Montreal Canadiens forward Nicolas Deslauriers is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on a facial fracture, the team announced Tuesday.Deslauriers suffered the injury in Monday's preseason tilt against the New Jersey Devils in an altercation with forward Brandon Baddock.In 58 appearances with the Canadiens last season, Deslauriers recorded 10 goals and four assists.The Canadiens acquired Deslauriers from the Buffalo Sabres last October in exchange for defenseman Zach Redmond.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Talk about leading by example.Veteran forward and three-time Stanley Cup championship Justin Williams, who was named Carolina Hurricanes captain on Sept. 13, is offering to reach into his own pocket for fans who plan to add the captain's "C" to his jersey."Leadership comes naturally and comes from years of watching other great leaders," Williams said following the captaincy announcement. "Certainly, my current coach (Rod Brind'Amour) is one of them. I'll be taking little things from his leadership and instilling them in mine. It's something I'm very humbled by and very proud of and something I don't take lightly."The offer runs through the Canes' Oct. 4 home opener against the New York Islanders.Williams was named Hurricanes captain after teammates Justin Faulk and Jordan Staal split the duties last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite falling three wins short of the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season, fan interest in the Vegas Golden Knights hasn't cooled down.For the second year running, Stubhub has listed the Golden Knights as the NHL's most in-demand club, outselling the runner-up Toronto Maple Leafs by 27 percent.The avid fan interest is a repeat of last season, when the Golden Knights played in front of more than 18,000 nightly at T-Mobile Arena.This year, the team's first preseason game against the Arizona Coyotes took in an above-capacity crowd, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. For the coming campaign, the Golden Knights are also involved in four of Stubhub's top 10 in-demand games.Vegas' home opener comes Oct. 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nearly a year after the Vadim Shipachyov situation played out, George McPhee says there was a silver lining to the whole fiasco.The Vegas Golden Knights general manager told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that as difficult as it was to lose a key free-agent signing, the situation sent a strong message to the team."That there’s no entitlement," McPhee said. “We had a coach from another team who mentioned that he thought that that was one of the best moves we made initially. That we committed to that player, he came here, wasn’t committed to us, wasn’t ready to play, and ownership supported a hard decision to send a $9-million contract to the minors. But the message was clear to everyone that it doesn’t matter what your status is, if you’re to check the ego at the door and compete hard, and be a team guy, then there’s a great opportunity here. If not, we don’t have time for it."Shipachyov retired from the NHL and signed with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL last November after the Golden Knights suspended the forward for leaving their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, following his demotion in late October.The 31-year-old, who was 30 at the time, had signed a two-year, $9-million contract with the Golden Knights in May 2017.Vegas went on to become the most successful expansion team in NHL history, going all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's relationship with individuality, especially as it relates to personal style, can be a contentious one.It remains the only major professional sports league in North America that requires players to wear suits and ties on game days, even writing that rule into the collective bargaining agreement "unless otherwise specified by the head coach or general manager."Compare that to the NBA, which requires "business casual" attire on game days but, in practice, allows players to explore the limits of the term. From Dwyane Wade's varsity jacket or shawl-collar cardigan and checked pants to Russell Westbrook's athleisure or leather-jacket-plus-leather-pants combo, NBA players use attire to display their personalities.Many NHLers are hesitant to draw attention to themselves in such a manner. "Flashy" clothing can be perceived as the player putting himself - the individual - above the collective, which is unacceptable in hockey's humble, team-first culture. No one knows this better than Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban.A mainstay on lists of the best-dressed athletes within and beyond hockey, Subban isn't afraid to take serious fashion risks. Wide-brimmed hats and waistcoats are a consistent part of his wardrobe, and he's not afraid to wear pastel or patterned suits. His style-savvy approach earned him a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Fashionable 50 issue."For me I think it's a huge gesture to be on the cover," Subban said in a recent radio interview with Sportsnet 590 The FAN. "I think that speaks for itself. There's a lot of fashionable athletes out there if you notice now compared to, let's say, 20 years ago."There probably were a few athletes - and I think of a few off the top of my head, Joe Namath being one, David Beckham, guys who really showed the style and kind of fashion through their profession and what they do. But nowadays you see more and more athletes, especially on the male side, that are stepping up and having an interest in how they look."

Montreal Canadiens forward Nicolas Deslauriers was taken to hospital as a precaution and for further testing after leaving Monday's preseason game against the New Jersey Devils on Monday night, the team announced.The 27-year-old left the game early in the second period with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the first period, Deslauriers dropped the gloves with Devils forward Brandon Baddock where he took a hard right-handed punch, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Deslauriers is looking to cement a full-time spot with the Canadiens this year after playing 58 games with the big club and 14 in the American Hockey League last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scottie Upshall is apparently a fast healer.The veteran forward was cleared to skate with the full group at Edmonton Oilers training camp, head coach Todd McLellan told reporters Monday."He's worked hard to recover and deserves an opportunity to make this team," McLellan said.On Thursday, Sportsnet's Mark Spector reported that Upshall failed his physical with the club and he would be unable to participate "for a few weeks," rendering his opportunity with Edmonton "expired" for all intents and purposes.The 34-year-old, who will turn 35 on Oct. 7, was invited to Oilers camp on a professional tryout after spending the last three seasons with the St. Louis Blues.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have reached a two-year agreement with restricted free-agent defenseman Darnell Nurse, the team announced Monday.The deal is reportedly worth $3.2 million a year, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon.Nurse hadn't been taking part in training camp during his negotiations.He played all 82 games last season for the first time since he entered the NHL on a regular basis in 2015-16. He posted 26 points in 2017-18 while ranking second on the club behind only Oscar Klefbom in average time on ice at 22:15.

