Hours after Carey Price expressed trepidation about the NHL's potential return to play, Artemi Panarin followed suit."I have concerns not only about the health of players and their families but also about the long-term prosperity of the NHL," the New York Rangers superstar wrote Thursday in a statement on Twitter.Panarin said certain financial issues need to be ironed out before the players show up for the start of training camps."For nearly two decades, the players have protected the owners' income with escrow, including throughout this pandemic crisis, even as (the) owners' equity continues to grow exponentially," the Hart Trophy contender added. "It is time to fix the escrow."We as players cannot report to camp to resume play without already having an agreement in place."Despite agreeing on a 24-team playoff plan that will be played in a pair of hub cities, the NHL and NHLPA still need to come to terms on health and safety protocols. In addition, negotiations to extend the CBA have reportedly been tied to the return-to-play talks.The NHL is currently allowing teams to hold informal skates, and reportedly expanded the maximum number of players allowed on the ice from six to 12 earlier this week. The league is eyeing July 10 for the opening of training camps.Escrow is a percentage of NHL players' salaries withheld by the league and the NHLPA during the season to ensure teams and players evenly split hockey-related revenue.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Hockey Hall of Fame announcing its class of 2020 on Wednesday, it's time to examine the players who will make their debuts on the ballot in their first year of eligibility in 2021.It's important to note that in order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a player must not have played a professional or international game in any of the three seasons leading up to his or her election. This means that although Jaromir Jagr hasn't played in the NHL since 2017-18, he's not yet eligible because he was still playing professionally in the Czech Republic during the 2019-20 season.It's also beneficial to understand the exact criteria for selection, as detailed by The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek, who served a maximum 15-year term on the Hall of Fame committee from 2004-18: playing ability, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to his or her team or teams and the game of hockey in general.With no disrespect to Brian Gionta, Patrick Sharp, Scott Hartnell, or Mike Fisher, here are five first-year eligible players who have a shot at the Hall of Fame in 2021.Daniel and Henrik Sedin Reuters/Action ImagesDaniel SedinGPGAP13063936481041Henrik SedinGPGAP13302408301070No two players in hockey history have had greater chemistry than Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who seemingly used twin telepathy to find each other on the ice. Some of these passes are ridiculous:Watching the Vancouver Canucks icons in their prime truly felt like watching a pair of Hall of Famers. The numbers back that up, too. Over two NHL seasons from 2009-2011, Henrik ranked first in the league with 206 points and fourth with 1.26 points per game. In that same span, Daniel ranked fourth with 189 points and second with 1.30 points per game. Henrik won a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross Trophy, while Daniel won an Art Ross Trophy and a Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award), and had a second-place finish in Hart Trophy voting.The twins never won a Stanley Cup, but they came within one win of a title with the Canucks in 2011. They also won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006. Remember, it's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame; international contributions are part of the discussion.But while their overall resumes are impressive, first-ballot inductions aren't guaranteed. By Hockey Reference's era-adjusted numbers, Daniel and Henrik rank 50th and 57th in all-time points, respectively. Fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson, who ranks 33rd all time in adjusted points and was superior on a per-game basis, was passed over on Wednesday for a fourth straight year.Still, in light of the individual hardware and their contributions to the city of Vancouver and the Canucks franchise, it would be surprising if the twins don't get in on their first chance. Given that they did just about everything together during their careers, it's only right they be inducted side by side.Prediction: First-ballot inductionHenrik Zetterberg Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAP1082337623960Zetterberg was one of the premier two-way forwards of his generation. He won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy, and although he was a Selke Trophy finalist only once, he had four other top-10 finishes in voting for the award. The former Detroit Red Wings captain never finished higher than 10th in Hart Trophy voting, however, suggesting he wasn't among the game's truly elite even in his prime.Induction into the Hall of Fame usually requires either an outstanding peak or absurd longevity. Zetterberg had neither. Even after adjusting for the era in which he played, he ranks 79th on the all-time points list. It seems as though someone like Rod Brind'Amour, who won two Selke Trophies and sits 41st on the era-adjusted points list, should get the nod ahead of him. Alfredsson and Alexander Mogilny may have more compelling cases, too.As one of 29 players in the Triple Gold Club, Zetterberg could see his time come eventually, but he'll have to be patient.Prediction: Inducted in 10th year of eligibilityRick Nash B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / GettyGPGAP1060437368805Nash was arguably one of the best power forwards and top goal-scorers of his time. Injuries often held him back though, and he ultimately retired following his age-33 season due to concussion issues. The 6-foot-4 winger was also hamstrung by weak supporting casts throughout his prime years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.He was a co-winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2003-04, but he never had an extraordinary peak, garnering just one top-10 finish in Hart Trophy voting during his career.Nash's international resume will boost his case after he won Olympic gold with Canada in both 2010 and 2014, but it likely won't be enough to offset his lack of counting numbers and longevity.Prediction: No inductionCaroline Ouellette Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyOuellette is one of the most decorated female players of all time. Along with Canadian teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford - both of whom are Hall of Famers - she's one of five athletes ever to win a gold medal at four straight Olympic Games. She also captained Team Canada in Sochi in 2014. In addition to her Olympic accolades, the 41-year-old owns six IIHF Women's World Championship gold medals, eight Four Nations Cup gold medals, and four Clarkson Cup Championships.Ouellette's individual statistics further illustrate her winning pedigree. She's Canada's fifth all-time leading scorer at the Olympics and third all-time leading scorer at the worlds. The forward is also the CWHL's all-time leader in points (346), goals (143), and assists (203).Only two women's players can be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a given year, so Ouellette may have to wait behind the likes of Canada's Jennifer Botterill and the United States' Julie Chu. But her time will come.Prediction: Inducted in second year of eligibilityConclusion Denis Brodeur / National Hockey League / GettyWith the Sedins the only projected first-ballot Hall of Famers, up to two more male players could be inducted in 2021. Players who fell short in 2020 - such as Mogilny, Alfredsson, Brind'Amour, Theoren Fleury, and Sergei Gonchar - could be in for better results in 2021.Theoretically, their chances should be slightly improved now that Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson are set to be inducted. Those selections specifically help Gonchar's case, since he arguably had a better career than both of his fellow defensemen. Mogilny's 11-year wait remains particularly puzzling, but perhaps 2021 will be his time.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class was a deserving group for the most part, but several overlooked players arguably warranted inclusion.A maximum of four male players and two female players can be selected by the Hall every year - a rule that may need to be expanded given the amount of deserving candidates. The 2020 class includes the maximum number of male players, but there are others who arguably deserved a spot more than those who were selected. In addition, the Hall chose to elect only one female player, leaving one spot unfilled.The selections of Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson were questionable, as neither boasted superstar credentials during their careers. Lowe won plenty of titles, but his admission that he never considered himself a Hall of Famer is a sentiment likely shared by many in the hockey world. It took him 20 years of eligibility to make it, while Wilson waited for a quarter of a century to get his call.While Jarome Iginla was a no-brainer to make it in his first year of eligibility, Marian Hossa wasn't necessarily worthy of immediate induction. He was likely to earn enshrinement at some point, but whether he deserved to be inducted in his first year is debatable.With that in mind, here are four players who had strong enough cases to crack the 2020 class:Alexander Mogilny C Andersen / Bruce Bennett / GettyIt's downright absurd Mogilny was snubbed for the 11th consecutive year. He ranks third all time in goals and goals per game among Russian forwards, and fourth in points among his countrymen who've played in the NHL.Mogilny finished with over a point per game in his stellar career (1,032 in 990), including a 76-goal, 127-point campaign in 1992-93 and a 55-goal, 107-point campaign in 1995-96.He has even greater significance to the growth of the game internationally as the first player ever to defect from the Soviet Union to the NHL. His ordeal is well-documented, making it even more egregious that someone who risked his life to play in North America and then had a tremendous career continues to be denied the recognition he deserves.Daniel Alfredsson Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyAlfredsson isn't a slam dunk Hall of Famer, so the fact he was passed over for his first three years of eligibility wasn't surprising. However, this year represented a prime opportunity for the voters to honor him, and their questionable selections only further emphasized they should have instead anointed the longtime Ottawa Senators captain.He doesn't have the Stanley Cup resume of a player like Lowe, but he was clearly a superior player, averaging nearly a point per game for his career while winning the Calder Trophy and an Olympic gold medal to boot.If character is a consideration, Alfredsson exuded it in spades during his career, and it's a mild shock he hasn't yet been recognized for all of his contributions.Theoren Fleury Kellie Landis / Getty Images Sport / GettyFleury is beloved in Calgary and beyond, but he was far more than a fan favorite. The dynamic Flames legend produced at an outstanding clip, notching 1,088 points in 1,084 career games.He also helped the club win the Stanley Cup in his rookie season of 1988-89, posting 34 points in 36 regular-season games before adding 11 in 22 playoff contests en route to the title.Fleury's achievements are even more impressive when you consider he was only 5-foot-6 and about 180 pounds. Next year will be his 15th on the ballot, and it's about time he gets his rightful place among the rest of the game's greats.Jennifer Botterill Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyBotterill's accomplishments and accolades are numerous both at the collegiate and international level.She's the only player ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Award - given annually to the top U.S. college female ice hockey player - on two occasions, and she amassed 319 points in 113 games while at Harvard. She was also one of only four players to collect 100 or more points in a single NCAA campaign.Botterill is a Canadian hockey legend, having won three Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles while representing her country. She was a two-time MVP at the worlds, and produced almost a point per game (174 in 184) during her tenure with the national program.The Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee hasn't elected two women in the same year since 2010, when it enshrined both Angela James and Cammi Granato. However, Botterill clearly deserved to be chosen alongside her former teammate, 2020 inductee Kim St-Pierre.Honorable mentions: Patrik Elias, Rod Brind'Amour, Sergei Gonchar, Julie Chu.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price is torn on the NHL's return-to-play plan."I have, I think, about an equal amount of optimism and pessimism," the Montreal Canadiens goaltender said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "It's a very unusual situation. I want the opportunity to be able to play for a Stanley Cup, but I want to be able to continue living life normally."Price is currently in Washington State training out of a WHL facility, but he plans to return to Montreal for camp, which starts in 15 days."We have, obviously, a unique situation right now. The NHL and NHLPA are trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Moving forward I'd like to play, but we have a lot of questions that need to be answered," he added.Price added that a good friend of his mother died from COVID-19.The Habs were gifted a spot in the qualifying round as the Eastern Conference's 12th seed despite posting a record of 31-31-9 in the regular season. Without Price, their chances of an upset over the high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins would be highly unlikely.Despite posting a negative goals saved above average for just the fourth time in his career, Price won the Molson Cup as the Habs' player of the year for the ninth time. The 32-year-old went 27-25-6 with a .909 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against average, and four shutouts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amazon bought the naming rights to Seattle's KeyArena and has renamed it Climate Pledge Arena, the company's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, announced Thursday."Instead of calling it Amazon Arena, we're naming it Climate Pledge Arena as a regular reminder of the urgent need for climate action," Bezos wrote on Instagram."It will be the first net-zero carbon certified arena in the world, generate zero waste from operations and events, and use reclaimed rainwater in the ice system to create the greenest ice in the NHL," the billionaire entrepreneur pledged.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.After diving into the mini-tournament for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, we'll now look at the Western Conference.TEAMODDSSt. Louis Blues+180Vegas Golden Knights+275Colorado Avalanche+280Dallas Stars+500The formatThe teams that ranked first through fourth in their conference at the end of the abbreviated regular season will play each other in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the 16-team playoff bracket. The clubs will all play each other once at a neutral venue, with the overall winner claiming the conference's top playoff seed.St. Louis Blues (+180)The defending Stanley Cup champions are the favorites to claim the top seed in the West, and while there's a case to be made for them as the best team in the conference, the Blues have to be avoided at such a short price. There is too much volatility that exists in a three-game round robin, especially one played on neutral ice following a lengthy layoff.The Blues have very few holes and are a well-coached team, but they play with a certain tenacity that will be lacking as teams get their legs under them. There's just not enough evidence to suggest the Blues would flourish in low-intensity hockey to feel comfortable backing them at these short odds.Vegas Golden Knights (+275)As mentioned above, it's safe to say the start of this seeding tournament will lack the usual intensity and ferocity of playoff hockey due to the extended hiatus.Less intensity means less hitting and fewer penalties. That doesn't bode well for a Knights team that often relies on a physical brand of hockey - Vegas was fourth in the NHL in hits per game - and benefited from a top-10 power play. At +275, the Knights wouldn't be my first choice.Colorado Avalanche (+280)Instead, my first choice would be the Avalanche. This round-robin tournament feels like the perfect storm for Colorado. The Avs have by far the youngest core of the four teams involved - with all of their top players aged 26 years old or younger - meaning they will likely be the least impacted by the long layoff.They'll also benefit from the lack of intensity and dependence on special teams. This season, the Avalanche were tied for the most five-on-five goals in the NHL, had the least efficient power play of the four clubs involved, and were near the bottom of the NHL in hits per game. Give me all the Colorado stock I can buy at +280.Dallas Stars (+500)At first glance, there also appears to be some value with the Stars, a team that's suited for a dull, grind-it-out brand of hockey. Dallas relies heavily on defense and has allowed the second-fewest five-on-five goals in the NHL this season.However, in that regard, the Avalanche and Blues are a very close third and fourth, respectively. Additionally, both teams score a ton more than the Stars, who have managed the second-fewest five-on-five goals scored, only ranking ahead of the Detroit Red Wings.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver's NHL hub-city bid has hit a setback after talks with provisional health authorities, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The league hasn't ruled out Vancouver - which has long been seen as a top contender to serve as one of the NHL's two hub cities for its return-to-play plan - but it has commenced more detailed conversations with Toronto and Edmonton, LeBrun adds.The league's contingency plans for when a player tests positive for COVID-19 is a key concern among provincial and regional health officials, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre.Toronto recently resubmitted its bid to the league, which featured a plan to create a bubble on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds just outside of the downtown core. Edmonton's reported plan includes an Olympic Village-style setup.The NHL has said it wants at least one Canadian city to serve as a hub site. With Vegas also in the mix, Chicago and Los Angeles are on standby if none of the Canadian cities end up being viable, LeBrun adds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains graphic contentA former Western Hockey League player has filed a complaint with the league regarding sexual and physical abuse he said he experienced during his junior career, according to TSN's Rick Westhead.The former player emailed the league on Saturday, requesting anonymity. This includes his name, the teams he played for, and the years he played in the WHL."The WHL takes matters such as this very seriously and we have indicated to (the complainant) we will be in contact with him immediately to begin our investigation," WHL spokesperson Taylor Rocca said, according to Westhead.The player said that during one incident, two teammates attacked him on a road trip."The abuse occurred while I was unfolding the rookie cot," he wrote. "I was attacked and pinned down face first by the two assailants, my hands at my side, with one assailant kneeling on each of my shoulders with his crotch against the back of my head and the second assailant sitting on my upper back. I was pinned helpless and unable to move; my face was pushed into the mattress. The only way to breathe was to move my head from side to side to get a gasp of air. The first assailant sitting on my shoulders removed his penis from his pants and proceeded to slap his penis off the side of my face when I attempted to get air while both assailants laughed saying, 'Not so tough now, hey rookie.'"He said that on another occasion, the same two teammates forced several rookies to strip naked in the dressing room and play tug-of-war with a string tied to their genitals.The former player detailed multiple other incidents in the complaint. He named the alleged assailants, several of whom currently have prominent roles in the hockey industry.He said the abuse transformed him from a "driven, happy, engaged young man and a solid NHL hockey prospect into a black mass of anger, untrust of people, self-isolation, and alcohol abuse."Former CHL players Dan Carcillo and Garrett Taylor filed last week a class-action lawsuit against the league over alleged abuse. Days earlier, police began an investigation after a former Kitchener Rangers player said a teammate forced him to try cocaine as a rookie.