It's been an offseason of turmoil for the Ottawa Senators. Amidst the tumult, it's the harassment charge against former assistant general manager Randy Lee that isn't sitting well with at least one outspoken player."As a guy who was kind of one of Randy's guys growing up, that was disappointing," defenseman Mark Borowiecki told the Ottawa Sun's Ken Warren. "I was genuinely disappointed in Randy there. I wasn't there, I don't know the whole story or the circumstances. It is what it is at this point."Lee was charged with second-degree harassment in late May after he was accused of making lewd comments toward, and rubbing the shoulders of, a 19-year-old male shuttle bus driver. The longtime assistant GM has since resigned from the organization.Lee has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Sept. 13 in Buffalo, N.Y."When you are part of this franchise, in whatever capacity, every time you are out in public, you are an ambassador for this brand, for this logo," Borowiecki added. "I hold myself to a certain standard. I think we need to make sure that everyone in this organization holds themselves to that standard."We are all proud to be Ottawa Senators and there is an expectation on how to behave and handle yourself, and, obviously, in whatever situation it was, Randy fell short and you're going to suffer the consequences."An Ottawa native, Borowiecki has been part of the Senators' organization since 2008, while Lee had been with the team since 1995.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Could this be the beginning of the Tyler Seguin sweepstakes?The Dallas Stars center can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and while the club said in July that it was hopeful to sign him prior to this season, he's frustrated that the two sides haven't already agreed on a contract extension."Nothing's really going on. Pretty much haven't been talking much this summer. It's been a little disappointing," Seguin told theScore's John Matisz on Tuesday. "I thought I'd have some exciting news to talk about ... this late in the summer."As it stands, the 26-year-old is about to begin the final season of a six-year pact with a $5.75-million cap hit. Should Seguin reach free agency, his cap hit could nearly double on his next deal, since he's one of the NHL's top scorers in recent years. He finished second on the Stars last season with 78 points, one shy of captain Jamie Benn.Seguin is one of several high-level players who could potentially headline free agency next summer, a group that includes Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Erik Karlsson and Matt Duchene of the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson says he isn't letting the haters get to him.When asked Tuesday about the six-year contract he signed worth about $5.17 million annually in late July, the Washington Capitals forward downplayed the critics.“It doesn’t really matter to me what everybody says," Wilson told reporters, including theScore's John Matisz. "No matter what happens ... half the people are going to be happy, half the people aren’t. That’s just the way anything in life is, so I’m not going to read too much into it.”Wilson urged those criticizing the club to wait and see how the deal plays out, adding that linemate Evgeny Kuznetsov appreciates his game."We’ll see in five or six years," Wilson said, according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. "If you ask Kuzy, he’d rather I go and get the puck so he doesn’t have to because it takes him out of the play.”Despite his occasional suspension-worthy style of play, Wilson secured a top-line role with the Capitals alongside Kuznetsov and captain Alex Ovechkin last season, producing a career-high 14 goals and 35 points to go along with 187 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martin Brodeur has resigned as assistant general manager of the St. Louis Blues, the team announced Tuesday."I want to thank Tom Stillman, Doug Armstrong, Chris Zimmerman, and the Blues organization for giving me the opportunity to continue my playing career and begin my career off the ice in hockey operations," Brodeur said in a statement. "I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career."A Sunday report indicated Brodeur left his post with the Blues after his three-year contract expired. The report also linked Brodeur to a possible front-office position with his former club, the New Jersey Devils.In place of Brodeur, the Blues have promoted Bill Armstrong (no relation to GM Doug Armstrong). The 48-year-old has served as the director of amateur scouting in St. Louis since 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It would appear nothing has changed in terms of Max Pacioretty's uncertain future.At his charity golf tournament Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens captain told reporters, including TVA's Renaud Lavoie, that no contract extension talks are happening at the moment.Canadiens owner Geoff Molson told the assembled media including TSN that the relationship between Pacioretty and the organization's brass is "fine," and both Molson and general manager Marc Bergevin said they expect Pacioretty to attend training camp.Pacioretty is entering the final season of his current deal after reportedly nearly being traded at the draft and at the deadline in February.In July, The Athletic's Marc Antoine Godin reported there would be no negotiations and that Bergevin intended to trade the talented 29-year-old forward as soon as possible.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Out with the old, in with the new.It's a way of life in college football, and it ensures that a crop of new stars are born each season to replace the departed ones of yesteryear.Some programs will struggle to move on from their former workhorse, but these five teams were savvy enough to line up talented replacements in advance:Ohio StateOut: QB J.T. Barrett

Some of Arizona's most prominent sports icons will take part in a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81.Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is one of several people who are scheduled to speak during Thursday's service at North Phoenix Baptist Church, according to Chris Cole of AZCentral.com. Additionally, former Diamondbacks great Luis Gonzalez and ex-Coyotes captain Shane Doan will act as McCain's pallbearers.

Goaltenders around the NHL, consider this a warning.Even after scoring a career-high 41 goals in 2017-18, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is looking for more this coming season."I've always said I want to score more," he told reporters at BioSteel camp on Monday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "That's what I want to do. I want to find ways to score. I think I'm a good passer and can make plays and all that, but there's definitely a knack to putting the puck in the net that I seemed to find a little bit later in the year last year and I’m hoping to carry that into this year."McDavid certainly did find that knack in the second half of the season, and it can be at least partially attributed to a willingness to become more of a volume shooter.Stat1st half2nd halfGoals1427Shots117157S%12.017.2If McDavid shoots at the rate he did in the second half of 2017-18 for the entire upcoming season, he'll surpass the 300-shot mark with ease. In that case, he could very well pot 50 goals. After all, he scored 16 in his injury shortened rookie year, 30 in his Hart Trophy winning 2016-17 season, and 41 last season.For most of the first half of the season, the wings on McDavid's line were revolving doors. But towards the end of the year, he teamed up with noted playmaker Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ty Rattie, and the trio found great chemistry together. The unit looks poised to open the season as the club's top line - something McDavid would certainly be open to."We juggled the lines a lot last year," McDavid said. "That’s just how it played out. Obviously it would be nice to be able to play with a consistent line and a group, but if that’s not how it works out again then so be it. Obviously I had a lot of fun playing with (Nugent-Hopkins) and (Rattie)."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have signed free-agent forward Troy Brouwer to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.The deal is worth $850,000, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston."Troy is a skilled veteran forward with championship experience," Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. "He adds depth to our forward group and his leadership will help our developing young core take the next step this season."The 33-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Calgary Flames and became an unrestricted free agent in early August after the team bought out the final two years of his contract.Brouwer tallied six goals and 16 assists in 76 appearances with the Flames during the 2017-18 season.The Vancouver native has logged 763 career games during stints with the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, and Flames.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Darnell Nurse believes his uncertain contractual status will soon be a thing of the past.The Edmonton Oilers defenseman is coming off his entry-level deal and remains a restricted free agent, but is optimistic about signing a new pact as training camp looms.

