The Pittsburgh Penguins are bringing back defenseman Jamie Oleksiak on a three-year contract worth $6,412,500, the club announced Thursday.Oleksiak's new pact carries an average annual value of $2,137,500, or more than twice the $964,688 he earned in 2017-18, according to CapFriendly.He was a restricted free agent.The 25-year-old chipped in 14 points in 47 games for the Penguins after being acquired from the Dallas Stars in December.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are trapped in a no-win situation.After a tumultuous 2017-18 season that yielded just 71 points - their lowest total in a full schedule since the league expanded beyond six teams in 1967 - things don't appear to be getting easier for the Habs. Making things even more uncertain for the team are recent reports that indicate general manager Marc Bergevin wants to trade captain Max Pacioretty as soon as possible, and there won't be any contract negotiations between the two sides.Pacioretty's name swirling about the trade market is hardly news. He was frequently discussed as an expendable piece at February's deadline, after which he wholeheartedly denied any perceived desire to leave the team. The 29-year-old was also in the mix at the draft, but despite some close calls, nothing ever materialized.So now, with one miserable season in tow, and another seemingly on the horizon, the Canadiens have the remainder of the offseason to move on from Pacioretty, and are forced to deal him for less than he's worth.Without coming to terms on a contract extension, Montreal's lost significant leverage with any suitor vying for Pacioretty's services. A sign-and-trade is now off the table, and much like the Erik Karlsson situation in Ottawa, buying teams won't be willing to sacrifice significant pieces for a single-season's worth of Pacioretty in their top six without the guarantee that he'll stick around for the long run. In addition to Pacioretty's diminished value, the idea of Bergevin acting on a deal out of desperation is cause for concern considering how the club has made out in the aftermath of his recent major trades.At this juncture, it's hard to imagine the circumstances surrounding a Pacioretty trade being much worse. Supplementing the contract extension scenario, Pacioretty is coming off an uncharacteristically poor season, further damaging Montreal's chances at getting a sufficient haul for its best forward.Pacioretty only appeared in 64 games in 2017-18, accumulating just 37 points - two shy of what he managed in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. Before last season's dreary showing, Pacioretty was among the most productive goal scorers across the NHL. In fact, from 2011-12 to last season, the Habs' captain ranks ninth in the entire league with 206 goals in 503 games, all while carrying a remarkably team-friendly $4.5-million cap hit.Surely his productive past will be Montreal's main selling point, but there doesn't appear to be a way Bergevin and Co. escape this saga without collecting their fair share of criticism - a recurring theme of late in La Belle Province.Montreal's always under the microscope, but Bergevin's already taken heat for saying "the answer is in that dressing room," after a 2-6-1 start to last season, then followed up his sentiments months later in the club's year-end press conference, saying his team's attitude needs to be better. A failure to accurately assess what went wrong, on top of a handful of questionable personnel decisions over recent years, has Montreal's fan base ready for something positive, and Pacioretty's impending departure isn't that.The Canadiens have a few glaring needs on their roster, primarily down the middle of the ice and on the blue line, but does Pacioretty currently fetch a roster player that can sufficiently step into either of those roles next season? With no term attached, does he even pull an A-level prospect or a first-round pick? If not, Bergevin will be forced to rummage through the bargain bin of future assets while giving up a player that's eclipsed 30 goals five times since 2012.Pacioretty is certainly due for a raise next summer, as his career production speaks for itself. And even with a projected $12 million in cap space next season, the Canadiens - who ranked 29th in goals for - are depositing their captain's future into the hands of another team.Potential avenues for a Pacioretty trade are limitless, and there's always a possibility Bergevin gets creative and finds a way to maximize Montreal's return. But the possibility of Pacioretty succeeding in greener pastures are much greater, and they'll only have themselves to blame if they have nothing to show for him down the line.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have re-signed rugged winger Cody McLeod to a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.Claimed on waivers last season, McLeod skated in 25 games with the Rangers, notching two assists and 39 penalty minutes. He began the season with the Nashville Predators, where he chipped in two points across 23 games.McLeod spent part of two seasons with the Predators after a 10-year run with the Colorado Avalanche that began in 2007.The 34-year-old has appeared in 738 games, registering 71 goals, 55 assists, and 1,563 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Arizona Coyotes pulled off a doozy of a trade Thursday.Chicago traded Marian Hossa's contract, forward Vinnie Hinostroza, defenseman Jordan Oesterle, and a 2019 third-round pick to the Coyotes in exchange for forwards Marcus Kruger, MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, defenseman Andrew Campbell, and a 2019 fifth-round pick, the Blackhawks announced.Hossa ended his playing career in May."I'm done playing hockey," he told Slovak newspaper Novy Cas back in May, as translated by NHL.com. "I have a contract with Chicago for the next three years, but I have to watch my health, and my body says the comeback is not possible."He missed all of last season due to a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medication used to treat it.Hossa still has three years remaining on his contract with a $5.275-million annual cap hit, though his actual salary is only $1 million for each season. Since he is unable to play, he will only cost the Coyotes $200,000 per year.

