Scott Darling's time in the minors is over.The Carolina Hurricanes recalled the 29-year-old goaltender Sunday, just nine days after he cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.Darling has appeared in five games with Charlotte this season, coming away with three wins and a .911 save percentage. But his numbers haven't been as strong in Carolina, where he owns a 2-4-1 record and .892 save rate in seven appearances.Darling is under contract through 2020-21 at a $4.15-million cap hit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman will have a hearing Sunday following a late hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.The play in question occurred midway through the third period of Saturday's contest when Hyman hit McAvoy in the corner:Hyman was assessed a five-minute major for interference, plus a fighting major and a game misconduct after an ensuing scrum with Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk.Toronto's next game comes Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the William Nylander saga wrapped up, one of the next major tasks facing Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas could be fending off potential suitors for Auston Matthews, who'll be a restricted free agent following this season."There is widespread feeling within the industry that Auston Matthews would be the rare player who would be targeted by an offer sheet," Sportsnet's Chris Johnston said during Hockey Night in Canada's "Headlines" segment.Offer sheets in today's NHL are a rare occurrence. The last player to sign one was Ryan O'Reilly with the Calgary Flames in 2013, but the Colorado Avalanche quickly matched it and retained his services.Matthews would have to be willing to sign a potential offer sheet, and he and the Maple Leafs have until July 1 before another team could attempt to poach the 21-year-old superstar. Mitch Marner is scheduled to join Matthews in restricted free agency next summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday's Atlantic Division clash between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins had no shortage of fireworks.The spirited affair was physical from the puck drop, but intensity ramped up considerably in the final frame, with the familiar foes engaging in multiple fights.Although Nazem Kadri and Brandon Carlo had already dropped the gloves earlier in the game, things started getting out of hand after Zach Hyman caught Charlie McAvoy, who was playing just his second game since returning from a lengthy concussion absence, with a late hit in the corner.Hyman immediately had to answer to Matt Grzelcyk before being assessed a five minute major for interference, while McAvoy missed a few shifts before returning to the bench.

Hiring Ken Hitchcock may be Peter Chiarelli's best move as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.The Oilers are 6-2-1 under Hitchcock, and 6-1-1 when Connor McDavid has been in the lineup. Under former head coach Todd McLellan, Edmonton was 9-10-1.Hitchcock has implemented a few changes, but none bigger than ingraining his low-support system into the minds of his players. Edmonton's forwards are coming lower with and without the puck in the defensive zone, and it's paying dividends.Here's a screenshot from the Oilers' final game under McLellan - a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. When Vegas has the puck behind the net, Edmonton's wingers Zack Kassian (No. 44) and Jujhar Khaira (No. 16) are hanging high in the zone while defending the point. That leaves a Golden Knights skater wide open in the slot.NHL.comIn Edmonton's most recent game - a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday - there was a noticeable change. When Minnesota has the puck behind the net, all five Oilers skaters are camped below the hash marks, prohibiting the Wild from making a dangerous pass into the slot.NHL.comHitchcock's low-support system is also leading to some significant changes when the Oilers have the puck.During one sequence in McLellan's last game, Darnell Nurse brought the puck up the ice. Leon Draisaitl is at the bottom of the screenshot below as he waits for a pass that can't be made because an off-screen Golden Knights player is lurking in the neutral zone.McDavid is also off the screen waiting in the neutral zone for a pass. With no open outlets, Nurse takes a few more strides before he's forced to dump the puck, resulting in an icing.NHL.comUnder Hitchcock, the Oilers' forwards are taught to support the defensemen on the breakout. Here, blue-liner Adam Larsson wins the puck battle, then Draisaitl retrieves the loose biscuit, and he hits a swooping McDavid in stride for an easy breakout with the club's best player leading the charge.NHL.comGetting Edmonton's forwards the puck earlier during the breakout is key. The Oilers don't have any defensemen who thrive while skating with the puck from zone to zone, or while making long stretch passes - which is what McLellan was asking out of his blue-liners.McDavid, meanwhile, is arguably the best puck carrier in the NHL, as evidenced by his league-leading 248 controlled zone entries, according to The Point Hockey. Second-line center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also excels at skating from zone to zone with the puck.The improvements after Hitchcock's changes have been substantial. Under McLellan, the Oilers were out shot at 5-on-5 nine times in 20 games, but with Hitchcock they've been out shot at 5-on-5 just once, and it was by a single shot during Friday's drubbing of the Wild, according to Natural Stat Trick.Yet, the most important result of the schematic changes is the impact on the Oilers' goaltending. Here's a look at the performances of Mikko Koskinen and Cam Talbot since Hitchcock took over:StatMikko KoskinenCam TalbotGP4-1-12-1-0GAA1.822.29SV%.934.925The Oilers still severely lack forward depth and mobility on the back end. But by getting his players to buy into his system - and giving his star player more ice time - Hitchcock has Edmonton trending in the right direction, with the team sitting just one point out of the playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed general manager Bob Murray to a two-year extension, the team announced Saturday, putting him under contract through the 2021-22 season."Bob has created a winning organization with his commitment and expertise," said Ducks Chief Executive Officer Michael Schulman. "We are very pleased to be in a position where expectations are high virtually every season, thanks in large part to Bob and his staff. We passionately share a common goal - bringing another Stanley Cup to Orange County."Murray has worked in the Ducks' front office since 2005, serving as the general manger since 2008. He's been a finalist for GM of the Year three times, winning in 2013-14.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators placed forwards Matt Duchene and Bobby Ryan on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. Duchene is considered week to week with a groin injury, while Ryan is out indefinitely with a concussion.Duchene had been on pace for a career year, currently leading the Senators with 34 points in 29 games. Colin White and Chris Tierney will likely see increased roles while Ottawa's top center is sidelined.Ryan has battled injuries throughout his time in the nation's capital, missing 20 games in each of the past two years. The injuries have hindered his production, as he hasn't surpassed 35 points since 2015-16. He was on track for a bounce-back campaign this season, registering 18 points in 29 games.The Senators are last in the Atlantic Division with a 12-14-3 record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano has been suspended two games for kneeing Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu during Thursday's game, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Here's the play:

Calgary Flames forward Ryan Lomberg was suspended one game for leaving the bench on a legal line change for the sole purpose of starting an altercation, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.The one-game ban is in addition to his automatic one-game suspension which was previously issued for instigating in the final five minutes of regulation during Thursday's game against the Minnesota Wild.Head coach Bill Peters was also been fined $10,000 for the incident.Lomberg jumped Wild defenseman Matt Dumba after the blueliner delivered an open-ice hit on Mikael Backlund in the final minute of regulation.

With Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy close to making his season debut after dealing with a back injury and Gustav Forsling merely day to day with a shoulder ailment, general manager Stan Bowman is looking to free up space on defense and has begun shopping fellow blue-liners Brandon Manning and Jan Rutta, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers.Manning was signed this offseason to a two-year, $4.5-million contract, while Rutta is in his second season with the team after signing a one-year, $2.25-million extension earlier this year.The two have combined for just three goals and nine points this season, and, given their respective cap hits, Powers' source believes that the Blackhawks would take anything in return in a trade for either of them simply to get their salaries off the books.Chicago currently has just under $5 million in cap space.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen were involved in a minor car accident Friday afternoon in Etobicoke near the team's practice facility, the club confirmed to CTV News. Nobody was injured.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock plans to ride Connor McDavid until there's no tomorrow.McDavid played 28 minutes in the Oilers' shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, and apparently, that type of workload won't be an outlier."I think we can play him 25-plus because he plays at 5-on-5 and on the power play," Hitchcock told reporters Friday. "It's a whole different animal if you're killing penalties."Hitchcock added that McDavid being an "effortless skater" is also a major reason why he'll be able to handle "24-25 minutes a lot."McDavid has seen a noticeable increase in his ice time since Todd McLellan was fired.StatMcLellanHitchcockGP207ATOI22:1324:34Following Hitchcock's first game behind the Oilers' bench, he marveled at McDavid's stamina."His recovery rate, cardio-wise, is astounding," Hitchcock said. "He's able to get back up to speed quickly. That's something we've got to take advantage of. He can come out every second shift if it stays 5-on-5."The Oilers are 5-2-1 since Hitchcock replaced McLellan, and 5-1-1 with McDavid in the lineup.(H/T: TSN)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin is an awfully good hockey player and apparently an even better person.Following his overtime dagger against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night, Larkin gave his stick to a lucky young fan in the crowd.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year - and not just because the holidays are around the corner.The top under-20 prospects will soon head to pre-tournament camps to prepare for representing their countries on the world stage. Fans will live and die with every shift. Prospects' stocks will rise or decline based on a handful of games.Consider this your three-week world-junior warning. Are you ready?Prospect SpotlightNew York Rangers fans, rejoice.Defenseman K’Andre Miller, selected 22nd overall by the Rangers in 2018, is killing his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin. Miller seized the team scoring lead Saturday, posting a four-point game (including the tying goal) against Penn State. Miller's got 15 points, including three goals, in 16 games, and was named the Big Ten's first star of the week Tuesday.At only 18, Miller is a true freshman, which means he still has plenty of time to grow his game before turning pro. And he's only been a defenseman for about three years.One of Miller's biggest assets is his skating - rare for a player of his size at 6-foot-4. He generates speed well and can lead the rush effectively. It'll serve him well in an NHL that prizes not just raw speed, but the ability to respond to and process the game at that top pace. Expect to see Miller on the preliminary USA roster for the World Junior Championship, and its final roster as well.In the minorsGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Detroit Red Wings announced Wednesday they'll release Filip Zadina to the Czech Republic for the world juniors. Zadina has 15 points, including seven goals, in 22 games with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.The Red Wings were smart to keep Zadina in the AHL, where he plays in the top six and features on one of the team's power-play units, rather than returning him to the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. The Q's often seen as a "defense lite" league, where Zadina would have faced much easier competition; throwing him into the metaphorical fire sooner is better for his development and should prepare him for the rigors of the NHL more quickly.The class of 2019Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyCanada named two draft-eligible prospects to its preliminary world-juniors roster: potential first-rounder and A-rated skater Raphael Lavoie of the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) and C-rated skater Brett Leason of the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL). Canada also invited forward Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), the projected top 2020 prospect.The USA also named two draft-eligible players to its camp roster: projected 2019 first overall forward Jack Hughes and goaltender Spencer Knight.Other notable draft-eligible prospects named to their nations' preliminary rosters include Lassi Thomson of the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), Kaapo Kakko for Finland, and Nils Hoglander for Sweden.Around the CHLIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBode Wilde signed his entry-level contract with the New York Islanders on Monday after a great start to the season with the Saginaw Spirit. Wilde has 22 points, including five goals, in 21 games.Vancouver Canucks goaltending prospect Michael DiPietro was the centerpiece of a blockbuster OHL trade Tuesday. After three seasons with the Windsor Spitfires, DiPietro will backstop the Ottawa 67's, though he'll likely miss a few weeks of league action while playing for Canada.In return, the Spitfires received the rights to Russian forward Egor Afanasyev, who currently plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, and four second-round picks across the next five drafts. Windsor could get three more conditional picks if Afanasyev doesn't report. (Ottawa also received two draft picks.)Elsewhere, defenseman Evan Bouchard has played well since the Edmonton Oilers returned him to London. His 15 points, including five goals, in 11 games make that immediately clear; go deeper, though, and Bouchard's been even better than that production suggests. According to Jeremy Crowe, data and video analyst for the Mississauga Steelheads, for every 60 minutes of Bouchard's even-strength ice time, the Knights have scored approximately 5.51 goals.On campusIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDefenseman Adam Fox's terrific season at Harvard continues. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has 20 points, including five goals, in 11 games. His numbers aren't necessarily even the most impressive part. Fox demonstrates an ability to read the ice, and to judge the time and space available to him, that some professional players don't even have. That's not even getting into his skating, which is one of the best aspects of his game. If Fox keeps up this level of play and Carolina can sign him this offseason, don't be surprised if he shows up on the Hurricanes' NHL roster next fall.Mattias Samuelsson (BUF) is making his mark as a true freshman at Western Michigan University. He went straight to college at 18 rather than spending time playing elsewhere, and in top-pairing minutes on the Broncos, Samuelsson's showcased the preternatural poise and high hockey IQ that caught the eye of the Buffalo Sabres (and other teams). Samuelsson has six points, including three goals, in 14 games so far this season. He's also expected to be part of the USA's defense corps at the world juniors.Penn State forward Evan Barratt (CHI) is tied with teammate Alex Limoges for the national NCAA scoring lead with 25 points. Barratt has 12 goals and recently recorded a hat trick against the University of Michigan.Last Friday and Saturday, Boston University and Boston College played their annual home-and-home series (colloquially known as the Battle of Comm Ave). Saturday's game was the first scoreless tie in 279 meetings between the schools. BU goalie Jake Oettinger (DAL) recorded his 10th career shutout, while BC netminder Joseph Woll (TOR) posted his fourth.Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel's name made headlines this week because the Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly tested the trade market for the winger, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday.Captain Sidney Crosby addressed those rumors following the Penguins' 6-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.“There’s always going to be talk,” Crosby told The Athletic's Josh Yohe. “And there’s always going to be some things said outside of this room, the kind of stuff that we don’t really have any control over. All I know is, we appreciate all the things he brings to this team.”Kessel's name has surfaced in trade talks before. Last offseason, he was reportedly open to playing for the Arizona Coyotes, a team that former Penguins assistant coach Rick Tocchet leads behind the bench. There was also a reported rift this summer between Kessel and Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.Last month, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford spoke candidly about possibly shaking up the roster if the team didn't improve. He made a couple deals, shipping out Carl Hagelin and Daniel Sprong in exchange for Tanner Pearson and Marcus Pettersson in two separate trades. Pittsburgh is now third in the Metro Division.Kessel is on pace for a career-high 100 points after recording a personal-best 92 last season. His value to the Penguins is clear, and especially to Crosby, who skated on a line with Kessel during the club's win on Thursday. The two have rarely played together at 5-on-5, but they combined for seven points against the Isles.“We definitely appreciate all the things he can do for us,” Crosby said. “Look at what he does, look at how much he produces, how dangerous he can be every night.”Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock believes William Nylander's first game of the season went as well as it could have, given the circumstances.Nylander made his season debut Thursday night after ending his contract stalemate Saturday. He played just 12:29, but Babcock said he liked what he saw, and admitted the forward may have been thrown into the fire a little prematurely."I thought Willy was fine," Babcock said. "It was probably unfair for me - we had the bus thing that happened, we were supposed to practice together, we never even gave the guy a practice. We wanted to get him in. You've got two guys on that line, one coming back from injury (Auston Matthews) and one who hasn't played. In the end, we had an opportunity, we felt, to get going."We tried to get going. It has nothing to do with Willy, it has to do with me and trying to win the game, that's all ... I want him to play a ton, I just want to get him out there and get him going. Any time you've missed that amount of hockey, it's going to be hard for him."After playing 10:22 through the first two periods, Nylander was limited to just 2:07 in the final frame, not seeing the ice for the final 11:37 of the third period and overtime.

