Theo Peckham considers himself fortunate.Through more than a decade of minor hockey, four years of junior, and nine years as a pro, the former Oilers defenceman was rarely the subject of overt racism.There was an incident in the late 2000s, Peckham says, when he locked an intoxicated Oilers teammate out of their hotel room. "He told me to 'stick to basketball' then dropped the n-bomb on me," Peckham recalled in an interview on Tuesday.A few years later, there was another incident in Slovakia. Peckham, who has a white mother and whose late father was black, remembers feeling intimidated for the first time in his hockey-playing life."I’d walk through the mall there," he said, "and people would stare at me." Inside the rink, rival fans reached over the short glass and grabbed his collar.Aside from those ugly events, Peckham was largely left alone in his pursuit to make a living playing hockey. Perspective is everything, he says, especially with the backdrop of Tuesday’s announcement from the Hockey Hall of Fame offices.Finally, Willie O'Ree is in.O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player and the sport’s face for diversity, will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame’s builder category. The man who inspired the now annual Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award will be inducted in November alongside players Martin Brodeur, Jayna Hefford, Martin St. Louis, and Alexander Yakushev, as well as fellow builder Gary Bettman.O’Ree, a native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, has lived two hockey lives. The first came as a player, and the second as an ambassador. The latter role likely convinced the Hall’s selection committee to pull the trigger on his induction. Regardless, this is an indisputable fact: Nobody faces more resistance than the trailblazer."Because of guys like him, I didn’t have to think about it," Peckham, now 30 and retired, said of dealing with racism in hockey. "That’s what is so special to me. I’ve never thought 'Maybe I can’t do this because I'm black.'"'Very symbolic'Every major North American sport except hockey recognized its black pioneers years ago. Many felt O’Ree was long overdue, and if you squint hard enough at the following quote, it's obvious hockey’s Jackie Robinson is relieved, too."I was laughing and crying and at a loss for words," O’Ree, 82, told reporters Tuesday, including Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. "Just so happy I'm alive to share this with my family and friends."O’Ree made his historic debut 60 years ago, on Jan. 18, 1958, filling a forward spot in the Bruins' lineup at the Montreal Forum. He dressed for 45 NHL games, recording four goals and 10 assists, before carving out a 21-season minor-league career. Despite losing sight in his right eye at the age of 19, O’Ree still played professionally, mainly in the old Western Hockey League, until he was 43.Old, fuzzy footage shows No. 22, a left-handed Bruins winger during the Original Six era, motoring through the neutral zone, paving the way for all the black hockey players who followed - from Mike Marson, the second black NHLer, to stars like Jarome Iginla, and 2020 top prospect Quinton Byfield."It is very symbolic, if you think about it," said Jalen Chatfield, a 22-year-old Canucks prospect. "Growing up, some of my black friends would ask me why I was into hockey. They always had questions and I always had to educate them on it, tell them how fun it is to play. They hadn't been around it too much, but with this being done, with Willie in the Hall of Fame, hopefully some kids will see that and take a chance with hockey.""Behind the Blackhawks winning the 2010 Cup, this is probably the second happiest day for me as a hockey fan," added Chris Watkins, a writer for Hockey-Graphs.com, the hockey analytics think tank. "From a cultural-significance standpoint, it's a recognition of the efforts and energy we have put into growing and expanding the marketplace for the game."The list of black people inducted into the Hall is tiny. O’Ree, who was named to the Order of Canada in 2008, will join five-time Stanley Cup champion Grant Fuhr (2003) and legend Angela James (2008). Coincidentally, Peckham and James are half-siblings.Not the endWhile the Hall of Fame honoring O’Ree is a cornerstone moment, it doesn’t signal an overhaul of hockey culture.Racism is still present around the game, as evidenced by the racial slurs hurled at Red Wings prospect Givani Smith during an OHL playoff series in May, fans chanting "basketball, basketball, basketball" at Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly in February, and then-Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban enduring racist tweets after a 2014 playoff win."It's a step in the right direction, but in no way is this a cure," said William Douglas of the Color Of Hockey blog. Douglas applauded the Hall of Fame Selection Committee and hopes O'Ree's inclusion opens the door for other pioneers, including Herb Carnegie, who attempted to blaze the NHL trail 10 years earlier but encountered too many obstacles.Prominent NHLers, such as Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and Sharks forward Joel Ward, as well as some of O'Ree's friends from the east coast, have lobbied on his behalf over the years. Part of O'Ree's appeal is a down-to-earth personality and ability to communicate with children."He has a serene aura about him," Douglas said. "You see that he’s been through the wars, but that he’s come out at the better end of it."In April, Simmonds penned a powerful essay about O'Ree. In the Players' Tribune, he wrote about how "Willie set the table for everyone else to eat, and he did it all with dignity and class." O'Ree, to Simmonds, "wasn’t just a hockey player. He was an astronaut."Chatfield is 60 years younger than O'Ree. Yet, his message to black kids interested in hockey sounds like something you might hear from a certain Hall of Famer."I think you should just go for it," he said. "Stick with your dreams. It's a great sport to play and you can accomplish a lot in life, more than you think."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks are considering turning to Jonathan Bernier for a little insurance between the pipes, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic.Bernier, 29, can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He's at least the second netminder the team has reached out to during the pre-free agency discussion period, as a Monday report indicated the Blackhawks had also expressed interest in Carter Hutton.What sort of workload Bernier could expect in Chicago remains unknown, as starter Corey Crawford's injury status is unclear. An upper-body ailment limited Crawford to just 28 games last season, with his final appearance coming in late December.On Thursday, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman told Powers that he could not provide an update on Crawford's status, but added he expects the goalie to be ready for training camp.As for Bernier, a move to Chicago would mark his fourth stop since 2016 after spending the past three seasons with Toronto, Anaheim, and Colorado. He posted a 19-13-3 showing and a .913 save percentage across 37 appearances with the Avalanche in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues hope Patrick Maroon is interested in a homecoming, and have touched base with the Missouri native during the pre-free agency discussion period, according to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.The hulking winger would bring size and some additional scoring talent to a Blues squad that finished 24th in goals last season.Maroon spent the 2016-17 season with the Edmonton Oilers, and stayed with them for 57 games the following year before being shipped to the New Jersey Devils in a deadline-day deal. He wrapped the 2017-18 campaign with 17 goals and 26 assists in 74 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Morrow isn't going anywhere.The unrestricted free agent signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Winnipeg Jets, the team confirmed Wednesday.The 25-year-old defenseman had been a restricted free agent, but did not receive a qualifying offer from the Jets before Monday's deadline, giving him unrestricted status and freeing him to sign with any team on July 1.Splitting last season between the Montreal Canadiens and the Jets, Morrow tallied 16 points in 56 games. With six solid blue-liners already in the fold in Winnipeg, Morrow will likely begin the season as the team's seventh D.