The Florida Panthers appear to be handing the reins back to a familiar face.
In light of general manager Tom Rowe's recent appointment to interim head coach, Dale Tallon will be resuming control of managerial duties on top of his role as president of hockey operations, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.
The GM role was handed to assistants Eric Joyce and Steve Werier following Gerard Gallant's firing and Rowe's decision to take on the coaching duties.
There won't be an overhaul in Florida, but Tallon will likely want to make some changes and add pieces after the holiday roster freeze.
Tallon served as Panthers GM from 2010 to early 2016, at which point he was promoted to an executive position. As such, he's largely credited for the team's recent turnaround, highlighted by a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division last season.
The Panthers have gone 2-3-3 since the coaching change and have a 13-13-4 record through 30 games this season.
After only seven short days, the NHL's top two defensemen will once again put their skills on display on the same sheet of ice, Wednesday night in Ottawa.
The damage done from Karlsson's end? One goal, two assists, two shots, and two blocked shots in 26:19 of play. Burns scored a goal of his own in a losing effort, keeping pace with the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman.
With all due respect to the likes of Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, Drew Doughty, Ryan Suter, and Kris Letang (among others), the Norris Trophy race is - at present - a two-horse affair. Here's a look at how Karlsson and Burns stack up heading into their rematch.
Player
Games
Ice Time/GP
Goals
Assists
Points
Shots
Erik Karlsson
29
27:01
7
20
27
71
Brent Burns
29
24:28
12
14
28
125
Without the puck, Karlsson leads all defensemen with 79 blocked shots - compared to 55 by Burns - while the Senator tops the Shark in terms of takeaways by a margin of 20-19.
Add it all up, and Karlsson would appear to have the slight advantage, although Burns could alter the conversation by stealing the show in Ottawa.
Either way, hockey fans will be in for a treat as these two go head-to-head for the final time this regular season.
Tyler Myers' recovery from an injured back meant a return to skating last week, but the towering defenseman hasn't made advancements since.
Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters Wednesday that Myers has "plateaued" in his recovery, and will be held out of the lineup until he takes the necessary steps in his progression.
Originally deemed day to day, Myers has now missed more than a month of action, and 16 games.
Myers averaged a little more than 22 minutes nightly and chipped in with five points before departing with his injury.
Tyler Myers' recovery from an injured back meant a return to skating last week, but the towering defenseman hasn't made advancements since.
Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters Wednesday that Myers has "plateaued" in his recovery, and will be held out of the lineup until he takes the necessary steps in his progression.
Originally deemed day to day, Myers has now missed more than a month of action, and 16 games.
Myers averaged a little more than 22 minutes nightly and chipped in with five points before departing with his injury.
An expansion franchise that swiftly integrated after a brief transitional period, the Sharks became the standard small markets would be measured against as they built a foundation for success and sustainability. Both for themselves and the NHL.
They were exceptionally consistent. Seven 100-point seasons and six Pacific Division banners within a 16-season run that saw them qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on 15 occasions.
Yet, they somehow remained unexceptional as a group. Each season ended in the same devastation, and the team, seemingly more fragmented.
They became predictable, dysfunctional, labelled, unoriginal, a punch line.
Until they weren't.
It's impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when it all clicked, though missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, changing coaches, Joe Thornton's liberation, and the influence of Brent Burns have all definitely played a role.
Regardless, these Sharks are undeniably different - different from their former selves, and different from just about everyone else.
They have broken from convention, these sudden nonconformists. It's made all the difference.
Our speed
It's a simple demonstration, one likely made to drive home a point back in your minor hockey days. Line the fastest skater up on one goal line, and have them race the puck to the other end. See who wins.
This basic premise is partly the reason the Sharks remain a dominant team in an NHL that's getting faster and faster with every veteran career that comes to an unplanned close.
As the rest of the league looks to enlist speed, the Sharks continue to combat it with the art of puck movement.
"There's something to be said for being able to move the puck," defenseman Paul Martin told theScore. "You see it on power plays, and with teams that can move it better. Creating movement leads to better percentages, scoring more goals."
Except so much goes into moving the puck efficiently. First, it requires a system from innovative and adaptable leadership from scenario to scenario. That requires personnel that understands its inner workings on an exhaustive level and is capable of carrying it out involuntarily, and with enough pace to maintain gaps with the opponent.
All teams have some structure in place. But as teams implement defensive strategies, inevitably disrupting the formulated process, San Jose can fall back on instinct, and rapport developed between elite players who have been with the organization for many years.
Even still, for a talented, veteran team, there are nights when the puck just isn't being moved as crisp as it needs to.
That's when the Sharks feel the NHL's direction.
"When the puck is not going to the spots that it's normally going, you don't feel as fast," said Patrick Marleau. "If everyone knows where it's going, you're faster, you're on the puck. That's where you see (team speed)."
Man-child
Nowadays, there's just a select group with the requisite skills to score goals with regularity in the NHL. So teams will invariably devise ways to feed those who can.
In many cases, it's that dominant No. 1 center always at the point of attack or a sniper on the wing, and in others, a stationary force on the power play. For the Sharks, however, it's a converted rover, this "man-child," whose personality is as loud as his shot.
Brent Burns is as impactful as any NHL player relative to his position, and in an attack that features slam-dunk future Hall of Fame center Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski - the player with the third-most goals over the last five years - he is the centerpiece.
