Ty Rattie is headed to Russia and will reunite with a familiar face in the process.The forward signed a one-year, one-way contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, the club announced Wednesday.Rattie will play for head coach Craig MacTavish, who was an Oilers executive during the 26-year-old's time in Edmonton.MacTavish left the Oilers in May to coach Lokomotiv on a two-year contract.Rattie spent the last two seasons with Edmonton and briefly spent time on Connor McDavid's wing. Rattie became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after the club opted not to tender him a qualifying offer on June 25.He managed only 11 points across 50 games in 2018-19. He posted nine points in 14 NHL contests during the previous campaign and spent much of that season in the AHL, where he racked up 21 goals and 43 points in 53 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have agreed to a four-year contract that carries a $3.5-million average annual value with free-agent forward Micheal Ferland, the club announced Wednesday.Ferland was one of the highest-profile names still available in this summer's free-agent crop and recorded 40 points in 71 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19.Last season was the 27-year-old's first with Carolina after spending his first four campaigns with the Calgary Flames.The Canucks have already made a pair of big-ticket moves this offseason, signing defenseman Tyler Myers to a $30-million contract while also acquiring center J.T. Miller via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Alex Iafallo to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.425 million, the club announced Wednesday.Iafallo, who was a restricted free agent, had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 20.The 25-year-old scored 15 goals and added 18 assists during his second NHL season.He signed with the Kings as an undrafted free agent in April 2017 following a standout collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joffrey Lupul quickly went from beloved star to financial burden during his roller-coaster tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Traded to Toronto by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011 along with Jake Gardiner and a draft pick in exchange for Francois Beauchemin, Lupul was coming off a serious back injury that could've ended his career and was included as a cap dump.The former seventh overall pick, however, was rejuvenated in Toronto; he finished the 2010-11 season on a high note before enjoying a career campaign in 2011-12, tallying 66 points in 67 games while riding shotgun with Phil Kessel. He signed a five-year, $26.25-million extension with the Leafs during the following season.But Lupul battled several injuries in 2014-15 and 2015-16. A shell of his former self, he played 101 total games those two seasons, tallying 35 points."My mindset had changed completely," Lupul revealed to former NHLers Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette on Wednesday's episode of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast. "I went from driving to the game pumping Nirvana to instead listening to talk radio, pulling my car into the garage like, 'Please God, get back here in six hours.'"The Maple Leafs controversially placed Lupul on long-term injured reserve ahead of the 2016-17 season and paid out the remainder of his deal."My contract was, at that point, exceeding my production on the ice," he said. "I was hurt a lot. It was always something - my back, then my groin. I couldn't keep myself healthy. And also, I had lost the confidence, not in my ability or skill set, but the confidence in like, 'Am I going to make it through this game? I feel like shit today. Is there a chance I'm going to blow out my back or something?'"They didn't necessarily want me back on the team that year, and they made that pretty clear. But if I had full confidence in my body, I'm sure I would've put up a big fight and been like, 'Hey, I don't want to do this,' but to be honest, I wasn't sure."While the Leafs were gearing up for the 2017-18 season, Lupul, essentially shunned from the team, posted a photo from a snowboarding outing on Instagram. Responding to a comment about his LTIR designation, Lupul wrote: "Haha failed physical? They cheat, everyone lets them." He quickly deleted the comment and apologized a few days later."I thought the situation, from my end, could've been handled a lot differently. It could've been sitting across the table from each other chatting about it instead of the way it went down but whatever. I don't hold a grudge at anyone."Lupul skated in 701 career games, registering 420 points. Now retired, he's still able to work out and snowboard, but his back prevents him from golfing more than twice a week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran forward Matt Cullen announced his retirement after 21 NHL seasons on Wednesday.Cullen last suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but also had stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators after being drafted 35th overall in 1996.The 42-year-old was the oldest player in the league last season, and his retirement gives way for Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara to take over that title.Cullen hangs up his skates with three Stanley Cups on his resume, winning two with Pittsburgh (2016, 2017) and one with Carolina (2006). He also ranks 19th all time in games played (1,516) and finishes his career with 731 points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins inked forward Danton Heinen to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.8 million, the club announced on Tuesday night.Heinen and the team avoided arbitration by agreeing to this new pact. A hearing had been scheduled for Aug. 3 if he didn't sign beforehand.The 24-year-old recorded 11 goals and 34 points in 77 regular-season games with the Bruins this past season, adding eight points in 24 playoff contests this spring.Heinen briefly saw time on the club's top line when David Pastrnak was hurt toward the end of the regular season.He spent the last two seasons primarily at the NHL level with Boston, notching 27 goals and 81 points across 154 contests over that span. He was held off the score sheet over an eight-game stint with the Bruins in 2016-17.Boston drafted the center 116th overall in 2014.With Heinen now under contract, the Bruins hold $7.35 million in cap space to sign restricted free-agent defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2019 crop of arbitration-eligible restricted free agents had their potential hearing dates set on Tuesday, the NHLPA announced.Among the most prominent players on the list is St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington, who's scheduled for a hearing on July 20 if he and the Stanley Cup champions don't agree to a deal beforehand.Here's a look at the dates for some other notable players:PlayerTeamDateJoel ArmiaCandiensJuly 20Andrew CoppJetsJuly 20Neal PionkJetsJuly 24Oskar SundqvistBluesJuly 24Jacob TroubaRangersJuly 25Sam BennettFlamesJuly 27David RittichFlamesJuly 29J.T. CompherAvalancheJuly 31Arturri LehkonenCanadiensAugust 3Joel EdmundsonBluesAugust 4Traditionally, it's rare for any case to end up requiring a third-party arbitrator. Last summer, 40 of 44 players ultimately signed with their respective teams before reaching their meeting dates.The entire group of players and dates for this offseason can be found here. All hearings will be held between July 20 and Aug. 4.