Warning: Story contains coarse languageJohn Tortorella has repeatedly called the Pittsburgh Penguins "whiners" in the past and has unleashed his fury on both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but his latest criticism is zeroed in on Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford.Following Pittsburgh's signing of former Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, who inked a five-year deal in free agency, Rutherford spoke about Johnson's varying usage in Columbus, particularly the postseason when he was scratched for all six games."I don't think he had a bad year," Rutherford told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. "He was a healthy scratch at the end of the season. I know the reason why. It wasn't because of how he was playing."Johnson's remarks at an introductory press conference didn't help matters, either, as the veteran defenseman said, "I've been looking to be in a winning culture."Clearly, those comments didn't sit well with the Blue Jackets fiery bench boss."All I know is, this organization, from the lawyers, the front office, (president of hockey operations John Davidson), the managers, the coaches, players ... has done nothing but try to help Jack," Tortorella said. "And for him to backhand slap us like this is utter bullshit, and he should know better."No one wishes anything bad to happen to him and his family. We wish him the best. But for him to put it the way he put it today is bullshit. And to have a general manager question our decision-making from three hours away, he must be a fucking magician."Tortorella's response comes after the Blue Jackets worked alongside Johnson to help him through an extensive personal bankruptcy case which saw him forfeit nearly all of his salary over the past two seasons.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)"(Johnson) doesn't have enough balls to call me back, because I've tried to get in touch with him," Tortorella added. "You don't shit on an organization that's done nothing but try to help you. We all know Jack has had some problems along the way here. It's very well-chronicled. All we've done is try to fucking help him."Tortorella then turned his aim to Rutherford."The thing that pisses me off the most is a general manager in this league questioning and talking about our decision-making," Tortorella said. "Shut the fuck up!"I don't want to go to name-calling, because I know Jimmy. He's a good man. They're both good people. But what the fuck are they doing? Get on with your business! I hope (Johnson) plays his ass off for them, but stay the fuck out of our business when you don't know what’s going on.”Mark your calendars now. The first meeting between the Blue Jackets and Penguins this coming season is set for Nov. 24.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders are moving on from the John Tavares era, as the team has signed center Valtteri Filppula to a one-year contract, the club announced Sunday.

The St. Louis Blues acquired centerman Ryan O'Reilly from the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, the team announced.Related: Sabres didn't have trade in place for O'Reilly at draft, says GMHeading the Sabres' way in return is an excellent haul that includes a 2019 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick, and forwards Tage Thompson, Patrik Berglund, and Vladimir Sobotka.

There was no bigger story than John Tavares' homecoming on Sunday, but there were plenty of other intriguing moves on the first day of NHL free agency.Predictably, many clubs paid hefty prices for less-than-stellar players, while others addressed immediate needs while paying market value.Here's a look at who made out like bandits and whose moves left something to be desired:WinnersToronto Maple LeafsThe Leafs were the clear victors on day one, and not just because they won the Tavares sweepstakes.They also got the superstar center on a hometown discount, for a reasonable seven years and $77 million.Toronto's transformation into a perennial playoff contender undoubtedly played a part in Tavares' decision. Besides winning the 2016 draft lottery for Auston Matthews, team president Brendan Shanahan and new general manager Kyle Dubas (along with former GM Lou Lamoriello and former assistant GM Mark Hunter) deserve a ton of credit for fully rebuilding the club and putting it in a position to add a player of Tavares' caliber.The next stage of the "Shanaplan" came to fruition Sunday, and now the future looks exponentially brighter for the Blue and White.Vegas Golden KnightsThe Golden Knights entered this free-agent period with a boatload of cap space, and while they weren't in the mix for the biggest fish, they did catch an excellent consolation prize.Vegas signed Paul Stastny to a reported three-year, $19.5-million deal, landing the second-best center on the market at a fair cost.Stastny gives this past season's Stanley Cup runner-up a skilled two-way pivot to anchor the Golden Knights' second line, and they still have plenty of cap space ($18.75 million, according to CapFriendly) left over to re-sign top-line center William Karlsson.Tough guysSunday was a great day for offensively gifted players, but it was also kind to fighters and pests.The Golden Knights gave Ryan Reaves a two-year contract reportedly worth $5.55 million in total, perhaps rewarding the grinder for his goal that eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Final.Oh, and also for this:

The Ottawa Senators are interested in keeping Erik Karlsson in the fold.On Sunday, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion confirmed the team has presented Karlsson with a contract extension. The superstar defenseman can become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is eligible to sign a long-term extension as of Sunday.Related - Report: 'Action picking up' on Karlsson trade talksWhile Dorion didn't share the details of the offer, he added there's no immediate timeline to seal the deal."(The season) starts Oct. 4," Dorion said, per Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "We've got lots of time."The 28-year-old Karlsson is a two-time Norris Trophy winner, presented to the NHL's best defenseman of the year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed veteran pivot Kyle Brodziak to a two-year deal Sunday, the team announced.Brodziak registered 10 goals and 23 assists for the St. Louis Blues last season. The 34-year-old St. Paul, Alberta native was with the Blues for the previous three campaigns.

The Vancouver Canucks continued their busy Canada Day by locking down winger Sven Baertschi to a three-year deal with an annual average value of $3.367 million, the team announced."He's a talented offensive player. We look forward to seeing Sven further develop his complete game and become a consistent contributor to our success," said general manager Jim Benning.

It won't make up for losing John Tavares to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the New York Islanders have signed Leo Komarov to a four-year, $12-million contract, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.TSN's Bob McKenzie has a breakdown of the deal:

John Tavares could be in for some of the best seasons of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing with them Sunday, and his fantasy value has skyrocketed because of it.When Tavares steps onto the ice with the Leafs, he'll be surrounded by the best supporting cast of his career. Here's how Mike Babcock envisions the Leafs' top two lines, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston:LWCRWPatrick MarleauAuston MatthewsWilliam NylanderZach HymanJohn TavaresMitch MarnerBetween a dynamic playmaker like Mitch Marner and a workhose in Zach Hyman, 45 goals and 90 points for Tavares are realistic possibilities, and both would represent career highs.Tavares and Marner, two of the smartest players in the game, would seemingly form quite a dynamic duo. Tavares instantly makes everyone around him better, and his presence could result in a breakout, 80-point season from Marner.Of course, there's no guarantee Tavares and Marner will last all season, but a teammate he definitely won't be on the ice with stands to significantly affect his fantasy value as well. Having Auston Matthews on a separate line will force opposing coaches to choose which trio to deploy their top checkers and best defense pairings against. Some teams may consider Matthews the bigger threat, while others may think it's Tavares. This bodes well for Matthews' fantasy value too.In standard leagues, Tavares and Matthews should be surefire first-round picks. Sneaking into the top five isn't outside the realm of possibility, either. Though there's no wrong answer, Matthews should be ranked slightly ahead of Tavares, since his ceiling is higher.In banger leagues (leagues with hits and blocks), Matthews and Tavares should be valued as high second-round picks, since neither player fills the additional categories.As for the rest of the Leafs, just about everyone's fantasy value could see at least a slight uptick. Having one of the game's best players on your team leads to more production all around, even from defensemen like Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly. In goal, Frederik Andersen should pile up a few more wins than previously expected.The only Maple Leaf whose fantasy value doesn't get a boost is Nazem Kadri. He'll get slightly less ice time, and probably fewer chances to play alongside Marner, but Tavares' old London Knights teammate is likely still a 25-goal, 50-point player.What about the Isles?(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The Islanders are now officially a fantasy wasteland after being one of the league's highest-scoring teams last season.Mathew Barzal becomes the team's No. 1 center, and while he'll play more minutes, opposing coaches will game plan around shutting him down. A slight sophomore slump could be in order, but he's still talented enough to get 70 points.Stay far away from Anders Lee and Josh Bailey in fantasy drafts, however. Both players are coming off career years, but will be hurt dramatically by the loss of their superstar center.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While John Tavares was the big fish for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the opening day of free agency, the team also secured a handful of depth players.The signings include forwards Adam Cracknell and Josh Jooris, both of whom will carry a $650,000 cap hit. Defenseman Martin Marincin re-signed for one year at an $800,000 cap charge.The Maple Leafs also announced the signing of blue-liner Jordan Subban, who inked a two-way deal. Subban has yet to make an NHL appearance and split last season between the minor-league affiliates of the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed center Riley Nash to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $2.75 million, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Nash is coming off a breakout, 41-point season with the Boston Bruins, surpassing his previous career high of 25. He was also one of two players in the NHL with at least 50 takeaways but fewer than 20 giveaways this past season.Though he's not the most popular Nash in central Ohio, this signing gives the Blue Jackets an effective two-way center in the prime of his career, at an affordable salary.