All posts by Kayla Douglas

Wild sign Greenway to 3-year extension with $3M AAV

The Minnesota Wild inked forward Jordan Greenway to a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $3 million on Monday.

Greenway has 13 points in 33 games so far this season while averaging 14:29 of ice time. The 6-foot-6, 231-pound winger ranks third on the Wild in hits with 82.

The 24-year-old is currently playing out the final season of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $2.1 million, according to CapFriendly.

The Wild selected Greenway in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He has 30 goals and 68 assists in 243 career NHL games, all with Minnesota.

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2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition adds 2 new, Vegas-inspired events

A heavy helping of Sin City flair will feature in this year's skills competition during NHL All-Star Weekend.

The league announced the addition of two new outdoor events that will take place on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

In the Fountain Face-Off, players will take a boat out into the city's famous Bellagio fountains. There, they will shoot pucks at a series of targets, and a head-to-head final will determine the victor. The crown will go to whoever accomplishes the feat in the fastest time. The league says it anticipates that the spray coming off the fountain will make this competition more difficult.

All-Stars will also play a game called 21 in '22, which is hockey's take on blackjack, the popular casino card game. A portion of Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut down to make room for a giant rack that holds a full deck of oversized cards. Players must successfully shoot pucks at the cards to achieve a score of 21 in the least amount of shots possible. Whoever wins two rounds will be crowned the "Puck Shark."

The skills competition will also include tried and true events like Fastest Skater, Save Streak, Hardest Shot, Accuracy Shooting, and the Breakaway Challenge, which will make its first appearance since 2016.

Anaheim Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras wasn't selected for the All-Star tournament, but the NHL invited him to compete in the Breakaway Challenge. Retired goaltender Manon Rheaume, the first woman to play in an NHL game, and actor Wyatt Russell will also participate.

Meanwhile, three-time Olympic medalist Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson will take part in the Fountain Face-Off.

The winner of each event will earn $30,000.

The All-Star Skills Competition kicks off on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The All-Star Game will take place the following day.

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Colliton replaces Julien as head coach for Canada’s men’s Olympic team

Former Chicago Blackhawks bench boss Jeremy Colliton took over as head coach of Canada's men's Olympic team, Hockey Canada announced Sunday.

Claude Julien, who was initially named head coach earlier in January, is no longer able to travel due to injury. The 61-year-old slipped on the ice during a team-building activity at training camp in Switzerland and fractured his ribs.

The medical staff deemed him unfit to fly to Beijing.

"While it is difficult to fill in for a coach that has a pedigree like Claude Julien, I am honored to be considered as the person to lead Canada's men's Olympic team as head coach," Colliton said.

"We have a very close-knit, experienced coaching staff that has gained a lot of knowledge from Claude in our short time together, and I know our staff will continue to support each other as we look to achieve our goal of winning an Olympic gold medal."

Colliton, 37, was originally tabbed as an assistant coach for the 2022 Beijing Games after the Blackhawks fired him as head coach earlier this season. He has an NHL coaching record of 87-92-26.

As a player, Colliton won gold medals for Canada at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"We are fortunate to have an experienced coaching staff, and Jeremy is a talented, young coach with a long career ahead of him," Team Canada general manager Shane Doan said. "We know he will do an exceptional job leading our team behind the bench in Beijing."

Doan added that Julien is in "great spirits."

The former Montreal Canadiens head coach will have to remain in Switzerland for another two-to-three weeks, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Canada's men's team will kick off its Olympic competition in a preliminary-round clash against Germany on Feb. 10.

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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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MacKinnon to miss 3 games with facial fracture, concussion

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced Friday that Nathan MacKinnon will miss the next three games with a facial fracture and a concussion, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.

It's unclear if the 26-year-old will miss the All-Star Game next week.

MacKinnon sustained the injuries during a collision with Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall in the first period of Wednesday's contest. Hall knocked the shaft of MacKinnon's stick with his shoulder as the center tried to exit the zone, hitting MacKinnon in the face and causing him to fall to the ice.

MacKinnon was bloodied on the play, and the Avalanche later announced he wouldn't return to the contest.

Colorado will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, and the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 1.

Here's how the Avalanche will look without him:

MacKinnon is currently the team's third-leading scorer with 43 points in 31 games this season. He was named captain of the Central Division's All-Star roster.

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Senators’ Batherson out at least 2 months with ankle sprain

Drake Batherson is expected to miss at least two months with a high ankle sprain after taking a controversial hit from Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell during Tuesday night's contest, Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday.