One way to find effective fantasy contributors is to look at a player's advanced stats. These numbers can be prime indicators that a player is ready to either bounce back from a down year or translate under-the-radar contributions into solid fantasy production. Will what bubbled under the surface last year rise to the top in 2018-19?Here are seven players - four forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie - whose statistical profiles project either a breakout or bounce-back season:Related: theScore's 2018-19 Fantasy Hockey Draft KitForwardsVinnie Hinostroza, Coyotes: Hinostroza, who at 24 has dressed for 106 NHL games, is a sneaky-good passer looking primed for success in the desert. The former Blackhawk flashed some serious playmaking potential last season by producing 0.99 primary assists per 60 minutes of five-on-five action. For context, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Couturier, and Jakub Voracek racked up first assists at a similar rate. The question is, can Hinostroza deliver in a bigger role?Sonny Milano, Blue Jackets: Hidden gem? Of the 576 NHLers who skated for at least 500 even-strength minutes last season, only Auston Matthews was a more efficient five-on-five goal scorer than Milano. The 22-year-old scored 1.45 goals per 60 minutes while mainly playing alongside Nick Foligno and Oliver Bjorkstrand in a minor role. A bump in ice time could do wonders to Milano's counting stats.Jaden Schwartz, Blues: Schwartz passes the eye test with flying colors, and his underlying numbers don't disappoint either. The Blues - who revamped their forward group this summer - were a 57 percent puck possession team that dominated scoring-chance (58.6%) and goal (61.8%) differentials when Schwartz was on the ice at five-on-five in 2017-18. Though he already hovers around 60 points a year, Schwartz’s true coming-out party might be upon us.Jeff Skinner, Sabres: How poor/unlucky were the Hurricanes when three-time 30-goal scorer Skinner was on the ice last year during five-on-five play? Simply put, they couldn’t score (5.25 shooting percentage) or stop the other team from scoring (.901 save percentage). A change of scenery and a chance to play with an elite center (either Jack Eichel or Casey Mittelstadt) should help reverse Skinner's fortunes.DefensemenDuncan Keith, Blackhawks: Even the most cynical analysts are sympathetic towards Keith. The two-time Norris Trophy winner is coming off a season in which he flat-out couldn't beat NHL goaltenders, scoring two goals on 187 shots for a ridiculous shooting rate of 1.1 percent. The 35-year-old may be past his prime, but he remains effective as a minutes-munching defenseman, finishing 2017-18 with a 52.4 percent Corsi rating and 30 assists.Darnell Nurse, Oilers: Nurse, one of the brightest young defenseman in the game, was between the boards for 310 high danger shot attempts during five-on-five play last season. That number tied him with Brady Skjei for sixth among regular NHL blueliners. Connor McDavid can make anybody look effective, but Nurse (six goals, 20 assists in 82 games) should see his goal/assist totals soar. Realistically, the Oilers should cash in on more goalmouth chances than they did last year.GoalieCarter Hutton, Sabres: Despite seeing limited action, Hutton was a reliable option for the 2017-18 Blues. He ranked first among NHL goalies (minimum 30 appearances) in quality starts percentage by boasting a save percentage on par or greater than the league average in 19 of 32 appearances. If Buffalo can provide decent support, Hutton should produce middle-of-the-road win, goals-against average, and save percentage numbers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews is under contract for only one more year, and that could still be the case when the Toronto Maple Leafs open the regular season on Oct. 3.The superstar forward was eligible to sign a new deal as of July 1, and while he's indicated that negotiations have begun, he's mostly remained in the background of those discussions."I don't know if I'll sign a new contract before the season or not," Matthews told NHL.com's Dave Hogg. "I'm not really involved with the talks. That's something being dealt with by my agents and team management. They've told me that it will get done when it gets done, and that's fine."What that new contract could look like remains unknown. However, Matthews and his camp have a few comparables at their disposal, including Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel ($10 million), Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), and Maple Leafs summer addition John Tavares ($11 million).While there is no doubt that a Matthews extension is a priority for Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, the team also has a more pressing matter at hand: the contract status of fellow young forward William Nylander, who remains a restricted free-agent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just like Mary J. Blige, Ottawa Sentaors goaltender Craig Anderson wants no more drama.Responding to a report Sunday that the Senators were looking to deal Anderson early in the summer, the veteran netminder reiterated that he's happy in the nation's capital, barring anymore drama."I love Ottawa, I love playing in Ottawa," the 37-year-old told reporters. "I'm too old for drama. I don't want anything to do with drama. Hopefully we've resolved all of that. I got no interest in going anywhere else as long as we can clean up what was going on this summer."Anderson is likely referring to the situation this offseason where it was revealed that Erik Karlsson's wife, Melinda, applied for a peace bond against Mike Hoffman's girlfriend, Monika Caryk, over an alleged harassment campaign.Melinda Karlsson accused Caryk of "over 1,000" negative and derogatory comments, including wishing her unborn child dead, wishing her dead, and saying that someone should take out Erik Karlsson's legs and end his career.Related: Erik Karlsson's wife accuses Hoffman's girlfriend of harassment campaign"I've been there for eight years now and that's my home," Anderson said. "I've got no interest in going anywhere else as long as we can clean up what was going on this summer."The situation appears to mostly have been wiped clean after Hoffman was dealt to San Jose, then flipped by the Sharks to the Florida Panthers, in June.However, that was far from the only drama the Senators experienced this offseason. The team's assistant general manager Randy Lee was charged for harassment in June before eventually resigning a week ago, general manager Pierre Dorion admitted the dressing room was "broken" last season, a much-needed arena deal is far from imminent, owner Eugene Melnyk has been heavily criticized, and to top it off, the inevitable departure of Karlsson is still looming over the team's head.Anderson stayed out of all of the off-ice drama, but his play between the pipes last year wasn't satisfactory. He posted an .898 save percentage and a 3.32 goals-against average in what was by far his worst season as an NHL starting netminder.Winning is one way to make everyone forget about the drama, and Anderson's play in goal is certainly vital to Ottawa's success.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur is leaving the St. Louis Blues organization, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.Brodeur, whose playing career ended in the Gateway City, has served as the Blues' assistant general manager for the last three years, but his contract expired in June and he has apparently decided to move on.His name surfaced as a candidate for GM jobs earlier this summer, but when asked about it, he said he wasn't looking for a time-consuming, demanding job."It’s always nice to hear your name, but it’s something I’m not really looking forward to move on to take bigger roles," Brodeur said in June. "Just being on the sidelines is good for me for now. I’ve got an 8-year-old (Max) at home, so I’ve got to spend a little time with him."Brodeur told The Athletic that he planned to be back, and GM Doug Armstrong confirmed the same, but it appears he had a change of heart - perhaps for a reunion with his old team.Rutherford added that it's been heavily speculated that Brodeur would be interested in taking on a role with the New Jersey Devils once his tenure in St. Louis ended.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't seem likely that Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg will be "ready to play," and he would likely miss the entire season in that case, head coach Jeff Blashill said, according to MLive's Ansar Khan.The veteran center hasn't trained much this summer because of his back issues, and Blashill said it would be all but impossible for Zetterberg to play this season without proper offseason preperations, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.Zetterberg hasn't missed a game since 2014-15, but he labored through much of last season and was unable to practice for half of the year, Blashill said earlier this month. He still managed to produce 56 points despite his back problems.Blashill is already preparing for the worst. If Zetterberg can't play, speedster Andreas Athanasiou will shift to the middle and slot in as the team's third-line center behind Dylan Larkin and Frans Nielsen, he told Khan.Zetterberg still has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $6.083 million.It's still possible the 37-year-old makes a comeback, but if not, he can walk away knowing he won just about everything he could. He's a member of the elusive Triple Gold Club, winning Olympic and World Championship gold medals in 2006 and leading the Wings to a Stanley Cup title in 2008, in which he was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Burke wrote a letter thanking the Calgary Flames organization and its fans following a five-year tenure as the club's president of hockey operations.Here are a few excerpts from the gesture, which was published in Sunday's Calgary Sun:

Senator John McCain died Saturday at 81 years old, after a long battle with brain cancer. Many in the sports world from his home state of Arizona promptly paid their respects to the man who served 31 years in the upper chamber of Congress.

