Calgary Flames irritant Matthew Tkachuk really wants to prove it this season."I know you make your personal and your team legacy in playoffs," the 23-year-old winger said in an interview with NHL Network. "So that's what I'm hoping to do this year is make a very long run in the playoffs and do something special with our team. Because I would love to do that with that group of guys there."The Flames have made the playoffs three times in Tkachuk's first five NHL seasons, but each appearance has ended in a first-round exit.Tkachuk has five points in 15 career playoff games and leads all Calgary skaters with 32 penalty minutes over the team's three most recent postseason appearances. He's averaged the fifth-most ice time (16:42) among Flames forwards across those three playoff stints."I consider myself to be a solid player that hasn't done a lot so far in the league yet," he said. "So hoping for a year where I can prove that this year."The Flames struggled during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, finishing fifth in the realigned North Division with a 26-27-3 record and missing the postseason. The team fired head coach Geoff Ward in March, bringing back Darryl Sutter for a second stint behind Calgary's bench.Tkachuk, meanwhile, racked up 43 points in 56 games, a 63-point pace over 82 contests. He's surpassed that clip twice in his career, notching 77 points in 80 games in 2018-19 and 61 points in 69 games in 2019-20."It has nothing to do with me - it's got everything to do with team success," he said. He added: "(My teammates) are very special to me, and I enjoy working with them each and every day. It's time for us to do something this year."If Tkachuk and the Flames are to get over the hump this season, they'll have to do so without longtime captain Mark Giordano after the Seattle Kraken selected the defenseman in the July expansion draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators are bringing back goaltender Filip Gustavsson on a two-year contract.Gustavsson was a restricted free agent. The first year of his new deal is of the two-way variety, but the second is one way at an $825,000 cap hit.The 23-year-old went 5-1-2 with a .933 save percentage over nine games with Ottawa as a rookie last season. He also posted a .910 save percentage in 13 contests with the Senators' AHL affiliate in Belleville in 2021, having spent parts of the last four campaigns with the farm club.Gustavsson will likely enter the 2021-22 campaign behind Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg on Ottawa's goaltending depth chart.The Senators have three remaining RFAs in forwards Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, and Logan Brown.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is eyeing a matinee NHL Heritage Classic game between the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs in Hamilton, Ontario, this season, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.The target date is March 13. Toronto and Buffalo were previously scheduled to play an afternoon game that day at the KeyBank Center, but the contest was absent from the Sabres' two half-season ticket options revealed last week.The game would be held at Tim Hortons Field, which plays host to the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It has a capacity of about 23,000 but can be expanded to approximately 40,000 for special events. The Sabres would be the home team.Two outdoor games are scheduled for next season so far; the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues will square off in the pandemic-postponed Winter Classic, while the Nashville Predators face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stadium Series.The Canada-based Heritage Classic was most recently held in Saskatchewan in 2019. The Leafs are the only Canadian team who haven't participated in the Heritage Classic, but they've played in three outdoor games.Including the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008, the Sabres have played in two outdoor contests.Back in June, the NHL announced plans to schedule a Tim Hortons Heritage Classic in March 2022. If the game is played between the Sabres and Leafs, Buffalo would be the first non-Canadian team to participate.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No matter what happens between New York and Washington Capitals pest Tom Wilson next season, new Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant is confident his side can remain cool."It's not going to overtake the team," Gallant said, according to Larry Brooks of The New York Post. "Fortunately for me, I got the opportunity to be the coach and we're going to change it a little bit, the way the team is going to play and respond to issues like that. I don’t think they're going to happen anymore."Wilson infamously punched Pavel Buchnevich while he was down and rag-dolled a helmetless Artemi Panarin during a tense contest on May 3. A fight-filled affair followed two days later, and Brendan Smith made sure to drop the gloves with Wilson.The Rangers' offseason additions - namely Ryan Reaves and Barclay Goodrow - will undoubtedly add some grit to the team's lineup and help protect its stars this season."You knew whoever was going to be with the Rangers this year was going to change the complexion of the team a little bit, there was no doubt," Gallant said.The Rangers are set to face off against Wilson and the Capitals in their first game of the season on Oct. 13. Gallant, who didn't like what he saw from the "hard-nosed" Wilson during that May 3 contest, said the Rangers will likely address their recent history with Washington before puck drop."I think our team is going to play a good, solid game and we've got the guys who are going to play a physical game and a good brand of hockey. That's the brand that wins hockey games when you can get your top players playing the way they want to play and don't have to worry about stuff," he said. "That's going to go a long way with the New York Rangers hockey team this year."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Natalie Spooner scored twice and added an assist as Canada cruised to a 7-0 victory over Germany in the Women's World Hockey Championship quarterfinals on Saturday night in Calgary.Melodie Daoust tallied one marker and two helpers, while team captain Marie-Philip Poulin provided a goal and an assist during her return from injury. Sarah Fillier and Ashton Bell matched Poulin's production in the contest. Brianne Jenner scored the other goal.Canada outshot Germany 52-3.The Canadian squad's semifinal opponent will be Switzerland. The United States will play Finland in the other semifinal.Canada kept rolling Saturday after going 4-0 in the preliminary round. The hosts dispatched the U.S. 5-1 on Thursday for their first victory over the Americans during the tournament since 2013. The Canadians also snapped their archrivals' 29-game win streak at the event.The semifinals are scheduled for Monday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes filed an offer sheet for Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Saturday.It's a one-year, $6,100,015 contract. The Canadiens have seven days to match, and will get a first- and third-round pick if they choose not to do so.The Hurricanes attempted to land Kotkaniemi in a trade this week but couldn't convince the Canadiens to deal the restricted free agent, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Carolina's social media staff clearly enjoyed the team's move, tweeting "LOL" with the accompanying press release, following that up with a tweet in French, and then making it clear this was payback for Montreal tendering an offer sheet for Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho in 2019.

