After seven months away from his place of work, an amateur scout for an NHL club drove into the parking lot of a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League arena and found a prime spot. The lot, usually bustling on game nights, was nearly empty.The scout, who had been asked by the league to register for the game 24 hours in advance, confirmed his identity at the arena entrance. Someone took his temperature and he filled out two COVID-19 forms - one to collect information for contact tracing, the other to screen for symptoms.A set of doors led to an empty rink featuring roped-off sections for the 20 or so scouts on hand for a rare live viewing. Each of them wore their mandatory face covering. There was no mingling due to physical distancing rules, no customary pregame scout's meal; music blared from the speakers, for nobody in particular, before and during the fanless game.An empty QMJHL rink in Boisbriand, Quebec. Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesFrom a player evaluation perspective, the game felt relatively normal - the scout could do his job. Otherwise, the experience was a little surreal. "Weird. That's the way I would best describe it," said the scout, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he's not authorized by his employer to talk to the media.Amid a global pandemic, hockey scouts are far from the only group of people being forced to recalibrate. Everybody, in some way, is sacrificing in 2020. Still, there's no denying these creatures of habit - whose job it is to project the future performance of teenage hockey players in large part based on these in-person viewings - are operating under suboptimal conditions.COVID-19 interrupted the 2019-20 scouting season in March before the evaluation process for last week's two-day draft could be wrapped up. It wasn't ideal. However, properly evaluating prospects for the 2021 draft will be an infinitely more difficult undertaking for all 31 teams. So much is unknown."It's challenging for every NHL organization," Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "I think the good news is that whenever something happens, you have to find a way around it. You have to adapt. My dad used to always talk about it: 'Adapt or die, son. Adapt or die.' That's what this situation is about."––––––––––Live viewings are the bedrock of the evaluation process. In person, scouts can watch an entire play develop before their eyes, zero in on certain players for a full shift, and monitor body language between whistles. Thorough scouting reports are formed after seeing a kid a half dozen times."You get the feel of the game," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "You get to see the mannerisms of the players. You get to see what leads up to the big plays. You get to see how the player handles adversity within the specific game. You don't necessarily catch all of that on video."Right now, for a large chunk of NHL scouts, live-game scouting remains a fantasy.Of the five most prominent junior leagues in North America, the QMJHL is the only one that has launched a 2020-21 season, though it has already gone off the rails. Twenty-six people within two teams tested positive for COVID-19 and a slew of games were postponed. Elsewhere, the United States Hockey League is targeting a November start, both the Ontario Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League are aiming for December, and the Western Hockey League has its sights set on January. Generating some semblance of revenue, solving logistical puzzles, and keeping everyone safe and healthy are just some of the challenges facing these development leagues."A lot of these other leagues have their dates sort of written in pencil rather than in pen at this point, and that's all going to be determined based on how things play out with the pandemic," assistant GM and director of scouting for the Nashville Predators Jeff Kealty said recently.Nashville's war room during the 2020 draft. John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesEuropean leagues are on a better track. Action is well underway in Sweden, Finland, and Russia - which is both a blessing and a curse for NHL teams who don't have a huge scouting presence overseas. If they wanted to ship a few scouts to Europe, it would come at a hefty price during a time in which budgets are tight across the league. It would also involve heavy lifting at the government level with so many international borders closed."Right now, the most important thing is just the safety of, first of all, those (development) leagues, those players and staffs in those leagues, and the safety of our scouts," Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said. "We're like everybody else in the world. We're going to monitor this, make adjustments as we go, and see what's the best way to go.""We'll adjust, and it probably means when we do get (traveling), it'll be a lot of nights on the road," Washington Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney added with a whimsical laugh. "Try to catch up with everybody."Annual specialty events are hit or miss at this point, too. The world junior championship, which starts the day after Christmas, will be held in a secure bubble in Edmonton. But the Hlinka Gretzky Cup was canceled, and other important showcases such as the CHL Top Prospects Game and the USA Hockey All-American Game could also end up being postponed or canceled.Last week, The Athletic's Corey Pronman released a top-35 player ranking for the 2021 NHL Draft. Of those 35 upper-echelon players, 15 have yet to appear in a game this fall. All of this uncertainty about schedules and limited access to rinks makes you wonder how exactly NHL teams can be expected to gather adequate intel on some of these prospects. As Armstrong noted, every team is at the same disadvantage - but that doesn't make it easy.2021 top prospect Brandt Clarke. Chris Tanouye / Getty ImagesWill we look back on the 2021 draft in 10 years and chuckle at how teams were completely off in their projections for these players? Or will certain NHL clubs shine during a chaotic period that will surely test a scout's eye?"I can tell you right now, I've watched a lot of the players for the 2021 draft, and do I want to see them more? Absolutely. And I know NHL teams do too," said former NHL GM Craig Button, who's led the draft coverage for years at the Canadian TV network TSN."But I have a lot of confidence in what I've seen up until this time because of watching them at 15, 16 years old. That's where NHL teams are going to have to evaluate their processes." Teams that have taken a longer view of a player’s development, he believes, won’t be as adrift as those who only rely on draft-year scouting.For the time being, adapting means managers and scouts retreating back to their home offices to pour over video. There was roughly half a year between the stoppage of the 2019-20 season and the 2020 draft, so the industry has already learned from being thrust into using technology for evaluation purposes at the end of the last scouting cycle.Every organization has a different philosophy, though, and some started the 2021 process better equipped to deal with this mess. For example, one of the amateur scouts on Mahoney's staff has long been tasked with covering pre-draft eligible players, giving the Capitals a head start on each incoming class. He'll be relied upon even more to provide baseline knowledge of the 2021 kids.Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. Bill Wippert / Getty ImagesThe Buffalo Sabres have one of the smallest scouting staffs in the league after enduring a staffing purge in June. Yet, director of scouting Jeremiah Crowe believes the current climate could actually be a sweet spot for the Sabres. The club wasn't afraid to dive deep into video and analytics to slot players on their 2020 draft board, and it sounds like they won't be shy to do so again in 2021."I do think this process might make us a little bit uniquely suited to be prepared to cover (the 2021) draft class, just because we've ensured that we have full coverage from a video perspective of levels all around the world," Crowe said.His staff will be ready to resume live viewing but can easily maintain their current operation for 2021.Both Armstrong and Crowe hinted at the cost-effectiveness of scouting through video. Perhaps this unexpected detour for the industry will change some minds about the validity of evaluating prospects via the camera's eye."It's been unique to tweak a process through video because when you're live-scouting, you go to a game and you fill out a game report. That's a snapshot, which is obviously of value," Crowe said. "But you can watch three games of players in a row (on video) and fill out one game report and get closer to reality in many cases, too, and be more efficient, and 'cover' more ground than you could if you were actually covering ground."Florida's Spencer Knight at the 2019 combine Bill Wippert / Getty ImagesAs noted by an amateur scout based in the U.S., this season will not only test the trust between area scouts and their superiors, it will also test teams' flexibility."Teams that collaborate well, work well with each other, have experience using video, those are the organizations that are going to have an advantage going into the 2021 draft," he said. "Teams that are dependent on seeing guys live, if that's the meat of your process, you're behind."The scout added, "Maybe this is the year we use more data, deploy our analytics people more, and give them a bigger seat at the table."Scouts have also relied on the opinions of people close to players, and knowing how to filter and interpret that information - separating the genuine analysis from the sales jobs - will be a key skill. Perhaps they can use this awkward period away from the rinks to make extra phone calls to a minor hockey coach or junior hockey trainer to dig into the player's history.The NHL scouting combine, which typically runs each May in Buffalo, was canceled for the 2020 draft. If the world is still grappling with the pandemic next spring, physical testing could again be a missing link in the evaluation process. Technology has allowed teams to replicate the combine's in-person interviews, and both teams and players seem OK with the new normal.Scouting for the 2021 draft will be about filling in the gaps created when the entire system was upended. Can a team learn more about a player's character or psychological makeup to shore up a report deemed incomplete due to a lack of live viewings? Can video and analytics identify underrated talents? How can an organization unearth a competitive advantage in undesirable circumstances?"There's no question it's going to be different, and we're going to have to find ways to get it done. Just like we did to get ready for this draft," Kealty noted.Said one Ontario-based scout: "The 2021 draft is going to be the strangest one."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury appears to have no issue with taking a bit of a back seat for the Golden Knights following the addition of Robin Lehner."Yes, I'm ready to share (the net). This year, I expect it will be a strange season. There will probably be several games in a few days, there will be a condensed schedule," Fleury told Le Journal de Montreal's Jean-Francois Chaumont, as translated by theScore. "I think not all teams will have the choice to use their two goaltenders. For this season, it'll be a good thing to count on two competitive goalies. It'll give our team a good chance."Vegas recently inked Lehner to a five-year, $25-million contract despite having Fleury signed for two more years at a cap hit of $7 million a season.The 35-year-old Fleury has been the face of the Vegas franchise since being picked from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the expansion draft. He appeared in 156 games over the past three seasons and helped guide Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season.During the 2019-20 campaign, Fleury appeared to show signs of fatigue and decline, posting his worst save percentage (.905) since 2009-10.When asked if he's more motivated to reclaim his No. 1 spot in the crease by the changing of the guard, Fleury indicated he's accepted the team's decision."Yes and no," Fleury said. "I want to play for me. I want to have fun. I don't have many years left in front of me. I know that Lehner is their goalie. I'm more likely to fill holes. They've placed their trust in Lehner. I don't think I can regain my No. 1 spot, but I'm still going to try to fight back for it. ..."We play for the same team and we are looking to do our jobs. He wants to play and so do I. We have the same mentality. But there are no bad looks between us. He's a good guy."After the Golden Knights acquired Lehner at last season's trade deadline, Lehner went on to start 16 games during the postseason, while Fleury only appeared in four.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Hoffman, one of the top unrestricted free agents left on the open market, is considering taking a one-year contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The flat salary cap - as well as the financial repercussions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - has drastically affected the free-agent market. There are numerous NHL teams up against the salary cap and others who may have internal budgets set by ownership due to the economic uncertainty.Taylor Hall, who was the top free-agent forward, took a one-year, $8-million contract with the Buffalo Sabres - likely with hopes of cashing in next offseason.Hoffman, who led all UFAs in points, may end up taking a similar route. The 30-year-old winger recorded 29 goals and 30 assists in 69 games with the Florida Panthers last season. Since becoming an NHL regular in 2014-15 with the Ottawa Senators, Hoffman has averaged 28 goals per season.Consistent snipers are generally coveted on the open market, but it's worth noting Hoffman's contributions on the ice don't extend far beyond his goal-scoring ability. His five-on-five expected goals for percentage has been below 50% in each of the past five seasons, coming in at 46.3 in 2019-20, according to Natural Stat Trick.HockeyViz's isolated five-on-five impact illustrates Hoffman's lack of play-driving ability over the past four seasons.Plus is good in offensive zone (top row), negative is good in the defensive zone (bottom row) hockeyviz.comHoffman's former Panthers teammate, Evgenii Dadonov, inked a three-year, $15-million contract with the Senators on Thursday. Florida still has over $11-million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, so perhaps a reunion is in order.In addition to Hoffman, Mikael Granlund, Anthony Duclair, Andreas Athanasiou, Erik Haula, Sami Vatanen, and Travis Hamonic headline the best remaining available UFAs.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A scary scene ended without injury in upstate New York.No one was hurt after an ice resurfacer caught fire at Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex in Rochester on Wednesday night, according to WHAM.

The New York Rangers agreed to terms with defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a new contract, the club announced Thursday.It's a two-year pact carrying an average annual value of $4.8 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.DeAngelo was a restricted free agent. He tied for third in goals among NHL blue-liners (15) and tied for fourth in points (53) at the position over 68 games in 2019-20.The 24-year-old had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 20.He spent the last three seasons with the Rangers after playing his rookie campaign with the Arizona Coyotes. New York acquired DeAngelo in a trade that sent Antti Raanta and Derek Stepan to the desert in June 2017.DeAngelo was coming off a one-year, $925,000 deal he signed with the Rangers in September 2019.New York also signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, a fellow RFA, earlier Thursday. The netminder's new contract is reportedly for two years at an AAV of $2,425,000.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no guarantee Zdeno Chara will be in gold and black if he decides to play in the NHL next season.Chara's agent said his client is "looking at all options" in free agency, TSN's Pierre LeBrun relayed on Thursday's "Insider Trading."LeBrun added the Boston Bruins are the front-runner, but other teams continue to call about the defenseman's services.Chara's decision on his future also apparently hinges on next season's format, which hasn't been determined. The league is targeting Jan. 1 as a start date.The 43-year-old has spent the last 14 campaigns in Boston, winning a Stanley Cup as the team's captain in 2011. The 6-foot-9 rearguard registered 14 points in 68 games last season while averaging 21:01 per contest.The Bruins' defense - specifically on the left side - could look awfully different if Chara doesn't return. Fellow lefty Torey Krug signed with the St. Louis Blues on the first day free agency opened, and no external replacements have been added on Boston's blue line.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, the club announced Thursday.It's a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $2.425 million, according to CapFriendly.Georgiev was a restricted free agent. He had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 31.The 24-year-old went 17-14-2 with a .910 save percentage and 0.12 goals saved above average over 34 games in 2019-20. He split time in the Rangers' crease with Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin, the latter of whom he's expected to back up next season.Georgiev is coming off his rookie pact, which carried an annual cap hit of $792,500. He's spent three NHL seasons with New York since the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017.He is the only Bulgarian-born player in NHL history.The Rangers bought out the final year of Lundqvist's deal on Sept. 30.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · Rich CluneToronto Marlies forward Rich Clune joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

The Ottawa Senators inked forward Evgenii Dadonov to a three-year deal worth $15 million, the team announced Thursday.The deal pays Dadonov $3.5 million in 2020-21, $5 million in 2021-22, and $6.5 million in the final season and includes a 10-team modified no-trade clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Dadonov spent the previous three seasons with the Florida Panthers and recorded 25 goals and 47 points over 69 games in 2019-20.The 5-foot-11 winger will help bolster Ottawa's offense, which ranked 25th last season. He's hit the 25-goal mark in three consecutive campaigns and notched a career-best 28 tallies and 70 points across 82 games in 2018-19.The 31-year-old also brings a veteran presence to a youthful club, as he's just one of three players on the Senators' active roster who's over the age of 29.Though Dadonov is best known for his offensive bona fides, the Russian talent has been a relatively reliable two-way player at even strength over the previous three campaigns, according to HockeyViz's isolated impact data. (Red/positive is good in the offensive zone, while blue/negative is good in the defensive zone.) The Senators still have $21.43 million in projected cap space next season and remain slightly below the lower limit of $60.2 million, according to CapFriendly. However, forwards Connor Brown, Rudolfs Balcers, and Chris Tierney are all restricted free agents in need of new deals.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton is staying sharp overseas while mulling his next move in the NHL.The 41-year-old has joined HC Davos of the National League in Switzerland and will suit up for the club Saturday.

One of the CHL's three leagues is temporarily suspending play in its primary province, while another is aiming to begin the season after the calendar flips.The QMJHL postponed games involving its East and West Division teams until Oct. 28, the league announced Wednesday. All Maritimes Division clubs will continue playing except for the Moncton Wildcats - though their weekend games are on hold until further notice - because local authorities declared that city an "orange zone" over the weekend, thereby prohibiting organized sports."With half of the Quebec-based teams located in red zones, it became almost impossible to operate in these circumstances," the league said in a statement.Meanwhile, the WHL said its 2020-21 campaign is scheduled to start Jan. 8, 2021, with all regular-season games taking place within the boundaries of each of its four divisions. The league previously stated in June it was targeting Oct. 2, but that was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The QMJHL began its 2020-21 season in early October. The OHL announced in September it was targeting Dec. 1 to start the next campaign.All three leagues postponed and ultimately canceled the remaining 2019-20 schedule following the outbreak in March.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What a difference a day makes.The Montreal Canadiens inked forward Brendan Gallagher to a six-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $6.5 million, the club announced Wednesday.On Tuesday, Gallagher's agent Gerry Johansson said negotiations between his client and the team had broken off.The two sides ironed things out following a miscommunication, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The Montreal Canadiens signed netminder Jake Allen to a two-year, $5.75-million extension, the team announced Wednesday.There's one year remaining on his current contract at $4.35 million. The 30-year-old's new deal will kick in prior to the 2021-22 campaign.The Canadiens acquired Allen from the St. Louis Blues in September for a pair of 2020 draft picks and a seventh-round selection in 2022.He posted personal bests in 2019-20 with a .927 save percentage and a 2.15 goals-against average over 24 appearances with the Blues.Starting Canadiens puck-stopper Carey Price is also under contract for six more seasons, with an annual cap hit of $10.5 million.Montreal has a league-leading $14.85 million invested in its goaltenders next season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators inked forward Nick Paul to a two-year deal worth $2.7 million, the club announced Wednesday.Paul had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Nov. 1.The 25-year-old recorded career bests with nine goals and 11 assists over 56 games with the Senators in 2019-20. The 6-foot-3 winger also ranked third on the club with 122 hits.Ottawa has three remaining restricted free agents from the team's 2019-20 roster - forwards Connor Brown, Rudolfs Balcers, and Chris Tierney.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk's confidence is sky-high as his club enters a new era."I truly believe that we are a Stanley Cup winner within four years," the Senators owner said, according to the Financial Post's Joe O'Connor. "It can happen any time, but within four years."Despite finishing in the bottom two of the league's standings over the past three seasons, there's promising talent on the horizon for the Senators.The club selected six players - including blue-chip prospects Tim Stuetzle and Jake Sanderson - in the first two rounds of the 2020 draft, and they'll add to a roster that already includes youngsters Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot.Ottawa also secured its future netminder, bringing in 26-year-old Matt Murray on a four-year, $25-million pact.With so much excitement, Melnyk hopes fans will get a chance to experience the club firsthand soon. The 61-year-old outlined a safe seating plan that would allow for 6,000 fans at the Canadian Tire Centre, and he poked fun at the franchise in the process."I can assure you that even the Ottawa Senators, who don’t have a great record of bringing fans in over the past few years, will have a sellout crowd," said Melnyk.The Senators ranked dead last in attendance in 2019-20, averaging just 12,618 fans per game, according to ESPN.The league is tentatively targeting a Jan. 1 start date for the 2020-21 campaign, and Melnyk believes there could be fans in the building by February.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes are exploring potential trade options for defenseman Jake Gardiner, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Hurricanes, who ranked 11th in the league with 3.19 goals per game in 2019-20, are looking to add a goal-scorer, Friedman adds.Gardiner, 30, has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $4.05 million. He inked a four-year pact with Carolina last offseason.The Hurricanes currently have six blue-liners, including Gardiner, under contract next season and will likely come to terms with restricted free-agent defenseman Haydn Fleury.Gardiner recorded four goals and 24 points while averaging a career-low 16:40 of ice time through 68 games with the Hurricanes in 2019-20.Carolina has roughly $5 million in projected cap space for next season, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Burke's shoulders are wrecked, the lifelong price he pays for suiting up at prop for Harvard Business School's men's rugby team in his twenties. Labrum and rotator-cuff troubles have forced him to undergo major surgeries, including in the spring of 2007. When he won the Stanley Cup that June as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, he struggled to lift the 35-pound silver grail overhead.That isn't to say Burke's physical limitations marred the moment. Besting the Ottawa Senators in a tidy five-game final was the crowning achievement of his NHL executive career, and he thinks those bellicose, supremely skilled Ducks - led by Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne, and young Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry - could have beaten pretty much any team that's clinched the Cup since.Winning at Anaheim's Honda Center felt like scaling Everest, the Toronto-based Sportsnet television analyst said in a phone interview Tuesday. He got to bask in the glory of victory for five days - tops - before flying to Montreal to try to re-sign star goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere.Burke lifts the Stanley Cup in 2007. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe compartmentalization Burke's old job demanded mirrors the burden Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois is bearing this month. Little more than a week passed between the Lightning's Sept. 28 coronation as champions and the NHL draft, and BriseBois had to plot all the while for free agency. Defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Zach Bogosian have already signed elsewhere. Restricted free agents Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak need new contracts. That Tyler Johnson just went unclaimed on waivers means BriseBois remains cap-crunched."I know exactly what Julien's going through. But I got on that plane (to meet with Giguere) with a pretty big smile on my face, too," Burke said. "He's got a lot of headaches, but he's got a ring. That changes everything in your life."Burke's own eventful hockey journey is the subject of his new memoir, "Burke's Law: A Life in Hockey," out in hardcover this week under Penguin Random House. His resume justifies the title: Burke is a Harvard Law grad who chose school over an attempt to crack the NHL as a scrappy right-winger. He scored in the 98th percentile of LSAT takers in 1976, he recalls in the book, after his college coach - one Lou Lamoriello, himself a decade out from ascending to an NHL front office - ordered him to take the entrance exam.Burke in the NHLTeamTitle1987-92Vancouver CanucksDirector of hockey operations1992-93Hartford WhalersGeneral manager1993-98NHLEVP and director of hockey operations1998-2004Vancouver CanucksGeneral manager2005-09Anaheim DucksGeneral manager2009-13Toronto Maple LeafsGeneral manager2013-18Calgary FlamesPresident of hockey operationsLots of hockey people, Lamoriello among them, have seen their share of seismic moments in the game. Burke's outspokenness is what's long distinguished him in the public eye, and it's easy to see how his flair for the candid might entice readers. Yet Burke did plenty in his own right to shape NHL history across his stints heading hockey operations for five franchises, episodes he and co-author Stephen Brunt narrate in revealing and colorful detail.Remembering his tenure as Pat Quinn's right-hand man with the Vancouver Canucks, Burke recounts how he could have brought Wayne Gretzky to Vancouver in 1988. How the Edmonton Oilers' $25-million asking price - plus two good players and three first-round picks - was prohibitively steep. How, in order to dispel rumors that he'd acquire No. 99, Burke leaked word to future TSN sportscaster Gord Miller - then a 23-year-old radio reporter in Alberta - that Gretzky would soon be bound for the Los Angeles Kings instead.Burke put his law degree to use the next year when he argued in court that Pavel Bure's Russian playing contract should be voided, paving the way for the dazzling 18-year-old to eventually join the Canucks - after Bure told the judge he'd pay part of the settlement himself. In 1999, then employed as Vancouver's GM, Burke negotiated three trades to select Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the second and third overall picks, respectively. Those were the last blockbuster offers any rival entertained from him on draft day.Burke (second from right) is shown with the Sedin twins at the 1999 draft. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesAs the NHL's lead disciplinarian in the 1990s, Burke helmed a fledgling department of player safety, the resources of which totaled four VCRs. (Kris Draper's family, irked by the four-game suspension Claude Lemieux received for an infamous playoff cheap shot, once mailed Burke a petition calling for his firing.) As Ducks GM in 2005, he endured history's most painful commercial break right before his club finished second in the Sidney Crosby draft lottery. Later, he orchestrated the Toronto Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel trade, built the U.S. men's team that claimed Olympic silver in Vancouver, and threatened to rent a barn in Lake Placid, New York, to fight Oilers executive Kevin Lowe over an offer sheet. (Commissioner Gary Bettman phoned within 10 minutes to threaten a suspension.)The memoir originated from a 100-page outline Burke penned following his departure from the Calgary Flames in 2018. Though Brunt handled the final draft - "Stephen didn't like any of my writing," Burke said. "He said I wrote like a lawyer, not like an author" - the principles and convictions that surface throughout the text are characteristically his. Even in non-pandemic seasons, Burke maintains, the schedule should be shorter than 82 games. Bettman is a brilliant and fearless leader. A team ought to play fast, tough, and to entertain. The end of a GM's first season in charge is a great time to make a big move, a la the Sedin and Kessel trades.In that spirit, here are some of Burke's unfiltered thoughts on pressing and evergreen hockey issues, which he shared with theScore.On what the league at large can learn from the 2020 postseason: "The final four teams, and most of the final eight teams, were all big. They're big and they're deep. You can say that Tampa beat (the) Dallas (Stars) because they were deeper. They banged Dallas up. They took out Roope Hintz with a legal hit. They took out Blake Comeau with a legal hit. (Tyler) Seguin was hurt. A lot of that was inflicted by the Tampa Bay Lightning."Burke in 2012. Dave Reginek / NHL / Getty ImagesOn the challenge of planning the 2020-21 season: "(The NHL gets) straight A's for what they did with the bubbles and pulling off the Stanley Cup championship. It was amazing. But this is still the same pandemic, the same set of problems, and they've got to pull another rabbit out of their hats. My prediction is we're not going to play 82 games. My prediction is we'll start in January with no fans, and then progress to socially distanced seating, and then wait and see what happens with a vaccine."On the broadcasting prowess of Kevin Bieksa, a 2001 draft pick of Burke's who contributed to Sportsnet's game coverage throughout the playoffs: "There are very few players who can explain technical situations that clearly. He's self-deprecating. He's funny. He's a star. He could work full-time in the media whenever he wants. Fortunately for people like me, he doesn't want to do it full-time right now."On the scrutiny that accompanies life with the Maple Leafs: "The issue in Toronto isn't that there's an overwhelmingly negative media here. In fact, most of the media are supportive. It's the size. You get 75 or 80 people in the room after a game, and if you lost - and we did a lot of losing when I was here - they're all picking up a different rock. Twenty rocks for Dion (Phaneuf), 20 rocks for me, 20 for the coach, 10 for Phil Kessel, 10 for Vesa Toskala. It's overwhelming negativity when you're losing just based on volume."

In 2020, the NHL offseason is on steroids. Last Tuesday and Wednesday saw the league hold a marathon virtual draft, then on Friday it opened the annual free-agency window. Transactions have since flooded in, headlined by a handful of notable trades and both Taylor Hall and Alex Pietrangelo joining new clubs. Here are seven thoughts about what's transpired across the NHL.Golden Knights roll out red carpet Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesThe cost of doing business constantly changes. In life and sport.The Tampa Bay Lightning - the most recent Stanley Cup champions - had Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow cost them two first-round picks at the trade deadline. The price tags were expensive, yet the payoff was worth it. Even now, Tampa is dealing with an unenviable salary cap crunch in the wake of going all in on a title run. Again, it's the cost of doing business.Really, though, who cares if you have a ring, right?That's basically the Vegas Golden Knights' mentality this offseason. On Monday, they landed an elite player in Alex Pietrangelo, inking the St. Louis Blues' outgoing captain to a seven-year, $61.6-million deal. In the process, general manager Kelly McCrimmon traded away two key contributors for pennies on the dollar. Pietrangelo, the all-situations defenseman, is in, but top-pairing blue-liner Nate Schmidt and No. 2 center Paul Stastny are out - for the measly return of a third-rounder, fourth-rounder, and Carl Dahlstrom.Despite the risk, it's not to say Vegas shouldn't have gone down this multi-layered path. McCrimmon should be applauded for once again being bold and bringing another high-profile talent to Vegas. And given how close this team has come to winning a Cup in its first three years of existence, there's no use in being conservative. Go nuts. Roll out the red carpet. Put all your chips in the middle of the table. Make the big splash while you can.Pietrangelo, who finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting this past season after recording 52 points in 70 games, addresses Vegas' only glaring weakness: the absence of a No. 1 defenseman. Now, after Shea Theodore's breakthrough in the 2020 playoffs, head coach Pete DeBoer might actually have a pair of back end studs at his disposal whenever the 2020-21 season begins.It won't be easy - winning a Cup in the salary cap era never is - but the Golden Knights have secured favorite status in the West by grasping the idea of calculated risk and acting upon it. Pietrangelo is the type of guy you do everything in your power, within reason, to acquire if he's made available.Viva Las Vegas.Not much to complain about Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesWhere are all the regrettable contracts?We knew the COVID-19 pandemic would affect free agency. There was no fighting that reality. But we didn't know to what degree until the deals started rolling in. And, based on the activity through four days, it's obvious teams aren't doling out $56 million over seven years for a Matt Duchene type, or $80 million over seven years for a Sergei Bobrovsky equivalent. Both money and term have been in short supply, and only a few deals are raising eyebrows.Matt Murray's and Josh Anderson's deals are probably the biggest "huh?" contracts of the past week or so. Murray, who the Ottawa Senators acquired during the draft and then signed to an extension a few days later, will earn $25 million over the next four years, while Anderson is due $38.7 million over the next seven seasons. You can talk yourself into the scenarios - Murray's paycheck helps the Senators reach the cap floor and Anderson is a rare power winger who can skate and score - but both deals have bust potential.The list more or less stops there, though, in terms of nonsensical, egregious behavior. Sure, there's nitpicking to be done on every GM's recent track record. (Why did the Edmonton Oilers re-sign Mike Smith? How did Jack Johnson receive another NHL deal? etc.) Even so, the usual silliness regarding contract terms has been minimized in this flat-cap, no-revenue climate.As of Monday night, and excluding Pietrangelo's unconfirmed contract structure, only three of the 46 unrestricted free agents who have signed pacts for $1 million or more so far received signing bonuses in their deals (Taylor Hall and Braden Holtby both have bonuses in Year 1; Jacob Markstrom has bonuses in Year 5 and Year 6), according to PuckPedia. Of those 46 agreements, 28 were multi-year deals, while just 12 of the 28 multi-year contracts were for three seasons or more.Another interesting development via PuckPedia: NHL clubs will dole out the lowest amount of compensation during the 2020-21 season in 21 of those 28 multi-year contracts. Put another way, teams backloaded many deals so they can pay players later, when presumably the league's economics return to normal or close to it, rather than sooner.Rookie GMs getting to work NHL Images / Getty ImagesThere have been four GM hirings in 2020: Bill Armstrong in Arizona, Kevyn Adams in Buffalo, Bill Zito in Florida, and Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey. Armstrong's Coyotes have been pretty tame overall, making only minor moves, with depth forward Johan Larsson probably counting as the club's biggest get. Meanwhile, the other rookie bosses seem to be operating freely.First of all, Adams deserves high praise for the sales job that landed the sought-after Hall. Nobody saw the one-year, $8-million deal coming, yet Adams made it happen. Props to him for, at the very least, injecting some positivity into the tortured Sabres fan base. (Nine years without the playoffs!)While neither the Panthers nor Devils can claim to have reeled in a marquee name like Hall, both Zito and Fitzgerald have undoubtedly improved their squads. It's quantity over quality for those franchises.On the heels of trading for power forward Patric Hornqvist from the Pittsburgh Penguins in late September, Zito acquired two players he knows intimately from his time with the Blue Jackets by signing defensive center Alex Wennberg and trading for shutdown defenseman Markus Nutivaara. Zito also nabbed bottom-six forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Carter Verhaeghe, as well as rough-and-tumble blue-liner Radko Gudas for three years on a reasonable $2.5-million cap hit.In short, Zito added depth to the one-line, one-pairing team he inherited.New Jersey has also done all right for itself thanks to Fitzgerald's opportunism. Goalie Corey Crawford, a career-long Blackhawk, is a Devil for the next two years because Fitzgerald swooped in after Chicago didn't table an extension to the two-time Stanley Cup winner. Fitzgerald also acquired Andreas Johnsson - buried on the Maple Leafs' depth chart - for fellow forward Joey Anderson because the GM pounced after Toronto realized it couldn't afford Johnsson. The Devils also got defenseman Ryan Murray for basically nothing - a fifth-round pick in 2021 - because Fitzgerald swooped in when Columbus sorely needed to clear cap space in order to chase UFAs and extend restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois.Not too shabby for a few GM newbies.Goalie carousel winners Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesHere's a non-chronological recap of the game of musical chairs goalies have played over the last while: Henrik Lundqvist left the Rangers for the Capitals; Holtby left the Capitals for the Canucks; Markstrom left the Canucks for the Flames; Cam Talbot left the Flames for the Wild; Thomas Greiss left the Islanders for the Red Wings; and Crawford left the Blackhawks for the Devils. Plus, the Wild shipped Devan Dubnyk to the Sharks while the Penguins dealt Matt Murray to the Senators.It's an exhausting list to absorb and, frankly, it's difficult to grade since there are plenty of fair contracts and nice player-team fits in the mix. Popping off the page in the right way, though, are two similar situations: Holtby's arrival in Vancouver, and Crawford's departure for New Jersey.Both goalies are past their prime; Holtby's 31 years old and Crawford's 35. But there's still tremendous value to be squeezed out of the tail end of their impressive careers. The Canucks are looking to make the transition from Markstrom to Thatcher Demko as painless as possible, and the Devils hope to do something similar with Mackenzie Blackwood. These well-liked veterans increase the probability of a smooth handoff, and they're no slouches themselves between the pipes.On another note, the Markstrom ordeal in Vancouver could have been a complete disaster for Canucks GM Jim Benning. He could have lost Markstrom and struck out on Plan B. However, Benning apparently played his cards correctly and now has a solid 1A-1B combo with Holtby on board.Suddenly sunny in Detroit Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesWhile being unveiled as the Detroit Red Wings' GM last April, Steve Yzerman repeatedly said, "There's a lot of work to be done." The 2019-20 season hammered that point home; the Wings lost 54 of 71 games and finished with a stunning minus-122 goal differential.Conversely, the past couple of weeks have been awfully encouraging for the franchise. First, the Yzerman-built Lightning won the Stanley Cup, which is a confidence booster. A few days later, Detroit received glowing reviews after taking Swedes Lucas Raymond and William Wallinder fourth and 32nd overall, respectively, in a 12-pick showing at the NHL draft.Yzerman then made some shrewd moves over the weekend, signing middle-six forwards Vladislav Namestnikov (two years, $2 million per season) and Bobby Ryan (one year, $1 million) to beef up the Wings' attack. The blue line has been reinforced, too, with UFAs Troy Stecher (two years, $1.7 million per season) and Jon Merrill (one year, $925,000) brought into the fold alongside veteran Marc Staal, who Detroit acquired via trade last month.Toss in new starting goalie Greiss (two years, $3.6 million per season) and re-signed forward Sam Gagner (one year, $850,000), and you have a ton of short-term, low-cost, low-profile pickups. That's exactly what the Wings need in abundance right now as the franchise evolves from a miserable tanking team to a semi-competitive rebuilding club.Former GM Ken Holland left Yzerman a mess to clean up - bloated contracts, a lackluster prospect pipeline, no hope - but the ex-captain is starting to leave his mark.Offer sheet watch continues Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesOh, to be a fly on the wall inside the Lightning's war room.Aside from swapping picks on draft day, GM Julien BriseBois has made just four NHL-level moves since winning the Cup on Sept. 28. He extended Mitchell Stephens, Patrick Maroon, and Luke Schenn, and placed Tyler Johnson on waivers in an attempt to shift money off the books.Otherwise, the Lightning - whose RFAs Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak could be spicy offer-sheet targets - have been inactive on the transaction front. Perhaps it's a game of chicken on BriseBois' part, where he's hoping some desperate GM calls him with a trade package that can free up more cap space for Tampa Bay. Or, perhaps, BriseBois is waiting for madness to ensue elsewhere.The Lightning are definitely the most vulnerable team, but it seemed like the New York Islanders also could've been susceptible to an offer sheet before they traded underrated blue-liner Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche. Stud center Mathew Barzal, top-four defenseman Ryan Pulock, and Toews were all eligible to sign one as RFAs. Now, with Toews gone, New York has $8.2 million in space for Barzal and Pulock, keeping most of the attention on Tampa Bay.On second thought, considering offer sheets are so rare - Sebastian Aho signing with the Montreal Canadiens last July was the first in six-plus years - and most NHL owners are cash poor anyway, which brave soul would dare toss an offer sheet at a player employed by a team run by legendary hockey executive Lou Lamoriello? Based on the respect the Isles GM commands across the league, the answer is, "Not many, if any."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added an experienced third-string goaltender to their ranks.The Leafs announced Tuesday they have signed free agent Aaron Dell to a one-year contract valued at $800,000.The 31-year-old Dell has played all 107 games of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, logging a 48-34-12 record with a .908 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against average.The addition of Dell comes a day after Toronto lost Kasimir Kaskisuo, who signed with the Nashville Predators.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton have "some mutual interest" in reaching an agreement, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.Discussions between the two sides are in the infancy stages, Mirtle notes.At least some of the Leafs' star players have reportedly tried to sell Thornton on the team's upside following the offseason additions of TJ Brodie, Zach Bogosian, Wayne Simmonds, and Jimmy Vesey.Thornton, 41, is coming off his worst statistical output since he was 18 years old, as he tallied 31 points in 70 games with the San Jose Sharks. Though Thornton had hoped for a move from the Sharks to a contender at the trade deadline, nothing materialized.The Leafs reportedly tried to persuade Thornton to come to Toronto in the 2017 offseason when the club signed Patrick Marleau, but Jumbo Joe re-signed in San Jose.The addition of Thornton would give the Leafs some added depth down the middle of the ice and potentially allow Alexander Kerfoot to play on the wing in the top six instead of centering the third line.Thornton, who sits 14th on the NHL's all-time points list, would undoubtedly provide some quality veteran leadership, too.The Leafs are tight against the cap, but they could likely afford Thornton without moving anyone off their roster if he's willing to take $1 million or less.The St. Thomas, Ontario, native is still without a Stanley Cup in his decorated career. Toronto has not won a playoff series since 2004, however.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins may be without two of the league's best players to begin next season.Brad Marchand underwent a sports hernia repair Sept. 14 that is expected to keep him out four months from the surgery date, the team announced Tuesday.David Pastrnak, meanwhile, underwent a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair Sept. 16. The recovery time is approximately five months from the date of the procedure.The NHL is hoping to start next season Jan. 1.Marchand and Pastrnak make up two-thirds of The Perfection Line alongside Patrice Bergeron. Pasta tied for the league lead with 48 goals last season, and his 95 points were a career high. Marchand collected at least 85 points for the fourth straight season, racking up 87 in 70 games in 2019-20.The Bruins have survived major injuries in the past. In 2018-19 they were without Pastrnak, Bergeron, Torey Krug - who left via free agency this offseason - Jake DeBrusk, and Charlie McAvoy for a considerable amount of time, but the team still finished second in the Atlantic Division with 107 points.Boston has been relatively quiet this offseason. Their only notable acquisition has been five-time 20-goal scorer Craig Smith, who may be asked to play up the lineup to begin next season without Pastrnak and Marchand.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Contract negotiations between the Montreal Canadiens and forward Brendan Gallagher have broken off, Gallagher's agent Gerry Johannson confirmed Tuesday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Gallagher, 28, has one year remaining at $3.75 million on his current deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 campaign.The pesky winger is due for a pay raise after playing some of his best hockey in recent years. He reached the 30-goal mark in each of the previous two campaigns and was on pace to do so over 82 games again in 2019-20.Gallagher co-led the Canadiens with 22 goals and added 21 assists while averaging 16:55 in ice time over 59 games this season. He added four points in nine playoff contests.Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has made several key changes to the club's forward group this offseason. He dealt Max Domi to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Josh Anderson and signed winger Tyler Toffoli to a four-year, $17-million deal Monday.Montreal currently has just five forwards under contract beyond the 2020-21 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators blue-chip prospect Tim Stuetzle requires surgery after suffering a fractured hand in Germany, and he'll remain sidelined for six-to-eight weeks, the team announced Tuesday.Stuetzle, 18, was the top-ranked European skater following last season, and Ottawa selected him third overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.The injury occurred when Stuetzle collided awkwardly with another player during practice."I wasn’t there, but according to the coach Pavel Gross when I talked to him after he said it was a drill they had and two players bumped into each other," said Mannheim GM Jan-Axel Alavaara, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch."It was Tim Stuetzle and another player, and he was cutting his lane a little bit, and it wasn’t a hard check or anything," Alavaara added. "They bumped into each other and it was an unlucky angle."The 6-foot-1 forward was the youngest player in the DEL last season and recorded seven goals and 34 points over 41 contests.Stuetzle also represented Germany at the 2020 world juniors, contributing five assists over five games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · Nick KypreosEx-NHLer and former Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

The San Jose Sharks signed veteran forward Patrick Marleau to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.Marleau's deal is worth $700,000, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The 41-year-old will skate in his 23rd NHL season and is the oldest player currently under contract, with Joe Thornton and Zdeno Chara remaining free agents.Marleau ranks fifth on the NHL's regular-season games played list (1,723) and is 44 appearances shy of tying Gordie Howe's record of 1,767.San Jose dealt Marleau to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline last February. He tallied 11 goals and 11 assists across 66 games between the two clubs in 2019-20.Marleau is the Sharks' franchise leader in games played (1,551) goals (518), and points (1,102).The Sharks also signed free-agent forward Matt Nieto to a one-year deal Tuesday. San Jose drafted the 27-year-old in 2011 and he spent parts of his first four NHL seasons with the squad.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury isn't going anywhere.Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the team won't be trading the veteran netminder, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The club will roll with the tandem of Fleury and Robin Lehner next season.Fleury started to show signs of decline at age 35 last year. He sported a 2.77 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage (his worst in a decade) in 49 games during the 2019-20 campaign.He's signed for two more seasons with an annual cap hit of $7 million, which would be difficult to move in the flat cap world. Furthermore, most goaltender-needy teams already addressed their issues between the pipes during free agency.Vegas traded for Lehner at the deadline and he became their primary goaltender in the playoffs, starting 16 games compared to Fleury's four. Lehner, 29, then signed a five-year, $25-million contract prior to free agency, which created rumors that Fleury could potentially be on his way out.McCrimmon also added Lehner will undergo a cleanup surgery on his shoulder this week, but the goaltender will be ready for training camp.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights traded defenseman Nate Schmidt to the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in 2022, the Canucks announced Monday.The Golden Knights needed to clear cap room after signing Alex Pietrangelo, and Schmidt carries a $5.95-million cap hit for the next five seasons. The club is still $974,000 above the regular-season salary cap, though, according to CapFriendly. Teams are allowed to exceed the cap by 10% in the offseason.Vancouver lost right-handed defensemen Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher in free agency this offseason. Schmidt is left-handed but he primarily played on the right side during his Vegas tenure.Schmidt was plucked by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft from the Washington Capitals. He served as a top-four defenseman for the Knights, tallying at least 30 points each year.The 29-year-old is an exceptional skater and posted an expected goals for percentage of at least 51% in all three seasons with Vegas despite being deployed in more of a defensive role, per Natural Stat Trick.The Canucks' blue line projects to look something like this, pending further moves:LDRDQuinn HughesTyler MyersAlex EdlerNate SchmidtOlli JuoleviJordie BennVancouver now has just under $2 million in projected cap space and still has to re-sign RFAs Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights landed star free-agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on a seven-year contract carrying an average annual value of $8.8 million, the team announced Monday.Pietrangelo's contract carries a full no-movement clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 30-year-old was considered the top UFA on the open market. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last season after racking up 52 points in 70 games with the St. Louis Blues.Since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2010-11, Pietrangelo has averaged 50 points per 82 games. He's been durable, too, playing at least 70 contests per season (excluding the shortened 2012-13 campaign).The 6-foot-3 rearguard is also a proven winner. He captained the Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019, won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2014, a World Cup title in 2016, and a world junior gold in 2009.Pietrangelo's $8.8-million annual cap hit will be the fifth-highest among NHL defensemen, trailing only Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Roman Josi, and P.K. Subban.The Blues offered Pietrangelo an eight-year deal with an $8-million cap hit prior to free agency, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford. St. Louis pivoted to Torey Krug once free agency opened, signing the former Boston Bruins defenseman for seven years with a $6.5-million AAV.The Golden Knights' front office has been aggressive pursuing available high-end players since the franchise joined the league. Since the 2018 offseason, the team has landed Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, and Robin Lehner via trade, and signed them all to long-term extensions. They were also reportedly in the Karlsson sweepstakes before the San Jose Sharks landed the former Norris winner.Vegas traded Nate Schmidt to the Vancouver Canucks in order to clear the cap space to sign Pietrangelo.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have traded defenseman Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche for a pair of second-round picks, the team announced Monday.The Avs had an opening on their blue line after they shipped rearguard Nikita Zadorov to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Brandon Saad on Saturday.Toews, who's currently a restricted free agent, recorded 28 points in 68 games while averaging 20:31 per contest with the Isles last season. The 26-year-old has posted great advanced metrics while playing top-four minutes on one of the league's best defensive teams, according to HockeyViz's five-on-five isolated impact:Positive is good in the offensive zone (top), negative is good in the defensive zone (bottom) hockeyviz.comThe Avalanche's defense projects to look very strong on paper, per Daily Faceoff. dailyfaceoff.comThe Avs still have promising defensive prospects Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins in their system, too.Colorado has $6.8 million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly. In addition to Toews, the Avs have two other RFAs - Tyson Jost and Vladislav Kamenev - left to re-sign.The Islanders, meanwhile, may not have been able to afford Toews. The team has $8.9 million in projected cap space but still needs to sign key RFAs Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders agreed to terms with goaltender Cory Schneider on a one-year deal Monday, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.The contract will be worth $700,000, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The New Jersey Devils recently bought out the final two years of Schneider's deal. The 34-year-old split time during the 2019-20 season between the Devils and the AHL. He finished with a .887 save percentage and a 3.53 goals-against average in 13 NHL games.The Islanders already have goaltenders Semyon Varlamov and rookie Ilya Sorokin under contract for 2020-21. The 24-year-old Sorokin signed with the Islanders in April and agreed to join the team for the upcoming season after spending the last eight seasons in the KHL.Schneider has appeared in 409 career games split between the Vancouver Canucks and the Devils. He's earned a 170-159-58 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators have added some depth up front, signing veteran pivot Brad Richardson to a one-year, $1-million agreement, the team announced Monday.Richardson, 35, recorded six goals and five assists in 59 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season.Across 15 NHL campaigns, Richardson has played 808 career games between the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Coyotes. He won a Stanley Cup with L.A. in 2012.Richardson potted a career-high 19 goals with the Coyotes in 2018-19. He's known more for his penalty-killing ability, though. Richardson finished fifth in the league with six short-handed points in 2018-19, and his 15 career short-handed goals rank 11th among active skaters.He's been one of the better faceoff artists in the league throughout his career, owning a lifetime 53% success rate on draws.Nashville's penalty kill ranked 29th in the league last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed free-agent blue-liner Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $3-million contract, the team announced Monday.Gustafsson had a monster 17-goal, 60-point campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018-19. However, he came down to earth last season and was traded to the Calgary Flames at the 2020 deadline for a third-round pick. He finished the campaign with 29 points in 66 games split between the two teams.The 28-year-old Swede is gifted offensively but he's not known for his ability to defend.The Flyers lost reliable defenseman Matt Niskanen this offseason due to a surprise retirement.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall could find himself in Buffalo for longer than the one-year deal he signed on Sunday if things go according to his plan."Very interested," Hall said during his introductory meeting on Monday about his openness to staying in Buffalo long-term. "It's close to home, it's close to my parents, it's a place that I could see myself for a while. They have elite pieces."Hockey is a very interesting thing. Three years ago nobody thought that Colorado would be the No. 1 destination for guys to go to and things can happen, things can turn pretty quick, especially if you have elite pieces like the Sabres do. And I really believe that."Hall surprisingly signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Sabres as one of the league's most sought-after free agents. The left-winger confirmed he left some multi-year deals from other teams on the table and said he was interested in a one-year or a six-to-seven-year deal. He added that Buffalo only offered him a one- or two-year deal."To start off with, we knew it was going to be a unique marketplace coming into free agency, and once free agency started I think we were made aware pretty quickly at how much things have changed and how COVID had affected a lot of different things, so it kind of changed our decision making from there," Hall said.Hall is joining a young Sabres team that has a lot of potential, with dynamic superstar Jack Eichel leading the way. Buffalo also has a former No. 1 pick in defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and goalscorers such as Victor Olofsson and Jeff Skinner on the roster.The 28-year-old has pointed to the Sabres' pieces and recent play as an optimistic sign and hopes his presence can elevate the team to contender status. When asked if Eichel's presence was a partial reason he chose Buffalo, Hall was quick to say yes."There's no doubt about it that him being there is a big reason why I chose Buffalo, he's an amazing hockey player," Hall said. "I think that he took a great step last year. Now it's about if we can find a way to get him in the playoffs and really produce on a stage that I feel that he deserves."When you look past some of the smoke and some of the stuff that's happened to the Sabres the last couple of years, under the hood there's some really good pieces and I really believe that and that's where my mind was the last couple of days thinking about Buffalo."The 2018 Hart Trophy winner scored 16 goals and added 36 assists in 65 games last season between the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes. He's amassed 218 goals and 345 assists in 627 games in his career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Tyler Toffoli to a four-year contract carrying an average annual value of $4.25 million, the team announced Monday.Toffoli appeared in 68 games last campaign with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. After Vancouver acquired him at the trade deadline, the 28-year-old compiled six goals and four assists in 10 games. He recorded 24 goals and 20 assists on the season.The Los Angeles Kings originally chose the winger in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2014 and amassed 139 goals with 151 assists in 515 games during his eight-season stint there.Signing Toffoli marks Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin's second big move during free agency. After trading Max Domi to acquire Josh Anderson, the Canadiens inked Anderson to a seven-year, $38.5-million deal.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche re-signed defenseman Ryan Graves to a three-year contract, general manager Joe Sakic announced Monday, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.The deal reportedly carries an average annual value of $3.16 million, according to Clark.The 25-year-old Graves was a pending restricted free agent. In 2019-20, his first full season in the NHL, he recorded nine goals and added 17 assists. The blue-liner averaged 18:57 minutes of ice time per game and his plus-40 rating led the entire league.Graves spent four seasons in the AHL before making his NHL debut with the Avalanche in 2018-19. In 95 career NHL games, he has 12 goals and 19 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Mattias Janmark to a one-year contract valued at $2.25 million, the team announced Monday.The 27-year-old skated in 62 games with the Dallas Stars last season, where he recorded six goals and added 15 assists. Janmark averaged 14:37 minutes of ice time per game and was a key penalty killer for the Stars throughout the season.Janmark - originally selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft - has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars. He's appeared in 297 games over a span of four seasons, tallying 46 goals and 63 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To where? For how long? For how much?Taylor Hall's decision to sign a one-year, $8-million contract with the lowly Buffalo Sabres on Sunday evening stunned the hockey world from so many different angles. Check that - just about every angle.But it's true. Hall, a game-changing left-winger and the hottest commodity on the 2020 free-agent forward market, is willingly joining the team with the league's longest active playoff drought after competing in only 14 postseason games through the first 10 years of his NHL career. To be frank, Hall is betting on himself, agreeing to a show-me contract amid a pandemic and a flat salary cap.This deal is also the ultimate sign of the times, a microcosm of the economic uncertainty surrounding the sport and the NHL in the face of COVID-19. There's no money in the system right now - Hall probably would have commanded $9 million to $10 million annually over five, six, or seven years in normal times - and nobody knows when the 2020-21 season will begin. How long revenues will sag and how hockey will look next offseason are puzzles themselves. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThis environment has created a perfect storm for a player of Hall's caliber - the 2018 Hart Trophy winner, a three-time all-star, and the 2010 first overall pick - to do something unexpected and bold. Just two months ago, Hall told reporters that, "Honestly, it's probably all winning" when asked what was most important to him as he eyed free agency for the first time in his career.But winning and the Sabres are not synonymous whatsoever. So that line of thinking carries no weight. Beneath the surface, though, there is a case to be made for Hall's decision, even with the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators among the other teams expressing interest in signing him.Most importantly, Jack Eichel, a top-10 center in the NHL every day of the week, will be his running mate. One of Buffalo's top in-house wingers, whether it's Jeff Skinner, Victor Olofsson, or Sam Reinhart, will likely line up on the right side of Eichel with Hall on the left flank. That's a potent top line, to say the least. And keep in mind: Hall has never played alongside a player as talented as Eichel for any great length of time. There is a huge draw there.There's also the very real possibility of frequently sharing the ice with dynamic defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who, while not praised to the level of Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, or Miro Heiskanen, is almost certainly a Norris Trophy contender in waiting. What's more, Eric Staal, acquired by Sabres GM Kevyn Adams in a September trade with the Minnesota Wild, is a quality second-line center; teams tempted to focus all of their energy on shutting down Hall and the rest of the big guns better think twice.In terms of the Sabres' pitch, the fact that Hall and Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger got along wonderfully during their brief time together with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012-13 is an easy add-on to the Eichel factor. Krueger seems genuinely beloved by players of all kinds, and Hall is clearly enamored. Krueger has a penchant for connecting with stars, in particular.So put yourself in Hall's shoes for a moment. Sure, Buffalo has struggled to turn the corner on its seemingly endless rebuild. But the high-end pieces are there. And what's so risky about a one-year commitment? If things go poorly, there's no shame in heading back to free agency in 2021. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIf Hall is ultimately playing the long game here - which he certainly seems to be - there are worse places to land. He's not coming off a particularly strong year, recording a ho-hum 52 points in 65 games in a tumultuous season split between the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes. The native of Calgary needs to reboot his value, and riding shotgun beside Eichel is a quick, playmaking winger's dream. The duo will be a nightmare to defend, especially in transition and on the power play.Hall, who's listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, turns 29 in November. He's no longer young by NHL standards, and he's endured his fair share of injury troubles through stops in Edmonton, New Jersey, and Arizona. He's had two seasons with 80 points or more, but he's in no way cemented himself as a guaranteed, knock-em-dead producer every single time he's on the ice.In other words, there is a greater-than-zero-percent chance he doesn't enjoy a monster season in Buffalo. Even though the risk is low, he's still taking a leap of faith because the Sabres have been so dysfunctional for so long. As of this writing, Hall had not spoken publicly about the decision. Perhaps he can fill in a few blanks for us, such as:To Buffalo? For one year? For $8 million?John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Prized free-agent forward Taylor Hall signed a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Sunday.Hall, 28, tallied 16 goals and 52 points in 65 games split between the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes last season. It was considered a down year by his standards after he racked up 130 points in 109 games over the previous two campaigns.The 2018 Hart Trophy winner will now play alongside superstar center Jack Eichel, and potentially rebuild his value before hitting the free-agent market again next year.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed left winger Jimmy Vesey to a one-year deal worth $900,000, the team announced Sunday.Vesey was highly touted coming out of college, winning the Hobey Baker Award in 2016 as the NCAA's top player. He recorded 56 goals and 48 assists in 70 games across his final two seasons at Harvard.His NCAA success hasn't translated to the pros, though. The 27-year-old has tallied 59 goals and 51 assists in 304 career NHL games with the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres.Vesey set career highs with 17 goals and 35 points in 2018-19 with the Rangers, but plummeted to career lows in 2019-20 with the Sabres, notching nine goals and 20 points in 64 games.At 6-foot-3 and 199 pounds, Vesey will bring some size to Toronto's forward group. There's an opening at left wing on the Leafs' depth chart after Andreas Johnsson was flipped to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's unrestricted free-agent pool could pack some superstar punch in all three position groups.Dustin Byfuglien isn't included because he's reportedly unlikely to continue playing.With that in mind, let's take a look at the top players who remain available following Friday's frenzy.All ages are as of January 1, 2021​​​​

The St. Louis Blues have added some grit up front, signing forward Kyle Clifford to a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $1 million, the team announced.Clifford spent last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, where he tallied seven goals, 10 assists, and 133 hits in 69 games and averaged 11:11 per contest. Although the left-winger is not offensively gifted, he's posted positive possession numbers throughout his career.“I pride myself on being hard to play against and not taking any nights off," Clifford said. "That goes with the whole Blues identity, right through the lineup, that’s how they play.“It fits my game perfectly," he added.The 29-year-old won two Stanley Cups with the Kings. He'll look to help improve St. Louis' forecheck in a bottom-six role.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks' veteran core - Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook - is fed up with the organization's early offseason moves, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus."They're pissed. The core guys have had enough," one source said.Toews told Lazerus the club's offseason transactions don't align with his desire to win."Bottom line is, I want to win," Toews said. "The expectation for the other leaders on this team and myself is to come ready to training camp every year to be a playoff team. We prepare ourselves to win a Cup for our fans."I've never been told that we were going through a rebuild. That has never been communicated to me, for that matter. A lot of this comes as a shock because it's a completely different direction than we expected."This offseason, the Blackhawks have let longtime goaltender Corey Crawford walk in free agency, traded forward Brandon Saad, and failed to extend qualifying offers to reliable depth pieces in Drake Caggiula and Slater Koekkoek.Each of those moves made Chicago's roster weaker on paper. They also come just months after the 12th-seeded Blackhawks eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifying round to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year contract, the team announced Sunday.The contract carries an average annual value of $2 million, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Red Wings have already signed Bobby Ryan, Troy Stecher, Jon Merrill, and Thomas Greiss since the opening of the free agency period on Friday. General manager Steve Yzerman previously drafted Namestnikov in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft with the Tampa Bay Lightning.The 27-year-old appeared in 65 games last season with the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche. He totaled 17 goals and 14 assists.Namestnikov has played in 425 career games, amassing 83 goals and 106 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have signed free-agent defenseman Derek Forbort to a one-year, $1-million contract, the team announced Sunday.Forbort spent last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames. He appeared in 20 games and notched one assist while logging just under 18 minutes per contest.The Jets have made defensive depth a priority this offseason. On top of signing Forbort, the club also brought back Dylan DeMelo, Nathan Beaulieu, and Luca Sbisa.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Radek Faksa to a five-year contract carrying an average annual value of $3.25 million, the team announced Sunday.The 26-year-old was a pending restricted free agent."Radek has developed into an extremely detailed player and offers our team a mix of size, speed, and physicality," Dallas general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. "He plays big minutes on both special teams units for us, while often times playing against the opposing team's best players at even strength. We're thrilled to have him in place for the next five seasons as he is a great teammate and a big part of the Dallas Stars culture."Faksa appeared in 66 games with the Stars during the 2019-20 season, recording 11 goals and nine assists. He helped Dallas in all situations, averaging 15:53 of ice time per game, 2:17 with the penalty-kill unit, and 1:55 on the power play.He's skated in 351 career games, totaling 60 goals and 68 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres added more depth down the middle, signing center Cody Eakin to a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2.25 million, the team announced Sunday.New Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams already traded for Eric Staal earlier in the offseason to address the team's deficiencies down the middle. Eakin projects to serve as the club's third-line center behind Jack Eichel and Staal.The moves give the Sabres the flexibility to play young pivots Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens on the wing - if they so desire - where there's less defensive responsibility.Eakin is coming off a down year offensively with just five goals and 10 assists in 49 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights. But the 28-year-old averaged 15 goals and 17 assists per season in the six prior campaigns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Tyson Barrie to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million, the team announced Saturday.Barrie was dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the Toronto Maple Leafs last offseason. He struggled under Mike Babcock, but was more productive when the club replaced the veteran coach with Sheldon Keefe, ultimately finishing with 39 points in 70 games.It was a down year compared to some of his previous seasons, but despite the dip in points, Barrie turned down at least one offer of at least $6 million per season, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Barrie should be able to mesh with Edmonton's high-octane offense, and perhaps quarterback the top power play with Oscar Klefbom potentially facing a lengthy injury absence.Edmonton made a pair of signings when free agency opened Friday, bringing in Kyle Turris and keeping Tyler Ennis in the fold.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks signed forward Kevin Labanc to a new four-year contract, the team announced Saturday.The deal carries an average annual value of $4.72 million, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports."Kevin brings a rare level of offensive skill and creativity to our lineup and has established himself as a top-six forward in our league," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said."His Game 7 playoff performance last season is one of the most iconic moments in Sharks history and is a perfect example of the impact he can have on a hockey game. Kevin has shown a consistent ability to perform at a high level in both the regular season and the playoffs, and he will be a big part of our club in the coming years."Labanc, 24, was due for a pay raise after signing a team-friendly one-year, $1-million pact with the Sharks last offseason despite racking up a career-best 17 goals and 56 points through 82 games in 2018-19.The 5-foot-11 winger followed up that breakout campaign with 14 goals and 19 assists across 70 games this past season.With Labanc signed, the Sharks have $2.99 million in projected cap space with a 22-man roster and no outstanding restricted free agents.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded forward Brandon Saad and prospect Dennis Gilbert to the Colorado Avalanche for defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm, the team announced Saturday.The Blackhawks are also reportedly retaining $1 million on Saad's contract, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers. He's entering the final year of his deal that contains a $6-million cap hit.Saad, a five-time 20-plus-goal scorer, potted 21 goals and added 12 helpers in 58 games this past season. The 27-year-old is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with 81 career playoff games under his belt. He's also proven to be an effective play-driver, as HockeyViz's five-on-five isolated impact shows:Red is good in the offensive zone (top row), blue is good in the defensive zone (bottom) hockeyviz.comZadorov fills a need on Chicago's blue line after the team traded Olli Maatta to the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the offseason. He's physically imposing at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, and Zadorov racked up 175 hits last season. The 25-year-old will earn $3.2 million next campaign after signing his qualifying offer.The Blackhawks hold a projected $8.4 million in cap space with one restricted free agent (Dylan Strome) left to sign, according to CapFriendly. Chicago's goaltending depth chart also severely lacks experience, as Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban headline the group after the club let Corey Crawford walk.Meanwhile, Gilbert was Chicago's third-round pick in 2015. The 23-year-old skated in 21 games with the Blackhawks this season, spending an additional 30 in the AHL.Lindholm was Colorado's fifth-round pick in 2014. The 25-year-old blue-liner has tallied five assists in 66 career games across four seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Andreas Johnsson to the New Jersey Devils for Joey Anderson, the team announced.The Maple Leafs needed to clear cap space after signing TJ Brodie on Friday, and Johnsson was the odd man out. He's inked for three more years with an annual cap hit of $3.4 million, according to CapFriendly.Johnsson, 25, racked up 20 goals and 23 assists in 2018-19, finishing eighth in Calder Trophy voting. He took a step back during an injury-riddled 2019-20 campaign, though, recording eight goals and 13 assists in 43 games.Anderson, the Devils' third-round pick in 2016, has tallied 13 points in 52 career NHL games. The 22-year-old is currently a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.