Of the eight patents held by Sparx Hockey, founder and CEO Russell Layton considers US Patent No. 9,242,330 the most critical. The patent, issued on Jan. 26, 2016, lies at the heart of the Acton-based company’s namesake product: the Sparx skate sharpener, a do-it-yourself device.

“We have eight already issued,’’ Layton said. “But this is the one that’s a very big defense for us.’’ 

The sharpener allows its users to sharpen their blades at home, bypassing the traditional domain of the skate shop. Yet there is no need for a user to hold skate to wheel and sharpen the steel in the manner of a professional. The skate clicks into the machine, and a button push activates the sharpening process. The aforementioned patent helps to center the skate blade in the sharpener and guarantee a true sharpening, bypassing the imperfect guess-and-check method produced by hand and eye. 

“Before you ever allow a skate to be touched by the grinding ring, we want to align where the skate is going to be to where the grinding ring is,’’ Layton explained. “So you actually bring those two features into alignment. If this is the grinding ring over here and this is the skate, the grinding wheel wants to be perfectly underneath the blade. The novel thing we did is that before you ever put a skate in, you actually align these two things visually together.’’ 

The market will determine whether $899 is a credible point of entry for a service that usually costs several dollars. According to the company, 3,000 units have been sold in North America. Users in every state have purchased a sharpener, the last holdout being Mississippi. NHL users include Thomas Vanek, who is also an investor. The sharpener was available at Boston Winter, the outdoor City Hall operation featuring a skating rink. 

That a Massachusetts company has even dipped into the at-home sharpening business reflects how technology has caught up to an idea. Design improvements, technological advances, and the maker movement have allowed Layton, an engineer with a background in medical devices, to create something that had been in his head for more than a decade, waiting for the right time to be built. 

Heavy machinery resides behind Sparx’s front-of-house offices. The company owns a 3-D printer. It has a CNC machine to build custom pieces. Sparx uses computer-aided design programs to devise its components. 

Ten years ago, such technology was not available for small-business owners. A business plan to address a niche such as skate sharpening would have been laughed out of every conference room. 

“When this was this crazy guy and an idea and a couple interns I hired in the beginning, people were like, ‘Why hasn’t somebody done this before?’ Part of my answer was that technology wasn’t there yet to help us solve this problem economically enough that someone would even spend the effort to go after this niche market product,’’ Layton said. “There’s not enough financial gain possible out of this market for someone to have invested, 10 years ago, a lot of time and effort to design a skate sharpener at this level. It allowed someone like me to build a product like this very fast.’’ 

The idea evolved. Originally, around 2001, Layton thought about a Netflix-style business where skaters could mail their blades to be sharpened. Upon consideration, Layton acknowledged that Netblades would not be a sustainable operation. About 10 years later, Layton advanced the concept to an at-home machine. He bought a traditional sharpener, studied YouTube videos to learn the skill, and thought about what to do. 

Layton understood that to be used at home, a sharpener would have to be easy to use. The product he used as a model was the Keurig coffee maker. Operation would be foolproof. The sharpener would be aesthetically appealing. Customers would need to reorder one part, just like the Keurig K-Cups that require regular restocking. 

After several iterations, Sparx settled on a 26-inch-long, 7-inch-high machine that resembles a large printer. By pulling a lever, clamps open on top of the sharpener, allowing the skate to click into the machine. Covers slide in on each end of the skate to hold it in place. A light inside the device turns green, indicating the sharpener is ready for use. 

By pushing the play button, the carriage containing the grinding ring is activated. The ring sharpens the blade with each back-and-forth pass, which counts as one cycle. Sparx recommends four cycles for a typical sharpening, a process that takes approximately two minutes. 

The standard hollow is half an inch. Sparx offers grinding rings that produce 12 different cuts, depending on how much bite vs. glide a skater prefers.

A lighter player, for example, might want a deeper hollow to produce more bite and harder turns. In contrast, a heavier player might prefer a shallower hollow because he or she creates enough power to dig into the ice. Each poker-chip-sized ring is $49.99 and lasts for approximately 40 sharpenings. A circuit board inside the ring signals to the machine, via a power bar, when it needs to be replaced. 

The dilemma Layton wanted to solve was one of convenience. Sparx eliminates the need to travel to the skate shop, pay for sharpening, and wait in line. For skaters looking to hit the ice as quickly as possible, sharpening is an easy step to bypass. 