A one-year contract doesn't mean Kevin Hayes isn't long for the Big Apple.In an ideal world, the veteran forward would retire as a member of the New York Rangers. He says that his future with the club shouldn't be forecasted entirely by his recently inked one-year extension."I'm a Boston kid, but I absolutely love New York City and I would love to be there my entire career," Hayes told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "At the moment, (a one-year contract) was best for both sides. We couldn't really come to a long-term agreement and a one-year deal is what came out of it."I'm not treating it like I'll be out of there in February or at the end of the year. Everyone keeps saying UFA at the end of the year, but that had nothing to do with the decision."As Hayes notes, unless he signs a new contract before next July 1, he'll be free to sign with another club next summer, but the 26-year-old isn't setting his sights anywhere but Manhattan, while interest in retaining his services appears to be shared by team management."In a perfect world, Kevin Hayes is here after one more year and we keep going with him. Everything goes the way he wants it to and we do," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton told Rosen. "We certainly have (cap) room to keep him and move forward, it's just a matter of the contract. As we went through the process, the one-year deal seemed to be the best fit for what we're doing right now."In 76 games with the Rangers last season, Hayes netted a career-high 25 goals, and while his offensive contributions certainly can't be overlooked, he's also focused on growing his game and providing even more value for his team."Points and goals, that stuff is cool individually, but that's not why we play," Hayes added. "You have to be the right player on and off the ice every day. You have to show the coaches and the organization that you're a leader."I'm not really too worried about scoring 25 or 30 goals. I would like to, but it's not really a priority for me. It's showing up to the rink every day and showing the young guys what it takes to be a pro. I've had these talks with (Gorton) and (Rangers head coach David Quinn). I think it'll all come together."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The feeling around the Buffalo Sabres locker room is that the offseason changes are going to lead to a bounce-back season.Jack Eichel is one player who feels that way, and he points to the shake-ups made this summer by general manager Jason Botterill as a reason to believe in Buffalo this season."There's a lot of new faces in there. So I think a lot of the people with a sour taste in their mouths from the last few years have either gotten over it or aren't in the locker room anymore," Eichel told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to just prove ourselves to the league and prove ourselves to ourselves.""I think just the mood around the room and the mood talking to guys is a lot better. I think we're confident that if we do the right things, we can be more successful than we were the last few years. I think it's going to be a good year."While drafting star blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin first overall was the highlight of the summer for the Sabres, it wasn't the only major move for the club.Veteran center Ryan O'Reilly was shipped to the St. Louis Blues for a bevy of assets, including a pair of forwards in Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund, while the team also added Jeff Skinner in a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.It's these sorts of additions that inspire Eichel's positive outlook, even after the Sabres finished with just 62 points last season."I think you always have to be optimistic," Eichel said. "You look at teams last year like Colorado, New Jersey, teams that may have struggled the year before but had great years last year with making some changes and obviously I think maybe changing a mindset and creating a different culture. I think that those are some teams that we can try and model our season after."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames pulled off a blockbuster trade this offseason by dealing defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for young blue liner Noah Hanifin.But before Hanifin, a restricted free agent, can suit up for his new team, he must put pen to paper on a new contract, which is apparently imminent.While speaking with NHL.com's Dan Rosen, Hanifin said he's "super close" to signing with Calgary and has no qualms about a deal materializing before players report to training camp on Sept. 9.Flames general manager Brad Treliving appears to share Hanifin's confidence, telling Rosen, "We're very excited to have Noah."The fifth overall pick of the 2015 draft, Hanifin entered the NHL as an 18-year-old and completed all three seasons of his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes. He led all Carolina defensemen with 32 points last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A fantasy manager's view of certain players can become distorted if their opinion is based primarily on real-life performances. Players can be overhyped because of what they do on the ice, and little attention is paid to how that translates to the fantasy box score.Here's a look at eight players who played well in reality during the 2017-18 season, but they weren't as valuable for fantasy purposes.Jason Spezza, C, StarsJason Spezza's production dropped significantly in 2017-18. He posted 26 points after finishing with 50 points the previous season. He played 78 games in 2017-18 - 10 more than he played in 2016-17 - but averaged just 13 minutes of ice time per game, the lowest average since Spezza's rookie campaign 15 years ago.Of Spezza's 26 points, 21 were primary, and 13 of those were assists, showing that he needs more help from his linemates. His shot total dropped for a fifth consecutive full campaign, and he had a career-low shooting percentage of just 5.8. Spezza also finished with a poor plus-minus rating of minus-12 while producing few penalty minutes or hits, and only 11 power-play points.Cam Atkinson, RW, Blue JacketsCam Atkinson took a step back after his breakout 2016-17 season while being limited to just 65 games last year. He averaged 2.14 primary points per 60 minutes in all game situations two seasons ago, but that number dipped to 1.95 in his most recent campaign, when 40 of his 46 points were primary.Atkinson took more shots per game last season, but he still has little to offer in penalty minutes and saw a significant dip in his special-teams production. The 29-year-old has never finished a season with more assists than goals.Without above-average outputs in multiple categories, fantasy managers will need Atkinson to return to his elite 2016-17 form when he scored 35 goals.Anthony Mantha, RW, Red WingsThe Red Wings have eased Anthony Mantha, their 20th overall pick of the 2013 draft, into NHL action thus far. He played his first 80-game season last year and averaged a career-high 17:18 of ice time. That resulted in a 24-goal, 24-assist campaign.He's been a reliable source of modest penalty-minute totals, recording 50-plus minutes in each of the past two seasons. But Mantha's plus-minus rating is significantly limited while playing in front of Detroit's weak defense.Mantha averaged 1.85 points per 60 minutes of full-strength play last season. Now, fantasy managers need to hope the Red Wings increase his ice time, allowing him to capitalize on that stellar rate of production.Kyle Turris, C, PredatorsKyle Turris isn't selfish enough for fantasy hockey. He registered just 119 shots on goal over his 65 games with the Predators last season, scoring only 13 times. However, he did supply 29 assists, bringing his point total to an adequate 42. But he won't give you many penalty minutes and has limited power-play exposure.Turris had an excellent possession rating of 55.3 percent Corsi For during the 2017-18 season, but Nashville's sudden wealth of young goal-scorers is limiting the forward's upside and taking away his need to shoot.Kevin Labanc, RW, SharksKevin Labanc stayed on the Sharks' NHL roster for 77 games last season after he played just 55 games in 2016-17. He was still kept to only 14:21 minutes of ice time per game. Limited opportunities meant he couldn't capitalize on his 1.27 points per 60 minutes at full strength.The 22-year-old had a minus-6 rating while recording just over two shots on goal per game to go with 32 penalty minutes. Labanc had nearly three times as many assists as goals last season, but his ice time needs to increase for him to offer much in either category.Micheal Ferland, LW, HurricanesMicheal Ferland recorded his first 40-plus-point season in 2017-18, scoring 21 goals with 20 assists. He finished with a modest plus-5, only 24 penalty minutes, and fewer than two shots per game.He averaged a career-best 15:01 in ice time, but had limited power-play opportunities, scoring just six goals with no assists on the man advantage. A big part of Ferland's offensive success last season came from being alongside Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau for 15 percent of the Flames' even-strength shifts. He's likely to play on the Hurricanes' second line in 2018-19 and may experience a decline.Ryan Suter, D, WildRyan Suter is in an interesting position as a fantasy defenseman. He doesn't offer the elite point production of the top fantasy draft picks at the position, and he also doesn't provide enough in the secondary categories to make him a quality late-round option.Suter has had two 51-point campaigns over the past three seasons, which sandwich a 40-point year in 2016-17. A year after leading the NHL at plus-34, Suter showed how volatile that category can be with his minus-1 rating in 2017-18.He also registered just 149 shots on goal and a disciplined 34 penalty minutes in 2017-18, leaving fantasy managers in both head-to-head and rotisserie formats wanting more.Mike Smith, G, FlamesA veteran of 529 regular-season games, Mike Smith owns a .913 career save percentage. The veteran topped that number with a .916 save percentage last season, but he earned just 25 wins while playing for a Flames team that fell well short of expectations. He also finished with a goals-against average of 2.65.As fantasy managers experienced when Smith played with the Coyotes over the previous six seasons, his quality save percentage isn't enough to compensate for a low win total and a GAA inflated by the volume of shots he'll face.