Armia hasn't played since Game 5 of Round 1 when he left the contest with an upper-body injury. He recorded 29 points in 79 regular-season games and has one goal to his name so far in the playoffs.
There could be further reinforcements on the way for the Jets, as Mathieu Perreault, out since Game 1 of the first round, participated in the morning skate and could be an option as Winnipeg seeks a 3-1 series lead.
Armia hasn't played since Game 5 of Round 1 when he left the contest with an upper-body injury. He recorded 29 points in 79 regular-season games and has one goal to his name so far in the playoffs.
There could be further reinforcements on the way for the Jets, as Mathieu Perreault, out since Game 1 of the first round, participated in the morning skate and could be an option as Winnipeg seeks a 3-1 series lead.
Zach Werenski will be out until at least early October as he recovers from a shoulder procedure.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman had surgery Thursday to repair an injured shoulder and his recovery is expected to take five-to-six months, the club revealed.
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Werenski has been dealing with the ailment since early this season, and the expectation is that the talented blue-liner will be ready to play by the start of next season or shortly thereafter.
Werenski ranked second only to defense partner Seth Jones among Blue Jackets in average ice time during the 2017-2018 regular season, logging 22:35 per game before the playoffs and bumping that up to 24:11 (fourth on the team) in the postseason.
He potted 16 goals and collected 37 points in 77 regular-season contests, chipping in a goal and three points in the Blue Jackets' six playoff games.
In the weeks leading up to the 2018 NHL Draft, theScore NHL prospect writer Hannah Stuart breaks down 10 of the most notable draft-eligible prospects. The fourth edition focuses on Quinn Hughes.
Born in Florida, raised in Toronto, and a key part of the future of USA Hockey, Quinn Hughes sounds like an inspirational sports movie. And his NHL career is just months, at the least, away from its start. With a father who is the former director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a mother who played at the University of New Hampshire, hockey is in the eldest Hughes son's blood - and when he's on the ice, it shows.
Last season in his Draft-2 year, Hughes was a point-per-game player in 26 USHL games. Those numbers are almost unheard of for a defenseman his age. To give you an idea of just how good they are, no other defenseman in USHL history has put up a better points-per-game ratio in his Draft–1 year (i.e. the season leading up to his draft). That includes fellow Americans Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy, who are widely considered some of the top defensemen among USA Hockey’s younger set.
Year In Review
Hughes accelerated his education and finished high school early to attend the University of Michigan and play for the Wolverines this year. Despite being the youngest player in college hockey (he turned 18 in mid-October 2017), he finished the season with 28 points, the third-highest on his team. He was named to the All-Big Ten freshman team and the All-Big Ten second team, and currently sits in first place for assists by a freshman D-man in program history with 24.
He represented Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, where he had three assists and earned a bronze medal. Hughes is currently in Denmark as a member of Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Championships. It remains to be seen how much ice time he'll get - he was listed as the team’s seventh defenseman in the first tuneup game against Denmark. It's a great opportunity for him either way, and it shows that USA Hockey clearly has him in mind when looking at its future.
Areas of Strength
Hughes is probably the best skater in this year's draft class. He separates himself from his opponents easily with his stride and top-end speed. He's agile, able to beat defenders easily 1-on-1 and to get back quickly if it becomes necessary. He's got a quick release and a solid arsenal of shots, but he's an even stronger playmaker. He constantly jumps up into the rush, his elite hockey sense and vision guiding him when it comes to choosing his opportunities.
He frequently anticipates the play better than those on the ice with him, opponents and teammates alike. Hughes is a creative player, so he's going to take more risks than your average stay-at-home blue-liner. High-risk, high-reward. It's the direction the defensive game is going in the NHL, albeit slowly.
Areas of improvement
There is some belief that Hughes needs to add size, as he's a smaller player (he's listed at 5-foot-10 and 174 pounds). Size issues can be overcome with his speed and his elusive nature, however. His play in the defensive zone could use some work, including improving his positioning and working on getting pucks from attackers. But given how high-level his hockey IQ is, it's a good bet that those things will come with further experience.