Restricted free agents eligible for arbitration will make their case beginning July 20.Leading off the offseason proceedings includes Montreal Canadiens center Phillip Danault, San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney, Dallas Stars winger Devin Shore, and Winnipeg Jets blue-liner Jacob Trouba.The four are among the 37 players whose arbitration dates were announced by the NHLPA on Thursday. Initially, 44 players filed, but seven have already settled, counting Trevor van Riemsdyk, Matt Nieto, Dmitrij Jaskin, Oskar Sundqvist, Colin Miller and Alex Lyon, and Connor Hellebuyck.Teams and players can continue to negotiate up until their scheduled hearing. Last year, only one arbitration case - involving Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt - went through with a hearing, where he was awarded a two-year, $4.5-million agreement.Here's the full schedule of hearings this summer:DatePlayer (Team)July 20Phillip Danault (Canadiens)July 20Chris Tierney (Sharks)July 20Devin Shore (Stars)July 20Jacob Trouba (Jets)July 22Adam Lowry (Jets)July 22Blake Coleman (Devils)July 23Brett Kulak (Flames)July 23Liam O'Brien (Capitals)July 23Matt Dumba (Wild)July 24Brandon Montour (Ducks)July 25Joel Armia (Canadiens)July 25Joel Edmundson (Blues)July 25Brandon Tanev (Jets)July 27Mark Jankowski (Flames)July 28David Rittich (Flames)July 28Jason Zucker (Wild)July 29Troy Stecher (Canucks)July 30Jimmy Vesey (Rangers)July 30Tomas Nosek (Golden Knights)July 30Garnet Hathaway (Flames)July 30Mackenzie Weegar (Panthers)July 30Marko Dano (Jets)July 31Brady Skjei (Rangers)Aug. 1Cody Ceci (Senators)Aug. 1Elias Lindholm (Flames)Aug. 1Stefan Noesen (Devils)Aug. 1Gemel Smith (Stars)Aug. 2Miikka Salomaki (Predators)Aug. 2Kevin Hayes (Rangers)Aug. 3Mattias Janmark (Stars)Aug. 3Mark Stone (Senators)Aug. 3Taylor Leier (Flyers)Aug. 3Brock Nelson (Islanders)Aug. 4Ryan Spooner (Rangers)Aug. 4Patrik Nemeth (Avalanche)Aug. 4William Karlsson (Golden Knights)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nazem Kadri first donned a Maple Leafs jersey on a stage at the Bell Centre in Montreal when he was drafted seventh overall by the club in 2009. Now, almost a decade later, John Tavares - his friend, former London Knights teammate, and longtime Leafs fan - will be joining Kadri in Toronto.Kadri was drafted at one of the lowest points in the Maple Leafs' illustrious history. The team failed to reach the postseason in seven consecutive seasons from 2005-12. Finally cracking the playoff picture in 2012-13, Toronto suffered the most heartbreaking of exits in an epic Game 7 collapse against the Boston Bruins in the first round. The Leafs didn't return to the playoffs again for another four years.Over the past nine seasons, Kadri, the longest-serving current Leaf, has witnessed restructuring and a total rebuild within the Maple Leafs organization, which he says helped land the biggest free agent in recent history."I don't think a player like (Tavares) would have wanted to sign in Toronto eight, nine years ago," Kadri said to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "That's the culture we have been trying to rebuild, is trying to acquire those free agents and try to make Toronto a destination where players want to come and win. Johnny realized something special we had here and I think he made the right choice."The buzz of adding one of the league's top centers brought restored faith to an organization that spent years trying to become a consistent Stanley Cup contender. Even though the addition of Tavares knocks Kadri down to a third-line role, his focus remains on bringing a championship to Toronto."You know what, winning is the most important to me." Kadri shared. "I don't care where I play, I don't care what role I play."Few teams will be able to match Toronto's depth at center this upcoming season, sporting a trio threatening enough that Vegas oddsmakers favor the Leafs for the 2019 Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cory Schneider continues to recover from offseason hip surgery, and there are no assurances he'll be ready to go when the season kicks off in October.The New Jersey Devils netminder underwent hip surgery in early May and was given a five-month recovery period, meaning his return to the ice will cut it close with the start of the regular-season schedule.The Devils' first game comes Oct. 6 against the Edmonton Oilers, but it will be hosted in Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series."Whether it's September or October, we are not going to rush Cory," Devils general manager Ray Shero told Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "We have Keith Kinkaid, and that's why we re-signed Eddie Lack."(Schneider) played through (the injury), but at the end of the year it was something he had to have done. Unfortunately, it's a common injury with goalies nowadays. It was affecting other parts of his game. Hopefully everything is taken care of and put in the rearview mirror when he does return."A nagging groin injury - coupled with impressive play from backup Kinkaid - limited Schneider to just 40 appearances last season, in which he posted a 17-16-6 showing and a .907 save percentage.Kinkaid then got the start in the postseason against the Tampa Bay Lightning before Schneider stepped in for Game 2. In the playoffs, Schneider's play was much more formidable, as he finished with a 1.78 goals-against average and an incredible .950 save rate across four games.Schneider, 32, is signed through the next four seasons at a $6-million cap hit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have solidified the blue paint.The club signed goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to a new six-year, $37-million contract, the team announced Thursday.Hellebuyck is coming off a breakout season in which he went 44-11-9 with a .924 save percentage, a 2.36 goals-against average, and six shutouts. He showed incredible durability during his first full year as a No. 1, as he played more minutes than any other netminder. His efforts were good enough to finish second in Vezina Trophy voting.At 25 years old, this contract will carry Hellebuyck right through the prime of his career at a reasonable salary, considering he'll only be the NHL's sixth-highest paid goalie next season.As for the Jets, Hellebuyck is just one box checked off a long offseason to-do list. The club still has six notable restricted free agents remaining, including its top defense pairing of Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey. Looking ahead to next year, Blake Wheeler and Tyler Myers are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents, while Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor will be RFAs.The Jets still have $20.6 million in cap space for this season, so inking Trouba and Morrissey won't be problematic, but things could get dicey come next summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have invited veteran defenseman Simon Despres to training camp on a professional tryout, the team announced Thursday.The 26-year-old spent last season with the KHL's Bratislava Slovan, netting four goals and seven assists in 44 games. He last appeared in the NHL in 2016-17 with the Anaheim Ducks but was limited to just one game due to concussion symptoms.The Ducks bought out the final three years of Despres' contract in June 2017.A native of Laval, Quebec, Despres was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Taylor Hall finally got a taste. Now he wants the full course.This spring, the eventual MVP winner and his 93 points dragged the New Jersey Devils into the NHL playoffs for the first time in five years. The experience lasted just five games, however, as the Devils were bounced by the Tampa Bay Lightning in unceremonious fashion.Following seven playoff-free seasons with both the Edmonton Oilers and the Devils, Hall finds himself in unfamiliar territory. He's happy in red and black, but hungry for more."Definitely a successful season, but at the same time I watched playoff hockey for a month and a half before the Cup was handed out," Hall said Wednesday before teeing off at the NHLPA’s annual charity golf tournament. "We're a long way from where we want to be, but I think it was a great first step."Despite the playoff berth, the Devils have been quiet this summer. General manager Ray Shero hasn’t acquired anybody of significance via free agency or trade; he also let a number of veteran players walk, with forwards Brian Gibbons (Anaheim), Michael Grabner (Arizona), and Patrick Maroon (St. Louis), as well as defenseman John Moore (Boston), all signing elsewhere."We’re going to have to find a way to make up for that," the 26-year-old said. "Those are guys that played key roles on our team, whether they were (picked up) at the trade deadline or just guys who came into (training) camp and surprised and made a huge difference for us."Hall, whose 26-game point streak, career-high 39 goals, and 1.2 points per game helped him claim the 2018 Hart Trophy, laughed when he was asked about the potential of Shero using the club's salary cap space ($23 million in 2018-19) to add talent sooner than later."I just sit here like you guys …" he told a scrum of reporters. "I’d love to see us add a couple more pieces, but at the end of the day that’s not my job. My job’s to come into camp as healthy as possible, as committed as possible, and just worry about that."While the Devils' depth chart remains unfilled, the team has Nico Hischier, the 2017 first-overall pick. Hall lauded the Swiss centre at the NHL awards, and heaped more praise onto him on Wednesday."If he was playing in Toronto, or a big market that would have a lot more spotlight, I think that he’d have a bigger name, a lot more recognition, certainly a lot more Calder votes than he had," Hall said of Hischier, who finished seventh in rookie-of-the-year voting."He had 50 points (52) as a centerman as an 18-year-old and, us playing on a line together, we played the top lines each and every night. I'm proud to be his teammate, I'm proud to be on a line with him, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the evolution of him, how he can improve next year."The Devils vastly improved in 2017-18. Playing a speed game under coach John Hynes, they jumped from a winning percentage of .427 in 2016-17 to .591. It's an appetizing start, a jolt to the franchise's internal and external expectations."It's hard to get out of the basement. It's hard to get out of the basement and make the playoffs," Hall said, emphasizing the leap. "Now, I think the hardest step is going from making the playoffs to being a team that can challenge for the Cup. I'm really looking forward to trying to do that."