When asked if he should seriously be considered for the Calder Trophy, Hughes didn't hesitate.
"Yeah, for sure, I think so," he said, according to The Hockey News' Ken Campbell. "I'm not the one making the call, but, especially the last 30 games, I don't know if anyone has been better than me."
Hughes has mustered up six goals and 19 assists over his last 30 contests while averaging 22:19 of ice time. Only Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik has recorded more points (31) among rookies during that span, according to NHL.com.
The 20-year-old Hughes, who took home Rookie of the Month honors for February, currently leads all rookies with 51 points in 64 games. He's also tied with Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson for the most points recorded among all blue-liners since Jan. 1 with 23.
"I haven't surprised myself because I thought I would do really well," Hughes added, according to Campbell. "I've been doing this my whole life, so why would I be surprised? At the same time, you think you're going to do well, but you never know how things are going to go. So, I'm humbled by that."
Hughes was taken seventh overall by the Canucks in the 2018 draft.
The Canucks, who were up 3-1 with under eight minutes to play, went on to lose the game 5-3, and captain Bo Horvat made his frustrations known postgame.
"If we want to win and make the playoffs, we have to be better than that," Horvat said. "Plain and simple. We were the better team for 52 minutes, but those last eight minutes killed us. It's unacceptable. We're upset."
The Blue Jackets scored two power-play goals within three minutes in the second half of the final frame and later completed the comeback with an empty-net marker.
"These kinds of games just don't leave you. I think it's good that we have two days off right now to kind of regroup, get a practice under our belt before we play another game," head coach Travis Green said, according to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor. "When you play playoff hockey, you're going to lose a game, you're going to lose a game in overtime, and you've got to reset and get ready to play.
"This, probably, is a lot like that as far as how you'll feel after a tough loss in playoff hockey, and it's like playoff hockey right now. So I'm glad we've got a couple days here."
The Canucks slipped into the first wild-card spot with the loss, bringing their record to 34-25-6. Sunday's matchup capped off a four-game road trip, as the club is set to begin a four-game homestand Wednesday.
Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau scored the opening goal in the Flames' 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, later revealing it was for his grandfather, who died Saturday.
Gaudreau celebrated his score with some visible emotion.
"It was kind of a tough day, but it was nice to find the net there for him in the first," Gaudreau said to reporters postgame. "It sucks losing people, but I was pretty pumped up to get that one for him.
"He watched a lot of my games, he was always a big supporter of me and my brother playing hockey," Gaudreau continued. "Like I said, it was just a special time to find the net there. Just emotional ... it was really cool."
Flames captain Mark Giordano added that he was happy to see Gaudreau have a good moment after the death of his grandfather.
"We have a really tight-knit group in there, and you could see how crushed he was yesterday on the bus," Giordano said, according to Sportsnet'sEric Francis. "I like to look at him as a little brother, to be honest. We've been around each other for so long. ... I thought for him to come in and score, that's really cool, and something I'm sure he'll share with his family tonight."
The 26-year-old Gaudreau was all over the ice Sunday afternoon, recording one goal, one assist, and adding five shots on goal. He was also rewarded a penalty shot in the contest, which he failed to convert.
In the fifth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Hart Trophy Power Rankings, we finally see some separation from the league's top duo and welcome a newcomer from The Big Apple:
5. Connor McDavid
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
58
31
87
22:03
58.55
56.25
Normally, missing six games wouldn't hurt a player's chances of winning the Hart. That is, unless your teammate is the one you're competing with for the honor.
After his six-game absence, McDavid picked up right where he left off - recording one goal and five assists in three games. On an 82-game pace, he'd be on track to record an impressive 123 points this season.
McDavid has shown he can play and produce with just about anybody on the Oilers. On Tuesday, he appeared on a line with two new teammates in Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis, and the trio recorded two out of the team's three goals. He's been a top contender for the Hart all year long, but his mini absence may ultimately be what separates him from the pack. Still, McDavid has the ability to propel himself back to the top with 18 games remaining.
4. Artemi Panarin
Jared Silber / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
61
32
85
20:22
58.82
57.13
Panarin's debut season in New York has gone nearly as good as possible. The Rangers didn't necessarily see themselves as contenders coming into the campaign, but with a few weeks left to go they're in the thick of the playoff race, and much of that is thanks to Panarin.
