Few things can overly excite a fan base like the potential addition of a talented unrestricted free agent. Should that player be one that resides in the blue paint, that buzz seemingly amps up a few notches.And while the top crop of netminders set to become UFAs this summer isn't exactly a list of future Hall of Famers, there are a few names that will assuredly have front-office executives picking up the phone to gauge costs.With July 1 rapidly approaching, we rank the best UFA goalies set to hit the open market best based on past track record, age, and skill.5. Jaroslav Halak 2017-18 stats:GPRecordSOGAASV%5420-26-613.19.908Buried in the seemingly bottomless pit of goaltending in New York over the last few seasons, Halak has struggled to recapture his 38-win form from 2014-15 when he posted six shutouts and carried the Islanders to a playoff berth.The veteran netminder hasn't exactly been gifted with a strong supporting cast in front of him, as New York has built a reputation as a squad that opposing teams pad their offensive stats against, allowing a league high in shots-against per game, goals-against per game, and total goals allowed in 2017-18.So his recent performance must be viewed through the correct lens to properly see what he still has to offer.Despite the porous defense in front of him and the less-than-stellar numbers, Halak still has what it takes to contribute as a serviceable backup who fills in for 20 or 30 games as a quality No. 2. The 33-year-old's streaky nature and tendency to elevate his game in the clutch should be enough to suppress any potential injury concerns.4. Cam Ward2017-18 stats:GPRecordSOGAASV%4323-14-422.73.906In a season when he was supposed to play backup and mentor newly appointed No. 1 Scott Darling, Ward was the far more consistent goalie in the Hurricanes' blue paint.There is no denying that Ward's best days are behind him. And at 34 years old, he is undoubtedly best suited for holding down a backup role. However, as last season proved, Ward is more than capable of still turning in game-stealing performances.He has the ability to win games while also bringing an element of veteran stability to the table; essential characteristics for any successful goalie. Expect Ward to slot nicely into a roster in need of an experienced netminder.3. Kari LehtonenGP Record SO GAA SV%3715-14-312.56.912Another 'tender that hasn't exactly been blessed with a strong defensive core in front of him, Lehtonen remains an intriguing goalie for teams in need of a relatively cheap option who can still get the job done.Lehtonen had a massive bounce-back campaign in 2017-18 for the Dallas Stars despite playing second fiddle to offseason acquisition Ben Bishop. While Bishop struggled and spent time on the treatment table, Lehtonen used the opportunity to reclaim some of the respect he'd lost over the past few seasons of poor showings, posting a respectable 2.56 GAA and .912 save percentage across 30 starts.A history of injuries and recent inconsistency won't exactly have GMs lined up to sign him, but Lehtonen's size and comfort handling the biscuit should land him at least a few contract offers.2. Anton KhudobinGPRecordSOGAASV%3116-6-712.56.913Khudobin was rock-solid this year in relief of Boston Bruins starter Tuukka Rask, posting 16 wins and a save percentage north of .910 - two very good numbers for teams to get out of their backup netminder.The 32-year-old Russian makes up for his relatively small frame (5-foot-11) with his lightning-quick agility, a trait that allows him to cover a lot of the net despite his limited length.Regardless of his past injury issues, Khudobin is the prototypical backup goalie who's proven he can steal a game when his team needs it most. His potential to be a No. 1 in a pinch is the clinching factor in having Khudobin holding down the second spot on our list.1. Carter HuttonGPRecordSOGAASV%3217-7-332.09.931Three seasons of sitting behind one of the league's greatest goalies in Pekka Rinne in Nashville started to pay off in spades for Hutton in 2017-18. He turned in the best campaign of his career while temporarily stealing the crease away from starter Jake Allen midway through the year, turning in a 9-1-1 record from Dec. 29 to Feb. 3.That stretch of lights-out play and an overall solid season turned enough heads around the NHL that he will undoubtedly be the most sought-after UFA goalie on the market.Hutton has already indicated to the Blues that he'll be looking to test the free-agent waters, which could start an interesting trickle-down effect on the rest of the netminders on the list, as Hutton's contract would surely become the benchmark for offseason signings.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images) Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like most NHL general managers, newly appointed Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has a busy few weeks ahead of him.With the draft and free agency looming, Dubas was asked about his plans for pending unrestricted free-agent forwards James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Leo Komarov."The door is always open," Dubas said Saturday, according to the Canadian Press. "We're evaluating where things are."The success of some prospects already on Toronto's depth chart this season, such as AHL playoff MVP Andreas Johnsson, gives Dubas the luxury of not having to force a deal, and helps relieve any pressure to re-sign one of the aforementioned veterans."I don't think I have to do anything big, just to do so," Dubas said. "That would be a disservice to the organization, frankly. It's not about me. It's about the players and the coaches."If what people describe as a 'big splash' happens to make our team a lot better then we'll do it, but it's not something that important to me at all."Bozak is one of the best faceoff men in the game (53.6 career win percentage). Van Riemsdyk, meanwhile, is coming off a season in which he tallied a career-high 36 goals, and Komarov is a leader committed to playing with a physical edge. Any member of the trio that hits the open market on July 1 should attract interest.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues could be looking to add another lethal Russian scorer to their lineup.Blues general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed Friday the team is interested in highly sought-after winger Ilya Kovalchuk."There's nothing planned yet on a visit but we certainly talked to his agent asking him to explore our situation and see if there's interest," Armstrong said, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Kovalchuk has been generating interest across the NHL since indicating in March he was eyeing a jump back across the pond.Related: Report: Kovalchuk visits Kings, will meet with Sharks"Always looking to improve our team," said Armstrong. "We're like all teams. He's 35 years old, there's risk involved with players of that age. But he could be Jaromir Jagr. He could start slowing down at 41. Or he could come back and hit the wall. You never know."But there's certainly intrigue there because he's been such a dominant player internationally and he was a helluva player when he left (the NHL)."Kovalchuk spent the last five seasons in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, racking up 120 goals and 165 assists in 262 regular-season games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A new opportunity stands before Alex Galchenyuk.Traded to the Arizona Coyotes late Friday, the former Montreal Canadiens forward is not only headed to a new home, but he'll also be getting a chance to play his preferred position: lining up in the middle of the ice.After shifting from center to wing during his time with the Canadiens, the former third overall pick will have a clean slate at center with his new club."I don't think we'd make this trade if we didn't think he had the ability to play center," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said following the trade.Music to Galchenyuk's ears, to be sure, as prior to his exit from Montreal, he had discussions about a move back to the middle, but it never materialized, Galchenyuk indicated to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.He'll get that opportunity in the desert, a chance he last had in Montreal at the start of the 2016-17 campaign. For Galchenyuk's part, there is no shortage of enthusiasm."That's what I want. I'm excited about it," Galchenyuk added, according to Arpon Basu of The Athletic.Galchenyuk appeared in all 82 games last season, netting 19 goals and 32 assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc Bergevin can't quite put his finger on it, but there are qualities to Max Domi's game that he prefers to Alex Galchenyuk's.Domi, the newest member of the Montreal Canadiens, was acquired Friday in a deal that saw the Habs part with the former third-overall pick Galchenyuk.The two are separated by just one year and both have averaged 0.61 points per game over their respective careers, but it's Domi's work away from the puck which is most appealing, the Canadiens general manager told reporters Saturday."I encourage you to check out Max Domi highlights on YouTube. His energy and enthusiasm are off the charts," Bergevin said.