Davidson has served as the team's interim general manager since October, when Stan Bowman stepped down following the conclusion of an independent investigation into former video coach Brad Aldrich's alleged sexual assault of Kyle Beach in 2010.
The Blackhawks interviewed a variety of other candidates, including ex-Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Eric Tulsky, Tampa Bay Lightning director of hockey operations Mathieu Darche, former Montreal Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby, and Chicago Cubs assistant GM Jeff Greenberg.
Chicago finished its evaluation process Thursday and aimed to fill the role on a full-time basis by the March 21 trade deadline. Former players Eddie Olczyk, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp were enlisted to help its search.
Davidson, 33, would be the youngest general manager in Blackhawks history. He's been involved with the organization since 2010 in a variety of capacities and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2019.
Despite his interim tag, Davidson oversaw the Blackhawks' coaching change that brought Derek King in to replace Jeremy Colliton earlier this season.
Following the switch behind the bench, Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz said Davidson had the team's "full confidence and autonomy to make hockey decisions."
The Blackhawks sit seventh in the Central Division with a record of 19-27-8.
Prior to January, the busy Campbell was a surefire Vezina Trophy candidate who sat near the top of the league with a .937 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average.
The 30-year-old cooled off considerably once the dead of winter set in, recording an .887 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average since Jan. 1.
Campbell, who has a reputation for being tough on himself, is doing his best to stay levelheaded.
"For me, it's simple. I mean, I'm the same goalie I was to start the year as far as strategy and talent, things like that. It's just relaxing, having some fun and not beating myself up too much," Campbell told the media Monday, according to TSN. "I'm still working. It's a process, but I have great people in my life, great teammates. I'll snap out of it."
Campbell's most recent speed bump was the Maple Leafs' wild 10-7 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Toronto had a comfortable 7-2 lead entering the third period, but the Red Wings potted four unanswered goals past Campbell in the opening 5:21.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe pulled his No. 1 goaltender in an effort to stop the bleeding.
"Jack had earned all the attention and the accolades that were coming with his play. You have to be prepared for it to come the other way. ... We think there's a good goalie there that will find a level of consistency, and that's what he's continued to work through here now," Keefe said.
He added, "It's a mental block kind of thing going on right now that he's gotta work his way through, but he'll get there."
Campbell emphasized the fact that he's still learning in his first full season as a starting netminder.
"There's going to be a little bit of a tough stretch here and there. You look around, a lot of great goalies have had tough stretches, but it's about how you overcome it," he said. "That's what I'm focused on."
The IIHF announced Monday it is banning Russia and Belarus from international hockey until further notice amid the invasion of Ukraine.
The federation will move the 2023 world juniors to a different location after the Russian cities of Novosibirsk and Omsk were originally set to host the event from Dec. 26, 2022, to Jan. 5, 2023. The IIHF will initiate discussions in the coming months to find a new host.
Russia is also slated to host the 2023 World Hockey Championship in May, but the IIHF has yet to make a decision on that tournament, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
The ban will keep Russia and Belarus out of multiple major international events, including the 2022 Worlds in May, the women's U18 tournament in June, and the rescheduled 2022 world juniors in August.
Belarus is included in the ban because it has assisted Russia's invasion by allowing its territory to be used to station troops and launch military attacks.
"The IIHF is not a political entity and cannot influence the decisions being taken over the war in Ukraine," IIHF president Luc Tardif said in a statement. "We nevertheless have a duty of care to all of our members and participants and must therefore do all we can to ensure that we are able to operate our events in a safe environment for all teams taking part in the IIHF World Championship program."
"We were incredibly shocked to see the images that have come out of Ukraine," added Tardif. "I have been in close contact with members of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine, and we hope for all Ukrainians that this conflict can be resolved in a peaceful way and without the need for further violence."
The NHL released a statement Monday, announcing it is suspending all relationships with Russian business partners.
It appears Anaheim Ducks rookie general manager Pat Verbeek has a plan in place for three key pending free agents: Sign them to extensions or trade them.
Forward Rickard Rakell and defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson have generated plenty of buzz ahead of the trade deadline. All three will be UFAs at season's end, so Verbeek will have some decisions to make.
"I think going into this, I'm looking at it like we could make the playoffs, we could miss the playoffs," Verbeek told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "At the end of the day, there's no guarantee I can get those three free agents back. I'm going to attempt to sign them, if it doesn’t happen, I just can't let them walk out the door free."
