All posts by John Matisz

Konecny thriving as ‘catalyst,’ and 6 other NHL items

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

When Travis Konecny heard back in June 2022 that John Tortorella was the new head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, he reacted like anyone who didn't know the man but had seen his tense press conferences might.

"I was like, 'Here we go, this is gonna be a long couple of years,'" Konecny recalled in an interview earlier this month at All-Star Weekend in Toronto.

"But it couldn't be further from the truth," the forward quickly added. "First of all, if you're one of Torts' guys, he protects you. Because he loves his players. The other thing I found out early on is that as long as you're following the structure he teaches and demands that he has, he lets you play your game and he leaves you alone. As long as you're working hard, he's happy."

Almost two years into Tortorella's tenure, Konecny is definitely in the coach's good graces. The Flyers earlier this week named Sean Couturier team captain and Scott Laughton and Konecny his alternates. Konecny's in the middle of his finest season yet: he leads Flyers skaters in goals (26) and points (51) through 55 games, and paces the forward group in average ice time (19:49).

Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

The 29-19-7 Flyers are one of the top rush teams in the league, and no Flyer rushes the puck as often or effectively as Konecny. The 5-11 winger's 1.26 scoring chances off the rush per game ranks sixth in the NHL, according to Sportlogiq.

"He's really grown into the player he is over these last two years. I think he's really taken a big step forward," Couturier said of his "little brother."

A fearless competitor, Konecny's evolved into the rare player who can record a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) and receive minimal fanfare, like he recently did against the Jets. It's basically expected. That's TK being TK, as his teammates and coaches say. He's always in the mix.

"The intensity he plays with - he's such a catalyst for us," center Morgan Frost said. "You don't always see your top goal-scorer getting into scrums after every other whistle, or chirping a lot. But he does and it makes an impact."

Jaylynn Nash / Getty Images

"He's by-example," Tortorella said of Konecny's leadership qualities. "He's got an engine on him that doesn't stop. He's made big plays at key times. He does everything for us. He's a penalty killer for us, now power-play (minutes). I'd hate to think where we'd be if we didn't have his energy in our lineup."

Philly may be missing a superstar (perhaps Russian Matvei Michkov, drafted seventh overall in 2023, is the long-term answer), but it seems like the club's ticked off several other boxes in the search for a fully formed nucleus. This season's been a real eye-opener.

Couturier: elite two-way center. Owen Tippett: game-breaking sniper. Frost and Joel Farabee: playmakers. Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York: building-block defensemen. Samuel Ersson: (potential) starting goalie.

And, of course, Konecny: goal-scoring catalyst, rush-chance catalyst, energy catalyst. You can probably add "Torts catalyst" to the list.

3 GMs who'll shape trade market

All eyes are on Craig Conroy as March 8's trade deadline approaches.

Calgary's general manager could move three major pieces: starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, plus top-four blue-liners Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. This Flames' crossroads period has been well-documented.

As for other GMs to watch, three leap off the page.

Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images

Steve Yzerman will have several decisions to make on pending unrestricted free agents if Detroit's playoff positioning doesn't solidify soon. Forward David Perron and goalie James Reimer, both 35, could be useful depth for contenders. Bottom-six sniper Daniel Sprong and offensive defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere could help provide tertiary scoring elsewhere, too.

Then there's Patrick Kane, who the Red Wings signed to a one-year, $2.75-million contract in November. With 20 points in 22 games, Kane will likely be open to waiving his no-trade clause if Yzerman enters sell mode. Kane didn't come back to miss the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Flyers GM Daniel Briere is in an enviable spot - or unenviable, depending on how you look at it. The retool is ahead of schedule, but the roster remains under heavy construction. Defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler, two pending UFAs who seemed destined to be flipped midseason, are playing well enough to warrant contract extensions. Laughton's situation is essentially the reverse: he's under contract through 2025-26 at a $3-million cap hit, but trade packages may be too hefty to pass up.

Despite the Flyers' success, Briere probably won't be a deadline buyer.

Gerry Thomas / Getty Images

Briere's Metropolitan Division counterpart, Tom Fitzgerald, on the other hand, may be motivated to swing for the fences. Fitzgerald's Devils are in desperate need of a goalie and reportedly tried to acquire Markstrom.

Prominent goalies rarely move midseason. But with John Gibson, Juuse Saros, Jake Allen, Elvis Merzlikins, and Marc-Andre Fleury also potentially available, Fitzgerald isn't necessarily boxed into a corner here. If he truly wants a goalie, he can likely pull off something spicy - even if he strikes out on Markstrom.

Hypothetical 2025 Team Europe roster

The 4 Nations Face-off will be in full swing at this time next year.

The in-season tournament pits four nations - Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S. - against each other in a nine-day, seven-game event. Russia (geopolitical reasons), Czechia, Germany, and other hockey nations won't be participating in this slimmed-down, likely one-off international competition.

Patrick Smith / Getty Images

This also means a multi-country All-Star team won't be competing - despite Germany's Leon Draisaitl pushing for the return of Team Europe, which lost to Canada in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey final.

What if Team Europe did return?

For fun, here's a 23-man Team Europe roster featuring players from the same countries that comprised the 2016 team (Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Norway, Latvia, and Slovenia). Hint: This squad wouldn't be a pushover.

Forwards

  • Line 1: Tim Stutzle - Draisaitl - Nikolaj Ehlers
  • Line 2: Kevin Fiala - Anze Kopitar - JJ Peterka
  • Line 3: Juraj Slafkovsky - Nico Hischier - Oliver Bjorkstrand
  • Line 4: Timo Meier - Marco Rossi - Mats Zuccarello
  • Extra: Lars Eller

Defensemen

  • Pair 1: Roman Josi - Moritz Seider
  • Pair 2: J.J. Moser - Simon Nemec
  • Pair 3: Jonas Siegenthaler - Erik Cernak
  • Extra: Martin Fehervary

Goalies

  • Starter: Elvis Merzlikins
  • Backup: Frederik Andersen
  • Extra: Philipp Grubauer

Lowry line's underrated impact

The Jets have lost six of 10, but they're still riding high overall with the third-best points percentage in the Western Conference.

Connor Hellebuyck's brilliance between the pipes, another stellar year for defenseman Josh Morrissey, and the entire team buying into Rick Bowness' defensive style are three obvious driving forces behind their 32-14-5 record.

Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images

Further down the list but no less important: an extremely valuable third line led by captain and center Adam Lowry. Lowry, Nino Niederreiter, and Mason Appleton - three imposing, two-way veteran forwards - tend to handle shutdown duties so the two top lines can focus on offense.

Lowry's line has logged 432 five-on-five minutes, which ranks eighth among any NHL trio. Its outscored the opposition 17-11 in those minutes, with a 22-16 edge in expected goals, according to Evolving-Hockey.

Those are good numbers against scrubs. Yet the line's 10 most-common opponents list is littered with stars: Alex DeBrincat, Jason Robertson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner.

"They really use their size to their advantage. All of them are bigger bodies. They're good at protecting the puck," Jets defenseman Neal Pionk said. "And then the chemistry that they've built is such a huge component: Appy and Lows have played together for three or four years now, and they've taken Nino in as their left winger. Their chemistry and their size are the biggest things."

Parting shots

Chase update: The hockey world is a better place when Alex Ovechkin is wiring pucks past goalies. The Capitals captain has turned it on after a miserable first half, potting a goal in each of his last six games. He's up to 836 for his career, or 58 behind Wayne Gretzky's record 894. Ovechkin's shooting and scoring rates have never been lower, at 3.47 shots and 0.29 goals per game. If he maintains that pace down the stretch, he'll finish with 274 shots and 23 goals in 79 games - lousy full-season numbers by his standards. However, if he can start next season 49 goals behind Gretzky, it won't take a Herculean effort to make history. Contractually, his runway is two years, minimum. Surely No. 8's good for another 50 goals before calling it quits.

Bring it on: On-ice drama from the last week or so includes the Ridly Greig-Morgan Rielly empty-net fiasco; Jack Hughes flipping out on Viktor Arvidsson; and Nikita Zadorov impersonating Jake Walman's "Griddy" celebration. All three incidents have created significant discussion and debate. All three are kind of hilarious, too. The regular season is 1,312 games long - players and fans need drama to keep them engaged. It's unrealistic to expect a high level of entertainment in all 1,300. But as long as nobody's getting seriously injured, the hostility, chirping, and general crankiness should be welcomed. Especially at this time of year: the season's dog days.

Henrique-Avalanche fit: Expect a bidding war for Adam Henrique after the Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan trades thinned the list of available rental forwards. If the Ducks retain a chunk of the pending unrestricted free agent's $5.825-million cap hit (there's no reason to believe they won't), Henrique could easily be flipped for a first-round draft pick, and that's a price worth paying for contending clubs, like Colorado. Henrique's a dependable all-situations forward capable of playing center or wing. He's positionally sound, strong at faceoffs, and a 15% career shooter. The Avalanche's depth has been shaky all year, and now top-six winger Valeri Nichushkin is away indefinitely while in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Henrique can fill a hole for multiple teams (Bruins? Rangers?), yet the Avs seem to be the most logical landing spot. There could be a fit beyond this year, too, if all goes well.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Nobody Team: 6 NHLers becoming somebodies

Welcome to the fourth edition of the All-Nobody Team.

This exercise scans all 32 NHL teams for previously obscure players who've begun to make meaningful names for themselves. With the All-Star break over, which relative nobodies can we now call somebodies?

As in years past, the player pool is limited to those who 1) were drafted after the second round or not at all, and 2) entered the season with fewer than 500 regular-season minutes played. (We expanded the workload threshold of goalies to 1,500 minutes.)

Below are the three forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie of the 2023-24 All-Nobody Team. Perhaps the next Carter Verhaeghe (2020-21), Michael Bunting (2021-22), or Matias Maccelli (2022-23) is in this eclectic group.