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed winger Max Domi to a two-year deal that carries a $3.15-million cap hit, the team announced Saturday.Montreal acquired Domi from the Arizona Coyotes on Friday in a deal that saw the club part with fellow forward Alex Galchenyuk.Domi completed his entry-level contract over three years with the Coyotes. He finished last season with nine goals and 36 assists in 82 games.Arizona originally selected Domi with the 12th pick in the 2013 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Almost one year ago, the Arizona Coyotes pulled off a draft-day blockbuster, acquiring Derek Stepan from the New York Rangers in hopes of rectifying the franchise's longtime weakness at center.Less than 12 months later, the Desert Dogs struck another major move, landing Alex Galchenyuk from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for fellow young forward Max Domi.The hope is that Galchenyuk will line up at center, likely as the Coyotes' second-line pivot behind Stepan. While he spent much of last season at wing, general manager John Chayka believes Galchenyuk will benefit from a move back to the middle."Our thesis on it is he has the ability (to play center) and we think that he has natural tendencies that lend itself to that," Chayka said in a conference call. "We feel, just based off of our research and what we've looked at, that he has the capacity to do it."I think having depth at that position and having players who can play that position is something that we desired in this trade. He's had success playing the center position. I don't think we'd make this trade if we didn't think he had the ability to play center."While Galchenyuk saw little time up the middle under current Habs coach Claude Julien, he was a frequent middleman under former bench boss Michel Therrien.Galchenyuk began the 2016-17 season at center, putting up nine goals and 14 assists in 25 games before suffering a knee injury. The 24-year-old was moved to the wing upon his return from the ensuing six-week layoff.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unless the trade market cools down over the next week, it seems rather unlikely that the Calgary Flames will be making a first-round pick this year.The Flames don't have a pick in the first three rounds of the draft and while general manager Brad Treliving would love the chance to make a deal for a first-round selection, that's easier said than done as the asking price appears to be too much to stomach."Would we like to have a pick? Sure. The reality is it's expensive to get into the first round of the draft and for a reason," Treliving told Sportsnet 960, according to Sportsnet's Josh Beneteau. "If there's something that we can get done and a player sitting there that we like and a deal makes sense, we'll try to do it. But I wouldn't be holding our breath right now."The cost right now is a really good young player that's on your roster. And we can all connect the dots to those names," Treliving said. "And to move somebody like that just to go up and pick a player and hope and pray that they turn out to be at the level of the guys you have right now, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense."The Flames are without a draft pick in the first three rounds due to dealing this year's first- and second-round picks to the New York Islanders as part of the Travis Hamonic deal, as well as trading away their third-round selection to the Arizona Coyotes as part of the Mike Smith deal.Barring a trade to move up, the Flames' first pick of the draft will be in the fourth round, 105th overall.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have shipped forward Alex Galchenyuk to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Max Domi, the teams announced Friday night.The deal is player-for-player, and ironically comes one year to the day of Habs general manager Marc Bergevin's last big deal, when he acquired Jonathan Drouin for Mikhail Sergachev.Domi, 23, is a restricted free agent, and recorded 45 points in 82 games for the Coyotes this past season. It's expected he and the Canadiens will reach a deal on an extension in the next few days, per TSN's Darren Dreger.Galchenyuk, meanwhile, ranked second on the Canadiens with 51 points, including 24 on the power play. The 2012 third overall pick had his fair share of highs and lows through his tenure in Montreal, frequently bouncing between playing the wing and center.The 24-year-old has two seasons remaining on his current contract, paying him $4.9 million annually.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a two-year contract worth $2.8 million, the team announced Friday.Grzelcyck's entry-level deal expired at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, and he was briefly a restricted free agent before inking a new deal.The 24-year-old made his mark with the Bruins in his second NHL campaign, recording 15 points and averaging over 16 minutes per night in 61 regular-season games before suiting up for another 11 during Boston's playoff run.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have suspended assistant general manager Randy Lee until his harassment charge is ruled upon in court, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Friday.Lee was charged with second-degree harassment in late May after allegedly making lewd comments toward and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle bus driver in Buffalo. Lee was there to attend the scouting combine. Last week, he pleaded not guilty, and he'll be back in court July 6.Here's Dorion's full statement:

Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman and his fiancee, Monika Caryk, again denied any involvement in online harassment of Hoffman's teammate Erik Karlsson and his wife, Melinda, saying the allegations haven't been substantiated.Related: Erik Karlsson's wife accuses Hoffman's girlfriend of harassment campaign"We feel compassion and awful for what Erik and Melinda have had to deal with," Hoffman told Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen on Friday. "I don’t really think it’s correct to be blamed for something without having proof."It was reported Tuesday that Melinda applied for a peace bond against Caryk in May after months of alleged harassment through social media. On Wednesday, Hoffman's agent said the team and all parties involved have been aware of the situation since the end of the regular season.Hoffman says he attempted to speak directly with his captain in late March."I sent a message out to him saying, 'I'm aware of the situation and I'd like to discuss it and go through it with you,'" Hoffman said."It wasn't until four days later that he spoke with me. We ended up doing it after practice, walking out of the rink, and basically what was said was, 'I'd like to see what your point of the story is' and all he had to say was, 'We know it was Monika' and I asked whether it was on Instagram? Twitter? Just show something or prove something."They wouldn't do so at the time. All he said was that they knew it was her and it was the only thing mentioned."Hoffman says he and Caryk reached out to the Karlssons at the end of May to discuss the situation privately but "got nothing back."The Karlssons haven't made an official statement regarding the allegations or the peace bond.