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 it begins.Forwards | Defensemen | Goaltenders (June 20)Justin Williams, Joe Thornton, and Mikko Koivu are not included in this list because they're unlikely to hit the open market if they play in 2020-21.1. Taylor HallPosition: LW

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 · The Athletic prospects writer Scott WheelerScott Wheeler, an NHL draft and prospects writer for The Athletic, joins the show to discuss a variety of draft-related topics, including:

Arizona State Sun Devils forward Dominic Garcia revealed Wednesday night that he's been the subject of racist slurs throughout his time in the hockey world.In a statement issued through the program, the 23-year-old said an opposing player called him the N-word for the first time at age 10. Garcia also divulged that he was called the same slur while concession snacks were thrown at him as he was walking back to the dressing room at the intermission of a junior game when he was 19."It's numbing," Garcia wrote. "I question if I made the mistake and misheard them. When reality sets in - that I heard what I heard - a deep pain and sadness comes over you. It's a feeling that lingers no matter what unfolds the rest of the day. It occupies your mind, even though I (along with many others) continue to put on a brave face."The Sun Devils alternate captain said that at age 17, he stayed behind on the team bus after a game while everyone else left to go eat because the area they were in was "known to be racially confrontational."Garcia added that he's experienced racism outside of hockey as well and that he "should be seen as an equal to all."The Las Vegas-born winger also shared a photo of himself playing against K'Andre Miller, the New York Rangers prospect and then-University of Wisconsin defenseman who was targeted by a racist hacker during a video call with the NHL club in April."To you all, it may look like two players on opposing teams battling for the puck," Garcia wrote. "To me, I see a great person and hockey player in K'Andre. But I also see two black men in a predominantly white sport, who overcame adversity from not only a performance-based standpoint, but racial adversity as well. Two men who play at some of the highest levels of hockey but still continue to fight for equality."Garcia played his junior season with Arizona State in 2019-20.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Western Hockey League has a tentative plan to begin its next campaign in the fall.The league confirmed Wednesday it is targeting a start date of Oct. 2 for the 2020-21 regular season, but that date is dependent on approval from government and health officials."The WHL is committed to protecting the integrity of the WHL regular-season schedule and fully intends to complete a full 68-game schedule for 2020-21, regardless of when the season begins," the league said in a statement.It added it will work with authorities in relevant regions to determine how many fans will be permitted to attend games once play resumes.The WHL's 2019-20 campaign began on Sept. 20. The league halted play on March 12 and canceled the rest of the schedule six days later amid the COVID-19 outbreak.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Andrew Raycroft was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006, he was ecstatic to get the chance to play near his hometown of Belleville, Ontario.Unfortunately for the netminder, things didn't go as planned."It started to snowball on me, getting more and more difficult," Raycroft said of his two seasons in Toronto, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle. "I just didn't know what to do. I wasn't Martin Brodeur. I wasn't Patrick Roy, where I had the talent or the pedigree to just to play my way out of it. I needed confidence and I needed mental clarity and I wasn't able to find that."Raycroft showed immense promise as a young goaltender, taking home the Calder Trophy in 2004 while with the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs, who were looking for an immediate answer in net at the time, traded the rights to Tuukka Rask to bring in Raycroft.He started 71 games in his first season with the Leafs and went 37-25-9 with an .894 save percentage and 2.99 goals-against average. His peripheral numbers dipped as the year went on, and Toronto eventually missed the playoffs by a single point.With the roller coaster of ups and downs during his first year and constant media spotlight, Raycroft believes he may have periodically suffered from depression."I don't know. I'm sure there was. I wasn't happy, that's for sure," he said. "It was hard for me to be excited about anything and get to the rink. ... I don't know if it was depression clinically or what exactly that feels like, but there was certainly times when I was really sad and just didn't want to deal with anything."It was still at a time where it wasn't frowned upon but (getting help) wasn't encouraged by any means. And it goes to the point of me not really having the confidence to go and ask for help and just trying to deal with it myself. I don't really have many regrets. I tried my best. But I wish I asked for help."Raycroft pointed to the constant pressure from the media in Toronto as a key reason why he didn't seek help."It would have made miles of difference, I believe, had I been able to just go and talk to someone," he added. "But if that had got out in the media that I was going to see someone? I was scared of that happening and looking even more weak than not just playing bad and losing games, but also looking like I can't handle it."His second season in Toronto was one of the worst of his career, as he won just twice in 19 games. He was bought out of his contract in the summer of 2008 and served as a backup goalie with the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars before he tried his luck overseas in 2012. He retired from pro hockey in 2014.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy could use the round-robin tournament among the Eastern Conference's top four teams to ease some of his older players back into action from the lengthy layoff."We absolutely could rest players," Cassidy said Monday, according to NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty"Do our veterans need all three games to get to the top of their game? Even if they do, should we play them and risk injuries? There’s a lot that goes into it. I think every team is probably going to have a little of the same approach (in the round robin) and they are going to want to be at their best and healthiest headed into the playoffs."Entering the season, the Bruins boasted the fourth-oldest roster in the NHL with an average age of 28.5, per The Athletic's James Mirtle. Several of the Bruins' core players, including 43-year-old captain Zdeno Chara, are over the age of 31 and played more games than nearly every team in 2018-19 after reaching the Stanley Cup Final.The Bruins, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning are set to compete in a round-robin tournament to determine the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference. The winning team will secure "home-ice advantage" throughout the conference stage but will only benefit by having the last change, since games are set to be played at two hub cities without fans in attendance.Cassidy says the decision regarding the players' workload during the tournament ultimately rests with them."Would we like to win all three games? Of course, in a perfect world, but I think with all teams there's going to be some sort of a preseason mentality worked in with how the lineups are constructed every game," Cassidy said."But if the (veteran players) want to play every game then I'm going to listen to them. It's their bodies and they would know best. Then in the last game in the third period, we're going to shut our eyes and hope nobody gets hurt."The Bruins owned a league-best 44-14-12 record when play was suspended in March and had a six-point cushion on the second-place St. Louis Blues.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL players won't be required to wear full face shields if the season resumes this summer, sources told The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The NHL and NHLPA have focused on testing and other off-ice safety precautions rather than equipment changes amid return-to-play negotiations, Whyno added.Despite the NHL not requiring any equipment alterations, Bauer Hockey released new protective gear on Wednesday for players, coaches, fans, and parents who may need it. The new equipment includes the Concept 3 Splash Guard, which "provides additional protection around the mouth while maintaining a high level of vision and breathability."

Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula took a buzzsaw to their hockey operations department Tuesday, firing general manager Jason Botterill and assistant GMs Steve Greeley and Randy Sexton. A number of other staffers, including scouts and AHL coaches, are reportedly being let go as well.The lone replacement thus far: Kevyn Adams, who's taking over for Botterill after serving in various coaching, development, and business roles within the organization. The ex-NHL forward has no previous experience as an NHL GM.Adams, who grew up in the Buffalo area as a Sabres fan, is the third GM the Pegulas have hired since buying the franchise in 2011. The 45-year-old will work closely with head coach Ralph Krueger, who has previous executive experience in Premier League soccer. This season, Krueger's first behind the Sabres' bench, Buffalo finished with the NHL's seventh-worst record (30-31-8), narrowly missing entry into the league's proposed 24-team return-to-play tournament.Given the state of the franchise - a nine-year playoff drought and five wasted seasons of superstar forward Jack Eichel's career - Adams' to-do list this offseason is miles long.Here's our recommended starting points:Don't lose Reinhart, Ullmark negotiationsAdams has inherited a hefty offseason workload from Botterill, so the hockey world won't have to wait long to judge his GM chops.Fun fact: Of the Sabres' 22 players on their NHL roster, 12 are pending free agents. Of those 12, nine are forwards - most notably restricted free agent Sam Reinhart - two are defensemen, and the other is goalie Linus Ullmark, who's also an RFA.Reinhart's two-year, $7.3-million bridge deal is set to expire, and the Sabres simply cannot lose the upcoming negotiations with the 24-year-old's camp. Thanks to previous GM blunders, the club is already significantly overpaying wingers Jeff Skinner ($9 million a year until 2026) and Kyle Okposo ($6 million a year until 2023), leaving little room for error.That being said, Reinhart - who followed up a 65-point showing in 2018-19 with 50 points over 69 games this season - is due for a solid raise from his current $3.65-million annual salary. He has been paired with Eichel for the bulk of his career and has produced at a first-line rate (0.64 points per game) through 400 NHL contests. He's a reliable contributor, a superstar sidekick worthy of remaining in the fold, so something in the neighborhood of $6 million to $7 million a year - depending on the term length - would be a fair deal. Bill Wippert / NHL / Getty ImagesKeep in mind there's a difference between "winning" and "not losing" contract negotiations. It's really difficult for a team to win when the player has impressive counting stats and arbitration rights, like Reinhart. But surely Adams can find a way to either get Reinhart locked in for the long term at a reasonable price, or use arbitration as a way to push meaningful extension talks down the road a year when the global pandemic has, hopefully, abated.To a lesser extent, negotiations with Ullmark are also key to Adams setting the right tone early in his tenure. Ullmark outdueled No. 1 goalie Carter Hutton this past season, posting an impressive .930 five-on-five save percentage in 34 games. Making sure the big Swede remains happy should be a top priority. Buffalo desperately needs stability in net, and Ullmark - who is coming off a one-year deal and has arbitration rights, too - has shown flashes of starter potential.Be very cautious with UFA veteransAmong the many issues plaguing the Sabres in the Eichel era has been a lack of depth at both forward and defense.Up front, it's been Eichel, a few decent pieces, and not much else. On the back end, it's been Rasmus Dahlin, a couple of decent pieces, and not much else. There have been slim pickings for the revolving door of coaches tasked with getting the most out of the bottom-six forward group and third blue-line pairing.This dynamic might lead Adams to look at