The countdown to the 2018 NHL Draft is drawing to a close. Friday night, the NHL careers of 31 teenagers will be set into motion and the fates of some franchises will be permanently altered. And someone, inevitably, will screw up their first-round pick.Who's going to get it right this year - and who will get it wrong?1. Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin | D | Frolunda HC (SHL)

The Golden Knights were the big winners at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, but there were plenty of other deserving recipients.Here are all the winners from this year's ceremony:Ted Lindsay AwardConnor McDavid wasn't a finalist for the Hart Trophy, but he did take home the next-best thing, capturing the Lindsay Award as the league's most outstanding player - as voted on by his peers - for the second consecutive year, and becoming the first to win it twice before the age of 22.James Norris Memorial TrophyTampa Bay Lightning blue-liner Victor Hedman narrowly nabbed the Norris, earning the honor as the NHL's best defenseman and edging out Drew Doughty in a relatively close vote.King Clancy TrophyDaniel and Henrik Sedin added one final piece of hardware to their extensive trophy cases, earning the award that recognizes humanitarian contributions.Calder Memorial TrophyIn one of the night's few virtual locks, Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders took home the Calder after leading all first-year players with 85 points.Lady Byng Memorial TrophyWilliam Karlsson snagged this one after finishing his breakout 43-goal regular season with only 12 penalty minutes.Bill Masterton Memorial TrophyNew Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle was a worthy recipient of the 2018 Masterton Trophy after overcoming a leukemia diagnosis in training camp and returning to score 10 goals in his first 25 games.EA Sports NHL 19 cover athleteP.K. Subban will be on the cover of EA Sports' NHL franchise for the first time after being named the poster boy for NHL 19.Frank J. Selke TrophyLos Angeles Kings star forward Anze Kopitar denied Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron of a record fifth Selke and won it for the second time in his career.Jack Adams AwardGolden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was the obvious choice here after helping Vegas become the most successful NHL expansion team ever.Mark Messier Leadership AwardVegas defenseman and resident Deryk Engelland earned this honor - given annually to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team on and off the ice during the regular season, and plays a role in his community growing the game of hockey - for being a fixture in the community following the tragic shooting in Las Vegas and for his leadership with the Golden Knights.Vezina TrophyNashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne captured the Vezina for the first time in his career.GM of the YearThe accolades just kept pouring in for the Golden Knights, and general manager George McPhee was the clear choice here, after overseeing the construction of the best NHL expansion roster of all time.Willie O'Ree Community Hero AwardLate Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan was the inaugural recipient of this honor, which is presented to the individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively impacted his or her community, culture, or society.Haugan died in the bus crash that killed 16 Broncos players and staff members back in April.Hart Memorial TrophyNew Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall claimed the final award of the night, edging out Colorado Avalanche dynamo Nathan MacKinnon.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mathew Barzal kicked off the NHL awards by claiming the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top freshman, then wrapped up the night by grabbing a spot on the All-Rookie Team.PositionPlayerTeam17-18 StatsFMathew BarzalIslanders82GP 22-63-85PFBrock BoeserCanucks62GP 29-26-55PFClayton KellerCoyotes82GP 23-42-65PDWill ButcherDevils81GP 5-39-44PDCharlie McAvoyBruins63GP 7-25-32PGJuuse SarosPredators26GP .925SV%Five of the six received votes for the Calder; Nashville Predators backup netminder Juuse Saros was the lone all-rookie freshmen held off the ballot. All three forwards - Barzal of the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser, and Arizona Coyotes winger Clayton Keller - received at least one first-place vote.

Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall are together once again, as the last two Hart Trophy winners and former teammates were named first-team All-Stars following the conclusion of the awards show in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.Here's a look at the entire first team:PosPlayer (Team)2017-18 pointsCConnor McDavid (Oilers)108LWTaylor Hall (Devils)93RWNikita Kucherov (Lightning)100DDrew Doughty (Kings)60DVictor Hedman (Lightning)63GPekka Rinne (Predators).927 Sv%Hall is one of four players to receive the honor for the first time, joined by Kucherov, Hedman, and Rinne. Hedman was recognized as the league's top defenseman at the awards, while Rinne took home the Vezina as the NHL's best goaltender.The league also announced the second-team All-Stars:PosPlayer (Team)2017-18 pointsCNathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)97LWClaude Giroux (Flyers)102RWBlake Wheeler (Jets)91DSeth Jones (Blue Jackets)57DP.K. Subban (Predators)59GConnor Hellebuyck (Jets).924 Sv%Other than Subban, all players on the list are making their first postseason All-Star appearance. MacKinnon finished as the runner-up to Hall in the Hart Trophy race, while Hellebuyck and Subban were finalists in their respective categories as well.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Late Humboldt Broncos coach Darcy Haugan was named the first-ever recipient of the Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday.The honor is presented to the individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively impacted his or her community, culture, or society.Haugan died in the bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 Broncos players and staff members in April."Haugan left a lasting impact in Humboldt, Sask., as well as every other community that was fortunate enough to have him as a resident or involved in junior hockey," the NHL wrote in a release. "He changed the lives of many of his players, always being there for each one of them and never hesitating to give them a second chance. He fought for his team and had their backs - he was the coach and mentor everybody wanted."Haugan believed strongly that the game is not about making hockey players; it is about making amazing human beings. He did just that, building up young leaders who also developed strong hockey skills along the way. His presence would fill the room and his love for the game was undeniable. Haugan died doing what he loved, surrounded by the young people he dedicated his life to. Haugan left behind, in all of those he touched, his spirit and passion for the game, his love for his beautiful family, and his example of dedication to his community."He was 42 years old and in his third season coaching the Broncos when the crash occurred.Debbie Bland of the Etobicoke Dolphins Girls Hockey League and Neal Henderson of the Fort Dupont Hockey Club were the other finalists for the award.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils winger Taylor Hall was awarded the Hart Trophy on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, edging out Colorado Avalanche sniper Nathan MacKinnon and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar to claim the first MVP honor of his career.Hall ranked sixth with 93 points in 2017-18, authoring a remarkable 26-game point streak in the process. His efforts were the main factor behind the Devils' first playoff appearance since 2012.

Vegas Golden Knights architect George McPhee earned the General Manager of the Year award Wednesday night after building the most successful expansion franchise in the history of the four major North American sports.McPhee earned the distinction over Kevin Cheveldayoff of the Winnipeg Jets and Steve Yzerman of the Tampa Bay Lightning after his perceived ragtag roster shocked the hockey world and reached the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural campaign.The longtime executive ultimately lost to his old club, the Washington Capitals, but his masterful expansion draft and his club's Pacific Division title made this one a no-brainer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators netminder Pekka Rinne was named this year's Vezina Trophy winner at Wednesday's NHL Awards.The 35-year-old finished the year with 42 wins - two back of fellow nominees Connor Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy for the league lead. This is the third time in his career that he has amassed 40-plus wins in a year, one shy of his career mark, which was set in the 2011-12 season.Rinne helped lead the Predators to their first career Presidents' Trophy. He finished the year with a .927 save percentage, a 2.31 GAA, and eight shutouts, which tied Vasilevskiy for the most league-wide and also set a franchise record.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland took home the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, given annually to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team on and off the ice during the regular season, and plays a role in his community growing the game of hockey.Engelland set career highs in points and average time on ice in his age-35 season. Though no player on the Knights wore the "C" in the team's inaugural year, Engelland was the squad's undisputed leader. He went out to receive the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl as Western Conference champions, a job done by the team's captain.A Vegas resident, he was a fixture in the community following the tragic Vegas shootings. He gave a passionate pregame speech prior to the team's home opener, and started a program inviting those affected by the tragedy to games throughout the season, meeting and thanking each guest after the final buzzer.Engelland is the first non-captain to win the award since 2006-07 - the first season it was given out - when Chris Chelios took home the hardware.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was named winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach at Wednesday's NHL Awards.Gallant coached Vegas to one of the most remarkable seasons in NHL history; the team captured the Pacific Division in its inaugural NHL campaign, the first expansion team from any of the four North American sports leagues to accomplish the feat. Meanwhile, the team also earned the most points ever by an expansion team.Under Gallant, 11 players hit career highs with the Golden Knights. This is his second nomination for the award after finishing as runner-up to Washington Capitals' Barry Trotz in 2016 when he was with the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward for the second time in three years Wednesday night.He played a major part in the Kings' league-best penalty kill and led all Los Angeles forwards in shorthanded ice time per game, while leading all NHL forwards in overall ice time per contest and posting career highs in goals (35), assists (57), and points (92).The star Slovenian center last took home the honor in 2016.

P.K. Subban will be the face of the NHL in video-game form.The star Nashville Predators defenseman was announced as the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 19 at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday night."Growing up, and still to this day, my friends and I love seeing who is on the cover and ultimately getting to play the game," Subban said in a press release. "Being the cover athlete for NHL 19, for me, represents growth within our sport, embracing different personalities, and showing that anything is possible. I'm honored to be able to sport the Smashville colors on this year's cover."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle took home the Bill Masterton Trophy on Wednesday, awarded annually to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."At the beginning of Devils training camp, Boyle was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer. He was able to return on Nov. 1, and recorded 10 goals over his first 25 games.Boyle also represented the Devils at the NHL All-Star Game in Tampa.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson claimed the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Wednesday, which is presented to the player voted to have "exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."It was a breakout season for Karlsson, who tallied 43 goals for the expansion Golden Knights, outpaced only by Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine. The Swedish center posted a league-best plus-49 rating - 13 points higher than the runner-up - while also finishing with just 12 penalty minutes.Karlsson joined Vegas from the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he scored just six goals in 81 games during the 2016-17 season.Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan O'Reilly and Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov were also 2017-18 finalists for the award.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie on Wednesday night.As expected, the voting wasn't particularly close:

Vancouver Canucks forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin claimed the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Wednesday, awarded to the player who "best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."The Sedins retired in April after 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the Canucks organization. Their community involvement included a $1.5-million donation to the BC Children's Hospital Foundation to expand services and help fund a new hospital.Since 2010, the Sedins have also helped raise $42 million for the Canucks for Kids Fund, in addition to advocacy work for the Canucks Family Education Centre and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker were also finalists for the award.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning blue-liner Victor Hedman earned the first Norris Trophy of his career Wednesday night at the NHL Awards, beating out Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators as the league's top defenseman for 2018.Hedman tied the league lead among rearguards with 17 goals and ranked fourth with a career-high 63 points for the first-place Lightning.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid took home his second Ted Lindsay Award in as many years Wednesday night in Las Vegas, earning the hardware as the NHL's most outstanding player, as voted on by members of the NHLPA.McDavid is the first player in the history of the award to receive it twice before the age of 22.The 21-year-old is coming off another sensational offensive campaign in which he paced the league by hitting triple digits in points (108) with 41 goals and 67 assists in 82 games.No. 97's blistering speed and video-game-like handles put fans in the seats despite the Oilers' struggles. If McDavid can maintain his health and continue to rack up impressive offensive numbers, he could add several more Ted Lindsay Awards to his trophy case.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman insists he isn't worried about the fate of the Ottawa Senators amid a pair of ongoing scandals involving the franchise."There's always going to be some issue somewhere that has to be dealt with," the NHL commissioner told reporters, including The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton, following a Board of Governors meeting ahead of the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday."The headstone has been written over the years for many franchises under a variety of circumstances and none of the burials ever took place. It's a moment in time," Bettman added.The commissioner has been forced to intervene with other franchises over the years, but he doesn't see the need to do that yet in Ottawa."We don't think the club is anywhere close to cardiac arrest ... there's no issue up there," Bettman said. "I think it's more sensationalized than anything else."There have been rumblings that the club might some day be put up for sale, a notion that Bettman attempted to squash before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last month when he insisted Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is committed to the franchise.Then came the two legal matters that the club is currently embroiled in.Last week, Melinda Karlsson, the wife of Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, applied for a peace bond against Monika Caryk, the fiancee of then-Senators forward Mike Hoffman, alleging a harassment campaign that came to a head after the Karlssons' son, Axel, was stillborn in March.Hoffman was traded to the San Jose Sharks and then subsequently to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.Before that, Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee was arrested and charged with harassment following an alleged incident involving a hotel shuttle driver in Buffalo ahead of the NHL scouting combine. Lee was initially allowed to remain in his executive role but was then suspended by the club until the resolution of his case.He's due back in court on July 6, meaning he'll miss the NHL draft this weekend in Dallas.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings don't like the price tag on Martin Frk.Detroit will not extend a qualifying offer to the 24-year-old restricted free agent, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, meaning Frk will be able to sign with any team of his choosing.An offer would have seen the Czech forward earn a 10 percent raise on his current salary, bringing his cap hit to $715,000 next season, per CapFriendly.While the possibility remains that the Red Wings could sign Frk as an unrestricted free agent at a salary lower than his qualifying offer, the level of interest remains to be seen. The deadline for qualifying offers is Monday.The Red Wings selected Frk in the second round of the 2012 draft. He played four seasons in the minors before landing a full-time role with Detroit this season, in which he tallied 11 goals and 14 assists in 68 games.This marks the second time Frk has left Detroit. In October 2016, the Red Wings attempted to demote him to the AHL, but he was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes. However, Frk returned to the Red Wings the following month when the team reclaimed him.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One day after a report indicated Phil Kessel isn't opposed to accepting a trade to the Arizona Coyotes, general manager John Chayka made sure to set the details straight.The initial report stated the Coyotes informed the Penguins a potential trade won't work because of Kessel's $6.8-million salary ($1.2 million is still paid by the Maple Leafs), but Chayka addressed the rumor Wednesday and said that's flat-out not true."I think it's terrible reporting," Chayka told Matt Layman of Arizona Sports. "It's inaccurate across the board from start to finish. I don't know where some things come up. I'm the one having trade discussions, those discussions with the Penguins haven't occurred. Unless someone else is making calls that I don't know about, I'm not sure where this information's coming from."The Coyotes recently traded for Alex Galchenyuk, and have a verbal agreement on a contract extension worth $8 million per season in place with franchise blue-liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Taking those transactions into account, Arizona would still have over $10 million in available space, per CapFriendly."To speculate on our economics I think is unfair," Chayka said. "I think we're trying to build out our group here. We've got a young group and we're trying to build through the draft and develop. Again, I'm not sure where it's coming from, but the basis of that reporting's not coming from anything tied to the Coyotes and it's certainly not anywhere close to factual. "Kessel's apparent availability comes weeks after a report revealed he and head coach Mike Sullivan butted heads over his deployment throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL salary cap will be between $79.5 and $80 million next season, though nothing is firm yet, commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters Wednesday, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The number still needs to be finalized with the NHLPA before it can be made official, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.If the cap winds up being on the larger end of that spectrum, it would mark a $5-million increase from last season's $75-million salary cap.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed both defenseman Connor Carrick and goaltender Calvin Pickard to one-year contract extensions, the team announced Wednesday.Carrick, 24, will make $1.3 million, while Pickard, 26, will earn $800,000 at the NHL level.

