Tag Archives: Hockey

Blackhawks trade Kempny to Capitals for 3rd-round pick

The Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Michal Kempny to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick, Chicago announced Monday.

The Blackhawks will receive the higher of the Capitals' two third-round picks. They had their own, plus one that was originally property of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Capitals obtained that pick in the Marcus Johansson trade with the New Jersey Devils, who acquired it from Toronto as compensation for hiring Lou Lamoriello.

Kempny, 27, recorded 15 points in 81 total NHL games with the Blackhawks. He has been a bottom-pairing defenseman throughout his career, averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time per game, and will likely play a similar role in Washington.

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Report: Jets have ‘kicked tires’ on Nash, Hoffman, other forwards

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff appears to be a busy man a week before the trade deadline.

The Jets have talked to a number of teams with the intention of acquiring a forward, it appears. Rangers veteran Rick Nash, Senators sniper Mike Hoffman, Blackhawks speedster Ryan Hartman, and Oilers forwards Patrick Maroon and Mark Letestu are among the many players the Jets have "kicked tires on," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Related: Assessing the trade deadline avenues the Jets should explore

The Jets have a rock solid blue line from Nos. 1 to 6, and have a Vezina Trophy candidate in goal in Connor Hellebuyck. Even with a potent top-six forward group, Cheveldayoff doesn't appear to be shy about adding to one of his team's strength.

With a Central Divison-leading 79 points, the Jets are in a prime position to be buyers before next Monday's trade deadline.

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3 NHL teams that should sign Brian Gionta for the stretch run

U.S. men's hockey captain Brian Gionta is mulling a return to the NHL upon the conclusion of the PyeongChang Games, according to his agent, Steve Bartlett, who's already had discussions with multiple teams.

The forward captained the Buffalo Sabres last season and scored 15 goals, but after they elected not to re-sign him, the 39-year-old rejected offers from other teams in order to play in South Korea.

Now, it sounds like Gionta will be available for the stretch run. Here, we determine his best NHL fits:

New Jersey Devils

This would be a homecoming for Gionta, as he played in more than 500 games for the Devils after they drafted him in 1998. He'd be a good fit with New Jersey's roster that needs more balanced scoring down the depth chart, as it relies almost exclusively on Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier. Gionta also offers veteran experience that would be an asset for a young, up-and-coming Devils team that currently sits in an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. He helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup in 2003, and a second stint ought to be welcomed 15 years later.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The highest-scoring team in the NHL doesn't necessarily need Gionta, but it'd still be a mutually beneficial partnership. Gionta would be provided with an opportunity to end his career with another Stanley Cup, while the Lightning would gain another depth forward in pursuit of a title. Plus, with eight forwards under 6-feet tall on Tampa Bay's roster, Gionta's diminutive stature (he stands 5-foot-7) won't be held against him and he could be a stylistic match for the team. If he gets an offer from Steve Yzerman, it may be too good to pass up.

Boston Bruins

Boston would represent a homecoming in a different way than New Jersey. Gionta starred for Boston College before heading to the NHL, and the Bruins are once again in contention for the Stanley Cup. Gionta has never played outside of the Eastern Conference and it's unlikely he'll want to venture very far away from his family in Buffalo at this stage of his career. He wouldn't be asked to do too much in Boston's offense and offers a familiarity with its division rivals that few other free agents possess.

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Report: Penguins among teams in mix for Senators’ Brassard

The Pittsburgh Penguins are among multiple teams "in the mix" for Ottawa Senators forward Derick Brassard, reports Darren Dreger of TSN.

The Penguins have failed to address their third-line center void since Nick Bonino left in free agency. Riley Sheahan has filled that role for most of the season, but he provides very little offense.

Related: 5 centers the Penguins should target to bolster 3-peat bid

Brassard, 30, will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. He has 17 goals and 35 points in 55 games this year and has proven to be a clutch playoff performer, totaling 55 points in 78 career postseason games.

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Sabres’ Lehner day to day with upper-body injury; Ullmark recalled

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner is day to day with an upper-body injury, according to John Vogl of The Buffalo News.

In a corresponding move, netminder Linus Ullmark has been recalled from the AHL's Rochester Americans.

Lehner is 12-22-8 this season with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. As a pending unrestricted free agent on a non-playoff team, it comes as no surprise his name has surfaced in trade talks.

Ullmark, meanwhile, has put together a nice season with Rochester, owning a 2.43 GAA and .924 save percentage. The 24-year-old Swede has a 2.54 GAA and .918 save percentage in 22 career NHL games over the past three seasons.

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Report: Flyers, Red Wings discussing trade for Mrazek

The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings are engaged in "ongoing discussions" regarding goaltender Petr Mrazek, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Flyers' starting goalie Brian Elliott has been injured for more than a week, and isn't expected back for at least another month following core muscle surgery. To make matters worse, backup netminder Michal Neuvirth left Sunday's game with a lower-body injury.

After the Elliott injury, the Red Wings reportedly offered Mrazek to the Flyers for a third-round pick, which was declined, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Whether that offer still stands is unclear.

Mrazek will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He's gone 8-7-3 this season with a 2.89 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He's played his best hockey of late, though, posting a .935 save percentage in his last 10 games.

Mrazek just turned 26 and has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career, so it's possible he could be more than just a temporary fix for the Flyers.

The Flyers are holding onto third place in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points. They're not in the clear yet, though, as the Devils (70 points), Islanders (64), Hurricanes (64), and Blue Jackets (63), are all battling for what appears to be three Eastern Conference postseason spots.

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NHL Rookie Power Rankings: Barzal on an island of his own

In the first running of theScore's NHL Rookie Power Rankings, editor Ian McLaren orders the top first-year players from around the league this season - with extra consideration given to their performances this month.

10. Mikhail Sergachev

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
57 8 23 31 0.54 53.54

The Tampa Bay Lightning made a bit of a gamble in trading Jonathan Drouin to Montreal for this young, highly-touted yet unproven defenserman, but Sergachev has fit right in, and sits within the top-25 in scoring among all players at his position.

He does rank sixth on the Lightning in terms of average ice time on the blue line, but his production in limited minutes suggests even bigger things to come.

9. Danton Heinen

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
52 12 26 38 0.73 55.19

The Boston Bruins are exceeding expectations this season based in part on the contributions of several youngsters, with Heinen fitting in well on the third line.

He isn't the flashiest rookie, and maybe not even the most talented first-year forward on his team (honorable mention to Jake DeBrusk), but Heinen knows his role, plays it well, and his contributions are proving to be a boon for the Bruins.

8. Kyle Connor

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
53 21 17 38 0.72 47.78

Connor's addition to the Jets top six gives Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice an abundance of offensive threats.

The 21-year-old does not look out of place on the top line with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, and recently earned praise from the captain.

7. Nico Hischier

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
59 13 26 39 0.66 50.31

The first overall pick from the 2017 draft has been an important contributor for the upstart New Jersey Devils.

With a goal Sunday against Carolina, he extended his point streak to five games, wherein he's recorded four goals and four assists.

He's doing this while assuming first-line center duties, having gained the trust of head coach John Hynes at both ends of the ice, which is no small feat for a rookie.

6. Alex DeBrincat

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
59 22 17 39 0.66 54.58

The Chicago Blackhawks sure appear to have lucked out at the 2016 draft, as the highly-skilled yet undersized DeBrincat fell to 39th overall.

As of late, he's been one of the hottest scorers around the league, period.

5. Clayton Keller

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
59 17 27 44 0.75 46.74

Keller has slowed down a bit following a howling start with the Arizona Coyotes, but the fact he's excelling offensively on a team that remains in the NHL's basement is a testament to how good a player he is.

If and when the Coyotes ever make good on years of building, the seventh pick from the 2016 draft is sure to be right at the center of it.

4. Yanni Gourde

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
59 22 22 44 0.75 51.65

Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Gourde, who continues to defy expectations wherever he plays.

Undrafted at both the junior and pro levels, Gourde is putting up numbers for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the same way he did in the QMJHL and AHL: in bunches.

The depth scoring and defensive responsibility he brings is one of the many reasons why the Lightning are favored to win the Stanley Cup in 2018.

3. Charlie McAvoy

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
52 5 21 26 0.50 56.01

This stud defenseman is playing on the Bruins top pair alongside Zdeno Chara, and McAVoy is averaging around 22:30 per game, considerably more ice time than his peers.

McAvoy's proven to be a positive possession player with a strong game at both ends of the ice, and his plus-23 is sure to impress even the more traditional analysts.

Once he starts firing the puck with more regularity (61 shots in 52 games), he'll be an even greater forece to be reckoned with. As it stands, he should be a finalist in the rookie of the year voting.

2. Brock Boeser

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
55 27 22 49 0.89 47.4

Only eight players have scored more goals than Boeser, who recently earned All-Star Game MVP honors.

The Vancouver Canucks did very well to snag this marksman with the 23rd pick at the 2015 draft, and he's emerging not only as a massive piece in the rebuild, but as one of the most consistent scorers in the game.

And that flow, too. Magical.

1. Mathew Barzal

GP G A P P/PG 5-ON-5 CF%
60 16 46 62 1.03 51.93

In what we have seen is a strong rookie class, Barzal has established himself as the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the best first-year player of 2017-18.

It's not just the amount of points he's piling up, but the dominant manner in which he's able to do it; the New York Islanders forward has recorded three five-point games, and it's become evident that these kinds of offensive outbursts are no fluke.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

(Advanced stats courtesy: Corsica Hockey)

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Simmonds: Fans who taunted Smith-Pelly should be banned from every NHL rink

Wayne Simmonds believes the fans who heckled Devante Smith-Pelly of the Washington Capitals with a racist chant in Chicago on Saturday night shouldn't be allowed to attend another NHL game.

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Flyers forward lamented the incident and suggested further punishment for the culprits in a reply to the Capitals' tweet sharing Smith-Pelly's response:

The fans repeatedly chanted "basketball" at Smith-Pelly while he was in the penalty box Saturday night during a game against the Blackhawks. They were later ejected.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz showed support for Smith-Pelly afterwards, and said the chanting was "disgusting."

The Capitals, Blackhawks, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman all condemned the incident in separate statements.

Simmonds, who like Smith-Pelly is black, has also endured racism during his career. While playing in the Czech Republic during the 2012-13 lockout, an opposing team was fined after its fans directed racist insults towards him, and a fan in London, Ont., was fined for throwing a banana at him during an exhibition game on Sept. 22, 2011.

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