veteran forwards Michael Frolik and Wayne Simmonds - who have appeared in a combined 26 games for Buffalo following trades in early 2020 - and see an easy, comfortable solution. You can talk yourself into mapping out a season-opening lineup featuring Frolik and Simmonds, two big, strong wingers who have produced at the NHL level. After all, the Sabres finished 26th in goals per game this season. They need goals, badly.At the same time, Adams is coming in with no previous ties to these players. Since we can assume Simmonds and Frolik are looking for the longest commitments they can get, Adams should definitely proceed with caution. Let both get paid by other teams instead of grasping at straws by serving juicy medium- or long-term offers to guys in their 30s. Depth can be found elsewhere.A similar line of thinking can be applied to younger UFA forwards Jimmy Vesey, Zemgus Girgensons, and Johan Larsson. The 2020 offseason might be Adams' only chance to clear the deck by moving on from players who either haven't met expectations or don't check all the right boxes for his vision of the roster. For all his faults, Botterill left Adams with some free passes.Hit a home run with top 2020 pickSince 2010, the Sabres have selected a total of 12 players in the first round of the draft, headlined by Eichel, Dahlin, and Reinhart.Otherwise, the returns have been middling. Mark Pysyk, Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, and Alex Nylander all play elsewhere. Girgensons and Rasmus Ristolainen are everyday NHLers with the Sabres. And Casey Mittelstadt (eighth overall in 2017) and Dylan Cozens (seventh overall in 2019) are still developing. Len Redkoles / NHL / Getty ImagesSo that's three hits - at first overall and second overall twice, mind you - a bunch of partial hits or misfires, and two wait-and-sees. Making matters worse is Buffalo's lack of overall draft success. Case in point: The Sabres' only two picks since 2010 that would qualify as late-round gems are Ullmark (sixth round in 2012) and Victor Olofsson (seventh round in 2014).The June 26 draft lottery will probably stand as Adams' first official piece of business as GM, and Buffalo enters the event with moderate odds of landing in the top three (6.5% chance at winning the first overall pick, 6.8% for second, and 7.1% for third; the team has a much more significant chance of landing between Nos. 7 and 9).It shouldn't be too difficult to find a keeper with the first-rounder considering this year's strong draft crop, especially in the top half of the round. That's a nice gift for a rookie GM - although losing several scouts ahead of the draft puts Adams at a serious disadvantage. And yes, this is the type of to-do item that might not bear fruit for a few years, but it's still important. The Sabres won't find sustained success until they reverse their fortunes at the draft table.Untangle Ristolainen, Pilut messesThere are two question marks on the Sabres' defense: RFA Lawrence Pilut has the option to leave for the KHL, and Ristolainen, who's been in the rumor mill for years, admitted last month that he could be moved soon.The circumstances surrounding each player's situation differ, but Adams' approach should be the same. He needs to figure out, sooner rather than later, if either is a part of the team's future and act accordingly.Ristolainen's purgatory under Botterill, and now Pilut's apparent willingness to jump ship, sends an unseemly message to prospective free agents about playing in Buffalo. Adams, as the new guy, can smooth over those outside opinions and improve his club on the ice by thoughtfully taking care of business.Be open with the fan baseLauded for his communication and leadership skills, Krueger has been a breath of fresh air since arriving in Buffalo. He's open, honest, and authentic. Fans are in his corner.Botterill, left, Terry Pegula and former team president Russ Brandon in 2018. Bill Wippert / NHL / Getty ImagesBotterill didn't do anything particularly wrong on the communication front. He was accountable for his actions, and no one can accuse him of being a jerk to fans or media. But there was always something missing between the ex-GM and Sabres fans. There seemed to be a level of distrust throughout his tenure.Perhaps a connection can only be forged through sound decision-making and a job well done. Winning is the best deodorant, as they say. Either way, Adams has an opportunity to change the narrative. It'll certainly be a tall task in the short term thanks to Tuesday's mass firings. However, the passionate fan base is knowledgeable enough to know its anger and frustration should be directed towards the Pegulas, and not Adams.If the local guy can successfully tap into the human side of the job, he might be able to carve out a little more runway with fans who are understandably at their wits' end. Adams doesn't need to panic and push all his chips to the middle of the table, but he must be aware of how much the Buffalo market is clamoring for playoff hockey. You can only sell hope for so long.It's been nine dreadful years. Given the state of the roster and the strength of the Atlantic Division, there will likely be more suffering to come. What will earn Adams respect is progress. Moving the Sabres in the right direction, starting this offseason, would be a strong start.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The CEO of Seattle's NHL franchise says the organization will continue to hold off on revealing the team name amid widespread protests against police brutality as well as the coronavirus pandemic."It's not the right time," Tod Leiweke told The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker on Tuesday. "Vegas did it a year out. We've got ample time, and the thing this organization will never be is tone-deaf. So we've got to pick the right time, and we've got to make sure all of our ducks are in a row."Leiweke added that the team may wait until October to announce its name and that it has started designing logos and uniforms for several possible names. He also noted the club is working through "myriad" trademarking issues."If you do just one (name), then you've left yourself hostage to any sort of challenge," Leiweke said. "So we've had to do multiple (trade)marks, and that's about where we are."The Seattle franchise won't begin play until 2021-22. The regular season normally begins in October, but it remains to be seen how the schedule will be affected if the 2020-21 campaign begins later than usual because of delays in 2019-20.Leiweke said Tuesday that the reopening of KeyArena following renovations is expected to be postponed at least two months until late in the summer of 2021 due to the coronavirus. That timeline is not expected to affect the team's on-ice debut.Seattle general manager Ron Francis said last July that the club was aiming to unveil its name in early 2020, but that plan was put on hold in March amid the COVID-19 outbreak.The Vegas Golden Knights revealed their name and logo in November 2016 before beginning play in the fall of 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Waterloo Regional Police, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Kitchener Rangers are investigating allegations that a Rangers player forced younger teammates to do cocaine at a rookie party in 2016, according to The Canadian Press.Eric Guest, who played for the Rangers from 2016-2019, said Monday that one veteran player forced Guest and another younger player to try the drug in a bathroom. Guest said he was 16 at the time."It was him and then me and another young kid and we were locked in that bathroom and he said, 'you are not allowed out of this bathroom until you do this,'" Guest said in a video shared on Instagram.Guest did not disclose any names, but he said the older player had already been drafted to the NHL at the time of the incident.The Rangers issued a statement Tuesday saying they became aware of the allegations Monday night and contacted local authorities."These allegations involve former players with our team and are extremely serious and potentially criminal conduct," the team said, adding that it will cooperate with the OHL's investigation.Guest split the 2019-20 season between the Caledonia Corvairs and the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as general manager and replaced him with senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams, the team announced Tuesday."This morning, we informed Jason Botterill he will no longer be the general manager of the Sabres," owners Terry and Kim Pegula said in a statement."This decision was made after many candid discussions with Jason during a full review of our hockey operation. We recognized we have philosophical differences regarding how best to put ourselves in a position to compete for a Stanley Cup. So, we decided to make this change."The Pegulas reversed course after Kim said in May that Botterill would be back with the club as general manager for the 2020-21 campaign.Kim Pegula said at the press conference that the draft being pushed back gave the organization more time to evaluate his performance and start planning for the future, according to The Athletic's John Vogl.Botterill was named general manager in May 2017. The Sabres missed the playoffs and finished 25th or lower in league standings during all three years of his tenure.Sabres captain Jack Eichel recently voiced his displeasure with the direction of the club after another trying season: "I'm fed up with losing," he said, admitting that failing to qualify for the NHL's expanded 24-team playoff format only "adds to the frustration."Some of Botterill's major moves during his time as general manager include signing Eichel to an eight-year, $80-million deal in October 2017 and trading away Ryan O'Reilly and Evander Kane in separate deals. Botterill also acquired winger Jeff Skinner prior to the 2018-19 campaign and signed him to an eight-year, $72-million contract last June.Adams becomes the Sabres' fourth general manager since the Pegulas took ownership of the team in 2011. The club's nine-year playoff drought is currently the longest in the NHL.Buffalo also fired several front-office and staff members of the AHL's Rochester Americans, including general manager Randy Sexton (who was Buffalo's assistant GM), head coach Chris Taylor, and assistant coaches Gord Dineen and Toby Petersen. The Amerks went 33-20-4 this season, finishing second in the North Division.Sabres director of amateur scouting Ryan Jankowski and a "good chunk" of the team's amateur staff were also let go, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Botterill inherited a tough situation with the Buffalo Sabres when he was brought on as general manager in 2017. Though he made a handful of big moves over the last three years, he was simply unable to make the team a top contender in the league quickly enough. The Sabres still haven't made the playoffs since 2011.As his time with the Sabres came to an end Tuesday, let's take a look at some of the decisions that ultimately led to his dismissal.Trading Evander Kane to San Jose Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyKane showed consistent goal-scoring ability with Buffalo but wasn't an absolute game-changer. During his three seasons with the team from 2015-18, he potted 20, 28, and 20 goals, respectively. In 2017-18, Kane's contract year, Botterill dealt him to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline.Buffalo received a decent haul for Kane, but the return didn't help the team immediately; the Sabres received an AHL-level player, Danny O'Regan, and a 2019 first- and fourth-round pick.Meanwhile, Kane quickly made an impact in San Jose. After a successful stint with the Sharks to end the season, Kane was rewarded with a seven-year, $49-million extension. In the first season of his new deal, he put together one of the best campaigns of his career, recording 30 goals and 56 points while leading the league in penalty minutes with 153.Since Buffalo traded him away, Kane's career has been on an upward trajectory. Still only 28 years old, he's the type of secondary scorer the Sabres are dearly missing.Parting ways with Ryan O'Reilly Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyThe Sabres made a big splash by bringing in O'Reilly during the 2015 offseason in hopes that he would help the franchise turn a corner. Buffalo swiftly signed him to a seven-year extension, and the dynamic two-way center's impact was immediate. He posted some of the best numbers of his career during his three years with the team.Despite his individual success on the ice, O'Reilly soured on the Sabres rather quickly. After the 2017-18 season, he said that he'd lost his love for the game of