In his first offseason as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, Don Waddell could be quite busy.Waddell confirmed that Jeff Skinner's name on the trade market is not a fabrication."It's no secret that we put his name out there and we've gotten a lot of interest," Waddell said Wednesday on Hockey Central at noon.Earlier this month, it was reported that the Hurricanes were looking for a first-round pick and a prospect in exchange for Skinner."He's a big asset for us," Waddell said. "So we gotta make sure we get some kind of asset that we feel is gonna help us either today or in the future for a guy like Jeff."Another name that has surfaced in the rumor mill is Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin. Waddell said one team called him about Hanifin, but they haven't really thought about making a deal. Instead, the Canes are geared toward making the blue-liner a part of their future."Our goal is to get (Hanifin) signed to a long-term deal," Waddell explained.Skinner is a year away from unrestricted free agency, so moving him would make sense, even though he's a rather consistent goal scorer and an underrated two-way player. He's one year removed from a 37-goal season, and finished second in the NHL with 93 takeaways this past season.Hanifin, however, is only 21 years old and has shown gradual improvements each season. Trading the former fifth overall pick would seem foolish at this point in his career, unless a substantial haul were to come back in return.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will the Ottawa Senators roll the dice?According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the embattled Canadian franchise plans on using its fourth overall pick during Friday’s NHL draft.

If the Buffalo Sabres decide to trade premier center Ryan O'Reilly, they have at at least three potential suitors.The center-needy Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues have all shown interest in O'Reilly, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The Habs and Canes have both "had talks," while the Blues have "at least inquired" about O'Reilly's services, LeBrun notes.O'Reilly is one of the best two-way centers in the game. He finished this past season with 24 goals and 61 points in 81 games, but was also one of three players in the NHL with at least 65 takeaways, but less than 40 giveaways. He also set an NHL record for faceoff wins in a single season, and is a nominee for the Lady Byng Trophy, as he collected just two penalty minutes all season.O'Reilly has a cap hit of $7.5 million through 2022-23. However, he is due a $7.5-million bonus on July 1, LeBrun adds. His base salary is only $1 million through the remainder of his deal, but he is due a $5-million bonus for the last four years of his deal, per Cap Friendly.A team with deep pockets, such as the the Canadiens, could look to make a push before July 1, because once that bonus is paid, Buffalo's asking price may go up. A team like the Hurricanes may want to wait until after July 1.Marc Bergevin has been searching for a legitimate No. 1 center during his entire tenure as the Habs' GM. The Hurricanes haven't had a top-notch center since Eric Staal departed, while the Blues are likely looking to replace Paul Stastny, whom they dealt to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline.Both the Hurricanes and Blues have several blue-chip prospects they could offer. The same can't be said for the Canadiens, but they do have nine picks in the first four rounds of the NHL draft they could dangle as trade bait.It's possible a fresh start could bring new life to O'Reilly's game, as he said after another losing season with the Sabres this year that he "lost the love of the game multiple times."Since O'Reilly is under contract, the Sabres are fine keeping him if they don't get an offer to their liking, LeBrun says.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The National Hockey League will kick off the 2018-19 campaign with a juicy matchup between the reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins on Oct. 3.

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson was arrested over the weekend and subsequently charged with domestic assault in Franklin, Tenn., police said Wednesday, reports Natalie Neysa Alund of the Tennessean.The 26-year-old forward was arrested at 7:20 p.m. local time Saturday, and as of Wednesday, was free on a $4,500 bond. He's due to appear in court next on June 28.The Predators issued the following statement:

On draft weekend one year ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent shockwaves through the NHL by pulling the trigger on a blockbuster deal to acquire Artemi Panarin from the Chicago Blackhawks.The move paid immediate dividends, as Panarin silenced critics and put together a career-best 82-point season - then added seven points in six playoff games - without Patrick Kane by his side, while his trade counterpart, Brandon Saad, struggled mightily to kick off his second stint in Chicago.Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen looked like a genius for orchestrating the trade, but nearly 12 months to the day he acquired the Russian sniper, he finds himself on the opposite end of the spectrum, as news broke Tuesday that Panarin isn't concerned - at least, not at this point - about discussing a contract extension with Columbus, and the club will gauge how much interest the trade market has in its superstar.Safe to say there will be a lot.Players of Panarin's caliber rarely become available. The 26-year-old has one more season at $6 million before hitting unrestricted free agency. Perhaps Panarin is declining to commit as a tactic to create leverage, betting on himself to have another huge year in 2018-19 before having his pick of the litter when it comes to lucrative offers next summer. Should the Blue Jackets shop him as a rental, teams may be reluctant to mortgage significant pieces of their future for only one year of service.That said, the possibility of a trade-and-sign remains, wherein Panarin guarantees an interested team that he will agree to new terms once joining, increasing his value. Panarin's name suddenly in the rumor mill creates the buzz and speculation hockey fans crave this time of year. Here are three teams, with possible assets included, that should get Kekalainen on the phone to see if they can work out an arrangement.St. Louis Blues2018-19 projected cap space: $12.9 million

