Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Florida Panthers veteran defenseman Anton Stralman questioned the safety of the NHL's plan to host a 24-team playoff, and isn't sure if the reward of pursuing a Stanley Cup outweighs the health and logistical concerns of playing hockey during a pandemic."Is it worth it?" Stralman said, per The Athletic's Joe Smith.He continued: "I think you should be concerned. There are so many ways to look at this thing. I know everybody wants hockey back, but safety has to come first. And it’s a little bit worrisome, I can’t deny that. Even though most players are young and healthy, I’m sure there are players like me that have underlying health issues. I don’t know how my body will react if I get this virus."Stralman is in his 13th NHL season, and first with the Panthers. He's dealt with bronchiectasis - a condition that prevents mucus from clearing in his lungs - since his time with the New York Rangers and just stopped taking medication for it this past year.On top of concern for himself, Stralman spoke about the dangers of contracting COVID-19 in the league's proposed hub cities."It would be terrible if we fly into hub cities and start playing, and maybe one of the workers in the building gets it," Stralman said. "It’s not just the 50 guys on the team, there’s a lot of people that need to be there to make this work. If some of those people get sick and potentially die from that, who is responsible? And is this something I want to be part of? It's about the safety, not just for me but everyone involved. That raises a lot of questions on if we should do this thing. And if we do, would there be a price to pay for it?"I'm not sure that's the right thing to do."Stralman and the Panthers were three points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third spot in the Atlantic Division when the league went on pause March 12. By virtue of the league's expanded postseason format, Florida earned the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and are slated to take on the New York Islanders in a best-of-five series in the play-in round.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Declan Chisholm to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced Monday.The contract has an average annual value of $825,000 and will begin next season.Chisholm, a fifth-round pick of the Jets in 2018, ranked tied for second among OHL blue-liners with 56 assists and third with 69 points in 2019-20. The 20-year-old was third on the Peterborough Petes in points behind forwards Nick Robertson and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.The Jets have a need for defensemen at the NHL level, but their prospect pool is brimming with talent. Winnipeg's top three prospects - Ville Heinola, Dylan Samberg, and Logan Stanley - all play defense.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evander Kane is pleased with what he's seen so far from a growing number of prominent white figures in the NHL after he called upon them to speak out against racial injustice and anti-black racism in the wake of George Floyd's death."For me, it's been … it's been a good step. A small step in the right direction," the San Jose Sharks forward told The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark on Sunday. "It was great to see not only from white players in the league but our owner, Hasso Plattner, being the first on that front with his own words and not just issuing a general statement on behalf of the organization. That was awesome to see from him. It shows the type of character he has and the type of character we have in this organization."I am a believer in things starting at the top, and it does not get any higher at the top than with ownership. It was great he was taking the lead on these type of things."Several white players, including Kane's teammate Logan Couture, Blake Wheeler, Anze Kopitar, Kyle Turris, Brian Boyle, and Connor Carrick posted messages denouncing racism and calling for change after Kane said Friday that more white sports figures needed to do so.Kane wasn't entirely satisfied with the responses - or, in some cases, the lack thereof - from the sports world as a whole. He pointed to the fact that the NBA's Toronto Raptors addressed racism as an organization Saturday night, but the Maple Leafs, who have the same ownership group, had not yet done so. The franchise released its own statement after Kane spoke to Clark on Sunday evening."People might say, 'You're nitpicking' and, 'You're looking for something that is not there,' that it's bullshit," the Sharks forward said. "It does not come off that way to me or to us. It speaks to the culture of hockey at the highest level and the people in positions who are at the highest level."A multitude of sports leagues and teams - including the NHL and many of its clubs - have condemned racism over the last few days. Floyd, a black man, died Monday after a white police officer in Minneapolis kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident was captured on video and has led to protests across the United States.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey is a team game, but often a head-to-head matchup can significantly impact the outcome of a contest. Below, we highlight five of the most important individual battles in the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Phillip Danault vs. Sidney Crosby Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyInfoDanaultCrosbyTeamMTLPITPos.CCAge2732Height6'15'11Weight198 lbs200 lbsThis may seem like a completely one-sided mismatch, but Danault is one of the league's most underrated two-way centers. Among all pivots to play 500-plus minutes at five-on-five this season, he finished near or at the top of the league in several advanced possession stats. That includes ranking first in CF% (59.4), first in xGF% (59.9), first in SCF% (59.5), and fourth in HDCF% (60.3), according to Natural Stat Trick.Obviously, Danault's hands will be full while battling Crosby. The Canadiens will also be dealing with a mismatch regardless of who tries to slow Evgeni Malkin. So if Danault can't contain Crosby - or if Carey Price can't stand on his head - this series will be over early.Seth Jones vs. Auston Matthews Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyInfoJonesMatthewsTeamCLBTORPos.RDCAge2522Height6'46'3Weight209 lbs223 lbsThe Maple Leafs-Blue Jackets series pits Toronto's juggernaut offense against one of the league's stingiest defensive clubs. For the Jackets to win, Matthews, the Leafs' offensive catalyst, needs to be contained, and Jones is bound to see heavy minutes against his fellow countryman.Jones wasn't supposed to take part in this year's playoffs. He was given an 8-to-10 week timeline in February after suffering a fractured ankle, but now that the season has been on pause for nearly three months, the 25-year-old should be ready.Jones is a huge X-factor in this series. Defending Matthews is extremely difficult because he needs just a sliver of space in the slot to unleash his lethal wrister. But with Jones' superb skating and long reach, he can take time and space away from Matthews. He's also a good shot-blocker, and Matthews finished fourth in the league this season with 290 shots.Patrick Kane vs. Oscar Klefbom Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyInfoKaneKlefbomTeamCHIEDMPos.RWLDAge3126Height5'106'3Weight177 lbs216 lbsConnor McDavid vs. Jonathan Toews is the more narrative-filled head-to-head matchup, but Kane vs. Klefbom could leave a greater impact on the series.The Blackhawks simply don't belong in the playoffs after placing last in their division and finishing 32-30-8. For them to stand a chance against a far superior Oilers team, Kane needs to go off. While Toews' defensive presence can be huge, no Chicago player can take over a game offensively like Kane.As Edmonton's top left-handed defenseman, it'll likely be Klefbom contending with Kane for the majority of each game. The Swede was a workhorse for the Oilers this season, finishing fifth in the NHL in average time on ice (25:25). He's not very physical despite his size, so Klefbom will attempt to use strong positioning and an active stick to keep Kane in check.Connor Hellebuyck vs. Matthew Tkachuk Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyInfoHellebuyckTkachukTeamWPGCGYPos.GLWAge2722Height6'46'2Weight207 lbs202 lbsOver just four NHL seasons, Tkachuk has made a long list of enemies with his in-your-face style of play. While his disputes with Drew Doughty and Zack Kassian come to mind first, Tkachuk's willingness to go hard to the net - sometimes too hard - has led to many run-ins with goalies.There's no big, tough defenseman like Dustin Byfuglien or Jacob Trouba on the Jets anymore to make Tkachuk think twice about crashing the net. He's going to live right in front of the blue paint all series, and Hellebuyck can't let Tkachuk get to him. The netminder is a Vezina Trophy favorite and the Jets' most important player. If he's off his game because Tkachuk is wreaking havoc, that's a huge advantage for the Flames.Jonas Brodin vs. Elias Pettersson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyInfoBrodinPetterssonTeamMINVANPos.LDCAge2621Height6'16'2Weight198 lbs176 lbsThere's a bevy of options available among the Wild's blue-liners to match up against the highly skilled Pettersson, but perhaps nobody is better suited than Brodin. He doesn't get the same attention that Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, or even Matt Dumba receive, but Brodin is one of the league's better shutdown defensemen.As The Point Hockey's Mike Kelly highlighted in his breakdown of Brodin's game, the Wild's rearguard led all defenders in five-on-five zone-entry denials, and he finished second in defensive zone blocked passes.Pettersson is difficult to defend because he can burn opponents off the rush with his vision or shot, and he can also beat defenders in tight with his slick hands. But Brodin is a skilled defender at all areas of the ice.Minnesota's goaltending is a question mark, so the Wild's defense needs to keep shots to the outside. The Canucks, meanwhile, don't get much production beyond their top-six forwards, so if Pettersson's line struggles to create offense, more pressure will fall on Bo Horvat's trio. This all Swede matchup will be integral.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph hopes the protests that have followed the death of George Floyd will lead to real positive changes in society."Watching the events unfold across America is extremely sad. I wish I could say what happened to George Floyd was an isolated event, but I know it's not," Joseph said Sunday on Twitter. "The problem is that everyone has known that for a long time, and yet very little was done about it. And now people have had enough."That said, once it all boils over, what concrete actions will be taken? It is not enough to be non-racist and events unfolding today have proven that. But violent protests are not the answers or a good way to be anti-racist ... we need to focus on the solution. On making a change in the way we educate children."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died Monday in Minneapolis after now-former police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground with his knee for over eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed. Chauvin has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter."George Floyd's death was unacceptable, my heart bleeds for him and his family, and I assume he would want us to fight for a better world," Joseph wrote. "Let's lead with love and demand change all together as a human race. The only way out is through."Several other teams and players around the league have shared similar thoughts to Joseph's regarding racism and injustice.San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, who, with Joseph, is among a small minority of black players in the NHL, called on high-profile athletes to speak up during this time. Sharks captain Logan Couture backed his teammate on Friday.Minnesota native and Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler also released a message expressing his anger and frustration not only in his own city but across the country."America is not OK," Wheeler said Saturday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is calling for unity in the fight against racism and injustice."As a Latino American, it is impossible for me to understand and fathom what others endure," Matthews said Sunday on Twitter. "My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have lost loved ones and who have endured pain and suffering due to hateful, racist attitudes and beliefs."The world must unite, not divide. We need to stand together in support of justice, love, and peace for all. We need change."Protests continue across North America following the death of George Floyd.Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died Monday in Minneapolis after now-former police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground with his knee for over eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed. Chauvin was fired and has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph pleaded for the protests to lead to real positive change in society."We need to focus on the solution," Joseph said Sunday.San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane called Friday for higher-profile athletes to speak out and denounce injustice. Both Kane and Joseph are among a small minority of black players in the NHL.Sharks captain Logan Couture supported his teammate Friday, saying athletes can't continue to turn a blind eye to racism. Since then, Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler and Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, among others, also shared their pleas in the fight against racial injustice.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings and team captain Anze Kopitar spoke out Sunday against racism and injustice amid protests throughout North America following the death of George Floyd."The L.A. Kings are united against racism and acts of hatred toward others," the team said in a statement. "Our voice is here to support the black community and condemn those injustices. Now is the time to raise the volume peacefully."Enough Racism. Enough Senseless Violence. ENOUGH."Kopitar shared a similar sentiment through his own personal Twitter account, denouncing racism and inequality while calling for action toward a better future.

