The Minnesota Wild are prepared to offer a lucrative long-term contract to free-agent winger Mats Zuccarello, sources told The Athletic's Michael Russo.It was reported earlier this week that Zuccarello is seeking a five-year deal this summer.The 32-year-old Norwegian is one of the top free-agent forwards available this offseason and is coming off a contract that carried an average annual value of $4.5 million.Zuccarello split time between the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars in 2018-19, registering 40 points in 48 regular-season games before adding 11 points in 13 playoff contests. His skill set would be a welcomed addition to a Wild offense that ranked 27th with 210 goals this past campaign.Minnesota enters this year's buying period with a projected $19.2 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Surely you've heard by now: This is the summer someone's going to sign an offer sheet.The wait has been too long, the speculation is too rampant, and this offseason's crop of restricted free agents is simply too stacked for the drought to continue another year. An offer sheet hasn't been signed since 2013, and no player has officially been poached since 2007. Something's got to give.Or maybe not. All the media fodder surrounding the ultrarare phenomenon could indeed just be fodder, but the hockey universe can unanimously agree an offer sheet would significantly spice things up come July 1. With that in mind, let's join the fun and map out five players who should be on the radar for teams looking to shake things up.Before we get started, here's a look at this summer's offer sheet compensation based on the average annual value of the proposed contract:$0 to $1,395,053: None

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and Phil Kessel are telling two different stories regarding the forward's alleged trade demands leading up to his departure from the team.Kessel was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, and Rutherford claims the three-time All-Star asked to be moved on several occasions, according to The Athletic's Sean Gentille.When asked about Rutherford's comments, Kessel offered a different account."I'm not sure that's exactly what happened. Jim came to me one time and said... I'll never be a Penguin again,'" Kessel said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jonathan Bombulie. "I think he's mistaken a little bit there. But I don't want to get involved in that. I'm not here to tell what really happened and the real truth, but whatever Jim wants to say."Kessel had been featured in trade rumors multiple times throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh, but it's unclear if the winger ever requested to be dealt.The Wisconsin native had an eight-team trade list and reportedly nixed a deal to the Minnesota Wild last month.Kessel never missed a game with the Penguins, contributing 303 points in 328 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded forward Phil Kessel, defenseman Dane Birks, and a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, the teams announced on Saturday.Pittsburgh isn't retaining salary in the deal, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. There are three years remaining on Kessel's current contract with an annual cap hit of $6.8 million.Arizona now holds just $1.7 million in projected cap space with a roster of 20, and the team possesses the second-highest cap hit in the NHL.Kessel joined the Penguins ahead of the 2015-16 season, and he was a key contributor to the club's back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017. In 328 games with Pittsburgh, the 31-year-old recorded 110 goals and 303 points, including a career-high 92-point season in 2017-18.The deal also reunites Kessel with Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant coach with the Penguins from 2014 to 2017.The Coyotes ranked 28th offensively last season, and Kessel can provide a much-needed scoring boost. The sharpshooter recorded 35 more points than Arizona's leading scorer Clayton Keller last campaign.Galchenyuk was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Coyotes last summer and recorded 19 goals and 41 points this past season. Selected with the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the 25-year-old hasn't been able to reach his full potential. However, he's flashed promise at times, reaching the 30-goal mark in 2015-16.The Coyotes selected Joseph with the 23rd overall pick in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a tentative deal in place for Ottawa Senators defenseman Cody Ceci, with defenseman Nikita Zaitsev going the other way, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The deal can't be finalized until the Leafs pay Zaitsev's $3-million signing bonus on July 1, and it's likely Toronto will need to add another piece to the trade to sweeten the pot, McKenzie adds.Ceci is a restricted free agent and in need of a new deal. The Senators selected the 25-year-old with the 15th overall pick in the 2012 draft, and he tied a career high with 26 points in 74 games last season.There are five years remaining on Zaitsev's seven-year, $31.5-million contract signed with the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2017-18 season. The Russian rearguard requested a trade from the team in May.Zaitsev posted three goals and 14 points over 81 games for the Leafs this past season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are working on a deal to send defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to the Ottawa Senators, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday.The 27-year-old is due for a $3-million bonus paid out on July 1, so it's unlikely the Leafs will be able to move him before then.There are five years remaining on Zaitsev's seven-year, $31.5-million contract signed with the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2017-18 season. The Russian rearguard requested a trade in May.The Leafs hold a projected $5.54 million in cap space with restricted free agent Mitch Marner still needing a new deal. However, the team can place Nathan Horton and his $5.3 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve to free up space.Zaitsev posted three goals and 14 points over 81 games for the Leafs this past season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Dave Hakstol as an assistant coach, the team announced Saturday.Hakstol most recently served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, leading the team from 2015 until his firing in December 2018.The 50-year-old's resume also includes an 11-season stint in the NCAA as the head coach at the University of North Dakota.Toronto also hired Paul McFarland as an assistant on Mike Babcock's staff in May.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Martin Marincin and goaltender Michael Hutchinson to one-year contracts worth $700,000 each, the team announced Saturday.Marincin, 27, suited up in 24 games for the Maple Leafs last season, registering one goal and four assists.Hutchinson, acquired from the Florida Panthers in December, made only five appearances for the Leafs in 2018-19. The 29-year-old spent most of the season with the Toronto Marlies, posting a .910 save percentage in 23 AHL games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL free agents can officially sign with new teams as of Monday at 12 p.m. ET. With the leadup switching from days to hours, theScore's making educated guesses on the landing spots for this year's most intriguing unrestricted free agents. Here we go:Artemi PanarinIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesFinally, after almost a calendar year of speculation, Panarin's long-term NHL home will be determined in the coming days. Panarin, who turns 28 in October, will likely command seven years and an annual salary in the $11 million-$12 million range. The dynamic playmaking Russian is the shiny prize of the 2019 UFA class.Florida appears to be the front-runner here - and why not? General manager Dale Tallon's pitch is pretty stellar: a young core led by Aleksander Barkov, a familiar coach in Joel Quenneville, sunny coastal weather, anonymity around town, and ownership willing to spend. These aren't your older brother's Panthers.The Rangers and Islanders are second-tier favorites in the Panarin sweepstakes, while the Avalanche are believed to be a third-tier option. As expected, the Blue Jackets don't have a horse in this race, despite the team and Panarin advancing to the franchise's first-ever second-round appearance.Prediction: PanthersConfidence level: 8.5/10Joe PavelskiAndy Cross / Getty ImagesA few months back, who saw Pavelski, one of the faces of the Sharks franchise, moving on from San Jose this offseason?Well, with Erik Karlsson's massive eight-year deal finalized and second contracts for Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc on deck, GM Doug Wilson might not have enough dough to re-sign the team's captain. Pavelski, who turns 35 next month, wants fair value ($5 million-$7 million) and the big prize (a Stanley Cup). Wilson can't deliver the former, and who knows about the latter.The Stars and Lightning have pitched Pavelski in person and check off the "contender" box, whereas the Wild and Blackhawks, two clubs in the middle of the pack, also have his ear. Several more teams surely want to be in the running, which should be no surprise. Pavelski's coming off a 38-goal campaign, can play both center and wing, and is beloved by teammates.When there's no clear-cut favorite for the UFA's services, the tie goes to the ideal spot. The Lightning enjoy