The Detroit Red Wings locked up a key piece of their core, signing forward Anthony Mantha to a four-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.The deal carries an annual cap hit of $5.7 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Mantha was one of the lone bright spots on the Red Wings last season. Despite the team's shortcomings, he tallied 38 points in 43 games. He missed a large chunk of the season with a punctured lung.While he's yet to reach the 50-point mark in a season, Mantha posted strong underlying numbers a season ago.

The New York Rangers and forward Ryan Strome appear far apart in contract negotiations.The Rangers have filed for $3.6 million in arbitration, while Strome is asking for $5.7 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Strome's arbitration hearing is set for Thursday. The two sides can come to an agreement before then.The 27-year-old enjoyed a career year last season, tallying 18 goals and 59 points in 70 games. He primarily centered a line with Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin.In over 700 minutes at five-on-five with Panarin last season, Strome posted an expected goals for percentage of 56.8%, according to Natural Stat Trick. In 247 minutes without Panarin, that percentage plummeted to 45.2%.Strome, the fifth overall pick in 2011, enjoyed a breakout 50-point campaign in his sophomore season with the New York Islanders in 2014-15. But in between that campaign and the 2019-20 season, he averaged 32 points.The Rangers have $10.9 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. In addition to Strome, Brendan Lemieux is also a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the fall day in 2017 when they started the research for their NHL history book, sports logo experts Chris Creamer and Todd Radom embraced some Canadian tropes.They went to Tim Hortons. They listened in the car to The Tragically Hip, the band that sang about Bill Barilko and Bobby Orr. They checked out vintage jerseys and century-old game programs at the Hockey Hall of Fame's suburban Toronto resource center. They watched the Maple Leafs skate and later bought last-minute tickets to the club's home date with the Detroit Red Wings, landing reasonably priced seats in the lower bowl at center ice.Radom was visiting from out of town, and after the game, Creamer led him to Wayne Gretzky's restaurant near the arena for poutine. As the bill arrived, they glanced across the room in time to spot a celebrity: Walter Gretzky, hockey's most famous dad and a restaurant regular, leaving for the night in his signature red letterman jacket."We took that as a sign," Creamer recently told theScore. "This is the right path we're going on here." Three years on, Creamer and Radom are the co-authors of "Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos, and Uniforms," a coffee-table offering published Tuesday through Simon & Schuster. True to the title, their book is a one-stop resource to learn how 47 NHL franchises - current, relocated, defunct, and even the roster-less Seattle Kraken - were named and outfitted.The authors recount the saga of the Montreal Wanderers, the charter NHL team that took its name from British soccer, played six games in 1917, lost its home arena in a fire, and promptly folded. They celebrate the advent of outdoor games, the ideal setting for throwback uniforms. They chronicle the excesses of the 1990s when the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim's Disneyfied original jersey - featuring splashes of purple, teal, yellow, silver, black, and white - set league sales records. The Maple Leafs and Red Wings are in the book, too, forever sporting blue and red as models of sartorial consistency.Walter Gretzky is a bit player in Creamer and Radom's narrative; he garners a shoutout in the acknowledgments for his presence at the restaurant on that formative day. Naturally, his son is a central character. In words and photos, proceeding through each team alphabetically, the book recalls Wayne Gretzky rocking blue and orange for the Edmonton Oilers in his first NHL season, the LA Kings' new silver uniform on the day he was traded in 1988, and the Blues' red-tinged garb during his stint in St. Louis in 1996. (Seriously, the '90s were a trip.)Wayne Gretzky, St. Louis Blues, 1996. Graig Abel / Getty Images The origin stories Creamer and Radom tell form a definitive account of the subject, something Creamer, the Toronto-based editor of SportsLogos.net, wishes he could have read as a kid.To find exhaustive historical detail, he and Radom plumbed newspaper articles dating as far back as 1909, when the Montreal Canadiens were created and New Jersey farmers banded together to hunt the Leeds Devil, the fabled fiend whose namesakes now play in the Metropolitan Division. They interviewed executives who thought up more recent designs, from Colorado's mountainous "A" to Minnesota's tranquil wilderness scene to the Islanders' ill-fated fisherman logo of the mid-'90s.Mathieu Schneider, New York Islanders, 1995. Graig Abel / Getty ImagesClearly, some looks are cleaner and more memorable than others. The concept itself, the authors suggest, is what's distinctive, charming, and timeless."NHL hockey, in particular, you think of the sweater. We have this history of very bold, big crests that instantly communicate what they're trying to communicate," said Radom, an accomplished graphic designer. Style specifications, he explained, complicate jersey design in other sports: buttons in baseball, big numbers in football, the smaller surface area in basketball. Those constraints don't apply to hockey, maximizing the chance a jersey - through the front emblem, vivid color, and connective striping - will come to be indelible."The hockey sweater, in my estimation," Radom said, "is the most complete uniform in sports."Guy Lafleur, Quebec Nordiques, 1990. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesIf NHL logos are so alluring, it only makes sense they spawn myths, inspire cult followings, and provoke visceral debate. "Fabric of the Game" addresses all of those notes. Creamer and Radom set the record straight about the Boston Bruins' abiding spoked "B." True: Developed to honor the club's 25th anniversary in 1949, it's the rare specialty mark that evolved into a primary logo. False, as far as they can tell: It represents an old nickname for the city of Boston, "Hub of the Universe."Creamer and Radom break down the elements of forsaken yet fondly remembered logos, including the Quebec Nordiques' classic insignia: the igloo-resembling red "N" originally sketched by a local teenager and accompanied by white fleurs-de-lis that evoke the provincial flag. The book lauds the simplicity of the Hartford Whalers' whale tail - and laments the team's 1992 decision, championed by general manager Brian Burke, to inject silver into the mark, alerting the eye to the implicit "H" in the middle.Peter Sidorkiewicz, Hartford Whalers, 1991. Graig Abel / Getty ImagesJeff Reese, Hartford Whalers, 1995. Graig Abel / Getty ImagesThe book also explains how all 47 teams were named. A few themes recur in those stories.Intriguing inspirations: This category accounts for New Jersey and Seattle deriving identities from mythic creatures. For the Mighty Ducks latching on to the popularity of a certain Disney film. For Panthers ownership seeking to highlight the plight of Florida's endangered state animal. Did you know the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to Phil Esposito, were named during a storm? Or that a wartime bootlegger told an early Vancouver owner to name his team after Johnny Canuck, Canadian cartooning's answer to Captain America?"Who would have thought that the Canucks' identity began with a guy who was illegally peddling alcohol back in the 1940s?" Creamer said.Vancouver Canucks jerseys through the years. Jeff Vinnick / NHL / Getty ImagesMisadventurous anecdotes: Think of the 1967 expansion team that cycled through six names in 11 seasons: California Seals, Oakland Seals, Bay Area Seals, San Francisco Golden Seals, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons. Think of the Calgary fan who, following the Flames' 1980 move from Atlanta, tried to enter the team's nickname contest but instead mailed their utility bill. Think of Chicago brass declaring in 1986 that the name should be Blackhawks, not - as had been the case for 60 years - the Black Hawks, nor any other kind of bird.Names that didn't stick: Columbus, the birthplace of the Wendy's fast-food chain, would have been home to the "Frostys" had burger magnate Dave Thomas gotten his way, Creamer and Radom write. For a time, the Avalanche's original owner, Charlie Lyons, purportedly wanted to rename the Nordiques the Rocky Mountain Extreme. Before the Predators took the ice in Nashville, Gary Bettman had to spike the name "Edge," the moniker of a shaving gel once sold by the SC Johnson conglomerate, the family business of owner Craig Leipold's wife Helen.Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs in 2019. Mark Blinch / NHL / Getty ImagesEven Original Six names weren't always sacrosanct. Chicago almost became the Yankees in 1937, befitting ownership's short-lived plan to ice an all-American lineup. Detroit played four NHL seasons as the Cougars - honoring the roots of the club's first players, who were acquired from a defunct British Columbia team of the same name - until it became painfully evident Michiganians couldn't pronounce the word. Was it "Cow-gars"? "Cowg-ders"?"I kept finding example after example from different newspapers in the late 1920s alluding to this," Radom said. "It was hilarious."Book projects have firm deadlines, but NHL designs are fluid, which is why "Fabric of the Game" omits mention of some recent wardrobe changes. The Dallas Stars' neon, Texas-shaped alternate logo seems to jibe with trends Creamer has noticed around the league: the shift to adopt bright, captivating color schemes and ensure logos appear sharp at any scale, on jerseys and Twitter hashtags alike. Why are the Ottawa Senators resurfacing the 2D centurion? The book has evergreen wisdom to share, if not a specific answer: Throwback threads are a comforting reminder of the past.Lanny McDonald, Colorado Rockies, 1981. Graig Abel / Getty Images When Lanny McDonald wrote the foreword to "Fabric of the Game," the mustachioed Hall of Famer took the opportunity to visualize the trajectory of his career. For much of the 1970s, he wore Toronto's ubiquitously recognizable maple leaf. The Colorado Rockies' kaleidoscopic look - modeled after the state flag - was far flashier. Raised in Alberta, McDonald later joined and eventually won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames, who still don the fiery "C" he adored.Creamer was grateful for McDonald's contribution. His childhood introduction to hockey came in May 1989, when the Flames beat the Canadiens in six games to clinch that championship. Young Creamer, entranced by McDonald's playoff beard and undeterred by his subsequent retirement, briefly became a Flames fan."Iconic is a word that gets thrown around way too often these days. Lanny McDonald is iconic. He looks iconic. His career was iconic. Even today, as the chairman of the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he remains out there and iconic," Radom said, summarizing what it meant to the authors to include his name on the cover."It elevates us, to wrap it all up. In the (same way as) Walter Gretzky looking after us that night."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brendan Shanahan was known equally for his grit and goal-scoring as a player, but the Toronto Maple Leafs president doesn't quite see the game the way he used to."The way (today), I think, is not necessarily the way I played," Shahanan said on the "SmartLess" podcast hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Leafs fan Will Arnett."I know people get pissed off at me when I say stuff like this, but I don't get excited to see a big hit. I get excited when I see a big goal ... I don't want to see any of these young guys on the ice getting carried off (on a stretcher). I don't get off on it."Shanahan recorded 656 goals and 2,489 penalty minutes over 1,524 NHL games. He also racked up 90 career fights, according to hockeyfights.com.The Hall of Fame forward believes fighting can still serve a purpose in the modern game, but the days of premeditated tilts are long gone."If I see a fight in hockey and it's because someone was protecting somebody or somebody was bullying somebody and you're addressing it. There's probably still a place for that in hockey, but using it as a tool to intimidate or hurt, I don't know, it's going away from that."Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Shanahan served as the league's senior vice president and helped establish the NHL Department of Player Safety in 2011.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Vancouver Canucks are impacting a potential extension for head coach Travis Green."We’ve talked and we’ll continue to work at it, but everybody is really in a holding pattern right now and we’re not the only team," general manager Jim Benning told Ben Kuzma of The Province. "And everybody is sensitive right now. It’s going to be important coming out of this to have a coach who can get the best out of his players."The Canucks hired Green to his first NHL coaching gig in April 2017 after spending four seasons with the club's AHL team in Utica. He has one year remaining on his contract that pays him $1 million per year, according to Cap Friendly.Green got his first taste of the playoffs as a coach this past season and guided the Canucks to their first series victory since 2011 when they knocked off the defending champion St. Louis Blues in the first round.The 49-year-old has helped the Canucks' rebuild progress faster than expected, and his impact on Vancouver's core of young stars has made an impression on Benning."Travis lets young players have the puck on their stick as long as they’re not making the same mistakes over and over. He lets them be creative and hold up to a certain defensive standard and be accountable," Benning said. "He has the ability to communicate, get the best out of his players, and he’s important to us because we’ve got young players we’re trying to grow with."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL won't consider anything less than 48 games if the league plays a shortened campaign in 2021, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski.The NHL is targeting Jan. 1 as a start date for next season. Awarding the Stanley Cup before the Summer Olympics begin July 23 is ideal, but it's not necessary for the league."I think there is some flexibility if we were to choose that route. There's a lot left to be played out on the Olympics front too," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "We have models that extend past the Olympic time period. Those are alternatives that are on the table. I can't tell you they're the ones that are necessarily going to be pursued, but I think there's some flexibility there."There are obvious incentives to having a full 82-game season in 2021-22 for the Seattle Kraken's inaugural campaign and the first year of a new U.S. TV contract. NBC's television deal with the NHL expires after 2020-21.The league previously used a 48-game schedule for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. Teams play 82 games in a typical regular season.Regardless of how long next season is or the format used, fans could potentially return to arenas."I think the ultimate goal is to end up with fans in the arenas. I don't think we'll get to capacity, but I think we'll have enough socially distanced fans," an NHL source told Wyshynski.The league definitely wants fans in the stands for the playoffs if local restrictions allow it, sources told Wyshynski.Fans have made their way back into stadiums across North America. Select NFL cities have hosted spectators at a limited capacity, and Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas reached about 25% capacity during the 2020 World Series.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Dominik Kahun to a one-year contract worth $975,000, the team announced Monday.The 25-year-old split time last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, tallying 12 goals and 19 assists across 56 games.The Czech-born German forward has logged just two NHL seasons. He previously spent four campaigns in Germany's top professional league with Munich EHC.Kahun was teammates with Oilers star Leon Draisaitl in Germany's under-16 Schuler-BL league. During the 2010-11 season, Kahun recorded 69 goals and 206 points in 30 games, while Draisaitl netted 97 goals and 192 points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed forward Warren Foegele to a one-year, $2.15-million contract, the team announced Sunday.Foegele was a restricted free agent, so the two sides have avoided going to arbitration."Warren has shown improvement each year of his professional career," general manager Don Waddell said. "We expect him to continue to develop and enhance his role on our team."The 24-year-old established career highs in goals (13) and assists (17) in 68 contests during the 2019-20 season. He averaged 13:43 minutes of ice time per game.Carolina drafted Foegele in the third round in 2014. He's amassed 25 goals and 23 assists in 147 NHL games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis is optimistic the NHL's flat salary cap will present some unique opportunities for his club when the expansion draft takes place next summer."Well, I think certainly, that’s what we’re hoping," Francis told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."But I think there are pros and cons, right?" Francis continued. "Obviously, the cap being flat should be a benefit to us. But I think you saw a lot of teams doing some maneuvering this summer, whether it was buyouts, moving players for picks and stuff, to help alleviate some of their situations."Due to the pause, the NHL's salary cap is set at $81.5 million each season until the league's revenue reaches it's pre-pandemic projections.Seattle will adhere the same draft rules as the Vegas Golden Knights - the most recent expansion franchise - and must choose a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2021-22 campaign.Vegas famously made the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season after knocking their expansion draft out of the park, landing foundational pieces such as Shea Theodore, Jonathan Marchessault, and William Karlsson.The Golden Knights are exempt from Seattle's draft, but the remaining 30 teams across the league can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie. Players with no-movement clauses are automatically protected unless they waive their agreement, and all first or second-year players are exempt from being chosen.The Kraken are set to take the ice for the 2021-22 season, and will join the Pacific Division.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ontario premier Doug Ford has weighed in on the OHL potentially banning bodychecking in the league's return-to-play plan."We are engaging with the OHL to create a safe return-to-play plan, which will need to be approved by health experts," Ford tweeted Saturday. "To date no decisions have been made. I would like to see the OHL return as normal as possible with bodychecking."Ford's statement contradicts one of his own cabinet's ministers. Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's minister of sport, said on Friday that "prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted," and the government will continue to work with the OHL on a safe return-to-play plan.MacLeod was adamant that removing purposeful contact from the sport is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On Friday, she tweeted that she hoped "this matter is now settled."The OHL is targeting a December start date for its 2020-21 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Hoffman remains a free agent, and the offers he's receiving aren't blowing the winger away.Several teams have expressed interest in the 30-year-old, but the offers have been "bargain city," according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The sniper led the free-agency class in goals this past season, and he's been one of the NHL's best scorers since stepping into the league, notching 169 goals in 464 games over six campaigns. That's good for 29.87 goals per 82 contests, and only 15 players have registered more markers than Hoffman since 2014-15.While many teams surely desire the forward, agent Rob Hooper says his client is willing to wait to get the money he deserves from a club the veteran fits with."Very patient,’’ Hooper said to LeBrun. "Mike has been one of the most consistent goal-scorers the last six seasons and the last two were his best. More importantly, Mike, like every great scorer, is willing to be patient and look for the right opportunity."Hoffman spent the last two seasons with the Florida Panthers, scoring a career-high 36 goals and 70 points in 2018-19, and then producing 29 goals and 30 assists in just 69 games this past campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Galchenyuk is confident he'll find his game with the Ottawa Senators this coming season."I'm definitely hungrier than ever and motivated," Galchenyuk said, according to NHL.com. "My body feels great. I feel great. Obviously, there's been a lot of time off and I used that time well. To get better, I think, obviously, my foot speed, my explosiveness, and it's my consistency, and I know what I need to do to get that. I went through a really tough year ... and learned a lot about myself as a hockey player and what I need to do. And I'm really confident I can fix those parts of my game."Galchenyuk was an unrestricted free agent for the first time this offseason and signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Senators after he spent 2019-20 split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild.The 26-year-old struggled in the shortened campaign, managing just 24 points in 59 games. He put up a career-low 0.41 points per game, but Galchenyuk believes his difficult year has given him a better understanding of the type of player he can be."Sometimes you need a year like this to center yourself and to love yourself, and to really understand what you want to become and how you want to play," Galchenyuk said. "It was a big moment for me to realize that. I have a lot to prove to myself, to other people, and it felt like Ottawa was the right fit. Obviously, I was traded two times last year and so I have not been happy with how things went."I'm just looking to bounce back. I'm going to elevate my game even more and I just can't wait to start already."The Montreal Canadiens drafted Galchenyuk third overall in 2012. His 320 career points are the second-most of all players in his draft class.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ontario Hockey League will follow scientific studies' direction to form its return plan despite the Ontario provincial government mandating that bodychecking won't take place in sports during the COVID-19 pandemic."If there’s studies that really, clearly state that body contact is a contributor to the spread of the virus, then obviously we’ll have to look at it," OHL commissioner David Branch said Friday, according to Sportsnet. "But we’ve not looked at it yet."Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's minister of sport, believes removing purposeful contact is necessary to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. The QMJHL, which has already seen several outbreaks, influenced her decision."Our public health officials have been clear," MacLeod said Friday. "Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted. We will continue to work with (the OHL) on a safe return to play.”The OHL announced Thursday it plans to run a shortened 40-game season beginning Feb. 4.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have signed defenseman Julius Honka to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced Friday.Honka posted 15 points in 46 games in Finland last season. The 24-year-old went overseas after being unable to work out a deal as a restricted free agent with the Stars.Dallas drafted Honka 14th overall in 2014, but he's only played in 87 NHL games. He's spent the majority of his career in the AHL or as a healthy scratch with the big club.Honka previously requested a trade out of Dallas but nothing ever materialized.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Joey Anderson to a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.Anderson's deal is a two-way contract in the first two years and carries an annual cap hit of $750,000.Toronto acquired Anderson in the trade that sent Andreas Johnsson to the New Jersey Devils earlier this offseason. New Jersey selected Anderson in the third round of the 2016 draft, and he's tallied 13 points in 52 career NHL games.The 22-year-old has earned comparisons to Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman."That's something I strive to be ... a guy that does things the right way, plays hard, he's in the right spots, doesn't take short cuts," Anderson told TSN's Mark Masters after the trade. "Definitely a player I would like to follow in the footsteps of."Anderson may compete for a job with the Maple Leafs this upcoming season, but his two-way contract indicates he'll likely start the year with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames aren't done adding to the roster this offseason.General manager Brad Treliving is looking to add an experienced right-side defenseman, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Thursday.The Flames lost longtime rearguard T.J. Brodie, who played the right side on the club's top pair, in free agency this offseason. Treliving added Chris Tanev to fill that void, but hopes to add more depth on the blue line.Here's how Calgary's back end currently shapes up:LDRDMark GiordanoChris TanevNoah HanifinRasmus AndersonJuuso ValimakiOliver KylingtonNikita NesterovSami Vatanen and former Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic are intriguing right-side options, but Calgary has just $1 million in projected cap space and still needs to sign Oliver Kylington - a restricted free agent - to a new deal.More realistic free-agent options include veterans Andy Greene and Ron Hainsey. The Flames could address their need via trade as well.Calgary finished 17th defensively in 2019-20, allowing 3.03 goals against per game.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are renouncing the rights to 2020 fourth-round draft pick Mitchell Miller, the team announced Thursday.Arizona said on Oct. 26 that the organization wouldn't cut ties with Miller despite having knowledge that in 2016 he bullied Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a former classmate who is Black and has a developmental disability. However, the club has since reversed course."We have decided to renounce the rights to Mitchell Miller, effective immediately," Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said in a statement. "Prior to selecting Mitchell in the NHL draft, we were aware that a bullying incident took place in 2016. We do not condone this type of behavior but embraced this as a teachable moment to work with Mitchell to make him accountable for his actions and provide him with an opportunity to be a leader on anti-bullying and anti-racism efforts."We have learned more about the entire matter, and more importantly, the impact it has had on Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family. What we learned does not align with the core values and vision for our organization and leads to our decision to renounce our draft rights. On behalf of the Arizona Coyotes ownership and our entire organization, I would like to apologize to Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family. We are building a model franchise on and off the ice and will do the right thing for Isaiah and the Meyer-Crothers family, our fans, and our partners. Mr. Miller is now a free agent and can pursue his dream of becoming an NHL player elsewhere."Meyer-Crothers said Miller consistently harassed him, beat him up, and frequently called him the N-word and "brownie" while the two grew up together in Ohio.Miller was set for his freshman season at North Dakota, but on Friday, the school announced he is no longer a member of the hockey program. He can still attend the university as a student.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been moved to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, chairman Lanny McDonald announced Friday.However, this year's class will stand alone, as no new members will be inducted in 2021."The magic of the induction weekend from the perspective of the new inductees is participating in several days of close interaction with family, friends, former teammates, fellow legends, and fans," McDonald said. "On that premise, the board felt that this was the right decision to bestow upon the class of 2020 the recognition and lifetime experience they so richly deserve in all ways consistent with past induction classes."This year's weekend of events was originally scheduled for Nov. 13 to 16. Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Doug Wilson, and Kim St. Pierre headline the inductees in the player category, while current Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland is set for enshrinement in the builder category.Some notable candidates for the now-delayed 2021 class include Henrik and Daniel Sedin, as well as Henrik Zetterberg.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $725,000, the team announced Friday.Hutchinson was the Leafs' backup for most of the 2019-20 season but won only five of 12 starts while posting a .888 save percentage.Toronto acquired Jack Campbell from the Los Angeles Kings in February to play behind Frederik Andersen. The Maple Leafs also signed former San Jose Sharks netminder Aaron Dell to a minor-league contract this offseason to shore up their goaltending depth.The Colorado Avalanche traded for Hutchinson prior to last season's deadline. The 30-year-old played better for the Avs, winning his only regular-season appearance before making three starts in the playoffs, during which he posted a .910 save percentage.Hutchinson owns a .905 save percentage across 127 appearances during his seven-year career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets re-signed defenseman Sami Niku to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $725,000, the team announced Friday.Niku, 24, will be a restricted free agent when the deal expires.The 6-foot-1 Finn recorded five assists while logging 16:10 of average ice time through 17 regular-season games with the Jets in 2019-20.Winnipeg selected Niku in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft.The Jets are currently $700,000 over the salary cap with one outstanding restricted free agent to sign in forward Jack Roslovic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced Thursday that it's concluded its investigation into Dale Tallon's alleged use of "racially derogatory language" while in the Toronto bubble for this summer's qualifying round and determined the allegations were not substantiated.The league began investigating Tallon in late August for allegedly using a racial slur. An anonymous report to the league also said that he'd previously made "openly racial, religious, and ethnic comments." He was fired as general manager of the Florida Panthers earlier that month after his club was eliminated in the qualifying round against the New York Islanders.The NHL and a third party (Seyfarth Shaw LLP) conducted a full, confidential investigation of the report and interviewed over a dozen members of the Panthers organization regarding Tallon's behavior."The allegations were neither corroborated nor substantiated, and are inconsistent with Tallon’s past actions and his affirmative efforts in support of diversity and inclusion initiatives. As a result, based on the investigation, the NHL has further concluded that there has been no established violation of NHL policy or protocols," read part of the league's statement.Tallon denied using racist language at the outset of the investigation and said he believes the probe could have stemmed from his reaction to Minnesota Wild defenseman and Hockey Diversity Alliance member Matt Dumba and his speech supporting Black Lives Matter before a postseason game on Aug. 1."I am not racist by any means,” Tallon said at the time. "I have never said anything of the sort. I am all for peace, am all for this alliance and what everyone is trying to do right now."Tallon has recently been linked to joining the Pittsburgh Penguins' front office "in some capacity." The 70-year-old executive was with the Panthers for 10 years before his departure and previously served as GM of the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eleven-year NHL veteran Colin Wilson discussed his battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder in The Players' Tribune on Thursday.Wilson, who was a first-round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2008, was diagnosed with OCD in 2010 during his rookie season. He found out in a meeting with his parents, Predators general manager David Poile, assistant GM Paul Fenton, and team psychologist Gary Solomon. They had picked up on his unusual pre-flight routine."I had to clean up all the trash around our gate," Wilson wrote. "Every single wrapper, piece of plastic, you name it. Into the trash. Then I had to be the last passenger on the plane, no matter what. Then, finally, I actually had to talk to the pilots. It didn’t have to be about anything specific, but I had to at least talk to them. After I did all that, I felt safe to fly."At the time, Wilson admits he didn't take the diagnosis seriously, even though there were other signs."I went from obsessing over injuries off the ice to thinking I was going to get hurt every time I stepped on it - thinking I'd get hurt every shift," he wrote. "Or feeling like my skates weren't tied properly. I'd have to stay in the locker room and tie them over and over again, as tight as I could, until my hands bled. And that was just a short-term fix. For years, I felt like I was skating on stilts because my skates never felt right."Wilson also suffered from insomnia. He took Xanax and Seroquel to help him sleep, but those pills - combined with alcohol and his untreated OCD - caused him to hit rock bottom during Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017."In the Cup finals, I was barely able to function. I was running on fumes, my head felt like it was on fire - I felt like I was going insane," he wrote.That offseason, Wilson began taking psychedelics "and other similar medicines," which he credits for helping his recovery.After eight years in Music City, Wilson signed with the Avalanche and spent three seasons in Colorado. However, he only played nine games last year. He needed double hip surgery in December but his hips didn't heal properly and he struggled to walk, so he recently underwent another surgery. He admitted his playing career is "probably over."Wilson recorded 286 career points across 632 games played. His best season came in 2014-15 with the Preds when he tallied 20 goals and 22 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada has announced invitations for 46 players to attend selection camp for the 2021 world juniors in Edmonton.2020 No. 2 overall pick Quinton Byfield, prized Colorado Avalanche prospect Bowen Byram, and presumptive 2022 No. 1 pick Shane Wright were among the invitees.The training camp will start Nov. 16 in Red Deer, Alberta, and end Dec. 13. The selection process will occur while the CHL and its umbrella leagues remain in flux regarding a safe return to play following the pandemic-induced pause. The QMJHL is back in action for the 2020-21 campaign, but the WHL and OHL aren't slated to return until Jan. 8 and Feb. 4, respectively.Canada won its 18th gold medal at the last world juniors, the most of any country.Here's a look at all the players invited:ForwardsPlayerClubNHL rightsAdam BeckmanSpokane (WHL)WildMavrik BourqueShawinigan (QMJHL)StarsQuinton ByfieldSudbury (OHL)KingsGraeme ClarkeOttawa (OHL)DevilsDylan CozensLethbridge (WHL)SabresTyson ForesterBarrie (OHL)FlyersGage GoncalvesEverett (WHL)LightningRidly GreigBrandon (WHL)SenatorsDylan HollowayWisconsin (NCAA)OilersSeth JarvisPortland (WHL)HurricanesPeyton KrebsWinnipeg (WHL)Golden KnightsHendrix LapierreChicoutimi (QMJHL)CapitalsConnor McMichaelLondon (OHL)CapitalsDawson MercerChicoutimi (QMJHL)DevilsAlex NewhookBoston College (NCAA)AvalancheJakob PelletierVal-d'Or (QMJHL)FlamesCole PerfettiSaginaw (OHL)JetsSamuel PoulinSherbrooke (QMJHL)PenguinsJack QuinnOttawa (OHL)SabresJamieson ReesSarnia (OHL)HurricanesCole SchwindtMississauga (OHL)PanthersXavier SimoneauDrummondville (QMJHL)2021 eligibleRyan SuzukiSaginaw (OHL)HurricanesPhilip TomasinoOshawa (OHL)PredatorsShane WrightKingston (OHL)2022 eligibleConnor ZaryKamloops (WHL)FlamesThe Chicago Blackhawks will loan forward Kirby Dach to Team Canada for the tournament, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The 19-year-old is a virtual lock to make the final squad, as he posted 23 points in 64 games during a promising rookie campaign in 2019-20.DefensePlayerClubNHL rightsJustin BarronHalifax (QMJHL)AvalancheBowen ByramVancouver (WHL)AvalancheLukas CormierCharlottetown (QMJHL)Golden KnightsJamie DrysdaleErie (OHL)DucksKaiden GuhlePrince Albert (WHL)CanadiensThomas HarleyMississauga (OHL)StarsDaemon HuntMoose Jaw (WHL)WildKaedan KorczakKelowna (WHL)Golden KnightsMason MIllmanSaginaw (OHL)FlyersRyan O'RourkeSault Ste. Marie (OHL)WildOwen PowerMichigan (NCAA)2021 eligibleMatthew RobertsonEdmonton (WHL)RangersBraden SchneiderBrandon (WHL)RangersDonovan SebrangoKitchener (OHL)Red WingsJordan SpenceMoncton (QMJHL)KingsGoaliesPlayerClubNHL rightsBrett BrochuLondon (OHL)2021 eligibleDylan GarandKamloops (WHL)RangersTaylor GauthierPrince George (WHL)2021 eligibleTristan LennoxSaginaw (OHL)2021 eligibleDevon LeviNortheastern (NCAA)PanthersCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed sniper Victor Olofsson to a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $3.05 million, the team announced Thursday.Olofsson finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting as the league's top rookie last season after tallying 20 goals and 22 assists in 54 games.The Swede could potentially follow up his stellar rookie campaign with a breakout season, as he's projected to play on the team's top line with Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall. Eichel took a liking to Olofsson after the two displayed strong chemistry last year."I think his work ethic and his dedication to hockey is probably the thing that jumps out the most," Eichel said after the season. "Obviously, he wants to be a good hockey player. He cares about his game; he takes care of himself and he's constantly (working) on his shot. He definitely holds himself accountable. When you put those things together, you're bound to have success."The 25-year-old was a seventh-round pick of the Sabres in 2014.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Hockey Diversity Alliance is challenging the NHL and Arizona Coyotes to sign its pledge after the Coyotes recently drafted Mitchell Miller, who was convicted of assaulting a Black teen with disabilities four years ago."The Coyotes' drafting of Mitchell Miller - who was convicted of bullying a developmentally disabled, Black classmate, and according to the victim's family has not personally apologized - shows that 'zero tolerance' of racism can't be taken for granted in the NHL. The NHL and the Coyotes should sign the HDA pledge and start practicing what they preach," the HDA said Wednesday.The alliance's statement referenced item No. 6 of the HDA's pledge, which asks the NHL to agree not to "support, partner with, or accept support from any organization that has engaged in, promoted, or failed to appropriately respond to racist conduct in their organization of any kind (including, without limitation, the proliferation of hate speech, discrimination in the provision of goods, services and facilities, and other areas such as employment)."Isaiah Meyer-Crothers said Miller bullied him for years physically, and repeatedly called him the N-word. In 2016, Miller and another boy were charged with assault and violating the Ohio Safe Schools Act after they were accused of making Crothers eat a candy that had been rubbed in a urinal."It hurt my heart, to be honest," Crothers said of Mitchell being drafted, according to Craig Harris and Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic. "It's stupid that they (Coyotes) didn't go back and look what happened in the past, but I can't do anything about it."Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said the club drafted Mitchell because Arizona "felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way." Gutierrez was named to the NHL's Executive Inclusion Council last month.The HDA cut ties with the NHL earlier this month, calling the league's anti-racism measures "performative public relations efforts."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's bubbles may have worked flawlessly for the 2019-20 postseason, but San Jose Sharks goaltender Devan Dubnyk doesn't believe players would be willing to do it again for the upcoming campaign."I don’t think anybody is signing up to do another 60 days or anything extended like that," Dubnyk said, according to NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil. “It’s really tough.”Dubnyk spent just over a week in the NHL's bubble over the summer as a member of the Minnesota Wild. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars, who made it to the Stanley Cup Final, spent two months inside the bubble.The league recorded zero positive tests from the moment players and staff entered the controlled zones. However, Dubnyk believes there are ways around needing to set up bubbles, and he points to other major sports leagues."I don’t think guys will want to do that, or should be put in a position to do that,” Dubnyk said. “No other sport is, and it’s not necessary to do that. It’s not what we signed up for, and not what anybody is really prepared to do. There’s so many players with young families, that’s just really hard."The NHL has reportedly kicked around the idea in the past of using a hybrid bubble system to make the season work. The concept would put players on a rotation, spending two weeks inside a bubble and then one week at home before reentering.Recently, the NHL's deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league currently has "no likely scenario" for what its upcoming season will look like.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson says being the subject of trade talks was difficult, and clarified that he didn't ask the team to put him on the block."I signed (in 2018) because I wanted to be in Arizona until I'm 36," Ekman-Larsson told Ronnie Ronnkvist of Swedish publication Hockey Sverige, as translated by Ronnkvist's colleague, Uffe Bodin. "When this (trade) rumor appeared, it felt awkward, and it was a tough situation. I had never been in a situation like this before with trade rumors. Mentally, it was tough."In September, multiple teams reportedly expressed interest in the Coyotes captain, who's coming off the first season of his aforementioned eight-year, $66-million extension. Then, on Oct. 1, it was reported that his list of acceptable destinations included the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, and that those teams were involved in trade talks with the Coyotes before Arizona hired Bill Armstrong as general manager on Sept. 17."I have a no-trade/no-movement clause in my contract," Ekman-Larsson told Ronnkvist. "I picked those teams because I didn't want to stand in the way of the (Coyotes) in case they felt like they needed to move me. That's the person I am. I put those teams there as alternatives, but I never really wanted to move."I never really wanted to do anything but to stay in Arizona. I'm really happy that it ended this way. I really like to live there and it would have been very hard for me to leave."Three days before free agency opened, Ekman-Larsson's agent informed the teams discussing a potential trade for his client that a deal had to be worked out by the first day of the frenzy on Oct. 9. Otherwise, the rearguard would stay put. No swap was ultimately consummated."There were a lot of rumors that the team would sell and get rid of players to save money," Ekman-Larsson said Wednesday. "But it never really happened and I actually think that we have a very good team on paper. We're a really tight-knit group and I really appreciate that."The 29-year-old has spent his entire 10-year career with the Coyotes and was named captain in 2018-19. He ranks fourth on the franchise's all-time games played list and 10th in points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will have its top development league next season.The AHL is planning to start the 2020-21 campaign Feb. 5, the league announced Wednesday.The AHL had previously targeted Dec. 1 as its start date for 2020-21, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.No further details were added. Several obstacles remain intact, including border crossing - the league has 27 American teams and four Canadian squads - and developing an appropriate schedule.The NHL is targeting a Jan. 1 start date for its season, while the OHL is reportedly planning to begin its campaign Feb. 4.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Offer sheets are extremely rare in the NHL.Aside from the Montreal Canadiens' sad effort to poach Sebastian Aho from the Carolina Hurricanes last offseason, offer sheets have gone unsigned since the Calgary Flames' attempt to lure Ryan O'Reilly away from the Colorado Avalanche in 2013. A proposal hasn't gone unmatched since the Edmonton Oilers landed Dustin Penner from the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.However, the flat salary cap has left a handful of teams vulnerable to an offer sheet. We examined what makes the Tampa Bay Lightning especially susceptible before free agency began, and that remains true with the club not yet unloading any big contracts to clear room for restricted free agents Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak.Additionally, the New York Islanders are in jeopardy of being unable to match a lucrative offer sheet for RFA Mathew Barzal, despite already trading away Devon Toews.Before getting to our list of teams best positioned to go RFA hunting, we must keep the offer sheet compensation chart in mind.

The Ontario Hockey League is a go in 2021.The major junior hockey league will play a condensed 40-game season beginning Feb. 4, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Marek. Each team typically plays 68 games in a normal season.Only four teams from each conference (eight teams total) will make the playoffs. Usually, the top eight teams in each conference (16 teams total) qualify for the postseason. The season would conclude May 16 with the Memorial Cup scheduled for June 17-27.Training camps will begin Jan. 23 and teams will play one or two exhibition games. American and European players are to arrive Jan. 8 and then quarantine.However, a few kinks will need to be sorted out. There are three OHL teams based in the United States (the Flint Firebirds, Saginaw Spirit, and Erie Otters) but there were no discussions as to what will happen with those clubs.The possibility of fans in the arenas was not discussed either.The schedule is undetermined, but it's possible that teams may only play four or five other squads.The 2019-20 OHL season was canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators inked forward Alex Galchenyuk to a one-year, $1.05-million contract, the club announced Wednesday.Galchenyuk, who was an unrestricted free agent, produced three goals and seven points in 14 games with the Minnesota Wild this past season.The 26-year-old began the campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, collecting five goals and 17 points in 45 contests before they traded him to Minnesota in the Jason Zucker swap.The Senators will be Galchenyuk's fourth team in three seasons. He notched 19 goals and 41 points in 72 games for the Arizona Coyotes in 2018-19 after spending five-plus campaigns with the Montreal Canadiens.Galchenyuk is coming off a three-year pact he signed with Montreal in July 2017, carrying a $4.9-million cap hit.The Canadiens drafted him third overall in 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Haydn Fleury to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1.3 million, the team announced Tuesday.Fleury was a restricted free agent and had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Nov. 8.The 24-year-old rearguard appeared in 45 regular-season games for the Hurricanes in 2019-20, contributing four goals and 10 assists while logging 13:40 of average ice time. Fleury saw an uptick in usage in the playoffs, averaging 16:17 of ice time while contributing two goals over eight contests.Carolina drafted Fleury seventh overall in 2014.The Hurricanes have just over $3 million in projected cap space with only one outstanding restricted free agent in forward Warren Foegele. The 24-year-old has a salary arbitration date set for Nov. 4.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk is in no hurry to find his next home.The 37-year-old unrestricted free agent is entering his 14th NHL season and wants to be sure he finds the right situation before signing his next deal."I’m training to keep myself in shape," Kovalchuk said Monday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I talk to Pat (Brisson, agent) all the time, he keeps me posted. But I’m not in a rush. We will try to find the right place, the right fit, that’s good for everybody."Kovalchuk had a rollercoaster 2019-20 campaign. The Los Angeles Kings terminated his contract in December, but then he turned his season around after being picked up by the Montreal Canadiens in January. Kovalchuk tallied 13 points in 22 games with the Habs before getting dealt to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline.The veteran winger appeared in one Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 but has yet to hoist the ultimate prize. With his career winding down, Kovalchuk is aiming to join a team in contention."Yes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for. But it should be both parties interested. Not just one side. That’s very important, too," he said.Kovalchuk has racked up 26 goals and 34 assists over 110 games since returning to the NHL ahead of the 2018-19 season after spending time in the KHL.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens finished the 2019-20 season on a high note, and owner Geoff Molson believes the pieces are there to be competitive for the foreseeable future."We've got the foundation now for a team that can be good for many years," Molson told Sportsnet's Eric Engels.The Canadiens have bounced between being a possible contender and a lottery team for the better part of the last decade. Since 2010, Montreal has advanced to the conference finals twice and earned a top-10 draft pick three times.Montreal showed a glimpse of its potential during the postseason, bouncing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round and taking the Philadelphia Flyers to six games in Round 1.While the Canadiens already boasted a healthy mix of veterans and youngsters, Molson is pleased with general manager Marc Bergevin's moves this offseason to address the team's needs."Marc filled every hole that he said he was going to fill, so I think that's really exciting," Molson said. "I'm really excited about this year coming up."He added, "We have a team that should make the playoffs, I can tell you that. And I think the team and the organization and the fans would be extremely disappointed if we didn't. I think we've gotten to the point where we can. So, with that in mind, it would be disappointing if we didn't."Bergevin has been the league's busiest executive this offseason. He traded for and subsequently signed forward Josh Anderson to a long-term deal, inked one of the top free agents in Tyler Toffoli, and handed out extensions to key players like Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An arbitrator ruled that the Detroit Red Wings will give forward Tyler Bertuzzi a one-year, $3.5-million contract, the team announced Tuesday.On Sunday, Bertuzzi - who was a restricted free agent - reportedly became the first player this offseason to have a salary arbitration hearing. He filed for $4.25 million in the proceedings, while the team did so for $3.15 million.The 25-year-old tied a career high with 21 goals and set a new personal best with 48 points over 71 games this past season.Bertuzzi is coming off a two-year pact that carried a cap hit of $1.4 million.He's played two full campaigns and parts of four seasons with the Red Wings, who drafted him 58th overall in 2013.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oscar Fantenberg will play in Europe next season.The defenseman, who most recently suited up for the Vancouver Canucks, signed a one-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg, the KHL announced Tuesday.Fantenberg became an unrestricted free agent after posting six points over 36 games for the Canucks in 2019-20. He signed with Vancouver for $850,000 in July 2019.The 29-year-old also played for the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings during his two previous NHL campaigns. Fantenberg spent six full seasons overseas - mostly in his homeland of Sweden - before joining Los Angeles in May 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche inked defenseman Devon Toews to a four-year contract, the club announced Tuesday.Here's a year-by-year breakdown of the pact, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun:YearSalary1$2.35M2$3.55M3$4.6M4$5.9MBased on those figures, the average annual value would be $4.1 million.Toews was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 31.The Avalanche acquired Toews in a trade with the New York Islanders on Oct. 12, with two second-round picks heading the other way.He collected six goals and 28 points over 68 games with the Islanders in 2019-20. It was his second NHL season, and he spent both with New York.The 26-year-old ranked fifth on his former club in average ice time (20:30) this past campaign.Toews essentially replaces Nikita Zadorov on Colorado's blue line. The Avalanche traded Zadorov to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Brandon Saad in a four-player swap on Oct. 