The Edmonton Oilers have inked defenseman Slater Koekkoek to a one-year, $850,000 contract, the team announced Saturday.The 26-year-old, who was an unrestricted free agent, produced 10 points over 42 games while averaging 16:45 of ice time with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.Koekkoek played with the Tampa Bay Lightning for his first four full campaigns and part of another before the club traded him to Chicago in January 2019.The Lightning drafted him 10th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Carl Soderberg on a one-year, $1-million deal, the club announced Saturday.Soderberg, who was an unrestricted free agent, was arguably the best center available.The 35-year-old posted 17 goals and 18 assists over 70 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season. Before joining that club, he spent four campaigns with the Colorado Avalanche and his first three with the Boston Bruins.The rebuilding Blackhawks now hold just over $4 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. Chicago still needs to get RFA forward Dylan Strome under contract before the start of the 2020-21 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russia defeated the United States 5-3 to conclude the opening day of this year's preliminary round at the world juniors.The Russians got off to a hot start, dominating the Americans early on before Vasili Ponomaryov netted the first goal. Soon after, U.S. captain Cam York flicked a shot through traffic from the point that trickled past netminder Yaroslav Askarov to tie things up before the intermission.However, things got out of hand for the Americans in the second frame. Zakhar Bardakov netted a goal on a breakaway just under four minutes into the period. Then, Ponomaryov picked up defenseman Jake Sanderson's errant pass into the slot and sniped his second goal of the game to take a 3-1 lead.Minutes later, U.S. goaltender Spencer Knight allowed his fourth goal on 12 shots after misplaying the puck. As a result, Dustin Wolf replaced Knight.The U.S showed some fight in the third, dominating possession and peppering the Russians with shots. John Farinacci cut the deficit to 4-2 midway through the final frame before Trevor Zegras brought the Americans within a goal with just over two minutes remaining. However, it proved to be too little too late, as Russia scored an empty-netter and held on for the win.Wolf stopped all 11 shots he faced after relieving Knight in the second period. York was named the player of the game for the American side while Ponomaryov earned the honor for Russia.The U.S. will next take on Austria at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Russians will face the Czech Republic at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2021 World Junior Championship is finally upon us. The tournament is taking place under unique circumstances but will surely be can't-miss TV once the puck is dropped.Team Canada captured gold at the 2020 world juniors, defeating Russia 4-3 in a thrilling final. Which nation will climb to the top of the podium in 2021?Here are five key storylines to watch for heading into this year's annual holiday event.Navigating the pandemic Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe can't ignore the obvious. This year's pandemic-altered tournament is going to be different in various ways, and everyone involved must do their best to ensure the event can be completed with integrity.With the added layer of COVID-19 protocols, things can change in an instant, as Germany quickly learned one week ago. Eight players on the German roster tested positive upon arriving in the Edmonton bubble, so the team had to quarantine until Thursday and forgo their tuneup games. With the tournament being played over a short period of time, a positive test would spell the end of the event for a player and potentially for the entire team.However, the Edmonton bubble worked seamlessly during the NHL playoffs, as no positive tests were returned. As was the case then, players at the world juniors will receive daily testing and be subject to several other protective measures in an attempt to prevent exposure.Another effect of the pandemic will be the lack of fans in attendance. The world juniors - especially in Canada - usually draw electric crowds to create some of the most intense environments in all of sports.NHL's delay brings increased talent pool Chris Tanouye / Getty Images Sport / GettyTwo favorable quirks resulting from the pandemic are the expanded rosters and the volume of star talent that would otherwise be playing in the NHL during the tournament.Unfortunately for Team Canada, captain Kirby Dach is reportedly out for the tournament after suffering an injury during exhibition play. Dylan Cozens and No. 2 pick Quinton Byfield, however, are two other premier talents who are available for Canada due to the NHL delay. For Team USA, Cole Caufield, Trevor Zegras, and several other former lottery picks would've had a strong chance to crack their respective NHL clubs.Perhaps the biggest win for world junior fans will be the chance to watch 2020 No. 3 selection Tim Stuetzle suit up for Germany. The Senators' blue-chip prospect recorded five points in five games at least year's event and likely wouldn't have returned had the NHL season begun in the fall.Sweden's remarkable unbeaten streak in jeopardy Peter Kovalev / TASS / GettyDec. 31, 2006 - that's the last time Sweden dropped a game during the preliminary round, losing in overtime to Team USA. Tre Kronor have won a remarkable 51 consecutive round-robin contests, but that world junior record could be at risk this year after the team suffered a few key last-minute setbacks.Four Swedish players - including a trio of NHL prospects in William Wallinder, Karl Henriksson, and Albin Grewe - along with head coach Tomas Monten were deemed ineligible to participate last week after returning positive COVID-19 tests. Sweden also faces a tough schedule with matchups against the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, and the United States.The nation's round-robin dominance hasn't quite translated to the medal rounds. Sweden has just one gold medal (2012) since the streak began and has lost in the championship game five times.3 nations look to continue domination Peter Kovalev / TASS / GettyFor the last several decades, the big five at the world juniors has included Canada, Team USA, Russia, Sweden, and Finland, but only three have experienced sustained success in recent years. Either the Canadians, Americans, or Finns have won the last eight tournaments and 15 of the last 17, largely thanks to Canada's five straight golds in the second half of the 2000s.Russia and Sweden have each enjoyed a ton of success during the preliminary stage, but neither has been able to get it done when the lights shine brightest. The nations have combined for six silver medals and five bronzes since the last time either won gold (Sweden, 2012). Russia, which has finished on the podium on all but two occasions since 2005, has just one championship (2011) over that span.Goaltenders poised to put on clinics VESA MOILANEN / AFP / GettyThe world juniors typically present a strong crop of young netminders, but this year's group is elite.Yaroslav Askarov became Russia's highest-drafted netminder ever when the Nashville Predators selected him 11th overall in October, and he's good enough to single-handedly lift the country to the top of the podium. The 18-year-old phenom owns a .962 save percentage and has allowed just six goals through seven games with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg. He'll be aiming to bounce back after his shaky world juniors debut in 2020.Team USA's tandem of Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf may be the best one-two punch the program has ever had. Knight is one of just three netminders (with Askarov) to be selected with a top-15 pick in the last 10 years. The Florida Panthers prospect owned a .931 save percentage through 33 games in his freshman season at Boston College, while Wolf was named CHL goaltender of the year for his phenomenal 2019-20 campaign with the WHL's Everett Silvertips.Finland's Joel Blomqvist has also shown boatloads of promise during his young career overseas. The Pittsburgh Penguins' 2020 second-rounder is incredibly athletic and impressed during a pair of starts this season in Finland's top league.Swedish youngster Jesper Wallstedt is unlikely to start but is currently the top-ranked goaltending prospect for the 2021 NHL Draft and could be Sweden's next big netminder on the international stage. The starting role will likely be Hugo Alnefelt's to lose, however. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was one of the top puck-stoppers at last year's world juniors, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.12 goals-against average over six starts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada enters the 2021 world juniors in Edmonton as the defending champion and favorite to claim gold again. It brings back six members from last year's championship outfit and features a remarkable 20 first-round picks.The Canadians have medalled 11 of 12 times when hosting the event, including six golds. The only time they failed to secure a spot on the podium was in 2019.Below, we break down each position for a Canadian team looking to claim the country's 19th gold medal at the event.Forwards Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerAgeNHL draftConnor Zary19No. 24 in 2020 (CGY)Dylan Holloway19No. 14 in 2020 (EDM)Cole Perfetti18No. 10 in 2020 (WPG)Jakob Pelletier19No. 26 in 2019 (CGY)Alex Newhook19No. 16 in 2019 (COL)Ryan Suzuki19No. 28 in 2019 (CAR)Connor McMichael*19No. 25 in 2019 (WSH)Peyton Krebs19No. 17 in 2019 (VGK)Quinton Byfield*18No. 2 in 2020 (LA)Dawson Mercer*19No. 18 in 2020 (NJ)Dylan Cozens*19No. 7 in 2019 (BUF)Philip Tomasino19No. 24 in 2019 (NSH)Jack Quinn19No. 8 in 2020 (BUF)*Denotes returning player