The Carolina Hurricanes reportedly aren't done trying to bolster their group up front after failing to acquire William Nylander."I can tell (you) Carolina - which really, really, really wanted to get in on Nylander and never really got that shot - they want a top-six forward ASAP, and they've got the surplus on defense to make it happen," TSN's Pierre LeBrun said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."Carolina is deep on the back end, boasting the likes of Jaccob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton, Justin Faulk, and Calvin de Haan, in addition to Brett Pesce and Trevor van Riemsdyk.The Hurricanes' forward depth has taken a hit due to injuries, with Jordan Staal being ruled out of Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks due to a concussion and Micheal Ferland still dealing with a head injury of his own.LeBrun reported back in September that the Hurricanes were among the teams that called the Toronto Maple Leafs about Nylander, but they were told the Leafs didn't want to trade him.Nylander re-signed with Toronto last Saturday, inking a new six-year deal minutes before the 5 p.m. ET deadline to avoid being ineligible for the rest of the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's National Hockey Writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play.On this episode, John is joined by ESPN's Emily Kaplan and theScore's Josh Wegman to break down the latest headlines and trends.Topics include:

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will miss Thursday night's contest against the Arizona Coyotes due to a concussion, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.Head coach Todd Reirden said Wilson is day to day and will travel with the team to Columbus, where they end their three-game road trip on Saturday.Wilson sustained the injury during the second period of Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights when he was tagged with a blindside hit from Ryan Reaves.

Martin Hanzal will make his long-awaited return to the Dallas Stars' lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, according to Mark Stepneski of the team's website.Hanzal last suited up on Feb. 21 when he suffered a season-ending back injury. He underwent spinal fusion surgery in March.He signed a three-year, $14.25-million contract with the Stars in July 2017, and tallied 10 points in 38 games during his first season in Dallas. He spent the first 10 years of his career with the Arizona Coyotes but was dealt to the Minnesota Wild at the 2017 trade deadline.The towering 6-foot-6 center was spotted on a line between Devin Shore and Jason Spezza during Thursday's practice, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins claimed forward Gemel Smith off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Thursday.The 24-year-old center was spotted saying his farewells to his Stars teammates at their morning skate.

The cities of Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, were announced as hosts for the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship on Thursday. That edition of the tournament will mark the fifth time in the previous 10 years that it's been played in Canada."To return to Alberta is an incredible opportunity for Hockey Canada and the IIHF World Junior Championship," said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. "The province of Alberta and the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer have a history of hosting successful, world-class events."Edmonton and Calgary hosted the 2012 edition of the tournament.Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, will be one of two venues used to host games. The ENMAX Centrium, where the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels play, will be the other site.This year's under-20 competition will be played in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. The Czech Republic will host in 2020 before the tournament returns to Alberta.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With about a third of the season in the rear-view mirror, theScore's Josh Wegman evaluates 10 notable members of the 2018 rookie class, taking age into consideration.C Elias Pettersson, CanucksJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyAge: 20

William Nylander will make his long-awaited return to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup Thursday night on home ice versus the Detroit Red Wings, he told reporters on Wednesday.

The 2021 world juniors are heading to Alberta and are set to be split between Edmonton and Red Deer, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.A formal announcement on the event from Hockey Canada is expected Thursday.It would mark the sixth time since 2010 that Canada has hosted the tournament, with this year's edition taking place in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid returned to action Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues after a one-game absence.The Edmonton Oilers superstar potted the shootout winner to beat the Blues after sitting out Monday's loss to the Dallas Stars because he was under the weather.It was the first contest he missed since his rookie season in 2015-16, ending a streak of 222 regular-season games played.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel can't seem to escape the rumor mill.According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins "tested the market" on a possible trade involving the high-scoring winger.While a deal never came to fruition, the Penguins have been active in the trade market in recent weeks, parting with Carl Hagelin and Daniel Sprong while bringing in Tanner Pearson and Marcus Pettersson.Prior to the deals, general manager Jim Rutherford floated the possibility of a roster shakeup if there wasn't improvement on the ice. The Penguins currently sit two points back of a playoff position in the Metropolitan Division.As for Kessel, it's not the first time his name has surfaced in trade talks. Last offseason, a report indicated that the 31-year-old was open to a move to the Arizona Coyotes. Arizona, of course, is coached by Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant in Pittsburgh during the team's Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017.Kessel is owed $8 million for three more seasons, but $1.2 million of his salary is retained by the Toronto Maple Leafs. His contract also allows him to grant a trade to just eight teams of his choosing.Across part of four seasons with the Penguins, Kessel has picked up 93 goals and 157 assists in 272 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From center ice to center stage.Toronto Maple Leafs superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will take their talents to the theatre when they debut as Cannon Dolls at The National Ballet of Canada's 'The Nutcracker.'

