Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews is facing a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a May 26 incident in his hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona.A security guard at a condo complex in Scottsdale filed the complaint, stating Matthews and a group of males tried to open her vehicle at 2 a.m as she sat inside doing paperwork, according to a police report obtained by CBC.The complainant said she exited her car to confront Matthews, who appeared to be intoxicated. She added that Matthews told her he thought it would be funny to see how she would respond.According to the report, Matthews dropped his pants, bent over, and grabbed his buttocks as he walked away. The complainant said he seemed to keep his underwear on.The report states a surveillance video captured a male walking toward the elevators with his pants around his ankles.Matthews was not arrested. He has a pretrial conference Wednesday morning but is not required to appear in court."The Toronto Maple Leafs are aware of the complaint of disturbing the peace against forward Auston Matthews," the club said in a statement. "Auston is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities but neither he nor the Club will comment any further out of respect for the process involved."The 22-year-old is the Leafs' highest-paid player and is widely expected to be named the franchise's next captain.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seemed almost certain that Alex Pietrangelo would be traded last December when the St. Louis Blues were in the NHL's basement. As we know now, St. Louis opted against a rebuild and, after a turnaround for the ages, Pietrangelo became the first player in franchise history to hoist the Stanley Cup. Since then, most thought he was going to remain a Blue for life.However, St. Louis traded for blue-liner Justin Faulk on Tuesday, which suddenly makes Pietrangelo's future unclear.The Blues sent defenseman Joel Edmundson, former first-rounder Dominik Bokk, and a seventh-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for Faulk and a fifth-rounder. The Blues then signed Faulk, who was set to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, to a seven-year extension carrying a $6.5-million cap hit.Meanwhile, Pietrangelo is entering the final year of his deal, which similarly carries a $6.5-million cap hit. The Blues also have Colton Parayko signed for three more years at $5.5 million per season. To further complicate matters, all three are right-handed.Blues general manager Doug Armstrong actually didn't give up too much for a top-four defenseman like Faulk, but the fit remains curious. Here's how St. Louis' defense projects for this season:LDRDVince DunnAlex PietrangeloJay BouwmeesterColton ParaykoCarl GunnarssonJustin FaulkRobert BortuzzoFor one season, this arrangement is fine; long term, however, it probably isn't. Faulk wasn't brought in to be a third-pairing defenseman for the next eight years.If Pietrangelo re-signs with the Blues, it would likely require a cap hit of at least $8 million, and that's a conservative estimate.In this case, the Blues would be allotting over $20 million to the right side of their blue line, leaving limited cash for the left. This is not ideal, especially considering Vince Dunn's entry-level contract expires after the upcoming campaign and versatile forward Brayden Schenn is in the last year of his deal.It's possible Pietrangelo, Parayko, or Faulk could play on their weak side, but that would fail to maximize their true value as right-handed defensemen, who are a prized commodity in today's game.Furthermore, consider this: head coach Craig Berube opted to scratch right-handed defenseman Robert Bortuzzo in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final so workhorses Pietrangelo and Parayko could essentially play half the game each, with four left-handers rotating in beside the two.If Pietrangelo is re-signed, it could open the door for a Parayko trade. If he isn't re-signed, would the Blues consider trading their leader before the deadline? Dealing the captain of the defending Stanley Cup champions would be unheard-of, but it'd be better than letting him walk in free agency for nothing.It's unclear what the future holds for St. Louis' blue line, but it's possible Armstrong has another move up his sleeve.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser is in concussion protocol, head coach Travis Green told reporters Tuesday.Boeser was hit from behind by Ottawa Senators forward Chris Tierney during a 6-4 Canucks victory on Monday night.

Heading into the 2019-20 regular season, theScore's Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, Matt Teague, and Josh Wegman make their picks for division winners, and the Stanley Cup Final.Atlantic DivisionScott Audette / Getty ImagesEditorPickDicksonLightningGold-SmithLightningMatiszLightningO'LearyLightningTeagueLightningWegmanLightningA sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the opening round of the 2019 playoffs doesn't change the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning remain the class of the Atlantic. The division's theirs to lose, and we don't think they're losing.Metropolitan DivisionPatrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickDicksonDevilsGold-SmithCapitalsMatiszCapitalsO'LearyHurricanesTeagueCapitalsWegmanHurricanesThe Washington Capitals are looking to make it five straight division titles, but we're anticipating some heavy competition for the Metro crown. A Hurricanes division victory would be Carolina's first since 2006, when it played in what was then the Southeast Division.Central DivisionJohn Russell / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickDicksonAvalancheGold-SmithPredatorsMatiszStarsO'LearyPredatorsTeaguePredatorsWegmanPredatorsThe Nashville Predators remain the division favorites, and it's important to note that there's little Central love for the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.Pacific DivisionDave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyEditorPickDicksonSharksGold-SmithFlamesMatiszGolden KnightsO'LearyGolden KnightsTeagueSharksWegmanGolden KnightsThe Vegas Golden Knights slipped to third in the Pacific after their dream rookie season, but we're bullish on a rebound in 2019-20.Stanley Cup FinalIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyEditorPickDicksonPredators over CapitalsGold-SmithLightning over PredatorsMatiszLightning over StarsO'LearyGolden Knights over LightningTeagueLightning over PredatorsWegmanLightning over AvalancheWe have Jon Cooper's Lightning headed back to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 (for the most part), and believe that the club has learned all of its requisite lessons from losing. It's Tampa Bay's time.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for rearguard Joel Edmundson, forward prospect Dominik Bokk, and a seventh-round pick at the 2021 NHL Draft, the Blues announced Tuesday.St. Louis also acquired a fifth-round pick in 2020 in the deal.The Blues signed Faulk, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, to a seven-year, $45.5-million extension after the trade.Faulk was reportedly involved in a potential trade with the Anaheim Ducks earlier in September, but the sides couldn't come to an agreement on a contract extension.The 27-year-old is a valuable right-shot defenseman with plenty of offensive upside. He's hit the 30-point mark in six straight seasons and ranks seventh among all blue-liners with 67 goals since the start of 2014-15.Faulk recorded 11 goals and 35 points in 82 games for the Hurricanes in 2018-19 and added one goal and eight points in 15 playoff contests.The 26-year-old Edmundson played an important role in helping the Blues capture their first-ever Stanley Cup in June. The 6-foot-4 rearguard contributed 11 points in 64 regular-season contests and recorded one goal and seven points through 22 postseason games.Edmundson was awarded a one-year, $3.1-million contract with the Blues by an independent arbitrator Aug. 6. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.Bokk was selected by the Blues with the No. 25 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old has played the past two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League.Both the Blues and Hurricanes are currently above the cap and will need to shuffle some roster pieces to become compliant by the start of the regular season, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid is ready for game action.The Edmonton Oilers superstar confirmed after Tuesday's morning skate that he'll play in this evening's exhibition contest against the Arizona Coyotes.McDavid lined up between Leon Draisaitl and Zack Kassian on the Oilers' top line during the morning session.The 22-year-old has skated throughout the preseason, but he had yet to appear in a game. He tore his PCL in the Oilers' 2018-19 season finale, avoided surgery, and was given a six-month recovery timetable.McDavid's status for the 2019-20 season opener was originally in doubt, but his progress throughout training camp led Edmonton general manager Ken Holland to say he was "optimistic" about the team's captain being ready for opening night.Including Tuesday's clash with the Coyotes, the Oilers have three preseason games remaining. Edmonton will then open its regular season against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 2.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are interested in shopping a forward, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest edition of 31 Thoughts.The Canadiens training camp has been very competitive, with offensive prospects Nick Suzuki and Ryan Poehling showing serious NHL potential.Six Montreal forwards are playing on an expiring contract this season. Max Domi, Nick Cousins, and Charles Hudon are set to become restricted free agents next summer, and Dale Weise, Matthew Peca, and Nate Thompson will be unrestricted free agents.General manager Marc Bergevin said he made an offer to Jake Gardiner before the defenseman signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. The club has also reportedly been linked to Dallas Stars blue-liner Julius Honka in trade talks.The Canadiens hold $4.04 million in projected cap space, but they're two players over the 23-man active roster limit and need to make a pair of transactions before the regular season begins to become compliant, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - Midway through the second period of an elite women's hockey game last Saturday, two defensemen converged at their blue line to haul Natalie Spooner to the ice, earning a tripping penalty. When Spooner was deployed on the ensuing power play, she snuck into a vacant gap in the slot, took a pass, and wired a one-timer off the goaltender's arm.The rebound fell to the side of the crease, where Spooner's teammate Carolyne Prevost poked the puck into the net.The sequence and its end result were happily familiar to Spooner, an influential power forward on Canadian teams that medaled at the past seven world championships and at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics. More familiar, certainly, than the position in which she'd found herself at another rink a couple of nights earlier: backflipping onto the shoulder of a champion ice dancer, where she stretched her arms aloft as the two of them glided to the chorus of a country song.Such is life this autumn for a 28-year-old star with a resume to envy and time to fill. As the 2019-20 professional hockey season gets set to begin, many of the women's game's brightest talents are embarking instead on their own barnstorming tour, staging a series of showcase events across the U.S. and Canada to amplify their call for the creation of a league that can pay all of them a living wage.Natalie Spooner (right). Hannah Foslien / Getty ImagesSeparately and simultaneously, two of those women - Spooner and American forward Amanda Kessel - signed up for a crash course in figure skating that plays out live on Thursday nights on Canadian national TV. They are among the protagonists of this season's "Battle of the Blades," the CBC show that pits seven pairs of prominent hockey players and figure skaters against one another in competition."When you play hockey, it doesn't really matter what you look like if you get the job done - you get from point A to B and score," Spooner said in an interview Saturday, two days after her first performance with veteran Canadian Olympic ice dancer Andrew Poje."In 'Battle of the Blades,' it's keeping your shoulders down, and smiling, and looking pretty," she said. "It's definitely way different. But I'm having a blast with it, and just trying to take it all in and learn lots."Poje was one of thousands of fans who passed through the stands of a suburban Toronto arena over the weekend to watch the first slate of games of the Dream Gap Tour. The nascent Professional Women's Hockey Players Association so named the series of events to highlight the chasm between what boys and girls who play hockey can aspire to accomplish in the game - mainly, getting paid enough money in a pro league to make hockey their full-time job.

Craig MacTavish has been fired as head coach of the KHL's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl after just eight contests, the club announced Tuesday.The 61-year-old bench boss was hired by the club in May, but a 4-1 loss to Jokerit Helsinki on Monday pushed its record to 3-5 to start the campaign.MacTavish served as the head coach for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers from 2000-09, posting a record of 301-252-47-56. He made the postseason three times during his tenure and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2006.In 2012, MacTavish returned to the Oilers as their senior vice president and then served as their general manager from 2013-15.As a player, the Ontario native recorded 213 goals and 480 points over 1,093 career contests between the Oilers, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and St. Louis Blues. He captured three Stanley Cups with the Oilers and one with the Rangers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teams around the NHL have checked in with agent Mike Liut amid Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine's contract stalemate, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Monday's edition of "Insider Trading.""And now, are they checking in because of a potential offer sheet? Or are they checking in because maybe they want to call Winnipeg and try and trade for Patrik Laine? I’m not saying either one is happening. I’m just saying teams are getting curious about that situation," LeBrun said.In addition to Laine, teammate Kyle Connor also remains unsigned. Moreover, the Jets are also awaiting a decision on Dustin Byfuglien's future. It's been a hectic time for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, but it hasn't stopped him from trying to improve his team."The Jets are talking to teams about potential trades," TSN's Darren Dreger said on "Insider Trading" without naming specific players. "But with the Byfuglien situation still out there, it’s hard to do anything."Liut said last week that Laine and the Jets were not close to an agreement. However, these negotiations can always change with a single phone call. Laine's situation appears to be more contentious than the other remaining RFAs, though, as he ruffled some feathers last week when he complained about his usage and took a jab at his linemates.Laine is one of the NHL's most prolific goal-scorers, but he's also rather inconsistent. Last season he scored 30 goals, but 18 of them came in November. One of the league's most polarizing players, Laine has also drawn criticism for his defensive play and lack of effort in the past.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Brayden Point to a three-year, $20.25-million bridge deal Monday, the club could be without the center for the first month of the season.Point underwent hip surgery in the spring and isn't expected to be cleared to play until late October, general manager Julien BriseBois said on a conference call Monday, according to Bryan Burns of the team's website. The GM added there's no long-term concern with the injury and he's been skating for a number of weeks.Point set career highs last season with 41 goals, 51 assists, and 92 points. The Lightning's depth will have to step up during his absence.The versatile Tyler Johnson could shift back to center after playing primarily on the wing for the last couple of years. Though he doesn't have as much experience down the middle as Johnson, Yanni Gourde is also capable of playing center.If head coach Jon Cooper wants to keep Johnson and Gourde on the wing, he could bump 22-year-old speedster Anthony Cirelli into a top-six role until Point returns. This could result in an increased role for Cedric Paquette or perhaps an NHL audition to begin the year for prospect Mitchell Stephens.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders will play even more games at their original barn this season than they initially planned.Seven additional contests originally scheduled for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn will now be hosted at Nassau Coliseum, the club announced Monday.Here are the games being relocated (all start times are 7 p.m. ET):

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free-agent forward Brayden Point to a three-year bridge deal with an average annual value of $6.75 million, the team announced Monday.Point, who will be a restricted free agent once the deal expires, will reportedly earn $9 million in the contract's third year, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. That ensures he'll receive a qualifying offer of no less than that amount prior to a potential fourth year if the sides haven't already negotiated a new pact.Reports earlier in September suggested that Point and the Lightning remained far apart in negotiations, but with training camp in full swing and the regular season beginning next week, the two sides made a strong effort to complete a new agreement.Point totaled a career-high 41 goals and 92 points in 79 contests in 2018-19, the final year of his entry-level deal, and finished third on the Lightning in scoring.Tampa Bay now has key core pieces Point, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Yanni Gourde, Ryan McDonagh, and Andrei Vasilevskiy locked up through the 2021-22 season.Several other prized restricted free agents inked bridge deals with their respective clubs this summer. Defensemen Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins) and Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser each signed three-year contracts.With Point signed, only six RFAs remain without a deal, including forwards Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and Kyle Connor.Tampa Bay holds $1.76 million in projected cap space with a full active roster heading into the 2019-20 season, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In 2018-19, fans watched as Patrick Marleau became the 11th player in history to skate in 1,600 games, Jonathan Quick and Carey Price each picked up career victory No. 300 in the crease, and Eric Staal joined the 400-goal club.With a fresh season set to begin next week, a number of NHL stars look to add to their resumes as they close in on some major milestones.Joe Thornton - 1,500 points Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty Jumbo Joe re-upped with the San Jose Sharks on another one-year deal this summer and has a very strong chance of joining an extremely prestigious club. Sitting at 1,478 career points, Thornton needs just 22 more to become the 14th player in history to eclipse 1,500.However, the 40-year-old is still seeking his first Stanley Cup and could own the unfortunate distinction of being one of two players on that 1,500-point list, along with Marcel Dionne, to never win a championship.Sidney Crosby - 1,300 points, 1,000 gamesGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyCrosby is creeping up on 1,300 points for his career. The 32-year-old needs 84 points to join the illustrious club - a mark he's never failed to hit when healthy for a full season. Only 34 players in history have eclipsed 1,300 points. With a career points-per-game average of 1.28, it's hard not to imagine where Crosby would be statistically if he hadn't missed so much time during the early stages of his career."Sid the Kid" is all grown up and is also approaching game No. 1,000. Crosby currently sits at 943 games played and, assuming he remains healthy, projects to hit the milestone Feb. 16 versus the club he won his first Stanley Cup against in 2009, the Detroit Red Wings.The two-time Hart Trophy winner would become the first player in Pittsburgh Penguins history to play 1,000 games with the club and the 62nd to reach that mark with one franchise.Alexander Ovechkin - 700 goals Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith each passing season, Ovechkin continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume. The "Great Eight" enters 2018-19 with 658 career goals, putting him 42 shy of joining the 700 club.It'll take another special season to get there, but the eight-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has hit the 42-goal mark in five of his last six campaigns, and has failed to muster that single-season total only four times during his 14-year career.Ovechkin would become the eighth player in history to reach 700 goals and just the second European talent, along with Jaromir Jagr.Patrick Kane - 1,000 pointsJonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter more than a decade of "Showtime" in Chicago, the electric winger is moving in on 1,000 career points.With Kane sitting at 938, it would take a career-worst campaign to stop the 30-year-old from hitting the milestone in 2018-19. The Buffalo native would become the ninth American-born player to reach 1,000 points and the youngest on that list to do so if he can accomplish it this season.Kane is also approaching 400 goals, but he'd have to match his career high of 44 from last season to hit that mark. Though that's possible, the 1,000-point club feels more realistic for the three-time Stanley Cup champion this year.Zdeno Chara - 1,500 games Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyChara needs to suit up for just 15 contests to reach an incredible 1,500 games played for his career. The 42-year-old would become the 21st player and sixth defenseman in history to hit the mark. If the Bruins captain stays healthy, his milestone night projects to be Nov. 5 at the Bell Centre against the rival Montreal Canadiens.The towering rearguard is also 45 contests shy of joining John Bucyk, Ray Bourque, Patrice Bergeron, Wayne Cashman, and Don Sweeney in playing 1,000 games as a Bruin.Ryan Getzlaf -1,000 games, Ducks scoring recordSean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyGetzlaf, the only remaining piece from the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, is closing in on a pair of significant accomplishments.The 34-year-old is 16 contests shy of becoming the first player in franchise history to skate in 1,000 games with the club. Getzlaf projects to hit the milestone at home Nov. 3 against the Blackhawks. Barring any major injuries, he'll beat Crosby to the punch as the 61st player in history to reach the millennium mark in games played with one team.Getzlaf is also 65 points behind Finnish legend Teemu Selanne for the Ducks' all-time scoring record. Though his production has slowed through the latter years of his career, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Saskatchewan native break that mark this season.Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos - 400 goals Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyWith Malkin sitting at 391 career tallies and Stamkos at 393, the race to 400 begins. Stamkos is already the Tampa Bay Lightning's all-time leading goal-scorer, and subsequently would be the first in franchise history to reach that milestone.Malkin will aim to join Crosby, Jagr, and Mario Lemieux as the only players in Penguins history to reach 400 goals with the club. He'd also become the seventh Russian-born player to accomplish the feat.Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury - 450 winsJared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyLundqvist shouldn't have to wait long to notch his 450th career victory between the pipes. The 2012 Vezina Trophy winner sits at 449 and could reach the mark on opening night assuming he gets the nod in net. The Rangers kick off their 2019-20 campaign at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 3 against the Winnipeg Jets.With 439 career victories, Fleury isn't far behind and will hit the 450 wins mark this season if healthy. The 34-year-old has won at least 11 contests in every campaign since his rookie year.Curtis Joseph currently ranks fifth (454) on the all-time wins list. When the season comes to a close, it's likely that both Lundqvist and Fleury will have surpassed that total.Jonathan Huberdeau - Panthers scoring recordMaddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyHeading into his eighth season in Sunrise, Huberdeau has a chance to become the Panthers' all-time leading scorer. The 26-year-old trails Olli Jokinen's record of 419 points by 60, and following his 92-point campaign in 2018-19, that number appears very attainable.Huberdeau is also close to claiming the club's assist record. He trails current leader, Stephen Weiss, by just 15 helpers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL defenseman Eric Gryba announced his retirement from professional hockey on Sunday.

Jake Gardiner appears to be appreciating his new home outside the Toronto fishbowl.The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman, who joined the team this summer following eight seasons with the Maple Leafs, recently expressed as much to ESPN's Emily Kaplan during his first training camp with his new club."I can be pretty anonymous here," Gardiner said. "Especially now. My first fan experience was at the golf tournament; this guy came up and said, 'Can you take a photo of me with the mascot?' So I took the picture of him and the mascot. And I was on the team."Carolina signed Gardiner to a four-year, $16.2-million contract as an unrestricted free agent in early September.The 29-year-old struggled in Game 7 losses to the Boston Bruins in each of the past two seasons, taking responsibility for his performance in an emotional postgame scrum back in 2018.He was scapegoated by Toronto fans and media throughout his Leafs tenure, and notably earned boos every time he touched the puck during the third period of a January home game against the Colorado Avalanche after a misplay led to a costly shorthanded goal.Gardiner collected 245 points in 551 career games with the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Maurice did his best to quell any potential speculation about Dustin Byfuglien's suspension.On Sunday, the Winnipeg Jets head coach addressed the action the club took toward the veteran defenseman Saturday evening amid Byfuglien's absence from the team."It was absolutely procedural and Dustin was aware of it," Maurice told reporters Sunday.The Jets suspended Byfuglien for failing to report to training camp. If the gargantuan blue-liner doesn't report by the first day of the season, Winnipeg will lose his cap hit until he returns.Last Wednesday, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Byfuglien was mulling his NHL future while on personal leave, which the club said he'd been granted Sept. 13.The Jets didn't provide a reason for Byfuglien's request, but Maurice said at the time that the rearguard was "going to be fine" and that it was "nothing sinister."Although Byfuglien's contract is temporarily off the books, he has two years remaining on his current deal at a cap hit of $7.6 million.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators' top offensive prospect is headed to Milwaukee once again.Eeli Tolvanen was among a dozen players assigned to Nashville's AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, on Sunday.Selected 30th overall by the Predators in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Finnish winger scored one goal and fired six shots on goal over three preseason games in September.Tolvanen, 20, notched 15 goals and 35 points in 58 games with the Admirals last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have suspended defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for failing to report to training camp, Jets head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Sunday.If Byfuglien doesn't report by opening day, the Jets lose his cap hit until he shows up. The team granted the veteran blue-liner a leave of absence as he reportedly contemplates his future in the NHL.The Jets still want Byfuglien to return, but they need to protect their roster and create cap flexibility until they know his intentions, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Saturday night.Byfuglien has two years remaining on his contract with a $7.6-million cap hit. The Jets now have $23 million in projected cap space as restricted free agents Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine remain unsigned, according to CapFriendly.The 34-year-old has led the team in average ice time in four straight seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To prepare for the 2019-20 NHL season, theScore will be rolling out all the fantasy hockey advice you'll need to dominate your draft and win your league. Make sure to check back for updates right up until the regular season begins.2019 Rankings

NHL general managers made questionable decisions throughout the summer. Many of them - an overpay or a possibly one-sided trade - can be justified. Whether it's a closing competitive window or a salary-cap maneuver, there's usually a reason behind a GM's decisions.However, there were a handful of moves - or in some cases, a lack thereof - that left fans and analysts wondering "why?" with no reasonable explanation.Here are the five biggest head-scratchers of the offseason:Bergevin's offer-sheet failMinas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Montreal Canadiens shocked the hockey world on July 1 when they tendered a five-year offer sheet to Carolina Hurricanes star pivot Sebastian Aho with an average annual value of $8.45 million.Initially, it was surprising to see him actually get an offer sheet after plenty of anticipation and chatter. But those who know contracts, player value, and offer-sheet compensation quickly realized that Marc Bergevin's attempt was pathetic.Looking back, perhaps the most stunning part of this sad attempt to poach Aho from the Canes is that the player's camp accepted the offer.Aho is worth far more than $8.45 million, as Mitch Marner's $10.89-million cap hit shows, albeit for one more year. Had Aho shown patience like his RFA counterparts, he likely would've cashed in even more, although Brayden Point's impending contract may be the most telling.But most importantly, Bergevin was somehow delusional enough to think the Hurricanes wouldn't match his offer for their cornerstone player.A quick Google search of Tom Dundon's net worth would've shown his pockets are deep enough to match the front-loaded deal. And the compensation of one first-rounder, one second-rounder, and one third-rounder wasn't close to tantalizing enough for the Hurricanes to hesitate for more than a second.Hayes' mammoth dealJonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyChuck Fletcher must have been thinking the free-agent market would play out a bit differently.The Philadelphia Flyers traded for Kevin Hayes' rights in June before signing him to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7.14 million. The 27-year-old is coming off a career-high 55-point season, but he's an average second-line center at best. His new deal is a massive overpay, to say the least, especially with skating already not Hayes' strong suit.Making matters worse for the Flyers, free agents weren't being signed for crazy money once July 1 rolled around. Matt Duchene, the top center on the market, signed with the Nashville Predators for just $8 million per season, making Hayes' deal look even worse, somehow.Oilers' quiet July 1Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyKen Holland curiously decided to sit on his hands during his first free-agent period as GM of the Edmonton Oilers. Here's a list of the team's free-agent acquisitions this summer:PlayerPos.LengthAAVMike SmithG1 year$2MMarkus GranlundC1 year$1.3MJosh ArchibaldRW1 year$1MRiley SheahanC1 year$900KGaetan HaasC1 year$925KJoakim NygardLW1 year$925KTomas JurcoLW1 year$750KWith limited cap space, nobody was expecting Holland to land any top UFAs. But the forwards he did sign lack immediate upside. Granlund, Archibald, Sheahan, and Jurco are fourth-liners at best, while Haas and Nygard are unknowns coming over from Europe.There are numerous holes in the Oilers' top-nine forward group, so Holland should have brought in players with the potential to excel in a greater role. Here are the affordable players he could've targeted, and the deals they ended up signing:PlayerPos.LengthAAVTeamJoonas DonskoiRW4 years$3.9MCOLBrett ConnollyRW4 years$3.5MFLARyan DzingelLW2 years$3.375MCARCorey PerryRW1 year$1.5MDALDerick BrassardC1 year$1.2MNYIPat MaroonLW1 year$900KTBTyler EnnisLW1 year$800KOTTBrandon PirriLW2 years$775KVGK*Some contract details are reportedThe Oilers may have been forced to pay extra to lure any of those players to Edmonton. It's also possible Holland did take a swing and struck out.However, in the case of Ennis, there's no reason the Oilers couldn't have signed the Edmonton native to a deal similar to the one he inked in Ottawa. He would've been a cheap player who could thrive in the club's top six.Holland did make a spectacular trade, getting James Neal in exchange for Milan Lucic. Nonetheless, he didn't bring in enough quality forwards to allow head coach Dave Tippett to separate Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, which would've given the team its best chance at success.Islanders' goalie debacleBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyOne of the most shocking developments on July 1 was Robin Lehner inking a one-year, $5-million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.Everyone was expecting Lehner to re-sign with the New York Islanders, and leaving on a one-year deal was bizarre. Eyebrows raised even higher when the Isles signed Semyon Varlamov to a four-year pact with a $5-million AAV a few minutes later.Varlamov is three years older than Lehner and coming off a significantly worse season:StatLehnerVarlamovRec.25-13-1520-19-9GAA2.132.87SV%.930.909GSAA11.340.21SO62GSAA = Goals saved above average at five-on-five, per CorsicaWhat's more perplexing? These two netminders signing for the same AAV? Or Varlamov signing for three years longer?Tanev's generous contractDarcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyBrandon Tanev tallied a career-high 14 goals and 15 assists last season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins rewarded him with a six-year contract averaging $3.5 million annually.That's a pretty generous deal, to say the least, especially considering Micheal Ferland and Brett Connolly signed for the same cap hit while committing to only four years each. All three players are 27 years old, but Ferland and Connolly are better players with longer track records of production.Tanev is an effective role player. But for a cap-strapped team like the Penguins, the $3.5 million he received could've been allotted more intelligently elsewhere.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes got a welcome sight Saturday, as Stelio Mattheos returned to the ice.