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Anthony Mantha to a two-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.The deal is reportedly worth $3.3 million per season, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.In 80 appearances with the Red Wings last year, Mantha notched 24 goals and 24 assists to finish third in team scoring.The Red Wings selected Mantha with the 20th pick in the 2013 draft.With Mantha re-signed, center Dylan Larkin is Detroit's lone restricted free agent in need of a contract extension.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Frederik Gauthier to a two-year, two-way contract with an annual salary of $675,000, the team announced Wednesday.Last year with the Toronto Marlies, Gauthier netted 18 points in 57 games, adding another eight during their playoff run in which they were crowned Calder Cup champions for the first time. The Quebec native has laced up for the Leafs 37 times since being drafted 21st overall by the club in 2013.The Leafs' newly appointed general manager, Kyle Dubas, is no stranger to the 6-foot-5, 232-pound center. The two spent the past three seasons together with the Marlies before Dubas was promoted to his new role in May.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sports fans grow up dreaming of playing for their hometown team, and for Patrick Maroon, that dream is now a reality.Maroon grew up in Oakville, Mo. - about 20 mins from St. Louis - and signed a one-year, $1.75-million contract with the Blues on Tuesday."I'm really excited. It's going to be a really good year. It's going to be a fun year," Maroon told NHL.com's Lou Korac. "I'm excited to be a Bluenote. I've dreamed of putting that jersey on. That decision was easy knowing what the roster looked like."I'm so happy to be coming home."St. Louis is more than just Maroon's own hometown, as it's also the home of his son, who will likely get to see more precious moments such as this one back in 2016.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Adam Erne to a one-year contract extension worth $800,000, the club announced Wednesday.Erne, drafted by the Lightning 33rd overall in 2013, has skated in 49 NHL games, recording seven points. The 6-foot-1, 214-pound winger tallied 41 goals and 88 points over parts of four seasons with AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.The Connecticut native was the lone remaining restricted free agent to be signed by Tampa this offseason and will return to RFA status at the end of his contract in 2019.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While it's hard to say whether the NHL free-agent interview period tipped the scales in the John Tavares sweepstakes, the process certainly didn't sit well with New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello."I was extremely disappointed with the window of interviews; that was not the intention of how the league and union intended it," Lamoriello told Andrew Gross of Newsday. "I was very disappointed with the way the process was. I've never seen it like this one."In 2013, the NHL introduced an interview period allowing teams to speak with pending unrestricted free agents prior to July 1. It was intended as an opportunity to gauge the interest of soon-to-be available players, but the interview period has gone one step further, with both sides talking parameters and agreeing to terms ahead of free agency.Lamoriello's remarks come after Tavares used the interview period to sit down with five clubs, plus the Islanders, prior to signing with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.The Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning also presented to the 27-year-old. Each club had the option of signing the center to a maximum seven-year pact, save for the Islanders, who could offer an additional eighth year up until June 30.While the Islanders ultimately lost out on Tavares, the club's newfound cap space didn't last long, as New York added veteran forwards Leo Komarov and Valtteri Filppula in free agency, then re-acquired tough customer Matt Martin in a deal with the Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Keeper leagues aren't for the faint of heart.Careers get put on hold, friendships are temporarily - and sometimes permanently - suspended, and spouses across the country moan and groan while their significant others spend hours pouring over stats and projections in the hopes of landing the next Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews.However, those types of players only roll around every couple decades. Unless you've been blessed with multiple top first-round picks, the likelihood of those generational talents being available for selection is slim to none. But that doesn't mean you can't nab a productive dynasty league piece in the later rounds.The five guys listed below might not be destined for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, but they should be targeted in the tail end of your draft as potentially key fantasy assets down the road.Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles KingsThe prototypical power forward, Kempe is a physical force who can also provide a boost of offensive production when needed. Despite being somewhat buried on the Kings' depth chart over the last season and a half behind established star centermen in Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, Kempe is just starting to scratch the surface.Regardless, the Kings' 2014 first-round pick would be a nice peripheral piece to a dynasty squad in need of that little bit of extra offensive flair.Kempe's 16 goals and 21 assists won't exactly have you trading up in the draft to select him, but his speed, 6-foot-2 frame, and offensive potential make him a clear late-round name to target in keeper formats. He also racks up hits and penalty minutes, should your league include those categories.If Kempe can manage to carve out a little bit more of a role on the Kings next season and earn more minutes than his average of 13:20 per game from last year, don't be surprised if he turns in a 20-goal, 50-point-type campaign.Juuse Saros, Nashville PredatorsAnother player biding his time while waiting in the wings, Saros is perhaps the best-kept secret among backup netminders in the entire NHL. Unfortunately for him, Saros has been playing behind one of the best goalies around with Pekka Rinne in Nashville.It doesn't seem like Rinne is ready to cede his crease to Saros just yet, so projecting his value as a No. 1 option is clearly foolish. But his numbers last year indicate that he can be a valuable fantasy asset. In 26 games last season, Saros registered a respectable 11-5-7 record to go along with a 2.45 goals against average and a solid .925 save percentage.Banking on an injury is a slip, but if Rinne were to go down to injury, Saros' value would skyrocket. Regardless, he remains a very intriguing late-round target that could be worth his weight in gold if he can win the crease away from his perennial Vezina-winning mentor.Don't sleep on Saros' No. 1 potential; he'll be holding down a starter's job before long.Martin Necas, Carolina HurricanesNecas used a stellar showing on the international stage last season to establish himself as one of the most talented young prospects outside of the NHL. The versatile Czech forward put up 11 points in seven games at the World Junior Championship, and followed that up with five points in seven games at the World Championship.The 12th overall pick from the 2017 draft played in only one game for the Hurricanes last season, so his fantasy value will take a hit if he's not able to crack the Canes' lineup out of training camp. But he's already proven to have the soft hands and slick finishing abilities required to hang in the show.Also, don't forget that Carolina is seriously lacking in forward depth, especially up the middle. So it isn't that much of a stretch to expect the speedy Necas to be an NHL regular next season with at least 50 or 60 games under his belt. Roll the dice on Necas this season in the later rounds before his value skyrockets.Timo Meier, San Jose