With 87 points, Panarin ranks third in the league's overall point race. He also has the league's third-highest points-per-game total. When he's on the ice at five-on-five, he has an expected goals for percentage of 52.69 and a Corsi For percentage of 50.13. Without him, the Rangers have an xGF% of 44.08 and a CF% of 44.46.
His value to the Rangers is unmatched. He's recorded two or more points in a game on 26 different occasions this season. It's not always the most indicative stat, but Panarin's team-leading plus-37 rating also can't be completely ignored. Many questioned the impact the winger could have with a cap hit of $11.6 million per year, but he's quickly vaulted himself into the discussion for league MVP.
3. Brad Marchand
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
65
26
81
19:38
60.53
59.56
Linemate David Pastrnak continues to get much of the recognition in Boston thanks to his jaw-dropping goals, but Marchand's underlying numbers have impressed.
It's a small sample size, but in the 97 minutes Marchand has spent without Pastrnak at five-on-five this season, his xGF% is 63.62 while his CF% is 59.56. In the 174 minutes Pastrnak has spent without Marchand, his xGF% is a meager 45.44 and his CF% is 49.08. These numbers suggest that Marchand's ability to create scoring chances is a big reason the Bruins' top line clicks so well.
He ranks sixth in the league in points, but the numbers beyond the stat sheets are compelling. He leads the league in penalties drawn (43) and is fourth in primary assists (34). He's one of Boston's biggest penalty killers, and has helped create three shorthanded goals this season while giving up 10 power-play markers. Marchand is a swiss-army knife for Boston. If irritating your opponents was a measurable stat, Marchand would probably find himself higher in the rankings.
2. Leon Draisaitl
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
64
37
99
22:43
55.12
53.32
When McDavid went down, it opened the door for Draisaitl to separate himself in the Hart race from his teammate. Despite McDavid only missing six games, it looks like it was enough to give Draisaitl the ultimate edge.
In McDavid's six-game absence, the Oilers went 3-2-1 against top teams including the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Draisaitl mustered up a sublime four goals and eight assists in those contests. Draisaitl's xGF% at five-on-five is 51.06 in the 498 minutes of ice time he's spent without McDavid this season, an uptick from the 46.82 they possess in the 541 minutes they've spent together on the ice. Draisaitl has proven he can get things done without his superstar partner by his side, producing 27 goals for and 24 goals against when he's on the ice without him.
There's not much to hold against Draisaitl at this point. His case for the Hart Trophy was often brought down due to the fact he shares the spotlight with McDavid, but he's proven he can carry the Oilers without him.
1. Nathan MacKinnon
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
62
33
85
21:17
62.76
60.15
Injuries have piled up all season long in Colorado, but MacKinnon has kept the team trucking through it all. With key injuries to virtually every player surrounding him, he's managed to keep the Avalanche afloat and in a playoff spot.
MacKinnon's linemate Mikko Rantanen, who has been playing at a point-per-game pace while in the lineup, has missed a total of 20 games this season. Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, and Rantanen have missed a combined 55 games, with the latter two missing more time ahead. MacKinnon is just one of three players on the Avalanche to appear in all 62games this season.
MacKinnon's 85 points put him 40 ahead of the Avalanche's second-best scorer. In the 13 games he's failed to record at least one point this season, the Avalanche have gone below .500 with a 5-7-1 record. He ranks eighth among all forwards in time on ice (21:17), fifth in points (85), and second in shots on goal (287).
The Avalanche seem like they will go as far as MacKinnon can take them. Without him, Colorado evidently wouldn't be sitting in second place in the Central Division as the season winds down.
Bouwmeester suffered a cardiac episode and collapsed on the bench during a game on Feb. 11. A few days later, he underwent a procedure that installed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. He offered his first public comments since the incident at a press conference Wednesday.
"There's been a lot going on. I think that's something I'm going to definitely have to evaluate," Bouwmeester said to the assembled media when asked about his playing future. "I wouldn't say I've done that fully yet. There's decisions that I'm going to have to make but that will come later."
