Former NHL defenseman Marc Methot says his playing career is likely over.
Methot underwent knee surgery last January during the final year of his contract with the Dallas Stars, and the 34-year-old doesn't expect to play again.
"I haven't made any final or official announcement, but it's looking like I'm probably done playing hockey," Methot told TSN Radio Ottawa 1200 on Thursday.
Methot played just nine games for the Stars last season before the surgery. After attempting to return, the Ontario native doesn't believe it's worth enduring the physical toll it took on him again.
"I really tried to make an effort and get back and I just weigh the options and whether it's worth putting my body through that kind of mental and physical excretion and it's just not worth it," he said
Methot added that "it's probably best for myself and the family that I step back from the game."
He played 13 NHL seasons, spending time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, and Stars while recording 22 goals and 123 points over 624 career games.
Muzzin suffered a fractured foot on Dec. 27 against the New Jersey Devils and has missed the club's last 10 games.
The loan could give the 30-year-old rearguard an opportunity to see game action during the NHL All-Star break, which runs from Jan 23-26. The Marlies play a pair of contests in Cleveland on Friday and Saturday.
Muzzin skated on Jan. 15 for the first time since the injury, and the team hopes he'll be NHL-ready when they return from the break, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
The Ontario native leads the team in hits (87) and ranks second in blocks (69) despite missing extended time, and he plays a key role on the penalty kill. Offensively, Muzzin has contributed 13 points in 38 games this season.
Toronto is back in action against the Nashville Predators on Monday.
The NHL's All-Star festivities are upon us, and even though the sport's best players are set to convene in St. Louis for a weekend-long showcase, the buzz leading up to the event is far from palpable.
This isn't a new problem for the league, either. The NHL All-Star Game isn't circled on the calendars of many fans, and players aren't always keen on going, either. Despite being one of the most popular players of his generation, Alex Ovechkin backed out after being named the Metropolitan Division captain and will serve a one-game suspension instead of travelling to the Gateway City.
Ovi's well within his rights to choose rest as a 15-year veteran, but when someone like Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, only 23, tells his own fans not to vote him in, it's obvious the event doesn't mean a whole lot to the players.
All-Star Weekend's always been about the fans, but when they don't really care, either, the league's got a significant issue. The NHL's made positive strides in making the event more intriguing in recent years - the move to a three-on-three tournament and the inclusion of women among them - but there's still room for improvement.
Here are three suggestions to make things more exciting:
1. Allow specialists to participate
Brandon Magnus / National Hockey League / Getty
Stealing a page from the NBA's book, the NHL's marquee skills event would be better if some of the sport's specialists were allowed to participate in the competition. Some of the greatest dunk contest moments have featured players with numbers nowhere near All-Star worthy, and hockey could easily do something similar.
Could speedsters like Andreas Athanasiou or Kasperi Kapanen give Connor McDavid a run for his money in the fastest skater challenge? Why are we watching All-Stars struggle to hit 100 miles per hour in the hardest shot competition while Zdeno Chara sits at home and laughs off the feeble attempts at his records? Chara should be taking part in this event even in retirement.
It's a harmless way to captivate the fan bases of the new players involved, and doesn't force All-Stars into events they shouldn't be in.
2. Bring back the draft
Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty
The NHL was a few years ahead of its time - when's the last time you could say that?! - with an All-Star fantasy draft, and it's time to bring it back.
The old method gave us some memorable moments, but there's now an opportunity for things to get even more interesting with the All-Star Game played at three-on-three. Here's one idea: Keep the four-team format with a captain from each division (and its fan-vote component), and let each pick their own squad from a pool of All-Stars. Now, please imagine McDavid paired with Nathan MacKinnon on all that extra ice, or Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby on the same line. You'd watch that.
Televise the draft and mic up the players, who should also be encouraged to show off their personal style (the dress code: no dress code). Fans love behind-the-scenes looks at their favorite athletes and this would be a great opportunity for the NHL to sell its stars, something it struggles to do.
3. Let the goalies have some fun
Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty
The poor goalies.
If anyone shouldn't care about All-Star Weekend, it's goaltenders. Getting fully dressed to sit around and watch skaters do their thing during the skills competition has to undoubtedly be a drag, and taking the crease cold only to see how many saves can be made in a row can't be much fun, either - it certainly isn't great to watch.
So let's have the goalies do what the skaters do. Who wouldn't want to watch goalie races, or find out which netminder is secretly holstering a rocket of a slap shot?
Rapid-fire suggestions
Involve alumni: You know that Crosby and Matthews line we mentioned? Wayne Gretzky would be a good option to fill it out.
Incentivize the skills competition: The players aren't hard up for money, but perhaps they'd try a little harder if more loot was on the table throughout the weekend.
H-O-R-S-E competitions: Emphasize creativity and let's really see what the players can do.
KHL-style shootouts: They know how to put on a show in Russia.
In-game trades: Captains coordinate with coaches on one opponent they'd like to poach over the course of a game. Trades are announced on the bench, and players exchange jerseys at center ice. Instant theatrics.
A giant Matthew Tkachuk sign has been installed in the home of his team's provincial rival.
The large electronic billboard was spotted by CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday.
CTV News Edmonton
It came to fruition after Flames fan Mohammad Elsaghir started a fundraising campaign to get a Tkachuk billboard erected in Edmonton with proceeds going toward the fight against ALS.
The campaign quickly reached its initial goal of $2,500 and ultimately raised over $25,000 to battle the disease, according to CTV. Hosts at CJAY 92, a local radio station in Calgary, then arranged for its parent company to have the billboards made.