Dmitri Voronkov, Blue Jackets, F

Ben Jackson / Getty Images

New continent. New language. New culture. New teammates. New systems.

For Voronkov, North America and the NHL were completely foreign heading into training camp. He arrived in Columbus not knowing a soul and unable to speak English. The giant forward spent the first 22 years of his life playing in his native Russia, most recently for the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan.

Homesick in November, Voronkov debated a return to Russia despite making a strong impression on the ice. He opted to stick it out and it appears he made the right call. Right now, he's worthy of down-ballot Calder Trophy votes.

Voronkov's recorded 12 goals and 13 assists through 44 games. Those 25 points are tied for seventh among rookies - an excellent ranking for Voronkov considering he averages only 13:21 of ice time. (His 2.55 points per 60 minutes trail only Connor Bedard's 2.66 per 60.)

Passed over in the 2018 draft, Voronkov was selected in the fourth round, 114th overall, in 2019. He's been paired basically all season with fellow countryman and unofficial interpreter Kirill Marchenko. Yegor Chinakhov joined Voronkov and Marchenko for a stretch to give Columbus an all-Russian line.

Next time you're watching the Jackets, isolate Voronkov and pay attention to how he takes his routes. No. 10 is very efficient and stealthy. He'll scoot into open space in anticipation of a pass on the attack, and later in the same shift, as a defender, he'll close out open spaces the opponent's eyeing.

"I don't know how I can describe him other than he's extremely smart," head coach Pascal Vincent said during Columbus' trip to Toronto in December.

Vincent had trouble comparing Voronkov to another active NHLer because of his unique profile. He can play center or wing; is listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds; has playmaking chops; moves around fine; and is a bit of an agitator.

Vincent coached former defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for a few years in Winnipeg. Byfuglien was a rare breed and Voronkov is "that kind of guy" now.

Alex Laferriere, Kings, F

John Russell / Getty Images

Alex Laferriere is best known for two things a half-season into his career:

  • Having a weirdly similar name to 2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere

  • Participating in a spirited fight during his NHL debut

"His family is in the stands! This dude went to Harvard! Big-brain fella slugging it out with the Avalanche!" ESPN personality Pat McAfee yelled at the camera back in October, narrating Laferriere's fight with Colorado's Logan O'Connor.

What an introduction for Laferriere, one of the Kings' two third-round picks in 2020. The winger's toned down the extracurricular activity, fighting one other time over his first 47 NHL games. However, he's found ways to make an impact for L.A. most nights, providing speed off the rush and tenacity along the boards while pitching in a respectable six goals and nine assists.

Laferriere was 5-foot-4 and skinny at 16. Now he's 6-1 and 205 pounds. There's no doubt two years at Harvard, where a lighter game schedule in the NCAA allows for extra off-ice training, helped the 22-year-old fill out.

Making the Kings out of camp was no small feat. Sure, general manager Rob Blake needed cheap help, but L.A. came into this season as a serious Stanley Cup contender. Laferriere, a New Jersey native who cheered for the Bruins as a kid thanks to his dad's Massachusetts roots and ties to Boston College, is skating around 13 minutes a night, often alongside center Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Don't be surprised if this "big-brain fella" carves out a 15-year NHL career.

Martin Pospisil, Flames, F

There's no better proof Pospisil's upgraded his status from "nobody" to "somebody" than the document he autographed earlier this week: a two-year, $2-million contract extension with Calgary.

"We have seen tremendous growth and maturity in Martin's game since we drafted him in 2018," Flames GM Craig Conroy said in a statement.

Steph Chambers / Getty Images

That growth and maturity has been undercut by injuries. Over four AHL seasons, the Slovak often made progress, got injured, made progress, and got hurt again. A concussion shortened his 2022-23 season, but Pospisil was raring to go at Flames training camp last fall. By January? Injured, again.

A healthy Pospisil has wheels, a scoring touch around the net (four goals and eight assists), and the courage and physical traits to deliver crushing body checks. The fourth-round pick is second on the team and fifth among all rookies in hits (104) - even though he's appeared in only 35 of Calgary's 50 games.

While his edgy style is turning Pospisil into a fan favorite, coach Ryan Huska surely would prefer if the winger minimized his time in the penalty box. Pospisil's racked up 39 minutes so far, including a five-minute major for cross-checking Brad Marchand, and owns a minus-five penalty differential.

Michael Kesselring and Sam Malinski, D

This year's rookie class is littered with impact defensemen.

Brock Faber, Luke Hughes, Pavel Mintyukov, and Simon Nemec are on star trajectories - and they're also first- or second-round picks. A bunch of other intriguing rookie blue-liners - Ryan Johnson, Jackson LaCombe, and Kaedan Korczak among them - don't fit our All-Nobody Team criteria, either.

So, we've landed on Arizona's Kesselring and Colorado's Malinski.

Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images

Kesselring, who joined the Coyotes for a nine-game stint to end last season, was called up in November to fill in for an injured Travis Dermott and took full advantage of the opportunity. Through 32 games, he has 11 points - impressively all at five-on-five - while playing third-pairing minutes.

The 24-year-old is one of eight NHL-caliber defensemen on the Coyotes roster. None are currently under contract beyond this season, though Kesselring, a pending unrestricted free agent, will almost certainly be part of the club's future. He's won over coach Andre Tourigny by displaying poise with the puck and using his long reach to ward off opposing attackers.

The Oilers drafted Kesselring in the sixth round in 2018 (coincidentally, he became junior teammates with Laferriere the following season). Edmonton moved him to Arizona in the Nick Bjugstad trade in March 2023.

Michael Martin / Getty Images

Malinski never heard his name called at the draft. A self-described late bloomer, the 25-year-old signed with the Avalanche in 2022 as a college free agent (he was Cornell's outgoing captain and top point-getter on defense).

So far this season, Malinski's split his time between the AHL and NHL, but he may end up forcing Colorado GM Chris MacFarland's hand with how quickly he's developing. The puck-mover gives the Cup-contending Avs necessary depth on the right side. He can hold his own on the third pair.

Samuel Ersson, Flyers, G

It's not easy for any goaltender to win over coach John Tortorella, let alone an inexperienced one. Yet Ersson seems to have done it following 35 career starts, including 25 largely impressive performances so far this season.

"He has a mental capacity for that position that is so strong," Tortorella told reporters Tuesday after Ersson stopped 20 shots in a tight 2-1 Flyers win.

Len Redkoles / Getty Images

Ersson's become the starter in Philadelphia with Carter Hart away from the team after being charged with sexual assault. The chances of third-stringer Cal Petersen outperforming Ersson are slim to none, at least down the stretch.

While the Swede's .903 save percentage is roughly league average, when he's on, he's really on. Ahead of Friday's games, Ersson ranks fourth in the NHL with a 20% steal rate, according to Sportlogiq. Goalies record a "steal" when their goals saved above expected value is the difference in the final score, and Ersson's racked up five steals.

Flyers GM Daniel Briere inked Ersson to a two-year extension before the season, which means if all continues to go well, the club will pay its starter $1.45 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26. That would be tremendous value for Briere, and considering Ersson's only 24 and a former fifth-round pick who spent his early 20s outside the NHL, he's probably not complaining, either.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MacKinnon finds next level, All-Stars on Olympics, and 5 other NHL items

TORONTO - By definition, All-Star Weekend is a congregation of the very best hockey players on earth. Those involved tend to touch down in the host city on a high. After all, they're stars.

Nathan MacKinnon arrived at this year's event on what can only be described as a tear. He's posted 77 points in 41 games since Nov. 1, including seven goals and four assists in the Avalanche's final three games before the break. He's finished 10 games this season with three or more points, and has failed to record a point only seven times. The game's slowed down for him.

"I just think I'm seeing things well out there right now," MacKinnon said Thursday to a large group of reporters. "Plays are developing a little bit slower - in a good way. It's a fast game, so I can kind of see things as they come and try to make the best decision I can."

Dave Sandford / Getty Images

Talk about nightmare fuel for the Avs' remaining regular-season opponents and who they draw in the playoffs. MacKinnon, a two-time runner-up for the Hart Trophy, is an MVP front-runner right now. His 84 points trail only Nikita Kucherov's 86. He's second in shots on goal and offensive-zone puck possession, and he has six more five-on-five points than anybody else.

All for a Colorado squad that's dealt with a string of injuries.

"When you see him elevate his game in the playoffs, you just don't think that he can find another level and he somehow does," Penguins superstar and close friend Sidney Crosby said.

"Everybody looks at Nate right now and how well he's doing, and it's weird, because in my mind I still feel like he's got another gear," teammate Cale Makar said of the 2022 Stanley Cup champion. "That's the crazy part. He's been playing absolutely incredible and carrying our team at the moment."

Like Crosby, almost everything about MacKinnon is a combination of power and grace. On the ice, the 28-year-old deploys a forceful, borderline violent skating stride - yet his silky hands and vision make him a finesse player, too. Off the ice, he has this unmistakable rockstar vibe, punctuated by a maniacal dedication to fitness - yet he isn't rude or attention-seeking.

Each of MacKinnon's contemporaries - Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, and Kucherov - have won the Hart. If he keeps up his torrid pace, and the hockey gods believe in justice, MacKinnon will get his this year.

All-Stars react to Olympic news

David E. Klutho / Getty Images

Kucherov answered a question with a question Friday night.

"Is Team Russia going?" he said when asked for his reaction to the NHL finally sending players to the Olympics again.

No, he was told. As of now, due to geopolitical reasons, Russia won't be part of the 2026 Olympics in Italy, the first time NHL players will participate in the Winter Games since 2014.

"When Team Russia is not out there, it's not the same," Kucherov said.

"I want to go," the Lightning star added. "I think everybody wants to go. It definitely means a lot for the country. Ever since I was a kid, I was watching the Olympics and was dreaming to be part of it one day. It sucks to not participate in one."

David Pastrnak, the affable Bruins sniper, had a different take on Saturday's double announcement regarding international hockey. He's fired up about the Olympics in 2026 and 2030 but less enthused about the 4 Nations Face-Off, which doesn't include his country. But, hey, beggars can't be choosers.

"I'm disappointed. There's a lot of players disappointed. I understand," Pastrnak said of only Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States competing in the 2025 event. "At the same time, you get the bad news and good news, right? We got the good news with the Olympics. The bad news is, Czech won't be able to play 4 Nations. At the same time, if you tell me we're gonna be at 4 Nations but we won't play Olympics, I would (be less happy)."

Dave Sandford / Getty Images

Pastrnak, Kucherov, and Germany's Draisaitl headline a robust group who won't be part of the nine-day 4 Nations event. It isn't best-on-best. The 2016 World Cup featured two gimmick teams in Team North America and Team Europe. Was Draisaitl pushing for Team Europe's return?

"Of course I was," he said. "There were different ways of putting something like this together, but at the end of the day, it's the league that makes these calls, right? It's unfortunate, but I'm happy with hopefully (Germany) being able to go to the Olympics."

From a fan's perspective, it's probably best to look at the 4 Nations Face-Off as a bonus, because the NHL being back in the Olympics is the truly significant development. The Canada-U.S. rivalry alone will be gripping. Imagine, too, seeing McDavid, Connor Bedard, and Crosby together.

"With all the uncertainty that's been around in years prior, and just how great of an experience it is, it's just awesome news," Crosby, 36, said.

Canadiens double-dip on Monahan

Win-win.

That's how I viewed Wednesday's Calgary-Vancouver Elias Lindholm swap (though I definitely liked the Canucks' side of the deal more). And that's how I see Friday's Montreal-Winnipeg Sean Monahan deal. Monahan, roughly a poor man's Lindholm as far as player type and overall impact, is off to the Jets for Winnipeg's first-round draft pick in 2024 (plus a conditional third).

It's a tidy piece of business for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes, who bought low and sold high. In August 2022, Hughes acquired Monahan (then making $6.375 million a year) and a first-rounder so Calgary could clear salary. Now, after Monahan showed he's still a strong middle-six option when healthy, Hughes picked up another first. Monahan's digestible $1.985-million cap hit was a driving force behind the trade - again, kudos to Hughes.

Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis and the club's development staff deserve praise, too. Monahan, now 29, was a distressed asset in need of a reboot. He was given plenty of ice time and responded with 52 points in 74 games.

While I love this deal for the Habs (A grade), I merely like it for the Jets (B).

There's been a lack of centers available on the trade market, and Monahan's cheap and useful, especially on the power play. Winnipeg smartly responded to Vancouver's aggressive Lindholm pursuit and now boast a 1-4 center group of Mark Scheifele, Monahan, Adam Lowry, and Vlad Namestnikov. Not great, sure, but also definitely not bad for a team with finishers on the wing.

The catch: if Monahan can't stay healthy, the Jets just wasted their 2024 first.

The 'magic' of Kucherov and Point

Mark LoMoglio / Getty Images

Kucherov's been a menace all season.

His stat line looks like it's from the 1980s: 32 goals and 53 assists for 85 points in 49 games. For context, the Blackhawks and Sharks - entire teams - have scored 105 goals in 50 games and 107 goals in 51 games, respectively.

What's caught my eye while watching the Lightning lately is how Kucherov's chemistry with longtime center Brayden Point has become almost twin-like.

"Yeah, I guess that's a way to put it," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told theScore with a laugh in late January. "You could put Kuch and Point on other lines and they'd be fine. But, when they're together, they make magic."

Both are elite skaters. Both have sky-high hockey IQ. Kucherov is particularly sharp and also on the short list for most gifted offensive talent of this generation (even if his performance in Friday's skills event was subpar).

Like all prolific producers, Kucherov and Point attack the slot area. At the All-Star break, Kucherov ranks first in the league with 4.39 slot passes per game, while Point - who's a nightmare to defend against off the rush, cycle, and forecheck - sits tied for 11th in slot shots per game, according to Sportlogiq.

Mark Blinch / Getty Images

A nugget from Stathletes that emphasizes the pair's chemistry: Kucherov has passed the puck to Point directly before 98 of Point's 249 shot attempts this season. Those 98 shot attempt "assists" - that's what we'll call them - are tied with Mitch Marner (passer) and Matthews (shooter) for the league lead.

Simply put: Kucherov and Point feed off each other, and their magic isn't easily replicable.

"Everyone says, well, hey, I can go play with McDavid. Well, you have to be able to play at top speed like he can in order to keep up," Cooper said.

"That's what Kuch can do, what Point can do, and what the greats in the league can do. They make plays at top speed, with their feet and their mind. Now that they've played together for so long, they know where each other are going to be. It's a great luxury to have, when you have two guys like that, who work as hard as they do as well."

Parting shots

Coyotes heat: Commissioner Gary Bettman's All-Star press conference Friday was dominated by Hockey Canada questions. (Read the latest on the scandal here.) The other contentious issue was expansion and relocation, which always brings about two things: name-dropping and damage control. The name-dropping this time around: not only have groups in Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Quebec City, Kansas City, and Houston recently reached out about bringing the NHL to town, but apparently Cincinnati and Omaha (of all places) have as well. The damage control: Bettman said he's "reasonably confident" the Coyotes will purchase land in Phoenix to build a new arena. Like he did in November, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh expressed extreme disappointment in the state of the Coyotes, who continue to embarrassingly play out a 4,600-seat NCAA arena. "This is not the way to run a business," Walsh said - and he's absolutely, 100% correct. Walsh, who's more assertive than old PA boss Donald Fehr, doubled down, stating he'd support relocation if the arena situation isn't resolved ASAP. He's pissed off and isn't afraid to show it, which is exactly the type of leadership Coyotes players need right now.

"Chosen One" doc: I found the new Alexandre Daigle documentary to be entertaining and enlightening. Daigle, picked first in the 1993 NHL Draft, was hailed as a savior for the one-year-old Ottawa Senators before turning out to be something of a bust. The doc includes plenty of honesty from Daigle, who talks about battling depression as he failed to live up to expectations. There was far more stigma around mental health in the '90s; even speaking with a sports psychologist was viewed as a sign of weakness. That in mind, I wonder how Daigle's career would have unfolded had he played in this era. Would he have entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, recovered, then found his way? Maybe that's oversimplifying a complicated career and life. Maybe it isn't. At any rate, I recommend "Chosen One," which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Canada and ESPN+ in the U.S.

Puzzle piece: Canucks coach Rick Tocchet found out about the Lindholm trade while in transit to All-Star Weekend. The way Tocchet sees it, Lindholm's jack-of-all-trades profile changes the complexion of Vancouver's forward group. "I'm a puzzle guy, and he's a big piece," Tocchet said Thursday. "He fits the puzzle for us. To win, you have to have those guys who can play 200 feet. They can score and also defend." Tocchet reached out to one of Lindholm's old linemates, Matthew Tkachuk, for his take. Tkachuk couldn't have been more complimentary. "When Matthew Tkachuk loves a guy, you know he's a good player," Tocchet said. Credit to Vancouver's front office for being so decisive. Last season, the Canucks didn't like where things were headed in the short term and offloaded Bo Horvat five weeks from the deadline. This year, they like what they see, and acquired Lindholm five weeks out.

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trade grades: Canucks, Lindholm a fantastic fit

Welcome to Toronto … and Vancouver?

On Wednesday night, Elias Lindholm landed in Toronto for All-Star Weekend as a member of the Canucks. The Flames traded the veteran forward to Vancouver in exchange for forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defensive prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, the Canucks' 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder. (If Vancouver advances to the Western Conference Final, the fourth becomes a third.)

It's a reunion of sorts for Lindholm. Canucks president Jim Rutherford selected the 6-foot-1, 202-pound Swede fifth overall at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Let's take a look at the deal from both perspectives.

The Canucks

Gerry Thomas / Getty Images

For starters, props to the Canucks for being aggressive on the trade market.

Other contenders could have gobbled up the marquee names and forced Vancouver into Plan B or C. Instead, it's Vancouver - unexpectedly first in the Western Conference with 71 points through 49 games - setting the tone.

So, from a very high level, a big swing like this, this early, makes sense.

What takes the trade from "cool, they're being aggressive" to "oh, this might actually put them over the top" is the fit between player and team. Lindholm, a 29-year-old unrestricted free agent, was exactly what the Canucks needed: a right-handed center to slot in comfortably behind superstar Elias Pettersson.

Lindholm can absorb some of the defensive load Pettersson's carrying on a night-to-night basis. A 55.5% faceoff guy this year, he can help the Canucks improve their 16th-ranked success rate in the circle. He can also boost the penalty kill, which is tied for 15th. As a bonus, there's a spot for Lindholm on the top power play unit (sorry, Pius Suter, your time on PP1 is effectively over).

Perhaps best of all, Lindholm can go back to skating with high-end producers. He scored a career-high 42 goals in 2021-22 alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. Since that trio broke up, offense has been harder to come by. Part of that's on Lindholm. Part of it's on Yegor Sharangovich, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jonathan Huberdeau being his most common linemates.

Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images

We'll see how Canucks coach Rick Tocchet moves bodies around, but there's a strong chance Lindholm starts with JT Miller, who's fourth in the league in points, and 30-goal man Brock Boeser. Or maybe Lindholm, who finished second in Selke Trophy voting two years ago, ends up on Pettersson's line.

Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin weren't gifted Lindholm, of course. Trading a first, a third or fourth, two prospects, and Kuzmenko is not nothing for a pending UFA. Yet, that's what's required to reel in one of the best forwards available five weeks ahead of the trade deadline on March 8.

Amazingly, the Canucks gained a bit of financial flexibility here. Lindholm's $4.85-million cap hit is $650,000 less than Kuzmenko's $5.5 million.

Grade: A

The Flames

Derek Cain / Getty Images

This swap is a pure volume play for Flames GM Craig Conroy. None of the five pieces coming to Calgary qualify as a premium asset - which, on one hand, is unfortunate, and on the other, is not the end of the world during a retool.