hockey multiple times because the Sabres kept on losing. With five years remaining on O'Reilly's contract, Botterill traded him to the St. Louis Blues in the 2018 offseason for a first- and second-round pick, Tage Thompson, Vladimir Sobotka, and Patrik Berglund.O'Reilly won the Stanley Cup in his first season with the Blues, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process. He also tied his career high in goals while posting a career-best 77 points. He recently said that winning the Cup and playing in St. Louis "completely revamped" his career.With a glaring lack of depth down the middle behind Eichel, Botterill was then faced with the tough task of filling O'Reilly's spot in the lineup. A true No. 2 center has yet to emerge in Buffalo.Jeff Skinner's monster contract Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAfter arriving via a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, Skinner demonstrated his offensive prowess in his first season with the Sabres, potting a career-best 40 goals in his 63-point 2018-19 campaign. The club seemed to have found a top-line talent worthy of flanking Eichel, but the then-26-year-old was set to become an unrestricted free agent.The decision to sign Skinner was understandable considering his fit alongside Eichel, but the framework of the deal was questionable from the get-go. The franchise hadn't rostered a 40-goal scorer since 2008-09 and was stuck in a near-decade-long postseason drought, which put more pressure on Botterill to reach an agreement while likely decreasing his negotiating power.In the end, Botterill inked Skinner to a splashy eight-year, $72-million pact - just $1 million short of Eichel's annual salary - that made him the sixth-highest-paid winger in the league at the time. Skinner recorded 14 goals and a career-low 23 points in 59 games, making his mammoth contract instantly regrettable.Questionable moves in 2020 Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyWith the Sabres trending in the wrong direction, Botterill made a couple of desperation moves in the second half of the season to try to salvage the campaign.In January, he dealt defenseman Marco Scandella to the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round pick and then flipped that fourth-rounder to the Calgary Flames for a declining Michael Frolik. Botterill apparently undervalued Scandella, as the Canadiens traded the rearguard to the St. Louis Blues six weeks later for a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder in 2021. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Frolik registered just one goal over 19 games for the Sabres.With Buffalo six points out of a playoff spot at the trade deadline, Botterill sent a conditional fifth-round pick with the potential to convert into a fourth-rounder to the New Jersey Devils for another aging rental piece in Wayne Simmonds. The club lost its next six games in regulation and Simmonds chipped in with just one assist.Failing to deliver for Eichel Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySigning Jack Eichel for the long haul was an absolute no-brainer, but the minute Botterill inked him to an eight-year, $80-million contract, the clock began to tick. The deal cemented the Sabres' commitment to building a contender around the blue-chip center, but as the team continued to show virtually no improvement, it was a matter of time before Eichel spoke up.Eichel's frustration appeared to reach its boiling point last week. The Sabres missed the postseason for the fifth straight time since he was drafted second overall, despite this year's format expanding to include 24 clubs, and the captain described his tenure as "a tough past five years" and said he was "fed up with the losing."Shipping out Kane and O'Reilly - superior forwards compared to any of Eichel's recent teammates except Skinner - for minimal returns didn't exactly send a winning message, and Botterill's attempt to plug-and-play inferior talent around Eichel yielded similarly disappointing results over the previous three campaigns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the New York Islanders won't be returning to Nassau Coliseum for the 2020-21 season after all.Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, whose Onexim Sports and Entertainment operates the arena under a lease from Nassau county, is planning to shut down the venue while it searches for investors to carry on operations and pick up the debt that remains on the building, according to sources of Bloomberg's Patrick Clark.New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in February that the Islanders would be returning to the Coliseum for all home games during the 2020-21 campaign before moving into their new building at Belmont Park the following season.The Coliseum closed in 2015 for renovations and former Islanders owner Charles Wang moved the franchise's home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2017, Cuomo arranged for the club to share home contests between the two locations.Originally opened in 1972, the Islanders have called the Coliseum home for the majority of 40 years and captured each of their four consecutive Stanley Cups in the 1980s in the building.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the federal government will work with the NHL if it wishes to use a hub city in the country."We have indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in one of three Canadian cities that are asking for it," Trudeau said. "Obviously, the decision needs to be made by the NHL and the cities and provinces in the jurisdiction. Canada is open to it as long as it is OK by the local health authorities.”Trudeau's comments come after he announced that border restrictions for non-essential travel between Canada and the United States are extended through July 21. The extension won't affect the league's plans to return, as players have already been crossing the border in both directions since the beginning of Phase 2, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The league is expected to use two cities to host 24 teams for a potential return. The NHL expressed an interest in staging games in a Canadian city but is awaiting a decision from the federal government on whether players will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon entering the country.Trudeau's announcement seems to indicate players won't need to strictly follow the quarantine rules in place. It's been reported the Canadian government would consider "extending the quarantine area" to include team facilities.Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto have reportedly expressed interest in hosting teams. British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry gave approval last week for Vancouver's plan to host teams, according to City News' Mike Hall.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane doesn't believe any illegitimacy should be attached to the 2020 Stanley Cup champions."To win a Stanley Cup, I think that's an amazing opportunity for any hockey player," Kane said on ESPN's "Return to Sports" special Monday. "And I don't think anyone is really worried about the viewing if someone won a championship, or an asterisk, if you'd like to say."Unable to complete the regular season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL is using an expanded 24-team format to provide bubble clubs a chance at the playoffs. The top four teams in each conference will play each other for seeding. Simultaneously, squads seeded fifth to 12th in each conference will pair off in a best-of-five play-in series to advance to the first round of the postseason. From there, traditional best-of-seven series will take place for four rounds."It's unprecedented times, and us as players, I think anytime you get a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup, you're doing that and taking advantage fully of it," Kane added.Kane's Blackhawks finished 12th in the Western Conference. They would've been a long shot to make the postseason under normal circumstances, but they'll get a chance to do so against the fifth-seeded Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Todd Reirden will go with experience over youth in the Washington Capitals' crease when the NHL returns to action."I think going into it ... it's Braden Holtby's job to lose, and I feel confident in him," Washington's head coach told reporters Monday. "I felt confident with where things were going right before the pause in terms of how his game was coming around, and I think he'll get the first crack at it."Holtby went 25-14-6 with an .897 save percentage and minus-16.76 goals saved above average in 48 regular-season games before the pause. The 30-year-old showed some improvement down the stretch, however, going 4-1-1 with a .906 save percentage over his final six contests.Ilya Samsonov, who turned 23 in February, outperformed Holtby in 2019-20, albeit over a smaller sample size. The rookie went 16-6-2 with a .913 save percentage and 2.3 goals saved above average across 26 games for Washington, including 22 starts.Holtby, a pending unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire 10-year career with the Capitals and backstopped them to their lone championship in 2018."Obviously Braden Holtby's body of work (on) playoff teams speaks for itself, and how he definitely helped our team to win our first-ever Stanley Cup and was a huge, huge part of that," Reirden said.Washington will take part in a round-robin tournament with the Eastern Conference's other three top-seeded squads - the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Philadelphia Flyers. This round, along with the corresponding Western Conference round-robin, will determine the seeding for the opening playoff matchups.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any sporting event can achieve greatness, but there's something extra special when it takes place at a marquee venue. The best buildings in sports add an extra level of excitement to any competition. How well do you know some of these iconic venues? Find out by taking the quiz below.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AHL's newly established return-to-play committee includes a handful of NHL general managers as well as the owner of a Canadian club.Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney, Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, David Poile of the Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, and Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman will serve on a 13-member task force formed by the NHL's top developmental league Monday.The group, which will be chaired by outgoing AHL president and CEO David Andrews, will aim to provide "expert leadership and strategic direction to the AHL in planning for the league's return to play in the 2020-21 season."The task force won't have any responsibility to initiate the AHL's return to play, but it will provide "strategic leadership" to the league to create a process that garners significant support in the AHL and the NHL.The AHL canceled the rest of its 2019-20 campaign in May amid the coronavirus pandemic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights signed enforcer Ryan Reaves to a two-year extension carrying an annual cap hit of $1.75 million on Monday, the team announced.Reaves, arguably the most feared player in the league, racked up 47 penalty minutes and a league-high 316 hits in 71 games this season. He chipped in offensively with eight goals and seven assists while averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per night.The Pittsburgh Penguins traded the 33-year-old and a fourth-round pick to the Golden Knights in February 2018 in exchange for Tobias Lindberg.Vegas currently has $8.875 million in cap space for next season, according to CapFriendly, and the majority of the team's roster is locked up. Robin Lehner, Jon Merrill, Deryk Engelland, and Tomas Nosek are the team's only pending unrestricted free agents, while Chandler Stephenson and Nick Cousins are the lone RFAs.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The only African-American member of Donald Trump's cabinet has promised to "work" the president on his continued criticism of athletes who don't stand for the national anthem.Ben Carson, who serves as the U.S. government's Housing and Urban Development Secretary, voiced his belief on Monday that sports stars are protesting police brutality rather than disrespecting the flag when they take a knee. He wants the players to make that stance clear while he tries to persuade the president not to be upset with those who choose not to stand."Well, I don't think he has manifested as much animosity in that region lately. And I think we just continue to work him. He'll get there," Carson told the Hugh Hewitt Show, as quoted by the Associated Press' Kevin Freking.Carson was speaking after U.S. Soccer last Wednesday annulled a policy which required players to stand during the national anthem. Over the weekend, Trump tweeted he "won't be watching much anymore!" in response to a tweet by Florida Republican representative Matt Gaetz, which read: "I'd rather the U.S. not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won't stand for the national anthem." Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / GettyU.S. Soccer introduced the rule that players must "stand respectfully" in 2017 after soccer star Megan Rapinoe knelt before a match with the United States women's national team in September 2016 out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. The then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback had refused to stand for the flag of a country that "oppresses black people" for the first time in an NFL preseason game the previous month.In the wake of protests over anti-black racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd in police custody, U.S. Soccer retracted its policy because it "was wrong and detracted from the important message of Black Lives Matter."FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, reiterated its stance against "all forms of discrimination" in a statement released to the Associated Press' Rob Harris on Monday. The organization also appealed for "tolerance, mutual respect, and common sense" following Trump's words against his country's soccer program.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Puck Pursuit · Former NHLers Guy Carbonneau, John LeClairFormer NHLers Guy Carbonneau (Canadiens, Blues, Stars) and John LeClair (Canadiens, Flyers, Penguins) - who were recently hired to coach in the new 3ICE hockey league - join the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Boston Bruins superstar and 2019-20 Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner David Pastrnak could find his name on plenty of Hart Trophy ballots come season's end, but the winger doesn't think he deserves the MVP award.When asked who should take home the hardware, Pastrnak made his choice crystal clear, saying there's "no question" it belongs to Leon Draisaitl."It should be and is going to be (Leon) Draisaitl," Pastrnak said on a conference call Monday, according to Conor Ryan of the Boston Sports Journal.Draisaitl is certainly a popular pick for this year's MVP, as the Edmonton Oilers dynamo lit up the stats sheet during the regular season with a league-leading 110 points, particularly proving his worth to the club during Connor McDavid's injury absence.However, several players deserve consideration, and Draisaitl isn't the only one to receive a public vote of confidence from one of his peers. Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog recently said teammate Nathan MacKinnon should be the MVP, while MacKinnon himself said his vote would go to New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin.Due to the extended season, it's unclear when the NHL be handing out its awards. Voters get until Monday evening to submit their final ballots.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars defenseman Roman Polak will play in his native Czech Republic for the 2020-21 season and has little interest in returning to the NHL if the 2019-20 campaign is able to resume this summer."I will not lie, it is not for me," Polak, who was a pending unrestricted free agent, said, according to Pavel Barta of Czech outlet sport.cz. "The idea that I should jump on the ice after three weeks of training and start playing live. This is unimaginable at my age."Polak inked a three-year contract with HC Vitkovice Ridera of the Czech Extraliga, the team announced Monday.The 34-year-old rearguard said he'd return to the NHL this summer if the league's return plan comes to fruition, but guaranteed he'll be back in the Czech Republic next season."I am already determined to stay at home," Polak said. "If I really had to finish the NHL, I would go. But I will do everything to make it unnecessary. I will definitely be here next season."Polak also opened up about his experience in Dallas, and admitted that wanting to return home has been something he's contemplated all year."Sometimes, I was sitting on the bench asking myself: 'What am I doing here? I don't want to be here,'" Polak told sport.cz, per The Athletic's Sean Shapiro."When Stephen Johns started playing again after two-year break caused by concussions, they gave him big ice time. And told me and Andrej Sekera, that we will be rotating. I play one game, he play another game ... it was difficult to find motivation, because there doesn't matter how well or badly I play; I won't play next game in any case."Polak recorded four assists while logging 16:40 of average ice time per game over 41 contests with the Stars this season, his 14th in the NHL.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse could take a page out of Michael Jordan's playbook to get himself fired up to play inside empty arenas.As shown in "The Last Dance," a docuseries that follows the end of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty in 1997-98, Jordan would sometimes exaggerate narratives to motivate himself for a game. Whether it was another player winning MVP or an opponent talking trash, he'd play to prove he was the best. Nurse thinks something of that nature may prove useful when the NHL returns without fans."You see (Jordan's) mindset ... creating your own environment, creating your own fire," Nurse told Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press. "I think that's a test everyone in this situation is going to have to go through. Having the ability to create your own excitement."Nurse's teammate, Connor McDavid, understands that playing games without spectators is necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 but admits it'll be odd not to hear raucous crowds during the postseason."It's not going to be the same, there's no doubt about that," McDavid said. "It sucks, frankly, but we've got to do it to get back to playing hockey. I'm sure those fans will be cheering loud in their living rooms."It'll suck, but we gotta do what we gotta do."NHL training camps are set to open July 10. It's still unclear when games will resume, but the Oilers will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in a best-of-five qualifying series to advance to the first round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor Brown believes he could have done more during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Ottawa Senators forward says he's benefitted from his hometown club trading him last summer."The fact that it was my hometown team too, and the one team I've been a part of and never been traded whether it comes to junior or anything, so it was like a shock, an emotional shock to get moved," Brown said on the "Connor Carrick Podcast" earlier this week. "I felt like I was part of like the core there, so it was a shock and it was hard, but also I knew that for me and my career it was the best thing for me."He added that “the guys and the culture that we have worked towards in Ottawa" have increased his happiness.Brown played a big role in helping to accelerate the Leafs' rebuild during his 2016-17 rookie season. The Toronto native potted 20 goals while contributing to the team's first run to the postseason since 2013.By 2018-19, Brown's third full campaign with the club, the Leafs had improved their wing depth, with Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson emerging as top-nine players. Brown saw his ice time decrease for a third consecutive season, and he finished with just eight goals while playing the majority of the campaign on the fourth line."80 percent of the game is between the ears once you’re playing. It’s just how you feel about yourself that night - wanting the puck," he said. "And it was just something that I definitely lost a little bit."Brown says the opportunity to play a top-six role in Ottawa helped restore his confidence. The 26-year-old logged 20-plus minutes of ice time per game, racking up a career-best 43 points in 71 contests during his first year with the Senators in 2019-20."I don’t think I was playing bad or hurting the team or anything when I was in Toronto, but I definitely wasn’t maximizing my potential," he added. "So, it’s been nice to find that in myself and find that in my game. And I think a big part of it is just the belief in me that was given.”Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After looking back at some of the best NHL player debuts last month, it's time to give some credit to the veterans.It's not always an easy task for experienced players to join new teams. Sometimes it takes time to adjust to new surroundings, gel with new teammates, and learn new systems. Still, there have been a number of players that have made impressive debuts with their new clubs.Here, we're going to look back at five of the best veteran debuts with new teams over the last 30 seasons.5. Saad nets hat trick in second stint with Blackhawks Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhen Brandon Saad was a restricted free agent, the Blackhawks dealt his negotiating rights to the Blue Jackets. He inked a six-year extension with Columbus, but Chicago reacquired him soon after in 2017 in exchange for talented newcomer Artemi Panarin.Saad netted a hat trick in his first game back with the Blackhawks, which was a 10-1 beatdown against the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. While Panarin went on to play at an MVP level elsewhere, Saad showed Chicago that he could still produce as he did in years past.4. Fleury dazzles in inaugural Golden Knights game Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyFollowing the emergence of Matt Murray, Marc-Andre Fleury knew the writing was on the wall with the Penguins. After winning his third Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh, he willingly waived his no-movement clause, which allowed him to be selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.The Golden Knights managed to put together a respectable roster, but nobody was prepared for the historic season they would embark on with Fleury at the helm.Fleury, who was immediately seen as the face of the franchise, turned in an epic performance on opening night against a tough Dallas team, stopping 45 of 46 shots while leading Vegas to its first win in franchise history. Not a bad introduction for a 33-year-old goalie.3. Lemieux makes triumphant return after retirementMario Lemieux technically didn't make a debut for a new team, but he did take nearly four years off before rejoining the Penguins in 2000. With a new coach and a number of new teammates since he last played in 1997, Lemieux returned to a pretty unfamiliar scene.However, during his debut on Dec. 27, he immediately showed that he hadn't missed a beat, producing a goal and two assists, including a helper on a goal in the opening seconds.Lemieux only played in 43 games during the 2000-01 season, but he finished with 76 points and was named a Hart Trophy finalist. He helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 2001 but failed to do so in the following four seasons before retiring for good.2. Jagr posts timeless 4-point effort in Stars debut Icon Sports Wire / Icon Sportswire / GettyExpectations were slightly tempered when Jaromir Jagr signed with the Stars as a 40-year-old. The 2012-13 lockout delayed the season, but Jagr finally got the chance to make his debut with his first Western Conference team in mid-January.He kicked off his stint with his fifth team in vintage fashion, contributing on every goal during a 4-3 win over the Coyotes. Jagr picked up two goals and two assists, proving to the hockey world that, for him, age is just a number.1. Kontos explodes in Lightning's franchise debut B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / GettyThe Lightning made their NHL debut during the 1992-93 season and faced a tough task on opening night, taking on Ed Belfour and the Chicago Blackhawks on home ice.Chris Kontos, who signed with the Lightning as a free agent, hadn't played in an NHL game in nearly three years. Prior to his stint with Tampa Bay, he appeared in just 164 career games and recorded 27 career goals. On opening night in 1992, the little-known forward turned in a heroic performance, recording four goals in a shocking 7-3 win.Kontos helped kick off the Lightning franchise in spectacular fashion, and he went on to score 27 goals for the season, his final in the NHL.