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong clarified that Bouwmeester will not play again this season or during the playoffs and any long-term decisions will be made this summer.
"Quite honestly, hockey hasn't really been at the front of my mind the last couple of weeks," Bouwmeester said. "It's surreal because right now I feel pretty good, so you can compare it to another injury or something that you've gone through where you're just not playing. But you have to remind yourself of what happened and it puts things into perspective. ... When you put everything in perspective, it's OK to just take a step back right now."
The 36-year-old blue-liner has appeared in 1,240 regular-season games during his 17-year career, tallying 424 points. He's a member of the Triple Gold Club after winning a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014, and two World Championship gold medals in 2003 and 2004.
Peter Laviolette has been named head coach of the U.S. men's national team that will participate in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship, USA Hockey announced Wednesday.
Laviolette, who was fired by the Nashville Predators in January, had been head coach of the Predators since the 2014-15 season. He's been a head coach in the NHL since 2001.
"It's great to have Peter as our head coach," U.S. general manager Chris Drury said. "He brings significant international experience, both as a player and a coach, and his passion and desire to win align with our goal of bringing home the gold medal."
Laviolette has an extensive international resume. He served as head coach of the U.S. team at the same tournament in 2014, was an assistant with the 2014 men's Olympic team in Sochi, and was the head coach of the 2006 men's Olympic squad in Torino. This will be his fourth time working as a head coach at the IIHF tournament.
The tournament takes place May 8-24 in Switzerland.
Defenseman Calle Rosen was recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies In a corresponding move.
Muzzin exited Tuesday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a shot off his hand in the second period.
The 31-year-old has been one of the Maple Leafs' most important players in 2019-20. He's third on the team in average ice time (21:36), first in hits (109), and first in blocked shots (110). He's also chipped in six goals and 17 assists in 53 games.
Toronto is already without two key defensemen as both Morgan Rielly and Cody Ceci are currently on injured reserve. Muzzin also missed a month earlier this season due to a broken foot.
Muzzin signed a four-year, $22.5-million extension with the Leafs on Monday.
Rosen, who was with the Maple Leafs before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche last offseason, was reacquired prior to Monday's trade deadline. He's spent the majority of his time in the AHL this season, though he did record two assists in eight games with the Avalanche.
"What a great pickup by (general manager) Lou (Lamoriello)," Trotz told reporters postgame Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. "The (draft) picks are nothing, I can tell you that - a lot of picks never play."
The Islanders were one of the league's biggest spenders at the trade deadline, giving up a conditional first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a conditional third-rounder to add the 27-year-old forward from the Ottawa Senators.
The team immediately signed Pageau to a six-year extension with an average annual value of $5 million. He recorded a goal in his first game with his new club in Tuesday's contest against the New York Rangers.
Only 10 of the 38 players selected by the Islanders in six drafts dating back to 2014 have appeared in at least one NHL game. Of those 10 players, seven were selected in the first round.
Veteran forward Joe Thornton expressed his disappointment after staying with the San Jose Sharks as Monday's trade deadline passed.
"As you get older, you realize you only have so many shots at this thing," Thornton said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "It would have been nice to at least have a chance (at the Stanley Cup). ... I wanted a shot, you know? Believe it or not. I've been hunting this thing down for 22 years, so I wanted another shot at it."
The 40-year-old Thornton signed a one-year, $2-million deal to stay with the Sharks last summer, but the team has struggled throughout the 2019-20 campaign.
With San Jose sitting near the bottom of the standings, the veteran center was willing to waive his no-movement clause in order to join a legitimate Cup contender. But while there was interest in Thornton on deadline day, it didn't come from the league's "elite" teams, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
"Yeah, obviously I was willing to go somewhere, and try to win my first Stanley Cup," Thornton said. "I've been dreaming about that ever since I can remember and it just didn't come to fruition, for whatever reason. I wanted to get something back for the Sharks obviously to help them continue this process with young guys. It just didn't work out."
Thornton has skated in 1,628 regular-season games throughout his NHL career, amassing 417 goals and 1,088 assists. He's also played in 179 playoff contests, reaching the Stanley Cup Final once in 2016.