SharksPotentially the player with the biggest chance of being taken in the earlier rounds of your draft, Meier is a forward who started to show flashes of his true potential last season for the Sharks.He proved that he belongs in the NHL during his first full season last campaign, registering 21 goals and 15 assists. His silky mitts and relatively large frame (6-foot, 215 pounds) make Meier a very attractive prospect on a Sharks team that regularly finishes in the top half of team scoring every season.San Jose isn't done augmenting its roster this summer, but the 21-year-old will be set to play a bigger role next season, which will undoubtedly include more power-play time. He did hold down a spot on the Sharks' second unit last season, producing three goals and one assist.Meier's name might not be one that gets tossed around a lot, but as a late-round fantasy add, he could be very valuable should he continue to develop into a consistent offensive threat who can both score and dish the biscuit.Danton Heinen, Boston Bruins(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Heinen plays on the Bruins behind some of the most talented forwards in the entire league in Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, so you can't really blame the guy for not getting the credit he truly deserves as an underrated scorer on the rise.But the versatile forward can play either wing and showed last season that he can score at the highest level, tallying 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 77 games for Boston.The Bruins have been mostly silent in terms of offseason additions to their forward group, so Heinen should have even more opportunities next season to continue to prove that he can hang with the big club and produce on a consistent basis.If you can nab him in the late rounds, Heinen could be a massive steal. Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.75-million contract with free-agent winger Patrick Maroon, the team announced Tuesday."We're excited to add Pat Maroon to our group," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a release. "Things picked up over the last few days, and last night about 10:30 p.m. I got a call from him and his representative saying they'd like to be part of the St. Louis Blues."Maroon joins his hometown team after a 2017-18 campaign that was split between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils."We think he can help our team. I talked to some of our players about him, competing against him, and they spoke very highly about how hard he was to play against, how difficult he was to move in those high-traffic areas," Armstrong said. "It's just another player we add to our group that makes us a little better than we were yesterday."In 74 games last season, the 30-year-old put up 17 goals and 43 points. He's a year removed from a 2017 campaign that saw him post a career-high 27 goals with the Oilers."This is a one-year opportunity for him to come back, hopefully play with some really good centermen, and get back to that 27-goal performance he had in Edmonton, or close to it," Armstrong said.The Maroon signing will likely cap off a strong offseason for the Blues, who brought in Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Bozak, and David Perron, among others, via trade and free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Max Pacioretty's days with the Montreal Canadiens appear to be numbered.Habs general manager Marc Bergevin told his captain there will be no contract negotiation, and that his intention is to trade him as soon as possible, an NHL source told Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic.The Canadiens reportedly had a deal in place at this year's draft to trade Pacioretty to the New York Islanders for a first-round pick, then flip it to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly, who was eventually dealt to the St. Louis Blues. It's unclear what other pieces were involved, but the deal fell through once Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson fell to the Isles at picks 11 and 12.Though the Canadiens are clearly ready to part ways, the feeling isn't mutual."I'll reiterate what Max has said a number of times, that he loves Montreal, he holds Montreal dear to his heart and he hopes to stay," Pacioretty's agent Allan Walsh told Godin.Pacioretty, 29, is coming off a down year with the Habs in which he scored 17 goals and added 20 assists in 64 games played. He has one year remaining on his deal, which carries a cap hit of $4.5 million, before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The semi-truck driver charged in the April collision that killed 16 people, including 10 Humboldt Broncos players, was released Tuesday on $1,000 bail, according to The Canadian Press.Jaskirat Sidhu was arrested July 6 and charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death, and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily injury. While on bail, the Calgary native can't operate a motor vehicle and must give up his passport.The RCMP won't release any further details regarding the investigation that led to the arrest of Sidhu, 29. His next court appearance is set for Aug. 21.The parents of Adam Herold, one of the junior hockey players killed in the crash, have filed a lawsuit against Sidhu, the Calgary-based trucking company that employed him, and the bus manufacturer, The Canadian Press also reported Tuesday.The negligence suit claims that Sidhu only received two weeks of training before his first route, and failed to obey a stop sign before colliding with the Broncos' bus.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Maroon is the best unrestricted free agent committed to playing in 2018-19 who's still available on the open market, and now there appears to be an explanation for why.Maroon has switched from St. Louis-based agent Allain Roy to the Minneapolis-based Ben Hankinson, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Thomas adds that this may be delaying his decision on a new team.Maroon is reportedly expected to sign with his hometown St. Louis Blues, but the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes appear to be in the mix as well."He could end up signing with St. Louis as early as today or tomorrow, but he's got some other good options as well," Hankinson told KFAN radio in Minneapolis on Sunday. "So we're kind of sorting through the one- versus two- versus three-year options for him."Maroon, 30, is coming off the two best seasons of his career. He scored a career-high 27 goals in 2016-17, then tallied a career-best 43 points this past year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the New York Rangers are indeed the third party involved in a potential Erik Karlsson trade, former captain Ryan Callahan could be headed back to the Broadway Blueshirts, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.The Tampa Bay Lightning remain a favorite to land Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators, but with less than $4 million in cap space, and with the superstar blue-liner due for an extension, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman will need to shed some salary in order to make a deal work.Karlsson is due $6.5 million next season, per CapFriendly, but he could be seeking a new contract in line with Drew Doughty's recently signed eight-year, $88-million extension.Enter the Rangers, who are reportedly interested in a reunion with Callahan. The 33-year-old has a $5.8-million cap hit for the next two seasons, and while he holds a modified no-trade clause, accepting a trade back to New York seems like a safe bet.Brooks notes that should the Rangers take on Callahan's contract, the Lightning would likely need to sweeten the deal, possibly with a draft pick. New York already owns Tampa Bay's second-round pick in next year's draft as part of last season's Ryan McDonagh trade. As per the conditions of that deal, the draft pick will become the Lightning's first-rounder if they win the Stanley Cup in 2019.New York dealt Callahan to Tampa Bay at the 2014 trade deadline in the deal that brought Martin St. Louis to the Rangers.Callahan tallied five goals and 13 assists in 67 games with the Lightning last season. He underwent shoulder surgery in late May and was given a five-month recovery period.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Nikita Kucherov to an eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $9.5 million, the team announced Tuesday.Kucherov, 25, is coming off a career year in which he finished third in the NHL with 100 points, compiling 39 goals and 61 assists.He's on the last year of his bridge deal and was set to become a restricted free agent after next season, so roughly $4.7 million will remain his cap hit for the upcoming campaign. The $76-million extension will take effect in 2019-20.Kucherov is now the team's highest-paid player, surpassing Steven Stamkos' $8.5-million cap hit.With those two high-priced deals, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman could soon find himself in quite a bind. The Bolts project to have just over $13 million in cap room next season, per Cap Friendly, but many notable players will need to be re-signed, including unrestricted free agents Yanni Gourde and Anton Stralman, and restricted free agent Brayden Point.However, this signing apparently does not take them out of the Erik Karlsson sweepstakes.