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings may be interested in a reunion with a pair of familiar faces, as Craig Custance of The Athletic reported the team reached out to free-agent forwards Thomas Vanek and Valtteri Filppula.However, it's unknown whether the Red Wings would like to sign both players, or if the team would limit it to one addition in order to keep more open roster spots for young players.Vanek spent the 2015-16 campaign with the Red Wings, when he appeared in just 48 games but still managed to put up 38 points. Detroit dealt him to the Florida Panthers at the 2016 trade deadline, and the Austrian split last season between the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets.Filppula has a more extensive history with the Red Wings, as he was a third-round pick by the club in the 2002 draft. He skated one year with Detroit's minor-league club and then seven with the Red Wings, while his best season came in 2011-12, when he tallied 66 points in 81 games.He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017-18, which marked the final season of a five-year contract that carried a $5-million cap hit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings indicated they would use free agency to shore up their goaltending, and it appears Robin Lehner has been identified as a possible fit.According to Craig Custance of The Athletic, Lehner met with the Red Wings on Tuesday as part of the discussion period that allows players to negotiate with clubs prior to free agency officially beginning on July 1.Lehner became an unrestricted free agent after he failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Sabres. The 26-year-old spent the last three seasons with Buffalo, posting a 42-61-20 record over that time.While Lehner was the starter in Buffalo, there are no assurances he'll find the same role in Detroit, given that veteran netminder Jimmy Howard is under contract for one more season. However, the possibility remains that the younger Lehner could step into the top job in the future should he sign a multi-year deal.Custance adds that Detroit has also held discussions with free-agent goaltenders Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier. On Monday, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that eight clubs have been in contact with Hutton.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year, one-way, $1.1-million contract, the team announced Tuesday.Pouliot was a restricted free agent but did not receive a qualifying offer before Monday's 5 p.m. deadline, which gave him unrestricted status and freed him to sign with any team on July 1.The Canucks likely non-tendered him in fear that an arbitrator would reward him with more than $1.1 million.A former eighth overall pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012, the 24-year-old collected 22 points in 71 games with the Canucks this past season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wayne Gretzky isn't part of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, but if he were, it sure sounds like commissioner Gary Bettman's induction would have gotten his stamp of approval."What makes the game of hockey so wonderful is the fans, the players, the coaches, the cities that back their teams, the global growth of hockey, the ever-expanding growth of our game in North America and, of course, the competitive balance we are fortunate to have in our league," Gretzky told Dan Rosen of NHL.com on Tuesday when the 2018 class was announced."The commissioner's vision to give every club a chance to win the Stanley Cup has made our game stronger. His leadership and love for hockey is very evident. And hockey has become more entertaining year after year, thanks in part to his passion for the game."Named commissioner in 1993, the NHL has seen massive gains throughout Bettman's tenure, particularly expansion from 24 to 31 teams, largely in the southern United States. The Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, and Vegas Golden Knights are among the success stories.Under Bettman, the NHL has also secured cost certainty, introducing a salary cap to begin the 2005-06 season, and boosted league revenues more than tenfold. The average player salary has climbed to more than $3 million a year. However, he's also presided over three lockouts, including one that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is going to be a Hockey Hall of Famer, and not everybody is thrilled about that.Even before his November induction was officially revealed Tuesday, people were already cracking wise, while others were legitimately questioning it.

The Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2018 was announced Tuesday, headlined by New Jersey Devils icon Martin Brodeur.Martin St. Louis, Alexander Yakushev, and Jayna Hefford were also chosen in the player category. Willie O'Ree - the NHL's first black player - and commissioner Gary Bettman were elected as builders.Brodeur was a first-ballot lock. The goaltender ranks first all time in wins (691) and shutouts (105) to go along with three Stanley Cups, four Vezina Trophies, five William M. Jennings Trophies, a Calder Trophy, and two Olympic gold medals. He owns a career save percentage of .912, and led the league in wins in nine different seasons throughout his time with New Jersey.St. Louis, meanwhile, was one of the most prolific scorers of his era, accruing 391 goals and 642 assists in 1,134 career contests. The undrafted, undersized winger won the Art Ross Trophy twice, the Hart Trophy once, and the Lady Byng Trophy three times. He lifted the Stanley Cup in 2004 and won Olympic gold in 2014.Hefford represented Canada internationally on numerous occasions, capturing an incredible four consecutive Olympic gold medals and scoring the winning goal in 2002. Yakushev has a polished international resume as well, having won gold for the Soviet Union in 1972 and 1976.O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier on January 18, 1958 with the Boston Bruins. The 82-year-old appeared in just 45 NHL games, but his legacy and his continued work as an ambassador for the league has finally earned official recognition by the Hall of Fame.Lastly, Bettman got the nod in his 25th year as commissioner. Since he took over in 1993, the league has expanded from 24 to 31 teams. While he's received his fair share of criticism for - among other things - his push to expand the game in the southern United States, there's no denying his efforts to grow interest in non-traditional markets have benefited the NHL.All six members will officially be inducted in November.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward J.T. Miller to a five-year contract worth $26.25 million, the team announced Tuesday.The deal includes a limited no-trade clause that doesn't kick in until its second year, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.Signing Miller, Tampa Bay's most prominent restricted free agent, leaves the team with a projected $5.3 million in available cap space, according to CapFriendly.The 25-year-old was acquired by the Lightning at the trade deadline from the New York Rangers along with defenseman Ryan McDonagh. In 19 games after heading south, Miller recorded 18 points and added eight more in 15 postseason contests.The extension comes one day after it was reported the Lightning would meet with John Tavares, and could significantly lower the club's chances of luring the superstar without a corresponding move to clear cap space.While a decision on Miller was among Tampa Bay's top priorities this summer, the front office is far from being clear of potential salary-cap headaches, as Nikita Kucherov will need a new deal and Andrei Vasilevskiy is eligible for an extension after the 2018-19 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 NHL Draft lacked the fireworks everybody anticipated, but the Montreal Canadiens were reportedly close to providing quite a spark.The Habs, who selected Finnish pivot Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the No. 3 pick, had a deal in place with the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres to send captain Max Pacioretty to Long Island for a first-round pick, then flip it to the Sabres in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Sabres general manager Jason Botterill was asking for the third overall pick, which wasn't an option for the Canadiens, so Habs boss Marc Bergevin turned to the Isles, who held both the 11th and 12th overall picks. It's unclear what other pieces may have been involved, but once prospects Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson fell down the board to New York, the Islanders turned down the deal, adds Engels.Both Pacioretty and O'Reilly have been rumored to be on the trading block this offseason, and would conceivably fit well in a role with their hypothetical new organizations.Oh, what could have been.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Burrows' tenure with the Ottawa Senators is apparently nearing its end.The club placed the veteran forward on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Even if the Senators buy him out, they won't be completely off the hook.

The Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to a four-year deal with forward Bryan Rust that carries an average annual value of $3.5 million, the club announced Tuesday.Rust was a pending restricted free agent.He collected 13 goals and 38 points in 69 regular-season games this season, piling up 20 points in his final 31 contests. He added three goals in 12 postseason games.Rust was a member of both of the Penguins' Stanley Cup-winning squads in 2016 and 2017, and has scored 10 goals in 18 career playoff elimination games.The 26-year-old has spent parts of four seasons at the NHL level with the Penguins, who made him a third-round pick in 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals and unrestricted free agent Devante Smith-Pelly are still having dialogue regarding a new deal after the club didn't extend the winger a qualifying offer on Monday, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports.The NHL's deadline to qualify restricted free agents struck Monday at 5 p.m. ET, and Smith-Pelly's name is among the top to hit the open market.After having the second year of his contract bought out by the New Jersey Devils, Smith-Pelly joined the Capitals on a one-year, $650,000 deal last July. The 26-year-old winger recorded 16 points in 75 regular games with Washington, but boosted his value with seven goals in the playoffs, including three in the Stanley Cup Final to help the club secure its first championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliver Wahlstrom is known for having a great shot, and now he's aiming it squarely at a crosstown rival of the team that selected him in the draft.The promising forward had a message for a certain club that passed on him Friday night."The New York Rangers made a mistake there," Wahlstrom told the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis at the New York Islanders development camp Tuesday morning.Wahlstrom wasn't taken by the Rangers at No. 9 overall, as they opted for Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov with the first of their two first-round choices, and the Islanders chose Wahlstrom two picks later with the first of their two consecutive selections.The Islanders host the Rangers on Nov. 15 in their first meeting of the 2018-19 season, and the two clubs will face off again six days later at Madison Square Garden.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As one of the top centers of the 2018 free-agent class, Riley Nash will have no shortage of interest from around the NHL. However, one team has apparently already caught his eye: the Vancouver Canucks."(Joining a rebuilding team is) not something I would be scared of and I'm looking forward to talking to them," Nash said, according to The Province's Ben Kuzma. "We've done our research and it's pretty interesting. We're obviously aware of what's going on in Vancouver and I think they have a pretty good future ahead of them.""They're not that far off and I don't think it will be a long rebuild."The 29-year-old is coming off a breakout season in 2017-18, totaling 41 points in 76 games with the Boston Bruins, surpassing his previous career-high of 25. He's a very reliable defensive player as well, as he was one of two players this past season with at least 50 takeaways, but fewer than 20 giveaways.Behind John Tavares and Paul Stastny, Nash is arguably the third-best center set to hit the open market on July 1, followed by pivots like Tyler Bozak, Derek Ryan, Kyle Brodziak, and Valtteri Filppula.Like many teams, the Canucks are in need of help down the middle. After Bo Horvat, Nash would likely slot in as their second-line center ahead of Brandon Sutter and Sam Gagner. Young phenom Elias Pettersson is a natural center, but it appears as though he'll begin his NHL career on the wing.A chance to play a top-six role might be awfully tempting for Nash, especially if the Canucks use their abundance of cap room to make him a very rich man.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every few summers a pending superstar free agent gets the NHL buzzing over a highly anticipated move to a new market. This summer, that player is longtime New York Islanders forward and franchise cornerstone John Tavares.Related: Report: Tavares to meet with Sharks, Leafs, Bruins, Lightning, StarsPrior to Saturday, the situation surrounding Johnny T and his pending decision on where his future will be spent was relatively murky. However, after numerous conflicting reports and even more unsubstantiated rumors, Tavares will officially entertain presentations from the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins.Other than the half-season of donning the red, black, and yellow for SC Bern of Switzerland's National League (he played 28 games for the team during the 2012-13 NHL lockout), Tavares has only ever rocked Islanders colors, so the situation he would be moving to has to be just the right fit. Also, it should be noted that the Islanders are still the likely front-runners to retain his services.Regardless, we take a look at, and rank, the five teams Tavares will speak to over the next few days based on which club would be the best fit for the perennial All-Star center.5. Dallas StarsProjected 2018-19 available salary-cap space: $19.8M.Market: While everything might be bigger in Texas, Big D doesn't exactly boast a storied hockey culture. However, the ninth-largest city in the United States (1.38-million people) has all of the big-market appeals.Aside from the night life and stellar barbecue, Tavares could more seriously be enticed by the lack of income tax on his paychecks he would receive should he be employed in the state of Texas.Dallas might not top the list, but don't count out the impact that star players like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov could have on Tavares' decision-making process.Potential line combo:Left WingCenterRight WingRemi ElieTavaresAlexander RadulovBest-fit rating: 4/10.4. Tampa Bay LightningProjected 2018-19 available salary-cap space: $10.5M.Market: Speaking of states with no income tax, Florida's white beaches and clear-blue shorelines aren't the only bonuses that come along with playing in the Sunshine State. In addition to the extra coin he would pocket by playing in Tampa Bay, South Florida would also provide the perfect kind of calm hockey setting Tavares is rumored to be interested in.However, the Lightning are up against the cap next season and will have both Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point commanding serious loot in 2019. Steve Yzerman's hands look to be tied.However, if Stevie Y can work some magic with his roster, the extra cash, decreased media scrutiny, and potential to play with a close friend and elite sharpshooter in Steven Stamkos might just be enough to have Tavares heading to Tampa.Potential line combo:Left WingCenterRight WingOndrej PalatTavaresJ.T. MillerBest-fit rating: 6/10.3. Boston BruinsProjected 2018-19 available salary-cap space: $11.9M.Market: If it's a storied history of winning that Tavares craves, he need look no further than the Bruins, a team which has qualified for the playoffs nine of the last 11 seasons.Boston isn't as flashy as other cities on the list, but in terms of its hockey culture, Bean Town is one of the very best. It's long been rumored that Tavares, a quiet and composed individual both on and off the ice, has always had eyes for a subdued market - something the hockey-crazed New England area is not.It should also be noted that the Bruins already own a handful of forwards on long-term contracts north of the $6-million mark, so Boston general manager Don Sweeney would have to do some roster shuffling to make room for Tavares.However, if Tavares were to jump ship and join the Bs, he would be joining a team already boasting one of the best top lines in the business with Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. He could relish an opportunity to play more of a supporting role rather than having to shoulder the burden of being the lone face of the franchise in New York.Potential line combo:Left Wing Center Right Wing Jake DeBruskTavaresDanton HeinenBest-fit rating: 6.5/10.2. Toronto Maple LeafsProjected 2018-19 available salary-cap space: $24.6M.Market: Take a deep breath, Toronto. Just because he sits second on this list doesn't mean that an order for a Tavares jersey in every colorway needs to be placed ... just yet.Aside from the obvious draw of playing in his hometown, the Maple Leafs can offer Tavares the legitimate chance of winning right now. And while the same can be said for the other clubs on our list, Toronto employs one of the best young lineups in the NHL, making sustained success a real possibility.Toronto's crazed hockey market and rabid media have proven to affect even the most grizzled of hockey vets, and the city is truly gasping for a winner. Needless to say, the pressures of playing in Canada's biggest city are intense. The Leafs will also have to come