St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is "not good" after getting blindsided by Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson on Sunday, head coach Mike Yeo said after the game, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.Yeo said Sundqvist hasn't seen a team doctor yet, so there's no official diagnosis, but stated he has "a couple of upper-body injuries" and expects him to be out a while.Sundqvist suited up in 42 games for the Blues last season, registering one goal and four assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Dundon knows how important Sebastian Aho is to the Carolina Hurricanes.When asked about the talented young forward, the team's owner said getting him signed to a long-term contract is a high priority, according to the Raleigh News & Observer's Chip Alexander.Aho said in August that "we've been talking about something, but I've got nothing to say yet," seemingly referring to his camp and the club beginning negotiations on a potential extension.The 21-year-old, who led the Hurricanes in goals (29) and points (65) last season, is entering the final year of his entry-level pact.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Filip Zadina's professional hockey career will begin in the American Hockey League.The Detroit Red Wings assigned the sixth overall pick in June's draft to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the team announced on Sunday.Zadina piled up 44 goals and 82 points with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina will start his professional North American career in the AHL, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.The Wings selected Zadina with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Pundits deemed the selection a steal, as many mock drafts had him going as high as third overall.The Czech sniper tallied 44 goals and 82 points with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League a season ago.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug suffered a lower-body injury during Saturday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers and didn't return, the team announced.Krug suffered a season-ending fractured ankle during the second round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring.He was spotted in a walking boot after Saturday's contest, but head coach Bruce Cassidy said he didn't believe Krug had been suffering any lingering effects from the fractured ankle."I have no information on anything bothering him," said Cassidy. "They gave him a timeline on when he could return to play, and it was later. He wasn't going to play the first two games, clearly. That's why he wasn't going to China. That was determined in probably the first week of August ... and then he gets injured again, so hopefully it's nothing serious. But it's tough luck if it is, obviously."Krug is coming off a career year, compiling 14 goals and 59 points in 76 games last season, and adding 12 more points in 11 postseason contests. The Bruins would likely turn to Matt Grzelcyk or rookie Urho Vaakanainen if Krug misses the season opener on Oct. 3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears as though Sidney Crosby won't be getting a street named after him in his home province of Nova Scotia anytime soon.The city of Halifax had discussed renaming Dartmouth's Forest Hills Parkway to Sidney Crosby Parkway, but the staff is now advising against it. Crosby does not yet meet the existing criteria for commemorative naming because he's not retired, according to the Canadian Press' Alex Cooke.A report states that while staff acknowledges "the broad range of positive impacts that Sidney Crosby's athletic achievements have on the local community," renaming the street after him would conflict with municipal policies, Cooke adds.Exceptions cannot be made, even for a player like Crosby, who has won three Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals.Other ideas are being floated around in order to commemorate his impact on the community, including the declaration of "Sidney Crosby Day," installing a public art project in his honor, and naming an existing Cole Harbour park after him.The Cole Harbour native is not only one of the greatest hockey players ever, but he's arguably the most notable person born and raised in Nova Scotia.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might have been a foregone conclusion, but it's now official: Brady Tkachuk will open the season with the Ottawa Senators.Senators head coach Guy Boucher confirmed Saturday that his forward group is set, according to Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas, meaning prospects Tkachuk, Alex Formenton, and Colin White have all made the team out of camp.Tkachuk, the fourth overall selection in June's draft, scored a goal and averaged 16 minutes of ice time in three preseason games with Ottawa.The 19-year-old left winger decided in August to leave the college ranks after one season at Boston University to sign a contract with the Senators. He inked his entry-level deal a couple of days later.Formenton was a second-round pick in 2017, and White was selected 21st overall by Ottawa in 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens top prospect Jesperi Kotkaniemi will start the season with the big club, head coach Claude Julien confirmed on Saturday.The Canadiens selected Kotkaniemi with their third overall pick in June, and he's had a major impact on the team during the preseason.After Wednesday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Julien said "it would be hard to not see" Kotkaniemi on the Canadiens' roster when they begin the regular season on Oct. 3.The 18-year-old has recorded one goal and two assists in five exhibition games, and he's looked comfortable at the NHL level. He'll own a unique distinction after appearing in his first regular-season game:

Kyle Dubas is making it clear that he doesn't intend to deal William Nylander.The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager confirmed his stance regarding the restricted free agent forward to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran on Friday."I’ve been asked: ‘Do you want to trade him right now?’ And the answer is, ‘No,’" Dubas said. “Circumstances can change. But it’s not in any plan or any discussion we’ve had that we’re going to trade any of these players."Dubas added that both sides in the contract negotiation want more than just a bridge deal."The long term is where both parties, our camp and their camp, have been focused on,” the GM said.TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Friday that the Carolina Hurricanes called the Leafs inquiring about Nylander but were told he wasn't going to be traded.The Leafs currently have a little more than $13 million in cap space, but Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner both have one season left before potentially becoming RFAs themselves.Marner's agent Darren Ferris said Friday his client will delay talks if he doesn't have an extension by Wednesday night's regular-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If an extension doesn't materialize in the coming days, don't expect Mitch Marner to revisit contract talks until the end of the season.That's the message from Darren Ferris, the agent of the Toronto Maple Leafs forward who appeared on TSN 1050's "Leafs Lunch" on Friday."We've had some very productive discussions so far and if nothing's done by the start of the season, then we'll wait until next summer and we'll get back at it again," Ferris said.Marner has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, meaning he can become a restricted free agent next summer.A Marner extension is just one challenge Toronto could face in the offseason. There's also a decision to be made on superstar center Auston Matthews, who can also become a restricted free agent.Fellow young star William Nylander, who made his NHL debut one season prior to Marner and Matthews, remains unsigned.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A future NHL outdoor game could be coming to the Buckeye State.The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of eight clubs to have never participated in a Winter Classic or Stadium Series game, but that may not be the case for much longer."It's obvious that the (Blue Jackets are) competitive, that they're playing exciting hockey and the fans are reacting in positive ways," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "It's even at the point internally - we're not there yet - (but) we've even started focusing on the possibility of an outdoor game. We view Columbus as a great success story."It's on our radar screen of places we haven't been. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and (as) we view the success the Blue Jackets are having on and off the ice, the discussions become more frequent."The commissioner also spoke to some of the criteria the NHL looks for in identifying host markets for its iconic outdoor event."We look for a mix," Bettman said. "Part of it is to assure we get a national (TV) rating. Part of it is to ensure that when we play in a 70,000-seat facility there's no doubt it will be sold out. We try to be opportunistic. It's a function of market. It's a function of team history and fan base, and it's a function of performance at the time."Two major factors seem to play into Columbus' favor, including a suitable venue in the 102,000-seat Ohio Stadium, and the fact that the Blue Jackets have emerged as one of the NHL's top teams after years of futility.The Blue Jackets finished with 97 points last season to mark their second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, many pundits have pegged the team to make a third consecutive trip to the dance this spring.Columbus has previously hosted two major NHL events, including the 2007 Entry Draft and the 2015 All-Star Game. The Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brett Howden appears poised to make the New York Rangers' final roster.The young center, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at last year's trade deadline in the deal for former captain Ryan McDonagh, made it through the latest round of training camp cuts Friday.With three injured skaters among the 26 players remaining at camp, Howden is expected to make the Rangers' 23-man roster.The 20-year-old picked up 24 goals and 51 assists in 49 appearances with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors last season. The Lightning selected Howden 27th overall in 2016.However, the news Friday wasn't as positive for another former first rounder.Lias Andersson, the Rangers' seventh-overall pick in 2017, will begin the year with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack after being considered a strong candidate to make the team's final roster. The 19-year-old split the 2017-18 campaign between the AHL, the Swedish Hockey League, and a seven-game stint with the Rangers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the saying goes, "Defense wins championships," and five squads stand above the rest with the best blue lines and netminders that the NHL has to offer. Here are the five best combinations of defense and goaltending entering the 2018-19 campaign:5. Columbus Blue JacketsJim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeft Defense Right DefenseZach WerenskiSeth JonesRyan MurrayDavid SavardGabriel CarlssonMarkus Nutivaara

