Victor Hedman will be taking part in All-Star weekend, albeit in a rather unexpected role.
The injured Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman was named the assistant to the equipment manager for Saturday's skills competition and for the Atlantic Division's entry in the All-Star tournament on Sunday.
He'll assist head equipment manager Ray Thill, who serves the same position with the Lightning.
It did not take long for George Parros to find himself in the thick of NHL suspension controversies.
Parros is serving as the NHL's head of player safety, and recently came under fire as a result of two contentious decisions: a two-game suspension for Anaheim's Andrew Cogliano that ended the Ducks forward's iron man streak at 830 games, and a maximum fine levied on Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings for a dangerous looking cross-check.
Parros addressed the decisions in a report at the NHL's Board of Governors meeting in Tampa on Saturday, beginning with Cogliano's hit on Adrian Kempe, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com:
Anytime we see interference that late with significant head contact, it's been a suspension. This one, the Cogliano interference itself, was among the very latest we've seen. There was significant head contact. We have all sorts of comparables, players suspended for hits that didn't occur as late as Cogliano's with zero head contact.
Parros admitted it was a tough decision to suspend his former Ducks teammate, whose consecutive games streak was the fourth-longest in league history.
The other play in question was this cross-check by Brown on Justin Schultz, which earned the King a $10,000 fine in lieu of a suspension, a decision that was met with much criticism.
Again, Parros defended his call:
The Brown incident and Cogliano incident are two different animals. It's apples to oranges, really. Cogliano's was an interference with significant head contact. Dustin Brown's was a cross-checking incident. It's very natural to want to compare the two and the forces involved in the situations, but they're quite different. With Dustin Brown, we examined all sorts of things ... and at the end of the day the force doesn't really compare at all with any of the cross-checking or boarding suspensions we've had in the past. He was subject to a hearing, got fined the maximum amount allowable by the CBA and compared to other plays like that one, it's a stiffer fine than usual.
Parros accepted the position prior to the start of the preseason, following in the footsteps of former players Stephane Quintal and Brendan Shanahan, his immediate predecessors.
The ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones came up with a spectacular way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "The Mighty Ducks."
The team will wear three different jerseys during Saturday's game against the Fort Wayne Komets, each modeled after the ones featured in the hockey movie trilogy. The jerseys will then be auctioned off beginning Jan. 29.
THE JERSEYS ARE HERE! We celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Mighty Ducks THIS Saturday & we have info on how YOU can get a jersey!#Puckchop-inspired Jersey: Live Auction Green D5: Online starting 1/29 Team USA: Online starting 2/5 MORE INFO: https://t.co/vJwQe8aeiKpic.twitter.com/qpSK7sjL85
"These were based on the three movie jerseys, so I had to do some research into the jerseys, number, and name fonts," Athletic Knit's Jeff Tasca, who designed the jerseys, told Paul Caputo of SportsLogos.net. "Since there were a lot of jersey knock-off images out there I looked at a lot of movie screen captures and official movie prop images to get the numbers as right as I could."
ABC Signature Studios is reportedly working on a television series based on "The Mighty Ducks" franchise, which could be shopped to cable networks and streaming platforms later this year.
Now there's something worthy of cuing up "Brass Bonanza."
The state of Connecticut has unveiled a new license plate design that features the iconic Hartford Whalers logo, 21 years after the team left.
The franchise relocated to Raleigh and now plays as the Carolina Hurricanes, but passion for the Whalers never left Hartford.
"I ask the Whalers fans to get out there and purchase those license plates because maybe then they will come back," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, according to the Associated Press.
"We'll keep hoping. It was two decades ago that we lost on the Whalers, but in our hearts we have not."
The plates start at $60, and $45 from each sale will go toward a new infusion and dialysis center at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.
It's not the first time Connecticut has pushed for the NHL to return in some form. Last February, Gov. Dannel Malloy invited the New York Islanders to play out of the XL Center (the Whalers' former home) when it seemed they had run out of options for a new arena in New York.
The state has also discussed a $250-million renovation to the XL Center, which opened in 1975, to bring it up to modern standards in an effort to lure the NHL back.
James Neal's agent doesn't expect his client to be dealt prior to the NHL's Feb. 26 trade deadline.
The winger is representing the expansion Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL's All-Star festivities in Tampa, Fla., and all signs point to Neal sticking around for a surprise playoff run and contract extension in the weeks ahead.
"I don’t negotiate in public, but if the trade deadline comes and goes, I will be shocked if James is on another team," agent Pat Morris said, per Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "No other team has called me and said they are close to acquiring James. I think it’s full steam ahead for Vegas, and if we could agree to terms for him to (remain with the Knights) we would welcome that. He loves it there."
Neal can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and before the season, it was expected he'd be dangled by the first-year club in order to acquire future assets. With Vegas sitting near the top of the league standings, he gives them a real chance at making noise in the playoffs.
"I don’t know (owner) Bill Foley, but he obviously has a passion to win," Morris continued. "His timetable of winning in three to five years has obviously changed now. This is not an irresponsible organization. You have to go for it when you have the chance, and James Neal and his play and leadership has been a huge part of what has happened there."
At the All-Star break, Neal sits second on the Golden Knights with 22 goals through 48 games and ranks sixth with 34 points. The 30-year-old played a big role in Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup FInal a year ago before being exposed in the expansion draft.
