Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has seen trade rumors revolving around his star player Patrik Laine, but he confirmed there's no substance to them.

"Yeah, it bothers me because people make up shit, that's what bothers me," Kekalainen said, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I understand that sometimes from conversations you have (with teams), some of it may leak out, and a name gets in there, but this is not a case like that. This is just somebody making shit up from their own speculation of what we might do. They make it up and hope for the headlines and hope for the clicks. I think that's unethical. And I don't have any time for it."

Laine is set to become a restricted free agent again this offseason after signing a one-year, $7.5-million deal with the Blue Jackets last summer. The media has raised questions about Laine's future in Columbus ever since the Blue Jackets acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets in January 2021.

The 23-year-old didn't perform to expectations last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 11 assists over 45 games in Columbus. This campaign has been a different story, with Laine recording 20 goals and 18 assists in 35 games and looking like a legitimate franchise star.

Kekalainen added that he isn't in a rush to extend Laine at this point since the team has two more years of control due to his pending RFA status.

"When the time is right, we're going to sit down and look at all the options together and see if we can come to a solution that he will stay for us for a term that fits the need of both sides and for the dollars that meet the needs of both sides," Kekalainen said.

"Let's see if there's a marriage that we can get into. And if not, you know, that's hockey. I always say, every player that gets into the time frame when they can become (unrestricted) free agents, they can do that if they want to. And there's not much we can do about it."

Since entering the NHL in 2016, Laine ranks eighth in the league with 170 goals in 386 games.

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The fifth edition of theScore's 2021-22 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings features one first-time entrant and the return of a previous member of the list.

5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: N/A

It was inevitable that Vasilevskiy would end up on this list at some point, though it's a bit shocking that this is the Lightning netminder's first appearance this season. While many goalies endure hot and cold streaks, Vasilevskiy has remained as consistent as they come. He's garnered less fanfare than usual because his numbers haven't been as dominant as in years past, but he's quietly having an excellent year. He's only allowed four goals or more in six appearances this year while playing the sixth-most minutes (2,479) among all NHL goaltenders.

4. Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 3

Few pegged the Predators as a playoff team entering the season, but Saros' superb play in net is a big reason the club is currently in the race. He's in the midst of a modest cold streak after dropping five of his last six contests, but his overall stats haven't taken much of a hit. He ranks fourth among all goalies with 20.18 goals saved above average.

3. Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: N/A

Markstrom stumbled in December and January after a great start to the season. It looks like he's back on track, while the Flames have been one of the NHL's hottest teams of late. He's won nine of his last 10 starts and allowed two goals or fewer in eight of those victories. He also has an incredible eight shutouts on the season. With Calgary playing at an elite level, he should challenge for the trophy at the end of the season.

2. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 2

Andersen is having the best statistical season of his career and has the pleasure of backstopping one of the NHL's most well-rounded teams. The Hurricanes took a big gamble by completely shaking up their crease during the offseason, but the addition of Andersen - who struggled with the Maple Leafs last season - is paying dividends so far. Carolina sits atop the Metropolitan Division, and Andersen's play is a major reason for the team's success.

1. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 1

Shesterkin is showing no signs of slowing. He leads all goaltenders in virtually every statistical category and he's doing it while backstopping a less-than-stellar Rangers squad. At five-on-five, New York is second to last in the NHL with a 44.77 Corsi For rating and gives up the tenth-most high-danger scoring chances (664), so the team almost certainly wouldn't be sitting comfortably in a playoff spot if not for Shesterkin. Not only is he the front-runner for the Vezina, but he's also certainly in the mix for the Hart Trophy after Carey Price won the award in 2015 with a .933 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average.

Honorable mentions: Tristan Jarry, Thatcher Demko

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Jake DeBrusk's agent, Rick Valette, has informed teams they're willing to work on an extension in order to facilitate a trade from the Boston Bruins, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported during Tuesday's "Insider Trading" segment.

The 25-year-old forward is playing out the final season of a two-year deal, which carries a $3.675-million cap hit. He's a pending restricted free agent this offseason and could sign a $4.41-million qualifying offer.

"A lot of teams are concerned about the $4.4-million qualifying offer to retain his rights this summer," LeBrun said. "Maybe (if there's) an extension at a cheaper price, everyone goes home happy."

DeBrusk thrived in the second half of February. He's logged seven goals and two assists in his last five contests, including his first career hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. He managed just seven goals in the first 43 games of the campaign.

The winger's trade request became public in late November, but there's been no movement yet.

"Bottom line is, if he keeps scoring and playing a bigger role, it might help the Bruins and general manager Don Sweeney get better offers than they've had to date," LeBrun said.

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Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Ellis hasn't officially been ruled out of the rest of the season, but his chances at slotting back into the lineup aren't looking promising.

"Not much of an update. We're getting to the point in the season where it's looking less and less likely that he'll play, but nothing has been fully determined yet," Flyers interim head coach Mike Yeo told NHL.com's Adam Kimelman on Tuesday.

Ellis was Philadelphia's splashiest acquisition in the offseason. The Flyers sent Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the veteran's services in July.

The 31-year-old suited up for Philadelphia's first three games of the season and chipped in with one goal and three assists. He then missed the Flyers' next nine games with a lower-body injury and returned to the lineup against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 13, but he hasn't played since after aggravating the ailment.