Former New York Rangers defenseman Sean Day cleared unconditional waivers Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Day, who was granted "exceptional status" into the OHL as a 15-year-old, was selected by the Rangers in the third round of the 2016 draft. He's just one of seven players - including John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, and Connor McDavid - in CHL history to earn the honor.The 22-year-old failed to crack the Rangers' NHL roster. He's spent the last two seasons in both the AHL and ECHL, amassing 18 points in 62 AHL games during his career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse rescued Ian Smith, a cameraman for local station KDKA, after the journalist was attacked during police brutality protests in the city, the club confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey on Saturday night.Morehouse departed PPG Paints Arena, found Smith, and helped him inside before the cameraman was taken to the hospital, according to Mackey.Smith detailed his ordeal while sitting in the ambulance.

The statue of Mario Lemieux outside Pittsburgh's PPG Paints Arena was spray-painted Saturday.

The NHL's 24-team playoff format has given new life to clubs that were outside the postseason picture when the season was suspended in March.Due to the unique best-of-five setup, hockey fans will be treated to several thrilling and unpredictable matchups before the traditional Round of 16 gets underway.Here are the three higher-seeded squads most in danger of being upset.Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 5 seed in East) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRegular season vs. Canadiens: 2-1

Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno believes his club's biggest edge in its best-of-five play-in matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs may lie behind the bench."In a shortened series, I think the coach that knows his team best and knows how to get the quickest performance out of his team, you know, is going to have an advantage," Foligno said, according to Mark Masters of TSN. "The team that gets their minds to their identity is going to have an advantage."Veteran head coach John Tortorella has served as the Blue Jackets' bench boss for five seasons. He's won 110 career playoff games, captured the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year on two occasions, and guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup title in 2004.He also coached Columbus to a historic sweep of his former club as the Blue Jackets ousted the 62-win Lightning in the opening round of the 2019 postseason.Known for his passionate approach, Tortorella put his coaching bona fides on full display while delivering a memorable speech to his players ahead of that series."He trusts us, and that trust has been built now for a few years," Foligno said. "You can go back to the video before the series in Tampa and that speech he gave, and that's exactly how all of us were feeling."He was dead on, because nobody was expecting anything out of us and we all felt slighted, so he was right in there with us and saying, 'We don't take a backwards step to these guys, we go right at them,' and that's a big reason why we had the success in that series."Foligno believes Tortorella was paramount in helping the Blue Jackets carry last season's success into 2019-20, coaching them to a 33-22-15 record despite the offseason departures of several high-caliber talents and injuries to key players throughout the campaign."We could have easily strayed with the injuries we faced and the question marks going into the season, but he did a great job and we followed suit," Foligno said. "Now that belief is in the locker room. When you have a coach like that who can coach off emotion but also practicality, that's a huge benefit for us."The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, replaced Mike Babcock with rookie head coach Sheldon Keefe in November following a 9-10-4 start to Babcock's fifth season with the team. Though Toronto's play remained inconsistent, the team improved under Keefe, posting a 27-15-5 record.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Couture is taking teammate Evander Kane's words to heart and speaking out against institutional racism in hockey and beyond."I don't know how to properly write this message," the San Jose Sharks captain wrote Saturday in a statement on Twitter. "First of all, I applaud Evander for speaking the truth. Racism exists in society, (and) it also exists in hockey. That's a fact. Growing up in this game is a privilege. At times I think most of us have been at fault for turning a blind eye when it comes to racism."It cannot continue. I've had the opportunity to play with some incredible teammates. Black, white, all colors. Getting to listen to them talk about things they have gone through in hockey/life is eye-opening. As a society and as hockey players, we are only scraping the surface in fixing what desperately needs fixing."Kane made his feelings known Friday, saying, "We've been outraged for hundreds of years and nothing's changed," and calling upon white athletes like Sidney Crosby and Tom Brady to denounce racial injustice in the wake of incidents like the death of George Floyd.Akim Aliu has been the leading voice of late in the movement seeking to combat racism in hockey. The former player's November revelations of Bill Peters' past use of racial slurs toward him led to the former head coach resigning from the Calgary Flames, and Aliu later met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss how the league could be more inclusive."Thanks to Akim and Evander for speaking so loudly about this issue," Couture added. "We all need to learn, we need to love each other regardless of skin color."Floyd, a 46-year-old Minneapolis man, died Monday after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed. Floyd's death has led to protests across the United States.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets captain and Minnesota native Blake Wheeler tweeted a statement Saturday calling for systemic change in the United States amid protests following George Floyd's killing."I've wanted to say something for a while, but it's been really difficult knowing what to say. My hometown is burning. Businesses where I grew up are being boarded up. America is not OK," Wheeler wrote."Growing up outside Minneapolis, I always felt sheltered from racism. That's because I was. Most people I grew up with looked like me. I never had to be scared when I stopped at a traffic light or saw the police in public. My kids will never know that fear either."I'm heartbroken that we still treat people this way. We need to stand with the black community and fundamentally change how the leadership in this country has dealt with racism. I'm sorry it has taken this long, but I'm hopeful that we can change this NOW. George Floyd's life mattered. Ahmaud Arbery's life mattered. So did every other life that has been lost by this senseless violence and racism."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed Monday in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for over eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground. The incident has sparked mass outrage and protests across the U.S.San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, one of the few black players in the NHL, called Friday for more high-profile athletes to publicly speak out against racism. Sharks captain Logan Couture backed Kane on Saturday, stating that athletes cannot continue turning a blind eye to racism in hockey.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL clarified its plan for processing conditional trades involving 2020 draft picks in a memo sent to teams this week, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.With the NHL and NHLPA agreeing upon a unique 24-team playoff format, the league has ruled teams must advance to the round of 16 for trade stipulations contingent on playoff appearances to take effect. Teams' round-by-round progression in the postseason will be measured from the 16-team stage onward."More specifically, for trade condition purposes, a club will not be deemed to have qualified for the playoffs unless or until they have progressed into the round of 16, and 'playoff games/rounds' will only include the games/rounds played in the round of 16 or later," the league wrote, according to LeBrun. "We believe this interpretation will best reflect the intentions of the parties at the time of the trade."Several deals around the league were left in question when the NHL suspended its season on March 12.The Vancouver Canucks dealt a conditional 2020 first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning last offseason; if Vancouver missed the 2020 postseason, the pick was to convert into a 2021 first-rounder. The Lightning sent that pick to the New Jersey Devils in February in a deal for Blake Coleman.Under the league's ruling, the Devils will own the pick in 2020 if the Canucks beat the Minnesota Wild in the 24-team play-in round. If the Canucks lose, New Jersey will receive Vancouver's 2021 selection instead.The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, sent a conditional first-round pick to the Wild in February in exchange for Jason Zucker. If Pittsburgh were to miss the playoffs this season, the club would have the option to keep the pick and instead send Minnesota a first-round selection in 2021. The Penguins will face that decision if the Montreal Canadiens upset them in the play-in.Despite declaring the 2019-20 regular season officially concluded, the league has yet to rule on the conditions for several other trades, such as the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames' deal to swap forwards Milan Lucic and James Neal.The Flames were to receive a 2020 third-round pick from the Oilers if Neal scored 21 goals and Lucic scored 10 or fewer goals than Neal this season. Neal had 19 goals when the league halted play, while Lucic had eight.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.MGM Resorts International has submitted a bid to the NHL showcasing Las Vegas' ability to serve as a hub city for the expanded postseason, sources told The Athletic's Jesse Granger.Exact details of the proposal are currently unknown, but it reportedly highlights the surplus of MGM-owned hotels located near T-Mobile Arena - home of the Golden Knights - which could make Sin City a viable spot to host players, staff, and potentially family members for 12 NHL teams. MGM also has a 42.5% ownership stake in T-Mobile Arena, Granger notes.Las Vegas has been connected to the league's plan to use hub cities since the idea was first reported, and it's one of 10 locations the NHL is considering. The league hopes to have a hub in one market in each conference, but local COVID-19 restrictions will ultimately be the deciding factor.Though Last Vegas doesn't have as many rinks available as other locations under consideration, there are six sheets of ice that can currently be used for games and practices. Additional ice surfaces could be installed closer to the strip, as well, according to Granger.The NHL is also considering Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Vancouver.