CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS January 2, 2014

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1 Canes trade Gleason to Toronto Maple Leafs for Liles, prospect By Chip Alexander 1, 2014 Updated 8 hours ago WASHINGTON On a day when defenseman Justin Faulk was named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 2014 Winter Games, the Carolina Hurricanes dealt away a former U.S. Olympian. Defenseman Tim Gleason was traded Wednesday to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman John- Michael Liles and defensive prospect Dennis Robertson. Liles is expected to join the Canes in Washington for the game Thursday against the Washington Capitals. "We felt we needed a different mix on defense and needed someone else on the back end who was a good puck-mover," Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday. "We also wanted to add someone who could play on one of our two power-play units and could help us offensively. "Liles is a team guy and a very good character guy. He should be a valuable addition for us." The trade was made official during the playing of the NHL Winter Classic game between the Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. After the game, the U.S. Olympic team was announced for the 2014 Sochi Games and Faulk was among the eight defensemen selected. Gleason, 30, helped the U.S. win a silver medal -- and nearly a gold -- in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Rugged and reliable, he served as an alternate captain and played 491 games for the Canes but had been slowed this season by a concussion and later a lower-body injury, missing a total of 21 games. "We're thankful for all Tim did for us," Rutherford said. "He's a good person and gave us some good years." Liles, 33, has been in 627 NHL regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche and Maple Leafs. An Indianapolis native, he was on the U.S. Olympic team in Liles has spent much of this season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL as the Leafs turned to younger defensemen Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner. In six games with the Leafs, Liles had 15 hits and 10 blocked shots while averaging about 17 minutes of ice time per game. Liles has two years remaining on his contract after this season, with a cap hit of $3.875 million. He'll have a salary of $4.25 million next season and $2.75 million in Gleason also has two seasons left on his contract, with a cap hit of $4 million. With a no-trade clause in his contract, he had to approve the trade to Toronto. Gleason was held out of Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens, then was not at practice Wednesday. Nor was he the only notable absence at practice. Muller said Wednesday goalie Cam Ward has a lower-body injury and will miss the two road games this week against the Caps and New York Islanders. Ward, who was sidelined 10 games this season with a lower-body injury, was in net Wednesday as the Canes rallied for a 5-4 overtime win over the Canadiens. Goalie Anton Khudobin is expected to start against the Caps after being out since Oct. 13 with an ankle injury. Khudobin recently was sent to the Charlotte Checkers for an AHL conditioning stint and played well in two starts. Faulk, from South St. Paul, Minn., will making his first Olympic appearance after competing for the U.S. in several international competitions. He played in the 2011 World Junior Championship, then in the World Championships in 2012 and At the 2012 Worlds in Finland, Faulk led the U.S. defensemen with four goals and had a team-best plus-9 rating. In 2013, he topped the defensemen with six assists as Team USA earned a bronze medal in Sweden. Canes defenseman Mike Komisarek was named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic team but unable to participate because of an injury. He said Faulk's selection was well-deserved, noting, He's shown he can be one of the elite defensemen in the league." He's mature beyond his years," Komisarek added. "He definitely plays like it, and acts like it off the ice. He's just a tremendous all-around player. Rock-solid.

2 Canes' defenseman Justin Faulk named to US Olympic team By Chip Alexander 1, 2014 Updated 8 hours ago Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk has been named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Faulk, 21, will be making his first Olympic appearance. Faulk and Andrej Sekera -- who again should be on Slovakia's Olympic team -- have been the Canes' top defensive pairing this season. It s very well-deserved, Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said. He s a very good player and will only get better and better. We re proud of him. For where he is at this point in his career, this is quite an accomplishment. Faulk has three goals and 13 assists in 40 games this season, averaging about 24 minutes of ice time per games. Team USA general manager David Poile has said some younger players could be chosen for this Olympics with an eye both on the Sochi Games and the future. Faulk offers youth and NHL experience, and has been a part of several international competitions for Team USA. Faulk, who participated in the U.S. National Team Development Program, played in the 2011 World Junior Championship. He played for the U.S. in the IIHF World Championships in 2012 and 2013 and was effective on the larger ice surfaces in Europe. At the 2012 Worlds in Finland, Faulk led the U.S. defensemen with four goals and finished with a team-best plus-9 rating. This year, he topped the U.S. defensemen with six assists as Team USA earned a bronze medal in Sweden. I think he's definitely deserving of it, said Canes defenseman Mike Komisarek, who was named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic team but unable to participate because of an injury. He's shown he can be one of the elite defensemen in the league. He's mature beyond his years. He definitely plays like it, and acts like it off the ice. He's just a tremendous all-around player. He's strong in all facets. Rock solid. Noting the Canes' comeback victory Posted by Chip Alexander on December 31, 2013 The Canes haven't had a game quite like this one in a while. They had not won a New Year's Eve game at home since They hadn't wiped out a three-goal deficit in the third period at home since They hadn't gotten two power-play goals from a player in 37 seconds or less since 1990, when they were the Hartford Whalers. That's a lot to pack into one game, but the Canes did all that in the 5-4 overtime victory Tuesday over the Montreal Canadiens at PNC Arena. Jeff Skinner had the two power-play goals as the Canes rallied after falling behind 3-0 after two periods. Eric Staal and Manny Malhotra also scored in the third before Alex Semin's winner in overtime. Staal played his 730th career game, moving him past former defenseman Glen Wesley in most games played for the franchise since its relocation from Hartford in The captain watched the final 3:26 of regulation, and then 34 seconds of overtime, from the penalty box after being called for a boarding penalty, then unsportsmanlike conduct when he argued the call and slammed his stick into the glass. But the Canes killed off the penalties and won their first game since beating the Phoenix Coyotes 3-1 on Dec. 14. "A lot of guys probably feel really good about themselves," Canes coach Kirk Muller said. Skinner scored 12 goals in the month of December and has 16 for the season. He has 12 goals and four assists (16 points), with five multi-point games, in his past 13 games. Montreal was this season when leading after two periods and Carolina when trailing after two. The Canes also won despite going 2-10 on the power play. "We were ready to play but we lost discipline and momentum," Habs coach Michel Therrien said. Therrien said he was upset after Skinner's first power-play score, picking up his first unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty in two years. "I was not happy and I did not yell much but the referee decided to give it to us," he said. "The penalty takes away all the momentum that we got."

3 Ryan doesn't make cut for US men's hockey team By LARRY LAGE, AP Hockey Writer Yesterday at 10:48 p.m. ANN ARBOR, Mich. USA Hockey used to have it relatively easy picking players for the Olympics. Not anymore. Bobby Ryan helped the United States earn a silver medal in 2010 in Vancouver and only 10 NHL players from all countries have more goals than he does this season for the Ottawa Senators. But unless Ryan gets a spot in place of an injured player, he won't have a chance to help the Americans go for gold in Sochi. "We did not pick the best 25 players," general manager David Poile said Wednesday after the roster was announced. "We picked the best 25 players that we thought gave us a chance to compete and win the gold medal." And with goaltending and grit, the Americans might have some assets to help them compete with the defending champion Canadians along with the talented and extremely motivated Russians on their home soil. In Sochi, the U.S. forwards will be: David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler. John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter will be on defense for the Americans. "There is a lot of guys that can skate well and on the bigger sheet, that'll be huge," van Riemsdyk said after helping Toronto beat Detroit 3-2 in a shootout at the Winter Classic. Kessel's sister, Amanda, was selected to the women's team Wednesday. Ryan was perhaps the most surprising omission on the 25-man roster. Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, a pair of defensemen who played in the Vancouver Games, also didn't make the cut. Ryan has 18 goals this season trailing just two U.S.-born players is among league leaders with 36 points and has scored at least 30 times in four previous years. "If you're talking about the Johnsons and if you're talking about Bobby Ryan, they're fabulous hockey players," Poile said. "And if I can say this the right way, this is the first time that we're having to make similar decisions that Canada has had to make for years. "We're leaving off top, top players." Jimmy Howard appears to be the Americans' third goaltender behind Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller. He hasn't played well and has been injured for much of the season for the Red Wings, but his body of work boosted his bid ahead of Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bishop has the most wins (29) and the best goals-against average (1.89) among American-born No. 1 goalies in the NHL this season. "He's playing lights out," Poile acknowledged. "Our decisions were tough in goal really tough." Other players who could've potentially been on the team, but weren't selected include: Keith Yandle, Kyle Okposo, Cory Schneider, Brandon Saad and Dustin Byfuglien. Fowler, who appears to have gotten a spot instead of Yandle, said he didn't know he was on the time until everyone else found out during NBC's postgame coverage of the Winter Classic. "I didn't get a text or a phone call or anything," he said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Miller was named MVP of the ice hockey tournament at the Vancouver Games, but he wasn't a lock to keep a spot because Quick, one of many players on the team who has been injured this season, has been perhaps the world's best at stopping shots the past two seasons. Howard, Schneider, Gibson, Tim Thomas and Craig Anderson also were possible options for the selection committee. To play to their potential, a lot of banged-up players will have to get healthy this month and stay that way through February. And if some injured players are still ailing over the next month, some snubbed standouts might get an invite to join the Americans in Russia. "There's going to be certain players that you're going to give a strong message to that they were very, very close and if something was to happen, they could be on the team," Poile said. The U.S. will be able to put 22 players in uniform for each game, starting Feb. 13 against Slovakia. The Americans expect to be a medal contender after they were regarded as young underdogs in 2010, when they were a goal away from knocking off the host Canadians. The team will be led by Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. He has been at ease publicly, saying he likes the Americans' chances to win gold for the first time since the Miracle on Ice victory in 1980.

