Canada's new prime minister practised with the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL team he continues to cheer on.

Mark Carney took the ice with the Oilers on Thursday ahead of the team's clash against the Winnipeg Jets, which rank second in the NHL.

Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minster on March 14. Since then, he spent the past week visiting leaders in France, the United Kingdom and Iqaluit before taking some shots on net on Thursday. The 60-year-old wore an Oilers jersey with his nameplate and the No. 24 on the back.

"Obviously nice to have him here," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said after practice. "He's an Oilers fan, lifelong Oilers fan, and Oilers fans are welcome here for sure, so definitely a unique thing."

Carney was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., but grew up in Edmonton while Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey led the team to Stanley Cup championships.

He even mentioned the Oilers in his speech after winning the Liberal party leadership race to replace outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau on March 9.

"Yes, we can argue about politics. We can argue about hockey. We can even be an Oilers fan in Ottawa," Carney said at the time. "This is a free country. But when it comes to Canada, we are all on the same side."

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch appreciated Carney's support.

"I assume not too many former prime ministers have been Oiler fans, so it's nice to have one that cheers for the good team," he told reporters.

Carney chatted with players and coaches and even helped out with drills – although his skates hinted at his usual position on the ice.

"Looks like he was a goalie with those goalie skates," McDavid said.

Indeed he was, putting on the pads as a third-string goaltender for Harvard University's varsity squad in the mid-1980s. He didn't start in net for a game, but he did play part of a 10-2 win for the Crimson against Colgate, stopping all the shots he faced, according to the Harvard Crimson. He was even roommates with former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, who captained the team during Carney's senior year.

Carney later became the backup goalie on the University of Oxford's men's hockey team. But despite his hockey experience, he wasn't a practice goalie for the Oilers on Thursday.

 "I'm not sure the security detail would like that very much," McDavid said.

Where Have All The NHL's 50-Goal Scorers Gone?Eighty years ago today, Maurice 'Rocket' Richard set the gold standard for goals in an NHL season. He became the first player in history to record a 50-goal season.

The Oilers host the Jets at 9 p.m. ET. As for Carney, he's expected to meet with Alberta premier Danielle Smith, according to the Canadian Press.

- Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report.

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Let's face it. The NHL proved with the 4 Nations Face-Off it can do so much better with a marquee mid-season event than the All-Star Game.

A Carrot Top marathon movie festival is more watchable than a traditional All-Star Weekend at this point.

Now, the draft, that's a different story. It's compelling, exciting and hopeful. And most people love watching the process, along with the real-time wheeling and dealing that transpires on the draft floor.

That's why it was such welcome news that the NHL is re-evaluating the traditional All-Star Game and is open to pivoting back to a traditional draft after the decentralized draft in Los Angeles this year if the clubs want.

There are lots of interesting events the NHL could hold in lieu of the traditional All-Star Weekend, where there's a skills competition and a 3-on-3 tournament that features some low-effort, meaningless hockey. Most of the potential alternatives revolve around international hockey – and one idea could include players from other leagues.

Today's video column shares that idea and more.

Screen Shots: Reacting To NHL Commissioner's Comments On All-Star Game, Draft And OvertimeNHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrapped up the league’s GM meetings Wednesday by updating reporters on upcoming events, collective bargaining agreement negotiations and other news.

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If you’ve watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season, you wouldn’t be faulted for believing that John Tortorella has had a miserable time coaching rookie Matvei Michkov.

That would be the wrong interpretation.

The hard-driving Tortorella has benched Michkov during games for defensive lapses and gotten into a heated shouting match with the 20-year-old on the bench. He even made Michkov, the Flyers’ most creative player, a healthy scratch for two games earlier this season.

All of that is just part of the process, Tortorella said.

“There’s still a lot of teaching to be done,” he told the media on Monday. “I think it’s been a fantastic process. To get him over here a year earlier than we thought and to go through the process and start the process.”

The old-school coach said that has been beneficial because of “how much we’ve covered – and the way he has grown and his communication.”

Entering Thursday’s game in Washington against fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, Michkov has 20 goals, second among NHL rookies and one goal behind San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. The Flyers’ right winger is third among rookies with 47 points and has made himself a Calder Trophy candidate.

“One of the biggest things is just integrating him to the team and to the team process, and to be a good teammate over here,” Tortorella said. “All that stuff, it's been really good.”

Besides his flashy maneuvers, Michkov has shown feistiness and a willingness to stick up for teammates on the ice.

