There won't be a half-full Bell Centre for the Stanley Cup Final.Quebec Public Health authorities rejected on Wednesday the Montreal Canadiens' proposal to increase capacity to 50% (10,500) for Games 3 and 4, as well as a potential Game 6, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The Habs are permitted to allow only 3,500 fans, the same number they hosted for Round 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights.Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper actually advocated for an increase in capacity."This game was meant to be played in front of fans," he said after his team punched its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.The Bolts filled Amalie Arena with 18,600 fans for Game 2 on Wednesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carl Soderberg will play for his hometown team next season.The 35-year-old forward is going to suit up for Swedish club Malmo in 2021-22, reports The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Soderberg, who was a pending unrestricted free agent, scored a goal and added an assist in four playoff games with the Colorado Avalanche this spring after collecting a pair of assists in 11 contests down the stretch.Colorado acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade on deadline day in April. He posted seven goals and eight assists in 34 games with the Blackhawks after signing as a free agent in December.Soderberg tallied 17 goals and 18 assists with the Arizona Coyotes in 2019-20. He spent the previous four campaigns with the Avalanche before they traded him to the Coyotes in June 2019. The nine-year veteran played his first three seasons with the Boston Bruins.The St. Louis Blues drafted Soderberg 49th overall in 2004. They dealt him to the Bruins about three years later.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As part of its awards night Tuesday, the NHL announced the first and second All-Star teams, as well as the All-Rookie team.Connor McDavid, who won both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, headlines the first All-Star team.1st All-Star teamPositionPlayerCConnor McDavid (EDM)LWBrad Marchand (BOS)RWMitch Marner (TOR)DAdam Fox (NYR)DCale Makar (COL)GAndrei Vasilevskiy (TB)Vasilevskiy was named a first-team All-Star despite finishing second to Marc-Andre Fleury in the Vezina Trophy voting.The second All-Star team is led by Auston Matthews, who finished as the runner-up to McDavid for the Hart.2nd All-Star teamPositionPlayerCAuston Matthews (TOR)LWJonathan Huberdeau (FLA)RWMikko Rantanen (COL)DVictor Hedman (TB)DDougie Hamilton (CAR)GMarc-Andre Fleury (VGK)Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov headlines the the All-Rookie team.All-Rookie teamPositionPlayerFKirill Kaprizov (MIN)FJosh Norris (OTT)FJason Robertson (DAL)DK'Andre Miller (NYR)DTy Smith (NJ)GAlex Nedeljkovic (CAR)The rosters were voted on by representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews shed some light Wednesday on the previously undisclosed medical issue that kept him off the ice for the entire 2020-21 NHL season, and he said he's working his way toward a return."I just think there's a lot of things that just kind of piled up, where my body just fell apart," Toews said in a video. "So what they're calling it was chronic immune response syndrome, where I just couldn't quite recover and my immune system was reacting to everything that I did."

Goaltender Frederik Andersen is interested in re-upping with the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason, his agent told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The pending unrestricted free agent is comfortable sharing the net with Jack Campbell going forward, LeBrun adds.Campbell took over the starter's role this past season as Andersen struggled with injury and poor play. The 29-year-old went 17-3-2 with a .921 save percentage before posting a .934 clip in the playoffs as the Maple Leafs fell in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 1.Andersen had been Toronto's No. 1 netminder since the team acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks in 2016. He registered the worst statistical season of his career in 2020-21, owning a .895 save percentage and 2.96 goals-against average across 24 games.The 31-year-old is coming off a five-year, $25-million contract and will likely need to take a pay cut to return to the Maple Leafs. Toronto is projected to have $10 million in cap space this offseason, according to Cap Friendly, but the team only has 16 roster players under contract for 2021-22.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn is unavailable for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, head coach Jon Cooper confirmed, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.Killorn blocked a shot in the second period of Game 1 and only registered four shifts through the rest of Tampa's 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.The 31-year-old winger is considered day-to-day, and Cooper didn't say who will replace him in the lineup.Killorn has been a key contributor in the Lightning's bid for back-to-back championships, recording 17 points in 19 playoff games so far.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Seguin isn't your typical, cliche-dishing NHL player. Rather, the Dallas Stars veteran is a rare professional athlete who seldomly speaks in platitudes.Yet, one cliche works perfectly for the 29-year-old at this stage of his life and career. It goes like this: You don't realize what you've got 'til it's gone."One-hundred percent. One-hundred percent. One-hundred percent," Seguin replied, seemingly nodding in agreement when theScore recited the bumper sticker-worthy saying over the phone.Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft and a five-time 30-goal scorer, is comfortable attaching himself to the cliche because he's dressed for only three meaningful NHL games since last August. He misses competing. Glenn James / GettyA durable, point-producing forward since 2010-11, Seguin appeared in 741 of a possible 773 regular-season games in the first 10 seasons of his career. In 2020-21, however, he was sidelined for 53 of 56 contests to recover and rehabilitate after undergoing a hip arthroscopy and labral repair last November and a knee scope one month later. In all, it was a treacherous six-month rehab that involved Seguin having to painstakingly "rebuild" his right quad.By the time Seguin returned to the lineup in May, the 23-19-14 Stars were well on their way to finishing fifth in the Central Division. Dallas failed to earn a playoff spot despite making the bubbled Stanley Cup Final the year prior.With so much idle time on his couch, Seguin turned his attention to his off-ice pursuits. He became one of the first NHLers to sell personalized non-fungible tokens; modeled as a brand ambassador for a cologne named "Sexual Noir Pour Homme"; worked away at his Nine One lifestyle brand; and, most recently, launched a dog toy and treat company called The Chew Club.In an interview on Tuesday, Seguin discussed the recovery process, business interests, a couple of ex-teammates, the 2022 Olympics, and much more.(Note: The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.)––––––––––It was a crazy past season for you with the surgeries and rehab, then a brief return to action. What are you up to at this point in the offseason?I'm in Dallas. Once our season ended, I took off, I don't know, probably six of seven days of training, and then I went right back at it as far as working out and rehabbing. I don't know if I would call what I'm doing today rehabbing or working out. It's kind of a hybrid. Here in Dallas, I'll do my rehab/working out while the other guys are doing a lower-body lift, and on the upper-body days and core days, I'm doing the same workouts as the rest of the guys. Things have been progressing really well. I'm really happy with where I'm at right now, and I still have to take advantage of the next few months off here before it's go time as far as continuously strength-building my quad and my hip post-surgery, but I love the progress, where I'm at. It's exciting times. I've gone on the ice a few times lately, and if I remember where I was the first few times I went on the ice before I came back for a few games, I'm light years ahead.Do you think you'll be at full health, 100%, on opening night in October?That's the plan. If not, I don't think I'm a month or two off from being 100% after that point. So, I'm just going to keep working and hope for the best. Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesSuch a difficult year can really test an athlete, a person. How much has your perspective on hockey and life changed over the past year or so?A lot. It's funny, I feel like you have interviews throughout your career where you say that, but I feel like this is the first time I can actually mean it when it comes to perspective on, like you said, hockey and life. Plus, tying in all of the COVID-19 stuff, and things going on in the world, and being injured. It's been some wild times, but I'm really happy with where I am - especially mentally after everything. I had some dark days and dark weeks of just being in that grind, not being able to do too much in the gym, just slow methodical things that taught me pretty valuable lessons. I've had many surgeries throughout my career - well, I haven't had many, but I've definitely had a few - but none as grueling as this, none where I had to then go back under the knife a month after a major surgery with some knee stuff. It's definitely a process that I'm going to look back on for years.Some fans seem to believe pro athletes are immune to mental health struggles. Clearly, that's not true. What have you learned on that front?Two things with athletes. One, we have amazing perks being a professional athlete. There are things in life that a regular person wouldn't be able to do that we get to do, and 95% of what other people get to see from our lives are those perks. The other side of athletes is that we're human beings, and we go through struggles, and we have things that happen away from the rink that people don't know about - off-ice stuff, family, friends, whatever. We're still human beings. But, definitely, when it comes to the injury side, it's really a whole different ball game that people won't quite understand. There's the physical side and the