The Nashville Predators re-signed goaltender Juuse Saros to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million, the team announced Monday.The 26-year-old was a restricted free agent and had filed for arbitration.Saros has played with the Predators for the last five seasons since being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. For the majority of his career, he served as the backup to Pekka Rinne but took over as the primary starter over the past two campaigns."Juuse has proven himself as one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL, and we are very pleased to have him remain our No. 1 goaltender for years to come," general manager David Poile said."Juuse gives our team a chance to win in every game he plays, and we feel confident that with him leading the tandem we've established with David Rittich, our goaltenders will be a large part of our success in 2021-22."Last season, Saros put together a 21-11-1 record alongside an impressive .927 save percentage and 2.28 goals-against average. He ranked first among all goalies with 24.64 goals saved above average at five-on-five and ranked fourth with a .868 high-danger save percentage.The Finland native has appeared in 161 career games, managing a .920 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average. He's projected to be the team's starting goalie for the foreseeable future after Rinne announced his retirement early in the offseason and with top prospect Yaroslav Askarov working his way up to the NHL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild and Kevin Fiala have settled on a one-year contract worth $5.1 million, the team announced Monday.Fiala had filed for arbitration. He was seeking $6.25 million while the team came in at $4 million, according to Friedman. Fiala will again be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the conclusion of the contract, per CapFriendly.The 25-year-old recorded 20 goals and 20 assists in 50 games this past season. He had a career-best campaign during 2019-20, scoring 23 goals and adding 31 assists in 64 contests.Minnesota acquired Fiala from the Nashville Predators at the 2019 trade deadline. The former 2014 11th overall pick has appeared in 337 career games while scoring 91 goals and adding 107 assists.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings and forward Adam Erne have settled on a two-year deal, the team announced Sunday.The contract carries an average annual value of $2.1 million, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.Erne filed for arbitration after posting 11 goals and nine assists over 45 games for the Red Wings last season, the best output of his five-year NHL career.The news comes just five days after the Red Wings settled with electric forward Jakub Vrana on a three-year deal with an average annual value of over $5 million.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With free agency underway, here's a list of the best players still available.Centers

The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Jason Dickinson to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2.65 million, the team announced Saturday.Vancouver acquired Dickinson from the Dallas Stars in July in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick. The 26-year-old was a restricted free agent and set for an arbitration hearing on Aug. 20."Jason was an important addition for our forward group this summer, and we're pleased to have agreed to terms with him on a three-year deal," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement. "He's a versatile player that can play on both the wing and at center and is also a strong penalty killer."Dickinson registered seven goals and eight assists in 51 games last season. He also ranked sixth among Stars skaters in both hits (78) and blocked shots (49).Dallas selected Dickinson 29th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHLPA is strongly encouraging its players to get vaccinated ahead of the upcoming season, reports The Athletic's Michael Russo and Katie Strang.The union warned the players over a lengthy call last week that unvaccinated individuals may face stiff penalties if they contract COVID-19 during the 2021-22 campaign, cautioning that teams could have the power to withhold paychecks while an unvaccinated player is out due to the virus, or if he can't play because of local regulations.Another issue discussed during the call was whether unvaccinated players would be allowed to enter Canada for games. The NHLPA said it's unlikely they'd receive an exemption to enter the country and would need to stay at home with their salaries withheld.NHL deputy commissioner Billy Daly said that over 85% of players in the league are fully vaccinated. In comparison, 99% of WNBA players are vaccinated, while the NFL and NBA are at 90%.The NHL sent a memo to all teams on Friday stating that anyone who works for a club and personally interacts with players must be fully vaccinated.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's free-agency period opened with a bang in late July, as nearly every team got in on the action. There were numerous big names on the open market, and the majority of them inked new deals right out of the gate.On Day 1 alone, 96 deals were struck worth a total of $529 million, and many more contracts trickled in over the following days. With so many deals and so much money dished around, there were sure to be a number of surprising moves that caught NHL fans off guard. Let's take a look at five of them.Ovechkin eyeing Gretzky's record Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyAlex Ovechkin entered the offseason in need of a contract for just the second time in his career. After his entry-level deal with the Washington Capitals expired, he inked a 13-year contract, which he's played on until now. It was a given that the 35-year-old was going to re-sign with the Capitals, but it wasn't known how many years or how much money he'd command. When the deal came in at five years and with a $9.5-million average annual value, many were left shocked.The Russian sniper will be nearing 41 years old when the deal expires. He hasn't shown any decline yet, and there's no reason to believe he's going to start anytime soon. There's been a looming threat that he'll return to his home country to play in the KHL before he retires from hockey, which caused some to believe his NHL career might have been nearing its end. Now, Ovechkin has at least five more seasons to accumulate 165 goals and break Wayne Gretzky's once seemingly unreachable record.Perry joins Lightning Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyIf you can't beat them, join them, right? Corey