Auston Matthews' lead in the rookie points race was fleeting.
Off a turnover and feed from Bryan Little, Patrik Laine made it goals in back-to-back nights Wednesday when he put the Winnipeg Jets up 2-0 in Florida.
It was the 21st goal and 35th point for the Jets sniper, moving him back ahead of Matthews in both departments.
Of course, the Maple leafs star will have four games in hand at the conclusion of Wednesday's action.
It'll take some time for Troy Terry to sift through the messages pouring into his phone after his shootout exploits in Wednesday's semifinal win over Russia - but there was one note he had to attend to immediately.
Terry reciprocated the love after receiving a shoutout from one of the biggest stars to emerge from the U.S. program in recent years, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews.
In this edition of "On the Fly," theScore's NHL roundtable series, we discuss teams that could rescue Jarome Iginla from the Colorado Avalanche.
The Oilers
After what seemed like a never-ending rebuilding phase, the Edmonton Oilers appear set to finally make a postseason appearance for the first time since advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006.
Meanwhile, Iginla, an Edmonton native, has said he'd consider waiving his no-move clause to jump on with a playoff team, which makes sense seeing how the 37-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the last-place Avalanche.
While the Oilers may not quite be up to the level of true Cup contenders, adding Iginla would give the young squad some added veteran experience, and perhaps some depth on offense as well. Iginla's goal-scoring is way down this season, but he did average 25.5 over his first two years in Colorado, and likely has enough gas left in the tank to make a contribution when it matters most.
Additionally, he'd come cheap, and Edmonton is one of the only potential playoff teams with the cap space to take on what's left of his contract.
Bring Iggy home, Oilers.
The Bruins
The Boston Bruins need scoring badly, and while Iginla is struggling to do that this season, his most successful campaign in recent years - a 30-goal, 61-point campaign - came with the Bruins in 2013-14.
They have a pair of holes on the right wing, and despite Iginla's lack of production this fall and winter, he'd still be an upgrade over Riley Nash and Jimmy Hayes on Boston's third or fourth lines, respectively.
He carries a $5.3-million cap hit, but it would be prorated to whenever a potential deal took place, and the Avalanche could always agree to cover enough of it to get a trade done.
Putting the black and gold back on might be exactly what Iginla needs to get his mojo back, and the Bruins are going to need to make a move both for the playoff push and to give themselves more separation from their Floridian rivals in the Atlantic Division.
The Kings
What better way to end a star-studded career than a trip to Hollywood?
The Los Angeles Kings should trade for Iginla. The deal would mark a reunion between the former Calgary Flames captain and Kings bench boss Darryl Sutter, who were together in Calgary for seven seasons, including the Flames' run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.
There is a familiarity between the coach and player, and Iginla's crash-and-bang style would fit the playing style of the Kings like a glove. And while Iginla's scoring touch isn't what it once was, the Kings could use all the help they can get when it comes to finding the back of the net. As a Cup contender, Los Angeles is also a solid bet to provide Iginla with his first Cup ring.
A deal between the Kings and Avalanche would take some cap creativity, with the Kings having about $1.5 million to play with, while Iginla's remaining salary is nearly double that money. If the Avs are willing to retain some salary, and possibly take back an expiring contract in a potential deal, it could be the last step needed to send Iginla to the City of Angels.
Schmidt began his NHL career with the Bruins in 1936 and captained them from 1950 to his final season in 1955. His career spanned 776 games, all spent in Boston.
Schmidt captured the Stanley Cup in 1939 and again in 1941. He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP in 1951.
Following his playing days, Schmidt served as head coach of the Bruins for 11 seasons, a tenure which included two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. He also served as general manager of the Bruins from 1967 to 1972.
Schmidt was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.
With the NHL trade deadline now less than two months away, attention will begin to focus more intently on players on underachieving teams who are set to become unrestricted free agents.
One such player is Martin Hanzal of the Arizona Coyotes, who maintains he'd like to stay in the desert, but acknowledges the reality of a possible move prior to the March 1 deadline.
"I want to stay here," Hanzal said, per Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "That's the priority, but we have to be on the same page - both sides. If they want me, I'll be happy to stay here. But if not, I gotta move on."
From the team's perspective, general manager John Chayka remains in wait- and-see mode.
