NHL Central

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and forward Henrik Borgstrom have entered COVID-19 protocols and will not practice Tuesday, the team announced.

It's unclear if either player will be available for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at United Center. 

Chicago now has five players in COVID-19 protocols. Patrick Kane, Riley Stillman and Jujhar Khaira are also on the list, in addition to coaches Marc Crawford, Tomas Mitell and Jimmy Waite, per The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.

It's unclear if anyone has tested positive for the coronavirus. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman announced during training camp that the team was fully vaccinated. 

The Blackhawks are out to an awful start this season, going 0-5-1, tied for last in the Central Division. Toews and Borgstrom have been two of Chicago's best forwards this year. Losing them isn't ideal entering a matchup against the Maple Leafs, who feature 2020-21 Rocket Richard winner Auston Matthews.

Toews has two assists in six games this season, while Borgstrom has one goal and an assist in as many contests. 

Toews missed the entire 2020-21 campaign with chronic immune response syndrome. During the 2019-20 campaign, he tallied 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games. 

Borgstrom joined the Blackhawks in an April trade with the Florida Panthers. The 2016 first-round pick has appeared in just 64 career games, tallying 10 goals and 11 assists. 

The Blackhawks have been in a downward spiral since winning the Stanley Cup during the 2014-15 campaign, their third title in six seasons. They have not made it out of the first round since that season and have failed to qualify for the postseason in three of the last four campaigns.  

If something doesn't change soon, the Blackhawks should be in for a slew of changes before the 2021-22 season ends.  

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will miss the start of the regular season after testing positive for COVID-19.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic confirmed the diagnosis Tuesday, saying MacKinnon is asymptomatic but will miss the team's season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

The news came after the team announced MacKinnon missed Tuesday's practice because of the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. 

Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reported in April that the entire Avalanche organization has been fully vaccinated. 

MacKinnon's positive test comes after the team announced last Thursday that head coach Jared Bednar had a positive COVID-19 test. 

MacKinnon's status for Saturday's home game against the St. Louis Blues is unclear, though Sakic told reporters they hope to have the 26-year-old back for that contest. 

Per NHL protocols for the 2021-22 season, players must return two negative tests 24 hours apart before they can be cleared to return. 

MacKinnon is entering his ninth season with the Avalanche. The Nova Scotia native was the No. 1 overall pick by the franchise in the 2013 NHL draft and has scored 560 points in 573 career games. 

The Avs have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. They won the West Division title in 2020-21, the franchise's first division championship since 2013-14.   

The Thrill is alive and well in the Twin Cities.

The Minnesota Wild re-signed left winger Kirill Kaprizov to a five-year, $45 million deal, ending a stalemate with the reigning Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's rookie of the year. Both the Wild and the winger celebrated the deal on social media Tuesday.

Kaprizov had been flirting with a return to Russia's KHL as contract talks reached a stalemate over the past few months, but that was all resolved Tuesday with a massive contract handed down by an NHL club that's only seen him play 55 games total.

In that time, however, Kaprizov proved worth the hype, posting 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) and setting franchise records for goals by a rookie and points by a rookie in Minnesota.

Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin preached patience and calm throughout contract negotiations with the restricted free agent, repeatedly telling those who asked that the deal would "take care of itself."

That it did, but not without an unprecedented amount of money agreed upon first.

Per The Athletic's Michael Russo:

Not only has Kaprizov's $9 million average annual value superseded captain Jared Spurgeon's $7.575 million cap hit as the largest in Wild history, Kaprizov enters his sophomore season with the highest AAV with the fewest number of games played (55 regular-season games) since the NHL implemented the salary cap in 2005-06.

According to CapFriendly, he is now tied for the 18th highest-paid forward annually in the NHL and tied for the ninth highest-paid winger.

But after waiting 5 ½ years for Kaprizov to arrive in the NHL after drafting him in the fifth round in 2015, and then seeing him deliver as the team’s leading scorer in an abbreviated season, the Wild had no choice but to pony up from the outset.

Kaprizov, 24, is arguably the most electric player in the NHL whose name isn't Connor McDavid, and the Wild weren't going to let him go back to Russia without a fight. That resulted in a massive commitment that will shape the direction of the franchise for at least the next five years.

Chicago Blackhawks legend Tony Esposito has died at the age of 78.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

"Tony was one of the most important and popular figures in the history of the franchise as we near its 100th anniversary," Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said of Esposito. "Four generations of our family—my grandfather Arthur, my father Bill, my son Danny and I—were blessed by his work ethic as a Hall of Fame goalie, but more importantly, by his mere presence and spirit."

Esposito spent his first season in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens before landing in the Windy City.