Perry and the Montreal Canadiens indicated they were interested in striking a deal. However, Perry broke Montreal fans' hearts several days into free agency when he opted to join the Tampa Bay Lightning - the team he lost to in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.The move was shocking at first, but blame can't be put on Perry. Following an impressive campaign with the Habs, the Lightning handed him an attractive two-year contract. Tampa Bay gives him a much better chance of winning another Cup over the next two seasons. With the Lightning's top six still intact, Perry will provide a major boost to the third or fourth line.Grubauer ditches Avalanche Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWith most marquee free-agent goalies having signed in the opening hours of free agency, it appeared Philipp Grubauer would certainly re-up with the Colorado Avalanche. There didn't seem to be many teams left that could afford Grubauer or fit him into their crease until the Seattle Kraken came out of nowhere to scoop him up.Just a week earlier, Seattle introduced Chris Driedger at the expansion draft and made it clear that he was going to be the starting goalie moving forward. The club had a number of appealing goalie options to choose from during the expansion draft and decided to pair Driedger with Vitek Vanecek and Joey Daccord. Now, it will be interesting to see how playing time is split between Driedger and Grubauer, but the Kraken clearly couldn't pass up the opportunity to own one of the league's best tandems.Danault cashes in, says 'au revoir' to Montreal Florence Labelle / National Hockey League / GettyBetween the end of the playoffs and the start of free agency, Phillip Danault and the Canadiens seemed destined to part ways. The two sides agreed that Danault would test free agency, but that the door would remain open for him to return. Many thought he would eventually circle back to Montreal, unsure if a team would break the bank for the defensive pivot on the open market.Danault wasted no time once free agency opened and put pen to paper on a six-year contract with a $5.5-million average annual value to join the Los Angeles Kings. The length and money were surprising, but the addition suddenly makes the Kings an intriguing team in a weak division. Danault seems like he'll be a perfect fit behind Anze Kopitar in the immediate future, but with young centers Quinton Byfield and Alex Turcotte looking to make the jump to the NHL, his role in the later years of the contract couldn't be more unclear.Devils reel in Hamilton Scott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyMost teams should have lined up to try to recruit Dougie Hamilton as a free agent. It's not often that an elite, two-way defenseman hits the open market at 28 years old. Rumors swirled about where Dougie would end up, but not many had the New Jersey Devils penciled in as the winners of the sweepstakes. New Jersey saw the opportunity to bring in a franchise-altering blue-liner and didn't hesitate to pull the trigger.The Devils haven't been a model of consistency as of late, missing the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons. However, the club is certainly on the rise with an injection of youthful talent thanks to a handful of lottery picks over the years. Hamilton could have chosen any of a number of teams, but his faith in the organization is a good sign for the Devils, who will now look to jump back into perennial contention.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will miss at least six weeks after undergoing wrist surgery, the team announced Friday.Matthews experienced discomfort during his on-ice training earlier this week and opted for surgery after consulting with specialists and the team's medical staff.The 23-year-old center dealt with wrist issues throughout the 2020-21 season.Toronto opens training camp Sept. 22 and is scheduled to kick off its preseason campaign three days later at Scotiabank Arena against the Montreal Canadiens.Matthews is coming off another stellar season. He notched a league-leading 41 goals to become the first Maple Leafs player to capture the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.The three-time All-Star was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL sent out a memo to all of its teams on Friday detailing some of the league's vaccine requirements ahead of the upcoming campaign, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."Any person whose job, role, position, or access entails or entitles them to have personal interactions (within 12 feet) with club hockey operations personnel (including Players) are required to be fully vaccinated," the statement reads.There are a limited number of exceptions - such as valet parking attendants, Friedman added. Protocols for the players are not yet complete.The league had strict rules for players and clubs for the majority of last season but relaxed them for certain squads in May. The protocols were loosened and allowed more freedoms to players and staff on teams that were at least 85% fully vaccinated.Once a franchise hit the 85% threshold, players were allowed to gather socially outside of team facilities, sit at restaurants outdoors, and spend time in each other's hotel rooms on the road. Players also stopped receiving PCR tests on off days and were allowed to attend team meetings without face coverings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Winnipeg Jets, announced Friday that it's submitted an application to rename a portion of Graham Avenue in honor of the late Dale Hawerchuk.If approved, Honourary Dale Hawerchuk Way, which would stretch between Donald Street and Carlton Street, is expected to be unveiled in time for the beginning of next season. Winnipeg Jets PRThe club will also erect a statue of Hawerchuk, who died last August at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer, in True North Square. The statue is expected to be unveiled in August 2022.Erik Blome, who designed the Wayne Gretzky statue in front of the Staples Center and created the 14 sculptures in the Toronto Maple Leafs' "Legends Row," will design Hawerchuk's statue."Dale, quite simply, is part of the fabric of this city and of the Winnipeg Jets organization," executive chairman Mark Chipman said."Beyond that, he has contributed so much to the sport of hockey. We are so proud to give Dale these much-deserved honors to showcase his extraordinary career and the remarkable person he was, and ensure his legacy lives well beyond the fans who followed his career and who were lucky enough to see him play."Hawerchuk was drafted first overall by the Jets in 1981. He played his first nine seasons in the league with Winnipeg, winning the Calder Trophy in 1982. Hawerchuk then joined the Buffalo Sabres for five seasons before wrapping up his career with the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers.Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, Hawerchuk produced 1,409 points in 1,188 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers signed veteran forward Joe Thornton to a one-year deal, the club announced Friday.Thornton's contract is worth $750,000 and has no bonuses or incentives, according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.The 42-year-old has played in 1,680 career games between the Boston Bruins (1997-06), San Jose Sharks (2006-20), and Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21)."With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a statement. "His drive to succeed is unmistakable and we are thrilled that he chose to sign with our club and that he believes in what we are building here in South Florida."Thornton is sixth all time in games played in NHL history. He has amassed 1,529 points during his career, which included a Hart Trophy in the 2005-06 campaign.The six-time All-Star has never won the Stanley Cup despite all his on-ice accolades.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have signed forward Andrew Copp to a one-year contract extension worth $3.64 million, the team announced Thursday.Copp entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He'll be unrestricted when his new deal expires and is eligible for another extension as of Jan. 1, 2022.The Jets now have all their players under contract for the 2021-22 season. Winnipeg is currently projected to be over the $81.5-million salary cap, according to CapFriendly, but the club can exceed the limit by $5.29 million with Bryan Little on long-term injured reserve.Copp, 27, set career highs in goals (15), points (39), and ice time (18:15 per contest) this past campaign across 55 games. He was a fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2013.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Slater Koekkoek to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $925,000, the team announced Thursday.Koekkoek recorded one point in 18 games with the Oilers last season, averaging just over 13 minutes per contest. Edmonton signed him to a one-year deal last December.The 27-year-old was the 10th overall pick in 2012. He spent time with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks before joining the Oilers.Edmonton has made significant changes to its blue line this offseason. The club traded Ethan Bear and lost Adam Larsson in the expansion draft while bringing in veterans Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teams across the NHL doled out nearly $1 billion through the first two days of this summer's free-agent frenzy. Given the current state of the league during its post-pandemic flat-cap era, contract terms are under the microscope more than ever for executives, pundits, and fans alike.The fact of the matter is that a lot of players - including some on this list - were overpaid this offseason. But today, we're going to briefly remove our salary capologist lenses and analyze this year's five best fits in free agency strictly from an on-ice perspective.1. Dougie Hamilton, Devils Jenna Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge: 28

Jaromir Jagr is still playing professional hockey in the Czech Republic as he approaches his 50th birthday, but it doesn't seem to be entirely for leisure anymore."I have a responsibility to the club, otherwise I wouldn’t fly here, and I wouldn’t be making a fool of myself. But if I quit, the partners and sponsors would leave, and the club may be done," Jagr said, according to The Hockey News' Pavel Barta."I have no choice. People don’t understand it, but I don’t care. Only God will judge me. I expect much more from myself, and I also believe that I have it in me."Jagr is the majority owner of his hometown team, Kladno, which he took over from his father in 2011. He's played for the club since leaving the NHL in 2018.Kladno was relegated from the top Czech league following the 2019-20 campaign and played in the second-tier Chance Liga this past season. Jagr helped guide the team to a championship with 12 points in 19 games, elevating the club back up to the Czech Liga for the upcoming campaign.With the promotion, Jagr admits he feels it's his responsibility to the fans and the club to keep playing to ensure that its popularity doesn't dwindle, even though his play is declining."At the same time, people still expect it from me, and that’s probably the worst feeling - when people think I can, but I know I can’t," Jagr said. "Plus, I can’t even tell them. I just know that I will do my best to help the club. I don’t know if anyone can understand my role. I don’t even want to be in such a position, but I have no choice. As long as my father breathes, I take the club as my responsibility. He held it for 20 years. As a son, I would be embarrassed if I left."Jagr will turn 50 on Feb. 15, 2022. The right-winger started his professional hockey career with Kladno in 1988 and has been playing ever since. Jagr's appeared in 1,733 career NHL games, totaling 766 goals and 1,921 points.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fully vaccinated Winnipeg Jets fans will be able to pack the Canada Life Centre during the 2021-22 season, the club owners announced in a statement Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers re-signed forward Sam Reinhart to a three-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.Reinhart's deal carries an average annual value of $6.5 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Panthers acquired the 25-year-old on July 24 from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for goaltender Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick. Reinhart was a restricted free agent and had filed for arbitration."Sam is a gifted and versatile talent that will play a key role for our team in the coming seasons," general manager Bill Zito said. "One of several players to commit to our organization with a multi-year contract this offseason, we are excited to see how these players come together and continue to build a foundation for success in South Florida."Reinhart played 54 games with the Sabres last season, leading the team with 25 goals and 40 points. He joins Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, and Brandon Montour in signing multi-year contracts with the Panthers this offseason.Buffalo drafted Reinhart second overall in 2014. He's amassed 134 goals and 161 assists in 454 career games and has notched at least 20 goals in five of his six seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in five NHL seasons, Keith Yandle won't be suiting up for the Florida Panthers next year, and the veteran is excited to write his next chapter.The defenseman was bought out by Florida earlier this offseason and signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Philadelphia Flyers almost two weeks later. A major selling point to draw the ironman to Philly was young netminder Carter Hart."He's a stud," Yandle recently said, according to Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "He's a guy when you think of young goalies in the league, you think of him - a guy that I'm definitely excited to play in front of."That's high praise from the 34-year-old Yandle, who has played alongside iconic goaltenders such as Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo."You hear that he carries himself like he's a 10-year vet," Yandle continued. "Definitely one of those guys that when you look at signing with the Flyers, you see how good of a goalie they have - that's a big thing."For Hart's part, he's excited to turn the page on a rough season and recently signed a three-year, $11.9-million pact with the Flyers."The past is in the past," Hart told reporters after signing the deal Monday. "We're going to have a great locker room. Just looking forward to getting started."Hart referred to the Flyers' new additions as "beauties" and said it'll be "fun" to play behind a new blue line that includes the likes of Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Yandle.General manager Chuck Fletcher's offseason acquisitions have impressed Yandle as well."I think seeing what Chuck's done even before free agency and making moves, making big moves, just helping the team get better - I thought it was a no-brainer for me," Yandle said. "It just seems like it's a win-now situation, and that's something that I'm all about. I thought it was the best fit."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks restricted free-agent forward Elias Pettersson remains confident a deal is going to get done with the club that drafted him.Pettersson weighed in on the discussions between his camp and the team with a Swedish news outlet on Wednesday."My agents do all the talking (with the Canucks), and then they inform me about what’s going on. Right now, we're not in an agreement, but I'm not worried that we're not going to solve it eventually," Pettersson said, as translated by Hockeysverige's Uffe Bodin. "Both parties need to be happy in order to find a solution, but I'm not worried about that."The 22-year-old was limited to just 26 games this past season due to a wrist injury and registered 21 points. A two-time All-Star already in his young career, Pettersson put up 66 points in his previous two seasons in Vancouver."I want to stay there (Vancouver) now, but I also want to play for a team that's winning and has the chance to go far into the playoffs every year. I feel like we've got a chance to do that next year," he said. "If we have that chance when my next deal expires … I don’t know. I just wanna play where there's a chance of winning."Pettersson has made the playoffs once with the Canucks and said he would have been able to play with the aid of painkillers if Vancouver made the postseason in 2020-21."I'm extremely hungry for revenge. I haven't played a single game since March 2," he said, according to writers at NHL.com. "For sure, this definitely was my most frustrating season. But it feels good now, there will be no problems whatsoever to start next season ... I'm completely recovered."Vancouver currently has a little over $13 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly, but can free up an extra $3.5 million by placing Micheal Ferland on long-term injured reserve when the season begins. They still have to pay fellow restricted free agents Jason Dickinson and defensive dynamo Quinn Hughes.The Swedish talent is considered a top offer sheet target this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets and restricted free agent blue-liner Neal Pionk avoided arbitration and settled on a four-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal carries an average annual value of $5.875 million.Pionk signed a two-year, $6-million contract in 2019 after joining the Jets in a trade from the New York Rangers. Winnipeg also recouped a first-round pick in the deal that sent Jacob Trouba the other way.The 26-year-old has emerged as a key piece on the Jets' back end. Pionk has logged over 20 minutes per night in each of his two seasons in Winnipeg and recorded 32 points across 54 games in 2020-21.The Jets have made an effort to revamp their defense corps this offseason, bringing in veterans Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillion.With Pionk signed, forward Andrew Copp is the only player on Winnipeg's books needing a new deal.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks franchise icon Tony Esposito died Tuesday at the age of 78 following a short battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced.The Hall of Fame goaltender played all but one of his 16 NHL seasons in the Windy City, and he remains the all-time franchise leader in shutouts (74) and career wins (418). Three Vezina Trophies (1970, 1972, 1974) punctuated Esposito's decorated career. The Blackhawks retired his No. 35 in 1988."Tony was one of the most important and popular figures in the history of the franchise as we near its 100th anniversary," team chairman Rocky Wirtz said in a statement. "He was tireless, reliable, and a great teammate."Though he never won a Stanley Cup with Chicago, Esposito captured glory in 1969 with the Montreal Canadiens while appearing in just 13 games as a Hab and serving as the backup for Rogie Vachon in the playoffs. The Blackhawks claimed him on waivers from Montreal for the 1969–70 season, and his Blackhawk stardom officially began.Esposito earned the Calder Trophy with Chicago in 1970 for his stellar rookie campaign in which he registered a staggering 15 shutouts. He authored a .906 career save percentage and his 423-306-151 career record ranks 10th in NHL history.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also mourned the death of the "fierce competitor.""It was Esposito’s style, charisma, and heart that endeared him most to hockey fans not only in Chicago but across the NHL," Bettman wrote in a statement. "The hockey world will miss him greatly. The NHL family extends its deepest sympathies to his wife, Marilyn, sons Mark (Kim) and Jason, and grandchildren Lauren and Kamryn."As the condolences and support roll in, members of the Esposito clan said they feel "blessed."