Scouting Reports
"After an initial feeling-out phase as the NCAA's youngest player, Hughes has been entering dominant mode ... For comparison sake, the 5-foot-10 rearguard outproduced fellow 2018 draft pick and forward, Brady Tkachuk and has more points than 2017 fourth overall pick Cale Makar as a first year NCAA player. Hughes blends exquisite edgework with blistering acceleration and a mind for creating offense. He's a one man breakout machine and could challenge Filip Zadina for third overall when names are being called in Dallas this June." - Cam Robinson, DobberProspects.com
"Hughes is a strong playmaker with excellent vision, capable of threading the needle with either hard or saucered cross-ice passes. Additionally, he has a heavy shot with a quick release, and goaltenders have to work hard to control rebounds off his shots. Hughes makes plays on his backhand look effortless, and he's adept at receiving and settling down pucks while traveling at a high rate of speed. His defensive play is relatively sound in terms of positioning and 1-on-1 tactics. Hughes has improved the timing of his step-ups and hip checks, and he stands his ground on zone entries despite obvious limitations in size and stick length. Losing slot territory to bigger players should be expected, but Hughes is a clever thief with a quick stick who transitions from defense to offense in the blink of an eye. He has top-pairing potential and can quarterback any power play regardless of the talent or skill level of the surrounding personnel." - Steve Kournianos, TheDraftAnalyst.com
Did You Know?
Hughes was inspired to attend the University of Michigan after watching fellow U.S. National Team Development Program alumni Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski play for the Wolverines.
When he was asked about it once, Hughes said he'd never considered getting a Canadian passport to play for Canada - it was always Team USA.
His nontraditional market roots aren't limited to his Florida birthplace. Mom Ellen, who also played defense, was born and raised in Dallas, Texas.
As NHL teams are eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown looks back at the highs and lows of their seasons, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The 21st edition focuses on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Good
Claude Giroux’s regular season. Giroux's first regular-season hat trick in the Flyers’ last game of the season helped them clinch a playoff spot. It was a fitting end to a sensational individual campaign that yielded a career-high 102 points and saw Giroux lead the NHL with 68 assists.
Sean Couturier. A Selke Trophy finalist, Couturier proved just how indispensable he is to the Flyers by playing in all 82 games and posting career highs in points (76) and goals (31). He even played through a torn MCL in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, scored a hat trick, and had five points before Philadelphia was eliminated in the 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Big steps for young players. In their second years, defenseman Ivan Provorov logged big minutes and career-highs in goals (17) and points (41) while Travis Konecny played on the top line at times and nearly doubled his production from his rookie year, scoring 24 goals and 47 points. Rookie center Nolan Patrick had a slow start because of bilateral hip surgeries and another injury early in the season but scored most of his 13 goals and 30 points in the back half of the campaign.
The Bad
Playoff goaltending. The Flyers used three goaltenders in their first-round series with the rival Penguins. Brian Elliott was rushed back from core muscle surgery and ended up with a 1-3 record, a 4.75 goals-against average, and a .856 save percentage. Backup Michal Neuvirth (1-1, 4.40 GAA, .847 SV%) wasn't any better, while Petr Mrazek relieved Elliott in Game 1 and posted a .857 save percentage.
Power play. There was talk about how the Flyers’ penalty kill would fare against the Penguins’ NHL-best power play, but one of their downfalls ended up being on their own power play: It was 2-for-21, which is about 9.5 percent, during the series. A missed opportunity in Game 6 on a four-on-three that could have tied the game looms large in hindsight.
Couldn’t win at home. Outscored 18-6 at home during their first-round series with the Penguins, the Flyers failed to win even one of their three playoff games on home ice, just the second time in 20 years that has happened.
The Questions
Who’s coming back? After the Flyers’ season ended, Hextall said most, if not all, of the team’s unrestricted free agents would not be brought back - a list that includes Valtteri Filppula, Matt Read, Brandon Manning, and Johnny Oduya. This is not a surprise for a few players. Read spent much of the year in the AHL, while Oduya was claimed off waivers to be a depth defenseman. The writing was on the wall for Manning, and his departure will make room for a younger blueliner to take the next step. There’s a chance Filppula could come back if the Flyers are unable to find something better in free agency or if a younger center is ready to move up.
How will they improve this summer? Some of the Flyers’ success next season will depend on young players like Travis Sanheim, Robert Hagg, Oskar Lindblom, Patrick, and Konecny continuing to improve. There’s also the 14th and 19th overall picks in the 2018 NHL Draft. Hextall could additionally make trades this summer, a possibility he hasn’t ruled out. There would likely be a veteran player traded, or Hextall could try to move up in the draft.
Who’s the goalie? It’s a question that’s seemingly plagued the Flyers year after year as far back as anyone can remember. Hextall has said he is fine with using Neuvirth and Elliott next season as long as they are healthy. Whether both can stay fit is another matter entirely and Hextall didn’t rule out looking into other options during the offseason.
