New Jersey Devils superstar Taylor Hall is healthy and hungry to help his club return to the postseason for the second time in three years."We're hoping for a playoff berth this year. I think anything less would be disappointing," Hall told sportsandmoore.com on Saturday.Hall, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in February, hasn't played since Dec. 23, but he expects to be ready for Devils training camp in September."I feel really good," Hall said. "It's been a long process not playing a game for that long. It really takes a toll on you mentally, but being back on the ice and being able to play at a pretty high intensity, even though it's just the summer, feels really nice. I haven't had any issues with the knee so far since I've been skating, and it's been a really good process, so hopefully that can continue into (training) camp."Despite being limited to just 33 games last season, Hall finished fifth in team scoring for the 29th-place Devils with 37 points.New Jersey ended a six-year playoff drought in 2017-18, but the club missed the postseason in 2018-19 after a 25-point drop-off. Devils general manager Ray Shero has been active this offseason, however, selecting blue-chip prospect Jack Hughes with the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and trading for All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban and forward Nikita Gusev.Shero also signed veteran forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year deal on July 1."A guy like Subban has had a lot of success in the League before," Hall said. "A couple of unknowns with Gusev and Hughes, but they're highly skilled players who can hopefully make a huge impact on our team."Simmonds is a known commodity and someone who's looking to bounce back and I think he has it in him. I've played against him for a long time in the League and know how hard he is to play against. So with those four guys, and hopefully a healthy year for us, hopefully we can do some damage."Hall captured the 2017-18 Hart Trophy after recording a career-best 39 goals and 93 points during his second year with the Devils. He became the first player in franchise history to win the award.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have inked forward Pat Maroon to a one-year contract worth $900,000, the team announced on Saturday."We're very pleased to add Pat to our organization today," said Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois. "He brings size (6-foot-3, 225 lbs) and physicality to our group as well as significant playoff experience. We expect Pat to be a great addition to the roster."Maroon signed a one-year deal with his hometown St. Louis Blues ahead of the 2018-19 season, and he played an important role while helping the club capture its first-ever Stanley Cup.The 31-year-old recorded 10 goals and 28 points over 74 regular-season contests while also leading the team in hits with 135. He then added three goals - including the game-winner in double overtime of Game 7 against the Dallas Stars in the second round - and seven points in 26 playoff games.Maroon joins defensemen Luke Schenn and Kevin Shattenkirk, along with goaltender Curtis McElhinney, as the Lightning's offseason additions.Tampa Bay has $8.47 million in projected cap space with restricted free-agent forward Brayden Point the only player in need of a new deal, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci and his partner filed a statement of defense Tuesday against the $8.6-million lawsuit by a woman who was burned at a 2018 dinner party at Ceci's house, according to The Canadian Press.Hana Engel suffered severe burns in an incident involving an outdoor tabletop fireplace. According to Engel's suit, Ceci's partner Jamie Thompson ignited Engel with flaming liquid fuel while trying to refill a burner on the fireplace. Ceci and Thompson denied any negligence in Tuesday's filing.Engel filed the initial lawsuit July 23 against Ceci, Thompson, fireplace manufacturer Clair De Lune Products Inc., and its distributor Orca Lite.No criminal charges were laid.Ceci and Thompson's statement of defense includes a crossclaim against the manufacturer and distributor of the product, seeking to have all their legal costs covered. The statement also alleges that any damages were caused solely by the negligence of Clair De Lune and Orca Lite.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's growing speculation the Toronto Maple Leafs will name a captain for the first time since Dion Phaneuf's departure in 2016. Auston Matthews, the face of the franchise, is one of a handful of logical candidates to don the "C," and he understands its importance."The captaincy in hockey, in general, is a huge honor, but especially in Toronto," Matthews told The Athletic's Craig Morgan. "You see the names of the guys that have come before you. We have all the captains' banners lined up for us in our practice rink. You know the names, what they brought to the team, their competitiveness, what they did throughout the community, so it’s a bit of a bigger honor, in my opinion, to bestow that in Toronto."Whether it's me or it's someone else, it comes with a lot of responsibility, but whether I get it or not, I feel comfortable regardless. We've got a lot of good candidates, guys that have been in the league for a while, guys that have been captains before like John Tavares, and guys that have worn letters for quite some time."Matthews, Tavares, and Morgan Rielly are generally considered to be in the running. Tavares was the captain of the New York Islanders before signing a seven-year deal with his hometown team in the summer of 2018. Rielly is the longest-serving Leaf and has worn an "A" as an alternate captain for the past few seasons.Asked if he thought it might be odd for Tavares to be passed over for the honor - given he's the elder statesman of the group and has a been a captain before - Matthews dismissed the theory."I don't think it would be awkward," he said. "Everybody has the same goal in mind. Everybody wants to contribute in their own way and do what's best for the team. When somebody is ready, (GM) Kyle (Dubas) and the staff will make a good choice. No matter who it is, you move forward, do your thing and put in the work."Faced with similar questions about the captaincy prior to the start of last season, Matthews said he's never worn the "C" in his life; since he consistently played a level or two higher than his own age group growing up, he was always one of the youngest players on his team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's August and beach weather is still a thing, but make no mistake, winter - and the 2019-20 NHL season - is coming.We'll take a closer look at the entire league with our divisional betting previews ahead of the start of the season, but here are some undervalued teams to consider playing the over on before totals are adjusted:Arizona Coyotes over 89.5This number jumped out at me immediately. Although Arizona was ravaged by injuries last season, they still managed an impressive 86 points. Nick Schmaltz, Jason Demers, Antti Raanta, and Michael Grabner were all limited to less than half the season, while other key players also spent time in the infirmary. With improved health, they should surpass this total.But the Coyotes have far more going for them. Goal machine and hot dog king Phil Kessel was brought in to fix their scoring issues, reuniting with coach Rick Tocchet. Kessel doesn't magically give the Coyotes an elite forward group, but with the continued development of Clayton Keller and the return of Schmaltz, a full season of Phil could push the offense into that territory.In net, Darcy Kuemper enjoyed a stellar season as the full-time starter, and the return of Raanta to full health gives them a top-10 goaltending tandem in the NHL. This should be a playoff team next season, finishing closer to 95 points than their set total of 89.5.Washington Capitals over 97.5Washington hasn't finished below 100 points since Beyonce and Jay-Z's "Drunk In Love" hit the Billboard top 10 in 2014. The Capitals averaged 109.6 points over the last five seasons and have had a year to recover from their epic Stanley Cup hangover.They also had a solid offseason. Andre Burakovsky and Brett Connolly's departures were softened by Richard Panik. A full season of Carl Hagelin won't hurt, either. Defensively, Matt Niskanen didn't age well and was shown the door, freeing up minutes for Nick Jensen, while the acquisition of Radko Gudas will provide a significant boost for the third pairing.Add in the fact the Penguins, Hurricanes, Islanders, and Blue Jackets - all Metropolitan Division foes - got weaker, and it would be shocking to see this team finish below 100 points.Anaheim Ducks over 81.5Can someone explain this line to me, please? Anaheim was a complete and utter disaster last season and finished with 80 points. At their lowest point, they lost 19 of 21 games - the AHL-caliber Senators didn't even do that. But there was a silver lining. The Ducks were an above .500 team after firing Randy Carlyle and closed out the season with an impressive 11-5-1 run.The point here is they can't possibly be any worse this season. All they need is one more win over 82 games to surpass this total, and they have one of the best goaltenders in the world in John Gibson to help them do it. They don't have the strongest team in front of him, but it's better than advertised. Troy Terry is ready to burst onto the scene, they have a solid top four on the back end, and are deep down the middle.Plus, there's always the possibility Gibson goes scorched earth on the rest of the NHL and piggybacks the Ducks to a wild-card berth.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyChicago Blackhawks over 89.5Like Arizona, Chicago is another team that could compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season. The Blackhawks can score as much as anyone, that much we know. Even if Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews regress following career seasons, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome are just getting started.What held this team back last season was defense and goaltending - only Ottawa allowed more goals than the Blackhawks. Calvin De Haan and Olli Maatta are significant improvements to their defense, while 2018-19 Vezina Trophy nominee Robin Lehner will be a massive improvement in net. Let's face it, Cam Ward was atrocious last season filling in for an injured Corey Crawford. With all due respect to the 2006 Conn Smythe winner, his best days are a distant memory.The Hawks are going to score just as many goals this year and will be stronger on the back end. You don't need the analytics community to tell you that's a winning formula. There's way too much talent here for them not to finish between 90-95 points and compete for a playoff berth.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban and Olympic gold medal-winning skier Lindsey Vonn are engaged.The couple, who started dating in June 2018, broke the news in an interview with Alexandra Macon of Vogue."I got the ring and said, 'You know what, I'm just going to do it (at) home,'" Subban said. "Everything kind of came together on that day. Everyone says the stars aligned - well, it was actually a full moon. I was worried because I knew she would want to be dressed up and not in her pajamas, and it just so happened she had a business meeting, so she was fully dressed up."Vonn said they aren't in a rush to walk down the aisle and are focused on settling in for the upcoming NHL season - Subban's first with the Devils following a summer trade from the Nashville Predators."We're in such a busy time right now. We're trying to move to New Jersey," she explained. "I just want to enjoy the moment and the engagement. We're not in a big hurry to get married. It kind of depends on his playing schedule, and when we have time to sit down and go through it. I don't want to stress him out because he has a big season coming."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains graphic contentWashington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has been suspended by the IIHF for four years after testing positive for cocaine at the 2019 World Championship."The prohibited substance was found in a doping control which occurred on 26 May 2019 at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship," the IIHF stated in its release.Kuznetsov did not require the analysis of his B-sample - a secondary procedure to verify the accuracy of the initial test - and was provisionally suspended June 13, 2019, the IIHF said. His suspension will conclude June 12, 2023. If the NHL goes to the Olympics in 2022, he will not be eligible to participate.A video surfaced on May 27 showing Kuznetsov sitting at a table next to two lines of white powder.Following the release of the video, Kuznetsov claimed he had "never used drugs" and said the footage was taken after the Capitals' Stanley Cup victory in 2018.The NHL issued a statement on the matter in May, saying, "while we certainly do not condone or endorse some of the decisions he made on the night in question, Mr. Kuznetsov's account of the events that transpired aligns with other information we have been able to gather, and we have found no basis to question his representations with respect to what did - and what did not - occur. We consider the matter formally closed."NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly addressed Kusnetsov's suspension Friday morning, noting, "cocaine isn't considered a performance-enhancing drug and is therefore not a prohibited substance under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program."

Rasmus Dahlin is calling his shot.The 19-year-old phenom believes his Buffalo Sabres are going to snap the NHL's longest active playoff drought."I'm putting more pressure on myself. We're going to be a winning team and be in the playoffs," Dahlin told John Wawrow of the Associated Press. "I think everyone is putting more pressure on ourselves now, and we're ready to go."The last time the Sabres were in the postseason was 2011 - when Dahlin had just turned 11 years old.Buffalo was the league's fifth-worst team last year despite starting with a 17-6-2 record after a flawless month of November."We played so well in the beginning of the season, so that made you frustrated because we know how good we can play," he said. "Yeah, we're going to get something good going on here."While the year ended in disappointing fashion, the silver lining was the development of Dahlin, the first overall pick in 2018. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the league's top rookie, and his 44 points were the second-most ever by an 18-year-old defenseman in the history of the NHL."I feel more prepared. I feel more mature," said Dahlin. "Like that one year of experience, I know what’s coming this season. I feel more comfortable in my position."The Sabres made multiple offseason additions to support the young core led by Dahlin and captain Jack Eichel. Ralph Krueger will replace Phil Housley behind the bench, Marcus Johansson and Jimmy Vesey were brought in to provide more scoring depth up front, and Colin Miller and Henri Jokiharju were acquired to bolster the blue line.Making the postseason won't be an easy task for the Sabres in the stacked Atlantic Division. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins are perennial powerhouses, while the Florida Panthers are a preseason favorite after adding goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in the offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith says the club won't name a captain for the 2019-20 season."No we're not," Smith told Sportsnet's Wayne Scanlan. "The captain will emerge in time. I think the biggest thing is that we will allow the older guys to mentor these younger guys and blunt the blow until we turn the corner here. After a tough night, I don't want the young guys having to answer all the questions. The veterans and myself are going to answer to it."The Senators were without a captain last season after the team traded Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks. He donned the "C" for Ottawa from 2013 to 2018, and was the ninth captain in franchise history.After Karlsson was dealt, Ottawa unloaded a slew of other veterans who were playing on expiring contracts and could have assumed the role of captain, including Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel.While the timeline to name a captain is unclear, the Sens possess a good core of young players who could take on a leadership role, with Thomas Chabot, Brady Tkachuk, and Colin White all worthy options.Ottawa finished last in the NHL in 2018-19, posting a 29-47-6 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Guerin is ready to get down to business as the new general manager of the Minnesota Wild.The 48-year-old was officially introduced as Minnesota's fourth GM in franchise history Thursday and conceded he's going to be a busy man with training camp opening in less than a month."We have a lot of work to do, but there's a ton of potential and I'm extremely excited to get to work," Guerin said, according to NHL.com's Jessi Pierce. "There's everything here to win. Everything. I've seen it as a player, I've seen it in management as far as what it takes to build a winner. ... Everything is in place."This is a good team. My job is to make it better, and we are going to build."Minnesota finished last in the Central Division in 2018-19. It marked the first time the club has missed the playoffs in six seasons and resulted in the firing of former GM Paul Fenton after only one year at the helm.Guerin didn't lay out a full-staged plan on how he'll revitalize the Wild but did say he'll rely heavily on analytics - something Fenton admitted to not being fully on board with after he was hired in 2018."I'm all-in with it. ... It's another way to look at what's going on," Guerin said, according to Michael Rand of the Star Tribune. "The more information you can have, the better. We were extremely big on it in Pittsburgh."Guerin was hired by the Penguins as their player development coach in 2011 and was promoted to assistant GM in 2014. He won two Stanley Cups while with Pittsburgh's front office and also won two rings as a player during his 18-year career.Minnesota's 2019-20 roster is almost entirely in shape, save for restricted free agent Kevin Fiala. Guerin has $7.9 million in available cap space to get a deal done, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have invited free-agent defenseman Andrew MacDonald to training camp on a professional tryout agreement, the team announced Thursday.MacDonald, 32, signed a six-year, $30-million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2014-15 season, but the Flyers bought him out in June with one year remaining on the deal.Flames general manager Brad Treliving recently expressed interest in acquiring another defenseman after 20-year-old rearguard Juuso Valimaki tore his ACL during an August training session.MacDonald recorded nine assists and averaged 16:24 of ice time over 47 contests with the Flyers last season. The veteran blue-liner has tallied 28 goals and 161 points in 586 career contests.The Flames have $7.76 million in projected cap space with restricted free-agent forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane in need of new contracts, according to CapFriendly.Calgary bought out the final season of defenseman Michael Stone's contract earlier in August.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock Boeser's agent, Ben Hankinson, is seeking a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million for his client, reports The Province's Ben Kuzma.The Vancouver Canucks forward is one of several high-profile restricted free agents who remain unsigned as NHL training camps draw near.Aside from Sebastian Aho, who inked a five-year, $42.27-million deal with Carolina after the Hurricanes matched an offer sheet from the Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier is arguably the most significant RFA to come off the market so far. Meier signed a four-year, $24-million contract July 1 and, along with unsigned Winnipeg Jets restricted free agent Kyle Connor, has been used as a comparable in negotiations between Boeser's camp and the Canucks."Those are some of the names we've used," general manager Jim Benning said of Meier and Connor. "They (Boeser's camp) have been reasonable and we're continuing to talk to get to some common ground. I'm hopeful to get something done before camp, but we're not there yet."While Meier's $6-million AAV would be reasonable for the Canucks, Benning has no intention of handing out a similarly structured contract. The base salary in the final year of Meier's contract is $10 million, setting him up for a $10-million qualifying offer as a restricted free agent when it expires. Boeser would also be an RFA after a four-year deal."That scares me a bit," Benning said.Vancouver prefers a salary structure more closely resembling that of Bo Horvat's contract, Kuzma adds. The Canucks pivot signed a six-year pact with an average annual value of $5.5 million shortly before training camp opened in 2017. Horvat's deal does not include any signing bonuses and he'll earn a base salary of just $4.45 million in the final year of the contract."We're looking at all of our options and are talking what long and short deals look like," Benning said.Boeser, 22, scored 26 goals and added 30 assists in 69 games for the Canucks last season. Meier had 30 goals and 36 assists in 78 games, while Connor potted 34 tallies and 32 helpers in 82 contests.The Canucks have just over $5 million in projected cap space with 24 players signed, according to CapFriendly. They could create additional cap space by placing Antoine Roussel on long-term injured reserve and optioning players to the minors.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLennan said he'll begin preliminary extension talks with franchise icons Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby upon returning to the D.C. area in early September"That's coming up here," MacLellan told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "I've checked in with both. It might happen the beginning of September, depending on the timing of me getting back. But it will happen right away (after he returns). We've got to talk and give both players what we're thinking, get their feelings on the situation and play it out from there.""It will depend on the conversations we have, on how they want to proceed and what they think is best for everybody," he added.Backstrom (31) and Holtby (29) are both entering the final season of their contracts, and they're scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next July. Backstrom signed a 10-year, $67-million deal with the Caps in 2010 - before the league changed its rules regarding max contract lengths - while Hotlby inked a five-year pact worth $30.5 million in 2015.Both players have spent their entire careers with Washington, playing significant roles during the most successful era in Capitals history. Over the last five years, the club has won four division titles, two Presidents' Trophies, and a Stanley Cup.Backstrom was drafted fourth overall in 2006, and he's spent 12 years as Alex Ovechkin's sidekick. The Swedish pivot has often flown under the radar throughout his career, but he's recorded 873 points in 895 regular-season games, adding 106 more over 123 playoff contests.Holtby fully took over the Caps' starting goaltender job during the 2014-15 season, and he's gone on to post a 197-77-32 record since then along with a .918 save percentage. He's been awarded the Vezina Trophy, too, and received two All-Star nominations.Washington has roughly $62 million committed to its 2020-21 roster, according to Cap Friendly, and the salary cap will likely increase from this upcoming season's $81.5 million.In addition to Backstrom and Holtby, Chandler Stephenson, Christian Djoos, and Jonas Siegenthaler will also be playing on expiring contracts this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have come to terms with free-agent center Derick Brassard on a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal is reportedly worth $1.2 million, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple.Brassard, 31, has bounced around the league in recent years. He was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Ottawa Senators in 2017-18. Brassard was then dealt from the Penguins to the Florida Panthers last season for a 10-game stint before being flipped to the Colorado Avalanche.Between the three teams he suited up for in 2018-19, Brassard notched 23 points in 70 games while averaging 15 minutes per night.Brassard was drafted sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2006 and has posted 451 points in 786 career games during his 12-year career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have re-signed forward Joel Eriksson Ek to a two-year contract worth $2.975 million, the team announced on Wednesday.Minnesota drafted Eriksson Ek, who was a restricted free agent this offseason, with the 20th overall pick in 2015. He's coming off a 2018-19 campaign in which the 22-year-old recorded seven goals and seven assists across 58 contests. He added nine points over nine AHL games.With Eriksson Ek secured, the Wild's lone NHLer without a contract is forward Kevin Fiala. Newly appointed general manager Bill Guerin has been given roughly $7.96 million in cap space to work with, according to Cap Friendly.Guerin was named the fourth GM in franchise history earlier on Wednesday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild hired former NHL star Bill Guerin as their fourth general manager in franchise history, the team announced Wednesday."Bill has been a winner throughout his hockey career and I am extremely pleased to be able to add his experience to our organization and the State of Hockey," team owner Craig Leipold said in a statement.Guerin will be introduced Thursday morning, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.The 48-year-old succeeds Paul Fenton, who was fired July 30 after one campaign. The Wild missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012 under Fenton's watch.Minnesota interviewed Guerin last season before ultimately choosing Fenton.Leipold, Wild president Matt Majka, and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano interviewed the team's general manager candidates this summer, Russo reports. Modano spent three seasons playing alongside Guerin with the Dallas Stars and the U.S. national team.Guerin was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 as a player development coach. He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2014 and captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the club in 2016 and 2017.During his playing career, Guerin tallied 429 goals and 856 points over 1,239 career games and won two Stanley Cups. The Worcester, Mass., native was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a ton of restricted free-agent chatter around the league - but little action - we thought it would be interesting to review which players performed the best while on their entry-level deals since the salary cap era began in 2005-06.Our list summarizes the 10 most productive players of the cap era during their first three NHL seasons along with the subsequent contract they earned for their efforts. But before we begin, let's go over a few ground rules.