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Robin Lehner caught some heat when Marc-Andre Fleury’s agent tweeted out the infamous impalement photo during the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs.Seemingly feeling betrayed by his client’s reduced playing time in the playoffs, Allan Walsh posted a photo on Aug. 22 which showed a bloodied sword engraved with Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer’s surname stabbing Fleury in the back.Fleury's agent tweeted this since-deleted image during the 2019-20 playoffs Twitter/@walshaWalsh has since deleted the tweet, apparently at Fleury's insistence, but it’s an experience Lehner won’t forget anytime soon."When I opened my phone and saw it, I was laughing. I was like, 'What’s going on here?'" Lehner said on “The Cam & Strick Podcast” on Monday. "It screwed me quite a bit … I got a lot of social media heat for that because it was kind of like Walsh rallying the Fleury cult against me."Vegas leaned on Lehner heavily during the postseason after acquiring him at the 2020 trade deadline. The Swedish goaltender started 14 games while Fleury got the nod just three times (excluding the three round-robin contests before the playoffs officially began)."It was not easy being around my phone, my social media during that time. I was the starting goalie trying to go win the Stanley Cup. It’s probably not the best play, but (Walsh) is passionate for his own player," Lehner reasoned.At the time, the 30-year-old said the post made Walsh look "terrible," but Lehner has since said he's gotten to know the agent and hails him as one of the few "fighting for all the NHL players' rights."Lehner remembered running into Fleury shortly after seeing the dramatic tweet."Fleury comes up to me and right away is like, 'I’m sorry, sorry for this.' I started laughing, we both started laughing. It didn’t matter," he said.Lehner and Fleury cemented their status as the league's top tandem, taking home the William M. Jennings Trophy for their work in the crease this past campaign.The Knights traded Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this offseason. Lehner signed a five-year deal with the club in October 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Newly hired goaltending coach Dusty Imoo will no longer be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, president Brendan Shanahan announced Tuesday in a statement.The Toronto Marlies hired Imoo on Sunday and promoted former goalie coach Jon Elkin into a goaltender evaluation and development role.

The Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent Jakub Vrana avoided arbitration while settling on a three-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it carries an average annual value of $5.25 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The arbitration hearing was scheduled for Wednesday. Vrana's initial request was for about $5.7 million annually, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Detroit acquired Vrana from the Washington Capitals in a blockbuster trade-deadline deal that sent Anthony Mantha the other way. The Red Wings also received Richard Panik, a first-round pick in 2021, and a second-rounder in 2022.Vrana, 25, is a top-six scoring threat who generates five-on-five chances at an elite rate.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ross Colton agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.125 million, the team announced Monday.Colton was a restricted free agent with a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for next Monday.The New Jersey-born center, who turns 25 in September, scored the lone and eventual Stanley Cup-clinching goal during the second period of the Lightning's Game 5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens last month.Colton recorded nine goals and three assists in 30 regular-season games as a rookie in 2021 before contributing four markers and two helpers over 23 postseason contests. He's been in Tampa Bay's system since 2018-19. The club drafted him 118th overall in 2016.The Lightning are now nearly $7 million over the salary cap, but they're allowed to surpass it to that degree because Brent Seabrook is stashed on the long-term injured reserve.

The New York Rangers inked goaltender Igor Shesterkin to a four-year contract.It carries an average annual value of $5.65 million, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. That would be the largest second contract ever given to an NHL netminder, Seravalli adds.Shesterkin was a restricted free agent. The 25-year-old went 16-14-3 with a .916 save percentage in 2021, his second NHL campaign.The Russian puck-stopper ranked ninth among NHL goalies in both goals saved above expected (7.81) and goals saved above average (7.46) at five-on-five this past season, according to Evolving Hockey.Shesterkin finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting for 2021. He went 10-2-0 with a .932 save percentage over his first 12 NHL games during the 2019-20 campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals re-signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year contract worth $2 million, the team announced Monday.Samsonov was a restricted free agent this offseason. The 24-year-old was previously expected to become Washington's No. 1 netminder but his 2020-21 season was interrupted by a positive COVID-19 test that sidelined him for weeks.Samsonov ultimately appeared in 19 games and posted a .902 save percentage after owning a .913 clip in 26 contests during his rookie season a year prior.He and Vitek Vanecek are likely to compete for the starter's role again this coming season.The Capitals drafted Samsonov 22nd overall in 2015.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed restricted free agent Max Comtois to a two-year contract, the team announced Monday.Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but The Athletic's Eric Stephens reports the total value of the pact is $4.075 million.Comtois, 22, led the Ducks in scoring this past season with 33 points in 55 games.In addition to Comtois' new deal, Anaheim announced a new three-year contract for forward Max Jones and a two-year deal for defenseman Josh Mahura. Both players were also RFAs.Jones' new deal is worth $3.885 million and Mahura's is $1.5 million, according to Stephens. Mahura's is a two-way contract in 2021-22 and one-way in 2022-23.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will guide Team Canada during the 2022 Beijing Olympics if the NHL participates, Hockey Canada announced Monday.Fellow NHL bench bosses Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, and Barry Trotz would be Cooper's assistants.St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will assemble the Canadian roster, as the nation's governing body of hockey confirmed in February. Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland - who'll be Canada's associate GM - will aid him, along with fellow NHL GMs Ron Francis of the Seattle Kraken and Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins.Roberto Luongo, who served as Canada's GM at this year's World Championship, will also be part of the Olympic management group, along with longtime Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond.Cooper led the Lightning to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship last month.It remains unclear whether the NHL will take part in next year's event. The league included a February 2022 Olympic break in its 2021-22 schedule, but that's contingent upon participation.NHL players didn't go to the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Canada won bronze that year with a roster composed of non-NHL players.