He made an immediate impact in 1969-70, leading the league in wins (38), save percentage (.932) and shutouts (15) en route to capturing the Calder and Vezina Trophies. His shutouts remain tied for the second-most in a single season.

By the time all was said and done, the 5'11" netminder cemented himself as one of the greatest players in Blackhawks history. He's the franchise leader in wins (418), saves (24,376) and shutouts (74).

Esposito is one of six players to have his number (No. 35) retired by the organization, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

His legacy on the ice extended well beyond his playing career, which ended in 1984, thanks to his use of the butterfly stance. He was one of the early pioneers of the tactic, which was adapted and modified by numerous goaltenders over the years.

Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury informed the Chicago Blackhawks he's planning to play the 2021-22 season after taking time to evaluate his NHL future following a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fleury confirmed his intention to play in a video message to Blackhawks fans:

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff Hockey was among those to first report the news Sunday.

Fleury became just the seventh goalie in history traded within a year of winning the Vezina Trophy, which honors the NHL's best player at the position.

The 36-year-old Canadian posted a 26-10-0 record with a microscopic 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage across 36 appearances for the Golden Knights during the 2020-21 campaign.

He joined Vegas in the team's 2017 expansion draft and was a major reason for the franchise's immediate success, highlighted by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in its debut season.

Fleury's departure was mostly a salary-cap move, as the Golden Knights were able to create $7 million in cap space by sending him to Chicago for prospect Mikael Hakkarainen.

Allan Walsh, the netminder's agent, expressed frustration his client wasn't informed about the deal before it went public last week and noted Fleury would take time to think about his future:

The five-time All-Star selection started his career with 13 years as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who selected him with the first overall pick in the 2003 draft. He won three Stanley Cup championships with the Pens.

Fleury will now be penciled in as the Hawks' No. 1 goalie to open the 2021-22 season. Kevin Lankinen, Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia will compete for the backup role.

The trio of Lankinen, Subban and Delia ranked tied for 18th with a combined .906 save percentage last season, so Fleury should represent a substantial upgrade between the pipes.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury may be more willing to play for the Chicago Blackhawks than previously thought.

According to Scott Powers and Rob Rossi of The Athletic, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner has been in touch with Chicago since the team pulled off a surprising trade for the veteran earlier this month that blindsided the Vegas Golden Knight star. After initial reports suggested Fleury was considering retirement, the three-time Stanley Cup champion may walk back from that mindset.

"Multiple sources close to Fleury, including one that has spoken directly with him in recent days, said Fleury and his family had not made a final decision about his future," The Athletic reported. "However, the sources said, Fleury had inquired with 'those who’d know' about Blackhawks ownership, management and coaches—a sign, the sources believed, that Fleury has softened his stance of not wanting to play in Chicago."

The 36-year-old has one year remaining on his contract and is set to earn $6 million this season. 

Vegas traded its star netminder for a low-level minor league prospect in an apparent salary dump. Making matters awkward, Fleury reportedly found out about the deal on social media and had little desire to leave the Golden Knights. 

He's only ever played for Vegas and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now entering his age-36 season, the transaction upset Fleury to the point he's considering calling it a career. 

Per The Athletic: 

Fleury’s trust level of the Blackhawks will likely factor into his final decision. It is thought Fleury would want at least the assurance from Blackhawks management that he is not traded during the 2021-22 season. With Fleury being in the final year of his contract, he might be seen as a moveable piece at the trade deadline if the Blackhawks fall out of the playoff race, as they have in recent years. The Blackhawks traded Robin Lehner, Fleury’s Vegas teammate, at the deadline during the 2019-20 season. If Fleury did temporarily relocate his family to Chicago, he would not want to uproot them again after only a few months.

Fleury’s contract cannot be amended with wording to prevent the Blackhawks from trading him. Essentially, he would be taking Bowman at his word — and, as one source said, 'I don’t know Flower could trust anybody after Vegas.'

The Blackhawks have reportedly been in contact with Fleury since the trade occurred, with general manager Stan Bowman reaching out to the netminder's representatives Thursday. 

Chicago remains hopeful Fleury will join the team this season, completing a tandem with Kevin Lankinen as the club looks to return to the postseason in 2021-22. 

Gabriel Landeskog isn't going anywhere.

The Colorado Avalanche and Landeskog agreed to an eight-year, $56 million contract Tuesday, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic.

Landeskog, 28, has been the picture of consistency for the Avalanche in his 10-year career, with 20 or more goals in eight seasons and 50 or more points in seven campaigns. He was a huge factor in the dangerous Avs registering 82 points this past season, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for most in the NHL.

Losing the 2019 All-Star would have been a major blow for an Avalanche team looking to remain a force in the NHL.