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers placed defenseman Sean Day on unconditional waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Day was granted "exceptional status" into the OHL as a 15-year-old. He's one of just seven players in CHL history to receive the honor.PlayerLeagueYearJohn TavaresOHL2005Aaron EkbladOHL2011Connor McDavidOHL2012Sean DayOHL2013Joe VelenoQMJHL2015Shane WrightOHL2019Connor BedardWHL2020Day was selected fourth overall by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2013 OHL Priority Draft despite being a year younger than all of his counterparts. Tavares, McDavid, and Ekblad all went No. 1 in their respective drafts.Despite putting together a solid junior career, Day did not dominate in the OHL like many expected and was picked by the Rangers in the third round of the 2016 NHL draft.Day turned pro in 2018 and split the last two seasons between the ECHL's Maine Mariners and AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. The 22-year-old has tallied 18 points in 62 career AHL games.As a former highly touted prospect, Day could become an intriguing reclamation project for an organization willing to take a chance on him.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Nick Foligno wants to ensure that NHL players who aren't comfortable suiting up go uncriticized if and when the season resumes."I think it has to because that's just human rights," the Columbus Blue Jackets captain told TSN's Mark Masters when asked if a player not wanting to play would be welcomed. "If you don't feel safe to return, I think there needs to be some sort of way for those guys not to be vilified. No one's going to look at you (unfavorably) for not wanting to go back, and I don't think they should be."If you don't feel safe because of a condition or just a belief, then you have every right as a human not to return to play until you feel comfortable about it."The veteran forward would understand if a player needed to prioritize their health or their family's well-being amid the ongoing pandemic."I've taken time away and been with my family for things that are bigger than hockey, (and) this is obviously bigger than hockey, so I would respect anyone that doesn't feel comfortable (enough) to come back," Foligno said. "I also respect the guys that do want to come back. If they feel safe enough and are good with the answers (health officials and the league) are giving, I look at both sides, and I think that's the right thing to do. But I'm sure there will be something built in to at least respect some guys who don't feel quite as comfortable, and we'll support those people all the way."On Tuesday, Foligno said "there's going to be a fight" if someone tells him he can't see his family when the league resumes play.Earlier that day, the NHL formalized its 24-team playoff and return-to-play plan. The league reportedly won't begin training camps before July 10.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Calgary Flames netminder and Alabama-Huntsville alumnus Cam Talbot helped rescue the school's hockey program after it recently announced it could no longer continue due to financial constraints caused by COVID-19.Talbot played at Alabama-Huntsville for three seasons from 2007 to 2010. He led a GoFundMe page that contributed $521,887 after the school said it'd reconsider the decision to cut the program if $750,000 was raised."I'm extremely excited that the program will continue on," Talbot told William Douglas of NHL.com. "Don't get us wrong, there's still a lot of work to be done. But this was the first hurdle and we couldn't be more ecstatic from the support we've gotten."Alabama-Huntsville won two Division II national championship in 1996 and 1998 before it moved to Division I. It would have been the first D-I hockey program to fold since Wayne State in 2008.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.While many pundits and fans alike have questioned the integrity of the NHL's planned 24-team playoff format, New York Rangers head coach David Quinn doesn't believe fairness is what people should be worrying about when it comes to playing sports in the midst of a pandemic."I think we all have to be very careful when we're talking about 'fair,'" Quinn said in an interview shared by the Rangers. "When I think about 'fair' right now, I think about the 100,000 people that have lost their lives and the loved ones that have been affected by it."I think about the first responders that have been exposed to this terrible disease, mentally and physically. I think about the 30 million, 40 million people that have filed for unemployment. I think about the small and big businesses that have been shut down. I think about the seniors that are in high school and college that will never experience one of life's great moments."I think we all have to be very sensitive to the word 'fair.' We've been very fortunate that we continue to play a game that we love, and coach a game that we love. I understand fairness in the small context of our sport, but I think we all have to keep the word 'fair' in perspective."The Rangers were granted a spot in the expanded playoff format after finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference by points percentage through 70 regular-season games.New York had already rocketed into the traditional playoff conversation before the pause. The Rangers rode an 11-5-1 surge to enter the shutdown just two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes - the Blueshirts' play-in opponents who sat fourth in the Metropolitan Division and occupied a wild-card position when the league halted play.The Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning were the only two NHL teams to vote against the 24-team playoff proposal. Carolina forward Jordan Martinook said it hurts the club's odds of winning a championship, while head coach Rod Brind'Amour claimed the team felt the format eliminated the value of the regular-season games that had already been played.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog believes teammate Nathan MacKinnon deserves to be named league MVP after another dominant showing for the 2019-20 regular season."I think he should be winning the Hart (Trophy) and I think he should have a couple years ago as well when he was up," Landeskog told Sportsnet's "Good Show" on Friday. "I know Taylor Hall had a great season, and he kind of willed his way for the Devils to go to the playoffs, but so did Nate with our group."MacKinnon was nominated for the Hart in 2017-18 and finished second to Hall. This year, the Avs speedster has a strong chance to be a finalist again after posting 93 points in 69 games, good for fifth in the league.Most impressively, MacKinnon was able to put up gaudy stats despite numerous injuries to key Colorado players - Landeskog included - throughout the season. MacKinnon was by far the Avs' most productive player, finishing 43 points clear of the team's second-leading scorer, rookie defenseman Cale Makar."If you watch Nate play, he's a difference-maker every single night," Landeskog said. "If we're looking for that goal, he's usually the guy that gives it to us."The Avalanche managed a 42-20-8 record before the season went on pause, earning the second seed in the Western Conference and a bye in the NHL's play-in round.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 · Postmedia hockey writer Michael TraikosMichael Traikos, national hockey writer for Postmedia, joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

The Vancouver Canucks and amateur scouting director Judd Brackett have failed to reach a new agreement and will part ways at the end of his current contract, the club announced Friday.The team made no further changes and said final draft decisions will still be general manager Jim Benning's responsibility.Brackett was offered a two-year pact but rejected it, Benning said Friday. The scouting executive's current deal reportedly expires June 30.He was at the helm of the club's amateur scouting department for the selections of Elias Pettersson (2017) and Quinn Hughes (2018), among others.Brackett has served in the role since 2015 and worked with the Canucks' amateur scouting staff for 12 years.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evander Kane is calling on more white athletes to decry the unjust treatment of black people in the aftermath of incidents like the death of George Floyd."We need so many more athletes that don't look like me speaking out about this, having the same amount of outrage that I have inside, and using that to voice their opinion, to voice their frustration, because that's the only way it's going to change," the San Jose Sharks forward said on ESPN's "First Take" on Friday."We've been outraged for hundreds of years and nothing's changed," Kane continued. "It's time for guys like Tom Brady, and Sidney Crosby, and those type(s) of figures to speak up about what is right and, clearly in this case, what is unbelievably wrong. Because that's the only way we're going to actually create that unified anger to create that necessary change, especially when you talk about systematic racism."Kane reiterated what he said in early May about hockey culture preventing many players from speaking out."I'm one of the anomalies when it comes to NHL players in doing that, and that's another part of our problem is guys being scared to really speak their mind and stand up for what is right, and this example - one of many, unfortunately - (has) continued (the trend) for the last number of years and ever since I've been alive," Kane said.The Sharks winger also pointed out how the notion of inclusivity in sports - and hockey specifically - could be more practically applied."In hockey, it's a majority white league by far. It's not even close," he said. "So, we need to continue to come together. And we talk about it all the time, we talk about how sports is for everybody ... (and about how) it's an inclusive thing. But when we talk about our own personal battles outside of sports, there's a lot of people that are silent on issues and they're important issues. They're issues that have been going on for hundreds of years, and we need that same type of team mentality to be brought to issues outside of our sport."Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who's white, wrote Thursday night that "the institutional racism in this country breaks my heart and needs to stop." Shortly after Kane made his comments Friday, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow - who's also white - weighed in, writing "the black community needs our help" and "they have been unheard for far too long."Floyd, a 46-year-old black man in Minneapolis, died Monday after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes while Floyd was handcuffed. The incident was recorded and shared widely on social media, leading to protests and ultimately riots in the city.