By Jacob Messing

St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz is out for six weeks, Auston Matthews is hurt again, and the Ottawa Senators have just one win in their past seven games.

Hot Topic: Seattle Expansion

The group of hopeful owners announced Seattle’s KeyArena would be undergoing a $660-million renovation in its attempt to bring hockey to the city. A day later, Gary Bettman said he has authorized the group to file an application for a team, which would be ready to play in 2020-21.

Nothing is official, but it looks like the NHL’s 32nd team is on the horizon.

Star Of The Week: Anze Kopitar

4 GP | 3 G | 6 A | 9 pts. | plus-nine | five-game point streak

Kopitar led all players last week with nine points and a plus-nine rating. The 30-year-old’s resurgence from last season has continued and he’s now up to 38 points in 31 games this year.

The Slovenian is thriving under new coach John Stevens, who has taken the reigns off the offense with stunning results. Kopitar is third in NHL scoring and is the key cog in his team’s 20-8-3 record as the Pacific Division leaders.

AHL Call-Up To Watch: Barbing For Ice Time

A second-round pick from 2014, Ivan Barbashev is about to get a good look with the St. Louis Blues in the absence of Schwartz. The 22-year-old scored five goals and 12 points in 30 games last season, but has zero through six games this year.

Barbashev scored 19 goals and 37 points in 46 games last season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. He’s been able to produce, and a regular spot in the lineup should help him build momentum and gain confidence while Schwartz recovers.

Fantasy Player To Add

Kyle Connor | LW | Winnipeg Jets

Offense? Check. Defense? Check. Goaltending? Well, the Jets knew their biggest question mark was goaltending heading into the season. Connor Hellebuyck has been outstanding in that regard. Even more impressive is the breakout of a different Connor.

Connor was the 17th overall pick in 2015 and is earning time in a loaded top six in Winnipeg. With 10 goals and 18 points in 24 games — and three goals in his past four games — the 21-year-old is deserving of a roster spot this week.

He’s available in 72 percent of leagues and plays four times the next seven days, including on a slow Sunday with only four games.

Game To Watch

Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators

Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 PM EST.

The NHL 100 Classic kicks off the outdoor festivities this Saturday when the Canadiens visit the Senators at Lansdowne Park. The game will pit two of the NHL’s biggest faces against each other in Carey Price and Erik Karlsson.

The Senators, 9-12-7, and Canadiens, 13-14-4, are each underwhelming this season, especially in a weak Atlantic Division.

But Price and Karlsson are each heating up just in time for Saturday’s game. That’s not to downplay the inclusion of Montreal’s Shea Weber and Max Pacioretty, or Ottawa’s Mark Stone and Matt Duchene.

Injuries: Blues Lose Big

Florida’s Roberto Luongo will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz will miss a couple weeks with a lower-body injury.

Vancouver’s Bo Horvat will miss approximately six weeks with a fractured ankle.

Boston’s Ryan Spooner ahs landed back on the IR with a lower-body injury, he’s played in just ten games this season.

Philadelphia’s Brandon Manning will be out for three to four weeks with a hand injury.

St. Louis’ Schwartz, a top-ten scorer this season, will be reevaluated in six weeks after suffering an ankle injury. Carter Hutton has been placed on the IR.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @JMessing23.