mental side of not being able to be around your teammates, which is something that your mind and body are so accustomed to. Being on plane rides, playing cards - you know, day-to-day stuff that a regular person wouldn't quite understand. And they might say, 'Well, who cares, it's not that big of a deal.' But it is to us. Especially the mental side of watching games, and being close or being in overtime or losing games in shootouts, just knowing there are different times in the games where you'd be helping your teammates and your brothers, but you can't. It's tough to get used to that, to get over it, and it's something that teaches you to appreciate the game. I obviously have always loved hockey, but I didn't actually know or get my eyes fully opened to how much I really do love this game and love this life until I got hurt this time. I really didn't appreciate what I had until it was gone.Your old teammate Stephen Johns, who retired from the NHL earlier this month due to post-concussion symptoms, has turned a huge challenge into something positive and meaningful with his #MentalMiles trip across the U.S. What can you say about how Stephen's handled the transition?I think it's awesome. I mean, that guy has been through so much. And the hardest part for him, when he was going through everything, was not getting a proper reading from somebody to say what exactly was wrong. They couldn't really figure it out. Imagine having to go to the rink every day and say you're not playing and telling your teammates you can't go in but not really being able to explain why. That must have been so hard for him. I've golfed with him a bunch since and talked to him a lot. With everything he's gone through, I'm incredibly proud of what he's doing today. He's going to make a difference with other people, and he's in good hands on the trip with Jeff Toates there too. He did our photos and media this year in Dallas. That's two good people on a trek through the United States. They're definitely making an impact. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMeanwhile, another ex-teammate, Corey Perry, is in his third Stanley Cup Final. What's behind Perry's renaissance, these consecutive strong postseasons in his mid-30s as a member of the Stars and Canadiens?He's just one of those players, man, where you don't look at the age. You look at his resume. When he's in those situations, he finds a way to take it to the next level. There are just guys that have that capability. You look at a guy like Joe Pavelski, too. I mean, there's a lot of people this year who probably thought he was still 30 years old. I mean, these guys, they have that tick. They have that in them, and they're fun to be around, and it rubs off on you when you start to understand their psyche and their mental side and their preparation before games, especially since they're in the later stages of their careers. 'Worm' is just a heck of a player and a heck of a person. He definitely made us better, and he's a big reason why I think Montreal's where they are.Gary Bettman expressed concern Monday about the Olympics' impact on the 2021-22 NHL season. The league wants to honor the MOU signed with the players' association, but there are outstanding issues with the IOC. As an NHLPA member and a player who will likely be considered for a spot on Team Canada, how crushing would it be if NHLers end up not participating in another Olympic Games?(Sighs) I mean, it's been the same question for years and the same answer for years: The players obviously want to go. As a kid growing up, when you're sitting in your bedroom when you're nine or 14 or 15 years old, you're dreaming about winning the Stanley Cup and dreaming about representing your country. The Olympics is about representing your country on the world's biggest stage and with one's heart and soul. I would love to go there, and hopefully, it works out.So what's the story behind creating The Chew Club?It's been a passion project. Once COVID-19 hit and once I had injuries and even in the bubble, being in a hotel room a lot, sitting in rehab for months and months, I had a lot of time to think. To say today that it's a company is pretty incredible to me. I've always been a dog guy my whole life. We've always had a Lab in the family, and now I'm going into my 12th year in the league, and I've got three dogs at ages 11, seven, and four. Being in the NHL, you're always on the road, and I'd always notice that when I came back, especially early on in their lives, a belt would be eaten, and shoes would be eaten (laughs). So I always thought of having this structure in my life, where maybe every month there'd be a new toy or new dog treats. I was always busy and always looking for help with them. But I also have always loved them as my own children. That's where The Chew Club comes in. I think it's pretty awesome. If you get a monthly subscription, every month you get a new box with toys and treats. And, you know what, dogs get anxiety. They get depressed. They get bored. Us, as athletes, we give them misreadings where in the summer we're around every day for two to four months, then, all of a sudden, when it's the season, they see your suitcase every single week, and they get confused, and they get sad and anxious. The products are also healthy. That was a big thing for me as well. And another thing I love about what we do with our product is the smell. Toys and treats tend to have a certain smell. And these are all maple-smoked, so you won't smell much, and if you smell anything, it'll smell good, which will help their breath. We've had many different flavors, different types of toys, and it all got tested through my dogs. The ones they loved are what we've put into the first few boxes. It's Gerry, Marshall, and Cash approved.It's interesting that you aren't just a spokesperson or ambassador. You're very much all-in on The Chew Club as a co-owner from the start.Oh yeah, I'm all-in. I think it changes with everyone's career. When I was younger, in my first, maybe, I don't know, five or six or seven or maybe eight years in the league, I loved just comparing companies for endorsements and seeing the numbers that they give you to post this or that on social media. You go with the big companies, and you do that. But you also want to figure out what you want to do later in life. You realize hockey is going to end at some point. I think injuries open you up to that aspect as well, which is something you don't fully understand when you're a kid in the league and living your dream. So, a lot of my business now, I guess you could say, has been transferred from endorsements to equity, and then now, with this company, being an actual owner. I'm having a lot of fun with it, and I'm definitely wearing my heart on my sleeve with this one. So, hopefully, people like it. Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesReading between the lines - and I swear I'm not trying to retire you here - you'll head right to the business world when you're done playing?I've always wondered what I'd be doing next, and a big thing that's happened as of late, really, is that once COVID-19 hit, before I went into the bubble, I started learning a lot more about business. I found a lot of my days were spent in my office, studying different things and talking to different people. Now I have another property elsewhere. There's also networking and getting into the golf world. Business just seems to, I don't know, make me excited and make me happy, and I have a lot of fun with it. Now, with me having my own company, I'm trying to understand things, whether it's how to market something or figure out what makes this toy better than the next toy or what makes this treat healthier than the next treat. I find a lot of joy in that. That's why, for sure, when I'm done, I'll be doing something along these lines.You mentioned the length of your career. Over the course of it, I feel like hockey culture has come a long way with respect to accepting different personalities, players who have outside interests. Would you agree?I keep hoping that we continuously go on that path. I love some of the young kids coming in now with a lot more swag. I look back on even Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in Toronto and how they came in, and they just had the swag and fashion. Of course, P.K. Subban's great at what P.K. does. I try to put my own spin on it, as well. I'm a guy with a lot of tattoos and a flair for personality. It may have gotten me in trouble early on in my career, in my first few years (laughs). But it's accepted a lot more now, which is great. You can speak your mind a little bit more versus doing the typical 'get pucks in deep' and 'roll four lines.' Typical cliche answers. So, it's exciting. Hopefully, with us going over to ESPN with the TV deal, we can continue to show that. I don't think we can get to the NBA's level, but hopefully, we can continue to stay on that path of being outspoken people who aren't going to be complete idiots but can at least show a little personality.OK, one follow-up as I let you go. In general, what did you think of the new TV deal in the U.S., with ESPN and TNT coming aboard?I loved it. I thought it was great. I think it was a great first step for our league, and now the players have to back it up with being able to be themselves and not fall too much into the typical structure of an old-school hockey player.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov won the Calder Trophy on Tuesday night as the NHL's best first-year player in 2021.Here's how the voting went:

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid captured the Hart Trophy on Tuesday night, claiming NHL MVP honors for the second time in his six-year career.McDavid won the honor unanimously this time. The superstar forward became only the second player in the 97-year history of the award to do so and the first since Wayne Gretzky following The Great One's 212-point season in the early 1980s.Here's how the votes shook out:

Longtime CHL and Canadian national junior team head coach Andre Tourigny is the leading candidate to be the next Arizona Coyotes bench boss, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading.""He is the front-runner ... it doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to get done, but that's where that is right now," LeBrun said, adding that the process is in the "late stages."The 47-year-old and the Coyotes have been in ongoing talks, according to Craig Morgan of AZCoyotesInsider.com. Tourigny reportedly went to Arizona to meet with the team's brass this week.Rick Tocchet and the Coyotes agreed that he would step down in May after four seasons behind the Arizona bench. Tocchet helped the Coyotes make their first postseason appearance since 2012 when they advanced beyond the qualifying round in 2020.Tourigny is the head coach of the OHL's Ottawa 67s, a role he's occupied since 2017-18. He previously led the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads in the season prior to that after guiding the Rimouski Oceanic for 11 campaigns from 2002-13.He also has a wealth of international experience, most recently serving as one of Gerard Gallant's assistant coaches for Canada's World Championship squad that won gold in Latvia earlier this month. Tourigny led Canada to the silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship after helping the program win gold as an assistant coach in the previous tournament.The Quebec-born bench boss also has some history in the NHL. He was an assistant with the Ottawa Senators in 2015-16 and held the same role with the Colorado Avalanche from 2013 to 2015.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks will apparently be big-game hunters on the blue-line market this offseason."I do know that (general manager) Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks are trying to add an elite-level defenseman," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Carolina Hurricanes blue-liner Dougie Hamilton and Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Seth Jones are the two most prominent defensemen available this summer.The Hurricanes reportedly granted Hamilton, a pending unrestricted free agent, permission to speak to other teams to negotiate a potential extension. Carolina can trade away his rights prior to free agency. However, Hamilton could potentially re-sign with the Canes if he gauges the market and realizes they're making him the best offer.The 28-year-old received down-ballot Norris Trophy votes in each of the last five years, finishing a career-best fourth place this past season.Jones, meanwhile, reportedly told the Blue Jackets that he won't sign an extension when he's eligible. He has one year left on his contract with a $5.4-million cap hit before he's scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency.The 26-year-old is coming off a rough campaign, but he also received down-ballot Norris votes for four straight seasons from 2017-2020, finishing as high as fourth place in 2018.Those appear to be the only two high-profile D-men available this summer. However, it's possible more trade candidates haven't been made public.In addition to Hamilton, the UFA defense market is highlighted by Alec Martinez, Tyson Barrie, Adam Larsson, Mike Reilly, Jamie Oleksiak, Alex Goligoski, and more.The Blackhawks have eight notable defensemen under contract for next season: Duncan Keith, Calvin de Haan, Connor Murphy, Riley Stillman, Ian Mitchell, Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, and Wyatt Kalynuk. Nikita Zadorov is also a pending restricted free agent. The team has $6.2 million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly.Chicago finished sixth in the Central Division with 55 points this past campaign. The team possessed a league-average offense but allowed the seventh-most goals against.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is the 2021 winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top player at the position.Here's how the voting broke down: (Source: NHL)Fleury combined with teammate Robin Lehner to win the Jennings Trophy for allowing the league's fewest goals as a tandem in 2021.It was a shortened campaign, but Fleury had arguably the best regular season of his career at age 36. He authored a personal-best .928 save percentage while going 26-10-0 and notching six shutouts.The three-time Stanley Cup winner posted the NHL's fourth-best goals saved above expected (11.74) and seventh-best goals saved above average (8.36) at five-on-five this season, according to Evolving Hockey.Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Philipp Grubauer of the Colorado Avalanche were the other finalists.Vasilevskiy led the NHL in wins in 2021, going 31-10-1 with a .925 save percentage while starting all 42 of his appearances.Only two puck-stoppers played more games than he did this season, and yet he ranked third in goals saved above average (14.27) and seventh in goals saved above expected (8.03) at five-on-five.Grubauer went 30-9-1 with a .922 save percentage while starting 39 of his 40 games in 2021. The 29-year-old also tied for the league lead with seven shutouts. His underlying numbers weren't as favorable, though, as he produced minus-2.95 GSAx and only 1.86 GSAA at five-on-five.All NHL general managers vote annually to determine the Vezina Trophy finalists and winner.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox won the James Norris Memorial Trophy on Tuesday night in just his second NHL season.The award is handed out annually "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."Colorado Avalanche blue-liner Cale Makar and Tampa Bay Lightning rearguard Victor Hedman - who was vying for his second Norris - were the other finalists. Here's how the three stacked up:StatFoxMakarHedmanGP554454G589A423636ATOI24:4224:1925:03xGF%54.261.751.3Fox received 40 of the possible 100 first-place votes. The award is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid won his third career Ted Lindsay Award, which is "given annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association," on Tuesday.McDavid also has three Art Ross Trophies to his name and claimed his second career Hart Trophy on Tuesday.Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby - a three-time winner of the award himself - were the other two finalists. Here's how they stacked up:StatMcDavidMatthewsCrosbyGP565255G334124A722538ATOI22:0921:3320:24xGF%56.659.851.2McDavid won the scoring title by a remarkable 21 points. He played at a 154-point pace over 82 contests, a number that hasn't been reached since Mario Lemieux racked up 161 in 1995-96. His 158 era-adjusted points are the ninth-most ever in a single season.The Ted Lindsay Award was known as the Lester B. Pearson Award until 2010.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is staying in Edmonton.The Oilers signed the former No. 1 overall pick to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $5.125 million, the team announced Tuesday.The deal includes a no-movement clause, a source confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Nugent-Hopkins, 28, saw a dip in his production during the 2020-21 season after putting up career-high numbers the previous two campaigns. In 52 games this season, he managed 16 goals and 19 assists. Last year, he scored at a 77-point pace over 82 games.

The Buffalo Sabres named Don Granato their new full-time head coach Tuesday, the team announced.Granato is returning on a three-year deal, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Granato served as interim head coach after Ralph Krueger was fired in March. He originally joined the Sabres as an assistant coach in 2019.In 28 games, Granato's Sabres went 9-16-3 as they finished last in the league. Despite the poor record, young players such as Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt seemed to thrive with Granato as head coach.The Sabres reportedly interviewed a number of candidates for the position after the regular season ended, and Rick Tocchet was one of the finalists.This marks Granato's first time as a permanent NHL head coach.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN has revealed its full talent roster for its upcoming coverage of NHL hockey.

The St. Louis Blues are exploring a trade for winger Vladimir Tarasenko, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause but has reportedly told St. Louis of several teams for which he'd be willing to waive it. The 29-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract with a $7.5-million annual cap hit.Tarasenko has been limited to 34 regular-season games over the last two seasons due to a lingering shoulder injury and multiple surgeries. He skated in 24 contests this past season, recording four goals and 10 assists.When healthy, Tarasenko has been among the league's best goal-scorers. He ranked third in the league with 182 goals from 2014-19, trailing only John Tavares and Alex Ovechkin.Tarasenko has notched 218 goals and 224 assists in 531 career NHL games. He hit the 30-goal mark in five straight seasons before hurting his shoulder, including back-to-back 40- and 39-goal campaigns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed forward Wayne Simmonds to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $900,000, the team announced Tuesday.Simmonds, 32, appeared in 38 games in his first season with the Leafs, recording seven goals and two assists. He ranked second on the team with 45 penalty minutes and 8.43 hits per 60 minutes.Toronto brought in the veteran prior to the season on a one-year, $1.5-million contract. He's collected 258 goals and 250 assists in 947 career games during his time with the Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not just fans who are in awe of Nikita Kucherov.Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard winner himself, couldn't help but gush about his teammate's incredible postseason run after Kucherov's three-point effort Monday night."That's one of the best players in the world," Stamkos said, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith. "He's playing like a beast right now. He's so, so good."With two goals and an assist during Tampa Bay's 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the finals, Kucherov is now up to 30 points across 19 contests in these playoffs. The 28-year-old also recorded 34 points in 25 games last year as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup.Kucherov is now one of three players to ever notch 30 or more points in consecutive postseasons, joining Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

