Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff made one of the biggest trades in club history when he sent Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers for Neal Pionk and a first-round pick on Monday. However, the veteran executive hinted that his club is far from done."We've got a lot of moving parts or balls in the air," he told TSN's Frank Seravalli.CapFriendly projects the Jets to have $25.4 million in cap space this summer, but many free agents are on expiring contracts.Player (Pos.)StatusPatrik Laine (F)RFAKyle Connor (F)RFAAndrew Copp (F)RFABrandon Tanev (F)UFAPar Lindholm (F)UFAMatt Hendricks (F)UFANeal Pionk (D)RFATyler Myers (D)UFABen Chiarot (D)UFANathan Beaulieu (D)RFAJoe Morrow (D)RFABogdan Kiselevich (D)UFAEven with Erik Karlsson coming off the market on Monday, this free-agent class - both unrestricted and restricted - projects to be one of the best in recent memory."This is probably an unprecedented time of communication between general managers," said Cheveldayoff, who's been the Jets' GM since 2011.San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson added that there's a lot of chatter, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.In addition to the Trouba deal, there have already been two other notable trades made during the past few days. The Washington Capitals dealt Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers for Radko Gudas on Friday, and the Pittsburgh Penguins sent Olli Maatta to the Chicago Blackhawks for Dominik Kahun and a fifth-rounder on Saturday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets traded defenseman Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers for blue-liner Neal Pionk and the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the team announced Monday.Trouba is a restricted free agent. The trade doesn't include any conditional picks if he re-signs with New York, and the Rangers weren't allowed to speak to him prior to the deal about an extension, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The first-round pick in this deal was initially owned by the Jets but was sent to the Rangers prior to the trade deadline to acquire Kevin Hayes, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. The Jets flipped Hayes' rights to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 3 for a 2019 fifth-round pick.Here's what each team ends up with as a result of the two trades:Rangers receiveJets receiveD Jacob TroubaD Neal PionkF Brendan Lemieux2019 5th-rounder (from Flyers)This trade marks the end of a two-year saga during which the Jets and Trouba's camp butted heads on more than one occasion in contract negotiations.After Trouba's entry-level contract expired before the 2016-17 campaign, he didn't sign his next pact until over a month into the season, agreeing to a two-year bridge deal. When that expired, he and the Jets needed arbitration to settle on a one-year, $5.5-million contract last summer. The two sides were reportedly $3 million apart before the hearing.Trouba, 25, enjoyed a career year in 2018-19. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound right-handed defenseman registered 50 points in 82 games while averaging nearly 23 minutes per night.Pionk, a 6-foot, 186-pound right-handed blue-liner, is coming off his first full NHL season. The 23-year-old recorded six goals and 26 points in 73 games while averaging just over 21 minutes per night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Fenton has wasted no time putting his fingerprints on the Minnesota Wild since being named the third general manager in franchise history on May 21, 2018.Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, and Mikael Granlund - all considered to be part of the team's core under the previous regime - have been dealt during the past year. And all signs indicate forward Jason Zucker will be next.A deal to send Zucker to the Calgary Flames fell through just before the trade deadline in February. Last month, a reported move that would've sent him and Victor Rask to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Phil Kessel and Jack Johnson didn't happen because Kessel used his no-trade clause to nix the deal."I could be somewhere else before the award show (on Wednesday)," Zucker, who's nominated for the King Clancy Award, joked to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I mean, honestly, I can be traded at any moment ... if it's going to happen, obviously."Zucker signed a five-year extension in July, which was one of Fenton's first moves. He's expressed his love for Minnesota and a desire to stay with the Wild despite the constant trade rumors."That's what makes it the hardest because we're all great friends," Zucker said, referring to the teammates who reached out when the trades that fell through made headlines. "And I mean, as far as I know, they don't want me to leave and I don't want to, but again, that's kind of part of the business. But I will say, I do want to be somewhere I'm wanted.”Zucker said he'll feel no animosity toward Fenton, regardless of what happens, but added that he doesn't exactly see eye to eye with the GM."I'm going to stay out of it because realistically, I mean Paul's never treated me poorly," Zucker said. "I have respected Paul in his position and what he does. Can I say fully that I agree with everything? No, but I can say that about any position, any person in the world I wouldn't totally agree with everything. And most people would say that about me, and that's just the way it works."Zucker, 27, set career highs with 33 goals and 64 points in 2017-18 but tallied just 21 goals and 42 points last year. His contract carries a $5.5-million cap hit through the 2022-23 season and a 10-team no-trade list that kicks in July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The best impending free-agent defenseman isn't hitting the market.The San Jose Sharks announced Monday that they re-signed Erik Karlsson to an eight-year contract extension. The deal is worth a reported $92 million ($11.5 million against the salary cap), according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston:

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is not eager to trade defenseman Torey Krug, but didn't rule out the possibility of it happening."We have an opportunity on July 1 to open up talks (with Krug), and some of it will be dictated by the RFA market and some internal things will dictate the timing of those conversations," Sweeney told NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "If somebody blew us away (with a trade offer) then every player has to be looked at in that way. From an organizational standpoint, it would be a disservice if you don’t."It would take a pretty unique opportunity for us to part with Torey. We believe that he’s in the fabric of our group and he’s kind of that next wave of leadership behind the guys that have carried the mantle for a long time. He’s an important part of our club."Krug will be an unrestricted free agent after next season and could sign an extension as early as July 1. He's in line for a sizable pay raise from his current $5.25-million cap hit. The 28-year-old blue-liner had 53 points in 64 games during the regular season and added 18 more points in 24 postseason contests.The Bruins have $14.3 million in projected cap space this summer, per CapFriendly. However, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen are now RFAs after the expiration of their entry-level contracts. Marcus Johansson, Noel Acciari, and Steven Kampfer are UFAs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks named Dallas Eakins the 10th head coach in club history, the team announced Monday.Eakins was promoted after four years as head coach of the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, with whom he enjoyed great success. The Gulls had a 154-95-23 record with Eakins behind the bench and made the playoffs in three of four seasons."Dallas is an outstanding head coach who has worked well with our players since joining the organization four years ago," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "He is a tremendous leader and strategist, and deserves this opportunity."Eakins spent a season and change as Oilers head coach beginning in 2013-14. He has a 36-63-14 record as an NHL head coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators re-signed forward Anthony Duclair to a one-year contract extension worth $1.65 million, the club announced Monday.Duclair was acquired in February from Columbus as part of the trade that sent Ryan Dzingel to the Blue Jackets, and he finished with 19 goals and 33 points in 74 games last season.Only 23, the Senators are Duclair's fifth NHL team, after he was drafted in the third round by the New York Rangers in 2013."We are pleased with what Anthony was able to add to our lineup after his acquisition," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "The signing improves our team speed and scoring depth up front. Anthony's speed and skill can be dynamic and at only 23 years old, we feel he has the chance to grow into a really consistent contributor."The Sens are in full rebuild mode, so Duclair should have a solid opportunity to surpass the 20 goals he scored in his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals and forward Carl Hagelin have agreed to a four-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million, the team announced Sunday.Hagelin was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.The 30-year-old recorded three goals and 11 points in 20 games with the Capitals last season after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings ahead of the February trade deadline.Hagelin also brings plenty of playoff experience. He has recorded 48 points in 128 postseason contests and captured back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.The Capitals have $10.7 million in projected cap space following the signing, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Candidates who've been told they're no longer in the running for the Anaheim Ducks' coaching job believe Dallas Eakins will be named the club's new bench boss, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli. A formal announcement is expected this week.Eakins is the current head coach of Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, who he led to a 36-24-5-3 record this past season.The 52-year-old has been out of the NHL since the 2014-15 season, when he was fired by the Edmonton Oilers after being hired the previous campaign. He also has experience as the head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies.The Ducks fired veteran coach Randy Carlyle in February and had general manager Bob Murray behind the bench to close out the remainder of the 2018-19 season, which