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a two-year contract extension with forward Vinnie Hinostroza, the team announced Friday.The 24-year-old can play both up the middle and on the wing while chipping in offensively. He registered seven goals and 18 assists across 50 regular-season games for Chicago last campaign.The 5-foot-9 forward helps make up for what he lacks in size with his playmaking and goal-scoring ability - two characteristics that should put him in excellent position to crack the Blackhawks' opening night roster.Hinostroza's signing continued a busy Friday for Chicago's front office, as the team agreed to a two-year extension with forward John Hayden earlier in the day. Hayden notched four goals, nine assists, and 54 penalty minutes in 47 games for the Blackhawks this season.Signing Hinostroza and Hayden leaves only forwards Tomas Jurco and Anthony Duclair on Chicago's list of restricted free agents.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's contract buyout window officially opened Friday morning, and Dallas Stars veteran Jason Spezza was among the players being rumored to be bought out.However, the Stars will pass on the buyout option and have the 35-year-old center play out the final year of his current contract, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Spezza registered only eight goals and 18 assists across 78 games last season while serving predominantly as the Stars' third-line center. However, he still plays an important role for a Dallas club lacking depth up the middle.The Stars signed Spezza to a four-year, $30-million deal in 2014 - a contract that has one season remaining at a cap hit of $7.5 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's been a lot of speculation about Milan Lucic's potential departure from Edmonton this summer.However, despite initial rumors indicating Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli is willing to simply offload Lucic's hefty remaining contract at any cost, the latest rumblings point to Edmonton wanting to wait for a deal that better suits the organization, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Lucic is under contract for the next five seasons at a pricey cap hit of $6 million per year. Combine that with his relatively dismal 2017-18 campaign in which he managed only 10 goals and 24 assists across 82 games, and the Oilers actively considering a move comes as little surprise.Even with his poor recent performance and massive contract, Lucic's 6-foot-3 and 236-pound frame will still have general managers sniffing around to test the waters.Edmonton inked Lucic to a whopping seven-year deal worth $42 million in July 2016. That contract came with a no-movement clause, which would need to be waived by Lucic to get any trade done.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Marlies are AHL champions, as the Maple Leafs' farm club topped the Texas Stars 6-1 in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final on Thursday to clinch the title.The victory marks the first Calder Cup from a Leafs affiliate since 1982, when they shared the New Brunswick Hawks with the Chicago Blackhawks.The Marlies were led by forward Andreas Johnsson, who scored two goals while adding an assist in the contest. The 23-year-old also earned playoff MVP honors after registering 24 points in 16 games, all of which followed a six-game postseason stint with the Maple Leafs in April.The championship concludes a dominant season for the Marlies in which they led the AHL with 54 wins and 112 points, losing just five games in the playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have traded forward Hudson Fasching to the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Brandon Hickey and forward Mike Sislo, the clubs announced Thursday.Fasching collected 12 goals and 30 points in 69 games for the AHL's Rochester Americans and was held pointless in five NHL contests this season.The 22-year-old winger managed only three points in 22 games with the Sabres over the last three campaigns. He was a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2013.Hickey chipped in 14 points across 35 games in his senior season with Boston University. He was originally acquired by the Coyotes in the Mike Smith trade with the Calgary Flames, who selected Hickey in the third round in 2014.Sislo is a journeyman, having spent six years in the New Jersey Devils organization before landing with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, Toronto Marlies, and then the Coyotes' affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is focused on an extension with the New York Islanders and has been having daily discussions with the club, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.A deal between Tavares - who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - and the Islanders could reportedly happen quickly. However, if contracts talks stall, he will have the opportunity to consider options during his interview period, Dreger adds.Over the last few weeks, general manager Lou Lamoriello has been meeting with Tavares and has outlined his vision for the Islanders' future, according to Dreger.There will certainly be no shortage of teams throwing their name in the ring to try and sign Tavares if he does indeed hit the open market. The advantage the Islanders have is that they can offer him an eight-year extension, whereas outside clubs can only offer as much as a seven-year contract.Tavares is coming off a six-year, $33-million deal and is in line for a raise that is likely to be in the $10 million annually range. This past season was his second-most productive in terms of offense, which saw the 27-year-old post 37 goals and 84 points in 82 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to a two-year contract with forward Drake Caggiula, the team announced Thursday.

Add the Boston Bruins to the list of clubs interested in Ilya Kovalchuk.After spending the past five seasons in the KHL, the 35-year-old Russian free agent wants to return to the NHL. While he can't officially sign until July 1, Kovalchuk has already drawn interest from a number of suitors, including the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, while the Bruins are the latest club to throw their hat into the ring."I've been in contact with (Kovalchuk's) group," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. "For obvious reasons - about 230 pounds and still scores goals. He is 35, so you have to factor that in, but he brings a lot to the table."I hope he looks at (the Bruins) and says, 'That's a team I'd be interested in.' He indicated that, but you know, until I get a chance to sit with him, I won't know that exactly."Sweeney added that if the Bruins come to terms with Kovalchuk, it would mark the end of Rick Nash's short tenure in Boston, as the team's lineup can't accommodate both veteran wingers."It would have to be either/or, it can't be both," Sweeney said.The Bruins acquired Nash from the New York Rangers at this year's trade deadline, parting with Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, Matt Beleskey, their first-round pick in the coming draft, and a seventh-rounder in 2019.However, Nash battled injuries throughout his time with the Bruins, appearing in just 11 regular-season contests and another dozen playoff games. The 33-year-old is coming off an eight-year contract that carried a $7.8-million cap hit.As for Kovalchuk, he signed a 15-year, $100-million deal with the New Jersey Devils in 2010, but walked away after just three seasons for the KHL, effectively terminating his contract. The Devils retained his rights up until this summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk is eyeing an NHL return, but it won't be with the Philadelphia Flyers.At a media availability Thursday, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall told reporters, including Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the team is interested in signing free agents to short-term agreements. Then he added that Philadelphia has no plans to speak with Kovalchuk's representatives, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.Kovalchuk, who has spent the past five seasons in the KHL, is prepared to return to the NHL now that he's an unrestricted free agent. His rights were held by the New Jersey Devils prior to this offseason, but now that he's over age 