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame debates are a staple of sports arguments - whether a player's amassed the credentials to be honored among the best in their sport is prime fodder for discussion over a beer. We're spotlighting a collection of players who we believe either deserve the distinction but haven't yet been inducted, or don't quite measure up but had a great impact on their franchise or sport.The year was 1993, and Curtis Joseph was getting jobbed out of admittance to the Hockey Hall of Fame.At the time, Joseph was a rising star in his fourth NHL season with the St. Louis Blues, and had gone to lengths to prove he could capably shoulder an immense workload. Over 68 games in 1992-93, he led the NHL in shots faced (2,202), saves (2,006), and save percentage (.911). Per Hockey-Reference, his 16.2 point shares - an estimate of team standings points for which a player can take credit - were most among goaltenders, a cut above Ed Belfour's 13.0. Not only did Joseph pace the league in goals saved above average; his total, 57.42, blew away Belfour's remarkable 39.36 and is still the best single-season GSAA mark since the mid-1970s.Yet when Vezina Trophy votes were counted that spring, Joseph placed third in the tally, behind Belfour, then with the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins' Tom Barrasso.Joseph with the Blues in 1991. Graig Abel / Getty ImagesThe argument against inducting CuJo to the Hall depends in large part on the hardware he lacks, be it the Stanley Cup - he never reached a final in 19 seasons with the Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, and Calgary Flames - or individual laurels such as the Vezina. That shortcoming helped keep Joseph out for the ninth year running Wednesday when the class of 2020 was revealed.Selection committees and armchair pundits employ this sort of superficial reasoning across sports, and the coda to Joseph's brilliant 1992-93 season illustrates its flaws. Entertain this alternative scenario: Joseph's stats and uplifting impact on his middling Blues team remain the same, but Vezina voters of the day actually recognize and value what his mastery compared to league average signifies. They award him the trophy, and two decades later his career is deemed Hall material.Whether that first outcome should have been realized - whether Joseph, not Belfour, would have been the just Vezina victor in '93 - is beside the essential point. Joseph was terrific that season and shone in many others, and to dismiss his Hall case outright because he never won a major award is to think simplistically.Joseph, a 5-foot-11 acrobat in the crease, was rarely afforded the privilege of backstopping a superb team, and when the lineups in front of him fit that bill, like the defending champion 2002-03 Red Wings, he didn't lift them over the top. (Blame J.S. Giguere.) On the whole, though, he was a workhorse whose numbers support favorable comparisons to titans of his position. And he tended to elevate his game when it really mattered, equipping him to carry several pedestrian Blues, Oilers, and Leafs squads deeper into the postseason than was their right.Joseph (right) and Wayne Gretzky at the 2016 Heritage Classic Oilers-Jets alumni game. Jonathan Kozub / NHL / Getty ImagesAfter signing as a college free agent with St. Louis in 1989, Joseph went on to finish in the top five in Vezina voting in five of his first 11 seasons, including a close second-place showing behind Dominik Hasek in 1998-99. He was No. 4 in Hart Trophy voting with the Leafs that season, and the following year he won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarianism, a nod to his charitable work with sick children in Toronto.Consistency and longevity were hallmarks of Joseph's. His 943 career games played are sixth-most in league history and his 454 wins rank seventh; only Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Roberto Luongo, and Belfour eclipse him in both categories. (It has to be noted that Joseph is third in career losses, with 352.) His 51-shutout total isn't top grade, but he authored 16 in the playoffs, third to Brodeur and Roy. Few goalies saw more rubber: Joseph faced 26,795 shots, sixth-most ever, and made 24,279 saves, also sixth all time."He thrived with more shots against him, and not a lot of guys are like that. In fact, very few guys are able to do that when they get peppered all the time," retired goalie Kevin Weekes wrote about Joseph at NHL.com in 2015.“When I think of CuJo, I think of a goalie who gave his team a chance to win every night," Glenn Healy, Joseph's former backup with the Leafs, told the Toronto Sun in May. "What more was he supposed to do?"Goalies like Joseph suffer when their names appear before the Hall from a high bar and a double standard. Belfour is a Hall of Famer; so are Brodeur, Hasek, Roy, Grant Fuhr, Billy Smith, and Rogie Vachon. Somehow, only those seven men have been inducted at the position in the past 30 years. As the New York Post's Larry Brooks once pointed out, many of the goalies who are enshrined played the bulk of their career prior to World War II. A mere 22 are products of the NHL's Original Six era or later.Joseph at his 2010 retirement announcement. Rene Johnston / Toronto Star / Getty ImagesFormer New York Rangers stalwart Ed Giacomin is the only one of them who never won a Stanley Cup, an otherwise uniform barrier to entry that voters don't extend to skaters. That knock applies to Joseph, but not to Barrasso, Chris Osgood, Mike Richter, or Mike Vernon, fellow marginal Hall candidates from CuJo's era who have eight championships between them. It all goes back to Brooks' point: maybe the Hall of Fame committee's expectations for netminders are unreasonably high. (At least this year's class includes Canadian women's legend Kim St-Pierre, a three-time Olympic gold medallist.)Joseph keeps even finer company in Hockey-Reference's career-similarity tabulation, which compares players at the same position based on their adjusted point shares by season. The quality and arc of his career rate as most similar to that of Vachon, the three-time champ with the Montreal Canadiens in the '60s and '70s who entered the Hall in 2016, 34 years after he retired. Among the other goalies with whom Joseph is classed: Belfour, Brodeur, Roy, Tony Esposito, and Henrik Lundqvist.That isn't to say Joseph was better than any of them - just that he belonged in their orbit, as the dominance he summoned regularly in the playoffs attests. Joseph's Toronto clubs were never elite, but he spearheaded postseason runs in all four of his years there. He stole first-round series victories for lackluster Oilers teams against much stronger opponents: the Dallas Stars in 1996-97, when games of 43 and 38 saves keyed OT road wins in Games 5 and 7, and the Colorado Avalanche in 1997-98, when he erased a 3-1 series deficit by allowing just one goal the rest of the way.Working backward, we arrive at his magnum opus: the 1993 playoffs with St. Louis. That was the year Joseph saved 61 of 63 shots in a double-OT loss to the Leafs, who might have reached the final had Wayne Gretzky's high stick on Doug Gilmour been penalized later in the spring. Joseph made 57 stops the next game, this time to win in double OT, and he prolonged the second-round series as far as Game 7 despite the Blues being outshot, on average, by 12 attempts per night.If only that could have bolstered his Vezina case. At least Joseph got to relish ending the eventual Vezina winner's season. Belfour and the Blackhawks finished 21 points ahead of the Blues in the '93 Norris Division standings but were swept from the first round, undone by their inability to solve CuJo. Joseph's save percentage in the series was .957, and he blanked Chicago in Games 2 and 3, cinching the first of those historically tremendous 16 playoff shutouts.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

With the NHL on track to resume its season, some of the league's older coaches are ready to return behind the bench, even though they're aware of the risks they'll have to assume."No doubt you're thinking of the different options you may have, whether it's wearing a mask, to what extent you are going to deal with your team and players," 60-year-old Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien said, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I know it may be a challenge behind the bench more than anywhere else, but my thinking is that I need to be ready to adjust and have options when that time comes, depending on where we are at with COVID and our hockey circumstance."Julien added: "That also means pulling myself out if I feel a real danger. My family and life are more important than my job at that point."The NHL isn't planning to implement any age-based restrictions on its coaches. It will be up to each individual to determine if they are comfortable participating or not.There are currently 12 active members on NHL coaching staffs who will be 60 or older by the end of June, LeBrun added.Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness expressed his fear of contracting the virus, saying, "I've been giving it an awful lot of thought. Without a doubt. I'm 65." However, the oldest bench boss in the NHL is putting his trust in the league and is yearning to see what Phases 3 and 4 of its return-to-play plan will look like."We'll have to see how it all looks when we get there," Bowness said. "You've got to trust that the league and everyone is doing everything they can to protect us all. Until I get there and see how it's all laid out. If the safety and precautions are being met, then yeah, we'll go ahead with it."The NHL is aiming to launch full training camps leaguewide July 10. Coaches and training personnel haven't been permitted to be on the ice with players during Phase 2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Ken Holland, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, and Doug Wilson have been selected as the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class, the Hall announced Wednesday.Iginla and Hossa were both elected in their first year of eligibility.Holland will be the lone inductee in the builder category.Iginla authored a brilliant 20-year career, 16 seasons of which he spent as the heart-and-soul leader of the Calgary Flames. The 42-year-old racked up 625 goals and 1,300 points in 1,554 career contests, helping the Flames reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.Like Iginla, Hossa was also one of the best wingers of his era. The 41-year-old was a key contributor on three championship teams with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent eight of his 19 campaigns. Hossa notched 525 goals and 1,134 points in 1,309 games.Holland, the current Edmonton Oilers general manger, spent 36 years with the Detroit Red Wings, including 22 as GM. He was the architect of four Stanley Cup championship squads over that span (three as the GM), and built the club into a perennial powerhouse that made the playoffs a whopping 25 straight times from 1991 to 2016.Lowe, a current Oilers alternate governor, will be inducted as a player. The former defenseman was an important part of Edmonton's dynasty in the 1980s and early 1990s, helping the team win the Cup five times before capturing another title with the New York Rangers in 1994.St-Pierre will be the only female inductee in this year's class. The former goaltender starred for Canada on the international stage, guiding the nation to three Olympic gold medals and five IIHF World Championship crowns.Wilson, the current San Jose Sharks GM, was inducted as a player. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top blue-liner in 1982, and was nominated for the award five times. Wilson played 14 of his 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, registering 827 points in 1,024 contests.The induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16 in Toronto. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Hall isn't currently accepting ticket orders for the 2020 event.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla has entered rarified air.The longtime Flames captain was one of five players selected Wednesday for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020."It's an amazing, amazing honor," Iginla told Hockey Hall of Fame chairman and fellow Flames icon Lanny McDonald upon receiving the call, per TSN. "Thank you guys on the committee for voting for me to be a part of it. ... It's just hard to believe, it makes you reflect and think back and it's truly, truly hard to believe."Iginla, 42, will enter the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and he admitted it's an achievement he couldn't have imagined when he made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old in 1996."I never dreamt it when I got into the NHL, it's awesome. I'm truly honored and very blessed. ... it means a lot to my family and I, and (I) still can't believe it."The two-time winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy ranks 34th in all-time NHL scoring with 1,300 points in 1,554 career games. He's also one of 20 players to record at least 600 career goals, notching 625 over 20 NHL seasons.Iginla holds the Flames franchise records for games played (1,219), goals (525), game-winning goals (83), and points (1,095). The club raised his No. 12 to the rafters at Scotiabank Saddledome last March.Internationally, the native of Alberta won gold with Team Canada at both the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games.Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, and Doug Wilson were also selected as players. Longtime executive and current Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland was selected in the builder category.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Construction of the event center that will serve as the Calgary Flames' new home is set to begin in August 2021, according to The Canadian Press.The city of Calgary and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) agreed last year to split the cost of the $550-million project, which is scheduled for completion in May 2024.The building will be located on the eastern side of downtown Calgary, just north of the Scotiabank Saddledome, where the Flames have played since 1983. The Saddledome will be demolished once the team moves into the new event center.The venue will feature an arena with up to 19,000 seats and will also become home to the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen and National Lacrosse League's Calgary Roughnecks, both of which are owned by CSEC.U.S. architectural and engineering firm HOK is helping design the new building in partnership with Calgary company Dialog. HOK was the lead designer of Edmonton's Rogers Place, Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, and Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Along with the expansion of a convention center on the Calgary Stampede grounds, the new venue will be part of one phase of a revitalization plan for the area.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-opened their facilities to players for voluntary Phase 2 workouts, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Bolts closed their facilities on June 19 after unnamed players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19.Florida is considered a coronavirus hotbed. It reported 5,508 new cases overnight, bringing the total to 109,014, according to CNBC, citing data published by the state's health department.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves believes the 2020 postseason will be as intense as ever with the anticipation of hockey's return continuing to build throughout the NHL's lengthy hiatus.“You’re sitting at home for four months, training, trying to stay ready for this,” Reaves said, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. “Do you want to waste that four months for three games or five games? No. You’re going to battle your ass off.”“There’s no time to act like this is an exhibition or a tuneup, because it’s not," he added. "I expect the very first game, very first puck drop, to be a playoff atmosphere, because you only get one shot. I expect it to be absolute wars out there.”Reaves' Golden Knights, along with the St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche, will compete in a round-robin tournament to decide the top four Western Conference seeds as part of the league's expanded 24-team playoff format.Vegas won 11 of its final 13 contests before the season was suspended March 12, and Reaves believes the club can carry that momentum into the summer in hopes of capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup.“I’m anxious to get back on the ice, and I think everybody on this team is,” Reaves said. “We know we have a good team, and we have a good shot at winning the Stanley Cup. I know a lot of teams are going to say that, but we really believe that. We got the pieces. We were proving it down the stretch.”The Golden Knights' tough guy, who led the club with 47 penalty minutes this season, is also excited to continue throwing his weight around.“I’m getting the itch to put my fist through somebody’s face, or lay somebody out through the boards,” Reaves said.Training camps are slated to begin July 10, but the league and players' association have yet to agree on an exact date for Phase 4 of the return-to-play plan, which is the official resumption of play.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment resubmitted its bid for Toronto as an NHL hub city on the weekend and now proposes that players and personnel would live on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds just outside of the downtown core, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.The bid presents the idea of a "40-acre campus-like bubble" that would grant players access to facilities including BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum (home of the AHL's Toronto Marlies), the Toronto Raptors' practice facility, and Hotel X, which has 400 rooms, according to LeBrun. He added that MLSE would be willing to add other features such as food trucks and an outdoor movie theatre.Toronto's initial bid apparently focused on creating a bubble in the downtown core closer to Scotiabank Arena.The league recently cut its shortlist of hub cities from 10 to six. Columbus and Pittsburgh were officially eliminated from contention, while Minneapolis/St. Paul and Dallas are reportedly out of the mix as well.Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto are apparently the six remaining contenders to host the NHL's 24-team playoff format.The NHL reportedly expanded Phase 2 group sizes from six players to 12 on Tuesday and apparently isn't considering pushing back its July 10 start date for training camps despite 11 players testing positive for COVID-19 since Phase 2 began June 8.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus is out of the running to be a hub city.The Ohioan capital is no longer being considered to host teams if the NHL returns to finish the 2019-20 season, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.The state of Minnesota is reportedly also no longer in the running, sources told The Athletic's Michael Russo.Columbus and Minneapolis/St. Paul were among the 10 cities under initial consideration, but that list was reportedly slashed to six Saturday. Las Vegas, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto are still in the mix. Chicago is also still being considered, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."They had a lot of positives about our presentation, but they've gone in a different direction," Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "It's disappointing, but we were also among the last few cities to be considered. You take the positives along with the disappointment and you move on."The NHL is expected to announce its decision on its two hub cities by the end of this week. The league is reportedly not considering delaying its tentative July 10 start date for training camps despite 11 players testing positive for COVID-19 during Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh is officially out of the running to be a hub city for the NHL's return-to-play plan, the Penguins announced Tuesday."We know Pittsburgh would have been a great host city because of our fans and the support we received from the local business community, unions, and our political leaders. We thank commissioner (Gary) Bettman and the NHL for considering us as one of the finalists, which is a reflection on how great of a city Pittsburgh truly is," said Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse.Dallas is also no longer in the mix, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. Columbus and Minneapolis/St. Paul were ruled out on Monday.Las Vegas, Vancouver, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Chicago are the six remaining options to host the NHL's 24-team playoff format.The league is currently in Phase 2 of its return plan. It upped the limit for on- and off-ice voluntary workouts from six players to 12 starting Tuesday. Phase 3 features mandatory training camps for each club that qualified for the postseason, beginning July 10.A decision on the two hub locations is expected by the end of the week.