Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov is a healthy scratch Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Jim Montgomery said, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.

Montgomery added that the move is what's best for the team.

Radulov declined to comment on the matter through the Stars' public relations department.

After compiling 70-plus points in each of his first two seasons in Dallas, Radulov has eight goals and seven assists in 29 contests this year. The 33-year-old is in the third season of a five-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of $6.25 million.

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Nathan MacKinnon is arguably the league's most underpaid player, but he says he isn't looking to make up for that on his next contract.

The Colorado Avalanche superstar is owed $6.3 million per season through the 2022-23 campaign after signing a seven-year, $44.1-million deal in 2016. His $6.3-million cap hit makes him the 82nd-highest-paid player in the NHL even though he's blossomed into a perennial Hart Trophy candidate.

"We have guys that we wouldn't (otherwise) be able to bring in," MacKinnon told Forbes' Jordan Horrobin on Wednesday in Toronto. "On my next deal, I'll take less again. Because I want to win with this group."

There's some irony in MacKinnon saying this while paying a visit to the Maple Leafs. Toronto rosters three of the league's seven highest-paid players by annual cap hit in Auston Matthews ($11.634 million), John Tavares ($11 million), and Mitch Marner ($10.893 million).

The Avalanche are one of the few NHL contenders that isn't in dire cap trouble. MacKinnon's cap hit - which could have theoretically doubled by now had he signed a bridge deal instead of a long-term extension - is a big reason why.

"I was just excited to get paid that much money at such a young age," the 24-year-old said. "Obviously it's pretty (team) friendly now, but I was worth that at the time. … I have no regrets."

MacKinnon won the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's top rookie in 2013-14, but he didn't enjoy a breakout season until his 97-point 2017-18 campaign.

Bridge deals were popular in this offseason's stacked class of restricted free agents. Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, Brayden Point, Charlie McAvoy, and Zach Werenski were among those who signed contracts of two or three years, setting themselves up for bigger paydays down the road.

Many of these players missed a large chunk of training camp and preseason during negotiations. MacKinnon's linemate Mikko Rantanen signed a six-year, $55.5-million pact less than a week before the start of the regular season.

"I think you want to get paid what you're worth," MacKinnon said. "I'd probably do the same thing. If a team isn't paying you what you think you're worth, holding out is something (players) are entitled to. … I think it's going to continue that way."

MacKinnon is currently tied for third in the NHL with 44 points while the Avalanche hold second place in the Central Division with a record of 17-8-2.

(Salary information source: CapFriendly)

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The Ottawa Senators assigned defenseman Erik Brannstrom to the AHL on Thursday, the team announced.

Brannstrom had recorded a pair of assists in 23 games while averaging 13:35 per game.

The 20-year-old Swede was the centerpiece return chip in the deal that sent Mark Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights at last season's trade deadline. Vegas drafted Brannstrom 15th overall in 2017.

Brannstrom totaled 32 points in 50 AHL games a season ago.

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A Minnesota judge ruled Wednesday that a former member of the "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, Mark Pavelich, is mentally ill and dangerous, according to Pam Louwagie of the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The judge ordered the 61-year-old committed to a secure treatment facility.

Pavelich faced criminal charges that he beat a friend with a metal pole after accusing him of "spiking his beer." His friend suffered cracked ribs, a bruised kidney, and a fractured vertebra.

Judge Michael Cuzzo deemed Pavelich incompetent to stand trial based on an expert report, concluding that he was "incapable of participating in the defense due to mental illness or deficiency." The case was put on hold while the state moved to civilly commit him to treatment.

Pavelich's family is convinced he suffers from CTE after repeated concussions and blows to the head sustained during his hockey career. They started to see changes over the last few years but he has refused help. CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

A pair of clinical psychologists who examined Pavelich found him to have post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other conditions, according to the judge's order. Both psychologists considered him to be mentally ill and dangerous.

Psychologist Chris Bowerman found Pavelich to have delusions and paranoia, including a delusion that family, friends, and neighbors tried to poison him.

Psychologist Jacqueline Buffington found he suffers from "mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury with behavioral disturbance (psychotic symptoms, aggression)," and believes his condition is likely related to head injuries suffered over his lifetime.

Pavelich had seven points in seven games during the 1980 Olympics. He assisted on Mike Eruzione's game-winning goal during the U.S.'s famous 4-3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union. The Americans then went on to defeat Finland to win gold.

Pavelich played five seasons for the New York Rangers and one apiece with the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks. He tallied 329 points in 355 career games and fought nine times, according to hockeyfights.com.

The NHL agreed to a maximum settlement of just under $19 million in its concussion lawsuit last year involving hundreds of players. The league didn't admit to any wrongdoing, however.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will turn to Frederik Andersen in goal for the second consecutive night when they take on the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

Andersen started Tuesday's 6-1 loss in Philadelphia, but head coach Sheldon Keefe said the netminder asked to suit up again in order "to be in the fight with the guys," according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.

The Leafs crumbled in the third period versus the Flyers, allowing five goals after tying the score at 1-1 midway through the final frame. Following the embarrassing defeat, Auston Matthews said the team "just folded."

Toronto initially planned to start backup Michael Hutchinson, who is 0-5-1 this season with an .876 save percentage and a 4.55 goals-against average.

Andersen is 13-6-3 with a .917 save percentage in 22 games played.

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Mitch Marner is on the verge of a return to the lineup, as the Toronto Maple Leafs activated him from injured reserve Wednesday.

Marner missed the last 11 games with an ankle injury. He was hurt during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 9.

The Maple Leafs went 4-7-0 in his absence. That interval includes the team's sixth consecutive loss Nov. 19, after which the club fired Mike Babcock and replaced him with Sheldon Keefe.

Toronto placed Marner on long-term injured reserve with an expected initial recovery timeline of four weeks on Nov. 10. He was eligible to be activated off LTIR as of Wednesday.

The 22-year-old ranks third among Leafs skaters in assists (14) and fifth in points (18) this season despite his absence from the lineup.

Toronto hosts the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

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