35, Kovalchuk is free to sign with any team.Related: Devils haven't held talks with free agent KovalchukThe Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks are among the teams that have held discussions with Kovalchuk, while the New York Rangers also checked in on the Russian winger.Kovalchuk can't officially sign until July 1. He scored 63 points in 53 games with the KHL's St. Petersburg SKA last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When you boil it down, there are two ways to approach the NHL draft. Teams can pick the best player available, or draft to fill an organizational need. Most draft pundits feel taking the former approach is the smartest way to build a strong, deep prospect pool. Some teams, however, disagree.If every team drafted purely to fill an organizational need in 2018, what kind of player would they be seeking?After breaking down the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, here's a look at the Western Conference. Note: For some of these teams, "need" is relative to their prospect pool and not a commentary on whether that pool is strong or weak from a larger perspective.Anaheim DucksPick Nos. 23, 54, 79, 85, 116, 147, 178With their first pick falling at 23rd, toward the end of the first round, the Ducks should target one of the skilled, intelligent defensemen remaining on the board. Their forward prospect pool is in good shape comparatively, and it’s possible they’ll find someone who can make an impact – someone like Alexander Alexeyev.In addition to their first-round pick, the Ducks have the 54th, 79th, and 85th selections. It would serve them well to use one of those third-rounders on a goaltender, given their current goaltending depth. Depending on how other teams’ picks shake out, Jakub Skarek could still be on the board.Arizona CoyotesPick Nos. 5, 55, 65, 73, 74, 158, 189Like many of their fellow Western Conference teams, the Coyotes are noticeably thin on the wing. One solution to this is to take a center and shift him over to the wing. But if there's an option to draft a talented winger, why not do it? If the Coyotes are drafting for need at fifth overall, someone like Oliver Wahlstrom will be tempting.Arizona also holds the 55th pick at the end of the second round and then picks 65, 73, and 74 in the third round. At 55th, selecting a right-handed defenseman like Jett Woo would be wise. There’s a pretty good chance the Coyotes won’t use all three of their third-rounders, but if they keep No. 65, winger Sampo Ranta might still be around.Calgary FlamesPick Nos. 105, 108, 167, 198The Flames don’t have a pick until the fourth round when they select 105th overall. That’s less than ideal, and it’s difficult to project how picks so far down the draft order will develop. There’s a decent chance the Flames make a trade between now and then for a first- or second-round pick, and we’re going to operate on the assumption they do.In this hypothetical post-trade scenario, we’ll assume the Flames get a mid-to-late pick in the first round and a mid-round pick in the second. Players who fit Calgary's needs – wingers who can score – available at those picks could include Grigori Denisenko in the first round and Jesse Ylonen in the second.Chicago BlackhawksPick Nos. 8, 27, 69, 87, 120, 142, 162, 193At first glance, the Blackhawks’ defensive depth looks solid – but looks can be deceiving, and quantity does not equal quality. Aside from standout Henri Jokiharju and college players Ian Mitchell and Chad Krys, no names in Chicago's defensive pool stand out.The Blackhawks pick eighth and 27th in the first round and aren't on the board again until 69th in the third round. If they focus solely on their defensive need, at eighth the Hawks should take whoever is available among Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Noah Dobson, or Adam Boqvist. At 27th, options could include K’Andre Miller or Rasmus Sandin.Colorado AvalanchePick Nos.16, 47, 58, 78, 109, 140, 171, 202Outside of their NHL right wingers (a skilled group led by Mikko Rantanen), the Avalanche are noticeably thin in that area. Additionally, most of the prospects who play other forward positions and can be used at right wing don’t exactly inspire confidence. It’s time for Colorado to reinforce that group.The Avalanche hold the 16th, 47th, and 58th picks. Wingers available at No. 16 could include Vitali Kravtsov or Martin Kaut. In the second round, the Avalanche should target players like Dmitry Zavgorodniy or Ranta.Dallas StarsPick Nos. 13, 44, 75, 100, 106, 137, 168, 199It’s difficult to have too many complaints about the Stars’ prospect pool. It contains impressive names like Miro Heiskanen, Riley Tufte, and Jason Robertson, and the Texas Stars, the team’s AHL affiliate, are playing for the Calder Cup.So if we get picky, one skill the Stars should draft for is speed. Bolstering the speed of their prospects leads to the opportunity to develop more players who can hang with the team’s marquee names.The Stars hold pick No. 13 in the first round and select 44th in the second. Pursuing a forward like Joel Farabee in the first round and a defenseman like Calen Addison in the second will considerably improve the speed among Dallas’ young depth pieces.Edmonton OilersPick Nos. 10, 40, 71, 133, 164, 195The Oilers need to stop wasting their contract spots on middling, supposedly reliable former college players, and instead invest in fast and skilled prospects. No player signed by the Oilers over the past month will grow into the kind of player who can keep up with Connor McDavid. It's time to draft more players like Kailer Yamamoto, and fewer who prompt headlines like “(Player Name) Is A Good Depth Signing.”Edmonton owns the 10th and 40th picks in the first two rounds. At 10th, a center like Jesperi Kotkaniemi would fit well, and there are reports the Oilers are interested in him. If Kotkaniemi isn’t available, Joe Veleno would be a suitable fallback option with his blazing speed. And at 40th, if center Aidan Dudas is still unclaimed, the Oilers should roll the dice.Los Angeles KingsPick Nos. 20, 51, 82, 113, 144, 165, 175The Kings are short on wingers, and this year's draft has plenty of promise at that position. Los Angeles needs to steer its focus away from larger players and has moved in a better direction there recently. Size shouldn’t be a priority because that's limiting.The Kings hold pick No. 20 in the first round and select 51st in the second. In the first round, wingers like Dominik Bokk or Grigori Denisenko may be available. In the second, their options could be Jonatan Berggren (who can also play center) or Matej Pekar.Minnesota WildPick Nos. 24, 63, 86, 92, 148, 155, 179, 210The Wild’s starting goaltender situation is in good hands, as Devan Dubnyk had another solid season in the Minnesota net. But beyond him Minnesota's goaltending depth is shallow.The Wild pick at 24th, then not again until the top of the third round at 63. Fortunately for them, a solid goaltender should still be available at 63rd – someone like Alexis Gravel of the Halifax Mooseheads, for example. At 24th, the Wild would be better off selecting a skilled forward like Bokk or Ryan McLeod, if either is available.Nashville PredatorsPick Nos. 89, 111, 131, 151, 213The Predators are deep down the middle. While some of those centers can switch to wing, that doesn’t solve the problem of Nashville's shallow winger pool, especially because it's unlikely many of those prospects will make an impact in the NHL.There’s one problem, however: The Predators' first pick doesn't come until the end of the third round at 89th overall.If David Poile trades for a first-round pick, the Predators will have options to draft a skilled winger. If their first pick remains at 89th, they could be looking at someone like Johnny Gruden from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.San Jose SharksPick Nos. 21, 114, 145, 176, 182, 207The Sharks are lucky the early rounds of this draft will feature many high-ceiling defensemen. Their prospect pool does not, and it’s difficult to identify any young Sharks defensemen capable of making a serious impact at the NHL level. Smart puck-movers should be a priority this year.The Sharks pick 21st, then don’t select again until 114th in the fourth round. There’s no telling who will still be on the board in