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexander Nylander took what could be viewed as a not-so-subtle dig at the Buffalo Sabres after they dealt him away Tuesday.The Chicago Blackhawks' newest acquisition praised his new organization while lamenting the fact that he didn't play more regularly at the top level with his old one."(I) thought maybe I would be in the NHL sooner than I have been, but I’m looking forward to being part of the Blackhawks organization," Nylander told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus on Tuesday. "(The Blackhawks are) really good with development players. They know what they’re doing. Stuff that happened in Buffalo and Rochester is in the past."Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman didn't guarantee that Nylander will make the team out of camp but said he's encouraged by the potential."We don’t hand out those jobs in the summer, but with his offensive talent and skill level, it’s certainly exciting to think of what he could be when you put him with some of the players we have," the GM told Lazerus.Nylander, who the Sabres traded earlier Tuesday for defenseman Henri Jokiharju, spent the last three seasons with Buffalo but played the vast majority of his games with the club's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.The 21-year-old forward appeared in only 19 NHL contests over that span, producing three goals and six points.He managed only 30 goals and 56 points in 165 AHL games, including 12 goals and 31 points in 49 contests this past season.Buffalo drafted Nylander eighth overall in 2016. He's the brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander and the son of former NHL center Michael Nylander.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Henri Jokiharju to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Alexander Nylander on Tuesday, the team announced.Both players are entering the second season of their three-year entry-level contracts and will remain under team control for four more campaigns once their current deals expire, according to CapFriendly.Buffalo selected Nylander with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft. The 21-year-old has tallied three goals and six points over 19 career games.Jokiharju made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season and recorded 12 assists in 38 contests. Chicago selected the Finnish rearguard with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft.The Sabres have made an effort this offseason to bolster their blue line, as the club also added defenseman Colin Miller through a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in June.Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is in the midst of a busy offseason. The club acquired forward Andrew Shaw and defensemen Olli Maatta and Calvin de Haan through separate trades, and signed free-agent netminder Robin Lehner to a one-year deal on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sven Andrighetto is headed overseas.The former member of the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens signed a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, the league confirmed Tuesday.Andrighetto collected 17 points over 64 regular-season games with the Avalanche this past season before being held off the score sheet in five playoff contests.The 26-year-old was initially a restricted free agent but ultimately became a UFA after Colorado decided not to tender him a qualifying offer in late June.He spent parts of three seasons with the Avalanche, who acquired him in a trade with the Canadiens in exchange for Andreas Martinsen in March 2017.Andrighetto played parts of three campaigns with Montreal after the Canadiens drafted him 86th overall in 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have signed head coach Jared Bednar to a two-year extension that will keep him behind the bench through the 2021-22 season, the team announced Tuesday."Jared has done a tremendous job behind the bench and has earned the opportunity to continue leading this team," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said."He is an outstanding coach who has the full trust of his players, coaches, and staff. He has guided this franchise to two straight playoff appearances and we are excited with what this group can do moving forward."The 47-year-old helped the Avalanche skate to a 38-30-14 record and reach the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring.Bednar was hired by Colorado in August 2016 and was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for the 2017-18 campaign after helping the team improve by 47 points from the previous season.He replaced Patrick Roy, who unexpectedly stepped down in the summer of 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed goaltender Malcolm Subban to a one-year deal worth $850,000, the team announced Tuesday.Subban was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing July 20 but opted to sign for slightly more than his qualifying offer of $715,000, according to CapFriendly."We are pleased to announce this one-year contract for Malcolm," general manager George McPhee said. "He's been a valuable contributor to our team over the last two seasons. We are excited to continue to work with Malcolm and help him reach his full potential as an NHL goaltender."Subban, 25, played in 21 contests for the Golden Knights last season, posting an 8-10-2 record with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.Selected 24th overall by the Boston Bruins at the 2012 NHL Draft, he was claimed off waivers by the Golden Knights in October 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacob Trouba's case in front of an arbitrator has been given a date.If the productive New York Rangers defenseman and the club fail to agree to a new contract beforehand, a hearing will take place on July 25, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.However, Brooks adds that it would be stunning if the process reaches that point. Teams often agree to terms with the restricted free agent in question before a hearing takes place.Trouba racked up 50 points while playing all 82 regular-season games with the Winnipeg Jets this past season. He was traded to the Rangers last month for rearguard Neal Pionk and the 20th overall pick in June's draft, which the Jets used to select Finnish blue-liner Ville Heinola.The 25-year-old Trouba went through the arbitration process last summer and was awarded a one-year pact worth $5.5 million.Along with Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Trouba was among the biggest names to file for arbitration on Friday.Blues forward Zach Sanford and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves also filed, but they avoided arbitration by signing new deals with their respective teams on Monday.Any hearings required will take place between July 20 and Aug. 4.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have signed restricted free-agent forward Kevin Labanc to a one-year contract, the team announced on Monday.The deal is worth $1 million, with $715,000 of that paid in salary, and the other $285,000 coming through a signing bonus, reports The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.Labanc enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2018-19, registering career highs in goals (17), assists (39), and points (56) in 82 games. He also recorded nine points over 20 playoff contests."Kevin took a big step forward in his production last season and has grown into an important part of our team here in San Jose," general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. "He's always had a dangerous shot but really stepped into a playmaking role for us last season and improved his 200-foot game as well."We think he still has even more potential to tap into and we're excited to see what he can do with an elevated role with this talented group."The 23-year-old should see plenty of minutes as a top-six forward in 2019-2020 after the Sharks lost Joe Pavelski, Gustav Nyquist, and Joonas Donskoi in free agency.