He may not be the dominant middleman Montreal Canadiens fans were hoping for, but there will be a new top center in La Belle Province this season.Speaking with TSN 690's Tony Marinaro on Monday, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin confirmed summer acquisition Max Domi will skate at center, while last offseason's big-ticket addition, Jonathan Drouin, will move to the wing."(Drouin) has been playing the wing since the beginning of camp," Bergevin told Marinaro. "We have Max Domi playing in the middle right now ..."The first half of last year, I think (Drouin) had a hard time (at center). The second half, especially toward the end, he got better and better," Bergevin continued. "We're going to try Max in the middle because he did play some center in Phoenix last year. We'd like to try that for now but we know we could also put Jonathan in the middle if need be, so it just gives us more options."With the Arizona Coyotes last year, Domi saw a stretch of games at center midseason - his first time playing the position since age 16 - and played well defensively according to former bench boss Rick Tocchet. He appeared in all 82 games with the Coyotes a year ago, finishing the campaign with nine goals and 36 assists. However, he was less than 45 percent efficient in the faceoff dot, far behind fellow centers Derek Stepan, Christian Dvorak, and Brad Richardson.Related: Coyotes will give Galchenyuk chance to play centerBergevin also rattled off how he envisions the rest of his lineup fitting in at center."We've got (Phillip) Danault. There's (Tomas) Plekanec, there's (Matthew) Peca," Bergevin said. "Right now we have Big Mac (Michael McCarron), but he could also play the wing. We have (Jacob) de la Rose, who can also play the wing."Bergevin added that top prospects Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki have been trying their hand at center in training camp as well.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have found Randy Lee's replacement.Peter MacTavish has been named the Senators' new assistant general manager, effective Oct. 1, the club announced Monday.MacTavish has been involved in player representation for the past 15 years, most recently with CAA Hockey, and his focus with Ottawa will include contracts, salary arbitration, and managerial support of the franchise's hockey operations at both the NHL and AHL levels.He takes over the job previously occupied by Lee, who resigned from the organization after being arrested on a harassment charge stemming from an incident at the NHL draft combine.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's here, baby: prospect rankings time.The season is brand new, but for scouts and prospect evaluators, it never really stops.Here are theScore's top 25 players for the 2019 NHL Draft. Outside of the top two, expect this to change as the season goes on and we get a better picture of who these players are. We'll be giving you updates throughout, with the next edition expanding to 50 players.1. Jack HughesC | 5-foot-10 | 161 lbs | U.S. National Team Development ProgramGPGAP604076116Hughes is the consensus top pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and while anything's possible, not much can change that. His 116-point season is second only to Auston Matthews (117) in all-time single-season scoring performances in U.S. National Team Development Program history. His puck control looks effortless, his playmaking ability is superb, and, more than that, he's just plain fun to watch.2. Kaapo KakkoRW | 6-foot-1 | 181 lbs | TPS (Liiga, Jr. A SM-liiga)GPGAP38253055While things aren't quite as set in stone for the No. 2 spot as they are for the first, Kakko's place is about as secure as it can be at this point. A surge from another player could change things, but right now there's still a gap between him and the next tier. Kakko has a deft scoring touch and a ton of playmaking ability thanks to his high-end vision, and he protects the puck well. He still has room to grow as a player, too.3. Bowen ByramD | 6-foot-1 | 192 lbs | Vancouver Giants (WHL)GPGAP6062127Byram is a phenomenal skater who is, as things stand right now, the top defenseman in this year's draft class. His puck skills are excellent and he breaks the puck out easily, but he's also got pretty solid defensive awareness and positioning. He's composed, smart, and still working on improving areas of his game such as gap control and decision-making.4. Alex TurcotteC | 5-foot-11 | 194 lbs | USNTDPGPGAP58184563Turcotte is part of a sizable list of USNTDP players who could go in the first round next June. He's a gifted playmaker with good offensive instincts, but he's strong without the puck as well. His acceleration is high-end and he works hard - he may not have an off switch. Improving his shot would make him even harder to pass up.5. Dylan CozensC | 6-foot-3 | 176 lbs | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)GPGAP57223153This is a stronger year for the WHL than we've seen recently, and while it starts with Byram, Cozens is nothing to sneeze at. The Hurricanes center recently impressed at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, making his presence known on every inch of the ice in the gold medal game. He's a smart player, makes sharp passes, has an accurate shot, and is a terrific skater.6. Peyton KrebsLW | 5-foot-11 | 181 lbs | Kootenay Ice (WHL)GPGAP67173754Krebs went first overall in the WHL's 2016 bantam draft, and it looks like he's going to go in the top half of the first round in 2019. He's a driven, creative playmaker who reads the ice well enough to take advantage of his opponents' weaknesses. He could stand to add a little muscle, but he's already a difference-maker.7. Alex NewhookC | 5-foot-11 | 183 lbs | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)GPGAP45224466One fun thing about recent drafts is seeing more teams willing to take a chance on guys in leagues like the BCHL. This year, it'll be Newhook. He was the Rookie of the Year last season and is committed to Boston College. He's dangerously smart offensively, is a fantastic skater, and is also strong in his own end.8. Ryan SuzukiC | 6-foot-0 | 172 lbs | Barrie Colts (OHL)GPGAP64143044A former first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection Draft, Ryan Suzuki is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki. He's a high-end playmaker and a speedy skater, and though he doesn't shoot as often as he passes, he has a good shot. He should play a more significant role with the Colts this season. What he does with that role could have huge draft implications.9. Kirby DachC | 6-foot-4 | 198 lbs | Saskatoon Blades (WHL)GPGAP5273946At 6-foot-4, Dach already has "NHL size." That's not why he's this high on the list, though. He's a fluid skater, especially for his size, and his fantastic hands make him a dangerous playmaker. While Dach isn't really a scorer, he's got the smarts and offensive skills to make plays.10. Anttoni HonkaD | 5-foot-10 | 170 lbs | JYP (Liiga)GPGAP20279Playing defense clearly runs in the Honka family. Anttoni is the younger brother of Dallas Stars defenseman Julius Honka, and while he's one of the older players in his draft class, he's got enough skill to be one of its top defenders. Honka has refined offensive instincts, loves to jump up into the play, and has the hockey smarts and creativity to hold his own at a higher level. He could stand to add some muscle, as he's on the smaller side, but he's a great skater. As long as he improves his defensive decision-making, there's no reason he won't be a solid choice next summer.11. Matthew BoldyLW | 6-foot-0 | 174 lbs | USNTDPGPGAP61294776A creative