4 Canes trade Gleason to Toronto for Liles, prospect Yesterday at 5:38 p.m. Raleigh, N.C. The Carolina Hurricanes traded veteran defenseman Tim Gleason to Toronto Wednesday in exchange for John Michael Liles and a prospect. Gleason skated in 17 games for the Canes this year, recording a minus-7 with just one assist. A former first-round pick and nine-year veteran of the league, Gleason has spent seven-plus seasons with Carolina. Gleason tallied 100 of his 128 NHL points as a member of the Hurricanes while anchoring the defense. Tim has been a valuable player and leader for the Hurricanes for a long time," said Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. "We thank him for the contributions he has made to the team and the community and wish him all the best as his career continues. Liles, a fifth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2000, played in six games for the Maple Leafs this season before being sent down to their affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Liles was named to the NHL All-Rookie team in and has represented Team USA in the World Junior Championships, the World Championships and the Olympics. Thought of as a two-way defenseman, Liles recorded 313 points in 621 career NHL games entering this season. John-Michael is a puck-moving defenseman who has demonstrated in his career that he can make a difference offensively from the blue line, said Rutherford. Carolina will also receive defenseman Dennis Robertson as part of the deal. A 22-year-old from Canada, Robertson, currently a senior at Brown University, was a sixth-round pick of the Leafs in Gleason was listed as a healthy scratch for the Hurricanes game Tuesday against Montreal. In his stead, veteran Manny Malhotra was assigned as an assistant captain. The Canes will be in action again Thursday as they visit the Washington Capitals. Ward, Nash added to list of injured Canes Yesterday at 1:07 p.m. Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward did not practice with the team Wednesday after sustaining a lower body injury Tuesday night against Montreal. The injury will also prevent Ward from traveling with the team as they visit Washington and Long Island this week. Carolina rallied to beat Montreal Tuesday night in overtime with Ward making 21 saves. Carolina recalled goaltender Anton Khudobin from Charlotte early Tuesday after two rehab assignments following an ankle injury. He, along with Justin Peters, skated in Wednesday morning s practice, although head coach Kirk Muller would not commit to a starter for Thursday's game against the Capitals. Khudobin is with a 2.00 goals-against average and.929 save percentage in three games for Carolina this year while Peters is in 20 games played. Also missing from Wednesday s skate was defenseman Tim Gleason. No update has been given for his absence but he missed Tuesday s game leaving Manny Malhotra to wear the A on his sweater. Riley Nash and Jay Harrison make the Hurricanes injury list even longer. Nash left Tuesday s game with a lower body injury and did not skate Wednesday. He could miss up to a week and the Canes are expected to call a forward up from Charlotte. Harrison is still dealing with concussion symptoms and is listed as day-to-day. The recent injuries are piled on to the loss of Jiri Tlusty who will miss the next couple weeks after undergoing an appendectomy. Olympic Hopes While the Olympic rosters have yet to be announced, it is expected that Alex Semin (Russia), Justin Faulk (USA), Eric Staal (Canada) and Andrej Sekera (Slovakia) will be called to participation. Jeff Skinner (Canada) and Tuomo Ruutu (Finland) are also in the running to make their nation s squads.

5 Without Ward, Hurricanes travel to Washington Wednesday, / 3:26 PM Eric Goodman - NHL.com Staff Writer HURRICANES ( ) at CAPITALS ( ) TV: FS-CR, CSN-DC Last 10: Carolina 2-4-4; Washington Season series: This is the fourth of five games between these Metropolitan Division teams. The Carolina Hurricanes won the two previous games on the road and the Washington Capitals were victorious in Raleigh on Dec. 20. Big story: Carolina goalie Cam Ward (lower body) will not travel with the team. Coach Kirk Muller said after practice Wednesday that his staff will make a decision Thursday on whether to start Anton Khudobin or Justin Peters. Washington forward Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 30 goals, will try to keep his strong play going against the Hurricanes. Ovechkin has 69 points (26 goals, 43 assists) in 55 career games against Carolina. Team Scope: Hurricanes: Carolina lost five straight (0-3-2) by an average of four goals heading into the New Year's Eve game against the Montreal Canadiens, but a spirited come-from-behind victory Tuesday could be the spark the team needs to turn things around in The Hurricanes were down 3-0 to begin the third period, but two straight power-play goals by forward Jeff Skinner, followed by goals from captain Eric Staal and forward Manny Malhotra, gave them the lead. Although the Canadiens tied it on defenseman P.K. Subban's power-play goal, Hurricanes forward Alexander Semin gave the hometown fans something to cheer about with a nifty snapshot goal while turning around in overtime. "That s a huge win to build some momentum going into the New Year," Muller said. Capitals: Washington is in the midst of a brief cold spell offensively with an average of 1.75 goals in its past four games and Ovechkin being held scoreless over that same stretch. The Capitals had one goal each in the two road games to close out 2013, with losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on Sunday and Monday, respectively, despite a season-high 50 shots at Buffalo, and 35 against goalie Craig Anderson and the Senators. "We had a lot of shots [in the past two games]. But especially when you get a lot of point shots, you have to get traffic and find the rebounds. That's what we practiced today," forward Nicklas Backstrom said following Capitals practice Wednesday. Who's Hot: Skinner has four goals and two assists in the past four games for Carolina.... Capitals forward Eric Fehr had a four-game point streak (one goal, three assists) stopped Tuesday. Injury Report: Besides Ward, forward Riley Nash (lower body) was injured Tuesday and is expected to miss the next seven to 10 days, according to Muller. Forward Jiri Tlusty (appendectomy) and defenseman Jay Harrison (concussion) are on injured reserve. Defenseman Joni Pitkanen (heel) is out for the season.... Capitals forward Brooks Laich (strained groin) has missed the past three games. Forward Michael Latta (lower body) and defenseman Jack Hillen (lower body) are on injured reserve. All It Took Was One Wednesday, / 2:45 PM / Tracking the Storm By Michael Smith All it took was one. And from there, the Carolina Hurricanes just kept rolling. After coming into the third period down 3-0 to Montreal, the Canes scored four third-period goals to force overtime and ultimately win the game, 5-4. The first goal was the one that was so huge, head coach Kirk Muller said. It didn t matter what kind of goal it was going to be. It just showed that we weren t going to go through the motions in the third period. The goal was scored on the power play after the team had seen seven other chances drift by, including an extended five-

6 on-three advantage in the second period. Jeff Skinner was the goal scorer, his first of two power-play tallies in the game. Andrej Sekera sent a point shot toward the net. Carey Price spit out the rebound, and Skinner corralled it. He attempted a wrap-around, but was denied by a sliding Brandon Prust. Skinner then regathered the puck, spun around in the slot and roofed one off the cross-bar and in. The power play got us going, not only the goal but the momentum, Manny Malhotra said. We had to stay to the game plan. We ve proved that plan has worked for us. Thirty-seven seconds later, Skinner netted another power-play goal, his 12th goal in the month of December alone and 16th of the season. Then it was Eric Staal in the right place at the right time to bang home a loose puck. Then it was Zach Boychuk threading the needle with a tape-totape pass to Malhotra in the slot, and he finished. All it took was one, and from there, the Hurricanes just kept rolling. Everything fell into place, we got some breaks and we got some goals at the right time, Muller said. We just went for it in the third. I think that separates a lot of teams that ability to stay the course, Malhotra said. There was a decision to be made. It was either jettison the whole thing and see what happens playing an individual game or believe in each other, believe that guys are going to do their job and it will pay off. We stuck with that mentality. The Canes then fought through Montreal tying the game 4-4 to win just their third game in overtime this season. It came off the stick of Alexander Semin who, before Dec. 23, hadn t scored in 14 games since Oct. 24. It was a quick turnaround wrist shot that found a hole in Carey Price, who appeared impenetrable through the first 40 minutes. A lot of the game is mental toughness, Skinner said. We had been getting some chances, but we couldn t seem to get a goal. We still had 20 minutes to play, and we have enough veteran guys in the locker room to know we had to stick with the plan. When the puck crossed the goal line, the crowd erupted and the goal horn blared, Semin raised his arms and looked upward, a display of simultaneous relief and exultation. I think that was just such an emotional game last night, Muller said. You could just see it in their body language afterward. As much was clear in the locker room after the game: this is the kind of comeback, the kind of team-effort victory that can change the tide of a season. Of course, whether or not that will be the case remains to be seen, but it starts with the team s upcoming two-game road trip that will take them through Washington and Long Island. Last night s win doesn t mean anything if we don t follow it up, Skinner said. You can t dwell on it, just like we wouldn t dwell on it if it had gone the other way and we lost. We d bounce back and try to win the next game. That s the mindset going into tomorrow. They woke up today and came back to practice with a lot of energy, Muller said. That s where we talk about momentum and how it carried already into today s practice where you see the life and energy, and now we just have to take it on the road trip. Ward and Nash Injured, Khudobin Back in the Picture The Canes announced on Wednesday that Cam Ward has a lower-body injury and will not make the two-game road trip. Anton Khudobin and Justin Peters will serve as the team s two goaltenders, with Khudobin likely getting in at least one of the next two games. Muller would not commit to a starter for Thursday s tilt in Washington. Forward Riley Nash left Tuesday night s game with a lowerbody injury. He did not practice on Wednesday and will likely be on the shelf for a week. It s expected that the Hurricanes will make a corresponding roster move to fill his absence. Carolina trades Gleason to Toronto for Liles, Robertson by Peter Koutroumpis on January 1, 2014 RALEIGH, N.C. The Carolina Hurricanes made their second trade in three days, sending defenseman Tim Gleason to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman John-Michael Liles and the rights to defenseman Dennis Robertson in a transaction completed by the two clubs on Wednesday. John-Michael is a puck-moving defenseman who has demonstrated in his career that he can make a difference offensively from the blue line, said team president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

