Welcome to the 11th edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. Editors Craig Hagerman, Matt Teague, and Josh Wegman compiled this list.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-11-4)

What's more incredible: The Lightning's 92 points in 59 games? Or Nikita Kucherov scoring 94 points in the same period?

The club remains the gold standard for the NHL this season. Meanwhile, Kucherov is on pace for 130 points, which would be the highest single-season total since the 1995-96 season. - Hagerman

Previously: 1st

2. New York Islanders (35-17-6) ▲

The Islanders are one of the biggest stories in the 2018-19 season.

The team is a defensive powerhouse, averaging a league-best 2.29 goals against per game. Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner also rank first and second in save percentage and goals-against average among goalies who have played at least 18 games. - Hagerman

Previously: 5th

3. San Jose Sharks (35-17-7) ▲

The Sharks have been nearly unstoppable since the All-Star break. The team has gone 6-1-0, averaging just shy of four goals per game during that run. That's happened while the team was without Erik Karlsson for nine games.

Five San Jose players have already eclipsed the 20-goal mark, the most of any team in the league. The Sharks are also on pace to finish the year with eight 50-plus-point players. - Hagerman

Previously: 4th

4. Boston Bruins (34-17-8) ▲

No David Pastrnak, no problem.

The Bruins looked like they were in for a world of hurt with their top goal-scorer sidelined for at least two weeks. However, the club has been perfect since Pastrnak went down, stringing together three straight wins and pushing Boston's current winning streak to five games. - Hagerman

Previously: 8th

5. Calgary Flames (35-16-7) ▼

After a shaky stretch, Calgary recovered on Saturday with a win over the always deadly Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Flames remain perched atop the Western Conference despite losing five of their last seven games. The team's first line has been consistent, registering 18 points in seven February contests. - Hagerman

Previously: 2nd

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (36-19-3)

Despite a lackluster effort during Auston Matthews' return to Arizona on Saturday, the Maple Leafs have still gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

The team's power play has come alive in recent weeks, with William Nylander and Nazem Kadri beginning to score regularly. - Hagerman

Previously: 6th

7. Winnipeg Jets (36-19-4) ▼

The Jets have struggled over the last three weeks, winning just three times in their last eight games.

Winnipeg's recent skid features two losses to the lowly Ottawa Senators and one to the slumping Colorado Avalanche.

On the bright side, the Jets' firepower is undeniable. Dustin Byfuglien is still finding his game after recently returning from a lower-body injury. And if Patrik Laine ever starts producing again, the team could run away with the Western Conference. - Hagerman

Previously: 3rd

8. St. Louis Blues (31-22-5) ▲

The Blues have turned around their season during the second half, and they're skyrocketing up the Western Conference standings.

Thanks to a 10-game winning streak, St. Louis now occupies third place in the Central Division. Rookie netminder Jordan Binnington has been a revelation, going 12-1-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage.

Vladimir Tarasenko rediscovering his scoring touch has also helped during the Blues' turnaround. - Hagerman

Previously: 20th

9. Carolina Hurricanes (31-22-6) ▲

The Hurricanes are surging.

The club has posted an 8-2-0 record over its last 10 games, and now Carolina sits just a point out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The addition of Nino Niederreiter, who has tallied 13 points in 13 games, has been a home run. Meanwhile, Sebastian Aho, Justin Williams, and Teuvo Teravainen are also averaging more than a point per game this month. - Hagerman

Previously: 15th

10. Philadelphia Flyers (28-24-7) ▲

The Flyers are soaring because of Carter Hart's stellar play.

The team has gone 8-1-1 in its last 10 games, and Hart is 9-1-0 with a .932 save percentage in his last 10.

Philadelphia is still six points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season. - Hagerman

Previously: 17th

11. Nashville Predators (34-22-5) ▼

The Predators have occupied the second seed in the Central Division since Jan. 10. The team has dropped four of its last five games, including the Blues earning a home-and-home sweep.

Nashville is one of the league's elite defensive teams, but the Predators could use some help up front ahead of the deadline. Their power play has converted just five times over its last 67 attempts. - Teague

Previously: 7th

12. Dallas Stars (29-24-5)

Tyler Seguin has significantly improved his play since team CEO Jim Lites' tirade before the new year, but he can't do it all himself.