playmaker who thinks the game at a high tempo. Adding strength before he heads to Boston College next season will improve his game.12. Raphael LavoieC/LW | 6-foot-4 | 192 lbs | Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)GPGAP68303363A smart power forward type with a heavy, accurate shot. He needs to improve his acceleration, but he's a dangerous player.13. Vasily PodkolzinRW | 5-foot-11 | 165 lbs | SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)GPGAP21131730A solid skater who can both score and make plays. He also has respectable defensive awareness for a player of his age and size.14. Cam YorkD | 5-foot-11 | 165 lbs | USNTDPGPGAP5983038A poised defender with strong puck-moving ability. A strong skater who can slow down to speed up the game and make a play happen at his pace.15. Maxim CajkovicLW/RW | 5-foot-11 | 187 lbs | Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)GPGAP28101121An explosive skater with high-end hockey smarts. Should get plenty of opportunities to make his case playing significant minutes in Saint John.16. Cole CaufieldC/RW | 5-foot-6 | 154 lbs | USNTDPGPGAP59542680A dangerous scorer who, at 5-6, is distinctly undersized compared to his peers. Has great offensive instincts and skating ability.17. Victor SoderstromD | 5-foot-11 | 176 lbs | Brynas IF J18/J20 (J18 Elit/SuperElit)GPGAP16336A puck-moving defenseman with good offensive instincts. Decision-making in his own end could be improved.18. Valentin NussbaumerC | 5-foot-11 | 165 lbs | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)GPGAP26516A smart forward with solid offensive ability who can control play. Just missed being eligible for the last draft, so he's one of the older players in this year's group.19. Arthur KaliyevLW | 6-foot-2 | 190 lbs | Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)GPGAP68311748A power forward type whose instinct is to shoot first. Led all OHL rookies in shots on goal during the 2017-18 season with 208.20. Jakob PelletierLW/RW | 5-foot-9 | 161 lbs | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)GPGAP60233861A crafty playmaker and quick, skilled skater with great vision. Taken third overall in the 2017 QMJHL Draft.21. Trevor ZegrasC | 5-foot-11 | 159 lbs | USNTDPGP GAP5620395922. Philip BrobergD | 6-foot-3 | 198 lbs | AIK J20 (SuperElit)GPGAP23671323. Matthew RobertsonD | 6-foot 3 | 201 lbs | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)GPGAP677172424. Simon HolmstromRW | 5-foot-11 | 172 lbs | HV71 J20 (SuperElit)GPGAP2811193025. Sasha MutalaRW | 6-foot-1 | 198 lbs | Tri-City Americans (WHL)GPGAP68111526Hannah 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.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aleksander Barkov is the new captain of the Florida Panthers.The 23-year-old center will be the 10th player to wear the "C" in franchise history, the club announced Monday.Barkov established career highs with 51 assists and 78 points last season, and was named a Lady Byng Trophy finalist for the second time.He also finished fourth in the voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward, and is generally regarded as one of the league's best two-way centers.Barkov takes over the captaincy from Derek MacKenzie, who occupied the role for the previous two campaigns.In statements issued by the team Monday, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon expressed confidence that Barkov is ready to be captain, and head coach Bob Boughner called him "the complete package."Barkov said he was fortunate to learn from MacKenzie and fellow former Panthers captains Willie Mitchell and Ed Jovanovski earlier in his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When you need to get away from it all, head to the Gem State.That was the offseason destination of choice for Ottawa Senators winger Bobby Ryan, who, along with his wife and two children, packed his bags for quaint Coeur d'Alene, Idaho as a way to escape the rampant rumor mill."Honest to God, I wanted to throw a dart at the map and be off the grid as much as I could. Somewhere remote so nobody wanted to visit," Ryan told Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "There's no people. I need(ed) to get away from hockey for a couple months. I need(ed) to recharge."Ryan's name was thrown around throughout the offseason as a possible addition to a potential Erik Karlsson trade.Karlsson was ultimately shipped to the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 13, while Ryan, who has four years and $30 million remaining on the seven-year pact he signed in 2014, is still a Senator.With Karlsson gone and the offseason in the rearview mirror, Ryan has returned to the Canadian capital for training camp and is ready to start anew after a 2017-18 campaign in which he tallied just 33 points.There will be plenty of opportunity for Ryan, as the Senators usher in a new era with coach Guy Boucher readying a more offensive game."I'm really encouraged. I had a couple meetings with coach, and he showed me what's going to change, where we're going from here," Ryan said. "It's stuff I think our team will relate to and get. It's going to be very simple and it's going to work."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens associate coach Kirk Muller isn't going anywhere, as he and the team agreed to a two-year contract extension on Sunday.Muller spent the past two seasons behind the Canadiens' bench, working alongside former coach Michel Therrien and current bench boss Claude Julien.Previously, Muller spent two years as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues and parts of three seasons as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. He was also an assistant coach with the Canadiens from 2006-11.Prior to joining the coaching ranks, the longtime NHL veteran skated in 1,349 games, including four seasons with Montreal, where he served as a captain during the 1994-95 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenseman Josh Morrissey to a two-year extension worth $3.15 million per year, the team announced Sunday.Morrissey was the Jets' only remaining restricted free agent.In 81 games with Winnipeg last season, the 23-year-old netted seven goals and 19 assists. He also finished fourth among Jets defensemen with just over 20 minutes in average ice time.In 164 career games, Morrissey has notched 13 goals and 33 assists.The Jets selected Morrissey with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It could be some time before Victor Rask joins his Carolina Hurricanes teammates on the ice.The 25-year-old underwent surgery on his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand Thursday after slicing them while making food. The team ruled Rask out indefinitely, but head coach Rod Brind'Amour says "it's going to be months.""It's not going to be quick," he added, according to Hurricanes.com's Michael Smith.Brind'Amour noted that Rask cut tendons in the fingers, according to Chip Alexander of The News Observer.Rask is coming off a down 2017-18 season that saw him post a career-low 31 points in 71 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Humboldt Broncos assistant general manager Jason Neville is leaving the organization.Neville announced the move in a statement Saturday night, writing that "this was not an easy decision, but I know it is the right choice for me." He concluded by saying that, although there is nothing specific lined up, he plans to stay in the hockey world and will always have reverence for Humboldt. "I do know I will always be a Bronco," he wrote.Both the Broncos' official Twitter account and general manager/head coach Nathan Oystrick offered thoughts on Neville's decision as well.