“I love coaching him,” Tortorella said. “The best compliment I can give him is that he’s a hockey player. I think he wants to learn. He’s got the right type of stubbornness to him. It’s been really good.”

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (53 points) and Celebrini (50) are the Calder front-runners, but Michkov could win the award with a strong finish over the season’s final four weeks. Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (2.62 goals-against average, .912 save percentage), a seventh-round steal from the 2019 draft, is also in the mix.

No Flyers player has ever been named the rookie of the year since the franchise started in 1967. Michkov was selected the NHL’s rookie of the month in October and February. During one stretch last month, he had eight points over a three-game stretch, the first Flyers rookie to accomplish the feat since Eric Lindros in 1992.

Flyers Vs. Penguins: Who Will Be Cup Contenders Sooner?Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins rivalry was arguably the best in the NHL, matching hated cross-state rivals who were usually among the league’s elite?

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Michkov said he is looking forward to facing the 39-year-old Ovechkin again on Thursday.

“It’s always a pleasure to go against a player like Alex,” Michkov said. “It’s been a big honor – and to especially be in the league when he’s so close to that amazing level (goal record). Everybody is waiting for it.”

As for the Calder Trophy, Michkov conceded he is aware of the rookie race, but downplayed the award.

“My main thing is to keep working,” he said, an answer that would undoubtedly make Tortorella smile.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

If you’ve watched the Philadelphia Flyers this season, you wouldn’t be faulted for believing that John Tortorella has had a miserable time coaching rookie Matvei Michkov.

That would be the wrong interpretation.

The hard-driving Tortorella has benched Michkov during games for defensive lapses and gotten into a heated shouting match with the 20-year-old on the bench. He even made Michkov, the Flyers’ most creative player, a healthy scratch for two games earlier this season.

All of that is just part of the process, Tortorella said.

“There’s still a lot of teaching to be done,” he told the media on Monday. “I think it’s been a fantastic process. To get him over here a year earlier than we thought and to go through the process and start the process.”

The old-school coach said that has been beneficial because of “how much we’ve covered – and the way he has grown and his communication.”

Entering Thursday’s game in Washington against fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, Michkov has 20 goals, second among NHL rookies and one goal behind San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. The Flyers’ right winger is third among rookies with 47 points and has made himself a Calder Trophy candidate.

“One of the biggest things is just integrating him to the team and to the team process, and to be a good teammate over here,” Tortorella said. “All that stuff, it's been really good.”

Besides his flashy maneuvers, Michkov has shown feistiness and a willingness to stick up for teammates on the ice.

“I love coaching him,” Tortorella said. “The best compliment I can give him is that he’s a hockey player. I think he wants to learn. He’s got the right type of stubbornness to him. It’s been really good.”

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (53 points) and Celebrini (50) are the Calder front-runners, but Michkov could win the award with a strong finish over the season’s final four weeks. Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (2.62 goals-against average, .912 save percentage), a seventh-round steal from the 2019 draft, is also in the mix.

No Flyers player has ever been named the rookie of the year since the franchise started in 1967. Michkov was selected the NHL’s rookie of the month in October and February. During one stretch last month, he had eight points over a three-game stretch, the first Flyers rookie to accomplish the feat since Eric Lindros in 1992.

Flyers Vs. Penguins: Who Will Be Cup Contenders Sooner?Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins rivalry was arguably the best in the NHL, matching hated cross-state rivals who were usually among the league’s elite?

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Michkov said he is looking forward to facing the 39-year-old Ovechkin again on Thursday.

“It’s always a pleasure to go against a player like Alex,” Michkov said. “It’s been a big honor – and to especially be in the league when he’s so close to that amazing level (goal record). Everybody is waiting for it.”

As for the Calder Trophy, Michkov conceded he is aware of the rookie race, but downplayed the award.

“My main thing is to keep working,” he said, an answer that would undoubtedly make Tortorella smile.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrapped up the league’s GM meetings Wednesday by updating reporters on upcoming events, collective bargaining agreement negotiations and other news. 

Regarding the CBA negotiations with the NHL Players Association, Bettman said he wants a quick, quiet and painless process, beginning with negotiations in early April. That's optimistic news in hopes of avoiding another painful lockout, which didn't happen during negotiations in 2020 but did happen three times before, most recently in 2012-13 and most notably in all of 2004-05. 

We’re reacting to other standout points in a new edition of Screen Shots, where we break down hockey news into smaller columns below. Let's get right to it.