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is supposed to be the summer of the offer sheet. We've seen one so far, but the Montreal Canadiens' attempt to pry Sebastian Aho away from the Carolina Hurricanes served more as a lesson for other teams on how not to extend an offer sheet.Of this year's star-studded restricted free-agent class, only Aho and San Jose Sharks sniper Timo Meier have signed contracts. Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, and many others remain available.Due to the required draft-pick capital and salary cap space, few teams are equipped to pursue some of the aforementioned young superstars. There are three teams, however, that should sign an RFA to a legitimate offer sheet, and not one like Marc Bergevin's laughable attempt.Before we dive in, here's a reminder of the compensation a team would receive if it loses an RFA based on the average annual value, according to CapFriendly:$0 - $1,395,053: No compensation

The Toronto Maple Leafs may find it a challenge to lock up defenseman Tyson Barrie beyond the 2019-20 campaign.Barrie, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche last week, is believed to be eyeing an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8 million, according to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun.The 27-year-old is entering the final season of his contract and will hit unrestricted free agency next summer.Barrie would be one of the highest-paid defensemen in the league if he reaches such an agreement, as only Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, P.K. Subban, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson earn more than $8 million per year.Toronto may not have the cap space in 2020 to provide Barrie what he desires, but the right-handed blue-liner will provide elite skating and valuable scoring ability this upcoming campaign.Barrie recorded a career-high 59 points in 78 games last year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eeli Tolvanen feels his game has already significantly improved in just his second year in North America.Arguably the Nashville Predators' top prospect, Tolvanen spent the majority of the 2018-19 campaign with the Milwaukee Admirals. The 20-year-old credits his AHL stint for his newfound comfort with a different brand of hockey."I think the year in Milwaukee really helped me a lot," Tolvanen said, according to The Athletic's John Glennon. "The North American style of hockey is way different than back in Europe. So for sure, I should be a better player in this year's training camp."The talented winger accumulated 35 points in 58 games with the Admirals last season. He played four games for the Predators and is eager to earn a full-time spot on the 2019-20 roster."Everybody wants to play here (in Nashville)," he said. "Hopefully last year was my last in Milwaukee. I have work to do this summer and I'm willing to do it. I just want to be here next year. I got a couple games here last year and it's a different world."However, Tolvanen faces an uphill battle to make the NHL squad out of camp, as Nashville has 15 forwards on one-way contracts. But the front office is excited about his development."Everybody's dying to have goal-scorers, and he can score goals," Predators director of player development Scott Nichol said. "He's just maturing and he's getting there."Maybe he got a little overinflated in Russia, in the KHL. But he came here and what his best attribute is, is that he's coachable. He's got a great attitude. He wants to learn. He wants to be here. He wants to play in the NHL. He's on the perfect path."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don Cherry insists he isn't going anywhere.The longtime "Coach's Corner" pundit on Hockey Night in Canada attempted to put an end to speculation about his future with a pair of tweets Sunday night, one day after the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons wrote that Cherry's return to the airwaves next season hadn't yet been confirmed.

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with free-agent center Nick Cousins on a one-year, $1-million contract, the team announced Friday.Cousins tallied a career-high 27 points in 81 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season. He added 115 hits and 39 takeaways while posting a 49.8 Corsi For percentage at even strength.The 25-year-old will provide the Habs with depth down the middle of the ice. Max Domi, Phillip Danault, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Ryan Poehling are currently projected to be the club's top four centers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have officially matched the Montreal Canadiens' five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet for Sebastian Aho, the team announced Sunday.Carolina was given seven days to match after Montreal signed the young Finn on July 1. The following day, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon announced his club would match the offer, calling the ordeal a "waste of time."General manager Don Waddell said matching was an "easy decision."Aho issued the following statement:

One of the top remaining unrestricted free agents is off the market.The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Marcus Johansson to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million, the team announced Saturday.The contract carries a 10-team no-trade clause, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie.Johansson tallied 30 points in 58 games split between the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins last season. The 28-year-old added 11 points in 22 postseason contests during Boston's run to the Stanley Cup Final.The Swedish winger has been plagued by injuries during the last two seasons, but the last time he was healthy for a full campaign - 2016-17 with the Washington Capitals - he set career highs with 24 goals and 58 points.The Sabres will hope Johansson can add some secondary scoring to an offense that relied heavily on its top line of Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and Sam Reinhart this past season. All three of these players had at least 63 points, but no other forward recorded more than 34 points.With a projected $6.7 million in cap space remaining, according to CapFriendly, and no major RFAs left to re-sign, the Sabres still have the flexibility to make more moves.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sonny Milano and Colorado Avalanche forward A.J. Greer were arrested early Sunday for a brawl over a nightclub bill in New York City, police sources told the New York Post's Tina Moore and Ruth Weissmann.Milano and Greer were reportedly inside a Manhattan apartment at roughly 6:30 a.m. when they got into a fight with a 28-year-old man. The three were in a dispute over a bill that had been paid an hour prior at Chelsea nightclub 1 Oak, the sources said.The two players allegedly assaulted the man, who suffered jaw and rib pain and injuries to the neck and bicep. He called the police but refused medical attention. The pair were reportedly arrested and brought back to the 6th Precinct station house, where they were being charged with assault.The Blue Jackets released a statement on the matter:

Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba are among a group of players who filed for salary arbitration, the NHLPA announced Friday.The vast majority of players ultimately sign new deals before their hearing takes place, but here's the full list of NHLers whose contract will be determined by a third-party arbitrator should they fail to agree on a deal with their respective teams beforehand:TeamPlayerAvalancheJ.T. CompherAvalancheSheldon DriesAvalancheRyan GravesBluesJordan BinningtonBluesJoel EdmundsonBluesZach SanfordBluesOskar SundqvistBruinsDanton HeinenCanadiensJoel ArmiaCanadiensCharles HudonCanadiensArtturi LehkonenCapitalsChristian DjoosCapitalsChandler StephensonDevilsWill ButcherDevilsConnor CarrickDevilsMirco MuellerDucksChase De LeoFlamesSam BennettFlamesRyan LombergFlamesDavid RittichFlamesRinat ValievFlyersScott LaughtonGolden KnightsMalcolm SubbanHurricanesAnton ForsbergHurricanesBrock McGinnJetsAndrew CoppJetsNeal PionkKingsAlex IafalloPanthersMacKenzie WeegarPenguinsZach Aston-ReesePredatorsRocco GrimaldiPredatorsColton SissonsRangersPavel BuchnevichRangersJacob TroubaSabresRemi ElieSabresJake McCabeSabresEvan RodriguesSabresLinus UllmarkStarsJason DickinsonTampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette also filed but signed a two-year contract shortly thereafter.The player-elected salary-arbitration deadline was Friday at 5 p.m. ET. The club-elected deadline is Saturday at the same time.Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 through Aug. 4.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageOttawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is alleging a member of Ontario's provincial Parliament spewed a profanity-laced rant to his face at a Rolling Stones concert just outside of Barrie, Ontario on Saturday, according to the Ottawa Sun's Blair Crawford."So I'm just there, we've got families and friends in a small group and I'm surrounded by people from Ottawa - and I see from the corner of my eye somebody trying to bust through," Melnyk told the Sun in a phone interview Thursday."I'm thinking, 'OK, might be a crazed fan' and that's fine. I've gotten used to it. And all of a sudden it's this woman and she yells at me, 'Do you know who I am?'"I can't place her so I said, 'I'm sorry. No.' And she yells, 'I am your minister and you're a fucking piece of shit and you're a fucking loser.'"Lisa MacLeod, the Conservative party Ottawa-based MPP who approached Melnyk, did not provide an account of the exchange to The Sun, but she did take to Twitter on Friday morning to address it.

The Colorado Avalanche are bringing back their most physical defenseman.Nikita Zadorov agreed to a one-year contract to remain with the Avalanche, the club announced Friday. The pact carries a cap hit of $3.2 million, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.Zadorov ranked sixth among NHL blue-liners with 228 hits in 70 games last season and tied for third in the league in hits per contest (3.3) among rearguards with at least 50 games played.The 24-year-old was a restricted free agent coming off a two-year, $4.3-million contract he signed with Colorado in September 2017, according to CapFriendly.Zadorov spent the last four seasons with the Avalanche, who acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in the Ryan O'Reilly trade in 2015.The Sabres selected him 16th overall in 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed restricted free-agent forward Cedric Paquette to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1.65 million, the team announced Friday.Paquette is an Energizer Bunny of sorts for the Bolts. He finished sixth in the NHL with 269 hits last season and managed to chip in offensively with a career-high 13 goals. He also had his best season in the faceoff circle, winning 52.6 percent of his draws at even strength.The Lightning now have $5.57 million remaining in projected cap space with three RFAs - including 41-goal scorer Brayden Point - left to sign. Placing Ryan Callahan on long-term injured reserve, which the team intends to do, would create an additional $5.8 million in cap space.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed head coach Mike Sullivan to a four-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.The deal will begin after the upcoming season and run through the 2023-24 campaign."Mike has done a great job delivering four 100-plus-point seasons with our team," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "To win back-to-back Stanley Cups in this era speaks volumes of him as a coach. His instincts in managing the interworkings of our team both on and off the ice has been impressive."Along with winning two Stanley Cups, Sullivan has posted a regular-season record of 174-92-34 across four years in Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed restricted free-agent forward Josh Leivo to a one-year, $1.5-million contract, the team announced Friday.Leivo, 26, was traded from Toronto to Vancouver last year after failing to become a regular in the Maple Leafs' lineup. He scored 10 goals and added eight assists while averaging nearly 16 minutes per night in 49 games with the Canucks."Josh made a positive addition to our roster last year," said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. "He has a versatile game, is a strong two-way player and generates offense throughout our lineup. We're excited to have Josh sign as a member of the Vancouver Canucks."The Canucks still have four more RFAs who need to be re-signed - a list headlined by Brock Boeser. The club has $5.57 million in projected cap space with 27 active-roster players signed, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Scott Harrington to a three-year contract, the team announced Friday.The deal carries an average annual value of $1.63 million, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Harrington is known more for his contributions on the defensive side of the puck rather than the offensive side. He had 17 points and 81 blocked shots while averaging just over 13 minutes per game in a career-high 73 contests last season. He skated in all 10 of Columbus' playoff games, tallying four assists.The 26-year-old is arguably the team's best penalty-killing blue-liner. Among the five defensemen who regularly killed penalties for the Blue Jackets last season, Harrington was on the ice for the fewest high-danger scoring chances against and fewest goals against per 60 minutes when the team was shorthanded, according to Natural Stat Trick.Originally a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011, Harrington was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 as a part of the Phil Kessel trade. He was sent to the Jackets a year later in exchange for Kerby Rychel.