Minnesota Wild forward Tyler Ennis and newly-acquired Montreal Canadiens goaltender Steve Mason were each placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout Saturday, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Ennis, 28, had one year remaining on his contract at $4.6 million, and recorded 22 points in 73 games with the Wild last season.Mason, on the other hand, has had a busy day in terms of transactions. The 30-year-old was shipped from the Winnipeg Jets to the Canadiens earlier Saturday along with forward Joel Armia and two draft picks in exchange for prospect Simon Bourque.In 12 starts last season, Mason registered a .906 save percentage.So long as both players clear the 24-hour period on waivers, they'll each become unrestricted free agents.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed second overall pick Andrei Svechnikov to an entry-level deal, the club announced Saturday.The three-year contract will pay Svechnikov $832,500 per NHL season or $70,000 in the American Hockey League. He will also receive a $277,500 signing bonus.The 18-year-old netted 40 goals and recorded 32 assists last season with the Barrie Colts of the OHL en route to winning Rookie of the Year honors.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks and forward Logan Couture have agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $8 million per season, The Associated Press' Josh Dubow reports.Couture can't officially sign the extension until Sunday. He has one year left on his current deal at a cap hit of $6 million.He's entering the final campaign of the five-year, $30-million pact he inked with the Sharks in June 2013.The 29-year-old center poured in a career-high 34 goals this past season, finishing with 61 points in 78 games.Couture ranks fourth on San Jose's all-time goals list and sits fifth among the the franchise's all-time points leaders.He has spent his entire nine-year career with the Sharks, who selected him ninth overall in 2007.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares apparently hasn't begun whittling down his list of potential destinations just yet.The superstar's camp has not notified any of the six teams in the hunt either way, and is still deliberating on the decision, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Tavares previously narrowed the field down to the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs.If he opts to return to the Islanders, he could sign an eight-year contract, but that would have to be completed before Saturday at midnight, after which point he can only sign a seven-year pact with any club.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have traded goaltender Steve Mason, forward Joel Armia, a 2019 seventh-round pick, and a 2020 fourth-rounder to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Simon Bourque, the clubs announced Saturday.Mason is under contract for $4.1 million next season, while Armia is a pending restricted free agent.The move frees up some cap space for the Jets, a team undoubtedly looking to re-sign talented center and pending unrestricted free agent Paul Stastny, who thrived after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues before this past season's trade deadline.

The Detroit Red Wings are reportedly going to retain a veteran defenseman and bring in an experienced goaltender.Mike Green is staying put and the Red Wings are likely to add Jonathan Bernier on Sunday as well, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The goaltender's new deal is expected to be for three years at approximately $3 million per season, while Green's contract will be two years in length, reports The Athletic's Craig Custance.Green's new cap hit will apparently be $5.375 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The Red Wings and Green have been negotiating for some time, with the team most recently zeroing in on a two-year deal, as reported by MLive's Ansar Khan on Thursday.Bernier has also been on Detroit's radar, with both the club and netminder showing significant interest in a deal, as Custance reported Thursday.Both players are pending unrestricted free agents.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Drew Doughty took matters into his own hands.The star defenseman reportedly decided not to rely on representation during his contract negotiations with the Los Angeles Kings and saved between $1.75 million and $2.5 million in fees as a result, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Doughty and the Kings agreed on an eight-year extension Friday.He's normally represented by Newport Sports Management Inc., the mega-firm led by super-agent Don Meehan.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty is sticking in Hollywood, as he's agreed to terms on an eight-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, the team announced Friday.Doughty can officially sign the new deal as of July 1. The superstar blue-liner is entering the final season of his current eight-year pact that carries a $7-million cap hit, per CapFriendly."Drew Doughty is one of the best defensemen in the world and we are obviously excited to have reached this point in the process in which he has committed to the Kings long-term," general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. "This is great news for our organization and our fans and we will comment further once the contract has been signed and formally announced."The second overall pick in 2008, Doughty has been a mainstay with the Kings, guiding the franchise to its first Stanley Cup in 2012, and a second championship two years later. In 2015-16, he captured the Norris Trophy as the defenseman of the year.In 770 career games, Doughty has tallied 102 goals and 320 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite notching only 12 goals and 25 points last season, Los Angeles Kings winger Tobias Rieder is becoming quite the hot commodity in NHL free-agent circles.Related: Report: 4 Canadian teams have engaged in talks with