The Stars' lack of offensive depth is glaring, especially after being shut out in two straight games. Dallas has received goals from just three forwards (Seguin, Brett Ritchie, and Alex Radulov) over its last five contests. - Teague

Previously: 12th

13. Montreal Canadiens (31-21-7) ▼

The Canadiens' consistent play this season has kept them level despite being in the middle of a four-game losing streak. Claude Julien's club has bought in, as the Habs rank fourth in hits per game and fifth in shots per contest, all while grinding down teams and burning the opposition with relentless speed.

The Canadiens also deploy a well-balanced attack, rostering nine players with 10-plus goals this season. - Teague

Previously: 11th

14. Washington Capitals (32-20-7) ▼

The defending champs aren't having a problem scoring goals this season, but Washington is struggling to keep the puck out of its own net. The Capitals are conceding 3.19 goals per game, the worst mark among teams currently occupying a playoff position. - Teague

Previously: 13th

15. Columbus Blue Jackets (33-21-3) ▲

With the futures of blue chippers Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky still unknown, the Blue Jackets have done a good job weathering the storm. After dropping five straight games in regulation, Columbus responded with five wins in seven games to start February.

The Blue Jackets still hold a playoff spot, though the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes are breathing down Columbus' neck. - Teague

Previously: 16th

16. Chicago Blackhawks (24-26-9) ▲

Patrick Kane's all-world play has resurrected a seemingly defeated Blackhawks team, propelling them from the bottom of the league into playoff contention.

With an 8-2 record over their past 10 games, the Blackhawks sit three points out of a wild-card berth in the Western Conference with nine games left against division opponents. - Teague

Previously: 25th

17. Vegas Golden Knights (32-24-4) ▼

The Golden Knights have been stuck for quite some time now, sitting third place in the Pacific Division with a large gap between teams above and below.

A rare home-ice slump has resulted in seven losses over the Knights' past 10 contests. After a drop in scoring this season, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Golden Knights attempt to bolster their offense before the deadline. - Teague

Previously: 11th

18. Pittsburgh Penguins (31-21-7) ▼

The Penguins are coasting through another regular season, but they shouldn't get too comfortable. Pittsburgh has recorded just four wins in nine February games, with the team sliding from the Metropolitan Division's second seed to a wild-card position. - Teague

Previously: 12th

19. Minnesota Wild (27-26-6) ▼

The Wild appear out of sorts. Bruce Boudreau's team has logged just one win in February, and Minnesota's four-game losing streak included a 4-0 shutout loss on home ice to the Blues.

The Wild's penalty kill is a concern, as it's operating at a dismal 66.7 percent this month. - Teague

Previously: 14th

20. Buffalo Sabres (28-23-7) ▲

It's been a trying season for the Sabres since November when they posted a league-best 11-3-1 record. A lack of consistency has led to Buffalo's downfall, as the team has failed to win consecutive games since Dec. 13.

Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and rookie Rasmus Dahlin are making promising strides, and newcomer Jeff Skinner has been sensational. But the Sabres may not have the depth and goaltending to make serious noise down the stretch. - Teague

Previously: 21st

21. New York Rangers (25-25-8) ▲

Mika Zibanejad is blossoming into a true No. 1 center and a building block for the Rangers moving forward. However, with plenty of names floating around the rumor mill, the supporting cast around him could be vastly different next season. - Wegman

Previously: 26th

22. Florida Panthers (24-24-8)

The Panthers' season hasn't gone as planned, as they sit well out of the playoff picture. Moving forward, it will be tough to address goaltending, the team's biggest weakness, with Roberto Luongo and James Reimer still under contract. - Wegman

Previously: 22nd

23. Arizona Coyotes (26-27-5) ▼

It's incredibly difficult to evaluate the 2018-19 Coyotes because they've been one of the most injured teams this season. Their resiliency is something to build on, though it's clear this team needs more offensive firepower before it can be taken seriously. - Wegman

Previously: 19th

24. Vancouver Canucks (26-27-7) ▼

Elias Pettersson already has the Calder Trophy locked up (sorry, Carter Hart). But if he carries the Canucks to the playoffs on his 176-pound frame, the rookie could receive a few Hart Trophy votes, too. - Wegman

Previously: 18th

25. Detroit Red Wings (23-29-8) ▲

The Red Wings have produced plenty of encouraging signs during a rebuilding year. But this team faces an uphill battle moving forward in the ultra-competitive - and youthful - Atlantic Division. - Wegman

Previously: 27th

26. Colorado Avalanche (23-24-11) ▼

The Avalanche's sub-.500 record is disappointing after last season's growth. But with Cale Makar's projected arrival next year, plenty of cap space to work with, and potentially the No. 1 overall pick, Colorado is positioned well for the future. - Wegman

Previously: 23rd

27. Los Angeles Kings (23-29-6) ▲

The Kings are dead last in the Western Conference, but amazingly only eight points back of a playoff spot. A postseason berth seems impossible, so it'll be interesting to see if L.A. moves any of its locked-up veterans before the deadline. - Wegman

Previously: 30th

28. New Jersey Devils (23-28-8) ▲

The Devils should shut down Taylor Hall for the remainder of the season. - Wegman

Previously: 29th

29. Ottawa Senators (22-31-5) ▲

This may be the highest the Senators rank here for the rest of the season if Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel are traded at the deadline. - Wegman

Previously: 31st

30. Edmonton Oilers (24-29-5) ▼

Andrej Sekera is back, but a 32-year-old defensemen who's played just 36 games over the past two years due to a torn Achilles and a torn ACL isn't going to save the Oilers' season. - Wegman

Previously: 24th

31. Anaheim Ducks (23-27-9) ▼

The Ducks have recorded two wins in three games with Bob Murray behind the bench - the same total they notched over Randy Carlyle's final 21 contests. - Wegman

Previously: 28th

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Ahead of the 2019 NHL trade deadline, we examine where each Eastern Conference team stands and what strategies they should employ heading into Feb. 25.

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

A first-round matchup against the Maple Leafs seems inevitable for the Bruins, and though they've had Toronto's number before, the Leafs are much deeper than in years past. Boston's top line scares every opponent but its bottom nine pales in comparison to Toronto's.

The Bruins need to be aggressive in pursuing one of the top available wingers such as Artemi Panarin or potentially Mark Stone. If general manager Don Sweeney strikes out on the big fish, he should acquire a cheaper rental such as Gustav Nyquist, Wayne Simmonds, or Mats Zuccarello. The Bruins need to add a top-six forward, especially with David Pastrnak sidelined.

Verdict: Buyer

Buffalo Sabres

November notwithstanding, the Sabres have failed to make the necessary strides to enter this season's playoff conversation and therefore shouldn't be looking to improve through rentals.

But Buffalo also shouldn't be looking to sell. Jeff Skinner is the team's only key pending unrestricted free agent and general manager Jason Botterill should do everything he can to sign the sniper to a long-term extension. Recent reports suggest the front office is trying. Unless there's a player available who can help Buffalo beyond this season, the club should wait until the offseason to address its many needs.

Verdict: Hold

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings already hold eight picks in the first five rounds of the 2019 draft and could add more before the trade deadline. Gustav Nyquist and goaltender Jimmy Howard are Detroit's two biggest pending unrestricted free agents and both could garner a nice return, especially if a market develops for Howard. Thomas Vanek, Niklas Kronwall, and Nick Jensen don't have the same appeal, but they could also generate some interest as soon-to-be free agents.

Detroit is clearly rebuilding and needs to acquire the best future assets possible in exchange for expiring contracts.

Verdict: Seller

Florida Panthers

Many expected the Panthers to be a playoff team this season, but they're well out of the postseason mix leading up to the deadline. Florida's core should stay intact through Feb. 25, but the roster features several pending unrestricted free agents including Jamie McGinn, Derick Brassard, and Riley Sheahan. Brassard and Sheahan only recently joined the Panthers following a trade from the Penguins. All three should be moved to acquire cap space and trade assets the team can use to improve this summer.

Verdict: Seller

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens are one of the NHL's most surprising teams this year. Preseason prognosticators pegged them as a potential lottery team; instead, they're primed for a playoff appearance.