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first three days of July have come and gone, and the hockey world is left with more questions than answers in regard to offer sheets.What did the Canadiens, who convinced star forward Sebastian Aho to sign an offer sheet Monday, actually accomplish aside from causing a minor stir in Carolina?Will the reaction (the Hurricanes matching the five-year, $42.3-million deal with little hesitation) be chalked up as evidence that offer sheets aren’t effective in 2019?Or, did Habs general manager Marc Bergevin simply play his cards wrong against Canes GM Don Waddell? Would a more lucrative deal of, say, $50 million over five years have changed the dynamic of the situation and have led to a precedent-setting outcome?In the wake of a hectic week of transactions, there’s plenty to unpack beyond the muddy offer-sheet drama. NHL teams completed 11 trades over the past week, while the first three days of July produced 143 contracts, $732 million in future earnings, and 267 contract years, according to CapFriendly. Jake Gardiner, Marcus Johansson, and a small group of free agents may still be available, but the bulk of offseason activity has passed.Now that the dust has settled, let’s reflect on the week’s biggest developments.Metro Division disrupted in major wayJamie Sabau / Getty ImagesYou could argue that a team like the Central Division’s Stars or the Atlantic’s Panthers should be crowned the offseason’s biggest winner to date, but there are a handful of legitimate cases across the league. It's a toss-up.In terms of pure chaos, though, the Metropolitan is the center of attention, hands down. It’s the one division that’s been rocked the hardest since the draft.The Rangers’ rebuild hit fast forward with the landmark acquisition of Artemi Panarin; New Jersey added Wayne Simmonds a couple of weeks after the club scooped up Jack Hughes first overall and P.K. Subban via trade; the Flyers may have overpaid Kevin Hayes, but he will be a difference-maker; Carolina quietly picked up Erik Haula from Vegas and James Reimer from Florida.In other words, the three Metro teams that missed last year’s playoffs, plus Carolina, who made it to the conference finals, have bulked up. As for the five playoff teams:The Blue Jackets are worse after losing Panarin, Matt Duchene, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Ryan Dzingel. They did, however, sign Gustav Nyquist, and still look good on paper; although the Penguins shed Phil Kessel and gained Alex Galchenyuk and Brandon Tanev, the team can never be counted out until Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin begin to fade; the Islanders missed out on Panarin and whiffed on a Robin Lehner extension, but snagged Semyon Varlamov and re-signed captain Anders Lee; Washington didn’t make any groundbreaking moves, but have much of their 2018 Stanley Cup lineup intact.The Metro could easily send five teams to the 2020 playoffs, but it’s become difficult predicting who those teams might be.Nobody in better shape than AvalancheDave Sandford / Getty ImagesTake a glance around the NHL and think about how the landscape might look in five years. There isn't a franchise in better shape than the upstart Avalanche, especially if you trust GM Joe Sakic’s vision and consider the following information:

The Montreal Canadiens signed free-agent defenseman Ben Chiarot to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, the team announced Thursday.Chiarot, who spent the past six seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, should strengthen the left side of a Habs blue line that needed reinforcement this summer."We are very happy to have come to an agreement with Ben Chiarot today," general manager Marc Bergevin said. "He is a very reliable defenseman and a solid player who will fill a need for our club. He is the type of player who can play some big minutes and be used in different situations. We are convinced he will improve our defensive group."Chiarot put up 20 points and averaged 18:37 of ice time across 78 games in 2018-19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have come to terms with newly acquired forward Alex Kerfoot and defenseman Cody Ceci on new contracts, the team announced Thursday.Ceci's deal is a one-year extension worth $4.5 million, while Kerfoot received a four-year pact worth $14 million ($3.5 million AAV).Kerfoot was acquired by the Maple Leafs on July 1 in a blockbuster deal that also included defenseman Tyson Barrie and sent 10-year veteran forward Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche.Ceci was brought in the same day from the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs shipped out defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and forward Connor Brown to add the 25-year-old right-hander.With Kerfoot and Ceci inked, Mitch Marner is Toronto's only unsigned player. By placing Nathan Horton's contract on LTIR, the club will have roughly $9 million to work with, according to Cap Friendly.Kerfoot has two NHL seasons under his belt, and put up 42 points across 78 games in 2018-19 with Colorado. He'll turn 25 in August.Ceci appeared in 74 games for the Sens last season, notching 26 points while averaging 22:34 of ice time per contest.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes made one of their biggest acquisitions in franchise history last week when they landed three-time All-Star Phil Kessel in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Arizona hasn't finished higher than 28th in average attendance since the 2006-07 season, but that could change this upcoming campaign."The buzz has been pretty significant," Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said, according to The Arizona Republic's Richard Morin. "A lot of interest on social media, text messages from people in the community reaching out. There is an excitement and rejuvenation with this franchise. People can see the trajectory we're on.""It's still very new," Cohen said. "But we've seen an uptick in recent days. Our weekender package is significantly up compared to last year. I think there's a lot of people in the marketplace that have historically been hockey fans or Coyotes fans that are seeing this commitment now and are excited to jump on board and participate."Kessel has been one of the league's most consistent point-producers since he arrived in the league with the Boston Bruins in 2006, as he's hit the 30-goal mark six times and has 823 points in 996 career games.The Wisconsin native's 261 goals this decade rank ninth among all players and his 82-point campaign in 2018-19 would have marked the highest single-season total by any Coyotes player since the franchise's move to Phoenix in 1996-97."Obviously, Phil is an elite player," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. "Personally I can't (recall) the last time we've had a player of this caliber who has had this production and this resume on this team. I think it's exciting for our fans and it's exciting for our players."Kessel brings both production and championship pedigree, as he captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017."This is a signal to the market that we're bringing in a marquee player and doing what we can to improve the team and win hockey games. I think the casual fan out there, maybe a person who is not even a hockey fan right now, can see this and take notice."The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs in seven years - the second-longest drought in the league - and have won just two postseason series in franchise history.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Hockey Canada are among donors that have helped pay CWHL players their outstanding performance bonuses three months after the league folded, CWHL board chair Laurel Walzak announced, according to The Athletic's Hailey Salvian."We have received payments from organizations like the NHL, Hockey Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Ontario Women's Hockey Association," Walzak said. "(Adrienne Clarkson) also brought forward a private donor who made a significant donation to make sure players got paid their bonuses."Players were owed roughly $230,000 in bonuses, according to Walzak. The league previously operated under a $100,000 cap, and player salaries ranged from $2,000 to $10,000.The CWHL was founded in 2007 and featured six teams. It announced it would cease all operations in March due to financial troubles.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The initial wave of the 2019 free agency period has come and gone, but there are still some good players available.Below, we pick out destinations for five of the biggest names left.Jake Gardiner, D, 282018-19 cap hit: $4.05 million