they finished in 24th place.Eakins' appointment as the Ducks' bench boss would fill the league's last remaining coaching vacancy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One afternoon this past December, a child clad in a Canada toque and an Esso-branded hockey jersey stepped onto a carpeted patch of ice in Bonnyville, Alberta to conduct the first ceremonial faceoff of the World Junior A Challenge.Vasili Podkolzin, Russia's captain at the under-20 showcase, glided over to meet the boy and to greet Cade Townend, his leadership counterpart from the Canada East team. Russia was the visiting team in the tournament opener, and as Podkolzin and Townend bent forward for the draw, convention dictated that Podkolzin should let the Canadian win possession.Indifferent to this unspoken accord, Podkolzin pulled the puck toward himself before tapping it to Townend, who arched his eyebrows, pursed his lips, and gave his head a slight shake.Your browser does not support the video tag. Hockey CanadaThe stakes could not have been lower, yet this much was clear: Podkolzin didn't intend to be one-upped."This kid doesn't want anyone to get the better of him," said NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr, who saw the scene unfold from the stands.Analysts and Podkolzin's coaches say the 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-winger from Moscow, who will turn 18 on the Monday following the NHL draft, is a relentless competitor who can create scoring chances from nothing.Dave Reginek / Getty ImagesIn the game action following the ceremonial faceoff flap, Marr watched the Canadian team try to punish Podkolzin physically. Energized by the attention, Podkolzin scored twice in a two-minute span to key a 5-3 win."It's the old story: Don't poke the bear," Marr said. "It just motivated him, and he went out and dominated."As the draft nears, though, Podkolzin finds himself in a very different situation from that day in Bonnyville: one he can't personally control, and one that embodies the volatility of this year's selection process.Calling him a projected high pick is the safest characterization ahead of the first round on June 21, given that practically anything could happen after Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko are the first two names off the board.Kevin Light / Getty ImagesPodkolzin's drive, quickness, and intelligence could convince a team to nab him as high as third. But it wouldn't come as a shock if he slipped out of the top 10, undone by concerns about his point production and the two years that remain on his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg.Speaking via a translator at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo earlier in June, Podkolzin said his sole hope for the draft is for his name to be called in the first round: "Whatever that number is, that'll be the number."Podkolzin had an eventful 2018-19 season. He played at three levels in the Russian domestic system - junior, minor pro, and sparingly with SKA's powerhouse KHL team - and in several international tournaments, including the world juniors and last summer's under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. At the latter, his 11 points tied him atop the scoring leaderboard with Canada's Alexis Lafreniere, who is currently the consensus top prospect for the 2020 NHL draft.YouTube / NHL ProspectsThe flipside of Podkolzin's star turn at the Hlinka tournament, where he netted a hat trick in the bronze-medal game as Russia beat the United States 5-4, was his frustrating performance at the under-18 world championship in April. He captained Russia to the silver medal, but he didn't manage to score until the final and only recorded four points across seven games.Vasili Podkolzin's 2018-19 seasonGPGAPTSKHL3000VHL (minor pro)14235MHL (junior)12628Hlinka Gretzky Cup (U-18)58311*World Junior A Challenge (U-20)6358*World juniors (U-20)7033U-18 world championship7134*Tied for tournament leadProspect rankings compiled by scouting services and media outlets reflect varying, and evolving, perceptions of Podkolzin's stock. They generally place him anywhere from third to 12th, often with the caveat that the so-called "Russian factor" - the risk that he, like any of his countrymen, could opt to stay home to play in the KHL for numerous seasons - could deter clubs with a pick in that range from selecting him.At the combine, Podkolzin acknowledged that his KHL contract could scare off some teams. But he also said he hopes to come to North America in time for the 2021-22 season after his deal with SKA expires."If NHL teams want to be stupid, they'll put a lot of weight into (Podkolzin's KHL deal)," Craig Button, TSN director of scouting, said in an interview before the combine."If you want to scout based on a passport or a tape measure, you're going to make a lot of mistakes, because there isn't this bounty of good players all around the world. The Russian players want to play in the NHL just as much as the Canadian players."Rich Lam / Getty ImagesAfter slotting Podkolzin fifth in the first iteration of his 2019 draft rankings last summer and elevating him to third following the world juniors, Button eventually downgraded him to ninth in the class last week. Still, he admiringly calls Podkolzin a "bulldog" who cares dearly about the outcome of every puck battle and finds a way to contribute either offensively or defensively in every game he plays.Here's one spectacular example Button cited to extol Podkolzin's impact: the tying goal he scored against Sweden late in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup semifinal.Marr said Podkolzin has the capacity to command a viewer's attention on any given shift."It becomes pretty obvious that he's the best player on the team by the time you get through the first period every game," said Marr, who had a hand in NHL Central Scouting's decision to rate Podkolzin the second-best international skater in the draft (after Kakko)."Scouts love it when you don't have to look for a player," Marr said. "There's a lot of times that you go to a game and have to look for a first-rounder, because it's not happening. You never have to look for this guy."Effusive as he is in praising the young winger's competitiveness, Button notes that Podkolzin is prone to forcing plays that aren't there. He also thinks Podkolzin is a good but not great skater, a shortcoming that could keep him from racking up points at an elite rate in the NHL.Rich Lam / Getty ImagesInstead, he foresees Podkolzin assuming a valuable complementary role, like the Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome - a top-six forward with the ability to score 60-70 points per season."Vasili is not going to be Nathan MacKinnon. He's not going to be that level of player. He's not going to be Mitch Marner," Button said. "But he can be the player who can play with those guys."Podkolzin's first opportunity to skate alongside high-end pros came when he made his KHL debut with SKA last November. After idling on the bench well into the third period of a blowout win against HC Avtomobilist, the head coach sent him out for a shift with two of SKA's leading scorers: Nikita Gusev, who left Russia in April to sign with the Vegas Golden Knights, and former Detroit Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk.Podkolzin - who told the KHL's website at the time that his legs were shaking as he left the bench - wound up taking 14 shifts across three games with SKA this season, averaging 3:30 of ice time per contest. Between those call-ups and his international obligations, he only got to play 14 games with SKA-Neva, the franchise's farm team, and 12 with SKA-1946, its major junior affiliate.Shuttling between three domestic teams was made easier by the fact they're all based in St. Petersburg, Podkolzin said at the NHL combine. However, he had to adjust to a different role in each lineup and admitted to getting "a little fatigued" toward the end of the season, which may help explain why he struggled to generate results offensively at the under-18 worlds.Rich Lam / Getty ImagesJumping from level to level did give Podkolzin the chance to impress a lot of coaches. With his potential leap to North America two years away, they are among the people best suited to break down his game.Vladimir Filatov was Russia's bench boss at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and the under-18 worlds. He said in an email that Podkolzin is a smart player, a skilled puck-handler, and a potent and willing shooter - and, more importantly, "the heart and the leader" of his squad."Leadership is one of his strongest qualities," Filatov wrote via a translator. "He is an example for his teammates and deserves to be captain."Alexander Savchenkov, Podkolzin's junior coach, said in his own translated email that Podkolzin is a natural leader who is unafraid to dish out and accept constructive criticism. After a subpar debut game with SKA-1946, he recalled, Podkolzin went to the coaches' room to apologize to Savchenkov and to discuss what he needed to improve.Broadly, Savchenkov said, Podkolzin could stand to be a little more patient on the ice: "He wants it all at once, he wants to be everywhere during the game - but he needs to be in his place." Yet the coach figures it won't be long before he's ready to play full-time in a top pro league."Perhaps in the nearest future," Savchenkov said. "Everything is in his hands."- With files from theScore's John MatiszNick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired defenseman Olli Maatta from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Dominik Kahun and a 2019 fifth-round draft pick, the team announced Saturday.Mattaa, a 24-year-old, left-shot defenseman, should bolster the blue line for a Blackhawks team that ranked 30th in the league with 292 goals against last season.The 6-foot-2 rearguard helped the Penguins capture back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He has three years remaining on his current contract and carries an annual cap hit of just over $4 million.Kahun enjoyed a productive rookie campaign with the Blackhawks last season, contributing 13 goals and 37 points while playing in all 82 regular-season games.The fifth-round pick helps a Penguins club that does not hold its own second-, third-, or fourth-round selections in this year's draft. The deal also freed up approximately $3.15 million in cap space for Pittsburgh, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dion Phaneuf's time in Hollywood has come to an end.The Los Angeles Kings have bought out the veteran defenseman's contract Saturday, the club announced.Phaneuf had two seasons remaining on the seven-year, $49-million deal he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013.