Dell sent the 23-year-old forward crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of the Senators' 5-0 victory. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Dell for three games on Wednesday.

Smith said that despite the setback, Batherson is in good spirits.

"He's just that kind of kid, and you're going to miss that around the room win, lose, or draw," Smith said to the media Thursday. "His attitude, he's coming around in the league, the way he can make plays. We're going to miss him in all areas."

Batherson leads the Senators with 34 points in 31 games. He was slated to represent Ottawa in the All-Star Game next month before the injury.

Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will fill his spot on the Atlantic Division squad.

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Report: Malkin willing to take pay cut, Letang looking for raise

Between Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Pittsburgh Penguins have more than their fair share of vital business to deal with this offseason.

The franchise mainstays both signed eight-year pacts in the summer of 2013 that began in the 2014-15 campaign, meaning they will become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season.

Malkin is interested in remaining in Pittsburgh, and his representatives have reportedly spoken to Penguins general manager Ron Hextall about a new contract, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe.

The 35-year-old is also reportedly willing to take a pay cut to make it work, sources told Yohe.

That doesn't seem to be the case with Letang, with sources reportedly telling The Athletic that the blue-liner believes he has earned a raise.

Letang is having a fantastic 2021-22 season and has been a stable presence for Pittsburgh, which has been wracked by injuries all year long. The 34-year-old has 37 points in 38 games while leading all Penguins in ice time, eating up an average of 25:45 per contest.

Meanwhile, Malkin hasn't missed a beat since returning from offseason knee surgery, logging nine points in eight matchups.

Malkin would be pleased with a multi-year deal and is fine with making less money than teammate Sidney Crosby in the future, while Pittsburgh is reportedly willing to sign Letang to a short-term pact with the possibility of a pay raise, according to Yohe.

Letang has about $69 million in estimated career earnings, according to CapFriendly. Malkin has earned almost $117 million.

The Penguins signed Jeff Carter, another pending unrestricted free agent, to a two-year, $6.25-million extension on Wednesday.

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Watch: MacKinnon exits after big collision with Hall

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon went straight to the locker room following a nasty collision with Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall during the opening period of Wednesday night's contest.

Hall knocked the shaft of MacKinnon's stick with his shoulder as the center tried to exit the zone, hitting him in the face and causing him to fall hard to the ice.

The 26-year-old was bloodied on the play but was able to skate off on his own. Hall was initially charged with a five-minute penalty, but after a review, the 30-year-old was given two minutes for interference.

Since a major penalty was called, it couldn't be reduced to no penalty, only a lesser penalty of the same infraction, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

MacKinnon has nine goals and 34 assists in 30 games so far this season.

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Lundqvist reflects ahead of Rangers jersey retirement: ‘I’m just happy with what I got’

Legendary New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist didn't end his NHL career quite the way he expected to when a heart issue forced him to hang up his pads in August.

"My plan was to play until 41, 42. If I had that chance, I would do it because I still love the game," Lundqvist said during an appearance on the "NHL @TheRink" podcast.

"I have my moments where I'm like, 'Ah, it's too bad I didn't get an opportunity to play more because I love it so much.' But then pretty quickly I move into the grateful phase where I'm just happy with what I got and not what I didn't get."

Lundqvist plans to take his relaxed positive attitude into his jersey retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

"That place has meant so much to me. I've been so inspired by the building itself and what it means to walk in there every time. ... I felt so alive in that building at times," he reflected.

"If it's a preseason game or Game 7, that pressure is always there, and it was just awesome to feel it."

The 39-year-old spent 15 seasons in the Big Apple, and he's the franchise's leader in games played (887) and wins (459). Lundqvist said he "struggled" to picture himself playing anywhere but New York, but his love for the game pushed him to sign a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals after the Rangers bought out the final year of his contract following the 2019-20 campaign.

However, Lundqvist ended his career having played only for New York.

"In the end, the heart said 'no, it was not meant to be,'" he said. "It's funny how I struggled for such a long time if I should go somewhere else and play or not. The decision was made for me.

"It became symbolic to me, a little bit, the way it happened."

The King has since enjoyed his stint as a studio analyst with MSG Network and admittedly prefers to go off the cuff when it comes to speaking in public. But Friday will be a little different.

"We'll see how it goes. I don't think I’m comfortable winging it on Friday. I need to prepare something," he said.

Lundqvist's No. 30 will be the 11th jersey to reach the rafters in Rangers history. The ceremony will kick off before New York's contest against the Minnesota Wild.

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