-
Comment -
Looking like the Oilers have a pretty good chance to make the playoffs for only the second time since they drafted McDavid.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Comment -
Karlsson wants Sharks to avoid rebuild, 'did not sign here' for that
Defenseman says San Jose should 'figure out a way how to be competitive'
by David Satriano / NHL.com Staff Writer
Erik Karlsson said Saturday he did not sign with the San Jose Sharks to be part of a rebuild, which general manager Doug Wilson called a "reset" this week.
"Obviously, I did not sign here to go through a rebuild or go through what I did for 10 years in Ottawa," the 30-year-old defenseman said. "But it is what it is. I think that we need to find a way to build with a core group that we have here and figure out a way how to be competitive here in the upcoming years."
The Sharks (11-11-3) are seventh in the eight-team Honda West Division, seven points behind the fourth-place Colorado Avalanche. The top four teams will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in this 56-game season.
San Jose was one of seven NHL teams that did not make the Stanley Cup Qualifiers last season, the third time since Wilson became GM in 2003 it did not reach the postseason.
The Sharks advanced to the Western Conference Final in 2019, Karlsson's first season with them, and lost to the St. Louis Blues in six games after leading the series 2-1.
"I mean, I think after the year we had last year, I think it was pretty, pretty clear that we were not going to be the team that we were maybe the first year that I got here," Karlsson said. "You know that doesn't take rocket science to figure out."
Karlsson was traded to San Jose by the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 13, 2018, and signed an eight-year contract with the Sharks on June 17, 2019, two weeks before he could have become an unrestricted free agent for the first time. Ottawa made the playoffs five times in nine seasons with Karlsson, and won one series in four postseasons before it reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2017, when it lost Game 7 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in double overtime. The Senators were 28-43-11 in his final season.
"I'm excited to continue the chase for the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup," Karlsson said after re-signing with San Jose. "Last year was an unbelievable run but we didn't achieve what we set out to do. But the dedication I witnessed from my teammates, coaches, staff and organization showed me that we all have a great future ahead of us, and that we are capable of fighting for that championship year in and year out."
The Sharks, who defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Saturday, have won three straight games.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, San Jose held training camp in Arizona and played the first 12 and 14 of its first 16 games on the road. The Sharks have used 29 skaters and three goalies this season, including eight rookies.
Wilson said Friday the Sharks' approach to this season changed prior to the 2020 NHL Draft.
"We took a look at it, and when you say 'reset,' I will never and neither will our players or coaches say that we can't compete to make the playoffs," he said. "... Are we in the window to win a Cup this year? That's highly unlikely. Are we going to compete to try to make the playoffs? Yes we are. Are we going to commit to the reset and younger players getting opportunities? Yes we are."
Karlsson has scored nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 21 games this season and missed four because of injury. He's second on the Sharks in ice time per game (24:12) behind defenseman Brent Burns (26:54).
Last season, Karlsson, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl missed significant time with injury prior to the season being paused. With each of them healthy, Karlsson said he thinks the Sharks can make a run at the playoffs.
"Even this year I think is a different kind a year, if we find a way to get ourselves into the playoffs, anything can happen," he said. "Because I do think that we have a good group of guys here."
Karlsson was asked if he hopes the Sharks remain competitive and avoid trading players at the NHL Trade Deadline, which is April 12.
"Yeah, I think that's the goal every year," he said. "That's one of the tough things in this in this business, is losing good, good people and good teammates. That's not something that we want to go through, but again that's not something that any of us are going to be able to control. The only thing we can control is how we handle ourselves and how we conduct ourselves and how people view us as a team and as teammates, and as of late, I think that's been going in the right direction."
NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price contributed to this report
Comment -
The Buffalo Sabres will be without captain Jack Eichel for what coach Ralph Krueger called "the foreseeable future" in delivering yet another blow to a team in the midst of a nine-game skid.
The injury is not considered season-ending, though Krueger on Saturday was unable to provide a fixed timetable on how much time Eichel will miss.