Given the Canucks' success, the first-rounder will be in the 20s or 30s.

Kuzmenko is a flier. He went from bagging 39 goals as a rookie alongside Pettersson to eight goals in 43 games so far as a sophomore. He seemed to find a permanent home in Tocchet's doghouse. A change of scenery could do Kuzmenko good. If not, the sharp-shooting Russian winger is a UFA in 2025.

Brzustewicz is a legitimate NHL prospect. He leads all OHL defenseman in points this season - no small feat. A smart, right-shot puck-mover, the 19-year-old is closer stylistically to the cerebral Rasmus Sandin than dynamic Cale Makar. Brzustewicz could blossom into a top-four D-man down the road.

Jurmo, a 6-foot-3 Finnish blue-liner, is a long shot to make a serious impact in the NHL, and the other pick - a third- or fourth-rounder - is a lottery ticket.

Again, no asset in the package blows you away. But a few have potential.

Lindholm wasn't re-signing in Calgary and didn't have an extension in place with Vancouver before the deal. So, realistically, the ceiling on the return was never going to be exceptionally high. The Flames could have waited until closer to the deadline to see if something better materialized, but Conroy also has Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and (possibly) Jacob Markstrom to shop.

The overall haul is, in a word, solid - especially given the circumstances.

Grade: B-

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock McGillis wants to create a culture shift – one team at a time

Sitting on a stool inside a South Surrey, British Columbia, conference room last November, with a group of young male hockey players staring back at him, Brock McGillis lobbed a simple question at the Under-18 Semiahmoo Ravens.

"What is something you like doing away from hockey that you don't typically share with the boys?" asked McGillis, the first openly gay men's pro hockey player.

After gentle prodding, a player spoke up to say he likes to spend his free time making "dirty rap songs" - boom, the ice was broken. Others shared their love for drawing, woodworking, airplanes, luxury cars, fishing, and anime cartoons. One player sheepishly confessed to being a "big Lego guy."

"Legos! That's the first time I've gotten that answer, anywhere," McGillis said.

McGillis speaking with the Eastern Ontario Wild U15 AAA team. Submitted photo

McGillis has experienced different versions of this revelatory interaction many times over the past few months. His 100-day Culture Shift tour, which includes talks with more than 100 minor-hockey teams spread across the seven Canadian NHL markets, aims to change language, behavior, and attitudes.

He challenges teenage players to embrace what makes them unique within a sport that typically promotes conformity. In Calgary, a player told McGillis about his hobby making candles - and how his teammates are selling them.

"I have this saying: Normal doesn't exist. We're all a bunch of weirdos, and that's a beautiful thing," McGillis said last week during a break in the tour, which is scheduled to wrap in Toronto on Feb. 5 and return next season.

McGillis played in the Ontario Hockey League, briefly in the now-defunct United Hockey League, a pro league in the Netherlands, and at Concordia University in Montreal. The former goalie came out in 2016 and has since dedicated his working hours to LGBTQ activism and relaying his personal story. Now 40, he's the co-founder of the queer-led nonprofit Alphabet Sports Collective, and was recently named one of The Hockey News' 100 people of power and influence within the sport.

Here are a few things we learned while sitting down with McGillis.

The ripple effect

McGillis at a Pride event in New York City in 2019. Noam Galai / Getty Images

After his retirement in 2010, McGillis began training elite athletes in Sudbury, Ontario. He hid his sexuality for about five years at work in part because he was afraid of being blackballed by local sports associations. Then he got a phone call from a hockey mom who wanted to set him up on a blind date.

"What's her name?" McGillis asked.

"Steve," the mom replied.

McGillis' clients already knew his secret. He thought about coming out to them, but opted to observe their behavior instead. He noticed they'd freeze up and apologize any time they used homophobic language. McGillis was encouraged by this, though he wondered how they acted with him not around.

At a conditioning session when McGillis wasn't present, a player, upset at another trainer's demands to keep running, expressed his frustrations. "This is so gay," he said. An older player told the younger player his remark was unacceptable and anybody who speaks like that should do 50 pushups.

Keeping teammates accountable in this way became a trend in the area.

"That older player, on that day, on a random track in Sudbury, in 2015, did something he thought was so small. But he was creating a shift. And that shift had a ripple effect," McGillis said. "Because every shift we create - big or small - leads to something else."

McGillis came out not long after hearing that story. Thousands of people have reached out for counsel since then. Many have summoned the courage to come out themselves. Another ripple effect.

"Pick a topic: Racism. Homophobia. Misogyny. Ableism. Bullying. Mental health," McGillis said. "Whatever it is, a shift can happen."

How to create shifts

McGillis on the Winnipeg Jets' "Ground Control" podcast in Jan. 2024. YouTube / Winnipeg Jets

McGillis believes there are three easy ways to create a shift within big groups:

  • Humanize the issue

  • Create an accepting environment

  • Break conformity

To start his talks, McGillis asks the group if they know anyone from the LGBTQ community. Typically, 90% raise a hand - and he wants the teenagers to think about that person in their life as he relays his own story. For years, he himself used slurs, adopted a hyper-masculine attitude, and dated girls. He battled depression. All because he was never comfortable being his true self.

What might your sibling, friend, classmate, or teammate be thinking? And feeling?

McGillis noticed the vast majority of hockey players dress, walk, talk, and act similarly. In other words, they conform to norms of hockey culture.

Creating an accepting environment, one that celebrates differences in outside interests, skin color, sexual orientation, and whatever else, can lead to a break in conformity, which can lead to people feeling empowered to speak out about injustices. These open-minded environments, McGillis says, can be fostered at the grassroots, intermediate (junior or college), and pro levels.

"We need to embrace individuality," McGillis said. "This cultlike mentality we have in hockey culture is problematic. It leads to things like the 2018 world juniors team." McGillis decries the silence from Hockey Canada and teammates who may have witnessed the alleged sexual assault at the center of an ongoing scandal.

Evolving at slow pace

McGillis posing with the Calgary Wranglers U15 AA team. Submitted photo

In some ways, a lot has changed since McGillis came out.

Luke Prokop, a third-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators, is now the first out gay player under NHL contract. Player agent Bayne Pettinger, Alphabet Sports Collective's other co-founder, is out too. Seattle Kraken athletic trainer Justin Rogers counts as yet another trailblazer. All three received overwhelming support at the time of their personal announcements.

Pride warmup jerseys and Pride Tape have been overall positives for hockey and the LGBTQ community. However, controversies surrounding their NHL usage have dominated headlines. With most steps forward, there's a step back.

"We have to see all the dark to push towards the light," is how McGillis puts it.

Is he generally optimistic about the future?

"We have a ways to go to continue to evolve the culture. But people want to evolve it. Adults want to. Kids want to. They're receptive. I've seen it firsthand lately," McGillis said. "One of the biggest things I'm realizing is that nobody wants to be the villain. When you teach people the impact they're having - positive or negative - nobody wants to be the one making a negative impact.

"It's the best sport in the world," he added. "So let's make the best version of it on and off the ice."

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

6 players of intrigue entering trade season

When does it become trade season in the NHL?

Early January, apparently.

We got a bombshell last week, with the Flyers trading top prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Ducks for NHL defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick. This Thursday marks 50 days until the March 8 trade deadline.

Let's take a look at six intriguing players who may be changing teams. Each section below includes a summary of the latest media reports; the player's on-ice value; and three potential landing spots.

Jake Guentzel, winger

Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Key report: Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend that "no determination has been made" on Guentzel's future in Pittsburgh. Guentzel, who'll turn 30 before next season, is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Penguins are trying to win a fourth Stanley Cup with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. However, they already have four 30-somethings (Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell) locked up through at least 2026-27.

On-ice value: If there was some form of standardized testing for hockey smarts, Guentzel would ace it, probably finishing in the top 10 in the entire NHL. The unassuming 5-foot-11, 180-pound winger's hockey IQ is that high.

Guentzel always finds his way to the most dangerous areas of the ice. As of Monday, he was first in the league in expected goals per game (0.70), third in inner-slot shots per game (1.54), seventh in scoring chances generated off the cycle per game (1.83), and tied for 10th in rebound chances per game (0.34), according to Sportlogiq. It's all led to 19 goals and 27 assists in 42 games.

Guentzel, a two-time 40-goal scorer, is on pace for 37 tallies, and his 36 even-strength points rank fifth in the NHL. Bonus: he's responsible defensively.

What's tricky about Guentzel is that he's played the vast majority of his 9,500 career minutes alongside Crosby, an all-time great. Teasing out what Guentzel can bring to the table on another line for a different team is the chief challenge for front offices thinking about trading for him. Two other challenges: He has a 12-team no-trade list, according to CapFriendly, and he won't be cheap in terms of salary cap hit ($6 million) and acquisition cost (hefty trade package).

Three good fits: Guentzel should reel in something to the effect of one NHL player, one first-round pick, and one decent prospect. The package would grow, of course, if the trade included an extension. The Hurricanes and Oilers both need another finisher on the wing. The Canucks have been linked to Guentzel in part because president Jim Rutherford, general manager Patrik Allvin, and coach Rick Tocchet all know him well from their Pittsburgh tenures.

Elias Lindholm, center

Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Key report: The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun wrote in late December that it was his understanding there have been no recent conversations between Lindholm and the Flames. The insider also noted Lindholm hasn't been told he's definitely on the move. Still, Calgary appears headed for a retool/rebuild, and acquiring assets for the 29-year-old pending UFA would accelerate things.

On-ice value: Lindholm, in his sixth season in Calgary and 11th overall, is a top-of-the-lineup center whose stock has fluctuated over the past few years.

He peaked in 2021-22. Flanked by Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, Lindholm recorded his first and only point-per-game season. He scored 42 times (his previous high was 29) and finished second in Selke Trophy voting. That trio, dismantled during the 2022 offseason, was dominant wire to wire.