The Stanley Cup will pay a visit to Humboldt, Sask. along with several NHL players in August.An event jointly held by the NHL and NHLPA to help the community will take place in Humboldt on Aug. 24, the league and the players association announced Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.The event will occur in conjunction with Saskatchewan-born and raised Washington Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson bringing the Cup there that day, as he said he would in the afterglow of the Capitals' championship victory earlier this month.There will be an on-ice skills competition between NHL players, including Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.The SJHL's Humboldt Broncos were involved in a bus crash in April that resulted in 16 deaths and left 13 others injured.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators were instructed not to trade forward Mike Hoffman within the Atlantic Division, an NHL source told The Athletic's Craig Custance.It's uncertain who exactly was making these demands to general manager Pierre Dorion, but based on the team's organizational hierarchy, it becomes quite clear that it was owner Eugene Melnyk.Many teams have a president above the general manager, but the Sens' staff directory doesn't list such position. And, after former CEO Tom Anselmi departed the team, Melnyk took over those duties.Well, the instructions made to Dorion clearly backfired, as once Hoffman was dealt to the San Jose Sharks, he was then flipped back into the Atlantic Division to the Florida Panthers.The Senators apparently wanted players in return for Hoffman, not draft picks, so it's unclear whether a deal between Ottawa and Florida would've worked out. Also, it remains unclear whether wanting players instead of picks was Melnyk's or Dorion's call.Regardless, the Sens probably would've received a better return for Hoffman had they not ruled out a quarter of the league as a possible trade partner.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel has two Stanley Cup rings as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he's only been rocking black and yellow for three seasons.However, Kessel would consider a trade out of Pittsburgh, as The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports.Furthermore, Kessel would even be willing to play for his former assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who is now the head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, per Yohe. Although, Kessel's $6.8-million price tag is likely too juicy for the Desert Dogs to take on.Regardless, Kessel is coming off a career season in which he netted 34 goals and 58 assists for a career-high 92 points, so if he were to be made available, multiple teams would be lined up in an attempt to acquire his super-sniper services.The rumblings about Kessel's potential departure come less than a month after a reported beef between he and head coach Mike Sullivan. Kessel was apparently furious about not playing regularly with Evgeni Malkin during Pittsburgh's 2018 playoff run.Kessel played most of the postseason on the Penguins' third line, registering only one goal in 12 games. He is under contract in Pittsburgh for the next four seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers signed pending restricted free-agent defenseman Matt Benning to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.The contract reportedly comes with an average annual value of $1.9 million, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.In two years with the Oilers, Benning has totaled 36 points in 135 games played. The 24-year-old managed a plus-5 rating, despite the team's poor season in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday morning in the NHL was an unusually busy one, as the start of the day saw not one but two trades made before anyone even had a chance to grab a bite of lunch.Much-maligned forward Mike Hoffman was dealt coast to coast and back again, finally landing in Sunrise, Fla., with the Panthers. With the move, the San Jose Sharks positioned themselves nicely for further roster moves with added draft picks and salary-cap space. As for the Ottawa Senators, well, Mikkel Boedker was at least an eighth overall draft pick, right?All jokes aside, the Sens are in serious trouble. And realistically, despite Senators general manager Pierre Dorion's hand being forced due to Hoffman's off-ice issues, Ottawa is in worse shape today to make a run at the playoffs than it was yesterday.With that in mind, we break down the trades from each team's perspective and assign grades for each side involved in Tuesday's dealings.SenatorsSenators receive: W Mikkel Boedker, D Julius Bergman, sixth-round pick (2020).The only reason the Sens don't get a failing grade is because, as stated, Dorion's hands were tied. Simply put, he had to move Hoffman, even though the forward's value is at an all-time low. Although, Sharks GM Doug Wilson was able to get a better return for Hoffman than the Sens did which makes Dorion look incredibly bad. Wilson schooled him.Dorion ended up making the deal with the Sharks rather than the Panthers because he wanted players in return, not draft picks. A rebuilding team should prioritize draft picks over mediocre middle-aged players, but since the Senators don't have a first-round pick next year, there is incentive to be competitive next year.With that being said, however, Boedker's impact on where the Sens finish in the standings next year will be minimal. What Dorion should've done was taken the best possible return for Hoffman - regardless of what it is or who it's from - and then he could've turned that into a better player than Boedker if he so desired. - WegmanGrade: DPanthersPanthers receive: LW Mike Hoffman, seventh-round pick (2018).Off-ice issues aside, Florida lands the most talented player involved in Tuesday's wheeling and dealings with Hoffman, so Tallon should get some love for bringing in a pure sniper with the ability to rack up 25-plus-goal campaigns. Don't forget, he adds a top-six piece to an already stacked group - that includes the likes of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Vincent Trocheck - without losing any players off his roster.Sure, a second-, fourth-, and fifth-round pick looks like a lot to give up on paper, but Hoffman is ready to contribute to the Panthers now and will be a valuable offensive piece for a Florida team looking to crack the postseason for the first time since 2016.Not to mention, Hoffman's contract comes at a pretty cheap $5.1 million over the next two seasons, so it's not exactly like Tallon is getting worked over to add some pop into his lineup.If the Panthers can do a good job of managing the mess that has seemingly developed in Hoffman's private life over the last season, the team is getting a potentially dangerous winger with a bullet of a shot. That is most definitely a very big if, so only time will tell if Hoffman can be a fit in Florida's locker room.But for now, we have to give Tallon his props. Florida's top-six forward group just got even nastier. -- LivingstoneGrade: B Sharks Sharks receive: Second-round pick (2019 - from Florida), fourth-round pick (2018 - Vegas via Florida), fifth-round pick (2018 - from Florida), and fifth-round pick (2020 - from Ottawa).If there were a weekly NHL general manager's power rankings, San Jose GM Doug Wilson would surely be catapulting to the top of the list after Tuesday's roster wizardry.Wilson turned serviceable AHL rearguard and fringe prospect Julius Bergman and a sixth-rounder into four draft picks. He also got out from under the heinous $4 million for the next two seasons he would have owed to the perennially underachieving Boedker, who's managed only 25 goals over the past 155 regular-season games for the Sharks.Obviously, adding two fifth-rounders and a fourth doesn't exactly translate into NHL-ready talent, and realistically the likelihood of picks that late having an impact on the Sharks in the near future is slim. But the Sharks are still the clear winners of the day, as the team is now in excellent position to make a serious run at signing one of either Ilya Kovalchuk or John Tavares. -LivingstoneGrade: A- Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Artemi Panarin has reportedly told the Columbus Blue Jackets that he is not ready to consider a contract extension "at this time," according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Panarin is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season, so Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is testing the market for him as a result, Friedman adds.The Blue Jackets do have the cap room to keep Panarin - barring an otherworldly contract request - but if he isn't interested in a contract extension, then trading him now in exchange for assets would be better than losing him to free agency for nothing.Panarin, 26, enjoyed a stellar season with the Blue Jackets, totaling 27 goals and 82 points in 81 games. He was acquired by Columbus from the Chicago Blackhawks roughly a year ago in exchange for forward Brandon Saad.The Blue Jackets unquestionably got the the better player in the deal, but the Blackhawks likely feared they wouldn't be able to sign Panarin long term, which is why they re-acquired Saad, who is under contract through 2020-21 at $6 million - the same cap hit as Panarin.The Blackhawks' fears are now becoming a reality for the Blue Jackets. However, there'll certainly be no shortage of teams willing to give up a big haul in order to acquire the dynamic forward.For now, Kekalainen remains intent on getting Panarin signed.

Mike Hoffman has been employed by three different hockey franchises in the last handful of hours after being dealt from Ottawa to San Jose, and then from San Jose to Florida before noon on Tuesday.So naturally, there were questions to be answered surrounding the Panthers' newest addition and his fit in Florida. None were more important than the one related to Hoffman's recent off-ice issues - specifically, his girlfriend's alleged campaign of harassment against Erik Karlsson and his wife."We did our homework and we discussed it with a lot of different people," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said of Hoffman, according to Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press. "We feel that's in the past ... we're very confident he'll be embraced by our team and by their wives and girlfriends."Reports emerged last week regarding Hoffman's longtime girlfriend, Monica Caryk, and her alleged online harassment of the Karlssons over the last year.However, according to Tallon, there won't be any issues with welcoming Caryk into the Panthers' group of wives and girlfriends. "It's important. We have a young group. We have a great room," Tallon said, according to Chris Stevenson of The Athletic."Our wives and girlfriends really got along great last year. They are a young group. That has to have some sort of impact, but I think they tend to get along better when the team wins more."Tallon acquired Hoffman in exchange for the Panthers' fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2018, and a second-rounder in 2019.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson had a productive Tuesday morning. All before 7:30 a.m. PT, Wilson managed to trade underachieving forward Mikkel Boedker's $4-million cap hit, defense prospect Julius Bergman, and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and two fifth-round picks.Of course, Wilson was able to do this by acquiring Mike Hoffman from the Ottawa Senators, then flipping him to the Florida Panthers hours later.Since the Sharks' return from the Panthers for Hoffman appears to be better than what they gave up to acquire him, one might ask, why didn't Sens GM Pierre Dorion swing a deal with the Panthers?Dorion was interested in making a deal with Florida, but he wanted players in return, not picks, Panthers GM Dale Tallon told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. Given Dorion's preferred return, Tallon never offered him the package he sent to San Jose. Dorion even contacted Tallon about Hoffman last week, but Tallon was told the price was too high.It's clear that the Sens had their eyes on a player on Florida's roster that Tallon was unwilling to part with. Who that player might've been remains to be seen.Rebuilding teams would usually welcome a load of draft picks in exchange for a player that they needed to trade with open arms, but for Dorion and the Senators, that apparently wasn't the case.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks traded forward Mike Hoffman to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday in exchange for three draft picks just hours after acquiring him from the Ottawa Senators.Hoffman had initially been traded to San Jose in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker earlier Tuesday morning before moving to the Panthers less than three hours later."Mike is a skilled, consistent, and hard-working player who has proven himself to be a talented goal-scorer in the NHL," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in a release. "His speed, experience, and offensive abilities will bolster our top-six group."Heading San Jose's way in exchange for Hoffman are Florida's fourth- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming 2018 draft, along with a second-rounder in 2019.

After a wild week in the nation's capital that saw his dressing room divided over a bizarre personal situation between Erik Karlsson and Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion swung a deal that sent Hoffman to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday."Today's trade showcases our determination to strengthen the future of the team by improving chemistry, leadership, and character in the locker room and on the ice," Dorion said in a team release.Despite obviously giving up the most valuable piece in the deal, Hoffman was traded along with prospect Cody Donaghey and a 2020 fifth-round pick in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker, a 2020 sixth-rounder, and AHL rearguard Julius Bergman, Dorion feels there's still value in the return coming Ottawa's way - especially when it comes to Boedker, a former eighth overall draft pick who can play both sides of the ice."Mikkel Boedker is a competitive, versatile, two-way forward who can play both wings," Dorion added. "He has a track record of playing his best hockey in the most important games, including the playoffs and internationally. His skill set - in particular his speed - along with his veteran leadership fits with our vision for the team."While Dorion was put in a tough spot due to an off-ice rift between Hoffman and Karlsson, the deal still provides the team with a decent top-six option in Boedker as well as salary cap relief.In 82 games for the Sens last season, Hoffman notched 22 goals and 34 assists in 18:24 of ice time per night. Boedker registered 15 goals and 22 assists in 74 contests for the Sharks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - Adam Eaton has become somewhat of a Stanley Cup whisperer.The Washington Nationals outfielder has resided in a Stanley Cup-winning city in three of the last six seasons and jokes that once his contract expires, he could be a good-luck charm for NHL teams looking to win a championship."The Cup seems to follow me around," Eaton told theScore in the visiting clubhouse of Rogers Centre. "When I was in Chicago, twice they won it (2013, 2015). I was one year delayed (in Washington), I apologize for that."If NHL teams want to lobby for me - land a little payday - that would be alright with me (once I'm a free agent). I'm all for that. Leafs, if you're listening."The excitement from the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup win was still palpable in the Nationals' clubhouse during the ball club's first trip to Toronto in six years. Eaton was wearing a Capitals hat, while several other players had Capitals gear on in the hours before the game."I gotta admit, I'm a Flyers fan, I grew up outside Philadelphia, so once the Flyers got knocked out I jumped on the Caps bandwagon," Nationals closer Sean Doolittle told theScore. "I think the thing that I thought was so cool was the way the city rallied behind them. There was a definite energy around the city throughout the playoffs as they were making the run. If they were playing, the game was on in our clubhouse. It was on on the bus when we were going back to the hotel after our game. Guys had it on their phones, we would watch it on the way to the airport."No major leaguer followed the Stanley Cup playoffs closer than Nationals star and Las Vegas native Bryce Harper, who became the Golden Knights' No. 1 fan during their inaugural season. Though he admits he was upset that Vegas couldn't deliver his hometown a championship, he was excited for his adopted home in Washington."For the Capitals to be able to bring a Cup back to D.C. it's huge," Harper told theScore. "What your goal is at the beginning of the year in every single sport is to win a championship, and for the Caps to be able to do that for the city and for the fans, I'm very excited for them. Hopefully Vegas can do that next year."Getting over the humpWashington has certainly had no shortage of postseason disappointment, a burden the Capitals and Nationals have long shared. Each team had historically struggled trying to get over the hump, until the Capitals finally broke through this season. The Nationals have never advanced past the Division Series since moving to Washington in 2005, while the Capitals had never won the Stanley Cup in their previous 42 year history.While the Capitals have taken some pressure off the city, anything but a championship for the Nationals would still be considered a disappointment this season. Harper, Daniel Murphy, and Gio Gonzalez are all set to hit free agency and the once rebuilding National League East is becoming much more competitive."For us, I think we have the players in here to do it," Eaton said. "I think we have the players in here to be successful and make a good push. The Caps didn't make huge moves, they continued with what they had in the room and made it work. If anything, take that away from (their championship), what's in the room is what we have to work with. The pieces are there and you just have to go out there and perform."Doolittle believes there are some lessons to be learned given both franchises' similar playoff history. Watching the Caps, he saw the club relax after finally beating the longtime rival Pittsburgh Penguins, and predicts the same could happen if the Nationals advanced to the NL Championship Series."I think a lot of us have kinda thought that once you do break through, the sky's the limit," Doolittle said. "It sounds really cliche, but I think that's kind of the feeling. Once you get over the hump you can go all the way. (The Capitals) were all talking about how much fun they had and that's really important. I think if you can get to a point where, yeah there's pressure, there's nerves, but the Caps were talking about how much fun they had. That's a big thing in the playoffs, managing that energy."The Life of the PartyThe victory lap around Washington from Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has certainly not gone unnoticed by the Nationals. Ovechkin has been spotted running around town with the Cup, and even opted to jump shirtless into a fountain with several fans."I think everyone's happy for him and that's the cool part," Eaton said. "It doesn't matter which part of the country or world that you're from, you can have appreciation for a guy who, since a little boy, has dreamed of holding the Cup over his head. When you have your chance to (celebrate) you might as well take advantage of it. I think a lot of people may not realize what is put into a life like his - dreaming of it, wanting it ... it's just a sigh of relief. It's really unique to see and hard work pays off and I'm glad he's enjoying it."Harper has watched Ovechkin plenty since he joined the Nationals in 2012. The two have both been respective MVPs of their league, and Harper says it's incredible to watch someone fulfill their dream like Ovechkin did."For Ovie, he's won so many awards and has had so many things happen in his career, to do that for the first time, you kind of expect (the crazy celebrations)," Harper said. "I'm very happy for him, very happy time for the Caps. It's a thing to celebrate all summer."Next in line?As much inspiration as the Capitals provided, it also built some envy in the Nationals clubhouse. They want that celebration, they want that moment with the city."There's something about the Cup, being able to walk around the with trophy, no other sport really has that," Dolittle said. "A lot of us, when we got traded over here last year, we were talking about that we hoped we were going to be the ones that would give the city its first parade. Now, you almost want it even more. Now that you see that kind of stuff, that's what you play for, you play for those champagne celebrations."Guys in here that have either won, have been to the playoffs, or have got a taste of it, you'll do anything to get back to that point. That energy is so different that it's addicting. You want to get back there and to see them do that, that's what we want."For Harper, a championship will likely define his legacy one day. He's already been a five-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, and MVP. But playoff success has yet to come. Four trips to the NLDS have equaled four early exits. It doesn't make it any easier with Harper playing out what could be his final year in Washington this season.Speaking about his future is something Harper has refused to talk about this year, but hockey isn't. Strange for a kid from the desert, though he's the first to admit that the sport has captured him in a way he never imagined. Now, he even hopes his future child plays hockey."It would be fun, a lot of fun," Harper said. "Hockey in Vegas is definitely up and coming. To be able to have a professional team finally, it's a lot of fun."When asked if the Harpers might have Stanley Cup and World Series champions in the family one day: "Hey, we'll see."(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators traded forward Mike Hoffman, prospect Cody Donaghey, and a fifth-round pick in 2020 to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Mikkel Boedker, prospect Julius Bergman, and a sixth-round pick in 2020, the Senators announced.Tuesday's trade came after the wife of Ottawa's Erik Karlsson applied for a much-publicized peace bond that accused Hoffman's fiancee of a season-long online harassment campaign. Hoffman denied the allegations.Related: Erik Karlsson's wife accuses Hoffman's girlfriend of harassment campaignHoffman, who averaged 26 goals over the last four seasons, has two years remaining on his deal with an annual cap hit of $5,187,500.Boedker is coming off a 15-goal, 37-point campaign with the Sharks, and will have a cap hit of $4 million for each of the next two seasons.Though the cap hits are similar, the Senators will actually be saving $5.3 million in total salary based on Tuesday's trade:

The Washington Capitals were not willing to meet the cost that comes with success.A Stanley Cup win triggered a clause in Barry Trotz's contract that would have seen him remain head coach of the Capitals for the next two seasons with a $300,000 raise - bringing his annual salary to $1.8 million - but after the two sides were unable to come to a revised agreement, Trotz resigned.At a media availability Monday, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan noted that Trotz wanted to bring his compensation in line with the NHL's top coaches, reported Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post."There are probably four guys that are making that money, so it's the upper echelon. It's the big-revenue teams," MacLellan said.According to CapFriendly, Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Mike Babcock is currently the NHL's highest-paid coach, bringing in $6.25 million per year, closely followed by Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks at $6 million, then Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien, who earns $5 million.While the dollar figure may have been troubling for the Capitals, it appears the length of the extension was a sticking point, MacLellan indicated, as per Tarik El-Bashir of NBC Sports Washington.Trotz spent the last four seasons in Washington, and a five-year extension - if he remained for the life of the contract - would have brought his tenure to nine seasons, a rarity in the NHL.Trotz is now a free agent and has been given clearance by the Capitals to speak with other clubs. The New York Islanders are currently the only other team without a head coach.Meanwhile, the search for the next coach in Washington will begin with current assistant coach Todd Reirden, who spent the last four seasons working alongside Trotz. Reirden is expected to be a strong candidate for the role, given MacLellan indicated to El-Bashir that the club has been grooming him for head coaching duties.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 10 surviving members of the Humboldt Broncos will reunite for the first time at the NHL Awards on Wednesday in Las Vegas, the league announced.In April, the Broncos team bus was heading to an SJHL playoff game when it collided with a transport truck. The collision killed 16, including 10 players and the head coach.The NHL and hockey community worldwide rallied around the tragedy, raising over $15 million for a GoFundMe campaign. The immediate outpouring of support also included all NHL players wearing commemorative stickers on their helmets.The awards show will feature ceremonies for first responders from October's mass shooting in Las Vegas as well, and members from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hockey team in Florida.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

General manager Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins aren't satisfied with a second-round playoff elimination.After their quest for a three-peat was cut short in May, Rutherford and his club have their sights set on another championship run in 2018-19, and roster changes could be in order with the draft and free agency period on the horizon."Yeah, it possibly is easier to move some guys now," Rutherford told Josh Yohe of The Athletic. "Those memories and those accomplishments never go away. But we can't live on those either. We want to win again. So, there's a real chance we'll make a couple of changes here in a little bit."Asked what he's looking for in particular, Rutherford was clear."We need to get deeper," Rutherford said. "That's a big goal for us right now. I want more balance throughout the lineup."Pittsburgh made a move for center Derick Brassard before February's trade deadline to bolster an already lethal attack, but ran into offensive issues once Evgeni Malkin suffered an injury in the postseason.Rutherford has just under $5 million in cap space to work with this offseason, according to CapFriendly, with Bryan Rust and Jamie Oleksiak among the Penguins' notable restricted free agents in need of new contracts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz is stepping down as head coach of the Washington Capitals, the team announced Monday.A clause in his contract automatically put a two-year extension on the table upon winning the Stanley Cup, but it would have paid Trotz below market value and the sides were unable to agree on new terms, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 55-year-old is now a free agent and the Capitals have granted him permission to speak with other clubs, added Friedman."After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I am officially announcing my resignation as head coach of the Washington Capitals," Trotz said in a statement, via Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "When I came to Washington four years ago we had one goal in mind and that was to bring the Stanley Cup to the nation's capital. We had an incredible run this season culminating with our players and staff achieving our goal and sharing the excitement with our fans. I would like to thank Mr. Leonsis, Dick Patrick, and Brian MacLellan for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great organization. I would also like to thank our players and staff who worked tirelessly every day to achieve our success."Trotz's tabled two-year extension would have paid him another $300,000 per season, bringing his original $1.5-million annual salary to $1.8 million, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