San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones stood on his head Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, stopping all 34 shots he faced. In doing so, Jones improved his already sensational career postseason numbers:
W-L
GAA
SV%
SO
22-16
2.01
.927
6
With his sixth career playoff shutout - and his second of 2018 - Jones tied Matt Murray for the most by any netminder across the last three years, per NHL Public Relations. He also moved one back of Evgeni Nabokov for the most playoff shutouts in Sharks history. Amazingly, Jones has done it in just 38 games, while it took Nabokov more than double (80) to reach seven shutouts.
Considering his playoff numbers, it's odd that Jones hasn't been especially great during the regular season. He's played well, but he's never had a season with a .920 save percentage, and he's never finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting.
But given his outstanding play when it matters most, it might be time to start including Jones' name in conversations about the game's elite netminders.
Tom Wilson's three-game suspension is a massive blow to the Washington Capitals' aspirations of defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. Not only does the right winger's physicality make opponents aware of when he's on the ice, but he's also been a nice compliment to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps' top line, scoring 14 goals during the regular season.
This trio has also been firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. Ovechkin (8-5-13), Kuznetsov (5-4-9), and Wilson (2-5-7) have combined for 29 points in nine postseason games, so finding the correct replacement for Wilson is a key decision, to say the least.
Here are the forward lines Washington's been rolling out the last few games:
LW
C
RW
Alex Ovechkin
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Tom Wilson
Chandler Stephenson
Nicklas Backstrom
T.J. Oshie
Brett Connolly
Lars Eller
Devante Smith-Pelly
Jakub Vrana
Jay Beagle
Alex Chiasson
Assuming Andre Burakovsky remains out of the lineup with an upper-body injury (he hasn't played since Game 2 of Round 1), whoever enters the lineup in Wilson's place likely won't be inserted into a top-line role. Instead, here are five candidates to play alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov:
T.J. Oshie
Oshie would be a great fit. He isn't afraid to go in the corners, can be a playmaker and a finisher, is responsible defensively, and has experience playing with both Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. The problem is that it would leave Nicklas Backstrom without a proven offensive player on the second line. Lineup depth is crucial against the Pens, so this doesn't seem all that logical.
Brett Connolly
Connolly is a right-handed-shooting right winger currently playing out of position on the third line at left wing, so moving him back to his natural position could be a good fit.
Though he doesn't bring the same physicality as Wilson, Connolly isn't afraid to throw his weight around (72 hits during the regular season, 13 during the playoffs), brings size at 6-foot-3, and has scored 30 goals over the past two seasons despite a limited role. He could be Trotz's best option.
Devante Smith-Pelly
Smith-Pelly is basically a poor man's Wilson. Weighing 223 pounds and having already delivered 28 hits in the playoffs, he's Washington's second-most physical forward. His problem is offense, however, as he posted just seven goals in the regular season, while his career high is only 14.
Yet, given that Ovechkin and Kuznetsov create plenty of offense on their own, replicating Wilson's toughness might be Trotz's top priority in order to keep the line's chemistry intact. Going in that direction would make Smith-Pelly the best choice.
Jakub Vrana
Aside from Oshie, Vrana has the most offensive upside of the options. The 22-year-old was the 13th overall pick in 2014, and while he scored just 13 goals during the regular season, he has exceptional speed and offensive ability.
However, Trotz clearly doesn't trust him defensively. Vrana has been relegated to fourth-line duties, averaging just over nine minutes per game in the playoffs. Being out on the ice against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin requires acute defensive awareness, so while a promotion to the top line would be exciting, it's probably unwise.
Chandler Stephenson
Stephenson is probably the least sexy pick of the bunch, but he's had a nice playoffs so far, tallying five points and playing the sixth-most minutes among Washington's forwards - meaning Trotz clearly trusts him. He's fast and kills penalties, too, so even though he's just 24 with little playoff experience, he wouldn't be a defensive liability, provided his left-handed shot can play on the right wing.
Like with Oshie, promoting Stephenson would result in breaking up the team's second line, but it could turn out to be a shrewd move.
In trying to drown out the opposition, San Jose Sharks fans threw off the anthem singer.
As has become tradition, Vegas fans have been yelling "Knight" during the U.S. anthem at the line "Gave proof through the night."
In an attempt to curb that Golden Knights enthusiasm, the home crowd booed at that moment of the song prior to Game 4, causing the singer to follow the line up with "that our star was still there."
The suspension comes after Wilson landed a head check on Aston-Reese in Game 2 of the second-round series between the Capitals and Penguins.
Wilson was not penalized on the play in question. Following the Capitals win, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan noted Aston-Reese suffered a concussion and a broken jaw as a result of the hit.