John Tavares acknowledges that he deserves blame for the New York Islanders' shortcomings during his tenure, and wishes the team had accomplished more, but he's at peace with his contributions.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward expressed as much when asked if he was surprised by Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello's comments from earlier this week in which the former Leafs general manager said there was "no aftermath" in the wake of Tavares' departure, and that it would be different if Tavares' Isles had won championships."In the nine years (I was there) we made the playoffs three times and got past the first round once, so we obviously fell short of where we wanted to get to and we didn't have as much consistent success as we (would have liked)," Tavares said to reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters, on Saturday."Being the captain there as long as I was, I should shoulder a lot of that responsibility in not doing a good enough job and leading that team," he added. "I wish I could have done a better job, but I know I gave it everything I had, and looking back, I have no regrets in the way I performed ... I just obviously wish we'd had more success and done a better job."Tavares departed the Islanders ranking fifth on the club's all-time points list and seventh all time in goals, despite sitting outside the top 10 in games played.He signed a seven-year, $77-million contract with the Maple Leafs as a free agent on July 1.Lamoriello joined the Islanders as president of hockey ops in May and added the GM role to his responsibilities after dismissing former GM Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight in June.The longtime hockey executive served as Maple Leafs GM for three seasons before leaving the organization this past spring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs won't be setting a new bar to sign restricted free agent William Nylander.With day two of Leafs training camp underway, the Swedish forward is yet to sign a new contract, and the status of negotiations between him and the club is largely up in the air. Dubas, however, shed a bit of light on the situation Saturday, saying that Nylander's new deal will certainly be within the confines of the Leafs' salary cap restrictions."If we want to sustain success here we can't be setting any marketplace records," Dubas said, according to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star."Sometimes players might not like it very much, but I'm sure they'd rather win than be on a team that can't."Shortly after signing free agent John Tavares to a seven-year, $77 million deal, Dubas was asked how he plans to manage the next contracts of Toronto's group of young stars. He responded by saying "we can, and we will" retain Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews long-term.Nylander has posted back-to-back 61-point efforts in the first two full seasons of his career. His value has been compared to that of Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.Both men signed big-money extensions in September 2017, with the former agreeing to a seven-year, $42-million deal, and the latter inking a six-year, $40-million pact.The Maple Leafs have an estimated $13.3 million in available cap space for 2018-19, according to Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL preseason kicking off in China on Saturday, commissioner Gary Bettman believes regular-season games in the Pacific are the next logical step.

The Washington Capitals are off the hook on the subject of Brooks Orpik.Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press on Friday that the NHL put the club through a thorough questioning process and determined no rules were violated.Bill Daly, the league's deputy commissioner, confirmed MacLellan's assessment that the Capitals did nothing wrong by including Orpik in the trade that sent goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche, then re-signing the veteran defenseman at a lower cap hit after the Avalanche bought him out.Orpik's original cap hit was $5.5 million, with a base salary of $4.5 million, in what was to be the final year of the five-year, $27.5-million contract he signed with Washington on July 1, 2014.The Avalanche bought out that final year after acquiring him in the Grubauer deal at the draft, and the Capitals re-signed him in late July on a one-year pact worth $1 million, plus up to $500,000 in bonuses ($250,000 for 20 games played and another $250,000 if he appears in 40 contests, according to CapFriendly).Orpik is owed $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons as a result of the buyout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights and restricted free-agent defenseman Shea Theodore remain far apart on a new contract, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Without a deal in place, the 23-year-old hasn't yet reported to the club's training camp.Theodore joined the Golden Knights via the expansion draft from the Anaheim Ducks, and emerged as an important piece of the blue line while the team marched to a Western Conference title.In 61 games last season, Theodore chipped in 29 points and averaged more than 20 minutes per night. He's expected to be a key member of the defense once again, especially with Nate Schmidt facing a 20-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug use.Theodore is the lone player on Vegas' ledger who's currently without a contract, and the club has roughly $9.4 million in available cap space to work with, per Cap Friendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake Dotchin's training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning is over before it even began.The Bolts placed the defenseman on waivers Thursday to terminate his contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The team is calling it a "material breach of contract," Friedman added.