(Advanced stats courtesy: Corsica.Hockey)(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Kyle Dubas delivered a memorable - and prescient - soundbite less than a year into his tenure as assistant general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs."Your eyes and your mind are lying sons of bitches in the worst absolute way," Dubas said during a presentation about cognitive bias and personnel decisions at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in 2015.He went on to explain how recency bias and sample-size bias, among other inclinations, can negatively impact decision-making. Basing your opinion of a player on their performance over the last three games versus the previous three years, for instance, is a natural reaction. But it's also suboptimal because it is shortsighted.Fast forward to this offseason; Dubas, promoted to GM in May, is putting his stamp on the Leafs' hockey operations group by promoting from within and hiring outside help. And efforts to mitigate bias are baked into Dubas' approach.As the organization sought to add bodies to its scouting department, Dubas introduced an extra layer to the hiring process. Candidates filed scouting reports to an online system that masked their identity. This anonymity gave Dubas and his advisors the latitude to sift through the reports and flag the most qualified candidates without being influenced by things like gender, appearance, ethnicity, and age.Among the top scorers was Noelle Needham, a former Minnesota State University women's hockey player who had never held an official scouting position in the professional or junior ranks. The reports she filed anonymously elevated her status and ultimately helped earn her a gig with the Leafs.Needham, the club's new Midwest-based amateur scout, was one of three hires and two promotions announced by the club Thursday. Also joining the Leafs are Ontario-based amateur scout Victor Carneiro, a longtime talent evaluator for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds, and assistant director of player development Hayley Wickenheiser, arguably the greatest women's hockey player of all time.Asked about hiring two women in hockey ops roles and, intentionally or not, diversifying his staff overnight, Dubas insisted he's merely looking out for the best interests of the Leafs."I think that if you're only hiring white males - and I'm saying that as a white male - you're probably leaving a lot on the table in terms of where your organization (is going) and how it can think, and how it can evolve and develop," the GM said on a conference call."I don't think we've gone out and said that we want to hire females only, males only - anything like that. We're looking for the best candidates and we're not pushing anybody aside. And I think sports, in general, are moving well in that direction."__________While the Needham hire provides a window into Dubas' methods, the Wickenheiser news hogged the headlines, and deservedly so. You don't reel in a universally revered, four-time Olympic gold medalist and future Hall of Famer and expect the sporting world to turn a blind eye. Especially if you're the iconic Toronto Maple Leafs.The sheer lack of women employed by NHL teams amplifies the significance of the Wickenheiser-Needham double whammy. Prior to Thursday's announcement, the list of women currently working in full-time hockey ops roles was as follows: Dawn Baird (Arizona Coyotes skating coach), Alexandra Mandrycky (Minnesota Wild hockey ops analyst), Rachel Doerrie (New Jersey Devils player info/video analyst), and Kate Madigan (Devils player/info assistant).Four women on three of the NHL's 31 teams - that's it.Graduating to six women on four teams doesn't exactly register as a female invasion, or pose a threat to the old boys club that is so ingrained in hockey culture. But it's undoubtedly a breakthrough, and Wickenheiser's name recognition alone is invaluable."There's a 15-year-old girl there, sitting right now and looking at the screen and realizing, 'Oh, maybe I could pursue a career in sports, in the NHL,'" Mandrycky told theScore. "We're seeing it with other sports, too. I think seeing people in the position that you aspire to be in is something that is really important … It's important for someone who is young to know that their dream is possible."Added Sydney Bell, manager of hockey administration for the Florida Panthers: "It shows that hockey is really growing and it's great to see qualified women (in meaningful roles). The passion that they have for the game can be applied to the NHL now."Bell, hired full-time by the Panthers this spring, is one of many women across the NHL whose job lands somewhere between business ops and hockey ops, and is thus only loosely tied to the on-ice product. The recent St. Lawrence University grad is involved in some personnel discussions, notably around the draft and free agency, though her primary responsibilities are admin tasks such as player immigration and travel coordination.But hey, maybe the resource-rich Leafs will start a trend. Maybe the floodgates open for women, because it's a copycat league - and Toronto, an Original Six franchise that has been on an upward trajectory since Brendan Shanahan was named president in 2014, has provided the template.Maybe additional part-time roles - like those filled by skating coaches Barb Underhill (Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning) and Tracy Tutton (Colorado Avalanche) - emerge and more women trickle in that way. Maybe more turnover at the GM level is required. It's probably no coincidence that the men employing Wickenheiser and Braid (29-year-old Arizona GM John Chayka) are young, open-minded, and willing to buck tradition.Mandrycky, who is tasked with translating complicated statistical concepts to members of the Wild's scouting, front office, and coaching staffs, sure hopes so. Although she says she hasn't encountered any "negative experiences" because of her gender since being hired in January 2016, the Atlanta native is conscious of the unusual dynamic."In some ways, you do feel a burden knowing that I'm maybe the only woman that this scout or this coach has in their active list in that hockey business or front office aspect," Mandrycky said. "You sometimes feel like your independent successes and failures (are) going to dictate how these people view women in the business, in general. ..."But, if there's more of us, I think that it becomes more normal. All of a sudden, there won't just be that one girl that someone is talking about. There's a whole collection of not just women but youthful staff members."__________It's the mantra every June at the NHL draft: Select the best talent available.Whatever's deterring you from drafting the most talented hockey player - whether it's size, position, or nationality - forget it. Acquire the best players, at all costs, and figure out the rest later.Shouldn't that mentality apply to hockey ops too? Even though the Leafs tapping Wickenheiser and Needham is noteworthy on a cultural level, it's also a business decision about recruiting competent individuals.“I think Noelle and Hayley didn’t earn those opportunities because they're women," noted Ryan Hardy, GM of the USHL's Chicago Steel. "They earned those opportunities because they're extremely talented in what they do and the work they've put in up to this point has opened doors for them."Dubas reached out to Hardy early in the process that ended with Needham signing a contract with the Leafs. Hardy put Needham's name forward in part because the 32-year-old doesn't back down from anyone or anything - a trait particularly helpful in a scouting field dominated not only by men, but by white men with similar attitudes."Everything she says has value behind it. It's because she's done homework and researched the information," Hardy said of Needham, who was a guest coach at Chicago's minicamp a few months ago. "She can be in a room with Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas and 20 scouts that have opinions and she'll fight the good fight."Needham has been running Legend Hockey school in South Dakota for nine years while co-founding the Sioux Falls Power Tier I minor hockey club. Now, she steps into the limelight - at least relatively speaking. Scouting isn't a particularly glamorous or front-facing role, but the Leafs brand attracts attention to every nook and cranny of the organization. Carneiro, whom Dubas knows well from their time together in Sault Ste. Marie, is in the same boat.Wickenheiser, on the other hand, frames her move to the Leafs' development staff as "the evolution of myself as someone in hockey." Wickenheiser, 40, retired from playing last year, hanging up her skates after 23 years of brilliance in the women's realm and 55 games split between Finnish and Swedish men's pro leagues. In her post-playing days, she remains one of hockey's ultimate spokespeople.She also started medical school at the University of Calgary in July. Her new role - which requires Wickenheiser to work with Western Hockey League prospects when they roll through Calgary, and to occasionally fly to Toronto to skate with the Leafs and AHL Marlies - allows her