Lindholm has come back down to earth of late. His underlying numbers have declined, and this season, he's pitched in eight goals and 21 assists in 44 games while playing mostly with Yegor Sharangovich, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jonathan Huberdeau. He remains a trusty impact player. The 2013 fifth overall pick leads all Flames forwards in average ice time (20:45) and blocked shots (37) and is enjoying a career year in the faceoff circle (56% win rate).

Lindholm isn't an elite first-line center. On a legitimate Cup contender, he's a strong second-line guy attached to a manageable cap hit ($4.85 million).

Three good fits: If the Flames decide to move Lindholm, they should be able to fetch a first-rounder and either a prospect or a young NHLer. The Bruins have looked better than expected down the middle after losing Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, yet Lindholm would be a welcomed upgrade, and Boston has its 2025 first-rounder to trade. Meanwhile, the Avalanche and Jets - two other presumed buyers in need of a top-six center - have first-round picks in both 2024 and 2025. Colorado, with underqualified Ross Colton currently occupying the 2C spot on the depth chart, is the tidiest fit on paper.

Noah Hanifin, defenseman

Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Key report: Hanifin told Sportsnet last week that, as paraphrased by writer Eric Francis, "it's still quiet on the contract front." For context: The blue-liner was close to signing a long-term extension months ago, then talks broke off. Calgary exited the offseason with five notable pending UFAs on its roster - Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov. Backlund re-signed in late September. Zadorov was traded in early December.

On-ice value: With Hanifin on the ice for five-on-five action, the 2023-24 Flames have accounted for 57% of the goals scored (41 for, 31 against). With him off the ice at five-on-five, they've accounted for 44% of the goals (50-64).

Hanifin's regular partner - Tanev, the shot-blocking machine - has certainly influenced those lopsided on/off percentages. However, there's no denying that 21-18-5 Calgary has been a far better team when Hanifin's out there skating, moving the puck, killing plays, and operating with poise and veteran savvy.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and set to celebrate his 27th birthday next week, Hanifin already has 642 games of experience to his name. He's slowly but surely polished his skills to a point where he can now be used in virtually any game situation. He would be a good second-pair guy for the right team.

Hanifin's making $4.95 million and owns an eight-team no-trade list, per CapFriendly. His extension, in Calgary or elsewhere, seems to be trending toward a lengthy term and a cap hit between $7 million and $8 million.

Three good fits: A straightforward Hanifin trade - no salary retention or extension - should net the Flames something along the lines of a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and a low-end NHLer. The Stars and Maple Leafs come to mind. Dallas' blue line thins out after Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, though money would be tight. Toronto could slot Hanifin behind Morgan Rielly, although, again, there are money issues. The Coyotes, meanwhile, were linked to Hanifin in November. Arizona has oodles of cap space and, amazingly, no NHL defensemen signed for next season. Would Hanifin agree to a sign-and-trade?

Trevor Zegras, center

Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images

Key report: Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported last week that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek "has mentioned Zegras' name in conversation with teams this season, though it remains unclear how far (if at all) those talks advanced." That nugget came on the heels of drawn-out contract negotiations in the fall. It's safe to say Verbeek, who didn't draft Zegras or (now-former teammate) Drysdale, may not see Zegras as one of Anaheim's long-term core pieces.

On-ice value: For the next six weeks or so, Zegras' value is, well, nothing. Hurt for more than half of the season thanks to multiple injuries, he's currently nursing a broken ankle. He's accumulated four goals and seven points in 20 games.

That said, the recovery timeline provided by the Ducks gives Zegras a decent chance at returning before the deadline, which means there's a short window for him to be dealt midseason. The creative center is different from the other five players discussed in this story because he'll still be a restricted free agent after the expiry of his current deal ($5.75 million per year through 2025-26).

What's interesting about Zegras is that the hype surrounding him and his game hasn't matched his on-ice contributions. He's supremely skilled, has graced the cover of a video game, and is undoubtedly one of the sport's top personalities. But, through 200 games, he's shown himself to be an offense-only perimeter player who puts up around 65 points every 82 games.

So, it may seem like he's on a superstar trajectory, but he's not. He's yet to give us a reason to buy that narrative yet. He's only 22, though, so there's time to grow. And, if he doesn't level up significantly over the next handful of years, 65 points is still valuable second-line production.

Three good fits: It feels like if Zegras moves, the trade details will look similar to the recent Philadelphia-Anaheim swap: a young NHLer and a second-rounder traded for a blue-chip prospect. The Canadiens have made a habit of acquiring high-pedigree forwards in their 20s who could use a change of scenery (Sean Monahan, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook). The Predators have the right playing style and a long-term role for Zegras. The Blackhawks have about a dozen roster holes to fill and about a dozen desirable picks and prospects to flip.

Elvis Merzlikins and John Gibson, goalies

Jason Mowry / Getty Images

Key reports: Merzlikins, 29, confirmed this week that he's requested a trade out of Columbus. Gibson, 30, was the subject of trade-request reports in back-to-back offseasons (he/his agent denied both reports), and the idea of him leaving Anaheim has been rumored for years. Both play for non-playoff teams and would be near the top of the list for clubs looking for goalie help.

On-ice values: There are many similarities between Merzlikins and Gibson.

Both goalies fell on hard times over the past few years after posting stellar numbers to start their careers. Both have played in terrible defensive environments and failed to hold up their end of the bargain since signing huge deals; for Merzlikins, $5.4 million a season for five years, expiring in 2026-27, and for Gibson, $6.4 million a season for eight years, expiring in 2026-27. Both have younger goalies nipping at their heels. Both have rebounded this season (Merzlikins more so). Both own 10-team no-trade lists.

Starting goalies rarely change hands. But there may be GMs out there who convince themselves that one of these netminders simply needs a fresh start.

Three good fits: A trade involving Merzlikins or Gibson would almost certainly involve salary retention. A goalie might go the other way. It would be complicated. So, let's forget about what a package might look like and focus on the teams. The Devils, Hurricanes, and Oilers are all in win-now mode and need better starting goalies. The most intriguing aspect of a trade of this kind isn't the upside; it's the downside. Goaltending is such an unpredictable position, and what New Jersey, Carolina, and Edmonton have now might ultimately be a better bet than spending assets to take a chance on one of these veteran netminders - despite how tempting it might be to mix things up.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

‘Real’ All-Stars, Quick’s resurgence, Fantilli rolling, and 3 other NHL items

In the NHL universe, there are two sets of All-Stars.

There's the midseason All-Stars - the 44 players picked to participate in All-Star Weekend, set this year for Feb. 1-3 in Toronto. One representative for each team is chosen by the league. Another 12 players are voted in by fans.

Then there are the lesser-known end-of-season accolades for the 12 players chosen as first- or second-team All-Stars by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each "team" in this case includes one center, one left wing, one right wing, two defensemen (any handedness), and one goalie.

Brian Babineau / Getty Images

The selection process for the first set of All-Stars is inclusive and done with entertainment in mind. It's for fun. The second set, which is unveiled during the annual awards ceremony, is exclusive, formal, and very much real in the sense that the results can impact a player's Hockey Hall of Fame candidacy.

Using the positional designations listed on NHL.com, here's who I'd slot into the NHL's First Team and Second Team spots if votes were due this week:

Center: MacKinnon, who's been on a tear for months, is a Hart Trophy favorite. McDavid's second in points (53) among centers despite appearing in just 33 games. I strongly considered Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, and Jack Hughes for Second Team, but none of them have been quite as outstanding as McDavid. (Gun to my head, Crosby's third.) Props to Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Aleksander Barkov for two-way brilliance. As usual, the position is rich in superstar talent.

Left wing: Panarin was the obvious choice for First Team. I picked Forsberg over Jesper Bratt, Zach Hyman, and Jake Guentzel because the Swede has posted similar numbers with a bit less dynamic talent around him in Nashville.

Right wing: Kucherov was easily the First guy, whereas Pastrnak had a serious challenger in William Nylander. In the end, the degree to which Pastrnak powers Boston's offense (18 points clear of Brad Marchand, his linemate and the Bruins' second-highest scorer) gave him the edge. If I were to fill five teams, I'd go Nylander 3; Mikko Rantanen 4; Brock Boeser 5.

Defensemen: Hughes is a Hart candidate, and Makar has been fantastic, so finalizing the First Team wasn't difficult. For Second, Dobson was a no-brainer, while I debated between Morrissey, Rasmus Dahlin, and Evan Bouchard for the last spot. What tipped the scales: Winnipeg's outscored the opposition 40-18 (!) at five-on-five when Morrissey's been on the ice.

Goalie: Similar to the defensemen, two goalies were a cut above the rest. Since Hellebuyck's underlying numbers are slightly better than Demko's, I gave him the First spot. Other starting netminders worthy of a shoutout here: Connor Ingram, Cam Talbot, and Ilya Sorokin. And, of course, props to the two-headed beast that is Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark in Boston.

What's behind Quick's resurgence?

Justin Berl / Getty Images

Jonathan Quick had nothing to prove coming into this season.

He was a three-time Stanley Cup champion who won twice as the starter in L.A. and once as the backup in Vegas. He was named playoff MVP in 2012. He finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting three times. He revolutionized the position by popularizing the reverse vertical horizontal, or RVH, post-play technique.

After signing a one-year, $825,000 deal (plus bonuses) with the Rangers this past offseason, he was expected to be Igor Shesterkin's mentor and not much more. After all, he turns 38 later this month and will be skating off into the sunset sooner rather than later.

Instead, Quick has flourished in New York. He owns a .917 save percentage and has saved 0.61 goals above expected per 60 minutes of action, according to Sportlogiq. How good are those marks in today's offense-first NHL? Among the 54 goalies who've logged 700 or more minutes, Quick is tied for 10th in SV% and ranks seventh in GSAE/60.

The No. 1 reason behind Quick's resurgence: his health. No. 2: his positioning.