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers and forward Vladislav Namestnikov have agreed to terms on a new two-year contract, the club announced Sunday.While the Rangers didn't disclose the terms, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports the deal will pay Namestnikov $4 million annually.The Rangers acquired Namestnikov from the Tampa Bay Lightning as a part of the Ryan McDonagh return at the trade deadline. Between both teams in 2017-18, the 25-year-old had 48 points in 81 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Tobias Rieder to a one-year contract, the team announced Sunday.TSN's Darren Dreger reports that the deal is worth $2 million.Rieder had 12 goals and 13 assists in 78 games split between the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings last season. He's scored between 12 and 16 goals in each of his four NHL campaigns.At 25, Rieder was one of the younger UFAs on the open market. It's possible the Oilers will put him on a line with fellow German Leon Draisaitl.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings made the contracts of defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Ilya Kovalchuk official Sunday.Doughty will make $88 million on an eight-year extension, while Kovalchuk will earn $18.75 million over his three-year pact.The 28-year-old Doughty is coming off his 10th season, in which he posted career highs in assists (50) and points (60). The 2008 second overall pick has one year left on his current eight-year, $56-million contract before the extension kicks in.As for Kovalchuk, the 35-year-old has spent the last five years playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. He last appeared in the NHL in 2012-13 with the New Jersey Devils and put up 11 goals and 31 points in 37 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers officially welcomed back James van Riemsdyk to the City of Brotherly Love on Sunday, as the big winger agreed to a five-year contract, the team announced.The pact is worth $35 million, reports Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Philadelphia drafted van Riemsdyk second overall in 2007 and shipped him to Toronto in 2012, where he's spent the last six seasons as a mainstay in both the Maple Leafs' top-six and first power-play unit.Van Riemsdyk, 29, netted a career-high 36 goals and added 18 assists in 81 games in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks signed forward Logan Couture to an eight-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.The contract is reportedly worth $8 million per season, a source told Josh Dubow of The Associated Press."Logan is a difference maker and has the proven ability to elevate his game when his team needs him the most," said Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. "His leadership, on and off the ice, combined with his high skill level and hockey sense make him a crucial component to this team's success. We're thrilled that Logan has made this long-term commitment to the team and to the community."Couture was still under contract for one more year at a $6-million cap hit, so this extension will keep him in San Jose through the 2026-27 season.The 29-year-old is coming off a career-high 34-goal season. He's also one of the league's better two-way centers, finishing 12th in Selke Trophy voting this year, awarded to the league's best defensive forward.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins added some depth Sunday, making their five-year contract with defenseman Jack Johnson official and signing forward Matt Cullen to a one-year, $650,000-deal, the club announced Sunday.Johnson's pact carries an average annual value of $3.25 million, which works out to $16.25 million in total.The blue-liner's agreement was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey on Wednesday.Cullen played for the Penguins in 2015-16 and 2016-17, helping them win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, before signing with the Minnesota Wild, with whom he chipped in 11 goals in 79 games this past season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forwards Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel to four-year, $12-million contracts, the team announced Sunday.The club also inked forward Tim Schaller to a two-year, $3.8-million contract.Beagle, 32, spent the past 10 years with the Washington Capitals. He put up seven goals and 22 points in 79 games last season and another eight points in 23 playoff games en route to capturing the Stanley Cup.Roussel leaves the Dallas Stars, the only team he's ever played for, after six seasons. His production dipped this past year, with just five goals and 12 assists in 73 games.Finally, Schaller joins the Canucks after spending the 2017-18 campaign with the Boston Bruins. While playing in all 82 games during the regular season, the 27-year-old tallied 12 goals and 22 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada Day was just a little sweeter in Toronto on Sunday.While the city celebrated Canada's birthday, it collectively jumped for joy when John Tavares announced he'd elected to sign with his childhood favorite team, the Maple Leafs.Jubilation swept across Twitter.

The Boston Bruins have inked free-agent blue-liner John Moore to a five-year contract worth $13.75 million, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli.Moore, 27, has spent the last three seasons with the New Jersey Devils, notching seven goals and 11 assists in 81 games while averaging 20 minutes per night in 2017-18.In 447 career games, Moore's recorded 99 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is coming home.The superstar forward is signing a seven-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs at an average annual value of $11 million, the club confirmed Sunday."The island, the fans, the organization, (and) my teammates will always be special to me and my family but it's time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto," Tavares wrote in a statement on Twitter.Here are his thoughts in full, in which the 27-year-old thanked the New York Islanders and their fans after spending the first nine years of his career with that organization.

