Ek's Note: Rumor Chart Updates and Rumor Blog coming this afternoon.....
Sometimes the words “brave… and “courageous… are thrown around at a hockey game, particularly when a player blocks a shot or plays through pain or injury.
But it mat be time to rethink that description out of respect for what some athletes are doing in Ukraine. Former NHLer Dmitri Khristich is notable athletes involved in the defense of Ukraine from Russian attackers.
TSN broadcaster Gord Miller received a message from Khristich Saturday saying, “We are fighting hard, doing our best. We need you to tell the Russian people what is really going on. All they hear are propaganda and lies.…
A delegation of Ukrainian hockey officials came to Canada in December to research hockey training methods. They gave Miller a jersey for connecting them with the right people. Now, some of the people Miller met are fighting in the streets of Kyiv.
Also, Pro tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky left a young family behind to return to Ukraine to fight against the Russians. Current boxers Vasiliy Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk are fighting alongside their countrymen in Ukraine.
Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, two former heavyweight champions, are now fighting for Ukraine.
Khristich was a highly-respected NHLer, a two-way forward who scored 36 goals for the Washington Capitals one season. He scored 27 or more goals six times. He also played for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Notebook:
2. Several NHL teams are interested in Philadelphia's Justin Braun. He’s a right-shot defenseman with 98 shot blocks, 68 hits, four goals, 14 points. Plenty to like about Braun. He plays roughly 21-22 minutes per game. He could be a second-pairing add for a prime contender. The added bonus is his salary cap hit of $1.8 million. If the Flyers retain half, any team can afford Braun, including the Tampa Bay Lightning.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine has 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points in his past 11 games. He's been nothing short of incredible. That includes four game-winners.
4. Five players (Thomas Chabot, Brent Burns, Darnell Nurse, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski) are averaging 26 or more minutes per game this season. None are with a team that is currently in a playoff spot.
5. The most tempting Stanley Cup odds at DraftKings are the New York Rangers at +2000. Someone once told me: "At the track bet the jockey and in hockey bet on the goalie."
6. Last season, people were questioning whether Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was a true No. 1 center. This season he ranks fourth among NHL centers with 27 goals.
7. Things I wouldn’t do: Trade Jakob Chychrun, give up on Joe Veleno, bet against Tampa Bay winning a third Cup.
8. Ron Low is tagged with the label of owning the NHL’s worst career goals-against average. He posted a 4.29 GAA in 382 games in the 1970s and 1980s. In fairness to Low, he played for the expansion Washington Capitals from 1974-77. In three seasons there, he recorded GAAs of 5.45, 5.46 and 3.88. He posted a 14-67-4 record in his first two seasons with the Capitals. Low also played for the Red Wings, Oilers, Maple Leafs and Devils. His career save percentage is .869
9. Wouldn’t it be a major story if the Vegas Golden Knights lost their grip on a playoff spot? Doesn’t seem likely, but certainly possible.
10. Forty years ago Wayne Gretzky posted 212 points to win the Art Ross Trophy. One of the amazing aspects of that season was the fact Gretzky registered 147 even-strength points. Gretzky netted 92 goals in that season and only 18 of them were on the power play. Of course, when Gretzky was on the ice it always looked like the Oilers were on the power play.
11. New York Post writer Larry Brooks floated the possibility of the New York Rangers acquiring Buffalo defenseman Colin Miller.
12. It seems as if there is an expectation that the Flyers might trade Claude Giroux and then sign him again in the summer. That might work. However, the Flyers don't have any salary cap space and sometimes players leave and think they will come back. But they find they like the new place.
13. Colorado defenseman Cale Makar has been so phenomenal that fellow Avs defenseman Devon Toews' exceptional season is being overlooked. Toews has 10 goals, 32 assists and leads the NHL in plus-minus (+45). And the New York Islanders have regrets for trading him.
14. Since winning eight in a row in November, the Ducks are 16-17-6. That's why they have fallen out of a playoff spot. The Ducks' goal scoring has dropped from the top 10 to 21st overall.
15. The Predators want to sign Filip Forsberg and he wants to stay in Nashville. You would think that would be enough common interest to get a deal done. But money has broken up many marriages. Meanwhile, the Predators are close to sliding out of the playoffs.
16. If Marc-Andre Fleury decides to stay in Chicago, that is a significant setback for new Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. He would have likely secured a first-round pick and a prospect for Fleury. But the Blackhawks have known Fleury may just want to finish the season in Chicago.
17. Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen has been sharper lately – .927 save percentage, for example, in his past five appearances. Does that change anyone's mind about Edmonton's goaltending? It shouldn't.
18. Here’s a question to ask: If Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland can’t land Fleury, does it matter if he trades for another goalie? What available goalie is a difference-maker? You can make a case the Oilers aren’t good enough to compete for the Cup no matter who is in net. But you can also make a case that with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid the team should always do its best to be a contender. Otherwise, the Oilers are wasting Draisaitl’s and McDavid’s prime seasons.
19. According to capfriendly.com, the Colorado Avalanche have no players on long-term IR and the Montreal Canadiens have eight. Colorado is the NHL’s No. 1 team and the Canadiens are 31st today. Might be cause and effect there.
20. With Carter Rowney now healthy and playing well, the Detroit Red Wings now have eight potential unrestricted free agents who could be moved as rentals. Defenseman Nick Leddy is the most notable player. Forwards Vladislav Namestnikov (13 goals) could draw interest. Troy Stecher and Marc Staal are inexpensive defensemen who could go to a team looking for inexpensive depth defenseman. Forwards Sam Gagner and Rowney are also possible trade candidates because they are being paid under $1 million. Rowney is also interesting because he won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh. He has scored in his past two games. Danny Dekeyser ($5 million) makes too much money to move. Not enough buyers in the goalie market for Greiss to move.
21. Boston Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk hasn’t rescinded his request to be traded. DeBrusk’s six goals and two assists in his past five games probably help his chances of being dealt before the March 21 trade deadline.
22. Tomas Hertl and the San Jose Sharks are talking, but there hasn’t been any indication about whether the talks are progressing. Hertl did tell San Jose Hockey Now that the talks were “positive.…
23. Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said he won’t be as aggressive as he usually is during the trade deadline season. That’s too bad because I enjoy the boldness he brings to the deadline.
24. The Carolina Hurricanes have $1.8 million in cap space and they won’t part with their first-round pick. If the ‘Canes do shop before the March 21 trade deadline, they will be searching the bargain bins.
25. On this date, March 3, 54 years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Frank Mahovlich to the Detroit Red Wings in one of the most memorable trades in Maple Leafs’ and Red Wings' history. The Red Wings also received Pete Stemkowski and Garry Unger. The Maple Leafs received Floyd Smith, Norm Ullman and Paul Henderson. Those six players combined for 2,006 NHL goals. Mahovlich, now 84, scored 49 goals in his second season with the Red Wings.