The average value of NHL franchises rose 6 percent over the last year to a record $630 million, according to Forbes' annual report on the sport's finances.For the fourth year running, the New York Rangers are the most valuable team, coming in at $1.55 billion, a 3 percent increase over 2017.Three other franchises - the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks - are valued at more than $1 billion.Here's the full list:FranchiseValue 2017-18 RevenueRangers$1.55B$253MMaple Leafs$1.45B$232MCanadiens$1.3B$239MBlackhawks$1.05B$201MBruins$925M$191MKings$810M$193MFlyers$800M$186MRed Wings$775M$171MCanucks$735M$168MCapitals$725M$194MPenguins$650M$185MGolden Knights$575M$180MOilers$540M$145MStars$525M$144MSharks$510M$148MWild$490M$142MBlues$465M$148MDucks$460M$134MDevils$455M$166MFlames$450M$132MLightning$445M$146MIslanders$440M$107MSenators$435M$124MAvalanche$430M$119MPredators$425M$132MHurricanes$420M$109MJets$415M$135MSabres$375M$128MBlue Jackets$320M$111MPanthers$295M$99MCoyotes$290M$96MCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves won't be called to the carpet following a hit he delivered to Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson, a source told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.The incident occurred late in the second period of Tuesday's game. Reaves was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct following the play.

John Tortorella wasn't sure what happened to his Columbus Blue Jackets after a wild loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but then surrendered five unanswered goals in what was ultimately a 9-6 defeat.When asked by a reporter postgame if his team stopped playing or if the Flames started playing when Columbus led by three, Tortorella said, "No, we didn't stop playing."The Blue Jackets bench boss then dismissed the reporter's notion that his players took their feet off the gas but said, "I have no idea," when asked to describe what happened."It certainly wasn't through lack of effort." Tortorella added, concluding the exchange.Flames forward Sean Monahan potted a power-play goal to make it 4-2 early in the second period, and teammate Elias Lindholm scored to cut the lead to one less than a minute later. Matthew Tkachuk, Noah Hanifin, and T.J. Brodie followed suit for Calgary.Nick Foligno replied for Columbus to cut the Flames' lead to 6-5 with five minutes left in the second frame, but Calgary outscored the Blue Jackets 3-1 in the third to seal the victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct after catching Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson with a blindside hit late in the second period of Tuesday's game.The force of the hit knocked Wilson's helmet off, which caused him to hit his head on the ice.

Aleksander Barkov probably didn't expect to get up close and personal with Dwyane Wade at the game between the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz on Sunday, but the Florida Panthers forward says he's no worse for wear.Barkov was sitting near the baseline when Wade's leg inadvertently caught him in the head as the Heat star was chasing a ball out of bounds.

SEA ISLAND, Ga. - This was not the way it was supposed to go down.In the lead-up to Tuesday’s announcement, the arrival of an NHL club in Seattle had been billed as a 2020 endeavor, with the prospective ownership group distributing 2020-related swag to local fans and even erecting ‘NHL 2020’ flags on the city's famous Space Needle during a press conference.Recently, though, the league’s tune changed in regards to timing. Otherwise excellent, the expansion application pitched to the board of governors this week couldn’t promise that a revamped KeyArena (now known as Seattle Center Arena) would be up and running for the start of the 2020-21 season.So, a group of extremely wealthy businesspeople was forced to do something they don’t normally do: swallow their pride and accept reality. The dream of bringing an NHL team to the state of Washington wasn’t over, it had just been put on hold.“I have business cards I’m going to have to toss out that say ‘Seattle 2020,’” CEO Tod Leiweke joked on stage at a posh resort in coastal Georgia during the unveiling of the unnamed, Pacific Division-bound team on Tuesday afternoon.“There’s some collector’s editions out there right now,” quipped senior advisor Dave Tippett, laughing over the phone from his office in Seattle.The NHL-starved Pacific Northwest market has suffered through a number of false starts over the years. In fact, they've been here before. Back in 1974, a group headed by a man named Vince Abbey was awarded a franchise, but couldn't get its act together financially and folded before playing a single game.Patrick McDermott / Getty ImagesThe current group - which is headlined by billionaire David Bonderman and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer - will finally ice a team. They have deep pockets, serious political capital, and it doesn’t hurt that nearly 35,000 people have signed up for season ticket deposits.“I woke up today thinking about the fans,” said Leiweke, whose brother Tim, a former Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment executive, is also heavily involved with the project. “What did they feel on March 1st when they put down deposits without knowing anything? No team name, an ownership group they didn’t know very well, a building plan that was back then somewhat defined but fairly vague.”The most difficult part is over. The ownership group has been accepted by the 31 existing teams in unanimous fashion. They will have no trouble covering the $650-million expansion fee or financing the $800 million arena construction project. The community is vibrant, young, and prosperous.“I think for better or for worse, what we’ve learned about the market confirms what we always thought about the market, which is it’s a young, dynamic, engaged market. Supports its professional sports franchises,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “It’s an area of the continent that can be served well by a NHL team, it’s good solid ownership, it’s going to have a first-rate arena. There’s not a whole lot not to like.”Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesOf particular interest moving forward is landing on a suitable name, logo, colors, and finding a general manager. Compared to the Vegas Golden Knights, who were awarded the 31st franchise in June 2016 and started their debut season roughly 16 months later, Seattle has all the time in the world - something like 34 months before opening night."It's exciting and daunting and scary and all the things,” said Bruckheimer, who was fittingly off to the ‘Top Gun 2’ set following the press conference. “You just want to do right for Seattle, and bring great players and hopefully pick a name where we won't get too many people mad at us.”The name will be a hotter topic in the short term, especially with the Metropolitans, Kraken, and Totems all gaining substantial support from factions of the fledgling fan base. Again, no rush.“We have a little bit of time there,” Leiweke said. “We’re going to get it right.”Asked if the club’s original timeline for hiring a GM had changed to accommodate the extra year of being on the sidelines, Tippett was noncommittal. They may tab someone in early-to-mid 2019, or they could choose to delay it a year when the June 2021 expansion draft is approaching.“It all depends on who the person is, what the circumstances are,” he said. “There’s a lot of factors that come into play, but I wouldn’t rule (a 2019 hire) out."“I talked to a lot of people involved in the Vegas situation and they told me you think you have a lot of time but you don’t,” Tippett added. “All of a sudden, you’re scrambling to put staff together. It gives you more time to make sure your decisions are right and to just generally prepare for things.”Thanks to the Seattle Metropolitans, who won the 1917 Stanley Cup as a member of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the area has some history to draw from. There's also four Western Hockey League junior teams in the state, including a pair in the Seattle area.And in due time, there will be another monster question: Will the NBA return to Seattle after moving the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City? Seattle Center Arena is being built to accommodate basketball anyways, with the WNBA's Storm sharing the rink with the NHL club.“One miracle at a time," Bonderman said.John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks will loan veteran forward Sam Gagner to the Toronto Marlies for the second time this season, the team announced Tuesday.Gagner was sent down to the Marlies on Oct. 2 and then recalled by the Canucks on Nov. 18.The 29-year-old center carries a cap hit of $3.15 million and has two years remaining on his contract, including the 2018-19 campaign.He piled up 15 points in as many games with the Marlies before being summoned by the Canucks, with whom he managed three points in seven contests.The Canucks needed to make a move with forward Jay Beagle expected to return from injury and the recently acquired Josh Leivo making his Vancouver debut against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's official: Seattle will become the NHL's 32nd franchise. Even though it'll be a few years before the club hits the ice, it's never too early to start exploring possibilities. Here are four names and logos the team could use:Kraken is a legendary sea monster. As fearsome as this creature would be for a mascot, blaring Liam Neeson's famous line from "Clash of the Titans" right before the players hit the ice would be the best part. Who wouldn't be fired up after hearing that?From Soundgarden to Alice in Chains, Seattle is home to the birth of grunge music, so what better way to represent the city's culture and heritage than displaying it in the team's logo?Seattle is located right on Elliott Bay - a waterway to the Pacific Ocean - so naming the team after marine wildlife would only be fitting. Sea Lions are agile and intelligent, but the only issue here is it would give the San Jose Sharks' social media team some easy material.The Seattle team will begin play in 2021, which will mark the 50-year anniversary of when the first-ever Starbucks opened in - you guessed it - Seattle, Washington. Paying homage to the city's coffee culture is a nice touch, and the name and logo for Baristas would certainly be unique, to say the least.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for a Western Conference shakeup.The Arizona Coyotes will move from the Pacific Division to the Central Division beginning with the 2021-22 season to accommodate the arrival of Seattle as the NHL's 32nd franchise. Seattle, naturally, will join the Pacific.The new alignment, announced Tuesday, will give the league 16 teams in each conference and eight in each division.Geographically, Arizona was the most eastern team in the Pacific Division. Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday that the Coyotes attract more fans when they play Central Division teams, according to theScore's John Matisz.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SEA ISLAND, Ga. - Make it 32.The NHL will officially expand to 32 teams after granting a franchise to Seattle at the Board of Governors meetings on Tuesday. Needing 24 of 31 existing teams to vote "yes" to approve their expansion application, the Seattle ownership group received unanimous 31-0 support from the power brokers gathered at the swanky Cloister resort in coastal Georgia.The unnamed club is slated to begin play in fall 2021. Seattle will join the Pacific Division and the Arizona Coyotes will move to the Central Division, ensuring both conferences have 16 teams and every division contains eight teams. Realignment will stop there, and it will not come into effect until the 2021-22 season.Seattle's ownership group - known officially as the Seattle Hockey Partners - is led by private equity CEO David Bonderman and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer. They are required to pay the league an expansion fee of $650 million, or $150 million more than the Vegas Golden Knights' fee back in 2016.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe group hoped to enter the league in the fall of 2020, but the NHL's concerns about the timeline for extensive arena renovations kicked the club's debut a year down the road. Work being done on KeyArena, the former home of the NBA's SuperSonics, will cost north of $700 million. Another $70 million has been earmarked for a practice facility, with both venues scheduled to open around October 2020.While the NHL has never stationed a franchise in Seattle, the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association won the 1917 Stanley Cup. Multiple groups have tried to bring a team to the Pacific Northwest hub over the past few decades. This attempt succeeded in large part because it had private financing, an arena plan, and close to 35,000 season ticket deposits.The NHL is now the second North American pro sports league with 32 teams, joining the NFL. It beat the NBA - widely considered this generation's "it" league - to Las Vegas and will be the lone winter sports league with a presence in Seattle.The 15th-largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 3.867 million, Seattle is home to the NFL's Seahawks and MLB's Mariners. The SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha will be sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks after suffering a hand injury, the team announced Tuesday.Mantha was hurt Sunday during a fight with Patrik Nemeth of the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old will undergo hand surgery Tuesday.In 27 games, Mantha has picked up nine goals and five assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SEA ISLAND, Ga. - The NHL's board of governors dispersed from a three-hour meeting Monday evening having just discussed a number of league matters that didn't relate to the presumed expansion to Seattle.Yes, Tuesday - the second and final day of the board's winter meetings - will be reserved for talk about, and a vote on, Seattle becoming the 32nd franchise. However, Monday featured discussions about the arena situation in Ottawa, the fate of another edition of the World Cup of Hockey, and next year's cap.With that in mind, here are three non-Seattle things we learned on Day 1:Bettman 'disappointed' with Sens' situationIn a post-meeting scrum with the media, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked if he was concerned with the Ottawa Senators' arena situation."I would say I'm more disappointed with how this played out, but these are complicated matters," Bettman replied.Amid attendance woes, the Senators' downtown arena development project is flailing in the wind. Over the past two weeks, owner Eugene Melnyk has filed a $700-million lawsuit against his partner, John Ruddy, while a second interest group has stated they would be willing to take over the development.There's a chance the downtown project is trashed, forcing the Senators to continue their residency at Canadian Tire Centre, which is located in the nearby suburb of Kanata. It's not ideal, but the league doesn't view the status quo as a terrible Plan B."For a whole host of reasons it would be nice (to have a downtown rink)," Bettman said. "But Mr. Melnyk has said if he has to make Canadian Tire Centre work, he can do that."Added deputy commissioner Bill Daly: "He's the owner of the franchise and you have to defer to his local expertise. So, if he feels like he can make it work there long term, we'll certainly support that."World Cup 2020 discussions stalledPumped for a sequel to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey? Well, you might want to dial it back.The NHL and NHLPA aren't currently engaged in talks about a fall 2020 tournament. With the clock ticking, Bettman isn't pleased."For the last year and a half, two years, we've been anxious to anchor plans for a World Cup, but for whatever reason, the players' association hasn't been prepared to do that," he said.Of course, any business centered around an event like the World Cup is linked with negotiations over the next CBA. All-star weekend, which goes Jan. 25-26 in San Jose, appears to be the deadline the league has set for the players' association to restart talks."If we're going to do a World Cup, and do it with the planning necessary, if we don't know (if the players' association is interested) by the first of the year or (the) all-star (break), then there's no sense in trying to pull off a World Cup for 2020," Bettman said."They know the timeframe," he noted later. "The puck's in their end."Salary cap projected to rise againThe NHL has told its clubs to expect a salary cap of about $83 million for the 2019-20 season.If the projection becomes reality this coming fall, the NHL will have added $3.5 million to its ceiling and, for the first time, climbed past the $80-million mark.It's a far cry from the first season of the cap era, where teams could spend just $39 million in 2005-06."I think the fact that the salary cap continues to increase means revenue's continued to increase, which means the state of the sport and the business is very healthy, as healthy as it's ever been," Daly said. "And that's good for us, that's good for the players, I think it's good for everybody."John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohnCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi was suspended two games on Monday for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing on Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Calvert, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.The incident occurred during Sunday's contest between the two clubs when Bertuzzi grabbed Calvert's stick while sitting on the Red Wings' bench and proceeded to punch him in the face.

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid skipped Monday's game against the Dallas Stars due to an illness.It marked the first game McDavid has missed since his rookie season, ending a streak of 222 straight regular-season games played, according to Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.The 21-year-old has posted 35 points in 26 games, going pointless in just four contests. Entering Monday's clash with Dallas, McDavid had factored in on 50 percent of the Oilers' goals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2019-20 salary cap will be approximately $83 million, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the league's Board of Governors meeting Monday, according to theScore's John Matisz.That would mean a rise of roughly $3.5 million from this season's ceiling of $79.5 million.Bettman said the final figure could fluctuate, but $83 million is the target."It could be a million more, it could be a million less, but if you're focused on a number, the number we told our clubs to focus on was the $83-million range," the commissioner said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.The salary cap was initially $39 million when it was first introduced before the 2005-06 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The potential new NHL franchise in Seattle is expected to begin play in 2021, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Dreger clarified that nothing is yet confirmed, but the timeline is expected to be revealed Tuesday when expansion to Seattle is likely to be formally approved at the league's Board of Governors meetings in Georgia.While it has long been considered likely that Seattle will be awarded the NHL's 32nd team, there had been uncertainty about whether the possible franchise would start playing in 2020-21 or 2021-22.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chuck Fletcher is the new general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, the club announced Monday.The multi-year agreement makes Fletcher the eighth man to serve as GM in franchise history. His hiring comes after the team fired Ron Hextall in November.The 51-year-old was most recently a senior adviser with the New Jersey Devils. He was also GM of the Minnesota Wild for nine seasons until April 2018.His tenure in Minnesota included six playoff appearances and was highlighted by the team's big-ticket free-agent signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sweden got some good news regarding its blue line for the upcoming World Junior Championship on Monday.While discussing William Nylander's contract extension, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas noted that Toronto Marlies defenders Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin will be loaned to Sweden for the world juniors, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.Liljegren and Sandin, the Maple Leafs' most recent first-round picks, are both playing for Toronto's AHL affiliate. 