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Spezza is rooting for former teammate Daniel Alfredsson to make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame."I would love to see Alfie get in. I hope he gets the respect that he deserves in terms of voting," the Toronto Maple Leafs forward said Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton. "He's a guy that didn't win the NHL, but won a lot internationally. He was a guy that was a huge role model for me. Foundationally in Ottawa, he's the guy that really helped bring that club to respectability, and did so much for the community on and off the ice."Alfredsson's Hall of Fame case has been highly debated since he became eligible in 2017. The 47-year-old - who retired from the NHL in 2014 - has missed the cut the past three years.While he never won a Stanley Cup, Alfredsson - who spent 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators before spending his final campaign with the Detroit Red Wings - was one of the most prominent players of his generation.He racked up 444 goals and 1,157 points in 1,246 career NHL games and took home the Calder Trophy in 1996. Alfredsson also represented Sweden 14 times internationally and helped lead the team to an Olympic gold medal in 2006, an Olympic silver medal in 2014, and numerous other medals at the World Championships.Spezza - who spent 10 seasons playing alongside Alfredsson in Ottawa - looks back fondly on their time together and said he hopes that the former winger finally gets the respect he deserves when the Hall announces its 2020 inductees Wednesday."We had great chemistry on the ice, we had great chemistry off the ice. I can't say I'm not rooting for him," Spezza said. "I'm patiently waiting to see what happens tomorrow. He's been eligible for a couple years, and it feels like this year he might have a little more of a chance. I hope he gets the respect because he's a guy that, in my opinion, deserves to be in the Hall."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.As the NHL prepares for its 24-team postseason, sportsbooks are releasing more and more odds for the uniquely formatted event.After breaking down odds for each of the highly anticipated play-in series, let's dive into the four-team battles for each conference's top seed. We begin with the Eastern Conference:TEAM ODDSBoston Bruins+130Tampa Bay Lightning+250Washington Capitals+500Philadelphia Flyers+500The formatThe teams that ranked first through fourth in their conference at the end of the abbreviated regular season will play each other in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the 16-team playoff bracket. The clubs will all play each other once at a neutral venue, with the overall winner claiming the conference's top playoff seed.Boston Bruins (+130)This format can't be pleasing to Bruce Cassidy and the Bruins, who were eight points ahead of the Lightning, 10 points above the Capitals, and 11 points up on the Flyers when the league halted play. Their impressive 70-game performance could now be undone in the span of three contests. It might feel a cruel fate for Boston, but does it really matter?The top seed won't get home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, which are expected to take place at neutral venues. The top-ranked team will get some advantages, such as last change, but the usual benefits are significantly mitigated. The top four teams' respective opponents will also be determined by the results of the play-in series, so the first seed isn't even guaranteed the easiest draw.Given all of those factors - not to mention the lengthy layoff - expect these round-robin games to lack intensity; they'll be glorified exhibition contests, which certainly doesn't play to the strengths of a Bruins team that prefers an in-your-face approach. In a three-game sample following roughly five months of inaction, I can't possibly justify taking the Bruins at such a short price.Tampa Bay Lightning (+250)After recovering from a miserable start to the season, the Lightning were on a warpath over the second half of the campaign, climbing their way up the conference standings. They were even pushing the Bruins for the top seed, though they would have had a tough time closing the distance with just 12 games remaining.This is a second chance for the Bolts, who have a real point to prove after last year's humiliating playoff exit. Tampa's versatile roster can adapt to any style of hockey, which should be a boon in an unfamiliar round-robin format.The Lightning entered the pause ranked first in the NHL in five-on-five goals and seventh in the league in hits per game - ahead of the Bruins. They also boasted a top-five power play, and they'll return to the ice armed with one of the world's best goaltenders in Andrei Vasilevskiy. In a format rife with uncertainty, the Lightning might be the safest bet to claim the Eastern Conference's top seed.Washington Capitals (+500)The Capitals could be the biggest beneficiaries of low-intensity hockey, though that isn't to say they're incapable of playing a physical game. Should these round-robin games lack intensity, penalties should be unusually infrequent. That would play perfectly into the hands of a Capitals team that had the least efficient power play among these four clubs in 2019-20 and owned a middle-of-the-pack penalty kill.Fewer man advantages would also be another reason to fade the Bruins, who had the NHL's third-best penalty kill and second-best power play this season, yet were 18th league-wide in five-on-five goals. I'd feel much better taking the Capitals at 5-1.Philadelphia Flyers (+500)No team was hotter than the Flyers when the NHL announced its shutdown. It will be interesting to see how the long layoff impacts Philadelphia's momentum, but the team has the firepower and the goaltending to match any of these clubs in a brief round-robin affair. Carter Hart is the youngest of the four starting goalies and could thus be the netminder least impacted by the break. If the 21-year-old can be the quickest to find his rhythm between the pipes, the Flyers are a terrific value bet to claim the top seed.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom was back on the ice with a small group of teammates Tuesday in his first practice since being diagnosed with cancer in December.

The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class will be announced Wednesday after the 18-member selection committee makes its choices during a virtual conference call.It's unclear when the induction ceremony will be, or when it may be possible to conduct an in-person event. But there's very little that could tarnish the moment for the players on the verge of receiving hockey's most distinguished honor, even amid the confusion of these uncertain times.With that in mind, let's break down which players could be getting the call to the Hall this week.No doubt about itJarome Iginla

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 · Former NHLer Dave BollandDave Bolland, a former NHL forward who won two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko says the added time off due to the NHL's hiatus has allowed him to strengthen his surgically repaired shoulder."I was really close to coming back and playing when the season was delayed so I got some extra time to recover," Tarasenko said Monday, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "Not even recover, extra time practicing and making it more strong. Everything is good."Tarasenko played only 10 games this season before undergoing a procedure Oct. 29 to repair a dislocated left shoulder. The Russian winger returned to practice Feb. 8 but was unable to get back into a game before the NHL suspended play March 12.In detailing his recovery, Tarasenko said he needed to get comfortable skating again before gradually adding more difficult components to his game."You start slow, you start with the basics, some exercises where you can ... not learn to skate again, but remember the feeling, and I think it'll be pretty quick (to come back)," he said."I skated a few times (during the pause) so it wasn't that hard. It's like the usual start to skating, you work on the basics and you move to harder and harder levels."Tarasenko, who led the Blues in goals in five straight campaigns entering 2019-20, felt rejuvenated from rejoining his teammates before the stoppage. With training camps set to begin July 10, the 28-year-old is excited to carry that momentum into the summer."The closer you get, the more positive emotions you have, the more happy you are for seeing the boys for the first time, skating with them," he said. "I was lucky to go on a couple road trips (before the season pause) and feel that atmosphere. I'm ready to come back and play some hockey."The Blues, along with the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights, are slated to compete in a round-robin tournament to establish the top four Western Conference playoff seeds if play returns this summer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is close to deciding which two cities will host the potential resumption of play this summer, and Vegas Golden Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee believes Las Vegas offers everything the NHL needs from a hub location.“Vegas is a hospitality town," McPhee said Monday, according to Sportsnet's Mike Johnston. "It’s a service business down there and they’re used to big, big events and they can handle this one.”The league is looking to spread the 24 returning teams out evenly between two locations in secure bubbles away from the public. While making the case for Vegas, McPhee says players would have access to everything they'll need at some of the largest hotels in North America.“Any time a tourist goes to Vegas and you get into one of the hotels, you rarely leave because they have everything there,” McPhee said. “Your meals and all your entertainment, you can work out there, theaters, sportsbook, spas, you can get a haircut, whatever you need."... These hotels, some of them have as many as six, seven thousand rooms."In terms of rink availability, McPhee said “there’s enough ice to go around," mentioning the two sheets of ice at the Golden Knights' practice facility, and two additional sheets at the Las Vegas Ice Center about a mile away.The NHL's bubbles will be very tight once play resumes, and the league isn't overly concerned about a recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Nevada and considers Vegas a strong option, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The NHL cut the list of hub-city candidates from 10 to six on Saturday, with Columbus eliminated from consideration, and Minnesota reportedly also now out of the running. Las Vegas, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Chicago reportedly remain in the mix.