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Lady Byng Finalists Announced

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The National Hockey League is announcing award finalists this week as they begin to set the stage for the annual NHL Awards at the end of the season. Per a league release, we now know the three players that are up for the Lady Byng Award this season. This award is given out annually to the player who exhibited the most sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct while playing at a high level this season.

Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils is one of the finalists. He finished this season with 43 goals and 99 points in 78 games while putting up just six minutes in penalties. He was the team’s leading scorer and a key reason the Devils made it to the postseason for the first time since 2018. The Devils didn’t just sneak into the postseason either as they finished the regular season with a 52-22-8 record which gives them 112 points in the standings.

Anze Kopitar is also up for the Lady Byng this season. The 35-year-old center had another stellar season for the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 28 goals and 74 points in 82 games while playing great defensive hockey as well. He also had just two minor penalties proving his sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct which goes with his strong play on the ice. Kopitar won this award in 2016 and this is the 16th consecutive season he has received votes for the Lady Byng.

Brayden Point is the third finalist for the award after another strong season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old center scored 51 goals and 95 points in 82 games and had just seven penalty minutes on the season.

NCAA Notes: Farrell, Coronato, Transfer Portal

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While the emergence of Montreal Canadiens 2022 second-round pick Lane Hutson has attracted a significant amount of attention in the Montreal market (no doubt helped by the fact that it was his overtime goal that won Boston University the Hockey East title), 2020 fourth-round pick Sean Farrell has had an incredible season in his own right. The Harvard forward was recently named the ECAC’s player of the year after scoring 52 points in 33 games, and this comes after he scored six points in four games representing the United States at last year’s Winter Olympics. This has led to many wondering if the NHL could be just around the corner for Farrell, or if he would choose to play until graduation and potentially test the open market once his rights expire.

Based on recent reporting, it seems Canadiens fans may not have much to worry about. The Athletic’s Marc Antoine Godin and Arpon Basu reported in a recent column (subscription link) that Farrell’s advisors at CAA have assured them that the scenario of Farrell graduating and testing free agency is “not one worth mentioning” because Farrell “has every intention of signing with the Canadiens.” This means that should Harvard be upset in their first-round matchup against Ohio State on Friday, “Farrell could be available as early as this Saturday,” and his signing would certainly add some excitement to what has been a rollercoaster Canadiens season.

Some other notes from college hockey:

  • Farrell’s teammate Matt Coronato, a 2021 lottery pick, is also a highly-regarded prospect who could be nearing an NHL debut. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reports that Flames general manager Brad Treliving is traveling to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Harvard’s aforementioned game against Ohio State with the goal of getting Coronato “signed and into an NHL game” whenever his season ends. Coronato just completed a second-straight point-per-game season, and is widely regarded to be the Flames’ best skater prospect.
  • New England Hockey Journal’s Mark Divver has reported that three NHL prospects are hitting the transfer portal, meaning they are exploring the possibility of transferring to another NCAA program. The first is Los Angeles Kings prospect Jack Hughes, a 2022 second-round pick who scored 16 points in 32 games for Northeastern. The next is Detroit Red Wings 2021 fourth-rounder Redmond Savage, who scored 14 points in 32 games for Miami University (Ohio) and made the United States World Juniors team the past two tournaments. The final player is Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Colangelo, the 36th overall pick at the 2020 draft. Colangelo’s production declined from last season when he scored nearly at a point-per-game rate, and he could be looking for a fresh start for his age-22 campaign.

Injury Notes: Hughes, Ekman-Larsson, Dach

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Despite some optimism yesterday that he may return, the New Jersey Devils will take on the St. Louis Blues tonight without one of their key players. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reports that Jack Hughes is not playing in tonight’s game as he continues his recovery to full strength after an upper-body injury.

The news remains a blow to New Jersey, who have relied on Hughes’ scoring and playmaking abilities to take them back into playoff contention this season. They’ve still managed to record a point in all three games without Hughes, sustaining their only loss in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild last Saturday.

  • Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson underwent X-rays today after sustaining a lower-body injury, according to a report by Sportsnet’s Randip Janda. The news comes after head coach Rick Tocchet stated that he didn’t expect Ekman-Larsson to play in the team’s upcoming game on Saturday against Philadelphia. It’s unclear when Ekman-Larsson suffered the injury, but he left last night’s 6-4 loss against the Rangers early. Ekman-Larsson has struggled defensively in his second season with the Canucks after a mild resurgence last year. Still, he’s recorded 22 points in 54 games played this season, second among Vancouver blue-liners.
  • The Montreal Canadiens announced that forward Kirby Dach is not playing in tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes due to a non-COVID-related illness. Dach, who was acquired over the offseason from the Chicago Blackhawks, will be replaced in the lineup by Rem Pitlick. Pitlick returns to the Canadiens lineup after being a healthy scratch in their last two games. Dach’s absence will certainly be felt, as the talented forward is enjoying a breakout season and had three points in his last five games.

Jack Hughes Could Return Tomorrow

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A budding superstar’s return to the lineup is on the horizon. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is “50/50” to return to the lineup tomorrow against the St. Louis Blues after skating in a non-contact jersey today, reports ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.

Wyshynski adds that Hughes “wants back in,” but the team is being cautious in his recovery from an upper-body injury. A maintenance day last week quickly developed into a week-long absence last week, and his return comes a bit ahead of schedule after the team issued a week-to-week timeline for recovery.

The dynamic 21-year-old still sits in the NHL lead with 29 even-strength goals this season. His 35 goals, 67 points, and 229 shots on goal all lead the Devils.

The middle child in the Hughes family is well above a point-per-game clip in his fourth NHL season and seems like an undeniable franchise cornerstone after the Devils selected him first overall in 2019. He had a spectacular six goals and 11 points in his last five games before sustaining the upper-body injury.

If he can’t return to the Devils lineup tomorrow, he’ll likely suit up for at least one of the team’s back-to-back home games against Pittsburgh and Winnipeg this weekend.

Morning Notes: Crouse, Bonino, Hughes

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New names will enter the rumor mill daily within three weeks of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. The jaw-dropping potential of holding a top-five pick in the 2023 NHL Draft should only exacerbate this, with Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson, and others making up one of the most talented groups of top prospects in league history. While they won’t admit it, it’s a phenomenon that incentivizes flawed teams to get worse. It explains a surprising new name on Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli’s newest Trade Targets board, released Saturday morning.

Arizona Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse signed a five-year extension before this season, but Seravalli says that hasn’t stopped his name from popping up in trade conversations. He clarifies that Crouse isn’t someone Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is actively looking to offload but notes that given the team’s position, he isn’t putting the phone down on any interested trade party. The 2015 11th overall pick has come into his own over the past two seasons, recording 36 goals and 62 points in 112 games across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns while logging heavy minutes. Locked into an attractive $4.3MM cap hit for four more seasons, he’ll need to garner a strong return for Arizona to consider moving on.

More chatter from the post-All-Star break weekend:

  • Another new name on Seravalli’s trade board is San Jose Sharks shutdown center Nick Bonino. In the final year of a two-season, $2.05MM average annual value pact, the 34-year-old Bonino can still provide value in a bottom-six role. He’s played both center and wing for San Jose this year, but is capable in the faceoff dot and brings Stanley Cup-winning experience. With nine goals and 17 points in 50 games and decent defensive play, he’s an ideal target for teams looking to shore up their fourth line. He could make sense for a team like the New York Rangers, who can now focus on improving their depth forwards after acquiring their big fish, Vladimir Tarasenko, earlier this week.
  • In positive news for New Jersey Devils fans, team reporter Amanda Stein confirms that center Jack Hughes and defenseman Brendan Smith are with the team on their current road trip, taking them through the Midwest and northeast United States over the next week. It’s a somewhat expected tidbit about Hughes, who’s listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained in the past few days. While a return to action during their four-game road trip seems unlikely, it’s a good sign that he’s well enough to stay with the team. Smith is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury as of Thursday.

Jack Hughes Out Week-To-Week With Upper-Body Injury

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Of all the breakout performances this season, the most impressive might be Jack Hughes. The New Jersey Devils star leads the league in even-strength goals with 29, and has 67 points through 50 games this season. Unfortunately, that performance will be put on hold for a while. Hughes is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Head coach Lindy Ruff did tell reporters, including Amanda Stein, that he believes it will be on the shorter end of week-to-week, but for now, he’ll be without his best offensive weapon.

The first-overall pick from 2019 showed that he could be a difference-maker last year when he posted 26 goals and 56 points in 49 games but has taken his play to a whole new level in 2022-23. With 35 total goals, he trails only Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak, and his 67 points put him ninth in league scoring.

One of the concerns about Hughes when he came into the league was his durability, given his slight frame and position. He has so far proven those concerns valid, missing a good chunk of last season and now hitting the sideline once again. While this injury doesn’t seem long-term, it is at least something to keep an eye on as his career continues. Talent-wise, there are only a handful of players in the league that can keep up with Hughes, but he needs to stay on the ice to be able to lead the Devils.

It comes at a particularly disappointing moment, given his recent play. Hughes has only been held scoreless three times in his last 30 games and is currently on a nine-game streak totaling 18 points. The Devils are also about to go on a four-game road trip after tonight’s match against the Seattle Kraken – one they’ll have likely have to complete without Hughes’ help.

East Notes: Leafs Deadline Plans, Hughes, Senators Sale

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have returned a more well-balanced team than in recent seasons, with goals scored and goals against both down. Improved team defense and capable goaltending from Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray have spearheaded that trend, and with impressive performances from younger players such as Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, and Conor Timmins, some have questioned Toronto’s need to add a defenseman at the trade deadline.

However, Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets today relayed a report from a league source that the Leafs’ “main focus” is on fortifying its defensive depth, citing the Jake Muzzin injury as a notable absence. While the team does have seven NHL defensemen that can play solid games on any given night, you can never have too many capable options come playoff time when injuries can end a season quickly. Still, Johnston says the Leafs are still searching for roster upgrades all over to escape an Atlantic Division ring of fire alongside Boston and Tampa Bay.

  • Due to what the New Jersey Devils have called “upper-body soreness,” superstar center Jack Hughes did not participate in practice today, taking a maintenance day. Already soaring past his career highs with 35 goals and 67 points in just 50 games, Hughes’ point production, even-strength goal-scoring, and excellent defensive metrics have helped propel the Devils into contender status. Having lost just twice in regulation since the New Year, New Jersey is in a comfortable standings position.
  • After NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said over the All-Star weekend that more than 15 parties have demonstrated interest in purchasing the Ottawa Senators, Chris Johnston said today on TSN’s Insider Trading that the final evaluation of the team at sale could be upwards of $800MM. As Johnston notes, it’s an incredible return on investment for the Melnyk family, as Eugene Melnyk purchased the team at a $92MM valuation two decades ago.

NHL Announces 2023 All-Star Player Assignments

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The 2023 NHL All-Star Skills competition will take place tomorrow night, and today the league announced the full lineup of participants. Players from around the league will get to show off their unique abilities in several events, with each individual winner taking home $30,000.

Fastest Skater

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Chandler Stephenson, Vegas Golden Knights
Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes

Breakaway Challenge

Roberto Luongo, Celebrity goaltender
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals*
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins*
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

*Ovechkin and Crosby are listed as “teaming up”

Tendy Tandem

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers
Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders
Logan Thompson, Vegas Golden Knights
Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Splash Shot

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers

Accuracy Shooting

Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
Kevin Hayes, Philadelphia Flyers
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

Pitch ’n Puck

Johnny Gaudreau, Columbus Blue Jackets
Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens

Hardest Shot

Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks

Snapshots: Three Stars, Comrie, McCabe

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The NHL released its Three Stars of last week, with David Pastrnak taking the top spot. The Boston Bruins superstar has scored seven goals in the last three games and now has 32 in 40 games this season. Quite the platform year for the pending free agent, who will need a massive contract from the Bruins to stay in town. It’s also a great showcase for his All-Star participation, which isn’t certain given he’s in the fan vote.