Team USA is well-equipped to get back on the podium at the world juniors after a disappointing sixth-place finish in 2020. With eight players returning to seek redemption, the club is loaded with budding talent and one of the most experienced groups the Americans have ever iced.The roster features nine first-round selections - including seven lottery picks -and players from 14 different states. The lineup is balanced and highlighted by elite talent up front, on the blue line, and between the pipes.The Americans medaled six times last decade, with the latest of their two golds coming on Canadian ice in 2017. Team USA will look to repeat that success in Edmonton to capture its fourth title at the world juniors.Forwards Juan Ocampo / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerPositionAgeNHL rightsMatthew BeniersC182021 eligibleBrett BerardLW18No. 134 in 2020 (NYR)Matthew BoldyLW19No. 12 in 2019 (MIN)Bobby Brink*RW19No. 34 in 2019 (PHI)Brendan BrissonC19No. 29 in 2020 (VGK)Cole Caufield*RW19No. 15 in 2019 (MTL)Sam ColangeloRW/C18No. 36 in 2020 (ANA)John FarinacciC19No. 76 in 2019 (ARI)Arthur Kaliyev*LW19No. 33 in 2019 (LA)Patrick MoynihanC19No. 158 in 2019 (NJ)Landon SlaggertC18No. 79 in 2020 (CHI)Alex Turcotte*C19No. 5 in 2019 (LA)Trevor Zegras*C19No. 9 in 2019 (ANA)*Denotes returning player

The Columbus Blue Jackets inked veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a professional tryout contract, the club announced Friday.Del Zotto, who was an unrestricted free agent, produced 15 points in 49 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.The 30-year-old split the 2018-19 campaign between the Vancouver Canucks, the Ducks, and the St. Louis Blues. Anaheim traded him to St. Louis at that trade deadline before re-signing him in July 2019.Del Zotto has also suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers over 11 seasons.He's at least temporarily reunited with Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, who guided him with New York at the start of the blue-liner's career.The Ontario-born rearguard has collected 236 points in 657 games. The Rangers selected him 20th overall in 2008.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Canadian health authorities from the five provinces home to NHL teams sent a letter to the league Wednesday outlining additional requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are needed for the seven Canadian clubs to remain north of the border this season.Though no agreement has been officially made as of Thursday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly believes the two sides are on the same page as to how they'll make it work."On the basis of our discussions in the past week, as well as our exchange of correspondence over the last 24 hours, we believe we are aligned and in agreement on the conditions on which each of our Canadian franchises can begin play in their own buildings for the start of the 2020-21 NHL season," Daly said, according to a statement from the league.The league still needs approval from Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia to officially move forward with its North Division. Alberta Health chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw presented the NHL with two options.The first called for a "regular testing schedule for players, staff, coaches and close contacts, with close household contact testing required if players are living at home between travel episodes," Hinshaw wrote, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.The league's current protocol calls for only team members to be tested daily during training camp and the first four weeks of the regular season. Family members are only tested upon request and will be at the players' expense.Additionally, provincial health authorities may ask the NHL to adjust the schedule released Wednesday to limit provincial travel early in the season.The second option calls for the league to reimplement a bubble model for the Canadian teams for at least the beginning of the season. Authorities said they would support a bubble for four-to-six weeks and then a modified bubble, but a full bubble model would be preferred.If a bubble is not possible, the league may be forced to put the season on hold."Should any iteration of the bubble model not be achievable for the NHL, we would recommend that the start of the season be delayed for a few weeks to allow for disease rates to drop and our health systems to recover," Dr. Hinshaw wrote.The NHL is expected to respond to Dr. Hinshaw's letter on Thursday. The shortened 56-game season is set to begin Jan. 13.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.After failing to medal on home soil in 2019 for the first time ever, Canada traveled to the Czech Republic in search of redemption at the 2020 world juniors. The group faced a difficult schedule and a roller coaster road to the gold but clinched its 18th championship at the event with a finale that became an instant classic.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeAkil ThomasF19Joe Veleno*F19Liam FoudyF19Barrett Hayton*F19Aidan DudasF19Ty DellandreaF19Raphael LavoieF19Nolan FooteF19Connor McMichaelF18Dylan CozensF18Alexis Lafreniere*F18Dawson MercerF18Quinton ByfieldF17Ty Smith*D19Jared McIsaac*D19Calen AddisonD19Kevin BahlD19Jacob Bernard-DockerD19Bowen ByramD18Jamie DrysdaleD17Nico DawsG19Joel HoferG19*Denotes returning player

Team USA named defenseman Cam York its captain for this year's world juniors tournament, it announced Thursday.Forwards Cole Caufield and Alex Turcotte will serve as the team's alternates. All three players were on last year's roster."I'm humbled by the guys naming me captain," York said. "This is a huge honor, and I'm excited for what this team can do. I think this is not just a really talented team, but it's a great group of guys who really care about one another and have come together well as a team."All three players were taken in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The Philadelphia Flyers selected York at No. 14, the Montreal Canadiens snagged Caufield at No. 15, and the Los Angeles Kings got Turcotte at No. 5.The Americans are set to kick off the preliminary round on Dec. 25 against Russia.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team Canada captain Kirby Dach is out for the remainder of the world juniors after suffering a wrist injury during an exhibition game against Russia, the team announced Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning inked forward Anthony Cirelli to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $4.8 million, the team announced Thursday.Cirelli will remain a restricted free agent when his deal expires after the 2022-23 campaign.The 6-foot pivot recorded 16 goals and career highs in assists (28) and points (44) through 68 games in 2019-20. Cirelli added three goals and nine points in 25 playoff games during the Lightning's Stanley Cup run.The 23-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the top two-way forwards in the league and his play took a massive leap last season.Cirelli finished fourth in Selke Trophy voting after driving play at both ends of the ice at five-on-five, according to HockeyViz's isolated impact. (Red/positive is good in the offensive zone, while blue/negative is good in the defensive zone). Tampa Bay has been facing a serious cap crunch all offseason and placed Nikita Kucherov's $9.5-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve after word that the star winger will miss the 2020-21 campaign following hip surgery.The Lightning have no outstanding restricted free agents but are still slightly above the salary cap even with Kucherov's contract temporarily off the books.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.After losing to the United States in the gold-medal game at the 2017 world juniors, Canada was looking to avenge its predecessors on American soil in Buffalo, New York, at the 2018 tournament.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeDrake BathersonF19Maxime ComtoisF19Dillon Dube*F19Alex FormentonF18Jonah GadjovichF19Brett HowdenF19Boris KatchoukF19Jordan KyrouF19Michael McLeod*F19Taylor Raddysh*F19Sam SteelF19Tyler SteenbergenF19Robert ThomasF18Jake Bean*D19Kale Clague*D19Dante Fabbro*D19Cal FooteD19Cale MakarD19Victor MeteD19Conor TimminsD19Carter Hart*G19Colton PointG19*Denotes returning player

Team Canada captain Kirby Dach left Wednesday's 1-0 exhibition win over Russia with an apparent hand injury following an awkward collision.

