Player of the game @cmcdavid97 receives some high fives from some very happy fans pic.twitter.com/le1I1D3y6G
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) January 3, 2015
While the Buffalo Sabres were losing 2-0 to Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers, Team Canada was eliminating the upstart Danes from the World Junior Hockey Championships at the ACC in Toronto.
Who needs Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel when the Buffalo Sabres have Samson Reinhart?
The second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft is absolutely dominating all opposition at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Tonight in Toronto, Samson scored his tourney leading ninth point on this exquisite pass from his line mate Anthony Duclair (NY Rangers). Reinhart, Oscar Lindholm (SWE) and William Nylander (SWE) are all tied for the scoring lead with nine points apiece.
Curtis Lazar had two goals and an assist and Connor McDavid added a goal and two assists to lead Canada’s National Junior Team over Denmark 8-0 on Friday and into the semifinals at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.Next up for the Canadians is Slovakia in Sunday’s semifinals. Canada scored a 7-0 win over the Slovaks in the tournament opener for both teams back on Boxing Day.
Canada also got big goals from Sam Reinhart Lawson Crouse , Nick Paul , Brayden Point and Nick Ritchie.
Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, B.C./Victoria, WHL) added two assists from the blue-line.
Zachary Fucale made 14 saves for the win and the shutout.
George Sorensen and Thomas Lillie combined to stop 42 shots for Denmark
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
The line of Duclair-Reinhart-Domi have been killing it in their first four games of this tourney. I rise up out of my seat every time they step onto the ice. This trio is electric!
McDavid would finish the game with a goal and an assist in his return to his hometown of Toronto. McDavid earned Player of The Game honors for Canada.
Denmark's 3 best players: Sorensen, Ehlers, Bjorkstrand
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 3, 2015
Make the final scores 8-0 Canada.
Speaking of the aforementioned McDavid, look at this disgusting pass he made from his belly to Curtis Lazar in the slot for Canada's first goal against the Danes. McDavid blew a shoe and continued to concentrate and executed a splendid pass for the goal.
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
Draft eligible power forward Lawson Crouse made it 3-0.
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
Connor McDavid is bringin' sexy back, yep! 4-0
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
Curtis Lazar made it 5-0 and blew a kiss to Joey Hicketts. 5-0
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
Nick Paul made it 6-0
Thanks, @PeteBlackburn
Brayden Point scored the touchdown
Nick Ritchie scored the eighth goal.
Canada advances to play Slovakia on Sunday night.
**
#Oilers acquire forward Rob Klinkhammer and a 2015 1st-round draft choice from Pittsburgh in exchange for forward David Perron.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 2, 2015
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been desperate to find a solution to the injuries that have besieged their team. Sidney Crosby has lost two wingers this season in Pascal Dupuis and Patrik Hornqvist.
Enter David Perron, who was disgruntled with all of the losing and dysfunction in Edmonton the past couple of seasons. The Oil are in tear-it-down and start over mode. This trade signals their willingness to reshape their roster.
Perron will earn $3.8M this and next season.
Perron can also play with Geno Malkin.
Oilers trade Perron to the Penguins for a 1st round pick in 2015.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 2, 2015
Oilers start the 2015 with tanking on their minds. Your move, Mr. Murray.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 2, 2015
The Oilers also receive depth forward Rob Klinkhammer in the deal. Klinkhammer is earning $625K this season and will be UFA this July.
This is a classic salary cap clearing trade for Edmonton.
The Oilers now have two 1st round picks in the Connor McDavid-Jack Eichel sweepstakes.
One gets the sense that Oilers GM Craig MacTavish will continue making deals in order to gather more draft choices and prospects.
The Penguins had been scouting the Chris Stewart and Drew Stafford of the Buffalo Sabres every since last week when they learned that Hornqvist would be lost to injury long term.
Look for this trade to serve as a kick start for the trade market in the NHL. Sabres GM Tim Murray will be actively shopping his pending UFAs to be in Stewart, Stafford, and Neuvirth.
If I'm Tim Murray, I'm calling MacT and inquiring about the availability of one Taylor Hall.