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill is intent on shaking up his roster this offseason, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen thinks he'll be shipped out of town quicker than you can say "nine-year playoff drought.""I want to win, if it's in Buffalo or somewhere else," Ristolainen told reporters during a video call Thursday, including WIVB-TV's Heather Prusak. "I feel like when (the) team doesn't get to the goal that is (the) playoffs, I think you need to make some changes. If changes will happen, I know I'm one of the first ones probably who is going to get traded. It's part of the business and I'm ready, whatever happens."But I have really enjoyed my time in Buffalo, and it's home for me."Ristolainen, tied for the longest-serving member of the Sabres, has been rumored to be on the trade block for quite some time. Interest in his services reportedly picked up last offseason after Jacob Trouba - another right-handed defenseman with size - was shipped from the Winnipeg Jets to the New York Rangers, but nothing materialized.Head coach Ralph Krueger admitted that when he was hired a year ago, Ristolainen wanted out of Buffalo."He was somebody that wanted to be traded and now he has embraced our path," Krueger said in a video call Friday, according to Prusak, adding that Ristolainen was "all-in" this season.Krueger hopes Ristolainen will be back."I want to coach Risto next season. I would enjoy coaching Risto next season," he said. "That Risto always comes with a little bit of bite is what we love about him. I'm expecting to see him as a center piece and a core player in our group next year."Ristolainen tallied 33 points in 69 games this season, leading all Sabres skaters with an average time on ice of 22:48. He's under contract through 2021-22 with a $4.5-million annual cap hit. Buffalo has a logjam on the right side of its blue line, as Ristolainen, Colin Miller, Brandon Montour (RFA), and Henri Jokiharju are all under club control for at least another year.Sabres ownership announced earlier this week that Botterill will return for his fourth year as GM, despite failing to make the playoffs in his first three seasons. He's been heavily criticized for his roster construction, most notably the 2018 Ryan O'Reilly trade.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with Matej Chalupa on a two-year contract beginning in 2020-21, the team announced Friday.Chalupa's deal carries an average annual value of $925,000.The 21-year-old undrafted winger out of the Czech Republic posted seven goals and 24 points for local club Hradec Kralove this season.It was his second campaign with the team after he spent as many years with Plzen, where he was a teammate of current Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik.Chalupa was also a teammate of Radek Smolenak in 2019-20. Smolenak played one of his seven NHL games for the Blackhawks in 2009-10.Chicago center David Kampf also hails from the Czech Republic. The Blackhawks signed him out of Pirati Chomutov, another team from that nation, in 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's plenty wrong with the NHL's seven non-playoff teams - that's why they're at the bottom of the standings. None of them are a fix away from winning the Stanley Cup. The climb to the top will be a marathon, not a sprint.That said, aside from winning the wackiest draft lottery in history - an exercise out of their hands, anyway - what are the most important pieces of business for these squads as a lengthy offseason begins?Anaheim DucksIt may not seem like it at first glance, but the Ducks are slowly approaching a crossroads when captain Ryan Getzlaf's contract expires next summer. Getzlaf, now 35 and past his prime, is the last remaining player from the 2007 Stanley Cup-winning squad.This means general manager Bob Murray has some organizational soul-searching to do. What would an extension with Getzlaf look like (the two sides can start negotiating this offseason), assuming there's a desire to keep him in the fold in the first place? There's no doubt teams would be lining up prior to the 2021 trade deadline for a chance at acquiring him as a potential final piece for a Cup run.It'll be fascinating to see how Anaheim, which boasts a well-respected scouting staff, handles the upcoming draft. GMs around the league will be relying on area scouts more than usual since the cancellation of marquee scouting events like the Under-18 World Championships and Memorial Cup cut off an important portion of the schedule. Murray and staff have seven picks - two in the first and one in each of the next five rounds.Buffalo Sabres Sara Schmidle / Getty ImagesJack Eichel and his teammates are sick of losing. Sabres fans, most notably Duane Steinel of viral fame, are sick of losing. You can bet ownership, management, and the coaching staff are, too.Unlike many of the teams discussed in this piece, Buffalo's been desperately trying to reach the next level since Eichel arrived in 2015. Here's what can it do this offseason to re-enter the playoff hunt in 2020-21 and stay relevant for the foreseeable future:

The seven clubs that aren't part of the 24-team expanded playoff format are now eligible to make trades with one another, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The eliminated teams are the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially declared the season is over for those squads during his announcement earlier this week.While the situation may feel unique under current circumstances, the 15 teams that don't qualify for the playoffs during a normal campaign are permitted to make trades with each other in April, when the postseason typically begins.Bettman also announced a multifaceted plan for the June 26 draft lottery on Tuesday, with each of the seven eliminated teams receiving the traditional odds for landing the No. 1 pick.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's recent announcement of a new draft-lottery format confused most, but Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion knows his club will end up in good shape regardless of the results.The Senators have been given a 25% chance of winning the No. 1 pick thanks to their own odds from finishing in 30th place, and owning the San Jose Sharks' first-round pick as a part of the package that sent former Sens captain Erik Karlsson to the west coast. The Sharks finished 29th."We’re very happy with how the draft lottery will proceed," Dorion told TSN. "We know we’re going to get two players in the top six, in the worst-case scenario, or best-case, one and two."The Senators also own the New York Islanders' 2020 first-rounder thanks to the deadline deal involving Jean-Gabriel Pageau. However, if the Isles earn a top-three draft choice in 2020, the pick will be deferred to 2021.This year's draft lottery could be done in two phases, and the first will be held June 26. The seven teams outside the expanded 24-team playoff cutline will be included in the first lottery, along with eight placeholders to represent the clubs eventually knocked out after the play-in round. If one of the placeholders wins a top-three pick in the first phase, the lottery will be settled at a later date.Ottawa finished the regular season with a 25-34-12 record, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive campaign. The franchise faces a tremendous opportunity to accelerate its rebuild in the upcoming draft while owning up to nine picks in the first three rounds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Alexis Lafreniere's agent is exploring all options for the 2020-21 season, including European leagues, depending on how long the start of the NHL's next campaign is delayed, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on "Insider Trading" Thursday."... Where’s Alexis Lafreniere going to play this fall if the NHL season isn’t happening until January and the draft isn’t until October or November?" McKenzie said of the presumed 2020 No. 1 pick."Is the CHL going to be playing? Is the American Hockey League an option? We don’t know at this point," he continued. "But one thing I can tell you - (agent) Emilie Castonguay for Alexis Lafreniere is looking at all the options on the table and that will include seeing if the European club teams are up and operating in September and October."The NHL announced in its return-to-play plan Tuesday that the draft lottery will be held June 26, but timelines for the draft itself and next season are far from settled.Training camps for the resumption of the current season won't begin before July 10. Even if everything goes to plan, that could mean the NHL's 24-team playoff may not start until early August, possibly preventing the next season from beginning until December or January.The CHL and all major European leagues canceled seasons outright due to the coronavirus pandemic earlier in the spring, and those leagues haven't revealed plans for a return.Lafreniere has been labeled as the top pick among this year's crop of prospects all season. He produced 112 points in 52 QMJHL games this campaign in addition to winning a gold medal and being named tournament MVP at the world juniors.The Detroit Red Wings own the best lottery odds for the No. 1 pick, with an 18.5% chance of winning.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL informed its players on Thursday that organized training camps won't begin until at least July 10, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Training camps are part of Phase 3 of the league's return-to-play plan, which commissioner Gary Bettman outlined Tuesday in an announcement that also included the groundwork for a 24-team playoff.Phase 2 of the league's plan, expected to commence in early June, will involve players returning to their home facilities in small groups and voluntary on- or off-ice training.The NHL paused the campaign on March 12. It officially called an end on Tuesday to the 2019-20 regular season. The league remains adamant it won't proceed with its plans until respective civil authorities deem it safe to do so.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid doesn't believe his club would gain a competitive advantage playing in its own building if the city is chosen as one of the NHL's hub locations."I would say probably not," McDavid said Thursday in an interview with Sportsnet. "It's going to feel weird in that building no matter where you play, no matter if you've played there 100 times, no matter if you've never played there."The building's gonna feel weird, just with no fans being in there and whatnot, so I would say probably not, but that's just my opinion."NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league's 24-team playoff format Tuesday. Teams will be split into two hub cities, with Edmonton being one of the 10 candidates under consideration.Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league would prefer having a Canadian city serve as a host site, but added that the country's 14-day self-isolation order for all individuals entering the country could prevent that.Alberta premier Jason Kenney asked Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday to remove coronavirus-related travel restrictions so that Edmonton can become a hub city when the NHL resumes play.The Oilers owned a 17-11-6 record at Rogers Place this season. The club is slated to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the best-of-five qualifying round.