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A fast mixture of the issues we gleaned from the week of hockey, critical and fewer so, and rolling 4 traces deep. ’Bout to hop on the telephone with my boy Fitzy.
That was the prevailing takeaway from the all these sizzling stoves held by hockey media sorts in Las Vegas two months in the past on the NHL’s Player Media Tour, the place the Canucks’ most crucial asset (and his star brother) gave a number of interviews, none of them comforting to of us in Vancouver.
Before the puck dropped, Quinn Hughes was talking up to now tense about his present staff.
We’ve all seen this film earlier than, and it doesn’t finish effectively for the franchise pulling on the shirttails of a famous person who already has one foot out the door.
If some bozo reporters might collect in a single afternoon that the captain wasn’t lengthy for British Columbia, absolutely Jim Rutherford & Co. learn the tea leaves as effectively. (In one other universe, the place the Canucks dominate the Pacific, maybe Hughes’ thoughts will get swayed. But we’ll by no means know.)
And so, on the morning after they dealt away the best expertise to slide on their sweater, we’re giving kudos to the Canucks.
For not losing time and never losing an asset.
For fixing an issue earlier than it festered right into a better one.
For buying and selling Hughes when he was wholesome and his worth was excessive — giving his purchaser two playoff runs.
Now, don’t get it twisted: the group deserves to take flaming arrows for not constructing a real Stanley Cup contender round a Norris defenceman. (You know what number of GMs would kill for a real No. 1 on their blue line?!)
But Vancouver saved face underneath dire circumstances.
For starters, the Canucks didn’t give a younger Hughes commerce safety, well giving them an out. And they acquired a bunch of legit property in return: centre Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round choose.
All that mentioned, the Vancouver’s commerce companion secured the perfect participant, acquired out from underneath its “Minnesota Mild” status, and introduced itself as a contender. The State of Hockey ought to now be taken significantly.
The Central was already the NHL’s greatest and best division. It’s now the Group of Death.
2. Two issues may be true.
One: the Edmonton Oilers wanted to attempt one thing — something! — totally different of their crease as they type themselves out of their annual sluggish begin and equipment up for an additional playoff run. We get it. Things wanted to really feel contemporary. Possible.
Two: the Penguins gained the commerce.
We actually just like the goalie swap for Pittsburgh, which sheds a $5.37 million cap hit by 2027-28 and a participant it placed on waivers lower than 11 months in the past. (Yes, Tristan Jarry was free in January; his wage wasn’t.)
The Penguins nab a second-round choose and helpful defenceman Brett Kulak.
That each Kulak and Stuart Skinner — three years youthful with 42 extra video games of playoff expertise — are impending free brokers permits GM Kyle Dubas the possibility to flip one or each gamers to a contender earlier than the March commerce deadline and enhance the return.
With younger Arturs Silvos and Sergei Murashov within the system, re-signing Skinner just isn’t important.
Oilers win the Cup by 2028, when each Connor McDavid and Jarry’s offers expire? Oilers win the commerce, laughing.
Otherwise, we’re giving this one to Dubas.
3. How lengthy has it been since Oiler-turned–Maple Leaf Troy Stecher was so helpful to an NHL staff?
“Probably my rookie year in Vancouver,” the defenceman mentioned, considering again to 2016-17. “Yeah, Willie Desjardins was my coach there. Back then, I used to be operating the ability play with Henrik and Daniel (Sedin), and I used to be enjoying with Alex Edler — a shutdown pair with him. And if it wasn’t us, it’d be (Chris) Tanev and whoever he was enjoying with.
“It’s been a while.”
A younger Stecher averaged 19:59 for these crummy, 30-win Canucks. He’s effectively above 20 in Toronto — this after pacing a career-low 13 and alter in Edmonton earlier than hitting waivers.
The 31-year-old permits a visit down reminiscence lane to sketch the circumstances of his alternative.
“You’re going back 10 years now, but at that time, we finished 29th in the league. Hank and Danny were on their last two years of their career. Everybody knew they were about to retire. And just the makeup the team was getting older, so they wanted to give young guys opportunity,” Stecher recalled.
“I came out of college with young guys, so they gifted me a bunch of opportunities. I don’t think it was necessarily earned or deserved, but just the transition period of where the organization was. Happens around the league from time to time. But, yeah, I definitely got more than I deserved my rookie year. In saying that, I tried to make the most of it.”
He posted a career-high 24 factors.
Stecher defined that the dramatic spike in utilization since switching sweaters forces him to remain extra mentally and bodily engaged within the motion.
“There’s no lulls between your shifts. Even on the other side, if you make a mistake, you don’t have that time to sulk on the bench. You got to gear up and get ready for your next shift in 35 seconds. You know what I mean?” he mentioned of the adjustment.
“As far as energy-wise, (I emphasize) good habits away from the rink — make sure you’re eating the right food, make sure you go to bed on time. If you have to take a nap to catch up on sleep, you do that. It’s all part of being a pro and being prepared to play at nighttime.”