The 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend is scheduled for February 2026 at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders. However, based on Bettman's question about whether it's still on, how the event will look seems to be up in the air.

“We’re re-evaluating how we want to do things because I think we've raised the bar about as high as you can for an All-Star Game in any sport, and so we want to make sure whatever we do is up to the standards that we've created,” Bettman said.

While it certainly feels at first glance like the NHL is shoehorning this event into their pre-Olympics schedule, the league is committing to it.

“I don’t want to start speculation. We promised the Islanders an event, and Islanders fans deserve events that we’ve promised, so we’re focused on what we need to do,” Bettman said. “I don’t want to be pinned down at this moment.”

The biggest issue is returning to an all-star format that now seems dated after the competitively dynamic 4 Nations Face-Off. The 4 Nations tournament raised the bar for what the league’s fans expect in terms of player effort, and an all-star format likely won’t please everyone in that regard.

The league and NHL Players Association must be extremely creative to put together an event that will capture the attention of consumers the way the 4 Nations Face-Off did. We’ll be watching closely to see what type of all-star-ish event they settle on as a spark for the pre-Olympics event.

Bettman said he doesn't like prolonging overtime during the regular season because of the ice conditions and the wear and tear on players. But there’s a trend the NHL can capitalize on by slightly extending the length.

There’s been a new high in the percentage of games decided in overtime before shootouts – from 68.5 percent in 2022-23 (a high at the time) to 69.9 percent last season and now to 74.2 percent this season. NHL GMs should want to keep the needle moving in that direction and get as many games settled in OT as possible.

From our perspective, extending overtime by another two minutes wouldn’t be catastrophic for players or the playing surface. Although the shootout must be in place to guarantee a winner in a relatively timely fashion during regular-season games, the more games that can be settled in some type of team format, the better. So we’re all for slightly extending OT. If there proves to be a problem with a seven-minute overtime, they can just switch it back later.

NHL Commissioner Won't Speculate On Putin And Trump's Discussion About A USA-Russia CompetitionNHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Wednesday that the league was caught off guard about the conversation that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump previously had regarding a hockey competition between American and Russian players. 

Finally, Bettman said will be trying out a decentralized draft in Los Angeles this summer, but they aren't committed to it for years to come. The teams were the ones who asked for this decentralized draft format, and if it doesn’t work out as hoped, there’s clearly a way for them to go back to a centralized format. 

That flexibility is a good thing, and the league deserves kudos for (a) being willing to try something new and (b) keeping a return to the long-held format in their back pocket. It’s all about options in many, if not most, things the NHL does. And experimenting to try to improve is something the league should always be doing.

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Welcome back to The Hockey News' NHL power rankings, where we rank all 32 teams based on their weekly performance.

“As of now, you guys are in a playoff spot.” 

The words said to Josh Anderson following their 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators drew huge cheers in Montreal, and it was very apt. As of now, the Canadiens are indeed in a playoff spot. 

The key phrase is “as of now” because things can change quickly in one week. A week ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets still felt destined to make the playoffs, the Florida Panthers had a five-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Kings were on the verge of moving ahead of the Edmonton Oilers.

This week, the Canadiens are in the wild-card spot, and the Jackets are now three points out, the Panthers are barely clinging onto the division lead, and the Oilers are on the verge of moving ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights. A lot can still change.

For the first time in seven (!) weeks, the Washington Capitals are back in the No. 1 spot. A win against the Detroit Red Wings and the Winnipeg Jets’ loss to the Vancouver Canucks gives the Caps the highest points percentage in the NHL. The great chase is on – not just for Alex Ovechkin and his quest to be the league’s all-time goal scorer, but for the Capitals to secure their fourth Presidents’ Trophy and first since 2016-17.

1. Washington Capitals (45-15-8, +72. Previous: 2)

It’s weird to say the NHL’s No. 1 team is getting disrespected, but going into the playoffs, are you more terrified of the Capitals, Lightning or Panthers? I think most would still pick the latter two. The Caps have rattled off seven wins in their last eight games with some thanks to an easy schedule. Saturday’s matchup against the Panthers will be a big litmus test.