Columbus Blue Jackets restricted free-agent defenseman Zach Werenski is looking to ink a three-year bridge deal with an average annual value of at least $5 million, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch.The two sides have discussed contracts of various lengths, including a three-year pact, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported earlier in August. A three-year term would leave the 22-year-old Werenski with one more year of RFA status when the deal expires."We really appreciate him as a player," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said, according to Portzline. "We want him to be a big part of our team and become a leader. He's a great teammate and a good person. I'm confident that everything will get done and that he wants to be part of the team right from the start (of training camp)."Werenski led all restricted free-agent defenseman in points during the 2018-19 season and ranked second in average ice time. The 6-foot-2 rearguard put together an impressive resume during his three-year, entry-level deal, recording 128 points over 237 games. His 38 goals rank ninth among NHL defenseman since he entered the league in 2016-17.The Blue Jackets currently have the league's second-lowest cap hit with roughly $15.77 million in projected cap space and Werenski the only player in need of a new contract, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have inked forward Colin White to a six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million, the team announced on Wednesday.White had been a restricted free agent and the new deal will keep him in Ottawa through the 2024-25 season."We've identified Colin as one of our core players who will help drive the team's success in both the short and long term," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a team release. "Colin plays the 200-foot game that is so coveted in today's NHL. He can skate, play on both special teams, and is a character player and leader who loves hockey and this city."The 22-year-old center had a productive 2018-19 campaign, tallying 14 goals and 41 points in 71 contests while averaging 16:12 of ice time.Since being selected by the Senators with the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft, the Boston College product has tallied 47 points in 97 career games.Even with White signed, the Senators still have the fifth-lowest cap hit in the league, with $10.89 million in projected space and a nearly full roster of 22, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, Canucks general manager Jim Benning addressed the main question on every Vancouver fan's mind: What's the latest with restricted free agent Brock Boeser?"I am continuing to talk with (Boeser's agent) Ben Hankinson," Benning said, per NHL.com. "We are trying to get some common ground. None of the RFA's have signed yet, so we're going to continue to work with him, and I am hopeful we can get something done here before camp so he is there for the start of camp."Vancouver's training camp is scheduled to begin Sept. 13, with preseason games starting on the 16th."We have three more weeks to negotiate with Ben Hankinson about Brock and try to get it figured. I think the Bo Horvat (contract) happened like three days before camp (in 2017), so I still feel we have time to keep working on it and I'm hopeful it's going to get done."Boeser is one of several star RFA's around the NHL seemingly at an impasse in contract negotiations. When the 22-year-old discussed his situation in July, he said he's confident everything will work out and the two sides will be able to agree to a new deal.The Canucks have had an active offseason that's included the free-agent signings of Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland, while also acquiring J.T. Miller via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. With all the new moves, Vancouver has a projected $5.08 million to sign both Boeser and fellow RFA forward Nikolay Goldobin, per Cap Friendly.Injuries limited Boeser to 69 games in 2018-19, but he still ranked third on the Canucks with 26 goals, adding 30 assists.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins and head coach Bruce Cassidy have begun talks on a potential contract extension, reports The Athletic's Joe McDonald.Cassidy's current deal expires after the 2019-20 season. He took over behind Boston's bench in February 2017, replacing Claude Julien. Cassidy joined the NHL club as an assistant coach prior to the 2016-17 campaign after working with the AHL's Providence Bruins from 2008-16.The Bruins own the NHL's second-best record (117-52-22) during the 54-year-old's tenure. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning have been more successful over that span.Boston has qualified for the playoffs in all three seasons under Cassidy and came within one victory of winning the Stanley Cup this past spring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The camp of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner has contacted the Zurich Lions of the National League in Switzerland, the team confirmed Tuesday.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed general manager Jim Benning to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.Benning was heading into the final year of his previous deal, so the extension will keep him in Vancouver through the 2022-23 season.The Canucks made the postseason in Benning's first year at the helm during the 2014-15 campaign, but they've missed the playoffs in the four years since.Benning is responsible for rebuilding the organization's farm system by drafting the likes of Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes. However, he's drawn criticism from the fanbase for certain signings, such as Loui Eriksson's six-year, $36-million deal in 2016, and Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel's matching four-year, $12-million pacts in 2018.The GM was busy this summer, as he acquired J.T. Miller via trade and Tyler Myers, Micheal Ferland, and Jordie Benn through free agency.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie can't wait to compete for a second Stanley Cup after an injury ended his 2019 postseason prematurely.The 31-year-old was hit awkwardly into the boards during Game 4 of the team's opening playoff round against the Carolina Hurricanes and required surgery to repair a fractured clavicle. The Capitals were eliminated in seven games, but Oshie said he may have been able to return if the team advanced."I was cleared kind of (in) June, but definitely cleared in July," Oshie said Monday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "So we were right on pace, I think, to being close (to playing) if we would have made it to the final. But I'm good. Now it's just all getting those muscles built back up as best as I can before the season and I'm ready to roll. I can't wait for it to get here."Oshie felt a new sense of urgency after watching his former team, the St. Louis Blues, capture their first championship in franchise history by defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games."There's a different type of motivation," Oshie said. "Before it was like, 'This is ours. Let's keep it.' Now we didn't play St. Louis, they didn't take it from us, but that's kind of the feeling that you get. So our year will be, hopefully, a little bit more focused on getting that drive back to reclaim it and hopefully bring another Cup to D.C."Oshie played a pivotal role in helping the Capitals earn their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2018. He contributed eight goals and 21 points in 23 playoff games, including one goal and five assists in the final.The 5-foot-11 winger recorded 54 points in 69 regular-season contests in 2018-19 and added one goal and one assist in the postseason before being injured.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Tkachuk's agent, Don Meehan, said his side gave the Calgary Flames parameters for a new contract two months ago."We took an approach whereby we would be really proactive and progressive with Calgary," Meehan told TSN. "We started early, and we set a position. We didn't really have to wait. We formulated a position that we thought would be fair, and we gave that to Calgary probably in the early part of June."We're involved in negotiations right now, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not a waiting game. We've made a decision in terms of what we think is fair and relevant for the player, and we're working with Calgary now."Tkachuk is one of several restricted free agents around the league currently without a contract, and his new deal is the biggest priority for Flames general manager Brad Treliving.Earlier in August, Treliving said he expects Tkachuk to sign before training camp, which opens in less than a month. The Flames hold a projected $7.756 million in available cap space, according to Cap Friendly, and the team also needs to sign fellow RFA forward Andrew Mangiapane.The holdup to sign the NHL's star RFAs is reportedly tied to Toronto Maple Leafs standout Mitch Marner, with agents waiting for him to set the market for a crop that also includes Brayden Point, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Mikko Rantanen, and Brock Boeser.The league's RFAs can go until Dec. 1 without signing before they're forced to sit out the 2019-20 season. However, if negotiations linger into the regular season, the cap hit during the first year of a player's new contract is prorated, leading to additional financial issues for the team involved.Tkachuk, 21, produced a standout 2018-19 season, posting 34 goals and 43 assists in 80 games as the Flames cruised to a Pacific Division title.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have signed forwards Josh Ho-Sang and Michael Dal Colle to new contracts, the team announced Monday.Ho-Sang's new one-year deal is worth $874,000, while Dal Colle's two-year pact carries an average annual value of $700,000, according to CapFriendly. Both players were restricted free agents, and each has struggled to make a mark with the Islanders since the organization drafted them in the first round in 2014.Selected 28th overall at the 2014 NHL Draft, Ho-Sang possesses an incredible skill set that's been overshadowed by off-ice issues. As a 19-year-old, Ho-Sang was sent home on the very first day of training for being late, and he's since been berated by staff on numerous occasions for supposed immaturity. He also faced scrutiny in his first NHL stint for wearing Mario Lemieux's No. 66 - which was changed upon the arrival of general manager Lou Lamoriello.Now 23, Ho-Sang was productive in the AHL last season, registering 43 points in 56 games, but he's only played 53 contests with the Islanders so far in his career.New York drafted Dal Colle fifth overall in 2014 after he showed a ton of promise in the OHL, but his junior success hasn't materialized in the big leagues yet. The 23-year-old has appeared in only 32 games for the Isles since being drafted, though he is coming off a strong AHL campaign in which he averaged a point per game over 34 contests.The Islanders now have a projected $7.9 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. Restricted free-agent forward Anthony Beauvillier is the only player on the club's ledger without a contract.