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami quarterback D’Eriq King has agreed to a name, image, and likeness deal with the Florida Panthers, becoming the first collegiate athlete in the U.S. to sign an NIL contract with a pro sports team, the club announced Monday.The Panthers also become the first pro sports team in the U.S. to establish an NIL program for college athletes."We are thrilled to welcome D'Eriq to Panthers territory as our first 'FLA Athlete,'" said chief strategy officer Sam Doerr. "D'Eriq is a superstar both on and off the field and we are excited to reach and engage South Florida sports fans in new ways through this collaborative partnership."As part of his endorsement, King will appear at Panthers games and events and help produce content with the club's digital and social media teams.On July 1, student-athletes were permitted to profit off their likeness through endorsements, sponsorships, and signings after the NCAA passed its interim NIL policy.In addition to the Panthers, King also has NIL agreements with Dreamfield, Panini America, and Murphy Auto Group, among other brands.The Hurricanes signal-caller is working his way back from a torn ACL and meniscus injury suffered in the Cheez-It Bowl last December. King is apparently on track to start Week 1 when Miami meets reigning national champion Alabama on Sept. 4.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed goaltender Carter Hart to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3.979 million, the team announced Monday.Hart was a restricted free agent this offseason after his entry-level contract expired.The soon-to-be 23-year-old has long been touted as one of the best young goaltenders in the sport but is coming off a dreadful 2020-21. Hart's stats dropped considerably in his third campaign after showing significant promise in his first two NHL seasons.SeasonRecordSv%GAA2018-1916-13-1.9172.832019-2024-13-3.9142.422020-219-11-5.8773.67Hart ranked dead last among all goaltenders this past season in five-on-five goals saved above average (minus-22.73) and goals saved above expected (minus-24.34), according to Evolving-Hockey.The Flyers inked veteran Martin Jones earlier this offseason to form a tandem with Hart. Philadelphia is amid a significant roster shakeup this summer after missing the playoffs last season, acquiring Cam Atkinson, Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Keith Yandle.With Hart locked up, the Flyers have approximately $4 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Defenseman Travis Sanheim is the last player on Philly's books in need of a new contract.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran goaltender Anders Nilsson is retiring from professional hockey due to post-concussion symptoms, he announced Sunday.

The Boston Bruins and captain Patrice Bergeron have started to discuss an extension as the star forward enters the final season of his current contract."Patrice and Kent Hughes, his representative, and I have had discussions about where Patrice is at," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, according to NHL.com's Tracey Meyers. "We'll keep those private as we do all the others and let him decide what path he wants to take."Obviously, it's a completely open door for how long Patrice wants to play the game for us, and we'll leave it at that."Bergeron signed an eight-year, $55-million pact with Boston in 2013. His modest $6.875 million cap hit throughout the deal has paid tremendous dividends for the Bruins in terms of production and setting the bar for teammates to ink-team friendly contracts.The 36-year-old remains one of the NHL's elite two-way centers. Bergeron registered 48 points over 54 games this past season, and he was a Selke Trophy finalist for the ninth consecutive year.The veteran has spent his entire 17-year career with the Bruins after being drafted in the second round in 2003. Over 1,143 contests he's notched 917 points, and Bergeron won a Stanley Cup in 2011.The Bruins are currently projected to hold over $20 million in cap space for the 2022-23 campaign to accommodate a new deal for Bergeron, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pat Maroon believes the Tampa Bay Lightning can win a third straight Stanley Cup next season."I truly think we can run it back again," Maroon said, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith. "It depends on our health, how guys are feeling, our attitude. But we've been texting together as a group and thinking, we've brought our top two lines back, our big four on D, the best goalie in the world."The Lightning could become the first team to win three consecutive championships since the New York Islanders won four from 1980-83.Tampa Bay lost a number of key contributors this offseason, including Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Barclay Goodrow, and Blake Coleman. The club also added a number of veterans, such as Corey Perry, Zach Bogosian, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.Despite the significant roster turnover, Maroon is happy the majority of the team's key contributors are returning."Brayden Point, Kuch (Nikita Kucherov), and (Ondrej Palat) are coming back," Maroon said. "There's no doubt in my mind we can run it back. Guys want to do it again. That's why we play."Maroon has lifted the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons, having won with the St. Louis Blues before he joined the Lightning in 2019. He notched four goals and 14 assists in 55 games with Tampa Bay last season and added four points in the playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Consider Darnell Nurse a fan of the Edmonton Oilers' busy offseason.After the Oilers brought in Zach Hyman, Derek Ryan, and Warren Foegele to bolster their forward depth, as well as Duncan Keith and Cody Ceci to transform their blue line, Nurse said Friday he's excited to work with the club's new additions."I think, if you look at our team from when the season ended to now ... we've made a lot of improvements," Nurse said, per The Canadian Press. "On the back end, we've added some really steady pieces that have played a lot of games and (that) you know each and every night are going to bring it."The club's top-pair defender, who's fresh off inking an eight-year, $74-million extension, singled out Hyman and Foegele for their attitude and mentality. Nurse said both players, who've been working out with several of their Oilers teammates in Toronto this offseason, just want to get "better and better.""I don't think you can have enough of (that) on your team," Nurse said. "And I think they'll bring that to our team and continue to push us to another level."Edmonton also retained Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tyson Barrie, and Mike Smith on new multi-year contracts this offseason.The Oilers enter the 2021-22 campaign looking to rebound from a disappointing first-round sweep after finishing second in last season's North Division.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall has full confidence in his goalies entering next season and, specifically, expects starter Tristan Jarry to rebound."When you're a goaltender, and I've lived it, there's disappointments that you have to get over and you have to bounce back from," Hextall said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "I feel strongly that (Jarry is) going to bounce back and be a very good goaltender for us throughout the entire year."Jarry, 26, managed a .909 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average in 39 games last season, his first campaign as the full-time starter following Matt Murray's departure. Jarry struggled mightily during the postseason, posting an .888 save percentage and league-worst minus-5.72 goals saved above average in six games.In 107 career contests, Jarry owns a .911 save percentage and 2.70 goals-against average.The Penguins fired goalie coach Mike Buckley on Wednesday and appointed development coach Andy Chiodo to the position. Hextall believes Chiodo will be able to help Jarry and teammate Casey DeSmith make significant strides in all aspects of the game."Andy's job now is, predominantly, the two guys on the big team," Hextall said. "So, hopefully, we can make some little tweaks. The mental side of the game for a goaltender is a huge part of it. Andy is well aware of that."DeSmith, who was unavailable during the playoffs due to injury, put up a .912 save percentage and 2.54 goals-against average in 20 games. He's expected to be ready for the start of the 2021-22 campaign after undergoing core muscle surgery early in the offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken and defenseman Vince Dunn agreed to a two-year contract carrying a $4-million cap hit.Dunn was a restricted free agent who had an arbitration hearing scheduled for next Saturday. The Kraken selected him from the St. Louis Blues in last month's expansion draft.The Ontario-born blue-liner produced six goals and 14 assists while averaging a career-high 19:15 of ice time over 43 games with the Blues in 2021. St. Louis reportedly shopped Dunn in January before exposing him to Seattle.He played his first four campaigns with the Blues, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2018-19 after racking up a personal-best 12 goals during the regular season.Dunn will turn 25 on Oct. 29. St. Louis drafted him 56th overall in 2015.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers locked up defenseman Darnell Nurse to a max eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $9.25 million, the team announced Friday.The deal will kick in for the 2022-23 campaign, as the 26-year-old has one more year at his current cap hit of $5.6 million. He was scheduled for unrestricted free agency before inking his new contract.Nurse will be the fifth-highest-paid defenseman in the NHL by next season. He trails only Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million), Drew Doughty ($11 million), Zach Werenski ($9.583 million), and Seth Jones ($9.5 million) in terms of AAV.The Oilers rearguard will also be the second-highest-paid player on Edmonton's books behind reigning MVP and captain Connor McDavid.Nurse is coming off a career year in which he registered 16 goals and 20 assists in 56 games. He also averaged over 25 minutes per night and had 100 hits with 117 blocks.

NHL players won't be allowed to mingle with fans for the time being as COVID-19 rates continue to spike in the United States.The league prohibited all corporate, charity, and community-based fan interaction in a memo to each of its 32 clubs, reports The Athletic's Michael Russo. The disallowed activities include speaking engagements, autograph sessions, handshake lines, and fist bumps.The NHL and NHLPA will continue observing vaccination rates and the spread of variants throughout the summer to evaluate whether similar measures will be required for training camp, adds Russo.Many of the league's squads allowed fans back in their home arenas as this past season progressed, though most did so at less than full capacity. Infection rates had been declining until a fairly recent increase across much of the U.S. due to the more dangerous Delta variant and other strains.The NHL allowed teams to host games in their own buildings during the 2021 campaign after resuming the previous season in bubbles based in Edmonton and Toronto with no fans in attendance.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken signed veteran free-agent forward Marcus Johansson to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, the team announced Friday."Marcus plays a fast game and brings us another veteran presence with a significant amount of playoff experience," said general manager Ron Francis. "His speed, skill, and versatility will help our forward group."Johansson spent last season with the Minnesota Wild, his fourth club in three campaigns. He registered 14 points across 36 games and was held off the scoresheet in three playoff contests.The 30-year-old played his first seven NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals. He's also had stints with the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres.The Capitals drafted Johansson in the first round in 2009. He's recorded 378 points across 684 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks retained forward Brandon Hagel on a three-year deal at an average annual value of $1.5 million.Hagel had the designation of 10.2(c) in the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, as he hadn't played enough to be a Group 2 restricted free agent, according to CapFriendly. The soon-to-be 23-year-old will be a pending RFA in the final year of his new deal and will be eligible for arbitration upon its completion.He collected nine goals and 15 assists while averaging just under 14 minutes of ice time over 52 games in 2021, his first full season with the Blackhawks. Hagel also notched eight markers and seven helpers across 14 contests with Swiss club Thurgau before the NHL campaign began.The Blackhawks originally signed Hagel as a free agent in 2018. The Buffalo Sabres drafted him 159th overall in 2016.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders signed defenseman Adam Pelech to an eight-year contract, the team announced Friday.The deal carries an average annual value of $5.75 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Pelech entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.The soon-to-be 27-year-old has emerged into a first-pair defender for the Islanders, excelling in shutdown minutes against top competition.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed restricted free-agent forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year deal worth $1.725 million, the team announced Thursday.Aston-Reese had filed for arbitration.The 26-year-old had offseason shoulder surgery last August and made his 2020-21 season debut in February. He went on to post a career-high nine goals in 45 games, while Pittsburgh scored 59% of the goals with Aston-Reese on the ice at five-on-five. His 84 minutes of shorthanded ice time ranked second among all Penguins forwards."Zach is a versatile forward that brings energy and edge to our lineup," Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. "He is a responsible, two-way player, and we're glad we were able to re-sign him."Aston-Reese has 51 points in 161 NHL games, all with Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils signed forward Tomas Tatar to a two-year contract worth $9 million, the team announced Thursday.Tatar was one of the top remaining unrestricted free agents.

