Around the NHL: McMann, Laughton on fire with new teams, Jarry takes back seat in Edmonton

Welcome back to Around the NHL, as we’ve hit the home stretch of the season. There’s been plenty of buzz created after the Olympics and trade deadline, and now, it’s a battle of positioning in both conferences for the playoff teams. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and several other teams are trying to creep closer to the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s basement, as the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes are going to be fun to follow throughout the last month of the season.

The New York Rangers and Dallas Stars are currently the two hottest teams in hockey, as both clubs are riding four-game winnings streaks heading into the week. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid leads the league with 114 points, five up on Colorado Avalanche foeward Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood continues to sit atop the NHL, carrying a 2.16 goals against average.

Here’s the very latest from Around the NHL.

Former Maple Leafs McMann and Laughton off to hot starts with new teams

The Seattle Kraken’s fanbase are probably wondering what the Maple Leafs were thinking seeing Bobby McMann play in his first two games with the franchise. McMann has been shot out of a cannon for the Kraken, scoring two goals and one assist in his first game, followed by one goal and one assist in game two. McMann’s played 18:04 and 19:36, is playing on the team’s top power play, has eight shots on goal, and landed six hits. If McMann keeps this pace up, he’ll be set for a massive pay day come July 1.

Scott Laughton is making a huge impact for the Los Angeles Kings. Laughton’s scored two goals in his first five games with the Kings, is playing a huge role on the team’s penalty kill, and there’s already been plenty of his new teammates raving about how much of a factor he is in the dressing room.

Nicolas Roy has dressed in five games for the Avalanche, scoring twice, and averaging 12:58 a night, including as both a depth penalty killer and power-play option.

Edmonton Oilers name Connor Ingram starter, Tristan Jarry riding shotgun

It’s been a very emotional season for goaltender Tristan Jarry, and the most recent news that the Edmonton Oilers are riding Connor Ingram into the Stanley Cup Playoffs is certainly not going to sit very well with the fiery netminder.

Jarry’s had a very tough season, struggling on the ice to find his game, being shipped out of Pittsburgh to his offseason residence in Edmonton, and unfortunately for both sides, it hasn’t worked out at all. Jarry’s recently gotten into it with teammates at practice, he’s shown terrible body language throughout warmups of games he’s not playing, and for now, he’ll be the Oilers backup goaltender behind Ingram.

Jarry’s posted a 7-6-1 record with the Oilers, along with a 4.17 goals against average, and .855 save percentage. He’s been indirectly called out by multiple teammates in post game scrums, as the Oilers know they’re not going to get back to the Stanley Cup Final if they can’t find a save with games on the line. Ingram, on the other hand, is 10-6-2, with a 2.70 GAA and .895 Sv.% in 21 games since getting called up.

Quick hits from around the NHL

• Oilers captain Connor McDavid feels the NHL needs to review how suspension’s are handed out, as it could be time to re-evaluate the entire process. McDavid spoke at length about the league’s process, following Radko Gudas’ five-game suspension for kneeing Auston Matthews.
• Washington Capitals signed top defensive prospect Cole Huston to a three-year, entry-level contract, which kicks in immediately and once the NCAA season is over, expect to see Hutson in the Caps’ lineup.
• Leon Draisaitl left Sunday’s game against the Predators after a hard early hit from Ozzy Wiesblatt. Edmonton’s star foward came back for a couple of shifts, but didn’t return for the start of the second period.
• Reports suggest Buffalo Sabres’ pending free-agent forward Alex Tuch is looking for north of $10 million AAV on his next extension.
• Artemi Panarin admitted he’s going to be very nervous when the Los Angeles Kings visit the New York Rangers on Monday night. Panarin’s been blunt recently, stating the Rangers didn’t want him anymore, and much prefers for his first game back to be next season, and not only a few weeks after the trade.
• The Montreal Canadiens made a serious push to acquire Ryan O’Reilly ahead of the trade deadline, but he stuck to his guns to ride out his contract in Nashville.
• Utah Mammoth extended Nick Schmaltz on an eight-year contract, worth $64 million total.