NHL Central Division News

The Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday signed former Tigers goaltender Curtis McElhinney to a one-year, one-way NHL contract that will pay him $600,000. McElhinney, who turned 30 on Thursday, spent the entire 2012-13 season with the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

While we're not usually in the business of announcing the hirings and firings of teams' training staffs, this one is kind of noteworthy - the Nashville Predators have fired head athletic trainer Dan Redmond, according to The Tennessean .

Even under the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL 's biggest stars are still lighting up both lamps and highlight reels with a plethora of spectacular postseason goals.

The votes are in and the semifinals have been determined for the EA Sports NHL '14 Cover contest.

MARCH 30: Mike Babcock Coach of the Detroit Red Wings looks on the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena on March 30, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan.

Wings fans attending Thursday's hockey game helped raise over $17,000 to benefit the family of Wayne-Westland Firefighter Brian Woehlke.

All three 2013 NHL playoff contests on May 25 are elimination games. The Detroit Red Wings have put the Chicago Blackhawks in a corner, the Los Angeles Kings have their first chance to close out the San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins will take another crack at closing out the New York Rangers.

Down one goal Thursday night with the prospect of a season implosion very much looming, the Chicago Blackhawks and their array of goal-scoring whizzes went on a third-period power play.

May 20, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader reacts after center Pavel Datsyuk scored a goal on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford in the third period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard stops the Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and the puck in the second period May 23, 2013.

Not only did it put the Blackhawks in the record book, it also set the stage for a remarkable season that could only end with head coach Joel Quenneville's team raising the Stanley Cup if the season was going to be a success.

Two Sasakatoon high schools and the Shaw Centre are on lockdown while Saskatoon police investigate a report of a boy possibly armed with a gun.

Two Sasakatoon high schools and the Shaw Centre are on lockdown while Saskatoon police investigate a report of a boy possibly armed with a gun.

Game 2 was a story of how the Chicago Blackhawks struggled mightily. Games 3 and 4 have been a story of how the Detroit Red Wings have begun playing their best hockey of the season, and the Hawks can only look on helplessly as their playoff hopes slip away.

Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard acknowledges fans after being named the first star of Detroit's 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4. The spotlight was on Hockeytown as the Chicago Blackhawks looked to breathe some life into their series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is set to become a restricted free agent this coming off-season in July.

What can I say about the Chicago Blackhawks loss on Monday that hasn't already been said? I can condense it into four words: that game was trash.

Mar 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Reilly Smith warms up before the game against the Nashville Predators at the American Airlines Center.

May 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott warms up before overtime against the Los Angeles Kings in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center.

Inevitably, this year's NHL 2013 playoffs tournament will include wide, gap-toothed grins from the best hockey players in the league.