Eliot J. Schechter / Getty Images

Quick's playing deeper and much tighter to the goal line under the tutelage of Benoit Allaire, the Rangers' director of goaltending and a legend in goalie circles. In doing so, Quick's been less reliant on his trademark aggression and athleticism, letting the game come to him. Thus far, he's being beaten on the pass less frequently.

"Benoit is very big on simplifying a goalie's game. He's very big on being disciplined in your crease. Overall, he doesn't want his goalies to move all that much," said Rob Gherson, a pro goalie turned goalie coach who worked alongside Allaire in 2005-06 as a member of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.

"And when you play deeper and stand your ground, the net disappears," Gherson said. "It's an illusion that messes with shooters' heads."

Gherson, a minor leaguer from 2004-09, explained how playing tighter to the goal line widens a goalie's margin of error. The position is about responding to what's unfolding in front of you. You can't be constantly chasing the puck.

Especially, in Quick's case, when your physical attributes have dwindled.

"For goalies who play aggressively, I think of them almost like baseball players with really long swings," he said. "When you're on, you're really good. But when something gets out of alignment, you really struggle. So, playing deeper and moving less - like Quick is doing in New York - means, naturally, fewer things can go wrong. Playing deeper makes everything more consistent."

Fantilli primed for big second half

Kirk Irwin / Getty Images

The early Calder Trophy conversation has been dominated by Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard, who leads all rookies in goals, assists, and points. Sure, Brock Faber - the minute-munching defenseman for the Wild - has commanded some peripheral attention, but the debate's been pretty boring.

Watch for that to change in the second half thanks to Adam Fantilli.

Consider this: the Blue Jackets center was dealt a suboptimal hand to start his career. His first coach, Mike Babcock, was fired before training camp; Columbus has failed to meet expectations as a team; and, up until recently, his second coach, Pascal Vincent, had limited his usage and deployment.

The 13-19-8 Blue Jackets are still a mess. However, Fantilli has responded to Vincent taking the training wheels off by posting eight points in his past 10 games. His season total - 24 in 40 games - is first among rookies not named Bedard. Fantilli, 19, also trails only Bedard in goals (11), expected goals (10.8, according to Evolving Hockey), shots on goal (99), and shot attempts (209).

Kirk Irwin / Getty Images

The Michigan product looked like a future franchise cornerstone as a prospect and has delivered early on. He's a full-package player with explosive skating, a lethal shot, defensive chops, an athletic build, and a physical edge. He's already established himself as an annoying forechecker and threat off the rush; his quickness is on full display every time he blazes through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick (which is often).

"The one thing we don't talk about enough is his mental strength," Vincent said prior to Columbus' mid-December win in Toronto. "He's a very mature young man and he's got this swagger about him. He's got this confidence."

"He's like a sponge," the coach added of Fantilli, who he doesn't envision hitting the so-called rookie wall. "He's really coachable. He's a big component of our future and our present right now. He's been adjusting really, really well."

Parting shots

Jonathan Huberdeau: New season, new coach, same results. After posting 115 points in 80 games during his final season in Florida, Huberdeau has recorded just 72 points in 117 games in Calgary. (For context: that's the equivalent of 49 points in 80 games.) This season, the 30-year-old winger is 11th among Flames in points, and he's still poor defensively. It's truly shocking how quickly things have gone off the rails. The worst part is, Huberdeau's in Year 1 of an eight-year deal carrying a $10.5-million cap hit. Breaking even in a trade (Calgary would have to retain salary) appears virtually impossible, and the bonuses baked into his contract make a buyout pointless. The Huberdeau contract is the NHL's worst - and it isn't particularly close.

Hurricanes circling: It took a while to get here, but the Hurricanes look like themselves again, which means order has been restored in the NHL. Carolina's underlying numbers are excellent, their special teams are strong, and their forecheck-heavy style is producing wins. Also in typical Canes fashion, Rod Brind'Amour's goalies can't stay healthy and the forward group needs at least one more finisher. A preseason favorite to contend for the President's Trophy and challenge for the Stanley Cup, 22-13-4 Carolina has lost only once in regulation in its past 12 games. The team is second in the Metropolitan Division and, with a second half packed with home dates, there's a chance it can catch up to the Rangers, who're currently five points ahead.

Righty-lefty data: Recently stumbled upon a research paper on handedness among NHLers. The most interesting finding from the paper (which has not been peer-reviewed by an academic journal) is that, on average, the United States produces far more right-handed shooters than Canada, Russia, and Europe. From 1967 to the present, righties have accounted for 46.7% of all American NHL forwards and defensemen compared to 37.4% of Canadian skaters, 25.7% of Russian skaters, and 25.3% of European skaters. "Clearly, there are (many) more players susceptible to shoot right when they are from the USA than when they are from anywhere else in the world," the study concludes. The authors speculate that the righty bias can be partly attributed to higher American participation in youth baseball, where righties rule the batter's box.

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Beyond 32? The cases for and against NHL expansion

"Ladies and gentlemen, your Seattle Kraken!"

The rapper Sir-Mix-A-Lot introduced the NHL's newest team to 47,313 fans gathered inside T-Mobile Park and those watching on television Monday. The game-ready Kraken players, eye black and all, then strutted a catwalk flanked by fire and flying fish before halting for the national anthem. The Vegas Golden Knights, the league's second-newest team, were positioned nearby.

Kraken goaltender Chris Driedger walks to the ice surface at T-Mobile Park Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images

The scene was a bit on the nose for a Seattle-based outdoor game. But that's the allure of the Winter Classic; it's a celebration of hockey and the host city.

This particular Classic doubled as a celebration of the league. Pitting seven-year-old Vegas against third-year Seattle on New Year's Day was a victory lap of sorts for the NHL. And why not: both franchises have been wildly successful.

So successful, in fact, that every time commissioner Gary Bettman is in front of a microphone, he's asked about expanding beyond 32 teams. Bettman tends to respond with two messages: Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Quebec City are all clearly interested, and expansion isn't atop the priority list.

"I don't have a formal expansion process on the horizon," Bettman told Bally Sports Southwest on Dec. 18. "But, we always listen when people are expressing their interest to us, and it's very flattering to know there are so many places that would also like to have an NHL team."

Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman address media in Sweden Ben Jackson / Getty Images

What Bettman hasn't said in these interviews is informative too. He hasn't outright dismissed expansion or changed the subject - he's left the door open.

"We take meetings, we listen, but we're not about to say, 'If you want an expansion team, submit your application by X date.' We're not doing that," he told reporters in mid-November, according to NHL.com's Bill Price. He added, "At some point, somebody may create a proposal that we find so intriguing that we decide to explore it and maybe pursue it. But that's not what we're doing now."

Translation: It's definitely possible the NHL will expand past 32 teams one day.

Should it, though? Let's discuss the cases for and against expansion.

The case for expansion

Golden Knights players watch the team's 2023 championship banner being raised Zak Krill / Getty Images

The NHL's public relations department noted earlier this week that league business was "stronger than ever" in the calendar year of 2023 and that revenues for the 2023-24 season are projected to "exceed $6 billion."

Pro sports leagues want to always tout growth, and expansion can help a mature league like the NHL grow. Expansion, at a basic level, puts money in owners' pockets, gives broadcast partners more inventory, and creates jobs for the players' association.

Win-win-win.

"If it starts with a capital 'B,' the owners are going to be interested and excited. Very, very excited," one assistant general manager for an NHL team said of the potential value of expansion fees. NHL sources were granted anonymity to freely discuss league business.

Expansion fees don't count toward hockey-related revenue, or HRR, which means the players wouldn't get a kickback from, say, a $1-billion entry fee. Still, one veteran agent sees plenty of long-term upside: 23 new jobs per team, and the immense opportunity untapped markets can provide.

"We're in the entertainment business. We can't forget that," said the agent, who represents some of the sport's biggest names. "Players should be into this idea of expanding again. It'll grow the game, grow revenues over time."

Kraken fans take in the Winter Classic in Seattle Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Vegas paid $500 million to enter the league in 2017. Seattle paid $650 million four years later. The small-market Ottawa Senators were recently purchased for $950 million by Michael Andlauer, who in turn sold his 10% minority interest in the big-market Montreal Canadiens at a reported $2.5 billion enterprise value. In late 2023, both Forbes and Sportico estimated the average value of an NHL team at roughly $1.3 billion - a 29% jump over 2022.

The NHL's in a sweet spot. Franchise values are through the roof. There's proof of concept in Vegas and Seattle, which have quickly become key revenue generators and, thanks in part to favorable expansion draft rules, highly competitive teams. (Heck, there's no better advertisement for expansion than the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup in Year 6.) And, with several markets to choose from and no shortage of motivated rich people (nine groups submitted bids for the Senators), the league has power and leverage.

"Bettman is concerned about growing franchise values over time," said David Carter, a University of Southern California professor and a longtime sports industry consultant. "So, if you bring on a team and that team is financially stable - if it has enough money to be competitive on the ice and run a strong business operation - that team will elevate the other boats in the league."

A better question might be: Why wouldn't the NHL want to capitalize on this moment of growth? The league ballooned from 21 to 28 teams in the 1990s. This could be another boom - from 30 to 34 during the 2010s and 2020s.

"At some point, you reach a tipping point where expanding again becomes too much. But the interest in hockey right now is very strong," said Chris Gear, the former longtime chief legal officer and assistant GM for the Vancouver Canucks. "The NHL might be wise to strike while it's hot."

Claus Andersen / Getty Images

Gear, who now runs a consulting agency and law firm called Blackfin Sports Group, mentioned an interesting wrinkle: less travel. With two more teams, one per conference, the NHL could regionalize its divisions better to reduce costs, lessen the physical and environmental toll of air travel, and promote rivalries. (As for balance, the locations that Bettman commonly cites give the league options. Houston and Salt Lake City could join the Western Conference, while Atlanta and Quebec City could join the East.)

One NHL GM said he isn't opposed to adding a pair of teams, as long as the expansion draft rules remain favorable. That may sound counterintuitive (why would a rival GM want to lose two good players?). However, the executive explained that if the existing owners are going to accept an infusion of cash through fees, they should be OK with handing over some NHL-caliber talent.