RiederReports emerged earlier in the week regarding a handful of Canadian teams in the mix to sign the pending unrestricted free-agent forward. Latest reports Friday indicated those teams being the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.Rieder was drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft but played most of his career with the Arizona Coyotes before being dealt to the Kings in February in exchange for backup netminder Darcy Kuemper.The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers are also in the mix to land the German winger, per Custance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More bad news for New York Knicks fans.Team owner James Dolan does not intend to sell the team, despite a recent Crain's report stating he was laying the groundwork to part with both the Knicks and the New York Rangers.A statement from the Madison Square Garden Company flatly said, "There are no plans to sell the Knicks or the Rangers," according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.Crain's reported that Dolan was exploring a move in which the Rangers and Knicks would be separated from MSG and placed in a new public company. Dolan would control that company, but then be able to move stock as he pivots into more business investments.Dolan inherited MSG from his father Charles Dolan in 1999. The Rangers have been respectable under his watch, but the Knicks have the worst record in the NBA over the past 17 seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chuck Fletcher is joining the New Jersey Devils as a senior advisor, the team announced Friday."Chuck brings a vast array of experience working for teams at different stages of their growth. He has seen teams start from the beginning, teams that were building toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs and teams striving to be consistent contenders," Devils general manager Ray Shero said in a statement. "Those experiences will serve valuable to us, as we look to take the next steps here in New Jersey."Fletcher's appointment follows a nine-year run as general manager of the Minnesota Wild highlighted by a handful of major moves, including the signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in 2012. The Wild won two playoff series during Fletcher's tenure.In joining the Devils, Fletcher reunites with Shero after the two worked alongside each other with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fletcher was part of Pittsburgh's Stanley-Cup winning team in 2009 as an assistant GM.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Valentin Zykov to a two-year, $1.35-million contract, the team announced Friday.The Willie Marshall Award winner had a breakthrough season with the Canes' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, leading the league with 33 goals and 21 assists. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound winger also posted a league best in power-play goals and shooting percentage."Valentin is a big body who proved he had the ability to finish around the net on the AHL and NHL levels last season," Canes general manager Don Waddell said.In 10 appearances with the Hurricanes last season, Zykov put up an impressive seven points. The Russian-born forward was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Kings in February 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's fitting that 5-foot-8 star Martin St. Louis was selected for induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame this week - a champion for the little guy at a time when smaller players are finally starting to take on larger roles in the NHL.St. Louis went undrafted, signed with the Calgary Flames, and was eventually traded to Tampa Bay, where he led the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup the same year he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. But he was seen as an outlier - the one guy under 5-foot-10 able to prevail in a league where 6-footers are the norm.St. Louis' stardom didn't quite open the door for players of his physical stature, leaving those with the skill but without the typical size for the NHL to find less traditional paths.Undrafted Lightning forward Tyler Johnson (5-foot-8) signed an entry-level contract with the team in 2011 and was a Calder Trophy finalist his rookie season. Newly acquired Buffalo Sabres forward Conor Sheary (5-foot-8), also undrafted, worked his way from the American Hockey League to the big club in Pittsburgh, where he helped the Penguins capture back-to-back Stanley Cups.Chicago Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat (5-foot-7) scored 28 goals as a rookie this past season. That followed three 100-plus-point seasons with the Erie Otters of the OHL, which somehow weren't enough to convince teams he was a first-round talent.Though DeBrincat clearly possessed elite skill, concerns about how his size would affect his ability to succeed at the NHL level depressed his draft stock enough that the Blackhawks snagged him 39th overall in 2016.These examples finally seem to be resonating with NHL front offices, which are becoming more willing to take chances on smaller players. At the NHL draft, more players once considered too diminutive for pro hockey are being selected every year.In 2017, 13 skaters 5-foot-9 or shorter were drafted. In 2018, that number rose to 23. While the average height of an NHL player has remained stable around 6-foot-1 for some time, scouting and drafting indicate the tide may be shifting in favor of smaller players - even on the blue line.