a fantastic tax situation in Florida and won 62 of 82 games last year. Sure, they didn't make it out of the first round, but there's no doubt Pavelski sees a glorious opportunity on the right wing alongside either Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point.Prediction: LightningConfidence level: 5/10Sergei BobrovskyKirk Irwin / Getty ImagesOne of the offseason's rare certainties is Bobrovsky is going to get paid handsomely, no matter where he winds up. He'll be only 31 this fall, possesses enough talent to upgrade a good team to very good or a very good team to great, and plays the game's most valuable position. Don't be surprised if the two-time Vezina Trophy winner signs a seven-year, $70-million contract.The Panthers, who welcomed elite goaltending prospect Spencer Knight into the fold at the draft before saying goodbye to the retiring Roberto Luongo, are in a period of transition between the pipes. Backup James Reimer might even be on his way out. Bobrovsky, along with his buddy Panarin, appears to be Miami-bound. The timing's right, too, as Knight could ease into the starter’s role during the back half of Bobrovsky's deal.What's most intriguing about Bobrovsky's UFA status is not necessarily the destination - it's been more or less settled as either the Panthers or Islanders - it's the reaction to his contract details. Does the loser in that two-team pool overpay for Robin Lehner, the second-best goalie on the market? And how does Lehner's contract affect the likes of Semyon Varlamov, Mike Smith, Curtis McElhinney, and the rest of a deep-but-muddied goalie class?Prediction: PanthersConfidence level: 7.5/10Anders LeeMike Stobe / Getty ImagesAs Erik Karlsson and Jeff Skinner re-upped with their teams prior to the late-June window shopping period for UFAs, it felt like it was only a matter of time before Anders Lee did the same. Yet here we are ...Lee, the Islanders' captain, continues to debate his options. The Isles are in the mix for an extension, certainly among the favorites to lock up the soon-to-be 28-year-old, but it's far from a guarantee. Supposedly not caving during negotiations thus far, GM Lou Lamoriello is tempting Lee to take his talents elsewhere. The Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and his hometown Minnesota Wild have all been pegged as possible landing spots.This is Lee's chance to cash in on a journey that's taken him from the 152nd overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft to 425 career games. A high-character forward who bags 50-60 points per year, he's due for a healthy annual raise from $3.75 million, perhaps doubling his yearly earnings with this new contract. The Avs have ample cap space, are on the rise, and bring him a little closer to home. Here's thinking GM Joe Sakic gets frisky and reels in Lee.Prediction: AvalancheConfidence level: 3/10Jake GardinerIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesGame 7 troubles and back injury aside, Gardiner is cruising into July 1 with suitors galore and $7 million per year in his sights. He's the best left-handed defenseman on the UFA market, and after the dust settles, could end up being the highest-paid UFA blue-liner, period. Tyler Myers is Gardiner's only true contender in regards to positional bragging rights.Gardiner has to make a key decision on location. It's big, pressure-filled Canadian market versus laidback American market. For instance, the Canucks and Canadiens are reportedly eager to at least discuss a deal, but his time in Toronto - while overall successful - may have him looking stateside.The Wild, Panthers, and Kings are believed to be interested, and all three are relatively tame markets. The Stars, yet another low-key locale, would make a ton of sense from a hockey perspective. Gardiner, a smooth-skating puck mover, could replace former Leafs teammate Roman Polak on Dallas' second defense pairing. Can GM Jim Nill acquire both Gardiner and a forward in free agency? Would he settle for one? Strike out? Keep it locked on the Stars.Prediction: StarsConfidence level: 4/10Matt DucheneJamie Sabau / Getty ImagesPredators GM David Poile has telegraphed it, stating in the wake of the PK Subban trade that he's ready to bolster his forward group in a significant way. Duchene himself has dropped hints, with his links to Nashville - including a passion for country music and the purchase of a rental property in the area - no secret.The stage is set for the Preds to win the Duchene courting war, even though the Canadiens are lurking - with Duchene meeting Habs brass earlier this week - and the Blue Jackets earning a passing glance. It's a perfect marriage between team and player - Nashville gets the No. 1 center it's coveted for several years, while the 27-year-old will both receive his big payday and join a contender after enduring his fair share of losing.Food for thought: If the two biggest names on the UFA forward market choose Nashville (Duchene) and Florida (Panarin), do the Canadiens, Rangers, and Islanders - teams apparently jonesing for a stud forward - put away their wallets and take the L? Or do they double down on pursuing second-tier guys like Mats Zuccarello, Lee, and Pavelski and battle the Stars, Avalanche, and Wild for the best of the rest?Prediction: PredatorsConfidence level: 8.5/10Corey PerryChristian Petersen / Getty ImagesPerry is 34, dressed for 31 games last season, and the final two years of his contract were recently bought out by the Ducks. For an ex-Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion, his stock is pretty low. But, given Perry's top skill is scoring goals, interest remains high. He's earned a shot at redemption.Perry, along with Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, and Dion Phaneuf - fellow UFAs who have made millions upon millions but are past their prime - can approach free agency from a unique angle. They can find a home with a contender on a cheap deal and limited role and hope a deep playoff run is on the horizon. Or, they can sign with a poor team for more money and more ice time and hope to get moved to a Cup-chasing team at the trade deadline.Both scenarios have pros and cons. The latter route may be better on the ego. Get your money, find your mojo, go from there. Under these circumstances, the Oilers, Red Wings, or Kings would suit Perry. Considering Edmonton boasts Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, perhaps there's a fit there.Prediction: OilersConfidence level: 3/10John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran netminder Curtis McElhinney will test the open market this summer.Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell confirmed as much on Saturday, saying McElhinney is definitely "going somewhere else," according to Chip Alexander of the News & Observer.McElhinney, 36, is coming off a strong season with the Hurricanes during which he posted a .912 save percentage in 33 appearances after being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs in October.The second member of Carolina's goalie tandem, Petr Mrazek, is also a UFA, and Waddell added the club is working to re-sign him.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A whole lot of money is about to be shelled out in NHL circles come July 1, and general managers will be hoping the lavish investments are justifiable in helping their respective teams improve.Sadly, though, that isn't always the case. Each and every year there's unforeseen bargains and blatant overpayments. If GMs want to avoid the latter, they should have their guards up when it comes to these five unrestricted free agents.Tyler Myers2018-19 cap hit: $5.5 million

Joe Pavelski's representative doesn't seem too encouraged about his client's future with the San Jose Sharks.Dan Plante told The Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka on Friday night that the two sides don't seem particularly close in contract negotiations."Would you like to see it be closer? Yeah, but it just isn't right now," the agent said. "And so, you get that overwhelming feeling that it's just not going to happen anymore. Doesn't mean it's not. (Sharks general manager) Doug (Wilson) does some pretty magical things with his cap and all that. But from just a normal person looking at it, that's the feeling you get, right?"However, Plante cautioned that a lot can happen between now and the free-agency period."We'll see," he said. "There's still time. Never say never, that's for sure."Pavelski, a pending unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Sharks, including the last four as captain.The forward, who'll turn 35 on July 11, reportedly met with both the Dallas Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Minnesota Wild GM Paul Fenton has also reportedly been in contact with Plante.San Jose has nearly $15 million in cap space but has 10 pending free agents, including UFAs Pavelski, Joe Thornton, and Gustav Nyquist, as well as restricted free agents Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc, according to CapFriendly.Former longtime Sharks forward Patrick Marleau said Friday that he'd be interested in a San Jose reunion but acknowledged the club has other priorities to address before bringing him back.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Dubas doesn't feel he owes anybody an apology for the Toronto Maple Leafs' unparalleled financial flexibility.Toronto's general manager defended his team's ability to use signing bonuses to its advantage Friday while noting that teams in Florida and Texas have their own advantages in free agency due to the lack of income tax owed in those states."We're pretty fortunate in terms of the revenue that we're able to draw in," he told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "So I think for us to sit back and have the taxation argument used against us, but then not to be able to use any advantages that we have would be foolish on our part."I hear people bicker about it and make comments about it, but other teams aren't apologizing for using taxation or cost of living to aid their argument. So I don't think we should apologize either. And we won't."Despite limited cap space amid Mitch Marner's ongoing negotiations, the Leafs were able to get both Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson signed to extensions Friday. Both deals included significant signing bonuses relative to actual salaries, an arrangement fully allowed under the CBA."For us, we get it used against us a lot - like the taxation part of it: 'If you play elsewhere, you play in the lower tax bracket.'" Dubas said. "Other teams use that. We're fortunate here because of our fanbase and because of the coverage and because of our corporate partners."The Leafs constructed contracts in this fashion when Lou Lamoriello was the team's general manager, but Dubas has escalated the practice, most notably using it with superstars Auston Matthews and John Tavares, who will both see more than 90 percent of their contracts' total values paid in bonuses.Forbes ranked the Leafs second on its 2018 list of the NHL's most valuable franchises, estimating the club's worth at $1.45 billion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Marleau insisted Friday he doesn't plan to hang up his skates anytime soon, while also confirming he'd welcome a reunion with the San Jose Sharks."Yeah, it would be nice to come back here and play where I started," the free-agent forward told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "It would be a good fit for me for sure."The feeling would obviously have to be mutual, and Marleau knows he might have to wait to see how the Sharks resolve their other free-agent priorities."It might take a bit longer, I'm not sure," he said. "I know they have some things that they're juggling around. We'll see how it goes."Marleau, who'll turn 40 in September, made it clear he doesn't want to call it a career just yet and is open to playing for other clubs."I'm definitely not ready to retire, I think I've got some really good hockey left in me," he said. "I couldn't give you an exact number of years but it's going to be more than one, I know that."The veteran added that finding a team out west would be ideal for his family, which has moved back into the home it kept in San Jose, during his Sharks tenure.The Sharks have plenty of other players to deal with ahead of the start of free agency, including pending unrestricted free agent and team captain Joe Pavelski, pending UFA Joe Thornton - who turns 40 on July 2 - and pending restricted free agent forward Timo Meier.Marleau spent 19 seasons with the Sharks before playing the last two campaigns with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes on Day 2 of the draft last weekend. The Hurricanes bought out the final year of his contract Thursday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights dealt defenseman Colin Miller to the Buffalo Sabres for a second-round pick in 2021 and a fifth-rounder in 2022, the clubs announced Friday.Miller has three years left on his contract at a cap hit of $3.875 million, according to CapFriendly. The 26-year-old collected 29 points in 65 regular-season games with the Golden Knights this past season, adding three more in six playoff contests.Vegas remains temporarily over the cap despite clearing nearly $4 million off its books in the deal. Buffalo, meanwhile, still has about $15 million with which to work after taking on Miller's contract.The Golden Knights claimed Miller from the Boston Bruins in the 2017 expansion draft. He spent his first two NHL campaigns with the Bruins after they acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him 151st overall in 2012.He produced 41 points while playing all 82 regular-season games with Vegas in 2017-18 and added seven more in 20 postseason contests during the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson to three- and four-year contract extensions, respectively, the team announced Friday.The deals were reportedly close to complete during the draft. Kapanen's contract carries an average annual value of $3.2 million while Johnsson will earn $3.4 million per season.

Andre Burakovsky is getting a fresh start in the Mile High City.The Washington Capitals traded the forward to the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick, a third-round selection, and Scott Kosmachuk, the team announced Friday.Burakovsky fell out of favor in Washington. His ice time dipped to a career-low 11:08 per game this past season and he was rumored to be on the move leading up to the 2019 trade deadline.It was reported in January that Washington set the asking price for Burakovsky at multiple mid-to-high-round picks.The 24-year-old winger tallied 12 goals and 13 assists in 76 games during the 2018-19 campaign. His 0.33 points per game marked the lowest of his five-year career. He offers a rare combination of size (6-foot-3), speed, and skill, but was plagued by inconsistency and eventually passed by Jakub Vrana on the club's depth chart at left wing.Burakovsky is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and has two more years of club control before he becomes a UFA, according to CapFriendly. He earned $3 million per year on his previous contract.The third-round selection heading to Washington was originally owned by the Arizona Coyotes but was acquired by the Avalanche in the Carl Soderberg trade on Tuesday.Kosmachuk, a journeyman minor-leaguer, is a pending UFA.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Below, we rank the top 25 unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market on July 1.xGF% = the percentage of expected goals a team generated while the player was on the ice at five-on-five25. Tyler EnnisPosition: LW/RW

With apologies to Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene, the NHL's 2019 unrestricted free-agent class isn't teeming with star power - especially compared to the electric assortment of restricted free agents who are due new contracts this summer.Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Brayden Point, and Patrik Laine headline the surge of young stars who are on the precipice of signing rich deals. Add Sebastian Aho, Brock Boeser, Kyle Connor, Timo Meier, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, and Zach Werenski to the list, and it becomes apparent that the money they stand to command is bound to become a defining storyline of this offseason.For the first time since 2013, when the Calgary Flames tried to nab Ryan O'Reilly from the Colorado Avalanche, it seems more likely that at least one enterprising franchise could attempt to acquire another team's RFA with an offer sheet.Even if no general manager wants to cede up to four first-round draft picks, the highest compensation tier for signing another club's RFA, in pursuit of a top scorer such as Marner, ripe targets might be found in skaters of secondary stature - think Kevin Labanc of the San Jose Sharks or the Washington Capitals' Jakub Vrana - whose clubs are constrained by the salary cap.As we wait to see if that scenario comes to pass, the history of offer sheets in hockey merits a refresher on entertainment value alone. NHL lore is littered with anecdotes of GMs expressing their contempt for the practice in strong terms: by alleging tampering, by griping that these transactions inflate salaries, and, in one infamous case, by challenging a rival executive to a fistfight in a barn.Here's a rundown of five offer-sheet episodes that ruffled feathers and altered the face of the league.2012: Flyers go in for Shea WeberChristian Petersen / Getty ImagesWeber was a 26-year-old perennial All-Star and the Nashville Predators' captain when Philadelphia made a play to sign him in July 2012. The colossal deal - $110 million over 14 years - more than doubled the value of any previous NHL offer sheet.The Flyers' offer seemed specifically tailored to price Nashville out of the picture. It was structured to pay Weber $52 million in signing bonuses over the first four years, including a 2012-13 season that looked threatened by a looming lockout.However, the Predators had lost another No. 1-caliber defenseman in Ryan Suter just weeks earlier to the Minnesota Wild as a UFA. Unwilling to let his blue line be ravaged any further, Nashville GM David Poile matched the Flyers' offer instead of accepting four of Philly's future first-round picks.The implications of the megadeal were sweeping.Contracts exceeding eight years were outlawed in the CBA that resolved the subsequent lockout. The Flyers haven't won a playoff series since they missed out on Weber. Nashville traded Weber to the Montreal Canadiens in 2016 for P.K. Subban, with whom they reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Final - only to flip Subban to the New Jersey Devils last week to free up cap space in hopes of signing Duchene or another top forward.Weber, now 33 years old and Montreal's captain, still has seven years remaining on his deal at an annual cap hit just shy of $8 million.2007: Kevin Lowe provokes Brian BurkeDave Sandford / Getty ImagesLowe, then the GM of the Edmonton Oilers, didn't endear himself to his managerial counterparts when, in July 2007, he signed Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek to a seven-year, $50-million offer sheet, the most lucrative such deal in NHL history prior to Weber's.Sabres GM Darcy Regier - who'd personally told Lowe that he didn't plan to let go of Vanek and then matched the offer within minutes - said afterward that Lowe must have thought he was bluffing and called Edmonton's gambit "an exercise in futility." Lowe retorted by saying Regier's reaction was "rather juvenile."The exchange set the stage for Burke, GM of the newly minted Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, to lash out at Lowe a few weeks later when the Oilers tendered a five-year, $21.5-million offer sheet to Ducks forward Dustin Penner, who'd earned a league-minimum salary of $450,000 the previous season. (Anaheim didn't match the offer and received Edmonton's selections in the first three rounds of the 2008 draft.)Annoyed by what he considered an overpayment that elevated the going rate for young players, Burke said Lowe's offer was "gutless" and "an act of desperation for a general manager who is fighting to keep his job." That criticism sparked a rancorous feud that, a year later, prompted Lowe to call Burke a "moron" and an "underachieving wannabe" whose single Cup victory paled next to the six championships Lowe won during his playing days.In 2011, a few years after the NHL warned Burke and Lowe they'd be fined if they didn't stop quarreling, Burke revealed that he'd tried to arrange a fight with Lowe through an intermediary, New York Rangers GM Glen Sather, even telling Sather that he'd rent a barn where the bout could be staged.It all amounted to a great deal of hubbub over Penner, who scored more than 20 goals in three of his four seasons with the Oilers before his statistical output started to tail off.1998: Hurricanes target Sergei FedorovRobert Laberge / Allsport / Getty ImagesIn 1997, Fedorov compiled a point-per-game playoff campaign that helped the Detroit Red Wings to the franchise's first Stanley Cup title in 42 years. In search of a new contract to start the 1997-98 season, he was prepared to dig in for a prolonged holdout.The dispute stretched into that winter's Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano, Japan, at which point Fedorov signed a record six-year, $38-million offer sheet with Carolina.The Hurricanes, a weak team that had just relocated from Hartford, front-loaded their offer with a $14-million signing bonus and an additional $12 million that Fedorov would be paid in a lump sum if his club made that season's conference final. The latter clause led the NHL to reject the deal, but an arbitrator overruled the league and deemed the contract valid.The Hurricanes - owned by Peter Karmanos, a Detroit-area businessman who shared a bitter, longtime rivalry with Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch - would never have been on the line for the second bonus, as they wound up missing the 1997-98 playoffs by nine points.Meanwhile, Illitch's Red Wings were left to foot the whole bill when they matched the offer, reintegrated Fedorov into the lineup after his return from Japan, and - in a feat that did wonders to soften the financial blow - stormed to a second straight championship.Fedorov, immediately $26 million richer as a result of his holdout, decided to kick-start a charity for children in the Detroit area by donating his $2-million base salary for the following season. In 2002, he won the third and final title of his career when the Red Wings rolled to victory in the Cup Final against a surprising opponent: Carolina.1992: Flames try to poach Teemu SelanneBernstein Associates / Getty ImagesAfter drafting Selanne 10th overall in 1988, the Winnipeg Jets had to wait four seasons - a span that included a mandatory military stint in his native Finland - for him to cross the ocean to debut in the NHL.But before Winnipeg could lock him into a contract at the end of that interlude, Calgary took advantage of Selanne's RFA status and signed him to a three-year, $2.7-million offer sheet - about $1.5 million more than the Jets wanted to shell out."There was a lot of angst in Winnipeg about, 'Was any player worth this kind of money?'" Selanne's agent, Don Baizley, told NHL.com in 2013. "I think he was really determined coming over under that sort of pressure. He was going to prove to people that he was a good player. It wasn't the offer sheet so much as the reaction to the offer sheet."In the end, the price didn't deter Winnipeg GM Mike Smith from matching Calgary's offer, enabling Selanne to cement his place in the NHL record books as a member of the Jets. His 76 goals and 132 points in 1992-93 are still by far the most a rookie has ever produced.Would Selanne have stayed in Calgary for longer than he lasted in Winnipeg? After a severed Achilles tendon and the 1994-95 NHL lockout cut short his second and third seasons, the Jets traded Selanne to Anaheim in February 1996, a few unhappy months before the franchise relocated to Phoenix.1990-94: St. Louis' fixation on Scott StevensM. DiGirolamo / Getty ImagesIn the first half of the 1990s, the Blues were locked on acquiring Stevens, a hard-nosed veteran who'd risen to stardom over eight seasons with the Capitals. St. Louis persuaded him to sign as an RFA in July 1990 with a four-year, $5.1-million offer sheet, which the Capitals declined to match.For the right to make Stevens hockey's highest-paid defenseman, the Blues owed Washington five first-round draft selections, a debt that proved problematic the following offseason when St. Louis GM Ron Caron successfully offer-sheeted 22-year-old Devils forward Brendan Shanahan.With so many of their first-rounders already bound for D.C., the Blues offered to send two promising young players, goalie Curtis Joseph and forward Rod Brind'Amour, to New Jersey along with two draft picks. The arbitrator assigned to the case sided with the Devils, who wanted - and ultimately received - Stevens as compensation.In July 1994, days after the contract to which they'd originally signed him expired, the Blues again inked Stevens to an offer sheet, this time for $17 million over four years. Had this second attempt to acquire him concluded differently, he would never have captained the Devils to three Stanley Cups.New Jersey, though, matched the offer and upped the ante by accusing St. Louis management of tampering. An NHL investigation later uncovered an overnight air receipt that proved Blues president Jack Quinn had sent the offer sheet to Stevens' agent, Richard Bennett, that May while the defenseman was still under contract with the Devils.The probe, which took until 1999 to complete, resulted in NHL commissioner Gary Bettman forcing the Blues to yield a first-round pick to New Jersey and to pay the Devils $1.4 million."I don't look at something of this nature as a triumph," New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello told reporters at the time. "I don't think the compensation could be severe enough. My request was five first-round picks, plus damages."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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NHL free agency doesn't officially begin until July 1, but with the UFA and RFA negotiating periods now underway, the landscape is beginning to take shape.Several big-name players have already been linked to potential new teams, and while some of those connections would be intriguing, the matches aren't necessarily the most entertaining scenarios.Here are a handful of moves that would have us stockpiling popcorn in anticipation of next season:Panarin to AvalancheDavid Becker / National Hockey League / GettyWith the Florida Panthers clearly making a push to land both Artemi Panarin and his netminding teammate Sergei Bobrovsky (more on him below), that destination would make a lot of sense here, especially considering new head coach Joel Quenneville's history with the Russian sniper.However, there's a much more exciting and competitive squad Panarin could join.The Colorado Avalanche already boast arguably the NHL's best line with Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen, but they could add another elite scorer in Panarin without needing to worry too much about the price tag.The team holds more than $35 million to spend on free agents this offseason. Rantanen is due a chunk of that, and yes, goaltender Semyon Varlamov is another one of Colorado's 12 combined pending UFAs and RFAs. But the Avalanche can still fit Panarin's likely double-digit cap hit under the ceiling if he wants to sign with them.Colorado is a playoff team with a dominant top line, a blue-line corps loaded with potential, and capable goaltending. Now the Avalanche need secondary scoring, and Panarin can address that as the best scorer available.Bobrovsky to HurricanesGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyThe Panthers appear to be the common-sense destination for both Panarin and Bobrovsky. But how great would it be if the veteran goalie joined the "Bunch of Jerks?"Carolina's goaltending situation is uncertain right now, as both Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney are pending unrestricted free agents, and Scott Darling is likely getting bought out. McElhinney turned 36 years old last month, and Calder Cup-winning prospect Alex Nedeljkovic will likely get a shot at making the big club next season.Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell says he's talking to Mrazek daily and is confident he'll sign a No. 1 goalie, whether it's the 27-year-old or someone else.Someone else, you say? If you're Waddell, wouldn't you rather ink Bobrovsky, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner fresh off the best postseason of his career, over Mrazek, who was inconsistent in the 2019 playoffs and hasn't started more than 40 regular-season games since 2016-17?Carolina needs to lock up Sebastian Aho, and the team would surely prefer to keep Justin Williams and Micheal Ferland in the fold, too. But the Hurricanes are in win-now mode with a projected $25 million to work with this summer. Go get Bobrovsky, Don.Duchene to CanadiensJamie Sabau / National Hockey League / GettyThe Nashville Predators appear to be the front-runner for Matt Duchene's services. He's a fit there, especially after Predators general manager David Poile mentioned he wants to strengthen his forward corps with the cap space freed up following the P.K. Subban trade.But isn't there another team in greater need of an upgrade down the middle after trying in vain to land a first-line center for years?Ah yes, the Montreal Canadiens, a squad with Phillip Danault, Max Domi, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi at the position, but the Habs could go from the cusp of the postseason to a solid playoff team with Duchene on the roster.The Canadiens need to take care of several free agents with only about $9 million in projected cap space, including Artturi Lehkonen. However, If Montreal can get Karl Alzner's contract off the books, that might clear enough room to pay Duchene what he's worth.Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has never been shy about making major moves, and this is one he should pursue.Pavelski to LightningRocky W. Widner/NHL / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's hard to imagine Joe Pavelski playing for any team but the San Jose Sharks. He's spent his entire 13-year career in San Jose, including the last four as captain.However, Pavelski suiting up for the high-octane Tampa Bay Lightning - a club he reportedly met with on Wednesday night - would be appointment viewing.Sure, he'll turn 35 years old in July, and the Lightning don't have much wiggle room under the cap with Brayden Point in need of a new deal.But remember, Tampa was swept in the first round of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion this past spring after a historic regular season.Adding "Captain America" would give the Lightning a proven playoff performer, an unquestioned leader, and a forward who can still produce at a high level. Pavelski racked up 38 regular-season goals and four more in the postseason with the Sharks in 2018-19.As nice as it would be for Pavelski to finish his career with the only organization he's ever known, watching the veteran bolster a Bolts team that already includes Point, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman is a tantalizing proposition, and it could help the Lightning vanquish their playoff demons.Marner signs an offer sheetMark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyAs unlikely as this may be, it needs to happen for a couple of reasons.Firstly, a team issuing the Toronto Maple Leafs an offer sheet for star restricted free-agent forward Mitch Marner would throw an under-utilized wrench into NHL free agency, making the offseason infinitely more entertaining. More practically, playing the offer-sheet card here would put the Leafs in further cap hell, to the benefit of every other club.So, beyond the obvious acrimony it would create between two rival front offices, signing Marner to an offer sheet is a move worth making for opposing teams with cap space and draft picks to burn.The possibility of a player getting an offer sheet has loomed for years in the NHL. Now with so many RFAs out there, it's time to turn speculation into reality.Plenty of teams have the flexibility and assets to give Marner an offer sheet. Even if the Leafs match, it would arguably be worthwhile for certain clubs, and what's wrong with a little gamesmanship between GMs?(Cap figures courtesy: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are reportedly "working hard" to trade goaltender James Reimer, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Reimer, who is signed for two more years at a $3.4-million cap hit, is the club's only goalie under contract after Roberto Luongo's retirement Wednesday.The Panthers have been heavily linked to unrestricted free-agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on multiple occasions. They're the betting favorite to land both him and Artemi Panarin, and Florida already met with both UFAs.Reimer endured a down year in 2018-19, posting a .900 save percentage and a 3.09 goals-against average in 36 games. He owns a .914 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average across his nine-year career with the Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Phil Kessel saga is seemingly never-ending.The Pittsburgh Penguins remain interested in trading Kessel, preferably before free agency begins on July 1, sources told The Athletic's Rob Rossi. This comes less than a month after general manager Jim Rutherford said it was unlikely he would deal the winger.Kessel is signed for three more years with a $6.8-million cap hit and can veto a trade to all but eight teams of his choosing.Sources told Rossi they believe Kessel's eight-team list includes five which the Penguins would never trade him to, along with three others that can't afford his cap hit. He reportedly used his no-trade clause to nix a move to the Minnesota Wild in May for a return that would've been headlined by Jason Zucker.Rossi adds that Pittsburgh's desire to trade Kessel stems from a rift with head coach Mike Sullivan. The 31-year-old wants to play on the club's second line, centered by Evgeni Malkin, but Sullivan occasionally drops Kessel down to the third line when the two aren't clicking. Separating Kessel and Malkin worked marvelously during Pittsburgh's Cup run in 2016 when the winger anchored the "HBK" line with Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin.Some also think Kessel is partially at fault for Malkin's declining defensive play over the past two seasons. Sources told Rossi that they believe Malkin has picked up some of Kessel's bad defensive habits, including "inconsistent backchecking, inattentiveness regarding own-zone responsibilities, and poor puck management in the neutral zone."Off the ice, Sullivan and other staff believe Kessel would be a better player - and set an example for younger Penguins players - if he showed a "greater commitment to fitness," sources told Rossi.Furthermore, Kessel's status as a regular at a local casino was apparently not viewed as an issue until younger players, including Jake Guentzel, started joining him there on days before games, which other players were told was frowned upon.Kessel hasn't missed a game since the 2009-10 season. He tallied 45 points in 49 playoff games during Pittsburgh's two Stanley Cup triumphs and has enjoyed the best two-year stretch of his career during the last couple of seasons, during which he's registered 174 points in 164 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's been no shortage of activity from the Vegas Golden Knights in the early stages of the 2019 offseason.The cap-strapped club already inked William Karlsson to an eight-year contract extension and shipped Erik Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes, but president of hockey operations George McPhee expects more transactions in the coming days."We have a little more work to do," McPhee told The Athletic's Jesse Granger on Thursday. "We'll see where things go in the next few days. We made a move yesterday and there's probably another one coming."The Golden Knights face arguably the most undesirable salary cap situation of any team this summer. Vegas has a projected $86 million committed to its roster against a cap of $81.5 million."We have lots of good players and lots of good players on good contracts," McPhee said. "We're popular these days."Vegas can get an additional $5.25 million in relief by storing David Clarkson's contract on LTIR, but the Knights still need to sort out the situations of restricted free agents Nikita Gusev and Malcolm Subban, as well as make decisions on a series of unrestricted free agents that includes Tomas Nosek, Deryk Engelland, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.The Golden Knights qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row in 2018-19, losing out to the San Jose Sharks in Round 1 after posting a regular-season record of 43-32-7.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Artemi Panarin is front and center on their radar, the New York Rangers will not engage in a bidding war for his services, sources told Larry Brooks of the New York Post.While nothing is set in stone, the Rangers are unlikely to exceed an offer in the seven-year, $11.25-million range if another team goes higher, the sources indicated to Brooks.Panarin met with New York's management on Thursday, but the dynamic Russian winger is also reportedly being courted with lucrative offers from the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche, among others.He's arguably the top free-agent skater on the market this summer after recording 87 points for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018-19.The Rangers are in the midst of a rebuild but have quickly gathered a deep group of assets that could accelerate the process of becoming competitive again. Among their best pieces are 2019 No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko, while the team also has a projected $17.5 million in available cap space this summer.After seven consecutive trips to the playoffs, New York missed out for the second season in a row in 2018-19, finishing 20 points outside the cutline with a record of 32-36-14.