The Carolina Hurricanes are awaiting a decision from captain Justin Williams on whether he'll retire or return for a 19th NHL season."We've been in contact with Justin here recently," general manager Don Waddell told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "He hasn't given us 100 percent yet which way he's going to go. I think he potentially could be leaning toward playing, but I think in the next few weeks it will shake out."Williams, who will turn 38 in October, had his two-year, $9-million contract with the Hurricanes expire on July 1. This is his second stint with the club, which believes Carolina is where he'll end his career - one way or another."If he's going to play, we feel he's going to play here in Carolina," Waddell said. "He built a house here, his family's here, and he said all along this is where he wants to play."Williams put together another strong season in 2018-19, registering 53 points in 82 games before adding seven more during the club's run to the Eastern Conference Final.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nazem Kadri says the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't deal him for Tyson Barrie because of his suspensions."I know for a fact that didn't have anything to do with it," the Colorado Avalanche forward told reporters Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press. "They know I'm a heart-and-soul guy, and I'd do anything for my teammates. That was obviously shown - sometimes not necessarily in the best way - but my head and my heart were always in the right place."On Monday evening, the Maple Leafs traded Kadri to the Avalanche along with defensive prospect Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-round pick for Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot, and a 2020 sixth-rounder.Kadri was banned from eight of Toronto's last 14 playoff contests, all against the Boston Bruins, including the final five this past spring. The Leafs ultimately lost both series.The veteran center was suspended three games for boarding then-Bruins forward Tommy Wingels in Game 1 of the 2018 matchup and was forced to sit out the remainder of the 2019 series for his cross-check to Jake DeBrusk's head in Game 2.Kadri, who had spent his entire 10-year career with the Maple Leafs, said it wasn't his preference to be dealt but he's looking forward to joining another competitive club."It wasn't really my first choice, but at the end of the day the Colorado Avalanche are going to be contenders for many, many years to come," he said. "That makes this a lot easier."He also expressed his feelings about the Leafs organization in a heartfelt Instagram post:

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and Spotify.In this episode, NHL news editors Josh Wegman and Sean O'Leary join John to discuss a variety of free agency-related topics, including:

The Anaheim Ducks are turning to an old foe to help guide their coaching staff.The club named former Los Angeles Kings bench boss Darryl Sutter an advisor to the coaching staff on Tuesday.Sutter has 1,285 games of NHL coaching experience under his belt, but he's been out of the game since his dismissal from the Kings following the 2016-17 season. The 60-year-old won the Stanley Cup with the inner-state rival in 2012 and 2014. Prior to his stint in Hollywood, he coached the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks.The Ducks named Dallas Eakins the 10th head coach in franchise history June 17 after Randy Carlyle was fired midseason. Eakins coached Anaheim's AHL affiliate for four years but hasn't been behind an NHL bench since he was fired by the Edmonton Oilers during the 2014-15 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The opening day of NHL free agency didn't disappoint, with several clubs making franchise-altering moves that might shift the league's balance of power.Some of Monday's deals were undoubtedly shrewd, but others left something to be desired.Here's who won the day and who's going to regret the start of this summer's free-agency period:WinnersNew York RangersThe Rangers reeled in the biggest fish on the market within the first hour of the frenzy, signing Artemi Panarin to a reported seven-year deal with an average annual value of $11.64 million.New York got an elite scorer and game-breaker who'll turn 28 in October while apparently beating out the crosstown-rival New York Islanders for the Russian's services.Panarin bolsters an already promising core that includes 2019's No. 2 overall selection Kaapo Kakko and newly acquired restricted free-agent blue-liner Jacob Trouba.Trouba still needs a new contract, but regardless, New York is now primed to significantly improve next season and beyond.Florida PanthersJamie Sabau / National Hockey League / GettyThe Panthers didn't get both Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky as they'd previously hoped, but they did land the latter and had a very successful day overall.Florida needed to replace the recently retired Roberto Luongo, and Bobrovsky should more than adequately accomplish that. Despite his regular-season woes with Columbus last season, he posted the best playoff numbers of his career this spring.The reported term of seven years is lengthy for a netminder who'll be 31 in September, and the apparent $10-million cap hit isn't ideal, but Bobrovsky was the most accomplished goalie on the market. His postseason performance served as a reminder of what he's still capable of while potentially vanquishing his past playoff demons once and for all.The Panthers also made a few other solid albeit less impactful moves Monday, bringing in the likes of Brett Connolly up front and Anton Stralman on the blue line.Nashville PredatorsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDavid Poile finally got his man.The worst-kept secret in hockey finally came to fruition Monday, as the Predators and Matt Duchene could, at long last, turn their mutual interest into a signed contract.Even more impressively, the Predators were able to get the talented forward on a reasonable cap hit of $8 million despite the fact that Duchene's camp knew how much Nashville wanted him.The move also justified the trade of P.K. Subban at the draft, as Poile could afford to subtract from his deep defensive corps to add a major piece to his top-six forward group.LosersColumbus Blue JacketsBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyAs The Who famously sang, "The exodus is here."It's hard to fault Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen for going all-in at the trade deadline, but the Blue Jackets' present and future took significant blows Monday.As expected, Columbus lost Panarin, Bobrovsky, and Duchene on the opening day of unrestricted free agency. In addition, the fact that Panarin turned down the team's last-ditch eight-year offer Sunday night in favor of a seven-year pact with a lower AAV didn't reflect well on the Blue Jackets.Kekalainen did sign Gustav Nyquist, a solid forward in his own right, but neither that deal nor the new pacts for Joonas Korpisalo and Ryan Murray will do much to make up for the multiple holes now