"If teams take (Burns) away, then something else will open up," Marleau said about the attention the defenseman commands. "He's making plays even if he's not in the play. It's (not the end all, be all) if we can't get him the puck. If it's there great, if not, someone else is going to be open."
Still, more often than not it's the veritable Norris Trophy candidate. Burns leads the Sharks with 12 goals and has a co-share of the team lead with 26 points, or one less than Erik Karlsson.
Burns' influence, though, is beyond production. In many respects, and past Thornton's decision to sport a similarly stringy beard, Burns represents the cultural leader for a team that flipped a previously acrimonious persona.
His wide, toothless grin, and untroubled attitude represents the shared outlook of a team that no longer appears to hold grudges, or cares who's captain, or engaged in spats with management, or dwells on past failures.
This is meant to be fun.
Get away
He didn't even have time to fulfill his postgame obligation.
San Jose just survived a late push to secure an eighth straight win on home ice over the Montreal Canadiens earlier this month. In this case, the avoidance of extra time was absolutely critical, but Pete DeBoer had to high-tail it out of the arena, anyway.
Coach had a flight to catch.
The destination, well, that was no one's business but his own. After completing their 10th game in 18 nights, the Sharks had the entire weekend to themselves. DeBoer wasn't to be heard from until Monday.
To say this was a rarity would be a significant understatement. Hockey players simply don't get weekends off. This is a concession made in midget. As Joel Ward put it, in the throes of the season, they have little comprehension of what day the calendar's fallen on: "It's either game day or non-game day."
So this opportunity wasn't about to be approached lightly; you can be certain Burns' backpack was stuffed full.
"It was the first time I've ever had one, at least since I can remember," Martin said, as he thought back on his decades in the sport. "I think a lot of it is that mental break, too. Just get away from the game, relax, re-charge the battery. And then you're refreshed coming back on Monday."
Activities varied from player to player, with Martin touring wine country with friends and Ward navigating the local sports landscape to considerable effect: "It was an action-packed sports weekend. Sharks, Warriors, and Raiders."
Ultimately, it's the schedule that dictates when a team will get its rest. But for an older club that puts in laborious mileage, managing fatigue and prioritizing rest has been a focal point under DeBoer, and a factor many believe to be a contributor to their success.
Not wondering if they'll have time off, the Sharks can worry about the best way to use it.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi provided an update on the health status of Jonathan Quick, and in the process shared the rationale behind not acquiring a goaltender to fill the void until his No. 1's anticipated mid-February return.
He said that teams are reluctant to part with one of their two active goalies due to the threat of injury, which has directed conversations to the "third man on the depth chart," according to LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen.
Lombardi also mentioned that the upcoming expansion draft has factored into his thinking as well.
"Number one: you've got a number one goalie coming back, (and) two: with expansion coming, if he is a top guy you're going to lose him, so how much are you going to give up for a two-month asset?"
He compared the situation to losing a starting quarterback, and attempting to replace that player with options that simply don't offer the same standard.
Few celebrities touched the hockey world like Alan Thicke.
The beloved Canadian actor and hockey fan passed away Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. In his memory, hockey fans can recall five moments when Thicke graced the game:
Ceremonial Faceoff
An entry into a new hockey market could call on former NHL stars to help grow the game, but the Tampa Bay Lightning went a different route, tapping Thicke to emcee the opening festivities of the club's inaugural game, as well as drop the puck in a ceremonial faceoff between the Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks.
Celebrity Fan
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Alan Thicke. A great hockey fan. A tremendous loss. pic.twitter.com/NbavVPJ4Ym
Thicke wasn't just a fan in the stands. Hockey fans also saw him strap on the skates and take part in the celebrity game prior to the 2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium between the rival Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.
Awards Galore
Thicke's opening act at the 1998 NHL Awards, held in Toronto, drew rave reviews. Topping the performance? His entrance on a mini-Zamboni.
Thicke wasn't just popular in Hollywood. He was a celebrity in hockey circles, as evidenced by his close friendships with Phil Esposito, Gordie Howe, and Wayne Gretzky, among others. The four teamed up as part of the 1986 NHL All-Star celebration in Hartford.
Band Leader
What about that time Thicke teamed up with a host of hockey greats including Esposito, John Davidson, Marcel Dionne, and Dave Taylor to record a pair of classic hockey songs: "Forgive My Misconduct" and "The Hockey Sock Rock." Yes, those are hockey sticks being used as microphones.
The United States will be without potential returning forward Brock Boeser at the World Junior Hockey Championship later this month.
Boeser, a first-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, is reportedly slated for right wrist surgery, the University of North Dakota announced Wednesday.
The sophomore winger had seven goals and 16 points in 13 games before he was injured.
He's expected to return to the Fighting Hawks lineup next month.
Boeser had a goal and three points at the tournament last year.
Quick was initially expected to miss about three months with a groin injury suffered on opening night after having a minor procedure in lieu of major surgery.
Lombardi added that he's not currently willing to "throw the kitchen sink" at the team's goaltending issues to find a solution.
The Kings are currently tied for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference despite owning the league's second-worst team save percentage at .896.
Peter Budaj's performance while spelling Quick in the Kings' cage has dipped after a hot start in his return to the NHL, having authored a save rate of just .859 over four December starts.