"He's huge for this team. He's the team captain, the leader," Avs winger Andre Burakovsky told reporters in late May. "The way he played, the way he showed up for every game, that's a sign of a true leader."

"Every day he does the right things, he says the right things at the right time, and then the best part about it is he goes out and does it every single game," backup goalie Devan Dubnyk added. "That's the most important part. It's good to be good leader and say the right things, but when you got a guy that's saying things and then going out and doing it every single shift you can see the guys hop on his back and follow him."

And he'll keep doing the right things for the Avalanche for the foreseeable future after agreeing to a new deal.

The Vegas Golden Knights traded goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center prospect Mikael Hakkarainen in a move that creates $7 million in salary-cap space.

TSN's Darren Dreger first reported the parameters of the deal. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic added Vegas' return.

According to The Athletic's Rob Rossi, Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus, Fleury was "totally shocked" by the trade and "doesn't want to play" for the Blackhawks. Fleury reportedly did not believe Vegas viewed him as "their guy," though he had expected to finish out his contract with the team.

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's best goaltender is scheduled to enter the final season of a three-year, $21 million contract.

Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh, said the 36-year-old netminder hadn't been immediately informed of the trade by Vegas and would "seriously evaluate his hockey future" before deciding whether to join the Hawks or retire:

Fleury joined the Golden Knights as part of their initial roster in the 2017 expansion draft. He's compiled a 117-60-14 record with a 2.41 goals against average and .917 save percentage across 192 regular-season appearances for the club.

The 2003 first overall pick won three Stanley Cup titles as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins before joining Vegas. He helped lead the expansion franchise to the Stanley Cup Final in its debut season, posting a .927 save percentage in 20 games during the 2018 playoffs.

He would take over as Chicago's unquestioned No. 1 goalie if he opts to continue his career.

Meanwhile, the trade to generate financial flexibility suggests the Golden Knights may be setting the stage for a marquee offseason addition via trade or free agency.

Vegas has been linked to a potential blockbuster deal for disgruntled Buffalo Sabres star center Jack Eichel, who carries a $10 million cap hit. The team has $12.2 million in cap space after Tuesday's trade, per CapFriendly.

The Golden Knights have one of the NHL's most complete rosters, but a true No. 1 center is missing. Eichel would fill that void and bolster the team's championship hopes assuming he's recovered from a neck injury that limited him to 21 games last season.

While there's a shroud of uncertainty about Vegas' next move, one thing did become clear with Tuesday's trade: Robin Lehner will now be the full-time starter between the pipes.

Former Chicago Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich allegedly threatened a Blackhawks player with a baseball bat during the course of a sexual assault, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope.

The allegation is connected to one of two civil lawsuits against the organization. The player, identified as "John Doe 1," filed suit in May and said he was assaulted by Aldrich.

The player said he was invited to Aldrich's apartment in May 2010 to supposedly break down game video, per Pope. However, the lawsuit alleged Aldrich turned on pornography before masturbating in front of the player.

Aldrich allegedly "blocked the only exit" and "physically threatened" the player with a Chicago Cubs souvenir baseball bat when he attempted to leave. Aldrich also allegedly threatened the player's career "if [he] did not engage in nonconsensual sexual activity."

The plaintiff also referenced a possible pattern, saying Aldrich "repeatedly invited young interns" for the team to his apartment, which Blackhawks officials purportedly thought was "quite unusual."

Rick Westhead of TSN reported June 17 that Chicago general manager Stan Bowman, then-president John McDonough and vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac met in May 2010 with then-skills coach Paul Vincent, who alerted them to allegations of sexual assault against Aldrich.

Vincent suggested the team take the matter to Chicago Police, but officials reportedly chose not to take that step.

In a separate lawsuit, a former Michigan high school hockey player said the Blackhawks showed "utter indifference or conscious disregard for the safety of others" when they didn't investigate or fire Aldrich or alert his prospective employers about the allegations.

In June, the Blackhawks brought in a former federal prosecutor from Jenner & Block to oversee an independent review of the allegations.

Bowman addressed the situation for the first time Thursday.

"I do not condone or tolerate harassment or assault of any type," he told reporters. "The Blackhawks have engaged an outside legal firm to conduct an investigation. ... For now, I have to respect the litigation and pending review. I'm not going to be able to make any comments about that."

Bowman added he will "give it my full cooperation" and would not say whether the review will be made public.

Speaking with The Athletic in June, NHL agent Allan Walsh expressed his desire for the team to disclose the results of the investigation.

"If you're not committed to making the reports public, all you're doing is managing a PR nightmare/crisis without actually doing anything meaningful," he said.