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The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly informed the Carolina Hurricanes that they won't be dealing William Nylander.TSN's Pierre LeBrun revealed as much on TSN 1050's "Leafs Lunch" on Friday."I can tell you that I know the Carolina Hurricanes are among the teams that have phoned of late to check in on William Nylander with the Leafs, just in case. As they should, by the way," LeBrun said. "(The Hurricanes asked,) 'Are you trading him?' They were told no."LeBrun explained that an offer sheet from the Hurricanes for the restricted free agent forward is unlikely because that would require them to surrender a first, second, and third-round pick as compensation."The teams that probably need William Nylander the most are the teams that can ill afford to (surrender) the compensation, draft pick-wise," he said.The TSN insider also added that the Leafs "are going to match almost anything that (other teams) are going to throw at William Nylander and then figure out the rest later," due to Toronto's wealth of cap space.Nylander, who remains in a contract stalemate with the Maple Leafs as the season approaches, has produced 61 points in each of the last two campaigns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron expects to be in the lineup when his club kicks off its season against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 3.Bergeron spent the summer rehabbing from groin surgery. He didn't join the team on its trip to China and hasn't participated in any preseason games, but told The Athletic's Joe McDonald he should be good to go next week.Head coach Bruce Cassidy believes the same:

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Schlemko will miss up to six weeks due to a knee injury suffered in a preseason game, the club announced on Friday.Schlemko was hurt Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.The 31-year-old did not practice with the Canadiens on Friday. He was projected to battle for a spot in Montreal's top-four on the back end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera is denying any involvement in a cocaine ring in Finland.Police in Finland have Lehtera as one of 23 suspects in a case that involves two kilograms of cocaine, Finnish news outlet MTV reported Wednesday.The Flyers forward briefly commented on the matter Friday."I just want to say you guys are gonna see I haven't done anything wrong," Lehtera said, according to Dave Isaac of USA Today Sports.After the report surfaced, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said the organization contacted the NHL about the situation.Lehtera, 30, joined the Flyers via trade from the St. Louis Blues in 2017 and recorded eight points in 62 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-140. Leon Draisaitl, OilersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman43564325Draisaitl is coming off a slight regression after a strong 2016-17 campaign that saw him rewarded with an eight-year, $68-million contract. Draisaitl's skill has always been the Oilers' ace in the hole. When he and Connor McDavid are paired together, they're about as unstoppable of a duo as they come. -- Hagerman39. Filip Forsberg, PredatorsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman38394047Forsberg didn't play all 82 games last season for the first time since becoming a regular NHLer, yet he still managed to post a career-high 38 assists while matching his career-best 64 points in only 67 contests before going over a point per game in the playoffs. The skilled winger is still only 24 and his offensive prowess is an invaluable element of Nashville's attack. -- Gold-Smith38. Ryan Getzlaf, DucksSean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman22524742Getzlaf is such rare blend of size, physicality, skill, and finesse. He has some of the league's softest hands and an underrated shot. He also has all the intangibles you'd want in a captain. He hasn't missed a beat as he approaches his mid-30s, anchoring a mediocre Ducks offense with 61 points in 56 games during an injury-shortened 2017-18 campaign. -- Wegman37. Andrei Vasilevskiy, LightningWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman61323435The more Vasilevskiy is in the net, the better he gets. In a career-high 64 starts last season, the dynamic Lightning netminder led the league in wins (44) and shutouts (eight), while posting a .920 save percentage. At only 24, Vasilevskiy will be the backbone for a dangerous Tampa team for years to come. -- O'Leary36. Johnny Gaudreau, FlamesMinas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman44343741Gaudreau has led the Calgary Flames in scoring the past three seasons, and while the club may have missed the playoffs last year, the 25-year-old put up a career-best 84 points. He's quickly emerged as one of the most creative and shifty players in the league. The Flames' success this season and going forward lies largely in his hands. -- Hagerman35. Dustin Byfuglien, JetsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman36373843Byfuglien contributes in so many ways, and he's a workhorse. He has a rare combination of imposing physicality and consistent offensive production reminiscent of Zdeno Chara in his prime. Whether it's a devastating hit or a blistering shot that leads to a goal, Byfuglien's always doing something to make an impact. -- Gold-Smith34. David Pastrnak, BruinsMaddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman48303330The trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Pastrnak has gained a reputation as the best line in the league, and the improved play of the latter is a big part of that. Pastrnak potted a career-high 80 points last season. He was also a monster in the playoffs with 20 points in 12 games while breaking a record previously held by Wayne Gretzky in the process. -- Hagerman33. Vladimir Tarasenko, BluesWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman31363534Tarasenko's numbers took a slight hit last season, but you know you're among the game's elite when 33 goals and 33 assists is considered a "down" year. Last season, he fired 306 shots on goal but had an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage of 10.8 percent. A little extra luck, plus a new pivot in Ryan O'Reilly, and Tarasenko could easily return to his usual standards. -- O'Leary32. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue JacketsKirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman46253133The world's best athletes elevate their game when it matters most, and Bobrovsky has failed to do that. He's just 5-14 in his postseason career with an .891 save percentage and a 3.49 goals-against average. Until he exercises his playoff demons, I can't consider him the very best at his position - no matter how much he excels in the regular season. -- Wegman31. Seth Jones, Blue JacketsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman28283238If there was any doubt, Jones firmly established himself as one of the game's best young defensemen with a breakout 57-point season in 2017-18, playing over 24 minutes per game in the process. A preseason knee sprain will keep him out for at least a month, but the 23-year-old's wealth of talent is undeniable. -- Gold-SmithCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by national hockey writer John Matisz.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Google Play.On this debut episode, the first of a two-part preview series, John is joined by TSN's Travis Yost to handicap the 2018-19 Eastern Conference. Topics of discussion include:

St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason plus one regular-season game for elbowing Washington Capitals blue-liner Michal Kempny.The incident occurred in preseason action Tuesday:

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Brandon Davidson to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.The 27-year-old had had been attending Chicago's training camp on a professional tryout offer.Davidson suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders in 2017-18."I think he's one of those defensemen I appreciate because he's real steady and predictable," head coach Joel Quenneville told ChicagoBlackhawks.com's Chris Wescott. "A little bit of everything, in every area, he's not bad in. I think that consistency is something and knowing what you're going to get out of a guy on the back end is usually a good sign."There's opportunity for Davidson on the Blackhawks' bottom pairing, particularly with fellow defender Connor Murphy sidelined for at least eight weeks.In 152 career appearances, Davidson has tallied nine goals and 13 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the preseason underway, theScore offers you a roundup of all the best players still available. The biggest names are off the board, but a handful of helpful talent remains up for grabs.Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeft wings

If hockey fans didn't find Gritty terrifying before, they will after seeing this photo series featuring the Philadelphia Flyers' new mascot.The photoshops are the work of Pittsburgh viral media company Benstonium.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Cole will be back in the booth for one final go around this season, Sportsnet announced on Thursday.The 85-year-old will be on the mic for 10 games - starting with the Montreal Canadiens versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 6 - during the first half of the schedule, marking his 50th season on Hockey Night in Canada."Hockey has been my passion for as long as I can remember," Cole said. "It's been an honor and a privilege serving Canadian hockey fans across the country and being part of the Hockey Night in Canada institution. I'm looking forward to getting to the rinks for this last season, seeing familiar faces and getting out there to do what I love most in the world."Cole is a member of the Order of Canada and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1996.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Winnipeg Jets superstar Mark Scheifele envisions a lengthy career for himself because of his meticulously crafted diet and an unrelenting love for the game."I want to play until I'm 40," Scheifele told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "That's my goal. There are so many opportunities now to innovate to get a little bit of an edge, and I'd love exploring that. Doing the right things now will affect me 10 years from now and will give me the longevity to play until I'm old."Scheifele's mission is sounding similar to the goals made by 41-year-old New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Brady also cites his regimented diet as one of the reasons he feels several good years are still ahead for him."Tom Brady is the best in the world and only seems to be getting better with age," Scheifele said. "Why wouldn't I want to learn from him?"Scheifele is 25 years old, and he's developed into one of the NHL's top producers. Over his last two seasons, he's registered 142 points in 139 games, cementing his status as one of the league's elite with 14 goals in 17 playoff games over the spring.Scheifele has a long way to go and is aiming high with his goals. Entering the 2018-19 season, only two players in the NHL - Matt Cullen and Zdeno Chara - are 40-plus years old and still playing.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're officially one week away from puck drop for the 2018-19 NHL campaign.To help ring in the new season, we're predicting point totals for every team. Here are the 15 Western Conference clubs.(All point totals are taken from Bookmaker.eu; be sure to shop around for the best numbers available.)Anaheim DucksRocky W. Widner/NHL / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Under 94.5 pointsThe Ducks were below average in scoring last season, but they made up for that in the crease with John Gibson. And given the team just lost Corey Perry for roughly five months due to knee injuries, Gibson will likely have to carry the load once again.Perry's injury is another big blow to an offense that's still waiting to get back Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves after respective setbacks. Added together, I don't think Gibson can bail out the team for a second straight year.Arizona CoyotesPick: Over 82.5 pointsSo much for the leap forward.If fresh blood and Year 2 under new management was a call for improvement, Arizona was disappointing in 2017-18. But, after finishing somewhat strong, there's reason to believe a step forward is right on the doorstep. Seeing as the season finished with 70 points, it'd be tough not to take it.There are certainly some "ifs" with Arizona, too. If Antti Raanta can perform even close to as well as he did last season, if Clayton Keller and Christian Dvorak can make strides, if the Coyotes can stay healthy - especially on the blue line - then sure, why not? You're not asking for more than a couple lucky bounces and a slight improvement from the 'Yotes.#TrustInChayka.Calgary FlamesPick: Under 94.5 pointsTake away the offseason moves and I'd probably be on the opposite side of the fence with the Flames. Whether shipping out Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Adam Fox to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm was a knee-jerk reaction or a deal the Flames thought would benefit them long term, I thought Calgary should have stayed put.The Flames still have the talent to improve on their 84-point total from a season ago, but I don't think they'll be 11 points better.Chicago BlackhawksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPick: Over 85.5 pointsIt's not easy being a Blackhawks fan - going from watching a dynasty blossom before your eyes to seeing your core get older and all that success blow away in a single year.Even still, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews pack a scoring punch (albeit while facing age-related declines), Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Sikura are youngsters who can be productive, and Brandon Saad is an offensive factor.But the defense? Whew. The goaltending? Chicago's going to need Corey Crawford to thrive in the worst way.Overall, the Blackhawks fell off hard last season. It was the first real nosedive after rattling off three Cup wins in six years, and has many people thinking the team is officially a bottom-feeder in the NHL.I don't think it's that bad. Not yet, at least.Colorado AvalanchePick: Under 88.5 pointsI'm not breaking new ground here by pointing out that the Avalanche, to some degree, will regress in 2018. Expected goals, shot share, and other metrics are calling for a huge downturn for Colorado - to the extent that projecting a team that posted 95 points last season to go under 88.5 isn't exactly "sharp" in this sense.Dallas StarsPick: Over 94.5 pointsThe entire Stars offense should have been pasted on the back of every milk carton in Dallas last season. After enjoying a lot of past success, the scoring completely dropped off under one-and-done head coach Ken Hitchcock, who's since been replaced by Jim Montgomery.The style of play last season completely wrung the talent from the Stars' cloth, and I'd be surprised if the drop-off in offensive production continues in 2018-19.Edmonton Oilers Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Over 89.5 pointsEdmonton was nothing more than a paper tiger last season. After posting 103 points and losing a tough second-round series in 2016-17, the huge expected jump never materialized. Instead, the Oilers fell flat with a 78-point campaign.Edmonton will likely split those two numbers this season - and given this point total has been driven down in most shops, I'll take the over.Los Angeles KingsPick: Under 91.5 pointsLos Angeles is being judged as a so-so team, and it sounds about right. As good as the top six is, the bottom six absolutely isn't. Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin tote the load on the blue line, but the talent level takes a huge dip from there. On the other hand, the Kings won the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes and still have Jonathan Quick between the pipes, so those are two pluses.It's a tight number for a team with some volatility. I'll take the under.Minnesota WildPick: Under 95.5 pointsThe Wild are essentially the Washington Capitals of the West, to a lesser degree. The annual aspirations might not be as high, but if there was an award given to teams that consistently make the playoffs and lose in the first round, the Wild's trophy case would be full.Unless Minnesota goes all-in at the trade deadline, I'm not sure how a team that made no significant roster additions can expect to be in the thick of things.Nashville Predators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPick: Over 104.5Let's make this short and sweet - the Predators are going to clean up in the Central and compete with the Sharks to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.St. Louis BluesPick: Over 96.5 pointsI'll join the masses on the St. Louis hype train. The Blues put up an extremely quiet 94 points last season, and pass the "on paper" test with flying colors after making some offseason additions. If the main concern is goaltending - the Blues are fine elsewhere - I'll pay to find out.San Jose SharksPick: Over 101.5 pointsErik Karlsson! Erik freakin' Karlsson! The addition of the superstar defenseman has obviously affected the market, but I'm not sure it matters given the competition (or lack thereof) within the division.Vancouver CanucksRich Lam / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Under 75.5 pointsA changing of the guard and a roster flush with youth is expected to turn the Canucks in the right direction. I'll still call for at least one more year of toiling away in the basement of the West before the team starts turning heads.Vegas Golden KnightsPick: Under 99.5 pointsRemember when the Golden Knights hit their point total by like, October last season? Sheesh, what the franchise did in Year 1 was Team Building 101.I don't think the Golden Knights are in for a regression that will send them out of the postseason completely, but it's going to be extremely difficult to match the production they got last season from certain players.I verbally shouted, "Give me the Vegas point total 'under,' whatever the number is next season," once the horn sounded in the Stanley Cup Final. I'm not rescinding my choice.Winnipeg Jets Pick: Under 105.5 pointsWinnipeg had been scratching the surface of something special, and finally broke through last season with 114 points.The Jets are still extremely talented, but the difference between them and the other contenders in the West is that Winnipeg's roster makeup is lopsided. Of course, there's so much scoring to go around that it might be enough to overshadow the holes on the left side of the defense.Or, maybe it won't. I'll sell high on Winnipeg.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 © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-150. John Carlson, CapitalsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman54615246Carlson led all NHL defensemen with 68 points last season. He wasn't a Norris Trophy finalist, but if a similar award was handed out for postseason play, he would've been the recipient after recording 20 points in 24 games during the Washington Capitals' championship run. He may not be a prototypical shutdown No. 1 defender, but Carlson is one of the top power-play quarterbacks. -- Wegman49. Sean Couturier, FlyersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman50425563Last season's breakout star, Couturier exploded with 31 goals and 76 points in 2017-18, obliterating his previous career single-season bests (he reached 39 points twice previously). He's been heralded for his defensive abilities, and adding high-end offensive production makes him one of the league's most valuable pivots. -- O'Leary48. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, CoyotesNorm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman60415354Since the departure of Shane Doan, Ekman-Larsson has been the face of the Arizona Coyotes. Over the last five seasons, he ranks second in goals by defensemen, behind only Brent Burns. He's now the Coyotes' captain and will look to finally lead his team out of the league's basement this season.-- Hagerman47. John Gibson, DucksWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman49405749Gibson was one of the league's best goalies in 2017-18, and arguably the Ducks' most important player. He was his team's best penalty killer, too, leading the NHL with a .919 save percentage while down a man. He also finished second in the league in goals saved above average, according to Corsica. At 25 years old, the sky is the limit for this uber-athletic netminder. -- Wegman46. Braden Holtby, CapitalsEthan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman45704139Holtby had the worst regular season of his career in 2017-18, but a March "reset" helped him return to form. He didn't look back, helping lead the Capitals to Stanley Cup glory. The regular-season woes were concerning, but Holtby's steady - and at times brilliant - play in the postseason proved he's still one of the NHL's elite goalies. -- Gold-Smith45. Phil Kessel, PenguinsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman58444444Hilarious personality aside, Kessel just flat-out produces year after year. Last season was his best yet, as he led the league with 42 power-play points while also establishing a new career high with 92 total points. He suited up in every game for the eighth consecutive season - an underrated aspect of his value. -- O'Leary44. Alex Pietrangelo, BluesClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman32474852Pietrangelo is an excellent skater with great size, and he has the skills and smarts to excel at both ends of the ice while exhibiting all the qualities of a No. 1 defenseman. He's coming off a career year despite playing without Jay Bouwmeester, his longtime defensive partner, for most of the season. With an improved supporting cast, Pietrangelo is a dark horse for this year's Norris Trophy. -- Wegman43. Nicklas Backstrom, CapitalsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman47503937Backstrom isn't a No. 1 center now thanks to Evgeny Kuznetsov's emergence in Washington. But he still plays like one and would occupy that role on many other teams. The 30-year-old's production dipped last season, but he still poured in 71 points, drove possession, trailed only Alex Ovechkin among Capitals forwards in ice time, and won 51.2 percent of his faceoffs. -- Gold-Smith42. Pekka Rinne, PredatorsElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman34484640Rinne is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. In 2017-18, he posted his third 40-plus win season along with a .927 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average. He also posted the fifth-best goals saved above average. Since the 2008-09 season, Rinne has produced the third-most wins behind only Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist. -- Hagerman41. Mathew Barzal, IslandersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman33633636Barzal simply dazzled during his rookie campaign, capturing the Calder Trophy with an 85-point effort. Barzal is expected to step up and lead the Islanders offensively now that John Tavares is in Toronto. Whether he can follow up his first-year performance as the club's top dog is one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the upcoming season. -- O'LearyCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pierre Dorion shed light Thursday on the Ottawa Senators' decision to place veteran forward Zack Smith on waivers earlier this week."We knew that if we let the team know we are not going to accept what happened last (season), including how Zack played, that hopefully the message would be passed to the room," the club's general manager told TSN's Brent Wallace.Dorion stressed that it wasn't easy, but Smith's play justified the move."It was probably the toughest discussion I have ever had with a player." the GM said. "Zack is a high-character person. He is (the) heart and soul of that dressing room, but at the same time, it was performance related."Smith cleared waivers on Wednesday after being placed on the wire the day before. He'll play for the Senators on Thursday night in their preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks.The 30-year-old has three years left on his contract at a cap hit of $3.25 million. He managed five goals and 19 points last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're officially one week away from puck drop for the 2018-19 NHL campaign.To help ring in the new season, we're predicting point totals for every team. So, without further ado, here are the 16 Eastern Conference clubs:(All point totals are taken from Bookmaker.eu; be sure to shop around for the best numbers available.)Boston BruinsPick: Under 101.5 pointsAfter underlying numbers suggested an uptick for the Bruins following a 95-point 2016-17 season, Boston did just that, surging to 110 points and second in the Atlantic behind an elite top line and a dash of youth movement within the bottom-six forward group and the blue line.This is one of the tighter numbers right out of the gate. With a gun to my head, I'll bet against the Bruins, or in this case, Tuukka Rask, who isn't exactly trending in the right direction.Buffalo SabresPick: Over 80.5 pointsWhen you finish in the NHL basement, you make changes. The Sabres did just that, bringing in wingers Conor Sheary (trade) and Jeff Skinner (trade) and netminder Carter Hutton (free agency), while shipping out Ryan O'Reilly.Oh, and that Rasmus Dahlin fella should be a pretty decent building block for a future that also includes 20-somethings Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.Contender? Hardly. But I'll gamble on the Sabres' revamp.Carolina HurricanesIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPick: Under 86.5 pointsIt seems the Hurricanes have been the perennial sleeper among the public for years now, to no avail. They still own the longest playoff drought in the NHL.They're also another franchise that opted for changes over the summer. The 'Canes shipped out Skinner, Elias Lindholm, and Noah Hanifin, and brought in Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan.The good news is Scott Darling probably can't get worse between the pipes than he was in his first season with the franchise. Then again, where the scoring will come from is the burning question. The Hurricanes have finished bottom 10 in scoring in each of the past five seasons and are now banking on youngsters like Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen to take bigger leaps with Skinner out the door.Columbus Blue JacketsPick: Over 96.5 pointsColumbus will soon have to deal with the situations of star winger Artemi Panarin and two-time Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who are both eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. Still, the Jackets are rife with talent up top - with Panarin, Cam Atkinson, and Pierre-Luc Dubois - and have capable goal-scorers on the blue line in Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. The total is ambitious, but I think they'll get there.Detroit Red WingsPick: Over 75.5 pointsWhen Anthony Mantha is your best player in terms of value, you'll struggle to find wins. That's not to discredit Mantha, but to stress just how short on talent Detroit is.The defense is old. The bottom six is an island of misfit toys. For the Red Wings to at least be fun, they'll need to squeeze out every ounce of scoring from guys like Thomas Vanek and Andreas Athanasiou.I don't trust the Red Wings to magically spike in the East, but I sure as hell trust this franchise's current position and how it will treat the upcoming season more than, say, the New York Rangers.Florida PanthersJoel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Under 93.5 pointsIs Florida the best bad team in the division? Or the worst good team?The Panthers should be right in the middle of the Atlantic again in 2018-19 - a notch below the Lightning, Bruins, and Maple Leafs, but above the non-contenders.For the Panthers to succeed again following a 96-point season, you'd be betting on the top-six forward group, which is chock-full of scoring.What I'm betting against here is the bottom six (yikes) and the expected decline of veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo behind what should be a questionable blue-line corps.Montreal CanadiensPick: Under 80.5 pointsI desperately want to find a reason to take this over based on everything the franchise has endured over the last few months. But, I just can't.The offense would have struggled to score even with Max Pacioretty in the fold. Key players are out due to injury, and that includes Shea Weber, which puts an already suspect defense completely behind the eight ball. We saw last season how tough it was for Carey Price to stop pucks behind a below-average defense, and I wouldn't expect anything different in 2018-19.New Jersey DevilsPick: Under 90.5 pointsWelcome to the Devils regression train; I'll be your conductor for this long, sad ride back to reality.This team outperformed its projections last season by a mile thanks to MVP Taylor Hall. That's not to say New Jersey can't surpass this year's projected point total, but I'll take a stab and say the team comes way back down to earth ... or at minimum, under the Vegas total.New York IslandersElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Over 83.5 pointsI still think the Islanders, an underachiever from a year ago, have a shot at nailing this over despite the loss of John Tavares.There's still some scoring left over. The defense figures to be a middle-of-the-pack group that probably just needs to avoid being horrible. Barry Trotz is now behind the bench, and unless the Islanders start tearing down the walls at midseason, he should be able to get the most out of