The Ducks have a fourth key pending UFA in veteran captain Ryan Getzlaf, but his contract contains a full no-movement clause. He was in the same situation at last year's deadline and wanted to stay in Anaheim.
Verbeek reportedly began extension talks with Lindholm's camp last week. The 28-year-old Swede would arguably be the biggest trade chip of the three. The 6-foot-4 shutdown defender has recorded 20 points and averaged 22:42 of ice time in 53 games this season. Lindholm's cap hit is $5.205 million.
There's been no word of extension talks with Manson's camp, and the Ducks were reportedly open to trading him last season. The 6-foot-3 right-handed defenseman has registered only seven points in 43 games this season, but he brings the type of snarl and grit that teams covet come playoff time. The 30-year-old carries a $4.1-million cap hit.
Rakell, a two-time 30-goal scorer, is having a second consecutive down year by his standards. The winger has tallied 14 goals and 11 assists in 45 games. The 28-year-old's cap hit is $3.789 million.
"We've got a game plan, and we'll see if we can execute it over the next three weeks and in the next four months leading to free agency," Verbeek added.
The Ducks started off the season hot but currently sit sixth in the Pacific Division and 11th in the Western Conference.
The NHL's loudest fan base almost found themselves quieted again on Saturday night. The Maple Leafs took a 7-2 lead into the second intermission in Detroit and looked to be cruising to victory as -200 favorites. For those smart enough to bet the over, there was no reason to watch the third period. For those who bet a side, things got interesting after the underdog Red Wings scored four goals in the first 5:21 of the third period.
Unless you're betting the total, it's never over until it's over in the NHL. Of course, if you bet the over on Sunday afternoon in the Oilers-Hurricanes game, you were infuriated by multiple goals getting called back because linesmen were letting offsides go during the action, only to have them disallowed after review.
That was a day after the Oilers won a game they had no business winning. Based on how they played against Florida, the Panthers would have won that game 84% of the time, according to Moneypuck.com.
Basically, if you bet on an Edmonton game this weekend, you had a wilder ride than Leafs fans in the third period on Saturday night. This is the unpredictability of the NHL. As bettors, the best we can do is put ourselves in the best position to be profitable long term by finding the smallest edges where available.
The recipe
Before the 2021-22 campaign, we provided a three-chapter series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.
The first half of this season was a mess as COVID-19 ripped up rosters on a nightly basis. Some games were postponed, while others provided skewed matchups that were nearly impossible to evaluate. With the calendar turning to March and testing policies relaxed, we can weight our ratings using 70% of this season's metrics with 30% weighted for preseason priors.
With our ratings weighted to this season's on-ice product, we can put more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened in a still relatively small sample size that contains some tainted results.
The cheat sheet
The following includes my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team that's more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games that I have projected will be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.
DATE
GAME
TRUE ML
PRICE TO BET
Feb. 28
TOR@WSH
-109/+109
TOR +101/WSH +121
VAN@NJD
+136/-136
VAN +160/NJD -130
BOS@LAK
+109/-109
BOS +128/LAK -104
Mar. 1
NJD@CBJ
+112/-112
NJD +132/CBJ -108
OTT@TB
+244/-244
OTT +298/TB -232
EDM@PHI
-138/+138
EDM -132/PHI +163
CAR@DET
-111/+111
CAR -107/DET +131
CGY@MIN
+102/-102
CGY +112/MIN +109
MTL@WPG
+151/-151
MTL +179/WPG -145
NYI@COL
+138/-138
NYI +163/COL -133
SJS@VGK
+171/-171
SJS +204/VGK -164
BOS@ANA
-122/+122
BOS -117/ANA +143
Mar. 2
STL@NYR
+114/-114
STL +134/NYR -110
BUF@TOR
+236/-236
BUF +288/TOR -225
LAK@DAL
+121/-121
LAK +143/DAL -117
NSH@SEA
-101/+101
NSH +109/SEA +112
Mar. 3
MIN@PHI
-124/+124
MIN -119/PHI +146
OTT@FLA
+262/-262
OTT +324/FLA -250
CAR@WSH
+110/-110
CAR +130/WSH -106
PIT@TBL
+141/-141
PIT +166/TBL -135
VAN@NYI
+127/-127
VAN +150/NYI -122
EDM@CHI
-132/+132
EDM -126/CHI +155
BOS@VGK
+117/-117
BOS +138/VGK -113
MTL@CGY
+181/-181
MTL +216/CGY -173
COL@ARI
-185/+185
COL -177/ARI +222
Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.