Thursday's blockbuster trade to acquire Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators wasn't the first time San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson has fleeced one of his counterparts. In fact, it's not even the first time this offseason he's schooled Sens GM Pierre Dorion.The Karlsson deal will be Wilson's best transaction if the five-time All-Star gets the Sharks over the hump and they win the Stanley Cup. Here are five other moves (listed in chronological order) Wilson has made to help turn the Sharks into a juggernaut:Drafting Joe PavelskiThearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyWilson took over as Sharks GM in May 2003, and about a month later made arguably the franchise's best draft pick, selecting Joe Pavelski in the seventh round (205th overall).Pavelski has been one of the NHL's most underrated players since entering the league in 2006-07. On a per 82-game basis, he's averaging 30 goals and 64 points per season, and the 34-year-old has also been reliable on both the power play and penalty kill, with the versatility to play either center or wing.During the Wilson era, the Sharks have missed the postseason just once. They've traded many first-round picks, but have still managed to draft and develop homegrown talent on a level nearly any team in the league would envy.The Joe Thornton robberyChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyJoe Thornton is in the twilight of his career now, so it might be easy to forget that he was the centerpiece of a historically lopsided trade.On Nov. 30, 2005, Wilson acquired the then 26-year-old Thornton from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart, and Wayne Primeau. That's it.Thornton went on to win the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy that season, and he sits second in franchise history with 973 points in 961 games, trailing only Patrick Marleau.The Brent Burns thieveryEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyAt the 2011 draft, Wilson pulled off another blockbuster, trading Charlie Coyle, Devin Setoguchi, and a first-round pick (28th overall, Zack Phillips) to the Minnesota Wild for Brent Burns and a second-round pick.Burns, who was 26 years old at the time, was a good player, but not a great one yet. After rotating between forward and defense during his first few seasons in the Bay Area, he was permanently moved to defense for the 2014-15 season, and a star emerged. Over the last four seasons, he's averaged 21 goals and 70 points, taking home the Norris Trophy in 2016-17.Meanwhile, Setoguchi didn't reach 20 goals or 40 points again, Coyle still hasn't established himself as a top-six forward, and Phillips never played in the NHL.Gambling on Martin JonesChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyOn June 26, 2015, Martin Jones was traded from the Los Angeles Kings, along with Colin Miller and a first-round pick (Jakub Zboril), to the Boston Bruins for Milan Lucic. Four days later, Wilson sent Sean Kuraly and a first-round pick (Trent Frederic) to the Bruins for Jones.Dealing a prospect and a first-rounder for a 25-year-old goaltender with only 29 NHL starts under his belt was a risky move. But it's become one of Wilson's savviest trades, as Jones has proven to be a capable No. 1 goalie and a clutch performer.Here's a look at his career playoff numbers:GPW-LGAASV%SO4222-182.07.9266Frederic is a good-looking prospect, and Kuraly is a solid depth player. But the Sharks definitely wouldn't have gone to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final without Jones in the crease.Buying low on Evander KaneEzra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyTime will tell if this move turns out to truly be one of Wilson's best, but so far, so good.At the 2018 trade deadline, Wilson sent prospect Danny O'Regan, a second-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Evander Kane (the second-round pick turned into a first once Kane signed an extension).Since being selected fourth overall in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kane has shown flashes of brilliance and the ability to become a premier power forward. But a combination of injuries, some off-ice incidents, and playing for poor teams have prevented him from reaching his full potential.In 17 games with San Jose following the deadline, Kane scored nine goals, then added four more in nine postseason contests. A full season in a winning environment, surrounded by some of the best linemates of his career, could result in a 40-plus-goal campaign if he stays healthy.Acquiring a talented player at a bargain price has worked out for Wilson in the past. Kane and Karlsson are just the most recent examples.Honorable mentions: Acquiring Dan Boyle from Tampa Bay, Dany Heatley from Ottawa.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford revealed to reporters Friday that he's been sidelined by a concussion he suffered last year. He also said he believes he's close to a full recovery as the team begins its training camp.Crawford's final game of the 2017-18 season came on Dec. 23. He was initially ruled out with vertigo-like symptoms without a clear timeline on a potential return.

Florida Panthers forward Jamie McGinn will be out indefinitely after undergoing back surgery, the team announced Friday.McGinn tallied 13 goals and 29 points in 76 games for the Panthers last season. The left winger was set to play a bottom-six role with the club for the 2018-19 campaign.McGinn was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to Florida last September in exchange for defenseman Jason Demers.He has one year left on his contract, which carries a $3.3-million cap hit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things are going from bad to worse in Canada's capital.One day removed from trading the face of their franchise, the Ottawa Senators announced Friday that forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau will miss at least six months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg during training on Thursday.Pageau registered 14 goals and 29 points this past season, primarily serving as Ottawa's third-line center. His best season came in 2015-16 when he led the league with seven shorthanded goals.The Ottawa native is best known for his playoff heroics, netting a hat trick in the Sens' first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, and scoring four goals - including the OT winner - against the New York Rangers in the second round of the team's magical run to the conference finals in 2017.Pageau, 25, signed a three-year, $9.3-million contract last summer.His injury will likely result in an increased role for newly-acquired center Chris Tierney and could open up a spot for former first-round pick Logan Brown on the team's opening-night roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Zetterberg's NHL career is over due to his back condition, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said on Friday, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.Holland added that Zetterberg is not retiring, but will instead be placed on long-term injured reserve, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. He has three years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $6.083 million.Zetterberg has dealt with back issues dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, but incredibly didn't miss a game the last three seasons. He labored through most of last season and wasn't able to practice for half the year, Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said last month, but still managed to put up 56 points. His back didn't allow him to train this offseason either.The 37-year-old Swede finishes his career as one of the best players in his generation.