The Montreal Canadiens have traded forwards Riley Barber and Phil Varone to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Joseph Blandisi and Jacob Lucchini, the teams announced Thursday.

Montreal's new additions will report to the AHL's Laval Rocket.

Blandisi appeared in 21 games for the Penguins this season, recording two goals and five points. The Colorado Avalanche selected the 25-year-old in the sixth round in 2012.

Lucchini has yet to appear in an NHL game. The undrafted 24-year-old played in 53 contests with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, recording seven goals and 15 points.

Barber appeared in nine games with the Canadiens this season and went pointless. He's totaled 13 goals and 31 points with the Rocket. Varone hasn't appeared in an NHL contest this season but has collected four goals and 10 assists in 27 games with Laval.

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Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn will not receive supplemental discipline for boarding Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson during the second period of Wednesday's contest, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.

The Stars captain was assessed a five-minute boarding major and game misconduct for the hit. Ekman-Larsson was helped to the locker room but later returned to finish the contest.

"Player Safety viewed it as a 50-50 puck chase, not a typical boarding suspension where one player was tracking another," according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. "They felt it was definitely worth the boarding major which Benn got in-game, but felt it didn't rise to the level of supplemental discipline."

Benn has never received supplemental discipline over his 11-year NHL career.

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We were stunned by a third-period outburst in Chicago as we had to settle for a 2-2 showing Wednesday, but that was pushed to 3-2 if you tailed our trend of the night.

If not for a seven-goal third period and a 35-save effort from a former Vezina Trophy winner, we would have swept the board. Such is life.

GOATs and scapegoats

Betting the under in the Colorado Avalanche game last night, our one concern was Pavel Francouz, but he put in the type of performance we needed. He made sure the New York Islanders stayed ice-cold and helped keep the game under the total by making 27 saves on 28 shots.

Sergei Bobrovsky did Francouz one better, making 35 saves on 36 shots for the Florida Panthers. The .972 save percentage was his third-highest single-game mark of the season, ending a rough stretch for the former Vezina winner. And, of course, he did it on a night when we were on the over.

Thursday bets

Toronto Maple Leafs (-115)

This the biggest game of the season thus far for the Maple Leafs. After being embarrassed on Tuesday night, they return home for a rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins, desperately needing to stop the bleeding. The character of each and every one of these players has been called into question over the last couple days. If they have any compete, this is when they need to show it - lose here and there won't be playoff hockey in Toronto come April.

Florida Panthers, 3-way line (+105)

Laying -140 on the Panthers' moneyline is also an option, but I like the discount we get for them to win in regulation. Florida is on a 6-1 run on no rest and has won eight of its last 11 games on the road. The Panthers have also won five straight away games versus Western Conference teams. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings are losers of five of their six home games in 2020 and just traded away their top goal-scorer and one of their top defensemen in Tyler Toffoli and Alec Martinez, respectively.

Best bet

Columbus Blue Jackets (-120)

Losers of seven in a row, the Blue Jackets have officially fallen out of a playoff spot, while the surging Philadelphia Flyers have moved into third in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus has been playing really good hockey but has found itself on the wrong side of a number of close games. Returning home will be big for the Blue Jackets, and I fully expect one of the game's best motivators in John Tortorella to get a massive response from his team after Tuesday's 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. The Blue Jackets have won 13 of their last 15 home games against the Flyers and I predict that to continue Thursday.

Trend of the night

The Flyers are on a 10-1 run to the over on the road, while the Blue Jackets are on an 11-1 run to the under on home ice.

Good luck making sense of this total.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin still can't figure out why he was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017.

"When I played here in Chicago, I (thought) I would play here my whole life," Panarin said after Wednesday's 6-3 win over his former club, according to The Daily Herald's John Dietz. "And then that (trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets) happened. It still confuse(s) me."

Panarin played in the KHL from 2008-2015 before Chicago recruited him to the NHL. He made an immediate impact during the 2015-16 season, scoring 30 goals and 77 points and taking home the Calder Trophy.

He continued his excellent play during his second season in Chicago and then signed a two-year, $12-million contract extension.

