Ducks blueliner Simon Benoit pops on rival radars as deadline whispers grow louder, his shutdown game filling playoff needs league-wide. Anaheim's rebuild tolerates the noise, but Benoit's steady minutes make him prime bait for contenders thin on defense. One hot streak could spark a bidding war before March madness.

Connor McDavid tips home his first NHL goal nine years ago today against the Stars, a gritty deflection that hinted at the supernova we'd all witness. Those early Oilers days with Nail Yakupov and Benoit Pouliot on his wings feel like another era, especially with the weight of a franchise now squarely on his shoulders under Stan Bowman. Fans love reliving that moment because it captures the kid who arrived hyped beyond belief and delivered from game three.

The Maple Leafs eye a straight-up trade for Montreal's Arber Xhekaj, sending Simon Benoit back to the Habs in a rare Original Six twist that has front offices buzzing. Xhekaj's scratch-prone status in Montreal screams change of scenery, while Benoit gets a shot to play for his hometown team at playoff time.

Benoit-Olivier Groulx lights up the AHL with a three-point night fueling Toronto's Marlies win, as RotoWire tracks the Anaheim prospect's surge. These outbursts catch NHL scouts' eyes during Olympic distractions up top. Groulx's climb pressures Ducks brass to decide his big-league fit soon.