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy will be sidelined for approximately eight weeks with a back injury, the team announced Friday.The towering 6-foot-4 blue-liner tallied 14 points, 138 hits, and 101 blocked shots in 76 games last season.Murphy, 25, was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Windy City during the 2017 offseason, along with Laurent Dauphin, in exchange for defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have invited veteran forward Joel Ward to their training camp on a professional tryout basis, the club announced on Friday.Ward, 37, is coming off the worst season of his career. He recorded just five goals and seven assists over 52 games during the 2017-18 season with the San Jose Sharks.Known as a proven playoff performer (22 goals and 52 points in 83 postseason games), Ward brings 726 regular-season games of NHL experience to the table.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Crawford's status for the Chicago Blackhawks' season opener remains uncertain, but he does appear to be trending in the right direction.The goaltender is expected to take the ice Friday morning on the club's first on-ice day of training camp, a source told The Athletic's Scott Powers on Thursday night.Crawford last played in late December and reportedly dealt with vertigo-like symptoms before returning to practice in February and ultimately being shut down for the rest of the season.Chicago's No. 1 netminder said in late July that he still wasn't 100 percent healthy but that he had made progress.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It could be a tough road ahead for veteran forward Scottie Upshall, as the 34-year-old failed his training camp physical with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector.Upshall is attending Oilers camp on a professional tryout offer. While the failed physical doesn't automatically end the tryout, it did reveal a knee injury that will prevent Upshall from participating in the coming weeks.The Oilers are slated for eight preseason games, beginning Monday against the Calgary Flames, and will open the regular season Oct. 6 versus the New Jersey Devils.In 63 appearances with the St. Louis Blues last season, Upshall tallied seven goals and 12 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For nine seasons in the Canadian capital, Erik Karlsson's offensive creativity captured the imaginations of Ottawa Senators fans.Following Thursday's trade to the San Jose Sharks, the Swedish sensation will now be taking his show to the Bay Area. Still, it's not too early to revisit some of his finest moments suiting up as a Senator:The knuckleballThe Edmonton Oilers are known for scoring goals, but it was all Karlsson on this play, as the two-time Norris Trophy winner went end to end through a group of Oilers and fired a knuckleball by Oilers netminder Ben Scrivens.Playoff performerAfter Karlsson missed nearly the entire 2012-13 campaign with an Achilles injury, he'd have been forgiven for playing at a slower pace in the playoffs. But that wasn't the case in the opening round against the Montreal Canadiens, thanks to Karlsson's ability to simply take over shifts. The Senators went on to beat the favored Canadiens in five games.The bank shotTypically reserved for the billiards lounge, this crafty bank shot stretched nearly the entire ice to set up veteran forward Milan Michalek. The winger scored a nifty goal in his own right, but the play will be remembered for Karlsson's wizardry.All eyes on ErikKarlsson played through the 2017 postseason on a fractured heel, but the injury seemingly didn't take away from his ability to pull off the incredible. Here, he took the Boston Bruins for a ride before setting up Derick Brassard for a magnificent game-tying goal in Game 2.Hail Mary heroDumping the two-line pass rule opened up more creative avenues for puck-moving defensemen. Karlsson took it to the next level on this play with a Hail Mary setup that landed right on the tape for former teammate Mike Hoffman.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Clarity surrounding Sergei Bobrovsky's future with the Columbus Blue Jackets apparently won't be coming any time soon.With training camp here, Bobrovsky, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018-19 season, spoke with media about his murky status going forward."After last season, I told the situation to the management of the Blue Jackets, so they know everything," Bobrovsky said, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. "They know my plans for the season. They know my plans for the future. They know everything."They know exactly what we're going to do."Predictably, Bobrovsky declined to offer any specifics, but he did say he won't negotiate a new contract during the season - matching the sentiment of teammate and fellow 2019 UFA Artemi Panarin.Bobrovsky is undoubtedly Columbus' most important player. Since joining the club in 2012-13, the 29-year-old has won 176 games with a .923 save percentage and 24 shutouts to go with two Vezina Trophies and two first-team All-Star selections.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You won't see Cory Schneider's name on a lineup card this preseason.The Devils netminder continues to rehab from offseason hip surgery and will be sidelined for all six of New Jersey's exhibition games, general manager Ray Shero confirmed to NHL.com's Mike Morreale.Shero added that he's not sure about Schneider's status for the Devils' regular-season opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 6.The 32-year-old netminder battled a nagging groin injury last season that limited him to just 40 games. Backup Keith Kinkaid stepped up in Schneider's absence, putting together a 26-10-3 record across 41 appearances.However, Schneider returned in time for last year's playoffs and impressed through four appearances against the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting a 1.78 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson is no rental in Doug Wilson's eyes.The San Jose Sharks general manager envisions the superstar defenseman as part of the club's future beyond the upcoming season."It's a long-term approach and we think Erik fits for now and for a long time," Wilson told reporters, including The Athletic's Craig Custance, after landing Karlsson in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.The all-world blue-liner is a pending unrestricted free agent entering the final year of the seven-year, $45-million pact he inked with the Senators in 2012, at a cap hit of $6.5 million.Karlsson didn't want to talk about the likelihood of an extension with the Sharks when asked about it in the aftermath of the trade."As for right now, that's a private discussion and not something I'm going to elaborate on," he said on a conference call Thursday, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.The Sharks have some decisions to make for 2019-20, as 34-year-old captain Joe Pavelski and 39-year-old franchise fixture Joe Thornton are also pending UFAs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Contract negotiations between the Vancouver Canucks and star forward Brock Boeser are officially on the backburner.After beginning preliminary discussions about an extension in late August, Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Thursday that the two sides will now wait until the end of the 2018-19 campaign to finalize a deal."(Boeser) loves playing in Vancouver and wants to be here long term," Benning told Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet 650. "At the end of the day, we both agreed that he will play out the last year of his entry-level deal. At the end of the year, we'll circle back and figure out a deal long term."Despite appearing in just 62 games last season, Boeser tied Daniel Sedin for the team lead in scoring with 55 points. His 29 tallies finished second among all rookies, trailing only Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, who netted 31 goals.That sort of production could mean Boeser is due for a major raise. This season, the 21-year-old will carry a $925,000 cap hit, but he can also pull in another $850,000 in performance bonuses.