The Vegas Golden Knights will host the 2021-22 NHL All-Star Weekend, commissioner Gary Bettman announced at his annual Stanley Cup Final press conference Monday.Bettman also revealed plans for two outdoor games. The Winter Classic previously scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021 between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild at Target Field in Minneapolis will now take place a year later at that location, and the Nashville Predators will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium in Tennessee's capital on Feb. 26.The 2021-22 NHL schedule hasn't been finalized, so neither has the date for the All-Star festivities. However, the league said Monday that the event will occur at the traditional midway point of the regular season. This will be Las Vegas' first time hosting All-Star Weekend.Bettman added Monday that the league still plans to give the Carolina Hurricanes a future outdoor game. The NHL had previously planned one at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh for February 2021 before postponing it in December.The league and Hurricanes agreed earlier this year to postpone it for one season, team president and general manager Don Waddell said in a statement Monday night.Target Field is home to MLB's Minnesota Twins. Nissan Stadium plays host to the NFL's Tennessee Titans.The Lightning will be participating in their first-ever regular-season outdoor game. The Predators, Blues, and Wild will each be taking part in their second.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are getting their NHL draft after all, as the team will host the 2022 event, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Montreal was originally tabbed as the host city for 2020, but the NHL later made proceedings remote amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The league will keep the remote format for this year's draft.After canceling the plans for the Canadiens to host last year, the NHL assured the club of a future draft.It will be the city's first time holding it since 2009 and the 10th NHL draft held in Montreal since the league started conducting the event in 1980. Montreal hosted the first five entry drafts from 1980-84 after being the sole home of the NHL's amateur draft from 1963-79.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia isn't playing in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.Armia was a game-time decision after being cleared from the league's COVID-19 protocol, acting head coach Luke Richardson said earlier Monday.The 28-year-old flew to Tampa in a private jet since he didn't travel there with the team Sunday. The Canadiens placed Armia into COVID-19 protocol for an unknown reason.Jake Evans - who hasn't played since Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele injured him in the opening game of Round 2 - is taking Armia's place in the lineup.Evans was in Armia's spot on the fourth line during Monday's morning skate.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics still isn't a sure thing.Neither NHL commissioner Gary Bettman nor his deputy, Bill Daly, sounded overly optimistic while discussing the prospects of going to Beijing."It's still very much a work in progress," Daly said Monday, per Sportsnet. "All parties are engaged. You know what the league's traditional and historical position has been on the Olympics. We remain of that view. In fact, with the future Games in Beijing and the continued uncertainty with the virus and the games being halfway around the world, (it's) not necessarily an ideal Games to elect to go to."Participation at the 2022 and 2026 Games was part of the NHL's four-year CBA extension with the players' association in July 2020, but that was pending an agreement with IOC."We negotiated in good faith with the players' association last summer," Daly said. "We agreed that if the conditions were right and we could reach agreement on all the material issues, that we would commit and support going to the Olympics, and that remains our position."He added, "Time is running very short, so hopefully we'll have some resolution soon."The NHL is forced to take an extended break in the middle of its season in order to accommodate Olympic participation. The league also doesn't get to capitalize on the revenue generated from the games, and the uncertainty is problematic for Bettman."We don't know, as of right now, and that's causing us, in addition to consternation, a fair number of issues relative to getting next season up and running," Bettman said. "It's reaching the point that we're getting concerned about the impact on next season."The NHL is already in the process of creating its 2021-22 schedule. Bettman announced Monday dates for two outdoor games and that the All-Star Game would be held in Las Vegas."We have real concerns about whether or not it's sensible to be participating, having our players participate and us shutting down for the Olympic break," Bettman added. "But, as Bill said, we made a promise that if it can all be worked out, then we'll go along with it. But we are concerned."Canada won the last two Olympic gold medals that included NHLers: 2014 in Sochi and 2010 in Vancouver. The league didn't partake in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak announced Monday morning on Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Rebecca Rohlsson, lost their newborn son, Viggo Rohl Pastrnak, last week.

The Chicago Blackhawks have hired a former federal prosecutor to lead an independent review of the sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010, team CEO Danny Wirtz wrote in an internal memo on Monday, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.“We want to reiterate to you that we take the allegations described in these lawsuits very seriously,” Wirtz wrote. “They in no way reflect this organization’s culture or values.”In May, an unnamed former Blackhawks player sued the organization and said Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate over a decade ago. Earlier this month, it came out that a former Michigan high school player also sued the franchise. The player says the Blackhawks provided a positive reference letter to future employers despite knowing about the prior sexual assault allegations, according to TSN's Rick Westhead.Aldrich was previously convicted in Michigan of criminal sexual conduct involving an unnamed student in 2013, according to WBEZ Chicago, which adds that the former coach is a registered sex offender in that state. It's not known if it is the same student who recently sued the Blackhawks.Last week, former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti said Chicago's management group was aware of the allegations the club's former player made against Aldrich, and there was a meeting around the time of the Western Conference Final in 2010 to discuss the matter. However, the team decided not to take further action.Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, who was the director of player personnel for the Blackhawks in 2010, said on Sunday he wasn't involved in the meeting and was unaware of what was happening at the time.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic's Lazerus, Katie Strang, and Scott Powers last week that the league has spoken to the Blackhawks, but the NHL isn't investigating the team right now.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing for the Montreal Canadiens' first Stanley Cup Final home games since 1993.As of Monday morning, tickets for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at the Bell Centre were selling on StubHub for a minimum of $5,604 Canadian and going for as high as $30,672. Tickets for Game 4 at the Bell Centre were slightly more expensive while starting at $6,936 and selling for up to $32,925.Meanwhile, resale tickets for Game 1 at the Tampa Bay Lightning's Amalie Arena on Monday night are selling for as little as $310 American.Montreal became the first Canadian city to host fans at NHL games during the first round of the playoffs, but the club has limited attendance to 3,500 inside the Bell Centre. The Lightning increased their capacity to 14,800 for the Stanley Cup semifinals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It is said that history repeats itself - a sentiment that should inspire both franchises contesting this Stanley Cup Final.For the Tampa Bay Lightning, these playoffs have followed a script nearly identical to that of last year's championship run. After beating a team of plucky underdogs in the first round, they dispatched fellow Cup hopefuls in five games in the second before overcoming the New York Islanders in the third. And, for the second year in a row, waiting for Tampa in the final is a surprise opponent led by an interim head coach, a B.C.-born captain, and Corey Perry.History runs much deeper for the Montreal Canadiens as they conjure memories from their 1993 Stanley Cup triumph. Armed with a shutdown center from Quebec, a budding American winger, and a generational goalie, they're on a playoff run that feels eerily similar to that victorious campaign. They overcame a two-game deficit against their rivals in the first round, swept Round 2, and won a pair of overtime games in the third to reach the final.Can the Canadiens channel the Ghosts of the Forum to end the longest Cup drought in franchise history? Or will the Lightning secure an identical end to their sequel?Lightning (-260) vs. Canadiens (+220)Regular-season statsLIGHTNINGSTATCANADIENS36-17-3Record24-21-1153.22 (10th)xGF%*53.00 (11th)53.91 (7th)CF%*54.31 (6th)51.91 (11th)HDCF%*51.88 (12th)8.34 (14th)SH%*7.52 (25th).921 (10th)SV%*.914 (21st)22.2 (9th)PP%19.2 (17th)84.2 (4th)PK%78.5 (23rd)*five-on-fivePlayoff statsLIGHTNINGSTATCANADIENS12-6Record12-551.40 (7th)xGF%*52.76 (6th)50.02 (9th)CF%*49.98 (10th)54.21 (4th)HDCF%*52.63 (5th)7.58 (5th)SH%*6.66 (8th).938 (3rd)SV%*.933 (5th)37.7 (2nd)PP%20.9 (7th)83.0 (4th)PK%93.5 (1st)47.7 (11th)FOW%49.2 (9th)*five-on-fiveThe Canadiens have been underdogs in every series, and for the third time, oddsmakers are giving them less than a 33% chance of winning. The last time a Cup finalist was longer than a -200 favorite was when the Vancouver Canucks were favored over the Boston Bruins in 2011 - also the last time a Canadian team made the final. The Bruins won in seven games.Though the Canadiens may feel they're again being disrespected after toppling several big favorites, the Lightning have been the league's best team for the greater part of three years. Tampa largely coasted to the Cup last year despite missing