There is room for only 31 on Day 1, but Day 2 of the NHL draft is a totally different animal.In rapid fashion, 186 players will be selected over the final six rounds Saturday.Here are five names to watch.SERRON NOEL, forwardPre-draft projection: Rounds 1-2. He was listed 10th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com put him 21st among draft-eligible players.The backstory: Noel is the son of Dean Noel, a former CFL running back. He calls Canada's capital home, and grew up in the Ottawa Senators' minor hockey system. Describing him as a Day 1 "faller" might be a stretch, but he's the type of player who will be labeled a steal once the madness wraps up in Dallas.The draft info: Noel is raw - and that's a compliment. He is a tremendous skater for his size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and has improved all aspects of his game by leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons. The right winger racked up 28 goals and 25 assists in 62 games with the Oshawa Generals last season and is due to wreak havoc on the OHL in 2018-19. A feather in Noel's cap: six points in five games at the highly competitive world U18 tournament in April.BODE WILDE, defensemanPre-draft projection: Rounds 1-2. He was listed 17th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 31st among draft-eligible players.The backstory: Wilde's been a highly touted blue-liner since his early teens. The dual citizen was born in Montreal but grew up and still lives in the Detroit area. He is a product of the USNTDP and, in many scouts' opinion, a first-round talent. A son to skiers, Wilde is named after Olympic skier Bode Miller.The draft info: Wilde checks off many boxes. He has a pro body (6-foot-4 and 198 pounds at 18), is a great skater, and brings game-breaking abilities. However, he lags behind his peers in the cost-benefit department. Oftentimes, Wilde chooses the riskier option, rushing the puck or forcing a pass instead of playing it safe. His 2018-19 whereabouts are in limbo, as news leaked last week that the right-hander will not attend the University of Michigan this fall. The Saginaw Spirit own his OHL rights.JAKUB SKAREK, goalie(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Pre-draft projection: Rounds 2-3. He was listed second on NHL Central Scouting's ranking of European goalies, while HockeyProspect.com had him 53rd among draft-eligible players.The backstory: Skarek has honed his skills exclusively in the Czech youth, junior, and pro systems, climbing the ranks without a hitch. Though this year's crop of goalies is considered so-so, there are some intriguing netminders, including Skarek. Upper-echelon goalie prospects tend to go off the board in bundles on Day 2 - once one team pulls the trigger, the floodgates open.The draft info: Skarek's name may ring a bell due to his poor showing at the 2018 world juniors. The big-bodied, athletic Czech allowed 14 goals on 92 shots for a team headlined by Filip Zadina and Martin Necas. Back home, Skarek posted a .913 save percentage in 21 games in the top domestic league before his club, HC Dukla Jihlava, was relegated. Next season, the 18-year-old is Finland-bound, as Liiga's Lahden Pelicans inked him to a deal in May.BLADE JENKINS, forwardPre-draft projection: Rounds 3-5. He was listed 26th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 164th among draft-eligible players.The backstory: Jenkins is a true Michigan boy. He was born in Jackson, played his minor hockey in Detroit, spent a season with the USNTDP in Ann Arbor, and now skates in Saginaw for the OHL's Spirit. His dad is ex-ECHLer Todd Jenkins. Bonus: his fantastic name sounds like something straight out of a fictional hockey book.The draft info: One of the youngest prospects in the entire 2018 class, Jenkins doesn't turn 18 until August. The right-handed center posted solid numbers for an OHL rookie this past season, contributing 20 goals and 24 assists in 68 games. He is lauded by scouts for his superior hockey sense. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, size is not an issue.LIAM KIRK, forwardPre-draft projection: Rounds 6-7. He was listed 65th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of European skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 113th among all draft-eligible players.The backstory: Kirk is a world champion, although he earned his gold medal in a group most hockey fans ignore. The 6-foot-2, 161-pounder helped Great Britain win the Division I tournament in April. And he might make history in Dallas - if selected, he'd become the first NHL draft pick born and trained in England. In other words, he's the quintessential sentimental choice as Day 2 winds down.The draft info: Kirk, 18, is a speedy left-handed forward who recorded nine goals and seven assists in 52 pro games this past season as a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League's Sheffield Steelers. Next season, in an attempt to further his development, Kirk plans to dress for whichever junior club selects him in next week's 2018 CHL Import Draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite winning back-to-back Stanley Cups only one season ago, things in Pittsburgh haven't exactly seemed rosy for Phil Kessel and the Penguins.Related - Report: Kessel not opposed to trade, would play for Tocchet's CoyotesReports at the end of May indicated a potential rift between Pens head coach Mike Sullivan and the 92-point man over Kessel's frustration with not playing enough minutes on superstar Evgeni Malkin's wing in the postseason. And earlier this week, it was reported that Kessel would even consider a trade out of Pittsburgh.Sullivan attempted to clear the air about their relationship on Friday."My relationship with Phil has been the same for three seasons," Sullivan said, according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic."It hasn't changed. It's evolved because we've been through different experiences both as a group and as individuals. But my relationship with Phil is the same as it's always been. It's one of mutual respect. That's how I see it."The Penguins came up short of the final this season, but the team has been consistently successful over the last handful of years. Much of that has to do with both Kessel and Sullivan, so reports of conflict between the two came as somewhat of a surprise."Phil had a great season for us," Sullivan said. "He had one of the best seasons of his career. He was one of our better players for a lot of the season. He's a guy who helped contribute and put our team in position to compete for the Stanley Cup."Sullivan added, "The reality is, our relationship is as good as it's ever been."Regardless of Kessel's rumored willingness to accept a deal elsewhere, he remains under contract with the Penguins for another four seasons at a cap hit of $6.8 million ($1.2 million is still paid by the Toronto Maple Leafs).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL draft kicked off Friday night with a touching tribute to the Humboldt Broncos. Team president Kevin Garinger accepted the 2018 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, given annually to the prospect "who best exemplifies the commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism as selected by NHL Central Scouting," on behalf of the Broncos team.After tears were wiped away, things got weird.Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka went off the board and took Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds fifth overall. The league’s other 30 GMs seemingly took that as permission to do whatever they pleased, and the resulting chaos left quite a bit of confusion in its wake.Joe Veleno, the first player to obtain exceptional status and play in the QMJHL at age 15, fell to the Detroit Red Wings at 30th overall (he’d been ranked consistently in the top 10 by many for most of the season). Bode Wilde and Serron Noel fell out of the first round entirely. Suffice to say no one could’ve predicted exactly how the 2018 first round played out.Here are our winners and losers after Day 1.WinnersWashington Capitals: Before the draft began, the Capitals traded Brooks Orpik and Philipp Grubauer to the Avalanche for Colorado's second-rounder at 47th overall. The trade dumps Orpik’s cap hit and leaves Washington room to sign pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman John Carlson, which is expected to happen over the weekend. That's great news for a team that wants to try to win a second straight Stanley Cup.Colorado Avalanche (conditionally): According to Joe Sakic, the Avalanche intend to either trade or buy out Orpik. If that happens, they got Grubauer for a second-round pick and that trade, one for one, looks good for them, too.Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin is a literal game-changer for the franchise. Yow.Detroit Red Wings: Boy, things are looking up for Red Wings general manager Ken Holland after last year’s forgettable draft. Taking Michael Rasmussen when several better players were still on the board was widely criticized. He didn’t make that mistake this year. Filip Zadina fell to sixth overall, and Holland practically swan-dove onto the stage to select him. Later, Veleno fell to 30th, and you can bet Holland didn’t miss there, either. A great first day for him and Detroit.New York Islanders: With back-to-back picks at 11 and 12, the Islanders selected Oliver Wahlstrom (who should not have fallen to 11th) and Noah Dobson (who probably shouldn't have dropped to 12th). Take a minute and imagine Wahlstrom playing with Mat Barzal.Ryan Merkley: Lots of pre-draft chatter had Merkley’s boom-or-bust style and reports of attitude problems knocking him out of the first round. The San Jose Sharks took a chance on him at 21st overall, and if he turns into the player his ceiling suggests he could be, the Sharks will reap major benefits.LosersArizona Coyotes: John Chayka knows what he’s doing in a lot of situations, but taking center Barrett Hayton at fifth overall was a head-scratcher. While Hayton is a solid player, he’s not a game-breaking, top-10 talent. Who knows, though, a few years down the road, we could be proven wrong.Ottawa Senators: Let’s make one thing clear: the Senators aren’t on this list because they drafted Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk, while not the best player available at fourth overall, is a very good player. But it feels like by choosing to keep this year’s pick, with the uncertainty surrounding Erik Karlsson and with chances being good the Senators are worse next year, Ottawa's sealed its fate. Next year’s first-round pick goes to the Avalanche, and the Senators are really going to regret it if that pick somehow turns into Jack Hughes. Colorado sure hopes it does.Philadelphia Flyers: This one is a maybe, because their first pick at 14th overall, Joel Farabee, is a fantastic player. But their second pick is suspect. Jay O’Brien would be a good mid-second-round pick, but the Flyers grabbed him at 19. While no one outside the draft floor knows the chatter that took place, surely O’Brien wasn’t such a hot commodity that the Flyers couldn’t trade down and still get him.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the biggest potential NHL free-agent prizes might be off the market before the frenzy begins.Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan says a new deal with defenseman John Carlson could be imminent."We're close," MacLellan told reporters after the first round of the NHL draft in Dallas on Friday night, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "Hopefully we get something done in the next couple of days."The Capitals cleared some cap space earlier Friday by trading goaltender Philipp Grubauer and blue-liner Brooks Orpik to the Colorado Avalanche.Carlson will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if he's unable to come to terms with Washington.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Rasmus Sandin with the 29th overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.Position: Defense

The Ottawa Senators chose defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.Jacob Bernard-DockerPosition: D

The St. Louis Blues traded up to pick No. 25 - sending the 29th and 76th overall selections to the Toronto Maple Leafs - which they used to select forward Dominik Bokk.Dominik BokkPosition: Right Wing

The New York Rangers selected K'Andre Miller with the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas. New York acquired the selection from Ottawa for the 26th and 48th overall picks.K'Andre MillerPosition: Defense

Don't believe the Wayne Simmonds trade rumors just yet, as the Philadelphia Flyers are aiming to re-sign the forward."We're going to try and sign him," general manager Ron Hextall said from the NHL Draft, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 29-year-old has one season remaining on his contract that carries a $3.975-million cap hit. Simmonds also has a 12-team no-trade list.In 75 appearances last season, Simmonds notched 24 goals and 22 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Prior to picking 11th and 12th in the first round of Friday's draft, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was working the phones.Related: Islanders select Oliver Wahlstrom 11th overallAhead of picking forward Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Noah Dobson, Lamoriello attempted to trade one of his two first-round picks for a roster player who could contribute right away, he told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Related: Islanders draft Noah Dobson 12th overallLamoriello would not confirm if the player in question was goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who earlier in the night was traded from the Washington Capitals to the Colorado Avalanche. It was recently reported that the Islanders were among the teams interested in acquiring Grubauer.

The Edmonton Oilers landed the top-ranked North American defenseman in the 2018 draft, selecting Evan Bouchard 10th overall Friday night in Dallas.Evan BouchardPosition: Defense

The Vancouver Canucks selected defenseman Quinn Hughes with the 7th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas.Quinn HughesPosition: Defense

The Detroit Red Wings selected forward Filip Zadina with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.Filip ZadinaPosition: Right Wing

The Arizona Coyotes drafted Barrett Hayton with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas.Barrett HaytonPosition: Center

The Ottawa Senators drafted forward Brady Tkachuk with the fourth pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday.Brady TkachukPosition: Forward

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.Position: Center

The Carolina Hurricanes chose Andrei Svechnikov second overall Friday night.Andrei SvechnikovPosition: RW

Ilya Kovalchuk's preferred NHL destination is starting to become much clearer, as the highly sought-after winger's agent, J.P. Barry, met with the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported earlier Friday that the quartet of clubs were expected to meet with Kovalchuk's camp.Rumors have swirled regarding Kovalchuk and his desire to return to North American arenas since March. And there has been no shortage of teams showing interest in the 35-year-old Russian.Kovalchuk hasn't suited up in the NHL since 2013, but scored 31 goals and added 32 assists in 53 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL this past season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres selected phenom blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas.Rasmus DahlinPosition: Defense

Brooks Orpik was sent to the Colorado Avalanche along with Philipp Grubauer for a second-round pick in a draft-day trade, but the veteran blue-liner might not be in Denver for long.The Avs reportedly intend to trade Orpik, and if they can't, the team will probably buy him out, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The Avalanche are apparently trying to help send Orpik to "a preferred landing spot," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added.Orpik has one year left on his contract with at $5.5-million cap hit. A buyout would go as follows, according to Cap Friendly:SeasonCap Hit2018-19$2.5M2019-20$1.5MOrpik, 37, finished with zero goals and 10 assists in 81 games this season. The physical, stay-at-home defenseman added a goal and four assists during the Washington Capitals' run to a championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals traded goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Brooks Orpik to the Colorado Avalanche for the 47th overall pick in this year's draft, the team announced Friday."We would like to thank Brooks and Philipp for all of their contributions to our organization," general manager Brian MacLellan said in a release. "Philipp has been a consummate professional and a great teammate and we wish him all the best. Brooks was a great leader and a tremendous role model for our young players in his four years with our organization. This was a difficult move, but the one we felt we needed to make in order to give some flexibility moving forward."Grubauer is coming off his third season as a backup to No. 1 Braden Holtby that saw him post career highs in games and wins with 35 and 15, respectively, while posting a .923 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average.Orpik, meanwhile, just completed his fourth season in Washington and put up 10 assists in 81 contests. The 37-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at $5.5 million.With the addition of the Avalanche's second-round pick, the Capitals now have seven selections in the draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings will look to free agency for help between the pipes."Obviously, we want to sign a goalie," general manager Ken Holland said from the NHL draft in Dallas, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "We're going to talk to some goalies this week. I don't know if I'll really be trading for one, but we're going to talk to some free agents."While unrestricted free agents can't officially sign until July 1, teams can gauge their interest beginning Monday.Should the Red Wings go the free-agent route, their options could include Kari Lehtonen, Jaroslav Halak, Robin Lehner, and Cam Ward.Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard is under contract for one more season, carrying a $5.29-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is expected to decide on Day 2 of the NHL draft whether to take advantage of the free-agency interview period that opens Sunday, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Thursday that there's zero chance of a sign-and-trade involving the team captain.The superstar forward would be the biggest name on the market if he were to test unrestricted free agency July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Stephen Johns to a three-year, $7.05-million contract extension Friday, the team announced.Johns is fresh off a two-year, $1.45-million contract and would have become a restricted free agent on July 1."Stephen has developed into a solid contributor on our back-end," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release. "He plays a very fast, physical game and is just starting to hit the prime of his career. We're pleased to have him locked up for the next three seasons."The 26-year-old is coming off his third season with the Stars and posted career highs in both goals and points with eight and 15, respectively. He also led the club with 155 blocked shots and 201 hits.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars beefed up their coaching staff Friday, naming veteran bench boss Rick Bowness as an assistant coach.Bowness is the latest addition to new coach Jim Montgomery's staff. He comes to Dallas after five campaigns with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who let him go in May.The 63-year-old has been in the coaching ranks for more than three decades, including five stints as head coach with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and Phoenix Coyotes.He's the Stars' latest hire since assistant coach Todd Nelson, who spent the last three seasons with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Elias Lindholm are not seeing eye to eye.Lindholm's camp and the club met on Friday to discuss a new contract. The meeting didn't go well and both sides remain far apart, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun adds that now a trade "is very much possible." That comes after LeBrun also reported Lindholm is garnering interest on the trade market.The 23-year-old has completed his entry-level contract and will become a restricted free agent on July 1. He recorded a second consecutive 40-plus-point season in 2017-18 and tied for fifth on the Hurricanes with 16 goals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Louis Domingue won't be bolting anywhere this offseason.The Tampa Bay Lightning signed the goaltender to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.15 million, the team announced Friday.Domingue was acquired midseason to back up Andrei Vasilevskiy and performed admirably, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average in 12 games.The 26-year-old spent the previous three seasons of his career with the Arizona Coyotes. He owns a lifetime .907 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average in 96 NHL games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom will test free agency when the market opens July 1, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.Enstrom recorded one goal and six points in 43 games during the 2017-18 season.In May, the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Enstrom's tenure with the Jets was likely finished, in large part due to being scratched during the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Enstrom was reportedly playing through a rib injury and was upset by coach Paul Maurice's decision.Enstrom has spent his entire career with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization after being drafted 239th overall in 2003.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed centerman Markus Granlund to a one-year contract valued at $1.4 million, the team announced."Markus is a versatile forward with the ability to play in all situations," general manager Jim Benning said. "He plays a complete, two-way game and has shown he can produce offensively. We look forward to seeing Markus continue to develop as a Vancouver Canuck this season."Granlund registered eight goals and four assists in 53 games for Vancouver last season. He was drafted 45th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2011.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill confirmed that the team will not retain goaltender Robin Lehner for the 2018-19 season."We've made a decision on Robin Lehner. It was a difficult decision. Robin is not coming back next year. We felt we had to make some adjustments," Botterill told reporters Friday.It was widely expected that Lehner wouldn't receive a qualifying offer with free agency scheduled to begin on July 1, the same day he will become an unrestricted free agent.Linus Ullmark could be in line for more starts as a result.Lehner posted a 3.01 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 50 games during the 2017-18 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators continue to try and turn the page on a difficult campaign and a strenuous offseason, as the team now searches for a new home for veteran netminder Craig Anderson, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Related: Senators trade Hoffman to Sharks for BoedkerReports regarding Anderson's potential departure come only days removed from Mike Hoffman's trade to the San Jose Sharks, as Sens general manager Pierre Dorion looks to shake things up.Related: Sens GM on trading Hoffman: 'Our dressing room was broken'Anderson is under contract with Ottawa for the next two seasons at a cap hit of $4.75 million. He also has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to submit a list of 10 teams that he would not accept a trade to.The 37-year-old had a rough season in 2017-18, registering a 23-25-6 record to go along with two shutouts, a 3.32 goals-against average, and a lowly .898 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have hired Dan Bylsma as an assistant coach, the team announced Friday.Bylsma most recently served as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, but was released in April 2017 after the team failed to make the playoffs in his two seasons with the organization.The 47-year-old is best known for his stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which included a Stanley Cup win in 2009. Pittsburgh fired him in 2014."I know that Dan will make a great impact on our team, and we're excited to add him to the bench," Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said via NHL.com. "His resume speaks for itself, including the Stanley Cup championship and Jack Adams Award. I also had the unique opportunity to work with Dan at this year's World Championship, and that experience leaves no doubt that Dan will bring innovative ideas and tremendous attention to detail to our coaching staff."Bylsma also played 429 games in the NHL, split between the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 NHL Draft begins Friday night, when 31 players will find out the starting point of their NHL careers. Before it begins, theScore ranks the top 50 prospects in this year's pool.RankPlayerPos.Team1Rasmus DahlinDFrolunda (SHL)2Andrei SvechnikovRWBarrie (OHL)3Filip ZadinaRWHalifax (QMJHL)4Brady TkachukLWBoston University (NCAA)5Quinn HughesDMichigan (NCAA)6Oliver WahlstromRWUSNTDP7Jesper KotkaniemiCAssat (SM Liiga)8Adam BoqvistDBrynas IF (SuperElit)9Noah DobsonDAcadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)10Evan BouchardDLondon (OHL)11Joe VelenoCDrummondville (QMJHL)12Joel FarabeeLWUSNTDP13Barrett HaytonCSault Ste. Marie (OHL)14Ty SmithDSpokane (WHL)15Rasmus KupariCKarpat (SM Liiga)16Martin KautRWPardubice (Czech Extraliga)17Vitali KravtsovRWChelyabinsk (MHL)18Grigori DenisenkoLWYaroslavl (MHL)19Dominik BokkRWVaxjo Lakers (SuperElit)20Jake WiseCUSNTDP21Bode WildeDUSNTDP22Serron NoelRWOshawa (OHL)23Isac LundestromCLulea (SHL)24Ryan MerkleyDGuelph (OHL)25Ty DellandreaCFlint (OHL)26K'Andre MillerDUSNTDP27Ryan McLeodCMississauga (OHL)28Jonny TychonickDPentiction (BCHL)29Jared McIsaacDHalifax (QMJHL)30Rasmus SandinDSault Ste. Marie (OHL)31Jonatan BerggrenRW/CSkelleftea (SuperElit)32Akil ThomasRWNiagara (OHL)33Mattias SamuelssonDUSNTDP34Liam FoudyCLondon (OHL)35Alexander AlexeyevDRed Deer (WHL)36Jay O'BrienCThayer Academy (USHS)37Jack McBainCToronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)38Nils LundkvistDLulea (SHL)39Benoit-Olivier GroulxCHalifax (QMJHL)40Calen AddisonDLethbridge (WHL)41Jesse YlonenRWEspoo United (Mestis)42Nicolas BeaudinDDrummondville (QMJHL)43Jacob OlofssonCTimra IK (Allsvenskan)44Cameron HillisCGuelph (OHL)45Aidan DudasCOwen Sound (OHL)46Blake McLaughlinLWChicago Steel (USHL)47Adam GinningDLinkopings HC (SHL)48Jakub LaukoC/LWChomutov (Czech Extraliga)49Jacob Bernard-DockerDOkotoks (AJHL)50Jett WooDMoose Jaw (WHL)1. Rasmus Dahlin

After 13 seasons in the blue paint in Carolina, Cam Ward's time as a Hurricane appears to be nearing its end. The netminder is likely to hit the open market come July 1, Ward's agent told Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer, although he'd prefer to stay on.The 34-year-old Ward is set to become an unrestricted free agent. He stole the crease back from supposed No.1 Scott Darling last season, registering a 23-14-4 record to go along with a 2.73 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.According to Ward's agent, some teams have already expressed interest in the goaltender's services.Ward was drafted 25th overall by Carolina in 2002, and he's the franchise leader in games played (668), wins (318), and shutouts (27). He won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, and also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy for that postseason performance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any NHL draft selection is at best an educated guess. Even among the top picks, a year's worth of scouting and analysis boils down to an uncertain decision, with teams hoping, at the very least, that this one pans out.Each year, the talent is distributed differently. Sometimes there's a can't-miss generational superstar locked into the No. 1 slot. Other times, there are two prospects worth debating over at the top, or one position group that heavily outweighs others. Regardless of how it shakes out, there are no guarantees.Fifteen years ago in Nashville, though, it appeared teams could do no wrong, as the 2003 draft produced arguably the league's greatest talent crop ever.That wave of prospects didn't feature slam dunks at the top like in 2004 (Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin) and 2005 (Sidney Crosby). Its hype also paled in comparison to the 2003 NBA Draft, held one week later, where LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade famously went in the top five. But looking back, the NHL's 2003 draft class shifted the league's landscape just as much.Top (left to right): Nathan Horton, Eric Staal, Andrei Kostitsyn, Marc-Andre Fleury; Bottom: Milan Michalek, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Thomas Vanek, Dustin BrownOf the 292 players drafted, 130 went on to play at least one NHL game, including all 30 first-rounders. Three members (and counting) of the storied draft class have topped 1,000 career contests, with a remarkable 45 players going on to suit up in at least 500. From the big dogs at the top to the hidden gems unearthed in later rounds, the class is rife with Stanley Cup and international champions, All-Stars, and major individual award winners."It was the best draft I have ever seen," former Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher told Michael Russo, then of the Star Tribune, in 2016. "In the 2003 draft, if you didn't select an All-Star, you were falling behind your competition."Fletcher has a point, as 17 players chosen in the first round alone have played in at least one All-Star Game. And while the names at the top of the list aren't as renowned as its closest rival in the "Greatest draft of all time" debate - the 1979 class that featured Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, Mike Gartner, Michel Goulet, and a handful of other Hall of Famers - 2003's depth makes it truly special.With that in mind, let's use what we've learned over the past 15 years to redraft the first round. All picks were made using the original draft order, with scouting reports included for the top five selections.1. Florida Panthers - Eric Staal, CActual Pick: Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins)

The Montreal Canadiens reportedly weren't the only team interested in acquiring Max Domi from the Arizona Coyotes.Prior to the Friday trade that sent Domi to the Canadiens, a deal was discussed that would've seen the playmaking winger moved to the Minnesota Wild, sources told Michael Russo of The Athletic.The reported transaction would've seen the Coyotes acquire forwards Jason Zucker and Nino Niederreiter in exchange for Domi and, potentially, center Christian Dvorak.Russo added that the Coyotes likely would've also taken on expensive forward Tyler Ennis, who carries a $4.6-million cap hit for one more season, according to CapFriendly.It would've been a major cap-clearing move by new Wild general manager Paul Fenton.To Arizona (Salary) To Minnesota (Salary)Zucker (RFA)Domi (RFA)*Niederreiter ($5.25M)Dvorak ($839K)Ennis ($4.6M)*Domi has since signed a two-year extension with the Canadiens that carries a $3.15-million cap hit.The 26-year-old Zucker, a restricted free agent, is coming off a career year in which he posted 64 points, so it's safe to assume he's due a significant raise on his current $2-million salary.In the end, the Coyotes shipped Domi to the Canadiens for forward Alex Galchenyuk.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said there's zero chance of a sign-and-trade for John Tavares, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Teams around the league can begin courting Tavares on June 25, but he's free to re-up with the Islanders at any point. He's officially an unrestricted free agent as of July 1.Related: Trotz confident Tavares negotiations will go smoothlyTavares, 27, just completed a six-year contract that paid him $5.5 million annually. Considering his 84-point output in 2017-18 and a league-wide salary-cap increase of nearly $5 million next season, he could potentially double his salary.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars plan to sign forward Valeri Nichushkin to a two-year contract when free agency opens on July 1, general manager Jim Nill confirmed to Sean Shapiro of The Athletic.Nichushkin has spent the past two seasons with the KHL's CSKA Moscow but is eyeing a return to Dallas, the club which selected him 10th overall in the 2013 draft.The 23-year-old played parts of three seasons with the Stars before heading home to Russia. He notched 14 goals and 20 assists across 79 games in his impressive NHL rookie year.With Moscow this season, Nichushkin tallied 16 goals and 11 assists in 50 contests to finish fifth in team scoring. While those numbers may seem underwhelming, it may be worth keeping his recent production in perspective."Goals and points is very difficult to find on the big ice surface. Particularly in that league, and it's a very tight-checking league," Nichushkin's agent, Mark Gandler, said last month. "So points and goals are difficult to come by, but considering all that, I think it was a very good season."Nichushkin's offensive abilities are sure to help the Stars, as they finished 19th in goals scored last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark your calendars: The NHL schedule is here.The league announced the full slate of games for the 2018-19 season Thursday afternoon. The schedule offers plenty of reasons to be excited - and once the dust settles on the draft and free agency, hockey fans won't have much else to cling to.Here are five must-see games to circle for 2018-19.Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens - Oct. 3The first game of the new campaign features the two oldest franchises in the league. The historic rivals routinely provide entertaining games, and above all else, they'll signal that hockey is officially back.Opening night also features Washington's banner-raising ceremony, which should pale in comparison to some of the Capitals' celebrations this offseason.Sabres vs. Bruins - Oct. 4(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)It's time to usher in the Rasmus Dahlin era in Buffalo, and hockey fans will get their first glimpse of the Swedish phenom and presumptive No. 1 pick when the Sabres open their season versus the Bruins.The hype surrounding Dahlin is enormous, as his game has been compared to fellow countrymen Nicklas Lidstrom and Erik Karlsson. The 18-year-old recorded 20 points in 41 games for Frolunda in the SHL last season, and also represented Sweden at the world juniors and Olympics. His arrival in Buffalo could serve as the turning point the franchise has long been seeking.Devils vs. Oilers - Oct. 6The Devils and Oilers will kick off their seasons across the pond in Gothenburg, Sweden as part of the 2018 NHL Global Series. The matchup features the last two MVPs, as Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall will renew acquaintances, plus a serious dose of Swedish talent, including Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, and Marcus Johansson.The second installment of the Global Series takes place in November, when the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets travel to Helsinki, Finland.Bruins vs. Blackhawks - Jan. 1(Photo courtesy: Action Images)You're never going to believe this, but the Chicago Blackhawks are scheduled to play in an outdoor game.After a one-year break, the Blackhawks will suit up in their sixth outdoor game, this time versus the Bruins in the Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium. Both teams have played their fair share of hockey outside over the last few years, but the combined star power, the venue, and the potential for two retro-based Original Six jerseys should make this matchup worthwhile.Islanders vs. Capitals - Jan. 18After compiling a 205-89-34 record over four seasons with the Capitals, Barry Trotz will return to Washington on the visitor's bench after agreeing to a five-year deal with the Islanders.Trotz's departure may not have been totally shocking, as it was known he was in need of a new deal, but it's uncommon for a head coach to leave after winning the Stanley Cup. His return to D.C. should provide some closure and help create quite an atmosphere - especially if the Isles and Caps are jockeying for position in the Metropolitan Division.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL released the full schedule for the 2018-19 season Thursday, one day after announcing the home openers for all 31 clubs.The schedule includes four Global Series games featuring the Devils, Oilers, Panthers, and Jets; the 2019 Winter Classic on Jan. 1, which will see the Blackhawks and Bruins take it outside at Notre Dame Stadium; and another outdoor game between the Penguins and Flyers for the Stadium Series on Feb. 23.The puck drops Oct. 3. Click here for the full schedule or below for each team's schedule.Metropolitan Division