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders signed forward Josh Ho-Sang to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.It's a two-way deal, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Ho-Sang will reportedly earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $225,000 in the AHL. He was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Oct. 30.The 2014 first-round pick registered 13 points in 19 AHL games last season. He didn't appear in the NHL during the 2019-20 campaign.Ho-Sang has tallied 24 points in 53 career games across three NHL seasons.The 24-year-old winger requested a trade last season but one didn't materialize.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh is exploring the possibility of hiring former Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon to assist Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.Tallon is a candidate to join Pittsburgh "in some capacity," sources told The Athletic's Rob Rossi.The Panthers and the 70-year-old agreed to part ways in August following the club's qualifying-round loss to the New York Islanders.Less than three weeks later, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league was investigating Tallon for his conduct in the Toronto bubble, and It was reported the longtime executive was being probed for making racially insensitive remarks on multiple occasions. However, Tallon's departure from the Panthers reportedly had nothing to do with his alleged comments.He believed the inquiry centered around observations he made about Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, who is Filipino Canadian. The NHL has not provided an update on the situation since confirming the investigation on Aug. 28.Tallon spent 10 years with the Panthers after serving as GM of the Chicago Blackhawks from 2005-09.The Penguins hired Trevor Daley - who won two championships with Pittsburgh - as a hockey operations advisor after the blue-liner retired Monday. The team fired assistant GM Jason Karmanos earlier in the day.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators and forward Chris Tierney have agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, the club announced.Tierney will earn $2.8 million in the first year and $4.2 million in the second.The 26-year-old was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Nov. 8.He's coming off a two-year pact that carried a cap hit of $2,937,500 - a deal he inked with the San Jose Sharks.The Keswick, Ontario-born center collected 11 goals and 37 points over 71 games with the Senators this past season, his second with Ottawa. The club acquired him from San Jose in the Erik Karlsson trade in September 2018.Tierney played four campaigns with the Sharks, who drafted him 55th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Chicago Blackhawks recently sent a letter to fans stating their commitment to a rebuild, head coach Jeremy Colliton is hoping the team's veterans will be on board and aid in the process."They need to help on this," Colliton recently said to the Chicago Tribune's Phil Thompson. "They have a part to play in helping bringing young guys along and being an example of how we want them to act on and off the ice. That's going to speed up this process, and in the end, it's going to be good for them as well."The Blackhawks have been among the NHL's most successful teams over the last decade, winning three Stanley Cups from 2010-15. Since winning the championship in 2015, however, Chicago has failed to make the playoffs twice and hasn't advanced beyond Round 1.Its core veterans, who helped lead the club to those Cup victories, include the likes of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook. The four players each have multiple years left on their respective contracts and will combine for a $33.4-million cap hit over the next three seasons."We need it to come from young players (because) we can't afford to go out and get established veterans who can already do it - who you just plug right in - because of our cap situation," Colliton said. "So this is the way we're going to be competitive."Chicago has added some bright, young talent through the draft and trades in recent years, such as Alex DeBrincat, Dominik Kubalik, Kirby Dach, Dylan Strome, and Adam Boqvist. The club also recently parted ways with veteran goaltender Corey Crawford to give 26-year-olds Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia the crease.Colliton believes the Blackhawks aren't far from being an elite team again, and he saw his young players' potential throughout last season."We saw the fruits of that in the playoffs. We had a lot of young guys playing big roles who helped us beat Edmonton and be competitive against Vegas," Colliton said. "If we wouldn't have given them (an) opportunity during the season, I don’t think we would've been nearly as competitive."He added, "For the past couple of years, we've been a bottom-half team, a bubble team at best, hoping to sneak in and catch lightning in a bottle. I'm not excited about that. I don't think they should be either."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes don't plan to distance themselves from Mitchell Miller, their 2020 draft pick who the club selected despite knowing he bullied a Black, developmentally disabled classmate."Our fundamental mission is to ensure a safe environment - whether in schools, in our community, in hockey rinks, or in the workplace - to be free of bullying and racism," Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said in a statement, according to Craig Harris and Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic."When we first learned of Mitchell’s story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him - many teams did," Gutierrez continued. "Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way - not just saying and doing the right things ourselves but ensuring that others are too."Miller, who the Coyotes picked in the fourth round earlier in October, admitted in court in 2016 that he bullied Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, who grew up with him in Ohio. Meyer-Crothers said Miller frequently called him the N-word and "brownie," while harassing him for years."He pretended to be my friend and made me do things I didn't want to do," Meyer-Crothers told Harris and Romero. "In junior high, I got beat up by him. … Everyone thinks he's so cool that he gets to go to the NHL, but I don't see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life."Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong, who got the job before the draft but didn't take part as a condition of his hiring, confirmed Arizona's scouts knew about Miller's bullying history.Gutierrez said the organization has made its expectations "very clear" to Miller, and they want him to become a leader in the anti-bullying and anti-racism movements.Meyer-Crothers' mother Joni called on the team to apologize and accused it of being "part of the problem." Miller has never personally apologized to Isaiah aside from a court-mandated letter.In early September, the NHL launched a series of anti-racism initiatives, and Gutierrez was among 15 people named to the new Executive Inclusion Council. The Hockey Diversity Alliance - a group of current and former NHL players aiming to eradicate racism in the game - initially had conversations with the league but cut ties in early October, describing the NHL's anti-racism work as "performative public relations efforts."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NHL defenseman Trevor Daley is hanging up his skates after 16 seasons in the show, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Monday.Daley is joining the Penguins' front office as a hockey operations advisor. He'll report directly to general manager Jim Rutherford and assist in player evaluations at the NHL and AHL level, in addition to acting as an "eye in the sky" for the coaching staff during games.The 37-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings but won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017.Daley was valuable to those Cup teams. In 2016 he averaged 22:08 per game during the playoffs (second-most among Pens blue-liners), and in 2017 he played 19:07 per contest in the postseason (fifth-most).The Toronto, Ontario, native played with the Dallas Stars in his first 11 seasons in the NHL. In total, Daley ends his career with 309 points in 1,058 regular-season games.Pittsburgh further shook up its front office on Monday by firing assistant GM Jason Karmanos. In a corresponding move, director of hockey research Sam Ventura will assume Karmanos' duties on an interim basis, and manager of hockey operations Erik Heasley has been named interim GM of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres signed goaltender Linus Ullmark to a one-year, $2.6-million contract, the team announced Sunday.The restricted free agent was set to have an arbitration hearing Monday.Ullmark posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average in 34 games this past season. He projects to be the club's No. 1 goaltender next year after vastly outplaying veteran Carter Hutton. Both Ullmark and Hutton will be unrestricted free agents next offseason.The Sabres picked the 27-year-old during the sixth round in 2012.Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has been busy Sunday, with the club also avoiding arbitration with forward Sam Reinhart on a one-year, $5.2-million agreement. Victor Olofsson and Lawrence Pilut are the team's remaining RFAs. Casey Mittelstadt is one as well, but he's not on the NHL roster.Buffalo has $6.5 million left in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings and forward Tyler Bertuzzi took part in a salary arbitration hearing Sunday after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.On Friday, Bertuzzi reportedly filed at $4.25 million, while the club did so at $3.15 million.Under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, an arbitrator must decide within 48 hours of the hearing's conclusion. However, unlike previous years, the team and the player are no longer permitted to continue negotiating after the session begins.Bertuzzi's hearing was scheduled for Sunday when the full list was released on Oct. 13. The 25-year-old restricted free agent is coming off a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $1.4 million. He signed that pact in June 2018.He collected 21 goals and 48 points across 71 games this past season, matching his goal total from 2018-19 and notching one more point in two fewer contests. This was the left winger's second full campaign with Detroit, and he's played parts of four years with the Red Wings, who drafted him 58th overall in 2013.Bertuzzi is the first player to get to this stage this offseason. Other NHLers who had hearings scheduled this year signed beforehand, including Sam Reinhart, Linus Ullmark, Ilya Mikheyev, Connor Brown, and Jake Virtanen.Of the 26 players who filed for arbitration on Oct. 10, there are 12 who've yet to settle their cases. The hearings are set to run through Nov. 8.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Arizona Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal's career has come to an end."It's a little bit of a relief because the last couple of years I wasn’t sure if I'd play another NHL game or be healthy again so now it's official: I am retired from the NHL," Hanzal told NHL Network's Craig Morgan. "If I was healthy, I would probably still be playing, but after three back surgeries and especially after the last one, I just can't do it anymore. I was doing everything I could after this last one and it took me a year to get back on the ice."Hanzal sat out this past season while rehabbing in Europe and was limited to only seven games with the Dallas Stars in 2018-19. He played only 38 with the club in the previous campaign."When I went to see the doctor again, it was either do another surgery or be done playing," Hanzal added. "Even the doctor said, 'We're not sure another surgery will help.' I still have a long life ahead of me. I don't want to do another surgery when it's not 100 percent sure it will even help."Hanzal collected 127 goals and 338 points in 673 career contests. The 33-year-old spent nearly 10 of his 12 NHL seasons with the Coyotes, and he also appeared in 20 games for the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17.The Czech center notched the fastest hat trick in team history (20:27) while playing for Arizona against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. It was the first three-goal game of his career.The Coyotes drafted him 17th overall in 2005.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Scott believes members of the Chicago Blackhawks' front office should be ashamed of themselves for the message they conveyed to fans earlier this week."The fact that they are just giving in to their fan base and having to write that letter is embarrassing," the former Blackhawks agitator said on his "Dropping the Gloves" podcast Thursday.On Tuesday, the Blackhawks shared a letter in which they committed to rebuilding their roster.Chicago parted with two pieces of the core from their championship years, allowing goaltender Corey Crawford to sign with the New Jersey Devils on the first day of free agency and trading Brandon Saad to the Colorado Avalanche in a deal that netted them defenseman Nikita Zadorov one day later.A day after the trade, Blackhawks players aired their frustration, as other core veterans were reportedly "pissed" about the moves and said to have "had enough." Captain Jonathan Toews said "a lot of this comes as a shock because it's a completely different direction than we expected.""I would be upset if I were Toews or (Patrick) Kane, I would be embarrassed if I was the organization, and if I was a fan, I'd be like, 'Great, I complained and they answered me, so guess what? I'm going to complain some more and they better answer me again or else I'm going to be super upset,'" Scott said."You shouldn't have to explain your moves to Twitter trolls just because you made a couple trades," he continued. "It just looks weak. It looks soft. I don't like it."Scott also mentioned he believes the club wouldn't have written the letter had former team president John McDonough still been with the organization. The Blackhawks fired McDonough in April and replaced him with Danny Wirtz, the son of owner Rocky Wirtz.McDonough was widely credited with resurrecting the franchise and helping it win three titles in six years.Scott played parts of two of his eight NHL seasons with Chicago. He retired in 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres inked forward Sam Reinhart to a one-year deal worth $5.2 million, the club announced Sunday.Reinhart was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Tuesday.The 24-year-old ranked second on the Sabres with 22 goals and 50 points while averaging a career-high 20:38 of ice time over 69 contests in 2019-20. It was the third straight season in which he played in all of the team's games.Reinhart has collected at least 20 goals in four of his five full NHL campaigns, all of which he's spent with Buffalo. The Sabres drafted him second overall in 2014.The team still has a few other RFAs to take care of. Goaltender Linus Ullmark has a hearing on the docket for Monday, while forward Victor Olofsson could have one on Nov. 4. Neither hearing will take place if Buffalo signs them to new deals beforehand. Defenseman Lawrence Pilut needs a new contract but isn't eligible for arbitration.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the age disparity between Joe Thornton and many of his new Toronto Maple Leafs teammates wasn't apparent enough, Travis Dermott offered a reminder Saturday."I haven't been able to talk to him yet, but I'm really excited to meet him," the young defenseman said of the veteran forward. "It's going to be really cool having him on the bench beside me. (He's) definitely a guy I never thought I'd be playing with, but someone that I definitely grew up watching a lot."Dermott, who will turn 24 in December, re-signed with the Maple Leafs on a one-year deal worth $874,125 on Friday. Meanwhile, the 41-year-old Thornton inked a one-year, $700,000 pact with Toronto last week.The Maple Leafs boast several young stars, including 23-year-olds Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and 24-year-old William Nylander. Toronto iced the NHL's sixth-youngest team this past season, but the club now ranks 15th, according to Elite Prospects.That change is due not only to the addition of Thornton, but also 32-year-old forward Wayne Simmonds and goaltender Aaron Dell, who's 31, as well as 30-year-old blue-liners TJ Brodie and Zach Bogosian.Those other moves helped convince Thornton to join the Maple Leafs."I truly believe with the roster they have, with the guys they picked up this offseason, I think this team is ready to win now," he said after signing with the club.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A number of the NHL's general managers are calling for the league to once again tweak its draft lottery format.During a virtual meeting Friday, multiple executives around the league argued to increase the odds for the teams that finish lowest in the standings, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Detroit Red Wings were "incredibly upset" this year after dropping to the fourth pick despite having the best odds for the No. 1 selection, Friedman adds. Detroit reportedly has support for its position but the league asked for specific proposals.The NHL first introduced a weighted lottery system in 1995, which differed slightly from the system used today. All teams were able to win the lottery, but teams were able to move up a maximum of four positions in the draft. This meant the No. 1 selection could be won by only a bottom-five team; the Los Angeles Kings won the lottery in 1995 and were awarded the No. 3 pick.However, in an effort to discourage tanking, the league changed its system in 2015. It spread the odds for all non-playoff teams and gave every club a chance at the top pick.The lottery was altered once again in 2016, putting the top three picks in play for the lottery rather than just the first. That ensured the last-place team is guaranteed a top-four selection rather than the second overall pick if it lost the lottery.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.