Henrik Lundqvist was about 72 hours away from heading to the United States to meet up with the Washington Capitals in April when he learned he had heart inflammation that ultimately forced him to conclude his career."It was three days before I was going back to Washington that I found out that I had pericarditis," Lundqvist told Swedish publication Goteborgs-Posten, as translated by NHL.com, according to the league website's Tom Gulitti. "I was very close to coming back. It was very tough to go through that again, but this was a completely different thing because it had nothing to do with the operation."Lundqvist, who retired at 39 last week, never played for the Capitals after signing with them as a free agent in October. In December, the longtime New York Rangers star netminder said he wouldn't play all season due to a heart condition, and he underwent open-heart surgery shortly thereafter.He appeared to make progress following the procedure and began to skate in the spring. However, on April 11, Lundqvist halted his comeback bid and revealed he had inflammation around his heart that would keep him out for a few more months.The Capitals inked Lundqvist to a one-year, $1.5-million deal before doctors identified his condition. The Rangers bought out his contract in late September.Lundqvist spent his entire 15-year on-ice career with New York. He was one of the best NHL goalies ever, ranking among the league's all-time leaders in wins, games played, saves, and shutouts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a one-year contract worth $900,000, the team announced Friday.Benn spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. The 34-year-old collected one goal and nine assists in 39 games while also blocking 51 shots.The blue-liner is a veteran of 556 career games, scoring 24 goals and adding 103 assists. Benn's also managed 670 hits and 908 blocked shots.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares appears to be on track to return at full health next season.The Toronto Maple Leafs captain is recovering from a big collision that sent him to the hospital during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs."It's been a great offseason for myself, obviously from a health standpoint, but even more so I think just continuing to get back to work and try to get better and recover well, obviously I think some time really helps," Tavares said on NHL Network. "I'm really fortunate that it wasn't anything much more than the incident and I really kind of came out of the hospital and I've been doing really well ever since and didn't really have any hiccups or any issues, just kind of kept building from there."So it's been a good offseason, I'm doing great."Tavares collided with Montreal Canadiens forward Corey Perry in the opening minutes of the playoffs, taking a knee to the head at full speed. He suffered a concussion and knee injury on the play but was discharged from the hospital the following day.The 30-year-old resumed light skating not long after being discharged but had no timetable for a return to playing. He's slowly ramped up his offseason routine to get ready for the upcoming campaign."It was nice to just kind of get back out and working on some things I wanted to work on," Tavares said. "Come off the injury and be on the ice a lot and get a good feel for my game and go from there and then just try to be out there with a good bunch of guys up here up north."Tavares posted 19 goals and 31 assists in 56 games last season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jack Eichel saga in Buffalo has a new development.The Sabres star has parted ways with longtime agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli and is now represented by Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey, reports The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.Brisson is one of the biggest agents in hockey, representing the likes of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Anze Kopitar, Patrick Kane, and John Tavares. His roster of clients also includes young stars such as Trevor Zegras, Jack Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and Cole Caufield.Eichel's previous agents were actively trying to broker a trade for the disgruntled forward over the summer. In late July, the agents issued a statement that the "process is not working" and they expected a trade to happen before the opening of the league's free-agency period.The 24-year-old is still reportedly seeking to undergo an artificial disk replacement surgery for his neck, but the Sabres have denied his request to undergo the procedure. With the season now rapidly approaching, it's unclear when Eichel will be able to resume play.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher among those who are less than enthused about how the team's 2020-21 campaign shook out."I can't live through another year like last year. It took years off my life and everybody else's. It's not worth it," Fletcher said, according to the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The Flyers finished second in the Metropolitan Division during the 2019-20 campaign and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Philadelphia looked primed for similar success the following year, but instead, the club ended up sixth in the realigned East Division and failed to qualify for the postseason.As a result, Fletcher saw a need to shake things up in a major way."At the end of the last season, I vowed that we would make changes and that it was unacceptable, and I think I was true to my word," he said. "We were aggressively looking to change our team. We've made a lot of changes. We like to think we've upgraded our club, and time will tell."Among the most notable additions to the Flyers' roster are defensemen Ryan Ellis, Keith Yandle, and Rasmus Ristolainen, forward Cam Atkinson, and goaltender Martin Jones. Meanwhile, Nolan Patrick, Philippe Myers, Robert Hagg, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Voracek, and Brian Elliott are no longer reporting for duty in Philly.The Flyers' offseason business didn't stop there; on Thursday, the team signed franchise mainstay Sean Couturier to an eight-year, $62-million extension.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers will hold off on negotiating a new contract for Claude Giroux until the 2021-22 campaign ends."I've had good conversations with Claude and with Pat Brisson, his agent, and at this point our plan is to play the season out and we'll talk at the end of (it)," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Thursday."I think we're both comfortable with that," Fletcher added. "Claude's our captain, he's a great player, and I anticipate that we'll find a way to continue that relationship going forward, but right now I think what we'll do is we'll just get through the season and we'll look at the situation and see where he's at, see where we're at, and we'll do what's best for everybody."Giroux is entering the final campaign of the pact he inked with the Flyers in summer 2013. It carries a cap hit of $8.275 million, according to CapFriendly.The pending unrestricted free-agent forward has spent his entire 14-year career with Philadelphia, and he's worn the "C" for the club since 2012-13. He finished tied for the team lead with 43 points over 54 games last season.Giroux ranks second in franchise history behind Bobby Clarke in games played with 943 compared to the Hall of Famer's 1,144. He also sits ninth in goals (273), second in assists (585), and third in points (858) on the Flyers' all-time lists.Philadelphia selected him 22nd overall in 2006.