Steven Stamkos, and the team is back nine months later with a full complement of stars. Still, odds of -260 suggest the Lightning have a 72.2% chance of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. They're worthy favorites, but that's rather aggressive.Montreal's underdog status throughout these playoffs is largely down to its 18th-place finish in a regular season plagued by injuries, COVID-19 stoppages, and an impossibly condensed schedule. The Canadiens were also mostly without Cole Caufield - a true superstar in the making who has revolutionized the team's offense - and interim coach Dominique Ducharme had just four practices to implement his system between his February takeover and the end of the season in May. Ducharme has had far more practice time with the team since the start of the playoffs, and the returns of a structure that's stymied three of the league's best offenses this postseason are starting to show.Montreal's regular-season record left plenty to be desired, but the stats above show just how similar these teams have been over the course of the regular season and playoffs. Remove the club names, and the numbers suggest a tight final is on tap - one much closer than the odds indicate.The Canadiens are also currently playing far above those numbers. Montreal owns a playoff-best 56.06% share of the expected goals at five-on-five since Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, getting the better of a Vegas Golden Knights team that's typically dominant in that regard. Montreal is peaking at the ideal time, playing its best hockey when it matters most.Tampa's largest statistical edges in the regular season were in save percentage and on special teams. Those gaps have narrowed considerably in the playoffs. Carey Price has matched Andrei Vasilevskiy every step of the way; splitting hairs over who's been the better netminder is an exercise in futility.Vasilevskiy leads the playoffs in goals saved above average and goals saved above expected. Price sits second in both. But that says more about their respective defense corps than about the goaltenders themselves. Vasilevskiy has faced 154 high-danger shots against compared to Price's 120, and while their save percentages are virtually identical, the greater quality allowed by Tampa has sparked Vasilevskiy's edge in goals saved above expected. The bottom line: Two of the world's best netminders are both at the top of their game right now, and they're about to go toe to toe.Tampa's other regular-season edge - special teams - could be the key in this series when the Lightning's power play clashes with Montreal's penalty kill. The defending champions are clicking at nearly 40% on the man advantage and have scored at least one power-play goal in 11 playoff games. They've had six contests with at least two power-play goals and have tallied three on three occasions - once in each series.That said, special teams can be streaky, and the Lightning came back down to earth slightly in the semifinals, failing to register a power-play goal in four of their last five games against the Islanders. They now face the hottest special-teams unit of the postseason: a Canadiens penalty kill that hasn't allowed a power-play goal since Game 5 of Round 1 and has killed off 30 straight penalties since.Nikita Kucherov's status bears monitoring here. If his injury limits his effectiveness, it will be a significant blow for a Tampa power play that's been especially lethal with two dangerous shooters on the half-wall. The play on which Kucherov appeared to suffer the injury suggests a broken rib (or ribs) is likely. Such an ailment takes weeks to heal and would certainly limit his effectiveness. Without Kucherov in the regular season, Tampa was ninth in power-play efficiency at only 22.2%. He logged just 16:29 of ice time in Game 7 against New York, and if he's not at full strength against Montreal, the Lightning's 37.7% success rate in the playoffs will likely plummet.Of all the matchups in this series, the special teams battle feels like the most significant. If the Canadiens can't keep the Lightning power play at bay, this final could be over in a hurry. But if Montreal's penalty kill stays hot, the underdogs have a real shot at the upset - because they aren't at all out of their depth at five-on-five.The Canadiens have been a strong five-on-five team for the last several years, ranking third in expected goals for percentage and Corsi For percentage over the past three seasons. That hasn't always translated to overall success for a team held back by the league's 25th-ranked PDO - a harbinger for positive regression. Part of Montreal's low five-on-five shooting percentage can be attributed to an absence of quality scorers up front. While the recent uptick has been a long time coming, it's largely a product of the arrivals of Tyler Toffoli and Caufield and the emergence of Nick Suzuki.In addition to a low PDO, special teams and goaltending previously plagued the Canadiens. That's all changed over the past month, with a new coaching staff effecting positive changes and Price rediscovering his Vezina form. So while Montreal's playoff run is largely viewed as an underdog story, there's plenty of evidence to prompt a reframing of this team's success. The ability to drive play has always been there, but only recently have the rest of the pieces fallen into place - Ducharme and general manager Marc Bergevin deserve a ton of credit for that.The continued development of Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi and the experienced play of Phillip Danault and Eric Staal have also provided the Canadiens with the center depth they've craved for years. That newfound depth gives them a real chance to match up with Tampa's forward corps.On the back end, there's very little separating these teams. Tampa does well to spread out its blue-line talent, but Erik Cernak has struggled, Jan Rutta doesn't belong on the top pairing, and Victor Hedman is clearly operating at less than full strength. Montreal's third pairing can be a liability, but the team has competently sheltered the duo, with a top four that's been nothing short of excellent carrying the bulk of the burden.The Canadiens have already slain multiple giants in these playoffs. The Lightning - a team with elite star power, depth, goaltending, and coaching - are the greatest threat of all, but they aren't exactly Goliath to Montreal's David. There's a clear recipe for success for the Canadiens in this series, with goaltending and special teams the key ingredients. It will require near-flawless execution from all involved, but they can finish the job.Pick: Canadiens (+220)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.

Montreal Canadiens general manager and former Chicago Blackhawks executive Marc Bergevin says he didn't know about the sexual assault allegations made against ex-video coach Bradley Aldrich."There was a meeting that I've heard that was done in Chicago," Bergevin said Sunday. "I was not part of any meeting and I was not part of any decision based on that. I was not aware of what was going on at the time, so you can go on the record with that."On Friday, former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti said Chicago's management group met around the time of the Western Conference Final in 2010 to discuss the allegations made by players against Aldrich. He added that the players told skills coach Paul Vincent, who then took it to the team's brass and asked them to contact the police, but they refused.Bergevin was the Blackhawks director of player personnel that season.Two former players recently filed lawsuits against the organization.In May, an unnamed player said Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate. Earlier this month, a former high school player in Michigan also sued the franchise, saying Aldrich did the same to him in 2013 after the Blackhawks wrote the coach a positive reference letter that led to him working at the school.Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010. The team promoted Bergevin to assistant GM in June 2011, and the Canadiens named him GM just less than a year after that.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois praised Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price on Sunday ahead of the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the two teams."He's got a Hall of Fame career if he retires right now," BriseBois said, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "That's just the reality."BriseBois was the director of player operations with the Canadiens in 2005 when the team selected Price with the fifth overall pick. He said the club's management considered Price a "generational prospect."Price has long been viewed as one of the league's elite netminders. He's won virtually every award and championship that a goalie can throughout his career, except a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy.The 33-year-old led Team Canada to gold at the world juniors in 2007, at the Olympics in 2014, and at the world championship in 2016 with dominant performances. He was named the NHL's MVP in 2015 while also winning the Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award - becoming the first goalie to win all four in the same season.Price's regular-season play has declined significantly over the past few years, and his performance has been inconsistent. However, the veteran has proven in the playoffs he can still be one of the league's top goalies.The Canadiens are in the midst of an improbable playoff run, and they're playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. Price has been a big reason for the club's postseason success while recording a .934 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia missed Sunday's practice due to NHL COVID-19 protocols and won't travel with the team to Tampa, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin told reporters, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Bergevin said there will be an update on the 28-year-old's status Monday morning. Montreal faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.Armia tested positive for COVID-19 in late March, which resulted in the postponement of several Canadiens games.Jake Evans slotted into the lineup in Armia's absence. Evans, 25, hasn't played since being injured by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of Round 2.

