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PHT Morning Skate: Which player has been the biggest disappointment this season?

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Jaccob Slavin's first career hat trick helped the Hurricanes double up the Islanders, 8-4, in a high-scoring affair that highlighted the Islanders' goalie woes.

--The Stanley Cup is turning 125 years old on Saturday. There’s so much history and tradition surrounding the game of hockey and the Stanley Cup is at the forefront of all of that. NHL.com takes a deeper look at the history of this marvelous trophy. “It is an honor, it is a privilege and it is awesome to be that close to the celebration,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said, “just to see the raw emotion and passion that the players have for the game, what they have been through and their feeling of embracing the Stanley Cup. It is a sheer joy.” (NHL.com)

--Lightning forward Yanni Gourde’s journey to the NHL definitely wasn’t an easy one. The 25-year-old was cut by his AHL team back in 2012-13, which meant he had to go down to the ECHL to continue playing. He worked his way back up to the AHL level and eventually produced enough to get this opportunity with Tampa Bay. (Tampa Times)

--Leafs center Brian Boyle has seen his share of tragedy during his life. When he was two, his two-month old brother, Joseph, passed away. 12 years later, Boyle found out his father had cancer, but against all odds, he was able to beat it. And in 2014, one of Boyle’s best friends lost his life suddenly at the age of 27. Through it all, Boyle has been able to keep a positive perspective on life. (Toronto Sun)

--Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin scored his first career hat trick in last night’s 8-4 win over the New York Islanders. You can watch the highlights of the game by clicking the video at the top of the page.

--Many of the teams that are contenders today once found themselves in the basement of the standings. The Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals were all considered bad teams just a few years ago, but it helped them land players like Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane. This year, because of the arrival of the Vegas team, every team that’s at the bottom of the standings has less of a chance of landing the top pick in the draft. And with no impact player at the top of the draft board, teams might be less willing to implode. (TSN)

--The Hockey News’ roundtable takes a look at the most disappointing individuals on the ice in 2016-17. After signing a mammoth extension last season, it’s no surprise that Kings forward Anze Kopitar found himself on the list more than once. (The Hockey News)

--Some of the kids playing high school hockey in Minnesota have some great hair. Here’s the top 10 “All Hockey Hair Team”. Fun fact: Number one on the list is a guy named Reagen Garden, and he’s got some serious hair. (Deadspin)