the fourth round, which puts the pressure on that 21st pick, assuming San Jose doesn't acquire others.Good options are Miller or Bode Wilde. Who knows, the Sharks might even get lucky and see skilled WHLer Ty Smith fall down the board due to his size.St. Louis BluesPick Nos. 29, 45, 76, 107, 138, 169, 200The Blues are another team thin on wingers who can be relied on to make a splash at the NHL level. Jordan Kyrou is capable, and he should be in the NHL next season.The Blues select 29th in the first round and 45th in the second. Serron Noel could be around at 29th, and clearly, the Blues have done well with OHLers in recent years (see: Robert Thomas, in addition to Kyrou). In the second round, options may include Ylonen or Niklas Nordgren.Vancouver CanucksPick Nos. 7, 37, 68, 130, 161, 192What do the Canucks need? What don’t the Canucks need? While they have some very good players in their system – look no further than Elias Pettersson – Vancouver could add high-octane prospects on defense. The seventh overall pick allows them to do that this year, as at least one of Bouchard, Dobson, or Quinn Hughes should be available.The Canucks also pick near the top of the second round at 37th, where Jonathan Tychonick may also be up for grabs. If he is, Vancouver shouldn’t hesitate – he has first-round talent but could fall due to playing in the BCHL. Jared McIsaac may also be available.Vegas Golden KnightsPick Nos. 61, 99, 115, 135, 154, 180, 185The Golden Knights are in a unique position. Their prospect pool is just getting started, so they need depth everywhere. We saw their goalie depth in action this season when Dylan Ferguson briefly left the WHL to see some NHL ice time. Puck-Moving defensemen and dynamic wingers are what Vegas should focus on this year.Barring a trade for a first-round selection, the Golden Knights hold picks 61, 99, and 115 to get started. A defenseman like Calen Addison may still be around at 61, but the Vegas scouting staff needs to dig deep to find wingers with potential.Winnipeg JetsPick Nos. 60, 91, 150, 153, 184, 215A quick look at a Jets depth chart shows they’re lighter on the wing than at center and defense. There are many skilled wingers available this year, but the Jets are another team without a first-round pick. That makes their task difficult, but not impossible.Barring a trade, their first pick won't come until No. 60, the end of the second round, followed by pick 91 at the end of the third. Wingers available at the end of the second round could include Cole Fonstad or Zavgorodniy.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. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a new East Coast Hockey League affiliation with the newly founded Newfoundland Growlers, the team announced Thursday.The ECHL is two levels below the NHL, and a step below the American Hockey League (AHL).The Orlando Solar Bears had served as Toronto's ECHL affiliate for the last five years."We are excited to begin our relationship with the Newfoundland Growlers as our newest ECHL affiliate," Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. "This is an important investment for our hockey club as we remain committed to giving our players the best resources possible to ensure their development and professional success. To now have our ECHL affiliate in St. John's, Newfoundland, a town and province which has historically meant a lot to the Maple Leafs, is a truly special opportunity."The younger generation of Leafs fans only knows the Toronto Marlies as the club's AHL affiliate, but from 1991-2005, the St. John's Maple Leafs served in that role.

The Tampa Bay Lightning want the Steve Yzerman era to continue.The Lightning general manager is set to enter the ninth and final season of his contract in 2018-19, but team owner Jeff Vinik remains optimistic that he'll ink "Stevie Y" to an extension as soon as this offseason, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.Based on Yzerman's comments, it doesn't appear that it will be a long negotiation, either."Working for Jeff has been fantastic," Yzerman told Smith. "It's a tremendous position and I'm grateful to have it."Yzerman is the NHL's sixth-longest-serving GM after being hired in May 2010. Prior to joining the Lightning, he spent four seasons as the vice president of hockey operations with the Detroit Red Wings.Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Yzerman has transformed the Lightning into a perennial contender, with one Stanley Cup Final appearance and three other trips to the third round of the postseason.The Lightning also boast an impressive roster that Yzerman has neatly packed under the salary cap by giving team-friendly extensions to the likes of Steven Stamkos ($68 million over eight years) and Victor Hedman ($63 million over eight years), among other deals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Alex Ovechkin is about to have the biggest summer of his life.He just won the Stanley Cup for the first time, his first child is due this summer, and the FIFA World Cup is kicking off in Russia June 14.“I wanna go so bad,” he said. “I have to wait.”First, though, he has to go to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. After that, Ovechkin and wife Nastya will spend a month in Russia before returning to prepare for the birth of their child. Somewhere in between all of that, Ovechkin will have his day with the Cup.“I want to bring the Stanley Cup to my house, to my family back home to share,” Ovechkin said. “My grandma, she will touch it. She will kiss it. It’s something special. You never thought how cool it is.”The Washington Capitals captain showed up to the team’s last availability of the year clean shaven, his bushy beard streaked with a little grey completely gone. He looked almost boyish. His sponsors from Gillette had come to his house at 9 a.m. to film him shaving it, he said.Ovechkin held court with reporters on Wednesday for more than 25 minutes. When a team public relations person came to fetch him, he said, “That’s it? I can talk more.”It was different from the Ovechkin who usually shied away from long scrums. He might have gone on all day if the Capitals didn’t have a schedule to keep.He told stories about the time Igor Larionov brought the Cup to Russia - the first time that had ever been done - after winning it with the Red Wings in 1997.“I remember the moment when Igor Larionov came to our locker room and he showed us how he practices, how he enjoy the moment to be in the NHL and be a Stanley Cup champion,” Ovechkin said. “It was something special. One day, I wanted to be in his position to raise the Cup and in the future I will share this moment with some kids.”When his day with the Cup comes, he’ll bring it to the hockey school in Dynamo where he learned how to play and spend some time with the children there. The accompanying party promises to be a grand event.“It’s going to be pretty big,” he said. “I’m going to share it with my family, with my friends, with the people who want to see it. I’m going to share it with all the people who I know, people who I don’t know. But I’m just going to share my moment with them because lots of fans who didn’t see it, never touched it.”It’s been just under a week since he first lifted the Cup, and he hasn’t let go of it much since then. It still feels like a dream.“It’s crazy,” Ovechkin said. “I’m pretty sure it’s still going to be going for a week or two. But I still can’t believe we won. I still can’t believe we did it. Of course, you have dreams about it, but this is something unbelievable. Even today when me and my wife were with the Cup, like, ‘Is it real or is it a dream?’ It’s real. We won.”Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Devante Smith-Pelly hasn't changed his mind about forgoing a potential White House invite. But he won't hold it against Alex Ovechkin or any of his Washington Capitals teammates if they head to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to visit President Donald Trump after winning the Stanley Cup.“I said what I said and that is what I believe,” Smith-Pelly told reporters, including Samantha Pell of The Washington Post, on Wednesday, reiterating what he said to Postmedia's Michael Traikos last week.