Elsaghir's efforts began one day after Oilers agitator Zack Kassian took exception to being hit multiple times by the Flames winger on Jan. 11. Kassian was ultimately suspended two games for his retaliation, and a war of words ensued.
Not to be outdone, Oilers fans answered with a campaign of their own in honor of Kassian. Edmonton supporter Samantha Costa encouraged like-minded individuals to donate to "Brown Bagging It," a Calgary charity that provides meals for children. She raised nearly $40,000 in just three days.
The Maple Leafs superstar won't take part in the event due to injury but will attend the weekend's festivities in St. Louis. He's day-to-day as he receives treatment for an ongoing wrist condition.
Matthews' agent, Judd Moldaver, told TSN's Darren Dreger that his client has been dealing with the wrist issue for at least three weeks.
He's expected to be ready to play for Toronto when it resumes its regular-season schedule with a road date against the Nashville Predators on Monday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who adds that the 22-year-old sniper spent the bye week training in his home state of Arizona.
Matthews leads the Maple Leafs in both goals (34) and points (57) through 49 games this campaign, entering Wednesday's action tied for second and ranked 11th among NHL skaters in those two categories, respectively.
Tkachuk, the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, has collected 15 goals and 27 points in 48 contests during his second season in Ottawa. The 20-year-old posted 22 markers and 45 points as a rookie in 2018-19.
Tkachuk's brother, Matthew - a Calgary Flames forward - will also be taking part in the All-Star Game, representing the Pacific Division.
Bokondji Imama is speaking out after Bakersfield Condors defenseman Brandon Manning directed a racial slur toward him during Monday's game.
Imama, who plays for the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, issued a statement Wednesday after the AHL suspended Manning for five games on Tuesday.
"I have taken some time to reflect on what transpired on the ice against Bakersfield on Monday night," Imama said. "What happened is unfortunate for everyone. No matter how intense or heated a game gets, there is no room for this in our game and no excuse. I am very proud to be an African-Canadian hockey player and to stand for all other players that are in the same situation as me.
"I would like to thank the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign, Edmonton Oilers, and Bakersfield Condors for their professionalism in helping me handle this situation," he continued. "Last but not least, I cannot thank my family and friends for their continued love and support."
Imama closed by saying he won't be commenting further on the matter.
The 23-year-old is in his third season in the Kings system. The Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
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On October 18, 2019, the Dallas Stars allowed three third-period goals in a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, falling to 1-7-1 on the season and setting off alarm bells after beginning the campaign with Stanley Cup aspirations.
At that point, the data didn't look good: Dallas would need to win at least 63% of its remaining games just to have a chance at making the playoffs. For context, the Calgary Flames finished atop the Western Conference last season by winning 61% of their total games. These Stars would need to better that mark the rest of the way - and it still might not be enough.
Still, Dallas general manager Jim Nill stuck with his roster. He believed in what he was building, and with perseverance came validation. Since that loss to Pittsburgh, the Stars have won 67% of their games (26-10-3), the second-best rate in the NHL behind the Washington Capitals (70%). They now sit third in the West despite playing the fewest games to date.
Then there are the underlying numbers. The Stars rank second in the West in expected goals for and against per game (xGF/60, xGA/60). They've generated the second-most high-danger chances per game (HDCF/60) in the NHL and own the fourth-lowest shooting percentage from high-danger areas (HDSH%).
What does it all mean? Well, Dallas is expected to score a lot and allow very little. The team is also creating a ton of very good scoring opportunities but converting a low percentage of them. The HDSH% is due for positive regression, which would lead to even more goals scored. Simply put, there's been nothing lucky about this run of success.
Meanwhile, the Stars haven't been as reliant on their top line this season. Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and Alexander Radulov still form one of the more dominant units in the NHL, but secondary scoring is much less of an issue than it was for this team in the past. Roope Hintz has stepped up in a big way, while Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry, both signed over the summer, have been valuable additions.
Not only do Pavelski and Perry give this team a more balanced lineup, but they also provide the experience that can help take Dallas to the next level. That's a scary thought when you consider the Stars were eliminated in the second overtime of a Game 7 by the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues last season.
In addition to a deep crop of forwards, the Stars possess two of the league's most dynamic defensemen in John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen, who are complemented by one of the most underappreciated guys in Esa Lindell. Andrej Sekera has proven to be a valuable addition and Stephen Johns just made his return from a 660-day layoff due to concussion issues. This blue-liner group rivals any other in the NHL.
In goal, Ben Bishop hasn't missed a beat, posting a 2.28 GAA and a .927 SV%. The Stars haven't overworked him, either, thanks to the strong play of Anton Khudobin, who's posted nearly identical numbers (2.30 GAA, .927 SV%) through 20 games. That means Bishop should be fresh come playoff time and Dallas will have a reliable backup if he falters.
It's clear this roster features the skill and experience needed for a Stanley Cup run - yet Dallas is still reasonably priced at 14-1.
Team
Odds
Washington Capitals
15-2
St. Louis Blues
8-1
Boston Bruins
9-1
Tampa Bay Lightning
9-1
Pittsburgh Penguins
9-1
Colorado Avalanche
9-1
Dallas Stars
14-1
New York Islanders
16-1
Vegas Golden Knights
16-1
Carolina Hurricanes
17-1
Toronto Maple Leafs
18-1
*only teams with odds shorter than 20-1 are displayed
Again, Dallas has been a top-three NHL team since the middle of October and it's only a matter of time before the odds are adjusted to reflect that. We've already seen it happen with the Blues and Avalanche, who were both listed at 14-1 as late as early December.
Consider this your last chance to buy low on the Stars.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