Stecher’s partnership with Jake McCabe as Toronto’s shutdown pair was a cheerful accident solely ensuing from a scrambled pairing in Pittsburgh two weeks in the past — as a result of McCabe’s default companion, Simon Benoit, rushed again residence to Quebec for his father-in-law’s funeral and missed a recreation.
The two faculty merchandise clicked immediately. It helped that the lefty McCabe might shift to his robust aspect. Now when that duo hits the ice, largely in opposition to opposition’s prime traces, the Leafs are outscoring groups 9-3.
“We play similar styles, as far as moving the puck. And Troy does a good job moving his feet, which helps my game out a lot,” McCabe mentioned. “We’ve been supporting each other well, talking a lot. Yeah, it’s been a natural fit for us, for sure, and been playing some big minutes. We’ve been feeling good.”
Suddenly, the small man deemed expendable in aim-big Edmonton can be tasked with shutting down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Saturday.
And loads assumed Stecher was nothing greater than a 5, six or seven.
“It’s important that when you do get an opportunity, you grasp it and take control of it, which he has so far this year,” McCabe mentioned. “Getting put on waivers is not a fun thing. It’s easy to pout and be down about it. But he came here, and right from the get-go, he was talkative on the ice, talkative in the room. Just a really good veteran presence, frankly, and played confident, which is a testament to him, because it’s not easy thing to do come into a new team. I can’t speak highly enough about him.”
Stecher thought-about how quickly coach Craig Berube has trusted him.
This feels totally different than the reward he obtained from Coach Desjardins.
“Respect is earned. It’s definitely not given, especially at this level. You know, the epitome of where you want to be in your hockey career is playing the NHL. So, definitely thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given,” he mentioned.
“But at the same time, I understand if I don’t play to the calibre that I’m playing, I’m probably not getting the ice time that I have been.”
Usage-wise, Stecher is again the place he’s been making an attempt to get to for a decade. His mission now’s to “make this my new norm.” And he has the knowledge to know this doesn’t include a assure.
“I’ve got a good opportunity here to showcase that,” he mentioned. “Now, I either continue to do it, or I take a dip and my ice time probably gets diminished. So, it’s a good balance. I’ve enjoyed it.”
4. OK, cease the struggle. We’ve seen sufficient.
In addition to main all NHL goalies (minimal 12 video games) — not simply the Canadian ones — in goals-against common (1.96) and save proportion (.926), Thompson celebrated a nifty milestone this week.
The Capitals goaltender required the Sixteenth-fewest video games (167) in historical past to succeed in 100 wins amongst all goaltenders in NHL historical past. He did so in model, posting a 39-save shutout efficiency. Among energetic goalies, solely Igor Shesterkin (159) and Matt Murray (166) reached the mark faster.
“I owe a big thanks to the two organizations that gave me a chance,” the undrafted Thompson, who additionally hung out with the Vegas Golden Knights, mentioned afterward.
Time for Hockey Canada to offer him an opportunity. Challenge the world to determine that proper glove hand.
“Sometimes you feel, as coaches, we’re working at the Apple store.” — San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky, on the gamers’ fixed ask to take a look at iPads on the bench
God bless the person. He’s defensively sound, wins most of his attracts, and has loved a positive profession.
But the 32-year-old Danault has not scored a objective this season. He has simply 5 assists by 30 video games. His stability of takeaways (4) to giveaways (25) is trending towards a profession worst.
Still, the Kings need a good return to half with a $5.5-million checker.
Centres are so exhausting to seek out that the Vancouver Canucks have been utilizing Toronto’s fourth-line castoff, David Kämpf, as their No. 1 pivot for a spell.
The Danault buzz highlights (A) the league’s normal lack of affect expertise and (B) the stagnant commerce panorama for forwards.
7. Would like to know what Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong was considering once we noticed him in Sunrise, Fla., scouting the shifts of 4 Nations fourth-liners Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett.
A few serial winners who rank eleventh and thirty sixth, respectively, amongst Canadian forwards in scoring this season, behind the likes of Nick Suzuki, Connor Bedard, Tom Wilson and others.
“Anybody that might be up for consideration is playing as well as they have all year, so that’s positive,” mentioned Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who has not spoken with nationwide administration about his Olympic candidates.
“Marchy, I guess, is the guy who’s been consistently good for us all year. He’s just been lights out. So, I don’t think anybody’s trying harder than they normally would.”
Maurice does consider, typically, that the five-ring carrot has snapped top-end gamers into focus proper from puck drop.
“I’m sure for elite players, there’s more of a focus on the start of the year right now than there would be in a non-Olympic year. If you’re an elite player on a good team, 82 games is a lot. And sometimes in those December, January months — when you’re too far from the end but your body feels like you’ve been at it for a while — you need to find that extra energy to push,” Maurice mentioned.