2. Winnipeg Jets (47-18-4, +77. Previous: 1)

A loss to the Canucks and a Caps win drops the Jets to second in the standings based on points percentage even though they have two more wins than the Caps. The good news: barring some sort of dramatic drop-off, the Jets can lock up the division and conference titles – both will be firsts for the franchise.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (41-22-4, +39. Previous: 6)

The Hurricanes have rattled off seven wins in a row, including four since the trade deadline after moving Mikko Rantanen, and they’ve allowed on average of 1.29 (!) goals per game during their winning streak. It was not an easy schedule, either, with wins over the Jets and Lightning. The question is if they can continue this in the playoffs and if you can win with a goalie rotation.

4. Colorado Avalanche (41-24-3, +31. Previous: 5)

An overtime win over the Stars vaults the Avalanche ahead in the power rankings, even though they’re four points behind with one more game played. After a tough January, the Avs are first in points percentage (.767) since Feb. 1. The Avs will only face divisional opponents three times in their remaining 14 games, and none of them are against the Stars or Jets, which means we won’t get to see a final tune-up to gauge the matchups before the playoffs.

5. Dallas Stars (43-21-3, +52. Previous: 3)

The Stars went 1-2-1 during their road trip since winning seven of eight games. It’s important for the Stars to stay ahead of the Avs in the standings since neither team is particularly good on the road. The Stars play eight of their remaining 15 games at home while the Avs play six of their remaining 14 at home, and that could decide the final standings.

6. Florida Panthers (41-24-3, +37. Previous: 4)

The Panthers have dropped three of their last four, including two blown leads against the Bruins and Islanders. Scoring has suddenly become a problem, and their lead in the Atlantic is now very precarious with just a two-point lead on the Lightning and Leafs.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-23-5, +57. Previous: 7)

Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t getting enough attention for his brilliant campaign, and he’s a worthy challenger to Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina. The Lightning are not a good road team (15-15-3), which means winning the Atlantic or finishing at least second is most ideal. They are, however, 1-5-0 against the Panthers and Leafs this season, so it may be moot.

8. Edmonton Oilers (40-24-4, +26. Previous: 8)

Here’s the question no one dares to really ask about the Oilers: what if Calvin Pickard is their best option in net right now? The Oilers have allowed just three goals in three games, but two of them were with Pickard in net, and a key matchup looms on Thursday against the Jets.

9. Los Angeles Kings (36-21-9, +14. Previous: 9)

The Kings have been powered by Quinton Byfield, whose six-game goal streak was snapped in a 3-1 loss to the Wild. The Kings are one of the biggest Jekyll-and-Hyde teams in the league with only three (!) regulation losses at home but 18 on the road. Good thing only five of their remaining 11 games are on the road.

Five NHL Teams That Are Elite At Home But Shocking On The RoadHome-ice advantage is a real thing for a handful of NHL teams, especially when seeing how ugly their results are on the road.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (39-20-8, +38. Previous: 10)

They’re slumping at a bad time right now with four losses in their last five games and are in danger of losing the top spot in the Pacific. It’s the difference between facing the Wild in the wild-card spot of facing the Kings or Oilers in the first round.

11. Montreal Canadiens (33-27-7, -16. Previous: 15)

What a statement game Tuesday against the Sens, rallying with a five-goal third period. The Bell Centre was absolutely rocking, and we’ve missed a playoff atmosphere in that building for four seasons. It’s a pretty incredible turnaround for a team that went through five- and six-game losing streaks earlier this season, and they’re back in playoff position for the first time since Jan. 21.

12. Ottawa Senators (36-26-5, +5. Previous: 13)

The loss against the Canadiens definitely stung after blowing two one-goal leads, but the Senators are still firmly in control of their own destiny with a four-point lead on the Habs in the wild-card race. If the Maple Leafs win the division and we get Leafs-Sens and Panthers-Lightning in the first round, NHL TV ratings will blow through the roof.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-24-3, +17. Previous: 11)

It’s a bit like rock-paper-scissors. The Leafs lost to the Senators, and the Sens lost to the Habs. The Leafs are still the best team of the three, and they’re still in the fight for the division title, but they’ve also lost five of their last seven with only one regulation win. A 6-2 win against the Flames was a nice reprieve, and the schedule softens up with the Preds, Sharks and Ducks coming up. The Leafs need to take advantage.

14. New Jersey Devils (37-26-6, +28. Previous: 12)

Jake Allen has won three straight, and the Devils are slowing working their way into a rotation in net. It’s highly unlikely the Devils fall out of third spot in the Metro, but they might be the weakest team entering the playoffs right now. The Devils announced Dougie Hamilton likely will not be available for Round 1, further hurting their chances of going on a deep playoff run.