The reality, however, is that sharp skates make a difference. As a casual skater (a generous classification considering my garbage truck-like maneuverability), I had not sharpened my skates since the fall. After using the Sparx sharpener to buzz my blades, my next spin felt far better. For the regular player, having an on-site sharpener encourages greater use. 

“You’d get your skates sharpened, your performance would deteriorate, and you’d get your skates sharpened,’’ Layton said. “Now, what it turns into is, ‘You skate, then you sharpen. You skate and sharpen.’ Your performance never drops. It’s changing behavior.’’ 

OUTDOOR EXAMPLE

Natick rink used in Ducks’ study 

Managers of local backyard rinks know it has not been a cooperative winter for their creations. By P.J. McNealy’s count, he and his family have skated eight times this season on their Natick sheet, down from the 34 twirls they took two winters ago. 

“The wild fluctuations of the temperature have wreaked havoc,’’ McNealy explained. “We get ice when we’ve gotten a cold snap for 2-3 days. But then it’s back to pure pond within 72 hours. A lot of people love the 60- and 70-degree days. I enjoy them, too. But they’re terrible for the rink.’’ 

This winter’s jagged temperature profile is still friendlier to backyard rinks than Southern California’s temperate nature. It is why the Ducks sent a video crew in January to the Falla Forum, McNealy’s rink, as part of a segment for the First Flight Field Trip, an event for 16,000 elementary school students held on March 6 to learn about the science of hockey. 

The Ducks featured the Falla Forum as an example of the middle ground between natural (Ottawa’s Rideau Canal) and man-made ice-making facility (Anaheim’s Honda Center), two other locations they studied. Former Olympian Molly Schaus, a Ducks employee, initiated the Natick connection because she has coached Jack McNealy, P.J.’s son.

In November, the Ducks outfitted McNealy with a GoPro camera to capture a timelapse of the rink’s creation. In January, they interviewed 13-year-old Jack and his 11-year-old sister, Emma. 

“What we’re hoping is that with anything science-based, they think about these concepts and potentially about the engineering that goes behind them,’’ fan development marketing associate Jason Coopersaid of the First Flight participants, mostly in grades 3-5. “We hope it empowers them to tinker, create, and find a better way.’’ 

On the day of the interview, the temperature allowed McNealy to make ice on his 55-foot-by-35-foot sheet. It was not cold enough for his kids to skate. The unpredictability of backyard rink construction, however, has not discouraged McNealy. 

“They’re both playing on 2-3 teams, so there’s plenty of ice time to go around,’’ McNealy said. “But at the end of the day, on a Friday night when no one has hockey, the kids are all in the backyard, and the parents are on the porch under a space heater with the music playing, those nights are just pure gold. That’s why you do it.’’ 

ETC.

Smith has been missing the mark

As poorly as Jimmy Hayes is playing, trade partner Reilly Smith is also having a down season. The ex-Bruin had 25 goals and 25 assists as a first-year Panther last season. But Smith’s production has dipped to a 10-19—29 line through 63 games.

Last season, Smith buried 14.5 percent of his 143 shots, somewhat in line with his 13.7 percent shooting percentage when he scored 20 goals for the Bruins in 2013-14. But Smith is down to 7.6 percent this year, even worse than the 9.1 percent shooting percentage in 2014-15 that led helped lead to him getting traded.

Additionally, Smith’s boss has not been happy with his play away from the puck. With the Panthers desperate for every point, Smith was on the ice for both goals against in Florida’s 2-1 loss to Dallas on March 4. 

Prior to Jamie Benn’s opening goal, Smith strayed from his net-front position to give Benn space to score. 

Then with the Panthers just 67 seconds away from grabbing one point, John Klingberg scored the winning goal, again with Smith playing poor defense. When Vincent Trocheck tried to bank the puck off the glass and out, Smith took a premature skate into the neutral zone to track it down. Benn jumped to pick off the puck. With Smith out of position, Klingberg received a pass from Tyler Seguin and scored the winner. 

 “All I know,’’ Panthers coach Tom Rowe told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “is Reilly Smith was blowing the zone and doing exactly what he’s not supposed to be doing.’’ 

