Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin will be sidelined for three-to-four weeks after undergoing hand surgery, the team announced Wednesday.
Brodin suffered the injury in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Across 53 games this season, Brodin has recorded five goals and 10 assists. His 21:21 average ice-time ranks fourth among Minnesota blue-liners.
The Wild remain in the thick of the playoff race, holding down the final wild-card spot with 63 points. Both the Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche trail Minnesota by one point.
The NHL trade deadline is now under three weeks away, but still the league awaits its first big-name move.
One of the bigger stars on the chopping block is Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman. As a premier shooter, a deal for Hoffman could very well bring back the biggest return of any player on the Senators roster. (It's important to note general manager Pierre Dorion has gone on record saying he wants captain Erik Karlsson with the club for life, and he doesn't plan to move Derick Brassard.)
However, it appears the Senators could be wavering on whether to deal Hoffman for one main reason: he and Matt Duchene have formed great chemistry over the last few weeks, as TSN's Darren Dreger noted on Tuesday's "Insider Trading" segment.
Hoffman and Duchene have been the bright lights for a team that, despite wins in three of the last four games, looks primed for a top-10 pick in the draft. The two have combined for 11 points in their last four games and after a slow start following his arrival from the Colorado Avalanche, Duchene looks to be hitting his stride.
Over his last 14 games, Duchene has 14 points, thanks largely to his rapport with Hoffman. Meanwhile, since joining the Sens, Duchene has 20 points, 10 of which Hoffman has contributed to in some way.
There's no question the idea the duo continuing to fire on all cylinders is intriguing, but the fact of the matter is the potential benefits of a deal ahead of the trade deadline outweigh those of keeping him.
Given Hoffman's offensive potential, there is no question he will be a sought-after trade target and could command a hefty haul.
In the same "Insider Trading" segment, Bob McKenzie suggested the asking price for New York Rangers forward Rick Nash could be a first-round draft pick, a high-end prospect, and another draft pick or lesser player.
That seems like a high ask, but the Sens would likely want a similarly large return for Hoffman. While Nash certainly plays a heavier game than Hoffman, the Senators winger has been much more productive over the last two years, tallying 69 goals and 156 points in 204 games compared to Nash's 53 goals and 99 points in 180 games. That works out to a points per game average of 0.76 for Hoffman to Nash's 0.55, making the former the better fit for a club looking to add an offensive punch heading into the postseason.
A Hoffman deal also makes sense in the much-publicized case of Karlsson's next contract. As has been well documented, the two-time Norris Trophy-winner will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season and is eligible for a contract extension on July 1 of this year.
As it stands, the Senators will have just over $35 million to spend for the 2019-20 season - when Karlsson becomes a free agent - but that's with just nine players signed to contracts.
Karlsson could command a Connor McDavid-like contract in the ballpark of $12.5 million per season, or potentially higher. That would give the Senators roughly $23 million to get 10 guys signed - good luck, Dorion. So it makes sense to try and free up some money if they can, and with Hoffman on the books for another two years at $5.187 million per season, dealing him would be a way to release some cash.
It's understandable to want to keep Hoffman in the fold. The 28-year-old has a remarkable shot - one he's used to score more goals than any other Sens player over the last four seasons - and he still looks to have another gear to hit.
But with the team now locked in 29th in the overall standings, it's evident the team is in need of some retooling. With that, the Senators would be better off cashing in on Hoffman for draft picks and prospects to help jump-start their pending rebuild.
New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero would like to give his club a boost at the trade deadline, but he's only willing to give up so much.
The Devils find themselves third in the Metropolitan Division, just one point back of the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins with three games in hand. Though Shero would like to add another piece or two, he won't give up talented prospects and picks to accommodate the high prices for certain rental players.
"You're always looking to make a decent hockey deal, but if it's a rental, I don't see us getting into what those rentals might cost," Shero said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "Maybe it's a softer deal that solidifies a certain area or position, or maybe it's just another hockey deal that takes place. Whether it's team play or injuries, any GM will say that things can change. We'll keep our options open."
Shero added, "We have good depth coming up and that's something I don't want to lose and set us back."
In the meantime, the Devils will look to keep up their strong play down the stretch. They made their last playoff appearance in 2012, falling to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final.
Weber took the ice with teammate Phillip Danault before practice started, but didn't take part in team drills.
No timetable has been set for Weber's return to action. The Canadiens officially shut Weber down Dec. 18. Weber played through the injury but the team ruled him out indefinitely after the ailment lingered.
Weber has notched six goals and 10 assists in 26 games this season.
Andersen left Monday's game against the Anaheim Ducks after taking a skate to the head from Corey Perry, although Babcock said postgame the goaltender was "fine."
Andersen returned to practice Tuesday without incident, but Babcock said he wouldn't make a decision about Wednesday's starter until game day.
The goaltender currently sports a 2.66 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage and four shutouts.
Joffrey Lupul is still under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it doesn't appear he'll be suiting up anytime soon.
The 34-year-old hasn't played since February 2016 after having sports hernia surgery, and recently hinted at being effectively retired during an appearance on the "Member Guest" podcast.
"When I think about things like that, it’s easier to let go of the fact that your body is not in good shape and it’s probably not meant to play hockey anymore. But it’s very easy to just focus on the great moments … the playoff games or big goals and stuff like that. That’s one thing I find myself dealing with now that I’m not playing, and probably won’t be playing going forward," Lupul said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Lupul failed a second physical in October and the NHL ruled him eligible to be placed on long-term injured reserve. The veteran forward initially blamed the Maple Leafs for his first failed physical in September, but later apologized and said he hoped to eventually return.