15. St. Louis Blues (34-28-7, +3. Previous: 19)

Since play resumed after 4 Nations, guess who has earned the most points? The Blues are 9-2-2 with the NHL’s best offense since Feb. 22 and tied with the Canucks at 75 points for the last wild-card spot. I joked previously about shades of 2019 if the Blues make the playoffs, but I don’t think the other teams are laughing anymore.

16. Minnesota Wild (38-25-5, -8. Previous: 16)

Scoring continues to be an issue. The Wild are 4-0-0 when they score at least three goals and 3-8-1 when they don’t since Feb. 1, and they rank 25th in points percentage during that span. Like the Devils, the Wild may be the weakest team heading into the playoffs due to the lack of momentum and injuries to key players.

17. Utah Hockey Club (30-27-11, -14. Previous: 21)

Rock-paper-scissors, part 2: the Flames lost to the Canucks, and the Canucks lost to Utah. This is the very mushy middle where rankings and standings can change dramatically over the course of a week. Utah needs to be much better defensively with a tough schedule coming up, facing the Lightning twice and the Panthers in their next five games.

How Blues And Utah Climbed Into NHL's Western Playoff Race – And How Canucks And Flames Let ThemAll season long, a handful of the NHL’s Eastern Conference clubs have been jockeying for playoff positions. By comparison, the West looked straightforward.

18. Vancouver Canucks (32-25-11, -14. Previous: 22)

It’s been more good than bad lately. A shootout win against the Flames gave them an extra point over a key rival and they secured emphatic wins against the hated Hawks and the West-leading Jets. The loss to Utah left a lot to be desired, but most importantly, their recent surge has a lot to do with Quinn Hughes returning to the lineup and Elias Pettersson’s resurgence. The center has eight points in his last seven games.

19. Calgary Flames (31-25-11, -24. Previous: 20)

The Flames’ playoff chances rests on Dustin Wolf’s shoulders. They’re arguably the league’s worst team on offense and will need to grind through all their games. They have not been able to win consecutive games since Feb. 23 to 25, and they’re averaging just 2.08 goals per game after the 4 Nations, second-worst in the league.

20. New York Rangers (33-30-6, -1. Previous: 17)

Speaking on behalf of everyone: what the heck was that? Playing the Flames, which just got shellacked the night before, the Rangers mustered just 13 shots on goal in a whimpering loss, ceding their wild-card spot to the surging Habs. It’s not outrageous to say that without Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers belong in the lottery.

21. Columbus Blue Jackets (31-28-8, -5. Previous: 14)

All of a sudden, the scoring has dried up and that’s really worrisome for a team that can only win when they score a lot of goals. They’ve lost six of their last seven, including three shutout losses. Even when they put in a valiant effort Monday with 46 shots against the Devils, they ended up getting goalied and lost 2-1. It feels like they’re losing steam, and quickly, too.

22. New York Islanders (31-28-8, -15. Previous: 24)

The Islanders have won two straight games via comebacks, putting them right back in the midst of a playoff race. It’s been an impressive stretch – albeit short – aided by some losses suffered by the Rangers, Wings and Jackets. Only Linus Ullmark has made more saves (226) than Ilya Sorokin (215) in March.

23. Detroit Red Wings (32-30-6, -20. Previous: 18)

They’re 2-8-0 in their last 10 after looking like they were going to lock up a playoff spot just two weeks ago. The Red Wings are incredibly streaky, and their hope is to string together a bunch of wins, but their schedule to finish the season is super tough. Their final eight games are against opponents currently in playoff position, with the Habs being the only team who isn’t a top-three seed in their division.

24. Seattle Kraken (30-34-5, -14. Previous: 28)

The Kraken have secured at least a point in five of their last six games, and mathematically they’re still in the playoff race, but this is the unofficial playoff cut-off line. The Kraken will need to run the table and hope all the other teams fall off in the race to make the post-season.

25. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-32-10, -50. Previous: 29)

Who would’ve thought Tristan Jarry would do this? He still stopped 34 of 37 shots (.919 SP) he faced when his four-game winning streak was snapped, and he continues to be excellent despite the loss. It’s too little, too late for the Pens, but this late-season surge does provide a glimmer of hope for next season.

26. Anaheim Ducks (29-31-8, -33. Previous: 25)

There were high hopes for the Ducks, but it’s hard to make the playoffs when you lose two games for every win – at least they’ve been pretty consistent that way. They’ve allowed seven goals twice in their last five games, and they just don’t have enough high-end, consistent scoring talent to overcome that.