7 Tim has been a valuable player and leader for the Hurricanes for a long time. We thank him for the contributions he has made to the team and the community and wish him all the best as his career continues. As an alternate captain for the Hurricanes since the start of the season, Gleason leaves Carolina ranked third in games played (491), fourth in assists (87) and sixth in points (100) among club defensemen since the team s relocation to North Carolina. He currently ranks first among Carolina defensemen and second among all Hurricanes skaters in penalty minutes (495). Gleason s 87 assists with the team rank him 10 th all-time among franchise defensemen, while his 100 points rank him 12 th in that category. Liles, 33, is in his 11 th professional season and his third season with the Maple Leafs. In six NHL games played with the Leafs this season he has recorded 15 hits, 10 blocked shots, and averaged 17:03 of ice time per game. Liles has also skated in 16 games with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring three goals, tallying 10 assists (13 points) and compiling a plus-9 plus/minus rating. Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round (159 th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team following the season when he scored 10 goals and earned 24 assists (34 points) in 79 games with the Avalanche. Liles was traded to Toronto from Colorado on June 24, 2011, in exchange for a 2012 second-round pick. Overall, he has scored 77 goals and tallied 236 assists (313 points) in 627 NHL regular-season games played with both the Avalanche and the Maple Leafs. Liles has represented the United States at two International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, and was a member of the United States National Team Development Program prior to playing four seasons at Michigan State from Robertson, 22, is in his senior season at Brown University and leads all defensemen with eight points (3g, 5a) in the Bears 12 games played this season. The Ft. St. John, BC, native is in his second season as Brown s captain and earned First-Team All-Ivy honors in Robertson (6 1, 215 lbs.) was named ECAC All-Rookie in 2011, Second-Team All-Ivy in 2011 and 2012, and has scored 14 goals to go along with 47 assists (61 points) in 110 career collegiate games played with the Bears. The Maple Leafs drafted Robertson in the sixth round (173 rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Leafs trade Liles to Hurricanes, acquire Gleason JAMES MIRTLE Ann Arbor, Mich. The Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Jan , 3:23 PM EST Last updated Wednesday, Jan , 10:10 PM EST Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis didn t let the Winter Classic halt trade talks. The Leafs acquired defenceman Tim Gleason from the Carolina Hurricanes midway through the NHL s outdoor showcase on Wednesday afternoon, finally completing a longrumoured deal by giving up defenceman John-Michael Liles and depth prospect Dennis Robertson. Gleason and Liles have both struggled with injuries including recent concussions and poor play in the last two years and fallen out of favour with their teams, making this a trade of two problem contracts. Gleason s deal for $4-million a season has two years remaining on it beyond this season; Liles makes $3.875-million and also has another two years left. Liles is also a little more than two years older, which is another factor. But Gleason is closer to the type of defenceman Leafs coach Randy Carlyle likes in his lineup and gives Toronto another stay-at-home option to kill penalties. At the very least, he ll get a chance to play more often than Liles, who dressed for just six games in the NHL this season after being sent to the minors at the start of training camp. He s very competitive, Nonis said of Gleason. We ll see how he fits in here. He s going to have to earn his ice It changes the look of our back end a little bit and I think it gives Randy some more options in terms of pairings. Liles was on the ice at the Winter Classic in warm-up on Wednesday afternoon but didn t dress for the game and was

8 on his way to Washington immediately following the game to meet his new teammates. John-Michael wanted to get traded today, Nonis said. He wants to play. This is a situation where he is going to be able to. Leafs acquire Tim Gleason from Hurricanes By Mike Zeisberger,Toronto Sun First posted: Wednesday, January 01, :24 PM EST Updated: Thursday, January 02, :03 AM EST ANN ARBOR, MICH. - In the end, the Maple Leafs blueline featured a surplus of hustle and not enough muscle. And it left John-Michael Liles packing his bags and leaving for Carolina, part of a deal on Wednesday that sent the veteran to Carolina for beefy defenceman Tim Gleason. As general manager Dave Nonis is quick to point out, the Leafs have no shortage of puck-moving defencemen in Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and, to some extent, Carl Gunnarsson, a recipe that left the out-of-favour Liles expendable. What has been lacking on the Leafs' back end is sandpaper, the type of in-your-face grit that coach Randy Carlyle so desperately thirsts for. In Gleason -- a rugged hombre whose 591 penalty minutes in 616 career games translates to an average of almost one minute in the sin bin per outing -- Carlyle and Nonis feel they have addressed a need, especially with the struggles the usually ornery Mark Fraser has endured this season. "We have been having issues on the back end with boxing out people and, as well, with our penalty killing of late," Nonis said. "We feel we've addressed both, plus added some depth on the back end with Gleason." Liles took part in the warmup for Wednesday's Winter Classic at the Big House, but was made a healthy scratch as the Leafs and Hurricanes hammered out the final details of the trade. That sparked a flood of sympathy via social media for Liles, with fans feeling the opportunity for him to play in this historic game had been yanked out from under him. "Look, he wanted to go," Nonis explained. "He wants to play, and going to Carolina will be his opportunity." Nonis has been attempting to swap Liles for a while now, but the issue always seemed to be who would be willing to gobble up the veteran's salary. When he finally found a trade partner in Carolina, it became a case of "trading a contract for a contract, which you don't see much in hockey any more. Once it came to that, it didn't take long to get this done." Gleason, 30, has a significant cap hit of $4 million per season through , a slight increase from the $3.875 million hit Liles has through the same period. Liles had zero points and was a minus-2 in six games with the Leafs this season. Despite the fact he fell out of favour with management and has spent much of this season with the AHL Marlies, he has been a class act and never complained about his predicament. While his former Leafs teammates were celebrating their dramatic 3-2 shootout victory over the Red Wings on a special afternoon at Michigan Stadium, Liles politely refused to comment as he left the Big House en route to a new team, a new start, a clean slate. Rather than say anything that might be perceived as negative, Liles, as always, took the high road. "Johnny Liles was an excellent pro for us and an excellent person," Carlyle said. "From a coaching staff's perspective, Johnny Liles was one of the leaders. When this coaching staff came in and became tougher, he was one of the guys who fully supported what we were trying to do. "It's a tough situation when you have people like that who support you and it just doesn't work anymore. In our situation, we felt with Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner, it pushed him out the door. "With Gleason, we feel he comes back into a hockey environment where we can support him with the style of play that suits his style. We want him to come back and move the puck. He's a big man. We just want him to make a contribution. He won't be expected to be a power-play guy or an offensive guy, but he's a big strong guy who can move the puck." As part of the deal, the Hurricanes also receive Dennis Robertson, a defenceman with Brown University who was drafted by the Leafs in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. During his 10 NHL seasons, Gleason has scored 15 goals and added 113 assists. Not bad. But in Carlyle's mind, he is coming to Toronto to hit the opposition, not the scoreboard. That is the Carlyle way.