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Alberta premier Jason Kenney is asking Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to remove coronavirus-related travel restrictions so that Edmonton can become a hub city when the NHL resumes play, according to Reuters.The NHL unveiled its 24-team return-to-play format Tuesday, which includes the use of two hub cities - one for each conference. There are 10 cities currently under consideration, including Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver.However, the federal government has a 14-day isolation order for all individuals entering Canada. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday that the league would like to have a Canadian hub city, but this rule may prevent it."If we're not able to resolve that issue or solve that issue, I think it effectively eliminates our ability to come to a Canadian city as one of our hub cities," Daly said.Edmonton has been more persistent on hosting NHL games than the other two Canadian cities."Alberta began its phased relaunch of our economy on May 14, and there have been no measurable increases in the case numbers for coronavirus in the province," Kenney wrote in a letter to Trudeau on Tuesday. "New COVID-19 cases in Edmonton are averaging one per day, with recovered cases far outweighing any new infections."Kenney said earlier in May that Edmonton is the "safest place" in North America to host NHL games due to the low number of COVID-19 cases.Part of Kenney's push is the fact that Edmonton boasts a luxurious 364-room hotel attached to its state-of-the-art arena, Rogers Place, that could form a "quarantine zone." He said local public health officials are on board with the plan.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel didn't mince words when speaking about missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season since entering the league in 2015."Listen, I'm fed up with the losing and I'm frustrated. It's not an easy pill to swallow right now," Eichel said on a conference call Thursday, according to Postmedia's Michael Traikos. "It's been a tough past couple of months and a tough past five years."After being selected second overall in the 2015 draft, Eichel quickly transitioned into an MVP-caliber player with the Sabres. In the 2019-20 season, he recorded 36 goals and 42 assists in 68 games.Despite his individual success, the Sabres have failed to break free from the bottom of the league's standings. Since his rookie season, the team has finished in sixth place in the Atlantic Division twice, seventh once, and eighth twice.The 23-year-old pointed to the newly developed 24-team playoff format as even more reason for his frustration. The Sabres narrowly missed the cut, sitting at 25th place."It adds to the frustration that you can't get to a 24-team playoff," Eichel said. "Our goal at the beginning of the season wasn't to make the 24-team playoff. It was to make a 16-team playoff."He added: "In a situation like this, a lot of the teams that are going to continue to play. They probably thought they were going to be out of it. They’re going to gain valuable experience. Now we're not one of them. It adds to the frustration. It adds to it a lot."Eichel has led his team in points over the past four seasons. He's recorded 137 goals and 200 assists in 354 career games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's 24-team return-to-play format marks the end of the 2019-20 regular season "for the purposes of nomenclature, record keeping, and NHL awards," commissioner Gary Bettman said in Tuesday's announcement. That means it's time to hand out awards and finalize league stat leaders, which the league made official on Thursday.Presidents' Trophy Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyAwarded to the team with the most points.Winner: Boston BruinsRankTeamPTSPTS%1Boston Bruins100.7142St. Louis Blues94.6623Tampa Bay Lightning92.6573Colorado Avalanche92.6575Washington Capitals90.652Whether by points or points percentage - a calculation dividing accrued points by maximum possible points based on games played - the Bruins were the NHL's best team during the 2019-20 regular season.Art Ross Trophy Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyAwarded to the player with the most points.Winner: Leon DraisaitlRankPlayerGPPTS1Leon Draisaitl (EDM)711102Connor McDavid (EDM)64973Artemi Panarin (NYR)70953David Pastrnak (BOS)69955Nathan MacKinnon (COL)6993Barring an injury, this was Draisaitl's trophy to lose even without a league shutdown.Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyAwarded to the player with the most goals.Winner: Alex Ovechkin/David PastrnakRankPlayerGPG1Alex Ovechkin (WSH)68481David Pastrnak (BOS)70483Auston Matthews (TOR)70474Leon Draisaitl (EDM)71435Mika Zibanejad (NYR)5741This was arguably the most enticing award race in the league, so it's a shame we never got to see the end of it; each of these five players seemed to have a fighting chance. It's Ovechkin's ninth time winning the award and Pastrnak's first.Assists leader Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyWinner: Leon DraisaitlRankPlayerGPA1Leon Draisaitl (EDM)71672Connor McDavid (EDM)64632Artemi Panarin (NYR)69634John Carlson (WSH)69605Brad Marchand (BOS)7059There's no actual award for the NHL's regular-season assist leader, which seems like a missed opportunity. It could be named after Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time points leader by assists alone. Or perhaps after someone who specialized in dishing the puck (to a lesser extent) but was never an elite scorer, like Adam Oates or Joe Thornton.Defenseman points leader Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyWinner: John CarlsonRankPlayerGPPTS1John Carlson (WSH)69752Roman Josi (NSH)69653Victor Hedman (TB)66554Tony DeAngelo (NYR)68535Quinn Hughes (VAN)6853Carlson was on pace for 89 points over 82 games, a total no defenseman has reached since Ray Bourque and Sergei Zubov in 1993-94, according to Hockey Reference.Average time-on-ice leader Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWinner: Thomas ChabotRankPlayerGPATOI1Thomas Chabot (OTT)7126:002Drew Doughty (LA)6725:493Roman Josi (NSH)6925:474Kris Letang (PIT)6125:445Oscar Klefbom (EDM)6225:255Brent Burns (SJ)7025:25Chabot was a horse. He logged 37:50 of action during an overtime loss to the Lightning in December.William M. Jennings Trophy Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyAwarded to the goaltender(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals against.Winner: Tuukka Rask/Jaroslav HalakRankPlayersGPGA1Tuukka Rask/Jaroslav Halak (BOS)701742Ben Bishop/Anton Khudobin (DAL)691773Joonas Korpisalo/Elvis Merzlikins (CLB)701873Darcy Kuemper/Antti Raanta (ARI)701875Philipp Grubauer/Pavel Francouz (COL)70191Rask (41 starts) and Halak (31 starts) were both sensational this season, combining for a .925 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against average. Boston's blue line and the team's overall defensive play deserve some credit, too.Save percentage leader Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMinimum of 23 games played, per NHL.com.Winner: Anton KhudobinRankPlayerGPSV%1Anton Khudobin (DAL)30.9302Tuukka Rask (BOS)41.9293Darcy Kuemper (ARI)29.9284Jake Allen (STL)24.9275Elvis Merzlikins (CLB)33.923Though he split time in the crease with Ben Bishop this season, Khudobin has quietly become one of the league's most effective goaltenders. A pending UFA, he could be in line for a handsome payday this offseason.Goalie wins leader Al Powers / National Hockey League / GettyWinner: Andrei VasilevskiyRankPlayerGPW1Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB)52352Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)58313Jordan Binnington (STL)50304Frederik Andersen (TOR)52295Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK)49275Carey Price (MTL)5827Vasilevskiy may be the winner here, but Hellebuyck's brilliance can't be overstated. He won 31 games while posting a .922 save percentage after Winnipeg lost four of its blue-line regulars from 2018-19.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara understands that the 24-team playoff may not be 100% fair, but also recognizes there are bigger things to worry about than the postseason format."You can’t really blame anyone or feel that it’s unfair. For us, we have to be grateful for the opportunity we're getting," Chara said, per Sportsnet. "When you kind of look at the real-life perspective, what other people's families, businesses go through … Not everybody is getting the same chance, lots of people lost a lot of financial support, businesses went down and they will never get the same opportunities, so we have to be grateful for the opportunity."The Bruins were in the driver's seat to win the Atlantic Division prior to the season's pause. At the time of the stoppage, they sat eight points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning with 12 games left on the schedule.Under the new playoff format, the Bruins will need to partake in a three-game round robin to determine their seeding. Bruins president Cam Neely said Wednesday that he felt the format was "disappointing" for his team.Chara added that while the situation to return to play isn't guaranteed, players will need to accept certain risks to compete for the Stanley Cup."There is going to be risk involved," Chara said, according to NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "We just have to manage what kind of risk we are willing to accept.”Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is investigating USA Hockey president Jim Smith's handling of sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against a youth coach, The Athletic's Katie Strang reports.Smith is being investigated for turning a blind eye when Tom "Chico" Adrahtas, a Chicago-area coach, allegedly sexually abused multiple junior players - specifically in the 1980s. Smith held various positions with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) during this time, including president from 1985-88.A former owner of one of the clubs that Adrahtas coached says he told Smith in 1989 that he believed Adrahtas was committing sexual abuse. A former AHAI board member said they believe Smith was aware of concerns about Adrahtas' behavior. Multiple others agreed, according to Strang."The U.S. Center for SafeSport has advised us they have taken jurisdiction and are investigating allegations that people within the AHAI, including Jim Smith, were aware of sexual misconduct by Thomas Adrahtas and did not take action," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher told Strang via a spokesperson.Smith denied these allegations earlier this May."In my time as president of AHAI, there were no reports alleging misconduct by Tom Adrahtas," he said via a spokesperson.Smith was elected president of USA Hockey in 2015 and re-elected in 2018.Adrahtas has a history of facing sexual abuse allegations. In 2010, a former player sent a letter to the AHAI, saying Adrahtas sexually assault him in 1984. Adrahtas did not attend the hearing and was suspended indefinitely as a result, but he continued to coach at Robert Morris University for eight more seasons. It's unclear whether the AHAI told anyone from RMU about the letter or the hearing, or if it alerted law enforcement.In 2018, former junior player Mike Sacks sent a letter to the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) detailing sexual abuse by Adrahtas over a 20-month span when he was a teenager. RMU is an ACHA member.The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 following the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, during which former doctor Larry Nassar was accused of assaulting over 250 young women and girls. The organization has been investigating Adrahtas since 2018.Adrahtas denied allegations when he was reached by phone in February.