his roster.New York RangersPick: Under 75.5 pointsSome pundits I respect still peg the Rangers as a team that can jump the low point total despite a talent-poor roster. It's clear which direction New York has chosen to head, and perhaps knowing the playoffs are an afterthought for now will actually help the franchise and new head coach David Quinn.Or perhaps Henrik Lundqvist is finally on his decline following consecutive subpar seasons, and perhaps the Rangers will roll over with no motivation as a bottom-five team in the league.Give me the latter, please.Ottawa SenatorsPick: Under 69.5 pointsYeah, no thanks.Philadelphia FlyersTrevor Robb/TwitterPick: Under 98.5 pointsThis team has been mired in mediocrity for a while now, but last season showed a glimmer of hope for the days to come in Philly. The roster contains skilled veterans, bright youth, and the elite defensive pairing of Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov. But goaltending is a major concern, and is the one thing keeping the Flyers from an guaranteed jump in the standings.Philadelphia still figures to be chasing Pittsburgh and Washington while keeping pace with the Blue Jackets. I'm just not ready to push my chips into the middle of the table.Pittsburgh PenguinsPick: Over 102.5 pointsThe Penguins are so good that they topped the 100-point mark (again) last season despite finishing in the bottom seven of the league in both five-on-five save percentage and shooting percentage. Unless 2018-19 is the year we start seeing wear and tear on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel, this team is simply tough to bet against.Tampa Bay LightningPick: Over 107.5 pointsYou can point to distractions within the front office, the caliber of starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, how the postseason ended last year, expectations, injury concerns, and all that other jazz to explain why Tampa might disappoint in 2018-19Still, there's too much talent on both offense and defense for me to pick against this team, even though some of the smarter guys out there are pegging the Lightning as a tad overrated.Toronto Maple LeafsClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPick: Under 105.5 pointsThe youth movement brought in John Tavares to help solidify the Leafs as a true contender. The rich got a bit richer.That is, offensively, and at the top.Once you get past Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Nazem Kadri, that's where the concern lies. Toronto might be built to simply try to score its way to the Cup, but what happens if it can't? There are still obvious weaknesses on this team - depth and essentially half the defense - and I think the number is a bit inflated due to Tavaras' arrival and offseason traction Toronto has gained.Washington CapitalsPick: Under 97.5I like the Capitals, but I don't love them. Then again, that's usually how it goes with this team.Washington had been so hard to trust in the past. It was a roster built for contention centered around the best goal-scorer in the world that couldn't make the big leap. The difference last season was once the Caps were written off and sold, they mowed through the postseason.This season, the aging core is a bit older and the head coach (Trotz) is no longer in the fold. The Capitals are now the hunted, and I'd bet against them here post-Stanley Cup.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 © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It looks as though Montreal Canadiens prospect Jesperi Kotkaniemi has made quite an impression on head coach Claude Julien in his first NHL training camp.Following the club's 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, Julien discussed where the 18-year-old stands with just one preseason game remaining."It's pretty hard to not see him on our roster," Julien said, according to TSN's John Lu.

Nashville Predators top prospect Eeli Tolvanen was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, the team announced.The 19-year-old is coming off an outstanding 2017-18 that saw him break Evgeny Kuznetsov's KHL record for most points by a player under 20 years old. Tolvanen recorded 36 points in 49 games, surpassing Kuznetsov's mark of 32.Tolvanen entered camp with hopes of cracking the Predators' roster after he was unable to cement a spot last season. Although he joined the team down the stretch a year ago, the 2017 first-round pick had a rather unimpressive camp, failing to record a point in four preseason contests.The team also announced that defenseman Brian Cooper was released from his professional tryout, but the club expects to send him to training camp with the Admirals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Making the playoffs in consecutive seasons in today's NHL is no easy feat.Each year, the cycle of teams to qualify features some fresh faces, and since we've already guessed who those newcomers will be, let's estimate who they might be replacing.New Jersey DevilsNobody anticipated that New Jersey would qualify for the playoffs within a calendar year of drafting first overall, but the feisty Devils shocked naysayers with a fast-paced attack, a collection of breakout campaigns, and an MVP season from Taylor Hall.Hall's Hart-worthy effort was so dominant that his 93 points were 41 clear of Nico Hischier, who finished second in team scoring despite the former missing six games. Hall will be the central figure in New Jersey's offense again, but the gap in production down the roster is too vast to comfortably rely on the Devils squeaking back into the playoffs.New Jersey certainly has some nice pieces outside of their MVP. Hischier, Kyle Palmieri and Will Butcher are all solid players, but even in last year's dream season, the Devils only eked into the dance by one point, fending off the charging Florida Panthers. Not to mention, a loaded Metropolitan Division will make it even more difficult for New Jersey to qualify in back-to-back seasons.Colorado AvalancheMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyJust call them Devils West.Mirroring New Jersey, Colorado came out of nowhere last season to claim the final Western Conference playoff spot, and like the Devils, did so on the strength of MVP-level play from Nathan MacKinnon. The 23-year-old's 1.31 points per game trailed only Connor McDavid league-wide, but a middling Avalanche team will need more than his individual brilliance to reach for the postseason again.MacKinnon's linemates Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen also put forth standout seasons in 2017-18, but Colorado's output as a whole is underwhelming for a team that needs to stay afloat in the Central Division gauntlet. Last year, a 10-game win streak in the middle of the schedule largely inflated the Avs playoff odds. Beneath the surface, the numbers suggest a repeat bid is unlikely.Even with one of the best lines in hockey on their side, at five-on-five, Colorado ranked 27th in possession at 47.57 percent and 28th in expected goals for percentage 46.29, according to Corsica. However, a gaudy PDO (shooting percentage plus save percentage) of 101.45 was enough to mask their flaws and erase the memory of a dreadful last-place finish 2016-17.They have the pieces to contend soon - and could make another major addition with the Senators' first-round pick in their back pocket - but don't count on the Avalanche to be in the Western Conference playoff picture this season.Los Angeles KingsAndrew D. Bernstein / National Hockey League / GettyThe Kings are an interesting team.Their core is strong, although not exactly young. They have a world-class goalie in Jonathan Quick and landed a major piece in Ilya Kovalchuk via free agency. So, what's holding them back?Primarily, it's the pieces supplementing Los Angeles' nucleus. Outside of Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jeff Carter, and Kovalchuk, the Kings lack impact players down the roster. That collection of players is by no means anything to scoff at, but with Dustin Brown's gigantic shooting percentage increase last season, factored in with a less-than-stellar bottom six, L.A.'s offense - which ranked 16th in goals for in 2017-18 - has to be better in order to contend in the Pacific. The Kings face the same problem on their blue-line, which apart from Doughty and Jake Muzzin, features some sizable holes.Overall, the Kings have the pieces to compete if they stay healthy and things continuously fall their way over 82 games, but that's not exactly an encouraging diagnosis for a team looking to get back to the postseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will have a hearing on Thursday for elbowing Washington Capitals blue-liner Michal Kempny, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.The incident occurred early in the third period of Tuesday night's preseason game between the two clubs, moments before the Capitals scored their third goal of the contest.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones will be out four-to-six weeks due to a sprained knee suffered in Tuesday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres, the Blue Jackets announced Wednesday.Jones was hurt in the second period of the contest.The talented blue-liner underwent an MRI on Wednesday that revealed a second-degree sprain of his MCL.Jones, who turns 24 on Oct. 3, racked up 57 points in 78 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry had surgery to repair meniscus and MCL injuries and his recovery timetable is 20 weeks, or about five months, the club announced Wednesday.Perry left during warmups before the Ducks' preseason game against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.The veteran winger has spent his entire 13-year career with Anaheim. His offensive production has declined in each of the last two seasons following a 34-goal, 62-point campaign in 2015-16.He potted 17 goals and added 32 assists in 71 games in 2017-18.The 33-year-old was selected 28th overall by the Ducks in 2003.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Hextall says the Philadelphia Flyers are dealing with a matter involving forward Jori Lehtera and they have contacted the NHL about the situation.“We have spoken with Jori Lehtera and the league office regarding the reports out of Finland, and will reserve any further comment on the matter at this time," the Flyers general manager said on Wednesday.

Vegas. New Jersey. Colorado.These were the teams no one expected to qualify for the playoffs last season. But hockey gods be damned, they surprised us all and made the dance. Every year the postseason features a handful of newcomers. Here, we venture our best guess as to who those might be in 2018-19.Florida PanthersA second-half surge brought the Panthers within one point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference last season, and they appear poised to build upon their late success and barge their way into the dance in 2018-19.The team was sunk by a mid-season injury to goalie Roberto Luongo, who recovered to go 12-5-1 with a .930 save percentage down the stretch to give his club a chance. His health will be imperative for the Panthers to be in the playoff mix again. Florida enhanced its odds of a postseason berth with the savvy acquisition of Mike Hoffman to bolster a top-six forward group that also features superstar and new captain Aleksander Barkov, as well as Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, and Evgenii Dadonov.However, Florida resides in a top-heavy Atlantic Division that could very well feature the conference's top three teams in the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers probably aren't cut from the same cloth as those powerhouses, but on the opposite end of the division lies a slew of teams much more likely to be contending for a lottery pick than a wild-card spot. Florida needs to feast on its weaker competition to qualify for the playoffs for just the fifth time in franchise history.St. Louis BluesDerek Leung / Getty Images Sport / GettyLike the Panthers, the Blues missed out on the playoffs by a single point, losing five of their final six contests of the regular season, including a crushing winner-take-all Game 82 to the Colorado Avalanche. The skid snapped a six-season playoff streak, but St. Louis, on the strength of a highly active offseason, looks like a threat to compete once again.After surprisingly shipping Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline, general manager Doug Armstrong got back on the horn over the summer and acquired Ryan O'Reilly. He'll join Brayden Schenn and free-agent signee Tyler Bozak to make up one of the deepest trios of centermen in the NHL. Armstrong also signed wingers Pat Maroon and David Perron to give his club enviable forward depth on top of a highly reliable blue line built around captain Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko.The Blues' biggest X-factor is in goal, where Jake Allen will need to rebound from last season's struggles and a .906 save percentage that ultimately led to Carter Hutton taking over the reins as St. Louis' starter. If he can't, there could be significant trouble in the Gateway City. But if he can, the Blues have added all the pieces they need to contend in the deadly Central Division.Calgary FlamesTom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyCalgary was one of the busiest teams of the summer. Out are Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Troy Brouwer. In are Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, James Neal, Derek Ryan, Austin Czarnik, and head coach Bill Peters.The surplus of transactions creates some uncertainty surrounding the Flames, but for the most part, their new additions should play a significant role in helping them rebound from an 84-point output last season and back into the playoffs. The biggest question is whether Hanifin can adequately replace Hamilton on the blue line, but otherwise, each of Calgary's forward acquisitions should help fix its greatest pitfall from 2017-18: offensive depth.The Flames lacked much of an attack behind Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan on the team's first line. Neal could give that unit two elite finishers and create several enviable options down the lineup, which features mainstays like Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund along with a new mix of offensively capable players.The Flames also benefit from a wide-open Pacific Division. Aside from Vegas and San Jose, there's a pack of middling teams vying to claim the third playoff spot, and Calgary appears equipped to be in the thick of the race.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zack Smith went unclaimed on the waiver wire, as first reported by TSN's Darren Dreger on Wednesday.The veteran Ottawa Senators forward was placed on waivers Tuesday.Smith has three years remaining on the four-year contract he signed with Ottawa in January 2017, and the deal carries a cap hit of $3.25 million.Smith could still be traded with the Senators retaining some of his salary, as suggested by Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. Failing that, he could remain with Ottawa at the NHL level, or be assigned to the Senators' AHL affiliate.For the time being, he's sticking with the big club. Ottawa head coach Guy Boucher told reporters, including TSN's Brent Wallace, that Smith will play Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks on a line with Mark Stone and Brady Tkachuk.The 30-year-old has spent his entire nine-plus season career with the organization, scoring 85 goals and 165 points while racking up 612 penalty minutes in 542 games.He contributed five goals and 19 points last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For as long as the NHL's been around, debates about which players are better than others have almost always centered around goals and assists, accolades like Stanley Cup rings and Hart Trophies, intangibles like toughness and leadership, and more recently, gateway advanced statistics like Corsi and expected goals.But what if you could take a deep dive into whether Connor McDavid is really better than Sidney Crosby using previously unknown comparison points like passes to the slot, offense off the cycle, and respect rating? And, what if these new player measurements not only helped decide arguments at the bar, but also dramatically altered how NHL franchises value players, and how those players evaluate themselves?Well, these data points - and many others - may be available to hockey fans on a large scale as early as next year. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to theScore that a full rollout of player and puck tracking is penciled in to debut during the 2019-20 season.The league has flirted with this new world since 2015, when it slapped microchips onto jerseys and inside two-piece pucks for All-Star weekend. Now, it feels like a breakthrough is imminent.

Leading up to the start of the 2018-19 season, theScore will be counting down the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by four of our NHL editors. We'll reveal 10 players every weekday until the top 10 is unveiled on Oct. 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-160. Jonathan Quick, KingsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman56576365After missing the majority of the 2016-17 season, Quick bounced back in a big way, posting a 2.40 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage - his highest mark since 2012. He did so in front of a middling Kings offense. Meanwhile, he also had the fifth-highest goals saved above average in the league.-- Hagerman59. Ryan O'Reilly, BluesWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman42595980O'Reilly is arguably the most underrated player in hockey. He had two penalty minutes, an excellent takeaway/giveaway ratio, set an NHL record for faceoff wins, and drove possession at a 50.7 percent rate last season despite starting the bulk of his shifts in the defensive end. He served as the matchup center on a poor Sabres team and still managed 61 points. -- Wegman58. Sean Monahan, FlamesSean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman57695658One of the game's more underappreciated two-way centers, Monahan has averaged 29 goals and nearly 33 assists over the last four seasons, and the 23-year-old already has five NHL campaigns under his belt. Even more impressive is the fact that he was his typically productive self in 2017-18 despite playing through a multitude of injuries. -- Gold-Smith57. Shayne Gostisbehere, FlyersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman67515462Gostisbehere bounced back from a troublesome sophomore season with a terrific 2017-18, ranking fourth among all blue-liners with 65 points in 78 games. The 25-year-old quarterbacks one of the leagues best power plays and his $4.5-million cap hit until 2023 is looking like a mighty fine bargain for the Flyers. -- O'Leary56. Carey Price, CanadiensMinas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman86454555Price wasn't himself last season, that much is a given. So with that, his usual ranking dropped, but when healthy, it's still hard to argue that Price isn't among the top five goalies in the world. -- Hagerman55. Jakub Voracek, FlyersWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman91464248Voracek is an excellent passer who established career highs with 65 assists and 85 points last season. The Flyers winger often benefits from playing with talented linemates, but he has plenty of skill in his own right. Voracek could stand to score more, but he makes up for that with his playmaking abilities. -- Gold-Smith54. Ryan Ellis, PredatorsChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman41556659Ellis missed the first half of last season after undergoing offseason knee surgery and returned to play the best hockey of his life, racking up nine goals and 23 assists in 44 games, which would've put him on pace for a 60-point year over a full season. With a clean bill of health, look for the 27-year-old to continue to blossom into one of the game's most well-rounded blue-liners. -- Wegman53. Mark Stone, SenatorsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman52386760Since 2014-15, Stone ranks seventh among all right-wingers with 241 points, and his career-best 1.07 points per game last season indicates he has even more to give on offense. Factored in with his defensive prowess - he ranked fourth at his position with 59 takeaways in 2017-18 - he's one of the most complete players in the game. -- O'Leary52. John Klingberg, StarsBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman53535156Klingberg is further proof that Sweden pumps out the top offensive defensemen in the NHL. The 26-year-old had a monstrous 2018, posting career highs in assists (59) and points (67) - one back of John Carlson for the most among any defenseman in the league. -- Hagerman51. Connor Hellebuyck, JetsWegmanO'LearyGold-SmithHagerman62544950Hellebuyck is just hitting his stride at age 25, posting a .931 save percentage at 5-on-5 last regular season, according to Corsica, along with a respectable .922 mark at 5-on-5 in the playoffs while helping the Winnipeg Jets reach the Western Conference Final. He appeared in 84 games combined in 2017-18, but he's proven he can shoulder the heavy load. -- Gold-SmithCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NHL forward Chris Stewart inked a one-year contract with Slovakian club Slovan Bratislava in the KHL, the team announced Wednesday.Stewart finished last season with the Calgary Flames, scoring a goal and chipping in a pair of assists in seven games after being claimed on waivers from the Minnesota Wild.The 30-year-old has played 652 regular-season contests and 39 playoff games in the NHL. He's suited up for the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and Colorado Avalanche in addition to the Wild and Flames.He was a first-round pick of the Avalanche in 2006, and had his best season with Colorado in 2009-10, pouring in 28 goals and 36 assists before adding three more goals in six playoff appearances.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A beer inspired by the Philadelphia Flyers' creepy new mascot, Gritty, will be available in Bristol, Pa. next month.Broken Goblet Brewing announced that it will be releasing a cream ale called "Nightmare Fuel" in honor of Gritty, who was introduced to the hockey world Monday.The Flyers' website describes Gritty as "loyal but mischievous; the ultimate Flyers fan who loves the orange and black, but is unwelcoming to anyone who opposes his team."

Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly has yet to suit up in the preseason, and the reasoning became more clear on Tuesday.Smith-Pelly failed to meet certain conditioning standards at Caps training camp, a person with knowledge of the situation told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.Capitals head coach Todd Reirden wouldn't confirm this, but hinted towards such last week."He’s still trying to get to the level where he was at last year, and until he does, it doesn’t do us any good as a team or for him to be playing in games," Reirden said.When asked if Smith-Pelly would be ready for the season opener on Oct. 3, Reirden said it's "day to day in terms of how he's progressing."This isn't the first time Smith-Pelly has dealt with conditioning issues. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said heading into last year's training camp that Smith-Pelly's conditioning level and work ethic was "a little inconsistent." Former Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien also publicly called him out for the same issues during his tenure in Montreal, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Smith-Pelly doesn't seem to think his absence from preseason action will be an issue once the games count."It was a short summer," Smith-Pelly said last week, according to Khurshudyan. "I'm not going to make any excuse or anything, but a short summer, a little different. … I don't think it's really a story. I don’t think it's really a thing. I think Todd would probably tell you the same thing. It's not really a big deal. I'm doing what I have to do to be ready for when it really matters."Smith-Pelly was sensational during Washington's run to the Stanley Cup last spring, potting seven goals in 24 postseason games, including a remarkable game-tying tally in the Game 5 clincher.The 26-year-old signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Capitals this summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk is week to week with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the club's season opener, the team announced Tuesday.Galchenyuk suffered the injury in the club's preseason tilt against the Los Angeles Kings on Sept. 18. The 24-year-old is getting set for his first season with the Coyotes after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in June in exchange for Max Domi.The Coyotes will open the 2018-19 season on Oct. 4 against the Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As a new season nears, a number of players prepare to chase history.Here are five players who have the opportunity to reach career milestones, and in some cases, cement their place among the game's best.Thornton on edge of 400Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyArguably the best passer of this generation, Joe Thornton is about to eclipse a goal-scoring milestone. With just three more tallies, Thornton will reach the 400-goal mark, becoming the 96th player in NHL history to do so - if he gets there before another player on this list.That's not the only record in reach for the big center. With 40 points, he can pass both Teemu Selanne and Stan Mikita for 14th on the all-time list, and if he manages to collect 34 assists, he'll move up four spots - passing Mario Lemieux, Marcel Dionne, Gordie Howe, and Steve Yzerman - for the eighth-most all time.Malkin's pursuit of 1,000Another strong campaign from Evgeni Malkin should see the Russian sniper eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.The 32-year-old needs 70 points to hit the milestone. That would be a tall order for most players, but Malkin has failed to reach 70 points only three times in his career, and each of those seasons saw him limited due to injuries.If Malkin can put up 30 goals, he will also reach the 400-goal mark.Luongo climbing the all-time wins listJoel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettyFlorida Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo currently sits fourth on the all-time wins list, but he should leapfrog another legendary goaltender for the third spot.With 14 wins, Luongo will move ahead of Ed Belfour.While he was limited to just 35 games last season, Luongo put up strong numbers, rocking a .929 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average.Luongo should have no trouble moving into third place, but it remains to be seen whether he has enough in the tank to one day challenge Patrick Roy and his 551 wins for second.Staal joins Thornton at 400The pressure will be on Thornton to be the first player this season to reach 400 career goals.Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal is also in the hunt for 400 and needs just five goals to do so.Staal has enjoyed a reawakening in his short time in Minnesota. Over the last two seasons, he's tallied 70 goals, including 42 last season, which were just three fewer than his career high he set back in 2006.Lundqvist following in Luongo's footstepsAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile Luongo will be focused on reaching third in goalie wins, Henrik Lundqvist will also be looking to make a jump up the all-time ranks.The New York Rangers netminder currently sits eighth all time with 431 career wins, so with 24 victories, he would overtake Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk, and Curtis Joseph for fifth.Last season, Lundqvist recorded 26 victories, which were the fewest he's managed in a full 82-game season in his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators will need their work boots to find the win column this season.That's the message from head coach Guy Boucher, who emphasized that a strong work ethic will be the Senators' biggest weapon."We don't have enough (skills)," Boucher told reporters, per Sportsnet. "We have to say it like it is. I think it's good that the players recognize that we have some skill, but we're not going to win because we're going to over-skill Toronto or Tampa or those teams."We're going to be a young team with a few guys that are vets, but we're going to have to outwork teams to win a game. Plain and simple."Boucher's message follows a rocky offseason in Ottawa that saw the team part with a number of key players, including scoring winger Mike Hoffman and former captain Erik Karlsson.There'll be some new faces in the Senators' lineup this season, counting Mikkel Boedker, Chris Tierney, and potentially 2018 first-round pick Brady Tkachuk. All will be counted upon to play a critical role in Boucher's system.Boucher is entering his third season behind the Senators bench - with his first two campaigns producing wildly different results. In 2016-17, he led his squad to within one goal of the Stanley Cup Final. However, it was a different story last season, as the Senators crashed to second-last place in the Eastern Conference with a 67-point finish.Across five seasons with Ottawa and Tampa Bay, Boucher owns a 169-150-41 coaching record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Below are the top 200 skaters and goalies ranked in descending order based on their value in banger leagues. A typical banger league consists of the following categories:SkatersGoaliesGoalsWinsAssistsGoals-against averagePlus/minusSave percentagePenalty minutesShutoutsPower-play pointsShots on goalHitsBlocked shotsThe key difference between a banger league and a standard league is the addition of hits and blocked shots. Though it may seem like a minor difference, the inclusion of those categories can greatly affect the value of players.Rk.PlayerTeamPos.1Alex OvechkinWSHLW2Connor McDavidEDMC3Brent BurnsSJD4Jamie BennDALC/LW5Sidney CrosbyPITC6Victor HedmanTBD7Erik KarlssonSJD8Taylor HallNJLW9Evgeni MalkinPITC10Blake WheelerWPGC/RW11Dustin ByfuglienWPGD12Nathan MacKinnonCOLC13Tyler SeguinDALC14Drew DoughtyLAD15Patrik LaineWPGRW16Nikita KucherovTBRW17Brad MarchandBOSLW18Auston MatthewsTORC19P.K. SubbanNSHD20Evander KaneSJLW21John TavaresTORC22Vincent TrocheckFLAC23Andrei VasilevskiyTBG24Vladimir TarasenkoSTLRW25Steven StamkosTBC26Anze KopitarLAC27Brayden SchennSTLC28John CarlsonWSHD29Roman JosiNSHD30Connor HellebuyckWPGG31Sergei BobrovskyCLBG32Seth JonesCLBD33Rasmus RistolainenBUFD34Filip ForsbergNSHLW35Dustin BrownLARW36Pekka RinneNSHG37Tom WilsonWSHRW38Mark ScheifeleWPGC39Jack EichelBUFC40Evgeny KuznetsovWSHC41Aleksander BarkovFLAC42Jonathan QuickLAG43Alex PietrangeloSTLD44Ivan ProvorovPHID45John GibsonANAG46Matt DumbaMIND47David PastrnakBOSRW48Gabriel LandeskogCOLLW49Patrick KaneCHIRW50Ryan GetzlafANAC51Patrice BergeronBOSC52Frederik AndersenTORG53Wayne SimmondsPHIRW54Rickard RakellANALW/RW55Shayne GostisbeherePHID56Jonathan MarchessaultVGKC/LW57Artemi PanarinCLBLW58Marc-Andre FleuryVGKG59Martin JonesSJG60Joe PavelskiSJC/RW61Patric HornqvistPITRW62John KlingbergDALD63Claude GirouxPHIC/LW64Brock BoeserVANRW65Kyle PalmieriNJRW66Alexander RadulovDALRW67Leon DraisaitlEDMC/RW68Oliver Ekman-LarssonARID69Matthew TkachukCGYLW70Braden HoltbyWSHG71Phil KesselPITRW72Devan DubnykMING73J.T. MillerTBC/RW74Max PaciorettyVGKLW75Jakub VoracekPHIRW76William KarlssonVGKC/LW77Tuukka RaskBOSG78Kris LetangPITD79Mark GiordanoCGYD80Jeff CarterLAC81Matt MurrayPITG82Dougie HamiltonCARD83Darnell NurseEDMD84Johnny GaudreauCGYLW85Mathew BarzalNYIC86Ben BishopDALG87Sean CouturierPHIC88Mitch MarnerTORRW89Ryan EllisNSHD90Jake MuzzinLAD91Corey CrawfordCHIG92Carey PriceMTLG93Torey KrugBOSD94Josh AndersonCLBRW95Ryan SuterMIND96Colton ParaykoSTLD97Mike SmithCGYG98Mikko RantanenCOLRW99Ryan Nugent-HopkinsEDMC/LW100Aaron EkbladFLAD101Josh MansonANAD102Victor ArvidssonNSHRW103Jason ZuckerMINLW/RW104Boone JennerCLBC/LW105Logan CoutureSJC/LW106Brayden PointTBC107Chris KreiderNYRLW108Mark StoneOTTRW109Mika ZibanejadNYRC110Antti RaantaARIG111Milan LucicEDMLW112Tyler ToffoliLARW113Travis KonecnyPHILW/RW114Charlie McAvoyBOSD115Justin FaulkCARD116Sean MonahanCGYC117Brandon MontourANAD118Tomas HertlSJC/LW/RW119Jacob TroubaWPGD120Eric StaalMINC121Nikolaj EhlersWPGLW/RW122Sebastian AhoCARC/LW123Colin MillerVGKD124Ryan O'ReillySTLC125Cam TalbotEDMG126Jake AllenSTLG127Roberto LuongoFLAG128Jake GuentzelPITLW129Jaden SchwartzSTLLW130Mikael GranlundMINC/RW131Jeff SkinnerBUFLW132Carter HuttonBUFG133Shea WeberMTLD134Andrei SvechnikovCARRW135Ilya KovalchukLALW/RW136Alex EdlerVAND137Nikita ZadorovCOLD138James van RiemsdykPHILW139Reilly SmithVGKLW/RW140Nazem KadriTORC141Nicklas BackstromWSHC142William NylanderTORC/RW143Ryan JohansenNSHC144Semyon VarlamovCOLG145Phlipp GrubauerCOLG146Erik JohnsonCOLD147Adam LarssonEDMD148Tyson BarrieCOLD149Morgan RiellyTORD150Ryan McDonaghTBD151Anthony ManthaDETLW/RW152Henrik LundqvistNYRG153Alex DeBrincatCHILW/RW154Clayton KellerARILW/RW155Elias PetterssonVANC156Cory SchneiderNJG157Mikhail SergachevTBD158Nino NiederreiterMINLW/RW159Pierre-Luc DuboisCLBC/LW160T.J. OshieWSHRW161Corey PerryANARW162Eeli TolvanenNSHRW163Robin LehnerNYIG164Nick FolignoCLBC/RW165Bryan LittleWPGC166Ondrej PalatTBLW167David PerronSTLLW168Jake GardinerTORD169Juuse SarosNSHG170James ReimerFLAG171Cam AtkinsonCLBRW172Nick BjugstadFLAC/RW173Filip ZadinaDETLW174Kevin ShattenkirkNYRD175Michael Del ZottoVAND176Teuvo TeravainenCARLW/RW177Ty RattieEDMRW178Matt DucheneOTTC179Rasmus DahlinBUFD180Anders LeeNYILW181Patrick MarleauTORC/LW182Mike HoffmanFLALW/RW183Evgenii DadonovFLALW/RW184Kevin FialaNSHLW/RW185Jeff PetryMTLD186Alex GalchenyukARIC/LW187Timo MeierSJLW188Hampus LindholmANAD189Sami VatanenNJD190Bo HorvatVANC191Nico HischierNJC192Jordan StaalCARC193Brayden McNabbVGKD194David BackesBOSC/RW195Jonathan ToewsCHIC196Dion PhaneufLAD197Ondrej KaseANARW198Nolan PatrickPHIC199Radko GudasPHID200Ryan PulockNYIDCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators cutting Zack Smith was tough for some of his teammates to swallow.The veteran forward was placed on waivers by the Senators on Tuesday, and is free to be claimed by the NHL's other 30 clubs.News of the suprising transaction shocked Smith's teammates in the Senators' locker room, particularly fellow veteran forward Matt Duchene."I'll be honest, it's a kick in the balls for us," Duchene told TSN's Brent Wallace."It's tough because we love Smitty. He is a great leader, he is a great player," Duchene added. "Unfortunately, I guess, sometimes in this business, things happen that are sometimes beyond hockey reasons and things like that. It's tough right now, we are hurting."Whether Smith is claimed by another team could be determined by his contract, as the 30-year-old is signed for the next three seasons at a $3.25-million cap hit.Smith was limited to five goals and 14 assists in 68 games with Ottawa last season. He notched a career-high 25 goals during the 2015-16 campaign.Rival teams have until 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday to submit a claim for Smith. Waiver priority is based on last season's reversed final standings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.