9 BLUELINE STUDS PUSHED LILES OUT One of the lamest suggestions you hear from Jake Gardiner bashers is that he should be traded because the Maple Leafs already have his puck-moving clone in Morgan Rielly. It's a ridiculous notion. After all, what's wrong with having two young blueliners with outstanding skating abilities whose best years are ahead of them? Nothing. General manager Dave Nonis admitted as much on Wednesday when he said the dynamic duo was a significant reason why John-Michael Liles was expendable. As a result, Liles was traded along with a prospect to the Carolina Hurricanes for tough defenceman Tim Gleason. For Rielly and Gardiner, the future is now. For Liles, the future is in Raleigh. "He's a great friend of mine," Gardiner said of Liles. 'I'm definitely going to miss him. He's a good leader and a great teammate. "I'm sure it will be good for him to get an opportunity there and hopefully start playing more and more." Daily Primer Jan. 2: Blues, Kings renew rivalry Thursday, / 9:24 AM / NHL Insider By Sean McCullen - NHL.com Staff Writer The St. Louis Blues welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Scottrade Center on Thursday in a matchup of two of the top Western Conference teams. The Blues are third in the West with 59 points while the Kings are fifth with 54. The teams have been heading in opposite directions since the Christmas break, however; the Blues have won all three of their games while the Kings have lost all three, running their losing streak to four games. The Kings eliminated St. Louis from the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past two seasons in physical series. They won the first game this season 3-2 at Staples Center on Dec. 2. Here s a look at all of the action Thursday night: Nashville Predators at Boston Bruins --Boston will be looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season when the Bruins host the Predators. Jarome Iginla, David Krejci and Milan Lucic all carry five-game point streaks into the game. The Predators snapped a five-game skid (0-4-1) with back-to-back home wins against the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings to close Nashville will play its next three on the road before a stretch of seven of eight games at Bridgestone Arena. Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders -- Corey Crawford is expected back in goal for the Blackhawks; he has not played since sustaining a lower-body injury Dec. 8. Patrick Kane has seven goals his past 10 games. The Islanders open a three-game homestand against Chicago, which will play on Long Island for the first time since Dec. 8, New York has had a flair for the dramatic its past two games; they rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 on Sunday, then overcame a 3-1 Boston lead on their way to a 5-3 New Year s Eve victory. Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals Former Washington forward Alexander Semin capped a wild comeback against the Montreal Canadiens when he scored with 1:33 left in overtime Tuesday to give Carolina a 5-4 win. The Hurricanes trailed 3-0 heading into the third. Goalie Cam Ward, who got the win, will not be with the team in Washington due to a lower-body injury. Carolina traded defenseman Tim Gleason to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman John- Michael Liles and a prospect Wednesday. Washington forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 400th career goal in the Capitals' 4-2 win against Carolina on Dec. 20. Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators -- Each team comes into the game on a winning streak; the Jets have three straight wins while the Senators have won two in a row. Craig Anderson made 34 saves for Ottawa against the Capitals on Monday to give the Senators consecutive wins for the first time since early November. Kyle Turris, who scored in the 3-1 win, has three goals in his past five games. The Jets shut out the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday for their third straight win; they ll be looking for their first four-game win streak since mid-november. Winnipeg s Blake Wheeler has three goals his past three games. Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues --The Kings come into St. Louis having scored a total of six goals during their fourgame losing streak. The good news for L.A.: Jonathan Quick, one of three goalies named to the U.S. Olympic team Wednesday, is back practicing with the team for the first time since he sustained a groin injury Nov. 12. The Blues' threegame win streak has them sitting in third place in the NHL standings. Jaden Schwartz has scored a goal in six straight games, filling the void left by injured left wing Alexander Steen, who has not played since Dec. 21 due to a concussion but remains second in the League with 24 goals. Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild -- A few weeks ago this looked like a near-certain win for Minnesota, but not anymore.

10 Not since the Wild have gone into a tailspin that has seen them lose six straight in regulation and eight of 10 (2-8-0), including a 5-4 loss to the Islanders on Sunday after they led 3-0 on home ice. Buffalo, which has the fewest points in the NHL with 26, has won four of seven and goalie Ryan Miller is playing as well as he has in recent seasons. He made a career-high 49 saves in a 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals on Sunday and stopped all six attempts in the tiebreaker. Miller, his past five starts, will be in goal after backup Jhonas Enroth got the start in a 3-0 loss to the Jets on New Year s Eve. Montreal Canadiens at Dallas Stars --If Montreal is going to rebound from a disheartening 5-4 overtime loss to Carolina on Tuesday, a game in which it held a 3-0 lead after two periods, it's going to have to do it against one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Dallas has at least a point in seven straight games (5-0- 2), and has been picking up wins against some of the League's better teams, including the Vancouver Canucks and Kings. Erik Cole, who played 101 games for Montreal in the and seasons, has four goals in his past three games. The Canadiens are going to have to play a more disciplined game if they want to end their six-game road trip, off to a start, on a high note. They took 10 penalties in the Carolina loss. Philadelphia Flyers at Colorado Avalanche -- This game will be the first between the Flyers and Avalanche in Denver since Dec. 19, 2011, a 3-2 shootout win for Colorado. The Flyers have won four straight and six of seven. Captain Claude Giroux's point streak ended at nine games in the Flyers' 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames on New Year's Eve; he has six goals and 11 assists in his past 10 games. The Avalanche snapped a four game winless streak (0-3-1) with a 5-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Rookie Nathan MacKinnon, who has 10 goals and 24 points, sealed the game with a power-play goal in the third. Columbus Blue Jackets at Phoenix Coyotes -- Phoenix continues its six-game homestand two nights after a comefrom-behind 4-3 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers. Defenseman Keith Yandle scored twice, including the gamewinner with 6.5 seconds left in overtime. The Coyotes have played six straight games past regulation. The Blue Jackets have lost two straight, with special teams a big factor in losses against the Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins. Columbus allowed three power-play goals in each game as it went a combined 0-for-6 with the man advantage. Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks San Jose split a home-and-home set against the red-hot Anaheim Ducks, but come into Thursday following a 6-3 at Anaheim that snapped the Sharks four-game win streak. Antti Niemi was pulled early in the third period after he allowed five goals on 34 shots. Joe Pavelski, named to the U.S. Olympic team Wednesday, brings a five-game point streak into the game (three goals, three assists). Oilers coach Dallas Eakins will get Nail Yakupov back into the lineup against San Jose after the second-year forward was a healthy scratch in Edmonton's loss to Phoenix. He'll skate on the second line with Jordan Eberle and Sam Gagner. Maple Leafs acquire Gleason from Hurricanes Wednesday, / 6:33 PM / News NHL.com ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A day after securing the cornerstone of its defense corps for the next seven years, the Toronto Maple Leafs addressed depth in that area by trading for veteran Tim Gleason. Toronto sent John-Michael Liles and the rights to prospect Dennis Robertson to the Carolina Hurricanes for Gleason. The move comes one day after the club signed captain Dion Phaneuf to a seven-year extension. "If you look at what our team looks like and maybe what we've lacked at times this year, it's been that ability to box people out. Penalty killing at times has not been as strong as it needs to be, and those are two areas that Tim is very good at," Toronto general manager Dave Nonis said. "It changes the look of our back end a little bit and gives (coach) Randy (Carlyle) some more options in terms of pairings." Gleason, 30, is in his 10th NHL season, the last eight of which have been spent in Carolina. The 6-foot, 217-pound defender has one assist and a minus-7 rating in 17 games this season. He did not play in the team's last game, a 5-4 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens, on Tuesday night. Gleason was a member of the 2010 United States Olympic team, going plus-3 in six games. In his career, Gleason has 15 goals and 128 points in 616 regular-season games. Liles, 33, has played in six games with the Leafs this year without registering a point. He had 11 points last season in 32 games. For his career, he has 77 goals and 313 points in 627 games. Robertson, 22, is a senior defenseman at Brown University. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. Maple Leafs upgrade defence by trading Liles, prospect to Hurricanes for Gleason Wednesday, / 4:15 PM / News The Canadian Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Maple Leafs have acquired defenceman Tim Gleason from the Hurricanes in exchange for John-Michael Liles and a prospect. Gleason has struggled this season with just one assist in 17 games, but his presence is an upgrade to the Toronto blue-line because of his defensive abilities. Offensively, he has 15 goals and 113 assists in 615 NHL games. The Leafs also sent 2011 sixth-round pick Dennis Robertson to Carolina in the trade. Robertson, a 22-year-old defenceman, is a senior at Brown University.