to stay in Alberta. She is intent on juggling school, work, and family life."I played at the highest level I could and wanted to stay in the game," Wickenheiser said Thursday. "I enjoy working with players and I love being around people that are the best at what to do."If you were to pick a franchise in the NHL to work for, to be able to work for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it's a pretty huge honor and it's a big responsibility that comes with that. I understand well what pressure is - playing for Canada on the world stage - so hopefully some of those experiences that I've had can help some of these players as the team tries to win."It has been an agonizingly slow burn for women in NHL hockey ops. Laura Stamm worked with the New York Islanders in the 1970s, but there was no subsequent boom. Progress has stalled and built up again over the past 40 or so years, with North America's three other major pro sports leagues currently lapping the NHL.The NHL is unlike the NBA, which features San Antonio Spurs lead assistant coach Becky Hammon. It lags behind the NFL, which has had a few women coach on the sidelines. It even trails MLB, which has embraced women with various skill sets during the analytics era.Dubas - and, by extension, Shanahan and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment - believes women can excel in the NHL hockey ops environment. He believes competent people can provide value to his club."When we go through any process of hiring people to add to our program," Dubas said Thursday, "we're looking for the best people. Period."He's really just applying logic to the Leafs' hiring practices: Ignore the status quo, and hire the best people. It's not mind-blowing. But it is necessary.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson says the notion that he doesn't want to play in Canada for the long term is false.The superstar defenseman contacted Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning to set the record straight.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and head coach John Tortorella are continuing to negotiate a contract, reports Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Tortorella's current contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season, which will be his fourth with Columbus. Portzline notes this will be the first season of Tortorella's tenure with the Blue Jackets in which the team will pay the entirety of his $2-million salary, as the Vancouver Canucks were responsible for paying $1.25 million of his earnings after letting him go in 2014.Since joining the Blue Jackets, Tortorella has coached the club to a 129-94-23 record and has qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history. The 60-year-old won the Jack Adams Award in 2017 for the second time in his career and has a Stanley Cup ring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky have not actively negotiated for some time now, and initial discussions were far apart, sources told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Bobrovsky is heading into the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $7.425 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.It's widely assumed the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is seeking "Carey Price money," Portzline notes. Price signed an eight-year, $84-million extension last summer.Bobrovsky, who will be 30 years old in September, posted a .921 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against-average in 65 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Auston Matthews effect is in full swing.Youth hockey participation in Arizona increased by 17 percent over the last year, growing from 3,874 participants in 2016-17 to 4,519 in 2017-18, according to statistics released by USA Hockey. The rise of Toronto Maple Leafs superstar and Scottsdale, Ariz. native Auston Matthews was surely a factor.It's more than just youths who want to be like Matthews, though. There are now 8,617 overall hockey participants in Arizona, up 11 percent from last year, and 109 percent in the last five years.The first three years of that five-year span can't be credited to Matthews since he wasn't selected first overall until the 2016 NHL Draft.Shane Doan, who spent 21 years playing hockey in the desert, has also left his impact on the state."It seems that wherever an NHL team goes, the minor hockey does better and it has done that since we have been here," Doan told Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan. "For me as a parent, I have seen the Junior Coyotes program go from being somewhat obscure to being capable of being competitive; one of the top 20, 25 programs in the country. That is exciting."Doan's son, a ninth-round selection of the WHL's Kamloops Blazers in 2017, was a member of the Junior Coyotes program.The Arizona Coyotes organization is playing a big part in the rapid growth of hockey in the area, donating more than $300,000 to local rinks, $450,000 to high schools over the next two years, and 2,100 sets of equipment to youth programs.There are now 10 rinks and 15 sheets of ice in Arizona, compared to just three sheets of ice in 1996, when the Coyotes first arrived from Winnipeg.The city of Tucson, where the Coyotes' AHL affiliate plays, has seen the largest growth. Hockey participation has increased by 433 percent in the eight-and-under age category over the past year, and 296 percent among all ages.In 10 to 20 years, it's possible Arizona could become a hockey-talent producing factory, rather than just where the occasional diamond in the rough is found like Matthews.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes will give Alex Galchenyuk every chance to thrive at his natural position this season.Last year, the 24-year-old failed to cement himself as a full-time center with the Montreal Canadiens.However, Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet is prepared to give Galchenyuk the opportunity to play up the middle this season."I've communicated with Alex and he said he'd like to play center," Tocchet said, according to ArizonaCoyotes.com's Dave Vest. "I have no problem with a player who'd like to try something if he backs it up. So, I want to give him a chance at center if he wants to play it, and our coaching staff will try to give him the best possible help to play that center position. We'll see how that goes."Galchenyuk noted that he's been preparing this offseason for such an opportunity."That's where my head is and what my goal is," Galchenyuk said. "I'm training really hard and preparing myself for it. I can't wait to get it started."Despite the Canadiens' down 2017-18 campaign, Galchenyuk put up admirable numbers with 19 goals and 51 points in 82 games. The question now is: will a move to center help get him back to putting up 30 goals a season?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a legendary addition to their front office.Hayley Wickenheiser has been hired as the team's new assistant director of player development, the club announced along with several other moves Thursday morning.Wickenheiser won four Olympic gold medals for Canada and seven World Championship golds. She is the all-time points leader for the nation's women's hockey program with 379 in 276 games and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011.The 40-year-old former forward was a trailblazer in the sport, becoming the first woman to play full-time professional hockey in a position other than goaltender.She represented Canada from 1994 until her retirement last year, and now serves on the IOC's Athletes' Commission.Wickenheiser served as a guest coach for the Maple Leafs at the club's development camp back in June.The Leafs also announced four other moves Thursday. Scott Pellerin was promoted to senior director of player development, Stephane Robidas was named director of player development, and both Noelle Needham and Victor Carneiro were hired as amateur scouts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning made a couple things quite clear on Wednesday."That's a non-starter. I'm not trading next year's draft picks," Benning said, according to TSN's Jeff Paterson.It's worth noting that the 2019 NHL Draft will take place in Vancouver.Benning's statement came hours after a report that Erik Karlsson trade talks are heating up. Connecting the dots, the Canucks are seemingly out of the running, assuming draft picks are on the Ottawa Senators' wish list in a return package for their superstar defenseman.While speaking to Sportsnet's John Shannon, Benning said there's no truth to the Canucks being in on the Karlsson trade talks.Karlsson is heading into the final year of a contract that has a 10-team no-trade list.The Canucks finished second-last in the Pacific Division during the 2017-18 season with 73 points. Though the front office made some minor ripples on July 1, Vancouver didn't make any significant splashes this offseason to catapult the team from rebuilders to playoff contenders. Which is why hanging on to their prospect- and draft-pick capital seems logical.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Trade talks involving Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson appear to be intensifying.Teams interested in the Senators' captain have "stepped up of late and talks are moving," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Rumors regarding a potential trade involving Karlsson had gone quiet ever since reports in early July that the Dallas Stars were front-runners to land the two-time Norris Trophy winner. Among the other teams linked to Karlsson at the time were the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights.It also appears as though another club has since entered the running for Karlsson, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet alluded to the Vancouver Canucks having interest.