Expansion would force dozens of players previously in lower leagues into the NHL. This could lead to a watered-down product (as discussed in the next section), but it may also create an environment that caters to true superstars.

"Goal-scoring is up. Maybe that's directly related to the widening of the gap between the very top and very bottom of the league, player-wise," Gear said of the jobs created by recent expansion. "More goals create more excitement, which adds eyeballs and sponsors. Expansion could be seen as a good thing for the product. It really depends on your frame of reference."

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid skates past New Jersey Devils forward Curtis Lazar in a December game Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

The case against expansion

The first counterargument to expansion is the Arizona Coyotes. Unstable throughout their 27-year run in the Phoenix area, the franchise is currently playing out of a 4,600-seat arena on the Arizona State University campus.

The team is finally competitive on the ice, but the search for a permanent, appropriately sized building is dragging on, and the players' union is losing patience.

As NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh puts it, NHL players deserve an NHL rink.

"There's lots of rumors about two more expansion teams coming. I would say three expansion teams. The first one, really, is Arizona - trying to figure out what's going on with Arizona," Walsh, who's in his first full season, said in November during a keynote interview at the PrimeTime sports conference.

He later added: "You can't have 31 teams playing in a full arena and then one playing in a college arena where you're the second citizen, where you're the second tenant."

That last remark hits on the anti-expansion crowd's main talking point: How can the NHL consider expansion if one of its franchises is a prime candidate for relocation? (Pro-expansion types would respond: OK, that's fair. How about two expansion teams and the Coyotes relocate?)

Arizona State University's Mullett Arena in Tempe, where the Coyotes also play Christian Petersen / Getty Images

The quality of the on-ice product is critical to the overall health of the league. By diluting the talent pool, expansion may make games less competitive and entertaining. The best league in the world should have high standards.

In talking with 15 people for this story, the general sentiment was that the on-ice product has been largely unchanged since Vegas and Seattle arrived. It's perhaps slightly worse. However, growing to 33 or 34 teams would add 23 or 46 roster spots that would be filled by players currently in the minors. It's impossible to know for sure, but the league may already be up against the talent threshold.

"The game is growing and there's more countries playing and producing high-end players, so maybe overall there's a bigger talent pool to draw from and that balances everything out," Gear said. "But, I do think you want to be careful. If you expand too many times, too quickly - before that pool of players broadens enough - you might just be watering down the league a little bit."

One assistant GM wondered about the trickle-down effect. For instance, most first-round picks don't immediately make the jump to the NHL in the current 32-team climate. At 34 teams, depth-seeking GMs might feel like the 28th overall pick is the best option to fill out their roster, even though there's a chance that playing in the NHL as a teenager will hurt his development.

Forward Gabriel Perreault, selected 23rd overall by the New York Rangers in the 2023 draft Brian Babineau / Getty Images

More food for thought from an NHL GM: The league has perfect symmetry - 32 teams, 16 per conference, eight per division, and half of the clubs make the playoffs. Expanding would throw off this tidy setup and probably lead the NHL to alter its playoff format, which the league consistently touts as the best.

Expansion wouldn't affect the way a fan follows their favorite team. But it would affect how they follow the rest of the league. The more teams and players, the harder it is to keep up. The average NHL fan in 2024 probably can't name more than three Columbus Blue Jackets players. Expand further and the average fan's connection to rival teams becomes even weaker.

One NHL player sees both sides. If you want to grow the game, you grow the business. At the same time, the NHL shouldn't expand for the sake of expanding. It's a slippery slope, he said, if you're chasing money. The player added that the league can't dismiss what makes the NHL great, whether it's the history of the Original Six or the modern parity and intense competition.

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith Melissa Majchrzak / Getty Images

The final counterargument cited by sources is that just because the Golden Knights and Kraken have crushed it, that doesn't mean the markets expressing interest now will do the same. Quebec City has an NHL rink - but not enough corporate dollars. Salt Lake City has an impressive prospective owner in Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith - but a small population. Atlanta is a massive market - but the NHL has already given it two chances. Houston appears to check off the boxes for ownership, market size and demographics, and a building, making it the lone city that doesn't face a significant hurdle.

Carter believes the NHL won't expand haphazardly. Bettman and his staff will be thorough and diligent. Still, the professor notes there's always risk involved in bringing a new owner, market, and team into the fold during a boom period.

"They're not just looking at money, but ultimately, money is what drives the day," Carter said. "The problem can be if the NHL allows for money to be virtually the only thing. That's when they run into trouble. They have to have owners who fulfill a strategic imperative for the league."

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

‘Shoot it into my veins’: Design experts weigh in on latest NHL looks

Whenever an NHL franchise unveils a fresh jersey, logo, or full getup, an avalanche of analysis follows. Practically everyone serves up a take, from hardcore fans to casuals. That's passion and what fandom's all about.

People who make a living in the sports branding space have strong opinions, too.

Ahead of Monday's Winter Classic in Seattle, theScore asked two sports design gurus to rate and review six of the latest unveilings across the NHL.

Bill Frederick is creative director for Fanbrandz, a sports branding agency. Todd Radom, co-author of "Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos, and Uniforms," is a freelance designer and branding expert.

Golden Knights (Winter Classic)

Handout / Vegas Golden Knights

How does a franchise based in the Mojave Desert that debuted in 2017 create a sharp look suitable for the wintery, nostalgia-soaked Winter Classic?

By developing a story based on what a local NHL team would have looked like in a bygone era, apparently. Vegas' Winter Classic aesthetic is heavy on the Wild West of the early 1900s: cowboy hats, horses, and gambling in a dark saloon.

The end product is a fairly straightforward white, green, and gold jersey. It's regal and leathery. The stylish crest - a large "V" with curly accents - is the draw.

"Top to bottom, this thing is huge," Radom said of the crest. "But it fills the space nicely and it's going to look great on broadcasts. It's very wearable."

"The Knights are using restraint here," Frederick added. "They certainly could have put the team name in front of or arched across the 'V.' I'm sure it was a real option. They must have just come back from that meeting and said, 'Let's just do the 'V,' we're good with that.' And that was definitely a good choice."

Radom envisions this faux-back look being a quick mover on retail racks.

"I can see this being very popular," he said. "I was struck a couple of years ago while I was in Vegas with how deeply invested their fans are, seeing as it's not a traditional hockey market. I remember getting into an Uber and there's Knights stuff just all over the vehicle, inside and out. So, I would imagine the market is probably as saturated as it could be with that core look, given their success on and off the ice so far. Adding this jersey to the stable is brilliant."

Seven stars mark the jersey's collar, one for every Vegas season to date.

Frederick's rating: 8.5 out of 10
Radom's rating: 8 out of 10

Kraken (Winter Classic)

Handout / Seattle Kraken

Unlike Vegas, Seattle has an NHL past, and this look (which is the subject of a trademark infringement lawsuit) is a direct nod to the Seattle Metropolitans, the first American team to win the Stanley Cup back in 1917.

The felt crest is quite similar to the championship squad's (though "Kraken" snakes the inside of the red "S" logo, not "Seattle"). And it jumps off the old-school barber-pole stripe design thanks to two colors unique to the Kraken brand (midnight blue and ice blue) and a classic off-white called vintage cream.

Both Frederick and Radom noted how this jersey strikes a wonderful balance. It's not overly vintage or overly modern. It's quirky but not too quirky or weird.

"The letterforms in the 'S' just make it look fantastic," Frederick said. "It looks just like an old sweater you might see at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. It looks like it got sewn on by somebody who was making jerseys back then."

Added Radom: "I love the color scheme of the team to begin with. And I love the fact that this combines Seattle's NHL history - which has this gigantic gap between teams - in a seamless way. It's a celebratory look. It's attractive. I would wear the hell out of it if I was walking around Seattle. It's awesome."

Frederick's rating: 9/10
Radom's rating: 9.5/10

Oilers and Flames (Heritage Classic)

Andy Devlin / Getty Images

These looks, rocked outdoors Oct. 29 in Edmonton, can be discussed together. They're both 1950s throwbacks, and the Oilers won the Battle of Alberta on the ice (5-2) and in the design studio.

The Oilers' digs feature a slick and unique oil drop, tasteful banner lettering, along with player numbers on the left sleeve, and the event logo on the right shoulder. The brown pants and gloves complement the jersey's colors very well.

"It looks vintage. It doesn't look forced," Radom said. "My benchmark with throwbacks is always something like this: Does this look like it was done on a computer in 2022, or whatever, trying to look like 1946, or does this look organic? This Oilers jersey succeeds because it looks very organic and real."

Frederick appreciates how player numbers are also set inside the oil drop. "That's a really nice touch," he said of a design choice rare to hockey jerseys.

Gerry Thomas / Getty Images

The Flames' look is, in a word, standard. Basic vintage jersey stuff. Sharp yet uninventive. The hockey-lace neck tie is a microcosm: simple, clean, classic.

"If you're trying to convey the idea of vintage hockey, there's nothing better than the laces. It's a crutch to some degree - a stereotype that's often leaned into. But sometimes vanilla ice cream tastes really good, right?" Radom said.

Neither expert hates Calgary's look - or loves it.

The crest lacks nuance, Radom noted. The lettering is "kind of cliched and somewhat expected." Some black outlining within the crest would add a bit of contrast and give the team name and flaming "C" logo a bit of separation.

"When you eliminate black from it, which has been part of their color scheme along the way, you lose a little something," he said. "If you're trying to look vintage, you're probably not going to have three colors. You're going to have two. That's the classic, Original Six look. But, in this case, it's problematic."

Frederick agreed.

"I also wonder if the outline on the 'C' logo gets a little busy in there," he said. "On the back end of it, around the flame part, it's really all clogging up."

Frederick's rating: 7.5/10 for Oilers; 8/10 for Flames jersey, 6/10 for crest
Radom's rating: 8/10 for Oilers; 6.5/10 for Flames

Rangers (new third)

Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Officially called the New York City Nights third, this jersey is in many ways a typical Original Six alternative. The main color (navy blue) doesn't shock the system. The crest is familiar (albeit very large). There are few elements overall.

"They're not doing anything particularly adventurous. Which is OK. It gives the team another tool for the toolbox over the course of a long season," Radom said of the Rangers, who'll show off their new toy 10 times in 2023-24.

The red, white, and blue striping on the waist and sleeves was incorporated to represent the hustle of the Big Apple, particularly the lights of streaking traffic and Madison Square Garden. But both experts see holes in the city-nights theme.

"The waist striping is absolutely right on brand, but I'm surprised they went with those thin stripes on the arms," Frederick said. He called the execution of the theme a "stretch." Radom wondered if the designers simply fell in love with the theme, then failed to reconsider when the execution was meh. "That's an instance where maybe the tail is wagging the dog," he said.

All that stated, there's a neat Easter egg hiding on the jersey's back collar: "BLUESHIRTS" is laid out on an NYC subway tile pattern. Thoughtful detail.

Frederick's rating: 7/10
Radom's rating: 7/10

Hurricanes (Whalers Night)

Handout / Carolina Hurricanes

Both experts salivated over this last look, which is an ultimate throwback.

The Hurricanes have never worn the Whalers' classic white jersey and will slip them on only once this season: Feb. 10 as part of their annual Whalers Night. (The franchise relocated from Connecticut to North Carolina in 1997.)

What gets Frederick and Radom so amped: the Whalers logo is as beautiful as ever. The "H" formed from negative space between the whale's tail and the "W" is one of those golden design nuggets that decades later still delights.

"It's great that 'Hurricanes' has an 'H' like 'Hartford.' It works," Frederick said of a happy coincidence. "Through the years, this logo has always come up in the top 10 best sports logos of all time. It's clever but not overly clever. It's a very appealing graphic. It's simple. It's awesome. I love everything about it."

"If anything gets a 10 out of 10," Radom added, "it's this and the Canadiens."

A bonus of Whalers Night: Hurricanes players will wear waist-to-ankle hockey pants (also known as Cooperalls) during pregame warmup.

"Shoot it into my veins, baby," Radom said of the early-80s fad. "I love it."

Frederick's rating: 9/10
Radom's rating: 10/10

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kings’ juggernaut case, Matthews vs. Ovechkin, and 4 other NHL items

In his preseason meeting with reporters back in September, Kings president Luc Robitaille said his club was "in that bucket of 8-10 teams" with reasonable Stanley Cup aspirations.

The franchise icon's assessment was totally fair. The Kings weren't necessarily the preseason favorites to come out of the Pacific Division, let alone the Western Conference. Yet finishing atop the Pacific, winning playoff series, and - gulp - appearing in the Cup Final wasn't a deranged idea either.

Andre Ringuette / Getty Images

It's now late December and no team has impressed quite like Los Angeles.

It probably doesn't seem that way on the surface, seeing as the Kings rank eighth in points, fifth in points percentage, and don't have a single player in the top 40 in scoring or in the conversation for an end-of-year award. But in my view, this L.A. team has asserted itself as a true alpha dog in the West.

Under fifth-year coach Todd McLellan, the 2023-24 Kings have allowed the fewest goals per game. They've smothered attackers, allowing the fewest expected goals, shots on goal, and slot shots, according to Sportlogiq. They've allowed the second-fewest inner-slot shots and third-fewest shot attempts. They've ground the opposition down, ranking third in penalty-kill percentage and fourth in offensive-zone puck possession suppression.

Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

The Kings have also been pretty deadly with the puck. They generate the sixth-most goals per game by attacking in waves - early and often. They have the best one-through-four center depth, are a league-high plus-15 in the first period, and own a league-average power play. The only significant negative storyline has been center Pierre-Luc Dubois' surprising lack of production.

It'd be a stretch to label these Kings a "sleeping giant," considering their 18-7-4 record, which includes a stunning 13-1-1 road mark. However, they may be better than we thought - an undercover juggernaut playing a well-balanced brand of hockey that usually translates to series wins come playoff time.

Watch out.

Matthews versus (young) Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal-scoring artist of all time, ceded the title as greatest goal-scorer of the moment to Auston Matthews a few years ago. There was obviously no ceremony, but he definitely passed the imagined torch. Everybody, even the legendarily durable Ovechkin, becomes the old guy at some point.

Mark Blinch / Getty Images

The contrast between the snipers is as stark as ever in 2023-24.

Matthews, 26, leads the NHL with 26 goals in 29 games, including a mind-bending 12 in his last eight outings. He's on pace for a career-high 72 goals.

Ovechkin, 38, is tied for 182nd with six goals in 30 games, including just one in his last 15 outings. He's on pace for a career-low 16 goals.

Matthews is no longer the young whippersnapper. He hit 500 career games in late November. That milestone had me wondering about Matthews' trajectory and how his numbers stack up against those of early-career Ovechkin.

Here's the high-level breakdown:

It's important to note that the NHL product was in a different place when Ovechkin was in the early stages of his career. On the whole, Matthews has competed in a more offense-friendly environment to start his career. (Case in point, the average NHL game during Ovechkin's fourth season featured 5.58 goals, while the average game during Matthews' fourth season featured 6.04.)

Caveat out of the way, it's amazing to see Matthews outpacing young Ovi in goals - albeit by a small margin. The American's been more productive than the Russian away from the power play, too, having recorded 242 of his 325 total goals in even-strength action. (Young Ovi scored 208 of 313 at evens.)

Shot profiles are another layer. Young Ovi both racked up shots on goal at an insane rate (more than five per game!) and capitalized on a high percentage of his shots. Matthews, an extremely versatile attacker, also shoots the puck a ton but is relatively selective and better at keeping goalies guessing.

Matthews' scoring rate through 510 games is frankly astonishing. To repeat: He's outpacing young Ovi, who's now chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. Injuries may end up being Matthews' archnemesis since he's in his eighth season now, and Ovechkin hit 510 games in his seventh. Good health is a chief reason why Ovechkin's accumulated 827 goals and counting.

Duchene flourishing in Texas

Patrick Smith / Getty Images

Apologies to fans of Ryan O'Reilly, J.T. Compher, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Cam Talbot, but Matt Duchene's been the biggest success story from the 2023 class of unrestricted free agents. The crafty center is killing it for the Stars.

In case you forgot, the Predators bought out the last three years of Duchene's seven-year, $56-million contract on June 30. A day later, Duchene - who turns 33 in January - inked a one-year, $3-million deal with Dallas, his fifth team.

Two months on, Duchene is third in team scoring with 29 points in 30 games. Those aren't empty-calorie points, either. Six of Duchene's 11 goals count as game-winners. This week alone, he's assisted on an overtime goal (Monday versus the Kraken) and scored an OT goal (Thursday versus the Canucks).

It's been an odd 31 games for Dallas. They're tied with the Avalanche for the Central Division lead despite underwhelming performances from goalie Jake Oettinger and top defenseman Miro Heiskanen. In general, the lack of blue-line depth is a huge issue for a team built to contend for the Cup this season.

Duchene's presence has offset some of the messiness. He's changed the complexion of the forward group by driving the second line with Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin. Together, they've outchanced the other team 155-118 and outscored them 21-11, according to Natural Stat Trick. The only line in the league credited with more goals? Pittsburgh's trio of Sidney Crosby between Jake Guentzel and Bryant Rust (23 goals in similar minutes).

Dallas' Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Joe Pavelski line has been one of hockey's best for years. Jamie Benn-Wyatt Johnston-Evgenii Dadonov can be super effective. This Duchene-led group adds another headache for the opposition.

Parting shots

Nolan Patrick: Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman quashed social media rumors Wednesday by reporting Patrick has not officially retired. Yet, Patrick's career arc won't be any less sad if he files retirement papers in a few days, months, or even years. Patrick, the second overall pick in 2017, has appeared in only 222 total games for the Flyers and Golden Knights because of health issues, including migraines. The 25-year-old missed all of last season and remains a free agent 30 games into this one. (He also sat out the entire 2019-20 season.) There's an alternative universe where he's healthy, reaches his potential as a two-way center, never gets traded to Vegas via Nashville on the same day in 2021, and is a key member of a Flyers team on the rise. It's truly unfortunate.

Three-goalie life: I can't recall a time when so many NHL teams consistently carried three healthy goalies on the 23-man roster. At the holiday roster freeze, the tally is six, which is roughly one-fifth of the league. For the vast majority of the season, the trend has been pushed by four squads: the Canadiens, Sabres, Hurricanes, and Red Wings. "There's some challenges there," Wings coach Derek Lalonde said earlier this month when asked about the pros and cons of carrying three guys. "I think it takes the right individuals."

Unlike the other squads, Montreal is rebuilding. Coach Martin St. Louis is in a position where he can experiment with varying workloads and hopefully find a goalie (or goalies) of the future, and if they lose games along the way, so be it. Ironically, the Habs have the highest save percentage of the bunch, with their netminders - Sam Montembeault (14 starts), Jake Allen (12), and Cayden Primeau (6) - combining for a .902 team SV%, good for 13th out of 32 teams. Meanwhile, the Wings are 17th, the Sabres 28th, and the Canes 31st.

Relaxed Gretzky: Man, it's been super neat having the Great One back in our lives. It was one thing for him to join the "NHL on TNT" panel in 2021. It was another thing for him to actually take his job as an analyst seriously. And now, two-plus years into the gig, it's obvious Gretzky is fully embracing life in the public eye again. The man who's had a one-of-a-kind existence is opening up the story vault. Recently, he spun a great yarn on TNT about the last time he visited the Hockey Hall of Fame and nailed an appearance on comedian Theo Von's popular podcast. Gretzky, 62, told tale after tale for almost an hour straight. I found this Hulk Hogan story charming:

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's biweekly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.