"There's not a lot going on," Chayka said. "But at the same time, it's one of those things where we kind of know where the player is at. The player knows where we're at. If there was an opportunity to do something, I don't think it would take too long. But still collecting information and working through the process.
"To date, I wouldn't say I've received a serious offer," he added in reference to the trade market.
Hanzal, 29, is in the final season of a five-year deal that carries a $3.1-million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause. In 32 games this season, he's scored eight goals and added six assists.
Bruce Boudreau might look a little different when he arrives in his old stomping grounds this weekend.
"I'm growing a beard so they won't recognize me," the Minnesota Wild head coach quipped Wednesday when asked about making his return to Anaheim on Sunday.
Boudreau coached the Ducks from 2011-16, qualifying for the playoffs in four of the five seasons but failing to make it past the Conference Final.
Anaheim lost that series to the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games back in 2014-15, and fell in seven games to the Nashville Predators in the first round last spring. Both defeats came on home ice, and Boudreau lost four straight Game 7s at Honda Center.
What a difference a change of scenery can make, though. Boudreau has rejuvenated the Wild, who sit one point back of the first-place Blackhawks in the Central Division after reeling off a 12-game win streak that was snapped Saturday by the scorching hot Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Wild rank fourth in the NHL in goals for per game (3.11), and second in goals allowed per contest (2.06).
Boudreau was hired by Minnesota last May.
He also coached the Washington Capitals for parts of five seasons from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
But after posting uncharacteristically poor numbers for an unusually long period of time, Schneider has kicked off the new year in such a way that gives New Jersey reason to hope for a playoff push down the stretch.
It's only been two games, but the Devils could not have asked for a better performance out of Schneider:
Date
Opponent
Result
Shots Against
Save %
Jan. 2
Bruins
W 3-0
22
1.000
Jan. 3
Hurricanes
W 3-1
30
.967
The back-to-back wins were the first recorded by Schneider since early November, a month in which he posted an .893 save percentage, a number that dropped to .887 in December.
The Devils sit six points back of a wild-card spot, and recognize Schneider must be at the top of his game in order to remain competitive.
Ben Lovejoy calls Cory Schneider "our superstar." "He is our best player."
Schneider's season save percentage sits at .908, well down from his career average of .923. A few more strong performances will help balance that out even further, and give the Devils a fighting chance moving forward.
With all due respect to Carter Hart and Connor Ingram, who, remember, are children playing in a world juniors tournament the north takes a little bit too seriously, they've been hilariously bad for Canada over the past week and change.
We've looked at Hart's and Ingram's individual numbers. It's when you look at them combined - Canada's goaltending numbers overall - that you realize how bad they've been.
The pair has allowed 11 goals in five games. On the surface, based on simple arithmetic, not bad. But those 11 goals have come on 87 shots. That's an .873 save percentage. Only Latvia's goaltending has been worse. (Latvia!)
And yet, Canada's 4-1 and will play for a spot in the finals Wednesday. Ingram will be in goal, and he must be better.
Yes, the reality is the country's teenagers are really good, always have the puck, and can get by with below-replacement goaltending, but Canada's issues in the crease - never more apparent than this year - are hurting the team at the world juniors.
Math don't lie
From 2002 through 2011, Canada's kids won five golds and five silvers. Dominant. And that's not really surprising, based on the talent Hockey Canada's had to work with over the years - talent that includes some of the best in the NHL, and boasts Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. You can call them "best-on-best" tournaments if you like, but it's Canada vs. the world - and Canada's coming out on top.
But back to the kids. Fact is, Canada's been winning in spite of its goaltending for a while. In 2009, the last of Canada's five gold-medal finishes in a row, starter Dustin Tokarski had a .906 save percentage - fourth among starters. Tokarski, in other words, has Cody Hodgson, John Tavares, and Jordan Eberle - the tourney's top three scorers - to thank for his hardware.
The medals have dried up, though. Canada has one gold (2015) and one bronze (2012) to show for its last five world juniors. And while that's going to happen when the country isn't sending its best players (Connor McDavid) to the tournament every year, it means goaltending matters that much more.
The numbers from the crease, though, over the past 10 years - and especially the last five - are for the most part downright unCanadian:
Year
SV%
Rank
2017
.8736
9th
2016
.8595
9th
2015
.9375
1st (Gold)
2014
.8857
6th
2013
.8956
6th
2012
.9312
2nd (Bronze)
2011
.9010
8th (Silver)
2010
.9058
4th (Silver)
2009
.9149
2nd (Gold)
2008
.9497
1st (Gold)
Even the strong numbers, most recently from 2015 and 2012, are deceiving.