NHLers dealing with or coming back from significant injuries can get lost in the shuffle in fantasy draft preparation, but identifying those players is an important annual exercise that can give you an edge over your competition on draft night.They can be overlooked, either because they get buried in default pre-draft rankings by virtue of having missed significant time, or because fantasy owners are wary of drafting someone coming off, or dealing with, an injury. Particularly in deeper leagues, keeping tabs on them can make the difference between making the playoffs and missing out.Here's a handful of players returning from injury at some point this season to keep an eye on as fantasy drafts approach:Robby Fabbri, St. Louis BluesFabbri's had some terrible misfortune, tearing the ACL in his left knee in February 2017 and then tearing it again in training camp seven months later. He didn't play a single game last season, but he got medical clearance to return to action last month and thus warrants fantasy consideration.It remains to be seen both where the 22-year-old will fit in on the Blues' newly stacked lines - with Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak entering the fold up the middle and David Perron and Patrick Maroon giving St. Louis depth on the wings - as well as how effective Fabbri will be coming off the two serious knee injuries.He's probably going to begin the season in St. Louis' bottom six, but if he can crack one of the top two lines, his fantasy value would skyrocket. He's worth a late look given the opportunities he may receive among what is now - at least on paper - one of the NHL's deepest groups of forwards.Kevin Shattenkirk, New York Rangers(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Shattenkirk had a disappointing first campaign with the Rangers, as he played through a knee injury before opting for season-ending surgery in January. However, he's expected to be ready to go when training camp rolls around next month.He won't be high on draft boards after being limited to 46 games in 2017-18, but it's worth noting that he still managed to chip in 12 power-play points, and 23 points overall, while dealing with the injury.It's also worth remembering how effective Shattenkirk has been in his career as a point producer and power-play quarterback. He'll be on the Rangers' top defensive pairing and first unit with the man advantage, and as such, could be a late-round steal for fantasy owners.Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)A knee injury limited Jumbo Joe to 47 games last season, but like Shattenkirk, Thornton was still productive, chipping in 36 points, half of which came on the power play.The 39-year-old is on track to be in the Sharks' lineup when the season begins in October, and he told NBC Sports Bay Area's Marcus White last month that his two surgically repaired knees feel great.Thornton should center San Jose's top line between Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski, and he'll get plenty of power-play time, too, assuming he stays healthy. He's not what he once was, but don't forget about him or his potential impact.Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Weber won't be ready for the start of the season, as he's expected to be out until mid-December while recovering from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in June. He was shut down last season after 26 games and later admitted to playing 25 of those with a broken foot he sustained in the season opener.When he does return, the veteran blue-liner will log heavy minutes, produce points, and rack up high shots on goal totals, giving him value in most fantasy leagues. Yes, Weber just turned 33, but he should come close to replicating his past production in the aforementioned categories when he steps back on the ice, making him worthy of late-round consideration for injured reserve-stashing purposes.Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Relying on Crawford as a No. 1 fantasy goaltender this season would be a mistake. Owners should avoid drafting Crawford where they normally would given his uncertain status for the upcoming season, but he's at the very least worth keeping on the radar as fantasy drafts draw near.The veteran goaltender was having one of the best campaigns of his career when he was forced out of the lineup for what turned out to be the rest of the season back in December with what were later reported as symptoms of vertigo.Injuries aren't the only thing working against Crawford; he's 33, he could be rusty when he returns, and he has a pair of aging defensive anchors in front of him in Duncan Keith (35) and Brent Seabrook (33).However, he posted a .929 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average in 28 games last season before his absence, and as such shouldn't be dismissed entirely, whether it be on draft night or once the season begins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier will be out of action for approximately four weeks with a lower-body ailment, the club confirmed Wednesday.Couturier will participate on a limited basis at the start of training camp and will be ready to go a few weeks later, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi.Hextall said Couturier's injury happened in a charity game and is in a different spot than that of the MCL tear in his right knee that he endured during the playoffs in April.Couturier was hurt on Aug. 10 in Quebec on an "innocent play," the GM said, via the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac.The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2017-18, setting career highs in goals (31), assists (45), and points. He was the runner-up for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just three weeks until training camp opens, Josh Morrissey's next contract remains the lone piece of business for the Winnipeg Jets.The 23-year-old is coming off his entry-level deal and remains a restricted free agent. While time is of the essence, Morrissey is confident he will have a contract in place before the start of the season."Everyone's going to have their own opinions and that's fine, but from my standpoint as a player, my agent and from our conversations with the team, everything's been going great," Morrissey said, according to Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "Everyone's confident it will be handled and done, definitely in time for the season."Right now, it's in the works. Every player handles these things differently but I'm just focused on training throughout the summer. Of course, it's something you think about. You'd be lying if that wasn't the case. But I think things have really started to progress. For me, I love being here, I love playing here. You look at the playoff run last year that we had and just the support from the fans, I love being a Winnipeg Jet."Morrissey was originally drafted 13th overall in 2013 and is coming off his second full season in the league where he posted seven goals and 26 points in 81 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The president of the Humboldt Broncos minor hockey team is leaving the organization.Kevin Garinger will not seek re-election to the role, he announced at a club board meeting Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press.He cited wanting to spend more time with his family, his job as a CEO in the Saskatchewan school system, and a doctorate he is pursuing in educational leadership as reasons for his decision. He will continue to sit on the Broncos' board and provide support for the incoming president, Jamie Brockman.Garinger became the public face of the team following the bus crash in April that left 16 people dead and 13 injured.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price is confident the 2017-18 season will not repeat itself.The 31-year-old is coming off a miserable year that saw him post the worst numbers of his career. With a record of 16-26-7 and a .900 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average, Price is determined to bounce back for his teammates' sake."At the end of the day, I know how I feel about my game and I know I could have played better," Price said, according to Kevin Woodley of NHL.com. "I always feel like that regardless, but I know I can play better than that and I know my teammates will be looking to perform better this season as well."It's all intertwined, it's all connected and when you can iron out those details, it's all about chemistry."The Canadiens will be looking to put the 2017-18 season behind them. The club finished with just 71 points, their lowest point total over a full 82-game season since the 2000-01 campaign when they finished with 70.Prior to last year, the Canadiens had made the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons and captured the Atlantic Division title on three occasions. If they are to return to that form, Price will certainly need to turn back the clock to the 2014-15 campaign, where he captured both the Hart and Vezina Trophy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You haven't heard the last from the Tampa Bay Lightning.After falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Final, the Lightning are ready to enter the coming season with a renewed focus."We feel we have unfinished business," Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov told The Athletic's Joe Smith. "We're close. One day it's going to come, for sure. It's just going to blow up."Last season, five wins were the difference between glory and defeat as the Lightning fell in the deciding game of the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons.Not only did Tampa Bay fall short of expectations - many pundits picked the Lightning to hoist the Stanley Cup - the team hasn't been able to seal the deal in recent seasons. An injury-riddled campaign saw Tampa Bay miss the 2017 postseason, one year after losing to the Penguins in the conference finals. In 2015, the Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup Final only to fall to the Chicago Blackhawks.But the difference between devastating defeat and winning it all can be overcome, as Kucherov points to countryman Alex Ovechkin and how his Washington Capitals finally won the Stanley Cup after repeated postseason flops and early exits. Kucherov believes the Lightning can