The New Jersey Devils are slowly starting to turn a corner. Emphasis on slowly.
They own a respectable 3-3-0 record over the last six games, and their numbers beneath the surface suggest those results don't do the team justice.
New Jersey has controlled 54% of the expected goals at five-on-five during this spell, which slots it just ahead of the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. Sure, it's a small sample size, but the Devils' advanced metrics have trended upward for a while now.
Two issues caused the losses to pile up anyway. For one, they weren't healthy. Without Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt, both of whom recently returned to the lineup, the team didn't have the star power to convert on the chances they generated. That's no longer an issue. Believe it or not, the Devils lead the league in goals - at five-on-five and overall - over the last six contests.
At the other end, New Jersey can't buy a save, with Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier sidelined. That's long been a problem and remains one. However, the Devils have the talent to outscore their mistakes so long as they continue to control the run of play.
I expect they'll be able to do that against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks' share of the expected goals is below 47% over the last couple of weeks, and they're playing in the latter half of a back-to-back. New Jersey figures to have the leg up there.
The gap in goaltending talent should also be significantly smaller for the Devils, with Thatcher Demko likely getting the night off. Jaroslav Halak owns a .899 save percentage this season, which is well below average. He should have trouble slowing down New Jersey's red-hot attack.
Bet: Devils (-120)
Anze Kopitar over 2.5 shots (-112)
Anze Kopitar is a beast on home soil. He's averaged 3.2 shots on goal per game in Los Angeles while recording at least three shots in 18 of 27 contests, good for a 66.66% hit rate.
That's a stark contrast from what we've seen from Kopitar on the road. He's averaging nearly a full shot less (2.3 per game) and has gone over 2.5 shots only 42% of the time.
What's especially appealing about Kopitar, beyond home success and an upward trend (he's averaged 3.4 shots over the last 10 contests), is his ability to hit against the best teams.
The Boston Bruins are a difficult matchup, but Kopitar's consistency against quality clubs leaves me confident he can come through for us again.
John Carlson over 2.5 shots (-125)
John Carlson is another guy with extreme home/road splits, especially lately. He's averaging just 2.2 shots on goal over his last 10 road games. It's been a much different story in Washington, where he's averaged 3.3 shots over the previous 10 contests at Capital One Arena.
I expect Carlson's home success to continue. He's playing in what should be a high-event game against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that likes to push the pace and force opponents to keep up.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
This is the 11th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.
In this edition, we examine each club's most tantalizing asset ahead of the March 21 trade deadline.
1. Colorado Avalanche (39-10-4)
Previous rank: 1st
Considering the Avs' draft starts in the third round this summer, you can bet their 2023 first-rounder will be in play at the deadline. Colorado is likely to be in business for a rental, and if the league leaders want someone big, that pick will be the starting point in any package.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (37-11-4)
Previous rank: 5th
The Hurricanes have been adamant Jesperi Kotkaniemi is a part of their future, but packaging him with some picks for a bigger fish has to be worth some consideration. The former Hab is averaging only 12 minutes per night this season.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-11-6)
Previous rank: 3rd
Julien BriseBois is a different kind of asset. He's not going anywhere, but the Lightning general manager has built a bulletproof roster and won two Stanley Cups by making key moves at each of the past two deadlines. He's sure to be active again, and Eastern Conference rivals should be on high alert.
4. Florida Panthers (35-13-5)
Previous rank: 2nd
Patric Hornqvist isn't producing or playing as much as he used to. The veteran winger has plenty of playoff pedigree but makes $5.3 million per year, which the Panthers could better allocate across the roster to make a serious Cup run.
5. Calgary Flames (31-14-6)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 8th
The Flames already made their big move by landing Tyler Toffoli, and they managed to do so without dishing out one of their top prospects. The club doesn't own its first-, third-, fourth-, or sixth-round picks this year but has two second-rounders in its pocket. With little cap space remaining, Calgary would have to get creative to make another splash.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (34-14-4)
Previous rank: 7th
After moving their 2021 first-round pick to acquire Nick Foligno at the deadline last season in a deal that didn't pan out, the Maple Leafs may be a little more hesitant to move their top-round selection in 2022. However, the team boasts a strong prospect pipeline featuring potential league regulars like Nick Robertson and Topi Niemela.
