The Winnipeg Jets are reuniting with one of their former centers, as the club acquired Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights for defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2022, the team announced Friday.There's no salary retention in the deal, meaning the Jets will take on all of Stastny's $6.5-million cap hit, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. Stastny has one season remaining on his current deal.The Jets originally landed Stastny in a swap with the St. Louis Blues at the 2018 trade deadline. He clicked with star wingers Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers while helping Winnipeg reach the Western Conference Final, but the Golden Knights eliminated the Jets in that series.The forward then signed with Vegas on the first day of free agency after that season and has played for the Golden Knights ever since.Winnipeg has a need up the middle due to uncertainty about Bryan Little's future.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Victor Mete to a one-year contract worth $735,000, the team announced Friday.Mete was a restricted free agent after finishing his entry-level contract this past season.The 22-year-old registered 11 points in 51 regular-season games before the pause, logging 16 minutes per night.Mete was the Habs' fourth-round pick in 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres and forward Zemgus Girgensons have agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.2 million, the team announced Friday.Girgensons was a pending unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old produced 12 goals and seven assists over 69 games in 2019-20.He's failed to match the career highs of 15 goals and 30 points he posted in 2014-15; he was named an All-Star that season thanks in large part to a slew of votes from his native Latvia.Girgensons earned $1.6 million on a one-year pact he inked in July 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks will likely hang on to Malcolm Subban after all.Despite not giving him a qualifying offer before Wednesday's deadline, the team is expected to re-sign the goaltender over the next few days, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Subban became a pending unrestricted free agent after the Blackhawks' decision Wednesday. He would have remained an RFA had Chicago qualified him.The netminder suited up for one game with the Blackhawks this past season after the Vegas Golden Knights traded him to Chicago as part of the package that netted them Robin Lehner.Subban will turn 27 in December. He spent parts of the last three seasons in a backup role with the Golden Knights after beginning his career with the Boston Bruins, who drafted him 24th overall in 2012.Collin Delia, another 26-year-old puck-stopper, is also in the Blackhawks organization. He spent all of 2019-20 in the AHL, but Delia played 18 NHL contests over the previous two campaigns.Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said earlier Thursday that the club won't retain Corey Crawford. The veteran goalie played 13 seasons with the Blackhawks, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets dealt defenseman Ryan Murray to the New Jersey Devils for a 2021 fifth-round selection, the clubs announced Thursday.Murray was limited to 27 games in 2019-20. Injuries have been an issue throughout his career, as he suited up for only 56 contests the season prior and 44 in 2017-18. The 27-year-old has played an average of just 50 NHL games each season over his seven campaigns.Columbus gained some flexibility with a trio of moves Thursday.

The Montreal Canadiens inked newly acquired forward Josh Anderson to a seven-year contract carrying an average annual value of $5.5 million, the club announced Thursday.Anderson's pact includes a no-trade clause and breaks down as follows, according to TSN's Darren Dreger:YearSalary1$4M2$4M3$7M4$8M5$7M6$5M7$3.5MThe Canadiens will pay Anderson entirely in salary as no signing bonuses are included, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Montreal landed him in the trade that sent Max Domi and a third-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.Anderson was a pending restricted free agent coming off a three-year deal worth $1.85 million per season. The 26-year-old posted only one goal and three assists over 26 games in 2019-20 after missing much of the campaign due to injury.He collected 27 goals and 47 points while playing all 82 contests for Columbus in 2018-19, and he buried 19 goals across only 63 games one season prior. Anderson notched 17 goals in 78 contests while averaging only 12 minutes of ice time during his first full NHL campaign in 2016-17.The Blue Jackets selected the 6-foot-3, 222-pound winger 95th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The defending Stanley Cup champions find themselves in quite a bind this offseason.The Tampa Bay Lightning have under $5 million in projected salary-cap space with three key restricted free agents in need of new contracts: Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak.Keeping all three RFAs will be no easy task. Though teams can exceed the cap by 10% in the offseason, general manager Julien BriseBois must shed significant salary before he can hand out contracts to his three important youngsters. If he doesn't lock them into new deals before free agency opens Friday at noon ET, they'll be free to sign offer sheets from cap-rich teams, putting BriseBois in a pickle.Offer sheets are extremely rare - mainly because it typically takes an absurd proposal to keep an RFA's team from matching. But that's not the case this offseason. Another club could potentially sign Cirelli, Sergachev, or Cernak to a reasonable offer sheet that still leaves BriseBois unable to match.What will the RFAs cost? Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyBefore we dive into the deals the Lightning's RFAs could command, it's important to keep offer-sheet compensation in mind:

One month after Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney gave Tuukka Rask a vote of confidence, the goaltender says he doesn't expect to be traded and wouldn't want to play elsewhere.“I think Sweeney came out and said that’s not going to happen,” Rask told the Boston Herald's Steve Conroy. “I don’t want to play for anybody else but the Bruins.”Sweeney said in September that he had "zero reservations about where Tuukka will be both on and off the ice for us," whenever the 2020-21 season begins.Rask doesn't believe trading him is necessary.“I don’t see any reason for that,” he said. “I’ve been here for a long time and the organization’s been so great for me. We’ve built our home in Boston and we call this home.""... I think where my head’s at is focusing on next year and then hopefully a couple of more years after that and then pass the torch for the next guy after that. I want to help the organization as much as I can,” the veteran continued.The 33-year-old has played his entire 13-year career with Boston, establishing himself as one of the league's premier goalies in the process. Rask is entering the final campaign of the eight-year extension he inked in 2013, which carries a $7-million cap hit.Bruins backup Jaroslav Halak is also signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $2.25 million. Both goalies would be unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their deals.Rask opted out of the NHL's return to play in August, citing the need to be with his family. Bruins president Cam Neely later revealed the netminder left the bubble to deal with a family emergency.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks traded rugged rearguard Erik Gudbranson to the Ottawa Senators for a 2021 5th-round pick, the Sens announced Thursday.The Ottawa, Ontario native has now been dealt three times in the last year and a half. In February 2019 the Vancouver Canucks traded Gudbranson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tanner Pearson, and the Pens shipped the 28-year-old to Anaheim for Andreas Martinsen and a seventh-round pick in October 2019.The 6-foot-5 blue-liner tallied nine points in 51 games this past season with 89 hits and 95 penalty minutes."Erik Gudbranson provides another sizable presence to our defense corps," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's a reliable veteran who plays an intimidating style of game and someone who will add a combination of grit, energy, and most importantly, leadership to our lineup."Gudbranson carries a $4-million cap hit next season before he becomes a free agent in 2021. The deal creates precious cap room for the Ducks and will help the Senators reach the cap floor.The Florida Panthers drafted Gubranson third overall in 2010.