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The defending Stanley Cup champions will have their most talented scorer available if and when play resumes.St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko is on the mend after being out of action since late October."He's good," Blues head coach Craig Berube told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford on the "We Went Blues" podcast."Before we stopped, he was ready to come back the next week and play, so, he did a great job of getting himself back," Berube continued. "He did a great job with his rehab, along with the training staff, and he kept himself in great shape. He actually came back in better shape than he came to camp (in September) ... He's been on the ice and doing things right now, so he's ready to go."Tarasenko was hurt during a game on Oct. 24 and had shoulder surgery performed five days later. He was given a timetable of at least five months the day before the procedure.The 28-year-old forward collected three goals and 10 points in 10 games before the injury. He led the Blues with 33 goals in 2018-19 and played a key role in their championship run, posting 11 markers and 17 points in 26 playoff games that spring.Tarasenko led St. Louis in goals for five consecutive campaigns before 2019-20, notching at least 30 in each one and burying 40 in 2015-16.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though they only spent two seasons as teammates with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Patrick Marleau has seen enough from Mitch Marner to know he's a special player."He amazes me," the Pittsburgh Penguins forward said Friday on Sportsnet's "Hockey Central." "I just love watching him play. The way he skates, the way he sees the ice, the way he creates space for himself - and that goes into his skating - is amazing."Marleau spent two seasons in Toronto from 2017-19 and developed a close relationship with Marner. The seasoned veteran applauded the now-23-year-old for his hockey skills, but it's Marner's conduct off the ice that stands out to Marleau."He's kind of like Jumbo (Joe Thornton) in a way where he can have a great time and then flip that switch. As soon as he's on the ice it's all business," Marleau said. "He knows those different moments where he can relax and have some fun, but he's also very passionate and very focused on being one of the best players in the league and winning."A lot of people cannot see that part because they always look at the happy, the smiling, and that. But he's very focused and very committed."Marner has been one of the Maple Leafs' best players since the team selected him fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He's amassed 83 goals and 208 assists in 300 career games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello believes the team's new arena at Belmont Park will give fans a feeling of nostalgia."I think what you're going to see is a Coliseum atmosphere in a new facility," Lamoriello told season-ticket holders Friday, according to Newsday.com's Andrew Gross."This is state of the art," he continued. "I think that when the fans see the results, they're going to be ecstatic."In 2015, former Islanders owner Charles Wang moved the franchise's home games from Nassau Coliseum, which is known as one of the most raucous buildings in the league, to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2017, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo arranged for the club to share home contests between the two buildings.Lamoriello claims the arena at Belmont Park will replicate many of the features that made Nassau Coliseum so special for Islanders fans."I think the major point of it is it's going to be a hockey facility," Lamoriello added. "They've paid 100% attention to the atmosphere in the building, the way the seats are located for the hockey experience and tight to the arena. It's not like some of these new arenas. When you talk about old arenas, you talk about Boston Garden. But you go to a new arena, everybody says it doesn't have the same atmosphere."The Islanders were given the go-ahead to resume construction of the arena at Belmont Park in May after pausing work at the site in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.New York will play all of its home contests during the 2020-21 season at the Coliseum before moving to Belmont Park the following campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Sun issued a correction and apology to Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk after becoming aware of errors in a pair of columns by Rick Gibbons the publication ran last week, per Sportsnet's Wayne Scanlan.One of the two articles is from June 5 entitled "Split between Senators and foundation boils down to money" and the other is from June 8 with the headline "Melnyk's tussle with Sens foundation could be a messy one.""We sincerely apologize and regret any misunderstanding caused by the errors contained in the two columns," the Sun wrote."The Sun would like to clarify that it did not intend to suggest that Eugene Melnyk or the Ottawa Senators had exercised improper influence over the Ottawa Senators foundation or that they had attempted to misdirect, misappropriate, or misapply charitable funds of the foundation or The Organ Project."According to the Sun, the June 5 article incorrectly inflated the amount that the team charged the Senators Foundation for rent. The original article cited that Melnyk charged "hundreds of thousands of dollars annually" when in fact that number was $78,750 in 2019.The column also noted that charging charitable foundations for rent is not a common practice among sports franchises, but the Senators said they are "required by law to charge rent because of the arms-length structure of the foundation," also noting that the rent charged was below market.The June 8 column referred to a Canada Revenue Agency filing that indicated Melnyk's private foundation, The Organ Project, donated just $5,000 of the nearly $1 million it raised to the Kidney Foundation in 2018. However, The Organ Project notified the Sun that its main goal wasn't to distribute money to other charities, but instead "to spend money it raised on activities aimed at promoting organ awareness and registration."Melnyk issued a response to the Sun's apology later Friday:"The unequivocal public apology by the Sun for the inaccuracies and mistakes it published will not undo the damage to my personal and professional reputation, my charitable work, the hockey club, and the stress on my family," Melnyk said in a statement from the team. "However, the apology is a necessary step to correct the falsehoods and to set the record straight."Melnyk remains "disappointed and troubled by Gibbons' failure to live up to basic journalistic standards," per the team's statement. However, the statement also added that Melnyk is hopeful the Sun's apology will clear up any misunderstandings.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers farmhand Cooper Marody released a heartfelt song Friday in memory of his former teammate Colby Cave, who passed away April 11 at the age of 25 after suffering a brain bleed.All proceeds from the song will go toward the Colby Cave Memorial Fund.Marody wrote "Agape" as a tribute and gift to Cave's widow, Emily."I want to thank Cooper Marody for this song, and specifically for using words that meant so much to Colby and I," Emily said, per the Oilers. "'Agape' was a word that Colby and I said to each other because we felt that 'I Love You' never fully described the amount of love we had for each other."'Agape' is the highest form of love," she continued. "Selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love; it persists no matter the circumstance. I'm so grateful I got to experience this love with my best friend. Getting to love Colb is the best thing I will ever do and continue to do until we see each other again.""Agape" is available for download on all music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The commissioners of the five professional sports leagues operating in Canada have banded together to impel the federal government to allow single-game sports betting in the country, according to the Windsor Star's Dave Waddell.On June 8, the NHL's Gary Bettman, NBA's Adam Silver, MLB's Rob Manfred, CFL's Randy Ambrose, and MLS's Don Garber signed and sent a joint statement to several key members of government."The National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the Canadian Football League support an amendment to Canada’s federal laws that would authorize provinces to offer betting on single sporting events," the statement said."Sports betting gives fans another exciting way to engage with the sports they love. Because a legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans, we urge prompt action to make this a reality."Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and Attorney General of Canada Dave Lametti each received a copy of the statement. Other prominent members of government, including Ontario premier Doug Ford, were also sent a copy."Sports betting already happens illegally in Canada; creating a legal framework would shift consumers from illicit, unregulated markets to a legal and safe marketplace," the statement continued. "Regulating single-game betting would allow for strong consumer protections as well as safeguards to further protect the integrity of sports."Professional sports leagues have taken a financial hit amid the coronavirus pandemic after all five operating in Canada were forced to halt play. The leagues have lost large sums on ticket sales from canceled games, and it's unclear how long it will be until spectators are permitted to once again attend venues.MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon-Grasswood), alongside Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse, reintroduced a bill after Masse's private bill died at the cabinet level last year."The government can do this with an order of council like they did with the new gun control laws a month ago," Waugh said. "We'll be putting pressure on the government to get this done before Parliament finishes June 17."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey is back - sort of.In late May, the NHL unveiled a four-phase return-to-play plan with the hope of resuming and completing the 2019-20 season, which has been paused for three months because of COVID-19. This week, teams opened facilities across North America as the league officially moved into Phase 2, which is centered around on-ice workouts for groups of six players or less. Full-team training camps are set to open July 10, though dates for the start of games have yet to be determined.There's been significant progress, but there are plenty of milestones to reach. We don't know which two of the 10 potential hub cities vying for hosting privileges will be chosen. We don't know what kinds of health and safety measures will be enforced by the NHL in Phases 3 and 4. We don't know how the coronavirus will continue to affect North America over the coming weeks, and how those trends might affect the NHL's plans. And so on.To explore these issues and more, theScore solicited the perspectives of five experts from the fields of epidemiology, infectious disease, and virology:

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak took home the Golden Hockey Stick as the Czech Player of the Year for the fourth straight season, the league announced Thursday.The honor ties Pastrnak with former NHL star Jaromir Jagr for the most consecutive victories.Pastrnak earned 51 of 52 first-place votes from Czech hockey journalists and coaches, with Chicago Blackhawks rookie Dominik Kubalik coming in second and Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek finishing third."I want to hold a cup for the world champions and a Stanley Cup above my head," Pastrnak said. "This is a pure individual trophy. I am very honored to have it, it is an inspiration for me. But I don't play golf or tennis, so I won't favor myself before my team."Jagr, who took home the honor a record 12 times, won four straight from 2005 to 2008. Pastrnak's four wins are tied for third with Vladimir Martinec, and now he trails just Dominik Hasek - who won it five times - and Jagr.Pastrnak had the best statistical season of his career despite it being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He recorded a career-high 48 goals and 95 points and won the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy for the first time.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kim Pegula will remain president of the Buffalo Sabres despite criticism that the team has been mismanaged under her direction, according to The Associated Press.Pegula, whose continued focus will be the small-market franchise's economic sustainability, acknowledges the process of building a competitive club is taking longer than expected."Sometimes I kick myself in, saying, 'How come I didn't see this sooner?' That's on me," Pegula said regarding the franchise's restructuring that began last year."But that's what I'm trying to do now, trying to really remold and reshape the organization into what Terry (Pegula) and I envision," she said. "One thing I've been preaching is sustainability, about how to ensure that we are here in this Buffalo area for a long time."The Sabres, who were forced to place a cap on season-ticket sales the year the Pegulas purchased the team, have recently struggled to sell out games. With $1.9 million in operating revenue in 2018-19, Buffalo ranked 24th among NHL teams, according to Forbes.Poor economic conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic, paired with the organization's NHL-worst nine-year playoff drought, has led to uncertainty about the team's ability to draw fans next season."There's tough decisions that are going to have to be made, but anyone at the top has to make them," she said. "I think we're in a better place, just not done yet."Since the Pegulas purchased the team in 2011, the Sabres are on their sixth coach and third general manager. The club has finished sixth or lower in the Atlantic Division in seven straight seasons.The Pegulas were most recently criticized for laying off 21 employees while looking to cut costs. Several high-profile executives were among the cuts, including longtime ticket sales vice president John Sinclair.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Canadian clubs in cities being considered as hubs for the NHL's eventual 24-team playoff may soon get some good news about updates to Canada's 14-day quarantine for people entering the country.The Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs are expecting to hear as early as the end of the week that the federal government's quarantine restrictions will be amended for players returning to Canada, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector. While the rules may not be entirely lifted for players, sources told Spector the government is considering "extending the quarantine area" to include team facilities.As it stands, federal law in Canada mandates that any person entering the country must self-isolate and quarantine for 14 days. This rule has made players wary of crossing the border and returning to their team's city because they wouldn't be able to train normally for two weeks. It's also led Canadian teams to look into holding their training camps in the United States.The Canucks, Oilers, and Maple Leafs were reportedly told to expect news about the federal quarantine policy last week, but they're still waiting.The NHL is still deciding which two cities to use as hubs if play eventually resumes. While the league has expressed interest in using at least one Canadian city, the quarantine rule has loomed as a major obstacle.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Geoff Molson doesn't plan to add another layer of oversight to the Montreal Canadiens' front office.The team's owner told reporters Wednesday that he doesn't intend to hire a president of hockey operations, and he praised general manager Marc Bergevin, calling him one of the most experienced and respected GMs in the NHL, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Multiple NHL teams currently employ a hockey ops department president who typically ranks above the club's general manager and distances the GM from ownership.Molson has repeatedly praised Bergevin despite the Canadiens' relative mediocrity in recent years.Since hiring the former NHL defenseman to make the team's player personnel decisions in May 2012, Montreal has made four playoff appearances (the club has yet to qualify in 2019-20 because the play-in round isn't considered the true playoffs).However, the Canadiens have advanced as far as the Eastern Conference Final only once in that span, losing to the New York Rangers in 2014.The Molson family bought the team from George Gillett in 2009. Geoff Molson is currently listed as the team's owner, president, and CEO.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel affirmed that he and management are on the same page when it comes to their feelings about the club's lack of progress in recent seasons."I spoke with both Ralph (Krueger) and Jason (Botterill) about it and they understand the frustration and they're frustrated too," Eichel told TSN's Darren Dreger. "I'm not the only guy that's doing it, I might have expressed my opinion a little more bluntly but that's just how it is."Eichel voiced his disappointment in May when speaking about missing the playoffs for a fifth straight season: "I'm fed up with the losing and I'm frustrated," he said. "It's been a tough past couple of months and a tough past five years."The 23-year-old pivot believes the open line of communication is a positive thing and that everyone needs to be held accountable."I mean, I think if they don't hear that from guys then that's when you start to worry. If guys are OK with the fact that we're not winning, that we're not putting ourselves in the postseason season after season, that's where you get to find an issue."Eichel led the Sabres in scoring for the fourth straight campaign, racking up 78 points and a career-high 36 goals in 68 games.Buffalo owns the longest playoff drought in the NHL at nine seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-140. Kris Letang, Penguins Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%61154425:4451.68At 33 years old, Letang continued quietly trucking along as one of the league's best defensemen this past season. His 25:44 average time on ice ranked fourth among blue-liners, and his .72 points per game ranked 11th. With three Stanley Cup titles and a plethora of playoff experience under his belt, the Penguins will look for Letang to help steer them deep into the playoffs.39. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAASV%GSAA31-21-52.52.92222.40Hellebuyck was unquestionably Winnipeg's MVP this season. He posted dazzling numbers worthy of Vezina Trophy consideration for a team that struggled mightily defensively. The Jets gave up the seventh-most shots against per game in the regular season, yet are viewed by many to be a dark horse as the 9-seed in the Western Conference thanks to their starting goalie.38. Blake Wheeler, Jets Jason Halstead / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%71226519:1948.20The Jets captain continues to be a model of consistency for his club. Wheeler has contributed at least 20 goals and 60 points over the previous seven seasons, missing only 15 games during that span. Despite losing several key defensemen last offseason, the Jets look to secure a playoff spot for the third consecutive campaign in large part to Wheeler's impact as a leader both on and off the ice.37. Quinn Hughes, Canucks Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%6885321:5352.85Hughes is just the third defenseman in the last 80 years to lead all rookies in points, joining Brian Leetch and Bobby Orr. The 20-year-old is one of the most exciting players in the game, and it's a shame we didn't get to see him and Cale Makar duel it out for the Calder Trophy over a full season. He's one of the future faces of the league.36. Carey Price, Canadiens Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAASV%GSAA27-25-62.79.9091.46Numbers aside, Price remains one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL. The Canadiens certainly aren't the most deserving postseason club, but they'd be a lottery team in the expanded playoff format without their No. 1 netminder. Price is starting to decline at age 32, but he's still capable of carrying the team and singlehandedly stealing a game every so often.35. Mikko Rantanen, Avalanche Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%42194118:5752.42Rantanen was forced to miss nearly 30 games due to injury this season, but when he was on the ice for the Avalanche, he was a difference-maker. He managed 19 goals and 41 points in 42 games, and is a catalyst for one of the league's most menacing lines. If Colorado wants to prove it's one of the top contenders this summer, Rantanen will need to be at the top of his game.34. Tuukka Rask, Bruins Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAASV%GSAA26-8-62.12.92922.51Rask is often lost in the gigantic shadow cast by the Bruins' strong defensive structure and big-name forwards, but there's no questioning the Presidents' Trophy-winning club wouldn't be the team it is without its backbone. Rask led the NHL in goals saved above average this season, and owns a remarkable .927 save percentage across 89 career playoff starts. If Boston goes on another deep run, he'll be a big reason why.33. Mika Zibanejad, Rangers Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%57417521:3845.39The Rangers' top pivot has developed into one of the most electrifying talents in the world. Zibanejad ranks eighth among all players in goals per game (0.51) over the past two campaigns and was playing at a 91-point pace over an 82-game season in 2019-20. The superstar Swede put his scoring on full display during a 6-5 win over Washington in March, becoming the first Rangers player since 1983 to score five goals in a game.32. Mark Scheifele, Jets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%71297321:4843.97Scheifele becomes the fourth - and highest-ranked - Jet to land in our top 50. It's deserving, too. He tied for the team lead in points this season and was a point per game or better for the fourth straight campaign. The 27-year-old is one of the most well-rounded centers in the game. He doesn't have one standout trait that "wows" fans, but he's incredibly intelligent and always seems to make the right play at the right time.31. Sean Couturier, Flyers Eric Hartline / USA TODAY Sports GPGPATOIxGF%69225919:5055.54Couturier might be the most underrated player in the NHL - and arguably has been for a long time. The 27-year-old has evolved into one of the league's best two-way centers, regularly shutting down opposing stars in addition to providing ample contributions on the offensive end. Given this versatility, he deserves to be recognized as a star in his own right.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-130. Alex Pietrangelo, Blues Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70165224:1152.42Regardless of where Pietrangelo plays beyond 2019-20, the Blues captain is one of the NHL's most reliable defensemen and should make a significant impact this postseason. The pending unrestricted free agent played a major role in his team's Stanley Cup victory last June, and he's shown few signs of slowing down at 30 years of age.29. Taylor Hall, Coyotes Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%65165219:1050.89Hall has only played in five playoff games through his 10-year NHL career. When he arrived in Arizona earlier this season, he had his eyes set solely on making the playoffs once again. The former Hart Trophy winner will look to make some noise in the Coyotes' play-in series and get another taste of postseason hockey before entering the offseason as one of the league's most sought-after free agents.28. Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%59166721:3355.36Marner missed a slew of games with an ankle injury this season, but he played at a pace nearly identical to last year's 94-point output when healthy. The crafty winger is a threat at even strength or on the power play and logs big minutes every game. His newfound success alongside Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs' top line could be the ingredient the team has been missing throughout its recent run of playoff futility.27. Tyler Seguin, Stars Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69175019:0952.78Seguin may have endured a dramatic drop in production and a career-low 6.9 shooting percentage this season, but he still paced the defense-minded Stars in scoring. The 6-foot-1 pivot also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 58.2% of his draws to set a new career high and rank fifth in the league. With his elite combination of speed, skill, and developed two-way acumen, there's no questioning Seguin's status as a game-breaking talent.26. Brayden Point, Lightning Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%66256418:5455.6With Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov in the fold, Point is often the forgotten weapon in Tampa. After following his 41-goal, 92-point breakout campaign in 2018-19 with another stellar season, the 24-year-old has proven his big year was no fluke. The offense is just one side of the story with Point, though. He's definitely the best defensive player among the Lightning's "big three" up front, receiving a handful of Selke Trophy votes in each of the last two seasons.25. Elias Pettersson, Canucks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%68276618:3253.06Pettersson is one of the most electric and entertaining players in the league. The dynamic Canucks forward continued to improve this season following last year's Calder Trophy-winning campaign; he matched his rookie point production in three fewer games, increased his goals-per-game rate, and fired more shots on net. The sky is the limit for the supremely skilled Swede.24. Ryan O'Reilly, Blues Jeff Le / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%71126120:3451.77O'Reilly stepped up big time last season during his first year with the Blues. He took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after helping St. Louis to a Stanley Cup victory, and he also claimed the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward during the regular season. One of the league's best dual-threat centers, O'Reilly can do serious damage on both sides of the puck and will surely be looking for a repeat MVP performance this postseason.23. Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%68386619:2553.16Aho doesn't get the same league-wide attention as some other first-line centers in these rankings, but he's as capable as they come in any facet of the game. The 22-year-old plays in all situations, has sterling underlying stats, and posted a new career high in goals this season. His impact on the Hurricanes' success on a nightly basis is immense.22. Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69237818:4649.21The Cats' crafty winger is one of the game's elite playmakers and was the offensive catalyst for a Panthers team that finished sixth in goals per game (3.30) this season. On pace for 92 points over a full 82-game season, Huberdeau looked poised to become just the second player in franchise history to record consecutive 90-point campaigns. He ranks seventh in assists and eighth in points among all skaters since the beginning of 2017-18 and is finally getting the recognition he deserves as an elite talent.21. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAASV%GSAA35-14-32.56.91712.13The league's reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the league - at least according to these rankings. Even when he's out of position, the 25-year-old has the rare ability to make acrobatic saves that leave fans wondering, "how does he move like that?" But the best goalies of all time get it done in the playoffs. Vasilevskiy's .856 save percentage in four postseason games against the Blue Jackets last year isn't going to cut it for a team with championship aspirations.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore will be counting down the top 50 players who will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors. We'll reveal 10 players every day until the top 10 is unveiled on June 10.50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-120. John Tavares, Maple Leafs Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%63266019:0352.06Tavares is as consistent as they come from a production standpoint, having played near or above a point-per-game pace in each of his last three seasons. The star pivot's more talented teammate rightfully owns a higher spot in these rankings, but the Maple Leafs captain deserves recognition as one of the best centers in the game.19. Mark Stone, Golden Knights Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%65216319:2561.47One of the NHL's most intelligent wingers, Stone can do it all - whether it's scoring goals, dishing assists, or shutting opponents down defensively. After logging six goals and six assists in seven postseason games with the Golden Knights last year, Stone managed to keep the ball rolling during the 2019-20 regular season. He'll need to be at the top of his game once again if Vegas wants to make some noise in the playoffs.18. John Carlson, Capitals Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69157524:3850.85Carlson was the league's top offensive defenseman this season, and he's likely to win the Norris Trophy thanks to his eye-popping production. A legitimate game-breaker on the back end, he's a key cog in the Capitals' second-ranked offense that should see its firepower carry over despite a lengthy layoff.17. Steven Stamkos, Lightning Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%57296618:2553.13The Lightning captain is fully recovered from core muscle surgery and will be itching to make a major impact after he had another strong individual season cut short. Armed with one of the most lethal shots in the game, Stamkos is a perennial scoring threat. The native of Ontario hit the 25-goal mark for the 10th time in his career this season to join the 400-goal club.16. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%66206220:0149.1Barkov regressed offensively this year after collecting 96 points in 2018-19, but it's his ability at both ends of the ice that makes him one of the game's elite players. He isn't overly physical despite his 6-foot-3 frame, but he does have an excellent stick. He finished second in the league with 100 takeaways last season and ranked 30th with 51 in 2019-20. The Panthers captain has finished top five in Selke Trophy voting each of the last two campaigns.15. Roman Josi, Predators Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69166525:4754.5It appears a significant portion of the hockey world has finally caught on to Josi's superstar skill set, but he still seems a bit underappreciated. The Predators blue-liner ranked third in the NHL in average ice time this season and finished tied with Alex Pietrangelo for second in goals by a defenceman; Zach Werenski was the only rearguard to net more tallies in 2019-20.14. Artemi Panarin, Rangers Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69329520:3653.17Few players were better than Panarin in 2019-20. He turned in an MVP-worthy debut campaign with the Rangers, notching 20 more points than the next-highest scorer on his team. All eyes will be on the Russian winger in the expanded postseason, and the Rangers may ultimately go only as far as Panarin can take them.13. Victor Hedman, Lightning Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%66115524:0455.91If one was building a team from scratch and had to start with a defenseman, Hedman would be the man for the job. The towering Swede is the most complete blue-liner in the game, imposing his will on a nightly basis on both sides of the puck. The Bolts' forwards get most of the credit, but don't discount the impact of their No. 1 rearguard.12. Brad Marchand, Bruins Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70288719:2756.61Marchand continues to be a versatile force for one of the league's most consistent clubs. The Bruins' ultimate pest ranked second in the league in drawn penalties this season and plays a vital role on both special teams units. Seemingly improving with age, the 32-year-old was on pace to become the first Bruins player since Adam Oates in the early '90s to post back-to-back 100-point campaigns before the league suspended play in March.11. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70478020:5855.5Matthews took a major step forward in his development this season. He tied for the league lead with 35 goals at even strength and also tied a career high with 12 power-play markers. Without the puck, he tied for first among all NHL forwards with 78 takeaways. He's easily one of the most dangerous snipers in the game, and he's beginning to masters his defensive craft. He'll need to be a catalyst for the Maple Leafs if they hope to enjoy a deep playoff run.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL preparing for a 24-team playoff, theScore has been counting down the top 50 players that will be taking part in this unique event, as voted on by our hockey editors.50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-110. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%55257419:3158.16It's hard to believe Malkin is already 33 years old, but that's a credit to how dominant he can still be when healthy. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar remains one of the most talented scorers in the league and has long been a game-changer who overwhelms defenders.9. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%61315618:4457.40Bergeron has aged like fine wine. The sublime two-way center will turn 35 years old in July and seems to get better each season. Playing in the middle of one of the league's most feared lines, Bergeron is no stranger to playoff hockey. He'll look to lead another long playoff run as a veteran of 136 postseason games, including three trips to the finals and one Stanley Cup triumph.8. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70338421:2045.50The Chicago Blackhawks are no longer a legitimate threat for the Stanley Cup, but Kane still impacts the game every time he steps over the boards. "Showtime" finished eighth in the league in scoring this year and boasts one of the most illustrious playoff resumes of his generation. His team's next run may be short, but you can bet he's going to make the most of it.7. David Pastrnak, Bruins Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%70489518:5853.31Pastrnak's confidence is matched by an elite skill set that few players possess. The Boston Bruins sniper has increased his goal and point totals over four straight campaigns, and he captured his first career "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2019-20. Pastrnak was on pace this season to become just the fourth player in franchise history to record 50-plus goals and 100-plus points in a single campaign.6. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%68338518:5257.15There may be no player in the game more dangerous on offense than Kucherov. He has a lethal shot, but it's his vision, passing, and hands that separate him from the rest of the pack. He got off to a bit of a slow start this season but had 44 points in 31 games from January on. Let's not forget that Kucherov is just one year removed from a historic 128-point campaign.5. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%68486720:4050.63The abbreviated regular season deprived Ovechkin of a ninth 50-goal campaign, but the Russian sniper deserves at least a share of the hardware after tying Pastrnak atop the leaderboard in two fewer games. Ovi continues to light the lamp at will into his mid-30s, further bolstering his case to eventually be considered the greatest pure scorer of all time.4. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%714311022:3749.17Draisaitl proved the last two seasons that the Edmonton Oilers aren't a one-man show. Whether he's playing alongside Connor McDavid or anchoring his own line, Draisaitl produces at an astonishing level, amassing 93 goals and 225 points over his last 153 games.He led the Oilers' league-best power play - 29.5% conversion - with 44 points on the man-advantage this year. Draisaitl is nearly impossible to contain when he's on the ice and will surely continue to be a headache for his opponents in the postseason.3. Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%69359321:1355.06MacKinnon's case as one of the most elite stars in the league was aided by another season with incredible numbers despite the fact his supporting cast was ravaged by injuries.He has a tremendous chance to be a Hart Trophy finalist, and with a healthy Colorado Avalanche squad ready to follow him into the playoffs, the regular-season MVP may not be the only piece of hardware he gets his hands on.2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%41164720:1651.40Crosby may be in the latter stages of his career, but there's no denying his status as one of the world's best. No. 87 can still fly around the ice, and his ability to read the game won't dissipate with age.After undergoing core muscle surgery in November, Crosby didn't miss a beat when he returned two months later, racking up 11 goals and 30 points in 24 games.1. Connor McDavid, Oilers Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%64349721:5248.29The early end to the campaign prevented McDavid from authoring a fourth straight 100-point season, but he managed to record a career-best 1.52 points per game. It was an incredibly impressive performance following the major knee injury he suffered to end 2018-19, and the extensive rehab that followed.McDavid needs a Stanley Cup to be considered in the same class as Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr, and there's no time like the present. The 23-year-old has nothing but time on his side to join the conversation for the greatest hockey player of all time.