Nail Yakupov channeled Theo Fleury in his tying goal against the Kings back in January. (Andy Devlin/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

I always have the best intentions at the beginning of each season to make a running tab of the moments most worth remembering. And, much like my determination to get back into game shape, it hasn’t happened yet.

Still, it wasn’t too hard to come up with a list now that we’re at season’s end. The games offered enough highlights–and lowlights–to fill a full-length schedule. Here are my favorites:

The Yakupov Slide: With the goalie pulled and Edmonton trailing Los Angeles by one back in January, Nail Yakupov crafted the signature moment of his rookie season: batting a Taylor Hall rebound out of midair and putting it behind Kings goalie Jonathan Quick with just 4.7 seconds left on the clock. He took a lot of grief for his spontaneous Theo Fleury impression, but it was a beautiful tally at a key moment. That’s exactly the kind of goal that calls for an over-the-top celly (yep, celly). You want to follow a sport that’s had all the life sucked out of it? Watch the NFL.

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Flames GM Jay Feaster and the NHL don’t see eye to eye on a rule in the new CBA. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Ryan O’Reilly may be back with the Colorado Avalanche, but the story of how he almost became a Calgary Flame isn’t over yet.

As first reported by Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston this morning, Flames GM Jay Feaster failed to understand a very critical element of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Had Colorado accepted draft pick compensation instead of matching Calgary’s two-year, $10 million offer, O’Reilly would have been subject to waivers before joining the Flames as a result of having played in the KHL after the NHL season got underway.

And that would have meant only one thing: O’Reilly would have been claimed by another team (likely Columbus) and the Flames would have given away a first- and third-round pick for nothing.

All because Feaster and his staff didn’t bother to contact the league and make absolutely certain that there was no misunderstanding of this CBA clause.

Fortunately for the Flames, the Avs matched the offer and spared Feaster that disastrous outcome.

But while he didn’t lose the picks, he may have lost something more valuable: the trust of Calgary’s ownership in his ability to move forward.

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Ryan O’Reilly’s return to Colorado left some questioning the sanity of the Calgary Flames. (Russell Lansford/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

A guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• Here’s a sampling of reactions to the Ryan O’Reilly offer sheet drama from Calgary, Denver, the national media and yours truly.

• Here’s a radio interview with O’Reilly conducted right after Colorado matched.

• “Obviously, [suicide] is not something you should joke about.” Rick DiPietro qualifies the remarks that stunned the hockey world early Thursday. Here’s another take.

• Watch DiPietro’s comments for yourself. Does he sound like he’s being facetious when he talks about driving his car off a bridge? Not so much…

• Chicago’s season-opening point streak hit 20 games with a 3-0 win over the Blues, but the Hawks lost starter Corey Crawford to an upper-body injury. A bigger concern: they continue to take a rash of third-period penalties. It’s going to catch up to them.

• Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane reflect on the third anniversary of the epic 2010 Olympic gold medal game.

• The return of Rick Nash helped the Rangers snap a four-game losing streak. Good to see Brad Richards with a jump in his step. He looked hopeless out there during Nash’s convalescence.

• This is what Evgeni Malkin can do when he’s hurt. Oh yeah, I could totally do that, too.

• Viral videos are turning top prospect Jonathan Drouin into a social media legend.

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Feaster famine: Calgary’s GM has had tough time of late improving his struggling Flames. (Terence Leung/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

For the second time in a day, Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster baffled everyone with his thinking.

His decision to sign restricted free agent forward Ryan O’Reilly to a two-year, $10 million offer sheet might have seemed like a bold strike to solve his team’s glaring need for a No. 1 center. Instead, it strengthened a divisional foe ahead of the stretch drive. And he should have known that’s exactly what was going to happen.

Not that Colorado wasn’t willing to send the reluctant O’Reilly packing. In fact, after months of failed negotiations, finger-pointing and embarrassing parental interference, it was the preferred ending to this tiresome drama.