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mr. Game 7 is officially calling it a career.Veteran forward Justin Williams announced Thursday his retirement after 19 NHL seasons."Since I first broke into the league a day after my 19th birthday back in 2000, this game has brought me so much that I will never be able to repay it," Williams said in a statement, thanking several people who helped him throughout his career."The countless experiences, relationships, lessons, and hardships will remain with me forever as I move on to the next stage in my life."The 6-foot-1 winger spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes - his second stint with the franchise - and previously suited up for the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers.Williams captured his first of three Stanley Cups with the Hurricanes in 2006. He also won two championships with the Kings (2012, 2014), earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP following L.A.'s 2014 run.The 39-year-old Ontario native recorded 320 goals and 797 points across 1,264 career contests. Known for his clutch play under the spotlight, Williams amassed 41 tallies - including eight game-winners - and 102 points over 162 playoff games. He notched seven goals in Game 7s to share the NHL record with Hall of Fame forward Glenn Anderson.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman Markus Nutivaara to the Florida Panthers for forward prospect Cliff Pu, the team announced Thursday.Nutivaara helps relieve the logjam on the left side of Columbus' blue line, with the team keeping Zach Werenski, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ryan Murray, Dean Kukan, and Gabriel Carlsson in the fold.The 26-year-old rearguard is signed for two more seasons with an annual cap hit of $2.7 million, per CapFriendly. He'll help fill a hole on the left side of Florida's blue line following Mike Matheson's departure, who the team traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 24.Nutivaara tallied nine points in 37 contests last season and has played 244 career NHL games.The Buffalo Sabres originally picked Pu in the third round in 2016. He notched a pair of assists in 10 AHL games last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin suffered a torn labrum in his hip during the playoffs, the team announced Thursday. He's currently exploring options for surgery, which could carry a recovery time of four months.If the 2020-21 NHL campaign begins on its target date of Jan. 1, Seguin would likely miss the first month of the season.The injury explains why Seguin was held in check for most of the postseason. He tallied just two goals and 11 assists in 26 games during Dallas' run to the Stanley Cup Final.General manager Jim Nill revealed a long list of injuries the rest of his team battled throughout the playoffs, though Seguin's ailment is likely the only one that will carry over into next season:

This offseason's free-agent pool offers quite a bit of high-end talent, including an unusual surplus of goaltenders. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the league's economics, not only this season but for the foreseeable future, certain teams will have to get creative with cap space. This uncertainty also puts some players expecting hefty pay raises into tricky positions.Let's take a look at some of the top free agents that would be best served by sticking it out with their current teams rather than exploring the open market and switching to a new club.Jacob Markstrom Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyMarkstrom put together the best season of his career in 2019-20 with the Canucks. Vancouver showed immense potential with its young stars and should make some noise in the coming years as players like Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes get better.With a team bursting at the seams to enter legitimate contender status, it would make sense for Markstrom to stick with what he knows rather than trying to gel with a new team this deep into the 30-year-old's career. It was clear this past season that Markstrom played confidently, and the team in front of him did too.The emergence of 24-year-old Thatcher Demko during the playoffs poses a bit of trouble for Markstrom. But, with such a plentiful goalie market this offseason, there's no guarantee Markstrom will sign for much more money elsewhere on a team as good as the Canucks.Torey Krug Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyKrug is looking to secure the first long-term, high-salary contract of his career this offseason. It remains to be seen whether or not Boston can figure out a way to give him that deal, but it can muster up something close. Leaving a perennial Stanley Cup contender for a team potentially in rebuild mode with money to dish out is a tough decision, but one Krug will likely have to make.The 29-year-old blue-liner is coming off a four-year, $21-million deal, and will surely get a bump in salary. Krug's desire to get paid puts him in a bit of a predicament. Boston has $14 million in projected cap space next season, but also needs to hand out contracts to players like Jake DeBrusk and Brandon Carlo this year and next. The Bruins likely want to retain Krug, but he'll probably have to take a pay cut to stay.Krug's talent as an offensive defenseman is evident - he ranks sixth among blue-liners in points (161) over the last three seasons. The two sides can meet somewhere in the middle to ensure Krug remains with the team and gets the money and long-term security he deserves. He's been a key player since his debut in 2013, and Boston's blue line will suffer without him.Alex Pietrangelo Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyThe writing seems to be on the wall for Pietrangelo in St. Louis, but that doesn't mean there isn't a scenario where he ends up staying with the organization he captained to a Stanley Cup in 2019. The Blues remain one of the best teams in the league, and the 30-year-old might not find himself joining a squad in as good of a position to make another Cup run.There's no doubt most teams will call Pietrangelo to try to snag the top free-agent of this offseason. Over the past three seasons, Pietrangelo ranks 10th in points among defensemen (147), and ninth in time on ice per game (24:42), proving he's one of the most valuable blue-liners in the league. But, how many teams can offer the right number to get him to sign and satisfy his desire to win?It's unfortunate timing for the stud defenseman who was well on his way to securing a big-time contract. The Blues have a roster built to contend now and sticking around with the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2008 is a wise move.Anton Khudobin Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyKhudobin turned in the best year of his career this past season and nearly led the Stars to a Stanley Cup victory when he took over the crease for the entirety of the 2020 playoffs. The 34-year-old has played in a backup role for virtually his entire career, so the big question is if he can finally take the step to be a bonafide starter elsewhere, or should he stay put in Dallas?During the past two seasons, Khudobin and Ben Bishop have been one of the best goaltending tandems, allowing the least amount of goals against over that time. The duo has split the net almost evenly, with Khudobin appearing in 71 games in the last two campaigns.Khudobin led the league in save percentage at .930 in 2019-20 and posted a dazzling .923 the season before. The situation in Dallas is seemingly perfect for the Russian netminder. He's thrived in a 1B goaltending role, and the Stars have made it clear they want him to return. His unique personality is infectious, and it's obvious the team loves to play in front of him. While he may command more money elsewhere, his fit in Dallas is almost as perfect as it gets.Tyler Toffoli Rich Lam / Getty Images Sport / GettyThough it's been reported Toffoli is set to hit the open market with the Canucks likely unable to make their cap situation work, there is a chance the two circle back and find some common ground. They've both expressed interest in coming to an agreement in the past.Toffoli's time with the Canucks was short-lived, but it's obvious he fits into the lineup well. He appeared in just 17 games with Vancouver between the regular season and playoffs. During the 10 regular-season games, the 28-year-old made an immediate impact by netting 10 points. An injury forced him out for most of the postseason, but he still managed two goals and two assists in seven games.Toffoli had a respectable 52.83 expected goals for percentage and 51.78 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five during the regular season with the Canucks. Vancouver is set down the middle for the foreseeable future with Pettersson and Bo Horvat and needs to secure a top-six winger to play alongside them. Toffoli showed he fits that role. After a few underwhelming seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, the change of scenery in Vancouver is what he needed to pick things back up.