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's return-to-play format certainly hasn't satisfied everybody, but the plan does have its benefits.Fans get to indulge in more playoff hockey than usual after a layoff that has felt like an eternity. The league and its owners get the chance to recoup some lost revenue. And many players who would have missed out on a traditional postseason get to compete for the Stanley Cup.In light of this, we've identified eight playoff participants to keep an eye on if and when the 24-team format comes to fruition.Artemi Panarin and Mika ZibanejadThe New York Rangers may very well have qualified for the postseason on their own merit if the league hadn't been forced to cut the regular season short, and it's predominately thanks to their dynamic duo up front. Panarin and Zibanejad formed one of the NHL's most productive pairs this season, and the opportunity to watch their scintillating offensive talents on a grand stage for at least a few more games is something hockey fans should relish.Panarin exceeded the expectations of his massive contract in his first campaign on Broadway, finishing fourth in league scoring with 95 points. Zibanejad, meanwhile, ranked fifth in goals (41) despite appearing in only 57 contests and was seventh in points per game (1.32).The two also combined for 16 points in New York's season series against Carolina, so it's no wonder the Hurricanes weren't on board with a design that has them facing the Rangers in the play-in.Jake Guentzel Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThough nothing was set in stone, Guentzel could have missed a standard postseason after he suffered a rough-looking shoulder injury in December. At the very least, his prolonged absence may have left him rustier than most. But the extended layoff will allow him to suit up for the Pittsburgh Penguins' impending clash with the Montreal Canadiens.The 25-year-old sniper was leading the Penguins in scoring with 43 points in 39 games at the time of his injury; with Guentzel and trade-deadline acquisition Jason Zucker in the fold, Pittsburgh's offense projects to be as dangerous as ever.Guentzel may not be the flashiest or most popular player in Pittsburgh's lineup, but he's proven to be a highly valuable playoff performer with 43 points in 41 career postseason games. Look for him to produce when he finally hits the ice again.Carey PriceIf Guentzel is going to be productive as we think, he's going to have to get the better of Price, who may be the biggest X-factor in the entire expanded playoff field.Price hasn't shown his former MVP form in a few seasons now, but he's still universally respected by his peers as the league's most capable goalie in big games. It's not all that outlandish to think he could outperform Pittsburgh netminders Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry in three of five tries.If Price can rediscover even a smidgen of his vintage dominance and help the Canadiens oust the heavily favored Penguins, it will be one of the biggest stories of the postseason - and surely create ample chaos both online and among league executives who were skeptical of this format for this very reason.Patrick Kane Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Chicago Blackhawks don't necessarily deserve a playoff spot after they lost six more regular-season games than they won and entered the shutdown sitting 12th in the Western Conference. But any opportunity for Kane to work his postseason magic is good enough for us.Though Chicago has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, Kane has maintained his status as one of the league's top players by averaging 1.14 points per game. His postseason resume is one of the most impressive of his generation: three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and 123 points in 127 playoff contests - including 11 game-winning goals.Watching Kane try to assert his playoff dominance against the league's most prominent duo in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should make for one of the best subplots of the qualifying round.Taylor HallPerhaps no player has more riding on a surprise playoff berth than Hall, who will eventually enter the offseason as the league's premier unrestricted free agent. Hall had a down year by his standards, posting 52 points in 65 regular-season games split between the New Jersey Devils and the Arizona Coyotes. He could earn himself a few extra bucks with a strong playoff showing.Considering he's only played five playoff games in 10 NHL seasons after being selected first overall in the 2010 draft, Hall is likely salivating at the chance to play meaningful hockey.Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyMany feel the Winnipeg Jets could be a sleeping giant as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, and these two are big reasons why.Hellebuyck is likely to be a Vezina Trophy candidate after going 31-21-5 with a .922 save percentage in the regular season. He saved 22.40 goals above average while playing behind a team that was routinely crippled by a lack of blue-line depth and ranked last in the league in expected goals at five-on-five. Hellebuyck could definitely be the difference-maker in Winnipeg's play-in series against the Calgary Flames, and potentially beyond if his earlier success carries through the break.Connor, meanwhile, has quietly developed into a bona fide superstar, undeterred by a crop of more prominent Winnipeg forwards who generally claim most of the spotlight. The 23-year-old entered the hiatus tied for the team lead in scoring with 73 points, and he was on track for his first 40-goal season after bagging 30-plus tallies in each of the previous two campaigns. It's time for Connor to get the attention he deserves, and a strong playoff performance would help facilitate that.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rod Brind'Amour says the Carolina Hurricanes believe the 24-team playoff format the league announced Tuesday dismisses the success they achieved throughout the majority of the season."I think the bigger issue felt like, and especially our guys, was like 'what was the 68 games we played for?'" the head coach said Wednesday on the "ESPN on Ice" podcast."What did we grind for? The bulk of the season was completed, and they just threw that out, and I think that's how (the Hurricanes) felt," he added. "I think that's justifiable in a way."The Hurricanes, who occupied the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 81 points through 68 games when the season was suspended March 12, were one of two teams - along with the Tampa Bay Lightning - to vote against the expanded playoff format."For where we were and where our team thought we could get to, it hurts our odds," said forward Jordan Martinook.Under the arrangement, Carolina will meet the New York Rangers - who earned 79 points in 70 games and sat outside the traditional playoff field - in a best-of-five play-in series.Brind'Amour thinks instead of a play-in, the league could have played out the remaining games normally to decide the postseason seeding for a typical 16-team format."Why not carry the points over that you have?" he said. "If we're playing in, I think the thought was if you're playing in, five, six, seven games, however, we could easily have all had the same amount of games, figured that out and that would have been your play-in, and take your points with you and see how you end up."On the plus side for the Hurricanes, Brind'Amour says defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Sami Vatanen, who were injured when play was paused, will be back in the lineup. Blue-liner Brett Pesce is "more of a longshot" to return.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin will be back in the lineup for the club's play-in series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, general manager Marc Bergevin announced Wednesday.Drouin was limited to only 27 games in 2019-20 after battling a series of injuries. The 25-year-old most recently played Feb. 25 and missed the Canadiens' final six contests with an ankle injury before the league suspended the season on March 12.The 6-foot winger tallied seven goals and 15 points while averaging 15:42 of ice time this season.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the 24-team, two-city playoff format Tuesday.The Canadiens, who were all but eliminated from postseason contention under the traditional format, own the 12th and final Eastern Conference playoff spot under the restructured conference-based seeding. Montreal will play the fifth-seeded Penguins in a best-of-five qualifying series with the winner advancing to the 16-team bracket.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is excited for his club's opportunity to see its season through with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially announcing the league's 24-team playoff format Tuesday."I think we're certainly going to embrace it as a unique experience, but also as a tremendous opportunity for our team and for our group," Dubas said Wednesday in an interview with TSN.Under the format, the Leafs are slated to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in a best-of-five play-in series. After a wildly inconsistent 2019-20 campaign that comes on the heels of three straight first-round playoff exits, Dubas knows how important it is for his club to take the next step."I think we have a lot to prove. ... If we really want to take advantage of the talent and the potential that we have, it's a great opportunity now for us to individually during Phase 2 go about our own business and get into the best condition and fitness level we possibly can get into, and then for (head coach) Sheldon (Keefe) and our management group to have the team as ready as possible once we get into Phase 3," Dubas said.Maple Leafs captain John Tavares, who was one of five player representatives on the NHL/NHLPA Return to Play Committee, says he's satisfied with the plan after some people expressed their concern about the integrity of awarding the Stanley Cup in a non-standard postseason after an abbreviated regular season."Any team that's got to win possibly five rounds and probably - obviously not for sure, but probably four rounds of best of seven ... I think considering what we're all going through and what it's going to take to get this done and be able to play ... it's going to be a very, very worthy and deserving Stanley Cup champion," Tavares said.The Leafs will likely welcome forward Ilya Mikheyev - who's been out with a wrist injury since December - back into the lineup, along with defensemen Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin. Dubas also said Wednesday that prospect Nick Robertson will be included on the club's expanded 28-man roster.