up with the cash to lock down William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner over the next 12 months, which could potentially be the biggest hurdle to clear in getting Johnny T in blue and white.There really is no telling if Tavares wants to subject himself to the media meat-grinder in Toronto, but the chance to bring the Cup back to where he grew up might be a deciding factor.Potential line combo:Left Wing Center Right WingPatrick MarleauTavaresMitch MarnerBest-fit rating: 8/101. San Jose Sharks Projected 2018-19 available salary-cap space: $18.8M.Market: Everything about San Jose seems to fit the mold as Tavares' town. Aside from the Nor Cal appeal of living in the Bay Area with the Pacific Ocean as his everyday backdrop, Tavares could be lured to the Sharks with the promise of living in relative obscurity.He may be a big-name star in NHL circles, but playing in San Jose could afford Tavares the type of anonymity that he's looking for, regardless of how the team performs.The Sharks also have a proven track record of recent success, failing to qualify for the playoffs only twice in the past 20 seasons. The team also employs the services of some of the best players in the league, with Brent Burns on the blue line and Joe Pavelski up front.San Jose's beautiful setting, hockey culture, cap flexibility, and on-ice product has it in prime position to land the biggest free agent in recent memory.Potential line combo:Left WingCenter Right WingTimo MeierTavaresTomas HertlBest-fit rating: 8.5/10Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's 5 p.m. ET deadline to extend qualifying offers to restricted free agents came and went on Monday, and there were more than a handful of household names who weren't tendered.As a reminder, a restricted free agent who doesn't receive a qualifying offer will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and will be free to sign with any team he chooses.Here is a list of the most notable names:ForwardsPlayerTeamGPGAPNick ShoreCGY6451419Joakim NordstromCAR75257Anthony DuclairCHI56111223Nail YakupovCOL589716Daniel CarrMTL3861016Logan ShawMTL7241014Tobais RiederLA78121325Tom KuhnhacklPIT69268Riley SheahanPIT81112132Devante Smith-PellyWSH757916DefensePlayerTeamGPGAPVictor AntipinBUF4701010Duncan SiemensCOL16112Fredrik ClaessonOTT64167Dylan DeMeloSJ6302020Derrick PouliotVAN7131923Joe MorrowWPG5661016GoaliesPlayerTeamGPSV%GAASORobin LehnerBUF53.9083.013Petr MrazekPHI39.9023.034The unrestricted-free-agent market just got a little deeper.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted center Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third-overall pick in this year's NHL draft, but they don't appear to be finished addressing their needs down the middle of the ice.The Canadiens are among the list of teams that have called free-agent pivot Paul Stastny's camp, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The Habs aren't alone, though, as LeBrun adds that there's "no shortage of suitors." He says Stastny and the Jets have mutual interest in his return to Winnipeg, but the team would have to make cap room in order to make it work.Stastny will likely wait until fellow free-agent center John Tavares signs a contract before he makes his own decision, but it wouldn't be surprising if he ended up in Montreal. The 32-year-old was born in Quebec City while his father, Peter Stastny, was starring for the Quebec Nordiques in the 1980s.Splitting last season between the Jets and St. Louis Blues, Stastny had 53 points in 82 games, and added 15 more in 17 postseason contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add another goaltender to the unrestricted free-agent field.The Philadelphia Flyers did not give a qualifying offer to pending restricted free agent Petr Mrazek, meaning he will become a UFA on July 1, according to Sam Carchidi of Philly.com.Related - Report: Blackhawks, Isles among 8 teams to reach out to HuttonThe 26-year-old was acquired by the Flyers from the Detroit Red Wings - who drafted him in the fifth round back in 2010 - in February, where he was went 6-6-3 in 17 games with a 3.22 GAA and a .891 save percentage.While he's still young and the last couple seasons haven't been his brightest, Mrazek does have experience serving as a No. 1, including during the 2015-16 campaign where he put up a respectable 27-16-6 record with a 2.33 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 54 games.With the free-agent interview period in full swing, teams can begin calling on Mrazek.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings inked a pair of wingers to contract extensions Monday, signing Tyler Bertuzzi to a two-year deal and Martin Frk to a one-year pact, the team announced.Frk is coming off a season in which he tallied 11 goals and 14 assists in 68 games for the Wings. While Bertuzzi split the season between Grand Rapids of the AHL and Detroit, registering seven goals and 17 assists to go along with 39 penalty minutes in 48 games for the big club.Both forwards were set to become free agents as of July 1, with Frk being of the unrestricted variety.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The free-agent goalie market is thin, and as a result, St. Louis Blues netminder Carter Hutton has become one of the most sought-after names.Once the UFA interview period opened on Sunday, eight teams reportedly reached out to Hutton's camp; the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Islanders have been confirmed, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun believes Hutton has cut the original eight clubs down to six and separated those teams into two groups: those offering him a backup position and those willing to ride him as their No. 1.The Islanders, Sabres, and potentially the Hurricanes (who still have Scott Darling under contract) could offer starting positions, while the Blackhawks would like to have a healthy Corey Crawford between the pipes. But, after the veteran netminder missed 54 games last season due to injury, Chicago could be in the market for a serviceable backup.Hutton is coming off his best season statistically in which he posted a record of 17-7-3 with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The list of potential destinations for pending unrestricted free agent John Tavares is starting to grow.The New York Islanders captain's camp will meet with the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning this week at CAA offices in Los Angeles, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun adds that the Islanders remain in the mix and that Tavares will speak with two to three other teams over the phone, after which he may speak to one or two in person.

Development camps begin this week. Drafted prospects will battle it out to show that teams made the right decision picking them, and invitees will do their best to show that they should've been drafted. Before camps kick off, however, it's time to grade the Western Conference (you can find our Eastern Conference grades here).Anaheim Ducks: B–Isac Lundestrom was a good pick in the first round, although the Ducks arguably left some talent on the board - but then, so did nearly every team who picked after them. Lundestrom has high-end hockey smarts, and is a nice addition to their forward prospects pool. They also landed Blake McLaughlin, who fell perhaps farther than he should have, and snagged top-rated European goaltender Lukas Dostal.Arizona Coyotes: BAt fifth overall, the Barrett Hayton pick was far too high. If John Chayka's insistence that Hayton was their man from the start was true, surely they could've traded down slightly and gotten another asset out of it - even if it was just another pick. Still, Hayton is an incredibly smart player with great vision and playmaking skills. He'll be a good player for the Coyotes. It was just a questionable choice at fifth overall.Their later picks were good for the most part; Jan Jenik shows flashes of creativity and skill that look promising, and Liam Kirk was an intriguing gamble in the seventh round. It'll be interesting to see if he's taken in the upcoming CHL Import Draft and how he fares next season if so.Calgary Flames: CThe Flames didn't really impress. With few picks, and no trades for higher-round picks, their choices were limited, although their selections were of the type that could potentially pan out. Milos Roman has playmaking potential, and Dmitry Zavgorodniy has pretty decent hockey sense. All in all, though, an underwhelming effort.Chicago Blackhawks: A–With their first pick at eighth overall, the Blackhawks got Adam Boqvist. As Boqvist was in the top five for many over the course of the season, that's a great pick. Nicolas Beaudin was taken a little early at 27th, but the Blackhawks made up for it by snagging both Jake Wise and Niklas Nordgren in the second round. Philipp Kurashev is another interesting playmaking type. Alexis Gravel is far from a sure thing, as goalie prospects go, but he's