THW Daily - Maple Leafs Have Two All-Star Candidates & Blackhawks Claim Jaycob Megna Off Waivers
Also, a semifinals preview at the World Juniors, burning questions for the Oilers & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have the two all-star candidates for the Maple Leafs, the Blackhawks claiming Jaycob Megna off waivers, a semifinal preview at the World Juniors, and much more.
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2024 World Juniors Are Underway - Check Out Our THW Coverage:
Yesterday’s Scores…
2024 World Junior Championship: Relegation and Semi-Finals Preview
January 3, 2024 by Logan Horn
Thursday is the second-last day of the 2024 World Junior Championship, and is the final day that will feature more than two games. Early in the morning (at least for North Americans) we will get the relegation match and then a bit later on we’ll have both of the Semi-final games which will decide who will compete for Gold and Bronze on Friday.
Each of the four teams remaining in this year’s tournament are serious contenders for the gold medal so let’s dive in and take a closer look at how they could each take home gold!
Maple Leafs Have 2 All-Star Representative Candidates for 2024
January 3, 2024 by Michael DeRosa
It may be hard to believe, but the NHL All-Star Game is officially one month away, as the big game takes place on Feb. 3. As a result of it getting closer, the NHL is set to announce each team’s All-Star representative tomorrow (Jan. 4). Thus, we will soon find out which player from each team will be first named All-Stars.
When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster, it is clear that they have some excellent players to pick from. While the team has had mixed results this campaign, their stars have shown up, so the decision ahead will be tough. Because of this, let’s now discuss the club’s top two All-Star representative candidates.
Canadiens 3 Up, 3 Down: Slafkovsky, a Top Line and More
January 3, 2024 by Blain Potvin
Canadiens general manager (GM) Kent Hughes’ rebuild plan is starting to bear fruit as the young players who continue to graduate to the NHL are performing at or above expectations.
The holiday road trip has been the team’s Achilles’ heel for many years. This season there was a marked difference but there are both positive and negative points to discuss. With that, here’s a look at the latest 3 Up, 3 Down.
5 Canucks Candidates for the 2024 All-Star Weekend
January 3, 2024 by Sartaaj Bhullar
The Vancouver Canucks are among the top teams in the NHL in the 2023-24 season. With a 24-10-3 record, they sit third in the NHL and first in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. Their top players have led them to their impressive start and should be recognized for their efforts.
The 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend is a month away. The event will take place from Feb. 1 to Feb. 3 in Toronto. The NHL will announce the first 32 players for the game on Jan. 4. The Canucks have five players who deserve to be named to the roster this year.
Chicago Blackhawks Claim Jaycob Megna Off Waivers
January 3, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
On Jan. 3, it was announced that the Chicago Blackhawks have claimed defenseman Jaycob Megna off of waivers from the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old adds veteran depth to a team that is in the middle of a painful rebuild and is looking for players to help keep their young players dialed in during a losing season.
The Blackhawks are at the bottom of the Central Division with an 11-24-2 record through 37 games, so adding a veteran to their team isn’t a bad idea for both the player and the team. Megna will get more playing time with the club and has an opportunity to find himself a new home in Chicago. In a corresponding move to claiming Megna, the Blackhawks have also placed Anthony Beauvillier on injured reserve.
3 Burning Questions Facing the Oilers in 2024
January 3, 2024 by Rob Couch
The Edmonton Oilers have stormed back into the playoff picture after a horrible start to the season. Under new head coach Kris Knoblauch, they have been excellent in all aspects of the game, despite some lapses here and there, which is to be expected.
The team is rolling along very nicely, but nothing is set in stone. We’re here to check out three burning questions for the Oilers for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Philadelphia Flyers - 6 Past Flyers Who Could Boost 2023-24 Roster
Edmonton Oilers - 2024 NHL All-Star Selections: Which Oilers Get Snubbed?
Washington Capitals - 3 Capitals Who Need To Be Better in 2024
NHL News & Rumors - Maple Leafs, Canucks, Flames
From TSN - Coyotes' Zucker to have hearing for boarding/interference on Panthers' Cousins
From Sportsnet - Discussing a potential NHL rule change: Pre-faceoff movement
From ESPN - Wild put captain Jared Spurgeon on IR as injury woes mount
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