Still, Montreal shouldn't be looking to deal from its revamped farm system in exchange for rentals. If there's a player with term available, it's worth exploring a trade. But going all-in during a season that should already be considered a success doesn't seem worth it, especially considering the Canadiens could meet Tampa Bay in the first round.

Verdict: Hold

Ottawa Senators

The Senators' plan to trade Matt Duchene while they attempt to sign Mark Stone is the right move. Stone is captain material and only 26 years old. Given that he's never relied on speed for success, he should age better than most on a potential eight-year deal.

If Stone and the Sens can't reach an agreement soon, however, the team needs to trade him as well. The same goes for the pending unrestricted free agent flying under the radar in Ottawa: Ryan Dzingel.

Trading Duchene, Stone, and Dzingel would mean even more short-term pain in the nation's capital, but the club can't afford to lose them for nothing come July 1.

Verdict: Seller

Tampa Bay Lightning

Is it even possible for the Lightning to make their team better? One wouldn't think so, given their 44-11-4 record. But the Bolts are in a prime position to acquire one of the top available rentals.

With Brayden Point poised to command a hefty cap hit this summer, the Lightning are going to be in cap trouble. Tampa Bay could alleviate this by including one of its long-term contracts, such as J.T. Miller's, in a trade for a game-breaking talent like Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, or Mark Stone.

This is clearly Tampa Bay's year, and acquiring an elite rental player while shedding a long-term contract in the process would kill two birds with one stone.

Verdict: Buyer

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs already gave up their 2019 first-rounder for Jake Muzzin and reportedly won't part with future firsts or their top two defense prospects for a rental.

Toronto could still stand to improve its blue line, specifically on the right side. But that would likely mean moving out Nikita Zaitsev's contract, which may be tough to do midseason. Adding a depth forward who can provide a physical presence may be the Leafs' most realistic way of improving before the deadline.

Verdict: Buyer

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes a complete wild card. One day they're reportedly selling, the next they're reportedly buying, and the third they're reportedly OK with the status quo.

The most common players in the rumor mill are Micheal Ferland (pending UFA), Dougie Hamilton (seemingly always available, no matter who he plays for), and Brett Pesce (of great interest to the Maple Leafs, potentially).

Even if Carolina doesn't sell big, Ferland appears the most likely trade candidate. The 26-year-old winger has 16 goals and 33 points in 50 games and seems destined to test the open market this coming summer, though nothing is set in stone.

It seems there are more questions than answers for Carolina in the lead-up to deadline day.

Verdict: ?

Columbus Blue Jackets

Like the Senators in the Atlantic, the Blue Jackets are ground zero for trade activity in the Metro.

With the futures of star forward Artemi Panarin and franchise goalie Sergei Bobrovsky dominating headlines all season, one might label Columbus a seller and call it a day. But the club could turn around and land another impact forward like Matt Duchene or a second-tier player like Marcus Johansson to soften the potential blow of losing one or both of its stars.

Reports suggest GM Jarmo Kekalainen is motivated to both sell and buy. Panarin and Bobrovsky are forcing his hand, but the Blue Jackets are a good hockey team and their fan base needs postseason success.

Verdict: Seller and Buyer

New Jersey Devils

General manager Ray Shero got the party started earlier this month, flipping Brian Boyle and his expiring contract to Nashville for a 2019 second-round pick.

Next up might be Marcus Johansson, the playmaking forward who's run into injury after injury since being acquired from the Washington Capitals in the summer of 2017. Blue-liner Ben Lovejoy and winger Drew Stafford are also worthy of consideration - albeit from a depth perspective. Both are rentals.

Don't be surprised if the Devils' eight draft selections in 2019 balloon to 10 or more by next week.

Verdict: Seller

New York Islanders

The John Tavares-less Islanders are slam-dunk buyers. Who woulda thunk it?

With nearly $10 million in cap space and the division lead, GM Lou Lamoriello has wiggle room galore as he looks to capitalize on the club's tremendous first season under head coach Barry Trotz.

New York could use an upgrade on its center depth behind Mathew Barzal. Perhaps Matt Duchene fits the bill? Or, if the Islanders truly believe in themselves, why not take a run at Artemi Panarin, who's counting the days to free agency and is reportedly drawn to metropolitan cities?