7. New York Rangers (33-15-5)
Previous rank: 9th
The Rangers have a ton of cap space available to them this season. Projected to have just under $32 million in room at the deadline, they can go all-in on the rental market. They own all of their draft picks over the next three years except for a 2022 third-rounder and have a decent selection of prospects they can dish out.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (33-14-8)
Previous rank: 6th
The Penguins have a barren prospect pipeline, hardly any cap space, and no surplus of upcoming draft picks. The allure for newcomers of playing with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in pursuit of a Cup is perhaps Pittsburgh's best asset.
9. St. Louis Blues (32-14-6)
Previous rank: 12th
The Blues are highly unlikely to subtract from their roster ahead of the deadline. Zachary Bolduc and Jake Neighbours are two top prospects likely to draw interest if St. Louis chooses to add.
10. Boston Bruins (31-17-4)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 11th
Jake DeBrusk. Earlier this season, his agent said he and the Bruins were working to facilitate a trade for the 25-year-old. It's no secret the last few years in Boston have been tough for DeBrusk, but his potential is still high and a change of scenery could be a spark for him. Parting ways with DeBrusk should help the Bruins land an established top-six forward to boost their offense.
11. Minnesota Wild (31-16-3)
Previous rank: 4th
The Wild are projected to have over $10.5 million in cap space, which is a lot more flexibility than most contenders. If Minnesota wants to go for it and be players at the deadline, this is the year.
12. Los Angeles Kings (29-17-7)
Previous rank: 16th
Their deep, talented prospect pool. With Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Quick all playing good hockey, the Kings are looking like a legitimate dark-horse threat. Perhaps L.A. leverages one of its blue-chip prospects to make some noise on the trade market.
13. Washington Capitals (28-17-9)
Previous rank: 13th
Justin Schultz is a serviceable, veteran blue-liner, but with a $4-million cap hit and an expiring contract attached to his name, the Capitals would do well to move him and shore up other parts of the roster.
14. Nashville Predators (30-19-4)
Previous rank: 14th
The Predators are currently sitting in a playoff spot, so it seems outlandish to trade Filip Forsberg, whose 1.13 points-per-game rate leads Nashville. Barring a new deal, he'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and it isn't a good look if the Predators lose him for nothing. Priority No. 1 is re-signing him, but they should consider moving Forsberg if they can't get a deal done by the deadline.
15. Edmonton Oilers (29-21-3)
Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 15th
Tyson Barrie's role as Edmonton's offensive catalyst from the back end has diminished with Evan Bouchard's emergence this season. He'd be a tantalizing add for contenders looking to boost their power play, and the Oilers could find a more defensive-minded blue-liner to fill Barrie's spot in the lineup.
16. Vegas Golden Knights (29-20-4)
Previous rank: 10th
The Golden Knights solved their cap issues by placing Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve to accommodate Jack Eichel's $10-million cap hit, but what if Stone can return before the playoffs? Reilly Smith is a pending unrestricted free agent with an average annual value of $5 million. Moving him can bag Vegas some picks while helping to ease a potential cap crunch.
17. Dallas Stars (29-20-3)
Previous rank: 17th
It seems there are never enough talented, right-handed defensemen to go around in this league, and luckily for the Stars, they've got a premium one in John Klingberg. The 29-year-old can be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and all signs point to him wanting to break up with Dallas, so the Stars can certainly fetch a nice return for Klingberg.
18. Vancouver Canucks (26-22-6)
Previous rank: 19th
J.T. Miller. The Canucks will need a lot to go their way to end up in the playoffs, but they've been playing extremely well since Bruce Boudreau's arrival. If the team decides to sell and prepare for next season, getting a king's ransom for Miller would go a long way in setting Vancouver up for the future.
19. Anaheim Ducks (25-21-9)
Previous rank: 18th
New GM Pat Verbeek inherited a rebuilding Ducks team that's exceeded expectations this season, but he has tough decisions to make regarding a trio of key, pending unrestricted free agents in Rickard Rakell, Josh Manson, and Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim will have to find a way to navigate its future on top of a potential surprise playoff run this season.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (27-25-1)
Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 21st
Luckily for the Blue Jackets, Patrik Laine has looked like the 40-goal scorer he once was during his recent hot streak. The 23-year-old isn't always consistent, but he'd be a valuable asset to contending squads in need of a talented winger.
21. Winnipeg Jets (23-21-9)
Previous rank: 20th
The Jets are straight-up not having a good time this season. Sure, they could eke their way into a playoff spot, but right now, things look pretty shambolic. So, the Jets might as well see what they can get for pending unrestricted free agent Andrew Copp. As of Feb. 28, he's fifth in Winnipeg with 28 points in 47 games, and his defensive skill will be coveted by contenders.
