Report: Leafs among teams interested in UDFA goalie Guzda

Undrafted free-agent goaltender Mack Guzda is generating quite a buzz.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to sign the netminder, and they met with him this week, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek. The Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins are also interested in his services, Marek added.

The 21-year-old is currently playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts. Guzda's recorded a .935 save percentage and a 1.89 goals against average in 13 games this season. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native is listed at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds.

Amid Toronto's interest in Guzda, the club is also getting calls about one of its own goalies.

The Maple Leafs have not initiated any conversations about Petr Mrazek's availability, but teams have contacted them anyway, Marek reported. However, Toronto likely wouldn't consider trading Mrazek until the summer, if at all.

Mrazek joined the Leafs as a free agent this past offseason, signing a three-year contract with a $3.8-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. He's missed most of the 2021-22 campaign due to injuries, though, sporting a .896 save percentage and a 3.20 goals against average in six games.

Jack Campbell has taken the starting job and run with it in Mrazek's absence, posting a .926 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average in 30 appearances.

Campbell's $1.65-million cap hit expires after this season, and he'll almost certainly require a significant raise. Toronto would likely need to shed cap space - potentially through trading Mrazek - if the organization hopes to re-sign Campbell.

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Kane reflects on Oilers debut: ‘It’s nice to contribute’

With a goal, three shots, four hits, and nearly 18 minutes to his name, it's safe to say Evander Kane had a significant impact in his Edmonton Oilers debut on Saturday night.

"It's nice to contribute on a new team coming in, you want to show what you can do," Kane said postgame. "Obviously, it was great to get the boys on the board early and everybody kind of took off after that."

Kane suited up alongside captain Connor McDavid on the top line and opened the scoring with a deflection goal 11:21 into the opening period against the Montreal Canadiens.

Saturday's game marked Kane's first since May 2021. He said he was relieved to be able to focus on hockey again after being the subject of multiple NHL investigations over recent months.

"When you get on the ice, you kind of put everything else to bed. Hopefully, that continues," Kane said. "It was great to be back out there."

Kane was suspended 21 games in October for violating the NHL/NHLPA's COVID-19 protocol after he allegedly used a fake vaccine card. His deal with the San Jose Sharks was then terminated for breach of contract.

Before he signed with Edmonton, Kane was investigated for allegedly crossing the U.S.-Canada border eight days after testing positive for COVID-19. The league determined there was insufficient evidence.

Despite a strong showing Saturday, Kane says he still has to work out some kinks on the ice.

"Obviously, there was some rust, timing issues, getting the legs going. All to be expected," he said. "It was a good first game, there's really not much more to say than that."

The win was Edmonton's fourth in a row. The Oilers return to action Monday versus the Ottawa Senators.

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Report: Panthers using Tippett as trade bait

With the Florida Panthers expected to be buyers ahead of the deadline, the team has made forward Owen Tippett available for trade, reports Sportsnet's Jeff Marek.

Tippett, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound winger, was a prolific sniper in junior, scoring 128 goals in 213 career OHL games. The Panthers drafted him 10th overall in 2017, but his NHL career has yet to take off.

The 22-year-old has recorded 13 points in 39 contests this season. In 91 career NHL games, he's tallied 13 goals and 19 assists while averaging 12 minutes per contest.

Tippett's underlying numbers haven't been strong, either.

Evolving-Hockey.com

The Panthers have reportedly shown interest in both Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun and Montreal Canadiens blue-liner Ben Chiarot.

Tippett is in the final year of his entry-level contract. He's set to become a restricted free agent.

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Canadiens’ Savard out 8 weeks with ankle injury

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard will miss eight weeks due to an ankle injury, the team announced.

Savard played Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks but was ruled out before Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Canadiens last offseason after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Savard's collected nine points in 42 games while averaging over 20 minutes per night in his first campaign with Montreal.

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Sabres’ Anderson to make 1st start since November, Dell waived

Buffalo Sabres veteran netminder Craig Anderson is set to make his first start since Nov. 2 on Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes, head coach Don Granato announced.

The 40-year-old has been sidelined for almost three months with an upper-body injury. In his six appearances for the Sabres this season, he registered a 2.5 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

Granato doesn't have information on who will back Anderson up, according to beat reporter Paul Hamilton.

Buffalo placed goaltender Aaron Dell on waivers Saturday afternoon.

The 32-year-old is serving a three-game suspension for interference after he injured Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson during Tuesday's contest.

Dell struggled mightily this season, holding an .893 save percentage and 4.03 goals-against average in 12 appearances.