The Isles have their first-round pick for this year and beyond at their disposal. All eyes on Lou.

Verdict: Buyer

New York Rangers

It's been more than a year since the Rangers promised their fans a rebuild. Although there's been some movement - last deadline's Ryan McDonagh trade with Tampa is looking like a win-win for both clubs - assets like Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, and Vladislav Namestnikov remain on the roster.

Zuccarello and Hayes are both pending UFAs and should fetch decent returns, while Kreider and Namestnikov have less predictable futures given the extra year on each of their contracts. Three or four of these players could soon be packing their bags. Blue-liner Adam McQuaid is also on an expiring contract.

Verdict: Seller

Philadelphia Flyers

Barring the unforeseen, these are the final days of Wayne Simmonds' tenure with the Flyers. Several contenders - including the Jets, Lightning, Bruins, and Predators - are believed to be interested in the winger's services, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.

Chuck Fletcher's goalie-for-goalie trade (Cam Talbot in, Anthony Stolarz out) got the juices flowing. How deep does he cut ahead of his first deadline as Philadelphia's general manager?

The smart money's on Philly waiting until the offseason to assess the team's core, but you never know. The Flyers are volatile.

Verdict: Seller

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins already completed six in-season trades, reeling in the likes of Nick Bjugstad, Tanner Pearson, and Jared McCann up front, as well as Marcus Pettersson on the back end.

Pittsburgh is playing with fire, alternating between losing skids and winning streaks in 2019, but it's hard to envision GM Jim Rutherford sitting on his hands here. He just doesn't seem to be wired that way, especially since Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren't getting any younger.

In terms of player-specific scuttlebutt, Larry Brooks of the New York Post expects Pittsburgh to show interest in Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello.

Verdict: Buyer

Washington Capitals

The Capitals definitely aren't selling, unless you include their rumored desire to move on from Andre Burakovsky. They lack the cap space to chase a marquee name, but that doesn't mean general manager Brian MacLellan won't attempt to improve around the edges. He's supposedly ready and willing to upgrade his middle-six forward group.

If Washington happens to hold and not make a trade before the deadline, it wouldn't be a huge surprise. Consider them bargain-bin buyers.

Verdict: Buyer

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Marian Hossa is opening up about the skin condition that forced him to retire last May.

The former star forward recently went into detail about the physical challenges he endured in the final years of his career in an interview with The Athletic's Scott Powers in his native Slovakia.

"I wasn't really thinking about the end, it just (came) basically, the eczema kind of told me," Hossa told Powers. "My body told me there was no other way. That's when I had to start thinking, 'Well, it could be.' Because my skin (was) almost like breaking. (It was) leaking from the wounds. (I was) missing practices."

Hossa said he was diagnosed with eczema six years ago, triggered by the combination of his sweat and hockey equipment. It was initially manageable but intensified over time, as red blotches began forming on his body.

Eventually, his condition affected more than just hockey.

"That's the one thing, I was still in great shape, I felt good. But I came home, I was afraid to touch my kids because (my) skin was not in a good shape," Hossa explained. "I said 'I'm not supposed to be like this. I'm not supposed to eat pills to play hockey.' Those pills are not easy pills. Those are hard pills. Every second week I have to go to (the) hospital to check my blood. If those pills don't affect me, something else (does).

"I said at what point should I be doing this to keep going? I have a life. I have a young family. I don't want to risk it with another year with the pills on me. So I just came to the thing where I had to make a big decision and I have to be like, 'Body says you have to stop.'"

Hossa said he felt uncomfortable removing his gear in the dressing room after games and that his condition prevented him from going to dinner with his Team Europe teammates before the final at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

The 40-year-old won the Stanley Cup three times with the Chicago Blackhawks and played for five teams in his 19-season career, racking up 525 goals and 1,134 points in 1,309 games.

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The Winnipeg Jets appear to be turning to the Ottawa Senators for a Stanley Cup push.

The Jets are interested in Senators forwards Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Winnipeg will turn to Dzingel as a contingency plan if it fails to acquire Duchene or Stone, Garrioch added.

The trio are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. The Senators reportedly plan to trade Duchene but have re-engaged in extension talks with Stone.