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Of the 31 players selected in the first round this June, eight were under 6 feet, including four defensemen: Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Ty Smith (New Jersey Devils), Rasmus Sandin (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Nicolas Beaudin (Blackhawks). As teams prioritize skating and puck-moving ability on the back end, they may be more willing to look beyond size. Torey Krug of the Boston Bruins, for example, only stands 5-foot-9, but he's a dynamic player and strong skater who excels at moving the puck up ice.At 5-foot-10 (according to him), Spokane Chiefs rearguard and Devils prospect Smith is all too familiar with concerns about his height, but rejects that narrative."You always hear you're small when you're 5-foot-10 and around there as a defenseman, but I think that size isn't really an obstacle for me," Smith told theScore at the NHL Draft Combine. "I think being smaller is a bit of an advantage. ... Normally you're quicker and more mobile. ... It's definitely easier to work on things in tight."He added, "Being lower down to the ice and ... kinda getting underneath those big guys when it comes to battling them in front of the net and things like that. I guess escaping in small areas is a little easier when you're smaller. I talked to some big guys that I've played with in the Western (Hockey) League, and play against, and they said it's hard to hit small guys that are quick, so I have to keep working on my quickness."Canucks prospect Hughes, 5-foot-10, is faster and more agile than many taller, bulkier players.Rather than using size and reach to break up opponents' opportunities, the Michigan defender relies on an intelligent approach he can execute quickly. He gets a good angle on an opposing skater, positioning himself to use his stick to disrupt their chances and take away time and space."I think when I'm on the ice (the) team's gonna have the puck the majority of the time," Hughes said at the combine.Smith believes the NHL is gradually becoming friendlier to players formerly considered small by hockey standards."Size is less of a factor now," Smith said. "There still (aren't) very many defensemen that are 5-foot-10 or smaller in the NHL, but ... it's kinda trending that way. My coach, when he played junior, I looked up his numbers - Dan Lambert - and he had some crazy numbers for a defenseman. He was only 5-foot-8 and didn't really get much of a chance because of his size."In 1988-89, Lambert put up 102 points for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. He only appeared in 29 NHL games, however, and eventually spent 10 seasons playing pro hockey in Germany. If he'd been born 30 years later, like Smith, maybe his height wouldn't have been such a factor."I think it's definitely not an obstacle for me, and it's always exciting to prove people wrong," Smith said.Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks are the front-runner to land unrestricted free agent center Jay Beagle, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.The 32-year-old has garnered interest from multiple teams, but is expected to sign a multi-year deal in Vancouver once the free agency window officially opens on July 1, McKenzie adds.Beagle has spent his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals, winning the Stanley Cup earlier this month. In 2017-18, he recorded seven goals and 15 assists in 79 games, while winning 58.5 percent of his faceoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have named Todd Reirden their next head coach, the team announced Friday.With Capitals brass and Stanley Cup-winning bench boss Barry Trotz unable to agree on an extension earlier this month, Reirden's promotion had been expected.The 47-year-old has been employed by the Capitals for four seasons, first as assistant coach, and more recently as an associate coach. During that time, Reirden has mainly worked with the club's defensemen."We feel that the time is right for Todd to lead our hockey club," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said in a press release. "Based on his coaching experience, communication abilities, his approach to the game and the respect he commands in our locker room, we feel that Todd has earned this opportunity."Reirden, a journeyman pro player who flamed out in the mid 2000s, previously worked for the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2014. He is the 18th head coach in Capitals history.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brooks Orpik's time with the Washington Capitals might not be over after all.The 37-year-old's camp has spoken to a number of teams regarding a new contract, including the Capitals, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Orpik was dealt along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche just ahead of last weekend's draft. Following the deal, the Avalanche bought out the final year of his five-year, $27.5-million contract.If both sides are to come to terms on a new deal, it's likely to be on a contract with an annual average under $5.5 million - the cap hit of Orpik's previous contract.During the last four seasons with the Capitals, Orpik has scored three goals and 53 points over 279 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Brodziak could be in for a welcome-home party.The unrestricted free agent will narrow his list of prospective destinations to three teams Friday, and there's a "very good chance" the St. Paul, Alberta native will sign with the Edmonton Oilers, reports Sportsnet's Mark Spector.Brodziak was drafted by the Oilers in 2003 and later spent four seasons in Edmonton before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild. The forward signed with the St. Louis Blues in 2015.Last season, Brodziak centered the Blues' second line and netted 33 points. The 34-year-old veteran would add some experience to a relatively young Oilers forward corps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In their attempt to lure John Tavares, the Boston Bruins had a superstar of their own field any questions this summer's biggest free agent may have about jumping from New York to New England.Patrice Bergeron, a teammate of Tavares at both the 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey, spoke to the 27-year-old pending UFA during the club's sales pitch on Tuesday, and gave a glimpse to the media about what the two talked about.