Buffalo's crease has been rocked by injuries all season, to the extent that former NHL goalie Roberto Luongo jokingly suggested he'd step back between the pipes.

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Canadiens’ Byron details pain that prompted hip surgery

Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron is nearing his season debut after undergoing hip surgery in July, and he's hopeful the procedure has fully resolved the worsening pain he experienced over the past couple of years.

The 32-year-old chronicled the extent of the issue while speaking to reporters Saturday.

"Every day was different, every game was different. I remember some days just taking off your equipment and barely being able to walk to your stall. Going upstairs was always tough some days. Not even being able to sleep after games," he said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

"It would feel OK, and then you'd go to bed, and every time you moved in your sleep, it would wake you up in pain because all that adrenaline and Tylenol and Advil kind of wears off in the night."

Byron said he received a cortisone injection before last year's playoffs. It initially made him feel better, but the relief dissipated midway through the Canadiens' first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"By Game 5, it was just right back to where it was, and I remember saying in my head, 'This could be your last game of the year; you've just gotta grind through it, push through it, give everything you have. You have literally nothing left to leave on the table and win the game,'" he said. "Same thing Game 6, same thing Game 7, and that mentally just carried on."

Byron registered six points while averaging 14:35 of ice time in 22 playoff games during Montreal's run to the Stanley Cup Final. He scored a highlight-reel shorthanded goal to secure a Game 1 victory against Toronto.

Byron said the relief provided by the cortisone shot, though short-lived, changed his perspective on a potential recovery.

"That injection moment was kind of when the lightbulb went off and said, 'Wow, if that's how I can feel every day, I've gotta find a way to get that again.' This was the path I had to take, and I'm hoping it works," he said. "I'm excited. I'm really excited to play again and try it out because I feel really good right now."

Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme said Byron and fellow injured forward Brendan Gallagher won't play Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, but he's confident the duo can suit up against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

Gallagher, 29, has been sidelined for all of January with a lower-body injury.

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Stars raise Sergei Zubov’s No. 56 to rafters

No Dallas Stars player will ever wear No. 56 again.

The team retired Hall of Fame defenseman Sergei Zubov's number prior to Friday's game against the Washington Capitals.

The Stars aired a tribute video of Zubov's highlights before the ceremony got underway.

As chants of "Zub" reigned down from the crowd during his speech, Zubov graciously thanked the Stars faithful.

Zubov then watched as his No. 56 got raised to the rafters of the American Airlines Center.

In 839 games across 12 seasons with the Stars, Zubov recorded 549 points, which ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time list and most among Dallas defensemen. He helped lead the Stars to their only Stanley Cup in 1999, recording 13 points in 23 playoff games while averaging over 30 minutes per contest. Zubov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.

Neal Broten (No. 7), Bill Goldsworthy (No. 8), Mike Modano (No. 9), Bill Masterton (No. 19), and Jere Lehtinen (No. 26) are the only other players in Stars franchise history to have their jersey retired.

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Rangers retire Lundqvist’s jersey

King Henrik will forever be enshrined in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.

The New York Rangers retired legendary goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's No. 30 jersey Friday night. He's the 11th player in franchise history to have his number retired.

"The highs were high but the lows were low, and there was not much in between," Lundqvist said during the ceremony. "And that's how I chose to live my life for the past 20 years and 15 here in New York, it never really changed.

"Playing well and trying to help the team to win - that was so important to me."

He added: "While I reflect on my time here in New York - everything I experienced, the people I've met, and what the game has given me - I keep coming back to one feeling, and that's gratitude. I feel so grateful for everything this organization has given me, supporting me and my family."

Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The 39-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL in August after 15 seasons, all of which he spent backstopping the Rangers. He retired as the franchise leader in both regular-season and playoff wins, shutouts, and games played.

Lundqvist didn't capture a Stanley Cup during his time with the Rangers, but he came close on a number of occasions. He helped the team reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and put together many other promising playoff runs.

Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Rangers general manager Chris Drury, who was once Lundqvist's teammate, commended the Swede on Friday, saying he was a perfect example of what it means to be a Ranger.

"You want to be like Hank. His desire, determination, will to win," Drury said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "His dedication to his craft, along with his talent and skill level. His commitment to this community and this city. He is, for me, the gold standard for what a New York Ranger is, and what a New York Ranger should be for this generation of players."

Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Lundqvist finished his career with a 459-310-96 record, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.43 goals-against average. He captured one Vezina Trophy in 2012 and was nominated for the award five times. He also led Team Sweden to a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Games and a silver in 2014.

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