Belgium was long smeared as a cast of skilled individuals that were collectively a muddled team destined to underachieve. However, Tuesday will see Roberto Martinez's throng compete with France for a place in the World Cup final.The stars have sparkled in Russia, with the frontline of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Eden Hazard drawing reams of plaudits for their quarter-final performances against Brazil, but - as the early exits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo attest - the importance of teamwork has come to the fore at this tournament.Before what promises to be an enthralling encounter with their Gallic neighbours, theScore picks out six largely unheralded Red Devils who have more than played the part at this World Cup.Axel WitselWitsel's importance to this team swelled when Radja Nainggolan was criminally left out of the squad by Martinez. It's easy to deride him - he appeared to seek an exorbitant pay packet rather than sporting competitiveness when joining Zenit St. Petersburg and Tianjin Quanjian - but he has started each match barring the drab Group G affair with England.Witsel was either the best or second-best at retaining possession in those four appearances, and is the overall team leader for completed tackles (eight) and runner-up to Jan Vertonghen in interceptions with five.Nainggolan is by far the superior player, but Witsel's sensible use of the ball has given license to Belgium's attackers to roam. There's a reason why the 29-year-old is nearing a century of caps.Nacer ChadliWest Bromwich Albion is clinging onto some of its better players following relegation from the Premier League - Ben Foster and Jonny Evans have left, but the other departees are replaceable - but may be set for a helpful windfall with the way Chadli's World Cup campaign has exploded since the round of 16.The versatile attacking midfielder contributes more than Yannick Carrasco, the player he replaced for the final-eight squabble with Brazil, defensively and in two starts has mustered more two key passes than his compatriot managed in three inclusions from the first whistle.Chadli was out of his depth at Tottenham Hotspur, but with his quality should be one of the better players at a mid-table-standard side in the Premier League.Thomas MeunierMeunier isn't low profile as a Paris Saint-Germain regular, but he has been a strong asset in Martinez's polarising wing-back schematic.The 26-year-old has hit double the accurate crosses than Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens combined, and displayed impressive patience and awareness when he exchanged passes with De Bruyne before sliding a ball through for Lukaku against Tunisia. He was also the player whose pass slipped by Lukaku en route to Chadli for the winner in the Japan classic.Meunier will be suspended for the semi-final with France.Dedryck BoyataBoyata isn't the most graceful of defenders, and for a day job he can let his mind wander while Celtic soundly defeats cannon fodder in the Scottish Premiership. It's not the greatest preparation for testing yourself against the famed names of international football.But for Belgium's three group-stage matches, Boyata filled in well for former Manchester City teammate Vincent Kompany. Granted, he was fielded in full matches against Panama, Tunisia, and England reserves, but snuffed out attacks well with intelligent interceptions in the first two tests, and then led his team with a huge seven clearances in the third outing.Boyata is unlikely to be given another starting role unless there's another injury in the backline, but he put in a commendable shift for his squad when called upon.Yannick CarrascoOut of all of Martinez's tactical calls at the Belgium helm, his decision to deploy Carrasco as wing-back is the most ridiculed. He's a winger by trade, so in transition regularly leaves his side short-handed down its left-hand side.But has he been that bad? His defensive offerings against Panama were greater than those of Meunier, helping hush a side of the pitch that saw the unpredictable Armando Cooper often double up with Edgar Barcenas.It's not Carrasco's fault that Martinez views him as a viable option at wing-back - something Martinez seems to have reconsidered given Belgium's use of a back-four when out of possession in the Brazil quarter-final - and, for a player who featured in an 8-0 loss to Shanghai SIPG on his Dalian Yifang debut, perhaps expectations should be modest.Marouane FellainiFellaini is Jose Mourinho's plan B. The Brussels native will be called off the bench when Manchester United needs a goal, and indicates the beginning of a rather unattractive game of "find the curly mass." Sometimes it works.Martinez, a manager who has obsessively and sometimes ruinously abided to a ball-on-the-ground attacking formula, used that old trick to great effect in the round of 16 meeting with Japan. Fellaini bumped and bounced around the last man in defence while De Bruyne and Eden Hazard tried to something more pleasing on the eye, until the latter blindly swung his left trotter at the ball to send a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. In that scenario, super-sub Fellaini hoovers up airborne deliveries like a black hole consumes dust.The oft-overlooked side of Fellaini's game was evident against Brazil. Rather than being the target of aerial bombardments, the 30-year-old relished his role of disrupting the Canarinho midfield with three tackles, three clearances, and two interceptions. It will be a surprise if he doesn't start again in the final-four fracas with France.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There could be a reunion brewing on Long Island, as former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager Mark Hunter might join Lou Lamoriello in the New York Islanders' front office, reports Arthur Staple of The Athletic.It's unknown what role Hunter may have, adds Staple, but the 55-year-old also served as head of the scouting department during his tenure with the Leafs.Shortly after Toronto chose Kyle Dubas to take over Lamoriello's role as GM, Hunter, who was also in the running for the job, left the team. However, his agreement with the Maple Leafs prevents him from joining a new team until July 15.The Islanders have endured plenty of turnover so far this offseason, starting with the hiring of Lamoriello. The club also brought in Stanley Cup champion head coach Barry Trotz, and lost captain John Tavares during free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With John Tavares now part of the Toronto Maple Leafs, questions about the team's open captaincy appear to be building.The club has not had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2016. Many believe Auston Matthews will step into the role after getting a few seasons under his belt. However, Tavares - who served as captain of the New York Islanders for five seasons - could now be in line to assume the captaincy instead.It's a dilemma likely being overblown in Toronto. Bobby Orr, whose agency represents Matthews, said the 20-year-old isn't worried about who will be named captain."The team is going to be a little different," Orr told reporters, according to TSN. "A very good team with JT there and he is thrilled. Again, this bull about being upset about this and being upset about that, the captaincy. That's so wrong, shouldn't be happening. They are a good team, they are going to be a very good team and John puts them closer to their goal and that's what Auston is concerned about."Meanwhile, Matthews is now eligible to sign a contract extension with the Maple Leafs. But as Orr said, there isn't a rush to put pen to paper."I don't think it's (about) money," Orr said, according to TSN's Gino Reda. "It's like John Tavares' free agency. He wants to play in Toronto, and if it doesn't happen this year before the season starts, he still has a year left to fulfill his contract and we'll see what happens."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two Anaheim Ducks legends are getting their jersey's retired, as both Paul Kariya and Scott Niedermayer will have their numbers raised to the rafters at Honda Center next season.

There are teams doing some last-minute shopping for Patrick Maroon.The St. Louis Blues are reportedly closing in on an agreement with the free-agent forward. However, a deal hasn't been signed yet, and the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes are showing interest in the hulking winger, reports Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.Maroon's agent, Ben Hankinson, confirmed to The Athletic's Michael Russo that the Minnesota Wild have shown interest, too. But cap space is an issue for the Wild, making a Maroon signing unlikely.Cap concerns aren't a problem in New Jersey ($23 million) or Arizona ($14.8 million), meaning a deal with either club could come together easily.Maroon, a St. Louis native, might take a hometown discount. That would help the Blues, as with just $5 million in cap space and restricted free-agent defenseman Joel Edmundson needing a new contract, dollars are tight in St. Louis.