shown flashes of promise. Most importantly, these guys were solid bets for where they were chosen.Colorado Avalanche: BMartin Kaut has high-end vision and is quite skilled with the puck, and while he was a bit of a reach at 16th, it really was a tiny one. He could stand to improve his skating, but he should be a good player. The Avalanche had a good Day 2 as well, snagging Sampo Ranta, a good skater with good finishing ability, and Tyler Weiss, another really good skater with playmaking skills. They added several other picks as well, including Justus Annunen, a 6-foot-4 goaltender from Karpat.Dallas Stars: BTy Dellandrea at 13th overall specifically was not the smartest decision, at least in terms of talent left on the board. Dellandrea in a general sense was a really great player on a really terrible team this season, and if he can be that guy or better moving forward, the Stars have a versatile player who's a good skater and reads the ice well. They also snagged re-entry Adam Mascherin, who was initially drafted in the second round by the Panthers in 2016. As to the rest of their picks, there is potential in players like Albin Eriksson and Oskar Back (if Back improves his skating).Edmonton Oilers: BRealizing they could get Evan Bouchard at 10th and choosing not to trade up is the smartest thing the Oilers have done in a while. He's a good all-around defenseman who could crack an NHL lineup sooner rather than later. Then they snagged another first-round talent, center Ryan McLeod, in the second round (giving them the Ryan of both the Strome and the McLeod clans, longtime family friends). Top-rated North American goaltender Olivier Rodrigue rounds out what was a solid, if not thrilling, weekend for the Oilers.Los Angeles Kings: B+After snagging Rasmus Kupari at 20th, a bit lower than some thought he would or should go, the Kings got another first-round talent in Akil Thomas in the second round. That alone was good, but they also bet well on most of their other picks, including tenacious Aidan Dudas and smart puckhandler Bulat Shafigulin. We'll have to wait and see on goaltender Jacob Ingham, but in the sixth round he was worth taking a chance on.Minnesota Wild: C–The Wild went well off-board with their first-round pick, Filip Johansson. Johanssen has potential, but he was quite a reach as a first-rounder. They did get Jack McBain, who fell farther down the board than perhaps he should have given his high-end hockey smarts. Most of their other picks are question marks whose success will be determined by development. The Wild didn't have a terrible weekend; they just left too much talent on the board.Nashville Predators: DThis is not up to David Poile's usual standards. Initially, the Predators' first pick was at No. 89; they then traded down and didn't pick until 111th. Given how talented players kept falling down the board, that feels inexcusable. Of the four players they did draft, no one really jumps off the page, and all are a ways away from the NHL, if they get there. Spencer Stastney has been good for the USNTDP, but he doesn't have the instincts to be a game-changer, and Jachym Kondelik has pretty good hockey smarts, but can't really skate.San Jose Sharks: B–Although we said the Sharks needed to focus on rebuilding their defensive prospect pool, we didn't expect them to take the most contentious prospect in the draft, Ryan Merkley. Still, they did and there's a good chance he'll work out well for them if he gets his act together. Most of their second-day picks were safe guys with upside. There's potential there, but what everyone is going to remember about this Sharks draft is the Merkley pick.St. Louis Blues: B+Not only did the Blues take Dominik Bokk in the first round, they got World Junior Championship defenseman and re-entry Scott Perunovich with their second-round pick. Between Bokk's playmaking abilities and skill with the puck and Perunovich's high-end hockey smarts, those two picks alone would make it a good weekend. Their other picks all have aspects of their game to like as well.Vancouver Canucks: B+Quinn Hughes immediately became the Canucks' best prospect on defense when selected Friday night. His skill set is elite, he's incredibly smart, and he's a phenomenal skater. Don't be surprised if management tries to woo him away from college and into the NHL next season. Their Day 2 picks (obviously) weren't as high end, but there is potential in guys like Tyler Madden, Artyom Manukyan, and Jett Woo.Vegas Golden Knights: C+After an impressive first draft in 2017, the Golden Knights took a step back. Of course, you can't have three first-round picks every year - they didn't even have one this year - so that makes sense. Still, most of their picks were fairly shoulder-shrug and do nothing to get your average prospect pundit excited. Ivan Morozov was a good choice in the second round, though, with his smart two-way play and ability to read the ice very well. Stanislav Demin has potential on defense, but not of the game-breaking variety.Winnipeg Jets: C–With no high picks, the Jets had to make do - but they didn't, really. None of their picks leap off the page, and David Gustafsson was too high at 60th. Nathan Smith and Declan Chisholm have potential, but are a long way off, and their other picks were uninspiring. Still, there's a chance one or two guys from this draft pan out, and in the end that's really what you're looking for.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.

Niklas Hjalmarsson will reportedly be staying in the desert beyond the upcoming season.The veteran defenseman agreed to a two-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes, according to 98.7 Arizona Sports' Craig Morgan.Hjalmarsson's new deal can't be made official until July 1.The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his current pact with the Coyotes at a cap hit of $4.1 million. Terms of his new contract are not yet known.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time leading scorer is apparently keen on a reunion.Rick Nash has the Blue Jackets at the top of his list of potential destinations, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reports.The Blue Jackets are showing more interest in the pending unrestricted free agent than they showed at last season's trade deadline, and Nash, who turned 34 on June 16, is looking for a multi-year deal, according to Portzline.Nash played for Columbus from 2002-03 to 2011-12. He served as the team's co-captain in 2007-08 and was the sole Blue Jacket to wear the "C" from 2008-09 until his final season in Ohio.He's the club's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played.Nash produced 18 goals in 60 games for the New York Rangers this past season. He chipped in six points in 11 regular-season contests and five points in 12 playoff appearances for the Boston Bruins after being traded in late February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two key members of the Vegas Golden Knights may have played their final games for the expansion franchise.James Neal and David Perron fielded offers from other clubs when the interview period opened Sunday, and the pair of 30-year-old pending unrestricted free-agent forwards have been unable to come to terms on new contracts with the Golden Knights, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's David Schoen.Perron's agent, Allan Walsh, told Schoen on Sunday that the club hasn't made a new offer to his client since the season ended, and that there haven't been any negotiations since the two sides exchanged proposals at the trade deadline.Neal's representative, Patrick Morris, wouldn't reveal if any offers have been received from Vegas, but hinted that an agreement with the Golden Knights would likely have to come before the official start of unrestricted free agency if the team wants to retain him."Common sense says that if (Neal is) not signed by July 1, he's probably not coming back (to Vegas)," Morris said.For what it's worth, Morris did say his client is interested in remaining in Nevada."Until further notice, James prefers to keep things quiet,” Morris said. "I don’t believe in negotiating in the media. All I can tell you is he loves Vegas and he wants to stay."Perron led the Golden Knights with a career-high 50 assists in the regular season and ranked third on the club with a career-best 66 points. Neal ranked fourth on the team with 25 goals and sixth with 44 points.Both players were instrumental in helping Vegas become the most successful NHL expansion team ever. Perron produced nine points in 15 postseason games, and Neal chipped in six goals and 11 points in 20 playoff contests as the Golden Knights surpassed all expectations en route to a Stanley Cup Final appearance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Carlson is staying put, as the highly sought-after defenseman re-signed with the Washington Capitals on an eight-year contract worth $8 million per season, the club announced Sunday night.