11 Liles, 33, spent the majority of the first half of the season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, appearing in just six Leafs games and going scoreless. The Hurricanes inherit the final two of his contract and the ensuing US$3.875 million cap hit. Gleason has two more seasons at a cap hit of $US 4 million left on his deal. The 30-year-old Michigan native was a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in He's a left-handed shot who could fit in as a top-four defenceman for the Leafs. This is the second major transaction Toronto has made while in Ann Arbor for the Winter Classic. The team announced captain Dion Phaneuf's US$49-million, seven-year contract extension Tuesday before practice. Liles was a healthy scratch for the Winter Classic, his fourth straight game out of the lineup. Gleason had been held out of games and practices by Carolina in preparation for a move. Gleason was a member of the silver-medal-winning U.S. team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In the past three seasons, he has just one goal and 27 assists in 141 regular-season games. Mix of veterans, youth highlight U.S. Olympic team Wednesday, / 8:46 PM / 2014 Olympics By Corey Masisak - NHL.com Staff Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Four years ago the United States team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was young and inexperienced at the highest international level. The team named Wednesday by USA Hockey for the 2014 Sochi Olympics will not carry the same stigma heading into the tournament next month. Thirteen members of the silver-medal winning squad from Vancouver was named to the 25-man roster, which was announced on the Michigan Stadium ice surface after the Bridgestone 2014 NHL Winter Classic. "This is second time I've done this because I did this with Brian Burke [as general manager] in 2010 and all I can say is we did not have these decisions, anywhere close to these decisions to make this year [four years ago]," United States general manager David Poile said after the Winter Classic. "If I can say this the right way, this is the first time we're having to make similar decisions that Canada has made for years. We're leaving off top, top, top players." Among the 13 returnees are all of the guys who were named as part of the "leadership group" by USA Hockey at the summer orientation camp; forwards David Backes, Dustin, Ryan Callahan and Zach Parise and defensman Ryan Suter. Also back is 2010 tournament MVP, goaltender Ryan Miller. The strength up front for the American team appears to be on the wings. Parise, Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel are three of the top wings in the NHL, while Dustin Brown, Callahan, James van Riemsdyk, Max Pacioretty and Blake Wheeler offer a lot of skill, size and speed and T.J. Oshie is one of the best playmakers at the position. Backes leads a group of five centers, and where they fit on the depth chart will be interesting to monitor. Paul Stastny, Ryan Kesler and Joe Pavelski were all in Vancouver, with Derek Stepan as the lone newcomer of the bunch. Poile emphasized chemistry among players like van Riemsdyk and Kessel, Oshie and Backes and Stepan and Callahan, skating ability for players like Wheeler, Pacioretty and van Riemsdyk and mentioned Oshie's shootout prowess as a potential weapon in the short tournament. "There's a lot of guys that can skate well, and I think that is huge," van Riemsdyk said. "Going over on the bigger ice, there is 15 extra feet to work with. We have a lot of guys with international experience and played on the bigger surface, whether it is stuff like that or guys playing in college on the bigger sheets. When you have that familiarity to it, it definitely makes it easier to go over there and adjust to it." Suter will be the No. 1 defenseman for the Americans, and is a strong candidate to be among the tournament leaders in time on ice. The defense corps is the biggest area of turnover on the club, with only Suter and Brooks Orpik returning. Orpik and Paul Martin have been defense partners both at even strength and on the penalty kill for the Pittsburgh Penguins. American coach Dan Bylsma has coached both players in Pittsburgh since The rest of the defense corps is a collection of some of the best young talents in the League at the position. All five, John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk, are 24 years old or younger. No player on this team likely came as far in the eyes of the management team as Fowler, who had struggled for much of the past two seasons before playing well at the end of season and becoming a breakout star for the Anaheim Ducks this year. "Anybody who has seen [Fowler] play this year, especially in the last six weeks, he may be one of the best defensemen in the League right now on a top team," Poile said. "His skating ability, his whole vision of his game, he's taking his game up to a much, much higher level." While the men's team won silver at the 2010 Olympics, the Under-20 squad won gold at the IIHF 2010 World Junior Chamionship in Saskatchewan. Carlson scored the golden goal in overtime against the host Canadians, and Stepan was the leading scorer in that tournament with 14 points. Fowler was also on that team. Miller and 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick have long been considered favorites for places on this team in net, and Jimmy Howard was named to the team just minutes after backstopping his Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The top forwards not on the 25-man roster are Bobby Ryan, Brandon Dubinsky, Kyle Okposo and Jason Pominville. Ryan

12 and Pominville are third and fourth in goals among American players this season with 18 and 17, while Okposo is second in points with 40. Dubinsky and Nick Bonino are the top centers not to make the team. Ryan, Okposo and Pominville are not considered to have elite skating ability, which clearly looks like a component the management team valued when picking the wings and could be a factor on the larger international ice surface. Those three are also do not kill penalties for their NHL clubs. A four-time 30-goal scorer on pace for a fifth, Ryan is the most accomplished player in the prime of his career left off the squad. "The amount of time we spent on Bobby Ryan was a huge amount," Poile said. "Bobby is a fabulous player. I love him. I'd love him for my own team. We have to make decisions. We chose some new guys." The evaluation team, which is led by general manager David Poile and his advisory board Burke, Stan Bowman, Ray Shero, Dean Lombardi, Paul Holmgren and Dale Tallon, made it clear early in the process that a player's previous track record and where he would fit on the roster would have a large impact on the decisions. Poile re-emphasized that Wednesday, mentioning discussions among the management team and coaching staff about where players would be expected to play in all situations and how ice time would be divided. Dustin Byfuglien and Keith Yandle are first and third among American-born defensemen, but neither is on the 25-man roster. Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson were both on the 2010 team, but are not returning. Miller and Quick, despite his injury, were near-consensus picks in goal. There were a lot of candidates for the final spot. Cory Schneider and Ben Bishop have better statistics than Howard this season, but Poile said Howard's play during Detroit's surprising run to within one win of the conference finals in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs helped his case. "I didn't know to be honest," Howard said. "November wasn't very kind to me and then going down with a knee injury in early December and not playing and just working my tail off with myself and my trainers. They did a tremendous job of getting me back. Now it is just about going out there and getting into a rhythm. "[Miller] has a Vezina and [Quick] has a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup, not to mention Ryan was the MVP in The competition is fierce, but I think that is a good thing. We will be able to push each other." Frigid temps, snow, crowd deliver Classic atmopshere Wednesday, / 8:07 PM / Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings By Corey Masisak - NHL.com Staff Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The NHL Winter Classic has become a marquee event for the sport of hockey, but the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic was always going to be different. There was going to be a different venue, both in sheer size and design. The visiting team ensured there would be a different dynamic in the crowd. And when people woke up Wednesday morning, it was clear the weather was going to be a little different than recent Winter Classics spent in places like Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Simply, Michigan Stadium delivered on its uniqueness in a demonstrative way. "It was the best experience I've probably ever had playing hockey," said Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader, who grew up this state and went to Michigan State, a blood rival of the Wolverines from the University of Michigan. "It was awesome. It brings you back to your childhood days when you were out in the back yard or playing on a pond. It was a lot of fun. I was just thankful to have the opportunity." The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in a shootout, with the announced attendance of 105,491 making it the largest crowd for a game in NHL history. A raucous atmosphere in the bowl at the Big House was evident from the first time the public address announcer said the words "Toronto Maple Leafs" and "Detroit Red Wings." The size of the stadium ensured there were would be plenty of seats available for fans of both teams. The size of the fan bases involved ensured there would be plenty of red and plenty of blue in the crowd. NHL games have been played in football stadiums before, but Michigan Stadium's compact bowl design meant fans were close to the action and recent renovations improved acoustics and made it a roaring audio experience. It wasn't a complete block of red at one end and sea of blue at the other, but Red Wings fans dominated the south end zone and Maple Leafs supporters occupied the north end. "It was an unbelievable experience, one that words can't describe the feeling from when both anthems were going and the building was just... so much energy," Maple Leafs captain Dion Phanuef said. "It's cold but the fans were still here with such great support. The amount of Leaf blue was just, our fans are amazing. They always support us, no matter where we're at. It was an unbelievable experience to be a part of and one I'll never forget." Chants of "Let's go Red Wings" and "Go Leafs go" filled the air before the game began and persisted throughout. Both anthems became sing-a-longs, perhaps more of a tradition in Canada but Zach Brown Band had plenty of help with the Star- Spangled Banner. Some of the signature songs and organ medleys from Joe Louis Arena were imported 45 miles to the west, including a rousing rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing."

13 "It was great," Abdelkader said of the fans. "All of the fans, I don't know how they did it, how they stayed warm. We had heat on the benches, but I know it was cold up there and it was windy. They battled the conditions and just made it an unbelievable atmosphere. Of all the outdoor games like this, I don't know if there's been an atmosphere like this." The snow began early in the morning Wednesday and did not stop. The original NHL Winter Classic at Buffalo's in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium brought the term "snow-globe effect" into the NHL lexicon, but this precipitation was more consistent and came down with greater force. A steady snowfall created a different visual for the television audience. It also delivered different conditions for the players to handle. NHL Facilities Operations Manager Dan Craig and his crew of rink builders became rink managers on game day, and that meant a lot of snow shoveling. There were 10 guys on skates with wide shovels working in unison to remove the snow during every television timeout. "They did an extraordinary job," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "You could tell as the logo started getting more covered when we needed to shovel. It actually looked like synchronized swimming, so to speak. They did a great job. Listen, whatever the conditions were, it was the same for both teams. But the ice was good, and I thought they did a very good job of getting the snow off to the extent possible. But, again, we're playing outdoors and that's what you get when you play outdoors. When you get the elements, you get the elements." Toronto's captain agreed with Bettman. "I thought the NHL did a good job," Phanuef said. "The guys who were keeping the snow off the ice were really doing a consistent job in every break of coming out and cleaned it, but there was a lot of snow that fell. I was watching them shovel it and you could see the piles by the time they were down there.... The ice conditions were good. The ice was real hard, but the snow on it made it difficult to keep the puck flat." There was entertainment down on the field from Zach Brown Band and Mayor Hawthorne. The United States women's hockey team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics was announced during the second intermission. Following the game, the men's team was announced, complete with kids wearing the jerseys of the 22 players selected who were not in this game. Those kids complemented appearances by James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel of the Maple Leafs and Jimmy Howard of the Red Wings. "To me today was a home run for hockey," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "I think for a fan today, for those kids that were skating on the ice, those kids that were introduced for the Olympians, all those things were very special." Draft prospects using WJC to showcase skills Thursday, / 3:00 AM / Prospector Files By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer Now that preliminary-round play at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship has concluded, there's no better time to check in on those top players eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft making the most of their opportunity to impress NHL scouts entering medal-round play Thursday in Malmo, Sweden. The 2013 WJC in Russia featured 11 players among the 10 participating teams who went on to be picked in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft -- Seth Jones (No. 4, Nashville Predators) and Ryan Hartman (No. 30, Chicago Blackhawks) of the United States; Nathan MacKinnon (No. 1, Colorado Avalanche) and Jonathan Drouin (No. 3, Tampa Bay Lightning) of Canada; Elias Lindholm (No. 5, Carolina Hurricanes) and Alexander Wennberg (No. 14, Columbus Blue Jackets) of Sweden; Aleksander Barkov (No. 2, Florida Panthers) and Rasmus Ristolainen (No. 8, Buffalo Sabres) of Finland; Valeri Nichushkin (No. 10, Dallas Stars) of Russia; Mirco Mueller (No. 18, San Jose Sharks) of Switzerland and Marko Dano (No. 27, Columbus Blue Jackets) of Slovakia. "When a 17- or 18-year-old is able to play in the World Juniors it is a considered a positive factor which does carry weight in the player's overall evaluation even if he doesn't get a lot of ice time," NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. "If the player contributes while playing at this level then it lends favorably toward his NHL projection. In the final rankings it sometimes aids in determining the ranking order." NHL Central Scouting will release of its midterm rankings of the top 2014 draft prospects later in January. Below are six players competing at the WJC considered to be possible first-round candidates at the 2014 NHL Draft, plus five more on the cusp of attracting the attention of NHL scouts and general managers: THE A LIST Ivan Barbashev, LW, Russia: Barbashev is playing a bottomsix forward role on a team loaded with top talent. He has one goal, two points and a plus-2 rating in four games. In 29 games with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the 6-1, 185-pounder has 13 goals and 37 points in 29 games. "Ivan is a very good playmaker with quick hands and he has a very good shot," Marr said. "He has an effective physical game and isn't afraid to mix it up. He's used in all situations and will battle for loose pucks." Aaron Ekblad, D, Canada: Canada coach Brent Sutter thinks so highly of the A-rated prospect from the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League that he has him in a top-four role along the blue line, pairing him with Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh Penguins). Ekblad has one goal, two points a plus-1 rating and six shots on goal in four games. Ekblad has 10 goals and 25 points in 29 games for the Colts.

