U.S., Czechs notch wins at ice hockey worlds

The Chicago Blackhawks had one of the best backup goaltenders in the NHL over the past three years, but on Friday, Scott Darling got traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. It ends a fantastic three-year partnership between the Hawks and Darling, who proved in Chicago that he could play at the highest level. Now he’s gone to pursue his chance at being a starter, and the Blackhawks are left with the Ottawa Senators’ 2017 third-round pick. At first glance, that might seem like a paltry return for a potential key player. Darling could be an above-average starter in the NHL, and the Hurricanes got him for the same pick they received by trading Viktor Stalberg. It’s not exactly a high cost. The thing is,

Plenty of NHL teams have dealt with looming salary arbitration hearings, but one big name remaining – literally and figuratively – is St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko. On the bright side, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports a divide that seems pretty moderate. Parayko’s current ask, according to Friedman: one year, $4.85 million.

Our “What Went Wrong” series aims to analyze why each team missed the playoffs.