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That's it. Erik Karlsson is no longer an Ottawa Senator.After months of waiting for the hammer to fall, the league's top blue-liner was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for an immediately underwhelming package of six assets Thursday in a deal that shook the hockey world off its axis.Karlsson wraps up his Senators tenure as one of the greatest players in franchise history, and certainly the best defenseman. While he'll continue his trajectory toward the Hockey Hall of Fame elsewhere, it would be unjust to discount all that occurred and all he accomplished over his nine-year career in Ottawa.Let's reflect.June 20, 2008 - Sens draft KarlssonOttawa hosted the 2008 draft, and after brokering a trade with the Nashville Predators to move up two spots, the late Bryan Murray drafted a tiny, dynamic blue-liner out of Frolunda 15th overall.The hometown fans weren't overly receptive to the decision to take the slender Karlsson, but Murray was investing in his upside, and when you consider Zach Bogosian, Luke Schenn, and Colten Teubert were among the six defenders selected earlier, Karlsson landing in the nation's capital was an absolute steal.Dec. 19, 2009 - First NHL goalKarlsson returned to Sweden for one season after he was drafted but made the Senators out of camp in 2009-10. He was briefly sent down to the AHL early on but returned to the big club and buried his first NHL goal - a booming one-timer - versus the Minnesota Wild.Karlsson completed his rookie campaign suiting up in 60 games, registering five goals and 21 assists.2011-12 - A star emergesIn his third NHL season, Karlsson's path toward superstardom was clear.He paced all rearguards with 78 points in 81 games, 25 points ahead of Dustin Byfuglien and Brian Campbell in second place. Karlsson averaged over 25 minutes per night, led all blue-liners in shots, and ranked second with 28 power-play points en route to his first Norris Trophy and a first-team All-Star selection. By earning top defenseman honors, he joined legends Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin as the only players to win the award before turning 23 years old.After his breakout season, Karlsson signed a seven-year, $45.5-million contract with Ottawa.Feb. 13, 2013: The Cooke incidentJoe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyAfter managing 10 points through the first 14 games of the lockout-shortened season, Karlsson saw his campaign derailed after Pittsburgh Penguins pest Matt Cooke rode him into the boards, lacerating his Achilles tendon with an errant skate blade.The debate over Cooke's intentions was highly controversial at the time, and while the perpetual agitator avoided suspension, Karlsson was given a recovery timeline of four-to-six months. However, in typical superhuman fashion, No. 65 returned to the ice after missing only 10 weeks and put up eight points in 10 playoff games before the Sens were eliminated by Cooke's Penguins in Round 2.Oct. 2, 2014 - Karlsson named captainPrior to puck drop on the 2014-15 season, Karlsson was named the ninth captain in Senators history, succeeding the recently traded Jason Spezza.Karlsson was coming off a season in which he recorded 74 points for the 21st-place Senators, yet inexplicably finished seventh in Norris voting. But in his follow-up act, he simply continued being his dominant self and was accordingly awarded his second Norris Trophy at season's end.In his first campaign with the "C" on his chest, Karlsson once again paced all at his position with 66 points, 292 shots, and 30 power-play points. He also finished third in ice time, logging 27:15 per contest as the Senators made their way back to the postseason.2015-16 - His best yetJana Chytilova / National Hockey League / GettyKarlsson's 2015-16 season was one for the history books.He appeared in all 82 games and established a new career high in points with 82 - good enough to finish in a tie for fourth in the league scoring race with Joe Thornton. Karlsson also established a new NHL record for points in a season by a Swedish blue-liner, eclipsing the great Nicklas Lidstrom's benchmark of 81 in 2005-06. If that's not enough, he became the first defenseman since Paul Coffey in 1985-86 to finish in the top five in scoring, and the first since Orr in 1974-75 to lead the league in assists (66).In spite of his earth-shattering showing, Karlsson was again snubbed in Norris voting, this time coming in behind Drew Doughty - who he topped in virtually every statistical category - for second place.Spring 2017 - The playoff runThe most memorable stretch of Karlsson's tenure in Ottawa came during the 2017 playoffs when the Senators defied all odds and came within one goal of their second Stanley Cup Final appearance.Karlsson played a huge role in Ottawa's unlikely success, leading the club with 18 points in 19 games and routinely torturing opponents with highlight-reel setup after highlight-reel setup. His performances thrust him onto the Connor McDavid-and-Sidney Crosby-led shortlist of the world's best players and even garnered a Conn Smythe vote despite missing out on the finals.Perhaps most impressively, Karlsson still managed to dominate while nowhere near 100 percent healthy. Once the curtain closed on his club's miracle run, Karlsson promptly underwent surgery to repair torn tendons in his foot and had half his ankle bone removed in the procedure.2017-18: The unravelingJana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / GettyOptimism was high in Ottawa entering last season, and it's truly unbelievable how quickly things came crashing down. Earth's most decorated historians will struggle to fully document all that went wrong with the 2017-18 Senators, but here we'll try to encapsulate Karlsson's presence among the turmoil.

After months of speculation, the Ottawa Senators finally dealt the face of their franchise, Erik Karlsson - along with Francis Perron - to the San Jose Sharks. In return, the Sens will receive forward Chris Tierney, defenseman Dylan DeMelo, prospects Rudolfs Balcers and Josh Norris, and three conditional draft picks.Twitter, of course, was blown away by a trade that'll certainly be talked about for years to come.Some couldn't believe the return Ottawa received.

The Erik Karlsson trade saga is over.The San Jose Sharks have acquired the Ottawa Senators captain, the team announced Thursday.In return, the Senators received forward Chris Tierney, defenseman Dylan DeMelo, prospects Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers, a conditional 2020 first-round pick, and a conditional 2019 second-round pick. Ottawa would also receive a conditional 2021 second-round pick if Karlsson re-signs in San Jose after the upcoming season.The Sharks also received forward Francis Perron in the deal.Karlsson's departure from Canada's capital has been brewing for months amid constant speculation. The Senators offered Karlsson a contract extension worth a reported $10 million per season in July, but with the club headed for a complete rebuild, the mutual interest wasn't there.Several teams were linked to be in the mix to acquire Karlsson up until Thursday, but ultimately the Sharks won out. They'll add a two-time Norris Trophy winner to a defensive corps that already features stalwarts Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.Karlsson concludes his Senators career with 518 points in 627 contests, including an additional 37 points in 48 playoff games. He ranks third in franchise history in both points and assists, and earned four first-team all-star selections since being drafted 15th overall in 2008.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Victor Rask underwent surgery to repair his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand after injuring them while slicing food in his kitchen, the team announced Thursday.He's been ruled out indefinitely.The 25-year-old suited up in 71 games last season, recording 14 goals and 17 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson was named captain of the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, the team announced.