“And I’m positive a whole lot of these guys have that (push) proper now, as a result of the choice is gonna be made right here fairly fast and so they wanna be at their peak.
Some of the best hockey gamers on earth can be celebrating Christmas on pins and needles.
“These are world-class guys on the bubble,” Maurice mentioned.
“It’s the only time in their lives they’re not sure, right? They came in as rookies, make an awful lot of money. They’ve all elevated themselves rightfully to kind of a star status. And now they’re like rookies again, trying to make their junior team at 16.”
8. As if the always-in-contention Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t already snapping opponents to consideration, head coach Jon Cooper seems like he’s watching tryouts each different night time.
“It’s one of those things. Like, being a Canadian coach, you really get the best effort of the Canadians every time you’re in a game,” Cooper mentioned. “I’m one of many that are watching these players, but I can’t stress enough the work that’s going into picking this team. And the decisions are going to be tough — like, excruciatingly tough — which is a good thing. That means the kids are playing well, and we’re coming down last next couple of weeks here. This is crunch time.”
Busy making an attempt to maintain the injury-ravaged Lightning afloat, Cooper mentioned he spent extra time speaking along with his nationwide stars through the lead-up to 4 Nations than he has the Olympics.
Rapport with guys like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon has already been constructed. Just a few textual content messages will fly round, and Cooper will meet up along with his roster locks when their NHL squads cross. But the novelty of final February’s event demanded extra relationship constructing.
“You talk briefly about your teams, and then it’s lots about the Olympics and what’s going on,” Cooper mentioned of Captain Crosby. “He’s excited, just because he loves them. He’s got to play in a few. And to have him around as the guy that is the voice of experience, that’s a big win for us.”
9. Two regarding blows for the again finish of Team Sweden and the Atlantic Division Thursday, as Victor Hedman and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each went right down to harm.
Yet each defencemen maintain hope for a speedy restoration.
Ekman-Larsson’s lower-body harm isn’t believed to be as critical because it appeared when he wanted two teammates to assist him off the ice Thursday. He stayed off the ice Friday and is hoping to offer his left leg a check Saturday morning.
Hedman, then 23, was essentially the most notable snub of the 2014 Winter Games. Ekman-Larsson needed to accept silver final time NHLers went to the Olympics.
The Lightning captain will bear an elbow process Monday and is making an attempt to not obsess over a deferred Olympic dream which may be save within the (surgeon’s) nick of time.
“For me, it’s all about what I can do here now. Olympics is still a couple months away,” mentioned Hedman, nonetheless in search of his first objective of 2025-26. “So, my focus is on getting back to the player that I know I can be and trying to be as good as I can for us here and keep getting Ws.”
Those W’s are vital within the league’s muddiest division (the Mid-lantic? Meh-tlantic?), which options eight groups inside eight factors of one another.
“It’s super tight. Whole conference super tight. So, every game is important. Every point is important, especially divisional games,” Hedman says. “It feels like teams are coming… finding their way. And, yeah, it’s going to be an interesting season, that’s for sure.”
The Maple Leafs, for instance, beat the Bolts in regulation Monday and have earned factors in six straight video games — but they’re nonetheless nearer to the Atlantic basement (three factors) than the penthouse (5 factors).
“Everyone’s winning. Everyone’s good,” Nick Paul mentioned. “So, you can’t really make mistakes. Go on runs where you’re losing, you got to stop it now. Or else the standings can change pretty quick.”
We agree: Everyone’s good.
We’ll add: No one’s nice.
10. Wild Stat of the Week.
Tie-It-Up Tuesday introduced us the primary night time in NHL historical past by which 4 game-knotting objectives have been scored throughout the last 15 seconds of regulation.
Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke scored at 19:59, Vegas’s Pavel Dorofeyev at 19:46, Edmonton’s McDavid at 19:58 and Colorado’s Cale Makar at 19:52.
Only the Ducks, nonetheless, rode their buzzer-beating heroics to a shootout victory. The different three comeback makes an attempt solely salvaged a loser level.
11. Friendly reminder, the vacation roster freeze kicks in at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 19 and lifts at 12:01 a.m. ET on Dec. 28.
That means no trades, no waivers and no loans.
Set your alarms accordingly.
12. That “Canadian tears” industrial pumping up Team USA and NBC’s Olympic protection?
Auston Matthews says the American gamers filmed it with out figuring out which actor could be enjoying the lead.
Funny. Jon Hamm is a diehard fan of the St. Louis Blues, run by Team Canada GM Armstrong, and a good friend of Coach Cooper’s.
“If it brings more eyes to the sets, that’s a good thing,” Cooper mentioned.
“But right here’s the factor: How many instances is Canada going to play the U.S.? Potentially zero. One on the most. So, the event, for me, is about them as one of many 11 different groups we acquired to beat.
“It’s probably easy to put a lot of thought into, like, Canada vs. U.S., but we may never even play each other.”
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