The truth is out there, as far as the Vegas Golden Knights are concerned.Ahead of a highly anticipated storming of Area 51 in Nevada on Friday, Vegas players and coaches offered their thoughts to the Las Vegas Sun's Justin Emerson on whether aliens exist and the likelihood of aliens - dead or alive - being held at the top-secret facility.The comments came following a practice session at which fans were encouraged to dress up in alien costumes.Some Golden Knights were convinced of a paranormal presence, whether it be real or otherwise.

Evaluating the top defensive units in the NHL isn't as cut and dry as determining the best offenses, as defensive play can be more difficult to quantify. Goaltending, while technically an element of defense, can skew true prowess and make it seem as though an average club is better than the underlying numbers truly indicate.The New York Islanders are a prime example. They allowed the fewest goals in the NHL last season, but a closer look at their metrics shows that they placed near the middle or bottom of the pack at suppressing shots, preventing scoring chances, and killing penalties, and that the defense was bailed out by outstanding goaltending from Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss.We focused on which groups are the best at limiting opportunities and stifling opposing offenses.Here are the top five defenses in the league for 2019-20, based on last season's performance, the personnel, and how each stack up for the upcoming campaign:GA/G: Goals against per game

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski said he lost his love for the game during the 2018-19 season."I'd say maybe mid-December," Goligoski told The Athletic's Craig Morgan. "Personally, I really got down and I wasn't having a ton of fun. It wasn't due to anything in particular. I can't even really explain it. There was nothing really causing it. I just didn't have that excitement that I normally have coming to the rink."Goligoski isn't the first player to feel this way. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson admitted to experiencing "burnout" in 2017-18 and Ryan O'Reilly said he "lost the love of the game multiple times" during the end of his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres.More recently, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is reportedly mulling retirement because he isn't sure whether he wants to continue playing hockey."The feelings I had were exactly the same kind of stuff they were talking about," Goligoski said, referring to Atkinson and O'Reilly. "It probably is more common than we all think."Goligoski managed to bounce back following the Coyotes' bye week in late January - a relatively new quirk to the NHL's schedule."I remember playing San Jose after the break in San Jose and those games are tough," he said. "A week off, then you travel and play. It's a tough spot for everyone."I just remember feeling so good going into that game and during the game I was having a blast. If there's one point, that'd probably be it. That's when I knew I had found that fire again and now it just seems easy because it's natural for me. I love competition and I love hockey. Looking back, I almost can't believe that I had a period where I felt like that. When I was in it though, it's almost like I didn't realize it until I had that feeling again, then it was so obvious."Goligoski had averaged 40 points per 82 games during his career entering the 2018-19 season. However, he collected just 27 points in 76 contests last season, which was his lowest point total during a full year in his 11 NHL campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche are apparently looking to strike a six- or eight-year deal with restricted free-agent forward Mikko Rantanen at an average annual value ranging from $8.4 million to $8.75 million, according to The Athletic's Ryan Clark.The club's goal is to sign Rantanen to a long-term deal because of what's on the horizon, a source told Clark.Colorado has six restricted free agents in need of a new deal for next season, and will also have to pay highly-touted defenseman Cale Makar and captain Gabriel Landeskog prior to the 2021-22 campaign.Rantanen's agent, Mike Liut, said Wednesday that he is "not close" in negotiations on a new deal for his client.The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday that the Avalanche are unwilling to give Rantanen the same amount of money that fellow restricted free-agent forward Mitch Marner fetched on his new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner signed a six-year, $65.63-million deal with an average annual value of $10.89 million.The 22-year-old Finn is coming off a career year in 2018-19 in which he set career highs with 31 goals and 87 points in 74 contests.The Avalanche hold $15.6 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Professional Women's Hockey Association announced Friday that the NHL Players' Association has been named as a premier partner."The success of women's hockey is integral to the growth of the sport," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said. "NHL players are proud to continue with their support of the women's game by sponsoring the PWHPA. We look forward to seeing these talented hockey players on the ice as they demonstrate their skill and passion for the game throughout the PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour."As part of the NHLPA's sponsorship, each player jersey worn at PWHPA on-ice events, beginning this weekend with the kickoff of the Dream Gap Tour, will be outfitted with an official NHLPA patch.

With the NHL's regular season near, here are 10 questions worth pondering:When will the final RFA holdouts re-sign?Scott Audette / Getty ImagesAnd then there were five.Following months of inactivity and a few weeks of progress, the list of high-profile restricted free agents has dwindled. Winnipeg Jets wingers Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are still unsigned, while Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, and Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk also remain sidelined.It takes only one productive phone call to steer a contract negotiation toward a resolution, though. So, theoretically, all five RFA holdouts could be ready for opening night in early October. However, there's a good chance one or two of the situations will still be at an impasse.Based on reports, Laine seems most likely to follow William Nylander's lead. Last year, Nylander signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs literally minutes before the Dec. 1 deadline, and there's no reason to believe Laine won't entertain a similar wait-and-see strategy, as his camp and the Jets aren't on the same page.Winnipeg has the most to lose here. Not only do the Jets have multiple RFAs unsigned, but they're also shorthanded in general. Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers are playing elsewhere and Dustin Byfuglien is on a leave of absence. It could be a full-blown crisis soon in Manitoba if these holdouts drag into the season.Is this the year the Penguins hit a fork in the road?Mike Stobe / Getty ImagesThe 2018-19 season was not a pretty one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. While a 100-point campaign would appear positive, the Penguins' was filled with distractions - mainly the feud between now-departed Phil Kessel and head coach Mike Sullivan - and ended with a surprising first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders.Time is running out for Pittsburgh's veteran core, and the Penguins need a bounce-back year from Evgeni Malkin to have any shot at making a deep playoff run.There are other questions to be answered, too. Can Alex Galchenyuk live up to his potential? Is the defense - specifically, the third pairing of Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson - too slow for today's NHL? Will the head-scratching six-year, $21-million deal handed to Brandon Tanev bear fruit?This team's ceiling is another Stanley Cup, but it's easy to see how things could go sideways.Who will have a better rookie season: Hughes, Kakko, or Makar?Michael Martin / Getty ImagesGood luck predicting the Calder Trophy race.Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, and Cale Makar - the marquee names of the incoming rookie class - are all built for the modern game. Hughes is Connor McDavid lite down the middle, Kakko is a goal-scoring force of nature on the wing, and Makar is a rover-type blue-liner with wheels. There's little doubt about their skill sets and potential.On the surface, Makar has the upper hand in the Calder conversation thanks to a 10-game stint with the Avalanche during the 2018-19 playoffs. But Hughes' preseason highlight reel and Kakko's NHL readiness should give prognosticators pause. Regardless, expect an immediate impact from all three.What has to go right for the Oilers to make playoffs?Jamie Sabau / Getty ImagesIn short, everything.Starting in the crease, Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith need to push each other. The Edmonton Oilers don't necessarily need one to grab the job and run with it, but the pair should trade hot stretches enough throughout the year so the team doesn't go into a lull for 10 to 15 games.On the blue line, Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson need to regain their 2016-17 form. Klefbom has battled injuries over the last two years and Larsson had to deal with the death of his father. Both blue-liners need to be at their best. Additionally, Darnell Nurse needs to continue to make strides.Up front, it's basically a given that McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will do their thing, but what about the rest? It's a tall task, but if Edmonton's other three lines can break even in more games than not, the Oilers have a shot at the postseason. That's a giant "if," though.Whose offseason will prove most worthwhile: Rangers, Panthers, or Devils?Getty Images Sport / Getty ImagesOn aggregate, the Eastern Conference stole the show this summer. Specifically, two teams in the Metropolitan and one in the Atlantic did.Free agency's biggest catches, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, settled in with the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers, respectively. Legendary coach Joel Quenneville signed on to coach Bobrovsky and the upstart Panthers. P.K. Subban landed with the New Jersey Devils in a draft-weekend trade. And Hughes and Kakko were scooped up by the Devils and Rangers, respectively, the day before.Also of note: The Panthers brought in Brett Connolly and Anton Stralman, the Devils acquired Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev, and the Rangers added Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox. Clearly, the three teams have positioned themselves for immediate improvement.On paper, they're all better. What's not so clear is which of these franchises will benefit from these moves the most over the course of the season.Do the Blackhawks have a second wind with Kane and Toews?Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe Chicago Blackhawks have missed the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns and haven't won a postseason series since their Stanley Cup triumph in 2015. Last season was a transition year. Quenneville was fired after 15 games and the team took some time adjusting to Jeremy Colliton, going 3-13-1 in the young coach's first 17 contests.Eventually, things started to click.The offense worked its way into a groove, the power play became lethal, and the club finished the season on a 27-18-8 run. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and several others had career-best offensive seasons, but goal prevention was still an issue. This was addressed in the offseason, though.Vezina finalist Robin Lehner was signed in free agency to give the club a potent one-two punch in goal when Corey Crawford is healthy, which wasn't the case for a large chunk of last season. And while they weren't sexy additions, modest upgrades were made to the blue line in the form of Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta.If the Blackhawks can tighten up defensively, this team could make some noise again as Kane and Toews continue to play at a high level.Can Kessel help Coyotes snap playoff drought?Norm Hall / Getty ImagesThe Arizona Coyotes' leading scorer last year was - wait for it - Brad Richardson, who had 15 goals. General manager John Chayka had a serious problem on his hands, but the offseason acquisition of Phil Kessel was a step in the right direction.Will Kessel and his 30-40 goals be enough? The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since 2011-12 and, while a clean bill of health would go a long way, aren't locked into a spot this year, either.Coach Rick Tocchet's most dangerous forwards include Kessel, Clayton Keller, and Derek Stepan. A solid trio, sure, but not exactly a murderers' row. Goaltending and defense have been the club's strengths over the past few seasons, and those groups will be relied upon once again to lead the charge in 2019-20.The NHL is in a better spot when all of its teams are competitive. Lengthy playoff droughts - Arizona's is up to seven years - in a standings system that promotes parity are a bad look, and it's a dynamic that stunts the sport's growth in certain areas of North America.How good can Binnington be?Patrick Smith / Getty ImagesHe's now a hero in St. Louis, but Jordan Binnington is still a bit of a wild card entering the season. He started last year by putting up historically great numbers before coming back down to earth in the latter stages, despite doing all he needed to do to win a Stanley Cup.Stat1st 18 startsNext 12 startsPlayoffsRec.15-2-19-3-016-10GAA1.492.362.46SV%.942.912.914SO501Which Binnington will the Blues get over the course of a full season? And when he struggles for the first time at the NHL level, how will he respond?By all indications, Binnington is as cool as a cucumber and will be able to handle any adversity thrown his way. However, he's more likely to settle into the .910-to-.915 save percentage range than he is to become one of the league's elite goaltenders. His ceiling is yet to be determined, though.Will early playoff exit haunt Lightning?Jamie Sabau / Getty ImagesHaving a historically successful regular season ultimately meant squat. Shockingly, the 2018-19 Lightning (62-16-4) were swept in the first round of the playoffs.So, what now?Head coach Jon Cooper is back behind the bench and Kevin Shattenkirk, Luke Schenn, Pat Maroon, and Curtis McElhinney have joined the fold to replace Anton Stralman, Dan Girardi, and J.T. Miller. All things considered, Tampa's not significantly worse or better.The Lightning could again destroy virtually everything in their path from October to April. Nobody would be surprised if an incredibly deep team led by Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy racks up 120-plus points for the second year in a row.From Game 1 onward, though, the postseason will be hanging over the organization's head. Will we look back on last year's sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets and ultimately chalk it up to a powerhouse having one bad week at the worst possible time, or will we come to realize something about the makeup of this roster is preventing it from finding success in the playoffs?Will a Canadian team finally win the Cup?Rene Johnston / Getty ImagesIt's a question that's been asked every season for over 20 years, but we have to bring it up again. Can a team bring the Stanley Cup to Canada?This year's prospects are quite bleak. The Toronto Maple Leafs provide the best hope, and the Flames aren't too far behind. After that? Canada will be lucky to have a third team even make the playoffs.The Jets are spiraling, the Oilers likely haven't done enough to build around McDavid, and the Vancouver Canucks are trending in the right direction but may be another year away from making the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens are good, but probably not good enough in a deep division, and the Ottawa Senators are in the infancy stages of a rebuild.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Ryan Poehling is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a concussion, the team announced Friday.The 20-year-old center was hit into the boards by Florida Panthers forward Dryden Hunt during the second period of the Canadiens' preseason opener Wednesday night.Hunt was assessed a two-minute minor for boarding on the play.

The New York Rangers have signed restricted free-agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a one-year contract, the club announced Friday.The 23-year-old's new deal is worth $925,000, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.DeAngelo put together an impressive season in his third NHL campaign, tallying career highs with 26 assists and 30 points over 61 contests in 2018-19.Since being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 19th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, DeAngelo has tallied nine goals and 52 points in 132 career games.The Rangers signed restricted free-agent forward Brendan Lemieux to an identical deal last week. New York holds $235,201 in projected cap space with a full active roster, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi announced his retirement Friday after 13 NHL seasons."I would like to thank all my coaches, family, friends, and teammates for supporting me throughout my entire hockey career," Girardi said. "I want to thank the New York Rangers for giving me a chance to fulfill my childhood dream of playing in the NHL."Throughout those 11 incredible years, I have made so many friends on and off the ice. I bled Ranger blue and gave it my all for my team, the city, and the Garden faithful."I also want to thank the Tampa Bay Lightning for helping me continue my career by giving me a chance to play for such an amazing organization, city, and fan base. The last two years in Tampa Bay have been so much fun for me and my family. I will always fondly remember my time here."An undrafted free agent, Girardi played 927 NHL contests during his career with the Rangers and Lightning, tallying 56 goals and 208 assists for 264 points.The 35-year-old Ontario native helped his clubs reach the playoffs in 12 of his 13 campaigns, and his 143 postseason contests ranked second among active defensemen upon his retirement.Girardi made four Eastern Conference Final appearances and reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers in 2013-14.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Current broadcaster and former star NHL forward Jeremy Roenick weighed in on current contracts in the league and implied they're being handed out to players who have yet to earn them.Former NHL pest Matthew Barnaby chimed in to make another sweeping generalization about the difference between the modern game and that of their era.Outspoken agent Allan Walsh responded to Roenick's tweet with some rather pointed criticism.Roenick made $53,835,000 in total base salary during his 20-year NHL tenure, including a combined $33.94 million from 2001-02 through 2005-06, during which he scored 76 goals in 274 games - an average of 19 goals over the four campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Thomas Chabot to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8 million, the team announced Thursday."Thomas is an exceptional talent and an outstanding teammate who is impactful both on and off the ice," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He is the type of player that can develop into a core member of a championship-level team in the National Hockey League."He is an NHL All-Star; an elite skater and puck-mover who plays with pace and determination."

Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine has ensured there are no hard feelings between him and linemate Bryan Little.The 21-year-old winger reached out to Little this week to apologize for comments he made in an interview with Finnish outlet Iltalehti on Monday; Laine suggested he'd have an "opportunity to play with the best players" if he played elsewhere."I actually talked to him two or three days ago," Little said, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "He texted me and asked me to call him so I called him up and chatted for a few minutes. He was saying sorry and apologizing for just the way I think it was interpreted, which I kind of understood before I even talked to him."I know Patty well enough to know that he's not someone that's going to purposely say negative things, especially about his teammates."The Finnish sniper has predominantly skated on the Jets' second line alongside Little and winger Nikolaj Ehlers during his three-year tenure with the club. In the interview, however, Laine suggested he'd be better off filling out the team's top trio alongside captain Blake Wheeler and center Mark Scheifele."If it's going to be negative, it's probably going to be about himself. That's just the way he is. So yeah, I said, 'You don't have to apologize to me, I get it,'" Little explained. "Sometimes those things are misunderstood. I knew right away he wants to play with the best players. That's the kind of way he was saying it."And yeah, Scheifs and Wheels are our best players and I'd like to play with those guys, too."Laine, a restricted free agent, has yet to reach an agreement on a new contract with the Jets. He is currently training overseas with Swiss Club SC Bern.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche are not prepared to give restricted free-agent forward Mikko Rantanen the same money Mitch Marner will earn on his new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Marner, who was also a restricted free-agent winger following his third NHL season, signed a six-year, $65.36-million pact with the Leafs last week. The deal carries an average annual value of $10.89 million.The Avalanche made Rantanen a long-term offer earlier in September but negotiations have not progressed much since then, LeBrun adds.Rantanen's agent, Mike Liut, said Wednesday he is "not close" to landing a new deal for his client.The 22-year-old finished second in team scoring with the Avalanche last season, setting career highs with 31 goals and 87 points in 74 contests. Here's how the towering Finn's numbers stack up to Marner's through each player's first three NHL campaigns:PlayerGPGAPts (per game)ATOIMarner24167157224 (0.93)17:41Rantanen23980129209 (0.87)18:53Rantanen is currently skating with the Storhamar Dragons in Norway as he awaits a resolution to his contract dispute. The 6-foot-4 forward remains on the list of blue-chip restricted free agents who are still unsigned. Brayden Point, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and Kyle Connor are all awaiting new deals with their respective clubs as well.Colorado holds a projected $15.61 million in cap space with Rantanen the only remaining player without a deal, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour is out for the remainder of the preseason after suffering a hand injury during the club's 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, the team announced Thursday.The Sabres will provide an update on his status after the