There's one second on the clock in the 2018 Under-18 World Championship gold medal game, and the puck is on the stick of Oliver Wahlstrom, arguably the best shooter in the 2018 draft class.But Wahlstrom's shot misses the net, and the United States settles for a heartbreaking silver medal – but it wasn't just heartbreaking for the obvious reasons."I did an interview after, and they asked me what I was thinking, and the first thing that came to my head was I wasn't mad we lost, I wasn't sad we lost, it was just the last time I got to dress with my best friends," forward Joel Farabee told theScore.Seth Appert, head coach of the Under-18 team at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), says the bonds between players in the program to which Farabee referred are forged through the unique shared adversity created by the NTDP’s environment."They’re 16 years old, they’re away from mom and dad, they’re living in a strange house with another family, and there's no veterans to take care of them," Appert said. "There's no senior captain like in college. There's no veterans like in pro or in junior. They're here, on their own, all 16-year-olds in that room together, in other people's houses, trying to figure out this on their own."For most of the players, the Under-17 year is the first time they're away from home for such a long period of time. More importantly, for many of them, it's the first time they learn to fail. They're taken out of their comfort zones and thrown onto a team where, for most of them, they're no longer the best.That very struggle sets them on the path to success - and that will be especially clear at this week's NHL draft, where more than a dozen players with connections to the NTDP could be among the top 50 selected. In an era when great talents are emerging from a variety of leagues and countries, the USA Hockey NTDP is leading the way by a significant margin.Developing USA Hockey's FutureThe NTDP was created in 1996 with the goal of centralizing the top Under-18 hockey players in the United States under one metaphorical roof, in a competitive and comprehensive development environment."You're taking 22 of the top players in our country, from one birth year, and you're putting them in a really competitive but development-friendly, healthy environment for two years," Appert said. "Our mission here - the coaches are not charged with winning games Friday night in the USHL, although we do believe winning is part of development. But our mission is to develop our country’s next wave of elite hockey players."The program is split into two teams – the Under-17 and the Under-18. While the U17 team plays most of the 60 games in a USHL season, the U18 team plays around 25 of those games and spends the rest of its season competing against college programs.Both the NCAA and the USHL have players older than the members of the NTDP teams (the USHL allows for players up to 20 years old, while those in the NCAA are sometimes as old as 24), so NTDP players find themselves facing challenging opponents every night.At lower levels, if a player had the puck stolen from him, chances were good he could go after it and take it right back. However, if he loses that same puck in a game against the Boston University Terriers, chances are good his opponent has already used that puck to score (and given the Terriers' current lineup, chances are good he lost that puck to a former NTDP teammate)."I think we played 15 to 20 college hockey games our U18 year so going into college hockey, I felt comfortable for sure," said NTDP alum and University of Michigan defenseman Quinn Hughes. "The program's awesome. If you really wanna be a hockey player, that's the spot to do it."Appert said the vast majority of his players would be the star on their team anywhere else, but at the NTDP they quickly learn they can't all be the best.They try anyway."There’s a lot of places that if one of the elite players takes a day off from practice they still can get away with it - they're still an elite player," Appert said. "Here, if you take a day off practice you get exposed by your teammates because your teammates are so competitive."That competition doesn't just exist on the ice. It follows players into the weight room, into the film room, and even home to video-gaming sessions (Fortnite is the current game of choice, having supplanted the NHL game series). Players are challenged daily by teammates, coaches, and opponents alike."They test you, they test your character, and they work you pretty hard," said Bode Wilde, a draft-eligible NTDP defenseman. "Coming out of there I feel prepared for whatever's next."The 2018 Talent: ForwardsThe depth of highly skilled players who are coming out of the NTDP year after year is something to behold. In the top 50 of NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, there are 13 players with NTDP ties. For comparison purposes, there are only eight QMJHL players in the top 50.One NTDP player who many believe didn't get his due this season after missing significant time due to injury is center Jake Wise."We had a tremendous second half where we won a lot of hockey games and did some really special things internationally and in the USHL, and I think that a lot of it in people's minds was tied to Jack (Hughes) coming up," Appert said. "But I think what people underestimate is the importance of Jake Wise returning to our lineup.”Wise, ranked 38th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings, is a strong two-way center with elite puck-handling skills and hockey sense."If you would extrapolate his offensive numbers out for a full season instead of a half season, he’d be right there with Farabee and on the heels of Wahlstrom as our leading scorers," Appert said. "He’s a terrific offensive player."Farabee and Wahlstrom are two of this year’s most highly touted NTDP players. While Wahlstrom is expected to go in the top 10 of the draft, Farabee is considered more of a mid-first-rounder. Some pundits have cited concerns that Farabee is a product of the stars he plays with, but the man himself isn’t concerned."Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom, they're definitely really special players, but if you look at - if you break down our games, we're all really different players," Farabee said. "I think me being a playmaker and a defense-first guy where Wahlstrom's a shooter, skill guy, and Jack Hughes is more of an all-around guy, I think we all play different roles and I think I played my role to the best of my ability. You can compare us but our games are so different that I think it’s really hard to compare us."Appert agrees when it comes to Farabee's two-way contributions on the ice."You could certainly argue that he was our best penalty killer," the coach said. "If we're winning the game in the third period late he’s gonna be on the ice because he’s one of if not the most defensively responsible players on the team. And yet he still was second on the team in scoring."The 2018 Talent: DefensemenIn a draft loaded with high-end defensemen, quite a few of the best either play or have played for the NTDP. In addition to Wilde and (Quinn) Hughes, K'Andre Miller and Mattias Samuelsson are considered potential first-rounders.Samuelsson, the captain of the U18 team, has an approach to the game that's beyond his years. In person, in situations that call for it, he gives off an air of leadership; with his teammates, he's a caring and fun young man who happens to have a letter on his chest."We rely on him," Appert said. "He does all the hard things you need from a defenseman to win - yet he still was right up there at the top of our group in defensive scoring as well. And that was with minimal power-play time, especially in the second half of the year. He provides offense. He's a great defender. He goes about his business in a real professional way, shows up every day with a good attitude to work and get better."The defensive side of Samuelsson’s game, according to Appert, is in great shape. Samuelsson himself thinks he's around "three to four years" from the NHL; in that time he’ll likely work on improving the speed with which he makes decisions and transitions the puck.Meanwhile, Miller is new to playing defense - compared to his teammates, anyway."He made the switch sometime in that year before he got to the NTDP so he’s only two-and-a-half, three years into being a defenseman," Appert said. "I think this year he took huge strides in using his athleticism and skating ability - he’s already an elite skater. He’d be an elite skater in the NHL if he played tonight."Miller’s strengths lie in the way he uses his skating and hockey sense to take time and space away from opponents, and to join the rush when he judges the time is right. Given his high-level vision, his judgment is often correct."He just got better every month this year, and he probably - you could certainly argue that he made as many strides this year as anybody on our team," Appert said. "He's going to a great program in Wisconsin (in the NCAA), and they're gonna keep developing him as he continues to understand and gain experience and knowledge about the position that he’s playing."Appert added that the coaching staff wanted their defensemen to be active offensively, and that Miller wasn't the only player who benefited from that strategy."With a new coaching staff coming in this year, with our team, they really changed up the dynamic and the systems we're playing," Wilde said. “The way we were playing D was a lot easier, and our D-corps really jumped into the way the coaches wanted us to play feet first and we did a great job. Defense was the number one improvement for me.”Perhaps the best-known of the defensemen group is Quinn Hughes (Jack's older brother), whom Appert also had a chance to work with at a higher level as the youngest player on the American team at the 2018 World Championship."I thought Quinn’s game grew every game he was there," Appert said. "He started the tournament pretty good, but by the end he was playing extremely high-level minutes against high-level NHL competition."While calling Hughes a "world-class player," Appert noted that strengths of his game in the tournament included his playmaking and his ability to break out the puck efficiently."I don’t think he gets enough credit for how he defends," Appert said. "I hear a lot of people knock his defensive game and I don’t think that's the case. I think he defends extremely well, I just think he defends differently than a lot of people might want him to or think a defenseman should defend. He doesn’t defend like a 6-foot-3 defenseman does. He defends with his skating ability, his stick, his mind, by angling people and taking away their time and space."Hughes echoed Appert's sentiments."I think the knock on me is my defensive game," Hughes said. "Some teams think it's really good, some teams think I could use some work on it. That's why I went to go play college hockey this year. I went to go play against older, stronger competition and I think I did a really good job at the World Championship proving that."Despite being one of the smaller defensemen in the draft, Hughes isn’t concerned about that either. He thinks his play speaks for itself."Maybe 25 to 30 years ago it would’ve been a problem, but not in this day and age, I don’t think," Hughes said. "Honestly, it's more about like, how I'm gonna handle bigger guys in the corner for my defensive game. That's the question I always get, and what I always say is, 'The same way I did at the World Championship.' The way I position myself, my skating, the way I position my stick and use it the right way and everything like that. It’s not gonna be outmuscling guys at the next level, it’s just gonna be about outsmarting guys.”In 1996, three Americans were chosen in the 26-pick first round of the NHL draft. In 2016, 20 years after the inception of the NTDP, 11 Americans were selected in the first round. Meanwhile, the 28 Americans chosen in 2016's first three rounds tied the 2010 draft for the second most ever.Despite numerous rankings and mock drafts, no one knows yet how many players with NTDP ties will be selected in the first round this year. Of that group, how many will become regular NHL players is even less certain.What's certain is that the program has made an indelible mark on hockey in the United States, and is leading the way when it comes to player development.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.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. 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The Calgary Flames hired Hakan Loob as the team's head European pro scout, the team announced Monday.Loob is one of the best players in Flames history, and one of the best Europeans to ever lace 'em up. He recorded 429 points in 450 NHL games - all with Calgary - including a 50-goal, 100-point campaign in 1987-88.After helping the Flames win the Stanley Cup in 1989, Loob's age-28 season, he returned to his native Sweden to play for Farjestads BK Karlstad for the next seven years before taking over as the club's general manager. He was eventually named team president, and retired in 2017."We want to grow our presence in Europe,'' said Flames general manager Brad Treliving. "It's an area we want to expand. Hakan has a great eye for talent, he's familiar with Europe and he's a worker. This isn't just because Hakan was a great Flame. He's so well connected over there. Hakan Loob walks into a room and he's well known and well respected."Loob is one of 28 players in the Triple Gold Club, which requires an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and a Stanley Cup ring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tod Leiweke-led group that's bidding to bring an NHL expansion team to Seattle has hired Dave Tippett as a senior advisor, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.Tippett, who last served as the head coach and VP of hockey operations with the Arizona Coyotes, is expected to help oversee the expansion process and give feedback on items such as the construction of a training facility and acquiring an AHL affiliate."There are a lot of times where you need somebody with some hockey experience, whether it be infrastructure like the dressing rooms, the training facilities, or putting together the groundwork of what a skeleton hockey staff would look like," Tippett told Baker."First and foremost, operationally, you have to set the culture of the organization,’" he added. "There are a lot of key things, like where the infrastructure of the team is going to be and figuring out the market. But the ability to define the culture of a team that can really grow and prosper, that's first and foremost."It comes before you start hiring people. Before you start getting players and doing drafts and stuff like that."Some have also speculated that Tippett could become the team's first head coach, but no decision will be made on that front until the franchise is awarded, which won't happen until at least September."We'll see, I'm not ruling it out," Tippett said of returning to coaching. "It would have to be the right situation."But also, I'm intrigued about getting into another part of the game with this."The NHL Board of Governors will meet this week, but commissioner Gary Bettman has already noted that Seattle expansion won't be on the agenda, leaving the meetings in September and December as the earliest the Seattle group can be awarded a franchise.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the NHL draft draws near and trade talks intensify, the New York Rangers are receiving significant interest in forward Kevin Hayes, sources indicated to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.The 26-year-old Hayes is a restricted free agent fresh off a campaign in which he scored a career-high 25 goals. He has spent the last four seasons with the Rangers after joining as a free agent in 2014.Coming off a two-year contract that carried a $2.6-million cap hit, Hayes' departure would mark the latest big-name player to leave the Rangers, following in the footsteps of Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, and Rick Nash, who were shipped out at last year's trade deadline. The Blueshirts also parted ways with longtime forward Derek Stepan at the 2017 draft.While Brooks does not indicate what the Rangers would seek in return for Hayes, prospects or draft picks seem logical with the team in the early stages of a rebuild. Prior to last year's trade deadline, the club released a letter to fans indicating it could deal "familiar faces" in order to recoup younger talent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jordy Bellerive has been hospitalized with an unspecified injury after an incident while starting a campfire Friday night in Calgary, the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes revealed in a statement.The initial report claimed the fire happened at a bachelor party, but that was not the case. The fire happened at the family home of WHL Alumnus Tyler Wong. Wong and nine friends were planning on going golfing and camping the next day.Bellerive and WHL alumnus Matt Alfaro are currently in stable condition. Bellerive's Hurricanes' teammate, Ryan Vandervlis, has been placed in a medically-induced coma and is in critical condition after suffering severe burns to his body.The 19-year-old Bellerive led the Hurricanes in scoring this season, notching 92 points in 71 games. He signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent last September.The Penguins released a statement Sunday, indicating assistant general manager Bill Guerin has been in contact with Bellerive, who is expected to make a full recovery.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.