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After they held an eight-point advantage atop the Eastern Conference standings at the time of the NHL's pause, the Boston Bruins may be a tad irked that the NHL's top seeds will play in a round-robin format in an eventual return to play."With what the team was able to accomplish in the first 70 games, to have three (round-robin) games dictate our playoff position is disappointing," Bruins president Cam Neely said Wednesday, per NBC Boston's Joe Haggerty.The NHL announced its plans for a 24-team playoff on Tuesday. The format allows byes for the top four teams in each conference while seeds 5-12 battle in a best-of-five play-in tournament.However, in order to avoid the league's best teams entering the playoffs cold, they'll play a small round-robin tournament first. Each team with a bye will play its conference's other top three teams once to determine seeding when the real playoffs begin. That means the Bruins could potentially drop from the No. 1 spot to No. 4 with a poor showing after the lengthy layoff.The Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers are the teams Boston will need to overcome in order to stay in the top spot.The Bruins finished the regular season with a 44-14-12 record, good for a league-leading 100 points.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno had some strong words Wednesday about how the NHL's return-to-play plan needs to consider players' families."If somebody's gonna tell me I can't see my family, there's going to be a fight at some point," Foligno said, per Blue Jackets public relations.Foligno was answering a question about the difficulties his teammates with families in Columbus might face under quarantine if the city was chosen as one of the NHL's hubs. Foligno said he'd personally be leaving his family in Sudbury, Ontario, "until it's safe to have them return," but added that he's confident the league would figure out an adequate system for other families."I would assume there would be a visitation thing or something ... that they could be screened and tested as well," Foligno said. "That would have to be in play for the host cities that have families there. That's just human."Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Tuesday that the NHL plans to stage a 24-team playoff split between two hub cities. However, there are still plenty of logistics to sort out, such as timelines, specific locations, COVID-19 testing, and the self-isolation limitations for players, staff, and their families.While Foligno shared his concern, he also stated he's ready to play under the proper parameters."There's a bigger thing going on in the world than hockey," Foligno said. "But if we have a chance to be able to play the game, then we owe it to our fans, to ourselves."The Blue Jackets qualified for the play-in tournament as the Eastern Conference's ninth seed and are slated for a best-of-five clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Foligno, 32, posted 31 points in 67 games this past season. He's captained the club since 2015-16.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Yzerman says Jeff Blashill will remain head coach of the Detroit Red Wings."I have no plans of making a coaching change at this time," the Red Wings general manager told reporters Wednesday, according to WXYZ's Brad Galli.He added, "I think Jeff has done a good job. The Red Wings are in a rebuild."Yzerman wouldn't say whether the club picked up Blashill's option for next season, but made it clear he wants the bench boss to stick around for now."Jeff's gonna be the head coach of the team and we're gonna do everything we can to make sure he's the head coach of the team," the GM said.Yzerman emphasized that the Red Wings' primary problem is roster construction as opposed to who's behind the bench."Quite frankly, we need to improve the team for anybody to truly critique or assess the coaching staff," the GM said, according to The Athletic's Max Bultman. "We need to improve the team."This past season was Blashill's fifth with Detroit. The Red Wings made a first-round playoff exit during his first season in 2016, but they've been among the NHL's worst clubs since then, missing the postseason in all four subsequent years while ranking near the basement of the league standings.The team was by far the NHL's worst in 2019-20, going 17-49-5 with a minus-122 goal differential - 70 goals worse than the 30th-ranked Ottawa Senators.Detroit named Yzerman GM in April 2019. He returned to the franchise with which he starred as a player and replaced Ken Holland, who left the Red Wings and ultimately assumed the same role with the Edmonton Oilers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL officially unveiling its plan to use a 24-team playoff format if it does return to play this season, commissioner Gary Bettman ruled the 2019-20 regular season effectively finished.A number of big trades were made this past year that included conditional draft picks. With a revamped draft lottery and a number of teams set to potentially miss the playoffs, certain conditional picks are now in limbo.Let's take a look at some of the deals that may be affected by the new 24-team playoff format.Vancouver's 1st-round pick in the hands of New JerseyThe Vancouver Canucks originally dealt a 2020 first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning to acquire J.T. Miller with the condition that if they miss the 2019-20 playoffs, the pick will automatically become a 2021 first-rounder.The Lightning then traded Vancouver's pick to the New Jersey Devils along with prospect Nolan Foote to acquire Blake Coleman. Vancouver was in the playoff hunt at the time of the season's pause, and will now need to defeat the Minnesota Wild in a five-game play-in series to reach the postseason. If they lose, the pick acquired by the Devils will transfer to 2021.Penguins' 1st-round pick to bring in Zucker Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Pittsburgh Penguins looked destined to make a strong playoff push this season. They battled injuries all year long, but were finally near full health when the season paused.The Penguins made a splash prior to this year's deadline, acquiring Jason Zucker from the Wild on Feb. 10. They sent a conditional 2020 first-round pick, Alex Galchenyuk, and Calen Addison to Minnesota. If Pittsburgh loses to the Montreal Canadiens in its play-in series and misses the playoffs, it will then have the option to send Minnesota its 2021 first-round pick instead.Arizona's pair of picks used to snag Taylor HallThe Arizona Coyotes made a splash early in the season, bringing in Hall in hopes of making a strong run for the Stanley Cup. They parted ways with three prospects, a conditional 2020 first-round pick, and a conditional 2021 third-round pick.If the Coyotes miss the playoffs and win a top-three pick in the draft lottery, then the Devils will receive their 2021 first-rounder instead.If Hall re-signs or the Coyotes win their play-in series, make the playoffs, and then win a round, their 2021 third-round pick will become a second-rounder. If he re-signs and they win a playoff round, then the pick becomes a first-rounder.Islanders' big splash for Pageau Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyThe New York Islanders sent three draft picks - a 2020 conditional first-rounder, a 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional 2022 third-rounder - to the Ottawa Senators for Jean-Gabriel Pageau. He wasn't seen as a rental in their eyes, as he signed a six-year, $30-million deal immediately in Long Island.The Islanders weren't guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, but their hopes were high. Now, if they lose their play-in series against the Florida Panthers, their first-round pick is protected if they win a top-three selection in the lottery. The conditional 2022 third-round pick will only be awarded to Ottawa if New York wins the Stanley Cup this season.Toronto's deal with Hurricanes up in the airWhen the Toronto Maple Leafs dealt Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes for cap relief, they attached a conditional 2020 first-round pick as incentive. If Toronto picks in the top 10 in 2020, then it will become a 2021 first-rounder instead.While Toronto didn't expect to find itself in the draft lottery mix, if it can't get past the Columbus Blue Jackets in the play-in round then the club may very well own a top-10 pick.Neal, Lucic conditions remain unknown Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames swapped forwards James Neal and Milan Lucic prior to the season and attached player conditions to the deal. If Neal scored 21 goals this season and if Lucic scored 10 fewer goals than Neal, the Flames would be awarded a 2020 third-round pick.At the time of the season's pause, Neal had 19 goals while Lucic had eight. While Bettman announced that the regular season is over, it hasn't officially been determined where statistics from the qualification round will be counted, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.If stats from the play-in games are counted toward regular-season totals, Neal will have the opportunity to score two more goals and potentially award the Flames a third-round pick.Conditions of trades taken from CapFriendly.comCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the league remains keen on having a Canadian city serve as a hub if and when the return-to-play plan is initiated, but he admits that might not be possible."We would certainly like to have a (hub) city in Canada," Daly told TSN's James Duthie on Tuesday night. "As with everything we try to do and with our events, we try to move them around (and) try to make sure our Canadian clubs are well-represented, and this would be another example of that."Daly acknowledged that the Canadian government's 14-day self-isolation order for all individuals entering the country is a hurdle the NHL is still trying to navigate.The deputy commissioner stressed that the league has been in talks with Canadian officials, and while the NHL wants to "be consistent" with the rule, a failure to find a solution would all but rule out the possibility of hosting games north of the border."If we're not able to resolve that issue or solve that issue, I think it effectively eliminates our ability to come to a Canadian city as one of our hub cities," Daly said.While unveiling the NHL's return-to-play plan Tuesday afternoon, commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the 24-team playoff will take place in two hub cities - one per conference - and that Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver are among the 10 cities being considered."Our primary goal is to find the