The Calgary Flames tested the market for James Neal, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Saturday's edition of "31 Thoughts."Neal managed only seven goals and 19 points in 63 games with the Flames this past season.He signed a five-year, $28.75-million deal with Calgary in July 2018 after potting 25 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights.The 31-year-old's contract carries a cap hit of $5.75 million through 2022-23.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have discussed Jimmy Vesey with the New York Rangers, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Saturday's edition of "31 Thoughts."Vesey notched 17 goals and a career-high 35 points in his third year with the Rangers this past season. He has one year left on the two-year, $4.55-million deal he inked with New York last July.The Sabres acquired the 26-year-old's negotiating rights in August 2016 from the Nashville Predators, with whom he refused to sign after being drafted four years prior by the Central Division club.Vesey then opted not to ink a deal with Buffalo and instead joined the Rangers later that summer.He won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top men's hockey player in 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew MacDonald's days with the Philadelphia Flyers are officially numbered.Philadelphia placed the veteran defenseman on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced Saturday.The 32-year-old MacDonald contributed only nine points in 47 games this past season. He has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5 million, according to CapFriendly.He signed a six-year, $30-million pact with the Flyers in 2014.MacDonald spent parts of the last six campaigns with Philadelphia after beginning his career with the New York Islanders.The NHL's first buyout period opened Saturday. It runs until June 30.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are reportedly working on a trade involving goalie James Reimer, according to The Athletic's George Richards.The 31-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, which carries an average annual value of $3.4 million. Richards added that trading the goaltender is more likely than buying him out because a buyout would not benefit the team salary-wise.Reimer struggled in his third season with the Panthers, posting a record of 13-12-5 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.09 goals-against average while splitting crease time with Roberto Luongo.The Panthers have been tied to Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara played through multiple fractures in his jaw during the Stanley Cup Final and is expected to make a full recovery in five-to-six weeks, he told reporters Friday.Chara was injured in Game 4 against the St. Louis Blues after a shot from Brayden Schenn deflected off his stick and into his face. He sat out the remainder of the contest but was back in the lineup for Game 5. Until now, the extent of his injury had only been reported.The 42-year-old wore a face shield from Games 5 through 7 and averaged 19:04 of ice time per night before the Bruins bowed out at home in Wednesday's winner-take-all contest.Chara just completed his 21st NHL season, in which he recorded 14 points across 62 games. He signed a one-year extension worth $3.75 million in March to stick with the Bruins for another year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks will kick it old school in their semicentennial campaign.Three jerseys will be added or tweaked for 2019-20 when the club celebrates its 50th anniversary.Firstly, the team will once again use its much beloved "Black Skate" sweaters.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have quietly been shopping backup goaltender Garret Sparks, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Sparks went 8-9-1 with a .902 save percentage in 20 appearances with the Leafs this past season. He has one year and $750,000 remaining on his contract.The 25-year-old went 14-18-2 with an .898 save percentage in 37 games over the last two campaigns with the Leafs. He also starred for their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, helping them capture the Calder Cup in 2018.The Leafs selected Sparks in the seventh round of the 2011 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When it comes to bargaining chips for any player seeking a pay increase, few hold more leverage than having led your team to its first Stanley Cup championship as a rookie netminder.That's the exact card that St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington can play this offseason, and general manager Doug Armstrong knows it."He's going to earn a big pay raise this summer and we're looking forward to paying him," Armstrong said of Binnington on Sportsnet 590 on Thursday.Binnington came out of nowhere and played a huge role in reviving the Blues' season after the team was in last place in January. The 25-year-old went 24-5-1 with a .927 save percentage in the regular season, and carried the momentum into the playoffs by setting an NHL record for wins by a rookie goalie (16) while posting a .914 save clip across 26 starts.Remarkably, Binnington did all that while making the league minimum of $650,000.The Blues are entering the offseason with a projected $18.7 million in available cap space, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Matthew Tkachuk's new deal.The playerGerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyYou'd be hard-pressed to find a hockey fan who doesn't like Matthew Tkachuk's game.The Calgary Flames forward is a true throwback and a chip off the old block. Both he and his brother Brady bring the same nastiness, competitiveness, and 200-foot game that their father Keith did, which old-school hockey fans can appreciate.Tkachuk pleases new-age, analytical thinkers as well, though. In his career, he owns an elite Corsi For rating of 56.8 at five-on-five despite an offensive-zone start rate below 50 percent and playing almost exclusively against other teams' top lines.Offensively, he enjoyed a well-timed breakout 2018-19 season.Season (Age)GPGAPATOI2016-17 (19)7613354814:402017-18 (20)6824254917:152018-19 (21)8034437717:36Tkachuk managed to produce 53 of his 77 points at even strength despite skating on Calgary's shutdown line alongside Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik. He notched nearly as many points as his two linemates combined (81).The teamTom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyFlames general manager Brad Treliving has some work to do. CapFriendly projects the club to have just over $14 million in available cap space. In addition to Tkachuk and a handful of depth forwards needing new contracts, Jon Gillies is the only netminder signed for next season. Treliving has to decide whether he wants to re-sign David Rittich, Mike Smith, or perhaps both.Locking up Tkachuk and resolving the goaltending situation are two of Treliving's top priorities, but a couple of trades may need to be made in order to make it work. Frolik has one year remaining on his deal with a $4.3-million cap hit and could be dealt. Defensemen TJ Brodie, Travis Hamonic, and Michael Stone are all UFAs next year, and with plenty of young blue-liners in the system, one of these veterans is likely on the way out.Thanks to some team-friendly deals on the roster, the Flames shouldn't have too much trouble fitting Tkachuk under the cap on a long-term extension.The comparablesJohn Russell / National Hockey League / GettyHere's a select list of wingers to sign contracts out of restricted free agency over the past few years:PlayerCap hitCH%LengthYear signedWilliam Nylander (TOR)$6.9M*8.676 years2018Leon Draisaitl (EDM)$8.5M11.38 years2017David Pastrnak (BOS)$6.6M8.896 years2017Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)$6.75M9.256 years2016Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)$7.5M10.278 years2015CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed* - Nylander's cap hit in 2018-19 was prorated to $10.2 million because of time missed in negotiationsDraisaitl could be the most fitting comparison for Tkachuk, as they each recorded 77 points in their contract years. However, the Germany native finished eighth in scoring in 2016-17, whereas Tkachuk settled for 31st. Draisaitl also came with the versatility to play center.The projectionIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLike many of this year's RFAs, Tkachuk's contract could be directly tied to one of his counterparts. If Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine, or Brock Boeser sign their respective deals first, it'll offer one or more immediate comparisons for both Tkachuk's camp and the Flames' brass to look at.Calgary almost certainly views Tkachuk as a part of the long-term core moving forward. Many believe he'll be the club's next captain once 35-year-old Mark Giordano moves on.A deal in the six-to-eight-year range would likely be ideal for the Flames. However, Tkachuk was attentive to good friend Auston Matthews' lucrative five-year extension."I feel like every year there's a couple guys, a couple big names every year who kind of change the way a little bit," Tkachuk said in February. "I think Auston changed it, too, going with the approach (of) a five-year deal, too. Maybe people haven't seen that in a couple years, but it's not, like, uncommon. Guys used to do that all the time. He definitely set the bar."Tkachuk is a near lock to become Calgary's highest-paid player. The 21-year-old's deal will carry an average annual value of at least $7 million and could potentially reach $9 million depending on the length and what other RFAs sign for.Verdict: 6 years, $51 million ($8.5M AAV, 10.2 CH%)(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Others in this series:

The New York Islanders inked forward Jordan Eberle to a five-year deal, the club announced Friday.The contract will carry an average annual value of $5.5 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Eberle's production dropped off in his second season with the Islanders, as he managed just 19 goals and 37 points in 78 games after notching 25 goals and 59 points in 2017-18 following a trade from the Edmonton Oilers.The 29-year-old is coming off a six-year, $36-million pact he signed with the Oilers in 2012.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Mitch Marner's new deal.The playerAfter landing John Tavares in free agency last July, general manager Kyle Dubas proclaimed his Toronto Maple Leafs "can and will" retain the club's entire young core in Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner - despite the financial complications of harboring so many talented players.Matthews and Nylander are taken care of, and now Dubas' No. 1 summer priority is finding a suitable deal for Marner - owner of one hell of a contract year.Season (Age)GPGAP2016-17 (19)771942612017-18 (20)822247692018-19 (21)82266894Marner erupted with career bests across the board in 2018-19, leading the Leafs in scoring for the second straight year while finishing 11th in the Art Ross race. The 22-year-old winger has emerged as one of the most creative and exciting playmakers the NHL has to offer. Lining up alongside Tavares - who set a career high of his own by scoring 47 goals with No. 16 on his wing - Marner developed into one half of a lethal combination for Toronto.Elite vision and passing skills were Marner's greatest strengths even before the Leafs plucked him fourth overall in 2015, and they were on full display in his third pro season. Marner trailed only Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov in primary assists at all strengths (52) and led all skaters with 36 helpers at five-on-five, well ahead of runner-up Sidney Crosby.Deployed on the power play, penalty kill, and against opponents' top lines at even strength, Marner's earned the complete trust of head coach Mike Babcock. He's remained incredibly durable so far in his career, missing just five games over three seasons, and produced 17 points in 20 career playoff contests.The teamMark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyMarner is Dubas' top priority this offseason, but he isn't the only one. Fellow forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson are also restricted free agents and could combine for a significant chunk of change for a Leafs team up against the cap.Toronto has a projected $8.79 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly, and could gain another $5.3 million by placing Nathan Horton on LTIR. Every dollar will count. On top of their RFAs, the Leafs have three unrestricted free agents - Jake Gardiner, Ron Hainsey, and Martin Marincin - who could all walk, leaving large holes on a blue line that's already considered the club's primary weakness.Dubas is in the process of trying to move the anchoring contracts of Patrick Marleau (one more season at $6.25 million) and Nikita Zaitsev (five more seasons at $4.5 million), which would go a long way in creating extra financial flexibility in a crucial offseason.The comparablesHere's a look at some recent contracts signed by star forwards, deals that could be close to the one Marner ends up landing:PlayerP/GP*Cap hitCH%LengthYear SignedLeon Draisaitl (EDM)0.94$8.5M11.3%8 years2017David Pastrnak (BOS)0.93$6.66M8.89%6 years2017Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)0.98$6.75M9.25%6 years2016Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)0.94$7.5M10.27%8 years2015CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed

The Washington Capitals are attempting to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent forward Carl Hagelin, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Hagelin was traded twice last year, but the Capitals acquired him prior to the deadline in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings that sent a 2019 third-round pick and a 2020 conditional sixth-rounder to Hollywood.After arriving in Washington, Hagelin put up 11 points in 20 games and added one assist in the club's brief playoff run.The Capitals made a transaction earlier Friday, acquiring Radko Gudas from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Matt Niskanen. The trade gives Washington some extra financial flexibility, and it enters the offseason with a projected $12.48 million in cap space, per Cap Friendly.Hagelin's previous contract paid him $4 million per year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have traded defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for blue-liner Radko Gudas, the clubs announced Friday.Philadelphia will retain 30 percent of Gudas' salary.Gudas, 29, has one year remaining on his deal at a cap hit of $3.35 million. The 32-year-old Niskanen has two more seasons left on his contract at $5.75 million annually, according to CapFriendly.Niskanen ranked second on the Capitals in average ice time (21:56) this past season, but posted his lowest point total since 2012-13 with 25 in 80 games.Gudas managed 20 points in 77 contests while averaging just under 18 minutes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland expects Connor McDavid to be ready for the start of training camp after suffering a knee injury in the team's regular-season finale in April."He's doing good," Holland said, according to the team. "I've seen him twice this week ... he's rehabbing."I expect to see him on the ice at training camp. Working very closely with our medical team and the medical people that he's got in Toronto to make sure he's getting the best care possible. He's in great spirits."McDavid injured his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) after crashing into the post at nearly full speed but didn't require surgery.The 22-year-old is coming off a career 116-point season, and his 324 points over the last three campaigns leads all players.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are continuing to work on a contract extension for unrestricted free agent Erik Karlsson, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.The Sharks are the only team that can offer Karlsson a term of eight years. Once July 1 passes and the free-agent signing period begins, the maximum term the 29-year-old can get elsewhere is seven years.With $24.7 million in projected cap space, the Sharks can make it work, but will have some important decisions to make this offseason.Veteran forwards Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Gustav Nyquist, and Joonas Donskoi are all unrestricted free agents, and young talents Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier are coming off their entry-level contracts, putting them in line for their first big-league deals.Karlsson battled a pair of groin injuries over the latter half of the year and underwent successful surgery May 31.It was reported earlier this month that Karlsson is hopeful to receive competitive offers from the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens because his wife would like to live closer to family.The 6-foot rearguard recorded 45 points in 53 games in his first season with San Jose and added 16 points in 19 playoff games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night set a record with nearly nine million people tuning in, making it the most-watched NHL game ever, according to NBC Sports PR.The term “on record” refers to the current Nielsen measuring system, which began in 1994.

