NHL NOTEBOOK
The Vancouver Canucks acquired Emerson Etem from the New York Rangers on Friday for fellow winger Nicklas Jensen and a 2017 sixth- round pick. Etem, 23, played in 19 games with the Rangers this season, registering three assists. New York had assigned him to the AHL on a conditioning stint earlier Friday before the trade was announced. The native of Long Beach, Calif., has 15 goals and 19 assists in 131 career games with the Rangers and Anaheim Ducks. Etem, who played for Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, was the 29th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He was dealt by the Ducks to the Rangers last June in the deal that sent Carl Hagelin to Anaheim. The 22-year- old Jensen, meanwhile, never lived up to expectations in Vancouver. The 29th overall pick in 2011 has been playing in the AHL this season and has three goals and three assists in 24 career NHL games.
Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien doesn’t expect star goaltender Carey Price to return before early February at the earliest. For the second time in less than a week, Therrien offered reporters an update on Price’s status. While this one was more precise, it was also far less encouraging. “It would surprise us if he was back before the all- star game,” Therrien said following Friday’s practice. “We said it would be a minimum of six weeks — a long- term absence. And when it’s a question of long- term injury, it’s difficult to say whether the return will take place on such a day. We have to follow the rehabilitation process and they tell me it’s going well.” Price was injured during a game against the New York Rangers on Nov. 25 at Madison Square Garden. Since his injury, the Canadiens have complied a 6-12-1 record and allowed 53 goals over that span. Most of the losses came in December when coupled with the loss of Brendan Gallagher, Montreal dropped 10- of-11 games at one stretch. Price has only appeared in 12 games this season, winning 10. His goalsagainst- average stands at 2.06 and save percentage at .934.
General manager Jim Nill has been given a five-year contract extension from the Western Conference- leading Dallas Stars, who are off to the best start in franchise history. The extension announced Friday goes through the 2022- 23 season. Nill is only halfway through the five-year contract he got when he became the Stars GM in April 2013, after the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons.