Forward Joonas Donskoi's camp informed the San Jose Sharks that they will meet with other teams once the unrestricted free-agent speaking period begins on June 23, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.While the 27-year-old will explore his options for a deal elsewhere, he's not closing the door on the Sharks, LeBrun added.Donskoi enjoyed a productive rookie campaign in 2015-16, producing 11 goals and 36 points, but hasn't shown much growth since. The Finnish winger recorded 37 points in 80 games this past season while logging a career-low 13:25 of ice time per game.The Sharks have a long list of forwards in need of new contracts, including restricted free agents Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc. Captain Joe Pavelski and veteran Joe Thornton are also set to become unrestricted free agents. Under the estimated $83-million salary cap, the club has a projected $15.34 million to work with.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Draft-based prop bets are the theme of the week.A day after the next wave of future NBA stars heard their names called at the podium, our attention shifts to the NHL Draft, which begins Friday evening.Here's what kind of prop bets are being offered:Who will go 3rd overall?Player OddsAlex Turcotte1-2Bowen Byram2-1Kirby Dach11-2Dylan Cozens7-1Trevor Zegras10-1Vasili Podkolzin14-1Field25-1This is the most intriguing prop on the board considering this is likely where the draft breaks. It feels as though nobody is truly sure what the Blackhawks are going to do at No. 3."The Blackhawks are playing this one close to the vest," an observer on the ground told theScore on Friday. "We heard about a week ago that Byram was going to be the pick, but not sure if that's changed. The Turcotte buzz here in Vancouver doesn't appear to be going away. Dach would be the sleeper pick if they pull a surprise."Turcotte missed some time this season, but as an Illinois native with top-end scoring touch, he's frequently been linked to Chicago at No. 3. Byram is seen as the best player available at this slot, though talent in the organization's defensive pool has others thinking Chicago may base this pick more off need. Dach and Cozens are the wild cards who've gained some traction to go third overall, albeit under the radar.Going off what we've been told, we'd play both Byram and Dach at plus-money.Over/Under 1 goaltender taken in Round 1 (Over -130 / Under -110)It'd be a slow burn for over bettors, who would be wise to simply check the board following the first round. Goalies haven't been sought early in the draft recently - the last netminder to be taken in the top 20 was Andrei Vasilevskiy back in 2012. You may be waiting a while, even for a push and your money back.Spencer Knight, who theScore profiled, could go as early as the mid-teens if a team's really in love with him, but it's tough to peg a surefire second for this one to go over. There were no goalies taken in the opening round of theScore's final mock draft, so we'd go under in this spot and hope Knight falls out of the first.Over/Under 2.5 QMJHL players drafted in 1st round (Over -160 / Under +120)Raphael Lavoie is the lone QMJHL skater who's a consensus first-rounder. It gets a little tricky after that. Jakob Pelletier and Samuel Poulin could realistically be selected in Round 1, too, although there are enough credible mock drafts - including theScore's - which have only two skaters from the Q taken in the first. We're leaning under here, also.Over/Under 5.5 OHL players drafted in 1st round (Over -110 / Under -130)Under bettors will like the first half of this draft. There shouldn't be an OHL player selected until the middle of Round 1, until Arthur Kaliyev, who should start the domino of OHL skaters. Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Thomas Harley, and Connor McMichael have been slotted as first-round players. That makes five, meaning another look to the under.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free-agent forward Mitch Marner is not interested in signing for the maximum term on his next contract, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Marner remains committed to exploring his options with other teams if there is no agreement with Toronto, Dreger adds.Since he's already a Leafs player, Marner would be eligible to re-sign for a maximum of eight years on his next deal, as opposed to the seven-year max if he signed with a new team.In February, franchise cornerstone Auston Matthews also opted against signing for the max term and instead inked a five-year contract with an annual cap hit of $11.63 million. If Marner signs a similar deal, Toronto could potentially see both stars enter unrestricted free agency in their primes.Marner will become eligible to receive offer sheets from other teams once free agency opens on July 1, and general manager Kyle Dubas admitted it's not a foregone conclusion that the Leafs would match any potential offer.Toronto would have $7.7 million in projected cap space under the initially estimated cap of $83 million. But with reports that the new cap may be even lower, the Leafs' salary situation could get tighter with RFA forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson also in need of new deals.Marner enjoyed a career year last season, leading the Maple Leafs with 94 points in 82 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was no Plan B for Trevor Zegras.Like many elite hockey-playing Americans who came of age this century, Zegras aspired to spend his 16- and 17-year-old seasons at USA Hockey’s laboratory. The U.S. National Team Development Program, located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, is the ideal landing spot for those who thrive in ultra-competitive, high-intensity environments.To say that type of place was a fit for Zegras - a creative, playmaking center from Bedford, N.Y., who grew up on the NHL Network, the New York Rangers, and Patrick Kane - would be a tremendous understatement. His game, and by extension his draft stock, leveled up continuously over two seasons with the NTDP, which saw him record 46 goals and 100 assists in 106 games against mostly older competition.Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesBy midseason of his second year, NTDP Under-18 head coach John Wroblewski’s phone would buzz with a message from Zegras nearly every day. The player couldn’t get hockey off his mind, and he knew an after-school video session was one way to satisfy that hunger."Trevor, put your phone away in class," Wroblewski would text back.The hard work has paid off. On Friday, Zegras will most likely be selected with a top-10 pick at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver. He's been commonly pegged for either the Buffalo Sabres at seventh overall, the Edmonton Oilers at eighth, or the Anaheim Ducks at ninth."If you would have told me that Trevor was going to be a top-10 pick a year and a half ago when we got to Plymouth," Wroblewski stated, "I would have said, 'OK … I believe in the talent, but let's see if he really wants to be a competitor and if he really, really burns to be a player.' And he did, and he owned it."Beyond Zegras, the scene is set for the U.S. program to hog headlines all weekend long. As many as 20 NTDP players could hear their names called by an NHL club. Led by presumptive No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, the 2001-born team is supremely talented, and arguably the program's best since being founded in 1996.––––––––––What makes the NTDP unique in the junior hockey landscape is that once a player joins the program, he can’t be traded or cut. Barring a major development, USA Hockey and the kid are locked into a two-year agreement, with the target of producing a polished product - a quality person and a well-rounded player - taking precedence over team success.Those players not only have access to some of the game's brightest young coaching minds and state-of-the-art facilities, but they're also expected to embrace the pro lifestyle and make the most of every waking hour. Breakfast and high school classes occupy the morning; lunch, video, on-ice sessions, and off-ice workouts come in the afternoon; dinner and homework follow in the evening; bedtime happens at a reasonable hour. And then they do it all again the next day.Bill Wippert / Getty ImagesUSA Hockey first scouts prospective NTDP players for two years before holding tryouts to make the Under-17 team. Identifying the right personalities and talent levels is paramount. "It's a super strict program," said Cam York, who broke the NTDP record for the most points by a defenseman this past season. "You have to be perfect in school, and at the rink you have to be really good as well. They expect a lot out of you. As a person, I felt like I grew a lot, and as a player as well."Added Gary Zegras, Trevor's dad: "About halfway through that U17 year, you realize as a parent how much hard work it takes and how much dedication it takes. That group, as a whole, is very committed. Every kid and every family. Everyone had their ups and downs over the two years, but as a group, they seemed so resilient and so close."There is one stretch at the conclusion of the Under-17 year that's particularly vigorous. For six days per week over roughly two months, the players are put through an all-encompassing boot camp. The objective is to lay the groundwork for a summer of growth ahead of their NHL draft year."That was a grind. Every day running, lifting, skills, power skating," blue-liner Marshall Warren recalled in Buffalo last month after posting strong scores in the fitness portion of the scouting combine. "That was one of the biggest development periods of my career. I can't thank the program enough for that time."Overall, 17 of the 103 players invited to the 2019 combine were from the NTDP. That's a program record and a testament to the depth of the 2001-born team.And many of them should be drafted early. Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield, and Matt Boldy will likely join Hughes and Zegras as top-10 selections. Spencer Knight, the consensus best draft-eligible goaltender, is a first-round talent. York will probably be gone by the 20th overall pick, while fellow defenseman Alex Vlasic has a shot to be taken before Friday ends. On Day 2, Warren, John Beecher, Drew Helleson, Henry Thrun, Domenick Fensore, Patrick Moynihan, Cameron Rowe, and likely another teammate or two should all come off the board at some point."You’ll see some guys playing in college next year and go, 'Oh, I didn’t know this guy was actually this good,'" said Knight, who's committed to Boston College, about the lesser-known NTDP players in the draft. "There's so many high-end guys who play so much sometimes that these other guys won’t emerge until next year when they start playing a bigger role."Rena Laverty / USA HockeyWroblewski added that internal competition was the "calling card" of the 2001-born team. Despite breaking the NTDP all-time points record, Hughes was constantly challenged by Turcotte, the team's No. 2 center and a notoriously fierce competitor. Meanwhile, Turcotte was looking over his shoulder at Zegras, the third-line center, who was a bull's-eye for Caufield, the 72-goal scorer. Caufield had Boldy on his tail … and so on.Their results were impressive. In 64 total games during 2018-19, the Under-18 team beat opponents - which included USHL clubs, NCAA Division I and III schools, and international sides - by an average score of 6-3. Along the way, the program defeated Harvard, Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The only thing missing was a gold medal at the 2019 Under-18 worlds. Russia outlasted the NTDP in overtime in the semifinal, forcing the Americans into the bronze-medal game against Canada, which they won 5-2."That's something that I think will stick with all of us for a long time," said Rowe, the backup goalie. "It was really disappointing. I remember guys who were in tears after that game. It was a real somber mood going into the bronze-medal game."Still, Wroblewski's players, who posted a two-year international record of 29-2-1, took a long look in the mirror before meeting Canada, telling themselves they wouldn't let their country's 15-year medal streak die."Bittersweet is probably a good way to describe it," Zegras said of claiming the bronze. "Only because it's not what we went there for - especially with all the expectations our group had. I honestly think that in the semifinal game the better team didn't win. I think we were all over them in that overtime period. That's hockey, right. That's why you play."––––––––––Where did this concentrated explosion of talent come from? The players and their families deserve the bulk of the credit, of course, but something called the American Development Model is also worthy of praise.The ADM, a set of top-to-bottom guidelines first released by USA Hockey in 2009, has grown up alongside Hughes, Turcotte, Zegras, and the rest of the 2001-born national team. And the model - which seeks to promote individual skill, offense, and becoming a strong overall athlete - has changed the way hockey is viewed at the youth level in the U.S.Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images"I'm really not concerned that our 10-year-olds don't know how to play a trap very well," USA Hockey technical director Ken Martel said. Instead, like other hockey federations, most American youth organizations are now concerned with how smart and creative its players can become. At a young age, players are put on smaller ice surfaces to encourage more puck time along with quick decision-making. Learning systems and playing games on a full-length rink can wait until later.The NTDP is where USA Hockey's overarching philosophies collide with the country’s best players at both the Under-17 and Under-18 levels. Wroblewski, who suited up for the program as a player in the late 1990s, sees a stark contrast between then and now."Development back in the beginning was about who could come up with the best system to stifle the other team," he said. "Whereas today, it's about how can we attack a team and break them down."Sergei Fadeichev / Getty ImagesThe NTDP’s 1997-born team was excellent too. Although not every player stayed for both years, it produced a spectacular list of NHLers, including Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, and Matthew Tkachuk. But this class of 2001s could be even better."I’m just intrigued," said senior director of NTDP operations Scott Monaghan. "Is this the beginning of a wave, where there's more depth in talent and skill in the age groups than maybe there hasn't been in the past?""I don’t think it's a blip," Hughes said. "USA Hockey's at the best it’s ever been right now. There's a lot of talent coming up the pipeline, and obviously, you see all the young guys in the NHL, the Americans that are at the top of the league right now. I think there's a lot more from where that came from."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There has been mutual interest shown between the Nashville Predators and free-agent forward Corey Perry, according to sources of The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The Chicago Blackhawks have also shown interest in the 34-year-old, another source told LeBrun.Perry is not the top-tier scorer that he used to be, but he's still capable of producing when healthy. The veteran winger tallied 19 and 17 goals during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, respectively, as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.The Predators scored the third-fewest goals among all playoff teams this past season and could benefit from the offensive upside that Perry supplies on the wing. The 2011 Hart Trophy winner could also provide the Predators with another option for a dismal power-play unit that ranked last in the NHL a season ago.Scoring isn't the Blackhawks' problem these days, but with $16.2 million in projected cap space, adding another offensive threat to a skilled forward group could be something they consider.Perry was bought out by the Ducks on Wednesday after spending the first 14 years of his career with the team. In a franchise-record 988 career games, Perry recorded 372 goals and 776 points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are listening to trade offers for defenseman Kris Letang, sources told The Athletic's Rob Rossi.Pittsburgh has told interested teams that any potential deal would need to involve a package including an "impact player on a controllable contract and/or a projected future salary-cap hit that was reasonable," Rossi adds.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has already been active in trade talks since his club's playoff run ended in a first-round sweep. A deal that would have sent Phil Kessel to the Minnesota Wild was reportedly nixed by the veteran winger, and Rutherford went on to say he no longer expects to trade the sniper.Letang continues to be a top defenseman when healthy and has spent his entire 13-year career in Pittsburgh. He notched 16 goals and 40 assists while averaging nearly 26 minutes per contest in 65 games last season.The 32-year-old has three seasons remaining on his current contract, which carries a $7.25-million cap hit and an 18-team list of destinations he'd accept a trade to.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed a series of rule changes for the 2019-20 season. The alterations were approved by the league's Board of Governors, general managers, and competition committee.The most prominent changes pertain to video reviews, which underwent significant modifications after several controversial calls throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Here's a look at the entire list of changes, per the NHL:

If Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner is subject to an offer sheet this offseason, it's not a foregone conclusion his hometown club matches it, general manager Kyle Dubas told reporters Thursday, per TSN's Kristen Shilton."It would really depend on any of the players, not just one guy. We have a number of them. And if there were an offer sheet we would look at what they are and what the compensation is for our team and make the decision," Dubas said.The other restricted free agents Dubas referred too are forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.Speculation about Marner's contract demands has been rampant in the early stages of the offseason. Additionally, the salary cap isn't expected to be as high as originally expected for the 2019-20 season.In December, Dubas said he spends zero percent of his time worrying about offer sheets for his players, but more recently, claimed the Leafs are prepared should one come about.An offer sheet on its own wouldn't be enough to pry Marner away from Toronto. The 22-year-old would need to sign it, and then the Leafs would be given a time period to match the offer or let the player walk for compensation.

The Anaheim Ducks handed out a trio of one-year contract extensions on Friday, inking new deals with goaltender Ryan Miller, defenseman Korbinian Holzer, and forward Derek Grant, the team announced.Miller, 38, served as Anaheim's backup netminder and posted a .912 save percentage across 20 games. His new deal carries an AAV worth $1.125 million, per The Athletic's Eric Stephens.Holzer's deal is worth $850,000 and Grant's is worth $700,000, Stephens adds.Holzer suited up in 22 games for the Ducks last season, notching five points in just over 16 minutes per night.Grant was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins midway through the 2018-19 campaign and registered nine points in 31 games for Anaheim.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan has been placed on long-term injured reserve after being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, general manager Julien BriseBois announced Thursday.According to FOX Sports' Caley Chelios, it's been recommended Callahan no longer plays professional hockey.Callahan has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5.8 million. With the veteran winger landing on LTIR, it allows the Lightning to exceed their upper salary cap limit to match Callahan's AAV.

Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews believes the Raptors winning an NBA championship has provided some extra motivation for him and his teammates."I think for us as players, it’s a little extra motivation for next season, just to see what could be if we end up accomplishing that ultimate goal," Matthews said Wednesday, according to The Canadian Press.Matthews watched on from his home in Arizona as his adopted city celebrated its first major championship since 1993. An estimated 2 million people lined the Raptors' parade route and crammed into Nathan Phillips Square on Monday."You just can’t imagine what it would be like," Matthews said. "It was just amazing, you saw the support (for the Raptors). People were getting out of their cars on the freeway to take in the parade ... it’s hard to put into words, really."The Maple Leafs have taken sole possession of the NHL's longest championship drought. They were previously tied with the Blues, who entered the league in 1967 following Toronto's last Stanley Cup victory. St. Louis won the title last Wednesday.Many Leafs players were in attendance to cheer on the Raptors during the regular season and playoffs. They also had a chance to shoot some hoops at Scotiabank Arena last year, when Matthews' skills impressed his teammates."(Matthews) played basketball for a couple of years in Arizona," Mitch Marner told TSN in February 2018, per NHL.com. "He was putting guys in spin cycles and stuff."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are willing to listen to offers for forwards Nazem Kadri and Kasperi Kapanen, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The Leafs are asking for a defenseman for Kapanen and a center for Kadri, Dreger adds.Kadri is a pesky two-way forward with significant offensive upside whose current team-friendly contract carries an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. The 28-year-old - who has three years remaining on his deal - put up back-to-back 32-goal seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and can give a team valuable minutes on the power play.Kapanen is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign in which he totaled career highs with 20 goals and 44 points. However, the 22-year-old is a restricted free agent who may become a victim of the Leafs' current cap issues.The team currently has $72.4 million committed to 17 players and just $7.7 million in projected cap space, forcing general manager Kyle Dubas to explore ways to shed money.Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and his $4.5-million cap hit through the 2023-24 season were put on the trade block in late May, and the Leafs continue to try and shed 39-year-old winger Patrick Marleau's $6.25 million cap hit that's on the books for one more season.Along with Kapanen, forward Andreas Johnsson and blue-chip winger Mitch Marner are restricted free agents in need of a new deal. Dubas is expected to meet with Marner's agent Darren Ferris at the upcoming NHL draft, according to Dreger.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL draft begins Friday night in Vancouver. Here's our final mock draft of the first round.1. New Jersey Devils - Jack Hughes, C, USNTDPHughes is still No. 1. This shouldn't be surprising if you've been following our draft coverage. From his ability to think the game at a higher level than his peers, to his speed, to the way he combines those abilities to drive play, he's our guy for first overall.2. New York Rangers - Kaapo Kakko, RW, LiigaKakko's a wonderful consolation prize. As we've said all season, the gap between Hughes and Kakko is exponentially smaller than it is between them and the rest of the class. The Rangers' recent acquisition of Jacob Trouba indicates their rebuild has kicked into high gear, and with Kakko, they'll get a player who's ready to jump into the NHL. He has size (and more importantly, uses it effectively) and great instincts. Fans already got a taste of what he looks like playing against NHL competition at the World Championship.3. Chicago Blackhawks - Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDPIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTurcotte missed a good chunk of time this season, but he played enough to put his innate skill on display. His vision is elite, and he uses it to be an excellent playmaker - something that should translate to the NHL level. His relentlessness on the ice is the kind of energy the Blackhawks need. He's headed to college at the University of Wisconsin in the fall, but don't be surprised if he only stays a year or two.4. Colorado Avalanche (via Ottawa) - Kirby Dach, C, WHLMany could argue defenseman Bowen Byram is the right pick here. They wouldn't necessarily be wrong. However, there have been rumors that the Avalanche are targeting a forward with at No. 4. While they have their pick of several talented players, Dach seems like a logical choice. He combines hockey sense, size, and smooth puck-handling ability in an attractive package. He could be more consistent, but the skill is there.5. Los Angeles Kings - Bowen Byram, D, WHLMarissa Baecker / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's difficult to see the Kings passing on Byram if he's available at fifth overall. Without question the best defenseman available, he's a puck-mover with the ability to control play and drive the pace thanks to his excellent hockey sense and skating. If the Kings are looking to shift to a more mobile, speedy, offensive style, picking Byram is one step in the right direction.6. Detroit Red Wings - Trevor Zegras, C/W, USNTDPThough we had Cole Caufield going to Detroit in our first mock - and it's still an attractive idea - it's hard to imagine Steve Yzerman leaving Zegras on the board. His skill level in all areas is simply too high. He's brilliantly smart and possibly the best pure playmaker on this year's U18 team at the NTDP (yes, including Hughes). Zegras goes out and tries stuff other guys won't even think of, and he makes it happen. As a general manager, how could you not want that?7. Buffalo Sabres - Peyton Krebs, C, WHLKrebs is our pick for the best player out of this year's top WHL trio after a great year on a terrible team. His vision was mostly wasted on wonderfully creative plays that his teammates weren't able to finish - yet he still managed to end the season at a slightly better than point-per-game pace. The way Krebs thinks the game would slot in neatly with guys like Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Eichel, and Jeff Skinner, so this pick makes all kinds of sense for Buffalo.8. Edmonton Oilers - Dylan Cozens, C/RW, WHLIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAlthough TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported that the Oilers are considering Philip Broberg at No. 8, the blue-liner comes with some concerns, and Edmonton has quite a few left-shooting defensemen in its system already. A forward is a safer bet, especially considering that the best player available here will be one. It also wouldn't be surprising to see the Oilers take a guy they're more familiar with, and Cozens is coming from the WHL. He's got offensive upside thanks to his great puck-handling, but he's not so flashy that he chances being a bust - it's about as safe a pick as you can get here while still gunning for first-class talent.9. Anaheim Ducks - Vasili Podkolzin, RW, MHLPodkolzin is polarizing. We've got him at No. 9, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him go anywhere from fourth to 20th. So much of his future success depends on when he comes over to North America and how he's supported through that massive adjustment. What it boils down to, though, is that he has skill to burn. If he can adapt to the North American game with any measure of consistency, he'll bring his future fan base great joy.10. Vancouver Canucks - Alex Newhook, C, BCHLVancouver has a lot of good options at No. 10. Newhook hasn't necessarily received the accolades he deserves this season due to a slow start - and likely, in part, because he plays in the BCHL. He's a terrific skater, and his offensive abilities shine when he's playing with confidence. He'd look great with Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Quinn Hughes. He won't look great with guys who play like boat anchors, though, so it's a positive that he'll likely spend a couple of years at Boston College before joining his future NHL team.11. Philadelphia Flyers - Cole Caufield, C/RW, USNTDPPicking Caufield anywhere outside the top five is a good idea. If he's still on the board at No. 11, there's no good reason for the Flyers to leave him there. Caufield's a terrific goal-scorer, reminiscent of Alex DeBrincat but with more advanced skating ability than DeBrincat at the same point in his career. Let him cook in college (Wisconsin) for a couple of years and then let him loose. Goals are how games are won, after all.12. Minnesota Wild - Matthew Boldy, LW, USNTDPLet's face it, the Wild are kind of mediocre and boring right now. Boldy is anything but. While he needs seasoning, he's a good choice for the direction Minnesota should move in if the team wants to contend anytime soon. He is responsible defensively but also has excellent offensive skills, including hockey sense that allows him to score on plays other guys may not even consider making. He needs to work on driving play on his own, but he's got talent to spare.13. Florida Panthers - Arthur Kaliyev, LW, OHLThere are a variety of opinions on Kaliyev, and some of the more negative ones contain legitimate critique. That being said, he's the second-best goal-scorer in the draft after Caufield (who's a more well-rounded player) due to his hockey sense. With sniper type Owen Tippett already in the Panthers' pool, Florida can give Kaliyev time to work on his weaknesses - his top skating speed, for example. There's nothing that can't be fixed in development, and it likely won't require sacrificing his offensive ability.14. Arizona Coyotes - Raphael Lavoie, C/RW, QMJHLLavoie has NHL size, but that's not his major draw - it's just a benefit. He's an agile skater, a smart playmaker, and someone who's put in the work year over year to show consistent improvement. All of these attributes seem like ones the Coyotes would find attractive. After swinging for the fences on Barrett Hayton last year at No. 5, who knows what route they'll take.15. Montreal Canadiens - Philip Broberg, D, AllsvenskanKevin Light / Getty ImagesBroberg could go earlier or even a bit later in the first round - his rankings have been all over the place of late - but it's easy to see the Canadiens drafting a defenseman, and easy to see them finding Broberg particularly attractive. He's got good vision, which allows him to anticipate the action on the ice. However, his shooting accuracy could use some work.16. Avalanche - Bobby Brink, RW, USHLBrink probably won't go as high as his talent deserves, but this is one spot where he's a possibility. Colorado can be a bit looser with its second pick of the round, and Brink is the kind of guy worth selecting with that freedom. His skating is good, with above-average speed and agile footwork, but Brink's real draw is his scoring ability and vision. He just needs to add some upper-body strength in college.17. Vegas Golden Knights - Matthew Robertson, D, WHLCam York is also a legitimate option here, but what tips the scales for Robertson is that Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon is quite familiar with the WHL. Robertson is a speedy, agile skater for someone who stands 6-foot-4 (though we're approaching a point where it's no longer especially remarkable for tall skaters to be mobile), and his excellent passing skills and defensive positioning stem from his high hockey IQ.18. Dallas Stars - Philip Tomasino, C, OHLDo the Stars need a center? Maybe not. But Tomasino is a solid option who could slot in neatly with guys like Ty Dellandrea and Jason Robertson. He's got wicked acceleration, and he frustrated opponents with his above-average pivoting ability. He needs to add strength to translate his offensive game to the NHL level, but he's got good vision and great puck-handling skills. His defensive positioning needs work, though.19. Ottawa Senators (via Columbus) - Moritz Seider, D, DELSeider has been drifting up everyone's rankings over the last little while, and rightfully so - his skill set was on full display at the World Championship, and fans and pundits alike are beginning to grasp what he brings to the table. He's an excellent, agile skater whose edgework allows him to shift direction on a dime, and he's a great puck-handler, which comes in handy when he carries it out of his own end. His defensive positioning needs to be more consistent, but that will come with time and experience.20. Winnipeg Jets - Cam York, D, USNTDPIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesYork may be off the board by No. 20. He's very smart, usually making the right decision under pressure, and can connect on difficult passes. He's also an agile skater with excellent edgework, which helps to make up for the fact that his acceleration and top speed both need improvement. He could also stand to shoot more often.21. Pittsburgh Penguins - Ryan Suzuki, C, OHLSuzuki's flashy and fun, and if the fact he needs to improve defensively causes him to drop into the 20s, the Penguins should thank the hockey gods and snatch him up. He's tenacious and has a burning top speed that he matches with elite hockey smarts. As long as he can add upper-body strength and become more consistent in his own end, he's golden.22. Kings (via Toronto) - Connor McMichael, C, OHLGabriel Vilardi's injury issues have created some questions about his future (he was the Kings' No. 11 overall pick in 2017), so L.A. would be wise to pick up another skilled center - and from the same league, no less. The well-rounded McMichael is strong at both ends of the ice thanks to his vision and hockey IQ. A smart playmaker, he's equally able to anticipate the course of play in his own end.23. New York Islanders - Victor Soderstrom, D, SHLSoderstrom's another defenseman who could go higher in the round. He had a great season, showcasing excellent defensive positioning while finishing the regular season with the most points of any U18 player in the SHL. He has solid offensive vision and is also a superb skater. Adding upper-body strength will give his shot more power.24. Nashville Predators - Ville Heinola, D, LiigaThe Predators don't have an amazing prospect pool and some of their better options are on defense, so they could take a forward here. At No. 24, though, Heinola isn't the kind of guy you pass on. He's on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 181 pounds, but he's a terrifically agile skater with high-end smarts that he uses to make plays and cut down opponents' shooting lanes. He needs to improve his acceleration and overall speed, as well as add some muscle, but he's got a lot of potential.25. Washington Capitals - Jakob Pelletier, LW, QMJHLPelletier should probably go higher than this, but will probably drop because of his size (he's 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds) and because he played in the Q. There's so much to like about this kid, though, and it starts with his elite vision and the way it allows him to anticipate the flow of play. He's an excellent playmaker, he can score, and he's a fantastic skater. His defensive positioning needs work, but that's no reason not to take a chance - especially at No. 25.26. Calgary Flames - Egor Afanasyev, C, USHLBill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyAfanasyev will be playing for the Windsor Spitfires next season - and the OHL will be a good place for him to develop - but he's coming off a fantastic USHL season. He's a good skater with an excellent array of shots, and he's a smart and effective playmaker. While his defensive game needs smoothing out - he can get caught puck-watching - he's good at protecting the puck when he has it.27. Tampa Bay Lightning - Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, MHLDorofeyev was in a weird spot this year - he's clearly too skilled for the Russian junior leagues, but he's not quite ready to be a KHL regular. He's worth taking a swing on this late in the first round, though, especially for a team with Tampa Bay's track record. While Dorofeyev's skating could use some work, his vision, creative playmaking, and smart positioning in his own end are quite appealing.28. Carolina Hurricanes - Robert Mastrosimone, C, USHLMastrosimone seems like a Rod Brind'Amour kind of guy. He's relentless and pairs his tenacity with high-end offensive skill. Though he could easily slip into the beginning of the second round, he's not a reach here. He has great hockey sense and an excellent shot, but he could be more consistent in his own end. College (Boston University) is a good place for him to refine some skills.29. Ducks (via Buffalo) — John Beecher, C, USNTDPBeecher doesn't get enough attention. He spent the season playing behind guys like Hughes and Zegras and saw the ice accordingly (Prospect-Stats estimates him at just under 11 minutes per game). He's worth a look, though, and could be a smart selection for the Ducks with their second pick of the round. Sixteen of his 20 USHL points in 27 games were primary points, he's a smart player, and he's difficult to knock off the puck. At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he's already got NHL size, too.30. Boston Bruins - Albin Grewe, RW, SuperElitGrewe could slip to the second round, but he wouldn't be out of place here. Much like Mastrosimone, Grewe has a tenacious, never-quit attitude the Bruins would love. His high hockey IQ allows him to see the ice well, and he can both score and make plays. He's also demonstrated a strong work ethic, as his skating is dramatically better than it was a year ago. It's not a stretch to assume he would apply himself equally to addressing other weak areas of his game.31. Sabres (via St. Louis) - Samuel Poulin, LW, QMJHLPoulin's a solid choice here if the Sabres want to continue stockpiling forwards with offensive potential. He recorded 62 primary points among his 76 points - an indicator that he can drive play - and he marries his smooth offensive skill with a powerful style of play and smart positioning in his own end. His first step could use work, however, as his skating isn't quite as explosive as his future team may want it to be.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Perry's days with the Anaheim Ducks have officially come to an end.The Ducks have finalized a buyout for the 14-year veteran, the team announced Wednesday. Perry's not expected to be placed on waivers due to his no-movement clause and will head straight to free agency, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Perry had two years left on his contract with an annual cap hit of $8.62 million. The buyout saves the Ducks $6 million in cap space and gives them a projected $15.12 million remaining with a roster of 17 skaters, according to CapFriendly."This is one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in my 44 years in the NHL," Ducks GM Bob Murray said, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens. "Corey gave everything to this franchise for 14 years, never giving an inch to his competitors. While his scoring touch is undeniable, his will to win became his greatest attribute."Anaheim reportedly explored the trade market for the 34-year-old, but the Ducks only had four-to-six teams to work with because of the no-movement clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Ontario native is a four-time All-Star and captured both the Hart and Maurice Richard Trophy after his 50-goal campaign in 2011.Perry was drafted by the Ducks with the 28th overall selection in 2003 and has spent each of his 14 seasons in Anaheim. He leads the franchise in games played with 988, and his 372 career goals and 776 points rank second and third, respectively, in team history.In 2007, Perry recorded six goals and 15 points in 21 postseason contests to help the Ducks capture their first and only Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Perry's 14-year career as an Anaheim Duck ended Wednesday after the team bought out the remaining two years of his contract.The 34-year-old is the Ducks' all-time leader in games played with 988 - 12 games away from becoming the first player to play 1,000 contests with the franchise."It stings," Perry told TSN's Frank Seravalli. "How many guys have played 1,000 games with one team? Not many. I sit here and say, well, with some of the injuries, I would've already been there. I was so close."Perry said the decision wasn't a complete surprise, but he admitted he was still caught off guard when the team broke the news."When I was told, I didn't expect that to come out of their mouths," Perry said. "I respect their decision. It's tough when you've been there for so long, it's all you know. But I don't have a bad word to say about the Ducks and how they've treated me over the years. Everyone in the organization was good to me."Drafted 28th overall by the Ducks in 2003, Perry helped the franchise capture its first and only Stanley Cup in 2007 - and his current situation is motivating him to capture another championship."This has definitely lit a fire in me," Perry said. "I want to win again. I've felt that feeling at every level and I want to feel it again. I watch teams win the Stanley Cup every year and I see how much emotion comes up when they win."Perry underwent knee surgery before the start of last season and did not rejoin the Ducks' lineup until February, ending the year with a career-low six goals and 10 points in 31 games. However, he recorded 17 goals and 49 points during a relatively healthy 2017-18 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks and defenseman Alex Edler agreed to a two-year contract with an annual average value of $6 million, the team announced Thursday.Edler recorded 10 goals and 34 points in 56 games for the Canucks last season, marking his most efficient campaign in terms of points per game since 2010-2011. His 368 career points rank first among defensemen in franchise history.The 33-year-old also logged a team-high 24:34 of ice time per game and finished 10th among NHL defensemen in that category.Edler and forward Loui Eriksson now have the highest annual cap hits on the club, with no player currently making over $6 million per season.Following the signing, the Canucks have $58.5 million committed to 21 players and a projected $23.5 million to work with.Edler has played all 13 years of his career in Vancouver after being selected by the Canucks in the third round of the 2004 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Jacob Trouba deal in the rearview mirror, the league's focus has reportedly shifted to another defenseman.Interest in Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres has picked up over the past 24 hours, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, who adds Buffalo won't deal the blue-liner unless the package is "absolutely right."Ristolainen has three years left on his contract and carries an annual cap hit of $5.4 million.The 24-year-old eclipsed the 40-point mark for the fourth straight season in 2018-19. He also led the Sabres in average ice time with 24:38 per game, good for ninth in the NHL.The Winnipeg Jets sent Trouba to the New York Rangers on Monday in exchange for rearguard Neal Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Soon after requesting a trade from the Edmonton Oilers, forward Jesse Puljujarvi has given the team an ultimatum."If he doesn’t get traded, he will play in Europe next year." Puljujarvi's agent, Markus Lehto, told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "He will not play in Edmonton."The Oilers have until Monday to issue a qualifying offer to the 21-year-old in order to retain his NHL rights. But since a player under NHL contract can't sign in Europe, Puljujarvi would refrain from accepting the offer if he isn't moved, according to Spector.Meanwhile, Oilers general manager Ken Holland said he's keeping the team's best interests in mind and won't make a trade involving Puljujarvi unless he's satisfied with the return."At the end of the day, if you can do a deal that makes sense for the Edmonton Oilers, you do it," Holland said. "If you can’t, you go over (to Europe) and watch him play, and hopefully he scores a lot of goals over there."Puljujarvi has mustered just 17 goals and 37 points over 139 contests since being drafted fourth overall by the Oilers in 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason is officially in progress and the draft begins Friday night. The question being asked around the league is: How can general managers use late June and early July to improve their clubs? What kind of tasks are on their to-do lists and how might they get creative?On Wednesday, we focus on the Pacific Division. Others in this series:

The NHL offseason is officially in progress and the draft begins Friday night. The question being asked around the league is: How can general managers use late June and early July to improve their clubs? What kind of tasks are on their to-do lists and how might they get creative?On Thursday, we focused on the Atlantic Division. Others in this series:

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov capped off his phenomenal regular season Wednesday night by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL MVP.Kucherov scored a career-high 41 goals during the 2018-19 season and led the league in assists (87) and points (128). He was a major factor in the Lightning tying the NHL record with a 62-win campaign, though the season ended in a disappointing first-round sweep at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets.His point total was the highest the league has seen since 1995-96 and he needed only 62 games to reach the 100-point plateau, becoming the fastest player hit the century mark since Mario Lemieux in 1996-97.Kucherov's mammoth season earned him 164 first-place votes, well ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid:

The NHL announced its All-Rookie team for the 2018-19 season following the league awards show Wednesday night.Headlining the squad is Vancouver Canucks sniper and Calder Trophy winner Elias Pettersson, along with Stanley Cup champion netminder Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues.Here's a look at the entire freshman squad:ForwardsPlayer (Team)GPGAPElias Pettersson (VAN)71283866Anthony Cirelli (TB)82192039Brady Tkachuk (OTT)71222345DefensePlayer (Team)GPGAPRasmus Dahlin (BUF)8293544Miro Heiskanen (DAL)82122133GoaliePlayer (Team)GPRecordSv%GAAJordan Binnington (STL)3224-5-1.9271.89Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced the first and second All-Star teams following Wednesday's awards night. The teams were voted upon by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.First All-Star team:PositionPlayerTeamGAndrei VasilevskiyTBDBrent BurnsSJDMark GiordanoCGYCConnor McDavidEDMLWAlex OvechkinWSHRWNikita KucherovTBSecond All-Star team:PositionPlayerTeamGBen BishopDALDJohn CarlsonWSHDVictor HedmanTBCSidney CrosbyPITLWBrad MarchandBOSRWPatrick KaneCHICopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie at Wednesday's NHL Awards.Vasilevskiy edged out Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars and Robin Lehner of the New York Islanders to earn the award - the first of his young career.

After helping spearhead an incredible turnaround for the New York Islanders, Barry Trotz won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top head coach for the second time in his career.Trotz edged out Jon Cooper, who led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a historic 62-win season, and Craig Berube, who sparked a remarkable turnaround of his own with the St. Louis Blues.

Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews will be the cover athlete for the NHL 20 video game.

Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames won his first Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman on Wednesday in Las Vegas.Giordano, who was second in the league among defensemen with a career-high 74 points, beat out Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks for the award.The Flames veteran became the fourth blue-liner in NHL history to win the award after turning 35, joining Doug Harvey, Al MacInnis, and most recently, Nicklas Lidstrom in 2005-06.Giordano set career highs in goals (17) and assists (57), and led the league at plus-39 while also logging over 24 minutes per night for the Flames.Giordano won by a significant margin, collecting 165 first-place votes.

Tampa Bay Lightning star forward Nikita Kucherov won the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday in Las Vegas as the NHL's most outstanding player, as voted on by members of the NHLPA.Kucherov was rewarded for his phenomenal regular season in which he scored a career-high 41 goals and led the NHL with a remarkable 128 points - 12 more than anyone else in the league.Kucherov beat out Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who won the award each of the last two seasons, and Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, who received the honor in 2015-16.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie Wednesday night.The Swedish phenom enjoyed an electric freshman season, leading all first-year players with 28 goals and 66 points - 21 more points than any other rookie. Pettersson also broke Pavel Bure's Vancouver rookie scoring record and was the first Canucks freshman to win the Calder since the "Russian Rocket."Pettersson burst onto the scene in his debut campaign, netting 10 goals over his first 10 games while quickly establishing himself as the face of the rebuilding Canucks.He beat out Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington in a landslide to take home the award.

The Vancouver Canucks and defenseman Alex Edler are "closing in" on a three-year contract extension, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The deal is worth between $5 million and $5.5 million annually, according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar.Edler, 33, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Canucks after the club drafted him in the third round of the 2004 NHL Draft. His new deal does not have a clause that will prevent him from being exposed in the upcoming Seattle expansion draft, Friedman adds.After February's trade deadline, Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Edler was unwilling to waive his no-trade clause amid interest from teams around the league.Injuries limited Edler to 56 games last season, but he still managed 10 goals and 24 assists while logging over 24 minutes per night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Meruelo's majority-stake purchase of the Arizona Coyotes was approved by the NHL's Board of Governors on Wednesday, commissioner Gary Bettman told The Athletic's Craig Morgan.The sale is not expected to fully close until later this summer.As of 2018, Meruelo had a net worth of $2 billion. He has real estate, construction, and other holdings across the U.S. He attempted to buy the NBA's Atlanta Hawks in 2011.Andrew Barroway, who became the majority owner of the franchise in 2015, is expected to retain a minority stake.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders netminder Robin Lehner will look to land some hardware at the NHL Awards show on Wednesday night, and he'll have two chances to do so.Following an incredible bounce-back season, Lehner was nominated for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie, but it's his nomination for the Bill Masterton Trophy - an award given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey - that he values most."Both are fun, but the Masterton means a lot more to me and my wife and my kids,” Lehner said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. "Just being nominated for that award is huge for me and my family. I think it's huge for everyone that’s been supporting me, too."In September, Lehner detailed his battle with substance abuse and bipolar disorder in an inspirational piece for The Athletic. That came after the 27-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract with the Islanders in July.The goalie quickly proved to be one of the best bargains of the summer. In 46 games with New York, Lehner collected 25 wins while posting a 2.13 goals-against average and a 9.30 save percentage.No goaltender has ever won the Masterton and Vezina in the same season.Lehner is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but he's made it clear that he'd like to return to the Islanders next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell isn't optimistic about reaching deals with either Petr Mrazek or Curtis McElhinney before the goaltenders become unrestricted free agents July 1."We're trying to sign them, but it doesn't look like we're going to get either signed," Waddell said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "So, if not, we'll go to the market and see what's out there for July 1."The goaltending duo shared the workload last season while helping the Canes secure a wild-card spot. Mrazek took over the starting role during the team's improbable playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final until leaving Game 2 of the second round with an injury. McElhinney stepped in to complete the sweep of the New York Islanders before the pair split starts in a sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins.PlayerRegular Season RecordGAASV%SOMrazek23-14-32.39.9144McElhinney20-11-22.58.9122PlayerPlayoff RecordGAASV%SOMrazek5-52.73.8942McElhinney3-22.01.9300Although it looks likely that the two goalies will be elsewhere next season, Waddell isn't ruling out a return for either of them."Sometimes guys test the market and then you find where we're at," Waddell said. "We'd like to have both guys back. I've publicly said that. But right now, we don't have deals done with them."Mrazek and McElhinney might be hard-pressed to find an easier goaltending assignment next season. The Canes allowed the third-fewest shots against (28.6 per game) in the regular season and led the league in shot differential, peppering opposing goaltenders with 479 more shots than they allowed.If the two netminders do leave, Waddell said prospect Alex Nedeljkovic will get a chance to earn a goaltender spot. The 23-year-old led the AHL Charlotte Checkers to a Calder Cup championship this season and won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the league's best goaltender.The 2018-19 campaign was the first season to feature Mrazek and McElhinney in the Canes' crease. Cam Ward had been a mainstay between the pipes for Carolina since winning the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2006. He left as a free agent last summer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason is officially in progress and the draft begins Friday night. The question being asked around the league is: How can general managers use late June and early July to improve their clubs? What kind of tasks are on their to-do lists and how might they get creative?On Tuesday, we focus on the Central Division. Others in this series:

One week after the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup Final win over the Boston Bruins, there's still technically an opportunity to make bets on the 2018-19 NHL season. The league will close the curtain on the campaign on Wednesday with its annual awards ceremony, which is open to the betting public.Here, we cover the odds and dig into a handful of the best bets on some of the tighter fields.Overwhelming favoritesHart Memorial TrophyPlayer OddsNikita Kucherov (TBL)1-33Sidney Crosby (PIT)8-1Connor McDavid (EDM)12-1Kucherov was the cornerstone of the 62-win Lightning team during the regular season, leading the league with 87 assists and finishing with 128 points - 12 more than the second-most productive skater (McDavid). It's about as surefire as it gets for MVP.Calder Memorial TrophyPlayer OddsElias Pettersson (VAN)1-20Jordan Binnington (STL)9-2Rasmus Dahlin (BUF)40-1Pettersson, the No. 5 overall pick of the Canucks two years ago, notched 28 goals and his 66 points comfortably led all rookies. There might be some recency bias regarding Blues netminder Binnington leading up to the ceremony, as Pettersson was as long as 1-33 earlier in the week.Bill Masterson Memorial TrophyPlayer OddsRobin Lehner (NYI)1-33Joe Thornton (SJ)15-2Nick Foligno (CBJ)14-1In authoring one of the league's best bounce-back seasons, Lehner finished second in save percentage and third in goals-against average, serving as the backbone of the Islanders' run into the postseason. And he did so after opening up about his addiction and bipolar disorder diagnosis, making him the easy choice as the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey,"Lady Byng Memorial TrophyPlayer OddsAleksander Barkov (FLA)1-12Ryan O'Reilly (STL)9-2Sean Monahan (CGY)18-1Barkov is another pricey favorite, this time for the award given "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The 23-year-old forward built off his 78-point breakout campaign in 2017-18 with 35 tallies and 61 assists this past season.James Norris Memorial TrophyPlayer OddsMark Giordano (CGY)1-10Brent Burns (SJS)13-2Victor Hedman (TBL)14-1Giordano had always been a steady contributor on the Flames' blue line, but broke out in a big way as part of the high-powered offense this season with career highs in assists (57) and points (74). He leads the pack over Burns and Hedman, the last two recipients of this award.Bets to considerFrank J. Selke TrophyPlayer OddsRyan O’Reilly (STL)-270Patrice Bergeron (BOS)5-2Mark Stone (VGK)13-2O'Reilly, who just took home the Conn Smythe, finished with a 56.9 percent success rate at the faceoff dot and led all Blues forwards with a 42.53 expected goals against percentage. There could also be some voter fatigue with Bergeron, who's been nominated for the award in eight straight seasons.Vezina TrophyPlayer OddsAndrei Vasilevskiy (TBL)-320Ben Bishop (DAL)5-2Robin Lehner (NYI)18-1Vasilevskiy backstopped the Presidents' Trophy-winning Lightning, but we question if his odds should be this strong. He was playing behind the league's No. 1 offense, while Bishop was stopping pucks behind the Stars' No. 28-ranked offense. And despite a limited sample size of just 46 games, Bishop led the NHL in save percentage and finished second in goals-against average.Jack Adams AwardCoach OddsJon Cooper (TBL)-105Barry Trotz (NYI)+140Craig Berube (STL)+450All three coaches are deserving in their own right. Cooper led his team to the league's best record, Trotz carried the Islanders sans John Tavares in his first season at the helm, and Berube took St. Louis from last place in January to the playoffs.Trotz's story could win voters over, but we'd lean to Cooper, who oversaw a record-setting regular season.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the league announced Wednesday.It will mark the 27th time that the city has hosted the event and the first since 2009.Montreal was the original host city of the draft from 1963-84. Locations included various downtown hotels, the Montreal league office, and eventually the Montreal Forum."To think that the NHL draft started in 1963 as a small gathering at a hotel ballroom in Montreal, makes it all the more exciting to announce that the 2020 edition of the draft is coming back ... in a far grander fashion," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.The 2019 NHL Draft is set for Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Kevin Hayes signed a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.14 million, the team announced Wednesday.Philadelphia traded for Hayes' negotiating rights on June 3, surrendering a fifth-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets in the process.The 27-year-old, 6-foot-6 center tallied a career-high 55 points in 71 games during the 2018-19 season, which he split between the Jets and New York Rangers.Meanwhile, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said on June 1 that he'd be "very aggressive" during his first offseason in the role, and he's certainly followed through.Fletcher traded Radko Gudas for Matt Niskanen on Friday, and then landed Justin Braun from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in exchange for two draft picks. Fletcher has also said he's open to trading the 11th overall selection in the upcoming draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Jesse Puljujarvi wants out of Edmonton.The 21-year-old has "made it clear" to the Oilers that he'd like to be traded and seeks a fresh start to his young career, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The Oilers are apparently open to trading Puljujarvi, but want to land a third-line forward in return, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.Puljujarvi, who's failed to carve out a regular spot in Edmonton's lineup, just completed his entry-level contract and will require a new deal for the start of next season.He turned heads with his incredible play at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship - where he helped Finland capture a gold medal - but has mustered just 17 goals and 37 points over 139 contests since being drafted fourth overall by the Oilers in 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageNew Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero isn't looking for a moral stamp of approval.When asked about the oft-criticized strategy of using an offer sheet to lure a restricted free agent who's looking for a payday from their current club, the Devils executive offered a blunt assessment."We all know what the CBA is," Shero said according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "There is no gentleman's agreement. Fuck that shit. When people say that, it's a lazy narrative, I'll tell you that."Your ownership's competitive, GMs are competitive, and it's the buddy-buddy system? What the fuck is that? It doesn't mean something will or won't happen, but that's been the narrative for years, and I don't know why."The 2019-20 campaign's offer sheet compensation breaks down as such:

The NHL's annual awards ceremony, the official nightcap to the 2018-19 season, goes Wednesday in Las Vegas. I'll admit, as a first-time voter, I'll be paying closer attention this time around. Funny how the ego works, eh?Of the marquee regular-season awards determined by a voting body, the Professional Hockey Writers Association handles the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke, and Lady Byng, while the general managers, broadcasters, and players decide the Vezina Trophy, Jack Adams Award, and Ted Lindsay Award, respectively.(The PHWA also votes on the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is "given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." I would be shocked if Islanders goalie Robin Lehner doesn't win. He's a finalist alongside the Sharks' Joe Thornton and the Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno. Lehner, Foligno, and Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford were my picks.)Before submitting my ballot April 10, I stressed over every last detail, considered a season's worth of on-ice action, parsed through all the advanced statistics publicly available, bounced thought processes off people I trust, and accounted for certain contextual factors. If I'm being honest, I found the lower selections for most awards harder to pick than the winner or runner-up.All right, here goes nothing:Hart TrophyBallot

Robin Lehner enjoyed the best year of his career in his first season with the New York Islanders, so it's not entirely surprising to hear the pending unrestricted free agent wants to return."I like the people there. I love my teammates. I love the organization," Lehner told NHL.com's Dan Rosen on Tuesday. "So obviously I want to be back."The Islanders signed Lehner to a one-year, $1.5-million contract last summer after a subpar season with the Buffalo Sabres. Lehner had a difficult time personally in 2017-18, as he nearly committed suicide, was addicted to alcohol and sleeping pills, and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar 1 with manic phases.Lehner told Rosen he doesn't care if it's a long- or short-term deal - he wants to stay with the Islanders."I know the team knows where I stand and I just hope something works out," he said.The Islanders were the only team to offer Lehner a contract last summer, and the netminder described his initial meetings with GM Lou Lamoriello as "some of the best moments in my life."Lehner went 25-13-5 last season with a .930 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average. He and teammate Thomas Greiss won the William M. Jennings Award, and Lehner is also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton told reporters at an NHL Awards media availability Tuesday that he feels good and will return for the 2019-20 season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The San Jose Sharks forward added that he isn't just thinking about one additional season and could perhaps play more as long as he feels good."Thinking I got five more years left in me," he told TSN's Pierre LeBrun via text message.Thornton was undecided on whether he'd return for another campaign after the Sharks were eliminated from the playoffs in May. He did say, however, that if he returned it would be to San Jose."It is safe to say I'm a Shark," he said at the time. "There's one team and it's here."Thornton remained productive in his age-39 season. The future Hall of Famer tallied 51 points in 73 regular-season games and added 10 points in 19 postseason contests - all while playing predominately in a third-line role.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford had a relatively difficult decision to make.With little cap room to spare and too many defensemen on the roster, he had to move one of his blue-liners. The decision came down to Jack Johnson and Olli Maatta. The latter was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks over the weekend for Dominik Kahun and a fifth-round pick."When we looked at moving a defenseman, it was either going to be Johnson or Maatta to open up the necessary cap space, and open up the logjam at defense," Rutherford said on The Cook and Joe Show on Monday. "As it turned out it ended up being Olli who had the bigger cap hit."Maatta, 24, is signed through the 2021-22 season at a $4.083-million cap hit, while Johnson, 32, is inked through the 2022-23 campaign at a $3.25-million cap hit.Johnson was reportedly involved in the trade with the Minnesota Wild that Phil Kessel nixed, but Rutherford claimed the blue-liner was not in the deal.The Pens have six defensemen signed for next season, and Marcus Pettersson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last season, is a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thomas Vanek isn't ready to hang up his skates just yet.The 35-year-old winger and pending unrestricted free agent continues to search for a team for next season."His intent is to play," Vanek's agent Steve Bartlett said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Bartlett added that he hasn't talked to Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman but hopes to do so this week in Vancouver.With 16 goals and 36 points in 64 games for the Red Wings last season, Vanek showed that he can still be a valuable contributor. As a 35-and-over player, he can sign a bonus-laden deal that can help cap-challenged teams, LeBrun notes.Vanek ranks ninth among active players with 373 career goals and is also the highest-scoring Austrian-born player in NHL history, with 789 points in 1,029 career games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The salary cap for the 2019-20 NHL season could come in below the $83-million upper limit that was initially estimated.The NHL and NHLPA are meeting Tuesday, and many teams reportedly told TSN's Bob McKenzie that they're concerned about the current forecast for the cap.It's feared that the upper limit for next season will be less than $82 million, representing an increase of just over $2 million, according to McKenzie. The league and the union are expected to agree on a figure this week.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced in December that the salary cap was expected to rise by $3.5 million, which would have pushed the upper limit to $83 million from $79.5 million last season.The Vegas Golden Knights have the most cap space committed for next season at $83.1 million, according to CapFriendly. However, that includes David Clarkson's $5.25-million cap hit in the final year of his contract, and Vegas can place him on long-term injured reserve.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears restricted free agent Jacob Trouba is ready to call the Big Apple his new home.The New York Rangers acquired the rights to the defenseman from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for blue-liner Neal Pionk and the 20th overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. In need of a new deal, Trouba sounds happy with his new landing spot."Everything is definitely on the table. I can see myself being in New York for a long time," Trouba said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.The 25-year-old cited New York as a preferred destination for family reasons, as his fiancee is preparing to become a doctor, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.Trouba also noted his "great relationship" with Rangers defenseman and longtime friend Brady Skjei as a plus in joining the club, according to USA Today's Vince Z. Mercogliano. The pair won a gold medal together with the U.S. at the World Under-18s in 2012.The Rangers have a projected $19 million in cap space to work with this offseason and don't have any top players in need of a new deal outside of Trouba.The 6-foot-3 rearguard is coming off a career season with the Jets, having recorded eight goals and 50 points in 82 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks traded defenseman Justin Braun to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round selection in this year's draft and a third-rounder in 2020, the clubs announced Tuesday.San Jose clears $3.8 million off its books with the move after signing superstar blue-liner Erik Karlsson to an eight-year extension reportedly worth $92 million Monday.Philadelphia, meanwhile, continues to retool on the back end after trading Radko Gudas to the Washington Capitals for Matt Niskanen last week.Braun, who's known more for his defensive contributions than his offense, chipped in 16 points across 78 regular-season games in 2018-19, adding an assist in 20 playoff contests.The 32-year-old had played his entire nine-year career with the Sharks, who drafted him 201st overall in 2007.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL offseason is officially in progress and the draft begins Friday night. The question being asked around the league is: How can general managers use late June and early July to improve their clubs? What kind of tasks are on their to-do lists and how might they get creative?On Monday, we tackled the Metropolitan Division teams. Others in this series:

The Tampa Bay Lightning and defenseman Braydon Coburn have agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.7 million, the team announced Tuesday.Coburn has spent the last five campaigns with the Lightning and contributed 23 points in 74 games during 2018-19, his highest total since joining the team.The 34-year-old also averaged 16:07 of ice time while recording 62 blocks and 96 hits this past season. Additionally, he posted the second-highest possession rating at five-on-five among Lightning defensemen with a Corsi For of 52.75 (minimum 20 games played).The Lightning now have $76.1 million committed to 18 players for next season, leaving $6.87 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.Tampa Bay still has four restricted free agents in line for new deals, including 41-goal-scorer Brayden Point. Veteran defensemen Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman are also set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.