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, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic joins John to discuss a variety of topics, including:

The Edmonton Oilers have interest in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The Leafs and Zaitsev have been working together to find the right-handed blue-liner a new home for personal and private reasons. The Vancouver Canucks reportedly contacted Toronto about his services already.Zaitsev found success with the Leafs during his 36-point rookie season in 2016-17. Former general manager Lou Lamoriello then rewarded him with a seven-year deal carrying a $4.5-million cap hit. But the Russian hasn't been able to find his offensive form since signing his extension, tallying 27 points in 141 games over the last two seasons.The 27-year-old has been deployed primarily in a defensive role over the last two years and managed to form a respectable shutdown pairing with Jake Muzzin down the stretch this past season.Zaitsev has a 10-team no-trade list that takes effect on July 1, so there's an incentive for the Maple Leafs to move him as soon as possible.The Oilers have just $9.83 million in cap space this summer, according to CapFriendly. Adam Larsson, Matt Benning, Ethan Bear, Ryan Mantha, and 2018 first-rounder Evan Bouchard currently comprise the organization's depth chart for right-shooting defensemen.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets named former captain Rick Nash as a special assistant to the general manager Thursday.Nash retired from his playing career in January due to unresolved concussion issues.The 34-year-old will assist the club's hockey operations department in a variety of matters including player evaluations, prospect development, and player recruitment.Nash spent the first nine seasons of his career in Columbus after the Blue Jackets selected him first overall in 2002 during the franchise's third NHL draft. He remains the team's all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, and several other key statistics.One of the premier power forwards of his era, Nash was a co-winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy during the 2003-04 season, tying Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk for the league lead with 41 goals in his second NHL campaign. He'd go on to score at least 30 goals in a season seven more times during his career."Rick is the most decorated player in Blue Jackets history and was one of the game's most respected players during a career that included multiple All-Star Games, Olympic and World Championship gold medals, and a Stanley Cup Final appearance," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He cares deeply about the Blue Jackets and the city of Columbus and will be a great addition to our organization."The Blue Jackets made several other changes to their front office. Bill Zito has been promoted to senior vice president of hockey operations, associate general manager, and alternate governor. Basil McRae and Josh Flynn were both promoted and are now assistant general managers, while Chris Clark was promoted to director of player personnel.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand was brilliant during the Boston Bruins' postseason run, leading the team with 23 points, but a mental error in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final swung momentum in the St. Louis Blues' direction.With the Bruins trailing 1-0, Jaden Schwartz crossed the blue line and chipped the puck past a flat-footed Marchand, who immediately went for a line change with just 10 seconds left in the opening frame. Alex Pietrangelo found a crack in the defense, took a pass from Schwartz, and scored to give the Blues a two-goal lead.

Busch Stadium turns from red to blueMichael Thomas / Getty Images News / GettyThe captain comes in clutchBoston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyDoes he look nervous? Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyDesperate times, desperate measures Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettySundqvist with a leg up on Carlo Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyBinnington's signature stop Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyUltimate respect Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / GettyO'Reilly captures 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyOh Gloria!Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyFrom worst to firstBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington cemented his place in the record books with a win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.The 25-year-old capped off a sensational year by becoming the first freshman netminder to win 16 games in a single postseason, according to NHL Public Relations. Binnington turned aside 32 of 33 shots in the title-clinching victory.

After 52 long years, the St. Louis Blues are finally Stanley Cup champions. There is no easy path to a championship, as every title run is filled with ups and downs.From controversial calls to overtime thrillers, here are the six moments that defined the Blues' magical Stanley Cup run.Game 5 vs. Jets: 3rd-period takeoverAfter stealing both road games to take a 2-0 series edge in the first round, the Blues dropped both contests in their own building and faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the third period of Game 5 back in Winnipeg. The Jets seemed to have finally found their groove and the Blues looked as though they'd be heading home facing elimination.Ryan O'Reilly cut the lead in half just minutes into the third frame and Brayden Schenn tied the contest with 6:08 remaining. Then, with the Blues pressing in the final moments, Jaden Schwartz got his stick on a centering pass from Tyler Bozak to put the Blues ahead with 15 seconds to play. St. Louis ended the series two nights later in Game 6.

St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP following the club's 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.O'Reilly finished the postseason with eight goals and 15 assists, tying him for the playoff lead in points and establishing a Blues franchise record to boot. He saved his best work for the Stanley Cup Final too, notching five goals in the seven-game series.The 28-year-old opened the scoring in Wednesday's deciding contest, and in doing so became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1985 to score in four straight finals games, according to the NHL.After he collected his hardware, O'Reilly announced he'd been playing through a cracked rib, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.O'Reilly was traded to the Blues from the Buffalo Sabres last summer and established a career-high 77 points in the regular season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final will permanently be etched in Brad Marchand's memory for all the wrong reasons.His Boston Bruins dropped the deciding contest of the championship series on home ice Wednesday night, falling by a score of 4-1 to the St. Louis Blues. Marchand, who's experienced defeat in the finals before, said this one stings even more."I'll never get over this," he said postgame, via Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media. "Still not over '13 yet. This hurts more than that. It's not something you ever forget."The Bruins suffered one of the most stunning losses in Stanley Cup history in 2013, as the Chicago Blackhawks scored two goals in 17 seconds in the dying minutes of Game 6 to win their second title of the decade.It took the Bruins six years to get back to the finals, but they suffered the same result."It's a heartbreaker," Marchand said, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "It's tough to describe. They just took our dream, our lifetime dream from us and everything we've worked for our entire lives. Sixty minutes away from that. You can't describe it."Marchand was the Bruins' top scorer in the playoffs, notching nine goals and 14 assists in 24 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last August, Ryan O'Reilly stood in front of reporters at the annual end-of-summer BioSteel camp in Toronto and, with a grin, talked about joining the St. Louis Blues in an offseason trade. He was giddy.The possibility of lining up alongside Vladimir Tarasenko widened his eyes. The Blues, he said, were "on the verge of something great." He even suggested - adding "it's not going to be easy" - that a Stanley Cup was "definitely possible."The interaction seemed harmless, a predictable display of optimism from a guy who'd hit a wall playing for the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres and now found himself in a pretty cushy situation. Just a few months before the BioSteel media availability, O'Reilly had lamented how he'd "lost the love of the game" during the 2017-18 season. Of course he was thrilled to be traded.Now, some 10 months later, O'Reilly is indeed a Stanley Cup champion. He's the profanity-dropping winner of a much-deserved Conn Smythe, too. After a decade of largely playoff-free hockey, he's suddenly riding high. And he is just the tip of the iceberg with this team. The Blues' organization is littered with journeys marked by perseverance, people playing their cards just right.Patrick Smith / Getty ImagesFor the first time in their 52-year history, the Blues are on top of the world. Prior to Wednesday night's 4-1 Game 7 victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden, no team in the NHL's expansion era had won the Cup after ranking last in the standings at any point past the 30-game mark of the season.The city of St. Louis hadn't experienced a Cup Final since 1970 and if the stars hadn't aligned on several levels, none of this would have transpired. The 2018-19 Blues, lacking a true superstar and eliciting evaluations like "well, they're definitely very good, but probably not great," pulled through in the end. A resilient group from top to bottom.General manager Doug Armstrong deserves a round of applause for his commitment to the master plan. Not only did he add one of the sport's best two-way centers in O'Reilly, but he also brought forwards Patrick Maroon, Tyler Bozak, and David Perron aboard last summer. In 2017, Armstrong was OK with trading Kevin Shattenkirk despite being in a playoff spot, and a year later dealt Paul Stastny when the club was only a point out. Whether it was pure luck or deft managing - or a bit of both - Armstrong, the Blues' GM since 2008, picked the right seasons to unload stars and the right season to bolster the lineup. Luckily for St. Louis fans, he didn't panic and sell off more of the core when the team hit rock bottom in late 2018. It was a ballsy decision.Boston Globe / Getty ImagesNobody, not even Armstrong, expected much of Jordan Binnington coming into training camp. But the fourth-string goalie with ice in his veins came out of nowhere to post a .927 save percentage in 32 regular-season games and then a .914 mark over 26 playoff games. And though he wasn't superb in each and every outing of the postseason, Binnington showed incredible poise, finishing with a 6-2 record in games following a loss. The first period of Game 7 - in which he made 12 saves, many of them in the early going - was a microcosm of the rookie's resilient breakout season.And how about Maroon? He signed a one-year, $1.75-million deal with his hometown Blues, his fifth NHL franchise, taking less money than his market value to be close to his 10-year-old son Anthony. When Maroon hoisted the Cup above his head, the valleys of his career - and there have been plenty - disappeared. The 2007 sixth-round pick's wholesome gamble paid off handsomely.Jay Bouwmeester is a shadow of his primetime self, but he's now a Cup champion. It took him 1,184 regular-season games and another 75 in the playoffs to claim the NHL's ultimate prize. Skating alongside Conn Smythe contender Colton Parayko on the Blues' shutdown pair, he logged ice-time totals of 24:06, 25:41, 20:36, 23:34, 29:08, 21:39, and 28:34 in the Final. An admirable body of work for a 35-year-old who, before this postseason, seemed irrelevant.Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesFired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015, Craig Berube sat out the entire next season before finding himself behind the bench of the AHL's Chicago Wolves to start the 2016-17 campaign. When he replaced Mike Yeo and was named Blues interim coach on Nov. 20, 2018, Berube inherited a serious problem. Through team-oriented systems, a no-nonsense coaching style, and a number of smart lineup changes - particularly in the playoffs - he fixed it. He's 53 years old, a hockey lifer who until Wednesday had never won a Cup.Let's not forget the long list of other memorable stories: Jaden Schwartz's heavy heart, having lost his hockey-playing sister Mandi to cancer in 2011; Chris Thorburn's family health bills; Alex Pietrangelo, reportedly on the trade block earlier this season, getting the Cup every longtime captain deserves; Perron's third go-around in St. Louis tasting sweeter than ever; Sammy Blais' timely rise as a hit-happy winger; Robert Thomas, Vince Dunn, and their dueling tour de force performances in Game 7 of the Dallas series; Robby Fabbri's toughness following multiple long-term injuries; and Alex Steen's limited role but gigantic payoff at the age of 35.Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesExamining the NHL market of St. Louis through a league-wide lens, it's hardly the sexiest location. And Missouri isn't a quote-unquote traditional American hockey hotbed like Massachusetts, Michigan, or Minnesota. The Blues haven't jumped off the page over the years despite being consistently competitive throughout the franchise's lifetime. None of that matters anymore. Because after 16 wins on the backs of 20 different goal-scorers, a stingy defense, and Binnington, they're forever champs.Forget the officiating controversies, Columbus' upset over Tampa Bay, the record-tying number of Game 7s, the suspensions … all of it, forget it. The team sitting 31st in a 31-team league on Jan. 3 just won the Stanley Cup. Winnipeg in six games, Dallas in seven, San Jose in six, Boston in seven. These Blues, their championship, and the perseverance displayed by the entire organization should be what we remember from the 2019 postseason. They damn well earned our respect.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor's new deals.The playersJonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyLaine and Connor became dynamic offensive weapons for the Winnipeg Jets while playing out their entry-level contracts. Between them, they've given the Jets five 30-goal seasons. Connor was selected 17th overall in the 2015 draft, while Laine was chosen second overall the following year.Laine:Season (Age)GPGAPATOI2016-17 (18)7336286417:552017-18 (19)8244267016:292018-19 (20)8230205017:14Laine has quickly evolved into one of the game's premier goal-scorers, but he's proven to be rather inconsistent. During the 2018-19 season, he scored 18 of his 30 goals during a 12-game stretch in November. He then found twine just four times at even strength over his final 58 contests and looked disengaged in more than a handful of those outings.He silenced some of his critics with a stellar postseason performance, though the Jets were bounced by the St. Louis Blues in the first round.Connor:Season (Age)GPGAPATOI2016-17 (20)2023512:132017-18 (21)7631265716:542018-19 (22)8234326619:15Connor has become an effective complement to Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler on the Jets' top line. He's smart, quick, blessed with soft hands, and has a nose for the net. His ceiling may not be as high as Laine's, but his floor and shift-to-shift consistency are significantly greater.The teamDave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyAs punishment for years of successful drafting, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff finds himself in a significant cap crunch this offseason. In addition to Laine and Connor, the Jets have a long list of pending free agents, and only $25.37 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly.Player (Pos.)StatusAndrew Copp (F)RFABrandon Tanev (F)UFAPar Lindholm (F)UFAMatt Hendricks (F)UFAJacob Trouba (D)RFATyler Myers (D)UFABen Chiarot (D)UFANathan Beaulieu (D)RFAJoe Morrow (D)RFABogdan Kiselevich (D)UFATrouba is a safe bet to be traded, but the Jets would probably like to re-sign at least a handful of the players listed above.Obviously, Laine and Connor are top priorities, but the cap situation could affect how their contracts are constructed. Eight-year contracts, which require higher cap hits, seem to be out of the question.The comparablesIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHere's a select list of wingers to sign extensions out of restricted free agency over the last few years:PlayerCap hitCH%LengthYear signedJake Guentzel (PIT)$6M7.555 years2018William Nylander (TOR)$6.9M*8.676 years2018Leon Draisaitl (EDM)$8.5M11.38 years2017David Pastrnak (BOS)$6.6M8.896 years2017Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG)$6M8.07 years2017Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)$6.75M9.256 years2016Filip Forsberg (NSH)$6M8.226 years2016Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)$7.5M10.278 years2015CH% = Cap hit percentage, based on cap ceiling when the contract was signed* - Nylander's cap hit in 2018-19 was prorated to $10.2 million because of time missed in negotiationsNylander's deal will likely be viewed as the best comparison for Connor in negotiations. The Swede had 122 points in the two seasons before his new contract, while Connor had 123.A comparison for Laine is tougher to find. He's never reached the 77 points Draisaitl accumulated in his contract year and doesn't offer the versatility of playing center like the Edmonton Oilers forward does. Tarasenko's deal, although outdated, is interesting. His contract year (37 goals, 73 points) is similar to Laine's 2017-18 season (44 goals, 70 points).However, Laine's third-year slump creates an interesting debate. Should he be paid as the player he was in 2017-18 or 2018-19? That could be a point of contention during negotiations.The projectionsDarcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyFor Connor, a six-year deal seems to be the most likely scenario. It provides long-term stability but wouldn't break the bank for the Jets. At this term, a cap hit would likely fall somewhere between $6.5 million and $7.5 million.Laine's contract is more difficult to predict. He and his agent may prefer a bridge deal so they can return to the negotiating table in two or three years. The cap hit could range from $5 million to $7 million. If Laine's camp wants to get a long-term pact done in the six-to-eight-year range, then his AAV could potentially fall between $7 million and $9 million.Connor verdict: 6 years, $43 million ($7.167M AAV, 8.63 CH%)

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Brayden Point's new deal.The playerPerhaps no player in this stacked group has a better case to earn top dollar than Tampa Bay Lightning pivot Brayden Point does. The 2014 third-round draft gem exploded this past campaign with career highs across the board and was an indispensable piece in the Bolts' historic regular season.Season (Age)GPGAPATOI2016-17 (20)6818224017:082017-18 (21)8232346619:372018-19 (22)7941519218:55Point has quickly emerged as a top-tier center who's capable of producing at both even strength and on the power play while maintaining a strong defensive presence against opposing top lines.He may not capture as much of the spotlight as some of his teammates, but Point certainly should be held in the same regard. He led all Lightning skaters in individual expected goals at five-on-five this season and ranked seventh across the NHL with 25 primary assists - one fewer than Art Ross winner and linemate Nikita Kucherov.Burying 40-plus goals as a center is a surefire way to earn a substantial payday in its own right, but Point excels in each facet of the game.The teamScott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyThe Lightning don't have a ton of wiggle room, with just over $8.5 million in projected cap space for Point and new contracts for fellow restricted free agents Adam Erne, Danick Martel, and Cedric Paquette. Tampa also has three regular defensemen coming off the books in Braydon Coburn, Dan Girardi, and Anton Stralman, all of whom are unrestricted free agents and could create significant holes in the blue line if they opt to sign elsewhere.General manager Julien BriesBois will likely need to do some maneuvering to make Point fit in the books alongside the organization's existing long-term commitments. Buying out the final year of Ryan Callahan's contract or facilitating a trade to move J.T. Miller - who is a prime candidate to be dealt due to his cap hit and modified no-trade clause - are two options to free up some room.Utilizing every penny of available space won't just be imperative for Tampa Bay when it comes to locking down Point, but also when the same issue rears its head a year from now during Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy's negotiations.The comparablesHere's a list of star centers who recently signed new contracts after their entry-level deals:Player (Team)P/GP*AAVCH%LengthYear SignedAuston Matthews (TOR)1.07$11.634M14.6%5 years2019Jack Eichel (BUF)0.95$10M13.33%8 years2017Leon Draisaitl (EDM)0.94$8.5M11.3%8 years2017Connor McDavid (EDM)1.31$12.5M16.67%8 years2017CH% = Cap hit as a percentage of the cap ceiling when the contract was signed

Clear your schedules, Blues fans.The Stanley Cup will make its way through the streets of St. Louis for the first time during the traditional victory parade on Saturday, the team announced Thursday.The parade will start at noon at the corner of 18th and Market streets, and end at Broadway and Market Street. A rally will take place at the Gateway Arch following the parade.St. Louis captured the first Stanley Cup in franchise history on Wednesday, defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 7.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was difficult for anyone to believe in the St. Louis Blues when they sat last in the NHL on Jan. 2, but Scott Berry did.Berry, a Blues fan, was on a business trip in Las Vegas in January and decided to throw $400 down on St. Louis to win the Stanley Cup at 250-1 odds. He would have many opportunities to cash out before the final result but decided to go big or go home."Everyone was calling me an idiot for not hedging," Berry told The Action Network's Darren Rovell. "I would start to read the Twitter comments, and, after a while, I had to just stop reading."Obviously, Berry's faith paid off. The Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night, earning him an incredible $100,000 payday. There was no shortage of nervousness beforehand, though."Leading up to the game was the worst part," Berry said. "I tried to keep my mind occupied, but nothing really worked. I remember there was like four hours to go and I tried to take a nap. Didn't happen."When the moment of relief and joy finally came, Berry enjoyed a champagne shower as if he was a Stanley Cup champion himself.

With the St. Louis Blues' Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, the 2020 futures market is officially - and yes, already - open for business.The Tampa Bay Lightning open as the favorite to hoist the Cup next summer, according to Las Vegas' SuperBook.Full OddsTeam OddsLightning6-1Golden Knights7-1Bruins10-1Maple Leafs10-1Avalanche10-1Blues14-1Sharks16-1Jets16-1Capitals20-1Flames20-1Penguins20-1Predators25-1Flyers25-1Panthers25-1Stars30-1Islanders30-1Hurricanes30-1Blue Jackets30-1Coyotes30-1Wild40-1Blackhawks40-1Canucks40-1Canadiens50-1Oilers50-1Sabres60-1Rangers80-1Devils80-1Red Wings80-1Ducks80-1Kings80-1Senators300-1Tampa mowed through the competition this past regular season en route to 62 wins and 128 points, only to be swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets. After opening as the favorite following the regular season, the Lightning will once again be the hunted when the 2019-20 campaign kicks off.In January, the Blues owned the worst record in the NHL and sat 250-1 in the futures market.That's how you buy low.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.

Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is back in action for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday after clearing concussion protocol, the team announced prior to puck drop.Grzelcyk will replace Connor Clifton in the Bruins' lineup.Grzelcyk hasn't played since suffering a concussion in Game 2 against the St. Louis Blues. He was hit hard into the boards by Oskar Sundqvist, who received a one-game suspension.The smooth-skating defenseman has had a stellar postseason for the Bruins despite a limited role. He's tallied three goals and four assists in 19 games while averaging just over 16 minutes per night.Boston has controlled 53.7 percent of the shot attempts and 60.8 percent of the high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five while Grzelcyk has been on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's new champion will be crowned following a win-or-go-home affair Wednesday, and other than fans of the St. Louis Blues, nobody's complaining that this series is going the distance.The Boston Bruins will have the luxury of home-ice advantage for the decisive contest, but that doesn't necessarily mean history is on their side.Here's a look at some numerical nuggets pertaining to Stanley Cup Final Game 7s throughout history, to the 2019 playoffs, and how they relate to the two clubs involved this time around.8 years later, can Boston do it again?2011 - The last Game 7 in a Cup Final, in which the Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0.5 - Current Bruins players who were part of that championship team (Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, and Tuukka Rask, although Rask didn't play a minute in the playoffs that year).Home teams have an edge, but not recently12-4 - The record of home teams in Stanley Cup Final Game 7s.2 - Road wins in the last two Cup Final Game 7s. The Bruins won in Vancouver in the 2011 final; the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in 2009.A 1st time for everything95 - Years the Bruins have existed.0 - Stanley Cup Final Game 7s that the team has previously hosted.Bruins have more Game 7 experience15-12 - The Bruins' all-time record in playoff Game 7s, the most winner-take-all contests of any franchise and the most wins in those games in NHL history.14-8 - Boston's record at home in those games.9-8 - The Blues' all-time record in playoff Game 7s.4-6 - St. Louis' record on the road in those games.Chara on verge of history13 - All-time Game 7s played in by Chara, who will set an NHL record when he plays in his 14th on Wednesday. The 42-year-old Bruins captain is currently tied with Patrick Roy and Scott Stevens for the most all time.Going the distance ... again2 - Years the Bruins have played multiple Game 7s in a single playoff run (they went the distance with Toronto in Round 1 this year). They also did so in 2011, becoming the first team in history to win three Game 7s in a single playoff run. The Los Angeles Kings later matched the mark in 2014.All-time Game 7 trends177 - All-time Game 7s in playoff history.74 - Percent of those games won by the team that scored first (131-46). Those clubs have gone 11-5 in Stanley Cup Final Game 7s, and 3-2 in Game 7s during the 2019 playoffs.58.7 - Percent of all-time Game 7s won by the home team. Home teams have gone 4-1 in 2019.24.9 - Percent of all-time Game 7s that required overtime. Home teams have gone 23-21 in those games, and 2-1 in 2019. Putting all the 2019 Game 7s in context6 - Game 7s in these playoffs, including Wednesday's contest.6 - Previous years in which at least six Game 7s were contested in the same postseason (seven in 1994, 2011, and 2014, and six in 1992, 2003, and 2009).(Most figures provided by the NHL)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's settled: Michael and Jim versus Pam.Steve Carell, who starred as Michael Scott on the hit TV sitcom "The Office," showed where his allegiances lie ahead of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues.