With the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the books, theScore counts down the top players of the postseason so far in all three positional groups. Players on eliminated teams are eligible for this list, as these rankings are explicitly based on cumulative performances from the first three rounds.Forwards | Defensemen | Goaltenders5. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%108720:4547.18MacKinnon might seem like a surprise inclusion here because he didn't play in the semifinal round. But he's still tied for second in playoff goals and tied for fifth in postseason points entering the Stanley Cup Final. The Avalanche superstar also ranks second among qualified forwards (who played more than six games) in points per contest in the playoffs, illustrating just how dominant he was despite Colorado's second-round exit.Games played aside, MacKinnon averaged more ice time than anyone else on this list. In addition to scoring nearly a goal per game during his shorter stint, the 2021 Hart Trophy finalist and perennial candidate is still tied for second in even-strength goals (six) in these playoffs. He's also tied for fourth in even-strength points.All of this is remarkable considering most of his counterparts have gone one round further in the playoffs. Alex Killorn and William Karlsson narrowly edged out MacKinnon in points through the semis, but both required nearly twice as many games to do so.4. Tyler Toffoli, Montreal Canadiens Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%175917:5251.55Toffoli has been a perfect fit with the Canadiens, and the skilled forward's regular-season success has carried over into the playoffs. Toffoli leads all Montreal skaters in points heading into the Cup Final and is tied for the team lead in goals.The former Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks winger notched a goal and three assists in six games against the Golden Knights in the semifinal round after collecting two markers - both game-winners - and three helpers in the Canadiens' sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.Toffoli has always driven possession well, and that trend has continued in these playoffs. Without his contributions, Montreal would be depending even more on Carey Price's heroics.3. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning Scott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%1871015:4755.54It's been a productive postseason for Stamkos, the Lightning captain who missed all but one of the defending champions' playoff games last year due to injury.Stamkos' ice time has noticeably declined compared to his regular-season workload, but he's made the most of his more limited opportunities. Most impressively, Tampa Bay has a larger share of the goals scored at five-on-five with Stamkos on the ice than it does with either of his two teammates who rank above him here.The 13-year veteran enters the Cup Final tied for third in playoff points in 2021. Stamkos also won 53.4% of the 163 faceoffs he took during the first three rounds, proving the steady center's value extends beyond the scoresheet.2. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%1852218:0451.5Kucherov leads the NHL in postseason points this year, and his excellence is especially impressive considering he missed the entire regular season.The 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner is driving possession at five-on-five and logging a considerable amount of ice time for someone who had such a long layoff, even if his status as the Lightning's most dangerous catalyst demands it.Though Kucherov has contributed to more playoff goals than anyone else in 2021 entering the championship round, he's scored only a handful of his own and only one of those came at even strength. Kucherov is a force on the power play but hasn't been as effective in more difficult situations while averaging nearly a minute less on the ice than a certain linemate who tops our list.1. Brayden Point, Lightning Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%1814618:5651.76Scoring is the object of the game, and while Kucherov's offensive output has primarily consisted of assists, Point leads all playoff skaters in goals by six through three rounds. Only half of the latter star's markers entering the final round were of the power-play variety, a far more impressive feat than Kucherov's four goals with the man advantage out of five in total.Point went on an absolute tear in the second and third rounds. He scored in nine straight games, tallying in the Lightning's final three contests against the Carolina Hurricanes before doing so in each of the first six games against the New York Islanders.He's also buried three game-winners this postseason - tying him for the league lead - while Kucherov hasn't scored any. They were largely legit winners, too, as two of the three games in question were decided by Point's markers and the other was a two-goal victory.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks' management group held a meeting during the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Playoffs to discuss players' accusations about video coach Bradley Aldrich sexually assaulting them.Former Blackhawks associate coach John Torchetti confirmed the events to TSN's Rick Westhead on Friday, while adding the team chose not to take further action.Torchetti - who was the club's second-highest-ranking coach from 2007-2010 - revealed the players informed then-skills coach Paul Vincent, who went to management to tell the executives what the players said Aldrich had done.Vincent said two of Chicago's players told him Aldrich had abused them around the time of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on May 16, 2010. One day after Vincent asked team sports psychologist James Gary to discuss the matter, the two men met with team president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and vice-president of hockey operations Al MacIssac. Vincent wanted them to take the allegations to the Chicago Police Department's sex crimes unit, but they declined.In May, an unnamed former Blackhawks player sued the organization, claiming Aldrich sexually assaulted him and a teammate. The player said he mentioned it to a team-employed sports psychologist, who told him it had been his own fault.In early June, a former high school hockey player in Michigan also sued the franchise, claiming Aldrich sexually assaulted him in 2013. The former high school player said the team gave Aldrich a positive job reference letter despite knowing Chicago players had accused the video coach of committing sexual assault, according to Westhead.That former player added that the club's letter had allowed Aldrich to get the job at the high school where the former player said the video coach assaulted him.On Friday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus, Katie Strang, and Scott Powers the league had talked to Chicago about the matter but was not investigating the team.Aldrich is no longer in the Blackhawks organization.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robin Lehner is more than happy to be sharing the crease in Vegas with teammate Marc-Andre Fleury."I’ve played with some really good goaltenders in my career and playing with Marc-Andre is a privilege," Lehner said during his season exit interview Saturday. "We’ve grown a lot closer to each other and it’s been a pretty special couple of seasons here."When the Golden Knights signed Lehner to a five-year, $25-million contract in October, many figured he would overtake Fleury for the starting role. However, with Lehner sidelined for much of the season with an injury, it turned out to be a different story.Fleury put together one of the best seasons of his career and was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the first time. He appeared in 36 games to Lehner's 19 while recording a 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.Even though Lehner was healthy heading into the postseason, the Golden Knights stuck with Fleury for all seven games in Round 1 against the Minnesota Wild. Lehner ended up appearing in just three playoff games, with two coming in Round 3 against the Montreal Canadiens.Head coach Pete DeBoer made it clear he's aware he was lucky to have the tandem this season and devoted much of his team's success to the goalies, but said "next year is a different year," according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. He pointed to the fact next season the schedule won't be condensed.Fleury has just one more season remaining on his contract before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. During his exit interview Saturday, Fleury said he hasn't given much thought about the future but hopes he can finish his career in Vegas.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said Saturday he should return to the team's bench for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Las Vegas after Game 2 of Montreal's semifinal series against the Golden Knights and has been away from the Canadiens since. He's been symptom-free since his diagnosis but is serving a 14-day quarantine.The Canadiens beat Vegas in six games to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 under the guidance of assistant coach Luke Richardson while Ducharme watched from home. The 48-year-old said he's pleased with what the team has accomplished."I think, right now, our guys are not thinking. They're just executing, just playing," Ducharme said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I think that's what we wanted to create was for things to become automatic, just second nature. ... I'm really enjoying seeing the team play that way together."The Canadiens will face the Lightning in Game 1 in Tampa on Monday, with Ducharme on track to return at Montreal's Bell Centre on July 2.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wants to see a raucous Bell Centre crowd when his team travels to meet the Montreal Canadiens for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final next Friday."I hope they let more fans in there," Cooper said following his side's Game 7 triumph over the New York Islanders on Friday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "The fans of Quebec, they haven't been back since '93, they deserve to watch their team play. I hope they get in there because ... this game was meant to be played in front of fans."The Canadiens were only allowed to have 3,500 fans for the Stanley Cup semifinals against the Vegas Golden Knights - 1,000 more than they were permitted for Round 2 against the Winnipeg Jets.The streets outside the Bell Centre were packed for Montreal's Game 6 victory on Thursday.