27. Buffalo Sabres (27-33-6, -23. Previous: 30)

They were close calls in extra time, but wins are wins, and the Sabres have earned three of them in their last four games. Their playoff chances were shot following their six-game losing streak, but this (again) provides a glimmer of hope for their future. They’ve still got a really young, talented core. OK, I’m just trying to find the silver lining, OK?

28. Boston Bruins (30-30-9, -35. Previous: 23)

It’s a big drop for the Bruins, but since Feb. 1 only four teams have been worse than the Bruins in points percentage and three of them are ranked below. They have trouble scoring goals, don’t defend very well and are not getting enough quality goaltending.

29. Nashville Predators (25-34-8, -46. Previous: 27)

The Predators scored 17 goals during a four-game stretch – all wins – and then scored just two goals during the next three-game stretch – all losses. Their recipe to success is obviously scoring, but their problem is they can’t score consistently.

30. Philadelphia Flyers (28-33-8, -42. Previous: 26)

Aside from their goaltending, just about everything for the Flyers has come crashing down. They’ve managed to score at least two goals just twice in March, and they’re 1-1-0 in those games with no regulation win. The Flyers’ rebuild is not a linear path, but this season was definitely a step back.

Flyers Vs. Penguins: Who Will Be Cup Contenders Sooner?Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins rivalry was arguably the best in the NHL, matching hated cross-state rivals who were usually among the league’s elite?

31. San Jose Sharks (18-41-9, -77. Previous: 32)

The Sharks are losing a lot of games, there’s no mistake about that, but at least they don’t look miserable all the time. They’re one win away from tying last season’s total with 14 more gams to play. Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini look like the dynamic duo the Sharks can build around for the next decade.

32. Chicago Blackhawks (20-39-9, -59. Previous: 31)

The Hawks lost 4-2 to the Sharks in the toilet bowl last Thursday, and a five-game losing streak pits them dead last in this week’s rankings. They had zero response to the Canucks in a blowout loss when Connor Bedard was mugged, and then blew a 2-0 lead to the Kraken in their following game.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Wednesday that the league was caught off guard about the conversation that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump previously had regarding a hockey competition between American and Russian players. 

“We learned about it from the media reports,” Bettman said at the annual NHL GM meetings in West Palm Beach, Fla. “I’m not going to speculate or anything else. It is what it is.”

According to a summary released by the Kremlin on Tuesday, United States president Trump reportedly lent support to Russian president Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the U.S. and Russia featuring NHL and KHL players. The conversation between the two leaders occurred during a phone call about Russia’s war in Ukraine, though the White House’s statement did not mention hockey.

The NHL also released a statement on Tuesday, saying it became aware of the conversation between Trump and Putin after the fact.

“Obviously, we were not a party to those discussions, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time,” the league’s statement said.

Bettman referred to that statement at a press conference recapping three days of NHL GM meetings in Florida, where he talked about the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off and the upcoming international calendar. NHL players are expected to attend the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy, after not participating in the 2018 and 2022 Olympics. National hockey federations had to use players from outside the NHL during the last two Winter Games.

Whether Russia will have a team in Milan remains to be seen. 

The IIHF suspended Russia and Belarus from international competition since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. That suspension remains in place through at least the end of the 2025-26 season. But the International Olympic Committee decides on Russian participation in the Olympics.

When the NHL and NHLPA announced in February the 2028 World Cup of Hockey tournament – which will be run separately from the IIHF – both parties noted they will monitor world events before deciding on whether Russian players will participate or not.

“I'd love to see our Russian players playing in these tournaments again,” NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said in February. “They're incredible hockey players. The issues are political. Not political as far as the NHLPA – it's world politics we have to get through. I'm hoping that as we get closer to the Olympics, closer to the World Cup, we will start seeing Russian athletes back in the competition.”

“The international federation just voted to keep Russia out of many competitions, as have many other sports, and we're going to have to see what the International Olympic committee does,” Bettman also said in February before the 4 Nations Face-Off, which didn’t include Russian players. “But we have enough time to deal with the realities with what the world situation looks like before then.”

The KHL left the jurisdiction of the Russian Hockey Federation and became a non-member organization of the IIHF before the 2024-25 season. In May of 2024, the IIHF also fined the Russian Hockey Federation $1.1 million for violating the IIHF International Transfer Regulations when signing Philadelphia Flyers Ivan Fedotov to a contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.