The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Dante Fabbro to a two-year contract worth $4.8 million, the team announced Thursday.Fabbro was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.The 23-year-old finished his third NHL campaign in 2021. He registered two goals and 10 assists across 40 games while averaging over 19 minutes per contest.Nashville drafted Fabbro 17th overall in 2016.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils signed forward Yegor Sharangovich to a two-year contract worth $4 million, the team announced Thursday.Sharangovich was a restricted free agent after completing his first NHL season in 2020-21. New Jersey drafted Sharangovich in the fifth round in 2018, and he split his time between the AHL and KHL before joining the Devils.The 23-year-old registered 30 points across 54 games while averaging nearly 17 minutes per contest last season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is projecting a salary cap of $82.5 million for the 2022-23 season, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.A flat cap of $81.5 million has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the 2019-20 campaign, and the 2021-22 season will mark the third consecutive under that figure.The league is projecting hockey-related revenue to be in the range of $4.8 billion for 2021-22, Seravalli adds. A new television rights deal in the United States with ESPN and TNT, along with the introduction of the Seattle Kraken, should help the NHL's financial landscape. Still, the revenue projection is shy of what the NHL anticipated for the upcoming season pre-pandemic.The salary cap isn't projected to significantly increase until players pay off their escrow balance, which is around $1 billion, according to Seravalli.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed goaltender Adin Hill to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal carries an average annual value of $2.175 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.San Jose acquired Hill from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for netminder Josef Korenar and a swap of 2022 draft picks. Hill was a restricted free agent and filed for arbitration.The 26-year-old had a .913 save percentage and a 2.74 goals against average in 19 games last season. Hill's split time between the AHL and NHL over the past three campaigns but has appeared in 49 career games with the Coyotes, earning a .909 save percentage.The Sharks bought out longtime starter Martin Jones in July and signed James Reimer to a two-year deal at the opening of free agency. Reimer and Hill are expected to share the crease for San Jose this coming season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury pondered his NHL future after being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, but the veteran goalie has made it clear that the reason had nothing to do with his new team."I never had anything against Chicago, the organization," Fleury said, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "It was just me personally, what I wanted to do. I've talked to a bunch of guys, and I keep hearing so many great things about the team, how they treat players and families."I thought Stan (Bowman) did a great job to gain some players over the summer, trying to make this team competitive right away, and that's also very appealing."The Vegas Golden Knights dealt Fleury to the Blackhawks in late July in exchange for minor-league forward Mikael Hakkarainen. Fleury has one year remaining on his current contract with a $7-million cap hit.When the trade news broke, Fleury's agent Allan Walsh said the goalie would take some time to think about his playing future. On Sunday, Chicago confirmed Fleury would indeed suit up for the upcoming season.The 36-year-old indicated he's grateful to general manager Stan Bowman for giving him a considerable amount of time to make the decision."There's a lot that goes into it," Fleury said. "I was very fortunate that Stan gave me some time to reflect on what I wanted to do, what was best for me and my family."The three-time Stanley Cup champion is one of several additions to the Blackhawks' lineup this offseason. Fleury's set to join newcomers Seth Jones, Caleb Jones, Tyler Johnson, and Jake McCabe.Fleury put together one of the best campaigns of his NHL career with the Golden Knights this year, taking home the Vezina Trophy as the league's top netminder. He posted a .928 save percentage and 1.98 goals against average while recording six shutouts over only 36 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators re-signed defenseman Victor Mete to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, the team announced Wednesday.Mete was among 17 players to file for arbitration last week, which is no longer necessary with the two sides reaching a deal.The Senators claimed the 23-year-old off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens last season. He skated in 14 games with Ottawa, scoring one goal and adding one assist. Mete also notched three helpers in 14 contests with the Canadiens prior to joining the Senators."Victor was a really solid addition to our defense corps over the last month of the season last year," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's mobile, poised, and defensively aware. We're looking forward to seeing his progression in our lineup in 2021-22."Mete has scored five goals and 31 assists across 199 career NHL games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.