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Winners and losers in the NHL shutdown

By Brett Schultz

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at American Airlines Center on March 10, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at American Airlines Center on March 10, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals bounces off Brendan Smith of the New York Rangers. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Losers: Players

Alexander Ovechkin and David Pastrnak – These two were locked in a battle for the most goals this season, tied with 48. More historically important, Ovechkin loses 13 regular season games, which might end up being a factor in the Great 8’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.

Mika Zibanejad – Mika lost out on a shot at 50 goals and maybe the league lead. Hockey fans recently saw what he is capable of producing in a single game. Between the shutdown and his early-season injury, there’s no telling what numbers he might have racked up.

Ryan Strome – The Rangers’ forward had a career high 59 points (18 goals / 41 assists) and will become a restricted free agent in the off-season. Every puck hitting the net had to sound like the ringing of a cash register to him. He’s still set for a big pay raise next year.

Artemi Panarin – Would the Breadman have gone into total Yeast Mode and taken the Art Ross and Hart Trophies by force? We’ll never know.

Kaapo Kakko, Igor Shesterkin, and Julien ‘Kid’ Gauthier – It has to be considered a loss that the trio of rookies were cheated out of NHL-level action in their first season. Kakko has the tools to break out at any time, Gauthier was impressing a lot of people, and Igor was doing what he has done at every other level of hockey. Now, if we can only bribe the old gypsy woman and get her to take the fluke injury curse off him.

Now a look at who got something out of this mess.

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