The Arizona Coyotes are reportedly trying to add some serious scoring punch.The club has had discussions with the representatives for pending unrestricted free agents David Perron, James van Riemsdyk, and Michael Grabner, according to ArizonaSports.com's Craig Morgan.All three forwards are coming off strong years: Perron posted a career-high 66 points in 2017-18, van Riemsdyk finished with a career-best 36 goals, and Grabner enjoyed his second consecutive 27-goal campaign.The Coyotes seem to be solid down the middle with Derek Stepan, the newly acquired Alex Galchenyuk, and Dylan Strome, so now the team is looking to address the wings.With over $19 million in cap space, the Coyotes have the money to be active in free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.Defenseman Luca Sbisa didn't receive a contract offer from the Vegas Golden Knights and the unrestricted free agent will hit the open market, his representative told TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Friday.The 28-year-old former first-round pick appeared in 30 games for the Golden Knights last season, posting two goals and 14 points. He also appeared in 12 playoff games, adding four points.Vegas GM George McPhee said last week that the team had made Sbisa an offer, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers.Sbisa is coming off a three-year, $10.8-million contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's hopes of landing John Tavares haven't stopped the club from kicking tires on other pending unrestricted free agents.The team has reportedly inquired about forward Anthony Duclair, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.Duclair is coming off a tough season in which he posted 11 goals and 23 points across 56 games split between the Arizona Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks. He became a UFA after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks.The 22-year-old also struggled the previous year, when he potted just five goals and 15 points and spent some time with the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League.Despite his recent struggles, Duclair had a strong rookie campaign in 2015-16, recording 20 goals and 44 points in 81 games.If the Lightning are serious, they might be forced to make some moves, as the team has roughly $5.3 million in cap space.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals officially re-signed defenseman Michal Kempny to a four-year, $10-million contract Friday, the team announced.

The Blueshirts are looking to get tougher.The New York Rangers are "keenly interested" in forward Ryan Reaves, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.Reaves had just 10 points last season in time split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights, but offense isn't his game. He finished ninth in the NHL in both hits with 236, and penalty minutes with 94.The Rangers are primarily made up of skilled players, so adding an element of grit during an expected youth movement isn't a bad idea at the right price. Reaves' previous cap hit was $1.125 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michal Kempny is staying in the fold, as the pending unrestricted free agent has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Washington Capitals, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell hasn't been shy about his interest in trading forward Jeff Skinner, but the offers he's received aren't quite where he wants them to be."It's ongoing," Waddell said about his trade talks with teams regarding Skinner, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. "We've got a lot of people talking to us. We've had decent to good (trade) offers, but we haven't gotten comfortable yet."Related: Report: Hurricanes want 1st-rounder, prospect for SkinnerSkinner is still only 25 years old and has averaged 28.7 goals per 82 games over the course of his career, but he has just one year left on his contract with a $5.75-million cap hit.Skinner's goal total dropped from 37 in 2016-17 to 24 last season, but an unfortunate 8.7 shooting percentage is largely to blame. He's also one of the most underrated defensive players in the game, as he had 93 takeaways last year, second only to Connor McDavid in the entire league.Skinner is a valuable asset about to enter the prime of his career, so Waddell is right to wait for a great offer, rather than a "decent to good" one before pulling the trigger on a deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scott Darling isn't going anywhere.Despite being the subject of trade rumors, the Carolina Hurricanes netminder will remain with the team, general manager Don Waddell confirmed to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.Darling joined the Hurricanes last summer but struggled through his first campaign in Carolina, posting an .888 save rate and just 13 victories in 43 appearances. The 29-year-old is under contract for three more seasons at a $4.15-million cap hit, per CapFriendly.It remains to be seen how much ice time Darling will earn next season, as Waddell added that the Hurricanes would like to bring in another goaltender and have reached out to five or six pending unrestricted free agents.Waddell also said goalie Cam Ward is likely to become a free agent on July 1 after spending his entire career with the franchise.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first court date for Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been postponed to late July.Watson's hearing, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to July 24, according to court records obtained by Natalie Neysa Alund of the Tennessean. The 26-year-old was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault earlier in June.According to the arrest warrant, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and mother of his child on June 16 following an argument inside a car at a gas station in Franklin, Tenn. He remains free on a $4,500 bond.If convicted, Watson could receive a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine maxing out at $2,500, said Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper.Watson had eight points in 13 playoff games this spring and is one season into a three-year deal with the Predators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning remain hopeful that John Tavares will elect to sign with them on July 1, but general manager Steve Yzerman is aware that the team would have to do some serious juggling to make things work.With roughly $5.3 million in cap space and Tavares likely to command at least $10 million per season, Yzerman said the team would have to clear cap room, but it would be worth it, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic."We think he's one of the best players in the league," Yzerman said.On the free-agent front, the Lightning have restricted free agents Adam Erne, Cedric Paquette, and Slater Koekkoek to contend with, while Andrej Sustr is also a pending UFA after five seasons with Tampa Bay.