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed forward Casey Mittelstadt to a one-year, $874,000 contract, the team announced Wednesday.Mittelstadt split time last season between the Sabres and the AHL's Rochester Americans. The 22-year-old recorded four goals and five assists in 31 games with Buffalo.The Sabres drafted Mittelstadt eighth overall in 2017. He's appeared in 114 career NHL games thus far, tallying 17 goals and 22 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL released each team's 56-game schedule for the 2020-21 season on Wednesday.Here are the openers for each club:

The annual World Junior Championship treats fans to the best young talent across the hockey world. Throughout the years, countries have assembled teams filled with future NHL stars or, sometimes, players who shone at the tournament before fizzling out.Let's take a look at five of the most exciting teams to hit the ice at the world juniors.Finland, 2016There are few things more exciting than watching a host nation captivate its home crowd. The 2016 Finland squad did just that in Helsinki by claiming the country's fourth-ever gold medal at the tournament.Led by the dynamic trio of Sebastian Aho, Patrik Laine, and Jesse Puljujarvi, the Finns didn't exactly cruise to an easy championship. They faced some incredibly stiff competition along the way, which included a tight 6-5 victory over Canada in the quarterfinals, a 2-1 win over Sweden in the semis, and a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against Russia in the finals. HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA / AFP / GettyPuljujarvi led the tournament in scoring with 17 points in seven games, while Aho and Laine finished second and third with 14 and 13 points, respectively. The team was rounded out with defenseman Olli Juolevi, forwards Mikko Rantanen, Kasperi Kapanen, and Roope Hintz, and goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen who played all games in the playoff round. Puljujarvi was named tournament MVP, while he, Juolevi, and Laine were handed All-Star nods.Soviet Union, 1989The Soviet Union absolutely dominated the competition in 1989, led by a trio of future superstars - Alexander Mogilny, Pavel Bure, and Sergei Fedorov. Both Mogilny and Fedorov had already established some solid chemistry during the '88 tournament, but the 17-year-old Bure put the Soviets over the top.At the time, the world juniors didn't feature a playoff round - it was simply a round-robin tournament. The Soviets went 6-1-0, with their sole loss coming against Czechoslovakia. They held the highest goal differential in the tournament by far, scoring 51 goals while conceding just 14 in seven games. Sweden, who finished in second place with an identical record, scored 39 and allowed 14.Americans Jeremy Roenick and Mike Modano finished the tournament first and second in scoring, respectively, but the United States was forced to settle for fifth place. Bure ended his tournament in third, while Mogilny and Fedorov finished fifth and sixth.The 1989 world juniors ultimately marked the final gold medal for the perennially contending Soviet Union.Sweden, 1993Sweden just missed out on the gold medal in 1993 but was still the tournament's best squad. Its top two players - Peter Forsberg and Markus Naslund - put on what many consider to be the most dazzling world junior performances of all time.Due to the round-robin format, Canada won gold with an identical 6-1-0 record, ultimately edging out Sweden due to a narrow 5-4 victory in the nations' second game of the tourney.Canada finished with a respectable 37 goals scored and 17 against, but those numbers paled in comparison to Sweden's monstrous differential of 53 goals scored and 15 against. Forsberg set a tournament record by scoring 31 points in seven games, while Naslund also set a record with 13 goals. The team didn't feature a ton of depth beyond Forsberg and Naslund, but the two were so dominant on their own and skated circles around the competition.Canada, 2005 Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images Sport / GettyCanada has certainly put together some of the greatest teams in world junior history. Over the past few decades, all eyes always seem to be on the Canadians entering the tournament, and they're often touted as favorites. While the team has iced some fantastic rosters through the years, the one that won gold in 2005 was on another level.The team included future NHL stars Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Getzlaf, Shea Weber, Jeff Carter, and Corey Perry. Beyond them, there was still plenty of talent that rounded out the roster, including Dion Phaneuf, Mike Richards, Brent Seabrook, and Andrew Ladd.In 2005, the stacked Canadian team ran roughshod over its competition. The Canadians went 4-0-0 in the preliminary round, scoring 32 goals and allowing just five. They beat the Czech Republic 3-1 in the semifinals before breezing past Russia with a 6-1 drudging in the gold-medal game. Canada wasn't in danger for seemingly a single second on its way to a first gold medal since 1997.Bergeron was named MVP after leading the tournament in scoring with 13 points through six games, while Getzlaf trailed just behind with 12. Crosby and Carter, both 17 years old, also finished inside the top 10 in scoring.United States, 2013The Americans have iced numerous incredible teams over the years, but 2013 may have been their most well-rounded and dominant one to date. John Gibson may have put on one of the best goaltending performances in the tournament's history, but that doesn't mean the team in front of him wasn't stacked, either.The blue line featured players such as Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, and Shayne Gostisbehere. The forward group consisted of names like Johnny Gaudreau, J.T. Miller, Alex Galchenyuk, and Vincent Trocheck. The scoring was spread out, with Gaudreau, Trouba, and Miller leading with nine points apiece, while Galchenyuk and Jones finished with eight.The Americans didn't fare too well in the round robin, winning twice and losing twice. But they turned on the jets once the playoff round began. They inflicted a 7-0 beatdown of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals before humiliating a solid Canadian squad 5-1 in the semis. The U.S then took care of Sweden in the finals, winning 3-1.Gibson allowed just nine goals all tournament, with only two of them coming during the playoff round. He finished with a .955 save percentage and unsurprisingly took home MVP honors.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov will undergo hip surgery and miss the 2021 regular season, general manager Julien BriseBois announced Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.However, center Steven Stamkos is expected to be ready to start the campaign versus the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 13, BriseBois added. Tampa Bay's team captain missed all but 2:47 of ice time during the club's Stanley Cup-winning run while battling lower-body injuries of his own.Kucherov, 27, tallied 33 goals and 85 points during the pandemic-altered 2019-20 season, pacing the Cup-winners with 34 playoff points. The perennial All-Star winger has accrued 398 points while averaging 38.3 goals per season over the past four years.The Russian sharpshooter first reported hip issues in early December, according to Smith. Kucherov elected to undergo surgery after attempting to rehab his ailment, determining he couldn't play through the injury for the entire season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning appear to be addressing their biggest remaining offseason priority.There have been "active" discussions between the club and forward Anthony Cirelli's representatives, reports The Athletic's Joe Smith.Cirelli has become one of the league's best young two-way centers. The 23-year-old helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup last season, collecting 16 goals and 28 assists in 68 regular-season games before adding three markers and six helpers in 25 playoff contests.He finished fourth in Selke Trophy voting in 2019-20.The restricted free agent is the team's final unsigned player on its NHL roster. Tampa Bay is more than $6 million over the salary cap following the signings of forwards Mathieu Joseph and Alex Volkov on Wednesday, as well as those of defensemen Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta earlier this week.Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov is dealing with a hip issue, reports TSN's Darren Dreger. One way to clear cap space would be to place the winger on long-term injured reserve, though there's been no indication the ailment is that significant.Last season was Cirelli's second full NHL campaign. Tampa Bay selected him 72nd overall in 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Stadium Series outdoor game set for Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina has been postponed from its scheduled date of Feb. 20, 2021."While we are extremely disappointed that we will not be able to host an outdoor game this season, the health and safety of our fans remains our top priority," Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "We look forward to hosting the game in the near future and rewarding our incredible fan base with an unforgettable experience."The contest on the NC State campus is slated to be the NHL's 32nd regular-season outdoor game, and the first to feature the Hurricanes. Other historic college football venues that have hosted NHL games include Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, and Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators signed forward Erik Haula to a one-year, $1.75-million contract, the team announced Wednesday.Haula was perhaps the top unrestricted free-agent center remaining on the market.The 29-year-old concluded this past campaign with the Florida Panthers, recording a pair of assists in seven games. The Carolina Hurricanes traded him to Florida in a package that netted them forward Vincent Trocheck on Feb. 24.Haula has battled injuries over the last two seasons after racking up a career-high 29 goals and 55 points with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18.The dependable two-way pivot began his career with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him 182nd overall in 2009. He reunites with good friend and former Wild teammate Mikael Granlund, who re-signed with Nashville on a one-year, $3.75-million contract earlier Wednesday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.It's the season of giving - and thankfully some don't need a date on the calendar to get into the spiritBelow is the list of teams and players who went above and beyond to ensure a profitable year for us, thus cementing a place on our 2020 nice list.We hope they all have an incredible holiday season.Buffalo Bills Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyI staked my professional reputation on the Bills this summer and if they were anything short of a 10-win team, I might have had to leave the industry. Instead, Josh Allen and the fine folks from upstate New York are hand-delivering all of my Christmas gifts this year.Not everybody here was a believer — cough cough, Moretto — but I bought in all the way: 33-1 to win the Super Bowl, 2-1 to win the AFC East, over 8.5 wins, you name it. I've also bet them against the spread almost every week and it's taken the entire season for oddsmakers to catch up.I even sprinkled a little on everyone's favorite Wyoming grad to win MVP at 66-1, which has been worth every cent even if Allen doesn't win the award. The 24-year-old quarterback's been the most valuable player for my wallet, and his Bills are the gift that keeps on giving.- C Jackson CowartDallas Stars Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyIn a year chock-full of mysteries, one of the biggest was how the Stars remained underdogs throughout the playoffs. At some point, I almost felt guilty doubling down on Dallas +145 every game.I bet more than I could afford on Dallas to roll the Flames and put my bank account in overdraft to hit it again when they went down 2-1. I then put it all on them to beat the Avalanche and helped myself to more against the Knights. I cleared more money than Jeff Bezos during the holidays.The Stars fell just short against the Lightning but came through in a big way when I took a large position on them in Game 1. The second this pandemic ends and traveling becomes a thing again, I’m booking a flight to Dallas and buying a round for everyone at Black Swan Saloon.- Alex MorettoDustin Johnson Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport / GettyThank you, DJ.Picking golf winners is rarely an easy task, but Dustin Johnson made it feel like shooting fish in a barrel during his incredible run this past summer. First, we capitalized on an outrageous +3000 price for the now 24-time PGA Tour winner to emerge victorious at the Travelers Championship, which we doubled-down on at +250 heading into the final round. Then Johnson's odds of +2000 in the first FedEx Cup playoff event were too good to pass on at The Northern Trust, and the world No. 1 put it in cruise control en route to a dominant 11-shot victory.No, we weren't on DJ when he won the Masters in November at +1000 - we were too busy counting the money he had already won us.- Eric PattersonJake Fromm Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesWilliam Jacob Fromm is solely responsible for the uptick in my bank account for Q2 of the fiscal year. The 22-year-old's draft spot over cashed and so did his matchup prop versus Jalen Hurts.If I ever encounter Fromm in person, I wouldn't even need his autograph - the money we won fading him in the NFL Draft would greatly surpass the amount we'd profit off selling said signature.- Alex KolodziejLos Angeles Lakers Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association / GettyOne of my annual traditions is to lay unnecessary amounts of speculative money on dark-horse NBA title teams linked to disgruntled stars hoping one of them eventually pulls the trigger. My dreams came true last summer when I saw the Lakers priced at 25-1 to win the NBA Finals mere weeks before they ultimately traded for Anthony Davis, a move that prompted books to install them as 3-1 title favorites almost immediately.Sometimes it pays to be early and sometimes it pays to be lucky. I felt a little of both as I watched L.A. tear through the Western Conference with minimal resistance, losing just five combined games during their postseason run. The only thing better would have been an upset bid by the Heat, whom I bought at 55-1 to win it all back in November. But hey, beggars can't be choosers, right?- C Jackson CowartMiami Dolphins Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhen will the Dolphins start getting even a sliver of respect in the betting market? Hopefully never, honestly. It’s like oddsmakers don’t realize Brian Flores is building a powerhouse in Dade County.It took about a month before Miami became a weekly auto-bet for me. There was a stretch from Weeks 5-10 where they covered five straight. I bet them every game and, in tandem, we did it again from Weeks 12-14. I haven’t lost a bet on the Dolphins this year - few have, seeing as they’re 11-3 ATS.The club also came through with the easiest win of all time as +3 underdogs against the Jaguars (hahahahahahahaha, imagine) on Thursday Night Football - still one of my biggest positions of the calendar year.At this point, I feel like Miami’s success this year is a direct result of my betting habits. If I keep backing the 'Phins, they'll probably win the Super Bowl. It’s a dangerous power to have. Miami fans, slide into my DMs with your best offers and someone please pass this along to the front office.- Alex MorettoNorth Carolina A&T Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyI don't think I won a college basketball game after Thanksgiving, but whenever I needed to get out of a pinch, I waited for a North Carolina A&T game. Overs? Automatic. There was a stretch from December to January where the program cashed 11 straight and by some fate of the gods, I was on, like, seven of them.Duke? UNC? No, let's not get it twisted. The true basketball kings of the state are the North Carolina A&T (checks notes) Aggies!- Alex KolodziejWho's on your nice list? Show your appreciation in the comments.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators signed forward Mikael Granlund to a one-year contract with a value of $3.75 million, the club announced Wednesday.Granlund was an unrestricted free agent but was a member of the Predators last season. He recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 63 games.The 28-year-old was selected ninth overall by the Wild in 2010. He spent the first seven years of his career in Minnesota before being dealt to Nashville during the 2018-19 season. In 540 career games, he's racked up 111 goals and 241 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2021 World Junior Championship set to begin, we're identifying 10 intriguing players to watch in the tournament.This list is not strictly made of the best players participating. These prospects may have something to prove, are flying under the radar, or we're simply curious about how they handle the top junior international competition.Cole Perfetti Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyCountry: Canada

The Montreal Canadiens have inked forward Michael Frolik to a one-year deal worth $750,000, the club announced Wednesday.Frolik finished the 2019-20 season with the Buffalo Sabres, collecting one goal and three assists in 19 games. The Calgary Flames traded him to Buffalo for a fourth-round pick on Jan. 1.The 32-year-old spent nearly five seasons with Calgary following stints with the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Due to Ontario's imminent lockdown, the OHL is once again delaying the start of its 2020-21 season.The OHL was most recently targeting Feb. 4 for its opening puck drop, with training camps slated to begin in mid-January. Players were scheduled to report to camp in early January."This decision follows Premier (Doug) Ford’s announcement of a province-wide shutdown in Ontario commencing on Dec. 26, 2020," OHL commissioner David Branch said in a statement. "The league will continue to consult and work closely with governments and health authorities to determine potential start dates in the new year."Branch also cited cross-border travel restrictions as a factor in the decision.In early August, the league pushed the target start date for the season to Dec. 1. In late October, the OHL was reportedly eyeing a 40-game season that would begin in early February.The lockdown will go into effect on Dec. 26 at 12:01 a.m. ET and last until Jan. 23 for all of southern Ontario. Nearly all non-essential businesses will be ordered shut, and most schools will be closed for in-person learning for over two weeks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils re-signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2.8 million, the club announced Wednesday.Blackwood was a restricted free agent.The 24-year-old posted a .915 save percentage and 7.29 goals saved above average along with a 22-14-8 record across 47 games in 2019-20, his second NHL season.New Jersey selected Blackwood 42nd overall in 2015.The Devils also signed veteran netminder Corey Crawford to a two-year pact carrying a $3.9-million cap hit on Oct. 9.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.Team Canada needed to get back on track at the 2015 world juniors following back-to-back fourth-place finishes. It was the first time since 1979-81 that the program failed to win a medal in consecutive years due to losses in the bronze-medal game.More than a handful of players, including Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart, returned for this tourney in Montreal and Toronto after experiencing the 2014 disappointment in Sweden. They would ultimately redeem themselves both individually and as a team.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeLawson CrouseF17Max DomiF19Anthony DuclairF19Robby FabbriF18Frederik Gauthier*F19Curtis Lazar*F19Connor McDavid*F17Nick PaulF19Nic Petan*F19Brayden PointF18Sam Reinhart*F19Nick RitchieF19Jake VirtanenF18Madison BoweyD19Dillon HeatheringtonD19Joe HickettsD18Samuel MorinD19Josh Morrissey*D19Darnell NurseD19Shea TheodoreD19Eric ComrieG19Zach Fucale*G19*Denotes returning player

Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak are being recognized in their respective home country for their accomplishments this past season.Draisaitl became the first-ever hockey player to take home the top athlete of the year award in Germany. He joins Dirk Nowitzki as the only team-sport athlete to win the award. Pastrnak became the first hockey player to win the award in the Czech Republic since Jaromir Jagr in 2005.The 25-year-old Draisaitl earned his first Hart Trophy last year after leading the NHL with 110 points in 71 games. The German award, which is voted on by the nation's journalists, has been given out annually since 1947."What a great honor for me to be voted by so many journalists," Draisaitl wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for your votes and support. It's been an incredible year and I am very proud to finish 2020 as Germany's Athlete of the Year."Pastrnak became the fourth Czech hockey player to earn the award, joining Josef Mikolas, Dominik Hasek, and Jagr. The award, which has been given out annually since 1959, is voted on by members of the Czech Sports Journalist Association."I would never have imagined that I could win the Athlete of the Year of the Czech Republic," Pastrnak said, according to NHL.com's Eric Russo. "In hockey, the biggest prize is collective success, but having your name on such a trophy with a great history is something amazing."Pastrnak earned the first Rocket Richard Trophy of his career, sharing the honor with Alex Ovechkin after finishing tied with 48 goals apiece last season. The 24-year-old finished the year with 95 points in 70 games and was tied for third-most in the league.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL released its health and safety protocols for the 2020-21 season, including COVID-19 protocols for positive tests and travel.Some key measures include:

One of the NHL's most contentious rules will be slightly different moving forward.While the league announced its critical dates and health and safety protocols for the upcoming season, it also revealed there will be a change to the offside rule.Beginning in 2020-21, a player's skate will not need to be in contact with the blue line in order to be onside."A player is onside when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line," the NHLPA said.It continues, "If a player's skate has yet to break the 'plane' prior to the puck crossing the leading edge, he is deemed to be onside for the purpose of the offside rule."

The Washington Capitals signed forward Conor Sheary to a one-year, $735,000 deal, the team announced Tuesday.Sheary spent the last two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at last season's trade deadline. He totaled nine goals and 10 assists in 55 games with Buffalo last year and one goal and three helpers in eight contests with Pittsburgh.Prior to joining the Sabres in 2018, Sheary played three seasons with the Penguins. He played an integral depth role on Pittsburgh's championship-winning teams in 2016 and 2017.The undrafted 28-year-old has accumulated 150 points in 325 games across the past five seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed a pair of defensemen Tuesday, awarding Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta new contracts, the team announced.Cernak's new pact is for three years with an average annual value of $2.95 million, while Rutta's is for two years with an AAV of $1.3 million.Cernak was a restricted free agent, and with him now signed, the only player left in need of a contract is forward Anthony Cirelli. The 23-year-old Cernak isn't known as an offensive contributor but played key minutes on Tampa's back end during its Stanley Cup run this past summer.Rutta signed a one-year, $1.3-million contract with the Lightning prior to last season and was unrestricted on the open market.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent defenseman Deryk Engelland has retired after 11 seasons, the Vegas Golden Knights announced Tuesday.Engelland joined Vegas for its inaugural campaign in 2017, and he signed one-year contracts to remain with the club in each of last two offseasons."Deryk Engelland epitomizes what it means to be a Golden Knight. A no-ego, selfless, hardworking player who has an unwavering commitment to protecting those who are unable to protect themselves," owner Bill Foley said.The New Jersey Devils selected Engelland during the sixth round in the 2000 draft, and he didn't earn an NHL job until 2009-10 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent five seasons in Pittsburgh before joining the Calgary Flames.The 38-year-old appeared in 671 NHL games, notching 127 points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers and 2021 unrestricted free agent Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have tabled talks of a contract extension."His agent, Rick Valette, and I had many conversations during the two weeks around free agency in October," Oilers general manager Ken Holland told Ryan Frankson of the team's website. "But the marketplace has changed so much that basically our conversations have ended, and I would hope at some point once we get up and running we can pick back up and see if we can find a solution to keep Nuge in an Oilers uniform. Certainly that's my goal, but the deal's got to work for both Ryan and the Oilers."It was reported in October that Nugent-Hopkins and the Oilers were making progress on a long-term extension."Obviously a weird, different time to be talking contracts," Nugent-Hopkins said. "Right now I'm just focused on getting the season started. In my mind, I know it's there, but I'm going to put it on the back burner and just really focus on getting the season going and getting started the right way."Nugent-Hopkins is entering the final season of a seven-year pact through which he earns $6 million per campaign. The 27-year-old collected 61 points in 65 games last season, the highest point-per-game rate of his career.The Oilers are projected to have over $28 million in available money for the 2021-22 campaign, according to Cap Friendly. However, the club has only 11 players signed through next season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.The pressure Team Canada faced entering the 2009 world juniors was immeasurable. Not only did the country win four consecutive gold medals leading up to the event, but the games took place on home ice in Ottawa, the nation's capital, this time around.As if the pressure entering the tourney wasn't enough, the 2009 world juniors showed how hungry Canadians were to see their team win another gold. The tournament holds the record for total attendance, with 453,282 spectators attending games.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeJamie BennF18Zach Boychuk*F19Patrice CormierF18Stefan Della RovereF18Chris DiDomenicoF19Jordan EberleF18Tyler EnnisF19Angelo EspositoF19Cody HodgsonF18Evander KaneF17Brett SonneF19John Tavares*F18Keith AulieD19Ryan EllisD17Cody GoloubefD19Thomas Hickey*D19Tyler MyersD18Alex PietrangeloD18P.K. Subban*D19Colten TeubertD18Chet PickardG19Dustin TokarskiG19*Denotes returning player

The Arizona Coyotes signed winger Drake Caggiula to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.Caggiula's deal is worth $700,000, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.The 26-year-old suited up in 40 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, recording nine goals and six assists while averaging 11:49 of ice time per contest. Caggiula has averaged 15 goals per 82 games over his four-year career."We are very pleased to add Drake to our roster," said Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong. "He is a hard-working, versatile forward and a strong skater. He will add depth to our forward group."The Edmonton Oilers signed Caggiula as an undrafted free agent following his standout college career at North Dakota, during which he led the Fighting Hawks to an NCAA championship in 2016 and was named Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom will miss the entire upcoming season, general manager Ken Holland confirmed Monday.Klefbom is dealing with a lingering shoulder injury that he's had surgery for multiple times during his career. Holland said in November it would be a "pleasant surprise" if the 27-year-old is available this season.The NHL and NHLPA recently agreed on a 56-game schedule set to begin on Jan. 13.Klefbom has spent seven seasons with the Oilers since being drafted 19th overall in 2011. He's one of Edmonton's top defensemen and registered 34 points in 62 games last season while averaging over 25 minutes per night.The Oilers brought in Tyson Barrie this offseason to help make up for Klefbom's absence both at even strength and on the power play.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames agitator Matthew Tkachuk is excited to see the Edmonton Oilers more frequently during a unique 2021 NHL season.All games this season will be played among divisional opponents, so the rivals are projected to meet nine or 10 teams over the course of the 56-game schedule. There are also increased odds the Flames and Oilers will meet in the playoffs."How great will that be for hockey?" Tkachuk said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis."Those games get a lot of traction. Even people who don't know much about hockey have come up to me a lot and asked about our games against Edmonton. I can't believe how many people in St. Louis I ran into wanted to talk about it. That's the first thing they always ask me about - what those games are like to play in," he added. "The Battle of Alberta has officially gone outside this province - not only in Canada but the rest of the U.S. The common thing they say is it's must-watch TV."Tkachuk starred in multiple intense clashes between the two clubs last season, and his feud with Oilers enforcer Zack Kassian was one of the most memorable subplots of the 2019-20 campaign.The 23-year-old led the Flames with 61 points in 69 contests a season ago.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.The 2008 world juniors were held in the Czech Republic, with Canada looking to claim its fourth consecutive gold medal and 14th overall at the event.A group of players who have now developed into household NHL names led a 2008 roster that was absolutely stacked and destined to finish atop a competitive field.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeKyle TurrisF18Brad Marchand*F19Claude GirouxF19Steven StamkosF17John TavaresF17Matt HalischukF19Shawn MatthiasF19Stefan LegeinF19Colton GilliesF18Brandon SutterF18Wayne SimmondsF19Zach BoychukF18Riley HolzapfelF19Drew DoughtyD18Karl Alzner*D19Logan PyettD19Thomas HickeyD18Luke SchennD18P.K. SubbanD18Josh GodfreyD19Steve MasonG19Jonathan BernierG19*Denotes returning player

The St. Louis Blues will name forward Ryan O'Reilly the 23rd captain in franchise history, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.An announcement is reportedly expected to be made this coming week.Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights this offseason, last wore the "C" for the Blues."He is a good choice," Pietrangelo told Rutherford via text message. "One of the hardest working guys I know. Leads by example every day. Has succeeded in this league for a long time, and for good reason. I was happy to have him by my side for a few years. Great person, teammate, and player!"He will make a great captain. Good luck to him, no doubt he is the right choice."The 11-year veteran is as decorated as they come. O'Reilly has already won a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, Selke Trophy, and Lady Byng Trophy. The 29-year-old tallied 61 points in 71 games last season and is considered one of the league's premier two-way centers.O'Reilly was acquired in a franchise-altering trade with the Buffalo Sabres in July 2018 in exchange for Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson, a 2019 first-round pick (Ryan Johnson), and a 2021 second-rounder.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's officially go time - soon.On Sunday, the NHL unveiled preliminary information about its upcoming campaign. The league will begin a 56-game regular season on Jan. 13, start its playoffs May 11, and award the Stanley Cup - if all goes according to plan - in July. Of course, in the COVID-19 era, everything is subject to change.What's new and exciting? The 2020-21 campaign calls for temporary realignment due to border closures. The seven Canadian NHL teams are set to form a one-time North Division, while the 24 American clubs are to be split into three other divisions - the East, Central, and West.Here are some initial thoughts on the four new groups.North DivisionTeams: Canadiens, Canucks, Flames, Jets, Maple Leafs, Oilers, SenatorsYou can argue the Canadian teams have lucked out, seeing as the top four clubs from each division qualify for the playoffs and the North Division features only seven teams. In the same breath, you can argue they didn't luck out, seeing as right now, the North is the most difficult division to handicap.Forget the All-Canadian tag; it should be known as the All-Chaos Division.It's true, none of Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal are top-of-mind Cup contenders. Yet, in a normal season with 82 games and traditional divisions, all six franchises would absolutely challenge for a playoff spot. And the difference in high-end talent and depth between the six squads is essentially negligible. Something will have to give, every night. Derek Leung / Getty ImagesThe Flames, Canadiens, and Jets all boast first-rate starting goaltenders. The Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Oilers all have offensive dynamos in Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson, and Connor McDavid. And each team is flawed in some way or another. Take Toronto, for instance. Based on how all the Canadian clubs currently look on paper, the Leafs probably deserve the slight edge. But their recent playoff history inspires the opposite of confidence, so, again, there's little to no difference to be found ... right?Ottawa is a different story. The Senators are still rebuilding, but they shouldn't be taken too lightly. They proved to be a hard out in 2019-20 under new head coach D.J. Smith, and moving forward, the Sens will be bursting at the seams with hungry youngsters. After a productive offseason, it's not outrageous to think Ottawa could claw its way to a sixth-place finish in the North. A run of bad luck and/or a slew of injuries could tank one of the playoff-worthy teams' momentum during the truncated season.The division's top rivalry is clearly the Battle of Alberta, or super pest Matthew Tkachuk versus Calgary's cross-province pals in Edmonton. The Flames and Oilers typically meet four times a year; in 2020-21, it'll be more than double that. The schedule has yet to be released, but Canadian teams will face each other nine or 10 times over a four-month period. For this reason, also keep your eyes glued on the Toronto-Vancouver season series. There's zero chance fans and media in both cities will able to behave themselves.The main takeaway: Realignment guarantees a Canadian team will make the final four for only the fourth time in 10 years. It's fair to say Canada - which last watched one of its teams win the Cup way back in 1993 - will take those odds.East DivisionTeams: Bruins, Capitals, Devils, Flyers, Islanders, Penguins, Rangers, SabresIf the North consists of six good-but-not-great teams plus Ottawa, the East projects similarly but with New Jersey subbing in for the Senators as the division's lone non-threat and Buffalo playing the part of the disruptive wild card.The normal Metropolitan Division projected to be a dog fight in 2020-21, and now Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the two New York teams must deal with Boston, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner. On the flip side, perhaps we should temper our expectations for the Bruins, given the departure of Torey Krug (and possibly Zdeno Chara), the long-term layoffs for offensive spark plugs Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, and the overall wear and tear on a consistently elite team that's played a ton of hockey over the past decade. It's hard to get a feel for how good (or bad) Boston will be when the club is due to engage in 56 hard-fought regular-season games. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe Sabres, meanwhile, will be coming off a 10-month break and headlined by the bombshell acquisition of former MVP Taylor Hall. And while the overall strength of the roster is questionable, at best, Buffalo's top-six forward group of Hall, Jack Eichel, Eric Staal, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Olofsson/Dylan Cozens could do some serious damage. Ultimately, it may not be enough to rock the boat in this revamped Metro, even in a small sample, but the Sabres' appeal is real. Oh, and don't forget about Rasmus Dahlin.From a league-wide perspective, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins meeting Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals eight times - or, on average, twice a month - to start 2021, will be awesome. Crosby's 33, Ovechkin's 35; the generational talents won't be sharing the ice forever. Cherish this rush of must-see action.Central DivisionTeams: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Predators, Red Wings, StarsAt the moment, "predictable" is the best descriptor for the Central.The Lightning will likely finish first in the standings; Carolina and Dallas will probably end up occupying second and third, respectively, with the two clubs fitting the "scary at full potential" mold quite well; and Columbus and Nashville will surely jockey for the final playoff berth. The Blue Jackets, led by Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, and two young goalies, are more reliable than the sputtering Predators at this point, so even the drama surrounding the No. 4 spot should be subdued. Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty ImagesThat leaves Chicago, Detroit, and Florida out of the hunt. It's possible the Panthers get their act together and find themselves competing in meaningful games down the stretch for once, but that would have to coincide with both Nashville and Columbus underperforming. Put another way, there's a clear divide between the Central's top five and bottom three, and the end-of-season gap between the Lightning and lowly Red Wings should be gigantic.Realignment has robbed us of the potential for a rematch of the 2020 Cup Final. Having the Lightning and Stars duke it out for eight regular-season contests is a nice consolation, however, and you wonder if any tension from the six-game bubble series will boil over into the new campaign.West DivisionTeams: Avalanche, Blues, Coyotes, Ducks, Golden Knights, Kings, Sharks, WildThe first thing that comes to mind after scanning the West Division is the solid chance that the Cup is presented to one of these clubs if the NHL can make it to July. Vegas and Colorado are arguably two of the best three teams in the league, and St. Louis is in the top 10, too. Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesIt will be very interesting to monitor the West standings and see who among those three teams claims the top seed ahead of what should be a wild first two rounds of the postseason. The Golden Knights are firmly in win-now mode; the Avalanche are on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory; and the Blues are just two years removed from a Cup win. At the individual player level, there's no reason why Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon won't continue to make his case for best-player-on-the-planet honors, while Alex Pietrangelo is about to make his debut for Vegas after a 12-year run with St. Louis. It's possible the Art Ross, Hart, Lindsay, and Norris trophies are handed out to West players.Minnesota and Arizona are primed to battle for the fourth playoff spot, with the three California teams appearing bound for the sixth, seventh, and eighth positions in this top-heavy division. Two Cali-related side plots out of the gate: 1) Are the Sharks playing in San Jose or in a safer community? And 2) Is the Evander Kane-Ryan Reaves rivalry alive and well in 2021?John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. Contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com) or through Twitter (@MatiszJohn).Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although the NHL announced its plan for the upcoming season on Sunday, there are still potential roadblocks north of the border that could complicate the league's intended format.The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have yet to sign off on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens resuming play in their home buildings, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.However, talks are reportedly expected to continue early this coming week.The Ontario government said Friday it hopes the Leafs and Sens can play the season in Canada.The Vancouver Canucks have also reportedly not yet received approval from the British Columbia government.The NHL's plan consists of a North Division, in which all Canadian teams would exclusively play each other. Moving all Canadian teams to the United States, or having all of them play in a single hub in Canada, are two ideas that have been floated around if issues arise. Given the league already announced its realignment, the former seems unlikely now.The 2020-21 campaign is set to begin Jan. 13, with training camps opening Jan. 3 for teams that played in the 2020 postseason. As a non-playoff team, the Sens can open training camp Dec. 31.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL and NHLPA have agreed to play a 2020-21 regular season that will begin on Jan. 13 and feature 56 games.The league also confirmed the realignment of its divisions and the creation of four new ones for the upcoming season: North, West, Central, and East.

Now that the NHL and NHLPA have tentatively agreed on a framework for the upcoming 2020-21 season's 56-game schedule, some key dates have begun to emerge.The impending campaign would begin on Jan. 13 and would conclude on May 8 under the proposed format, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, with free agency beginning on July 28, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. The 2021 trade deadline would be April 12, while the 2021 NHL Draft would take place on July 23 and 24, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Players would have the option to opt out of the approaching season. The opt-out deadline is Dec. 24 for players on teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs and Dec. 27 for players on playoff squads, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Each team will need to carry at least three goaltenders at all times this season between their active roster and taxi squad, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Additionally, clubs must sign Group II restricted free agents by Feb. 11 for them to be eligible to play during the season and players on one-year deals can sign extensions as of March 12, Friedman adds.The NHL has a call scheduled with the Board of Governors for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. A separate call is also planned with the league's general managers for 2 p.m. ET, LeBrun adds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL fans will soon be able to circle a date on the calendar for the upcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft.Under the tentative agreement for the upcoming 2020-21 season, teams will need to submit their protected lists on July 17 with the expansion draft set to take place on July 21, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The event would take place just days before the 2021 NHL Draft is reportedly set to begin on July 23.Seattle will follow the same rules the Vegas Golden Knights did for their expansion draft in 2017. The organization will be allowed to pick one player from each team excluding the Golden Knights.Each team will have the option to protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie or eight skaters and one goalie. The rest of the players on the roster will be exposed, except first- and second-year players and all unsigned draft choices.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.The 2007 world juniors were held in Mora and Leksand, Sweden. Canada traveled overseas in search of its third consecutive gold medal, and the tournament favorite delivered by going 6-0-0 and claiming its first championship on European soil in a decade.The IIHF made some modifications to the structure of the tournament in 2007, as teams received three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, and one point for an overtime loss. Other changes included four-on-four sudden-death overtime during the round robin, as well as shootouts - which played a big role for Canada - in medal games if overtime didn't produce a winner.The rosterPlayerPositionAgeKenndal McArdleF19Dan Bertram*F19Darren HelmF19Tom Pyatt*F19Marc-Andre ClicheF19Steve Downie*F19Ryan O'Marra*F19Andrew Cogliano*F19James NealF19Bryan LittleF19Jonathan Toews*F18Brad MarchandF18Sam GagnerF17Marc Staal*D19Luc Bourdon*D19Ryan Parent*D19Kris Letang*D19Kris Russell*D19Cody FransonD19Karl AlznerD18Carey PriceG19Leland IrvingG18*Denotes returning player

The British Columbia government remains unwilling to allow NHL teams to travel in and out of the province for games, reports TSN's Ryan Rishaug, who adds discussions are ongoing.The NHL and players' association reportedly came to a tentative agreement on a 56-game season Friday night. The plan includes an all-Canadian division with each team playing out of its own building, pending approval from health officials.A report Thursday suggested all seven teams based north of the border could play in the United States if Canadian health officials don't sign off on the proposal.The San Jose Sharks are reportedly beginning their campaign in Arizona due to Santa Clara County's ban on contact sports. It's plausible that the Vancouver Canucks could follow suit and play in a Canadian city outside of British Columbia.The NHL's travel plan includes very strict protocols for road teams, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Training camps for 2020 postseason clubs, including the Canucks, are set to open Jan. 3. The league is still aiming to begin its season Jan. 13.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHLPA wants to progress under the terms of the tentative agreement for a 56-game schedule this upcoming season, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.The league, meanwhile, scheduled a Board of Governors call for 12 p.m. ET Sunday, according to LeBrun.Included in the agreement is a Jan. 3 start date for training camps with the season beginning Jan. 13, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. The seven teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs can open camps on Dec. 31, Whyno adds. The dates are subject to change.The agreement also calls for no exhibition games, and teams will jump directly into the regular season, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.The NHL is reportedly aiming to split the 31 teams into four divisions. The top four in each will make the postseason, and every division will produce a champion for the Stanley Cup semifinals, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The league still faces hurdles while establishing a plan to limit travel and cross-border complications for its seven Canadian clubs. The initial idea was to form an all-Canadian division and have each team play out of its home arena. However, the strategy hit a snag Thursday because the league hasn't received the required approval from provincial and municipal health units.Players can opt out of the upcoming season if they or an immediate family member is considered high risk, and their team would have the option of tolling their contract for the year, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.The opt-out deadline for players on teams that didn't make the 2019-20 playoffs is Dec. 24, and Dec. 27 for players on playoff teams, according to Friedman.Group II restricted free agents have to sign by Feb. 11 to play this season, while players on one-year deals can extend on March 12, Friedman adds.Additionally, free agency next offseason will begin July 28, per LeBrun.Besides the recently pandemic-shortened season, the league hasn't used a schedule with fewer than 82 games since the lockout-shortened 48-game campaign in 2012-13.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.