use the Capitals' play last spring as a blueprint."Their whole team was unbelievable in the playoff run. Every line was fired up and they were playing the best hockey they ever played," Kucherov said. "I'm not sure some of those guys will ever play the same hockey they played in that series. You have to have every guy ready, from your leaders to other guys. Everyone has to be ready to play your best hockey."The Russian sniper is confident that the Lightning aren't far off from reaching the winner's circle, and that a bevy of changes aren't needed in order to do so."We have to be more consistent in our game, more calmed down if things don't go well," Kucherov added. "Always believe in ourselves. Down three goals? You can finish the game the right way."There will be plenty of internal and external pressure on the Lightning this season, as many pundits are tabbing Tampa Bay as one of the favorites to claim the 2019 Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee has resigned from the organization, the team announced on Tuesday.The club also announced that a search is underway for Lee's replacement.Lee's resignation comes after the franchise suspended him in June while awaiting a court ruling on his harassment charge.The Ottawa native was charged with second-degree harassment in late May and was accused of making lewd comments toward and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle bus driver while attending the NHL draft combine in Buffalo."My hearing in Buffalo has been postponed until September 13. While my case continues to be reviewed by the courts, I do wish to address my future with the Senators," Lee wrote in a statement, via TSN's Ian Mendes. "My suspension has given me more time to spend with my loved ones than ever before. For the past 23 years, my family has taken a back seat to my career. My focus now is on putting them first."At the same time, I have to think about my obligations to the hockey team. They need an assistant general manager who can focus completely on the coming season. Until this matter is behind me, however, I'm not in a position to (do) that. For this reason - in consultation with the Ottawa Senators and my family - I have chosen to resign as assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators and general manager of the Belleville Senators."Lee's first court date was on June 4, and he pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he faces a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail."The (Senators) organization is doing the right thing to protect the public, its employees and other individuals who can be subjected to his actions," Charles Desmond, the attorney representing the shuttle driver, told The Associated Press.The 56-year-old had been with the Senators since 1995, beginning as the team's video coach. In 2009, he was named director of hockey operations, and then received a promotion to assistant GM midway through the 2013-14 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Mike Babcock, Kyle Dubas, and Brendan Shanahan decide they want Auston Matthews to be the 18th captain in Toronto Maple Leafs history, the soon-to-be 21-year-old is ready to answer the bell."Yeah, I would tell them yeah," he told The Athletic's Jonas Siegel when asked what his response would be if approached about wearing the 'C.' "I’d tell them I’d feel ready. I don’t know what they’re thinking about doing, what they want to do."Obviously John (Tavares) has been the captain in New York for a while. So I don’t know what they’re thinking or what their whole ideal situation is for that. But I don’t think it really changes much, whether you have a letter or not, for myself or anybody. I go lead by example, on the ice, off the ice, and being a good teammate is a big part of that, too."The Leafs haven't had a captain for two seasons. Dion Phaneuf last wore the 'C' before being dealt to the Ottawa Senators midway through the 2015-16 campaign.Matthews was seemingly the no-brainer future captain of the Maple Leafs, but the acquisition of Tavares could change things. He's seven years older than Matthews and captained the New York Islanders for the past five seasons.Immediately handing the captaincy to an offseason free-agent signing is a rarity. But a player of Tavares' caliber hitting the open market is rare, too.Matthews, Toronto's prized first overall pick in 2016, has the homegrown advantage, but somewhat surprisingly no experience being a captain."I’ve never really thought about (being a captain), honestly," he told Siegel. "When I played I was always the younger guy on the team so I was never a captain. I was an assistant captain at the (U.S. development) program. Playing in Europe obviously (I was) a young guy. It’s something I’ve never really thought about too much."But obviously you come into a situation like this and it’s something that if it happens then you definitely embrace it and accept it, and if doesn’t you go about your business and your thing the same way."The Leafs could also go one more season without naming a captain. Only time will tell.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have named Jim Corsi their new goaltending development coach, the team announced on Tuesday.The 64-year-old will work closely with the franchise's goaltending prospects, including those with the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Cleveland.Corsi previously served as the goaltending coach of the St. Louis Blues from 2014 to 2017 and held the same role with the Buffalo Sabres for 16 years prior to that.The team also announced the hiring of Carey Krug as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Monsters on Tuesday. Krug previously worked as the director of player development at the Detroit Hockey Academy. He is the uncle of Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Highlight Nov. 12 in your calendar if you enjoy rivalries in the NHL.That's when the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks - and Ryan Johansen and Ryan Kesler - square off for the first time since the two players exchanged jabs on Twitter earlier this summer.It all began with this tweet from Kesler:

The NHL's collective bargaining agreement can be terminated in September 2019, and players haven't forgotten what happened the last time the CBA expired."We will be having lots of discussions with players over the course of the ensuing season, starting in the fall, about what that means and how we approach it and what's on players' minds and so on," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told The Athletic's Katie Strang. "And players are cognizant of the fact that in the last negotiations they made a series of significant concessions. And we'll sort of leave it at that."Triggering the CBA's opt-out clause would end the current agreement following the 2019-20 season, two years ahead of its September 2022 expiration. The league and the players' association each have the right to opt out on different dates next September.Fehr, who has been the head of the NHLPA since 2010, led the players through negotiations - and a lockout - five years ago. A deal was finally reached in January 2013, resulting in an abbreviated 48-game season and several changes to the CBA. Those changes included an even split of hockey-related revenue (players received 57 percent in the previous arrangement), a reduction in the maximum length of contracts, and a cap on salary variance through each year of a contract.While the players may seek some modifications to the agreement, owners could be comfortable continuing down the current path. In November 2016, the NHL offered to extend the CBA through 2025 in exchange for allowing players to participate in PyeongChang 2018. The proposal was ultimately rejected.However, at least two major issues could make the NHL more amenable to a deal this time.The first is the potential entry of a Seattle expansion team, which could begin play in 2020-21. The new club would have to pay a $650-million fee, which is not included in the current calculation of hockey-related revenue. Those new dollars would be evenly split among the owners of current franchises, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights.Additionally, several players' contracts include significant signing bonuses during the 2020-21 season. These must be paid regardless of whether or not a season is played, and it's difficult to imagine owners being thrilled to write those checks if league revenue streams are stopped by another lockout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent defenseman Jakub Jerabek, the team announced Monday.Jerabek joins the Oilers after splitting last season between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old appeared in two playoff games for the Stanley Cup-winning Capitals, picking up one assist.A native of the Czech Republic, Jerabek signed with the Canadiens this past offseason as an undrafted free agent after spending the previous year in the KHL. He's tallied two goals and six assists across 36 career NHL games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames pulled off a minor deal Monday.Kerby Rychel is heading from the Canadiens to the Flames in exchange for Hunter Shinkaruk, the clubs announced.The Canadiens signed Shinkaruk, who was a restricted free agent, to a one-year, two-way contract shortly thereafter. The Flames did the same with Rychel, inking him to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.Both forwards were selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, with Rychel going 19th to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Shinkaruk selected five picks later by the Vancouver Canucks.Rychel was traded to the Canadiens by the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the deadline deal for Tomas Plekanec. Rychel scored a goal and added an assist in four games with Montreal. He spent most of the campaign in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies (with whom he produced 30 points in 55 contests) and the Laval Rocket (12 points in 16 games).Shinkaruk played in the AHL for the full season, notching 17 goals and 32 points in 63 contests with the Stockton Heat.