The Jets have the cap space to afford Stone ($7.35M cap hit) or Duchene ($6M) for the remainder of the season but likely wouldn't have the room to sign either to an extension, as Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, and Jacob Trouba are all set to become restricted free agents at season's end.

Duchene would provide a similar ripple down the lineup that Paul Stastny did a year ago, likely pushing Bryan Little to the third line and Adam Lowry to the fourth, creating exceptional depth down the middle. The dynamic center is in the midst of a career year, racking up 27 goals and 56 points in 49 games.

Stone, a Winnipeg native, is one of the best two-way players in the league. He has 27 goals and 59 points in 58 games but also leads the NHL with 86 takeaways.

Dzingel often gets overlooked compared to Duchene and Stone, but with 22 goals and 43 points in 56 games, he's no slouch offensively.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Jordan Binnington made 31 saves and the St. Louis Blues posted their third straight shutout, beating the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Sunday for their 10th straight win.

Binnington made 21 saves to blank Arizona on Thursday, and Jake Allen stopped 32 shots in a 3-0 win against Colorado on Saturday. St. Louis hasn't allowed a goal in 187:16, since late in an 8-3 win over New Jersey on Tuesday.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists and Ryan O'Reilly, Vince Dunn and Brayden Schenn also scored to help St. Louis match the best winning streak in franchise history, completed in January 2002. The run also ties the Blues for the longest streak in the NHL this season. The Blues have won eight straight on the road, their best such run since taking 10 straight in 2000.

Alex Stalock stopped 26 shots for Minnesota in his first action since Feb. 2.

Binnington improved to 12-1-1 since making his first NHL start on Jan. 7 with four shutouts on the road.

A wide-open Tarasenko scored the first goal 5:08 into the first period. The power-play tally extended Tarasenko's career-high points streak to 12 games. He has 11 goals and 11 assists during the streak.

Tarasenko also had an assist on O'Reilly's goal later in the first that made it 2-0. The assist was Tarasenko's 400th point. He later picked up the assist on Schenn's second-period goal that put St. Louis up 4-0. Schenn fired the puck off Wild defenseman Nick Seeler, who slid into the net and took the puck with him.

St. Louis' power play was 3 for 30 in its previous 13 games heading into Sunday but converted twice in the first period. The Blues finished 2 for 6 with the man advantage.

Minnesota was 0 for 5 on the power play. The Wild are 1-5-3 in their last nine games.

Dunn scored his eighth goal of the year to give the Blues a 3-0 lead in the second. Dunn's one-timer on a 3-on-1 rush came just after St. Louis successfully killed off a penalty.

NOTES: Wild C Matt Hendricks (upper body) and C Victor Rask (lower body) both missed their second straight games with injuries. ... St. Louis has a plus-26 goal differential during its 10-game win streak. ... Tarasenko scored his 204th career goal, which ties him with Pavol Demitra for seventh in Blues history.

UP NEXT

Blues: Host Toronto on Tuesday night.

Wild: Host Anaheim on Tuesday night.

---

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

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Barring any last-minute changes, the Ottawa Senators will trade center Matt Duchene before the Feb. 25 deadline, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Sunday.

Mark Stone's future in Ottawa should also be determined early this week, well in advance of the trade deadline, Dreger added.

It was reported Saturday that the Senators made Duchene available, and recent developments suggest the 28-year-old's departure from Ottawa is imminent.

There will likely be several teams lining up to offer the Senators a package for Duchene. TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes that "Columbus and Nashville are among the many teams which have checked in with the Senators on him," though nothing has been confirmed.

The speedy sniper has registered 27 goals and 56 points this season, and he's second in team scoring behind Stone.

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Former New York Islanders forward Rob Schremp apparently isn't a fan of John Tavares.

Schremp responded to a tweet on Saturday that compared the Islanders' record last season on Feb. 15 to their current standing in the league. The former 25th overall pick called Tavares an "I did my job" superstar and said the Toronto Maple Leafs forward cares more about his own personal accolades than the team's success.

The Islanders have improved significantly on defense this year, as they've allowed 82 fewer goals than they did at this point last season.

Tavares, meanwhile, is on pace to post career highs in both goals and points with the Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old recently said he still has no regrets about his decision to leave the Islanders in free agency last summer.

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