The Vancouver Canucks pulled off a minor trade on Sunday, dealing forward Michael Chaput to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Tanner Kero.Kero spent the majority of last season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League where he had eight goals and 20 points in 36 games. He also contributed one goal and two assists for the Blackhawks in eight NHL contests.Chaput also spent most of the season in the AHL, where he put up 17 goals and 42 points in 55 games. He also dressed in nine games for the Canucks this past season, where he went pointless.Kero remains under contract for one more season, while Chaput is a pending restricted free agent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and forward Nikita Soshnikov agreed to terms on a one-year contract, the team announced on Sunday.The deal will pay the speedy forward $800,000 and keep him with the Blues through the 2018-19 season, according to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic.Soshnikov began this past season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he failed to crack the lineup and only played three games with the team before being dealt to the Blues in February for a fourth-round pick.The 24-year-old played in just 12 games with the Blues following the trade, where he amassed one goal and one assist.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Xavier Ouellet on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract on Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Ouellet has one year left on his contract with a cap hit of $1.25 million. With the buyout, the Red Wings will be able to save just under $1.1 million next season.The 24-year-old is coming off a 2017-18 campaign that saw him go goalless with seven assists across 45 games. Since being drafted in the second round in 2011, Ouellet has just five goals and 23 points in 141 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals and defenseman John Carlson were unable to come to terms on a contract extension ahead of the unrestricted free agent interview period, and in turn, teams have begun calling, according to his agent."As of the moment we do not have a deal in place with Washington and as permitted, I am getting/taking calls from other interested teams," agent Rick Curran said, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The UFA courting period opened on Sunday, meaning teams can now speak to pending free agents about signing a deal on July 1. Carlson will hit the open market if he goes unsigned with the Capitals before then.Following the first round of the draft on Friday, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said the club and Carlson's camp were close to signing a contract and that he was hopeful both sides could get something done within the next few days.The 28-year-old is coming off a monstrous season. He lead all NHL defenseman with 68 points in the regular season, set a Capitals' playoff record for points by a blue-liner with 20 in 24 games, and won his first-ever Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Chris Wideman to a one-year, $1 million contract extension on Sunday, the team announced."We're happy to have Chris back for next season," general manager Pierre Dorion said in a release. "We felt that last year he was trending to become the active, puck-moving defenseman that will complement our style of play. We certainly missed Chris after his injury and he has since been cleared to resume full athletic competition with no restrictions. He's having a great summer of training and we know he's excited to get to Ottawa for training camp."The 28-year-old is coming off a two-year, $1.6-million contract and was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Wideman was limited to just 16 games last season and tallied three goals and eight points. In 156 career games over the last three seasons the former fourth-round pick has put up 14 goals and 38 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two-hundred-and-seventeen players were drafted this weekend, and for most, it’s far too early to know what kind of players they’re going to be, especially given how much influence what happens after the draft has. We can only judge on what we know now - but we’re going to judge anyway.It’s time for draft grades. First up: the Eastern Conference.Boston Bruins: C–It’s difficult to get top marks when you don’t draft until the late in the second round, but there’s nothing particularly enamoring about the rest of the Bruins’ picks either. Jakub Lauko has potential and Axel Andersson is a good skater. Everyone else is kind of “eh, we’ll see, I guess.”Buffalo Sabres: A–Rasmus Dahlin is an amazing defenseman. Mattias Samuelsson has the potential to be a pretty good one, although he could stand to work on the offensive side of his game in college. The rest of the Sabres’ Day 2 group are more unknown quantities and none of them really jump off the page. If it weren’t for Dahlin throwing off the curve, this grade would be slightly lower.Carolina Hurricanes: B+Andrei Svechnikov instantly becomes one of the Hurricanes’ best forwards, especially with Elias Lindholm now in Calgary. Jack Drury, who heads to Harvard University next season, has potential but was picked perhaps a bit higher than necessary - the Hurricanes left a little talent on the board there. Luke Henman’s hockey IQ is good and Lenni Killinen is a good skater, but it’ll take time and development to get a clear picture of what they really got on Day 2.Columbus Blue Jackets: B+Liam Foudy was a reach at 18 - perhaps too much of one. The Blue Jackets somewhat made up for that when they managed to snag Kirill Marchenko in the second round, especially as Marchenko was a player general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said that they had ranked in the first round on their list. The chances they took later on Day 2 could pay off for them as well.Detroit Red Wings: A+The Red Wings had the best draft in the East (besides the New York Islanders). Great picks just kept falling into general manager Ken Holland’s lap, and he didn’t overthink them, and the Red Wings’ prospect pool benefited immensely. After getting Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno on Day 1, they kicked Day 2 off with Jonatan Berggren and Jared McIsaac, two players many prospect pundits had ranked inside their first round. Alec Regula of the London Knights could end up a good bet as well. They added 10 prospects in all, and in drafting, quantity is almost always beneficial (with some exceptions).Florida Panthers: B+After the Panthers chose Grigori Denisenko on Day 1, they launched Day 2 with Serron Noel, a player who could have easily been a first rounder. Logan Hutsko is more of an unknown than the two before him, but if he can be the player scouts say he is, there’s serious potential there. Those three tip the scales toward a higher grade.Montreal Canadiens: A–Choosing Jesperi Kotkaniemi at 3rd overall when a player like Filip Zadina was still on the board may have caused some to look askance at the Canadiens, but their overall draft haul - 11 prospects - puts them in a much better position than they were prior to this weekend. After Kotkaniemi, who was possibly the best center in the draft, they drafted Jesse Ylonen, Jacob Olofsson, Cameron Hillis, Jordan Harris, Allan McShane, Cole Fonstad, and several others.New Jersey Devils: BThe Devils were pleased when defenseman Ty Smith fell to them, and rightfully so. Smith could’ve gone higher than 17, and will be a great addition to their defensive pool. The rest of their picks were guys who could skate well, or guys who could make plays, along with a decent goalie prospect in Akira Schmid. Given that they didn’t have a second or a third round pick, they definitely could’ve done a lot worse.New York Islanders: A+Best draft in the East besides the Red Wings. When you start your picks off with offensive standout Oliver Wahlstrom and Memorial Cup Champion Noah Dobson, and then select Bode Wilde, Ruslan Ishakov, Blade Jenkins, Jake Pivonka, and Jakub Skarek on Day 2 - that’s a pretty good weekend, folks. The Islanders’ prospect pool got a much-needed kick in the pants at this year’s draft.New York Rangers: B+Vitali Kravtsov at 9th overall was a little startling, but not in a bad way. He’s got the potential to be a very good player at the next level. K’Andre Miller is a phenomenal skater who needs some seasoning at the college level, but could be great for them in the future. Picks like Joey Keane, Nico Gross, and Riley Hughes could turn out to be good gets late, and they snagged steady, smooth Nils Lundkvist with their last first-rounder. All in all, a pretty good weekend for the Rangers.Ottawa Senators: B–Brady Tkachuk was a good pick at 4th overall, but the Senators absolutely left talent on the board with Filip Zadina still around. Jacob Bernard-Docker was a huge reach in the first round, so that knocked their grade down as well. Still, they ended up with guys like Jonathan Tychonick, Jonathan Gruden, and Angus Crookshank (contender for the runner-up slot in the Best Draft Names category as well as a good puck-handler). Despite making some questionable choices, they still improved their prospect depth overall.Philadelphia Flyers: C+Joel Farabee is going to be one exciting player. After that, though, the Flyers sort of underwhelmed. Jay O’Brien was way off-board at 19th - no offense to Jay O’Brien - and they also picked Adam Ginning too high at 50th given who else was still around. They just left too many good players on the board after their first pick to target average skill guys that seemed safe. It was like they got their man in Farabee and just figured they could do whatever afterward.Pittsburgh Penguins: B–The Penguins only took four prospects, which bumped their grade down, in the later rounds especially, quantity in prospects is good, but those four prospects were pretty good choices. Calen Addison was an excellent get for the Penguins at 53rd, and filled an organizational need to boot. Filip Hallander was another player ranked higher than he was selected, and he’ll make a great addition to their forward prospect pool. Gorman is somewhat of an unknown quantity, but Almeida could have real potential.Tampa Bay Lightning: D+The plus is generous here and was given because Gabriel Fortier or Alexander Green could turn into something. All in all, though, this year’s draft class is not remotely up to the Lightning’s usual standards, and it’s difficult to muster up any real enthusiasm. Here’s hoping they managed to find a diamond in the rough.Toronto Maple Leafs: B+This was a pretty good first draft from new Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas. Trading down to take Rasmus Sandin was smart, because they got their guy and got another pick out of it. Sean Durzi attended their camp last summer, and while some could argue (possibly rightfully) that drafting an overager that high is questionable, there’s something to be said for knowing the player you’re getting. The rest of their picks balance it pretty well, given that they got Filip Kral late and picked up Semyon De-Arguchintsev, who has real offensive potential to go with his terrific name. There are reasons to feel good about this year’s haul, Leafs fans.Washington Capitals: C+The Stanley Cup Champion Capitals went pretty safe with their picks. Alexander Alexeyev is steady and smart, and has potential to make an impact. Kody Clark and Martin Fehervary can play, but don’t have much in the way of high offensive ceilings. They did get Eric Florchuk, a pretty competent forward, with their seventh-round pick, and the guys chosen in between were pretty safe choices. Overall not a bad around, but not a standout one—they just went more for safety than for offensive upside in most of their choices.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.