Second and third place went to Jack Hughes and Rasmus Dahlin, two of the most impressive young players (and first-overall picks) in the league. Hughes, 21, leads the league in even-strength goals with 21 and has already matched the career-high he set last season with 26 overall. Five of those came last week as he continues to lead the New Jersey Devils into contender status in the Metropolitan Division. Because of the attention that Tage Thompson is getting as an emerging superstar, Dahlin’s season for the Buffalo Sabres may actually be going a little bit under the radar. The 22-year-old now has 44 points in 36 games, putting him in real contention for the Norris Trophy, given how important he is to the Sabres every night. His 1.22 points-per-game rate trails only Erik Karlsson among NHL defenders this season.

  • Speaking of Buffalo, there’s a bit of a roster crunch happening for the Sabres, as they try to figure out the goaltending situation. Eric Comrie’s conditioning stint is over and he told reporters including Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News that he is healthy and ready to play. As of right now, Comrie remains on injured reserve and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has played so well in his absence, is still on the roster as an emergency call-up. That won’t be allowed to continue, and the Sabres will have to make a decision one way or another. Send Luukkonen down, put Comrie (or Craig Anderson) on waivers to send him down, or carry three goaltenders on the active roster.
  • When discussing potential defense targets for the Edmonton Oilers, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast touched on Jake McCabe of the Chicago Blackhawks. Friedman believes that Edmonton is on McCabe’s no-trade list, which could be the end of any speculation that he could be acquired at the deadline. McCabe holds a seven-team NTC, carries a $4MM cap hit and is signed through the 2024-25 season.

NHL Announces Initial All-Star Rosters

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According to a league release, the NHL has named the first eight selections to the four divisional All-Star teams for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise, Florida.

The league names one player to represent each team at the game, a rule in standing since the league switched to a divisional format for its mid-season talent showcase. A public fan vote will decide the three remaining players per division next week.

Each division’s leader in points percentage after gameplay concludes on January 11 will determine coaches for these teams. The Boston Bruins have already clinched the best such number in the Atlantic at that time, meaning Jim Montgomery will be behind the bench for the star-studded Atlantic Division, arguably the league’s best contingent of talent.

The initial rosters for each division are as follows:

Atlantic Division

Boston: G Linus Ullmark (1st appearance)
Buffalo: C Tage Thompson (1st appearance)
Detroit: C Dylan Larkin (3rd appearance)
Florida: RW Matthew Tkachuk (2nd appearance)
Montreal: C Nick Suzuki (2nd appearance)
Ottawa: LW Brady Tkachuk (3rd appearance)
Tampa Bay: RW Nikita Kucherov (4th appearance)
Toronto: RW Mitch Marner (2nd appearance)

Metropolitan Division

Carolina: LW Andrei Svechnikov (1st appearance)
Columbus: LW Johnny Gaudreau (7th appearance)
New Jersey: C Jack Hughes (2nd appearance)
NY Islanders: C Brock Nelson (1st appearance)
NY Rangers: G Igor Shesterkin (1st appearance)
Philadelphia: C Kevin Hayes (1st appearance)
Pittsburgh: C Sidney Crosby (5th appearance)
Washington: LW Alex Ovechkin (8th appearance)

Central Division

Arizona: LW Clayton Keller (3rd appearance)
Chicago: RD Seth Jones (4th appearance)
Colorado: RD Cale Makar (2nd appearance)
Dallas: LW Jason Robertson (1st appearance)
Minnesota: LW Kirill Kaprizov (2nd appearance)
Nashville: G Juuse Saros (2nd appearance)
St. Louis: RW Vladimir Tarasenko (injured) (4th appearance)
Winnipeg: LD Josh Morrissey (1st appearance)

Pacific Division

Anaheim: RW Troy Terry (2nd appearance)
Calgary: C Nazem Kadri (2nd appearance)
Edmonton: C Connor McDavid (6th appearance)
Los Angeles: LW Kevin Fiala (1st appearance)
San Jose: RD Erik Karlsson (7th appearance)
Seattle: C Matthew Beniers (1st appearance)
Vancouver: C Elias Pettersson (3rd appearance)
Vegas: G Logan Thompson (1st appearance)

The most important note on these rosters is obviously that of Tarasenko’s status. The 31-year-old is on injured reserve with a hand injury, and likely won’t be able to suit up. His replacement will be named shortly.

More to come…

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