2017 draft selection Liljegren has eight points in 19 games this season, while Sandin's posted four goals and three assists as a rookie in 12 contests.The 19-year-old Liljegren played for Sweden at last year's world juniors as the team captured silver, ultimately losing 3-1 in the final to Canada. It'll be Sandin's first taste of the tournament, which kicks off on Boxing Day in Vancouver.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander has been informed that he won't be shipped out as long as Kyle Dubas is in charge."Kyle has told me multiple times that as long as he’s here he’s not going to trade me," the Toronto Maple Leafs forward told reporters, including The Athletic's Jonas Siegel, on Monday.Dubas all but confirmed Nylander's comment moments later."I don't think we want to get in the business of not having excellent young players," the general manager said, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.Nylander and the Leafs ended their contract impasse Saturday, coming to an agreement on a six-year deal minutes before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Daniel Sprong.Sprong, 21, has been in and out of the Penguins' lineup this season recording four assists in 16 games. The Dutch forward posted 65 points in 65 AHL games last year.The 22-year-old Pettersson was averaging 14 minutes of ice time for the Ducks. He tallied six helpers in 27 games with four of those assists coming in the last two weeks.Pettersson is set to become a restricted free agent this summer while Sprong is in the first season of a two-year, $1.5-million deal, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Josh Leivo to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday in exchange for AHL forward Michael Carcone.Leivo, 25, played in 27 games this season for the Leafs, collecting four goals and two assists. He's set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.The trade came soon after William Nylander ended his standoff and signed a long-term deal with Toronto, making Leivo expendable.Carcone, 22, has yet to play a game in the NHL. He has six goals and 11 assists for the Utica Comets in his third season in the minors and will now join the Toronto Marlies. He was signed by the Canucks as an undrafted free agent in 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From the moment the Montreal Canadiens selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi third overall in the 2018 draft - bypassing highly touted QMJHL winger Filip Zadina in the process - the talented center has been under the microscope.But through the first 25 games of the season, it's difficult to find a Habs fan who hasn't been impressed with the 18-year-old phenom.Kotkaniemi is the youngest player in the league and the first player born in the 2000s to dress for an NHL game. Despite his inexperience, the skilled Finn looks composed every time he takes the ice.Granted, he's made his share of mistakes, like every other first-year skater. But while some of those other rookies might scramble to recover, Kotkaniemi immediately shakes it off and jumps back into the play, minimizing the effect of his errors.He's able to do that because of his hockey sense, which feeds into his high-end vision and positioning. Here's a great example:In this Nov. 19 game against the Capitals, Kotkaniemi (No. 15) spots a loose puck resulting from a Washington turnover. He goes for it immediately, then makes a nifty move to elude the opposing player's poke attempt - and that's not even the most impressive part of the sequence.After a less-than-optimal pass to Artturi Lehkonen - who overskates and misses the puck - Kotkaniemi retrieves it near the blue line and immediately makes another pass. He isn't just tracking the puck; he's already thinking ahead to where it's going to be and getting himself into position to get it back.The next night against Vegas, Kotkaniemi used those same instincts to score his third career goal:Kotkaniemi converts this scoring chance by knowing exactly where he needs to be. First, he positions himself to receive a potential quick pass out of the scrum in the corner. Then he notices that, as the puck drifts behind the net, the Golden Knights have left goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury virtually unprotected. Kotkaniemi gets to the front of the net just in time to receive a Lehkonen pass and tap it home.He flashed that same awareness and hockey IQ on his first NHL goal, capitalizing on an odd-man transition rush:It's a simple play - skate up ice, receive the pass, shoot. But it's the simplicity that makes his execution impressive. Kotkaniemi tracks the play and knows exactly where he needs to be for the puck to land on his stick so he can take the shot; he isn't overthinking it, a problem that plagues many young pro hockey players.This play also offers a good example of his skating ability. Kotkaniemi is a fluid skater, with a good first step and a smooth stride, and he could stand to use that a bit more consistently.Watching Kotkaniemi's shifts gives you the sense that he's a level or two above his linemates in terms of hockey sense. It's good for him to start his career at third-line center because it eases him into the NHL without the pressure of being in the Canadiens' top six and facing the highest quality of competition. It also provides him with more opportunities to play in the offensive zone (he tends to get fewer defensive-zone starts) and adapt to the NHL pace.Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / GettyGiven his hockey IQ, however, it's difficult not to wonder what he could do with more skilled linemates. The Canadiens' roster presents limitations in this respect, but his time on the top power-play unit with guys like Jonathan Drouin shows glimpses of what could happen if he was in a situation where his offensive ability could truly blossom.What he needs to improve can be summed up in one word: consistency. He's still getting used to the pace and intensity of the league. He could also stand to add muscle and cut down on the number of occasions that he gets caught puck-watching, but these are things we'd ask of any player his age. With time, he should pick up the nuances of the NHL game.And when he does - which could be soon - perhaps the Canadiens will finally have their No. 1 center.Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter @HockeyWthHannah.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.