"I don't want to be that guy. I want to play on a winning team," Panarin told his former agent, Dan Milstein, of signing a team-friendly deal, according to Dietz. "Give them the flexibility so they can retain the guys or sign the new guys because it's not about me. I'm young. I'm going to make plenty of money in my future."

In the summer of 2017, before his extension kicked in, Chicago dealt Panarin to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg.

"I was not ready for that. It was a big surprise for me. I (felt) bad after the trade," Panarin added.

The 28-year-old inked a seven-year, $81.5-million deal with the Rangers last summer. He's on pace for a career year in his first season with the club, tallying 30 goals and 79 points in 58 games.

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Sometimes players just don't work with certain teams for intangible reasons. They could be newcomers who don't gel properly or veterans simply needing to move on and reignite their game.

A change of scenery can sometimes go a long way toward revitalizing careers. Ahead of next week's trade deadline, let's look at five players who would benefit from heading to a new team.

P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils

Subban is currently enduring the worst statistical season of his career, with his start as a Devil almost going as poorly as possible. His team is near the bottom of the standings, and many fingers are pointing at him for underperforming since arriving from the Nashville Predators last summer.

On pace for just eight goals and 18 points this season, Subban will surely be looking to return to his former self next year. After this campaign, there are two more years left on his contract that carry a $9-million annual cap hit. The Devils are looking to rebuild around their youthful core, which means parting ways with the soon-to-be 31-year-old Subban can be mutually beneficial.

The defenseman still possesses the drive and raw skills to return to the elite form that earned him a Norris Trophy in 2013. However, there may not be many teams willing to take on the veteran's cap hit after his disastrous play this season.

Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton Oilers

Taken with the fourth overall selection in 2016, Puljujarvi never worked out as expected in Edmonton. Some blame can be placed on Puljujarvi being rushed into the NHL as an 18-year-old. Over three seasons, he's laced up in 139 games while managing only 17 goals and 37 points.

Puljujarvi is still just 21 years old with immense potential. His game never transitioned to the NHL with the Oilers, but his skills are unquestionable. After requesting a trade from Edmonton during the offseason, Puljujarvi opted to play with Karpat in the Finnish Elite League when he wasn't moved. He's played extremely well overseas, tallying 18 goals and 44 points in 46 games, which is good for sixth in the league's points race.

With Edmonton likely heading to the playoffs, Puljujarvi's name will surely be dangled around as the trade deadline looms. He can't play in the NHL this season, but teams looking ahead to next year and beyond may show interest. A change could help rejuvenate the dynamic youngster's NHL career.

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

For much of the last decade, Quick was among the NHL's best netminders. But the last two years have been a different story.

Prior to the 2018-19 season, Quick's career save percentage was .917 and his goals-against average sat at 2.27. His save percentage has significantly dropped to .892 over the past two seasons, and he owns an inflated 3.20 goals-against average.

At even strength this season, Quick's expected save percentage is .916, whereas his actual save percentage is .907. His high-danger save percentage is .787, which ranks 26th among the 48 goaltenders who have played 1,000-plus minutes. However, while playing behind a middling and rebuilding Kings team, Quick still shows flashes of his old form despite the poor surface stats.

The 34-year-old carries a $5.8-million annual cap hit through 2022-23, making him a tough gamble for goalie-needy teams. With Cal Petersen looking ready to take the reins in net for Los Angeles, it may be time for the Kings to move on from the former Conn Smythe winner.

There are a number of teams in need of a reliable goaltender, and Quick can rebound if he's placed behind the right group.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers

Gostisbehere finished second in the 2016 Calder Trophy voting following a promising start to his career.

After recording 24 goals and 85 points in 140 games over his first two seasons, the Flyers inked him to a six-year, $27-million deal in 2017. Gostisbehere posted 13 goals and a career-high 65 points in his first year of the contract, but he's failed to return to that level this season and last.

He's missed recent games due to injury, but Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch a couple of times earlier this season. He's notched just five goals and 12 points in 41 games in 2019-20, and the defenseman hasn't been driving offense as well as usual.

His high-danger goals-for percentage sits at 34.78% this season after he averaged greater than 50% in three of the last four campaigns. A lack of offensive firepower paired with average defending skills is hindering his impact.

