Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen went all-in at the trade deadline, seemingly improving his roster without trading blue chippers Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Now, in the middle of a three-game losing streak that's resulted in the Blue Jackets falling out of a playoff spot, Kekalainen feels that the team he assembled to make a deep run this spring lacks cohesion.

"We have to start playing like a team," Kekalainen said, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "Right now, we're looking like a group of individuals who are pulling in different directions. We don't look like a team."

Columbus has won just five contests since the trade deadline, scoring a measly 2.08 goals per game.

Since the Blue Jackets' big deadline moves, new acquisition Matt Duchene has delivered three goals and six points in 15 games and Panarin - Columbus' leader in points this season - has just one goal during that span, leaving Kekalainen to question his team's sense of accountability.

"Are you able to look each other in the eye and know you've done your job," Kekalainen said. "When you're doing your job, you can demand the same of everybody else. That's called professional pride."

The GM also insisted that he still supports head coach John Tortorella and rejected the idea that he may be let go before the season ends.

"That's just silly," Kekalainen said. "Torts has been our coach for a long time, been a good coach for us. He's coached us into the playoffs twice in a row. He's a very experienced coach in this league."

The Blue Jackets will look to avoid being swept on their Western Canadian road trip as they close it out in Vancouver versus the Canucks on Sunday night.

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Zdeno Chara isn't ready to hang 'em up.

The Boston Bruins signed their 42-year-old captain to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Saturday. The deal comes with a base salary of $2 million, plus an additional $1.75 million in performance-based incentives.

Chara's current salary is $5 million plus $1.75 million in bonuses, so he'll be taking a sizable pay cut in 2019-20.

Despite his age, Chara continues to log over 20 minutes per night on Boston's blue line. He's maintained positive possession numbers too, posting a 54.02 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound defenseman has four goals and seven assists in 55 games this season. He's the second-oldest active player in the NHL, behind Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen.

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Los Angeles Kings winger Ilya Kovalchuk isn't pleased with how head coach Willie Desjardins is using him lately.

Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the second time in three games on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, with Desjardins opting to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

The veteran sniper doesn't support that idea, and he didn't enjoy sitting in the press box.

"It's horrible," Kovalchuk said, according to The Athletic's Lisa Dillman. "That's the worst. But he (Desjardins) didn't play young guys. He plays 7 D. That's his new strategy.

"What you can do? That's his decision and he's the head coach - 10 more games. What else we can do. Just practice hard and show the young kids that thing can happen to anybody. You just have to keep going."

Kovalchuk returned to North America last summer on a three-year $18.75 million contract with the Kings after a five-season stint in the KHL. He was brought in to help bolster Los Angeles' offense, but the season hasn't gone according to plan.

The Kings started the season 4-8-1 and fired John Stevens before naming Desjardins interim head coach. Under Desjardins, the club is 22-31-7 and sits last in the Western Conference with 60 points.

"After Willie came here, I don’t have a chance. I play five, six minutes a game," Kovalchuk said.

"A few games I play with Kopi (captain Anze Koptiar)," Kovalchuk said. "We did well. We score all five games and then he (Desjardins) decide to change and I never play again, much. That’s the way he sees the situation."

Kovalchuk has appeared in 60 of the Kings' 73 games in 2018-19, registering 14 goals and 17 assists. Despite recent difficulties, the 35-year-old doesn't appear to regret choosing to play in the Golden State.

"That's what is good about California," he said. "Every day, almost every day, the sun's up. It's easier to go through those kind of stretches in your career. When you're in some city when it's raining, snowing every second day, then it's pretty tough."

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Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes pivot Jordan Staal, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Here's the play:

The hit occurred in the first period of Thursday's matchup - a 6-3 victory for Tampa Bay. Gourde was assessed a 10-minute match penalty and was ejected from the game, while Staal briefly exited the contest before returning to score a goal in the middle frame.

Gourde is eligible to return to the Bolts' lineup March 30 versus the Washington Capitals. In 75 games this season, the 27-year-old has notched 20 goals and 24 assists.