conclusion of training camp.Buffalo acquired the 25-year-old from the Anaheim Ducks in February. Montour recorded three goals and 10 points while averaging 21:37 of ice time through 20 games with the Sabres last season.The 6-foot rearguard has tallied 19 goals and 73 points over 189 career contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice used his trademark wit to troll restricted free-agent forward Patrik Laine following the club's 4-1 preseason victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.Asked if forward Andrew Copp was making a good case for a bigger role with the club, Maurice mocked Laine's recent comments regarding his lack of top-line minutes."Did he tell you he wants to play with our best players?" Maurice said of Copp, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates.In an interview with Finnish outlet Iltalehti published Monday, Laine suggested he would be a first-line player on most NHL teams."When you're having contract negotiations, one thing always is who you are playing with," Laine told Iltalehti's Pekka Jalonen in Finnish. "With the merits I have, somewhere else I'd have an opportunity to play with the best players. Everybody who understands hockey knows that."Maurice is well aware of Laine's desire to shoulder more responsibility with the Jets, but the 52-year-old bench boss preached patience for his younger talents."What Patrik and (Nikolaj) Ehlers and Kyle Connor and all the others are attempting to do, they just want to play more," Maurice said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "And there's going to come a time for all three of them that they'll turn around and say, 'See, I told ya. If you'd just played me more.'""And I'll use my driver's license analogy: Nobody gets the keys at 14."Laine, 21, is coming off a career-low 50-point campaign in 2018-19 and is currently skating with Swiss club SC Bern as his contract dispute with the Jets continues.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no shortage of bench bosses who will begin 2019-20 feeling the heat.Whether they guide a team on the rise that hasn't gone deep enough, a franchise that's stuck in the mud, or a historically great regular-season club that hasn't achieved Stanley Cup glory, these leaders will need to meet expectations in the upcoming campaign to stave off a potential pink slip.Paul Maurice, JetsHired: January 12, 2014Expectations were high for the Winnipeg Jets after they reached the Western Conference Final in 2018, but last season was unquestionably a disappointment, as the Jets were bounced from the first round of the playoffs by the eventual NHL champion St. Louis Blues.Maurice's club faltered down the stretch, dropping six of its final nine regular-season contests before the six-game loss to St. Louis. And while the coach remains well-respected across the league, rumors of discord in the Winnipeg dressing room dogged his team in the latter half of the campaign.Given the amount of skill on the Jets' roster, Maurice's job will continue to be heavily scrutinized, and he's not alone, as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could also be on the hot seat - particularly if the Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor negotiations drag into the season.Mike Babcock, Maple LeafsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHired: May 20, 2015Speaking of scrutiny, there aren't many markets with more of it than Toronto.Babcock tempered expectations when he joined the Maple Leafs by saying "there's pain coming," and he was right at the time, as the team was still rebuilding. However, the pressure to make progress after three consecutive first-round exits is now mounting on the veteran head coach and his charges, particularly after Mitch Marner's new six-year deal was agreed upon last week.The Leafs' core forwards are now locked up long term, but goaltender Frederik Andersen is under contract for just two more seasons, so the club's window to take a significant step forward may not be as large as it seems - and Babcock surely knows it.While Toronto GM Kyle Dubas publicly committed to Babcock in May, the bench boss has come under fire for his deployment decisions - particularly regarding Auston Matthews' ice time - and while those two talked over the summer, all three will need to be on the same page this season or Babcock could find himself in the figurative crosshairs.Claude Julien, CanadiensBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyHired: February 14, 2017Montreal is another high-pressure market, and while Julien is entering only his third full season in his second stint behind the Canadiens' bench, a third straight campaign without a playoff berth could put his job in jeopardy once again.The 59-year-old guided the club into the postseason in 2016-17 after being hired to replace Michel Therrien for a second time, but the team has been unable to return to the playoffs since then, missing out by two points last spring.General manager Marc Bergevin would also be on the hot seat if the Canadiens fail to qualify, but Julien is more vulnerable because Bergevin and Montreal's ownership control his destiny and have shown they're willing to make a coaching change during the season.Expectations for this club aren't sky-high, but they're always a little higher in Montreal than they might be in some of the NHL's other cities. Having been fired by the Canadiens once before, Julien is certainly aware of that fact.Bruce Boudreau, WildHired: May 7, 2016Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyBoudreau has two major factors working against him as 2019-20 draws near.First, like Babcock, Boudreau has failed to guide his club beyond the first round. Under his guidance, the Minnesota Wild missed the playoffs last season following two consecutive defeats in the opening round (they also lost in Round 1 the year before Boudreau came aboard).Second, the Wild have a new GM in Bill Guerin, who replaced Paul Fenton after only one season at the helm.General managers often prefer to bring in their own head coach, but even if Guerin sticks with Boudreau, the 64-year-old bench boss will presumably be on a short leash given the club's mediocrity in recent years. It doesn't help that Fenton's questionable roster moves have put Boudreau at even more of a disadvantage.Jon Cooper, LightningIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHired: March 25, 2013Cooper isn't under as much pressure as the other coaches on this list, but he could be feeling the heat if the Tampa Bay Lightning suffer another early postseason exit.The 52-year-old Cooper was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 2018-19, and rightfully so following the Lightning's historically dominant regular season. However, Tampa Bay's stunning first-round exit by way of a sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets cut their remarkable campaign short and left many on the losing side searching for answers.Tampa Bay has reached a Stanley Cup Final and made two trips to the Eastern Conference Final under Cooper, but another premature conclusion to a campaign will put his job at risk regardless of how well his squad performs over the 82-game schedule.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have hired former Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall as a part-time advisor to their hockey operations department, the team announced Wednesday, according to The Fourth Period's Dennis Bernstein.Hextall was GM of the Flyers from 2013 until he was relieved of his duties last November.The move marks a homecoming of sorts for Hextall. He was assistant GM of the Kings from 2006 to 2013, helping Los Angles win its first Stanley Cup in 2012.Before his management career, Hextall played 13 years in the NHL as a goaltender, primarily with the Flyers. He won both the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender and the Conn Smythe Award as playoff MVP in his rookie year, despite the fact that Philadelphia was edged by the dynasty Edmonton Oilers in the 1987 Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Among all the positions in hockey, there's no question goaltenders take the longest to realize their potential. With so much uncertainty in the crease, it can be tricky to land two proven netminders come fantasy draft day.Sometimes an increase in opportunity or a change of scenery is all a goalie needs. The following talents could be ready to take the next step in 2019-20 and deliver their best seasons yet.Philipp Grubauer, AvalancheGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyGrubauer looks to ride the momentum from last season's incredible playoff run into 2019-20. The 27-year-old proved he's capable of handling the starting role after stifling the top-seeded Calgary Flames in Round 1 and helping the Avalanche come one win shy of the Western Conference Final.Sporting a 61-40-16 record, a 2.39 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage for his career thus far, Grubauer has always posted quality numbers. But playing backup to star netminder Braden Holtby with the Washington Capitals denied the German netminder the opportunity to showcase his talent on a nightly basis.Colorado looks poised to take a step forward in 2019-20, which should translate to a steady dose of wins as Grubauer projects for his largest workload yet.Juuse Saros, Predators Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettySaros enters the season after notching a career-high 17 wins in 27 starts for the Predators in 2018-19. His early-career numbers (38-24-12 record, 2.49 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and seven shutouts in 79 NHL appearances) suggest the 24-year-old could be a starting goaltender at the NHL level - he's just been stuck playing behind 2018 Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne.The 5-foot-11 Saros should continue to carry more weight this year with Rinne turning 37 in November. The young Finn has seen his starts increase in each of the last three campaigns, while Rinne has seen a decrease over four straight. Expect that trend to continue as more teams adopt a platoon-style system between the pipes - especially after Nashville's disappointing first-round playoff exit last season.Semyon Varlamov, IslandersMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Islanders were one of the league's biggest surprises last season. Head coach Barry Trotz implemented a defensive system that allowed netminders Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss to flourish, and Varlamov looks to follow suit after a subpar 2018-19 campaign in Colorado.Trotz's club allowed the fewest goals in the league and ranked first in shutouts last year. The Islanders' strong defense core remains intact for 2019-20 and should provide Varlamov with plenty of support.Greiss and Lehner split time between the pipes last season, and though it's likely the Islanders will run a platoon system once again, the four-year, $20-million contract Varlamov inked with the team this summer suggests he'll receive a majority of the starts.Elvis Merzlikins, Blue JacketsRvS.Media/Robert Hradil / Getty Images Sport / GettyMerzlikins is a high-risk pick who could yield a big reward. The 25-year-old doesn't have a minute of NHL experience, but he's been projected as the Blue Jackets' goalie of the future ever since the club selected him in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft.The 6-foot-3 netminder posted a 2.78 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in five games for Latvia at the World Championships in May. Considering his limited experience competing against NHL talent, Merzlikins held his own playing behind a relatively weak roster.Columbus head coach John Tortorella has made it clear that Joonas Korpisalo will assume starting duties to begin the season. But, as we're reminded every year, things can change quickly in the NHL. Any number of factors can combine to create opportunity for a young netminder, and we saw two rookie goalies burst onto the scene just last season in Carter Hart and Jordan Binnington.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark your calendars!The NHL season is a grind. As hard as players work at being physical specimens and consummate professionals, they're still human. Lengthy road trips and back-to-backs take their toll, while off-ice distractions remain a reality - right, Evgeny Kuznetsov?In the first of a four-part series, I'll be going division by division to identify the trickiest spot on every team's schedule this season, and thus the best spot to bet against them. I fully expect to go 31-0. With that being said, let's dive into the Atlantic Division.Boston BruinsDate: Oct. 8, at VegasThe Bruins have the unenviable task of starting the season on the West Coast. With two days off before their game in Vegas, there should be plenty of room for off-ice distractions, especially so early in the season when guys aren't as locked in. In an NHL players poll conducted by The Athletic last season, Sin City was voted as the most fun NHL city to visit. In addition, the Golden Knights were voted as having the league's best home-ice advantage. Are their fans that loud, or does it just seem that way after a lot of beverages and little sleep? The "Vegas Flu" is nothing to scoff at.Buffalo SabresDate: Nov. 14, vs. CarolinaThis one is almost too easy. The Sabres fly to Stockholm for a pair of games on Nov. 8 and 9 as part of the NHL Global Series. Already at a disadvantage from the long trip, their first game back is against a Carolina Hurricanes team they've lost nine in a row against. Give me the Canes, please.Detroit Red WingsDate: Dec. 29, at Tampa BayWhen you've lost 15 consecutive games against a team, the best time to play them probably isn't on the second leg of a back-to-back just a few days after Christmas. The Florida sunshine in Tampa could also prove to be a distraction for Red Wings players looking to make the most of their break from the Detroit winter.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyFlorida PanthersDate: Feb. 22, at VegasThe "Vegas Flu" - it'll get ya. Playing eight games in 13 days is a tough ask. It's even tougher when it culminates in a trip to Vegas. The Panthers face a daunting two-week spell in the middle of February that involves plenty of travel on both the East (Philadelphia, New Jersey) and West (San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Vegas) Coasts. With a day off before their game against the Golden Knights, and two days off after, the Panthers will likely be looking to blow off plenty of steam on the Vegas strip.Montreal CanadiensDate: March 19, at San JoseDeath, taxes, and the Canadiens losing in San Jose. The Habs have lost their last 12 visits to the Bay Area, with their last win there coming Nov. 23, 1999, before Jesperi Kotkaniemi was even born. Since the lockout-shortened 2013-14 season, Montreal's been outscored 26-7 in six trips to San Jose. Sharks on the puck line, anyone?Ottawa SenatorsDate: Dec. 11, at MontrealThere will be a lot of spots to fade the Senators this season, if we're being honest. But for this exercise, give me Dec. 11. The Sens have a grueling month of November in which they play 16 games in 29 days, and have consecutive days off just once. They end the month on a five-game road trip - with four contests on the West Coast - that carries into the start of December. Then, they return to Ottawa for just one night before having to pack up again and head to Montreal. Imagine how mentally exhausting that will be.Tampa Bay LightningDate: Feb. 1, at San JoseAs if they need it, the schedule makers were rather kind to the Lightning this season. Their longest road trip is six games, but it's broken up by 10 consecutive off days, including the All-Star break. That being said, they play four of those contests after the extended layoff. By the time the Lightning reach San Jose at the end of the road trip, which will be on the second leg of a back-to-back, they're going to be dreaming about that flight home.Toronto Maple LeafsDate: Nov. 29, at BuffaloA six-game road trip isn't terrible, but the one facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second half of November is no ordinary road trip. The 14-day stretch begins Nov. 16 and will see the Leafs visit Pittsburgh, Vegas (ahem), Arizona, Colorado, and Detroit, with the finale a Friday matinee in Buffalo on Thanksgiving weekend. Getting up for an afternoon game is tough when you know you're heading home straight after. The game is part of a home-and-home, so the Leafs can get the Sabres back the next night in Toronto.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland is hopeful that the club will have star forward Connor McDavid in the lineup on opening night."We're pretty optimistic about opening night. As for preseason games, there's a chance (McDavid) could play next week," Holland said, according to Sportsnet's Gene Principe.Holland said last week that it was "very likely" McDavid would sit out every preseason contest, but it now appears that the 22-year-old could get into a game before the end of September.McDavid suffered a torn PCL after slamming into a goalpost at high speed during the final game of the 2018-19 campaign. He did not require surgery and has been skating with teammates at Oilers training camp.The 2017 Hart Trophy winner finished second in league scoring last season with a career-high 116 points in 78 contests.The Oilers are slated to begin the 2019-20 campaign at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 2.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The man who represents restricted free agents Mikko Rantanen and Patrik Laine says his clients aren't on the verge of agreeing to new contracts with their respective clubs."We're not close, how about that? That's about as much as you're going to get out of me," Mike Liut told Sportsnet 650 on Wednesday.However, the former NHL goaltender and current managing director of Octagon Hockey added that there haven't been any surprises throughout talks involving the Finnish stars."Nothing has gone on that we didn't anticipate," Liut said.The agent also discussed a certain Toronto Maple Leafs forward, who agreed to a new six-year contract with his team at an average annual value of $10.893 million last Friday."Is there a comparable?" Liut said. "Yes, I think that Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen are probably the two closest comparables in terms of how they play the game, where you have wingers who are adept at creating offense for those that they're playing with ... and they do it a little differently."Rantanen posted 31 goals and 87 points in 74 games last season while playing on the Colorado Avalanche's explosive top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog.Marner racked up 26 goals and 94 points alongside John Tavares and Zach Hyman in 2018-19.Laine, who registered career lows of 30 goals and 50 points in his third season with the Winnipeg Jets, expressed concern about his ice time to a Finnish publication earlier this week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin's widespread impact will be recognized this winter.The Washington Capitals superstar will be honored as the recipient of the Wayne Gretzky International Award as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Dec. 12, the institution announced Wednesday.Established in 1999, the award pays tribute to international individuals who have made major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States."His performance on the ice and efforts off the ice have certainly translated into more kids and families wanting to be involved in our sport," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said of Ovechkin. "He’s been a great ambassador for hockey and embodies what the Gretzky Award represents."Previous recipients of the honor include Herb Brooks (2004), Scotty Bowman (2002), the Howe family (2000), and Gretzky himself in 1999.Gary Bettman, Brian Gionta, Neal Henderson, Tim Thomas, and Krissy Wendell will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Load management has become one of the hottest topics in the modern NHL, with teams looking for new ways to gain an advantage during the regular-season slog.In 2018-19, we saw more teams shift toward a platoon between the pipes, and the need for multiple netminders who can handle a significant workload has never been greater.With that in mind, here's a look at the NHL's top goaltending duos entering the 2019-20 campaign.5. Jonathan Quick - Jack Campbell, KingsMatthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyPlayerGPRecordGAASV%SOQuick602309-218-632.36.91451Campbell3812-15-32.41.9252When it comes to raw talent, few teams boast a stronger tandem in net than the Kings.Quick struggled in 2018-19, but don't let one down year fool you. The two-time Stanley Cup champion posted a goals-against average of 2.45 or lower over his previous eight campaigns, and there's still plenty left in his tank.Campbell, a 2010 first-round selection, is a highly touted netminder who finally put his bona fides on display last season. The 27-year-old posted a 2.30 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage over 31 games for a defensively weak Kings team.Los Angeles will likely miss the playoffs for the second straight season, but the team's shortcomings won't come in goal.4. Andrei Vasilevskiy - Curtis McElhinney, LightningScott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerGPRecordGAASV%SOVasilevskiy208124-59-152.55.91918McElhinney21982-82-152.81.90910Vasilevskiy is a safe bet to continue playing at an elite level after collecting his first career Vezina Trophy in 2018-19. The Russian won 39 of his 53 starts for the Lightning last season, losing consecutive games just once - and never in regulation.The experienced McElhinney provides the team with a reliable second option to lean on while managing Vasilevskiy's workload.McElhinney's career numbers don't exactly pop off the page, but the veteran has quietly been one of the league's steadiest backups over the last three seasons. The 36-year-old has notched 39 wins in 63 starts with a 2.51 goals-against average and .919 save percentage since the start of the 2016-17 campaign.McElhinney also impressed with a strong postseason stint for the Carolina Hurricanes last spring. He allowed just nine goals over five playoff contests while posting a .930 save percentage.3. Ben Bishop - Anton Khudobin, StarsBill Smith / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerGPRecordGAASV%SOBishop369201-112-322.30.92131Khudobin18883-68-212.49.9178With Bishop leading the way, the Stars conceded the fewest goals in the Western Conference despite giving up over 30 shots per game in 2018-19. The 32-year-old Vezina Trophy finalist last season was outstanding, allowing 87 goals in 46 starts to significantly outperform his expected goals against of 105.22.When Bishop was out with an injury, Khudobin provided a reliable option in relief. The Russian collected 16 wins while posting a 2.57 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage over 37 starts.The pair was also sensational when faced with top-quality scoring chances. Bishop led all goaltenders (minimum 1,000 minutes played) with a high-danger save percentage of .885, and Khudobin finished seventh at .850.Even if Bishop stays healthy in 2019-20, the Stars can still lean on Khudobin to keep their starter fresh for another potential playoff appearance.2. Pekka Rinne - Juuse Saros, PredatorsJohn Russell / National Hockey League / GettyPlayerGPRecordGAASV%SORinne623341-187-702.38.91855Saros7938-24-122.49.9207The Predators finished in the top two in save percentage and top four in goals against in each of the past two seasons. With the same tandem protecting the crease in 2019-20, Nashville makes for a stingy opponent.Saros could assume starting duties on a handful of NHL teams, but the 24-year-old has been stuck playing behind Rinne since debuting in 2015-16. The 5-foot-11 puck-stopper suffered back-to-back regulation losses on just two occasions in 2018-19, and his 17 wins over 27 starts were each career bests.The 36-year-old Rinne continues to stifle opponents during the latter stages of his career. The towering Finn has posted a goals-against average of under 2.50 in five consecutive seasons, and he ranks second in wins (178) since the start of the 2014-15 campaign.1. Tuukka Rask - Jaroslav Halak, BruinsBoston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyPlayerGPRecordGAASV%SORask495265-150-582.28.92145Halak489254-161-522.49.91647Inking Halak to a two-year deal ahead of the 2018-19 campaign was easily the Bruins' most significant transaction that offseason. Adding the 34-year-old as a secondary option behind Rask made the team extremely difficult to beat.Consequently, the Bruins allowed the third-fewest goals in the league last season, and the duo's combined nine shutouts also ranked third.Of the four teams that finished with multiple 20-win goaltenders last season, Rask and Halak formed the only tandem still intact for 2019-20. Boston was also one of two clubs with both goalies posting a goals-against average below 2.50 (minimum 20 starts).With Rask turning 33 next March, expect the Bruins to use a similar platoon this season, and that will cause problems even for the league's top offenses.All advanced stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrickCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dustin Byfuglien is contemplating his options while on personal leave from the Winnipeg Jets, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie, who adds that there's no timetable for a decision.The club announced last Friday that the veteran defenseman had been granted a leave of absence. While the reason and timetable weren't disclosed, head coach Paul Maurice said at the time that the blue-liner was "going to be fine," and it was "nothing sinister."Byfuglien, 34, is entering the fourth year of the five-year, $38-million pact he inked with the Jets in February 2016.Injuries limited him to 42 games in 2018-19, but he still collected 31 points and led the club in average ice time in his abbreviated campaign.He's spent the last nine seasons with the organization after playing his first five campaigns with the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2010.The imposing rearguard ranks fifth on the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise's games played list, sits third in assists, and slots in fourth in points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to a one-year, $1.5-million contract with defenseman Ben Hutton, the team announced on Wednesday.Hutton, a left-handed shot, joins the Kings after spending his first four NHL seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He appeared in 69 games for Vancouver in 2018-19, tallying five goals, 20 points, 43 penalty minutes, and a minus-23 rating while averaging just over 22 minutes of ice time.The 26-year-old blue-liner was Vancouver's fifth-round pick (147th overall) out of the University of Maine in 2012. He's scored 11 goals and 70 points over 276 career NHL contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler doesn't have a problem with teammate Patrik Laine's comments regarding his lack of playing time."It's a great trait to have to want more, to want more ice time, more playing time," Wheeler said, according to NHL.com's Mitchell Clinton. "I would say those are all good things. You want guys that are hungry for more and not content with where he's at."In an interview with Pekka Jalonen of Finland's Iltalehti published on Monday, Laine suggested he would be a first-line player on most NHL teams.“In contract negotiations, one thing always is who you are playing with,” Laine said, as Jalonen translated. “With the merits I have, somewhere else I’d have an opportunity to play with the best players. Everyone who understands hockey should know that.”Laine, who's currently training in Switzerland amid his contract dispute with the Jets, finished with a career-low 50 points in 82 games last season, and his performance was wildly inconsistent. Of his 30 goals, 18 came in November, and he found the net just seven times after the Christmas break.The 21-year-old ranked fourth among Winnipeg forwards while averaging 17:14 of ice time per game, but he logged just 3:30 per contest with the man advantage."He's certainly one of our best players. He spends a good deal of time on that top unit on the power play. We've been top five in the league the last couple of years and a big part of it is what Patty does," Wheeler said.Laine is one of two Jets players who need a new contract. Fellow restricted free agent Kyle Connor also remains without a deal.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't take long for the balance of power to shift in today's NHL. With so much parity, any team has a real chance to win on any given night; come playoff time, it's impossible to predict who may go on a lengthy run to Lord Stanley's Cup.It's far easier to forecast things like which teams should be the best, and which division provides the toughest competition. Let's take a crack at that instead, and rank each NHL division's top-to-bottom strength heading into the 2019-20 season.4. PacificLachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty2018-19 StandingsRecordPtsGoal differential1. Calgary Flames50-25-7107+622. San Jose Sharks46-27-9101+283. Vegas Golden Knights43-32-792+194. Arizona Coyotes39-35-886-105. Vancouver Canucks35-36-1181-296. Anaheim Ducks35-37-1080-527. Edmonton Oilers35-38-979-438. Los Angeles Kings31-42-971-61The Pacific might own the best rivalry in the sport right now between the Sharks and Golden Knights, but the rest of the division lacks that same heat - no disrespect to the Flames.It's hard to imagine any turnover among the top three Pacific teams heading into the 2019-20 campaign. Their order in the standings might change, but the clubs this division sent to the playoffs last season don't seem destined to drop out.The Coyotes and Canucks made improvements this summer but don't project to be anything close to contenders just yet. The Ducks and Kings are both retooling, while the Oilers ... well, you know the story there.There's considerable talent at the top of the Pacific pack, but the drop-off is vast.3. MetropolitanPatrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty2018-19 StandingsRecordPtsGoal differential1. Washington Capitals48-26-8104+292. New York Islanders48-27-7103+323. Pittsburgh Penguins44-26-12100+324. Carolina Hurricanes46-29-799+225. Columbus Blue Jackets47-31-498+266. Philadelphia Flyers37-37-882-377. New York Rangers32-36-1478-458. New Jersey Devils31-41-1972-53The Metro sent five teams to the postseason a year ago, but now there's some major inconsistency within the division. Aside from the Capitals - who have won four consecutive division titles - and the up-and-coming Hurricanes, the group is largely in limbo.With their veteran core, the Penguins are always dangerous. But they did little, if anything, to improve their roster this summer. The Islanders lost their star goalie and replaced him with one who's proven inconsistent over the years, while the Blue Jackets lost more talent than anyone this offseason. The Flyers are seemingly stuck between the playoffs and the draft lottery, and their hopes of contention rest on the shoulders of a netminder entering his second season.Big offseasons from the Devils and Rangers certainly make the Metro more compelling, but both Hudson River rivals are likely a year or two from taking true steps toward contention.2. CentralBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty2018-19 StandingsRecordPtsGoal differential1. Nashville Predators47-29-6100+262. Winnipeg Jets47-30-599+283. St. Louis Blues45-28-999+244. Dallas Stars42-32-793+85. Colorado Avalanche38-30-1490+146. Chicago Blackhawks36-34-1284-227. Minnesota Wild37-36-983-26Probably the most competitively balanced division in the league, the Central is always tightly contested. That should stay the same in 2019-20, as the three teams that topped the division last season - including the eventual champs - have legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations once again.The Avalanche and Stars, both coming off playoff appearances of their own, are strongly trending upward after busy summers; the race for top spot in the Central will be a close one all season long.The Blackhawks and Wild probably can't keep up with the pack leaders here, rounding out what's otherwise an incredibly deep and dangerous group of teams.1. AtlanticSteve Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty2018-19 StandingsRecordPtsGoal differential1. Tampa Bay Lightning62-16-4128+1032. Boston Bruins49-24-9107+443. Toronto Maple Leafs46-28-8100+354. Montreal Canadiens44-30-896+135. Florida Panthers36-32-1486-136. Buffalo Sabres33-39-1076-457. Detroit Red Wings32-40-1074-508. Ottawa Senators29-47-664-60There are some very bad teams at the bottom, but the top three clubs in the Atlantic form undoubtedly the best group in the league. The Lightning are fresh off a historically dominant regular season and are Presidents' Trophy favorites in 2019-20. Then there's the Bruins and Leafs, who both have championship-ready rosters and could be on a collision course for a third straight first-round playoff matchup.The Atlantic's middling teams are on the rise, too. The Panthers made a huge splash with the signing of Sergei Bobrovsky, and steady goaltending could be the key to getting a wildly talented forward corps into the playoffs. The Canadiens missed last year's postseason by two points and remain a threat to qualify this season so long as Carey Price is his usual self.The Sabres built a nice blue line and added some bodies to shore up a shallow group of forwards; they shouldn't be completely counted out if Jack Eichel is healthy.As for the Red Wings and Senators, let's just say they're a few years away from being a few years away.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Noah Juulsen's health problems have not subsided.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman will consult a specialist to get a second opinion about his headaches, the club announced Tuesday. Juulsen and his agent, Jason Taylor, approved the decision.Juulsen was ruled out indefinitely in February with what the team called a vision-related issue. He appeared in only 21 games with the Canadiens last season and none after Dec. 17.The 22-year-old was initially ruled out indefinitely in November after suffering a facial fracture when he took a puck to the face during a game.He appeared in 23 NHL contests during his rookie season in 2017-18, as well as 31 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket. Juulsen also played three contests with the Rocket last season.Montreal drafted Juulsen 26th overall in 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.