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares believes the NHL is doing the best it can to implement proper safety measures to ensure the season can resume and finish at some point this summer."I haven't seen any other industries institute, at least that I know in the sports world, the type of strict protocols that we have and are going to have in the NHL that has helped us and will help us be as safe as possible and give us a realistic opportunity to play," the Toronto Maple Leafs captain said Monday, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger."We continue to listen to all the health experts and health organizations which are kind of guiding us. That's the biggest thing," Tavares continued. "There's obviously unique cases and certain circumstances for any specific individual but we're in a pretty good spot with the type of testing, safety protocols, and measures that have been put into place."The league revealed Friday that out of over 200 players tested so far during Phase 2, 11 tested positive for COVID-19. While this phase is voluntary, any player who opts to participate must be tested regularly.The Maple Leafs captain is a part of the league's Return to Play committee and has been a part of ongoing discussions about players' concerns with return-to-play plans since the season was paused on March 13.He pointed to the sports leagues in Europe that have resumed as a positive sign: "We've seen overseas in some of the soccer leagues, especially in some of the countries that were hit pretty hard, how they've been able to adjust and adapt and adopt very similar protocols in the quest to play and complete their seasons. It leads me to be optimistic that we'll be able to complete our season."The NHL will reportedly allow groups of up to 12 skaters train together as of Tuesday. Groups of up to six were previously allowed under the Phase 2 guidelines. Despite the uptick of positive cases announced Friday, the league isn't planning to delay its tentative date for full team training camps beginning July 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oilers Entertainment Group is making a strong push for Edmonton to be selected as one of the NHL's hub cities.The company provided details Monday about its proposal, including those related to the player experience and safety measures it plans to implement, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.All players will stay at the JW Marriott hotel, which is across from Rogers Place. A village-style setup - similar to that used during the Olympics - will provide players with outdoor and indoor activities, including golf simulators, basketball courts, movie nights, video games, live entertainment, ping pong, pool tables, lounge areas, and rooftop patios.Arrangements will be made with more than a dozen of the city's top-end restaurants to provide players with a wide variety of food delivery options. Local golf courses will also have days dedicated to hosting only the participants living in the bubble.The players are unlikely to be joined by their families immediately upon arrival, but OEG is working with Alberta Tourism to create vacation experiences across the province for family members to take part in as the season resumes.Safety and testing protocols will be strengthened for all players, staff, and employees. Edmonton police will also help plan dedicated routes for players to use when traveling to and from the arena.The league is expected to announce by the end of this week its choice of the two hub cities. After reportedly cutting down the list from 10 cities to six on Saturday, Edmonton remains in the mix alongside Vancouver, Toronto, Las Vegas. Chicago is also still being considered, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The NHL is reportedly not considering delaying its tentative July 10 start date for training camps despite 11 players testing positive for COVID-19 during Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is expanding Phase 2 groups from six to 12 skaters for on-ice workouts beginning Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Voluntary on- and off-ice workouts, known as Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan, were permitted to begin on June 8. Phase 3 of the plan features mandatory training camps for all 24 teams that qualified for the expanded playoff field, beginning July 10.The NHL reportedly doesn't plan to push back the start date for training camps despite a recent increase in positive COVID-19 tests around the league.The Tampa Bay Lightning shut down team facilities on Friday after three players and additional staff tested positive. The league announced later Friday that it's had 11 positive tests out of 200 since Phase 2 began.The NHL and players' association still need to finalize agreements on the return-to-play plan. The biggest hurdle remains finding two viable hub cities to host the teams in two groups of 12. The list of those possible cities has reportedly been cut to six.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran forward Chris Thorburn announced Monday that he has officially retired from professional hockey.Thorburn, 37, was unsigned for the 2019-20 campaign and last suited up for the St. Louis Blues, winning the Stanley Cup last year."It was an unbelievable ride with a storybook ending. As tough as it is to close this chapter, I am excited for the new adventures ahead for myself and my family," Thorburn said.The Buffalo Sabres drafted Thorburn 50th overall in 2001. He had stints with the Sabres, Penguins, Thrashers, Jets, and Blues over his 14-year career.He finishes his career 134 points in 801 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2021 World Championship will take place from May 21 to June 6, the IIHF announced Monday.The tournament will be split between Minsk, Belarus, and Riga, Latvia. The 16-team field will be divided into two groups. Group A features Belarus, Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, and Great Britain. Group B includes Latvia, Canada, Finland, United States, Germany, Norway, Italy, and Kazakhstan.This year's World Championship was supposed to be held in Switzerland in May but was canceled in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.Finland defeated Canada in last year's final to capture gold.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur isn't ready to become the club's general manager if the opportunity arises in the near future."I know what it takes to be a GM," Brodeur said Thursday, according to The Hockey News' Matt Larkin. "I've been around Doug Armstrong (with the St. Louis Blues) for a long time and Lou Lamoriello (with the Devils)."I'm just not ready for the commitment, regardless of whether it would be offered to me."The Hall of Fame netminder spent three years as assistant general manager with the St. Louis Blues after ending his playing career in 2015. In August 2018, he joined the Devils and took on a business-development position before moving to a hockey operations role in January 2020 following the firing of former general manager Ray Shero.New Jersey replaced Shero with Tom Fitzgerald, who said earlier in June that nothing has changed regarding his interim status. Though Brodeur isn't immediately interested in the position, the 48-year-old didn't rule it out down the road."I’m not saying that one day, I won’t say, 'You know what? This is the time for me to do it, maybe,'" Brodeur said. "But right now, I value my time off too much to get myself involved. Not that I’m not involved, as in my role I need to be pretty much present, but I’m able to kind of make my own schedule and not rely on the general manager setup."Brodeur logged 1,259 games with the Devils before playing his final seven contests with the Blues in 2014-15. He holds NHL records for wins (691) and shutouts (125), and Brodeur captured three Stanley Cups with New Jersey (1995, 2000, and 2003). The Quebec native was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nico Hischier is making the most out of his free time during an offseason that's been extended due to the coronavirus pandemic.The New Jersey Devils forward has been fulfilling his military obligation in his native Switzerland, according to NHL.com's David Satriano. Service is mandatory for all able-bodied male Swiss citizens once they turn 18 years old."This summer is 18 weeks, and then every summer for the next six-to-seven years I have to be there for three weeks - but just from Monday to Thursday - you have to be at that training center," Hischier said on Saturday. "If you (play in) the World Championships tournament for Switzerland, that counts as well (for up to three weeks)."The 21-year-old notes the routine is different for athletes who serve in the army, and that it's mostly just training with no access to weapons. He hasn't been given his rank yet, but he'll become a sports soldier upon his completion of service this summer."We didn't do that much army stuff yet," Hischier added. "It's more of wearing the right clothes when we go to the training center. They have everything there so you are really able to work out good and do your military service as well. One reason I did it was because I needed to stay in shape, because I didn't know where to go since gyms weren't open and I couldn't just work out at home.""Because of the coronavirus, for the first four weeks we were at home, and did a home-schooling kind of thing," he continued. "We had exercises on the computer we had to basically learn. After that, we went to a training center where the army for athletes is. We started with some 45-minute meetings where we learn (first aid). We were there from Monday to Friday and we work out twice a day."Hischier is on track to complete his initial service in mid-August.The 2017 first overall pick scored 14 goals and added 22 assists in 58 games this season. He inked a seven-year, $50.75-million contract in October, which kicks in next season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL shortened its list of 10 potential hub cities to six with Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Vegas still in the running, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun adds that the "hope and expectation" is for the NHL and NHLPA to agree on two hub cities by the end of this upcoming week.Vancouver has picked up steam to be selected as one of the two destinations, according to Sportsnet's Satiar Shah.On Friday, the Canadian government approved the NHL's proposal to use a cohort quarantine approach for players entering Canada. Though players will not be permitted to completely avoid the mandated 14-day quarantine upon entering the country, they can immediately begin training at team facilities while keeping away from the public.The league confirmed that 11 players tested positive for the coronavirus since Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan commenced June 8. Despite the recent wave of positive tests, the league reportedly isn't considering pushing back its July 10 start date for training camps.