Now, it seems unlikely Lupul will ever play again, which he's seemingly at peace with.
"When you’ve dedicated your life to something - a professional sport or music - there’s a lot of things that you’ve had to sacrifice along the way, as far as not being able to do," he said. "I (couldn’t) go on a vacation with friends. It was like you finish a season, you take two weeks off and then I’m back in the gym doing everything, which was great. I loved it. I miss it.
"I miss some of that stuff, but there’s also some interesting things that you can do outside of there. That part of it's really exciting."
The incident in question occurred midway through the second period after a stoppage in play. Burrows took exception to some physical play from Hall and jumped the 26-year-old, throwing punches and then kneeing him in the head as the two wrestled on the ice.
After the game, Hall told reporters of Burrows: "He kind of lost his mind."
The news comes after Burrows was fined $5,000 for roughing San Jose Sharks defenseman Dylan DeMelo in a game on Dec. 9.
By now, if you haven't come to terms with NHL players not competing at PyeongChang 2018, you probably never will.
And while there is no denying the fact that the tournament's appeal is not on the same level it would have been if the world's best were allowed to take part, there are still plenty of consummate hockey professionals set to put on a show next week.
Even though the "Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR)" team boasts the obvious advantage of a roster loaded with NHL-ready talent, a number of lesser-known names from different nations still have the ability to light the lamp on the regular and take the tournament by storm.
Here's a look at the players we think will be the leading scorers in South Korea, broken down by group:
Group A
Linden Vey, W - Canada
The 2009 fourth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings saw his NHL high in goals top out at 10 when he notched 24 points in 75 games for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2014-15 season. Although those numbers aren't eye-popping, he still possesses the pedigree to be an offensive threat for the Canadians.
Vey, a 26-year-old Saskatchewan native, sits fourth in KHL scoring with 17 goals and 35 assists in 50 games this campaign for Barys Astana and has become increasingly comfortable playing on the bigger ice surfaces of Europe.
The 2010-11 WHL scoring champ owns the necessary offensive abilities to be a difference-maker for Team Canada at PyeongChang 2018.
Jiri Sekac, W - Czech Republic
Montreal Canadiens fans might not be in full agreement of Sekac's inclusion in this list, but that doesn't mean he can't still be an offensive contributor in a wide-open tournament.
One hundred and eight NHL contests saw only 10 goals for the Kladno native, but over the last two seasons for AK Bars Kazan of the KHL, Sekac has tallied 28 goals and 39 assists in 95 games.
The Czechs may struggle to score as a group, but if Sekac can form some offensive chemistry with former NHLers in Roman Horak and Martin Erat, don't be shocked if the 26-year-old winger is among the tournament leaders at the end of the month.
Group B
Ilya Kovalchuk, W - OAR
This entire section could have arguably been filled solely with the Olympic Athletes from Russia, but there is no debating Kovalchuk remains a dangerous offensive weapon who could jump right back into the NHL at any moment.
Kovalchuk stepped away from the NHL in 2013 to return to his native Russia to play for SKA Saint Petersburg, but that hasn't stopped him from being a consistent goal scorer with the type of soft hands general managers in North America are still courting.
The 2001 first overall draft pick has 120 goals in 262 games since taking his talents back to Russia, and his familiarity with his teammates and the larger ice surface should lead to Kovalchuk racking up points regardless of the crest on his jersey.
Nikita Gusev, W - OAR
Another Russian-born player who could easily be filling the scoresheet in NHL arenas, Gusev also plies his trade for SKA Saint Petersburg.
Gusev finished fourth in KHL scoring a season ago with 71 points in 57 games and sits only one point adrift of teammate Kovalchuk for this year's lead with 62. The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Gusev's rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning (the team that drafted him in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft) this summer, so his North American appeal is still very much real.
With that and his scoring ability in mind, Gusev is most definitely an offensive talent that will be among the tournament's best.
Ryan Donato, C - United States
Part of the group of NCAA stars making the trip to South Korea for Team USA, Donato is a player to watch at PyeongChang 2018.
The Boston Bruins' 56th overall draft choice has put up yet another strong season for the Harvard Crimson, tallying 31 points, including a ridiculous 20 goals in 19 games.
Donato has taken his talent to the next level in each of the past three seasons, and he is just starting to scratch the surface of his offensive potential.
Along with fellow NCAA standouts Troy Terry and Jordan Greenway, Donato will be counted on by head coach Tony Granato to shoulder the offensive load for Team USA.
Group C
Rasmus Dahlin, D - Sweden
This list would not be complete without the unanimous projected first overall pick for the upcoming 2018 draft, Swedish blue line prodigy Dahlin.
Dahlin continues to turn heads in pretty much every arena he plays in with his sneaky fast skating ability and tremendous puck-handling skills. The 6-foot-2 teenager should feast during this tournament, utilizing his experience on the international ice along with his all-world vision to capitalize on the lesser-talented squads in Group C such as Germany and Norway.
At only 17 years old, Dahlin is already worth the price of admission.
Eeli Tolvanen, W - Finland
Another gem of a find by Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, Tolvanen is proving to be a serious steal as a 30th overall draft pick.
Tolvanen has been one of the bigger surprises in the KHL this season, registering 17 goals and 17 assists for Finnish side Jokerit while establishing himself as a legitimate pro with NHL potential.
The Finns' biggest strength lays in net with Mikko Koskinen and Karri Ramo forming a formidable duo, but the team might struggle to score enough goals to get past the likes of Russia, U.S.A, and Canada in the medal round which could hinder Tolvanen's offensive output.
Regardless, he is an NHL-level talent with the ability to fill the back of the net.
