John Tortorella said he is not concerned about job security after the Columbus Blue Jackets lost a fifth straight game, 3-1 to the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

"You know what … I never worry about that," Tortorella said. "I do my job the best I can. If people want to make decisions on me, that's their decision. I never worry about that. I go about my business, and I'm going to coach this team the best way I possibly can."

The Montreal Canadiens fired coach Claude Julien on Wednesday.

Dominique Ducharme was named the interim coach, and the team added longtime NHL winger Alex Burrows to the coaching staff. The Canadiens also fired assistant coach Kirk Muller, who served as interim coach in the 2020 playoffs after Julien was hospitalized with chest pains and underwent a heart procedure.

New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.

The news comes after a Russian newspaper published allegations from Panarin's former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov, claiming the winger got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011. Nazarov's interview said Panarin "sent her to the floor with several powerful blows," according to a translation provided to ESPN. Nazarov has previously criticized Panarin's outspoken beliefs toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Anaheim Ducks have recalled top prospect Trevor Zegras from their AHL affiliate in San Diego, setting the stage for the 19-year-old forward's much-anticipated NHL debut.

The Ducks made the move Sunday. They play at Arizona on Monday night, although Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins didn't confirm Zegras will play immediately.

You have to see it to believe it.

Peter DeBoer said those words after the Vegas Golden Knights coach put the team through a fun, spirited pregame practice Friday on the NHL's makeshift rink built atop the 18th fairway at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a slap shot away from Lake Tahoe with the Sierra Nevada in the distance.

"I think the pictures, as beautiful as they are, don't do it justice," DeBoer said. "I grew up in Canada and I know anywhere in the Northeast of the United States or Minnesota, anywhere they can build outdoor rinks, there's always a competition on the street of whose dad can build a better rink. Every year you come back, and someone adds lights or a scoreboard. This is a drop the mic-type outdoor rink. It's the nicest I've ever seen."

The Nashville Predators owners are "angry and confused" with how this season has gone but are not planning to replace general manager David Poile, CEO Sean Henry told The Athletic.

"Everyone's angry and confused," Henry told the website Wednesday. "We all believed that this roster would produce more. We all want more, and it doesn't matter who you talk to."

The owner of the Vancouver Canucks said Saturday he has no intention of firing general manager Jim Benning or coach Travis Green.

"I have full confidence in Jim, Travis and this group," Francesco Aquilini wrote on Twitter. "I have no plans to make changes."

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was one of five players added to the NHL's COVID-19 list Friday, a day after he was unable to play in a 5-2 loss to Florida.

The Lightning had listed Stamkos as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The NHL and NHLPA announced several new protocols on Thursday after COVID-19 outbreaks on five teams caused nearly a dozen games to be postponed this week. The enhanced measures, endorsed by league medical experts, will be in effect until at least Feb. 28 and could feature further restrictions.

The Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers all have multiple players on the league's COVID protocol related absences list, and have had multiple games postponed.

The Arizona Coyotes announced today that the club has terminated the contract of former Assistant General Manager and EVP of Hockey Operations Steve Sullivan.

The Coyotes will not be filling their vacant assistant general manager position this season.