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite a recent influx of positive COVID-19 cases among players and staff across the league, the NHL is not considering pushing back the tentative July 10 start date for training camps, sources told The Athletic's Michael Russo and James Mirtle.On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning shut down their training facilities amid Phase 2 of the league's return-to-play plan after three players and two staff members tested positive.Not long after, the NHL announced 11 players out of 200 administered tests league-wide have seen positive results since June 8 - the start date of Phase 2.The current phase allows teams to host voluntary on- and off-ice training sessions at their home facilities for a maximum of six players. The opening of training camps for the 24 teams that qualified for the expanded playoffs will mark the start of Phase 3.The NHL and players' association are yet to finalize agreements on the return-to-play plan. Among their biggest upcoming decisions is selecting two logistically viable hub cities that can safely host 12 teams along with staff and families.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A one-of-a-kind Connor McDavid rookie card sold for a final bid of $113,176 on Friday in the Lelands Spring Classic Auction.Bidding started at $2,500, and other versions of the 2015-16 Upper Deck "The Cup" rookie patch autograph card have sold for upward of $50,000. However, this iteration was 97 of 99, which matched McDavid's jersey number and increased the value significantly.The seller, John from San Diego, came across the card by happenstance after being invited to a hockey card case break at a local collectible store."I'm recently retired after 30 years of being a carpenter. I had never really collected a card in my life. A friend of mine last year got me into breaking cards as a hobby and really enjoyed it," he told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.The card is likely to grow in value as McDavid continues his trajectory toward all-time-great status, but John had no issues with putting it up for auction right away."I don't really have an emotional attachment to the sport," he said. "It never really crossed my mind to hold on to it. If I put it in a shoebox in my closet, it's not doing anything. It would be better for someone else (to have it)."McDavid is fresh off his fifth NHL season and ranked second in league scoring with 97 points in 64 contests. The 23-year-old already has two scoring titles and an MVP to his name, and his career 1.34 points-per-game rate ranks fifth all time among players with a minimum 300 games played.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2019-20 NHL campaign remains on pause, but it's never too early to look ahead to the offseason. With that in mind, theScore's hockey editors are evaluating the best players that could be available in unrestricted free agency, whenever that occurs.Zdeno Chara and Jay Bouwmeester were omitted from this list because they're unlikely to switch teams if they continue playing.Forwards | Defensemen | Goaltenders1. Alex Pietrangelo Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyHandedness: Right

The 2019-20 NHL campaign remains on pause, but it's never too early to look ahead to the offseason. With that in mind, theScore's hockey editors are evaluating the best players who could be available in unrestricted free agency, whenever that occurs.Forwards | Defensemen | Goaltenders1. Robin Lehner Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge: 28

The NHL announced Friday that 11 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since the league began Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan on June 8.All players who tested positive have self-isolated and followed health protocols, the league said.Over 200 players have been using team training facilities in groups of up to six on a voluntary basis during the second phase of the league's restart plan. All players taking part in voluntary activities have been subject to mandatory testing.The Tampa Bay Lightning disclosed earlier Friday that they have temporarily closed their facilities after three players and additional staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has reportedly tested positive.The league added it will provide weekly updates detailing the number of tests administered and the aggregate results of those tests as it works to resume its season. The identities of players and the clubs for which they play will not be disclosed.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has tested positive for the coronavirus, two NHL sources told Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun on Friday.Matthews has reportedly gone into quarantine at his home in Arizona.Several unidentified Arizona Coyotes players who were training alongside Matthews recently tested positive, according to Simmons, whose sources also indicated Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen did not test positive.Andersen had been spending time with Matthews during the pause, but is no longer living with him and isn't in the state anymore.The team neither confirmed nor denied the report in a statement issued Friday evening."Per the National Hockey League protocol with respect to COVID-19, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not be commenting on reports surrounding testing for any of the club's players or staff," the team said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston."A person's medical information in this regard is private. The club will defer to the NHL's policy on handling the disclosure of positive test results, in that the league will provide updates on a regular basis with aggregate totals of the number of tests conducted and number of positive tests reported without disclosing either the identities of affected clubs or players."Arizona has been a hotspot for COVID-19. The state has recorded a new single-day record of 3,246 cases since Thursday, when it set its previous high mark with 2,519 cases, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.The Tampa Bay Lightning shut down their training facilities earlier Friday after three unnamed players and multiple staff members tested positive.Unnamed players on the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, and Pittsburgh Penguins have also been confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus since March.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have temporarily shut down training facilities amid Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan after multiple members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the team announced Friday.Three unnamed players and additional staff members tested positive. The players have been asymptomatic aside from a few cases of low-grade fever, and have been self-isolating. Everybody that has been in contact with the individuals has been notified.The team's facilities will remain temporarily shut down until it can be deemed safe for players and staff to return.Florida is one of multiple COVID-19 hotbeds across the United States. The state reported a single-day record of nearly 4,000 new cases, according to CNN.While the Lightning are the only team to shut down facilities, new cases have appeared elsewhere around the league over the past week, sources told The Athletic's Joe Smith and Michael Russo.The NHL initiated Phase 2 on June 8, allowing all 24 teams in the expanded playoff field to open facilities for voluntary workouts with a maximum of six players. The next step of the plan is to open training camps July 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Canadian government approved the NHL's proposal to use a cohort quarantine approach for players entering Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday, according to The Canadian Press.Players won't be permitted to completely bypass the mandated 14-day quarantine upon entering the country, but they can immediately begin training at team facilities while separating themselves from the general public.Freeland added the cohort quarantines would involve regular screenings, and she stressed the importance of players closely following the directives of medical officers.The league has reportedly shown interest in using at least one of Vancouver, Edmonton, or Toronto as a hub city to host teams if play resumes this summer. The mandatory 14-day quarantine was seen as a major factor hindering the possibility of choosing a Canadian city.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MacKenzie Blackwood's play early in his career has impressed New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history."The future is bright for him. He’s a big body. He plays really well," Brodeur said of Blackwood, according to The Hockey News' Matt Larkin. "If there’s one thing he’s gonna need to learn, it’s to play the puck a little bit better, just be a little more assertive with it. He’s got the skills to do it. It was just never his game, really."And at the NHL level, you need to be able to at least help your players and not be a problem back there as far as having the puck and controlling your rebounds and all that."Brodeur, who backstopped the Devils from 1993 until 2014 while winning three Stanley Cups and four Vezina Trophies, currently serves as the team's executive vice-president of hockey operations and senior advisor.The 23-year-old Blackwood just completed his first season in the NHL as a starting goaltender. He put together an impressive 22-14-8 record alongside a .915 save percentage and 2.77 goals-against average while playing behind a middling Devils squad.Brodeur added that although he liked what he saw from Blackwood on the ice, the Hall of Famer also learned the young goalie possesses the mindset to succeed in the NHL."But we’ve learned a lot about him, what type of player he is, what type of person he is. The players love to play for him, so that’s a good sign," Brodeur said. "He works really hard, and that, for a goalie, is a good thing.”Blackwood, who will hit free agency following the 2019-20 season, expressed interest in re-signing long term with the Devils.