The Minnesota Wild signed forward J.T. Brown to a two-year, $1.375 million contract, the team announced Sunday.Brown split the 2017-18 season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Anaheim Ducks, recording seven points in 47 games.Brown has deep Minnesota roots. He hails from Burnsville, played his college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and now gets a chance to play for his hometown Wild.He'll likely compete for a fourth-line role with the club.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have inked goaltender Petr Mrazek to a one-year, $1.5-million deal, the club announced Sunday.Mrazek posted an .891 save percentage in 17 games with the Philadelphia Flyers this past season after being traded by the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he played parts of the last six campaigns.He's set to take the place of Cam Ward, who agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.The 26-year-old was a fifth-round pick of Detroit in 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers and restricted free agent Jared McCann have agreed to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.McCann, a 2014 Vancouver Canucks first-rounder acquired by the Panthers via trade in 2016, is coming off his three-year entry-level deal. Financial details of the forward's new contract were not disclosed."Jared is a versatile two-way centerman who possesses excellent speed and suits our team well," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. "He has improved his game during his time with our organization and we look forward to him taking the next step in his development."McCann, 22, recorded nine goals and 19 assists in 68 games last season. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder has accumulated 19 goals and 34 assists through 166 career NHL games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Michael Grabner to a three-year, $10.05-million contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Though his offense plummeted between 2013 and 2016, Grabner experienced a resurgence after joining the New York Rangers for the 2016-17 season. He has since posted two consecutive 27-goal campaigns, including this past season, which he split between the Rangers and the New Jersey Devils.The 30-year-old will join a Coyotes team that looks to be addressing its need for offense, having already acquired Alex Galchenyuk from the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Josh Jooris to a one-year, $650,000 contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Jooris played in 40 games last season split between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins, tallying three goals and three assists.The 27-year-old Burlington, Ontario native will likely serve as a depth forward for the Leafs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have officially brought back forward Valeri Nichushkin on a two-year contract worth $5.9 million, the club announced Sunday.Dallas drafted Nichushkin 10th overall in 2013, but the 23-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the KHL with CSKA Moscow, recording 51 points in 86 games.In his NHL career, the 6-foot-4 winger has notched 64 points in 166 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have reportedly agreed to a three-year, $15-million contract with forward Tyler Bozak, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The 32-year-old had spent his entire nine-year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who signed him as a college free agent after two years at the University of Denver.He's coming off a 43-point season and is just one year removed from putting up a career-high 55 points in 2016-17. During his time in Toronto, he scored 136 goals and 365 points in 594 games and another 10 points in 18 playoff contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not the transaction New York Islanders fans are truly waiting for Sunday, but it's something.The club has an agreement to bring back defenseman Thomas Hickey on a four-year contract with a cap hit of $2.5 million per season, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Hickey is a steady blue-liner who chipped in 25 points in 69 games for the Islanders this past season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks will sign former Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward to a contract with a cap hit over $2.5 million annually, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers.The 34-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career with the Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy in his rookie campaign.Ever since that remarkable first season, Ward has seen mixed results with the club. He's coming off a lackluster 2017-18 campaign in which he finished with a 23-14-4 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 43 games.He'll serve as backup to Corey Crawford, but given Crawford's recent injury woes, Ward could be called upon to take over the starting role.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Mike Green to a two-year contract extension Sunday, the club announced.Green's cap hit will apparently be $5.375 million, as TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Saturday.The veteran was a pending unrestricted free agent who just finished the final season of the three-year, $18-million deal he signed with Detroit on July 1, 2015.

Forget about free agency - July 1 may be the day Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson is traded from the Canadian capital.TSN's Bob McKenzie has the details:

The Minnesota Wild have agreed to a three-year contract with defenseman Greg Pateryn that will pay him $6.75 million, according to Sarah McLellan of the Star Tribune.The 28-year-old played his first full season in the league as a member of the Dallas Stars, posting one goal, a career-best 13 points, and 50 penalty minutes in 73 games.Pateryn spent five years with the Montreal Canadiens organization before being traded to the Stars during the 2016-17 season for defenseman Jordie Benn.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres reportedly appear set to land free-agent goaltender Carter Hutton on a three-year contract, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The deal will pay Hutton slightly under $3 million per season.Hutton, 32, was stellar for the St. Louis Blues last season, and appears to have landed his first No. 1 gig in the NHL. He had a .931 save percentage in 32 games in 2017-18, and was thought to be the top goalie available on the market.Friedman adds that the Sabres will reportedly sign another free-agent goalie in Scott Wedgewood on Sunday. Wedgewood will slot in as the organization's No. 3 goaltender.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will reportedly bring back forward Tomas Plekanec after both sides agreed to a one-year contract, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Plekanec returns to the club that originally drafted him in the third round in 2001.The 35-year-old had played his entire 13-year career with the Canadiens before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of last season's trade deadline. He scored a combined six goals and 26 points between both clubs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins have agreed to a two-year contract with goaltender Jaroslav Halak, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Halak spent the last four years with the New York Islanders but recently saw a drop in his play. He put up a 20-26-6 record in 54 games this past season while posting a .908 save percentage and a career-worst 3.19 goals-against average.The 33-year-old will likely serve as Tuukka Rask's backup after the reported departure of Anton Khudobin to the Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Perron is going back to St. Louis.The free-agent forward will reportedly sign a four-year, $16-million deal with the Blues when the market officially opens at noon ET on Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Perron, 30, spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, and posted 16 goals and 66 points in 70 games.He was drafted by the Blues in the first round in 2007, and returns for his third stint in St. Louis. Perron was selected in the expansion draft, and was part of a magical Golden Knights team that went to the Stanley Cup Final in its first season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings and forward Thomas Vanek agreed on a one-year, $3-million contract Sunday, according to Craig Custance of The Athletic.Vanek returns to the Red Wings after playing 48 games with the club during the 2016-17 season where he put up a respectable 15 goals and 38 points.The 34-year-old split this past season with the Vancouver Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets where he tallied 24 goals and 56 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights are the favorites to land free-agent center Paul Stastny, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Stastny, 32, is thought to be the second-best center on the market, behind John Tavares.A strong two-way center, Stastny split last season between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets. He had 16 goals and 53 points in 82 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are expected to sign former Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan to a three-year contract Sunday, TSN's Frank Seravalli reports.The deal will pay the 31-year-old a total of $9.375 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.It was reported earlier in the week that the Toronto Maple Leafs were also showing interest in Ryan.Ryan will now re-join former head coach Bill Peters who is the new bench boss in Calgary. He will also be reunited with Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm who were traded to the Flames at the draft.Ryan put up a respectable 15 goals and 38 points in 80 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will sign goaltender Anton Khudobin on Sunday, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.The deal is for two years at roughly $2.5 million per season, according to Dreger.Khudobin spent the last two seasons with the Boston Bruins, serving as backup to Tuukka Rask.This past season proved to be among his strongest in the league, as Khudobin went 16-6-7 in 29 games with a .913 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average.The 32-year-old will now back up Stars' No. 1 Ben Bishop.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All remains quiet in the John Tavares sweepstakes.The deadline to sign a max eight-year extension with the New York Islanders came and went early Sunday morning with no word out of Tavares' camp regarding a decision on where he'll play next season, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman confirmed Sunday morning that Tavares did not sign Saturday night:

The Philadelphia Flyers are getting a familiar face back in the fold, as unrestricted free-agent forward James van Riemsdyk is expected to sign a deal to return to the City of Brotherly Love after six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.Related - Report: Coyotes have spoken to representatives for Perron, van Riemsdyk, GrabnerVan Riemsdyk is coming off a stellar season for Toronto in which he tallied a career-high 36 goals, including 11 on the man advantage. He also added 18 assists.JVR had been drawing serious attention from a number of teams in search of forward help, including the Arizona Coyotes, but he returns to the team that drafted him second overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.The American-born winger will slot nicely into a top-six forward group that already boasts the likes of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Jakub Voracek, and Wayne Simmonds.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings made the smart decision to lock down franchise blue-liner Drew Doughty to an eight-year contract extension Friday that's expected to pay him around $11 million per season. But what next?Related: Kings, Doughty agree to 8-year extensionIf that contract figure ends up being accurate, the 28-year-old London, Ontario, product will become the highest-paid rearguard in the NHL. Let's not get it twisted: Doughty is most definitely the real deal, and there aren't many rearguards in the league that eat 25-plus minutes a night, perennially touch the 40- to 50-point mark, and regularly finish in the top 10 in Norris Trophy voting (eight out of his 10 seasons).However, it cements the Kings' status as a win-now club with a rapidly-closing window for winning. Here's why:Aging coreThe Kings made the right move in inking Doughty to a long-term deal, but the the star defenseman is now entrenched in a roster filled with key players arguably past their primes.Los Angeles is set to employ one of the oldest rosters in the NHL over the next two or three seasons. As of the end of the 2017-18 campaign, L.A. iced the fourth-oldest lineup in the league, with an average of 29.1 years of age.Take in the list of key Kings players that are already 29 years of age or older: Player (Position)AgeDrafted (Overall)Ilya Kovalchuk (W)352001 (1st)Dustin Brown (W)332003 (13th)Jeff Carter (C)332003 (11th)Dion Phaneuf (D)332003 (9th)Jon Quick (G)322005 (72nd)Anze Kopitar (C)302005 (11th)Alec Martinez (D)302007 (95th)Jake Muzzin (D)292007 (141st)L.A.'s roster is undoubtedly good enough to be in the mix for a playoff spot next season, but bubble teams rarely go on deep runs, and postseason qualification doesn't always translate into mantelpieces loaded with trophies.The Kings' lack of speed and athleticism were exposed when they were swept out of the first round of the 2018 playoffs by a younger and quicker Vegas Golden Knights squad, meaning their aging core could stand in the way of immediate on-ice success.Future cap crunchDoughty's big pay raise, which won't kick in until summer 2019 when his current contract valued at $7 million per year expires, will also have implications for the Kings' financial situation and their ability to win now.The league's salary cap will rise to an estimated $80 million next season, but L.A. already has a number of lucrative long-term contracts in place that will make things extremely tough to augment its roster going forward.This will be especially difficult for the 2020-2021 campaign, when the Kings will have a significant chunk of change committed to eight players who will be 31 years of age or older:

After much back and forth, Ryan Reaves will remain a Vegas Golden Knight, as the two sides agreed to a new contract Saturday which will see Reaves on the Strip for the next two seasons, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The contract carries an annual average value of close to $2.8 million, per Dreger.The scrappy winger is coming off a regular season in which he registered four goals and six assists across 79 games split between Vegas and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Reaves also had a solid Stanley Cup Final for the Knights, as he registered the game-tying goal in Game 1 versus the Washington Capitals.Reaves was dealt to Vegas in February from Pittsburgh along with a 2018 fourth-round pick for forward Tobias Lindberg. Reaves can officially sign his new deal on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free agent forward Leo Komarov is attracting suitors, as the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers have expressed interest in the 31-year-old, reports Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Komarov is set to hit the open market upon the conclusion of a four-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs that paid him $2.95 million annually.The rugged winger appeared in 74 games in 2017-18, recording seven goals and 12 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The contract extension Niklas Hjalmarsson reportedly agreed to sign with the Arizona Coyotes last weekend will apparently pay him $5 million per season.Hjalmarsson's new deal, which can't officially be inked until Sunday, will be worth $10 million in total, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The veteran defenseman has one more season left on the five-year, $20.5 million pact he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks in the fall of 2013.He was traded to the Coyotes last June.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils won't be lacking goaltending options next season.Eddie Lack signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $650,000 with the Devils, the club announced Saturday.The veteran netminder was a pending unrestricted free agent.He allowed 11 goals in four games after New Jersey acquired him from the Calgary Flames for Dalton Prout on Dec. 30.Cory Schneider is under contract with the Devils for another four seasons at a cap hit of $6 million, and Keith Kinkaid has another year left on his deal at $1.25 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres are expected to sign free agent goaltender Carter Hutton once the market opens on July 1, according to The Associated Press.There's no word yet on the terms of the reported agreement.Hutton, 32, is coming off a career year with the St. Louis Blues in which he posted a 17-7-3 record along with a .931 save percentage and 2.09 goals against average.The Sabres didn't re-sign their 2017-18 goaltending tandem of Robin Lehner and Chad Johnson, and have a projected $18.4 million in available cap space, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add one more Canadian team as a possible destination for Derek Ryan.The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the clubs that have expressed interest in the center, reports TSN's Frank Seravalli.Toronto hasn't made a firm offer, but Ryan is sitting on multi-year offers from the Calgary Flames as well as a team in the Central Division, according to Seravalli.Ryan, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, was expected to meet with the Flames on Thursday.The 31-year-old chipped in 15 goals and had a 56.5 percent success rate in the faceoff circle with the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. He spent the last three years with that organization.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.