Milan Lucic's representative claims his client isn't demanding a trade and that the Edmonton Oilers aren't engaging with his camp about any potential deals."Milan didn't ask for a trade and (Oilers general manager) Peter (Chiarelli) 100 percent has not come to us about moving Milan," the veteran forward's agent, Gerry Johannson, told the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson."If (Peter) wants to get out from under the contract, he has to talk to us," Johannson added. "What's going on with Milan? Absolutely Nothing. Milan had a bad year, the team had a bad year."Last week, Chiarelli declined to comment when asked if Lucic had requested a trade, and a couple of weeks ago, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that Chiarelli was "trying to make a hockey deal" for Lucic and not simply attempting to offload the five years and $30 million left on his contract.Lucic had his worst season from a point production standpoint since 2012-13, managing only 34 despite playing all 82 games in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Red Wings appear confident Mike Green will return to Detroit for multiple seasons.The team and the right-shooting defenseman have had productive talks this week, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan, who added that the Wings believe they can ink Green to a two-year extension.Green, who many consider a top blue-liner among 2018 unrestricted free agents, especially after John Carlson re-signed with the Washington Capitals earlier this week, put up eight goals and 25 assists in 66 games for the Wings in his contract year.Last week, Craig Custance of The Athletic reported the two sides were working toward a deal. Term was the sticking point during draft-weekend discussions, Custance wrote, with the Wings hoping for a two-year agreement and Green's camp pushing for three or more.The 32-year-old is coming off a three-year contract that paid him $6 million per season. The new deal would be Green's fifth over a 13-year career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rick Nash might not be hitting the open market after all.Nash is still undecided about whether or not he'll play next season, and in turn will forgo the July 1 signing period, his agent, Joe Resnick, told TSN's Darren Dreger.Dreger added that the multiple teams that were planning to make offers to Nash on July 1 have been made aware of his situation, which is due to his health, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Nash missed 12 games with the Boston Bruins during the final three weeks of the past regular season with a concussion and missed a total of 49 games over the last three years.At least one of the teams believed to have interest in Nash is the Columbus Blue Jackets, who were reportedly at the top of his list of potential destinations, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.Nash is coming off a 2017-18 campaign in which he tallied 21 goals and 34 points split between the Bruins and the New York Rangers. Over his 15-year career, Nash has 437 goals and 805 points in 1,060 career games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly commenced discussing the possibility of an extension with their franchise defenseman.As expected, Drew Doughty and the Kings have started to get into contract talks, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, who reports that the two sides have had "a few conversations regarding the overall concept of the deal and will soon get into term and numbers."Doughty has one more season left on his current contract, and as such, he and the club can start discussing a potential extension as early as July 1.Related - The Carlson effect: Projecting Drew Doughty's next contractDoughty is on the books for $7 million in 2018-19. He inked an eight-year, $56-million deal with the Kings in 2011.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tobias Rieder appears to be a hot commodity north of the border.The pending unrestricted free agent has reportedly engaged with four of the seven Canadian teams ahead of July 1, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Rieder was due to become a restricted free agent, but he didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Kings.Rieder was acquired by the Kings in February from the Arizona Coyotes in a deal that sent goaltender Darcy Kuemper to the Coyotes. Following the trade, Rieder put up just four goals and two assists in 20 games.The 25-year-old is coming off a two-year, $4.45-million contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Daly says Eugene Melnyk is not currently in negotiations to sell the Ottawa Senators."It is not accurate to suggest that Eugene Melnyk is (in) active discussions to sell the club," the NHL's deputy commissioner told TSN's Brent Wallace. "He is the owner of the club and I believe he wants to remain the owner going forward.''Daly further attempted to clarify the Senators owner's intentions in an email to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch."Eugene has no interest in selling the Senators," Daly wrote. "Offers are made for NHL teams all the time. Doesn't really mean anything."Melnyk is expected to comment later Thursday.On Wednesday, the Senators' parent company, Capital Sports Holdings Inc., completed a $135-million refinancing of the club's debt over a six-year period with a syndicate of financial institutions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Among the Detroit Red Wings' offseason priorities is acquiring a dependable backup goalie, and it seems they have one in mind.Jonathan Bernier has become the Red Wings' top target between the pipes and there is "significant interest" from both sides, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.The 29-year-old is coming off a solid season with the Colorado Avalanche that saw him post a 19-13-3 