"An injury of this nature needs more assessment and more time to understand it," he said. "We just know that it will be some time here from shorter all the way to what you've already mentioned [season-ending], but it's somewhere in between that."
The update came after Eichel traveled to see a specialist over the past two days to further determine the severity of the injury. Under the NHL's COVID-19 protocol rules, Eichel is required to spend seven days in quarantine as a result of the trip, meaning he will miss at least Buffalo's next four games.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Blues game at Kings postponed because of snowstorm
Los Angeles unable to return home after game at Avalanche
NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League today announced that Game #456, scheduled for tonight between the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings, has been postponed due to weather conditions in Denver that prevented the Kings from flying to Los Angeles following yesterday's game against Colorado. The date of the rescheduled Blues-Kings game will be announced when available.Comment -
Alex Ovechkin scored his 717th goal to tie Phil Esposito for sixth all-time in NHL history, and the Washington Capitals won their fifth straight game, by a 6-0 score against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday March 15.
Ovechkin scored from the slot at 16:21 of the third period to make the score 6-0Comment -
Even by the Buffalo Sabres unexacting standards, the 2021 campaign has been a resounding disappointment, as fans and local media are growing irate over another lost year.
Buffalo signed Taylor Hall to a one-year, $8 million contract and acquired center Eric Staal in a trade, with the hopes of bolstering an anemic offense, and simply, it hasn't worked at all.
Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrington ripped into the Sabres, not by traditional reporting, or through an op-ed, but through the usually lighthearted vehicle of power rankings. Harrington filed the column Saturday, and the Sabres responded by dropping their 11th consecutive game in a 6-0 blowout loss against the Washington Capitals on Monday night.
There are only 31 teams in the NHL this season, but Harrington ranked the Sabres 32nd, placing the 2021-22 debutante Seattle Kraken in the No. 31 spot.
[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist to become the 63rd player in NHL history (and 5th among current active players) with at least 1,100 points, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 at PPG Paints Arena on Monday March 15Comment -
Steen and Vladar made regular season debuts for Boston[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Ovechkin passes Esposito at 718 NHL goals for Capitals
Forward reaches sixth in history in win against Islanders
Comment -
Avalanche scored 8 tonight. This team is pretty good!!!Comment -
Sabres with another loss .
0 - 11 - 2 in their last 13 .
Comment -
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for his 10th straight win, and Alex Killorn and Yanni Gourde scored for the Lightning (21-6-2) in a 4-2 home win, making Tampa Bay 5-0-1 against the Blackhawks this season.Comment -
The Bruins’ games against the Sabres and Islanders have been postponed after four players entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Friday.
Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci, David Pastrnak, and Craig Smith joined Sean Kuraly as the Bruins players on the COVID-19 list.
According to the NHL, pending on test results, Boston may be able to practice again as early as next Wednesday, March 24. Make-up dates for the postponed Bruins games will be announced at a later date.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the third period to run his goal streak to five games, and the Washington Capitals rallied for their seventh consecutive win, 2-1 against the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena on Friday.Comment -
With 26 games remaining on their schedule as of Saturday the Preds are six points out of a playoff spot, seventh out eight teams in their own division by points percentage, and have the same issues offensively and on special teams that have plagued them for the past few years with some questionable contracts adding up. It is a team that has seemingly reached its peak as presently constructed and it is becoming increasingly clear that some changes are needed.
Those changes should not necessarily involve players like Filip Forsberg or Roman Josi (at least not yet), but they could start with Mattias Ekholm.
He still has one year remaining after this season on a contract that carries a salary cap hit of $3.75 million. That remaining term, affordable salary cap number, and his overall play should make him an attractive trade chip for the Predators to start their reset. Or retool. Their rebuild. Whatever buzzword you want to use to describe it.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Went with the Oilers ml in a small play. Fading Buffalo has been profitableComment -
Buffalo sucks.Comment -
Anaheim and Buffalo are auto fades .Comment -
Toffoli out next three games for Canadiens with lower-body injury
Forward will not play against Oilers, could return against Senators on Sunday
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Tyler Toffoli will be out at least the next three games for the Montreal Canadiens because of a lower-body injury.