22. Detroit Red Wings (23-24-6)
Previous rank: 23rd
The Red Wings still have a ton of cap space and should look to acquire some bad contracts in exchange for assets. The team's rebuild is coming along smoothly, and the Wings will be back to being a contender in the next few years. This may be one of Detroit's last opportunities to load up on draft picks or prospects before taking off.
23. San Jose Sharks (24-23-6)
Previous rank: 22nd
Of course the Sharks are interested in keeping fan favorite Tomas Hertl. However, the pending unrestricted free agent would move the needle for several contending teams looking to make a playoff run even as a rental, and he'd likely net a significant return.
24. New York Islanders (20-21-8)
Previous rank: 24th
Scott Mayfield is in the middle of the Islanders' blue-line depth chart and is the type of stay-at-home, physical defender GMs salivate over. With an extra season on his contract at an affordable $1.45 million, New York would be wise to cash in while Mayfield's value is at its highest.
25. Ottawa Senators (19-27-5)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 25th
The Senators don't have a ton to offer in yet another year of the rebuild, but they could go fishing for picks with a few of their pending unrestricted free-agent forwards like Tyler Ennis, Chris Tierney, and Nick Paul. Playoff teams are going to want depth up front.
26. Chicago Blackhawks (19-27-8)
Previous rank: 26th
Marc-Andre Fleury. A handful of teams vying for the playoffs are in need of goaltending, and Fleury is far and away the best option on the market. The Blackhawks got him virtually for free, so getting anything in return for him would be a big win.
27. New Jersey Devils (18-29-5)
Previous rank: 29th
The Devils don't have a lot of upcoming unrestricted free agents, but there is P.K. Subban. He isn't the same defenseman he used to be, but it'd still be worth it for New Jersey to get something for him on the trade market. The Devils would most likely have to retain some of his $9-million cap hit, but they have the space to do it.
28. Philadelphia Flyers (16-26-10)
Previous rank: 30th
Claude Giroux. It seems inevitable the Flyers will part ways with their longtime captain, but the timing couldn't be better. Philadelphia needs to shake things up, and Giroux would be one of the most coveted players on the trade market.
29. Buffalo Sabres (16-30-8)
Previous rank: 28th
Take your pick between Cody Eakin, Robert Hagg, and Mark Pysyk. All three players are on expiring contracts and would be nice depth adds for teams headed to the playoffs.
30. Seattle Kraken (16-34-5)
Christopher Mast / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 27th
Mark Giordano. The Kraken will reportedly try to move their captain ahead of the deadline, and plenty of teams will be lining up to try to grab him. It's not often that a veteran of Giordano's stature becomes available, and his leadership will be a priceless intangible for any playoff team.
31. Montreal Canadiens (13-33-7)
Previous rank: 32nd
Ben Chiarot. The Canadiens have a handful of players they may or may not move by the deadline, but the bruising defenseman is one of the most surefire trades we'll see at some point in the next month. Teams typically dish out a ton for blue-liners, so Montreal will have to dig around to find the best deal out there.
32. Arizona Coyotes (14-35-4)
Previous rank: 31st
The Coyotes' mission at the deadline will be to acquire more assets, and they'll surely get a nice return for defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Arizona's asking price for the 23-year-old is high, but there'll likely be a good fit that'll send some juicy pieces to the desert.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery Sunday to repair a fracture in his lower left fibula, the team announced.
The 23-year-old blue-liner suffered the injury during the second period of Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.
While in pursuit of the puck in Boston's zone, Bruins forward Taylor Hall pushed Ferraro, causing him to slide feet first into the boards. Ferraro needed to be helped off the ice and didn't return to the game.
The crew criticized the "dirty" play by Taylor Hall, which caused Ferraro to leave the ice during the second period pic.twitter.com/mdtao4zLIy
Hall received an interference penalty on the play.
Ferraro's absence is yet another major blow to the Sharks' ailing defense corps. San Jose is already without Erik Karlsson and Jaycob Megna.
Ferraro has averaged 23:19 of ice time per game this season, trailing only Brent Burns for the team lead. He has two goals and nine assists in 48 games and leads San Jose with 101 hits and 127 blocks.
The Sharks are currently out of a playoff spot. They sit in seventh place in the Pacific Division with a 23-23-6 record.