Ellis' initial return timetable in mid-November was four-to-six weeks. General manager Chuck Fletcher said in February that the team was trying to avoid surgery, per Kimelman.

Yeo added that Ellis hasn't had a substantial skating session recently.

"I don't know if he skated in the last few days. I wouldn't even really call it skating, what he was doing, as far as just kind of ... gliding around," Yeo said. "Certainly not pushing himself to any point where we would think that he's a possibility to return at any point here."

The Flyers are in last place of the Metropolitan Division with a record of 16-26-10.

Ellis is in the third season of an eight-year, $50-million contract.

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NHL player agent Dan Milstein says his Russian-born clients are experiencing harassment and discrimination following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Milstein was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, but immigrated to the United States in 1991 and is now a citizen. He represents 75% of the NHL's Russian and Belarusian players, including superstars such as Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

"The discrimination and racism these Russian and Belarusian players are facing right now is remarkable," Milstein told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "We're being set back 30 years. I have players calling me, parents calling me. They're concerned whether they'll be able to play, whether they'll be safe."

The NHL released a statement Monday condemning Russia's actions while suspending relationships with business partners in the country. Equipment manufacturer CCM Hockey announced Tuesday it won't be using Russian stars like Alex Ovechkin, among others, in global marketing initiatives going forward.

Milstein said some clients have been harassed on the street, while several have received death threats.

"He was yelled at to, 'Get back to your country,' and was called a Nazi and other words," Milstein said. "Clients are being called Nazis. People are wishing that they are dead. These are human beings. These are hockey players. These are guys contributing to our society, paying millions of dollars in taxes to support the U.S. and Canada, and doing all kinds of charity work back home. Stop looking at them as aggressors. Stop being racist."

He added, "My clients aren't as nervous for themselves. But when they are on the road, and they have a wife and a newborn child at home that are alone, there are major concerns."

Milstein also represents many Russian players in the AHL and junior leagues across North America, whom he says have been subject to harassment as well.

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Predators general manager David Poile is making it clear he wants to keep Filip Forsberg, a pending unrestricted free agent, in Nashville.

"No, I'm not trying to trade Filip Forsberg, I'm trying to sign Filip Forsberg," Poile told 102.5 The Game on Tuesday, according to NHL.com. "It hasn't been done. ... I don't have the crystal ball to say it will get done. Both sides want it to happen, but it hasn't happened now."

Forsberg's name has entered the rumor mill ahead of the March 21 trade deadline as he plays out the final season of a six-year, $36-million contract. A potential extension between the two sides must have an average annual value higher than $8 million but lower than $9.059 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"Obviously, we don't agree where we are, or we would have had a deal done by now," Poile said, per NHL.com. "I think we just continue moving on. He knows that I haven't been shopping him. ... It's out there and you hear it, and then you have to react to it. That's where we are today."

Forsberg, 27, leads all Predators with 27 goals in 40 games this season. He's also recording a career-high 1.13 points per contest for Nashville, which currently holds a playoff spot.

The Swedish star has 430 points in 537 career NHL games, all as a Predator.

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CCM Hockey announced Monday it will stop using Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and other Russian NHL players in its global marketing initiatives amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We are very sad to witness, like the rest of the world, what is happening in Ukraine," CCM chief executive Marrouane Nabih wrote in an email to TSN's Rick Westhead. "Although Mr. Ovechkin is not responsible for the Russian government's actions, we took the decision to not use him (or any Russian player) on any global CCM communication at this point."

CCM pays Ovechkin over $500,000 per year plus a percentage of its sales within Russia, a source told Westhead. Though the company will no longer use Ovechkin or other Russian players for global marketing, the source said it's unlikely CCM will try to terminate its contracts with them.

Nabih did not respond to follow-up questions from Westhead about the company's contracts with Ovechkin and other Russian players such as Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin and Capitals blue-liner Dmitry Orlov.

Ovechkin has been a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout his career. His current profile picture on Instagram features him standing next to Putin while giving the "peace" sign.

The 36-year-old said Friday he doesn't support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but when asked if he still supports Putin, Ovechkin responded: "Well, he's my president. But how I said, I'm not in politics. I'm an athlete."

The IIHF banned Russia and Belarus from all international hockey indefinitely Monday. The federation also removed Russia as host of the 2023 world juniors.

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Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele says he's willing to drop the gloves if Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans seeks out a fight to avenge the controversial hit Scheifele delivered in last year's playoffs.

"If Jake Evans wants to fight me, I'll answer the bell for sure," Scheifele said ahead of Tuesday's matchup between the Jets and Canadiens - the first meeting between the two clubs since the 2021 postseason.

Scheifele laid out Evans in the final minute of Game 1 of Round 2 as the Canadiens forward tried to seal the contest with an empty-netter.

Scheifele was suspended four games for the hit, a ban the 28-year-old called "excessive" at the time. Montreal swept Winnipeg in four games, making Tuesday's contest the Canadiens' first chance for retribution.

But Evans, who suffered a concussion on the play and missed Montreal's next nine games, doesn't appear to be seeking vengeance.

"For me, it was handled last year in the playoffs," the 25-year-old told reporters. "I think the best way to get back at someone is winning a series and not even letting them play, so for me, it's done with. Like I said, I'm just happy I'm healthy."

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