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada sent a message to its biggest rival Thursday night, defeating the United States 5-1 at the Women's World Hockey Championship.The win secured top spot in Group A for the Canadians heading into the quarterfinal round and brought their record to a perfect 4-0. The Americans fell to 3-1 for the tournament and saw their 29-game winning streak at the worlds come to an end.Canada hadn't beaten the U.S. at the event since 2013.Melodie Daoust and Renata Fast scored for Canada in the first period before Jamie Rattray buried twice and Sarah Nurse added another in the middle frame to put the game out of reach. Lee Stecklein gave the United States a consolation tally in the third.The quarterfinals are scheduled to begin Saturday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme says he wasn't worried that the Seattle Kraken would select Carey Price in the expansion draft last month."I was never nervous," Ducharme said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Sean Farrell. "We knew it was a possibility we could lose Carey but it was the organization's decision, and they had evaluated every situation and the reasons they believed he would stay with us."The Canadiens exposed Price in order to protect backup netminder Jake Allen. Price waived his no-move clause - for expansion-draft purposes only - to facilitate the moves.Three days before the expansion draft, it was reported Price was dealing with a knee issue that could require surgery and that he'd also have his hip examined. Seattle selected defenseman Cale Fleury from Montreal during the proceedings, and two days later, the Canadiens said Price was expected to be ready for next season after undergoing a knee procedure. He was given a recovery timetable of 10-12 weeks on July 23.Ducharme echoed the team's projection Thursday, adding he'd have a more definitive update in the near future."He just arrived in Montreal not too long ago," Ducharme said. "I'll have more news next week, and he should be there for the start of (training) camp, and if not at the start, very soon after that."Price's wife, Angela, wrote in early August that she "thought we were for sure headed to Seattle."The 34-year-old goalie helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final this summer for the first time since 1993. He's under contract through 2025-26 at a $10.5-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat says missing the playoffs in 2021-22 simply isn't an option."I've been on the team, this will be my eighth year coming up, which is crazy. And I want to be in the playoffs," Horvat told The Athletic's Thomas Drance."I don't want to go through the motions in the regular season and be done in April," he added. "I want to be playing in the playoffs, it's the best time to play, it's when I find I take my game to the next level."And I think we have the team here to get there. We just have to prove it now. Enough is enough, we can talk all we want, at the end of the day we have to go out there and prove it on the ice."The Canucks advanced to the second round of the playoffs in the bubble in 2020, snapping a four-year postseason drought during a run that ended with a seven-game defeat to the heavily favored Vegas Golden Knights. However, Vancouver didn't build on that momentum in 2021, finishing last in the North Division with a 23-29-4 record.Injuries and a significant COVID-19 outbreak factored into Vancouver's struggles last year, and now the club has made several roster changes this summer in an effort to return to the postseason.The team brought in Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland, Jason Dickinson, and Tucker Poolman while moving out Nate Schmidt and several veterans with cumbersome contracts.There's still plenty of heavy lifting for general manager Jim Benning to do before the puck drops in October, as Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are restricted free agents who need new contracts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed forward Dillon Dube to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.3 million, the team announced Thursday.Dube was a restricted free agent this offseason upon the expiry of his entry-level contract. Calgary drafted him 56th overall in 2016.The 23-year-old is coming off the most productive season of his career. He notched 22 points in 51 games while averaging over 13 minutes of ice time per contest - all personal bests.With Dube signed, defenseman Connor Mackey is Calgary's only remaining RFA. The Flames have approximately $3 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Staring down a brand new season with the Carolina Hurricanes, goaltender Frederik Andersen took a moment to fondly contemplate his time in the city where he spent the last half-decade.Well, except for one glaring thing."I'm obviously not happy with what we accomplished in the playoffs. Everyone knows that we wanted more out of that, especially this year. We had a really good team," the former Toronto Maple Leafs netminder said Thursday on "Good Show" with Sportsnet's JD Bunkis.The underperforming Maple Leafs were bounced in the first round of the playoffs in four of Andersen's five seasons; during the 2019-20 postseason, the Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated the squad in the qualifiers before the opening round even began.The 31-year-old bore the brunt of the criticism as Toronto struggled for a whiff of playoff success, but Andersen didn't mind the harsh spotlight."(Goaltenders) always get probably more of the credit than we deserve, same goes with the blame. That's just something that comes with the territory," Andersen said. "I never really felt that it was too unfair, I had pretty high expectations for myself ... I think, in general, fans appreciated me. I definitely appreciated the time in Toronto as well."Andersen's ride with the Leafs ended unceremoniously. He started 23 games and played through injury this past campaign as both he and breakout goaltender Jack Campbell struggled to stay healthy."The way I dealt with things, playing through pain like that and injury, it wasn't the best idea long term, looking back," he said. "I definitely don't think I was making the right move in trying to keep playing."Andersen didn't see any game action during Toronto's first-round exit against the Montreal Canadiens, which he said "was obviously not fun," but added that he respected the coaching staff's decision to run with Campbell.In his first three seasons as a Leaf, Andersen was notoriously one of the busiest goalies in the league, starting an average of 64 games per campaign and leading his position with 6,221 shots faced."Over those five years, I felt like I left it all out there for Toronto, and it just doesn't always go the way you're imagining it. That’s how sports are," he said.Andersen inked a two-year deal worth $9 million with the Hurricanes in July and said he is ready to start his new chapter."Toronto never really became that serious to offering anything," he said. "I was just really grateful and happy that I was able to go to a good team like Carolina."A breath of fresh air would be good, so that's really what I look forward to instead of looking too far backward," Andersen added.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Sean Couturier to an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $7.75 million, the team announced Thursday.The contract goes into effect in the 2022-23 season. The first seven years of the deal have a full no-movement clause, while the final year includes a modified 21-team no-trade list, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.Couturier has developed into one of the league's most well-rounded centers during the last few campaigns. He put up 18 goals and 23 assists in 45 games last season."As one of the premier two-way centers in the NHL, Sean has the rare talent to shut down opposing team's top players while also contributing at a high offensive level," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "Throughout his 10-year career with the Flyers, he has proven to be the ultimate teammate. He carries an enormous presence inside our dressing room due to his preparation, determination, and drive to win."Last season, Couturier ranked 12th among skaters with a 59.23 Corsi For rating at five-on-five. He's been nominated for the Selke Trophy twice, winning it in 2020. During his Selke-winning campaign, Couturier led the NHL with a 59.6 face-off win percentage.The Flyers selected Couturier with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. He's collected 174 goals and 269 assists in 692 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Andrei Svechnikov to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million, the team announced Thursday.Svechnikov just wrapped up his third season with the Hurricanes since being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old put up a career-high 24 goals and 37 assists in 68 games during the 2019-20 campaign, and he's scored 59 goals and added 81 assists in 205 career contests."Andrei is one of the cornerstones of this organization, and we are thrilled to reach a long-term commitment to keep him here," general manager Don Waddell said. "He is one of the brightest rising stars in our sport and will play a key role in our efforts to bring the Stanley Cup to the Triangle this decade."Svechnikov recorded 15 goals and 27 assists in 55 games last season, ranking third on the team in points (42) and second in hits (114).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin will miss Thursday's pivotal clash against the United States at the women's world championship, director Gina Kingsbury said, according to Donna Spencer of The Canadian Press.Poulin left Wednesday's game versus Switzerland in the third period after blocking a shot up high. Kingsbury said the star forward will be "resting for the next couple days."The 30-year-old has notched one goal and two assists over three games so far during the tournament.Thursday's contest between the North American juggernauts will determine the top spot in Group A. Both Canada and the USA have cruised to 3-0 records during the round-robin stage.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith hopes his club will have a new leader in time for the 2021-22 season."We hope to, but that's a decision with (owner) Mr. (Eugene) Melnyk and (general manager) Pierre Dorion," Smith told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "But we feel we're at that time now where we're as close as we've been to naming a guy. It's time for someone to be the leader of this group."The Senators haven't had a captain since the 2017-18 season. Erik Karlsson wore the "C" for four years before he was traded to the San Jose Sharks.Smith believes choosing a captain will help his young core take the next step."I just think there has to be a face to it. We have plenty of guys who are leaders and could be captains, but I just think if you look at the Stanley Cup winners, they all have captains and they've had the same captain for three, four, five years," Smith said. "It's the voice of that team, the direction of that team and I think the real successful teams have their captains for a long time."We want to be that kind of hockey team."Defenseman Thomas Chabot has seven years remaining on an eight-year extension signed in 2019 and is likely to be among the leading candidates given his reputation around the league and role with the club. Another option would be Brady Tkachuk, who is widely regarded as the heart and soul of Ottawa's attack. However, he's currently a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After dealing with severe complications from COVID-19, Marco Rossi is on the comeback trail.He first hopes to help his home nation of Austria qualify for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and then he'll look to secure his place on the Minnesota Wild's 2021-22 roster."I know I haven't played a lot of games in the last year, year and a half, but now that I can see my fitness level and my shape, I know I'm better in shape than a lot of NHL players," Rossi, the Wild's 2020 ninth overall pick, told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I see no doubt about that I can play in the NHL. I know I can play there. I know how good I am, but I have to prove myself in a training camp that I'm ready for that. I know it's going to be up to me to show I'm ready to play right away."Rossi was diagnosed with COVID-19 in November 2020 while with the ZSC Lions of the National League in Switzerland. He experienced only mild symptoms at the time and was cleared to play in the world juniors, at which point his condition worsened.He reported to Minnesota in January for training camp after the tournament and failed a cardiac screening. Rossi was diagnosed with myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart - and shut down for the 2020-21 season.In April, the 19-year-old said he was "just happy" to be alive.Now, Rossi is back for his first game action since December; he sniped a power-play goal during Austria's Sunday friendly match against Italy ahead of the Olympic qualifiers."All the memories came into my mind from the past. I went through a really tough time. When I scored that goal, I was so relieved. The goal means a lot to me because it gives me more confidence that I'm healthy again," the center said.Rossi can impress the Wild and prove he doesn't need a conditioning stint in the AHL during training camp next month, all while celebrating his 20th birthday on Sept. 23.For now, Rossi's got a busy schedule ahead of him: Austria plays Slovakia on Thursday, Belarus on Friday, and Poland on Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Derick Brassard to a one-year contract worth $825,000, the team announced Wednesday.Brassard, 33, spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes. He registered eight goals and 12 assists in 53 contests.The center played for a handful of teams over the last few seasons, spending time with the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Islanders since 2016. He also had stints with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in his career.Brassard played under Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault while with the Rangers and was a part of the roster that made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.Over his career, Brassard has appeared in 905 games, scored 194 goals, and contributed 309 assists.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unrestricted free-agent goaltender Tuukka Rask once again reiterated his desire to stay with the Boston Bruins.Rask said Wednesday during the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon that he has "no reason to chase the money anymore and go somewhere else.""I've been so lucky to be a part of one team in the NHL. For me, it's about that pride of playing for one team and one team only," Rask said. "It's going to be one of those things that I feel the Bruins is my home, Boston's my home. I've always wanted to play here and wanted to stay here."With an estimated $61.6 million of career earnings, according to CapFriendly, Rask said he isn't looking for a "$7-million contract" and that he'd be a "cheap goalie" for Boston."I just like to help the team out," he said. "I'm a veteran goalie and there's some young guys coming in, so whatever I can do to help the guys out, I would do it and end my career as a Bruin."He added: "There's a few guys now, like (Patrice Bergeron) and (Brad Marchand) ... we've played entire careers together. I feel like it would be a shame to go somewhere and try to chase something dollar-wise or trophy-wise when you have a chance to finish your career with the same group that you started (with)."The longtime Bruins goaltender won't be able to suit up until January regardless of where he plays. The 34-year-old is rehabbing from offseason hip surgery, which he said went "perfect." Rask estimates that he can begin skating in about a month and a half."We'll see how my rehab goes and then we'll hopefully sign a contract," he said.The Finnish netminder said his camp isn't in active talks with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, but he believes they are on the same page.Jeremy Swayman, 22, and new addition Linus Ullmark are expected to share goaltending duties for the Bruins to begin the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Kevin Hayes paid tribute to his older brother Jimmy on Tuesday in an emotional Instagram post.The elder Hayes died Monday at 31.

Canada won its third consecutive game at the Women's World Hockey Championship, dispatching Switzerland 5-0 on Tuesday.The lopsided contest was scoreless after 20 minutes, but Canada exploded for four goals in the second period and added one in the final frame to earn a convincing victory.Emily Clark, Jaime Bourbonnais, Natalie Spooner, and Melodie Daoust scored for the Canadians. Spooner was named Canada's player of the game following a two-goal performance.Shots were 63-12 in favor of the Canadians.Canada's next contest comes Thursday against the United States. Both teams are undefeated, so the winner will secure top position in Group A heading into the quarterfinals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CSKA Moscow of the KHL has announced Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov will not join the club this season, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.The Russian outfit reportedly tried to lure Kaprizov, a restricted free agent, back overseas with a contract offer earlier this summer.A new deal with the Wild isn't imminent, but conversations between the team and Kaprizov's representatives have picked up recently, Russo adds.Kaprizov played three of his six KHL seasons with CSKA Moscow before joining the Wild for a stellar rookie campaign in 2020-21, during which he led Minnesota in scoring and captured the Calder Trophy. Wild general manager Bill Guerin said last week the possibility of Kaprizov returning to the KHL "doesn't bother me at all."Kaprizov, 24, is Minnesota's sole unsigned restricted free agent. The Wild currently have approximately $13 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL forward Jimmy Hayes has died at the age of 31, according to his alma mater Boston College, and The Boston Globe, which cites a Milton, Massachusetts, law enforcement official.No cause of death has been made available.Hayes suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils over seven seasons. He had 109 points in 334 games played.A second-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, Hayes was traded to the Blackhawks in 2010 and made his NHL debut Dec. 30, 2011. He scored his first goal in his second career game.Hayes played his final NHL game with the Devils on April 7, 2018. He signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Penguins afterward and ended his professional career with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Schwartz found himself at a crossroads before the start of the 2020-21 season following the unexpected death of his father last November."I didn't even know if I was going to come back," the newly signed Seattle Kraken forward told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford. "This past year was pretty tough on me and my family. I didn't have much motivation to play and didn't really have time to train."In addition to his father's death, the Saskatchewan native had to quarantine back home."It was a lot on me. I wasn't in a very good place," Schwartz said. "It's tough leaving your family and friends behind and not being there for them and not having them to be around me, either."Although Schwartz, who was with the St. Louis Blues last season, almost decided not to play and forfeit his $4-million salary, he wanted to step up for the people around him.“I wanted to be there for my teammates," he said. "I knew my mom and family really enjoyed watching me play hockey, and my dad would have wanted me to go back and play. I mostly did it for them, but it wasn't easy. I think my teammates knew that I wasn't at 100%."Schwartz finished the campaign with just eight goals and 21 points in 40 contests. He missed 16 games due to an oblique injury and didn't register a point in the Blues' first-round loss to the Colorado Avalanche."I tried to do everything I could, but mentally and physically, I wasn't where I needed to be," Schwartz said. "It was the toughest year I've ever had in my life. I know I didn't finish well with the Blues, and that sucks, but I wasn't mentally ready for an NHL season at all."After spending the first 10 campaigns of his career in St. Louis, Schwartz is more than ready to begin a new chapter in Seattle."I'm doing a lot better now," Schwartz said. "Mentally, I'm in a better spot, and I was able to train. I feel fresh again."He added: "Seattle is such a good city, and being part of an expansion team in the new city is pretty special."Schwartz signed a five-year deal worth $27.5 million with the Kraken earlier this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers icon Rod Gilbert has died at the age of 80, the team announced Sunday."I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Gilbert - one of the greatest Rangers to ever play for our organization and one of the greatest ambassadors the game of hockey has ever had," said Rangers owner James Dolan.Gilbert, nicknamed "Mr. Ranger," was one of the most prolific wingers of his era. He's New York's all-time leader in goals (406) and points (1,021). Gilbert suited up on Broadway from 1960-1978 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.His No. 7 was raised to the Madison Square Garden rafters in 1979. Gilbert was the first player in franchise history to have his number retired.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada breezed past the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) with a 5-1 win Sunday night at the Women's World Hockey Championship.It marked Canada's second consecutive victory to begin the tournament, having edged Finland 5-3 in a tight contest Friday.After a scoreless first period, Sarah Fillier scored the first of three Canadian goals in the middle frame. Ella Shelton, Erin Ambrose, Melodie Daoust, and Rebecca Johnston recorded Canada's additional tallies.Canada thoroughly dominated play, outshooting its opponent 62-7. The ROC's lone goal came with one second remaining in the contest.Canada returns to action Tuesday against Switzerland in its third of four round-robin games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A native of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, David Savard has already brought the Stanley Cup back to his home province. This time around, he wants to do it as a member of the Montreal Canadiens."We're going to try to bring it back (to Montreal), that's the plan for next year," Savard said, according to writers at NHL.com. "We're all planning to return to the final and to win it."Savard was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a three-way trade involving the Detroit Red Wings days before the deadline. He was a solid stay-at-home defenseman for the Bolts and put up five points in 20 playoff games to help them repeat as champions.The 30-year-old saw his newest team up close and personal in the finals as the Lightning dispatched the Habs in five games."I liked the way the Canadiens played against us in the final. They have several veterans who've already won the Cup," he said. "I'm going to try to bring my own baggage and make it an even better team."Savard currently lives 20 minutes north of Quebec City in Lac-Beauport and had his day with the Cup on Wednesday. He signed a four-year, $14-million deal with the Canadiens earlier this offseason."I'm looking forward to putting on the skates and playing a first game at Bell Centre," he added. "It will be nice to be closer to my family and my friends."Savard joins other notable newcomers such as Mike Hoffman and Cedric Paquette as the Canadiens hunt for more playoff success.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Juuse Saros is eager to fill Pekka Rinne's shoes in the Nashville Predators' crease next season."I was lucky and grateful for sharing the net with him for four or five years," Saros said, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "So, yeah, it was a little bit of a sad moment when he said he's not coming back. Personally, I'm ready to take that next step and be the guy in net, take the lead on the team."Rinne announced his retirement this offseason after 15 years in Nashville. He's the franchise leader in every major goaltending statistic, and he won the Vezina Trophy in 2018.Saros, meanwhile, inked a four-year, $20-million contract extension this summer. The 26-year-old is coming off a terrific 2020-21 campaign where he posted a 21-11-1 record with a .927 save percentage and 20.9 goals saved above average.And after years of backing up Rinne, Saros is confident he won't be fazed by a larger workload."Of course, it's a bigger role, but at the same time, it doesn't really change," Saros said."I always try to do my best, whatever the role is. So, I think I'll adjust to that. Of course, I played as a No. 1 goalie before, too, in different leagues, but yeah, I'm just ready to get the season going."Nashville drafted Saros 99th overall in 2013. He's appeared in 155 NHL games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Travis Sanheim have agreed on a two-year contract carrying a $4.675-million average annual value, the team announced Saturday.Sanheim entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He was the last player on Philadelphia's books in need of a contract.The 25-year-old has emerged as a key piece on the Flyers' blue line. He notched 15 points in 55 games last season while averaging nearly 22 minutes per contest.