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have signed free-agent forward Valeri Nichushkin to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.The deal is worth $850,000, the club confirmed to The Athletic's Ryan Clark.Nichushkin was originally drafted 10th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2013. He then played in the NHL right away as an 18-year-old, tallying an impressive 14 goals and 20 assists in 79 games. However, injuries held him to just eight appearances the following season, and he struggled to recapture his rookie form in 2015-16, scoring just nine goals.After two campaigns in the KHL, Nichushkin returned to the Stars in 2018-19 but didn't enjoy much success. In 57 regular-season contests, the Russian failed to score a single goal and was scratched for all but one of Dallas' 13 playoff games.Despite the lack of offensive production, the 24-year-old winger boasts a tantalizing combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and speed.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With news that the NHL is "cautiously optimistic" that current CBA talks might lead to a World Cup in February 2021, we've decided to predict what each team's roster could look like should the tournament take place.We adopted the NHL's format for the 2016 World Cup. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic all send teams, while Team North America (players aged 23-and-under from Canada and the U.S.) and Team Europe (players from other European countries) round out the field.Teams are comprised of any combination of 20 skaters and three goalies. Any Canadian or American player under 24 years old on Feb. 1, 2021, is automatically assigned to Team North America. However, we've added our own caveat: If a player suited up for Team North America in 2016, he is eligible to represent Canada or the U.S. this time around, even if he's still under 24.In this edition, we project Team Canada's roster.Head coach: Mike BabcockBabcock may draw criticism from Toronto Maple Leafs fans, but his record with Team Canada is flawless. Until he proves otherwise, he's the man for the job.ForwardsDennis Pajot / Getty Images Sport / GettyLWCRWBrad MarchandSidney CrosbyPatrice BergeronSteven StamkosConnor McDavidMark StoneJohn TavaresNathan MacKinnonMark ScheifeleTaylor HallRyan O'ReillyTyler SeguinJonathan ToewsNotable omissions: Logan Couture, Brayden Point, Claude Giroux, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sean Monahan, Sean CouturierThe Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron trio was unstoppable at the 2016 World Cup and is essentially unbreakable, even though all three players are already in their 30s. Stone and his puck-retrieving prowess would be an excellent complement to offensive dynamos McDavid and Stamkos. MacKinnon, Tavares, Scheifele, Hall, and O'Reilly are all virtual locks.Choosing the last couple of forward spots was difficult, but a more proven Seguin got the nod over Point; if the Lightning phenom puts together another 40-goal season, that could change. Leaving off Couture, a proven clutch performer, was tough, but Toews, who had an offensive resurgence in 2018-19, got the nod instead.DefenseDennis Pajot / Getty Images Sport / GettyLDRDJosh MorrisseyDrew DoughtyMorgan RiellyBrent BurnsThomas ChabotAlex PietrangeloColton ParaykoNotable omissions: Mark Giordano, Kris Letang, P.K. Subban, Shea Weber, Mathew Dumba, Shea TheodoreGiordano was the most difficult cut from this team. If the tournament took place today, the reigning Norris Trophy winner is undoubtedly on it, but he will be 37 by 2021 and it's unlikely he'll be playing at his 2018-19 form. Chabot, Rielly, and Morrissey will all be in their primes.Leaving Letang off the team was also difficult. However, he brings many of the same elements that Doughty and Burns do, while the 6-foot-6 Parayko offers more defense and penalty-killing prowess.GoaliesMinas Panagiotakis / World Cup of Hockey / GettyGCarey PriceMarc-Andre FleuryMatt MurrayNotable omissions: Braden Holtby, Devan Dubnyk, Jordan BinningtonUnless injuries catch up to Price, there won't be much debate as to who should start between the pipes.Others in this series:

With news that the NHL is "cautiously optimistic" that current CBA talks might lead to a World Cup in February 2021, we've decided to predict what each team's roster could look like should the tournament take place.We adopted the NHL's format for the 2016 World Cup. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic all send teams, while Team North America (players aged 23-and-under from Canada and the U.S.) and Team Europe (players from other European countries) round out the field.Teams are comprised of any combination of 20 skaters and three goalies. Any Canadian or American player under 24 years old on Feb. 1, 2021, is automatically assigned to Team North America. However, we've added our own caveat: If a player suited up for Team North America in 2016, he is eligible to represent Canada or the U.S. this time around, even if he's still under 24.In this edition, we project Team USA's roster.Head coach: Mike SullivanJohn Tortorella remains a strong coaching option for the Americans, but we'd like to see what Mike Sullivan could do with a younger core. Since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Sullivan has captured two Stanley Cups and has established himself as one of the more beloved coaches to play for in the league.ForwardsSergei Fadeichev / TASS / GettyLWCRWPatrick KaneAuston MatthewsBlake WheelerJohnny GaudreauJack EichelPhil KesselKyle ConnorDylan LarkinCam AtkinsonJake GuentzelVincent TrocheckT.J. OshieAlex TuchNotable omissions: Joe Pavelski, Brandon Saad, Anders Lee, James Van Riemsdyk, Zach Parise, Kyle PalmieriThe top-six forward group is any coaches dream. You could mix and match those wingers with either center in Matthews or Eichel and expect tremendous results. The bottom six provides a ton of speed, skill, and scoring ability while adding a level of grit and tenacity. Tuch is a 6-foot-4 winger with blinding speed and should be ready to crack this lineup in a year-and-a-half from now.As for the omissions, Pavelski isn't getting any younger. He's declined over each of the last four campaigns despite coming off an extremely fortunate 38-goal season when he recorded a shooting percentage of 20. Parise will also be that much further past his prime.Defense Jamie Sabau / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLDRDTorey KrugSeth JonesJaccob SlavinJohn CarlsonNoah HanifinJacob TroubaRyan SuterNotable omissions: Shayne Gostisbehere, Ryan McDonagh, Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien, Brett Pesce, Jake GardinerThis defense core was extremely difficult to decide on. The omitted players still have a strong case to make the team, but the young American talent that's come along on the blue line just can't be overlooked - and they're only going to get better. This unit offers a healthy balance of lefties and righties who are mobile both with and without the puck.Leaving veterans like Yandle, McDonagh, and Byfuglien off the team was tough, but when the tournament deepens and the Americans find themselves up against other powerhouse nations, they'll need the speed and skill on the back end.Suter is a rare exception. The 6-foot-2 blue-liner is an absolute horse and one of the best American defenseman of all time. Despite all the miles he's logged, he remains a force on the back end and would be a valuable veteran presence to have as an extra option. GoaliesVaughn Ridley / World Cup of Hockey / GettyGJohn GibsonBen BishopConnor HelleybuyckNotable omissions: Jonathan QuickDespite a down season for the Anaheim Ducks, Gibson shined between the pipes and further proved himself to be one of the most valuable goaltenders in the NHL. Bishop will still be in his early 30s come the tournament, and Hellebuyck has shown tremendous promise in Winnipeg early in his career.Quick should still be considered but will need a bounce-back season to prove he's still able to perform at a high level entering the latter years of his career.Others in this series:

With news that the NHL is "cautiously optimistic" that current CBA talks might lead to a World Cup in February 2021, we've decided to predict what each team's roster could look like should the tournament take place.We adopted the NHL's format for the 2016 World Cup. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic all send teams, while Team North America (players aged 23-and-under from Canada and the U.S.) and Team Europe (players from other European countries) round out the field. Teams are comprised of any combination of 20 skaters and three goalies.In this edition, we project Team Sweden and Team Finland's rosters:SwedenHead coach: Rikard GronborgGronborg has done a tremendous job with the Swedish national program, winning back-to-back gold medals at the World Championship in 2017 and 2018.ForwardsDave Sandford / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLWCRWGabriel LandeskogElias PetterssonElias LindholmFilip ForsbergNicklas BackstromViktor ArvidssonAndreas JohnssonMika ZibanejadWilliam NylanderRickard RakellWilliam KarlssonJakob SilfverbergMikael BacklundNotable omissions: Gustav Nyquist, Jesper Bratt, Patric Hornqvist, Carl Soderberg, Lias AnderssonThe Swedes are deep, versatile, and talented up front. Pettersson struggled in the faceoff circle last year, but Lindholm excels in that area and could take some pressure off the Vancouver Canucks phenom. Pettersson is also more than capable of sliding to the wing, allowing Backstrom, Zibanejad, Karlsson, and Backlund to all move up a spot on the depth chart.The winger pairings of Forsberg-Arvidsson and Nylander-Johnsson give the team built-in chemistry, as each duo features NHL linemates.Nyquist is coming off a solid season and Bratt has potential, but there weren't too many tough cuts to make at forward.DefenseAndre Ringuette / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLDRDVictor HedmanErik KarlssonOliver Ekman-LarssonJohn KlingbergMattias EkholmRasmus DahlinHampus LindholmNotable omissions: Niklas Hjalmarsson, Erik Gustafsson, Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, Erik BrannstromThe Tre Kronor arguably have the best blue line in the tournament. Dahlin should be a star by then, but we've still given the youngster a safe, reliable partner in Ekholm - one of the NHL's most underrated rearguards.Hjalmarsson was a tough cut. He's one of the best defensive defensemen in the world, but he's already 32 and has a lot of mileage on his body thanks to some lengthy postseason runs with the Chicago Blackhawks. Gustafsson is coming off a breakout 60-point season, but we've opted to take Lindholm instead to help the penalty kill.GoaliesDennis Pajot / World Cup of Hockey / GettyGRobin LehnerJacob MarkstromHenrik LundqvistNotable omissions: NoneLundqvist will be almost 39 by the time this team takes the ice. He's still the third goalie for morale and leadership purposes, and there are simply not many other options. Lehner's Vezina nomination this past season was no fluke.FinlandHead coach: Jukka JalonenJalonen's resume is quite impressive. He coached a ragtag group of Finns severely lacking in NHL experience to a gold medal at this year's World Championship. He also won world junior gold in 2016, another World Championship gold in 2011, and a bronze medal at the 2010 Olympics.ForwardsMinas Panagiotakis / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLWCRWPatrik LaineAleksander BarkovMikko RantanenTeuvo TeravainenSebastian AhoKaapo KakkoMikael GranlundJesperi KotkaniemiKasperi KapanenArtturi LehkonenRoope HintzJoonas DonskoiEeli TolvanenNotable omissions: Erik Haula, Kristian Vesalainen, Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Kupari, Henrik BorgstromThis is easily the most talented forward group the Finns have ever had. Barkov and Aho give the Leijonat a lethal one-two punch up the middle, while Kotkaniemi and Hintz should make great strides over the next year and a half. Kakko rounds out a highly skilled top six.There were some tough decisions to make regarding the bottom forwards. Vesalainen, Puljujarvi, Kupari, and Borgstrom all have the talent to push for a roster spot, but Donskoi and Lehkonen are already proven and the latter is an excellent penalty killer. Tolvanen has more upside than any of the bubble players.DefenseAndre Ringuette / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLDRDMiro HeiskanenRasmus RistolainenEsa LindellHenri JokiharjuMarkus NutivaaraSami VatanenOlli MaattaNotable omissions: Juuso Valimaki, Olli Juolevi, Sami Niku, Juuso Riikola, Urho VaakanainenThe blue line is Finland's weakness, but Heiskanen should be one of the league's best defenseman by 2021. Valimaki, Juolevi, or Niku could easily end up stealing a spot from Nutivaara or Maatta, although Valimaki's torn ACL may hinder his development over the next year.GoaliesNils Petter Nilsson / World Cup of Hockey / GettyGTuukka RaskJuuse SarosUkko-Pekka LuukkonenNotable omissions: Pekka RinneA passing of the torch? Rinne will be 38 when this tournament rolls around, so we've left him off the team. Saros, Rinne's understudy in Nashville, could be ready to start for Finland by then, but Rask will only be 33 and hasn't shown signs of slowing down.Luukkonen has yet to play an NHL game, but he's arguably the best goalie prospect in the world and it wouldn't be shocking to see him challenge for the starting gig.Others in this series:

With news that the NHL is "cautiously optimistic" that current CBA talks might lead to a World Cup in February 2021, we've decided to predict what each team's roster could look like should the tournament take place.We adopted the NHL's format for the 2016 World Cup. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic all send teams, while Team North America (players aged 23-and-under from Canada and the U.S.) and Team Europe (players from other European countries) round out the field. Teams are comprised of any combination of 20 skaters and three goalies.In this edition, we project Team Russia's and Team Czech Republic's roster:RussiaHead coach: Oleg Znarok Znarok has been behind the Russian bench for most of the decade, leading the nation to a gold medal at both the 2014 World Championship and 2018 Olympic Games. The 56-year-old took a break from coaching in 2018-19 due to fatigue but will return in 2019-20 as head coach of the KHL's Spartak Moskva. If he's up to the task, the job will likely be his for the taking.ForwardsMatej Divizna / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLWCRWAlex OvechkinEvgeny KuznetsovNikita KucherovArtemi PanarinEvgeni MalkinVladimir TarasenkoNikita GusevVadim ShipachyovEvgenii DadonovAndrei SvechnikovIvan BarbashevAlexander RadulovPavel BuchnevichNotable omissions: Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, Nikolay Goldobin, Artem Anisimov, Vladislav Namestnikov, Kirill KaprizovThe top-six forward group is downright lethal, while the bottom six features two of the top KHL scorers and a blend of talented NHLers. The Ovechkin-Kuznetsov pairing offers established chemistry with last season's Hart Trophy winner completing the deadly top trio. Barbashev, who led the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in postseason hits, adds a level of physicality the Russians typically lack.Kovalchuk and Datsyuk are national legends and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Russians showed allegiance to the veteran talents and incorporated them on the roster. If they want to maximize their chance at a championship, however, they're best to fill those spots with younger, faster players.Defensepicture alliance / picture alliance / GettyLDRDIvan ProvorovNikita ZaitsevNikita ZadorovMikhail SergachevDmitry OrlovAlexey MarchenkoAlexei EmelinNotable omissions: Dmitry Kulikov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Igor Ozhiganov, Dmitri SamorukovThe Russians are somewhat vulnerable on the back end. They don't have a deep pool of talent to select from, especially on the right side, which explains Marchenko's appearance on the forecasted roster. Provorov and Sergachev are easily the top talents, but it may actually be best to separate the pair for depth purposes.Goalies picture alliance / picture alliance / GettyGAndrei VasilevskiySergei BobrovskyIlya SorokinNotable omissions: Semyon Varlamov, Ilya Samsonov, Igor ShestyorkinThere's little doubt Vasilevskiy and Bobrovsky offer Russia the best one-two punch between the pipes, with Vasilevskiy getting the starting nod. Sorokin is one of the top goaltenders in the KHL and would give the Russians a tremendous insurance policy if need be.Samsonov is likely the goalie of the future but will need more experience before entering the big stage. If the tournament was a year or two later, he'd have a great shot at cracking the roster.Czech RepublicHead coach: Filip PesanPesan has moved up the ranks within the national program, most recently leading the Czechs to a fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Junior Championship. With current Czech coach Milos Riha's contract expiring after this season, it's believed Pesan will take the reigns in 2020-21.ForwardsLARS MOELLER / AFP / GettyLWCRWJakub VoracekDavid KrejciDavid PastrnakJakub VranaTomas HertlMichael FrolikOndrej PalatRadek FaksaFilip ZadinaPavel ZachaFilip ChytilOndrej KaseMartin NecasNotable omissions: Martin Hanzal, Dominik Simon, Vladimir Sobotka, Jan Kovar, David KampfThe Czechs project to assemble a competitive squad with some top talent up front. Krejci and Pastrnak are tremendous players who've played together at times with the Boston Bruins, while Voracek and Hertl are also offensive catalysts. The bottom six offers a young and promising core - with an average age of 22.6 - who'll get another year-and-a-half of pro experience before the tournament arrives.Zadina, though still inexperienced at the NHL level, packs an elite scoring punch the Czechs lack deeper down the lineup. Necas is a highly touted 20-year-old center and enjoyed a strong season en route to capturing the Calder Cup with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers in 2018-19. Give him another 18 months or so and we feel he'll be ready to crack this squad.Defense THOMAS SAMSON / AFP / GettyLDRDMichal KempnyRadko GudasRadim SimekFilip HronekJakub ZborilJan RuttaLibor HajekNotable omissions: Roman Polak, Vojtech MozikSimilar to the Russians, the Czechs have a shortage of reliable talent on the blue line. Kempny and Gudas are established NHL defensemen, but it falls off from there. Hronek and Zboril have high potential, but they're still young and learning how to play at the top level.GoaliesAnton Novoderezhkin / TASS / GettyGDavid RittichPetr MrazekPavel FrancouzRittich put together a solid season for the Calgary Flames in 2018-19 and is in a great position to start if he continues his strong play. Mrazek has been inconsistent at times in the NHL, but he's the more experienced of the two. The pair will likely battle for the starting role with 2018 Olympic goaltender Francouz nabbing the third spot.Notable omissions: Michal NeuvirthOthers in this series:

With news that the NHL is "cautiously optimistic" that current CBA talks might lead to a World Cup in February 2021, we've decided to predict what each team's roster could look like should the tournament take place.We adopted the NHL's format for the 2016 World Cup. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic all send teams, while Team North America (players aged 23 and under from Canada and the U.S.) and Team Europe (players from other European countries) round out the field.Teams are comprised of any combination of 20 skaters and three goalies. Any Canadian or American player under 24 years old on Feb. 1, 2021, is automatically assigned to Team North America. However, we've added our own caveat: If a player suited up for Team North America in 2016, he is eligible to represent Canada or the U.S. this time around, even if he's still under 24.In this edition, we project Team North America's and Team Europe's rosters:North AmericaHead coach: Jon CooperIn 2016, Cooper was an assistant coach on Team North America's staff. With Mike Babcock projected to run Team Canada again in 2021, the Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss is the ideal candidate to lead "The Young Guns."ForwardsMark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyLWCRWMatthew TkachukPierre-Luc DuboisMitch MarnerBrady TkachukMathew BarzalBrock BoeserClayton KellerDylan StromeAlex DeBrincatAlexis LafreniereJack HughesTravis KonecnyAnthony CirelliNotable omissions: Nolan Patrick, Anthony Beauvillier, Robert Thomas, Casey Mittelstadt, Mathieu Joseph, Ryan Poehling, Tyson Jost, Cody Glass, Oliver Wahlstrom, Barrett Hayton, Kirby Dach, Cole Perfetti, Quinton ByfieldOf all the teams in this theoretical tournament, North America's roster was the toughest to pick since it's hard to project the development of teenagers and players in their early 20s.One thing is clear, though: This squad is loaded up front. Marner likely would've made Team Canada if he was old enough, while the Tkachuks, DeBrincat, and Boeser would've been strong candidates to crack the United States' roster.Lafreniere, the projected first overall pick in 2020, is the youngest player on this team. Fellow 2020 draft prospects Byfield and Perfetti could join him, but a numbers game prevented them from making the squad.Cirelli may be the least talented forward to crack the group, but the speedy Lightning center would bring some valuable penalty-killing experience to the table.DefenseMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyLDRDZach WerenskiCharlie McAvoySamuel GirardCale MakarQuinn HughesDante FabbroJakob ChychrunNotable omissions: Evan Bouchard, Bowen Byram, Dennis Cholowski, Noah Dobson, Victor Mete, Adam FoxThis is an extremely skilled and offensive-minded blue line. Werenski and McAvoy would probably be on the United States' roster if they weren't younger than 24. Meanwhile, Makar and Girard will likely have created plenty of chemistry by playing together with the Colorado Avalanche by the time 2021 rolls around.Byram, the fourth overall pick in 2019 by the Avs, would be an intriguing pick, but with enough gunslingers already in place, we opted to take Chychrun and Fabbro as steadying presences.GoaliesMartin Rose / Getty Images Sport / GettyGCarter HartJake OettingerMikey DiPietroNotable omissions: Cayden Primeau, Ian Scott, Joseph Woll, Spencer KnightThank goodness for Hart. Without the Philadelphia Flyers' phenom goaltender, Team North America would have a major question mark between the pipes.EuropeHead coach: Ralph KruegerKrueger did a tremendous job with Team Europe in 2016, taking the group on an unlikely run to the finals against Canada. He should gain more knowledge and experience by 2021 after being hired as Buffalo Sabres head coach this summer.ForwardsGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyLWCRWTimo MeierAnze KopitarNino NiederreiterNikolaj EhlersLeon DraisaitlMats ZuccarelloKevin FialaNico HischierOliver BjorkstrandTomas TatarLars EllerDominik KahunRudolfs BalcersNotable omissions: Alexandre Texier, Mikkel Boedker, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Zemgus Girgensons, Teddy Blueger, Denis Malgin, Sven Baertschi, Frans NielsenTeam Europe is deep down the middle of the ice and boasts a lethal top-six forward group. If extra offensive punch is needed late in a game, Draisaitl could jump onto Kopitar's wing, which would move Hischier into the top six.The 19-year-old Texier impressed while scoring two goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the NHL playoffs, but he was the last cut for this team. Balcers, a promising youngster for the Ottawa Senators who was part of the Erik Karlsson trade, got the nod instead.DefenseAndre Ringuette / World Cup of Hockey / GettyLDRDRoman JosiErik CernakDean KukanMoritz SeiderJonas SiegenthalerYannick WeberMirco MuellerNotable omissions: Zdeno CharaWill Chara still be playing in 2021? We're predicting that 2019-20 will be his final NHL season, but nothing can fully be ruled out with Big Z.Josi will need to log big minutes for this club to have a chance of returning to the finals. Cernak had a breakout season in 2018-19, and should be an effective blue-line partner for the Nashville Predators captain.The rest of the defense is very unproven, especially Seider, though he may have the most upside of those the bottom five. The German was the sixth overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2019 draft.GoaliesAndre Ringuette / World Cup of Hockey / GettyGFrederik AndersenPhilipp GrubauerJaroslav HalakNotable omissions: Thomas GreissAndersen was penciled in to be Team Europe's starter in 2016, but an injury kept him out of the tournament. Grubauer seems to be coming into his own and makes for a stellar backup.Others in this series:

Though the Buffalo Sabres have positioned themselves nicely for life without Rasmus Ristolainen, general manager Jason Botterill insists the defenseman will be with the club at training camp."We're continuing to try to set this team up where we're putting Risto in positions to have success," Botterill told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "Yeah, he wants to win. We also want to put him in a situation where he plays very well, and that's what we've tried to do with some of the acquisitions, add depth to our defense, add competition to our defense."Since the 2019 trade deadline, the Sabres have acquired three right-handed defensemen: Brandon Montour, Colin Miller, and Henri Jokiharju. With the team boasting a surplus at a position coveted throughout the league, Ristolainen has been viewed as a logical trade candidate to help bolster a thin forward group.Ristolainen has had an up-and-down tenure in Buffalo and even hinted last week he may want out, telling a news outlet in his native Finland he "hasn't been able to enjoy hockey" amid the Sabres' losing seasons. Ryan O'Reilly made similar comments at the end of the 2017-18 season and was shipped to the St. Louis Blues the following offseason."I was not surprised, not disappointed," Botterill said of his blue liner's admissions. "Look, there's always stories coming out when players go back, and Finland's had an amazing year with (gold medals at the) world juniors and World Championship."But you just look in the past week or two, there's stories from other organizations and stuff too, coming out of Finland. So those are something we can't control. What we can control is our interaction with our player, with our group here."Ristolainen has enjoyed four straight 40-point seasons but claimed the 2018-19 Green Jacket by finishing with an NHL-worst minus-41 rating. Still, the 24-year-old is signed to a relatively team-friendly contract, carrying a $5.4-million cap hit for three more seasons.The Sabres are currently about $1 million over the cap ceiling, according to CapFriendly, but could likely become cap compliant by placing one or both of Zach Bogosian and Matt Hunwick on long-term injured reserve.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have inked general manager Jim Benning to a contract extension that will keep him with the club beyond the 2019-20 campaign, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 56-year-old executive, who was hired by the team ahead of the 2014-15 season, was heading into the final year of his current contract, according to Friedman.Benning joined the club during a transition period and made his mark after shipping out veteran pieces Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa to the Anaheim Ducks. Benning has added talented young pieces through the draft including Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes.Benning and his staff had an active offseason, signing free-agent defensemen Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn, and Oscar Fantenberg, as well as forward Micheal Ferland. He also acquired forward J.T. Miller in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the NHL draft in June.The Canucks made the playoffs in Benning's first season but failed to do so in any of the following four campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine and the Winnipeg Jets appear to be at a crossroads.The restricted free agent said contract talks with the Jets have been non-existent all summer, and he isn't sure what it means for his future with the organization, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Laine said he'll be playing "somewhere" next season; he just doesn't know where."Well, you never know. It's still business, you've got to be prepared for anything," Laine said. "But yeah, you never know where you’re going to play next year so I’m just prepared for anything."Laine did admit he wants to be back in a Jets uniform next season."Well I’ve got nothing bad to say about Winnipeg, you know? It's been good so far. But you never know, so that's kind of my comments."Laine is among a long list of unsigned, star-studded RFAs, along with Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Matthew Tkachuk, Mikko Rantanen, and others. Player agents are reportedly waiting for Marner's contract to set the market.Kyle Connor, Winnipeg's other big-name RFA, said earlier this week that he plans to sign a new deal before the start of training camp.The Jets already watched Tyler Myers, Ben Chiarot, and Brandon Tanev depart in unrestricted free agency, and they traded Jacob Trouba. The club has a projected $17.6 million in cap space remaining, according to CapFriendly.Laine and Connor combined for 64 goals last year, although Laine was plagued by inconsistency, scoring 18 of his 30 markers over a 12-game span.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forty-three members of Sweden's women's national hockey team announced they're boycotting training camp and the upcoming Five Nations tournament due to a lack of financial compensation from the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.Several players took to social media to release the coordinated statement Wednesday. The posts were accompanied by the hashtag #FörFramtiden, which translates to "for the future."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is "cautiously optimistic" about collective bargaining agreement talks with the Players' Association, and he believes the two sides are committed to a 2021 World Cup of Hockey if the current CBA can be extended or renewed, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.If a 2021 World Cup came to fruition, it would occur in February, with the NHL taking a break during the 2020-21 season to stage the event."The general state of things, there seems to be a lot of agreement on," Daly told Johnston. "It's very kind of amorphous right now but there doesn't seem to be like a huge sticking point on the issues we've talked about. I think there’s general agreement kind of directionally. Where we should be going."I think both sides have been open that the agreement's not a perfect agreement and could be improved, but nobody’s holding out for a home run."The NHL gets until Sept. 1 to trigger a 2020 end date for the current CBA. If the league elects against that, the NHLPA would get until Sept. 15 to do the same. If neither side exercises its termination option, the current CBA would run through September 2022.NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr called the deadline "artificial" because there would still be a year left on the current agreement if either side triggered early termination.Regardless, there's ample time to find a resolution, which increases the chances of best-on-best international hockey returning.The two sides would love to establish a long-term calendar for international events, Johnston added. Olympic participation is a sticking point. However, the NHL and NHLPA want to add an in-season World Cup, which would replace the 2021 All-Star Game.Daly said a 2021 World Cup would be "about a week in length."The United States won the inaugural World Cup in 1996, while Canada took the next two in 2004 and 2016, with the latter marking the last best-on-best tournament because the NHL skipped the 2018 Olympics.The NHL originally targeted a fall 2020 return for the World Cup, but the league abandoned that possibility in January.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears veteran center Joe Thornton will be back with the San Jose Sharks for at least one more season.The 40-year-old told reporters during the NHL Awards in June that he planned to return for the 2019-20 campaign, and, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz, there is "no doubt" Thornton will re-sign with the Sharks in the near future.Teammate Timo Meier also feels confident about the future Hall of Famer's return to the Bay Area."I think everybody that knows 'Jumbo' expects him to be back," Meier said according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen."The way he's training and the way he's still in shape with his 40 years, I don't doubt that he's coming back. He'll be playing until he can't anymore. Probably he'll play longer than he can walk. I really hope he's going to be back because he's just a huge presence and the guys all love him there and obviously we all know what kind of hockey player he is."Thornton has spent 14 seasons with the Sharks, playing each of the previous two campaigns on one-year deals. The former Hart Trophy winner is the franchise's all-time leader in assists and ranks second in both games played and points.The Sharks have $4.68 million in projected cap space with a roster of 21, including 11 forwards, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho has no regrets about his offer sheet saga with the Montreal Canadiens."It's done and that's the best part because now I don't have to think about it for the next five years," Aho told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "Last year was awesome in Carolina with great teammates, a great coach. I love it in Carolina."The Habs tendered the 22-year-old a five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet on July 1. He signed it, forcing the Hurricanes to decide whether to match the deal.The decision was a no-brainer for Carolina's brass, but speculation about Aho's intentions and whether the 'Canes could afford to retain him ran rampant."It wasn't an easy decision, but at the same time I had literally like a day or less, actually, to think about it," Aho said. "It felt right. Now I'm thinking about it, I'm happy with my situation. It worked out. It really did."I did sign an offer sheet with Montreal and I'm thankful for them to offer me that contract, but I'm happy to be in Carolina."The Hurricanes announced their intention to match the offer sheet on July 2, and the team officially did so on July 7. Owner Tom Dundon said the process was a "waste of time."Aho recorded a tremendous third NHL season in 2018-19, leading the Hurricanes with 83 points in 82 games before pacing the club in playoff scoring too, notching 12 points in 15 postseason contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is feeling fully healthy ahead of his team's training camp after injuries derailed the conclusion of his 2018-19 campaign."If I wasn't 100 percent, I wouldn't be here right now, I'd be in Tampa," Hedman said, according to NHL.com's David Satriano from the European Player Media Tour in Sweden. "I'm excited and ready to go."Hedman missed 12 regular-season games and two playoff contests due to a couple of upper-body injuries last season. He suffered the first ailment late in the campaign after colliding awkwardly with Carl Hagelin of the Washington Capitals before sustaining a separate injury in the first round of the playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets."Body is great," Hedman said. "I've been able to do what I want to do this summer. I'm fortunate enough to skate with my hometown team Modo (in Sweden) and they've taken good care of me ever since I went over to Tampa. My offseason has been great and looking forward to the last few weeks before I head over to Tampa for the final touches."Injuries aside, Hedman had another fantastic showing last season. The 28-year-old produced 54 points in 70 games, was a Norris Trophy finalist, and was named to the NHL's second All-Star team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander has turned the page after his tumultuous 2018-19 campaign."Last year's gone," Nylander told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston on Thursday. "Out of the books, really, except for maybe taking some stuff that I learned. I look forward to dominating."I'm confident in how I am as a player, so I'm not too worried about it."The Toronto Maple Leafs winger never got on track last season after his contract dispute lingered all the way to the Dec. 1 deadline and culminated in a six-year, $45-million contract. After finally returning to the lineup, his production failed to meet the standard he set during his first two full campaigns.Nylander finished the regular season with just 27 points in 54 games before adding a goal and two assists in Toronto's first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.The 23-year-old, despite impressive underlying numbers, was saddled by an abnormally low shooting percentage of 5.4 during the regular season and had to shift to third-line center in the postseason due to Nazem Kadri's suspension.While his NHL numbers underwhelmed, Nylander had a terrific World Championship for his native Sweden in May, posting a tournament-best 18 points through eight games in Slovakia."I look back at that season and there were little ups and downs," Nylander said. "There were games where I would play well and nothing would happen and that's just how the game goes. Learning through that time period has helped and given me experience and stuff to use for whenever that happens again."Now I'm ready to dominate this year."With training camp set to open Sept. 13, the Maple Leafs are once again burdened by contract negotiations as restricted free agent Mitch Marner remains unsigned.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After analyzing the NHL's best forward lines, our focus now shifts to the league's top defensive pairings.These pairings are weighed against each other through a series of advanced statistical categories that quantify their on-ice impact at even strength. Of course, individual stats can't paint the entire picture, and players can have their numbers dragged down or enhanced by plenty of factors, including goaltending and quality of opposition.With so many candidates to choose from, we whittled our list down to five pairings that play top-line minutes.All stats are at five-on-five for the 2018-19 regular season, minimum 500 minutes played. League ranking is in parentheses.5. Roman Josi-Ryan EllisJohn Russell / National Hockey League / GettyTime on IceCorsi For %Goals For %Expected Goals For %1223.6 (2nd)51.38% (22nd)55.21% (17th)51.53% (28th)The Predators have been taking a defense-first approach for years, and these two currently lead the way. Both Josi and Ellis ranked inside the top 20 in individual ice time per game in 2018-19, and together, they were the second-most utilized pairing in the NHL.Both players chip in significantly on offense, and Nashville's 53 goals scored with Josi and Ellis on the ice at five-on-five was good for fifth among all defensive duos. That's even more impressive when considering that the Preds finished 19th in the NHL in overall goals for last season.Josi and Ellis also managed to have a positive penalty differential, which is key for any successful top pairing, and they finished sixth in combined takeaways with 161.4. Ryan Suter-Jared SpurgeonBruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyTOICF%GF%xGF%1066.92 (4th)52.13% (17th)50% (31st)57.27% (4th)Suter is one of the most renowned defenseman of his era, while Spurgeon is a lesser-known talent in the NHL. Together, they dominate opposing forward lines. The Wild duo eats a ton of minutes, and Suter's size and poise mesh tremendously with Spurgeon's skating and puck-moving abilities.The Wild struggled to score goals last season, but with Suter and Spurgeon on the ice, Minnesota owned the majority of the shot share, and the pair's expected goal rate was among the league's best.Suter led all NHL defenders in 2018-19 with 26:46 of ice time per game, while Spurgeon ranked 17th (24:09). This D-pair is about as reliable as they come.3. Kris Letang-Brian DumoulinJoe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyTOICF%GF%xGF%901.08 (13th)54.45% (9th)63.22% (4th)55.42% (6th)Letang has never really been classified as a prototypical shutdown defenseman, but constantly having the puck is a pretty solid method to keeping opponents at bay.With him and Dumoulin deployed, the ice significantly tilts in the Penguins' favor, which is a gigantic advantage for Pittsburgh, considering the quality of offensive weapons on its roster. Letang and Dumoulin do give up a fair amount of shots against, but the reward highly outweighs the risk.Among all D-pairings that played over 500 minutes last season, Letang and Dumoulin owned the highest Relative Corsi For percentage at 7.55. For a team as thin on the blue line as the Pens, this dynamic duo is absolutely imperative to success.2. Jaccob Slavin-Dougie HamiltonGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyTOICF%GF%xGF%950.3 (11th)57.36% (3rd)50.7% (27th)58.25% (2nd)Hamilton's first year with the Hurricanes was a smashing success, as he and Slavin became one of the NHL's most formidable pairings.Carolina's entire roster had sterling advanced numbers, and this duo is no exception. The pair's goals-for percentage took a hit as the Canes' goaltenders struggled early in the season, but elsewhere, Hamilton and Slavin are among the league leaders across the board.Hamilton registers plenty of shots on goal, while Slavin quietly contributes points and plays an effective shutdown style in his own zone. Both players have tremendous sticks, too, as they led the pack with 193 combined takeaways last season.1. Mark Giordano-TJ BrodieTerence Leung / National Hockey League / GettyTOICF%GF%xGF%1060.83 (6th)57.68% (2nd)58.89% (7th)53.95% (15th)The reigning Norris Trophy winner and his partner take the top spot.Giordano and Brodie's numbers together last season were outstanding, and the two were essential in leading the Flames to the Pacific Division title. The pair dominated both the shot share and goal share, contributing heavily to Calgary's potent offense.In his hardware-worthy season, Giordano ranked second among NHL blue-liners with 74 points in 78 games. Brodie's numbers (nine goals, 25 assists) aren't quite as gaudy, but his puck-moving skills are key to Calgary's breakout and in the attacking zone.As it stands right now, this pair is the best around.Honorable mentions (lack of TOI):Erik Karlsson-Brenden Dillon

Winnipeg Jets restricted free-agent forward Kyle Connor is hopeful that he can get a new contract signed before the team's training camp begins in September."Yeah, that's definitely the plan," Connor said, according to NHL.com's Scott Billeck. "The player never wants to miss time in training camp. It's tough not getting that preparation and time with teammates in practice."Asked about his preference regarding term, the 22-year-old said, "we'll look at everything, but probably focus more on (the) long term," according to TSN.Connor enjoyed a career year during his third NHL season in 2018-19, as he tallied 34 goals and 66 points in 82 games while adding three goals and five points in six playoff contests.A number of high-profile restricted free agents remain unsigned, including fellow Jets winger Patrik Laine, but Connor understands the nature of the negotiating process and remains focused on preparing for the season."I have friends, other players who are going through the same situation," Connor said, according to Billeck. "I don't think it's anything to press the panic button on. It's kind of how these things go. It's definitely different. Usually, you already know what's going on and you have plans, everything like that. But right now it's no different from a training aspect."The Jets have the lowest cap hit in the league and have $17.6 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. Winnipeg has just eight forwards under contract, however, and will need to add a pair to its payroll in addition to Connor and Laine.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning traded forward Adam Erne to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick, the teams announced Wednesday.Erne, who was a restricted free agent, signed a reported 1-year, $1.05 million deal with the Red Wings, according to CapFriendly. With Erne off the Lightning's books, the only player left for them to sign is superstar Brayden Point.The 24-year-old appeared in a career-high 65 games for the Bolts last season, registering seven goals and 13 assists in a bottom-six role.Tampa Bay now has nine picks in seven rounds for the 2020 draft.The deal marks Steve Yzerman's first player trade as general manager of the Red Wings. Coincidentally, it came together with the team he managed from 2010-18.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL goaltender Eddie Lack is taking a break from professional hockey and becoming the new goalie coach for the Arizona State University men's hockey team, the 31-year-old announced Wednesday on Twitter.Lack cited chronic hip injuries as the reason for his pause, saying he'll focus on physical therapy in hopes of making a return to pro hockey someday.

It's the dead of summer and, following seven offseason hirings, all 31 NHL teams have a head coach for the 2019-20 season. With the optimistic press conferences firmly in the rearview mirror, we thought it'd be fun to assess the fit of each new coach and team in advance of training camp. Ordered by date of hire and rated out of five shirt-and-tie combos, consider the following a new-coach fit index.Joel Quenneville, PanthersEliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesHired: April 8 by general manager Dale TallonDespite landing high-profile free-agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, recruiting Quenneville feels like the largest splash of Tallon's offseason. Players ultimately win games, but Quenneville offers a certain level of credibility and stability Florida desperately needs (plus, he looks like the logo). Tallon has gone on record saying he didn't want to fire Bob Boughner but decided to pull the trigger to make room for Quenneville. The GM finally has his guy, and Quenneville - a player's coach, three-time Stanley Cup champion, and the NHL's second-winningest bench boss - has his next project and a boatload of cash. The hefty contract, reported at $5.25 million a season for five years, raises expectations for a club that has missed the playoffs in three straight years and 16 of the past 18 seasons. Interestingly, only three Panthers players - Aaron Ekblad, Michael Matheson, and Bobrovsky - are signed through 2023-24, the final year of Quenneville's contract. While some pieces, like cornerstones Aleksander Barkov and Keith Yandle, aren't going anywhere anytime soon, Tallon - and, by extension, Quenneville - has the freedom to shake up the on-ice personnel if things go south early in the "Q" era.Fit: 👔👔👔👔

It was just like old times at the San Jose Sharks' practice facility on Monday.Former NHL defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Sharks, bumped into franchise icons Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who were skating together at the practice rink.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci and his common-law partner, Jamie Thompson, are being sued by a guest from a May 2018 dinner party, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Aedan Helmer.Hana Engel suffered second- and third-degree burns covering 35 percent of her body as a result of an incident during which Thompson tried to refill a burner on an outdoor tabletop fireplace and accidentally ignited Engel with flaming liquid fuel.Thompson squirted the ethanol into the burner "without checking to determine if the burner had cooled and/or completely extinguished," causing "flames and ethanol to jet out of the bottle," according to the lawsuit. She then "immediately threw the burning bottle in Hana's direction.""Hana's clothing caught fire and she was immediately engulfed in flames," the lawsuit states.Engel was placed in a medically induced coma and required 18 hours of surgeries and skin grafts over three separate operations. She's seeking $6 million for "loss of income, loss of competitive advantage in the marketplace, and loss of economic opportunities;" $500,000 for "pain and suffering, loss of amenities, and loss of enjoyment of life;" and $300,000 in damages for "loss of housekeeping and homemaking capacity."Engel owned and operated a yoga studio in Ottawa but has been unable to return to work.None of Ceci, Thompson, nor Clair de Lune Products Inc. - the manufacturer of the tabletop ethanol fireplace - have filed a statement on the matter. Clair de Lune stopped selling the fireplace after the incident, according to the lawsuit.Jake Cardwell, Engel's partner and Ceci's former teammate in junior, is also listed as a plaintiff. He's seeking $500,000 for the value of "nursing, attendant care, and other services, including loss of income;" $200,000 in damages for "loss of care, guidance, and companionship;" and $200,000 for "nervous shock" and "intentional infliction of mental suffering and emotional distress."Cardwell "watched in helpless horror" as he tried to put out the flames with the help of other guests. He was playing overseas in the Czech Republic but had to take a leave of absence to care for Engel.Engel's parents are also listed as plaintiffs, as they are seeking $700,000 in damages for nursing, attendant care, and other services. Her siblings are also seeking $200,000 in a similar claim.The suit claims Ceci "failed to inform himself and Thompson of the hazards," failed to warn the invited guests, and "failed to keep his premises safe." It also claims both Thompson and Ceci were "intoxicated and unable to appreciate the danger and ought not to have used dangerous or ignitable objects such as the fireplace."Ceci was traded from Ottawa Senators to Toronto on July 1 and signed a one-year, $4.5-million contract with the Leafs a few days later.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares - who grew up in nearby Oakville and signed a seven-year deal with his hometown club last summer - understands the importance of possibly being the captain of the historic franchise.The Maple Leafs haven't had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was traded in 2016, but that could change this season. However, Tavares isn't concerned about who the "C" is handed to, if anyone at all."I think it's a very special and significant role being with the Maple Leafs and the history of it," Tavares told TSN on Sunday. "There hasn't been one here for a little while, so certainly there can be a lot made about it, but we have so many good quality people and players in our locker room we know it’s not going to change."Both Tavares and Morgan Rielly were alternate captains last season, and either - along with Auston Matthews - could be candidates to don the "C" this year."I think we will have a good idea when the time is right. I think we have plenty of guys that can fill that role and do a great job at it," Tavares continued."I think that's a real special thing to have when you have so many quality people and quality players that can really fill that role and really embrace that opportunity. Obviously, there's special significance to it, so when the time is right, I know that they will address it and do that if it’s necessary."Tavares, who will turn 29 before the start of the season, is already the fifth-oldest player on the young squad. He scored a career-high 47 goals in his first season in Toronto.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With free agency underway, here's a roundup of all the best players still available. The biggest names are off the board, but some potentially helpful talent remains up for grabs.Left wingRonald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty