Cup. But Senators owner Eugene Melnyk's preference is the Hill because of its unique backdrop, Garrioch adds.
"That would be really cool," Ottawa defenceman Cody Ceci said Thursday. "Being from Ottawa, it would be really cool to play in and see what they do with Parliament Hill putting the stands up. It'd be a pain to put them up and take them down but it'd be awesome to be a part of."
An announcement is not expected until after the regular season as the NHL continues to explore the possibility from all angles.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NHL has suspended Edmonton Oilers defenceman three games for being the aggressor in a fight with Roman Polak of the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
The NHL announced the suspension Thursday.
Nurse took exception to a hit P...
Laich realized he was living out a childhood ambition when the 32-year-old from Saskatchewan stood on the blue line at the Air Canada Centre and heard "O Canada."
"I had obviously been in the building many times before but always as the opposition," Laich said earlier in the week. "This time playing for the home team, I mean, I used to watch 'Hockey Night In Canada' every Saturday like every kid in Canada. I wanted to play for the Leafs. I was a (Doug) Gilmour fan, a (Mats) Sundin fan. When we had the anthem and the Canadian flag was going down the one side in the crowd, the Maple Leafs flag was going down the other, and I was playing for the Leafs, people were rooting for me, that's when it really hit home. This was a dream come true. It really is. It's something very special.
"A lot of people might look at the situation that got me here and say, 'Oh, he's disappointed, he must be upset.' No, I look at it like a tremendous opportunity, I'm very fortunate to be here."
Laich understands the reality of his situation. His production's fallen off a cliff, and in order for Toronto to net a second-round draft pick and prospect Connor Carrick, it had to take Laich and his $4.5-million contract for the remainder of this season and next. But he's not looking at the trade - one he asked Capitals general manager Brian McLellan not to make - as the beginning of the end of his career. It's a reset.
"I'm trying to prove myself," Laich said, adding that he's taking it day by day in Toronto. He understands he's around to provide leadership and to mentor the William Nylanders, Nikita Soshnikovs, and Zach Hymans.
"My job first and foremost is to rebuild my career, play the way I can. Be an effective, everyday consistent player," Laich said. "And then when doing so, the other intangibles come naturally. I love teammates, I love the team atmosphere of hockey, I love the enthusiasm of young kids, I remember being there 10 years ago, being one myself. But all those things come after me first playing well. I have to play well in order to have my voice carry any weight in the locker room."
As for the Capitals, Laich said he hasn't "gone through the anger stage" regarding the trade, adding there's no guarantee the Capitals win the Stanley Cup, because nothing's guaranteed in sports, especially not in hockey.
"This is a new lease on my career here, a chance to rebuild my career. I had such a diminished role in Washington; it didn't look like there was a future there. Here I've got a chance to play and re-establish myself and further my career. That's something I'm really excited about."
Laich said he's watched the Capitals on TV since the trade, but doesn't know how easy it will be to root for Washington come the playoffs, even though he has a number of great friends on the team.
"I really wish my friends well, at the same time, it would be really hard to see. ... I really don't know how I'll feel if everything goes their way," Laich said.