The New York Islanders signed KHL forward Jan Kovar to a one-year deal Monday.Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports that the deal is worth $2 million.The 28-year-old played the past five seasons with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, averaging over a point per game with 97 goals and 189 assists in 285 games.The Czech-born winger has played internationally at five World Championships, and recently served as assistant captain at the 2018 Winter Olympics where he shared the team lead with five points in six games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Luke Richardson joined the coaching staff of the Montreal Canadiens, the team announced Monday.Richardson comes to the Canadiens after one year as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders. He previously spent three seasons as an assistant with the Ottawa Senators, followed by a four-year run as the bench boss of the Senators' minor-league club.The Ottawa native is the Canadiens' second coaching hire this offseason, after the team appointed Dominique Ducharme as assistant coach in April. The two will work under associate coach Kirk Muller and head coach Claude Julien."I'm delighted with the addition of Luke Richardson to our coaching staff. Luke is a very credible hockey person and a very knowledgeable coach," Julien said in a statement. "We undertook a process to select a coach with specific criteria in mind, and after taking the time to meet with several candidates, we're very happy that Luke accepted to join our group. He has already been told that his role on our staff will be to work with our defensemen."A veteran of more than 1,400 NHL games, Richardson's pro career included stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Senators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rasmus Dahlin has signed his entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Monday.The top pick in the 2018 draft, Dahlin is expected to immediately step into the Sabres' lineup and stabilize the Buffalo blue line alongside defensive stalwart Rasmus Ristolainen.In 41 games with the Swedish Hockey League's Frolunda HC last season, Dahlin notched seven goals and 13 assists. The Swedish import has been compared to fellow countrymen Nicklas Lidstrom and Victor Hedman.Dahlin is the third player in the Sabres' franchise history to be selected with the first-overall pick, following Gilbert Perreault (1970) and Pierre Turgeon (1987).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't underestimate the value of freshmen in your fantasy league.Often overlooked, rookies can provide important production. Better yet, given their relative inexperience, these under-the-radar performers can be picked up in the later rounds of your draft.For first-year players on top teams, where they are surrounded by high-end talent, the rewards can be even more significant. With that in mind, here are five names to keep an eye on when your draft team gets called to the podium:Anthony CirelliLoad up on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are once again a Stanley Cup favorite.While Bolts rookie center Anthony Cirelli won't be among the top contributors on this potential champion - Tampa Bay's offensive riches means Cirelli will likely be used in a bottom-six role - it stands to reason he will play alongside other scoring threats, possibly Yanni Gourde and veteran winger Alex Killorn. Gourde finished third in rookie scoring last year, while Killorn has been a consistent contributor across six seasons in Tampa Bay.As for Cirelli, while he spent most of last season in the minors, Lightning fans got a sneak peak of what's to come when the budding center put up 11 points in 18 appearances with the big club. Expect his production to climb alongside his experience.Ryan DonatoFew have made better debuts than Ryan Donato, whose first game with the Boston Bruins last year saw him pick up a goal and two assists. In fact, Donato was only the second player in franchise history to notch three points in his introduction to the NHL.While his production expectedly tailed off - he tallied six points in the next 11 contests, and was held pointless across three postseason games - Donato should be a key contributor next season on a Bruins squad capable of securing top spot in the Atlantic Division.Current projections have Donato on Boston's third line, possibly alongside fellow freshman Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and second-year pro Danton Heinen.Jordan GreenwayFor leagues that value size with skill, look to Jordan Greenway of the Minnesota Wild. The hulking winger brings both a scoring touch and impressive size, so you're sure to see his name across a handful of fantasy categories.Greenway wrapped his third campaign with Boston University just shy of a point-per-game pace, while his 52 penalty minutes ranked second to only 2018 draftee Brady Tkachuk. He got a short stint with the Wild following the college season, which included five playoff games, where he notched one goal and one assist.The New York native also brings winning pedigree, as he was a member of Team USA's gold-medal squad at the 2017 World Junior Championship. That international experience helped Greenway land a role with the Americans at 2018 Pyeongchang, where he scored one goal in five outings.Robert ThomasThe offseason saw the St. Louis Blues stock up at center with their additions of Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak, but the most intriguing newcomer down the middle could be freshman Robert Thomas.The team's top pick in the 2017 draft, Thomas impressed last season in what is sure to be his last year skating in the junior ranks. After beginning the season with the OHL's London Knights, where his production eclipsed 1.7 points per game, a deadline deal saw Thomas shipped to the Hamilton Bulldogs. While his offensive output dipped early on with his new club, Thomas turned heads in the postseason, finishing third in league scoring with 32 points in 21 games.Loads of offensive options with the Blues means not only solid linemates for Thomas, but also the likelihood of him fitting into a lower spot in the top nine, where he won't be matched against top defenders and will be given plenty of time to shine.Eeli TolvanenAfter a record-setting rookie season in the KHL - including a hat-trick in his debut game - you can't fault Nashville Predators fans for buying into the hype surrounding 2017 first-rounder Eeli Tolvanen.The 18-year-old Finnish forward, who set the KHL record for the most points in a season by a teenager (a mark previously held by Evgeny Kuznetsov), made the move to Tennessee at the end of the year, ready to tackle the next pro league. But his scoring stopped there, as Tolvanen skated in just three regular-season contents, where he was held scoreless in each, and was then scratched for all 13 of the Predators playoff games.Still, the betting here is Tolvanen will hold down a more regular role next season, and most likely a spot alongside two other dynamic forwards, given Nashville's wealth of scoring options.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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For the Ottawa Senators and their fans, disaster has been inescapable over the past 12 months.Through the hardships, one final blow remains, as captain Erik Karlsson's departure from the organization via trade before the start of the 2018-19 season is inevitable. The deal, one would think, will help stock the cupboards for the Senators' future with a handful of nice assets, which is about all Ottawa can hope for at this point.Beyond the ongoing Karlsson saga, which, in fairness, is a colossal league-wide storyline, the Senators have another key piece of business to take care of this summer: signing Mark Stone.Stone was one of 44 restricted free agents to file for arbitration Thursday, and is by far the most talented member on the list. At 26 years old, Stone is only one year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can only get a one-year contract if he goes to arbitration.Surely, the Senators want to avoid that scenario, and while a high number of players filed this offseason, it's rare for these cases to ever reach the point of arbitration. Last year, Nate Schmidt and the Vegas Golden Knights were the only case out of 30 to require a third-party negotiator.With that in mind, let's assume Stone and the Sens strike a long-term deal, and try to map out what kind of salary the star winger just might fetch.The playerInjuries limited Stone to just 58 games in 2017-18, yet he finished tie atop the Senators' scoring list alongside Karlsson with 62 points, and averaged more than 20:40 of ice time per contest - the highest mark of all right wingers across the league.Stone's high usage can be attributed to his effectiveness at both ends of the ice, as he's evolved into one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. Despite missing 24 games, Stone ranked fourth at his position with 59 takeaways.On offense, 62 points is just two off his career high, set in 2014-15. Among all Senators skaters, Stone ranked third with a 4.68 Corsi relative to his teammates at five-on-five despite Ottawa ranking 30th in possession at 47.12 percent. Elsewhere, Stone ranked eighth in the league in five-on-five points per 60 minutes (2.68), and his primary point rate (goals and first assists) per 60 of 1.93 puts him in equal to Leon Draisiatl, and ahead of players like Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Artemi Panarin, and MVP Taylor Hall. Certainly not terrible company to keep.The teamWhat else is there really to say about the organization at this point? Be it Eugene Melnyk's threat to relocate the team during a weekend they were in the national spotlight, or harassment charges against assistant general manager Randy Lee, it's been an eternity since any good news came out of Ottawa.A new deal for Stone is a chance to get things turning in the right direction. Once Karlsson is out of town, Stone is the best player on the Sens' roster, and will serve as the main piece of the team's core. In February, Stone said he wants to be part of Ottawa's long-term solution, but much has changed since then, and there's assuredly no quick fix to the hole the club has managed to dig itself into.The Senators will ice a lousy roster in 2018-19, and any hopes at the Jack Hughes lottery were dashed when they decided to hold onto this year's pick, No. 4 overall, to take Brady Tkachuk - who will likely spend another season at Boston University come fall.Ottawa can't sell him on the strength of his surrounding personnel, but Stone has been carrying an incredibly team-friendly cap hit of $3.5 million for the past three seasons, and it's unlikely he'll be willing to forego loads of guaranteed money at his age just for the chance to walk as a UFA next summer. General manager Pierre Dorion can use promised dollars to his advantage, as the Senators are nowhere near the cap ceiling, but doing so in a manner that keeps Stone happy should be priority No. 1 once negotiations get underway.ComparablesHere's a look at some prominent right wingers to sign long-term contracts (not including those coming off entry-level deals) over the last three years, and how Stone stacks up.Player (Team)Career P/GPContract Length (AAV)Patric Hornqvist (PIT)0.635 years ($5.3M)Jonathan Marchessault (VGK)0.726 years ($5M)Alexander Radulov (DAL)0.735 years ($6.25M)T.J. Oshie (WSH)0.698 years ($5.75M)Jakub Voracek (PHI)0.748 years ($8.25M)Through 307 games in his NHL career, Stone stands at 0.81 points per game, out-producing all players on the list above. With the exception of Voracek, he'll also be younger than each of his comparables at his time of signing.The numberConsidering Stone's career production and value at both ends of the ice, the Senators' financial flexibility and need for something positive inside the organization, along with the market of winger contracts across the league, it's fair to assume Stone will soon be paid among the league's elite.Only six right wingers currently have a cap hit of over $7 million, and Stone is poised to become the seventh. A multi-year deal with an annual payment of anywhere between $7.5 million to $8.5 million would be more than suitable for both sides as they embark on a new era in Ottawa.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)

The St. Louis Blues continue to stock up at the forward position.According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, unrestricted free agent Patrick Maroon and the Blues are expected to reach an agreement on a contract. No word yet on terms.Maroon's agent appeared on a Minnesota radio station on Sunday. Ben Hankinson confirmed to Rutherford's colleague Michael Russo that there is something brewing with Maroon and the Blues.