“Again, I haven’t thought about it any more than that," Smith-Pelly continued. "I stand by what I said … They can do whatever they want, you know what I mean. When I said what I said, no one in the room said, ‘Hey, maybe you should do this or maybe you should do that.’ Everyone can do whatever they want. I will still love Ovi if he goes and the other guys if they go.”Ovechkin said Wednesday he's looking forward to a possible celebration at the White House, adding that he "can't wait" and hasn't been there other than taking pictures around it."It will be fun," the captain added.Other Capitals, such as Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Tom Wilson, Lars Eller, and Jay Beagle, expressed an interest in going, while head coach Barry Trotz said no decision has been made, though he sees visiting the White House as a valued sports tradition."Whatever the group decides, we will do it," Trotz said. "I don’t know if it will be a full group, a half group, or no group, I have no idea."Smith-Pelly, a Canadian who is black, told Traikos last Wednesday that "the things that (Trump) spews are straight-up racist and sexist," and he definitely doesn't agree with the president's rhetoric.Trump has yet to formally invite the Capitals. Last Monday, he canceled the Philadelphia Eagles' visit. During the NBA Finals, both LeBron James and Stephen Curry said their teams wouldn't go if invited, and the president responded by saying they wouldn't be welcome anyway.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are preparing to explore the trade market and gauge interest in backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer.Grubauer would like to be a No. 1 goalie, and Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan will look for a trade partner to help make that happen, he said at the team's locker clean out Wednesday, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.With few high-end goalies set to become free agents, there should be no shortage of demand for the German netminder. In fact, both the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes have reportedly shown interest.The 26-year-old posted a 15-10-3 record with a 2.35 goals-against average and .923 save percentage this season. In 101 career games, he's put up a 2.29 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to officially invite the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals to the White House for a traditional visit, but it appears most players would accept the offer when it comes, according to Samantha Pell of The Washington Post.This comes roughly a week after Trump said he wouldn't invite the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors to the White House, and he canceled the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles' invite after Nick Foles was reportedly the only player confirmed to go.While some players declined to comment, Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Jay Beagle, and Lars Eller all indicated that they would go."The time you actually spend with whoever is in office is about two minutes long," said Orpik, who visited the White House after winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. "There's not much interaction with the president, at least from past experience ..."Whether teams go or they don't go, for me, personally, and again a lot of people might disagree with this, it's not you endorsing whoever is in there or supporting whoever is in there. The White House is a very historical, special place in this country and I think it's an honor to go to the White House. That's my opinion and I'm not the one making that decision, whether or not we're going to. So we'll see."Capitals head coach Barry Trotz cautioned that nothing has yet been decided on the subject, but said they will discuss the matter as a team."I have my opinion on that which is part of the process of being a championship team and other people have different opinions so I respect both," Trotz told The Post. "I haven't talked to the guys one way or the other. We haven't had any official team meetings, but I respect both sides, really I do. Whatever the group decides, we will do it. I don't know if it will be a full group, a half group, or no group, I have no idea. I think most guys have the tradition part down."One player who surely won't be going is Devante Smith-Pelly, who made it quite clear before the Capitals even won the cup that he wouldn't accept an invitation from a "racist and sexist" President Trump.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Carlson, the top pending free-agent defenseman set to hit the open market on July 1, wants to stay in Washington, but admitted it's easier said than done."I love it here," he told reporters at the team's locker clean-out Wednesday, according to NBC Sports' Tarik El-Bashir. "I want to stay here, but there's more to it than that."Related: How the Caps can keep Carlson and go for 2 in a rowCarlson led all NHL blue-liners with 68 points during the 2017-18 season, and added 20 more in 24 postseason games.As a 28-year-old right-handed shooting defenseman, Carlson is bound for a nice payday. However, Washington would really have to circumvent the salary cap in order to match the offers Carlson would receive on the open market.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey players are tough creatures, and that toughness somehow gets ratcheted up a few notches in the playoffs. Case in point: Brooks Orpik and his slashed-off pinky finger.The Washington Capitals rearguard addressed the media during the Caps' locker room cleanout Wednesday, divulging a bit of injury news in the process. "It probably looked a lot worse than it was," Orpik said of his injured digit, according to Tarik El-Bashir of NBC Sports."It was tough to look at, but the trainers did a really good job. It (finger) kind of fell off."Despite the gruesome nature of the injury, which he suffered on a late third-period slash from Golden Knights forward Erik Haula in Game 2, Orpik will not require any offseason surgery.Orpik was a complete workhorse for Washington all playoffs, not missing a single game while registering five points and a league-best plus-17 rating.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings traded forward Andy Andreoff to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for veteran backup goalie Peter Budaj on Wednesday.Budaj spent the majority of two seasons with the Kings between 2015-2017 after signing a free-agent deal with L.A. in October 2015. He would go on to log a 28-20-3 record before being dealt to the Lightning in February 2017.Most recently, the 35-year-old played in only eight contests last season for the Bolts, earning a 3-3-1 record to along with a .876 save percentage and 3.76 goals-against average.As for Andreoff, a third-round pick of the Kings in 2011, he's registered 13 goals and 11 assists across 159 regular-season games. Andreoff's size (6-foot-1, 203 lbs) and aggressive style should provide the Lightning with an element of truculence in the team's bottom-six forward group if he's able to crack the NHL lineup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have been tearing D.C. up with their epic Cup celebrations over the last few days. However, one of their star players was probably just trying to numb the pain from a lingering postseason injury.Nicklas Backstrom missed the final game of the second round and the opening three games of the Conference Finals with an upper-body injury. So on Wednesday, Backstrom revealed to the media that he suffered a couple fractures in his finger, according to Tarik El-Bashir of NBC Sports.Prior to leaving Game 5 of Washington's series versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, Backstrom blocked multiple shots up to that point of the contest, so fractures in his finger could have easily come from that.Regardless, Backstrom's ability to fight through injury should be praised, as he was a key contributor for the Caps and a main reason for their Cup victory, notching two goals and eight assists in the seven games after his return. He finished the entire postseason with five goals and 18 assists in 20 contests.Backstrom will not require any offseason surgery to repair his digit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have offered one- and two-year contracts to pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Mike Green, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.The two sides are close on salary, too, Custance added.Green will be 33 years old next season and has defensive flaws. But he's still the second-best blue-liner set to the hit open market, behind only Washington Capitals rearguard John Carlson.Green recorded 33 points in 66 games during the 2017-18 campaign, a season that ended early for the veteran when he needed surgery on his cervical spine. The injury likely won't affect his availability for the start of next season.