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average. He took on the role as the team's starter after Semyon Varlamov went down with an injury and then played in four of the six first-round playoff games against the Nashville Predators.As for the Red Wings, Jimmy Howard is expected to resume his role as the No. 1 goalie after going 22-27-9 in 2017-18.After Detroit dealt Petr Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the deadline, Jared Coreau served as the backup, but proved he wasn't ready to take on the responsibility by going 0-5-1 with a 4.26 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There might be even more of a Carolina connection on the Calgary Flames next season.Pending unrestricted free agent Derek Ryan is expected to meet with the Flames on Thursday, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.The 31-year-old journeyman center spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes and their former head coach Bill Peters, who's now behind the bench with Calgary.Ryan produced 15 goals and won 56.5 percent of his faceoffs in 2017-18.If he decides to join the Flames, Ryan would not only be reunited with Peters, but also with fellow center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin, who were acquired by Calgary in the blockbuster deal that sent blue-liner Dougie Hamilton and forward Micheal Ferland to Carolina at the draft on Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Dubas is in for a busy first offseason as Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, but his job may be simplified if 22-year-old William Nylander is ready to play center on a full-time basis.Nylander was drafted as a center but has spent the first chapter of his NHL career playing right wing - usually alongside Auston Matthews. Nylander played center occasionally last season when Matthews was injured, and statistically, yielded some generally positive results, albeit in a small sample.StatRWCGames7111Goals/G0.240.18Assists/G0.490.55Points/G0.750.73Shots/G2.041.55CF%50.2%50.0%SCF%52.6%59.4%HDCF%49.6%61.5%FO%52.6%46.5%CF% = Percentage of shot attempts Toronto generated while Nylander was on the ice at five-on-five

The Washington Capitals were able to keep John Carlson in the fold, and now they're looking to re-sign his defense partner.Washington is apparently "making a serious run" at keeping hold of Michal Kempny, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Kempny was acquired in a midseason trade from the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he struggled to get into the lineup on a regular basis. With the Capitals, he excelled in a top-four role, serving as a steady, low-risk partner for the dynamic Carlson.As one of the few blue-liners under 30 years old set to hit the open market July 1, there would surely be no shortage of interest in Kempny.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs might be knee-deep in the John Tavares sweepstakes, but that doesn't mean the team isn't still open for business when it comes to other players in its system.After a season in which the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup, the club's two goalies are garnering interest at the NHL level, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the Buds have fielded calls on both Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard.Sparks, a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Leafs, was lights-out for the Marlies over their Calder run, registering a 14-5-0 record to go along with a 2.22 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in the playoffs.As for Pickard, who was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in October, he put up solid numbers during the regular season, owning a 21-9-1 record and .918 save percentage.Both 'tenders have proven they can hang in the NHL, and with Freddy Andersen anchoring the blue paint for Toronto and backup Curtis McElhinney under contract for next season, either Pickard or Sparks could find themselves rocking different colors next year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add Cam Ward to the list of potential backup goaltenders for the Chicago Blackhawks after the team reached out to the veteran netminder, reports The Athletic's Scott Powers.Rumors have also connected the Blackhawks to fellow unrestricted-free-agent goalies Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier.Chicago received subpar goaltending last season when Corey Crawford went down. He missed the bulk of the 2017-18 campaign due to vertigo-like symptoms, and with his health for next season still unclear, the team wants to ensure it has a better contingency plan.Ward was solid early in his career, though he's likely no longer a name that will excite Blackhawks fans. A Conn Smythe Trophy winner in his rookie season, the 34-year-old hasn't had a year with a save percentage over .910 since 2011-12.Last season, Ward posted a .906 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against-average in 43 games with the Carolina Hurricanes.Anton Forsberg, Jeff Glass, and the recently traded J-F Berube started most of the games for Chicago with Crawford sidelined in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes shored up their back end Wednesday, agreeing to a two-year contract with defenseman Kevin Connauton, the team announced.His new deal comes with a $2.75-million price tag, sources told Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan."We are very pleased to sign Kevin to a contract extension," general manager John Chayka said. "Kevin is a versatile defenseman with a great work ethic. He had an excellent season last year and he adds depth to our blue line. We're happy to have him back."Connauton, 28, is coming off a very respectable season for the Desert Dogs, as the underrated rearguard registered a career high in goals (11) and chipped in with 10 assists in just over 15 minutes of ice time per night.With Connauton's signing, Arizona now has all of its top six defensemen under contract for next season; a list of players that also includes Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jason Demers, Alex Goligoski, Jakob Chychrun, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.Connauton was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed forward Riley Sheahan to a one-year contract worth $2.1 million, the team announced Wednesday.Sheahan didn't receive a qualifying offer from the Pens before Monday's deadline, making an unrestricted free agent, and he could've signed with any team on July 1.Coming off a season in which he scored just two goals with the Detroit Red Wings, Sheahan rebounded nicely in 2017-18 with the Penguins, tallying 11 goals and 32 points.With Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Derick Brassard all under contract next season, Sheahan will likely be relegated to fourth-line center duties.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Devante Smith-Pelly wants a chance to repeat.The Washington Capitals have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1-million contract with the forward, the club confirmed on Thursday.Smith-Pelly, who was previously set to be a restricted free agent, was not given a qualifying offer by the Caps prior to Monday's deadline, granting him unrestricted status. He therefore could've signed with any team he wanted on July 1, but apparently chose to remain in D.C.His decision to stay came in spite of multiple offers - including a two-year deal - that were worth more, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Smith-Pelly had just seven goals in 75 regular-season games in 2017-18, but matched that total in only 24 playoff contests. The 26-year-old will likely fulfill a fourth-line role with the Caps once again next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He might not be generating the kind of attention that another highly sought-after center is, but Sabres pivot Ryan O'Reilly's name has been in the mix regarding a potential deal out of Buffalo over the last couple weeks.Related: Report: Habs nearly dealt Pacioretty, landed O'Reilly in 3-team blockbuster at draftMost recently, reports indicated the team had a deal in place during Friday's draft that would have sent O'Reilly to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a first-round pick. However, that deal did not exist, according Buffalo general manager Jason Botterill."There are a ton of rumors out there about Ryan and I think a lot of them are very creative," Botterill told Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.Botterill was then asked whether there was a deal in place at the draft, to which he responded, "No."O'Reilly has been drawing interest from a number of clubs recently, including the Canadiens, who have an obvious need at the center position. The 27-year-old enjoyed a solid offensive campaign for the Sabres last season, racking up 24 goals and 37 assists in 81 games.He has five years remaining on his current contract, which carries an annual average value of $7.5 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins intend to sign pending unrestricted free-agent Jack Johnson to a five-year contract that will be in the $16-million range, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday.Johnson's new deal can't be made official until July 1, when free agency officially opens.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said earlier Wednesday that the club made adding a defenseman a priority this offseason.Johnson spent parts of the last seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets have swung a minor deal.Goaltender Jean-Francois Berube has been dealt to the Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Jordan Schroeder, the clubs announced Wednesday.Berube split this past season between the Blackhawks and the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, posting an .894 save percentage in 13 NHL games.Schroeder spent most of the campaign with the Cleveland Monsters, racking up 36 points in 48 AHL contests while adding a pair of points in 21 NHL appearances in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made noise on Wednesday when they dealt forward Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional fourth-round pick.It was a compelling deal that, as general manager Jim Rutherford noted, is par for the course in the modern NHL."This is just part of the system now," Rutherford told reporters, via Jonathan Bombulie of the Tribune Review. "It makes it hard to keep all the players. If you're going to free up cap space these are the things you have to do."With the deal, the Penguins were able to shed $5.25 million in cap space which could be used on a defenseman. And as Rutherford admits, adding another D-man is his priority going into the offseason.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded forward Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional fourth-round pick in next year's draft, the Sabres announced Wednesday.The pick will become a third-rounder if Sheary notches 20 goals or 40 points, or if the Sabres trade Hunwick before next year's draft, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.There is no salary being retained in the deal, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports. Sheary is on the books for $3 million over the next two seasons, and Hunwick is also under contract for two more years at a cap hit of $2.25 million.Sheary potted 18 goals this past season and 23 goals in 2016-17, often playing on Sidney Crosby's wing. He was a member of the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup championship squads, and played parts of three seasons with the club after being signed as an undrafted NCAA free agent out of UMass-Amherst.