hampering the roster.The GM still deserves credit for his bold moves in February, and the Blue Jackets clearly wouldn't have pulled off their improbable first-round sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning had he not been as bold. But that vision was short-sighted, as Columbus' roster is now a shadow of what it once was.New York IslandersMike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyLou Lamoriello and the Islanders were active Monday, but activity and success are two very different things.Right off the hop, they missed out on Panarin and had to accept the fact that he'd chosen the rival Rangers.The Islanders then overpaid for captain Anders Lee's services, perhaps in response to coming up short on Panarin.Finally, New York made a surprising goaltending maneuver by signing Semyon Varlamov to a four-year, $20-million contract after Robin Lehner chose to leave the Islanders for a one-year, $5-million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.Nabbing Varlamov was a necessary move after Lehner opted for the Windy City, but the Islanders shouldn't have given him four years, especially at the same cap hit that Lehner ultimately received from Chicago.Edmonton OilersIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Oilers didn't do enough to help Connor McDavid or to address their goaltending issues on July 1.GM Ken Holland settled for 37-year-old Mike Smith despite the presence of several superior netminding options on the market and couldn't muster better forward signings than Markus Granlund and Tomas Jurco, in addition to re-upping Alex Chiasson and Jujhar Khaira.Holland didn't have much wiggle room cap-wise, but he still could've done more on the trade market to create more space to improve his new club and reshape its roster.(All cap figures courtesy: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes will match the Montreal Canadiens' offer sheet to Sebastian Aho, team owner Tom Dundon said Tuesday, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.On Monday, Aho signed the five-year offer sheet, which carries an average annual value of $8.454 million. The deal is front-loaded with bonuses of $21.87 million - more than half of the total money in the contract - to be paid within the first calendar year."We're surprised," Dundon said of Montreal's offer. "We love the player and we're happy to have this done. And surprised someone would have thought this would work."Dundon's comments echoed those of Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell, who said Monday that he was surprised the average annual value of Aho's offer sheet wasn't higher."This was an easy decision," Waddell added in a statement Tuesday. "Sebastian is one of the best players in the league and the centerpiece of what we're building here. We've spoken to him throughout this process and he's made it clear that he wants to be in Raleigh and be a part of this organization."It's our job to manage our cap space as our players develop and hit free agency. There was no concern at any point that we would not be able to match this contract. Once again, the Carolina Hurricanes should not be underestimated. We have a plan and all the resources to win a Stanley Cup."Before Carolina announced it would match the Canadiens' offer, Aho's agent, Gerry Johannson, said his client "100 percent" wanted to play in Montreal.The Hurricanes will be prohibited from trading Aho for 12 months after they officially match the offer sheet.Montreal still has $11.8 million in projected cap space with three RFAs to sign. Since teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 percent during the offseason, the Habs can go after some of the league's remaining UFAs knowing they won't have $8.454 million committed to Aho. If they want to submit an offer sheet for another RFA, though, they may have to wait a week.Since their draft picks - a first, a second, and a third - are still technically tied up in their offer sheet for Aho, the Canadiens are unable to offer sheet another player in the same range until Carolina officially matches. They could, however, tender an offer sheet for more than $10.6 million per season without waiting; the compensation for such an offer is four of the team's next five first-round picks, which Montreal still has.The Hurricanes, meanwhile, will have $11.1 million in remaining cap space with three RFAs to sign after officially matching for Aho.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens shocked the hockey world on Monday when they signed Carolina Hurricanes restricted free-agent forward Sebastian Aho to a five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet. It was the first time since 2013 that an offer sheet had been signed.For Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, who said Tuesday his club will match the offer sheet, it was apparently more of a nuisance than an actual obstacle."Everyone's trying to make their team better," Dundon told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "We've looked at all the ways to (do that), never came to the conclusion that the offer sheet was the best way. Your probability of succeeding is almost zero. It was proven that it was a waste of time."Only one offer sheet - Dustin Penner in 2007 - hasn't been matched since 1997.The $8.454-million cap hit on Aho's offer sheet was much lower than many expected for a player of his caliber. However, Montreal front-loaded the deal with $21.87 million to be paid out in bonuses over the first 12 months."This sounds terrible but writing that check is no big deal," Dundon said, according to The Athletic's Sara Civian. "The fact that you're (Canadian media) asking me if $20 million is a lot might be how we got in this situation."Dundon became the majority owner of the Hurricanes on Jan. 11, 2018. Forbes estimated his net worth to be $1.1 billion in 2015.Aho's agent, Gerry Johannson, added some drama to the situation by telling reporters that his client "100 percent" wants to play in Montreal."I couldn't care less about Sebastian's agent," Dundon told Civian. "It doesn't matter at all."There's no scenario where Sebastian Aho doesn't want to be on the Hurricanes. If he said that it would be different but he didn't. The fact that an agent said it means that there's no credibility to it, number one."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have locked up restricted free-agent forward Lawson Crouse on a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.Terms of the deal have not been revealed."We are very pleased to sign Lawson to a multi-year contract," general manager John Chayka said. "He had a very good season last year and really established himself as an NHL power forward. We look forward to having him in our lineup."Crouse registered 11 goals and 14 assists across 81 games this past season.He was drafted 11th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2015 and was traded to the Coyotes in August 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights may consider trading restricted free-agent forward Nikita Gusev with the two sides separated by as much as $2 million in ongoing contract negotiations, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger."We think (Gusev) is a really good player," Golden Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee said. "We'd like to work something out here, but if that doesn't work out we'll look at all options."Gusev, 26, has yet to make his NHL debut but is widely considered to be one of the best players outside of North America. He won MVP of the KHL last season by posting 82 points in 62 games for SKA St. Petersburg and also led the Olympic Athletes of Russia in scoring en route to a gold medal in the 2018 Olympics.The Golden Knights are currently projected at a cap hit of $84.1 million against the league's limit of $81.5 million, according to Cap Friendly. Vegas has already been active in trying to shed salary this offseason, as it shipped out forward Erik Haula and blue-liner Colin Miller in separate trades.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot, and a 2020 sixth-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Nazem Kadri, defenseman Calle Rosen, and Toronto’s third-round selection in 2020, the team announced Monday.Colorado will retain 50 percent of Barrie’s $5.5-million cap hit as part of the transaction.Barrie, 27, is an elite skater and a valuable right-hand shot on the blue line. He recorded a career-high 59 points with Colorado last season.Kerfoot, signed by the Avalanche ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, has tallied 85 points in 157 pro contests. The 24-year-old center is a restricted free agent and in need of a new deal.Kadri, who has played all nine seasons of his career with Toronto, saw his production drop last season after being pushed down the Leafs' depth chart following the addition of John Tavares, but still contributed 44 points in 73 games. The 28-year-old has three years remaining on his current contract with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million.Rosen spent the majority of last season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and recorded 46 points in 54 games.The Maple Leafs currently have $11 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, but still need to sign Kerfoot and defenseman Cody Ceci, who was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Restricted free agent Mitch Marner is also in need of a new deal.It's been a busy day for Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic, who also inked forwards Colin Wilson, Joonas Donskoi, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to new contracts.The Avalanche have $27.1 million in projected cap space but Mikko Rantanen, J.T. Compher, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, and newly acquired forward Andre Burakovsky are all restricted free agents in need of new deals.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the initial flurry of free agency in the rearview mirror, the hockey world now shifts its focus to the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes, who stole headlines July 1 with the NHL's first offer sheet since 2013.The Habs officially filed their intent to pluck 'Canes leading scorer Sebastian Aho on Monday afternoon, tendering a five-year contract that pays $8.45 million annually. The 21-year-old Finn signed the agreement, giving Carolina a week to decide whether to match or not.Aho's agent, Gerry Johannson, said his client is open to moving north."I think that Sebastian 100 percent wants to play in Montreal," Johannson told Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic. "He wouldn't have signed an offer sheet if he didn't want to play in Montreal."While the cap hit is certainly reasonable for a player of Aho's caliber, the kicker on the deal is the signing bonuses; Montreal flexed its financial muscle by offering Aho more than $21 million over the first 12 months of the contract.Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said he was surprised the value of the offer sheet wasn't higher and his club seems intent on matching. But Johansson believes forking over that much money so early in the deal isn't a simple process for a small-market team like Carolina."I don't think it's easy for Carolina," Johansson said. "I can tell you for sure, it's not easy for Carolina. Anybody who says this is easy is wrong. You can armchair quarterback any decision, but I can promise you this is an aggressive move ... It's a lot of money, and it's a lot of front-loaded money."Aho had a career year in 2018-19, his third NHL season. He registered 83 points in 82 games before adding 12 more in 15 playoff contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders and Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner parted ways on Monday, and the netminder says the decision wasn't up to him."It not working out in Long Island had nothing to do with me," Lehner said on Monday, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross. "I never walked away from anything."Following a career-best season, Lehner was looking for a long-term commitment from the Islanders. But the Swede says the team moved on from him before he was able to continue negations."We came down to shorter term, and it was a little bit off in money, and it was kind of an ultimatum put in front of me," Lehner said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Andrew Pope. "I took a couple of days to think about it, and when I came back and wanted to make something work, they already went for another goalie."The Islanders inked veteran goalie Semyon Varlamov to a four-year contract, and Lehner landed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.The 27-year-old posted a 2.13 goals against average and a .930 save percentage over 46 games with the Islanders last season, the best statistical year of his career.With the one-year deal, Lehner is now betting on himself to repeat that success."I don’t see it as a gamble at all. It’s only a gamble if you don’t believe you’re going to be able to perform. I know what I can do, I’ve proven what I can do," Lehner said, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.Lehner joins Corey Crawford in the Blackhawks' crease, and it's likely the pair will split time next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quick-hit analysis of important NHL signings and trades completed Monday, July 1, updating live as each transaction rolls in.Trade: Avalanche send Tyson Barrie, Alex Kerfoot, 6th-rounder in 2020 to Maple Leafs for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen, 3rd-rounder in 2020 (COL retains 50% of Barrie's salary)

The New York Islanders have inked goaltender Semyon Varlamov to a four-year contract, the club announced Monday.The deal carries an average annual value of $5 million, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters, including Newsday's Andrew Gross.Varlamov spent the last eight seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He posted a .909 save percentage in 49 appearances this past season.The 31-year-old officially joined the Islanders minutes after former Isles goaltender Robin Lehner was first reported to have signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. That deal was confirmed shortly thereafter.Varlamov was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2014.He's only two campaigns removed from a .920 save percentage, but the Avalanche clearly felt comfortable with netminder Philipp Grubauer, who produced a .917 mark over 37 games in 2018-19.Varlamov spent the first three seasons of his career with the Washington Capitals, who drafted him 23rd overall in 2006.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageThe New York Islanders have re-signed captain Anders Lee to a seven-year deal, the team announced Monday.The deal carries an average annual value of $7 million, general manager Lou Lamoriello said, according to NHL.com's Brian Compton, making the 6-foot-3 forward the highest-paid player on the team. The pact keeps him with the Islanders through the 2025-26 season.Lee all but confirmed the news himself on social media: