Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien has received a vote of confidence from at least one player on the roster.
Days after general manager Marc Bergevin was reported to have endorsed the bench boss, forward Brendan Gallagher expressed his line of thinking on what went wrong this season, saying the blame lays squarely on the shoulders of the players.
TORONTO - The Guelph Storm did the expected Saturday, taking Toronto Jr. Canadiens defenceman Ryan Merkley first overall in the Ontario Hockey League midget draft.
The five-foot-11, 160-pound Merkley served as the Jr. Canadiens' captain this ...
When we think about the many greats that have donned the "C" such as Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr, what made them so revered was the leadership qualities they owned.
They were the players that were looked up to in those dire moments and were always ones that showed with both their play and demeanor that they could be counted on. Captains that could lead their teams to greatness.
Here are the top five current captains who embody such characteristics (you can vote on who you think is the best bel:
5. Joe Pavelski
Though he is enjoying just his first season as the captain of the San Jose Sharks, Joe Pavelski has already proved that he is among the league's best.
Since the 2013-14 season, only Alex Ovechkin has scored more goals than Pavelski, who has tallied 114, averaging 38 goals per season.
He is a vocal leader - especially in the locker room - something that last season's Road to the Winter Classic exposed when Pavelski went on a profanity-laced speech to pump his team up during a February game against the Arizona Coyotes.
Putting his money where his mouth was, Pavelski would go on to lead his team to victory by scoring a hat trick following his rant, proving why he was worthy of the club's captaincy.
Jamie Benn is following up his Art Ross-winning season with another career-year. While he remains 15 points behind Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane for the league lead in points - still good enough for second place - he has eclipsed two personal bests.
His 41 goals mark the first time the 26-year-old has surpassed the 40-goal mark, while his 88 points are one more than his league-leading 87 from last season.
He, unlike many captains, has proved that he is not afraid to get physical and dish out devastating hits while lighting the league up offensively as well.
There is nothing Benn can't and won't do for his team.
3. Alex Ovechkin
If he can manage a hat trick in the Washington Capitals' final game, Alex Ovechkin will hit the 50-goal mark for the seventh time in his 11-year career.
The 30-year-old has become the pinnacle of scoring in the NHL, tied for 34th all-time and with the fifth highest goals per game average in league history.
However, Ovechkin has been just as dangerous away from the puck. He sits 18th in the league with 225 hits through 78 games.
Ovechkin has already become the highest scoring Russian of all-time and will one day go down as one of the best pure goal-scorers to play the game.
2. Jonathan Toews
"Captain Serious."
Jonathan Toews has in large part, helped to turn the Blackhawks into the powerhouse they are now.
He earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015, was named the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, and in 2013 proved he is not just a one-dimensional player, capturing the Selke Trophy.
He has two Olympic gold medals, three Stanley Cups, a World Junior gold, and is the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club.
He has won everywhere while always being a catalyst for his team's successes. Sure he is serious, but winning is serious business.
1. Sidney Crosby
Unless you're a goaltender in the NHL, there is no reason to hate Sidney Crosby.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain has been the face of the league ever since he stepped on to its ice and he has carried himself as a captain should ever since.
His season got off to a horrific start this year with the 28-year-old going pointless in the first five games of the season and nine of his first 11. He has since mustered a 12-game point streak and an eight-game point streak in his last 21 games, bumping him up to third in league scoring.
He has taken his team on his back this season after the club got off to a rocky start and then-leading scorer Evgeni Malkin went down with an injury.
He has captained his country to an Olympic and World Championship gold all while being a model citizen. And yes, he is still the best player in the game.
Erik Johnson is shouldering the blame for Colorado's inability to qualify for the postseason.
The Avalanche defenseman - whose seven-year, $42-million extension kicks in next season - openly admits he has to be better in order for the team to succeed. For head coach Patrick Roy, it's not necessarily about piling up points as a high-paid player, but rather being more responsible defensively, and particularity at even strength.
"(Johnson) doesn't have to step up because of that contract," Roy said Friday. "He has to step up because we need E.J. It's as simple as that. He needs to be a plus player. And the same thing with (Tyson Barrie).
"Look around the league, look at the defensemen, and if they are plus, that's how those teams are winning."
Only six Avalanche players finished at zero or above in plus/minus this season, with Johnson (-19) and Barrie (-15) finishing ahead of only Jarome Iginla (-23).
There's some debate as to the merits of that stat when more advanced metrics are available, but Roy thinks it's a big deal and believes Johnson and Barrie can and will make adjustments to improve.
"The thing I love about E.J. and Tice is that they're very receptive, they want to do well. Sometimes it affects our play, because they're pushing a little harder than they should. They should remain (back)."
Speaking of advanced stats, the Avalanche rank dead last in Corsi For at even strength (44.1), suggesting issues run deep in Colorado.
As far as Johnson is concerned, that's due to the players' failure to execute the coach's plan.
"Every night we have a great game plan and we try to execute it," he said. "We adjust to each team on any given night. It's definitely not a system issue with what the coaches put out there.
"It's definitely on us players, on the core of the team, that we didn't make the playoffs, and we have to look in the mirror and realize we have to be better."
The Columbus Blue Jackets have something to be encouraged about as a long and disappointing season comes to an end.
On track to finish near the bottom of the standings, the Blue Jackets are one of only five NHL teams to boast multiple 30-goal scorers - Boone Jenner and Brandon Saad - with two days remaining in the regular season.
The other four teams are all in the playoffs or still in the running for a spot:
That Saad and Jenner are both in the early stages of their careers gives Columbus much to be excited about, especially with a high draft pick on the way this June.
There are currently 23 players in the NHL with 30 goals and #CBJ have two of them in Brandon Saad & Boone Jenner. Both aged 23-under.
But while Saad is rightfully being compensated as the team's highest-paid skater, the unfortunate thing is that Columbus is hamstrung by a number of expensive contracts doled out to older forwards.
Unless those veterans perform up to their compensation levels or some of those cumbersome deals can be shed this summer, it may be difficult for Columbus to jump back into playoff contention as early as next season.
Still, Saad and Jenner - along with Seth Jones on the blue line - represent a bright future in Columbus, and their accomplishments represent a bright silver lining.
Updates on the Canadian NHL teams, Steven Stamkos, & more in your NHL rumor mill. P.K. Subban surfaces in the rumor mill. TSN (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT) During part of a larger conversation regarding the Montreal Canadiens, Bob McKenzie believes questions will be asked about defenseman P.K. Subban, whose no-trade clause kicks in on July 1. […]
So says forward Zack Smith, who's intent on playing the role of spoiler on the final Saturday of the NHL's regular season.
"We're not handing anything to them," Smith said Friday, according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun. "We've had enough battles with them. There is a little bit of a rivalry there, too. We don't owe anything to them, we have to go in there and win the game.
"Everyone has to find motivation from somewhere, whether it’s personal goals or just wanting to prove some things to different people that we're not giving up, that we do have something to play for."
Winger Mike Hoffman, sitting on 29 goals for the season, sees it as an opportunity for a positive end to a disappointing year for the team.
"It's great, it's the last game of the year and there's going to be a great atmosphere in the building," Hoffman said. "Why not finish the season on a high and go in there and kind of spoil the party there?
"We're professionals, we're trying to prove a point and play right to the last game. It's going to be a tough game. They're fighting for their lives. It's a good challenge for a lot of guys in here."
The Senators finished three points ahead of the Bruins last season, snagging a wild-card spot on the strength of an incredible run to end the season. This season, Ottawa has posted a record of 2-1-0 against Boston, but with the Bruins holding a 9-8 scoring advantage.
Check out the latest collection of NHL headlines entering the final Saturday of the 2015-16 season. COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Brandon Saad tallied his 30th goal of the season (the first time in his NHL career he’s reached that plateau) as the Columbus Blue Jackets downed the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the only NHL game played on […]
BRANDON, Man. - John Quenneville scored twice as the Brandon Wheat Kings got past the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-3 on Friday night in Game 1 of their Western Hockey League quarter-final playoff series.
Tanner Kaspick's short-handed goal at 13:21 of...
KINGSTON, Ont. - Anthony DiFruscia scored the winner at 18:57 of overtime as the Niagara IceDogs edged the Kingston Frontenacs 6-5 in Game 2 of their second round Ontario Hockey League series.
Kyle Langdon, Vince Dunn, Ryan Mantha and Aleksan...
