News and notes from around the NHL this evening:
- The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they’ve signed 2016 1st round draft pick (30th overall) Sam Steel to a three-year Entry Level Contract. The Ducks acquired the pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs—who themselves acquired it from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Phil Kessel trade— in the Frederik Andersen trade. Steele is lighting up the WHL this season, scoring 23G and 31A in 25 games. Despite his numbers, Steele was a surprise cut from Team Canada’s World Junior Team.
- Staying with the Anaheim Ducks, forward Andrew Cogliano surpasses Jay Bouwmeester for the fifth-longest consecutive game streak with 738 consecutive games played. Cogliano has never missed a game in his entire NHL career, and is the only active player with such a significant streak from the start of their career.
- Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr is two points away from tying Mark Messier for second on the NHL’s all-time points list with 1887 points. Jagr started tonight three points back but as of 7:15CST has one assist in the Panthers’ game against Buffalo Sabres. Jagr has 1885 points (755G and 1129A) in 1661 NHL games. One wonders how many more points Jagr would have amassed had he not played in the KHL from 2008-2011.