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the end of an era in the Windy City.The Chicago Blackhawks will not re-sign goaltender Corey Crawford, general manager Stan Bowman announced Thursday."I had a conversation with Corey earlier today and it was an emotional talk," he said.Crawford won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015 and was their starting goaltender for the past 10 seasons. He ranks third on the franchise's all-time wins list with 260, trailing only Hall of Famers Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito."To be a two-time Stanley Cup champion, I think it speaks volumes," Bowman said. "He’s up there with the legends: Glenn Hall, Tony Esposito, Corey Crawford."Crawford was still effective in 2019-20 despite being 35 years old. He recorded a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in 40 games behind a shaky defense. He had his playoff moments, too, highlighted by a memorable 48-save performance against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1.The Blackhawks will be in the market for a new netminder. The club began the 2019-20 campaign with Crawford and Robin Lehner, who was traded to Vegas at the deadline and recently re-signed in Sin City for five years. Collin Delia is the organization's only goalkeeper with NHL experience on the roster for next season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will drop the interim tag and make Rick Bowness the club's next permanent head coach, general manager Jim Nill confirmed Thursday, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.Bowness replaced Jim Montgomery as the Stars bench boss in December and coached the team to a strong second half of the season before leading them on a run to the Stanley Cup Final in September.The Stars went 20-13-5 during the regular season under Bowness and ranked fourth in goals-against per game at 2.63.The 65-year-old needs a new contract, but Nill doesn't expect any issues with getting a deal done, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Bowness began his coaching career as an assistant with the Winnipeg Jets in 1984-85. The longtime bench boss hasn't served as a permanent head coach since he was with the New York Islanders in 1997-98.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After backstopping the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final, goaltender Anton Khudobin will test the free-agent market, general manager Jim Nill told NHL.com's Mike Heika on Thursday.The 34-year-old journeyman sported a .917 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average across 25 postseason contests. He led the league with a .930 save percentage during the regular season, though he only played in 30 games.There are questions about whether or not Khudobin can be a true No. 1 goalie despite his recent success, since he's never played more than 41 games in a season. However, he's been a reliable tandem option through his 11-year career, owning a lifetime .919 save percentage.Nill also said forwards Corey Perry and Mattias Janmark will test free agency. Dallas has just under $14 million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, but RFAs Radek Faksa, Denis Gurianov, and Roope Hintz all need new deals. Additionally, stud blue-liner Miro Heiskanen has just one year remaining on his entry-level contract.The Stars should remain in good hands between the pipes if Khudobin signs elsewhere. Though he's battled injuries, Ben Bishop has remained sturdy when healthy and is signed for three more seasons. Former first-round pick Jake Oettinger was stellar in the AHL this past season, so the 21-year-old may be ready to leap to the NHL.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's "July 1" but on Oct. 9. The NHL is set to open free agency at noon ET on Friday, more than three months later than usual. With the salary cap remaining at $81.5 million for (at least) the 2020-21 season, and with the 2021 Seattle Kraken expansion looming, there shouldn't be any shortage of action on the trade and signing fronts. Here are five teams set up to make cannonball-sized splashes in the coming days.Vegas Golden Knights Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesThe Golden Knights have been the opposite of subtle since joining the league in 2017. They've acquired Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Robin Lehner via trade, signed Paul Stastny in free agency, and been linked to seemingly every big name said to be available.The lead-up to this free-agency period has been no different, with Vegas considered a front-runner to land 30-year-old defenseman Alex Pietrangelo if the Blues captain doesn't re-sign in St. Louis. Pietrangelo, an elite right shot who can eat minutes while playing in all situations, would be a tremendous complement to lefty Shea Theodore, who broke out during the 2020 playoffs.Before general manager Kelly McCrimmon can get serious about pursuing Pietrangelo - or other UFA defensemen such as Torey Krug, T.J. Brodie, Kevin Shattenkirk if Plan A falls through - he'll need to shed salary. With 12 forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies signed on for next year, Vegas is currently over the cap limit at $84.3 million, according to CapFriendly.One well-publicized way to create room would be to ship out goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and his $7-million cap hit through the 2021-22 campaign. The Golden Knights recently extended Lehner for five years at $5 million per season, so Fleury's days in Vegas appear to be numbered. He's ranked fifth on TSN's Trade Bait Board, while teammates Stastny (14th), Nate Schmidt (38th), Jonathan Marchessault (39th), and Alec Martinez (40th) also make the list. Not all of them will be traded, of course, but something has to give.It's going to be complicated for McCrimmon. However, the Golden Knights have consistently proved they can land the big fish. There's no doubting the 2018 Stanley Cup finalists will pursue any and all opportunities to get better in the present as they attempt to capitalize on a slowly closing win-now window.Winnipeg Jets NHL Images / Getty ImagesThe Jets are back to the drawing board heading into free agency after going through hell last year with the departures of defensemen Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Chariot, and Tyler Myers. The club's top priorities are pretty obvious: a top-four defenseman and probably a top-six center with No. 2 center Bryan Little's playing future up in the air due to lingering symptoms from a head injury.Winnipeg has roughly $11 million in cap space, though currently only eight forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies are under contract for 2020-21. Does GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hold off on signing any more of his own guys (defenseman Dylan DeMelo inked a four-year extension Wednesday) so he can pursue out-of-market free agents? That's one way to attack the situation. But, the problem with that plan is twofold: 1) Winnipeg isn't perceived as a prime destination for UFAs, and 2) there aren't too many interesting centers available.Through that lens, the idea of trading super sniper Patrik Laine - a rumor that's been circulating for weeks and has often included the Philadelphia Flyers as the partner - seems less crazy and could perhaps be the easiest way for the Jets to acquire a quality defenseman and/or forward. Of course, Cheveldayoff must be careful. If Laine reaches his ceiling as a regular 50-goal threat, you can bet everybody in the hockey world will be quick to let Cheveldayoff know who gave up on the Finnish sniper before he turned 23.Columbus Blue Jackets Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIf you squint hard enough you can pinpoint what Columbus is up to this week.On Tuesday afternoon, GM Jarmo Kekalainen acquired playmaking center Max Domi and a third-round pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for power winger Josh Anderson. Hours later, he shocked draft pundits by selecting KHL sniper Yegor Chinakhov at No. 21. Both moves signaled that the defensively driven Blue Jackets are in the market for some offense. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, he inked Domi to a two-year contract.Expect much of the same moving forward. RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois is in need of a big raise, but the Jackets' decision to buy out forward Alexander Wennberg on Thursday opens up a total of $6.1 million in cap space and could produce a scenario in which Columbus can chase a UFA forward. Mike Hoffman's lethal shot, Andreas Athanasiou's speed, or Anthony Duclair's mixture of both would be welcomed. You have to wonder, too, if Alex Killorn or Tyler Johnson, two skilled, middle-six forwards on the trade block in Tampa, might be of interest.Where Kekalainen could really impact the offseason landscape is in the crowded goalie market. Reports suggest neither Elvis Merzlikins nor Joonas Korpisalo is untouchable, and one of them will probably leave Columbus this offseason. Both have two years left on their current deals, with Merzlikins making a fair $4 million per season and Korpisalo earning a measly $2.8 million. Teams looking to steer clear of the UFA goalie market, which will be inflated and hectic, could instead pivot to making a deal with the Jackets.It'll be fascinating to see what this squad looks like when the dust settles. Dubois, Seth Jones, and Zach Werenski are Columbus' ride-or-dies over the long term. The rest of the roster appears to be in transition, and adding offensive punch is clearly the MO after 2019-20 underlined that deficiency.Colorado Avalanche NHL Images / Getty ImagesThe Avalanche are in an enviable position this offseason. Not only are they Stanley Cup contenders and arguably ahead of schedule on their trajectory, but they're also in reasonable shape financially - for the next year, anyhow.GM Joe Sakic has approximately $22.4 million in cap space, and there are no marquee names that need to be re-signed for next season. However, top defenseman Cale Makar, captain Gabriel Landeskog, and starting goalie Philipp Grubauer are all due hefty extensions next offseason. For that reason, Sakic must project a bit, although there's no reason why the Avs can't pursue some of the biggest names on the market, including Taylor Hall.Hall, a 28-year-old play-driving left-winger, would be a tremendous fit stylistically, with his excellent skating and transition play blending perfectly with how Colorado loves to push the pace. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner is said to be taking the wooing process slowly by fielding pitches from a variety of clubs Friday before sitting down to decide where he'd like to go. Aside from the style fit and available money, the Avs boast a wealth of talent on the roster.Sakic added around the edges of Colorado's offense last summer, bringing in Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi, Andre Burakovsky, and others. It made a huge difference. This year, he has an opportunity to pounce on an uncertain free-agent market reeling from the revenue impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With all of that cap room, perhaps Colorado could even table an offer sheet for an RFA too.Nashville Predators John Russell / Getty ImagesThere isn't a team giving off a "moves incoming!" vibe quite like the Predators.On Wednesday, the last four years of Kyle Turris' contract were bought out and Nick Bonino was traded alongside two draft selections to the Minnesota Wild for Luke Kunin and one pick. Those two transactions cleared $8.1 million from the books and gives GM David Poile $17.7 million in cap space to sling around as he continues to revamp the forward group. Pending UFAs Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith won't be coming back either.According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Nashville is one of several teams vying for Hall's attention and have a meeting set up for Friday. If that push fails, perhaps Poile will take a healthy run at mid-tier forwards like Evgenii Dadonov, Tyler Toffoli, Hoffman, Duclair, and Athanasiou.TSN's Trade Bait Board has Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen ranked 27th and 28th, suggesting an even deeper reorganization up front could be in the offing. Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba has been the subject of trade rumors for months and could be another potential acquisition for a team desperately trying to make a statement.The Predators have made it out of the first round just once since they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. It's time for massive changes, and Poile, a man not afraid to rattle the cage on occasion, seems dead set on charting a new course.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets placed forward Alexander Wennberg on unconditional waivers for a buyout, the team announced Thursday.The 26-year-old had three years remaining on his current deal, which carried an annual cap hit of $4.9 million.Wennberg's annual cap hit over the next six seasons for the Blue Jackets breaks down as follows:

The New Jersey Devils placed veteran netminder Cory Schneider on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout, the team announced Thursday.The 34-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal with an annual cap hit of $6 million.Schneider's cap hit will be $2 million per season for the next four years following the buyout, according to CapFriendly. He is now an unrestricted free agent.The 6-foot-3 puck-stopper split time between between the Devils and AHL Binghamton Devils in 2019-20. He appeared in 13 games for the NHL club, posting a 3.53 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators netminder Matt Murray can't wait to see what the future has in store for his new club."I see a team that's heading in the right direction and heading there pretty quickly," Murray told reporters Thursday, according to TSN.He added, "I paid a little bit of attention to what happened at the draft ... and this is a young team stacked with talent and heading in absolutely the right direction and a team I think anybody would be excited to be a part of and a team that has a really bright future."The Senators selected 10 players in this week's draft, six of them - including German phenom Tim Stuetzle and American blue-liner Jake Sanderson - in the first two rounds.Ottawa acquired Murray from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday in exchange for forward prospect Jonathan Gruden and the 52nd overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Penguins used that selection to add goaltender Joel Blomqvist.The 26-year-old Murray is a restricted free agent and is in need of a new deal."I haven't heard anything on that front as of yet, but I'm sure my agent and the team are having talks and yeah, I definitely hope we can get something done so I can be here for years to come," Murray said.Murray spent the first five years of his career with the Penguins and led the club to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL free agents can officially sign with new teams as of noon ET on Oct. 9, and theScore is guessing the landing spots for some of the most interesting names. This list doesn't necessarily include all the best players, but rather the most intriguing. With no free-agent courting period, this offseason may be tougher to predict than most, but we're giving it our best shot:Taylor Hall Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyHall has played just 14 playoff games in his 10-year career, and he's made it clear joining a winning team will be his priority in free agency. The 28-year-old will obviously be a relatively expensive addition for any team, though, so the list of clubs with both legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations and the necessary cap space may be short.The two teams that seem best positioned to take a run at Hall are the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins. Both are among the top five clubs in the NHL, and both possess ample cap space.In Boston, Hall would be able to team up with David Krejci - and perhaps Jake DeBrusk or Ondrej Kase - to form a potent trio behind the Perfection Line, making the Bruins' forward group deep and dangerous.The Avalanche, meanwhile, have had plenty of cap flexibility for a few years now, but they've yet to flex their financial muscles with a big trade or free-agent splash. After second-round exits in back-to-back postseasons and with three years left on Nathan MacKinnon's bargain contract, the time is now for general manager Joe Sakic to be aggressive. Adding Hall - who could potentially play on a line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen - would be simply unfair for the opposition.Prediction: Avalanche (7 years, $9M AAV)Alex Pietrangelo Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyThe list of teams with serious interest in signing Hall likely includes a few clubs that are also interested in Pietrangelo since they'll command similar dollar values. Pietrangelo may not be as hungry for a Stanley Cup as Hall after winning a ring with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, though. It's impossible to know what Pietrangelo's thinking, but the 30-year-old's priorities likely include a desirable location, fair compensation, and a relatively competitive roster.Colorado could be a destination for Pietrangelo, but it's unlikely the Avalanche can afford both of this offseason's top two free agents. There could be other teams in the mix for the native of King City, Ontario, such as his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs (despite their limited cap space), the Winnipeg Jets (despite their somewhat undesirable location), and the New Jersey Devils (despite their lack of immediate competitiveness).But no team can make a more enticing pitch than the Bruins, who are likely content to hand out a contract that could become a problem later on if it means bringing in a top-pairing blue-liner while the team is still in its championship window.Adding Pietrangelo to a defense corps that already features Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Connor Clifton on the right side may necessitate a trade of one of the latter two in order to add help up front or on the left side of the blue line, but former GM of the Year Don Sweeney could make it work. With Torey Krug set to hit free agency and Zdeno Chara - also a UFA - potentially on the verge of retirement, the Bruins may have money to spare and openings on defense.Prediction: Bruins (7 years, $8.5M AAV)Torey Krug Rich Lam / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith the Bruins splurging on Pietrangelo in this hypothetical scenario, there isn't a fit for Krug to return to Boston. As an elite 29-year-old offensive defenseman, Krug will have no shortage of suitors. He may have some defensive limitations, but he's a good puck-mover and one of the best power-play quarterbacks in the league.The Florida Panthers could be a possibility. They have an opening on the left side of their blue line after trading away Mike Matheson, but they already have Keith Yandle to run their power play and could use a left-handed rearguard with better defensive abilities.The New Jersey Devils are also an option. They have plenty of cap space, a hole on the left side, and though they're not competitive at this moment, they're an up-and-coming squad.Despite being the worst team in the league this past season, the Detroit Red Wings are a legitimate possibility. Krug grew up in nearby Livonia, Michigan, and the Red Wings have the money to pony up - and holes on defense. It would be a tough sell given the current state of the roster, but GM Steve Yzerman has proven he can build a winner, and that may be enough to convince Krug to come home.Prediction: Red Wings (7 years, $7M AAV)Mike Hoffman Chase Agnello-Dean / National Hockey League / GettyHoffman is the best pure goal-scorer on the open market, averaging 30 goals per 82 games over the last six seasons. He doesn't drive play by any means and isn't a defensive specimen, but he can put the puck in the net thanks to a lethal shot; his one-timer is especially dangerous.Even in a league that's opened up in recent years, goals are still difficult to come by, so Hoffman will surely generate plenty of interest.The Devils, who have two young playmaking centers but could use a finisher, are a possibility, but no team is a better fit for Hoffman than the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings aren't as far from playoff contention as some may think: They finished eighth in the league in expected goals for percentage in 2019-20 and fourth in Corsi for percentage. They had a meager 6.39 shooting percentage, though, the second-worst in the league. They need some goal-scorers.Imagine Anze Kopitar feeding one-time passes to Hoffman. That would be fun. The Kings also have plenty of cap room, and L.A. is, of course, a desirable location for free agents.Prediction: Kings (4 years, $5.5M AAV)Braden Holtby Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRemember, this isn't a list of the best free agents available, but simply the most intriguing. After winning the Vezina Trophy in 2016 and the Jennings Trophy in 2017, Holtby has logged three straight mediocre regular seasons, hitting rock bottom this past year with an .897 save percentage and a 3.11 goals-against average. Nobody in their right mind should consider him a top-10 free agent, or even a top-three goalie on the open market.That said, Holtby remains awfully intriguing because of his past success, and he'd likely be willing to take a short-term contract in order to rebuild his value. The question is: Which teams are willing to roll the dice?The NHL's goaltending carousel has yet to play out, but it seems there are several goaltender-needy clubs around the league. Two such squads are the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, and either one could be enticing for the native of Lloydminster, which straddles the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. With more cap space and a better defense, the Flames would seem to have the upper hand.Prediction: Flames (1 year, $4.5M)Joe Thornton Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyMuch like Holtby, Thornton is no longer the premium player he once was. But many around the league will still be interested to see where he lands. Thornton was hoping the San Jose Sharks would send him to a contender at the 2020 trade deadline, so don't be shocked if he leaves San Jose this offseason to chase a ring.Even at 41, Thornton can still contribute - at least in a sheltered role. He had 31 points in 70 games last season while posting some strong defensive metrics. The extended rest during the Sharks' lengthy offseason may serve him well, too.A team won't need ample cap room to sign Thornton since he'll likely come cheap, which is great news for the Maple Leafs. Toronto is certainly not Thornton's best chance at a Stanley Cup, but the native of London, Ontario, may be tempted to come home and serve as a veteran leader for a roster with plenty of talent. He would probably get some decent third-line minutes too - especially if Toronto trades one or both of Alexander Kerfoot and Andreas Johnsson to create cap room to land a defenseman. Thornton's passing and puck-protection abilities would fit well in the Maple Leafs' possession-heavy system.Prediction: Maple Leafs (1 year, $1M)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall will test the open market.Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said Wednesday the club won't be re-signing the pending unrestricted free-agent forward, according to Craig Morgan of AZ Coyotes Insider.The news comes as no surprise, as Armstrong was reportedly shopping the 28-year-old's negotiation rights as of Monday.Former Coyotes GM John Chayka surrendered a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and prospects Kevin Bahl, Nick Merkley, and Nate Schnarr to acquire Hall from the New Jersey Devils in December. The Devils used the 2020 first-rounder to select Dawson Mercer 18th overall on Tuesday.Hall, the 2010 first overall pick and 2018 Hart Trophy winner, tallied 52 points in 65 games this past season and is the top UFA forward. Free agency opens Friday at noon ET.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Duclair is headed to unrestricted free agency as the Ottawa Senators did not qualify him ahead of Wednesday's deadline, general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN's Brent Wallace.Dorion said the team offered him a "substantial raise," but the parties couldn't come to an agreement. Duclair chose to represent himself in negotiations.Duclair potted a career-high 23 goals in 66 games during the 2019-20 campaign. However, he scored just twice in his final 29 contests after a blazing-hot start earned him an All-Star nod. The 25-year-old winger immediately becomes one of the most intriguing options set to hit the open market.The Senators have just under $40 million committed to their roster for next season and will need to spend over $20 million to reach the cap floor. They have several RFAs in need of new contracts, though, including Connor Brown, Chris Tierney, and the newly acquired Matt Murray.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Hockey Diversity Alliance is not satisfied with the NHL's anti-racism work and will no longer operate hand-in-hand with the league as a result."The HDA is grateful for the support from the public we received. Unfortunately, the support we hoped (to get) from the NHL was not delivered and instead the NHL focused on performative public relations efforts that seemed aimed at quickly moving past important conversations about race needed in the game," the organization said in a statement obtained by TSN's Frank Seravalli on Wednesday."We have waited many months for a response to the common sense HDA pledge we proposed and it is clear that the NHL is not prepared to make any measurable commitments to end systemic racism in hockey," the HDA continued."While we are disappointed, the HDA will operate separate and independent of the NHL and authentically implement necessary education programs and changes to the sport and seek to be role models for the youth in Black and Brown communities who want to play hockey."The NHL unveiled a series of anti-racism initiatives in conjunction with the NHLPA in early September, which included mandatory inclusion and diversity training for every player. Those strategies came less than a week after the HDA presented its plan to players, which laid out the steps recommended after the alliance and caused the players to convince the league to postpone games for two days.Seven current and retired NHL players of color founded the HDA on June 8 in the midst of nationwide protests that stemmed from George Floyd's death in police custody in late May. San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane and former NHLer Akim Aliu are the entity's co-heads.One day after helping launch the HDA, Kane said it was "imperative" that the group worked with the league to bring about the sought changes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ontario government official Lisa MacLeod said Wednesday that the OHL must take a series of steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in order to return, including eliminating physical contact among players."It would be safe to say that body contact, unless it's incremental, will not be permitted as a result of COVID-19," MacLeod said, according to The Canadian Press. "That would pose a challenge in terms of how they amend their play."The OHL canceled its 2019-20 season after the initial pandemic pause and is currently targeting a December start date for the 2020-21 campaign. MacLeod mentioned the government and league are "in constant contact" as they try to find a solution.The league announced it will not comment on the ongoing negotiations.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have pending unrestricted free-agent goaltender Jacob Markstrom on their radar, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports.Markstrom is coming off a career year, during which he posted a .918 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average, and 11.4 goals saved above average (11th best in the league) in 43 games for the Vancouver Canucks.Vancouver's two Western Canadian foes are in need of help between the pipes. The Flames and Oilers signed each other's goalies last offseason, but Cam Talbot and Mike Smith are now both pending UFAs. Calgary still has David Rittich signed and Edmonton has Mikko Koskinen in the fold, but the 30-year-old Markstrom would represent an upgrade for both teams.The door isn't closed on Markstrom returning to Vancouver, Lebrun adds. However, Thatcher Demko's sensational postseason performance showed he may be ready to become a No. 1 goaltender. The 24-year-old posted a .985 save percentage and 0.64 goals-against average in four playoff games.If Markstrom signs elsewhere, the Canucks may have some cap space on their hands. Fellow UFA Tyler Toffoli is unlikely to return, and RFA defenseman Troy Stecher wasn't extended a qualifying offer.The Canucks are reportedly one of two teams who might work a trade for Arizona Coyotes blue-liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights are set to sign restricted free agent forward Chandler Stephenson to a four-year extension worth $11 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Washington Capitals traded Stephenson to Vegas last season. He notched 22 points in 41 regular-season games with the Golden Knights, then chipped in three goals and two assists in 20 postseason contests.The Golden Knights had committed over $81.5 million to next season's roster before the Stephenson extension, so they need to clear salary to become cap compliant before the 2020-21 campaign begins.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators traded forward Nick Bonino, plus the 37th and 70th overall picks, to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Luke Kunin and the 101st overall selection, the Wild announced.Minnesota selected forward Marat Khusnutdinov with the 37th pick. The Wild then traded the 70th pick and 132nd pick to move up and select defenseman Daemon Hunt at No. 65.The Predators selected defenseman Adam Wilsby with the No. 101 pick.Bonino has one season remaining on his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $4.1 million. He appeared in 67 games with the Predators last season, tallying 18 goals and adding 17 assists.Kunin, 22, is a pending restricted free agent. He recorded 15 goals and added 16 assists in 63 games with the Wild last season. Kunin's appeared in 131 career contests, totaling 23 goals and 52 points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Max Domi to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $5.3 million, the club announced.Columbus acquired Domi and the No. 78 pick from the Montreal Canadiens during Wednesday's draft in exchange for restricted free-agent forward Josh Anderson. The Blue Jackets drafted defenseman Samuel Knazko with the selection.Domi is coming off a two-year, $6.3-million deal he signed with the Canadiens in 2018. He scored 17 goals and added 27 assists in 71 games last season. Domi set career highs in goals (28) and assists (44) in 2018-19.The 25-year-old saw his role with the Canadiens diminish during the postseason, as he was largely relegated to fourth-line duties and averaged 14:21 minutes per game. When asked about it Wednesday, Domi said he didn't really know where he stood with Canadiens head coach Claude Julien.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Jesse Puljujarvi to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal carries an average annual value of $1.175 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Puljujarvi - Edmonton's fourth overall pick in 2016 - spent last season playing in his native Finland after he previously requested a trade out of Edmonton. He's been loaned to Karpat for the beginning of the 2020-21 season but can rejoin the Oilers whenever the NHL sorts out its start date for next year.Playing in Europe has apparently caused Puljujarvi's development to flourish, with the 22-year-old posting 53 points in 56 games after mustering only 37 career points in 139 NHL contests.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames chose Jeremie Poirier with the 72nd overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, nabbing the blue-liner who was widely projected to be a late first-round selection.Jeremie PoirierPosition: Defense

The New York Rangers traded forward Lias Andersson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the No. 60 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, the team announced.The Rangers chose forward William Cuylle with the pick. Cuylle scored 22 goals and added 20 assists in 62 games for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires last season.New York selected Andersson with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. He's totaled three goals and six assists over 66 games for the Rangers.The 21-year-old spent the majority of last season playing in Sweden after reportedly requesting a trade from the Rangers in December. Andersson apparently planned to remain in Sweden for 2020-21 if New York didn't trade him.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild traded up to select defenseman Daemon Hunt with the 65th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Minnesota dealt the No. 70 and No. 132 picks to the Detroit Red Wings in order to make the selection.Daemon HuntPosition: Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected forward Roni Hirvonen 59th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.Roni HirvonenPosition: Center

The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded goaltender Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the 52nd overall selection in the 2020 draft and forward prospect Jonathan Gruden, the team announced Wednesday.Pittsburgh drafted goaltender Joel Blomqvist with the pick acquired in the deal.Murray, a restricted free agent, is coming off a three-year contract that carried a $3.75-million cap hit. The Senators should have no issue fitting him in their books, as the club has a projected $42 million in cap space this offseason, according to CapFriendly.The Penguins recently signed goaltender Tristan Jarry to a three-year, $10.5-million extension, making Murray expendable.The 26-year-old netminder is coming off his worst statistical season, posting a .899 save percentage across 38 games in 2019-20. For his career, Murray owns a .914 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average along with two Stanley Cup rings.Murray and Anders Nilsson will likely be Ottawa's goaltending tandem next season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur's lung cancer has returned, the team announced Wednesday.Lafleur, 69, underwent surgery in December to remove a lobe from one of his lungs and ganglions."It's a big blow, but I am continuing my battle with confidence and serenity thanks to the support of the CHUM (Hospital Saint-Luc in Montreal)," Lafleur said, according to Global News' Kalina Laframboise.The Hall of Famer will undergo immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, according to the hospital.Lafleur is the Canadiens' all-time points leader with 1,246 in 961 games for the club, and he ranks 27th in all-time NHL scoring, amassing 1,353 points across 1,126 career contests.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators took defenseman Tyler Kleven with the 44th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Ottawa traded up to get the 44th pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs, exchanging the 59th and 64th overall selections.Position: Defense

The Montreal Canadiens selected forward Jan Mysak with the 48th overall pick at the 2020 NHL Draft.Jan MysakPosition: LW

The Nashville Predators placed forward Kyle Turris on unconditional waivers Wednesday for the purpose of buying out his contract, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Turris has four seasons remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6 million. The Predators inked him to a six-year, $36-million extension in 2017.Turris' cap hit will be $2 million per season for the next eight years following the buyout, according to CapFriendly.The 31-year-old has struggled during the past two seasons in Nashville, recording 16 goals and 38 assists in 117 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres traded up and drafted German forward John-Jason Peterka with the 34th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Buffalo dealt the 38th and 100th overall picks to the San Jose Sharks to make their pick.John-Jason PeterkaPosition: RW

The Detroit Red Wings drafted blue-liner William Wallinder with the 32nd pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.William WallinderPosition: Defenseman

Newly acquired Columbus Blue Jackets forward Max Domi says his role with the Montreal Canadiens under head coach Claude Julien became unclear during the postseason."The playoff situation was tough ... wasn't much communication there and I didn't really know where I stood," Domi said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Domi ranked third on the Canadiens with 44 points during the regular season, but he took a backseat during the playoffs. The 25-year-old was 14th on the club in postseason ice time (14:21) and recorded three assists over 10 games while frequently playing on the fourth line.Julien defended his decision during the playoffs, saying that Domi's unit shouldn't be considered a traditional fourth line."I don't think Max is disappointed at all by his linemates," Julien told reporters. "When people label them as a fourth line, I never said they were a fourth line. I think at the end of the day what I've tried to do is balance my lines out."When asked directly about his relationship with Julien, the 5-foot-10 pivot declined to answer, according to La Presse's Richard Labbe.The Canadiens traded Domi to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday for power forward Josh Anderson.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Dylan DeMelo to a four-year, $12-million extension, the team announced Wednesday.DeMelo, 27, was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.Winnipeg acquired DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators ahead of the trade deadline in February. The 6-foot-1 blue-liner recorded 10 assists while averaging 20:09 of ice time over 59 games with the Senators and Jets in 2019-20.Despite not scoring a goal last season, DeMelo has had a positive impact on his team's offense over the previous two campaigns, according to HockeyViz's isolated five-on-five impact (2018-19 on the left, 2019-20 on the right). Hockey VizDeMelo's defensive impact was considerably better in 2019-20 (right) than in 2018-19 (left). However, he played the entire 2018-19 campaign for the last-place Senators, who were the league's worst defensive club. (Blue zones, negatives are good in the defensive end): Hockey VizDeMelo boasted favorable possession numbers last season, as well, owning a Corsi For of 53.1% and an expected goals of 53.9%, according to Natural Stat Trick.Extending DeMelo is a big step for a Jets team that lost the majority of its blue-line talent last offseason. Winnipeg has just over $11 million in projected cap space for 2020-21 but currently has just 15 players on its roster, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shane Wright's never accepted losing. Not even as a toddler."Shane has this other edge," his mother, Tanya, told theScore. "When he was young I had to discipline him for it. It was embarrassing. It would be like three-year-old 'sportball,' and he would be losing his mind at three-year-olds who weren’t doing it right or trying hard enough."Wright's competitiveness extends beyond sports, even boiling over into family game nights."There’s been the odd board that has ended upside down before it's over," his father, Simon, said.Wright admitted his intensity always shows up, regardless of what's at stake."Everything I do, I want to win," he said. "I'm also kind of a perfectionist. I hold myself to high standards. I want to win in whatever I do. Whether it's a board game or a sport or whatever it is, I'm competitive and I want to win it."That competitive nature and that will to win, while sometimes embarrassing for his parents when he was growing up, has helped Wright blossom into a potential generational hockey player. Even though he's only 16 years old and not NHL draft eligible until 2022, he's already drawn comparisons to Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and John Tavares - the next ones that came before him. Chris Tanouye / Getty Images Sport / GettyWright was granted exceptional status into the OHL last year as a 15-year-old, and scored 39 goals and finished with 66 points in 58 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. His point total matched McDavid's from his age-15 season, but Wright played five fewer games. Of the five players before Wright to be granted exceptional status into the CHL (Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, McDavid, Sean Day, and Joe Veleno), only Tavares had more points in his rookie season (77 in 65 games).The talent's obvious. Already listed at 6-feet and 183 pounds - and still growing - Wright's a strong skater with a heavy shot and elite hockey IQ. Talent only takes a player so far, though. Intangibles are what make Wright special enough to be mentioned in the same conversations as McDavid, Crosby, and Tavares."I think what Shane brings is that quiet, unassuming leadership with his drive and determination," NHL director of central scouting Dan Marr said. "When other players on a team see that the best player is out there as the hardest worker, and wanting to win every battle, wanting to be on every puck, wanting to make things happen out there, that's infectious."Marr has a wide lens on the game's top prospects and even though his primary focus is generally on the immediate draft class, he still watched Wright in person "about a half dozen times" this season. Chris Tanouye / Getty Images Sport / GettyFrontenacs assistant coach Luca Caputi, meanwhile, had a front-row seat to observe Wright on a daily basis during his Rookie of the Year season in the OHL. He was equally impressed by his work ethic, maturity, and leadership."Every young player that comes through our organization for the next two years will look up to him, just because of the way he does it right every day," Caputi - who spent parts of three seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs - said."When you have those intangibles - and I was lucky enough to play with Crosby - when you're the best player and you work the hardest and you have the right goals and you're a good person off the ice, people follow you. People you want around are going to follow you."Wright became the youngest player in CHL history to get a letter on his jersey when he was named assistant captain in December. Caputi thinks he could "100%" be an NHL captain someday."I talk a lot about being like Crosby, and that's not fair, and a lot of pressure to put on a kid, but I see some of those similarities just in the way he goes about his business," Caputi added.Crosby and Wright possess different on-ice strengths - the former's more of a playmaker and the latter more of a goal-scorer - but there are some similarities in how each grew up.Remember that famous dryer in Crosby's basement that was littered with puck marks from all the errant shots it absorbed? Well, the Wright family's garage door in Burlington, Ontario, took a similar beating. Ripping pucks on the net in his driveway as a kid, any shot Wright missed found the garage door. And as he got older and started gaining velocity, pucks went right through. Photo provided by the Wright family"I think it was pretty embarrassing for my parents when people walked by and saw all the holes in our garage," Wright said jokingly."So embarrassed," Tanya acknowledged with a laugh. "I know we brought the value of the whole neighborhood down."Simon added about the door: "I'm surprised it actually still went up and down."All those reps on the driveway helped Wright develop a lethal shot on the ice - one that impressed Caputi immediately."I think his first goal in the league, I believe his third or fourth game, was an eye-popping goal," Caputi recalled. "He just caught it on his off wing on the dot in the offensive zone and he went back bar. I think it hit every bar in the net and you said, 'Oh! There it is.'"Even though his release was already a strength, Caputi said Wright missed the net a lot early in the season. And so the teenager put in the necessary work to hone his accuracy."We do it every day after practice," Caputi said. "From his one spot on the power play, he might've had 5,000 (shots) this year. That's how committed he is to his craft."The work eventually paid off. After starting with six goals in his first 17 games, Wright ended the season scoring 33 times in his final 41 contests. Despite his individual success, though, Kingston finished the season with only 19 wins in 62 games - the third-lowest total in the 20-team league."We didn't win a heck of a lot of games this year, so when you face adversity you see people's true character and he really cares," Caputi said. "I'd say the winning aspect, even some of the games when he thought he could play better, that's when you see that he really cares. Extra reps the next day, staying late to watch video. That's somebody you want to build your identity and your core around."At the end of the day, it's simple: Wright's commitment to winning stems from his hatred of losing, which he's known he's detested since he began walking. It's cost him at times - when he "literally exploded with anger" during a centipede ski race his family was losing at a summer cottage, according to Tanya, and when he was slide tackling as a six-year-old during soccer games. But Wright's matured and learned to harness his competitiveness; in fact, it's become his biggest strength."He hates losing," Simon reiterated. "He competes to win every single time."Wright, it seems, has that fire inside him, that sets the elite of the elite apart, that is required to be the best, and to be "the next one."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Russian forward Rodion Amirov with the 15th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Rodion AmirovPosition: Left wing

The Ottawa Senators used their third first-round draft choice to take forward Ridly Greig with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Ridly GreigPosition: Left wing

The Los Angeles Kings selected Quinton Byfield with the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.With the pick, Byfield made NHL history by being the highest-ever drafted Black player, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.Quinton ByfieldPosition: Center

The Calgary Flames selected forward Connor Zary with the No. 24 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.Connor ZaryPosition: Center

Follow every pick made in the NHL draft using theScore's live tracker. Pull down the page to refresh.Round 1PickTeamPlayerLink1RangersF Alexis LafreniereProfile2KingsF Quinton ByfieldProfile3Senators (from SJS)F Tim StuetzleProfile4Red WingsF Lucas RaymondProfile5SenatorsD Jake SandersonProfile6DucksD Jamie DrysdaleProfile7DevilsF Alexander HoltzProfile8SabresF Jack QuinnProfile9WildF Marco RossiProfile10JetsF Cole PerfettiProfile11PredatorsG Yaroslav AskarovProfile12PanthersF Anton LundellProfile13Hurricanes (from TOR)F Seth JarvisProfile14OilersF Dylan HollowayProfile15Maple Leafs (from PIT)F Rodion AmirovProfile16CanadiensD Kaiden GuhleProfile17BlackhawksF Lukas ReichelProfile18Devils (from ARI)F Dawson MercerProfile19Rangers (from CAL)D Braden SchneiderProfile20Devils (from VAN)D Shakir MukhamadullinProfile21Blue JacketsF Yegor ChinakhovProfile22Capitals (from CAL)F Hendrix LapierreProfile23FlyersF Tyson FoersterProfile24Flames (from WAS)Profile25AvalancheProfile26BluesProfile27Ducks (from BOS)Profile28Senators (from NYI)Profile29Golden KnightsProfile30StarsProfile31Sharks (from TBL)ProfileCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets made a surprising selection Tuesday night, choosing Russian forward Yegor Chinakhov 21st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.NHL Central Scouting tabbed Chinakhov as the 30th-ranked European skater in its final rankings.Chinakhov has collected five goals and two assists in 12 games with the KHL's Avangard Omsk in 2020-21.He spent most of the 2019-20 campaign with Avangard's junior team, Omskie Yastreby, in the MHL. The right-winger piled up 27 goals and 69 points in 56 games during that season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.