Gostisbehere's contract carries an average annual value of $4.5 million and he's signed through 2022-23. His contract can be a bargain if he bounces back. His talent as a reliable puck-moving defenseman is undeniable, but his inconsistency is a cause for concern in Philadelphia. That could be a product of Gostisbehere's skill set not fitting the Flyers' style under new head coach Alain Vigneault.

The return for the young blue-liner would also be good for the Flyers, who need an offensive boost.

Kyle Turris, Nashville Predators

The Predators gave up a pretty hefty sum to acquire Turris in 2017, parting with two high-end prospects and a second-round pick. They also immediately inked him to a six-year, $36-million extension. He performed adequately during his first year in Nashville, potting 13 goals and adding 29 assists. He's struggled to match those numbers since.

In the 107 games he's played since the 2018-19 campaign began, Turris has amassed just 16 goals and 51 points. This season he's averaging 15:06 of ice time per game while playing on many different lines. Turris scored 20-plus goals three times during his tenure with the Senators, but he's on pace for only 12 this year after scoring seven in 55 games last season.

Before Matt Duchene's arrival this past summer, Turris offered the Predators depth down the middle. With Duchene and Ryan Johansen entrenched as the team's top centers, there isn't as strong of a need for Turris anymore.

He can benefit from being moved to another club that would play him at his natural position in a top-six role. Signed through the 2023-24 season with a $6-million cap hit, a franchise would really have to trust Turris to rebound in a new environment.

(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)

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Dustin Byfuglien doesn't appear likely to play an NHL game this season, but he's suddenly an intriguing option ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

The Winnipeg Jets are reportedly attempting to exhaust all options on potential deals for the imposing rearguard, and talks with suitors have picked up in recent days.

Byfuglien is involved in an ongoing dispute with the Jets, who suspended him for failing to report to training camp in September. However, he could provide another team with a big boost on the back end in 2020-21, assuming he chooses to resume his career and fully recovers from the ankle surgery he underwent in October.

Here are a few clubs that would be wise to acquire the veteran blue-liner:

Florida Panthers

The Panthers are Byfuglien's most logical possible landing spot for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, he'd be reunited with Florida head coach Joel Quenneville. The 34-year-old defenseman played for "Coach Q" over two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and won a Stanley Cup championship under Quenneville in 2010. Whether both sides would be amenable to the move remains to be seen, but a reunion would make a lot of sense.

Secondly, the Panthers need to improve on the back end. If Byfuglien can be anywhere close to his usual game-changing self in South Florida, he'd be a welcome addition and would bolster a defense corps that currently ranks near the bottom of the league in goals allowed per game.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild would be another natural fit for Byfuglien. He was born and raised in Minnesota, and is quite familiar with the Central Division club, having gone up against the Wild for years as a member of both the Blackhawks and Jets.

He'd also fit right in with Minnesota's defense-first approach while giving the team yet another rearguard who can both provide physicality and create offense.

Like the Panthers, the Wild have plenty of salary committed to blue-liners. However, Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin can let newly acquired forward Alex Galchenyuk and his $4.9-million cap hit walk in the summer to help accommodate Byfuglien's $7.6-million figure for 2020-21.

Toronto Maple Leafs

It's no secret that the Maple Leafs are looking to address their defensive group. While Byfuglien probably won't help them down the stretch in 2019-20, he could give Toronto exactly what it's missing if he's healthy and interested in playing next season.

On the back end, the Leafs could be thin on the right side in 2020-21. Tyson Barrie is a pending unrestricted free agent, while Justin Holl and Timothy Liljegren are Toronto's only right-handed defensemen under contract beyond this season.

The obvious hurdle would be the cap, as the Leafs likely won't have as many contracts buried on long-term injured reserve by the time next season rolls around. However, as unlikely as they may be, there are several scenarios - including contract termination and renegotiation, as well as salary retention by Winnipeg in exchange for an asset - that might allow a cap-constrained club like Toronto to make a deal work.

Sure, the Maple Leafs could be better served acquiring a younger rearguard with a less complicated contact situation, and Byfuglien would need to prove he's in game shape after sitting out a full campaign, barring a desire to play in 2019-20. But if everything checks out and he suits up next season, his mere presence would give Toronto a significant upgrade.

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