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The three Canadian cities seeking to host NHL games under the league's return-to-play plan appear to have cleared a significant hurdle.Canada's government issued an order in council that would allow Edmonton, Toronto, or Vancouver to serve as one of the NHL's two hub cities if play resumes, a federal official told The Canadian Press on Thursday.The order, which would reportedly green-light a "cohort quarantine," still needs to be signed by the country's Governor General.It would let the league work around Canada's mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all individuals entering the nation.The NHL reportedly had to provide a plan that adhered to Canada's public health requirements before the government went ahead with the order.On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was open to having one of its cities serve as a hub for the NHL as long as it was approved by local health authorities.The three aforementioned Canadian cities were among 10 in North America that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said were under consideration when the league unveiled its 24-team playoff plan in late May.Deputy commissioner Bill Daly later said the league would be open to having a Canadian city serve as one of the hubs, but that the 14-day quarantine period could prevent it.Earlier in May, Trudeau said "anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner," but he added that the implications of the border rule on the NHL were unclear.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains graphic contentFormer CHL players Daniel Carcillo and Garrett Taylor initiated a proposed class-action lawsuit against the Canadian Hockey League and its three major junior leagues.In the proposed lawsuit, Carcillo and Taylor allege widespread abuse, hazing, and bullying of underage players by senior players, team staff, and coaches."Survivors of such abuse have come forward and continue to come forward to this day," the statement of claim reads, according to TSN's Rick Westhead. "However, the defendants have stubbornly ignored or failed to reasonably address this institutionalized and systemic abuse."Rather than respond to or make meaningful attempts to prevent such abuse, the defendants have instead perpetuated a toxic environment that condones violent, discriminatory, racist, sexualized, and homophobic conduct, including physical and sexual assault, on the underage players they are obligated to protect."In the 46-page document filed in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto on Thursday, Carcillo and Taylor described multiple alleged incidents. Those include players urinating and spitting on rookies in showers while a head coach laughed it off, and first-year players being struck on their bare buttocks with a sawed-off goalie stick.The allegations have not been proven, nor has the CHL responded to Thursday's legal action.The proposed lawsuit is seeking damages for "negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and a declaration that the teams and the leagues are vicariously liable for abuse perpetrated by their employees and players," according to The Canadian Press."It is on behalf of underage minors who suffered violent hazing, physical and sexual assault, and psychological trauma while playing major junior hockey," Carcillo wrote in a statement Thursday."I believe this case will give those who were abused a chance to be heard," he continued. "In my experience, sharing stories of abuse is part of the healing process. It allows a person to take the power back. I also believe that this lawsuit will create real, positive change in Canadian junior hockey. This type of abuse has nothing to do with the sport and it needs to stop."Carcillo, who twice won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, played three OHL seasons with the Sarnia Sting and the Mississauga IceDogs. He retired from the NHL after nine campaigns in 2015.Taylor spent parts of two seasons in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Prince Albert Raiders.The OHL, Waterloo Regional Police, and the Kitchener Rangers are investigating recent allegations made by former Ranger Eric Guest. He said a veteran player forced him and a young teammate to do cocaine when Guest was 16.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lias Andersson's tenure with the New York Rangers appears to be over for good.The seventh overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft has declined an invitation to join the team for training camp and is opting to remain in his native Sweden, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.Andersson will play the 2020-21 season in Sweden if the Rangers do not trade him and could do so even if he is dealt, depending on the timing of a deal, Brooks added.The 21-year-old forward reportedly requested a trade in December. The Rangers loaned him to HV71 of the Swedish league in January.Andersson has tallied nine points in 66 NHL games across three seasons with New York.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's Eastern and Western conferences could find themselves switching places when play resumes."The NHL's preference would be that a home team doesn't play in its own hub," TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading." "That is to say if Vegas were to be a hub, the Vegas Golden Knights wouldn't play in Vegas, they would play in the other hub. That's the preference."The switch would presumably be made in an effort to avoid giving players on any one team the distinct advantage of playing and living in their home city for the duration of the playoffs.It's possible, however, that both hub cities will be located in the same conference, making such an advantage unavoidable."It's entirely conceivable that both hubs could be in the West," McKenzie continued. "So let's say it's Vegas and Vancouver, or Vegas and Edmonton - distinct possibilities. That would mean one of Vegas or Vancouver would be at home in one of those two cities. Or one of Edmonton or Vegas would have to be at home."McKenzie noted that Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Las Vegas are all still in the running to serve as hubs for the league's 24-team playoff. He did not specify if any of the other six cities among the original 10 candidates - Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Pittsburgh - are still under consideration.The league is expected to announce Monday the two cities that will each host 12 teams, John Katsilometes of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported earlier in June.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Marner likes what he's seen so far from the NHL in terms of keeping its players and staff safe, and has faith in the league to continue to do so."I think the NHL has everything under control through what I've seen through the last week or so," the Toronto Maple Leafs forward said Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "They’re doing all the right things to make sure no one's in the wrong or going to be in a bad place if anything happens."I think they're going to do what's best for their athletes and make sure that they're willing to look after us and take care of us."Marner is one of a handful of Leafs players who have returned to the team's facilities amid Phase 2 of the league's return-to-play plan. During this phase, players are allowed to train in groups of up to six and need to take a number of measures to ensure one another's safety.Players' temperatures are checked daily when they enter the facility, they undergo twice-weekly nasal swab tests, and they're required to wear masks when they're not working out, among other regulations.While the circumstances are far from normal, Marner added that he's enjoyed being able to get back together with some teammates. He's been hitting the ice with John Tavares, Ilya Mikheyev, Jake Muzzin, Cody Ceci, and Jack Campbell."It's great getting back out there with a couple of the guys and getting to enjoy all that stuff and hanging out in the locker room again with them," Marner said. "It's something that I think a lot of guys really do enjoy, just being in the locker room and kind of just joke around and chirp each other."The league tentatively aims to initiate Phase 3 of its return-to-play plan on July 10, which would allow teams to open up training camps in full for all players.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets activated star defenseman Seth Jones off injured reserve, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Thursday.Jones missed the club's final 14 regular-season games before the pause in mid-March due to an ankle injury, which came with an 8-10 week recovery timeline. He'll be able to join the club when training camps open July 10 and is expected to suit up for Columbus' play-in best-of-five series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.The Blue Jackets sorely missed Jones while he was injured, winning just three of 14 contests without their defensive leader. The 25-year-old rearguard was putting together another terrific campaign before he was hurt, registering 30 points in 56 games while averaging over 25 minutes per night against opponents' top offensive threats.Columbus also activated defenseman Dean Kukan off the IR on Thursday. He missed 29 games before the pause due to a knee injury.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin is healthy again and hopes to rekindle the confidence he had early in the 2019-20 season if and when the NHL returns to the ice this summer."I just want to grab what I did in that first (part of the) season and bring it to whenever hockey starts again," Drouin told Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "In those three months (away from hockey) I looked at some of those games and the reason I was playing well, the reason was I was skating. You look at those things and you want to bring those things back when hockey comes around again. But, definitely, I want to go back to that same pace and that same feeling I had."Drouin started his season with 15 points in 19 games but suffered a wrist tendon injury in November that kept him out of Montreal's lineup for nearly three months. He suited up for eight contests in February but was sidelined with an ankle injury shortly before the league suspended play.Prior to his first injury, Drouin believes he was playing his best hockey since the Canadiens acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017."I felt way more comfortable in the first couple of months of the season than I had ever been in Montreal," he said. "Just playing hockey, it didn't matter. The team was playing well, I was playing well, and I just felt good about my game at the time. And I felt confident going against any team and in any building ... At least I saw I can be an impact player every night if I show up and play the game I’m supposed to play, and that was a good time for me."The Canadiens captured the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference and are slated to battle the Pittsburgh Penguins in a best-of-five to advance to the traditional 16-team playoff format.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.