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The newly formed Hockey Diversity Alliance is independent of the NHL, but co-head Evander Kane hopes to form a partnership with the league."We want to work with the league in order to establish and create this necessary change in our game and the culture of our game," Kane said, according to The Point Hockey's Sheng Peng. "It's imperative that we work with the league in order to accomplish some of those goals."Former NHL defenseman Akim Aliu is the group's other co-head. The rest of the executive committee is also made up of active and former black NHLers, including Trevor Daley, Wayne Simmonds, Matt Dumba, Joel Ward, and Chris Stewart.The alliance's mission is to combat racism in hockey and society as a whole."What we seek from the league is really an ear," Kane continued. "Somebody who can really listen to some of the things that we want to implement, policies we think that can help change the present time and moving on into the future. That starts with the NHL, trickling down to minor hockey. There are things that the NHL can bring to the table. We feel very strongly, as an alliance, there's a lot we can bring to the table, knowledge when it comes to rectifying a lot of these issues."The NHL appeared to show support for the alliance with a string of retweets Monday, but the league has not formally announced whether it will work with the group.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandon Bochenski was elected the mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Tuesday, according to the Grand Forks Herald.If that name sounds familiar, its because Bochenski spent parts of five seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning.Bochenski is from Blaine, Minnesota, but he spent three years playing for the University of North Dakota, where he tallied 154 points in 120 games. A seventh-round pick of the Senators in 2001, he received significant hype after recording 70 points in 75 games in his first AHL season before leading the NHL in goals the following preseason while skating on a line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley.He was traded to Chicago after just 20 games with the Sens. He ended up playing 156 NHL contests, registering 28 goals and 40 assists. He eventually found a home in the KHL, spending eight seasons with Astana Barys before shifting his focus to real estate development and politics.Bochenski received 49.62% of the vote, defeating Mike Brown (31.81%), who had spent 20 years in office.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon believes the honor should go to New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin.MacKinnon said Tuesday said on TSN 1050's "Overdrive" that he tried to recruit Panarin to the Colorado Avalanche last summer before he eventually chose to go to the Big Apple. MacKinnon tried to sell him on the idea he wouldn't have to be "the man" every night, and he even offered Panarin his spot on the power play."I knew he was a free agent so I was kind of watching him with Columbus. What an amazing player," MacKinnon said. "And then I watched him all season - just from talking to him, really nice guy, so maybe I'm a little biased with that - but that's why I think he should win the Hart this year."Panarin, who signed a seven-year, $81.5-million contract with the Rangers, finished tied for third in the NHL with 95 points this year, trailing only Leon Draisaitl (110), and Connor McDavid (97). He led the league with 59 points at five-on-five.The 28-year-old led a rebuilding Rangers team to an 11th place finish in the Eastern Conference (by points percentage), which was good enough for a berth in the NHL's expanded playoff format.Meanwhile, the Avalanche were decimated by injuries this season, but MacKinnon still posted 93 points, 43 more than anyone else on his team. Colorado finished the season with the second-best record in the Western Conference.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning remains adamant about getting pending UFA goaltender Jacob Markstrom signed to a contract extension."I've said all along that he's an important guy for us," Benning told The Province's Ben Kuzma. "My intent is to figure out something that works for him and us. I'm hoping to get him signed, but that's part of the business - we'll have to wait and see."Benning previously said he hoped to re-sign Markstrom before the trade deadline in February, but a deal never materialized.Markstrom posted career highs this season in save percentage (.918) and goals saved above average (11.4) in 43 starts despite facing personal adversity. In October, he took a leave of absence to return to Sweden after his father was diagnosed with cancer, and he left the team again in December after his father died."To know behind the scenes of everything he was going through - and coming back from Sweden to play that game against the Rangers (38 saves in a 3-2 win on Oct. 20) - and to just show consistency and a high standard was something," Benning said.Markstrom said in April that he wants to stay in Vancouver, but getting him re-signed could prove difficult. If the cap ceiling stays at $81.5 million for the 2020-21 campaign, the Canucks will have a projected $17 million to work with, according to CapFriendly. Tyler Toffoli and Chris Tanev are also pending UFAs. More importantly, franchise cornerstones Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes will become RFAs after next season.The Canucks also have to take the 2021 Seattle expansion draft into consideration. With rules only allowing each team to protect one goalie, Vancouver would risk losing either Markstrom or Thatcher Demko - a highly touted 24-year-old coming off his first full season as the team's backup.Markstrom, 30, missed the last three weeks of the regular season with a knee injury but has been cleared to return when the NHL resumes play. The Canucks are scheduled to take on the Minnesota Wild in the best-of-five qualifying round.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils have put their head coaching search on hold, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.New Jersey is down to four final candidates - including interim bench boss Alain Nasreddine - after speaking with at least eight coaches, LeBrun added.Nasreddine took over for John Hynes following a 9-13-4 start and led the Devils to a 19-16-8 record. Despite selling at the deadline, New Jersey just narrowly missed making the playoffs in the expanded format - the Montreal Canadiens grabbed the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference with a .500 points percentage, just ahead of New Jersey's .493 mark.It's unknown who the other three final candidates are, but Gerard Gallant, John Stevens, and Peter Laviolette were all reportedly interviewed for the vacancy.The organization's search for a general manager, however, remains ongoing, LeBrun added.Former assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald was promoted to the interim role after Ray Shero was fired in January. Fitzgerald has been conducting the coaching interviews despite the interim tag and remains a candidate for the permanent position. The team also reportedly interviewed former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan expressed gratitude Tuesday for his selection as the team's nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy after enduring a tough year off the ice."Obviously I'm honored. I think it's a great thing and a silver lining for the year that I went through," Ryan told team reporter Craig Medaglia.He added: "To be recognized for some of the work that I put in during the months leading up to my comeback is a very small but fulfilling thing for me."The trophy is awarded annually to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." Each team's nominee was announced Tuesday.Ryan took a leave of absence from hockey in November to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for an alcohol issue he said he dealt with for years. He returned to action on Feb. 25 after being in the program for over three months.The 33-year-old also said he wasn't sure he'd be able to play again when he left the team in November."Right when I left was the hardest time because I knew leaving that I might have played my last game in the NHL. That was the hardest thing to swallow and to get over," Ryan said."I doubted that I'd be able to get my body where I needed to be to play," he added. "I have to thank the staff because not only was I able to do that but I was in the best shape of my life for an entire month before I got back up to game speed. I did worry about it but I had an incredible group around me."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are preparing for the possibility of holding their training camp in the United States if players can't get around the 14-day quarantine rules in Canada."The logistics have been worked on for a camp in the U.S., if need be," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I don't want guys coming back to Calgary and sitting on their butts for two weeks in their condos and being out of shape when it's time to go again. It may make more sense for us to have camp in the U.S. so we can have guys together quicker and being productive. The quarantine issue is a big one."The Canadian teams that are set to participate in the league's 24-team playoff have been in talks with the NHL and the federal government regarding the 14-day quarantine order, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported Monday. As it stands, any person entering Canada must quarantine in their own residence for two weeks.Treliving believes that the rule for players returning to Canada doesn't need to be abandoned, but he suggested it should be amended."I think you can do it in a way where you're not putting anyone in the public in jeopardy," the GM said, according to Francis. “One of the ideas that makes sense is you identify who the players are and, yes, they would be quarantined, but we're going to extend your quarantine between your home and the Saddledome. The only place you're going is a bubble - it's with a peer group, not the public. And it's probably the safest, cleanest, most sanitized place in the city of Calgary right now. You're being tested on a regular basis."The launch of Phase 2 of the return-to-play protocol on Monday means that teams are now permitted to open up their facilities and allow up to six skaters to use them at once. The Flames are expected to open their facilities later in the week despite only having a handful of players in Calgary.With training camps reportedly set to begin July 10 at the earliest and the NHL still in the process of choosing its hub cities, the Flames are in no rush to make a decision."Your hands are tied a little bit because I want to get a head start," Treliving said, "but if we go do a camp now in the U.S. and all of a sudden we're playing in Edmonton or Vancouver, then we're really hooped because the whole team is in the U.S. and has to quarantine for two weeks."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares returned to the ice with several teammates Tuesday as part of Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan."Going back to the rink, seeing each other - even with things being different, it's such a breath of fresh air," Tavares said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Limited to the six-player maximum, Tavares skated in a group that included winger Ilya Mikheyev, defenseman Jake Muzzin, and goaltender Jack Campbell. The 6-foot-1 pivot also expects Mitch Marner and Cody Ceci to join the club Thursday.Most players around the league have not been able to skate since the NHL suspended play March 12, and Tavares stressed how crucial it is for his club to take advantage of these early summer skates."Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can take steps to play together (as a full team)," Tavares said, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby. "We have to benefit from this opportunity to maximize (training). It’s not like we’re going to have four preseason games. We need to perform right off the bat."Tavares said the small group of Leafs and a few coaches are "brainstorming" different drills to help maximize the 45-minute ice time limit allotted under Phase 2 protocol.The Maple Leafs are slated to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in a best-of-five qualifying series under the NHL's 24-team playoff format.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.