“I anticipate whether he signs with us or someone else, he’ll be on the ice for the first day of training camp,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told Custance. “Everything, I’m told, he should be green-lighted for the first day.”The Red Wings are clearly in rebuilding mode, and re-signing Green may not seem to fit that direction. However, Holland said Green was the team's "best defenseman," and some of Detroit's up-and-coming defensive prospects still aren't ready for prominent NHL roles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wade Belak, Rick Rypien, Steve Montador, and Derek Boogaard are four examples of former NHL enforcers who suffered through depression and eventually took their own lives.Another former NHL enforcer, Nick Boynton, revealed in an article with The Players' Tribune on Wednesday that he's dealt with some of the same issues as the aforementioned players, whom Boynton describes as "brothers."While he claims he's feeling more hopeful and optimistic now than he has in a long time, he still won't let his 3-year-old son, who loves hockey, play the sport, as he believes it can lead to life-altering head trauma."I cannot, in good conscience, let him play the game of ice hockey until something changes and we start looking out for our players by taking the problems of head hits and concussions - and their potential impact on mental health - more seriously," he said."I've seen the damage that results from that stuff firsthand. I've lived it. And to say it's been a struggle for me would be putting it way too lightly."Boynton chronicled one instance while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, in which his concussion-caused drug addiction nearly led to his own death."At the tail end of my career, I really, genuinely thought that I was going to die one night during the season," he said. "It's hard to talk about, for sure, but ... I had stayed up late doing an obscene amount of coke and things just got out of control. After a while my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I couldn't get it to slow down. Nothing I did worked. It was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life."Boynton said he needed to be at the rink a few hours later for the Flyers' morning skate and debated what to do: Go to the hospital and check in without anyone noticing or head to the arena and tell the trainer what had happened?Earlier in Boynton's career, he had been traded less than a month after opening up about a painkiller addiction to "some people with the team." He feared this could once again be the case if he opened up yet again."But I can tell you that, at the time, it (telling the team about cocaine use) was one of the hardest decisions I'd ever had to make," he said. "I agonized over it. Because I knew if I told the trainer, I was going to get in a ton of trouble."Boynton, however, worked up the courage to tell the Flyers. Paul Holmgren, the team's general manager at the time, was completely supportive, sending him to rehab."And to this day, I honestly believe Paul saved my life back then," he said. "If I had been somewhere else, and they had just traded me away … I'd probably be dead."Boynton played in 605 NHL games and even won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, but says he would trade it all back in a "heartbeat" so he "wouldn't have had to experience all this pain and sorrow and anger and sadness."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators aren't trading P.K. Subban.And if common hockey sense isn't enough to drive that point home, an emphatic statement from Predators general manager David Poile should."You see tweets from different places, but, that’s not happening," Poile said of a potential Subban trade, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."Nobody has even called me about him. P.K. played terrific this year. He played really well. He’s a really good player. He's one of the three candidates for the Norris Trophy. I really don’t know where this comes from."Despite the Predators falling short of reaching a second straight Stanley Cup Final this past season, Subban produced a solid campaign in which he racked up 16 goals and 43 assists while averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The unfortunate scenario developing out of Ottawa surrounding the alleged campaign of harassment against Erik and Melinda Karlsson on the part of Senators teammate Mike Hoffman's fiancee, Monika Caryk, took another turn Tuesday night.Related: Erik Karlsson's wife accuses Hoffman's girlfriend of harassment campaignThe latest details emerging indicate that the Senators, Hoffman, and his agent, Robert Hooper, were all aware of the alleged harassment since the end of the regular season. "This isn’t something we talked about with (Senators GM) Pierre (Dorion) just today," Hooper said, according to Shaamini Yogaretnam of the Ottawa Citizen. "We’ve been aware of this situation since the end of the season."Hooper's comments came on the same day that news broke regarding Caryk's alleged extensive harassment of the Karlssons over the past season, prompting Melinda to file for a peace bond - the equivalent of a restraining order - in early May.Regardless of how the allegations shake out, the likelihood of Karlsson and Hoffman being able to productively function as teammates decreases by the day. It's a fact that both players' camps and the Sens are well aware of."What we’ve indicated to Pierre is that, and let’s call a spade a spade, it would be very difficult for both parties - both Erik and Mike as well as the wives and the fiancees - to co-exist in the same wives’ room and the same dressing room," Hooper said.The Senators released a short statement Tuesday night indicating the organization is "investigating this matter in cooperation with the NHL and will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the safety and privacy of our players and their families."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Texas Stars lived to see another day thanks to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Marlies in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals, forcing a pivotal Game 7.The Stars did the bulk of their damage in the second period. After a scoreless first, the club went off for three goals from Curtis McKenzie, Travis Morin, and Austin Fyten.After the Marlies got on the board early in the third frame with a goal by Calle Rosen, the Stars responded with a shorthanded tally from Sheldon Dries to restore the three-goal lead. Dries marker also saw Garret Sparks, who allowed four goals on 17 shots, replaced by Calvin Pickard.The teams exchanged goals from Justin Holl and Colin Markison in the final five minutes.Stars goaltender Mike McKenna was the difference in the end as the 35-year-old turned away 43 of the 45 Marlies shots thrown his way.Game 7, with the Calder Cup on the line, goes Thursday in Toronto.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee's ongoing legal proceedings may not prevent him from attending the start of the upcoming NHL draft, after all.The Associated Press initially reported Tuesday that Lee's next court appearance in Buffalo was to be on June 22 - the day of the first round of the draft in Dallas.However, the Senators clarified to theScore on Tuesday night that Lee's next court date is, in fact, July 6.Lee was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment late in May while visiting Buffalo for the league's scouting combine.He pleaded not guilty to making lewd comments toward, and rubbing the shoulders of, a 19-year-old male hotel shuttle driver.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the AP in an email that the league has no position on whether Lee can attend the draft as a whole, saying that decision is up to the Senators.