The Dallas Stars and center Tyler Seguin have agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension worth $78.8 million, the team announced Thursday.The deal carries an average annual value of $9.85 million and will kick in for the 2019-20 season.Seguin has one more year on his current contract at $5.75 million. His new deal makes him the highest paid player on the Stars, surpassing captain Jamie Benn's $9.5-million yearly wage.On a league-wide scale, the 26-year-old is set to be one of the highest-paid centers in the league, as only six pivots currently earn $9 million or more per season.Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettySeguin's contract saga has been one of the recurring themes of the offseason since he said he was disappointed in a lack of discussions in late August. After voicing his displeasure, the Stars made it clear they intended to work out a deal before puck drop in October."I'm thrilled to have this signed going into the season," said Seguin, per the team's website. "Dallas has become home to me and I love this organization. In my time over the last five years with Tom Gaglardi and Jim Nill, it is clear how bad they want to win and have a model franchise. To be a part of that leadership group for the next nine seasons is an honor, and I can't wait to get this season started with my teammates."Since joining Dallas via trade prior to the 2013-14 season, Seguin has been one of the league's premier producers. Over five seasons, he's amassed 384 points in 387 games, and his 173 goals trail only Alex Ovechkin over that span.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Marleau, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly will all wear a letter for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, head coach Mike Babcock told TSN's Darren Dreger.This, of course, would leave out Auston Matthews.Related: Dubas: Leafs won't name captain 'from the outset' of seasonTwo of the Maple Leafs' alternate captains from a year ago - Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov - departed via free agency this offseason. Rielly was the third alternate captain, while Marleau, a former captain of the San Jose Sharks, wore an "A" on occasion last season.Tavares spent the last five seasons as the captain of the New York Islanders.In late August, Matthews said he would be ready to accept the Leafs' captaincy if called upon.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's been a "decided increase" in trade talks regarding Ottawa Senators star defenseman Erik Karlsson in the last 24-to-48 hours, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.McKenzie adds that the "obvious goal" is to get a trade done before the Senators begin their training camp on Friday.

Former Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner exited his final game of the 2017-18 season on March 29 with what the team revealed as a lower-body injury. He was not seen in the dressing room for the rest of the year - even on locker cleanout day.In a first-person story published by The Athletic on Thursday, Lehner admitted he was addicted to alcohol, sleeping pills, and had suicidal thoughts leading up to his mysterious disappearance late in the season.The night before his final game on March 29, Lehner called Andrew Allen, the team's goalie coach, and told him he was in a bad place and wasn't sure if he could start the following night. The two agreed to discuss it at the rink the next morning, where Lehner then told him he was good to go.Throughout the game, he dealt with exhaustion, chest pains, and blurred vision. After the second period, he had a panic attack and could not return to the ice."The phone call I made to Andrew the night before? I was drunk," Lehner wrote. "I wanted to kill myself. I was extremely close multiple times. The battle playing hockey was nothing compared to the battle inside my brain. It was at its worst."Lehner then attended the NHL/NHLPA's rehab program in Arizona, where he went through a three-week detox which he described as "one of the worst that they had seen." He had been taking sleeping pills for the last seven years.Five weeks into the treatment, Lehner was diagnosed with bipolar 1 with manic phases.After exiting the treatment center, Lehner had to get his mind back on hockey. As an unrestricted free agent, he needed an employer."One of the hardest things now was getting back to hockey. I am an addict that was diagnosed as bipolar and ADHD with PTSD and trauma," Lehner said. "I had never had a sober season of hockey my entire career. Those manic swings, I could see the pattern. When I was hypomanic and in a good mood, I was a solid goalie. The depressive state, not so much."Lehner says that Sabres GM Jason Botterill was supportive throughout, and understood when the team decided to go in a different direction after signing Carter Hutton as their netminder. He felt a change of scenery would be best as well.He met with many teams - one of which questioned why he was a "bad person or a bad teammate" - but didn't receive any offers. He then met with New York Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello."I had two great meetings with (Lamoriello) and, looking back now, those meetings became some of the best moments in my life. We talked about family and life."Lehner, now sober, signed a one-year deal with New York on July 3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marian Gaborik's availability for the Ottawa Senators this season is up in the air, as the 36-year-old winger still hasn't been medically cleared after undergoing back surgery in April."Gaborik has not been fully cleared health-wise," general manager Pierre Dorion told the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. "He's still in L.A. seeing a back specialist. Once he gets here, we'll have more information. Right now, I can't tell you more than that."Garrioch adds there's no guarantee Gaborik will play this season, and at this point, Dorion couldn't answer when he could return to Ottawa. He was initially given an eight-week timeline to recover from his procedure.Gaborik was acquired in the four-player trade that sent defenseman Dion Phaneuf to the Kings in February. He chipped in four goals and three assists in 16 games for the Senators last season and has amassed 815 points in 1,035 career contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has suspended Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson for the entire preseason and the first 27 games of the regular season, the league announced Wednesday.Watson pleaded no contest to a domestic assault charge in late July after being arrested in June."I have determined that Nashville player Austin Watson engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "(Wednesday's) ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held view that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct."The NHLPA will file an appeal on behalf of Watson. It could be submitted as early as next week, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.An investigation by the NHL and an in-person hearing last Friday preceded Wednesday's ruling.Watson is eligible to return Dec. 3 against the Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues will be without starting netminder Jake Allen for the beginning of training camp, as he's set to miss 10-to-14 days due to back spasms, the team announced Wednesday.Allen is coming off a poor showing in 2017-18, during which he managed a .906 save percentage in 56 starts. His performance this season will be pivotal for the Blues, who raised expectations this summer by trading for Ryan O'Reilly and signing both Tyler Bozak and David Perron, among other moves.Blues camp is set to open Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Max Pacioretty and the Montreal Canadiens were on the same page about parting ways."This is a new chapter in my life that I feel mutually, myself and the (Canadiens) organization, were ready for," the Vegas Golden Knights forward told reporters, including NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika, at his introductory press conference Wednesday. "I think they're going in a direction of a little bit of a rebuild or a reset, and I'm ready to move on."The Canadiens traded Pacioretty to the Golden Knights early Monday morning for forward Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki, and a 2019 second-round pick. It ended a year-long saga in which he was frequently in the rumor mill and reportedly nearly dealt to other teams multiple times.After the trade, Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said Pacioretty asked for a trade on more than one occasion last season, but as he and his agent, Allan Walsh, have done before, the 29-year-old winger attempted to clarify that Wednesday.