14 "He's smart and an excellent all-round skater for his size [6-3.5, 216]," Marr said. "He handles and distributes the puck well in all zones, passes with authority and possesses an accurate shot from the point." Julius Honka, D, Finland: He's played the role of fifth or sixth defenseman in the tournament, paired mostly with Mikko Vainonen (Nashville Predators) to form a pretty solid unit. Though he doesn't have a point, he has seven shots on goal and is very active. NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb refers to Honka as a "Reijo Ruotsalainen copy." Ruotsalainen spent seven seasons in the NHL, and won a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and He also was named best defenseman at the 1980 World Junior Championship for silver medal-winning Finland. Honka has 12 goals, 36 points, 32 penalty minutes and a plus- 9 rating in 35 games with the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League. "He's smallish but an excellent skater with great balance," Stubb said. "He's an offensive-minded defenseman with good vision and a high skill level. Quick moves, reads the game very well and loves to join the offensive rush. Used in all game situations." Ondrej Kase, RW, Czech Republic: The 5-11, 165-pound right-handed shot received a B-rating from Central Scouting in the December players to watch list. He's earned a top-six role for the Czechs and has a goal and two assists in four games. In 21 games with Chomutov in the top Czech professional league, he has two goals and five points. "Ondrej is a good, mobile skater with speed and acceleration," Stubb said. "He's a very good playmaker with excellent puckhandling skills. He's tiny and rather light and he needs to bulk up, but he's still a fearless competitor who leads by example." David Pastrnak, RW, Czech Republic: The A-rated forward, who plays for Sodertalje in Sweden's second division, was one of two players from the Czech to score in the shootout against Canada in a 5-4 upset in preliminary-round play. The 6-foot, 167-pound right-handed shot has one goal, one assist and a plus-1 rating. He's played on the team's top line for much of the tournament and has seven shots on goal. "David is an offensive-minded player with smooth hands, great instincts and a very quick shot," Stubb said. "He's an excellent skater with speed and acceleration. He's very smart on ice but will need more weight and strength to excel at the next level." Sam Reinhart, C, Canada: The , 185-pound righthanded shot has worked in a top-six role, striking for two goals, five points and a plus-3 rating in four games. Reinhart hasn't looked out of place on a line with Nicolas Petan (Winnipeg Jets) and Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators), and his performance so far only has solidified his position as a top-two pick in the 2014 draft. Reinhart, an A-rated skater on Central Scouting's December players to watch list, has 16 goals and 50 points in 33 games for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. "He can dish the puck with laser-like passes," Marr said. "He's very good at taking what is given to him and finishing the play." LATE-ROUND SLEEPERS Lukas Bengtsson, D, Sweden: The 5-foot-9.5, 172-pound right-shot defenseman has been steady for a team that allowed seven goals in four preliminary-round games. Bengtsson has a goal, two points and a plus-2 rating in four games. A C-rated prospect on Central Scouting's December players to watch list, Bengtsson has six goals, 16 points and a plus-8 rating in 26 games for Mora in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest professional league. "He's been a seventh defenseman on a strong Swedish team in the tournament," Stubb said. "As he is smallish, his chances to get drafted are not too big even though he has some skills." Kevin Fiala, LW, Switzerland: There's a lot to like about the B- rated skater who has 24 points in 26 games for HV71 in Sweden's under-20 league. The 5-10, 180-pounder has one goal and four points in four WJC games. "Fiala is doing fine; he's a key player among the Swiss forwards," Stubb said. "He's a quick, smart playmaker with good hands." Joni Nikko, LW, Finland: The C-rated skater on Central Scouting's players to watch list has earned a top-six role for the Finns. He scored his second goal of the tournament in a 4-1 victory against Russia on Monday while working the power play. "Nikko is a power forward, hard worker and a late bloomer," Stubb said. "A team or two might like his straight-for-the-net style and his shot." Lucas Wallmark, C, Sweden: The B-rated prospect has four assists and a plus-3 rating for the host country. In 28 games with Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League, Wallmark has two goals and seven points in 28 games. "Wallmark's skating and lack of a first-step quickness is probably the reason why he was not drafted in 2013," Stubb said. "He's a smart, skilled player. His playmaking ability and passing skills make him a prospect." Sandro Zangger, RW, Switzerland: The 6-foot, 185-pounder, who serves as an alternate captain, leads his team with four points (one goal, three assists). Zangger is a C-rated prospect and plays for Zurich in the NLA, Switzerland's top pro league. He has a team-high 17 shots on goal. "He's a guy with tons of talent and skills, but we're still waiting for his breakthrough on international ice," Stubb said. BLAZING IN BRANDON The Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League are in the running to return to the postseason after missing out last season for the first time since Playing a part in that process are three prospects eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, all highly regarded and who also rank among the top three on the team in scoring.

15 Forwards Jayce Hawryluk and John Quenneville are B-rated prospects on Central Scouting's December players to watch list, and Richard Nejezchleb recently was added as a C-rated skater. The trio has combined for 50 goals and 108 points for the Wheat Kings. Central Scouting's David Gregory recently had the opportunity to view Quenneville and Nejezchleb during a swing through Western Canada. "I liked [Quenneville] a lot," Gregory said. "The day I saw him it wasn't his greatest game but you can tell he has the pro makeup. He's a hard worker; works hard to possess the puck. He makes good plays very quickly and is good at moving the puck. I'd like to see more consistency from him, but I like the way he finds open spaces and his ability to make any kind of pass." Quenneville, a second cousin to Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and nephew (through marriage) of Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk, has 16 goals (seven on the power play), 37 points and 39 penalty minutes in 39 games. Nejezchleb, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound right wing from the Czech Republic, has a team-high 21 goals (eight on the power play) and 34 points in 36 games. He was chosen by the Wheat Kings in the first round (No. 35) of the 2012 CHL import draft. He was eligible for the past two NHL drafts but wasn't selected. "He was really dynamic when I saw him; I don't know why he wasn't selected but sometimes it takes a while for these young kids to learn the ropes," Gregory said. "He showed quick feet on every shift, created chances and played at a good pace with good instincts. Because the draft is a bit thinner this year maybe he'll draw some interest in the later rounds." Hawryluk is serving a three-game suspension he received Dec. 27 for checking from behind in an 8-0 victory against the Regina Pats. He is eligible to return Jan. 2 against the Calgary Hitmen. The , 190-pound center leads his team with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists). TOP PROSPECT CLARKE TRADED TO SAGINAW Blake Clarke, a B-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list for Ontario Hockey League prospects, changed teams last week when the North Bay Battalion traded the left wing to the Saginaw Spirit in exchange for forward Zach Bratina. Clarke, a native of St. Louis, sustained a shoulder injury in the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Pittsburgh in September that has limited him to 24 games. He has five points this season, but two assists in three games since arriving in Saginaw. He will participate in the BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Calgary on Jan. 15. He has 20 goals and 55 points in 91 games in the Canadian Hockey League. "Blake is a good-sized wing who can really skate, is strong and fluid with NHL speed," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. "After a strong rookie season [19 goals, 32 assists in 68 games last season], he's been hampered by injuries this season and is slowly working his way back into form. He has a strong shot and that's something he needs to utilize more." PROSPECTS ON THE RISE 1. Jacob Randolph, Omaha Lancers (USHL): The 5-foot-9, 174-pound left wing leads all scorers in the United States Hockey League with 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists). A C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list, Randolph has 19 power-play points, three shorthanded points and a plus-26 rating. The University of Nebraska-Omaha recruit was passed over in the 2013 NHL Draft but there's a good chance he could hear his name called in the later rounds at the 2014 draft. "This is his second time through; maybe because of his size," Central Scouting's David Gregory said. "He's a pretty dynamic player, can shoot the puck effectively from all areas and get it to the net. He's gotten stronger, can play in traffic and get to spots on the ice. I think he's got the potential to be drafted." 2. Lawton Courtnall, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL): The son of former NHL player Russ Courtnall is sometimes compared to Darren Helm of the Detroit Red Wings. However, Lawton's skill set and skating remind many of his father, who spent 16 seasons in the League. The 5-11, 172-pound left wing recently returned to the lineup after sitting out most of the season with a high ankle sprain. The California native has one assist and seven shots on goal in nine games. "He's struggled since returning; it's difficult to jump in after an injury at this part in the season," Gregory said. "He does have dad's qualities. He looks like dad when he skates. He was flying and looked really good when I saw him; he has great speed and creates chances off the rush. I had him as B watch earlier in the season, but it might be tough to rank him since he's missed so much time." 3. Billy Sweezey, Nobles & Greenough (HIGH-MA): Gregory acknowledged that there's a lot to like about the 6-foot, 190- pound junior defenseman. According to the veteran scout, Sweezey just now is beginning to realize how dominant a player he can be. Sweezey has been compared by some to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik. "He's a big defenseman starting to use his size well and can make a pro pass," Gregory said. "He's beginning to understand that he can and should dominate games at the high school level. His mobility is good and he loves to hit. If he hit all the time and laid kids out he'd really get scouts excited about him even more because he's a really thick and strong kid."