Goaltender Robin Lehner could reportedly jump from RFA to UFA before free agency opens.The Buffalo Sabres aren't expected to offer the pending restricted free agent a qualifying offer as July 1 nears, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, leaving the club with a gaping hole between the pipes.If Lehner leaves, Buffalo will be without an NHL goalie - although Linus Ullmark is expected to graduate from the AHL this fall. Chad Johnson, Lehner's backup this past season, is a UFA.Lehner, who has split his NHL career between the Ottawa Senators and Sabres, has a save percentage of .915 through 219 games. He would join an underwhelming UFA goalie class headlined by Jaroslav Halak, Cam Ward, Kari Lehtonen, Jonathan Bernier, and Carter Hutton.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz appears confident he'll begin his first season as head coach of the New York Islanders with their franchise player leading the attack.Asked about the John Tavares situation on a conference call, Trotz said he had a "great conversation" with the All-Star and believes his negotiations with the organization are in "great hands" with new president and GM Lou Lamoriello, according to Andrew Gross of Newsday.Since last July 1, there has been rampant speculation on whether Tavares will hit the free-agent market or re-up with the Islanders on a long-term extension. It's still unclear which side he's leaning toward, but by hiring Lamoriello and Trotz, it's clear the Isles are doing everything they can to keep the 2009 No. 1 pick in orange and blue."I think what I know of Lou, what I know of John ... I felt strongly that once Lou gets with John ... Lou's going to execute a plan, a long-term plan that will be very successful so we can chase the Stanley Cup and win a Stanley Cup," Trotz added.Related - Report: Tavares focusing on extension talks with IslandersTeams can begin negotiating with Tavares on June 25, while the free-agency window officially opens July 1.In 82 games in 2017-18, he has registered 37 goals and 47 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Elias Lindholm is in high demand as he heads toward restricted free agency, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.While LeBrun notes the Hurricanes would like to re-sign Lindholm, teams are still inquiring about a potential trade involving the 2013 NHL draft's fifth overall pick. "He is a player to monitor," LeBrun wrote.'Canes general manager Don Waddell and Lindholm's agent Peter Wallen are expected to chat on Friday at the NHL draft, LeBrun adds. However, at this point, talks have not progressed.Lindholm, a 23-year-old from Boden, Sweden, is looking for his third NHL contract. He registered 45 and 44 points in 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively, on a two-year, $5.4-million deal.The Hurricanes, whose new owner Tom Dundon has been open about his desire to determine the trade value of his players, have also reportedly gauged interest in sniper Jeff Skinner and top-four defenseman Justin Faulk.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion traded away forward Mike Hoffman for the sake of his team, he told reporters Thursday."Trading Mike Hoffman was something we needed to do, our dressing room was broken" Dorion said, per TSN. "We have to have a dressing room that wants to win together."Dorion made the move after Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson and his wife, Melinda, filed a peace bond against Hoffman's fiancee, Monika Caryk, for allegedly harassing the two on social media over a lengthy period of time.Related - Sens GM: Trading Hoffman improves team chemistryWhile Dorion admitted he was forced to deal the 28-year-old, he stopped short of implicating Hoffman and Caryk."This was not an indictment on Mike Hoffman," the GM said. "We needed to go in a different direction."In all this, the victim is Melinda Karlsson. Whoever did this needs to be brought to justice."The Senators traded Hoffman on Tuesday to the San Jose Sharks, who then flipped him to the Florida Panthers just hours later.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Milan Lucic - and his massive contract - may be staying put, Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli told reporters on Thursday.Lucic, who posted just 34 points in 82 games this past season, has been the subject of trade rumours, in large part due to an albatross contract which still owes the power forward $30 million over the next five years. However, Chiarelli says his confidence level in Lucic is "pretty high.""I think Milan’s a pretty high-character individual. He has to have a good summer," the GM said in Dallas ahead of the NHL draft. "Really, conditioning for him is not really an issue. He has to be in the right frame of mind. He’s a proud guy and we expect to have him back at a better level than he was last year.”Asked if Lucic has requested a trade out of Edmonton, Chiarelli was tight-lipped: "I'm not going to comment on that."Since signing with the Oilers in 2015 via free agency, Lucic has recorded 33 goals and 51 assists for 84 points in 164 games. He previously played for the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli isn't married to the club's first-round pick.Ahead of the first round of the NHL draft on Friday, the team has discussed trading its 10th overall selection."We would look to move the pick if the right player is available," Chiarelli told reporters. "I've had some discussions with some teams.""There's been a lot of chatter this week and we've been involved in the chatter," Chiarelli added. "We'll see where it goes."If Edmonton does elect to keep its first-round selection, Chiarelli says he plansto pick the best player available, even if outside wisdom suggests the team should use it on a defenseman.Keeping the selection would also mark the ninth time in the last 11 years that the Oilers have picked in the top 10.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have placed Eric Gryba on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the remainder of his contract, the team announced Thursday.The right-handed defenseman had one year left on a two-year, $1.8-million contract signed last summer. According to CapFriendly.com, the move will save Edmonton $300,000, as only $600,000 of Gryba's final year can be slashed from the club's payroll.“We just figured that he wouldn’t be in our lineup next year, and (a buyout) would clear up a contract," Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli told reporters during a media availability in Dallas. "And it would give Eric a chance to pursue his career elsewhere.”Gryba appeared in 21 games for the Oilers this past season, recording two assists while skating for nearly 15 minutes per night. The six-year veteran was acquired in a June 2015 trade with his original NHL team, the Ottawa Senators.The 30-year-old posted a farewell video to his official Twitter account shortly after the Oilers went public with the transaction:

Barry Trotz was named head coach of the New York Islanders on Thursday, two weeks after helping the Washington Capitals win the team's first Stanley Cup."Barry brings to the New York Islanders franchise a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience, and success," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a release. "He is and has been one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him."The deal is believed to be for five years with an annual average of at least $4 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. In terms of annual earnings, that would put Trotz just below Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien, who reportedly makes $5 million, and above the Edmonton Oilers' Todd McLellan, who reportedly makes $3 million, according to Cap Friendly.Trotz resigned from his position with the Capitals on Monday after the two sides failed to come to terms on a contract extension. His signing with the Islanders means Washington is the only team officially without a head coach.He's coming off his fourth year with the Capitals, in which they collected a third straight Metropolitan Division title and the franchise's first Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are two certainties heading into the NHL draft Friday night in Dallas.The first is that Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin will be selected first overall. The second is that a Canadian-born player likely won’t hear his name called until at least the fifth overall selection. The first Canadian player taken is expected to be either one of two defencemen: Evan Bouchard of the London Knights, or Noah Dobson of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.If the consensus holds true, it will mark the longest wait for a Canadian player to go off the board in 19 years. And it comes at a time when more American and Swedish-born players have been taken, particularly high in the opening round, over the past few years. The current cycle is reminiscent of a trend between 1999 and 2001 before Canadian players began to numerically dominate again.“Drafts are, by nature, cyclical,” said Red Line Report chief scout Kyle Woodlief. “When you have to start to adjust your thinking is when cycles become a trend.”Woodlief, a native Montrealer who now lives and operates his independent scouting newsletter out of Lake Placid, N.Y., was clear that he sees no serious issues with Canadian hockey that have negatively impacted the draft position of the country’s players.Woodlief said the expected results this weekend in Dallas are simply a reflection of Dahlin being an exceptional talent along with Russian Andrei Svechnikov, Czech Filip Zadina, and a couple of Americans led by Brady Tkachuk.Another factor is that the overall quality of this year’s draft is thought to be average at best. Other countries, particularly the U.S., are challenging Canada’s numerical dominance, but it’s also happening during a year when the whole exercise is not expected to produce a highly talented crop of future NHL stars, or even stalwarts.“Overall, Canada doesn’t have a Connor McDavid, or a Steven Stamkos, that we started to get used to for awhile,” said Woodlief. “But overall, there is still going to be a lot of Canadian players drafted all through the draft. But really, the draft is really just an average crop this year.”Hockeyprospect.com chief scout Mark Edwards has watched Americans churn out more players, and points out that the current cycle has another year to run.“There is no doubt that Americans are producing more players, and the team they have coming from their (U-18 program) next year is going to be even better,” said Edwards, in reference to the 2019 draft class topped by American whiz kid Jack Hughes. “It’s just been a down year for the (Canadian junior leagues).”Canada has had 12 players selected in the first round each of the past three years, a number that is down from 14 (2012), 18 (2013), and 14 (2014) in the previous three drafts. By comparison, working backward since last year, the Americans have had five, 11, and seven selected in the first round. The Swedes had four first-rounders last year in New Jersey, and four more in the opening rounds between 2016 (one) and 2015 (three). Finland, after some down years, has also produced several first-round picks since 2015, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi could poke ahead of any Canadian taken Friday night.Parsing the numbers at the top-end further, this year’s draft in Dallas is shaping up to be somewhat like Buffalo two years ago, when players from five different countries were selected in the opening round, highlighted by American Auston Matthews at No. 1. Pierre-Luc Dubois, who finished eighth in the Calder Trophy balloting with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was the first Canadian player taken at No. 3.Assessing overall drafted players can be a mugs’ game, as less than half ever play in the NHL, but in terms of overall players selected since 2012, Canadians have peaked at 100 (both 2012 and 13), while leveling off in the 80s since. During the same span, the U.S. had as many as 64 players taken (2014), to as few as 47 (2017).Here's the upshot of all the numbers and anecdotal analysis: Canada still produces the most players at virtually every discernable level - first-rounders, overall players drafted, and players cracking NHL rosters in their early-20s, but the Americans are closing the gap - and some would say rapidly.Consider this point: when the World Cup of Hockey was played two years ago in Toronto, the Young Stars (Under-23) team had more American-born players on it than Canadians, though that number was effectively evened out by Sean Couturier, who was born in the U.S. but considers himself to be Canadian after moving back “home” as a young kid.Beyond that, an across-the-board Under-23 list now would likely have just as many American names on it (and perhaps more) and quite a few Swedes and Finns, too.Woodlief, along with a handful of other NHL-connected people consulted over the past six weeks, say the Americans have simply woken up to the presence of hockey being played in all corners of their country.This type of organic growth will be on display at the draft in Dallas Friday night.“I think what you’re seeing is the population monster at work,” said Woodlief. “When you have 330 million people and the game is played in so many different markets, you’re going to see participation numbers (spike) … I think that was (evident) with Matthews two years ago.”Woodlief is referring to Matthews developing into a generational talent in the desert climate of Arizona while growing up in the Phoenix area. In addition, it is now common to see American players born in Florida, California, and Texas getting drafted and eventually appearing on NHL rosters.If there is some disquiet from a Canadian perspective, it’s that elite hockey development has narrowed the gap. A former NHL executive speaking on background said the evolution of the game has turned into a year-round pursuit, and that developing young hockey players has now become an elite sport. It requires immense financial and time commitment from the parents of young players to put their kids into elite programs, a fact of life for American families for decades.“We are now competing with Americans on level ground,” said the executive, who has had a hand in running two different NHL clubs. “Americans have always had to spend huge money to keep their kids in hockey, now we run programs all year round (in much the same way). You’ll never win that battle because the U.S. will eventually out-resource you.”Edwards, whose background includes coaching in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, says that Canada could also do well to keep an eye on Sweden and Finland.“I think you need to ask yourself, how come (Sweden) and the Finns are producing these guys as well … what is it they are doing that Canada isn’t?”(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While they'll certainly miss him, both Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom had nothing but praise for Barry Trotz following his resignation as head coach of the Washington Capitals."It’s hard when it happen right away, you know?" Ovechkin said, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "First of all, thanks for him to be with us, to give us a chance to win the Cup. All of what he did was only for the team, not for personal-wise. But I’m pretty sure he will be fine and he will find what he wants. It’s sad, but it’s a business."Nearly two weeks after Trotz coached the franchise to its first-ever Stanley Cup victory, he elected to resign from the role following fruitless contract negotiations. Still, Backstrom believes the 55-year-old will always be a popular figure in D.C."Something you can't take away from Barry is what he's done to this team," Backstrom said. "Him and the coaching staff has been doing a tremendous job to just get us together. He's been schooling us good these four years and we got a good finish out of it. ... Hopefully, there's no hard feelings. He's always going to be remembered in Washington as a champion, which is great, which he deserves."The Capitals will now look to find Trotz's replacement. General manager Brian MacLellan has already stated that assistant coach Todd Reirden will be interviewed for the position, and if he's the successor to Trotz, Ovechkin would be just fine with that."If it's Todd, I'm sure lots of guys, everybody, going to be really happy," Ovechkin said. "He's a guy who's a very good communicator, very good specialist and have lots of respect from us."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.