In 2015, it was the dynamic duo of Zachary Fucale and Eric Comrie in the crease. Fucale never posted a save percentage higher than .907 in junior, and is now in the ECHL. Comrie can't crack .910 in the AHL.
In 2012, Mark Visentin and Scott Wedgewood split the duties. Vistentin got into one NHL game and is in the ECHL today, while Wedgewood has played five games outside of the AHL (four in the NHL and one in the ECHL) in the past four years.
Visentin and Olivier Roy were on duty in 2011, when Russia stunned Canada in the gold-medal game 5-3 after being down 3-0. Visentin stopped 22-of-27 shots in the final. Roy plays in Austria.
Make Canadian goalies great again
While goaltenders certainly - and rightfully - take a lot longer to marinate, you have to go back a ways to find a Canadian world juniors goaltender who is now a legitimate No. 1, or has spent time as one in the NHL:
Jake Allen (2010)
Martin Jones (2010)
Jonathan Bernier (2008)
Steve Mason (2008)
Carey Price (2007)
Devan Dubnyk (2006)
Marc-Andre Fleury (2003, 2004)
Roberto Luongo (1999)
That's not bad, from 2003 through 2008. Even through 2010. Especially considering, again, what an inexact science finding a good goalie is. But you'd think Canada would be better.
Hilariously enough, Dubnyk didn't see any world juniors ice in 2006. He was Justin Pogge's backup, as Pogge finished with a .952 save percentage and a gold medal. Pogge's a .900 goaltender in the KHL today, while Dubnyk is a Vezina Trophy contender. Goalies are the weirdest.
Mason's the last Canadian to be named best goalie at a world juniors tournament, in 2008. On that year's team were: Drew Doughty, Luke Schenn, P.K. Subban, Claude Giroux, Brad Marchand, Wayne Simmonds, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, and Kyle Turris.
Going back all the way to 1999, we're not looking at an overly impressive number of Canadian goalies who have gone on to big things in the NHL. Hell, Dubnyk backed up Pogge.
Yes, the ones who made it big have very much made it big. Price and Luongo are Hall of Famers, Fleury's got rings, and Allen and Jones have proven themselves. But based on the talent Canada produces on defense and up front, its goalies have been left behind.
Goalies matter more than ever
It's getting harder and harder to score. The players - even the teenagers at the world juniors - are bigger, stronger, and faster. Think about it: McDavid, Patrik Laine, and Auston Matthews are all eligible to play in this year's tournament. Goalies are already of utmost importance, and are only going to become more important. Canada needs to make better ones.
The Maple Leaf remains the world's utmost hockey power. The 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the World Cup proved that. No age restrictions, and Canada will destroy all comers. But there's a reason why the under-20 squads have fewer medals to show for their annual year-end tournament, and it leads back to the crease.
When it comes to goalies, the world's not only caught up, it's surpassed Canada. See you at the summit.
With all due respect to Carter Hart and Connor Ingram, who, remember, are children playing in a world juniors tournament the north takes a little bit too seriously, they've been hilariously bad for Canada over the past week and change.
We've looked at Hart's and Ingram's individual numbers. It's when you look at them combined - Canada's goaltending numbers overall - that you realize how bad they've been.
The pair has allowed 11 goals in five games. On the surface, based on simple arithmetic, not bad. But those 11 goals have come on 87 shots. That's an .873 save percentage. Only Latvia's goaltending has been worse. (Latvia!)
And yet, Canada's 4-1 and will play for a spot in the finals Wednesday. Ingram will be in goal, and he must be better.
Yes, the reality is the country's teenagers are really good, always have the puck, and can get by with below-replacement goaltending, but Canada's issues in the crease - never more apparent than this year - are hurting the team at the world juniors.
Math don't lie
From 2002 through 2011, Canada's kids won five golds and five silvers. Dominant. And that's not really surprising, based on the talent Hockey Canada's had to work with over the years - talent that includes some of the best in the NHL, and boasts Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. You can call them "best-on-best" tournaments if you like, but it's Canada vs. the world - and Canada's coming out on top.