16 NHL Three Stars: Bernier, Bozak shine at Winter Classic; Filppula leads Bolts By Harrison Mooney 5 hours ago Puck Daddy "Bettman and Byng" is the Friends spin-off the world needs. No. 1 Star: Jonathan Bernier, Toronto Maple Leafs He rocked a toque, and he stopped 41 shots, as well as two more in the shootout to give the Leafs a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in yet another incredible, beautiful Winter Classic. No. 2 Star: Valtteri Filppula, Tampa Bay Lightning Filppula had a two-point night, scoring the Lightning's first goal and assisting on their last as they topped the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2. No. 3 Star: Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple Leafs Bozak scored twice versus the Red Wings. Once in the game, and again in the shootout to ice it. Here's the shootout winner from that cool overhead cam: Honorable mention: This save was Jimmy Howard was fantastic: Did You Know? The Winter Classic is still awesome. That is all. Dishonorable mention: The Canucks played pretty terribly, but they were still in their game until they surrendered the goahead goal 3 seconds before the intermission. Jimmy Howard s body of work gave him edge in Team USA goaltending battle By Sean Leahy 13 hours ago Puck Daddy ANN ARBOR, MI -- Before USA Hockey announced its 25-man roster for the upcoming Sochi Olympics at the conclusion of the Winter Classic, the debate about who should make the squad saw many different combinations for lines, defense pairings and goaltenders. In goal, Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick were figured to be the two locks, but who would fill the no. 3 role was all over the map. Ben Bishop of the Tampa Bay Lightning is having his best season yet. Tim Thomas came back to the NHL this season with the goal to make the U.S. squad for the second straight Olympics. Cory Schneider's name was talked up after his play over the last several years. Craig Anderson was in the mix, but his play this season knocked him out of contention. But the one goaltender who had the most important part of the Team USA checklist checked off was Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings. Since their orientation camp in August, Team USA general manager David Poile has stated repeatedly that a player's body of work would weigh heavier in determining whether or not they are chosen than what they do over the first three months of the NHL season. Howard played in the U.S. National Development Program and has repped his country at the World U-18's, World Junior Championship and World Championships. Not to mention, Poile was a regular viewer of his when Detroit and his Nashville Predators were division mates in the Central. I know what Jimmy Howard can do and the rest of our committee knows what he can do," said Poile after the roster announcement. Jimmy would acknowledge probably he hasn t had the best season, but when you go on the body of work [3 straight 35- win seasons], fabulous record in the playoffs, winning on the road in the playoffs... all those things that certainly made our decision. November wasn t very kind to me," said Howard. "Then going down with a knee injury in early December and just working my tail off with myself and my trainers. They did a tremendous job of getting me back. Now it s just about going out there and getting into a rhythm." Poile acknowledged that the decision-making process for 2014 was tougher than what the USA Hockey staff had to go through in The talent pool has grown significantly in four years, so much so that it's changed the organization's mindset heading into Sochi in February. We expect to win," said Poile. "And, I think for the first time, other countries are regarding the U.S. as one of the favorites in the Olympics. With a Vezina Trophy winner, a Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup winner and Howard, who's played plenty of big games with the Red Wings in his four and a half years as a starter, once again the Americans don't have to worry about the men tending their net. The skill in net has made the position USA Hockey's biggest strength. The competition is fierce, but I think that s a good thing," said Howard."We re going to be able to push each other. USA Hockey mistakenly tells 67-year-old Canadian he made Olympic roster By Greg Wyshynski 15 hours ago Puck Daddy When the U.S. Olympic men s hockey team was announced after the Winter Classic, the players were informed they made the cut around the same time. The hope was to cut down on leaks and social media declarations before the big reveal.

17 So Jim Johansson, USA Hockey s director of hockey operations, and his staff sent text messages to the players who made the Sochi 2014 team on Wednesday before the announcement in Ann Arbor. One of those players was Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, who played for the Americans in the Vancouver Olympics as well. He didn't get the message. But Gord Miller of Canadian sports network TSN explains who actually did. Yes, the U.S. Olympic management reached out to a 67-yearold Canadian to congratulate him on his selection to the team. Johansson said Kesler has two numbers, and that the one for Canada had changed. "I had one text exchange with a Canadian guy that had a sense of humor to him," said Johansson, "basically a 67-year-old guy who can't skate but willing to serve 'his' country by suiting up for the USA." But he shouldn t be so self-deprecating: If he can play center, the Americans might consider him. Or he showed up in one of Brian Burke s player personnel dreams Hurricanes send Tim Gleason to Maple Leafs for John-Michael Liles By Sean Leahy 19 hours ago Puck Daddy When Tim Gleason was made a healthy scratch for Carolina's game Monday night against the Montreal Canadiens, it signaled that weeks of speculation about his future were coming close to an end. As the Toronto Maple Leafs were getting ready to play in the Winter Classic Monday afternoon, news broke that they would be the ones acquiring Gleason from the Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman John-Michael Liles and prospect Dennis Robertson, pending a trade call. It's a trade between two teams looking to get rid of out-of-favor players. Gleason has been limited to only 17 games this season, while Liles has played in six for the Leafs after spending time in the AHL. In the deal, the Hurricanes will save some money. Both players have two years remaining on their current contracts. Gleason has $8 million in salary owed to him after this year, while Liles is expecting $7 million coming his way. This now leaves one question, in the wake of the Dion Phaneuf news being covered in Episode 3. Will we see Nonis and Rutherford consummating the deal on this weekend's final episode of 24/7? Game Preview: Checkers vs. Texas (Jan. 2, 2014) Created: January 2, :46 am Written by Paul Branecky After winning two of three games on their recent road trip, the Checkers return home to face the Texas Stars, their main rival in last season s South Division race, for the first time this season. The first of back-to-back games tonight kicks off the eightgame West Division series between the clubs, with the Stars returning for two more meetings in just two weeks. Texas, which beat Charlotte for the divisional crown last season, is again in contention for the top spot this year while Charlotte is only now starting to get back in the running following a November slide. While the Checkers have played a league-low five divisional games this season, tonight s game starts a run in which they will play eight of their next nine against West Division teams, including a two-game trip to Oklahoma City next weekend. Charlotte Upon their return from what should be considered a succesful road trip to end 2013, a trio of transactions since the Checkers last game will give them a different look. Goaltender Anton Khudobin, who started each of the Checkers last two games on a conditioning stint and turned in

