OK, maybe not, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils gave trade-starved hockey fans something to digest on Saturday, swapping players in a not-so-impactful deal.
Regardless, here's what you need to know:
His resume
Kalinin is an undrafted 25-year-old centerman who's spent the past two years with the Devils after six seasons with Omsk in the KHL.
Over 121 NHL games, Kalinin's recorded 19 points, including four in 43 games this season.
His travel partner, Loov, was a seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2012, and has four NHL games to his name.
Insurance policy
Don't order your Kalinin jerseys just yet, he'll report straight to the AHL's Marlies to stay for the long term, barring a slew of injuries.
The Marlies needed some depth at center, and pivots Ben Smith, Frederik Gauthier, and Byron Froese will likely all be chosen for Maple Leafs duties before Kalinin.
Additionally, this move has nothing to do with the upcoming expansion draft:
Sergey Kalinin is exempt from the expansion draft as a second-year pro in North America. So no benefit to the #leafs there. Depth addition.
Despite Kalinin recently being waived by New Jersey, Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello called up his old Devils friends and opted for a trade, which is much more sensible for Toronto.
Instead of only adding a contract, the Maple Leafs opted to give one up, keeping the club's total at 49 out of a league-maximum 50.
Furthermore, if Toronto simply claimed Kalinin off waivers, they'd have to waive him once acquired and send him to the Marlies, which would run the small risk of losing him altogether.
Connor McDavid wants to see a different result Tuesday night when the Arizona Coyotes roll into town, as Edmonton looks to end a skid in which they've lost four of five, most recently a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.
"We've had a few days to readjust and get back into it, so there's no excuse tonight," McDavid told reporters.
The Oilers have endured a prolonged stretch of futility, stagnated by the All-Star break and their increasingly criticized league-mandated bye week. They've scored only five goals in five games, while dropping to third place in the Pacific Division.
Like the rest of the Oilers' attack, McDavid has been stifled of late, accruing just two points over the frustrating stretch. The dry spell has come after a six-game point streak - which included three goals and six assists - carried McDavid into Los Angeles for his first-ever All-Star Weekend.
Perhaps McDavid picked the right time to call on his troops, as Arizona allows 3.11 goals per game (27th), and enters Edmonton on the second half of a back-to-back.
The Maple Leafs find themselves clinging to the second wild-card spot in the East through 54 games, with Tuesday night's opponent, the New York Islanders, hot on their tails. It's a big game in terms of the standings, but that's not something Marner concerns himself with.
"I haven't looked at it once, to be honest," he told TSN ahead of Tuesday's clash. "I don't really care to look. I know every game we have to go in there thinking we need the win, doesn't matter what position you're in. If you're in the playoffs or not, I think every game you go into, you want to win."
While Marner might not look at the implications, a win tonight is paramount for the Maple Leafs, who own just two regulation wins over their last eight games.
It's a buzzword throughout the sport; an immeasurable characteristic that few understand and even fewer posses.
The (unofficial) titleholder, though, as you probably know by now is Sidney Crosby. And as the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain takes another crack at reaching the 1,000-point milestone Tuesday night versus the Vancouver Canucks, it's his knowledge of the game many believe is the driving force behind his storied career.
"I don't think anybody is ever going to think the game like Sid can," teammate Chris Kunitz told Bill West of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I think he knows what we're thinking most of the time, so it makes it easy on us that he knows where we're going probably even before we're there."
Age has shuffled Kunitz down Pittsburgh's lineup in recent years, but the 37-year-old fully understands No. 87's methods, having rode shotgun to Crosby during his most effective NHL seasons, and in Sochi at the 2014 Olympics.
Kunitz's comments on Crosby's smarts aren't exactly hyperbolic, either, as "The Kid" ranks fifth all-time in points per game (1.497), trailing only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Bobby Orr. Crosby sits in the same spot for assists per game (.834), with Peter Forsberg replacing Bossy on the list of those ahead of him.
Crosby had two chances at reaching 1,000 points last week, and if history is any indication, it shouldn't be much of a wait from here.
With his team jockeying for positioning in the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators forward hasn't exactly had a resounding impact on the club's success, and for that, he's been sent down the lineup.
Ryan's been moved to bottom-six duties alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tom Pyatt, a decision he's looking at as an opportunity.
"Truthfully, (this line) plays the most minutes so I’m excited for the opportunity," Ryan told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "The last game was (facing) Tavares, the next game will likely be (Jack) Eichel so I don’t mind those matchups one bit. Call it the third or defensive line or whatever you want but I saw the last game and I was excited for the opportunity."
Embracing his given role is all well and good for Guy Boucher, but Ottawa didn't acquire Ryan to shut down opponents' top lines.
In July 2013, the Senators gave up Jakob Silfverberg, 2011 first-round pick Stefan Noesen, and their 2014 first-rounder to the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan, who had scored 30-or-more goals in four consecutive full seasons.
It was a big move for the Senators, but in the midst of his fourth season with the club, Ryan is experiencing his worst offensive season to date.
In 47 games this season - he missed time with multiple hand ailments - Ryan has mustered just 11 goals and 21 points, putting him on pace for the lowest output - excluding the 2013 half-season - of his career (17 goals, 33 points) if he plays every game from here on out.
Ryan is currently ninth on the team in scoring, and he's hardly creating chances for himself. With just 77 shots on goal so far, the winger is tracking to record 124 by season's end, which would also be the lowest total he's ever produced.
Not great for a player with the a $7.25-million cap hit until after the 2021-22 season.
For comparison's sake, Silfverberg, 26, has 17 goals and 19 assists in 54 games for Anaheim this season, and Nick Ritchie, who Anaheim drafted 10th overall with Ottawa's pick from the Ryan trade, has 11 goals and 18 points as a 21-year-old.
Approaching 30, Ottawa must be hoping Ryan can find his game again. At this point, even just a brief glimpse of his former self will do. But if this season is a sign of things to come, the Senators are facing a big, expensive problem.
Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Status: Sellers
Options:
Forward Kris Versteeg, an unrestricted free agent to be, could help haul in a draft pick or two from a team looking to add scoring.
Defenseman Deryk Engelland, also a pending UFA, could solidify a contender's middle or bottom pairing.
Take: The Flames are just one point out of a playoff spot, but a minus-15 goal differential and team save percentage of .899 don't exactly scream Stanley Cup favorite.
Calgary needs to address its goaltending situation - both Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson will be free agents July 1- and take another crack at making the next step in 2017-18.
Take: Barring something drastic - or something very Oilers - Edmonton's playoff drought will end in April, making it buyer for the first time in a long time.
Landing Shattenkirk would be a huge splash, though it remains unlikely. However, the option of a homecoming for veteran Jarome Iginla or plucking Brian Boyle as a rental would help the Oilers' attack immensely.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are carrying the load, and they could use some help, as the targets on their backs will grow even bigger come playoff time.
Montreal Canadiens
Status: Buyers
Potential Targets:
Shattenkirk, D, Blues
Patrick Sharp, LW, Stars
Take: Marc Bergevin needs to decide how he wants to shake things up.
As his team desperately aims to regroup over their bye week, the Canadiens general manager has some options. Some are calling for a new coach, some want to see a big trade. Some want both.
He's not a miracle worker, but even the furthest outsider can recognize the Canadiens need some secondary scoring. The Habs are averaging just 2.3 goals per game over their last 18 games, and addressing that seems like a good starting point.
Take: Senators general manager Pierre Dorion nixed the thought of a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, so Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are out of the picture as they're too expensive.
Still, Ottawa needs help scoring, especially on the power play, which ranks 23rd in the league at 16.4 percent.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Status: Stand pat
Take: The Maple Leafs have a firm grasp on where they stand, and they should stay the course.
Toronto can certainly push for the playoffs, but if team defense and goaltending winds up letting them down, it isn't the end of the world. Considering the roster overhaul, at times it's difficult to remember this was a 30th-place team last year, and the offseason is when the Leafs should being making changes.
Winnipeg Jets
Status: Sellers
Options:
Drew Stafford, a former 30-goal scorer, could serve as a valuable rental, likely bringing back some decent draft picks.
Matthieu Perreault has four more years on his contract but has been rumored to be available. Unloading his salary would be a long-term benefit.
Take: The Jets are in a free fall, and unless they snap out of it soon, it'll be another lost season in Winnipeg.
Goaltending has been the Jets' biggest problem, but if they fall further from the playoff cutline, selling what they can is a good strategy.
Vancouver Canucks
Status: Sellers
Options:
Selling Ryan Miller to the highest bidder helps the Canucks maximize value.
Alexandre Burrows has to agree to the deal, but trading the 35-year-old to a willing contender is Vancouver's best trade option.
Take: The Canucks have hovered around a playoff spot for far too long. It's unlikely they climb into the postseason, and the higher their lottery-ball percentage grows, the better.
General manager Jim Benning has to recognize this isn't a contending roster, and the best way to build one is to start from the bottom.
His team might not be playing this week, but Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin won't be resting.
The Habs are stuck in their worst stretch of the season, and rumors are swirling about what will come next. A rabid fan base awaits.
Some are calling for a new coach, while others plead for a big splash, drawing, say, Matt Duchene or Kevin Shattenkirk to don le bleu, blanc, et rouge.
What seems more likely, though, is Bergevin assessing his club's needs. First and foremost, Carey Price needs to re-gain his touch in goal, and then Montreal needs to remember how to score.
Over their last 18 games, the Canadiens are averaging 2.3 goals per contest, with Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov carrying the workload.
Alas, the need for secondary scoring is glaring. Here are three players Bergevin can target:
Patrick Sharp - Stars
His price tag is hefty, but Sharp could be a suitable rental.
He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and has more than enough postseason experience, winning three Stanley Cups during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sharp's been hampered by concussions this season, amassing just 13 points in 31 games, but the 35-year-old has scored 20 or more in a season eight times in his career.
Cap management would be required, but it could be a worthy risk.
Mathieu Perreault - Jets
(Photo Courtesy: Action Images)
As the losses continue to mount, the Jets are inching closer and closer to becoming sellers by March 1, and Perreault is rumored to be expendable.
Under contract for another four seasons at $4.125 million, Perreault might not present the most attractive scenario for Bergevin and the Canadiens, but he is an interesting case.
He's scored 17 points in 41 games, and can't crack the Jets' talented top-six, but, despite this, consistently moves the needle in terms of shot generation and suppression.
Brian Boyle - Lightning
Like Winnipeg, Tampa Bay is trending toward selling, and as a pending UFA with a cap hit of $2 million, Boyle is a piece that could draw a lot of attention at the deadline.
Boyle possesses the size and strength Bergevin covets, and is a seasoned postseason veteran, reaching the Stanley Cup Final twice.
The 32-year-old has 13 goals and seven assists in 50 games for the Lightning this season and would surely be an upgrade - at even strength and on the penalty kill - among the Canadiens' bottom-six forwards.
theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.
Times are Ruff
Based on positive early returns from the mid-season head coach replacements in New York and Boston, front offices across the league might be thinking of accelerating any potential plans to make a change behind the bench.
Doug Weight has galvanized the Islanders and led them to an 8-2-2 record since taking over in mid-January, while Bruce Cassidy, who took over the Bruins last week, has won three straight to start his new gig.
As the playoff race continues to - slowly - thin out the pretenders from the contenders, Stars boss Lindy Ruff has to be feeling the heat.
Dallas lost a heartbreaker Sunday, blowing a 3-0 lead to the Predators to fall six points back of a wildcard spot.
Ruff is a 19-year veteran, but, as evidenced by the Claude Julien situation in Boston, relieving a coach of his duties even if the team's biggest detriment is out of his control has become the norm.
Flying Low
Mirroring Ruff's situation in Dallas, Paul Maurice and the Jets are underachieving.
Hindered by disastrous goaltending and shoddy team defense, two factors constantly outweighing the club's auspicious talent up front, Winnipeg sits in a tie with Dallas at 54 points, having played one extra game.
After appearing to take a leap forward with the Jets in 2014-15, Maurice has yet to lead his club back to the playoffs. A current four-game losing streak certainly isn't lengthening his leash.
So it begs a couple questions: Is there enough time to name Maurice's successor? And will it help a push to the playoffs? The change gave the Bruins and Islanders a jolt, but a decision to pull the trigger won't go quietly for Jets' brass.
Perhaps all of this will become clearer Wednesday, as Maurice, Ruff, and their respective teams have a crucial, potential last-straw inducing Valentine's Day date in Winnipeg.
Sid's spotlight
Given all he's accomplished in the past calendar year, it feels like an eternity since the hockey world has celebrated a Sidney Crosby achievement.
However, we're on the verge of a special one, as the Penguins' captain sits at 998 career points, somewhat shockingly, the same number he was at before playing the Avalanche and Coyotes last week.
Crosby was held pointless in consecutive contests for the first time in nearly a full year as onlookers awaited the milestone, but he will get his next crack at it Tuesday versus Vancouver.
With just 755 games played, Crosby can become the fastest active player to reach 1,000 points and the 86th in NHL history to hit the mark. It sure would be something if he could be the 87th, but don't count on him waiting that long.