The forward won't play in a three-game series at home against the Edmonton Oilers that starts Monday (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, SNW, NHL.TV) and continues Wednesday and Friday.
Toffoli leads the Canadiens with 18 goals and is tied for first in points (27) with defenseman Jeff Petry.
Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said Toffoli could return as soon as Montreal's home game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
"He will be evaluated and in the days that follow the series against the Oilers, we think he'll be able to return," Ducharme said.
Ducharme said Toffoli was injured late in the Canadiens' 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. He played one shift in overtime, which ended with 3:35 remaining.
"We didn't think he would be available for overtime," Ducharme said. "He went on the ice before it started and he told me he was OK for overtime, then in the hours that followed, the next day too, he had tests. He was warmed up that night so he didn't feel it as much. But the next day it was worse."
Toffoli did not play in the 5-4 shootout win against the Canucks on Saturday.
Montreal (14-8-9) is fourth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, two points ahead of the Canucks (16-16-3), who have played four more games. The top four teams in the division will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL.com independent correspondent Sean Farrell contributed to this report
Comment -
Off the ice, Pavelski has been positioning himself for even more success: heading a sports media company.
In 2017, Pavelski launched Kompany 39, a digital platform that helps athletes share their stories, grow their brands and better connect with fans. Last week, the company rebranded as TorchPro -- fueled by a round of funding -- and also announced the purchase of the Morning Blitz, a daily sports newsletter. TorchPro has 12 full-time employees, a pool of 12-14 interns, and eight "founding athletes," including Charlie McAvoy, Riley Sheahan and Mike Green. Kacey Bellamy, a stalwart defenseman on the U.S. women's national team, was the first athlete to sign on.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Buffalo and Anaheim both lose again today .
Comment -
The Montreal Canadiens won't play again until at least March 30 after the NHL postponed the club's games through Sunday due to COVID-19 protocol.
Montreal was supposed to host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and Friday before playing the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on Sunday. The Canadiens are scheduled to take on the Senators next Tuesday in a road contest.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Vasilevskiy extended his winning streak to 12 games tonight .
Comment -
Big dog hit last night with the CoyotesComment -
How is Ryan Miller still an NHL goalie? What a joke!Comment -
Tim Peel's career as an NHL referee is over after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Nashville Predators. The league on Wednesday announced Peel "no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future."[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
NHL Trade Deadline players to watch include Hall, Marleau, Dunn
Sabres forward, Sharks center, Blues defenseman prime candidates who could be on move
by David Satriano @davidsatriano / NHL.com Staff Writer
The NHL Trade Deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on April 12. Here are some players who could be moved before the deadline, listed by position in alphabetical order:
Forwards
Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames
Reports surfaced earlier this season that Bennett requested a trade, though that was under coach Geoff Ward, who was fired and replaced by Darryl Sutter on March 4. The 24-year-old center has not produced and has seen his role decline; he can become a restricted free agent after this season.
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
The Kings' all-time leader in games played has one season remaining on his contract, and Los Angeles is in a rebuild. The 36-year-old right wing is having a good offensive season and brings leadership as a former captain, as well as a winning pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014).
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres captain is out with an upper-body injury and has scored two goals in 21 games this season. But there would be no shortage of suitors for the center if he is made available with Buffalo in last place in the MassMutual East Division. The 24-year-old has scored at least 24 goals in each of his five full NHL seasons but is in the third season of an eight-year, $80 million contract ($10 million average annual value), which could keep him from being traded.
Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets captain can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Foligno can score, play on the power play or penalty kill, block shots and provide a physical presence. The 33-year-old left wing would be among the best rental players if available.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Ducks general manager Bob Murray said the only way the 35-year-old center would be traded is if he asks to be. Getzlaf, Anaheim's longest-tenured player (16 seasons), won the Cup with the Ducks in 2007 and could request a trade for another shot at a championship. His offense may have slipped, but he is still a playmaker who is valuable on the power play, in the face-off circle and in the locker room. Getzlaf can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Mikael Granlund, Nashville Predators
A two-time 20-goal scorer, Granlund scored 17 in 63 games last season but has struggled this season. The 29-year-old, who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, would make a good second- or third-line center for a team needing depth at the position. He has also played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past seven seasons.
Taylor Hall, Buffalo Sabres
The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres on Oct. 11 and has struggled with two goals in 30 games. But the left wing is a Hart Trophy winner voted as NHL MVP in 2018 and has scored 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 14 playoff games. He can become an unrestricted free agent after this season and Buffalo likely will seek to move him to a contender for prospects or draft picks
Anthony Mantha, Detroit Red Wings
Mantha is a good option for teams in need of scoring help. He was limited because of injuries last season but scored 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games and is a two-time 20-goal scorer. The 26-year-old right wing would not be a rental; he has three seasons remaining on his contract.
Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
The 41-year-old center is seeking his first championship and could be moved prior to the deadline like he was last season, when the Sharks traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins before signing him to a one-year contract in free agency. If San Jose's all-time leader in games played, points and goals is traded, he likely would be a fourth-line role player on a contending team because of his limited production. Marleau is a pending unrestricted free agent.
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils
The 30-year-old right wing can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. With the Devils out of the playoff picture, he could be a fit for teams looking for scoring. Palmieri has scored at least 24 goals in each of the past five seasons and scored 11 power-play goals in four of them.
Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
Rakell has finished among the Ducks' top three scorers in each of the past three seasons. The 27-year-old left wing scored 33 and 34 goals in back-to-back seasons from 2016-18 and likely would add offensive punch with a change of scenery, given that Anaheim ranks among the NHL's lowest-scoring teams. Rakell has one season remaining on his contract.
Defensemen
Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues
The 24-year-old can become a restricted free agent after this season. The Blues are deep at defenseman, with several prospects in the pipeline. Dunn is an offensive threat who is durable and won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019.
Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators
Ekholm is capable of putting up points (at least 30 in four of the past five seasons) and plays on the power play as well as the penalty kill. The 30-year-old, who has one season remaining on his contract, would be a solid addition for any team needing a top-four defenseman.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
The 27-year-old has two seasons remaining on his contract. Gostisbehere has seen his offense decline, has been scratched several times this season and could benefit from a fresh start.
Dmitry Kulikov, New Jersey Devils
Kulikov is a physical presence who hits, blocks shots and plays big minutes on the penalty kill. The 30-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent and would be a good fit for a playoff contender.
Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres
He has scored at least 33 points in each of the past five seasons, including at least 17 power-play points four times. In addition to his offense, the 26-year-old, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season, is among the Buffalo leaders in hits and blocks. Ristolainen's teammate Brandon Montour, a 26-year-old pending unrestricted free agent, is also a potential trade candidate.
David Savard, Columbus Blue Jackets
Savard has played his entire 10-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets and has been a big part of their success in that span, but could be traded if Columbus falls out of the playoff picture. The 30-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and his physical play and veteran leadership could make him attractive to teams needing depth on the blue line.
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier, Detroit Red Wings
The pending unrestricted free agent likely will be traded to a contender in need of goalie depth. Bernier has put up good numbers on a struggling Red Wings team and also brings playoff experience (nine games). The 32-year-old won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 as Jonathan Quick's backup, though he did not play in the postseason.
Chris Driedger, Florida Panthers
Sergei Bobrovsky has five seasons remaining on his contract, so the Panthers could decide to move Driedger. The 26-year-old is among the NHL leaders in goals-against average and save percentage, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Devan Dubnyk, San Jose Sharks
The 34-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and the Sharks may decide to give prospect Alexei Melnichuk a chance. Teams will be interested in Dubnyk, who had at least 31 wins in four straight seasons from 2015-19, and he will be easier to move than Martin Jones, who has three seasons remaining on his contract.
Comment