Warm weather, golf, fishing, and, most importantly, the opportunity to play under three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville: Consider Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett a fan of life in the Sunshine State."(Quenneville's) a coach that once he trusts you and believes in you, he'll put you in situations to succeed," Bennett told The Hockey News' Erin Brown. "He gives pointers here and there and advice. But he'll let you play hockey, too. It's been unbelievable, and I couldn't be happier with my time under 'Q.'"The Calgary Flames flipped Bennett and a 2022 sixth-round selection to the Panthers in exchange for prospect Emil Heineman and a 2022 second-round pick at the trade deadline this past season.The 25-year-old struggled to produce in his final 38 games with the Flames in 2020-21, registering just four goals and 12 points while averaging 13:27 of ice time per contest.Bennett - the fourth overall pick in 2014 and the Flames' highest selection since relocating from Atlanta - hasn't topped 27 points in a season since notching 36 as a rookie in 2015-16. He's well aware his time with Calgary didn't pan out as expected."I knew I still had a lot more to give and more to show as a player. I thought I could do a lot more than what I was doing in Calgary," he said. "Sometimes that's all it takes - a little bit of a change, a GM and a coach that believe in you, and that's definitely what I got in Florida."Bennett enjoyed a resurgence in 10 regular-season outings with the Panthers, posting 15 points while averaging a career-high 18:03 of ice time per game as their No. 2 center. He also saw time on Florida's top power-play unit and added five points in five playoff games."The opportunity alone was a ton," Bennett said. He added: "I got to play with some great players. They helped me as well. All that, put together with gaining confidence quickly, I think that was the recipe to have success early."The Panthers rewarded Bennett handsomely for his late-season performance, inking him to a four-year deal reportedly worth $4.425 million annually earlier this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks' firepower could use a shot in the arm, and Trevor Zegras is looking to provide that boost."My biggest thing is kind of just competing and working hard," he said last week, per Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com. "At the core, what I do best is compete. I love to win, and that's kind of what drives me. That's kind of how I attack every day and how I get myself going."Anaheim's offense has been in rough shape over the past three seasons.Since the 2018-19 campaign, the club sits second-last in goals scored, ahead of only the Detroit Red Wings. No Ducks player has eclipsed the 50-point mark since Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf registered over 60 points during the 2017-18 season. This past year, Anaheim posted a league-worst 2.21 goals scored per game and finished last in the realigned West Division.Zegras started his NHL career last season at left wing, a move the Ducks felt would ease the 20-year-old's transition to the pros. Anaheim sent Zegras to the AHL in early April to get him readjusted to playing center, his natural position, before calling him back up to finish the NHL campaign with the Ducks.He put up 13 points in 24 games in his first NHL season and ended the campaign on a high note, with six of those points coming during his final six contests. Zegras also honed his faceoff skills, winning 46% of his draws during his last six games after winning just 37% in his first 18 matchups."Down the stretch I played center and thought I played great," Zegras said. "I definitely worked on my faceoffs, and I just feel really comfortable in the middle of the ice. It just felt normal."After a unique season altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Zegras hopes next year will be a bit more ordinary."Last year ... I feel like I didn't really get to experience the day-to-day life in the NHL," Zegras said. "I'm pretty excited to just get back to normal, kind of experience your first NHL season. I kind of just want to go there, be the best player I can be, and try and help the team any way I can."Zegras, drafted ninth overall by the Ducks in 2019, is projected to begin the 2021-22 campaign at center on a line with Max Comtois and Troy Terry. The trio showed offensive promise toward the end of last season, controlling 62% of the expected goals for and high-danger chances at five-on-five.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews believes years of playoff anguish for the Toronto Maple Leafs will soon pay off.Toronto is fresh off its fifth consecutive first-round defeat after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the underdog Montreal Canadiens. Although Matthews said that loss is still fresh in his mind, he's confident in the club's current group."It's obviously really frustrating," Matthews said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "It sucks right now. People have opinions and they can say what they want, and rightfully so, but I really believe in the team and I really believe in all the players on the team - the core group especially. I truly believe that we're going to get it done. We're going to be better from our losses, and from the adversity we faced."The only way is forward. (The playoff loss) sucked. There's no other way to put it. Extremely disappointing. But it'll just feel that much better when we eventually get to the top."Matthews' sentiments echo those of general manager Kyle Dubas, who said earlier this offseason that he's "willing to bet everything" on the team's core."I don't think that's news to us," Matthews said of Dubas' remarks. "We know that's how he feels. When he reiterates that, it gives us confidence moving forward. That's all you can ask for: that your general manager and all your teammates truly believe in one another."The Leafs' star-powered core - particularly Matthews and linemate Mitch Marner - faced intense scrutiny after they were eliminated this past spring. The pair combined for three points in their last three playoff games.Matthews had a dominant regular season, leading the NHL with 41 goals in 52 contests while finishing second in MVP voting.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Owen Power is in no rush to make his NHL debut.The Buffalo Sabres' first overall draft pick will return to Michigan for his sophomore season, the program announced.The defenseman played 26 games with Michigan last campaign, recording three goals while adding 13 assists. He was seen as the consensus first overall pick heading into this year's draft.It's not often a first overall pick doesn't immediately jump into the NHL the following season. The last player to do so was Erik Johnson in 2006, who played at the University of Minnesota for one year.Power stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 213 pounds, which would suggest he's physically ready to play with the pros. He played a prominent role on Team Canada's gold medal-winning team at the IIHF World Championship in June.The 18-year-old indicated before the draft he was leaning toward returning to Michigan next season regardless of where he was selected, saying he wanted to "get the true experience" of playing college hockey.A number of the league's top defensemen took similar routes after being drafted, such as Cale Makar, Adam Fox, and Quinn Hughes.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.55 million, the team announced Friday.Valimaki's entry-level contract expired after the 2020-21 campaign, making him a restricted free agent.The 23-year-old appeared in 49 games for the Flames last season and registered 11 points in just over 15 minutes per contest. Calgary drafted him in the first round in 2017.With Valimaki's new deal in place, Calgary has approximately $6 million to sign remaining RFAs Dillon Dube, Glenn Gawdin, and Connor Mackey, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Lundqvist may have never lifted the elusive Stanley Cup, but that doesn't change the fact that he's retiring as one of the top goalies the NHL has ever seen.Backstopping the New York Rangers for his entire 15-season career, Lundqvist strung together one impressive campaign after another, accumulating several notable accolades and moments along the way. Let's take a look at seven of the most memorable.The King denies Briere in Winter ClassicUp 3-2 with time winding down in the 2012 Winter Classic against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers looked well on their way to winning the outdoor game. But in the dying seconds with Philadelphia applying pressure, Ryan McDonagh was whistled for covering the puck in the crease - gifting the Flyers a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds left on the clock.The Flyers selected Daniel Briere to take the shot. With the game on the line, Lundqvist didn't crack under pressure, coming up with a huge save to secure the victory for New York.Lundqvist finally secures VezinaLundqvist was a perennial Vezina Trophy contender for most of his career. He was nominated for the award in each of his first three NHL seasons from 2006-08 but never managed to come out on top. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyHe wasn't nominated again until 2012 when he went up against Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Quick. But the fourth time was clearly the charm, as Lundqvist was finally voted the long-overdue winner thanks to a 38-19-5 record, a sparkling .929 save percentage, and a 1.97 goals-against average. Lundqvist garnered his fifth and final Vezina nomination in 2013.Hank earns career win No. 400Only 13 goalies in NHL history have hit the 400-win mark, and Lundqvist became one of them with a victory against the Colorado Avalanche in 2017. He was the first European-born goalie to reach the mark and the fastest NHL netminder to do so, needing just 727 games. He joined Martin Brodeur and Tony Esposito as the only goalies to win 400 games with one franchise.Lundqvist retires sitting sixth all-time in wins among goalies with more victories than any other non-Canadian NHL netminder.Lundqvist helps Rangers reach Stanley Cup FinalLundqvist and the Rangers ran into a hot Montreal Canadiens squad in the 2014 Eastern Conference Final. Entering Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead, New York needed a win to clinch its first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 1994.The contest was still scoreless when Lundqvist made an incredible twirling save on a redirected shot from Thomas Vanek near the end of the second period. The stop clearly sparked the team in front of him, as Dominic Moore scored two minutes later for the eventual game-winner and series-clincher.Etched in Rangers record booksIt seemed inevitable that Lundqvist would end his Rangers tenure as the franchise's leading netminder in most regards. On March 18, 2014, he secured his 302nd regular-season win with the club in an 8-4 thumping of the Ottawa Senators, officially eclipsing Mike Richter as the winningest goalie in franchise history.Lundqvist finishes his career leading all Rangers goalies in games played (887), wins (459), saves (23,509), save percentage (.918), and shutouts (64). It's safe to say nobody will touch some of those records anytime soon.Sweden snags gold in TurinEarly in his career, Lundqvist helped lead his native Sweden to a gold medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006. He started six games at the tournament, surrendering just 12 goals and recording a .907 save percentage. DON EMMERT / AFP / GettyFacing rival nation Finland in the gold medal game, Lundqvist delivered a fantastic performance, stopping 25 of 27 shots and making several highlight-reel saves in the third period to keep Sweden on top. He would also help Sweden secure a silver medal in Sochi in 2014.Lundqvist dethrones HasekDominik Hasek was one of the first European-born goaltenders to make a significant mark in the NHL and is considered one of the best goalies to ever suit up in the league.But on New Year's Eve in 2016, Lundqvist backstopped the Rangers to a 6-2 victory over the Avalanche to earn career win No. 390 - surpassing Hasek for the most regular-season wins by a European goalie.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million, the team announced Friday.Zadorov was a restricted free agent and had filed for arbitration. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 season.The Flames acquired the 26-year-old from the Chicago Blackhawks in July in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick.Zadorov skated in 55 games with the Blackhawks last season, recording one goal, seven assists, and 190 hits. He's collected 23 goals and 60 assists in 411 career games split between the Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary goaltender Henrik Lundqvist announced his retirement from the NHL after spending 15 seasons with the New York Rangers.

The Arizona Coyotes will need to find a new home after the 2021-22 season.The city of Glendale announced that it informed the Coyotes it won't renew the operating agreement for the city-owned Gila River Arena, and the team will need to vacate the facility at the end of the upcoming campaign."We are disappointed by today's unilateral decision by the City of Glendale to break off negotiations on a multi-year lease extension agreement. We are hopeful that they will reconsider a move that would primarily damage the small businesses and hard-working citizens of Glendale. We remain open to restarting good-faith negotiations with the city," Coyotes president Xavier Gutierrez said in a statement issued by the team."Most importantly, the Coyotes are 100% committed to finding a long-term arena solution here in Arizona, and nothing will shake our determination to do what is right for our organization, residents of the entire Valley, and, most important, our fans."The city and team were negotiating the terms of a lease extension and potential arena renovations over the last few months before talks stalled, reports The Athletic's Katie Strang. The club was also reportedly given multiple notices about outstanding balances owed."We've reached that point of no return," city manager Kevin Phelps told The Athletic. "There's no wavering."Last year, due to the pandemic, we agreed to forgo a significant amount of the money owed to the arena," he added. "In doing so, the Coyotes agreed they would keep current with all future financial obligations under their lease agreement. That has not occurred."Glendale wanted a long-term agreement with the Coyotes instead of going on a year-by-year basis, per Strang. In a letter reportedly sent to Gutierrez in November, Phelps said the city was looking for at least a 12-year commitment.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on WFAN 660 AM in New York on Thursday that he doesn't believe the Coyotes will relocate outside of the Phoenix area, per NHL.com.Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo said he wanted a new arena for the club when he took over the franchise in July 2019. The team is reportedly eying Tempe as a potential location and can submit arena and development proposals to the city by Sept. 2.The Coyotes have been playing in the Gila River Arena since the 2003-04 season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings bought out the final year of Frans Nielsen's contract, a source confirmed to The Athletic's Max Bultman.Nielsen had one year remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $5.25 million. He inked the six-year, $31.5-million pact with Detroit in 2016.With the buyout, Nielsen's contract will now have a $4.25-million cap hit during the 2021-22 season and a $500,000 cap hit the following year, per CapFriendly.The 37-year-old recorded five goals and 10 assists across 89 games over the past two seasons. An injury limited Nielsen to 29 contests this past year.Nielsen's contract was one of the final deals remaining from ex-general manager Ken Holland's time in Detroit. The club's forward group now boasts just one player over the age of 30 - Sam Gagner.Nielsen has played 925 NHL games and spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the New York Islanders. He's collected 167 goals and 306 assists since being drafted by the Islanders in 2002.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the dust settling on a chaotic offseason and the new season still a couple of months away, oddsmakers have released the opening lines for teams to make or miss the playoffs.The Colorado Avalanche (-4000) are considered the likeliest team to qualify for the postseason by oddsmakers, while the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and Ottawa Senators (all +1500) have been dubbed least likely.TEAMYESNOAnaheim Ducks+1500-4000Arizona Coyotes+1500-4000Boston Bruins-650+475Buffalo Sabres+1500-4000Calgary Flames+115-135Carolina Hurricanes-150+130Chicago Blackhawks-130+110Colorado Avalanche-4000+1500Columbus Blue Jackets+1200-2500Dallas Stars-220+180Detroit Red Wings+1200-2500Edmonton Oilers-320+250Florida Panthers-475+350Los Angeles Kings+215-265Minnesota Wild-320+250Montreal Canadiens+170-200Nashville Predators+250-320New Jersey Devils+160-190New York Islanders-300+235New York Rangers-150+130Ottawa Senators+1500-4000Philadelphia Flyers-120+100Pittsburgh Penguins-265+210San Jose Sharks+250-320Seattle Kraken-130+110St. Louis Blues-180+155Tampa Bay Lightning-2000+1000Toronto Maple Leafs-1200+750Vancouver Canucks+145-165Vegas Golden Knights-1600+900Washington Capitals-150+130Winnipeg Jets-130+110Atlantic DivisionThe Atlantic is commonly referred to as the NHL's best division, but it should more reasonably be considered the league's most top-heavy. Just six teams have odds of -475 or shorter to make the playoffs, and four hail from the Atlantic - the Bruins (-650), Panthers (-475), Lightning (-2000), and Maple Leafs (-1200).Only the top three clubs in a division qualify automatically for the postseason, with the rest fighting for the conference's two wild-card spots, so it could be worth taking a flier on one of the four big favorites to miss the playoffs at long odds. But the best value appears to be on the Canadiens to miss the postseason (-200). Despite an impressive run to the Cup Final last season, it's hard to see the Habs - now thin down the middle and worse on the back end - unseating any of the four teams listed above.Metropolitan DivisionWhile the Atlantic is the most top-heavy division, the Metropolitan is the most open-ended. Six of the eight teams are favored to make the playoffs, with the Devils (+160) not too far off, either. The Metro is shaping up to be a gauntlet, in which the top seven teams could finish in just about any order and it wouldn't be considered a shock.The Metro houses the two clubs with the longest active playoff appearance streaks in the Penguins (15) and Capitals (7), but those could be in jeopardy this campaign as there's value on betting both to miss the postseason. Pittsburgh (+210) failed to address its goaltending issues, and Washington (+130) owns the league's oldest roster. With the Hurricanes and Islanders still boasting very strong lineups, and the Flyers, Rangers, and Devils all considerably improved, the Penguins and Capitals have their work cut out for them this season.Central DivisionThe West's toughest division is led by the Avalanche, viewed by oddsmakers as the league's biggest postseason lock and one of five teams from the Central projected to reach the playoffs. The Wild (-320) have the next shortest odds, but the Kirill Kaprizov contract still needs sorting. Minnesota benefitted last season from playing in a top-heavy West Division and isn't as big a lock as this line suggests, especially in a deep field.The Stars were always going to be better simply by having greater injury luck, but some smart offseason signings have them trending toward a return to the playoffs. The Blues are primed for a bounce-back as well, while the Blackhawks are drastically improved and will undoubtedly push for a top-three finish. It leaves the Jets in a vulnerable position, though they did really well to strengthen their blue line. And in front of Connor Hellebuyck, that will be enough to keep them in the mix.Pacific DivisionBy far the league's weakest division, oddsmakers expect just three Pacific teams to reach the playoffs. The Golden Knights are the division's runaway favorites, while the Oilers and Kraken round out the top three. The latter two still have serious question marks heading into the 2021-22 season, with Edmonton weak on the blue line and in goal and Seattle thin at center.Two teams warranting playoff consideration are the Flames (+115) and Kings (+215). Calgary made a few really smart moves this offseason and will be much improved after a lost 2021 campaign, while L.A. is strong down the middle and has an exciting crop of young players coming through to complement its veteran core. In the weak Pacific, both have a realistic shot at finishing inside the top three or at least stockpiling enough points against the division's bottom-feeders to secure a wild-card berth.Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have expressed interest in bringing in free agent defenseman Zdeno Chara, reports The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.The Blues have been targeting a veteran defenseman on the open market this offseason after losing blue-liner Vince Dunn to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.The club also inquired about Ryan Suter before he signed with the Dallas Stars, Rutherford added.Chara, 44, played with the Washington Capitals last season on a one-year deal and proved he still has what it takes to be a capable defenseman. He averaged 18:19 of ice time per game and racked up 10 points, 88 hits, and 67 blocked shots across 55 contests.Being close to his family is Chara's top priority in deciding where he'll play next campaign, a source told Rutherford. Chara reportedly chose to sign with the Capitals last season due to the club's proximity to his family, who remain in Boston.Beyond Chara, numerous veteran defensemen remain on the open market, including Jason Demers, Erik Gudbranson, Jordie Benn, Sami Vatanen, and Braydon Coburn.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment will require all fans, employees, and event staff to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to gain access to its arenas, stadiums, and restaurants, the organization announced Tuesday.The rules are set to come into effect at some point in mid-September."As an organization that hosts more than four million fans per year, at hundreds of events in multiple venues, MLSE is proud to serve as a central gathering place in Toronto and recognizes its responsibility to provide attendees with a safe and secure environment," the statement reads.MLSE is the parent company that owns the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA's Toronto Raptors, CFL's Toronto Argonauts, and MLS' Toronto FC as well as all of their affiliated farm teams. The company also owns Scotiabank Arena and manages BMO Field.The decision comes amid rising COVID-19 case numbers across the country and the world. Last week, True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Winnipeg Jets, announced that all employees and fans will need to provide full proof of vaccination in order to attend its entertainment venues.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will feature advertisements on jerseys starting in the 2022-23 season, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski confirmed Sportico's initial report.The league surveyed teams and found that the majority were in favor of implementing ads. The move was approved through a formal vote with the board of governors, Wyshynski added.The ad will need to fit a rectangle that is 3 inches by 3.5 inches, which is slightly larger than the patches NBA teams added to their jerseys in 2017. Juan Ocampo / National Basketball Association / GettyLast season, the league allowed teams to place advertisements on the side of players' helmets. The move allowed clubs to recoup a chunk of money that was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Advertisements on jerseys are widespread across the world in most sports but have not generally been implemented in North America. The NBA, WNBA, and MLS have all embraced the idea in recent years.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The WHL will require all players, hockey operations staff, and league personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the 2021-22 season, the league announced Monday.All three of the CHL's umbrella leagues will enforce the policy, as the OHL and QMJHL recently made announcements of their own."The health and safety of our players and staff continues to be the number one priority for the WHL," said WHL commissioner Ron Robison. "The policy is designed to further protect our players and staff in the WHL from the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19.""With travel restrictions currently in place with the Canada-U.S. border as well as the province of Manitoba, it is important all players and staff are fully vaccinated in order to be eligible to play a full season in the WHL."The WHL played an abbreviated 24-game season in 2021 due to the pandemic, and teams only played within their respective divisions. The QMJHL operated under a similar format, while the OHL canceled its campaign entirely.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The possibility of CSKA Moscow poaching reigning Calder Trophy winner and restricted free agent Kirill Kaprizov doesn't faze Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin."It's not my decision. It doesn't bother me at all," Guerin said Monday, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo."I think things are going well enough," he continued. "We still have lots of time, there's no rush or panic. I'm in constant communication with Kirill's agent. We continue to move forward."Kaprizov's former KHL club has reportedly offered the dynamic winger a contract to return to his native country this coming season. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old and the Wild continue to negotiate a new NHL deal.The Wild currently hold just over $13 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Kaprizov is the club's final RFA this offseason after Kevin Fiala signed his new deal on Monday.Kaprizov was the Wild's fifth-round pick in 2015, and last season was his first in the NHL after playing five years in Russia. He made an immediate impact in Minnesota, leading the team with 51 points over 55 games to help the Wild reach the playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.