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With rumors and speculation running rampant among the masses, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock decided to clear the air Friday on his relationship with general manager Kyle Dubas.

The spotlight on their partnership grew intense following the club's 3-0 loss in Nashville on Tuesday, after which Babcock said other teams around the NHL have done a better job playing through injuries than the Leafs. Some took the comment as a shot at Dubas, but Toronto's veteran coach insisted he meant no harm.

"We've talked about this since this happened," Babcock said Friday, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "How would I say it? If any of my comments in any way - because then I read the article and I don't read it that way, at all - but if any of my comments in any way hurt anyone, it (wasn't intended)."

Babcock is in his fourth season as the Leafs' coach, but Dubas is in his rookie season as Toronto's GM, which Babcock believes is a factor in the duo's growing relationship.

"(Dubas) and my relationship isn't as good as it will be four years from now," Babcock said. "Mine with (Detroit Red Wings GM) Ken Holland wasn't as good in my first (season) as in my 10th or Bryan Murray in my first (with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) as in my third. It takes a while to build."

Toronto currently sits sixth in the NHL with 93 points and is all but locked into a playoff spot for the third consecutive season with Babcock at the helm.

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Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.

Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.

In this episode, John's joined by Jonathan Willis of The Athletic to bounce around the league as the regular season winds down. Topics include:

• Which team(s) should scare the juggernaut Lightning?
• Load management, bad PR, and the Edmonton Oilers
• Mark Stone and other smart trade deadline deals
• Surprises, insights from the recent NHLPA Player Poll

... and more!

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Although Edmonton Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson apologized for publicly criticizing Tobias Rieder's play this season, the Oilers forward sounded off on the incident Friday.

"You kind of can't believe it. I feel like it's disappointing and I'm offended by it," Rieder said, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug. "I'm the first one to admit I haven't had a good year."

Nicholson went off on a tirade at a breakfast for season-ticket holders Thursday, directly blaming Rieder's individual lack of production for the team's precarious playoff position.

The German forward was surprised to hear such critical commentary from the front office with the team sitting five points out of a playoff position with eight games remaining.

"It went a little too far and Bob knows that ... I thought the timing was a bit weird, we're still fighting for the playoffs. I'm still going to do my best," Rieder added.

Rieder's agent, Darren Ferris, also voiced his displeasure regarding the comments, calling Nicholson's remarks "unacceptable." As for Rieder's teammates, the 26-year-old says everyone's on the same page regarding the issue.

"We talked before the game and they don't think it was right either ... it's good to know they have my back," Rieder said, according to Rishaug. The NHLer added that he accepts Nicholson's apology.

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Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby will not be in attendance Monday when his teammates visit the White House as Stanley Cup champions.

"I've got to stay true to my values, and I'm going respectfully decline the offer," Holtby said Friday, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan.

"In saying that, it's a tough situation for everyone to be in, to be forced to make a decision of that standing," he added. "You're a team and you want to stick together no matter what, so I hope everyone kind of blows it away and that we don't worry about who goes and who doesn't."

Capitals forward Brett Connolly already declined the invitation, citing his support for Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly, who played a crucial role in Washington's championship run but is currently with the AHL's Hershey Bears, has previously spoken out against President Donald Trump and will also skip the visit.

“For me, it's just a personal thing," Holtby said. "I believe in what I believe in, and in order to stick to those values, I think I have to do what I feel is right. But that doesn't make a difference (in) everyone else's decision.

"We stick by every single teammate we have and their decision. That's about it."

Holtby is an active supporter of the LGBTQ community. He's marched in D.C.'s Pride Parade and was the Capitals' "You Can Play" ambassador for the past two seasons. That involvement factored into his decision.

"My family and myself, we believe in a world where humans are treated with respect regardless of your stature, what you're born into," the 29-year-old said. "You're asked to choose what side you're on, and I think it's pretty clear what side I'm on. I believe that this is the right decision for myself and my family."

The Capitals announced there would be no official ceremony or media availability during their visit. They will receive a tour of the White House and meet President Trump in the Oval Office, reports Khurshudyan.

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