Brian Burke reiterated his disdain for the Carolina Hurricanes' post-victory behavior when asked Saturday night about the team's latest celebratory moves.
The former NHL executive-turned broadcaster once again expressed his displeasure with the Hurricanes while watching a replay of what they did after beating the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
"I don't like these postgame celebrations, but the more choreographed and the planning that goes into these ... the mascot's in this! The mascot's playing 'Duck, Duck, Goose' with the players," Burke said on Sportsnet. "So, I don't get it. I think it's bush league. If they want to keep doing it in Carolina, fine. I think it's bush league (and) I hate it."
When asked what he'd want to see them do, Burke's answer was brief but direct.
"I want to see them skate, salute the fans, the Icelandic clap is fine, and then get off the ice!"
Burke first complained about the subject back in November, when he called the storm surge part of the celebration "peewee garbage."
"Big week for the Toronto Maple Leafs (as) the team and Auston Matthews' representation are going to sit down and try to work out and get a contract extension done," Friedman said on Saturday's edition of "Headlines".
Matthews, a pending restricted free agent, likely won't garner the maximum term due to the Leafs' cap concerns.
"Initially, both sides wanted eight years, (but) it's just not going to work (because) the number is going to be too high. The team would have to be broken up. So, it's going to come down to five or six years," Friedman said.
Toronto also needs to work out an extension with forward Mitch Marner, who's also a pending RFA.
Matthews ranks second on the club with 23 goals despite missing 14 games due to injury earlier in the season.
Winnipeg set a franchise record for most goals in a period with the early offensive explosion, and ultimately tied a franchise record for most goals in a game in the 9-3 victory.
Anaheim goaltender John Gibson was left in for all six first-period goals before being replaced by Chad Johnson after Lemieux's tally made it 6-0 with 2:19 remaining in the period.
Perry underwent knee surgery in training camp to repair a torn meniscus and MCL.
The former Hart Trophy winner has failed to record 20 goals in either of the last two seasons. Nonetheless, the 33-year-old will look to spark a Ducks offense that entered Saturday ranked 30th in the league in goals per game.
The Detroit Red Wings retired Red Kelly's No. 4 prior to Friday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. For those unaware, Kelly had one of the more unique careers in NHL history.
From 1947-60, Kelly was an exceptional defenseman, winning four Stanley Cups and the Norris Trophy in 1953-54. For the last seven years of his career with the Maple Leafs, he made the switch to center and set a career high for points in his first season before adding four more Stanley Cup rings to his Hall of Fame resume.
Brent Burns and Dustin Byfuglien are two recent examples of drastic position changes in the modern-day NHL. But which other players could be capable of making a Red Kelly-like switch?
Jake Gardiner, Maple Leafs
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position switch: Defense ➡️ center
Gardiner was actually a forward until his senior year of high school. Moving to defense was probably the right move, as he went on to become a first-round pick in 2008. The pending unrestricted free agent is in line for a nice contract this offseason as a coveted puck-moving blue-liner.
However, Gardiner still flashes the qualities of a dynamic playmaking centerman. He's a gifted skater with exceptional edge work, an excellent passer with great vision, and has a hard shot.
Gardiner is a valuable defenseman with great possession numbers, though turnovers and suspect play away from the puck get him into trouble at times. Playing center would allow him to unleash his creativity without the consequences of being the last man back.
Charlie Coyle, Wild
Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / Getty
Position switch: Center/right wing ➡️ defense
There's no doubting Coyle's talent. He's got size (6-foot-3, 220 lbs), speed, physicality, and playmaking ability. In fact, he was the main trade chip in return for the aforementioned Burns.
Coyle hasn't quite developed into the power forward the Wild expected. In his seven-year career, he has just one 20-goal season and just a single 50-point campaign.
Coyle's inability to consistently finish has prevented him from becoming a top-six forward, but as a defenseman, that wouldn't be a concern. He has the strength and reach to excel in his own end without the puck, and his skating and passing ability would allow him to become a strong puck-mover. Plus, as a right-handed shooting defenseman, he'd be in high demand.
Aaron Ekblad, Panthers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Position switch: Defense ➡️ right wing
Many expected Ekblad, the former first overall pick, to become an annual Norris Trophy contender by this point in his career. Although there's still plenty of time for the soon-to-be 23-year-old to develop his game, he does have the skill set to become a force up front.
While Ekblad has shown the ability to score with some of the best defensemen in the league, he hasn't shown the necessary poise and vision to rack up the assists and vault himself into the conversation among the game's elite blue-liners. In his five-year career, Ekblad has averaged 15 goals and 21 assists per 82 games.
Imagine him as a hulking, 6-foot-4, 220-pound power forward. With his size, heavy shot, and skating ability, he'd be a nightmare for many of today's undersized, puck-moving blue-liners to defend. Put him alongside an elite playmaker and it wouldn't be surprising if he became a 30-40 goal scorer.
Silfverberg is in the final year of his deal and would be one of the most attractive rental options available before the Feb. 25 trade deadline.
The 28-year-old is one of the better two-way wingers in the NHL and has consistently produced in the neighborhood of 20 goals and 40 points. He has 12 goals and 19 points in 42 games so far this season.
Silfverberg is expected to receive a substantial raise from his current deal which pays him $3.75 million annually. Anaheim projects to have just over $9 million in cap space for next year, so signing the Swede would limit their spending ability elsewhere.
The Ducks currently sit one point out of a playoff spot, and their play over the next few weeks will likely determine which direction they go at the deadline. Regardless, LeBrun adds that Anaheim "really wants to keep him."
The Vancouver Canucks are talking to their longest-tenured player about his plans as the trade deadline gets closer.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning confirmed Friday that conversations between the team and defenseman Alexander Edler are ongoing.
"We're in dialogue with his agent, Mark Stowe, and with Alex," Benning told TSN 1040. "We're talking to them about what his intentions are (and) what he wants to do going forward."
Edler is a pending unrestricted free agent on a deal that carries a $5-million cap hit. The 32-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career with the Canucks, and he wants to stick around, according to Benning.
"He's made it clear to us and to everybody that he'd like to stay in Vancouver," the GM said. "Last year, I thought he was real good for us and he's having another good year this year, so we're going to continue to talk to them (to) see if we can figure something out."
Benning added that the club has made it clear to Edler that they want to keep him. The GM then outlined the reasons why he values Edler.
"He's our best defenseman, he's a leader in our room, he's a mentor to (rookie star Elias Pettersson)," Benning said. "He's a guy that sets the culture for our young players, kind of taking over from where (Daniel and Henrik Sedin) were, so he's an important guy for the development of our young players. If we can get something figured out with him, I'd like to try to do it."
Edler would become a UFA on July 1 if he's unsigned, but Benning said it wouldn't be "the end of the world" if the situation isn't resolved before the Feb. 25 deadline or the opening of free agency.
The veteran rearguard ranks seventh on the Canucks' all-time games played list, and ninth on the team's career assists list.