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Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is among this season's notable pending NHL UFAs.

The 28-year-old is in the final season of a four-year contract with the Panthers worth an average annual value of $4.43 million. 

Throughout that deal, Bennett emerged among the NHL's best two-way centers. A feisty performer, his 45 points this season mark the fourth straight year that he exceeded the 40-point plateau. He also played a key role in the Panthers' march to the Stanley Cup last season.

Bennett's UFA eligibility this summer made his future in Florida the subject of speculation leading up to the recent trade deadline. However, the Panthers retained him as they prepared to defend their championship. 

Sportsnet's Luke Fox included Bennett on his list of this summer's top UFAs. He indicated Panthers GM Bill Zito has been working hard to get him signed to an extension. Fox's colleague, Elliotte Friedman, reported last Saturday that contract talks have reopened between the two sides. 

Fox believes it'll come down to whether Bennett prefers life in South Florida or pursuing top dollar elsewhere.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols wondered about the future of young defensemen Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey after the Devils signed Johnathan Kovacevic to a five-year contract extension on March 7. 

Nichols observed the Devils already have Brett Pesce under contract for five more seasons and Dougie Hamilton for three more, leaving little room on the right side of their blueline. He speculated Nemec or Casey could be dangled as trade bait this summer to add an impact scorer. 

Nemec surfaced in the rumor mill earlier this season when it was reported he wanted a fresh start elsewhere. He quickly denied the report, but Nichols pointed out that was before his path to become a blueline regular became less certain. 

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The Dallas Stars could be without Miro Heiskanen for the first round of the playoffs, coach Pete DeBoer told reporters on Tuesday.

Heiskanen has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28 with a left knee injury. He suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights, getting the worst of an awkward collision with Mark Stone.

One week later, Heiskanen underwent surgery and was set to miss about three to four months. That would bring him to late April or May. The playoffs begin on April 19.

However, DeBoer said it’s “a realistic possibility” the Stars will have to play a playoff series without their No. 1 defenseman. He added that he hasn’t been on the ice but is progressing off the ice and in the gym.

Stars Defenseman Still Has to Clear Several Hurdles Before ReturnWith the playoffs starting next month, Dallas Stars fans are chomping at the bit to find out when both Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen can return to the lineup. Heiskanen has not played since January 28th after taking a hit from a falling Mark Stone. 

Heiskanen could be a huge loss for Dallas going into the playoffs, considering his role and play this season.

“We’re going to get Colorado, Winnipeg, somebody really good in the first round,” DeBoer said ahead of Dallas’ clash with the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday evening. “On paper, we’re going to have similar lineups to whoever we’re playing.”

As of Tuesday, the Stars are set to host the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs if the standings stay the same. Dallas’ defense, minus Heiskanen, will have to handle the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Cale Makar and more.

In 50 games this season, Heiskanen scored five goals and 25 points. The 25-year-old was on a five-game point streak before his injury. 

In addition to his offensive abilities, the reliable Heiskanen plays well over 20 minutes per game. This season, he’s averaged 25:10 and has never averaged less than 23 minutes per game in his seven-year career.

Since the injury to Heisakanen, the Stars haven’t dropped from their second-place position in the Central Division. But they had the third-fewest goals against per game in the NHL, with 2.46. Since then, they rank 17th in that statistic at 3.13 goals against. They’ve outscored any defensive issue with 4.13 goals-for per game since Jan. 29, which leads the league.

The Avalanche closed in on Dallas in the standings and only sit two points behind them. The Stars have two games in hand.

Dallas lost its last two games to the Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets. Later in the month, the Stars will face the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, three more teams in a Western Conference playoff spot or in the race.

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All season long, a handful of the NHL’s Eastern Conference clubs have been jockeying for playoff positions. By comparison, the West looked straightforward.

That has changed since play resumed after February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Now, four Western teams are jockeying for one wild-card spot — and the Minnesota Wild may not be safe, either.

The streaks and slumps that are happening today could flip in an instant tomorrow, then flip again a week or two from now. It’s going to be a wild ride.

With exactly one month to go in the regular season, here’s the lay of the land in the Western wild-card race as of Tuesday, March 18.

Wild Card 1: Minnesota Wild – 68 GP, 81 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: third in Central Division, 70 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 5-6-1 (11 pts)

How They’ve Fared:With Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek on the shelf, the Wild’s offense has dried up. They’re last in the NHL in goals-for per game since the 4 Nations, averaging just 1.92.