But an offer sheet? Nice try, but Do No Harm had a better chance of succeeding.

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Captain Daniel Alfredsson would have to abandon the Senators’ sinking ship, but the Bruins are an attractive option. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

With a third of the season in the books, NHL clubs have a fair idea of where they’re at and what they might be willing to buy, or sell, in the trade market. Here’s a quick look at some of the weightier rumors that are making the rounds.

Rumor: Pierre LeBrun believes the Boston Bruins will make a play for Daniel Alfredsson.

The read: LeBrun is 100 percent right that this will be Alfredsson’s call. The chance to play for the Stanley Cup might sound appealing from the outside, but unless the wheels completely fall off in Ottawa, I think loyalty to the Senators organization will carry the day. Still, if Alfie does decide to go that route, familiar faces (GM Peter Chiarelli, Zdeno Chara and Chris Kelly), easy travel and a solid shot at the Cup might make for a soft landing in Boston. The Penguins, desperate for help on the wing, and Flyers would be in the mix as well, but the B’s have more forward talent in the cupboard to seal a deal.

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Ryan O’Reilly’s stalled contract talks made him a hot topic in the trade market. (Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Now that the Colorado Avalanche appear ready to step boldly into a post-Ryan O’Reilly future, it’s worth asking who would be willing to take the reluctant pivot off their hands…and what sort of compensation they might offer for his services.

The asking price, according to multiple sources, is a current top-six forward and a top prospect. A pretty steep fare, especially considering the multi-year, $5 million per season contract it’s going to take to keep him happy once he shows up.

No, he’s not worth the money he’s asking, at least not right now. But the 22-year-old is a heart-and-soul player, a proven defensive warrior and a blossoming playmaker with a chance to develop into a 60- to 70-point scorer in his prime. He brings the sort of complete, two-way package that 29 other teams will at least take a look at.

So let’s separate the tire kickers from the teams most likely to ante up.

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By Allan Muir

A guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• In Philly, they’re calling it a huge bolt of energy. But did Zac Rinaldo go too far in his fight with Tampa Bay’s B.J. Crombeen? Looks like it to me.

• Mike Richards earned himself a Gordie Howe hat trick, but it was Brandon Dubinsky’s boarding major that will be the topic of conversation after L.A.’s 4-2 win in Columbus.

• The Washington Capitals gave away Nicklas Backstrom garden gnomes to fans and two points to the visiting Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. The Caps now “boast” a league-worst 2-7-1 mark after their 3-2 loss. There already are calls for Adam Oates’ job, but I have to believe that GM George McPhee makes a personnel move before canning the rookie coach.

• Maybe the Leafs should barnstorm the rest of the season because they’re historically (and hysterically) bad at home.

• I mean, yeah, it has the makings of an epic steal, but was the Phil Kessel trade really the best in Boston sports history?

• SI.com’s own Adrian Dater has the latest on the Ryan O’Reilly contract talks.

• David Clarkson scored twice in a 3-1 win over the Rangers, giving him seven on the season. Maybe that 30-goal campaign wasn’t a fluke after all.

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The Avalanche would like to rebuild around center Ryan O’Reilly, but can afford to wait him out on a new contract. (Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

You have to wonder if today is the day that Ryan O’Reilly can finally read the writing on the wall.

If not, he might want to have someone read it to him.

In the wake of Monday night’s P.K. Subban deal, the 21-year-old restricted free agent and erstwhile KHL star is now the last remaining big-name player without a contract for this season.

O’Reilly led the Avalanche in scoring last season — albeit with just 55 points – -and brings a package of heart and skill that the franchise wants to rebuild around. After making $900,000 on the last year of his entry-level deal, according to capgeek.com, all agree that he is due a hefty raise.

And he’ll get one.

But if he held out any hope of swinging $5 million a year from the Avs, well, that grandiose dream died Monday night under the pitiless boot heel of Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin.

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