The Daily Goal Horn

Connor McDavid just etched his name in Olympic history as tournament MVP with a record 13 points for Canada, captaining the final games after Sidney Crosby's injury and leading alongside studs like Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini. Crosby, the Penguins legend who's seen it all, steps up with a poignant take on McDavid's brilliance in that silver-medal heartbreak against a golden Team USA.

The pending free agent winger draws serious interest from contenders reloading for a Cup run, with three fits standing out in rumor mills. Skinner's scoring touch tempts GMs balancing cap sheets and playoff pushes this March. His next contract shapes lines and legacies, as teams position before the market floods.

The Blackhawks limp into the post-Olympic grind with a roster on the bubble, forcing GM Kyle Davidson to weigh selling vets like Foligno, Dickinson and Murphy against chasing wildcard dreams around Bedard. Coaches Blashill and staff huddle over center tweaks, sliding Nazar back while Bedard reclaims faceoff duties, and blue-line battles pit Korchinski against Del Mastro for precious minutes.

Logan Couture steps up with the kind of locker-room candor that separates Sharks lifers from the pretenders, breaking down Macklin Celebrini's star turn in that epic USA-Canada gold medal clash. The kid's got that rare blend of skill and grit that screams future Shark captain, and Couture knows it better than anyone after years of watching prospects either sink or swim in San Jose's deep end.

Connor Hellebuyck backstops Team USA to Olympic gold with a 41-save masterpiece against Canada, silencing doubters who questioned his big-game mettle. Legends like Mike Richter and Martin Brodeur rave about the Winnipeg Jets star's unreal stick save on Devon Toews and breakaways on McDavid and Celebrini that defined the overtime thriller. Vezina king now cements a legacy that elevates his Jets tenure amid whispers of what's next back in the NHL.