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mats Zuccarello is apparently aiming to sign a long-term contract.The pending unrestricted free agent is looking for a five-year pact, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported Thursday.Zuccarello produced 11 points in 13 playoff games with the Dallas Stars this spring. He broke his arm blocking a shot in his Stars debut after being acquired from the New York Rangers before February's trade deadline, and ultimately posted a goal and two assists in two regular-season contests with his new club.The crafty forward, who'll turn 32 in September, spent more than eight seasons with the Rangers, collecting 37 points in 46 contests in 2018-19 before the trade.He's coming off the four-year, $18-million extension he inked with New York in March 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin's free-agency tour reportedly included a meeting with the Broadway Blueshirts.The coveted winger spent time with the New York Rangers on Wednesday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said on Sunday that he expected to meet with Panarin and his Columbus Blue Jackets teammate, Sergei Bobrovsky, at some point this week.Panarin, arguably the NHL's top pending unrestricted free agent, has been able to speak with other clubs since the UFA negotiating window opened on Sunday. The free-agent signing period officially begins July 1 at noon EST.Last summer, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported the Rangers were the 27-year-old winger's preferred destination.New York holds about $17.5 million in cap space, with Jacob Trouba and Pavel Buchnevich among the team's players requiring new deals, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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, Travis Yost of TSN joins John to discuss a variety of free agency-related topics, including:

Robin Lehner's days with the New York Islanders could be numbered.The club and the goaltender are far enough apart in contract talks that a league source told The Athletic's Arthur Staple that Lehner will almost certainly play elsewhere next season.After the unrestricted free-agent negotiating window opened Sunday, the pending UFA said he had no plans to talk to another team at that point. Last week, he said he loves the organization and wants to be back.Lehner is coming off the one-year, $1.5-million pact he inked with New York last July.The netminder, who'll turn 28 in July, was one of the best stories of the 2018-19 season. He won the Jennings Trophy along with teammate Thomas Greiss, was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, and won the Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.During training camp last fall, Lehner revealed his bipolar disorder diagnosis as well as his struggles with substance abuse.He had a career season on the ice, posting a .930 save percentage in 46 appearances while helping the Islanders complete a turnaround that also earned head coach Barry Trotz the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top head coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes bought out the final year of Patrick Marleau's contract on Thursday, the club announced.Carolina acquired the 39-year-old from the Toronto Maple Leafs via trade at the draft and owes Marleau his $3-million signing bonus plus $833,333 split over the next two years, according to Hurricanes senior web producer Michael Smith.The Canes will not receive any cap savings, according to CapFriendly, as Marleau was signed to a 35-plus contract.Toronto packaged Marleau along with a conditional first-round pick and a seventh-rounder in 2020 to offload his $6.25-million cap hit and received a sixth-round selection in return.Marleau hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 campaign and registered 16 goals and 21 assists for Toronto last season. It's widely expected that he's seeking a return to the San Jose Sharks, with whom he spent the first 19 years of his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils have gone a long way in adding significant star power to their roster early in the offseason, pulling off a blockbuster trade for blue-liner P.K. Subban and drafting American phenom Jack Hughes first overall.New Jersey's moves have impressed star forward Taylor Hall, who can't wait to get going with his new teammates."As a player in the offseason, that's what you want to see," Hall said, per TSN. "It's exciting. We're going to have more than a couple new faces next year. Just injecting some new blood in the team is going to be really good."Hall's 2018-19 season was tarnished by injuries - a disappointing follow-up to his Hart Trophy-winning campaign the year prior, when he carried the Devils to a playoff berth.With Subban and Hughes now available to help carry the former MVP's load, Hall sees a turnaround for his team on the horizon."Whether he's playing on the power play or he's playing against the other team's top lines, he's going to be a guy that makes everyone else's jobs on the ice easier," Hall said of Subban."I'm really excited to play with him."The developments come at an opportune moment for Hall, who is an unrestricted free agent next summer and intends to prioritize winning a Stanley Cup at this stage of his career.

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson have agreed on a two-year contract worth $1.75 million annually, the team announced Thursday.Gunnarsson was slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 but is now signed with the Blues through the 2020-21 season.The 32-year-old was limited to just 25 regular-season games in 2018-19, registering three goals and four assists. He also suited up for 19 playoff contests during the Blues' march to the Stanley Cup and scored the overtime winner in Game 2 of the finals.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aside from a tailgating appearance at a Chicago Bears game that went viral, Joel Quenneville kept a low profile between the time he was fired by the Chicago Blackhawks last November and hired by the Florida Panthers in April.However, he recently opened up about his decade-long run in the Windy City and admitted that when the NHL schedule was released Tuesday, his return to the United Center on Jan. 21 was "definitely on the radar screen.""You’ll be into the season now, and you’re just worried about Florida," he told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus. "You’re consumed with hockey and your team and that’s your focus. But the memories of 10 tremendous years, that’s going to be a special moment. You reflect back and think of everything that we were able to do, and the people you were with, and the fans and the city - you could keep going on and on."Quenneville led the Blackhawks to the playoffs in each of his first nine seasons in Chicago, winning Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015.He was relieved of his duties after a 6-6-3 start to the 2018-19 season. Despite the abrupt end to what had been a successful tenure, he felt no ill will toward management for their decision."The other times it was bitter," Quenneville said, referring to his previous stops with the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. "This one I can say it wasn’t bitter. And I’m sure it had everything to do with the memories and the relationships. ... I can honestly say we moved on, and that’s part of the business."He added: "Our time there was too special, the memories were too great. And that’s how we’ll leave it."Quenneville admitted that missing the playoffs in 2017-18 may have led to a shorter leash last season. However, he wouldn't concede that the controversial moves made during the 2017 offseason contributed to the team's struggles.In the summer of 2017, general manager Stan Bowman traded core players Artemi Panarin and Niklas Hjalmarsson in two separate deals, acquiring Brandon Saad and Connor Murphy in return. Bowman also fired Quenneville's right-hand man, assistant coach Mike Kitchen."I was not happy with losing Kitch," he admitted. "And we had a good rapport and a lot of success with Hammer. And knowing the Bread Man’s a special guy. But everybody has to make decisions nowadays, and coaches are getting fired on the staff but the head coach is still there. That’s more in play than it’s been in the past."The Blackhawks went 30-28-9 last year with Jeremy Colliton behind the bench, missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Quenneville said he didn't watch a single game after he was relieved of his duties.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Matt Duchene derby is underway.Duchene had a meeting with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The pending unrestricted free-agent center is expected to visit with the Nashville Predators on Thursday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.He'll be one of the most coveted players on the market, along with his Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.Duchene posted a point per game in the playoffs after collecting 12 over 23 regular-season contests with the Blue Jackets, the team that landed him from the Ottawa Senators before February's trade deadline.The 28-year-old totaled 31 goals and 70 points across 73 games during the 2018-19 season.He's coming off the final campaign of a five-year, $30-million pact inked while a member of the Colorado Avalanche in summer 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Pavelski apparently has no shortage of suitors now that the free-agency interview period is underway.The San Jose Sharks captain had a meeting with the Dallas Stars at their practice facility Wednesday, reports The Athletic's Sean Shapiro. He also got a tour of the Dallas-Fort Worth area to get an idea of whether it would be a fit for his family.Pavelski then met with the Lightning in Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The veteran forward is a pending unrestricted free agent who'll turn 35 on July 11.The Minnesota Wild and Arizona Coyotes have also reportedly been in touch with the veteran forward's camp.Pavelski poured in 38 goals and collected 64 points in 2018-19, his 13th season with the Sharks. He's spent his entire career with San Jose, which drafted him 205th overall in 2003.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have connected with veteran goaltender Mike Smith during the free-agency interview period, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli.Smith, a pending unrestricted free agent, is coming off his second season with the Calgary Flames.The 37-year-old posted an .898 save percentage in 42 appearances during the 2018-19 regular season. He started all five of the Flames' playoff games this spring, winning only one despite finishing with a .917 save percentage in the series.Smith just concluded his final campaign of the six-year, $34-million deal he inked with the Arizona Coyotes in 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Kyle Connor's intent is still to negotiate and sign a contract with the Winnipeg Jets, some teams reached out to the winger's camp Wednesday on the first day of the restricted free-agent speaking period, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Connor, a pending RFA, buried 34 goals and produced 66 points while playing all 82 games in his second full campaign with Winnipeg.The 22-year-old notched 31 goals and 57 points while appearing in 76 regular-season contests in 2017-18.Connor is coming off his entry-level contract, which carried a cap hit of $925,000. The Jets drafted him 17th overall in 2015.The window for teams to speak with RFAs from other clubs opened Wednesday morning at midnight.Winnipeg has five RFAs to sign this summer, including Connor and fellow 30-goal scorer Patrik Laine, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of hockey's greatest netminders has decided to hang up his skates.Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo announced his retirement via social media Wednesday after 19 NHL seasons."This is one of the toughest decisions I've faced in my life and it took me a long time to make it," Luongo wrote in an open letter to the fans on the Panthers' website. "After thinking about it a lot over the past two months and listening to my body, I made up my mind. It just feels like the right time for me to step away from the game."

The Mitch Marner sweepstakes are officially underway.Multiple teams have reached out to the restricted free agent now that the interview period has opened, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and Marner's agent Darren Ferris continue to talk daily, Dreger added. Marner's camp is reportedly not interested in a maximum term, eight-year deal.The last restricted free agent to publicly use the RFA interview period to meet with other teams was Shea Weber in 2012. He signed a 14-year, $110-million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers before it was matched by the Nashville Predators.Ryan O'Reilly was the last player to sign an offer sheet in 2013, though he did not - at least publicly - meet with other clubs during the interview window. He signed a two-year, $10-million offer sheet with the Calgary Flames that was matched by the Colorado Avalanche.Marner is eligible to sign an offer sheet with a club when free agency opens July 1. Dubas said it's not a "foregone conclusion" the Leafs would match an offer.If the Leafs don't match an offer sheet for Marner with a cap hit exceeding $10.6 million, they would receive four first-round picks of compensation.The 22-year-old recorded a career-high 94 points last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers and goaltender Brian Elliott have agreed to a one-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2 million, the team announced Wednesday.Elliott was limited to just 26 games in 2018-19 due to injury. He posted a record of 11-11-1 with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.With Elliott signed, the free-agent goalie pool loses a reliable veteran talent with many teams still needing help in the crease. The Flyers now have three goaltenders under contract in Carter Hart, Alex Lyon, and Elliott, making it likely that UFA netminders Michal Neuvirth and Cam Talbot find new homes this offseason.Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher has had himself a busy couple of days, re-signing defenseman Travis Sanheim and trading forward Ryan Hartman to the Dallas Stars for Tyler Pitlick. He also inked center Kevin Hayes to a seven-year deal last week.Elliott joined the Flyers on a two-year deal ahead of the 2017-18 season and is now primed for his 13th NHL campaign. The 34-year-old was Philadelphia's nominee for the 2018-19 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With July 1 fast approaching, teams are gearing up for a chance to bolster their rosters in free agency. And while the bigger names are receiving the most attention, there are plenty of other talents who could push their ceilings to greater heights.With that in mind, here are five free agents who are likely to sign bargain deals this offseason that could pay off in big ways for their clubs (stats are from 2018-19 campaign).Corey Perry - RWGPGAPCap hit316410$8.62MPerry has declined statistically over four consecutive campaigns and did not play until February this past season while recovering from knee surgery. Given he's 34 years of age, the veteran winger is likely to sign a one-year deal at a lower cost, allowing his next team to avoid any risk.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyStill, Perry could have more to offer, as he did record 53 and 49 points in 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. On top of his offensive potential, the Ontario native has always been someone opponents hate playing against but would love to have on their team. Even when Perry isn't finding the scoresheet, he's getting under the skin of the opposition.If he can rediscover his form over a healthy offseason and lands on the right team, Perry could be one of the biggest steals of the summer.Joonas Donskoi - RW GPGAPCap hit80142337$1.9MDonskoi is technically coming off a career season, but his 37 points were only one more than he totaled in his rookie campaign four years ago. The 27-year-old hasn't shown much growth during his time with the San Jose Sharks, and after logging the lowest average ice time of his career, a change of scenery could help.Meanwhile, the Finn's upside is worth exploring, as he's always been on the right side of the possession metric. Donskoi finished 2018-19 with a Corsi For of 54.46, while the Sharks owned 56 percent of high-danger scoring chances when he was on the ice. Donskoi has also suited up for 50 career playoff games already, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.It's tough to say exactly how much Donskoi will fetch on the free-agent market. He's clearly a productive player when on the ice, but it will be interesting to see if teams believe he has more room to grow, or if they think he'll simply slide into a bottom-six role.Brandon Tanev - LWGPGAPCap hit80141529$1.15MTanev enjoyed a career year with the Winnipeg Jets last season while forming one of the better depth lines in hockey alongside Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault. The 27-year-old proved to be an effective bottom-six forward who could log tough minutes against opponents' top talents while still contributing offensively.Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyThe Toronto native plays a heavier game than his 6-foot frame would indicate, as he finished third in the NHL with 278 hits last season and is extremely effective on the forecheck. Tanev's strong defensive acumen also saw him average the second-most shorthanded minutes per game among Jets players - with two shorthanded goals - while leading the forward group in blocked shots.The gritty winger may receive a slight pay bump this offseason, but a team will likely sign him to a cap-friendly deal and have him fit nicely into its lineup.Jordie Benn - D GPGAPCap hit8151722$1.1MBenn offers a steady presence on the blue line and can also contribute offensively. The 31-year-old led the Montreal Canadiens with 128 blocked shots in 2018-19 and ranked sixth on the team in hits with 124 - all while tallying a career high in points.Additionally, the advanced analytics are on Benn's side. The Habs owned 52.23 percent of scoring chances when he was on the ice, and that number jumped to 55.08 percent with high-danger scoring chances. Benn also averaged 2:46 of shorthanded ice time last season, as he's capable of logging heavy minutes on the penalty kill.The 6-foot-2 blue-liner is coming off perhaps his best season, but it's rare that a depth defenseman gets a substantial pay raise in their early 30s. Benn should be available at a lower cost and could prove to be quite the bargain.Tyler Ennis - LWGPGAPCap hit5112618$650KThe Toronto Maple Leafs inked Ennis to a one-year deal that turned out to be one of the better bargains of 2018-19. The former 20-goal scorer rediscovered his offensive game in Toronto, hitting double digits in the goal column despite playing less than 10 minutes per night and missing two months with a broken ankle.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOverall, Ennis' strong skating, puck skills, and relentless work ethic make him an ideal bottom-six forward in the modern NHL who's capable of serving a role on the power play, as he often did with the Leafs. In five playoff games against the Boston Bruins, the 29-year-old contributed two assists, including one in Game 7.(All advanced stats according to Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens re-signed defenseman Mike Reilly to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.5 million, the team announced Wednesday.In his first full season with the Canadiens, Reilly skated in 57 games and registered 11 points. He averaged nearly 19 minutes per game and posted an impressive Corsi For rating of 54.8, according to Natural Stat Trick.The 25-year-old was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Canadiens prior to the 2018 trade deadline in exchange for a fifth-round pick.Reilly was one of Montreal's four restricted free agents along with forwards Charles Hudon, Artturi Lehkonen, and Joel Armia. With Reilly signed, the Canadiens now have eight defensemen under contract for next season. Veteran blue-liner Jordie Benn is the team's lone unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have been in contact with Brett Connolly's camp, according to his agent Gerry Johannson.Johannson confirmed on Edmonton-based radio station 630 CHED's "Oilers Now" show on Tuesday that Oilers general manager Ken Holland has spoken to him about Connolly.“We’ve talked to Ken, and Brett had a really good conversation," the agent said. "We’ve got quite a few calls for sure on (Connolly). The (contract) number probably is going to be fairly reasonable, I think, to where a lot of teams can look at Brett as a fit."Johannson then touted the Oilers as a team that presents an ideal opportunity not just for his client, but for any player, presumably due to the presence of Connor McDavid.“There’s not a much better opportunity in the NHL than the right side in Edmonton," he said. "That’s a pretty big opportunity for someone like Brett. And obviously he’s a (Prince George, British Columbia) guy, so he’s a western Canadian. We've got a lot of calls to make, still, and we've got to go through a process and obviously it's up to Brett, but ... Edmonton would be a great spot.”Johannson added that six-to-eight teams have expressed "real interest" in Connolly.The 27-year-old pending unrestricted free agent has spent the last three seasons with the Washington Capitals, helping them win the Stanley Cup last June. He posted a career-high 22 goals and 46 points in 2018-19.Connolly is coming off a two-year, $3-million deal signed with the Capitals in June 2017.- With h/t to Reid WilkinsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hayley Wickenheiser couldn't initially be informed that she was one of this year's Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.The Canadian hockey legend was taking a medical school exam and would've received a failing grade had she used her phone, Lanny McDonald, the Hall's chairman of the board, told reporters on the conference call celebrating the 2019 class Tuesday, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli."We wouldn't want her to fail," McDonald said, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby.Wickenheiser later emerged from the exam and caught up on the outpouring of support and congratulatory messages.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its six 2019 inductees Tuesday, headlined by Hayley Wickenheiser, perhaps the greatest female player of all time.Forwards Guy Carbonneau and Vaclav Nedomansky plus defenseman Sergei Zubov will also enter the Hall.In the builders category, executive Jim Rutherford and college coaching legend Jerry York represent this year's inductees.Wickenheiser is one of the most decorated women's players ever, having captured seven gold medals for Canada at the Women's World Championship. She's also a five-time Olympic medalist and won four consecutive gold medals from 2002-14. Wickenheiser is the Canadian women's team's all-time leader in goals, assists, and points over 276 career games.Carbonneau tallied 663 points in 1,318 NHL contests and captured the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward in 1988, 1989, and 1992. The former Montreal Canadiens captain won Stanley Cups with the Habs in 1986 and 1993, and one more with the Dallas Stars in 1999.Zubov is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, once with the New York Rangers in 1994 and again with the Dallas Stars in 1999. The blue-liner finished his career with 771 points in 1,068 career games with the Rangers, Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He remains the Stars' all-time points leader among defensemen.Nedomansky recorded 277 points in 420 NHL games split between the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers. Before joining the NHL in 1978, Nedomansky was a member of Czechoslovakia's national team and competed in the Olympics twice.As a general manager, Jim Rutherford helped build champions in multiple cities. Rutherford served as president and GM of the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers from 1994-2015, and the franchise won its first and only Stanley Cup in 2006.Rutherford joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. Under his guidance, the Penguins became the first team to capture back-to-back Cups in the salary-cap era, winning in 2016 and 2017. Rutherford also received the NHL General Manager of the Year Award in 2016.York is one of college hockey's most decorated coaches and has served as head coach of the men's team at Boston College since 1994. He's won five NCAA championships, his first with Bowling Green in 1984 and the rest with the Eagles (2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladimir Tarasenko underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the St. Louis Blues announced Tuesday.The 27-year-old forward led the club with 33 goals and ranked second with 68 points in 76 regular-season games this past season. He then added 11 goals and 17 points in 26 playoff contests en route to the Blues' Stanley Cup championship.Tarasenko didn't miss a postseason game this spring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild general manager Paul Fenton has been in contact with Joe Pavelski's agent, Dan Plante, The Athletic's Michael Russo reported Monday.Plante has talked to the San Jose Sharks captain about the Wild "a lot," adds Russo, and the team recently re-signed another Plante client, Brad Hunt.Pavelski is a pending unrestricted free agent coming off the final season of the five-year, $30-million deal he signed with San Jose in the summer of 2013.The veteran forward, who'll turn 35 on July 11, poured in 38 goals and collected 64 points in 75 regular-season games this past campaign before adding four markers and 9 points in 13 playoff contests.He's spent his entire 13-year career with the Sharks, who gave him the "C" in 2015-16.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wayne Simmonds appears to be a hot commodity.The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly among the long list of teams that have reached out on the pending unrestricted free-agent forward, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Minnesota Wild general manager Paul Fenton has also reached out to Simmonds' agent, reports The Athletic's Michael Russo.The Philadelphia Flyers traded Simmonds to the Nashville Predators at the deadline, but Preds general manager David Poile confirmed Saturday that the physical winger will not return to the club.Simmonds produced only one goal and three points in 17 games with Nashville and was held off the scoresheet entirely while appearing in only two of the Predators' six playoff contests this spring.He spent nearly eight campaigns with the Flyers, averaging 30 goals and 56 points over a four-year stretch between 2013-14 and 2016-17.However, the 30-year-old's offensive production has dipped over the last couple of seasons, across which he's combined for only 41 goals and 76 points in 154 games.Simmonds played the first three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings, who selected him 61st overall in the 2007 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fresh off the first Stanley Cup win in franchise history, the St. Louis Blues signed head coach Craig Berube to a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday."This is a proud day for me and my family," Berube said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for this team and this organization and the city of St. Louis has embraced me as one of their own. This past season was the experience of a lifetime and I'm anxious to get started on our title defense."Berube took over as interim head coach after the Blues fired Mike Yeo on Nov. 19, and then led the team to a 38-19-6 record.In the process, the 53-year-old helped lead one of the biggest turnarounds in NHL history, as the Blues sat last in the league on Jan. 3 before going 30-10-5 down the stretch to claim the third spot in the Central Division.For his efforts, Berube was named a finalist for the 2019 Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach. He originally joined the Blues as an associate coach in June 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.