In previous years, stars competed in events as part of their respective divisional teams. Long story short, it got lame, fast. All-Star weekend is a drag for a number of reasons, but the biggest positive is seeing players in a relaxed setting showing a rare glimpse of personality. MORE: How the 2018 Olympics might’ve looked with NHL players This year’s version has six events and will crown six winners....

Last year saw a few expected names in Connor McDavid (Hart Trophy), Auston Matthews (Rocket Richard Trophy) and Aleksander Barkov (Selke Trophy). There were a bunch of surprises, such as Marc-Andre Fleury winning his first Vezina (then getting traded) and sophomore defenseman Adam Fox winning the Norris. A couple of winners went wire to wire, including Kirill Kaprizov’s Calder Trophy twirl. What the upcoming season will bring is anyone’s guess, but expect those names mentioned above — and a couple more — are in the conversations....

It’s the second time these two will face each other this season, with Minnesota previously grabbing a 3-2 win on Jan. 6. The two Foligno brothers have squared off multiple times during their careers, so Wednesday’s game is familiar territory for the two. The brothers are one of a number of siblings currently in the NHL. Some of the best stars in the game are comprised of brothers and in some cases, both on the same club....

“We’re on pause as we have been since March 12,” he said. “We’re exploring all options, but when we’ll have an opportunity to return depends on things that we have absolutely no control over because it all starts with everybody’s health and wellbeing. Until there’s a sense that people can get together, not just in our arenas but for our players to get together to work out, we don’t know when we can come back but it’s something we’re monitoring on a daily basis....

Is the NHL doing enough now? Gigantic strides have been made, and they have to continue, but it's a valid question without an easy answer. One of the most important things moving forward is that players speak up, both during games and after, and that their concerns are taken seriously. It's a tough balance to strike, though; pro athletes, generally, aren't completely forthcoming about injuries, and that goes double for hockey players....

For a quick preview of tonight’s action, check out the Fantasy Hockey X podcast. We illustrate some different options in lineup construction, stacks, and more. Also of note: With scoring down, Vegas has no over/unders at six. Everything is at 5.5 due to decreased power plays. MORE: SN DFS | DFS Lineup Builder Because of the volatile nature of goalies (and other reasons), there will be more information on social media coming closer to roster lock....

The “Two Man Advantage” may fill easily based on increased demand tonight. That has an $8 entry with $35,000 prize pool ($3,000 goes to first place). Also, there is the Line Change Special, which has a $33 entry fee ($10,000 to 1st). MORE: SN DFS | DFS Lineup Builder Because of the volatile nature of goalies (and other reasons), there will be more information on social media coming closer to roster lock....

It ends some 24 hours and 209 picks later. The league on Thursday released the official order of selections for the draft, which is being held at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and televised on NBC Sports/NHL Network. MORE: Every team’s best-ever first-round pick Round 1 Florida Panthers 2. Buffalo Sabres 3. Edmonton Oilers 4. Calgary Flames 5. NY Islanders 6. Vancouver Canucks 7. Carolina Hurricanes 8. Toronto Maple Leafs 9....

“It really took the right opportunity, the right fit,” Tavares told reporters at his introductory press conference Sunday after signing a seven-year, $77 million free agent contract with Toronto . “I though the timing couldn’t be beat, and certainly being from here and with where this team is at and how good and young their core players are … it was just hard to turn down this opportunity.” Though Tavares called the free agency period “one of the toughest weeks” for him and referenced how his “heart was tearing apart” finalizing his decision to leave the Islanders, in the end he knew deep down he was heading to the right place at the right time in his career....

That’s when unrestricted free agents began signing with new teams, restricted free agents with arbitration rights began having their next contracts dictated by a third party and general managers started playing the fun game of “Should we or should we not do an offer sheet?” (Thanks, Marc Bergevin!). This season’s list of UFAs is intriguing, with the likes of Alex Pietrangelo, Taylor Hall, Torey Krug and Braden Holtby among the top players on the market....

Legwand split last season between the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings. He had 51 points in 83 games. The Detroit native played the first 15 seasons of his NHL career with Nashville before a March 5 trade sent him to the Red Wings. He has 577 points in 977 games. “David is a good, veteran center, a guy that skates pretty well, gets up and down the ice,” Senators general manager Bryan Murray said in a statement....

Without further waiting: Hart Trophy Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning Blake Wheeler – Winnipeg Jets These are the same three finalists from our quarter-pole awards, except that Kucherov swapped places with his teammate Stamkos to become the league’s midseason MVP. Kucherov leads the NHL with 59 points and is tied with Alex Ovechkin for the league-lead with 27 goals. From day one, he has been tremendously consistent with his production, building on last year’s breakout campaign....

The vibe and the momentum has shifted violently throughout these Stanley Cup playoffs. We can wind it all the way back to the opening round, when the team that currently holds a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final was absolutely on the ropes against the Blue Jackets. The Capitals, wearing years of early exits and disappointments on their shoulders, lost the first two games at home before rallying to knock out Columbus in six....

With free agency beginning at noon ET on Oct. 9 and a bunch of teams needing to shed money to fit under the salary cap’s upper limit ($81.5 million) — or add to it to stay above the lower limit ($60.2 million) — it’s time to wheel and deal. A number of big names are rumored to be on the trade block, including the Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau and Penguins netminder and pending restricted free agent Matt Murray....

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat responded to a fan on Instagram on Saturday after the fan asked him to pay back a bet that he lost, after Horvat missed a shot in the game’s shootout. In a tweet posted by Bleacher Report Open Ice, Horvat is seen responding to the fan in an Instagram comment, asking the fan to send his info over in order to repay the lost bet....

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division X- Boston Bruins (104 pts, 10 games remaining) Montreal Canadiens (89 pts, 8 games remaining) Tampa Bay Lightning (87 pts, 10 games remaining) Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh Penguins (97 pts, 10 games remaining) New York Rangers (84 pts, 9 games remaining) Philadelphia Flyers (83 pts, 11 games remaining) Wild Card Columbus Blue Jackets (80 points, 10 games remaining) Detroit Red Wings (80 pts, 10 games remaining) In the hunt...

Rangers fans were livid about the no-call, until a video replay showed that New York had too many men on the ice, as well. That’s a whole lot of guys on the ice. MORE: Sharks force Oilers to start practice in dark without nets It’s uncommon for NHL referees to miss a too-many-men call, but two on the same play? That’s not something you see every day. Still, it was a pretty give-and-go between Shea Weber and Mitchell, plus a nifty no-look pass by Alex Radulov to set it up....

Hulking Blue Jackets winger Josh Anderson received a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct when he ran Michal Kempny into the boards after the Capitals defenseman turned to play the puck behind Washington’s net. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella disagreed with the calls, refusing to listen to an explanation from the referee. The play occurred at 17:23 of the first period in the series opener at Capital One Arena on Thursday....

Despite the anticipation in the air, the team, as well as the critics and fans alike, are aware of Washington’s second-round woes, the broken record that plays year after year. In each of the last two seasons, as well as the matchup between the Capitals and Penguins in 2009, their series have gone the distance, fueled by the rivalry that has simmered between the teams for years. But on all three occasions, the season would end in heartbreak for Washington, while Pittsburgh went on to pile up Stanley Cups....

“I thought they were pretty relentless the last couple years, too,” Crosby told The Washington Post. “The games are separated by one goal here, mistake here, mistake there. I didn’t see them give in before. That’s an easy storyline because we ended up winning.” The only irony in Crosby’s words is that this version of the Capitals is perhaps the fourth- or fifth-best in the Alex Ovechkin era. That reveals another truth, one that underscored Crosby’s point: You have to have a very good team to win the Stanley Cup, but not necessarily the best team....