But back to the kids. Fact is, Canada's been winning in spite of its goaltending for a while. In 2009, the last of Canada's five gold-medal finishes in a row, starter Dustin Tokarski had a .906 save percentage - fourth among starters. Tokarski, in other words, has Cody Hodgson, John Tavares, and Jordan Eberle - the tourney's top three scorers - to thank for his hardware.
The medals have dried up, though. Canada has one gold (2015) and one bronze (2012) to show for its last five world juniors. And while that's going to happen when the country isn't sending its best players (Connor McDavid) to the tournament every year, it means goaltending matters that much more.
The numbers from the crease, though, over the past 10 years - and especially the last five - are for the most part downright unCanadian:
Year
SV%
Rank
2017
.8736
9th
2016
.8595
9th
2015
.9375
1st (Gold)
2014
.8857
6th
2013
.8956
6th
2012
.9312
2nd (Bronze)
2011
.9010
8th (Silver)
2010
.9058
4th (Silver)
2009
.9149
2nd (Gold)
2008
.9497
1st (Gold)
Even the strong numbers, most recently from 2015 and 2012, are deceiving.
In 2015, it was the dynamic duo of Zachary Fucale and Eric Comrie in the crease. Fucale never posted a save percentage higher than .907 in junior, and is now in the ECHL. Comrie can't crack .910 in the AHL.
In 2012, Mark Visentin and Scott Wedgewood split the duties. Vistentin got into one NHL game and is in the ECHL today, while Wedgewood has played five games outside of the AHL (four in the NHL and one in the ECHL) in the past four years.
Visentin and Olivier Roy were on duty in 2011, when Russia stunned Canada in the gold-medal game 5-3 after being down 3-0. Visentin stopped 22-of-27 shots in the final. Roy plays in Austria.
Make Canadian goalies great again
While goaltenders certainly - and rightfully - take a lot longer to marinate, you have to go back a ways to find a Canadian world juniors goaltender who is now a legitimate No. 1, or has spent time as one in the NHL:
Jake Allen (2010)
Martin Jones (2010)
Jonathan Bernier (2008)
Steve Mason (2008)
Carey Price (2007)
Devan Dubnyk (2006)
Marc-Andre Fleury (2003, 2004)
Roberto Luongo (1999)
That's not bad, from 2003 through 2008. Even through 2010. Especially considering, again, what an inexact science finding a good goalie is. But you'd think Canada would be better.
Hilariously enough, Dubnyk didn't see any world juniors ice in 2006. He was Justin Pogge's backup, as Pogge finished with a .952 save percentage and a gold medal. Pogge's a .900 goaltender in the KHL today, while Dubnyk is a Vezina Trophy contender. Goalies are the weirdest.
Mason's the last Canadian to be named best goalie at a world juniors tournament, in 2008. On that year's team were: Drew Doughty, Luke Schenn, P.K. Subban, Claude Giroux, Brad Marchand, Wayne Simmonds, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, and Kyle Turris.
Going back all the way to 1999, we're not looking at an overly impressive number of Canadian goalies who have gone on to big things in the NHL. Hell, Dubnyk backed up Pogge.
Yes, the ones who made it big have very much made it big. Price and Luongo are Hall of Famers, Fleury's got rings, and Allen and Jones have proven themselves. But based on the talent Canada produces on defense and up front, its goalies have been left behind.
Goalies matter more than ever
It's getting harder and harder to score. The players - even the teenagers at the world juniors - are bigger, stronger, and faster. Think about it: McDavid, Patrik Laine, and Auston Matthews are all eligible to play in this year's tournament. Goalies are already of utmost importance, and are only going to become more important. Canada needs to make better ones.
The Maple Leaf remains the world's utmost hockey power. The 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the World Cup proved that. No age restrictions, and Canada will destroy all comers. But there's a reason why the under-20 squads have fewer medals to show for their annual year-end tournament, and it leads back to the crease.
When it comes to goalies, the world's not only caught up, it's surpassed Canada. See you at the summit.
The 23-year-old forward was claimed off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks from the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, marking his third NHL club since Dec. 2, with an AHL stint thrown in for good measure.
He was waived by the Devils a day after being claimed because another team - presumably Vancouver - had also put in a claim. In order to be assigned to New Jersey's AHL club, he had to once again be exposed, giving the Canucks another chance to scoop him up.
Boucher, a fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2011, has recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 85 NHL games.