The NHL's 2021 playoff points leader didn't miss Game 7.Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov ultimately suited up for the decisive contest of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the New York Islanders on Friday night.Kucherov took part in the pregame warmup alongside Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.The Russian dynamo left Game 6 not long after Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield cross-checked him early in the first period. Kucherov finished his shift but then exited the contest and didn't return.Mayfield wasn't penalized on the play, and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos later said the Islanders blue-liner was "probably a guy looking for a cheap shot there."Kucherov entered Game 7 sitting atop the league leaderboards in both assists (22) and points (27) for this postseason.The Lightning also got defenseman Erik Cernak back Friday night. He'd missed the last two contests.Tampa Bay defeated the Islanders 1-0 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL revealed the schedule Friday for the upcoming Stanley Cup Final, with Game 1 set for June 28.GameHomeAwayDateTime (ET)1Tampa Bay LightningMontreal CanadiensJune 288 p.m.2LightningCanadiensJune 308 p.m.3CanadiensLightningJuly 28 p.m.4CanadiensLightningJuly 58 p.m.5*LightningCanadiensJuly 78 p.m.6*CanadiensLightningJuly 98 p.m.7*LightningCanadiensJuly 117 p.m.* - if necessaryThere'll be one day off between each contest, except for a two-day break between Games 3 and 4.The Tampa Bay Lightning will have home-ice advantage versus the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning finished higher than the Canadiens in the regular-season standings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have apparently entered the Jack Eichel sweepstakes.The club has had initial trade discussions with the Buffalo Sabres about their superstar center, The Athletic's Michael Russo reports.The Wild have lacked an impact player down the middle of the ice for much of their existence, and they're still in need of a pivot entering the 2021-22 campaign.Joel Eriksson Ek, a restricted free agent, enjoyed a breakout season and finished fourth in Selke Trophy voting, but the team's center depth behind him is alarming.Nick Bonino and Nick Bjugstad are unrestricted free agents, while Victor Rask and Nico Sturm are one year away from becoming UFAs. Ryan Hartman made the difficult transition from wing to center last campaign but is still unproven at his new position. Marco Rossi, the 2020 ninth overall pick, had his development slowed by a harsh battle with COVID-19 this past year.Minnesota enters the offseason with $22-million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, but in addition to Eriksson Ek needing a new contract, Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala are RFAs as well.The Sabres are widely expected to move Eichel after the player and organization appeared to have a publicized falling out.In his end-of-season interview, Eichel revealed he's upset with the franchise's handling of his neck injury and that he's looking forward to next season "wherever that may be."The 2015 second overall pick suffered a herniated disk in his neck in March, forcing him to miss the remainder of the campaign. Eichel implied in May he wanted to have surgery, but the team wouldn't allow it.A few days later, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Buffalo will proceed with "the people who want to be here."Eichel recorded two goals and 16 assists in 21 games this season before suffering the neck injury. However, he racked up 78 points in 68 contests the year before.The 24-year-old has five years left on his contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $10 million. A no-movement clause takes effect in 2022-23.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's felt like an eternity for Canadiens fans, but Montreal is finally back in the Stanley Cup Final after nearly three decades. The most successful franchise in NHL history now has another chance to recapture the magic of years past.From 1956 to 1993, the Canadiens brought the Stanley Cup back to Montreal an incredible 17 times. They were a model of consistency; Henri Richard was on 11 of those championship teams, while Jean Beliveau and Yvan Cournoyer were each on 10. Dick Raphael / Sports Illustrated / GettyHowever, things have gone downhill for the franchise since it was last crowned champion in '93. New coaches, general managers, and players have entered the fray, but no one has been able to deliver another Cup for the devoted Habs fans.This year appeared to be another to forget, but it's quickly turned into one of the greatest seasons in recent memory.Here's a look at some of the numbers since the Canadiens' last Cup victory:2: Montreal had two players capture the Hart Trophy between their Cup appearances, with both being goaltenders (Carey Price and Jose Theodore).3: The Canadiens drafted in the top five of the NHL draft three times since '93. Alex Galchenyuk, Price, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi were the selections. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty5: The number of times Canadian teams have made it to the Stanley Cup Final since '93. None have been victorious.8: The Canadiens have had eight different captains since Guy Carbonneau last led the team to glory.8: Eric Staal - the oldest player on this Canadiens roster at 36 - was eight years old the last time the Habs won the Cup.9: The Canadiens have featured nine players this postseason who weren't born yet when the team last won the Cup: Kotkaniemi, Josh Anderson, Joel Edmundson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Artturi Lehkonen, Jake Evans, Alexander Romanov, and Brett Kulak.10: Montreal has missed the playoffs in 10 of the 27 seasons since its last Cup.11: The Canadiens have gone through 11 bench bosses since Jacques Demers last led the team all the way.12: The number of jerseys that have been raised to the rafters at the Bell Centre since '93, with the latest being Guy Lapointe's in 2014. Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / Getty12: The previous longest drought between Stanley Cup appearances in franchise history was 12 seasons, from 1931 to 1944.13: Montreal has had some decent playoff success and made a couple of deeper runs in recent years, winning 13 postseason series and making it to the conference finals three times since '93.23: Vincent Damphousse recorded 23 points in the 1993 playoffs, leading the team in scoring.2,277: Including the postseason, the Canadiens have played 2,277 games since last hoisting the Cup.6,213: Canadiens fans have had the pleasure of watching their team fill opponents' nets 6,213 times over the last 28 years.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders are set to lock horns Friday night with a berth in the Stanley Cup Final on the line.As they say, anything can happen in a Game 7, but here are five key subplots as this highly entertaining series reaches its apex.Nikita Kucherov's status Rich Graessle / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Lightning were dealt a major blow early in Game 6 as Kucherov was forced to leave with an injury after only 46 seconds of ice time. The dynamic Tampa Bay winger has been the club's offensive catalyst throughout the postseason, leading all players with a whopping 27 points across 17 games. Given the circumstances, Kucherov could try to play through whatever is ailing him, but his health is the ultimate X-factor for this contest.On the bright side for Tampa fans, the Lightning won 36 games without Kucherov this season. If he's unable to suit up, what's one more?Will we see the Coliseum again? Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyIslanders faithful nearly blew the roof off Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum after Anthony Beauvillier's electric overtime winner in Game 6. If fans hurling beer cans onto the ice in celebration is the final memory of one of the league's most beloved barns, it's a hell of a way to go out, but it would pale in comparison to the raucousness of a Stanley Cup Final on Long Island.New York hasn't been to the final since 1984, when its four-year run of glory was snapped by Wayne Gretzky and Co. The Islanders' crowd would be sure to bring the noise - even more than usual - if the home team gets to play for a title in its last season before heading to the brand-new UBS Arena.Bolts' repeat bid in jeopardy Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyThe Lightning have authored a dominant postseason story since their run to the Cup began in the bubble last summer. This Game 7 marks the first time Tampa Bay has faced elimination since Game 4 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1 of the 2019 playoffs - and that could be an ominous sign, as the defending champs haven't won while facing elimination since the 2015 Eastern Conference Final. Over that span, the Lightning have blown two 3-2 series leads in the third round, most recently in 2018 against the Washington Capitals, an outfit coached by ... Islanders bench boss Barry Trotz.On a more positive note, however, Tampa Bay is 13-0 following a loss since the start of last year's playoffs.Barzal's redemption song Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyMathew Barzal's situation seemed grim at best after the Islanders' disastrous 8-0 loss in Game 5. New York's best player potentially faced suspension after cross-checking Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta in the face. Barzal was tossed from the game and slapped with a $5,000 fine, which turned out to be a huge break for the Islanders. He was a force in Game 6, registering two assists while controlling 73.91% of shot attempts, 75% of scoring chances, and 69.81% of expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.It was a massive statement from Barzal, who drew the public ire of his coach after getting ejected in Game 5. The forward had been quiet in the series until Wednesday night, only recording two points. Will his momentum carry over?Point's remarkable goal streak Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBrayden Point is smoldering hot right now, with a goal in nine consecutive contests. If he buries one in Game 7, he'll match Reggie Leach's all-time playoff record, and there's plenty of reason to believe he can do it. Since the start of the 2020 postseason, Point's recorded 28 goals in 40 games, and his career 0.58 playoff goals per game ranks sixth in NHL history among all players who appeared in at least 60 contests, according to Sportsnet Stats.You'd be hard-pressed to find a more clutch playoff performer than Point in the NHL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is shouldering the responsibility for his team's disappointing series loss against the Montreal Canadiens."I got skunked this series. That can't happen," Stone said following the 3-2 overtime defeat in Game 6, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "I'm the captain of this team. I'm the leader of this team. I take a lot of responsibility for what occurred."Stone, who led Vegas with 61 points during the regular season, failed to register a point in the series. He only recorded seven shots in the six contests.There was plenty of speculation that Stone's lackluster play was due to a lingering injury, but he told reporters that was not the case.Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer insisted fingers shouldn't be pointed squarely at Stone."I'm not surprised he's taking that on himself, but that's not a load he needs to carry and definitely not alone," DeBoer said, according to Justin Emerson of the Las Vegas Sun.Stone was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators in February 2019 and shortly after signed an eight-year, $76-million extension to stay in Sin City. He became the first captain in Golden Knights history prior to this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights turned to Robin Lehner between the pipes with their season on the line in Thursday's Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens.Lehner started Game 4 of Vegas' semifinal series against Montreal and was spectacular in the winning effort, stopping 27 of 28 shots. It was just his second start of the playoffs and first outing since May 30.But Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer opted to go back to Marc-Andre Fleury for Game 5. Fleury allowed three goals on 25 shots in a 4-1 loss as the Canadiens took a 3-2 series lead.Lehner posted a .913 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average in 19 regular-season games this season. The 29-year-old owns a .920 save percentage and 2.21 goals-against average in 28 career playoff appearances.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN has signed Hall of Famer Mark Messier to a multi-year deal as an NHL studio analyst, the company announced Thursday.His contract begins in 2021-22.Messier is regarded as one of the best players of all time. During his 25-year playing career, which ended in 2003-04, he won six Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, and a Conn Smythe Award. He sits third on both the all-time games played list and all-time points list.The 60-year-old spent 12 years with the Edmonton Oilers, where he won five of his rings. He also played 10 campaigns with the New York Rangers, bringing the Stanley Cup to the Big Apple for the first time in 54 years in 1994. Additionally, Messier had a three-year stint with the Vancouver Canucks.ESPN signed a seven-year deal for half of the NHL's U.S. TV rights package, beginning in 2021-22. The company has already brought in Kevin Weekes, Ryan Callahan, Ray Ferraro, Brian Boucher, and AJ Mleczko Griswold as analysts. New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is also doing analysis for ESPN for the remainder of the 2021 postseason.The network reportedly targeted Wayne Gretzky for an analyst role before The Great One took his talents to TNT, which bought the other half of the NHL's U.S. TV rights package.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken announced Dave Hakstol as their first head coach in franchise history Thursday.Hakstol had been an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs since 2019, and he previously served as the Philadelphia Flyers' head coach. Before breaking into the NHL in 2015, Hakstol coached the University of North Dakota."Tracking back to (his) University of North Dakota days, Dave is a coach who cares about his players," general manager Ron Francis said. "At times, a coach's messages can get diluted. Players want to understand what the coach wants them to do. Dave communicates clearly and concisely. Players like that."Francis and Hakstol worked together for Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. Francis revealed Thursday that the Kraken interviewed eight head coaching candidates, some more than once, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.Hakstol had a 134-101-42 record as the Flyers' coach across three-plus seasons. He was mainly in charge of running the Maple Leafs' defense during his time with Toronto.The 52-year-old will be able to build his own coaching staff with the Kraken.Seattle's inaugural season will be the 2021-22 campaign. The expansion draft is scheduled for July 21.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protected list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Central Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | PacificThe 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 version that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protected list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Metropolitan Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | PacificThe 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 expansion draft that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protected list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Pacific Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | PacificThe 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 version that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

The Montreal Canadiens played arguably their best game of the postseason Tuesday - and their victory brought them one win from the Stanley Cup Final. Game 6 of the Canadiens' semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights goes Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Here are four key storylines to watch:Mark Stone's responseStone is one of those rare players coaches almost never have to worry about.The 29-year-old winger positively impacts the run of play in all three zones. He's emotionally and physically engaged in the game. And, perhaps most importantly, he's ultra-consistent. For these reasons, Stone is the Golden Knights' captain and an annual Selke Trophy contender. Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesYet this semifinal series has been taxing on Stone - Game 5, especially.Stone uncharacteristically turned the puck over at the offensive blue line in Tuesday's affair, then barely backchecked as Montreal's Cole Caufield buried a pass from Corey Perry on a quick counterattack to make it 3-0 for the Habs. Stone, again uncharacteristically, whacked his stick on the boards and cursed to himself as he returned to the Vegas bench. It was only the second period.He was clearly rattled and disgusted. Honestly, it's hard to blame him.In 102 total minutes against Montreal, Stone has failed to register a point. He has just 12 shot attempts (six of which have missed the net or been blocked), four takeaways to two giveaways (a lackluster ratio for the takeaway king), and nine hits taken to six hits delivered. With Stone on the ice at five-on-five, the Golden Knights have owned 48% of the shot attempts (78-72), 31% of the expected goals (4.64-2.12), and 33% of the goals (4-2), according to Natural Stat Trick. None of those percentages are encouraging.The Canadiens have basically rendered Stone, normally an extremely effective player at five-on-five, ineffective. A bounce-back Game 6 performance from him is essential if Vegas hopes to force a seventh contest.Vegas' attack woes Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesStone's lack of production wouldn't be so devastating if the rest of the Golden Knights' forwards weren't producing at similarly depressing rates.Mattias Janmark scored a goal to put Vegas up 3-1 in an eventual 4-1 Game 1 victory, and Max Pacioretty scored the team's lone goal in a 4-1 Game 5 loss. Beyond those tallies - neither of which was crucial to the outcome of the game - it's been crickets. The Golden Knights have mustered just 11 goals in this series. Amazingly, nine have come from defensemen.Naturally, frustration appears highest among the club's highest-paid forwards - Stone, Pacioretty, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Reilly Smith. The shift-by-shift output for all five hasn't been terrible (Smith, for one, has been fine), but it also hasn't been nearly good enough to win a series.There seems to be a sharpness absent from Vegas' attack. Game 5, in particular, was littered with missed reads, missed passes, and missed nets.Marchessault, the franchise leader in points, is a microcosm of the group's problems. The feisty winger has recorded a measly eight shots on goal through the first five games of the series despite notching 29 shot attempts. Of the 21 attempts that didn't count as a shot on goal, 11 were blocked, and 10 missed the net.Insulation for Price Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesThe catch in Vegas' quest to reignite the regular season's third-ranked offense is that Montreal has a say, too.The Habs are a well-oiled machine, with four gigantic defensemen in Shea Weber, Jeff Petry, Joel Edmundson, and Ben Chiarot playing simple hockey. All series, they've clogged up the neutral zone, invaded passing and shooting lanes, and leaned on the opposition with physicality. Steely goalie Carey Price, meanwhile, has been standing on his head, building on his strong Conn Smythe Trophy case with a series save percentage of .929.Stone, Marchessault, and the rest of the Golden Knights are facing the same issue that plagued the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets: Not only is it incredibly difficult to penetrate the middle of the ice and get a clean shot on Price, but the 33-year-old is always in position and always in control of the rebound.The Habs have built a fortress around their goalie, and their goalie is completely dialed in. Unless Vegas finds a way to create better offensive-zone puck movement and lure Montreal's blue-liners out of their rigid positioning, the Canadiens' plan will continue to work.Suzuki-Caufield chemistry Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesGolden Knights goalie Robin Lehner told reporters after Game 4 that the scouting report on Caufield indicated he likes to either shoot high or aim for the five-hole on breakaways. How did the smiley 20-year-old rookie respond?He scored a fast-break goal in Game 5 that was neither high nor low - nor, really, anywhere close to the five-hole. On the aforementioned odd-man rush precipitated by Stone's turnover, Caufield's shot cleanly beat Lehner's goaltending partner, Marc-Andre Fleury. It remains to be seen which netminder will be tasked with trying to stop Caufield in Game 6, but the scouting talk is almost certainly over with.Caufield and center Nick Suzuki have been a breath of fresh air for Canadiens fans this postseason. Not because the fan base didn't expect chemistry between the club's brightest offensive stars, but because of what a Caufield-Suzuki tandem might unlock for the storied franchise in both the present and future.The well-rounded nature of Caufield's game has been on full display against Vegas. He probably has a higher hockey IQ and playmaking ability than most anticipated. He also has a nonstop motor and takes care of his defensive responsibilities. Caufield's nose for the net and wicked shot were hyped long before his NHL debut, and he's delivered with a series-leading three goals so far.Suzuki, a second-year pro, can shoot and pass at elite levels, and both are showing well in his series-high five points. The 21-year-old is cerebral and responsible, and Montreal's coaching staff has rewarded him with 19 minutes of ice time a night. Suzuki is the No. 1 center the Habs needed.Together with veteran winger Tyler Toffoli, Caufield and Suzuki have been electric. It's gravy, in many ways, because of their respective ages and lack of NHL experience. Game 6 offers another opportunity to witness a special tandem build further on its baseline chemistry - for this run and the future.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins star forward Patrice Bergeron has been named the 2020-21 winner of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, the league announced Wednesday.The award is given annually to "the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team on and off the ice during the regular season, and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey." The winner is selected by Messier himself.Bergeron succeeded Zdeno Chara as the 20th captain in Bruins history before the campaign after the latter signed with the Washington Capitals in the offseason. Bergeron ranked second on the team in both goals (23) and points (48) in 54 games this year."It's a huge honor," Bergeron said of his win, according to Sportsnet. "Obviously, there's more than just Xs and Os and playing the game of hockey; it's about the community and what impact you can bring to people - obviously, to your team and beyond that - to grow the game of hockey."The 35-year-old is the 15th winner of the award after Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano was named last year's recipient. Bergeron has spent his entire 17-year career with Boston and is a four-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy, earning top defensive forward honors in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.