It all comes down to this.On Wednesday night, the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins will do battle in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final - the NHL's first winner-take-all championship contest since 2011 and fourth of the salary-cap era.The Blues fell short of clinching their first-ever Stanley Cup with an underwhelming performance in Game 6, but get another shot at glory. The Bruins, meanwhile, forced a Game 7 on home ice for the second time this postseason and seek their seventh Cup. If they win it, they'll move ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth-most championships in NHL history.Before any hardware gets handed out, let's go over three keys to determining the newest champions of the NHL.Goaltending battleIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTuukka Rask and Jordan Binnington have gotten their respective teams to this point with displays of dominance throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While both players will be a major factor in who comes out on top Wednesday, it's nearly impossible to declare who has the edge.Rask has posted a .938 save percentage across 23 playoff games so far and is a shoo-in for the Conn Smythe if he secures his 16th win of the tournament. The 32-year-old Finn has been at his best with the Bruins facing elimination, allowing only four goals in three games with a .953 save clip.Binnington is no slouch either, though, and has delivered time and time again with his Blues facing adversity. St. Louis' unflappable rookie netminder is 7-2 - and 2-0 in the final - coming off a loss this postseason.Special teams vs. even strengthDave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyPenalty trouble immediately sunk the Blues in Game 6, as Brad Marchand's five-on-three opener gave the Bruins momentum they never relinquished. It wasn't the first time this series Boston's taken over a game with its lethal power play, doing the same in Game 3 with an absurd 4-for-4 performance. The B's enter Game 7 operating at 33 percent with the man advantage in the final and will surely look to seize any opportunity handed to them.The Blues' penalty kill has been torn apart and their power play hasn't been great either, going just 1-for-18 so far against the Bruins. Ensuring the game is played at even strength has to be a major focal point for coach Craig Berube and his squad, who've owned a slight advantage in most metrics.TeamCF%GF%SCF%Blues52.1352.3850.70Bruins47.8747.6249.30(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Depth productionIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAnyone can become a hero with a big performance in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and depth scoring can often play a big role in determining the winner of a do-or-die matchup.The Blues could use some extra production in the season finale, as only eight skaters have scored a goal and just three have recorded more than one. That said, St. Louis will be back at full strength for Game 7 with Ivan Barbashev set to return from a one-game suspension.The Bruins, on the other hand, have benefited from contributions across the board, with 15 different skaters finding the back of the net in the Cup Final and 21 overall in the playoffs, matching an NHL record, according to Sportsnet Stats.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues are making multiple lineup changes ahead of the biggest game in franchise history.Defenseman Joel Edmundson will sub in for fellow blue-liner Robert Bortuzzo, while 19-year-old forward Robert Thomas will be scratched in favor of Ivan Barbashev, head coach Craig Berube said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.Here's a look at the Blues' expected lineup, as relayed by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:Forwards:LWCRWJaden SchwartzBrayden SchennVladimir TarasenkoZach SanfordRyan O'ReillyDavid PerronSammy BlaisTyler BozakPat MaroonIvan BarbashevOskar SundqvistAlexander SteenDefense:LDRDCarl GunnarssonAlex PietrangeloJay BouwmeesterColton ParaykoVince DunnJoel EdmundsonWith Bortuzzo, a right-handed shot, being scratched in favor of the lefty Edmundson, the Blues will be dressing four left-handers and two right-handers on defense.However, Berube told The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno that because right-handers Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko are logging so much ice time, "There's not a lot of (other) minutes over there."Barbashev, meanwhile, jumps back into the lineup after facing a one-game suspension for his hit on Marcus Johansson. Thomas is the odd man out after a brief return to action. The 19-year-old missed Games 2-5 with an undisclosed injury but suited up in Game 6 while Barbashev was out.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Bales' resignation from the Carolina Hurricanes makes a bit more sense now.Bales will be the Buffalo Sabres' new goaltending coach, sources told The Athletic's Joe Yerdon.He stepped down from the same role with the Hurricanes on Tuesday after two seasons with the team.Bales previously served as goalie coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2014-17. He now replaces Andrew Allen, who succeeded Arturs Irbe in Buffalo in 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout June, theScore will be projecting contracts for the star-studded restricted free-agent class. In this edition, we project Brock Boeser's new deal.The playerThe Vancouver Canucks have collected the young core pieces they hope to build a successful team around, and now it's time to start paying them. The process begins with a new contract for sharpshooting winger Brock Boeser, the first of the club's building blocks to require a new deal.Season (Age)GPGAP2016-17 (19)94152017-18 (20)622926552018-19 (21)69263056Drafted 23rd overall by Vancouver in 2015, Boeser has already established himself as one of the league's premier shooters. Since his first full season, he sits 18th among all NHL skaters with 1.1 goals per 60 at five-on-five, ahead of some major names like Jamie Benn, Brad Marchand, Sean Monahan, and Mark Stone.Boeser doesn't drive play for his linemates particularly well, but he's an elite finisher who's bound to earn a handsome payday even as a winger. The 22-year-old's resume already includes a runner-up finish in Calder Trophy voting and All-Star Game MVP honors, so he has lots to work with on his side of negotiations.The teamJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyAs mentioned above, Boeser is a key component of the Canucks' promising young core alongside Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. His upcoming contract will be crucial for Vancouver's long-term salary cap picture as all three players track to make big money down the road. General manager Jim Benning can get a head start this offseason by working out a reasonable deal for Boeser.The Canucks are projected to have over $30 million in cap space for the 2019-20 season, according to CapFriendly. Though Boeser headlines Vancouver's list of players due for new contracts, he's not alone. Tyler Motte, Josh Leivo, Nikolay Goldobin, and Markus Granlund are all RFA forwards as well, while Ben Hutton and Derrick Pouliot are up for new deals on the blue line. Of those six players, only Goldobin enters the offseason without arbitration rights. Vancouver also has decisions to make on veteran UFA defensemen Alex Edler and Luke Schenn. Schenn joined the club in January and it seems the Canucks want to bring him back.Boeser won't be the only player looking to get paid this summer, but he'll undoubtedly be priority No. 1.The comparablesHere's a list of notable wingers to recently sign long-term contracts coming out of their ELCs:Player (Team)P/GP*AAVCH%LengthYear signedJohnny Gaudreau (CGY)0.98$6.75M9.256 years2016Filip Forsberg (NSH)0.78$6M8.226 years2016David Pastrnak (BOS)0.93$6.66M8.896 years2017Jake Guentzel (PIT)0.92$6M7.555 years2018William Nylander (TOR)0.74$6.9M**8.676 years2018CH% = Cap hit as a percentage of the cap ceiling when the contract was signed* - In contract year