The San Jose Sharks re-signed defenseman Dylan DeMelo to a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday. The deal is reportedly worth $900K per season, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.DeMelo was previously non-tendered by the Sharks, which granted him unrestricted status and freed him to sign with any team.The 25-year-old suited up for 63 games with the Sharks this past season, collecting 20 assists while failing to score a goal. He'll likely compete for ice time with Tim Heed on the team's third defensive pairing.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Golden Knights locked up a key member of their core Saturday.Vegas signed defenseman Colin Miller to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.875 million, the team announced.The contract includes a modified no-trade clause in the final two years, according to Cap Friendly.Miller was a restricted free agent and had filed for salary arbitration before signing the new deal.The 25-year-old was one of many Golden Knights to flourish with an expanded role this past season, scoring 10 goals and collecting 41 points - both of which led the team's blue line.Miller spent the previous two years of his career with the Boston Bruins, who were overloaded on the right side of their blue line with Brandon Carlo, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, and now Charlie McAvoy. With the Bruins, he totaled just 29 points in 103 games with an average time on ice of 15:48.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have avoided arbitration with 25-year-old forward Dmitrij Jaskin.Jaskin signed a one-year, one-way deal worth $1.1 million to remain with the Blues, the team announced Saturday. St. Louis' 2011 second-rounder is getting a minor earnings bump, as his most recent contract paid him $1 million per season.The Omsk, Russia, native put up 17 points in 76 games this past season, just shy of his career-high 18 from 2014-15. Since breaking into the NHL in 2013, the 6-foot-2, 216-pounder has been used almost exclusively at even strength.Meanwhile, three of the Blues' restricted free agents - forwards Jordan Schmaltz and Petteri Lindbohm, as well as defenseman Joel Edmundson (who has arbitration rights) - are still unsigned.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings locked up prized prospect and 2018 sixth overall pick Filip Zadina to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Saturday.Detroit was declared an early winner of the draft by many pundits for nabbing Zadina after he surprisingly fell out of the top five, and it didn't take long for him to prove he was a worthy selection, as he repeatedly dazzled at the team's development camp:

Lou Lamoriello insists this time will be different.Having digested the blow of John Tavares jetting to the Toronto Maple Leafs via free agency, Lamoriello told Postmedia's Michael Traikos that the New York Islanders do not intend on living in the NHL's basement like his former club did a few years ago.When Lamoriello and Leafs coach Mike Babcock joined forces in Toronto back in May 2015, they were blunt about the team's bleak short-term prospects, with Babcock famously warning fans about imminent "pain." You won't be hearing anything similar from Lamoriello or new Islanders coach Barry Trotz anytime soon, the general manager said Friday.“There’s always pain when you miss the playoffs so many years in a row," Lamoriello said, referring to the old Leafs. "But I think where the Islanders are today are more progressed than where Toronto was at the given time. It's different.“In saying that, we have to see. But no, I do not think it will end up the way the first year it ended up in Toronto. Mike (Babcock) and I went through (pain) for one full year in Toronto. I want to jumpstart that.”Despite the Tavares setback, there is apparently no time like the present for the Mat Barzal-led Islanders. The club's transactions in the hours and days immediately following Tavares' decision, while criticized by some as knee-jerk reactions, certainly back up Lamoriello's "jumpstart" mindset.The 75-year-old Lamoriello inked pest Leo Komarov to a four-year contract, signed veteran Valtteri Filppula to a one-year pact, picked up winger Tom Kuhnhackl on a one-year deal, traded for fighter Matt Martin (who has two years remaining on his contract), and brought in goalie Robin Lehner for a single season.“You don’t look back," Lamoriello added. "You don’t complain. You just go forward.”Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Matt Nieto to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday. The deal is reportedly worth $1.975 million per season, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reports.Nieto was a restricted free agent and was one of 44 players to file for arbitration Thursday, but that will obviously no longer be necessary as he and the Avs were able to work out a deal.The 25-year-old left-winger scored a career-high 15 goals with Colorado last season, good for sixth on the team.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An arrest has been made in the investigation of the fatal bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos' team bus and a semi-trailer back in April, the Saskatchewan RCMP confirmed Friday.The driver of the truck, 29-year-old Jaskirat Sidhu, faces 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily injury, the Mounties revealed at a press conference Friday.Sidhu will appear in court next week.Sixteen people died as a result of the crash, and 13 people were injured.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Alexander Petrovic to a one-year deal, the team announced Friday.The one-year contract is reportedly worth $1.95 million, per CapFriendly."Alexander is a dependable young defenseman who adds size and physicality to our lineup," said GM Dale Tallon.Petrovic, 26, appeared in 67 games for the Panthers last season, recording two goals and 13 points and had a team-leading average of 2.1 hits per game.The former second-round pick was one of four Florida defensemen protected in last year's expansion draft, leaving forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith exposed.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed winger Tyler Ennis to a one-year, $650,000 deal, the club announced Friday.Ennis was a first-round draft selection by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008, netting 20 goals and 49 points in his first full season. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2017, along with Marcus Foligno, in a deal for Jason Pominville and Marco Scandella.Last season, the 28-year-old Ennis tallied 22 points, including three game-winning goals. The Alberta native joins the Maple Leafs with 258 career points in 492 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed Ryan Strome to a two-year contract, the club announced Friday.Strome's new deal, which carries a cap hit of $3.1 million, will pay him $3 million next season and $3.2 million in 2019-20, according to CapFriendly.The forward, who turns 25 on Wednesday, was a restricted free agent, and due to only having four seasons of 40-plus games played under his belt, will be a pending RFA at the end of his new pact.Strome managed only 13 goals and 34 points while appearing in all 82 games for Edmonton last season. He was acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for Jordan Eberle last June.The Islanders selected him fifth overall in 2011.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NHL winger Alex Burrows has called it a career, announcing his retirement after 13 seasons."I’m happy with my career and have some great memories," Burrows told NHLPA.com. "I met some wonderful people over the years. I’ll miss my teammates the most. The amount of fun we had working on our craft, the time we spent together away from the rink, the time we went through adversity together - those are things that I’m going to miss."Burrows was placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout by the Ottawa Senators earlier in the offseason after signing a two-year deal with the club in 2017.Shortly after the announcement, the Montreal Canadiens revealed Burrows will join their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, as an assistant coach.The 37-year-old wasn't drafted, and he broke into the league with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2005-06 season after bouncing around in the ECHL and AHL. His best season came in 2009-10 when he recorded 35 goals and 32 assists.Overall, Burrows appeared in 913 NHL contests, registering 409 points and 1,134 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Looking ahead to the next NHL season, there are already some fantasy-relevant roster situations worth monitoring.While there are obvious breakout candidates and rookies likely to make an impact, several intriguing players aren't yet cemented as must-draft options, but could rise up fantasy rankings by summer's end.Here are three players to keep an eye on as the new season approaches:Thomas ChabotChabot would have much more value playing alongside Erik Karlsson, but that's looking less likely by the day. However, the 21-year-old could still be worth a look if his superstar partner is dealt.Even if the Ottawa Senators get a player like Mikhail Sergachev in a Karlsson trade, Chabot will be in line for a big boost in ice time, and his upside is undeniable.On the other hand, the Senators won't be good in 2018-19, and how he handles an expanded role without much help around him remains to be seen.Chabot is at the very least worth adding to your watch list as the Karlsson situation continues to unfold, and his stock could improve as the season approaches.Elias LindholmLindholm looked like a very solid fantasy option after being traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Calgary Flames on day two of the draft last month, but then the Flames signed veteran sniper James Neal to a five-year deal on Monday.Without Neal, Lindholm would probably have had the inside track for first-line duties alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. That assignment would've made drafting him a no-brainer. Now, though, it's looking like Lindholm could be relegated to second- or third-line duties.That would mean lining up with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund on the second forward unit, or potentially with the likes of Sam Bennett and Derek Ryan on the third. Also, Lindholm's power-play output would take a big dip if he ends up on PP2 instead of PP1.Flames head coach Bill Peters, who had Lindholm with the Hurricanes, might even opt to balance things out by putting Neal on the second line and his former Carolina forward on the first.Lindholm's fantasy impact will come down to his usage. The latter isn't entirely clear yet, so he's simply worth watching for the time being.Jesse PuljujarviPuljujarvi's role for next season isn't clear yet and won't be for a while. However, he's worth flagging this summer, and watching when training camp opens in September.The young Edmonton Oilers winger might start the season on the club's third line, which would severely limit his fantasy value, but he can avoid that fate and boost his production potential by securing a spot on the second unit with Leon Draisaitl.He could even end up getting some ice time with Connor McDavid, though Ty Rattie will likely receive the top-line assignment first (and rightfully so after Rattie's success in that spot in 2017-18).Pujujarvi only potted 12 goals in 65 games this past campaign, but 10 of those goals came at even strength, which bodes well for the 20-year-old's future production.If he ends up getting time on the power play (especially on the first power-play unit that should feature both McDavid and Draisaitl), Pujujarvi would warrant fantasy roster consideration. Even getting into Edmonton's top six would be enough to make him relevant in most leagues.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators are working on a trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Dreger notes that the New York Rangers may also be involved in some capacity as the Lightning will need to free up cap space if they are to bring on Karlsson's $6.5-million cap hit.Karlsson will become an unrestricted free agent after this season and is expected to sign a contract similar to that of Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, who just fetched an eight-year, $88-million extension.Another challenge for the Lightning is that a number of their players have no-trade clauses.

The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, agreeing to terms on a two-year, $4.6-million contract, the team announced Thursday."Trevor was a steady presence on our blue line last season," general manager Don Waddell said in a release. "He's shown progression each year of his NHL career, and is a well-liked player in our locker room."News of the signing comes shortly after it was announced that Van Riemsdyk filed for arbitration. The 26-year-old elected for arbitration prior to Thursday's 5 p.m. ET deadline, before agreeing to the new contract, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Van Riemsdyk put up three goals and 16 points in his maiden campaign with Carolina after spending his first three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed forward Cedric Paquette to a one-year, $1-million contract on Thursday, the team announced.The 24-year-old is coming off his fourth season with the Lightning. He finished 2017-18 with five goals and four assists over 56 games. Paquette also recorded a goal and an assist in 17 playoff games this spring.The fourth-round pick in 2012 was a restricted free agent, and he received a slight raise from his previous two-year deal that carried a cap hit of $812,500.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A group of NHL stars are looking for a raise.Thursday afternoon was the deadline for restricted free agents to file for salary arbitration. Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone and Vegas Golden Knights 40-goal scorer William Karlsson headline a list of filing players that includes quite a bit of firepower.Of course, the majority of arbitration cases are often settled before a meeting with a third-party arbitrator occurs.Nevertheless, here is the full list of players filing for arbitration:TeamPlayerDucksBrandon MontourFlamesGarnet HathawayFlamesMark JankowskiFlamesBrett KulakFlamesElias LindholmFlamesDavid RittichHurricanesTrevor van Riemsdyk*AvalanchePatrik NemethAvalancheMatt NietoStarsMattias JanmarkStarsDevin ShoreStarsGemel SmithPanthersMacKenzie WeegarWildJason ZuckerWildMathew DumbaCanadiensJoel ArmiaCanadiensPhillip DanaultPredatorsMiikka SalomakiDevilsBlake ColemanDevilsStefan NoesenIslandersBrock NelsonRangersKevin HayesRangersBrady SkjeiRangersRyan SpoonerRangersJimmy VeseySenatorsCody CeciSenatorsMark StoneFlyersTaylor LeierFlyersAlex LyonPenguinsJamie OleksiakSharksChris TierneyBluesJoel EdmundsonBluesDmitrij JaskinBluesOskar SundqvistCanucksTroy StecherGolden KnightsWilliam KarlssonGolden KnightsColin MillerGolden KnightsTomas NosekCapitalsLiam O'BrienJetsMarko DanoJetsConnor HellebuyckJetsAdam LowryJetsBrandon TanevJetsJacob Trouba*Reached dealIn total 44 players elected to go to arbitration, which is 14 more than last year, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Friday at 5 p.m. ET is the deadline for team-elected salary arbitration lists. Arbitration hearings will take place from July 20 to Aug. 4 in Toronto.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.