This year's NHL draft featured its usual share of noteworthy selections, but the major storylines from the weekend had little or nothing to do with the picks themselves.With the two-day event in the books, here's a handful of observations:Opening night was a dudThe first round transpired without much drama.In the days leading up to the draft, there was trade chatter involving the likes of Ryan O'Reilly, Jeff Skinner, and Craig Anderson, so it was surprising to see no players dealt during the opening round, and only the swap involving Philipp Grubauer and Brooks Orpik in the hours before.Couple that with the fact the first two picks Friday night (Rasmus Dahlin by the Sabres and Andrei Svechnikov by the Hurricanes, respectively) were virtual locks for weeks - nearly two months, in the case of the former - and the first round didn't quite deliver in terms of intrigue.Sure, there were a few surprises when it came to the rest of the picks on opening night, as several teams made off-the-board choices and passed on top prospects, but the excitement simply wasn't there. Day 2 was way more funWhile Day 1 lacked fireworks, the action picked up Saturday, beginning with the Los Angeles Kings landing Ilya Kovalchuk on a three-year deal and culminating with the blockbuster trade between the Calgary Flames and Hurricanes involving Dougie Hamilton, Elias Lindholm, and Noah Hanifin.There were also some excellent names selected, and some history made, as Liam Kirk became the first player born and trained in England to be drafted by an NHL club.What Friday night lacked in subplots and major developments, Saturday had in spades.Kovalchuk's deal may have opened the floodgatesAfter reportedly meeting with four teams - the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Kings - Kovalchuk's camp quickly settled on L.A. on Saturday morning.While the Kovalchuk signing was followed by the aforementioned major move, there may be more coming now that the veteran sniper's market value has been established.

The Washington Capitals wanted Philipp Grubauer out of the Metropolitan Division and turned down a better trade offer from the Carolina Hurricanes to ensure that happened, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.The Hurricanes offered up their second-round pick - 42nd overall - and were also willing to take on veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik's $5.5-million salary to obtain Grubauer, but the Capitals preferred to send the netminder to an opponent outside of their division.They ultimately shipped Grubauer, alongside Orpik, to the Colorado Avalanche for the 47th selection. Given Colorado is in the opposite conference, Washington will only face the goaltender twice next season if he suits up for both games.The Avalanche signed Grubauer to a three-year extension Saturday reportedly worth $3.33 million per season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello doesn't seem too worried about his franchise player exploring the open market.Following a report that the Islanders captain will speak with five clubs once the pre-free agency talking period opens Sunday - reportedly including the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs - New York's approach to negotiations hasn't changed."I have no disappointment, no discouragement," Lamoriello said on Saturday. "I think that he's earned every right to make whatever choice he has. The most important thing is that we hope the decision is to be an Islander."Should Tavares reach free agency, he'll be the biggest name to hit the open market since Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in 2012.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just when it appeared the second day of the NHL draft was going to end without any fireworks, the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a blockbuster five-player swap in Dallas on Saturday.Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm were shipped west, while Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and unsigned prospect Adam Fox are headed to Raleigh.At first glance, the deal works for each side, as both the Flames and 'Canes are getting a potential top-pairing defenseman who can anchor their blue line. Below, we'll take a closer look at what each team received and assign trade grades to determine who won the draft-day deal.FlamesAcquisitions: C Elias Lindholm, D Noah HanifinDespite having arguably the best-looking D corps on paper entering last season, the Flames flopped hard in 2017-18, failing to qualify for the postseason for the seventh time in nine years.So, in an attempt to inject some fresh blood into his lineup, general manager Brad Treliving brought in a player in Hanifin who's just scratching the surface of the potential that convinced the Hurricanes to select the young American fifth overall in 2015. From the Flames' perspective, Hanifin is the crown jewel of the exchange, and how his career pans out will decide who won the trade.However, Lindholm's value as a capable second-line center with 40-50-point potential clearly sweetens the pot for Calgary. He's also a former fifth overall pick in his early 20s who's yet to hit his ceiling.Interestingly enough, both Hanifin and Lindholm are set to become restricted free agents July 1, so Treliving has some work to do to ensure his newly added pieces remain in Cow Town for the foreseeable future. With former Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters now behind Calgary's bench, don't be surprised if both re-up with the Flames very soon.There's no denying Hamilton's potential as a top-pairing rearguard, but Hanifin's upside and Lindholm's consistency are enough to give the Flames a solid grade. - LivingstoneGrade: B- HurricanesAcquisitions: D Dougie Hamilton, F Micheal Ferland, D Adam FoxIn most cases, the team that receives the best player in a trade comes out victorious. That means we won't know the winner of this one for at least a few seasons. Don Waddell could either regret the deal for years or end up looking like a genius.Hamilton is a legitimate No. 1 defenseman and is only 25 years old. That's a rarity. He had 17 goals last year and has recorded at least 40 points in four straight seasons. He's 6-foot-6 and can skate like the wind. To say he's plateaued in his development wouldn't be fair at all.The concern is that Hanifin, 21, could be better than Hamilton within a couple of years. When you factor in Lindholm's potential, this has the makings to be catastrophic for the 'Canes. At the same time, there's also no guarantee either player reaches their ceiling.Additionally, Ferland is a decent top-nine forward, while Fox is a wild card.The problem is the Hurricanes aren't exactly in win-now mode. They haven't made the playoffs since 2008-09 and weren't very close last season. As good as Hamilton is, he's not going to make them a Cup contender within the next couple of years. Ultimately, it would be a good trade if the Hurricanes were ready to contend, but they're not.If they can quickly become a playoff team again, this deal will be worth it. If not, it'll be a waste of Hamilton's prime years. - WegmanGrade: C+(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There were plenty of outstanding names called during the 2018 NHL Draft, but these 10 stood out above the rest:10. Michael Kesselring, OilersThis name should be a bitter reminder to all of Phil Kessel's haters that the Penguins forward has not one Stanley Cup ring, but two.9. Shamil Shmakov, AvalancheShamil Shmakov sounds like a regular name at first, then someone added the "sh" at the beginning to make it sound made up. But it's not, and it's awesome.8. Trey Fix-Wolansky, Blue JacketsFix-Wolansky could provide a quick fix for the Blue Jackets' offensive woes. Imagine Zach Werenski and Fix-Wolansky sharing the ice on the power play? We can only dream.7. Eetu Pakkila, DevilsIf the Devils don't play this song when Pakkila scores, but replace the word "tequila" with his last name, they need a new in-arena entertainment person. The fans would go crazy.6. Wyatte Wylie, FlyersThe Arizona Coyotes should've done the entire hockey community a favor by drafting this man. The Wylie Coyote? Even if he never made the NHL, Wylie would've been a fan favorite with Arizona's AHL club, the Tucson Roadrunners. Talk about an opportunity squandered.5. Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, SabresThis is perhaps the most Swedish name of all time, and oh my is it ever glorious. It will be a headache for broadcasters and writers, but a joy for fans.4. Blade Jenkins, IslandersBlade has a truly a great hockey name, and he could slide right in as a member of White Goodman's dodgeball team. Too bad it's not a more common name. Stick blade? Skate blade? This guy was born to play hockey.3. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Maple LeafsHyphenating "Der" as a part of any last name makes it incredibly cool, but ahead of Arguchintsev? That's a dynamic der-oh.2. Angus Crookshank, SenatorsWouldn't Angus Crookshank be a great name for the villain in a horror movie?1. Bulat Shafigullin, KingsMost of the players on this list were only blessed with either an amazing first name or last name. But Bulat Shafigullin has it all. We can only hope he has a Bulat of a shot.Honorable mentions: Lenni Killinen, Jonathan Gruden, Jasper Weatherby, Demetrios Koumontzis, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Yegor Sharangovich, Bode Wilde, Jett WooCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche signed newly acquired netminder Philipp Grubauer to a three-year contract on Saturday, the team announced.The deal reportedly carries a $3.33-million cap hit, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Avalanche obtained Grubauer from the Washington Capitals in a draft-day deal that saw the club part with its second-round pick. Colorado also acquired veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik as part of the trade, who was placed on waivers Sunday.In 35 appearances last season, Grubauer posted a 15-10-3 record with a .923 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a solid Hawkey trade Saturday.The Oilers acquired netminder Hayden Hawkey from the Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round pick in next year's draft, the teams announced.The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons at Providence College, going 24-12-3 with a .919 save rate across 40 games this past season.The Canadiens originally selected Hawkey in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite some brief rumblings on the draft floor Saturday, it appears Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is staying put for now.Reports during the final rounds of the draft suggested Pacioretty could be on his way to the San Jose Sharks. Ultimately, those reports turned out to be just smoke. When the day ended, the Canadiens had "nothing going" on the Pacioretty trade front, reported TSN's Bob McKenzie, and for the time being, Montreal apparently plans to keep him in the lineup.McKenzie notes that things could always change.Earlier Saturday, Pacioretty officially changed agents, leaving Pat Brisson of CAA Sports and joining Allan Walsh at Octagon.Pacioretty is coming off his 10th season with the Canadiens, in which he posted a mediocre 17 goals and 37 points in 64 games. Still, with five 30-plus goal seasons to his resume, he remains a valuable commodity.The 29-year-old is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $4.5 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

View all 217 picks made at the NHL Draft using theScore's draft tracker.Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4

The Arizona Coyotes and Liam Kirk made some history at the NHL draft Saturday when the team selected the forward with the 189th overall pick.Kirk is the first England-born player who also trained there to be selected by an NHL team.The 18-year-old from Rotherham spent the last two seasons with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.The Coyotes have another England-born player, Brendan Perlini, on their NHL roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Elias Lindholm and blue-liner Noah Hanifin to the Calgary Flames on Saturday for defenseman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland, and defenseman Adam Fox.The deal came to fruition after rumors out of Carolina over the last handful of weeks indicated the Hurricanes were willing to move more than a few of their roster pieces.Calgary gets a top-five draftee in Hanifin with top-pairing potential. Lindholm, meanwhile, is a serviceable center with the ability to slot into a top-six role while also contributing offensively (he had 16 goals and 28 assists).Both players are set to become restricted free agents July 1, so Flames general manager Brad Treliving has some more work to do.As for the Hurricanes' haul, Hamilton is clearly the prized acquisition, as he finished ninth in Norris voting only a year ago. He's coming off a solid season for the Flames in which he registered 44 points in 82 games to go along with an excellent 57.4 Corsi For rating.Fox is still likely a couple of years away from contributing at the NHL level, but Ferland adds intrigue to the deal as a peripheral piece who can chip in offensively with a timely goal or assist. He put up 21 goals and 20 assists in 77 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than 24 hours after acquiring his services, the Colorado Avalanche placed rearguard Brooks Orpik on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Related: Capitals trade Grubauer, Orpik to AvalancheOrpik was sent to Colorado along with former Capitals teammate and backup netminder Philipp Grubauer in exchange for Washington's 47th pick in this year's draft. But it's become clear the Avs were focused on Grubauer as the focal point of the deal, and always intended on buying Orpik out of the final year of his contract (he has a cap hit of $5.5 million).The 37-year-old is fresh off a Stanley Cup run with the Caps. Orpik played all 24 postseason games while registering one goal and four assists, so he should have some teams interested in adding his veteran skill set.Orpik was a first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2000 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Big news came from the NHL draft floor Saturday, as New York Islanders forward John Tavares will use next week's interview period to speak with five teams, his agent Pat Brisson confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Tavares can begin talking with interested teams Monday - one week out from July 1, when he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. The fact Tavares has elected to speak with other teams does not rule out the possibility that he could re-sign with the Islanders, as LeBrun notes.While nothing is confirmed, the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars are reportedly expected to be among the teams Tavares meets with on Monday or Tuesday, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Staple speculates that the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights could talk to him as well.Tavares is coming off his ninth season with the Islanders. He tallied 37 goals and 84 points in 82 games for the second-most productive campaign of his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Ilya Kovalchuk, the team announced Saturday.The deal reportedly comes with an average annual value of $6.25 million, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Kovalchuk is 35 years old and five years removed from the NHL, but has remained productive overseas, collecting 31 goals and 63 points in 53 games this past season with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL."We are excited to add Ilya to the L.A. Kings organization. He gives us an added element of skill and scoring along with a desire to win. We will withhold further comment until July 1," said Kings general manager Rob Blake.Kovalchuk was eligible to negotiate with teams and agree to terms on a deal since being activated off the voluntary retirement list April 15, but he cannot officially sign a contract until free agency opens July 1.Multiple teams had interest in acquiring Kovalchuk's services, but the Russian sniper was ultimately most interested in L.A.'s three-year offer.

The Florida Panthers selected hulking winger Serron Noel with the 34th pick of the 2018 NHL draft Saturday.Serron NoelPosition: Right Wing