Yahoo Sports The NHL Evening Skate for Jan. 17
Heading into this evening’s action, here are the day’s top NHL storylines:
Wild trade Nino Niederreiter to Hurricanes for Victor Rask
The Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes have offered something of a soft launch to the 2018-19 NHL trade deadline, exchanging forwards Nino Niederreiter and Victor Rask on Thursday. A former fifth-overall pick of the New York Islanders, Niederreiter has chipped in with nine goals and 23 points this season in the middle six with the Wild. He’s seen his offensive production stall over the last two years after his 25-goal, 57-point career season in 2016-17. Stuck on six points in 26 games, Rask has succumbed to a similar, yet steeper trend over recent seasons. [More]
Ducks acquire Del Zotto from Canucks for Schenn
The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Michael Del Zotto from the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Luke Schenn and a 2020 seventh-round draft pick. The teams announced the trade Wednesday night. [More]
Panthers’ Trocheck nearing a return after broken ankle
The Florida Panthers desperately need a boost, and Vincent Trocheck has pronounced himself ready to provide one. Barely eight weeks removed from surgery to repair the right ankle that he fractured by crashing into the boards during a game at Ottawa, Trocheck took part in a full practice Thursday for the first time since the injury. He’s been back on the ice for the last couple weeks, limited to working out either on his own or with a small group. [More]
Lamp-lighters
Flyers’ Jori Lehtera ejected after dangerous hit from behind on Bruins’ Ryan Donato
Jori Lehtera was given a five-minute boarding major and ejected from Wednesday’s clash between the Flyers and Bruins after laying a brutal hit from behind on Ryan Donato in the second period of Philadelphia’s 4-3 win. [Watch here]
What has gone wrong with the Maple Leafs?
Yahoo Sports NHL writer Justin Cuthbert is joined by Amit Mann to discuss the Maple Leafs’ slide and what they need to do to once again distance themselves in the playoff chase. [Watch]
Dallas Stars help fulfill 10-year-old fan’s ‘ultimate wish’
The Dallas Stars were involved in making the “ultimate wish” of 10-year-old Anderson McDuffie come true, teaming up with the Make-A-Wish foundation to host a game against the lifelong fan and his hand-picked squad. [Watch]
NHL Mailbag: Trade fever spreading across NHL
Brodie asks: “How long is Chiarelli GM in Edmonton?”
It’s so weird to me that he’s being allowed to put up his first-round pick this year and maybe Jesse Puljujarvi to get a rental who might be able to get this team back into the playoffs. Like, why would this organization allow him to do that, right? The fact is that this is it for Chiarelli: Playoffs or pack up your office. [Full mailbag]
Game of the night
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
The walls of the Atlantic Division standings are closing in on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will look to get back on track in the Sunshine State over the next two days. Toronto (28-15-2) won six of seven games to open the season, but a recent spell of bad play has put the pressure on the Maple Leafs, who open a back-to-back set in Florida against the Lightning in Tampa Bay on Thursday. There’s no shakiness about Tampa Bay’s game as the club returns from a 2-1-0 road trip, capped by a 2-0 win at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The Lightning (36-9-2) fought off six Dallas power plays — three in each of the second and third periods — to beat the Stars for the fourth straight time. [Full preview] [Follow on Yahoo Sports]
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