18 41 saves as part of a first-star effort in Monday s win in Rockford, has returned to the Carolina Hurricanes. That leaves the Checkers with John Muse and Mike Murphy, restoring the tandem they ve had for the last month. It s possible that they could split the upcoming games against Texas, though a relatively rested Muse, who has played just once since Christmas, could potentially get both as the Checkers have six full days off following Friday's game. While Khudobin has gone, center Greg Nemisz, who the Carolina Hurricanes acquired in a trade with Calgary just prior to the Checkers last game, should be in line for his debut with Charlotte. The 23-year-old, first-round pick of the Flames (25th overall) in 2008 started this season with the Abbotsford Heat, where he scored nine points (5g, 4a) in 32 games. Nemisz's arrival ended up being quite timely, with the Hurricanes recalling Charlotte captain Brett Sutter on Thursday morning due to an injury suffered by Riley Nash. Sutter began the season as Carolina's fourth-line center until Manny Malhotra joined the team and is likely to fill that role tonight, but had been a mainstay on the Checkers' first line for several weeks along with Zach Boychuk, who has played in Carolina's last three games, earning an assist, and Chris Terry, who remains with the Checkers. The acquisition of Nemisz gave the Checkers one more healthy player than necessary for the first time in several weeks, a luxury that Sutter's recall has eliminated. Forwards Sean Dolan and Jared Staal and defensemen Danny Biega and Rasmus Rissanen are expected to remain out due to injury. Texas The Stars have played more recently than the Checkers, having picked up a 6-5 overtime win over Oklahoma City on New Year s Eve. They were trailing 5-1 midway through the second period of that game before netting five unanswered goals, including Chris Mueller s hat trick marker with 1:17 left in regulation and Colton Sceviour s league-leading 21st goal of the season that sealed the victory. Sceviour, a one-time junior hockey teammate of Zach Boychuk, also ranks second in the AHL in total points (34 in 28 games) has four points (3g, 1a) in two games since returning from an NHL stint with Dallas. The only AHL skater with more points is teammate Travis Morin, who has 41 (16g, 25a) in 28 games. Mueller, a former Milwaukee Admiral, makes it three Stars among the league s top-six scorers with 32 points in 32 games and rookie Curtis McKenzie (29 points) makes it four of the top 12. With that many players on the league s overall scoring chart, it s no surprise that the Stars rank second in the AHL in scoring with an average of 3.53 goals per game and are the league s deadliest power-play team at 29.4 percent. As their offensive explosion on Tuesday showed, their offense is capable of winning games for them even when their defense is not as sound as they would like it to be, helping them record the league's fifth-best record to date at In goal, Cristopher Nilstorp (9-9-2, 2.95 goals-against average,.903 save percentage) has played in 21 of the team s 34 games, including Tuesday s, when he gave up five goals on 18 shots before giving way to ECHL callup Josh Robinson, who saved seven of seven. Jack Campbell, a first-round draft pick in 2010, is dealing with an injury and has not played since Dec. 18. Checkers Notes Goalies Galore On Dec. 29, Anton Khudobin became the eighth goaltender to play for the Checkers this season, extending a team record that stood at five prior to this season. That number ties Oklahoma City for the most goalies used by a single AHL team this season. In his second start on Dec. 30, Khudobin became the first Checkers goalie other than John Muse to win a game since Mike Murphy on Oct. 5. Muse, who has accounted for 11 of the team's 14 victories this season, is with a 2.46 goalsagainst average and.918 save percentage and two shutouts this season, while the other seven goalies are a combined with a 3.60 goals-against average,.890 save percentage and no shutouts. Palushaj Picks up the Pacee Forward Aaron Palushaj has scored 13 points (3g, 10a) in his last nine games, including seven during an active four-game point streak, marking his most productive stretch of the season. He tied his season high with three points (2g, 1a) on Dec. 29 and now has seven multi-point games on the season, four of which have come since Dec. 10. Palushaj is now tied with Zach Boychuk for first on the team in scoring with 27 points in 32 games and is the team's leader with 18 assists, at least five more than any other player. Power Players The Checkers, who rank fourth in the AHL with a 23.0 percent success rate on the power play, have scored 39.5 percent of their goals on the power play (34 of 86), which is the highest percentage of any AHL team. Divided Division In 32 games, the Checkers have played against their own division, the West, just five times (4-1-0), marking the fewest games that any AHL team has played within its own division. However, tonight's game against Texas marks the start of a stretch in which they will play eight of nine against divisional opponents. The West Division is the only division that the Checkers have a winning record against. Quick Hits Anton Khudobin's 41 saves on Monday were the most by a Checkers goalie this season Justin Shugg's eighth goal of the season on Sunday marked a new career high

19 Nine of the Checkers' last 12 games have been decided by one goal. They are in those games. Charlotte's three overtime games are the fewest in the league, as is its lone shootout appearance. Charlotte is one of three teams that have yet to score a shorthanded goal. Despite not scoring a goal since Dec. 7 (nine games) Mark Flood is tied for third among all AHL defensemen with eight goals and ranks third with five power-play goals. Charlotte has both scored (32) and allowed (37) more goals in the third period than in any other period. Player Streaks Aaron Palushaj has assists and points in each of his last four games (Dec : 2g, 5a) Brody Sutter has assists and points in each of his last three games (Dec : 0g, 3a) Nicolas Blanchard has points in each of his last two games (Dec : 1g, 2a) Brett Sutter Returns to Carolina Created: January 1, :45 am Written by Paul Branecky With former Charlotte center Riley Nash suffering an injury on Tuesday, current Checkers captain Brett Sutter will replace him in Carolina. The Hurricanes announced the move on Thursday, the morning of a Checkers home game against Texas and a Carolina road contest in Washington. Sutter, 26, began the season in the NHL, registering no points in seven games with the Hurricanes, but has played in the Checkers last 22, recording 14 points (2g, 12a). Nash, who played 188 games with Charlotte over the last three seasons before becoming a full-time NHL player this year, is expected to miss approximately one week with a lower-body concern. Sutter s departure leaves the Checkers without two-thirds of what had been an effective top line with Zach Boychuk and Milestones Austin Levi scored his first professional goal against Rockford on Dec. 30 Injuries Sean Dolan - missed 12 games starting Dec. 1 Jared Staal - missed 11 games starting Dec. 5 Rasmus Rissanen - missed nine games starting Dec. 10 Danny Biega - missed seven games starting Dec. 15 Transactions Incoming Dec (C) Greg Nemisz acquired by Carolina (NHL) and assigned to Charlotte Dec (RW) Matthew Pistilli signed to professional tryout contract from Florida (ECHL) Outgoing Dec (G) Anton Khudobin recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte Chris Terry prior to the holiday break, with Boychuk, Charlotte s current scoring leader, heading to Carolina on Dec. 27. In three NHL games since that time, Boychuk has one assist, giving him two points in four Hurricanes games this season. Even with Sutter s departure, the Checkers will have enough players to begin their two-game set against Texas at Time Warner Cable Arena. Greg Nemisz, who the Hurricanes acquired from the Calgary Flames and assigned to Charlotte on Monday, is a natural center and a ready-made replacement as he awaits his Checkers debut. Despite missing the Checkers first 10 games, Sutter ranks sixth on the team in points and is tied for third in assists. He posted four points (1g, 3a) over the course of his last four games. Former Checker Justin Faulk Makes U.S. Olympic Team Created: January 1, :13 pm Written by Paul Branecky Defenseman Justin Faulk, who played a total of 56 games with the Charlotte Checkers, has earned a spot on the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team. Faulk was one of 25 players named in the official announcement that immediately followed the annual NHL Winter Classic event on New Year s Day. The 21-year-old most recently played for Charlotte last season, suiting up for 31 games during the NHL s lockout. Faulk, the Carolina Hurricanes second-round draft choice in 2010, made his professional debut with the Checkers during their 2011 playoff run that immediately followed his NCAA championship victory as a freshman with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, recording two assists in 13 games for his first professional points. Over the course of a 12-game stint the

20 following season, Faulk netted his first professional goal against the Houston Aeros. All of those professional firsts game played, point earned and goal scored occurred at Charlotte s Time Warner Cable Arena. A mainstay on the Hurricanes defense despite his age (he is the youngest player on the U.S. roster), Faulk has 53 points (6g, 37a) in 144 NHL games. A member of the league s All-Rookie Team, the South St. Paul, Minnesota, native previously represented his country at the 2010 U-18 World Junior Championship, where he scored the tournamentwinning goal, the 2011 World Junior Championship and the IIHF World Championships in 2012 and TODAY S LINKS CAR home CAR home Washington Capitals Capitals John Carlson named to 2014 U.S. Olympic team By Katie Carrera January 1 at 4:57 pm Heading into this season, John Carlson knew that the best way for him to make his case to USA Hockey officials that he belonged on the 2014 Olympic roster was to continue earning more responsibility with the Capitals. Carlson has led Washington in ice time and handled the toughest matchups the NHL has to offer every night through the first three months of the season, and his work did not go unnoticed. He was one of eight defensemen named Wednesday to the 2014 U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Sochi, Russia, in February. Full 2014 U.S. Olympic team roster It s obviously an honor to play for your country, said Carlson, who was born in Massachusetts but spent the majority of his childhood in New Jersey. Getting a chance to play for my country I ve only done it twice before. It s just a whole other level. For Coach Adam Oates, who has been lobbying for Carlson s inclusion since the summer, it was a no-brainer. He s one of the best defensemen in the league, Oates said. He plays a lot of minutes, plays physical, he s got an unlimited tank. He plays every situation, can do anything you ask of him. This is the first time Carlson, 23, has been named to an Olympic roster. He last represented the United States in the 2010 World Junior Championships in which he scored the overtime-winner in the gold medal game. He also becomes the first Capitals player to earn a spot on the U.S. team. In the four years since that international appearance, Carlson has established himself as arguably Washington s top defenseman. As injuries befell Mike Green and the Capitals leaned on Carlson in recent years, he took an increased role in stride. This season he s averaging a career high 24 minutes 41 seconds of ice time per night, a team high by more than a minute, and has shown consistency in his play on a game-to-game basis. This is the biggest year in terms of [consistency], Carlson said. I ve always played a decent amount and against top players but I feel like a little more onus is upon me now and I like it. I think I ve done a good job but I know I can certainly get better too. His ice time ranks 20th in the league, but of those who play that much Carlson is the only one who also averages 4 minutes of shorthanded time