"All I did is look up the Predators schedule and see what teams they were playing," Sanders said. "I saw the day before my birthday they were playing the Devils. I thought, 'Oh cool, I'll go to Nashville and catch a game.' I'm trying to go to every NHL arena, so I figured I'm finally going to get Bridgestone (Arena) off the list.
"I then found out the game was in Newark, which is like two hours away from where I live, driving. Instead, I flew two hours away from home to watch an away game."
WHEN YOU'RE A COMPLETE MORON AND YOU BUY A FLIGHT TO NASHVILLE TO GO TO THE @PredsNHL GAME BUT IT'S AN AWAY GAME SO YOU HANG OUT AT BRIDGESTONE ANYWAY pic.twitter.com/dzgjoZassd
Sanders' trip wasn't a complete waste. After she tweeted about her mistake, the Predators gave her a signed puck, rally towel, scarf, luggage tag, and schedule to take home with her.
Four teams will take part in regular-season games in Europe next season, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Among the matchups, the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets will square off for two games in Finland in November. Tampere native Patrik Laine is sure to be a draw, as is Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov, who hails from the same hometown.
The Oilers will also head overseas during the preseason for an exhibition game held in Germany, the home country of forward Leon Draisaitl, while the Devils will do the same in Switzerland, where Nico Hischier will play in front of a home crowd.
Goaltender interference is a hot topic at the NHL's All-Star festivities in Tampa.
The NHL's Board of Governors discussed the issue in a Saturday morning meeting, with the conversation centered around officials overthinking the call and getting too technical with the rule, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Further meetings are on the docket:
The 4 All Star coaches and NHL GM's in Tampa are meeting with league brass this afternoon to further discuss goaltender interference.
The 63rd edition of the NHL All-Star Game kicks off Sunday in Tampa Bay, where the game's best will decide which is hockey's most dominant division.
It marks the third straight year the NHL has opted for the divisional format. The Metropolitan took last season's title in Los Angeles, and the Pacific Division won it all two years ago in Nashville.
So which side will earn this year's crown? Each team is loaded with talent. Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), Steven Stamkos (Atlantic), P.K. Subban (Central), and Connor McDavid (Pacific) captain their respective squads.
To be named All-Star Game MVP may not be the pinnacle of personal hockey achievement, but some of the NHL's greatest have their names on that list, and it remains a nice moment for individuals as all NHL eyes are on the event.
Here, then, is the best - for various reasons - All-Star MVP candidate from the league's four divisions.
Atlantic - Steven Stamkos
This time last year, Stamkos was sidelined with a major leg injury, just months after re-signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning and cementing himself as the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
Stamkos cited loyalty and "unfinished business" as reasons for remaining with the club in lieu of hitting the open market, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. Now back at full strength, Stamkos is in the midst of making good on that promise; he's on pace to match his career-high 97 points set in 2011-12 while helping the Lightning rebound from missing the playoffs in 2017 to challenging for the Presidents' Trophy and, more importantly, the Stanley Cup in 2018.
With Tampa Bay in the spotlight as the All-Star host city, it would be fitting for the Lightning captain to shine as the brightest star on his own turf.
Metropolitan - Brian Boyle
During training camp, New Jersey Devils center Boyle was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a treatable form of bone marrow cancer.
Boyle missed the campaign's first 10 games, but made his season debut Nov. 1. In 38 games since, he's scored 11 goals, and could very well match the 21 he scored over 82 games with the New York Rangers in 2011-12.
A last-minute addition to the Metropolitan Division roster as a result of an injury to teammate Taylor Hall, Boyle's presence in Tampa will be even more special considering he was a member of the Lightning roster that advanced to the Cup Final in 2015.
He's sure to be warmly welcomed by the home crowd, and would be the unlikeliest of MVP's due to maybe not being as skilled and experienced at three-on-three play as his peers.
But that's exactly what would help make it an All-Star Game to remember.
Central - P.K. Subban
It's time for Subban to be acknowledged as one of the premiere faces of the NHL.
Fresh off an appearance on "The Daily Show" where he talked about the $10-million commitment he made to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and his Blueline Buddies program that pairs Nashville police officers with underprivileged kids at Predators games, Subban has already taken Tampa by storm after hosting a free concert Friday.
As a leading candidate to win his second Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, he wants to be known as a top defensive player, but he also knows how to put on a show offensively.
Voted as captain of the Central Division squad, a large section of hockey fans appreciate all that he brings to the game, both on and off the ice. A defenseman hasn't been named All-Star MVP since Ray Bourque in 1996, and Subban is as able as anyone to buck that trend.
The accolade would hopefully push the NHL to ensure Subban is at the forefront of campaigns to grow the game.
Pacific - Marc-Andre Fleury
The emergence of the Vegas Golden Knights is easily one of the best hockey stories in years, and a key to that has been the play of goaltender Fleury.
Seemingly exiled to the desert after a long, successful, and emotional run with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Fleury's debut season with the expansion franchise got off to a bumpy start as a result of a concussion suffered in his fourth start.
But the 33-year-old was back between the pipes in mid-December and is playing some of the best hockey of his career as Vegas challenges for first overall in the NHL. In 18 games, Fleury has a 12-4-2 record and his .942 save percentage is good for second among all goalies.
Fleury is well respected around the hockey world, and his effusive smile easily draws fans in. A rare goalie MVP nod would add to Vegas' crazy introduction to the NHL, and would be sure to expose the rest of the hockey world to that smile.
