With an 11-point cushion in the Presidents' Trophy race, it's no surprise oddsmakers have pinned the Washington Capitals as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
Oddsmakers Bodog released the latest betting odds Tuesday, and once again the first-place Capitals are leading the charge.
Despite missing over half the season, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid now sits second with odds of 5-1 to win the Calder Trophy. He trails Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin, who leads at 3-10 odds of bringing home the hardware.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has been suspended five games without pay for an illegal hit to the head in Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Rinaldo took out Lightning forward Cedric Paquette against the boards in the first...
Suspended Anaheim Ducks center Shawn Horcoff was back at practice for the first time Tuesday since it was announced in January that he had violated the NHL and NHLPA's Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Though he can skate with the team now, after a month of inaction, he will not be at head coach Bruce Boudreau's disposal until March 11.
Horcoff had 10 points through 45 games in his first season with Anaheim, which has shot up the league standings in his absence.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Centre Connor McDavid was named the NHL's top rookie for the month of February on Tuesday.
McDavid led all rookies with 12 assists and 17 points over 14 games. McDavid, taken first overall by Edmonton in last year's draft, re...
RALEIGH, N.C. - Carolina Hurricanes right winger Andrej Nestrasil will miss the rest of the season with a broken vertebra.
General manager Ron Francis said Tuesday that Nestrasil broke the vertebra Feb. 25 in a loss at Toronto, but not provid...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Predators have signed forward Miikka Salomaki (MEE-kah SA-loh-MA-kee) to a two-year, $1.225 million contract.
The Predators announced the deal Tuesday.
Salomaki, who turns 23 on March 9, will earn $575,000 ...
The Connor McDavid effect will be put to the test once again Tuesday.
Nail Yakupov is staying put past the trade deadline, and it appears he'll have every opportunity to show the Edmonton Oilers what he's capable of in the final 18 games of the season. With Benoit Pouliotreportedly sidelined indefinitely due to a separated shoulder, Yakupov will slot in next to McDavid and Jordan Eberle on Edmonton's top line against the Buffalo Sabres.
"He's been waiting for this opportunity & we're giving it to him. We expect big things." Coach McLellan on Yak joining McDavid & Eberle
The 22-year-old forward has struggled mightily this season, failing to register a point in his last five games, while recording just three goals in 20 contests since returning from an ankle injury on Jan. 14. The good news is, McDavid can certainly elevate his play.
Two-thirds of Yakupov's 15 points in 42 games this season have come while playing on a line with McDavid:
Games
Points
With McDavid
13
10
Without McDavid
29
5
Growth in production is nothing new for players playing alongside the 19-year-old rookie phenom:
Player
Games Without McDavid
Points
Games With McDavid
Points
Jordan Eberle
37
22
14
16
Benoit Pouliot
34
14
27
21
Amid endless speculation surrounding Yakupov's future with the Oilers, there's clearly no better time than now for the former first overall pick to turn his career around. If not, it's certainly possible he could find himself playing somewhere else in the near future.
NEW YORK, - The NHL suspended Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo for five games Tuesday for delivering an illegal check.
Rinaldo was suspended without pay for hitting Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette in the head during a 4-1 Boston ...
He might be one of his best friends, but Alex Ovechkin plans to bring the hurt when he faces former teammate Brooks Laich.
The Washington Capitals host the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday in the first matchup between the clubs since the two executed the trade that sent Laich, Connor Carrick, and a second-round pick to the Maple Leafs for forward Danniel Winnik and a fifth-round pick, and Ovechkin doesn't plan to take it easy.
"When we have a power play he’s gonna be PK and I’m gonna shoot him in the foot and laugh about it," Ovechkin said, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.
Ovechkin sent his well wishes early Sunday morning after learning about the trade. The two had been the longest-serving Capitals on the roster, both suiting up for their first full season with the team in 2005.
Trotz said he thinks it'll be "awkward" for Laich tomorrow. But thinks it's good for Laich to get that reunion over with fast.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 1, 2016
With the Maple Leafs already hampered by injuries, hopes are that Ovechkin goes a little easy on his pal.