Thompson turns pro

The Blues will give Tage Thompson every opportunity to make their lineup next fall. Thompson, the No. 26 pick in 2016, said goodbye to college life on Wednesday when he signed his entry-level contract. Thompson, son of former NHLer Brent Thompson, submitted two good seasons of work for Mike Cavanaugh at the University of Connecticut. After a 14-18—32 freshman year, the right-shot forward posted a 19-13—32 run as a sophomore. The 6-foot-5-inch, 200-pound Thompson has some elements of Blake Wheeler’s style in his game as a big, strong, and skilled scorer. If Thompson requires farm work with Chicago next fall, it should not be an extended AHL visit. 

Zetterberg not getting help 

It is not Henrik Zetterberg’s fault the Red Wings’ 25-year postseason streak will end. The 36-year-old is playing with tempo, strength, and skill. Through 65 games, Zetterberg paced the team with 53 points (14 goals and 39 assists), most recently playing with Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist while logging 19:28 of ice time per outing. It’s hard to see Zetterberg keeping up his pace through 2021, the final season of his 12-year, back-diving, $73 million deal. But based on current play, Zetterberg’s long-term outlook is better than those of Justin Abdelkader and Danny DeKeyser. The 30-year-old Abdelkader, parked on five goals through 47 games, is in the first season of a seven-year, $29.75 million extension. It is already looking like an unmovable contract. DeKeyser is three years younger, but the defenseman’s deal, which expires in 2022, is a $5 million annual investment in a player who spends too much time chasing the puck. DeKeyser peaked in 2014-15, when he produced two goals and 29 assists in 80 games. This year, DeKeyser owns a 3-5—8 line in 65 games.

Malkin earns respect 

Evgeni Malkin didn’t have to fight. He earns his money with his gloves on. But on Wednesday against Winnipeg, Malkin recognized that accepting Wheeler’s invitation was the right thing to do. The ex-Bruin was still hot about Malkin’s high hit on Feb. 16. So at 3:33 of the first period, just after the puck dropped, both players dropped their gloves and engaged in a brief scrap in which Wheeler got the best of Malkin. It was Malkin’s first fight of the season. “A lot of respect for him answering the bell,’’ Wheeler told the Winnipeg Free Press. “He didn’t have to do that, so it was good to get that out of the way right away.’’

Part of a blockbuster 

Drew Stafford had company on deadline day. The short-term Bruin was one of 33 players to change teams. Because Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff let Stafford know a deal could go down, the wing remained in front of the TV past 3 p.m. on deadline day, aware that backups at NHL Central Registry could delay the announcement of some deals, including his own. Whereas Stafford anticipated his latest trade, he had no idea that Buffalo, his draft team, would turn his life and career upside down two years ago. On Feb. 11, 2015, the Jets and Sabres executed a five-star blockbuster: Stafford, Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia, Tyler Myers, and a 2015 first-round pick for Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, and Jason Kasdorf. “That one was out of left field,’’ Stafford recalled. “I came in and found out on Twitter that it was coming down. This one was a lot better. I was more prepared mentally. I was [in Buffalo] for almost a decade. I went through a lot of ups and downs there.’’ 

Forward thinking 

The 31 GMs are in charge of thinking about the game in accordance to the sport’s long-term health. They have been too focused on their own organizations and their corresponding job security to keep a good grip on the state of the game, which has regressed to a low-scoring, back-and-forth, goalie-dominated spectacle. So it was encouraging that during their meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., the GMs took time to brainstorm. One idea requires consideration: moving faceoffs to the middle of the offensive zone. It would be easier for attacking teams to devise plays and create chances after winning a draw in the middle than on either side of the offensive zone. There’s more space for offensive-minded players to go to work rather than getting stuck in board battles. 

Loose pucks 

It’s a pity the GMs did not gas the offside challenge. The video review had good intentions when implemented, but has since transformed into an impediment to game flow and common sense. It is impossible to tell, other than the whiffs, whether a play was conclusively offside. We will continue to hold our noses every time the linesmen huddle over their tablets . . . Condolences to the family of Charles “Mike’’ Tenney Jr., who died March 1 at age 90. Tenney founded the Duxbury Youth Hockey program in 1969. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 . . . Tom Sestito skated three shifts against Winnipeg on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh bruiser fought Chris Thorburn on one and labeled Toby Enstrom on another, earning a four-game suspension. That is quite the bang for the buck for 62 seconds of work. 

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.