two best cities, and by 'best,' the first and foremost factor we're looking at is the health situation," Daly said Tuesday night. "And as the COVID situation continues to evolve, are we going to a healthy city that would be consistent with what we want to present to our players and our staff members?"British Columbia has handled the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well, as its premier, John Horgan, noted after speaking with Bettman earlier in May. However, Horgan said at the time that the 14-day self-isolation rule would be among several issues that would have to be addressed, and the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, stated Tuesday that no exceptions would be made."I would love to have hockey but … we're not bending the rules in any way that would put what we have achieved here in B.C. at risk," Dr. Henry said, according to CBC News.In Alberta, the curve has seemingly begun to flatten, with the province reporting only 22 new cases Tuesday.Meanwhile, the situation is worse in Ontario, with the province recording its first day of fewer than 400 new cases in nearly a week Sunday, according to The Toronto Star. A widely criticized mass gathering took place at the city's Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL's regular season officially over, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby joins legends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only players in league history to average more than one point per game over their first 15 campaigns, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe.Here are Crosby's points-per-game totals since he broke into the league 15 seasons ago:SeasonPPG2005-061.262006-071.522007-081.362008-091.342009-101.352010-111.612011-121.682012-131.562013-141.302014-151.092015-161.062016-171.192017-181.092018-191.272019-201.15Gretzky holds the record having gone 19 straight seasons averaging a point per game, only falling short in the year before retirement. Lemieux's streak ended at 15.Teammate Evgeni Malkin has averaged over a point per game in 13 of his 14 seasons but missed the mark 2010-11.Connor McDavid holds the only other active streak, as he's reached the mark in each of his first five seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has officially revealed a 24-team playoff format for its return to play, with each conference playing its games in a single hub city, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday.Though there is no official date for a return, Bettman said the league will proceed with the playoffs when teams take the ice again, meaning the 2019-20 regular season is officially over.Each team will play two exhibition games before the playoffs begin, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. Teams are allowed to carry 28 skaters and as many goalies as the club desires, he adds.There are 10 hub cities currently under consideration:

The NHL on Tuesday officially unveiled a 24-team playoff format intended to complete the 2019-20 season, and the new postseason includes an eight-series play-in round. We've ranked those eight matchups based on the potential quality of play and overall entertainment value.1. Penguins (5th in East) vs. Canadiens (12th)Though Pittsburgh loaded up earlier this year while Montreal straddled the line between competing and rebuilding, this matchup screams "long and entertaining series." The Canadiens are far from a perfect team, yet there's a reasonable - albeit significantly hedged - argument to be made for a thrilling upset. Giving the Canadiens a fighting chance is the combination of a well-rested Carey Price, a pair of strong two-way talents in Phillip Danault and Shea Weber, and an offense that seemingly fires every offensive-zone puck touch toward the net.As for the Penguins - clearly favored and simultaneously vulnerable - there are several intriguing storylines to monitor: Can Tristan Jarry or Matt Murray outduel Price between the pipes? Will Jake Guentzel return from injury? If so, how effective will he be after a massive layoff? Will this series be the start of a long run that ends with 40-year-old Patrick Marleau finally hoisting the Stanley Cup? In their chase for a fourth title, can Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin once again rise to the occasion?2. Maple Leafs (8th in East) vs. Blue Jackets (9th) Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesThis series brings just about everything to the table. Equally successful regular seasons: The Maple Leafs went 36-25-9 for a .579 points percentage while the Blue Jackets posted a 33-22-15 record for their own .579 points percentage. Competing styles: Toronto focuses most of its energy on offense while Columbus usually plans from a defensive perspective. Good but not great goaltending: A two-headed monster featuring Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins that stacks up fairly well against the Frederik Andersen of 2019-20. Disparate coaches: A 39-year-old Sheldon Keefe, only a half-season into his career as an NHL bench boss, tasked with outsmarting 61-year-old John Tortorella, who's on his fifth franchise. Different playoff narratives: Toronto losing in the first round three straight years, and Columbus slaying its playoff demons last spring with a stunning defeat of the Tampa Bay Lightning.3. Oilers (5th in West) vs. Blackhawks (12th)Two words: Connor McDavid. Five more: Leon Draisaitl and Patrick Kane. With arguably three of the NHL's top 10 players sharing the ice, this matchup has no shortage of firepower. The Oilers, who have failed to make the playoffs in three of four complete seasons in the McDavid era, absolutely need to win this series. If they hope to one day evolve into a modern-day dynasty - a la the Blackhawks of old - the playoff wins must start coming sooner than later. Chicago, meanwhile, is trying its best to retool on the fly as Kane and longtime running mate Jonathan Toews hang on to their primes. In short, one team is trending up with two incredible talents while the other is trending down with two incredible talents. If nothing else, this series has highlight-reel potential and some nice symmetry.4. Flames (8th in West) vs. Jets (9th) Andre Ringuette / Getty ImagesThe lone all-Canadian matchup is probably the closest thing to a rivalry series we'll see during the play-in round. The Flames and Jets boast some large bodies and feisty personalities, a combination that could produce a hefty serving of old-time hockey for starved fans. Blake Wheeler battling in the corners against Matthew Tkachuk? That's exactly what we need after such a lengthy hiatus. The X-factor here is Connor Hellebuyck, who should win the Vezina Trophy for his marvelous regular-season performance. If Hellebuyck - who posted a .922 save percentage in 58 games behind an awful defense corps - can recapture his form, Calgary is in deep trouble. The Flames' offense ranked 20th among 31 teams prior to the pause.5. Hurricanes (6th in East) vs. Rangers (11th)Carolina was one of two teams to vote against this playoff format. That dynamic alone gives this series serious spice. And based on how well the Rangers' season has gone - relative to expectations, of course - one can understand why the Hurricanes were a little ticked off. New York's rebuild has accelerated with the offseason acquisition of Artemi Panarin and the development of players like Mika Zibanejad, Anthony DeAngelo, and Igor Shesterkin. That said, don't discount the impact of Dougie Hamilton's return to the Hurricanes' lineup. Remember, the three-zone defenseman was firmly in the Norris Trophy discussion before going down in January. Brett Pesce could potentially reinforce Carolina's enviable blue line, too, though his status is murkier than Hamilton's. Either way, buckle up for what appears to be a surprisingly competitive six-versus-11 series.6. Predators (6th in West) vs. Coyotes (11th) Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTwo teams that have tremendous goaltending, are hard to play against, and often struggle to score goals. It may be an enticing matchup for some, but it's not going to command sky-high TV ratings. The last time the Predators and Coyotes met in the playoffs was way back in 2012, so there isn't even a rivalry angle. Saving this series from complete snoozer status are Roman Josi and Taylor Hall. Josi, who has a rare ability to control the pace of play every time he's on the ice, was enjoying a Norris-caliber season before the shutdown. Hall, who has dressed for only five playoff games in 10 previous NHL seasons, is one of the game's top entertainers.7. Canucks (7th in West) vs. Wild (10th) Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesThe Canucks have young studs in Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, a reliable goalie in Jakob Markstrom, and a pretty damn good coach in Travis Green. The NHL can easily sell Vancouver to hockey fans. The Wild, on the other hand, don't fire up many folks outside the great state of Minnesota. Sure, they're a perfectly fine team, but their roster lacks flair and they fired their head coach earlier this season. In terms of must-see players, Minnesota has Matt Dumba, Kevin Fiala, and Mats Zuccarello. That's the list.8. Islanders (7th in East) vs. Panthers (10th)Given the odd circumstances, this will probably end up being an entertaining series. On paper, however, it feels like the least attractive of the bunch - a potential dud. There's nothing jumping off the page, no "wow" factor. New York is a workmanlike outfit that wears its opponent down through forechecking and a willingness to protect the front of the net at all costs. The Islanders are a strong club, but they play boring hockey. The Panthers, meanwhile, are appealing when Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau are on the ice, but they're otherwise hard to get up for.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writerCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula has confirmed general manager Jason Botterill will be back for the 2020-21 season, according to John Wawrow of The Associated Press."I realize, maybe it’s not popular with the fans, but we have to do the things that we feel are right," Pegula said. "We have a little bit more information than maybe a fan does, some inner workings that we see some positives in."Next season will be Botterill's fourth in Buffalo after serving as assistant GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2009 to 2017.Botterill has overseen plenty of turnover during his Sabres tenure, including trading away Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane, and Robin Lehner in separate deals, and making a splash by acquiring Jeff Skinner prior to the 2018-19 season.Botterill brought in Phil Housley to be the team's head coach shortly after he was hired. Housley was replaced after two seasons, with current bench boss Ralph Krueger taking the reins.The Sabres haven't made the playoffs since 2012. This season, they finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 30-31-8 record, three points shy of qualifying for the NHL's expanded postseason format.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.