The Road Ahead: The Wild got some much-needed breathing room with their first regulation win in nearly two weeks on Monday, but they’ve played more games than most of their rivals. Final-week clashes with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames could prove to be crucial.

Notable Quote: “You look at other teams bulk up, and it just kind of gives you a little bit of jealousy. We know next year is next year and that we’ll have that off our plate finally, but it just feels a little bit frustrating when you always want to be in that position to succeed.” - Marcus Foligno, on the Wild’s salary-cap challenges preventing trade deadline additions.

Wild Card 2: Vancouver Canucks – 67 GP, 73 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: WC2, 63 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 5-7-0 (10 pts)

How They’ve Fared:Quinn Hughes is back, and center Elias Pettersson has started to find his game. The Canucks have served up some inspiring moments, but they’ve been mixed in with disappointments as Vancouver has failed to pull away from the chase pack.

The Road Ahead: After they finish their homestand against the league-best Winnipeg Jets, the Canucks start a tough six-game Eastern road trip with a crucial game in St. Louis on Thursday.

Notable Quote: “We could have separated ourselves today, and everyone knew how big that would be. Now, we’re still in the same position we’ve been in, which is do-or-die pretty much every day. It’s exciting. It’s a nice opportunity for us to see what type of group we are.” Quinn Hughes, after Vancouver’s 3-1 loss to Utah on Sunday.

Canucks Have One Of The Most Difficult Schedules To End The 2024-25 SeasonThe Vancouver Canucks are down to their final 15 regular season games for 2024-25 and will need every point they can get in order to qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vancouver will not be getting any breaks down the stretch, as they have one of the toughest schedules over the next month. This includes multiple matchups against the Winnipeg Jets and a six-game road trip that will take them to the East Coast. 

Out of Playoffs: St. Louis Blues – 68 GP, 73 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 55 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 8-2-2 (18 pts)

How They’ve Fared:The Blues rode a hot streak all the way to a Stanley Cup in 2019, and they are showing the same mojo now. Jordan Binnington has ridden Canada’s 4 Nations win to a 6-2-0 record, and the Blues are now scoring by committee in a big way. The power play is clicking at over 30 percent, and seven players have picked up 10 points or more in the last 12 games.

The Road Ahead: The Blues and Wild have played the most games of the contenders, but St. Louis has a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way. It could come down to the season finale against Utah on April 15.

Notable Quote: “We’ve sent the message that we love each other, and we want to find a way in this locker room and build for right now and the future.” Jordan Binnington, as rumors of a fire sale swirled before the trade deadline.

Bolduc's Patience, Willingness To Put In Small Details Starting To Pay Off For BluesMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Zack Bolduc understood this would be a process, and it would not come overnight.

Out of Playoffs: Calgary Flames – 66 GP, 71 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 60 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 4-4-3 (11 pts)

How They’ve Fared: Since upsetting Washington on Feb. 25, the Flames have gone 2-4-3, losing ground in the overall race rather than making it up. An injury to Mikael Backlund has left them thin at center, and Monday’s blowout loss in Toronto might have been the ugliest of the bunch.

The Road Ahead: The Flames have played fewer games than any team on this list. But they’re two games below .500 on the road this year and will play nine of their last 16 away from home.

Notable Quote: “It’s the biggest game of the year. It’s a must-win for us. I need more from everybody, including myself. We’ve got to get out of this, and we’re right back in a playoff spot if we win tomorrow night.” MacKenzie Weegar, looking toward Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

Out of Playoffs: Utah Hockey Club – 67 GP, 71 pts

Position at 4 Nations break: out of playoffs, 57 pts

Record since 4 Nations: 6-3-2 (14 pts)

How They’ve Fared:Utah has been an analytics darling all season and started stringing together standings points after John Marino and Sean Durzi rejoined the blueline following months-long injuries. Clayton Keller has also had one of the hottest sticks in the league, with 15 points in 11 games.

The Road Ahead: Is Ian Cole the Utahn’s secret weapon? The well-travelled veteran defenseman has made the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, despite playing for seven different teams. He helped the Canucks bump their three-year drought last year. 

Notable Quote: “We're not going to make the playoffs by looking at the standings. We're going to make the playoffs by putting together good games, finding points and winning down the stretch.” Alexander Kerfoot on Sunday.

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