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There is a bit more clarity to the John Tavares free-agency sweepstakes.The pending unrestricted free agent has already spoken to the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Boston Bruins, and on Wednesday will speak to representatives from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars. Outside of those six, Tavares' reps have no plans to speak to any other teams, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Related - Johnny T sweepstakes: Ranking contenders to sign Tavares away from IslesThis latest news comes after it was originally reported that Tavares would take additional calls from two to three other clubs, possibly meeting with one or two of them in person.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty had to be over the moon seeing what John Carlson got from the Washington Capitals on Sunday night.The Los Angeles Kings' star defenseman was already in line for a sizable raise on his next deal, but Carlson's eight-year, $64-million agreement bodes even better for Doughty, who has one year left at $7 million and can begin negotiating an extension on July 1.Erik Karlsson is in the same boat as Doughty, with one more season left on his current contract at $6.5 million, but his future remains unclear (and his payday could balloon significantly if he lands with a team with significant cap flexibility like the Vegas Golden Knights), so that deal is a bit more difficult to predict.As for Doughty, the Kings will have their work cut out for them in terms of clearing cap space, especially after signing Ilya Kovalchuk - but they'll clearly do whatever it takes to get their franchise blue-liner locked in long term.Let's take a look at the factors that what will undoubtedly impact Doughty's negotiations:The comparablesPlayerAgeCap HitYearsTotal ValueYears LeftP.K. Subban29$9M8$72M4Brent Burns33$8M8$64M7John Carlson28$8M8$64M8Erik Karlsson28$6.5M7$45.5M1Oliver Ekman-Larsson26$5.5M6$33M1P.K. Subban's contract is the richest among NHL defensemen, and Carlson's new one puts him into a tie with Brent Burns for second-richest.Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the Arizona Coyotes reportedly have a verbal agreement on an eight-year extension that is expected to bump his cap hit up to $8.25 million in 2019-20.Karlsson is obviously in line for a mega-deal of his own at some point, either in the form of an extension before the summer of 2019, or as an unrestricted free agent.All of these players' contracts will only serve to strengthen Doughty's case, and his camp might be wise to wait out the Karlsson situation to see what the Ottawa Senators star gets, whether it be with them or a new team that acquires him.If Karlsson gets traded to a team with oodles of cap space like the Golden Knights and subsequently cashes in at $10 million to $11 million or more, Doughty's gap-toothed grin will only get wider, because that would obviously set a new market standard and he could then argue he's comparable to Karlsson and therefore deserves the same, if not more.Doughty could also decide it's not worth waiting around for the Karlsson situation to be resolved. Even if he does that, he's still likely to command a contract that's larger than Subban's nearly four-year-old agreement.The resumeWhile the Kings' 2012 and 2014 championships might not be incredibly relevant to the present, and while claiming the Stanley Cup is obviously a team effort, Doughty's two rings still put him ahead of the aforementioned comparables in the winning department.More importantly, though, his immense individual impact is inarguable.Doughty led all NHL skaters in ice time this season while logging 2,200:31 overall (no one even had 2,100) for an average of 26:50, and suiting up for all 82 regular-season games.The ice-time figures were actually his lowest since 2013-14, but at age 28, there's no reason for concern, especially considering his elite offensive production.Doughty notched career highs in assists (50) and points (60) in 2017-18, and those totals were especially impressive considering the Kings ranked 16th in the league with 2.89 goals per game.He drove possession with a 53.2 percent even-strength Corsi For percentage this season, his lowest since 2009-10, but he has hit 50 percent or greater in all of his 10 NHL campaigns.Doughty won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman in 2016, and he was also a finalist for the award in 2010, 2015, and 2018.Will the King stay a King?There's also the matter of whether he opts to test the free-agent market a year from now.He has said he wants to remain with the Kings, and for what it's worth, the club's president, Luc Robitaille, said he's confident Doughty will.The rearguard has spent his entire career in L.A., and this contract might be his last.Another rather important matter will be how the Kings manage to squeeze Doughty in under next year's cap. The Kovalchuk signing put them within about $3 million of the cap ceiling for the upcoming season without much scheduled to come off the books next summer.At least one key piece or declining veteran up front may have to be shipped out to accommodate a new contract for Doughty, so it will be interesting to see if the Kings make any pre-emptive moves before July 1, or if they use their summer cap flexibility (when there is no ceiling, for all intents and purposes) to figure it out after getting Doughty's signature on the dotted line.No matter how they approach it, retaining Doughty as soon as they're able to is going to be their top priority.The verdictRegardless of how it all unfolds, an eight-year deal with an average annual value in the neighborhood of $10 million wouldn't be too far-fetched.Based on the deals his contemporaries are getting and likely will get before next season is over, he's well positioned to exceed that.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.