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with goaltender Dustin Tokarski on a one-year pact, the club announced Monday.He'll compete with Marek Mazanec and Alexandar Georgiev for the backup job, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Tokarski has played only 34 games at the NHL level over six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Anaheim Ducks.The 28-year-old spent all of last season with the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, posting a .915 save percentage in 39 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a potential logjam in the Toronto Maple Leafs' crease, the club is reportedly shopping Calvin Pickard, according to James Mirtle of The Athletic.Pickard is set to battle Curtis McElhinney and Garret Sparks for the backup role this season.McElhinney has served as Frederik Andersen's second in command for the last season and a half and has fared admirably, posting a 17-12-1 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.45 goals-against average in 32 games.Meanwhile, Sparks is coming off a stellar season in the American Hockey League where he was awarded the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the league's most outstanding goaltender. He also led the Marlies to a Calder Cup championship.Pickard also had a solid year in the AHL, going 21-9-1 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average. The 26-year-old does have NHL experience, largely spent with the Colorado Avalanche, and holds a career record of 28-44-7 in 87 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There is more to fantasy than evaluating the skill of individual players. Overall team success, coaching, and perhaps most importantly, the quality of linemates all play a major role in determining one's fantasy value.Here are five unheralded forwards who will benefit from playing on a star-studded line this season:LW/RW Travis Konecny, FlyersKonecny's inclusion is a mix of his top-line status and his projected growth as a player. Heading into his third NHL campaign, the 21-year-old spent the bulk of the last season on the Flyers' top line with Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux and potted 24 goals, 13 more than in his rookie year.He finished the campaign on an especially encouraging note:Stat1st half2nd halfGP4041G519A914P1433SOG74103ATOI13:1716:30The production and ice time increase were largely due to his promotion to the team's first line, and he has earned the right to stay there. The former first-round pick is highly skilled and plays with intensity and ferociousness despite his small stature.He could score 30-35 goals and finish with around 60 points in a full season with Couturier and Giroux.LW Zach Hyman, Maple LeafsHyman spent the bulk of his first two NHL seasons playing alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander, but Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock plans on lining him up with John Tavares and Mitch Marner this season.The 26-year-old was a serviceable offensive player last year, but his 15-goal, 40-point season wasn't quite enough to put him on the fantasy radar in most leagues. However, he accomplished that feat with limited time spent on the man advantage.James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov are both gone, which opens up space on the Leafs' power play. Babcock may look to Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen to fill the vacancies, but Hyman could get a shot if those options don't work.Hyman can likely be selected in one of the final rounds and should be taken if available. It's entirely possible he scores 25 goals this season, and while they may not be the prettiest, they'll count just the same.C/RW J.T. Miller, LightningIf playing with Tavares and Marner is Park Place on a Monopoly board, then skating alongside Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov is Boardwalk: prime first-line real estate for Miller.He's more heralded than most players on this list, totaling 58 points last year and 56 in the season prior. However, he should smash both of those totals this campaign. Of his 58 points a year ago, 18 came in the 19 games after being traded to the Lightning and playing with Stamkos and Kucherov, and nearly half of his goals (10 of 23) came in Tampa.Miller will need to be drafted before the middle rounds, but his 35-goal, 70-point potential is worth the price.RW Ty Rattie, OilersWith only 49 career NHL games under his belt with minimal production, Rattie is easily the most unheralded player on this list. However, in the final 12 games last year, he scored five goals and added four assists while primarily flanking Connor McDavid on the Oilers' top line.His spot alongside McDavid isn't guaranteed, but with the way he finished last year and the lack of wingers Edmonton added in the offseason, the top-line job is seemingly his to lose.Rattie was a prolific scorer in junior and produced in the AHL, so it's possible the 25-year-old is just a late bloomer. He's worth a pick in the final round, as McDavid's presence gives him 25-goal potential.RW Tom Wilson, CapitalsWilson's breakout 14-goal, 35-point season resulted in a six-year contract with a $5.17M average annual value, and there are two men who played massive roles in his big payday: linemates Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.Wilson will get a chance to line up beside the two superstars once again this season. It's realistic to expect him to score 20-25 goals for 40-50 points, considering he was still playing in the team's bottom-six for the first couple of months last year.Power-play time remains unlikely, but considering he's bound to be among the league leaders in PIMs and hits, he's still worth a late-round pick as long as one of those categories is included in your league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Klingberg believes a new voice in the room could be just what he needs to help take his game to the next level.The Dallas Stars defenseman has already played under two coaches in only four seasons in the NHL, and will soon skate for his third bench boss in Jim Montgomery when training camp opens next month.But Klingberg believes Montgomery, who is making his NHL debut after spending the last five seasons at the University of Denver, can help round out his game."I want to be 'the guy,' sure," Klingberg told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "But if I'm going to be a true, true No. 1, I have to play more defensive minutes. That's maybe something I have a chance to do this year. I want to take that next step and prove to the coaches that they can trust me defensively as well."While Klingberg has been no stranger to scoring, wrapping last season with 67 points, he's often been criticized for his apparent flaws in the defensive end. That point was driven home when Klingberg, who finished one point shy of the league lead for points by defensemen, finished a distant sixth in Norris Trophy voting, receiving just a single first-place ballot.The 26-year-old led all Dallas defensemen with more than 24 minutes a game, while averaging more than three minutes nightly on the man advantage. However, he was infrequently called upon for more defensive assignments, as his ice time on the penalty kill ranked seventh among Stars rearguards.Furthermore, Klingberg received plenty of favorable ice time last season as he started nearly 55 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Only 18 defenders (less than one per team) exceeded that number, while the next closest Stars defenseman trailed Klingberg by more than three percent.As the blue-liner looks to build his game, he had the opportunity to share his ideas with Montgomery, who spent some time in Klingberg's native Sweden to not only meet the defenseman, but also better familiarize himself with his new lineup. In all, it appears the brief introduction went over well."The great thing is, the coach knows what I think and I know what he thinks," Klingberg said. "We're already a step ahead of the game."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz's vision helped guide the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup. Now, the 56-year-old is confident that a similar vision, one that emphasizes defense and preaches accountability, can help restore the New York Islanders as a winning franchise"There's going to be change. It's going to be structurally, on and off the ice, expectations are going to change," Trotz told The Athletic's Arthur Staple. "Nothing against any former regimes, but we have our own vision of what we want to do, how we're going to do it."They've done a lot of good things here. There's certain things in the way things are managed or established, the rules or how you do things. To me, culture change is an attitude - getting the right attitude, standing for something."Related - Islanders legend Trottier: Lamoriello, Trotz bring credibility to franchiseMost importantly, it's up to Trotz and his staff, many of whom followed him from Washington, to shore up the team's biggest weakness: its play in its own end."One of the easiest things to correct, if there's a commitment and a buy-in, is keeping the puck out of your net," Trotz added. "We'll need a bigger buy-in, we'll put some structure, we'll make sure the details are there and we'll make players accountable. If they're not, we'll get someone who can be accountable."Trotz's system will be tested in trying to clean up the Islanders' leaky defensive coverage. New York allowed a league-worst 296 goals last season, more than any team in the last decade.After rotating between goalies Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss last year, the team will turn to a new starter in Robin Lehner, who inked a one-year deal in free agency. Lehner, 27, posted a 42-61-22 record with a .916 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA over the last three seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are giving Scottie Upshall a chance to crack their opening day roster, announcing Sunday they have signed the veteran forward to a professional tryout.The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the St. Louis Blues and is coming off a 2017-18 campaign that saw him post seven goals and 19 points in 63 games.Upshall was originally drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators in 2002. A veteran of 759 games, he's put up 138 goals and 285 points across 15 seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.