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)WASHINGTON – For the last four days, the Washington Capitals have celebrated their Stanley Cup win by partying all over D.C. The festivities continued with one of the biggest events in the city in maybe 25 years (presidential inaugurations aside) - their championship parade.Beginning just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, the parade wound its way down 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, where people were packed 10 deep in spots, past a crowd packed 20 deep on the steps of the National Archives building, and eventually coming to the National Mall, where thousands of fans were waiting. Framed by the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument, a sea of red almost stretched to both landmarks.Braden Holtby won't forget it."I want to thank everyone for coming out here. Being on those buses, you guys are yelling 'thank you' to us," the goaltender said. "I want to say thank you to you guys because every time I drive on Constitution for the rest of my life, I'm gonna remember this day and how amazing it was, and it's all because of you guys."Those people waited a long time for what they saw Tuesday - some since 1974, others since 1992, the last time a D.C.-based team won anything. The team waited a long time, too: 14 years for Alex Ovechkin; 11 for Nicklas Backstrom; 19 years for head coach Barry Trotz.And though it might have come a bit later in their careers than they would have liked, they couldn’t have asked for a better day - not a cloud in the sky, 78 degrees, and a light breeze that seemed to kick up at just the right time.After the buses unloaded their passengers at the end of the parade, the players, team staff, management, and owners took the stage.The Prince of Wales Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Stanley Cup were placed at the forefront. A few players made speeches. Almost everyone who spoke commented on the fan support throughout the season and the playoffs and the turnout for the parade and rally. Some of them, of course, chugged beers."I'll tell you what, going through these streets, seeing how many people that are out here, how many people came out to support us, how many people supported us since the beginning when apparently we weren't supposed to be very good this year," forward T.J. Oshie said.Ovechkin was impressed too."Look at the people that's here," he said. "We thought it was going to be crazy, but it's basically nuts. You guys are killing it."After apologizing for the hoarseness of his voice, Backstrom joked that the Capitals finally started playing hockey the same way they can party. Later, he was asked if he'd had enough of celebrating."It just started," the veteran center said.He's right. Every player still gets to have their day with the Cup, and training camp is nearly three months away. They’re just getting started.And though the championship win is still fresh, Oshie hinted at what he and this teammates might be thinking next season."There's been a lot of chants. There's been 'Let's Go Caps,' there's been 'We Want the Cup,' we've heard in the streets 'We've Got the Cup.' We've got a new one for you today: 'Back to back,'" he said. He led that chant for a few moments before Ovechkin took over.The superstar, obviously in his element, said his thank-yous and then led the ocean of people in singing his new favorite song, "We Are the Champions."Then Ovechkin came back to the mic."I said - not me say it, it was just us saying, 'WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FUCKING SUCK THIS YEAR!' WE'RE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS! YEAH!"Party on, Capitals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winning changes everything.After uncertainty surrounding his future with the Washington Capitals, it appears Barry Trotz is more confident than ever that he will return as head coach next season."We'll talk," Trotz said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "We're going to enjoy this with the players. I love the players, I love D.C., my family loves it here. We'll get something done."This past April, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan admitted that the team would wait until the end of the playoffs before deciding whether or not to re-sign Trotz, whose contract expires July 1.Following the team's Cup win, MacLellan made it clear he had made up his mind about Trotz when he told reporters that if the 55-year-old wanted to return to the Capitals, the team would have him back.Trotz has spent the last four seasons with the Capitals amassing a record of 205-89-34 in the regular season and 36-27 in the playoffs, along with back-to-back Presidents' Trophies in 2016 and 2017, while winning hockey's ultimate prize just one week ago.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson's wife, Melinda Karlsson, has applied for a peace bond against Monika Caryk, the longtime girlfriend of Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman, over an alleged campaign of harassment, according to Shaamini Yogaretnam of the Ottawa Citizen.The application for the peace bond - the criminal code equivalent of a restraining order - was sworn in front of the courts May 4. It alleges that Caryk had been threatening the Karlssons since November 2017.In late March, the Karlssons announced on social media that their son, Axel, was stillborn. After that, Melinda says Caryk attacked the Karlssons via social media comments and posts. However, Melinda indicated the harassment started much earlier."Monika Caryk has uttered numerous statements wishing my unborn child dead," Melinda's statement to the court reads. "She also uttered that she wished I was dead and that someone should 'take out' my husband's legs to 'end his career.'"Monika Caryk has posted over 1,000 negative and derogatory statements about me as a professional."Hoffman denied the allegations when reached by the Citizen on Tuesday afternoon."There is a 150 percent chance that my fiancee Monika and I are not involved in any of the accusations that have been pursued (that are) coming our way. We totally understand there's no place for cyberbullying," Hoffman said.Hoffman said he and Caryk have offered to cooperate, and reiterated his claim that they were not responsible.The peace bond application had an ordered court date of May 25. By that time, Caryk had yet to be served with the notice, according to Yogaretnam.In a brief statement Monday night, the Senators said they are investigating the matter along with the NHL.Hoffman and Karlsson have been teammates with Ottawa since 2011.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has made it clear he'd like to return to the NHL, multiple sources told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday.Voynov was arrested for a domestic assault incident in October 2014 and has not played in the NHL since. He pleaded no-contest to a misdemeanor charge of corporal injury to a spouse and served two months in jail. He returned to Russia and has spent the last three years playing in the KHL.The 28-year-old has an expungement hearing scheduled for July 2 in a California court to remove the no-contest plea from his record. If that request is granted, he will have no criminal record and can then apply for reinstatement into the NHL. It's worth noting that he has had a U.S. Visitors' Visa for at least a year, according to Friedman.Prior to the domestic assault incident, Voynov was an anchor on the Kings' blue line, helping them win two Stanley Cups. He has continued his strong play overseas, winning a Gagarin Cup with SKA St. Petersburg in 2016-17 and helping the Olympic Athletes from Russia capture gold at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang.As a right-handed shooting rearguard, Voynov would surely help any team that's willing to overlook his past and deal with the ensuing controversy attached to such an acquisition.Even though the Kings terminated Voynov's six-year, $25-million contract, they still hold his rights, so any team that wants to acquire him would have to make a deal with Los Angeles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nicklas Backstrom and the Washington Capitals found the secret formula to winning the Stanley Cup, and apparently, it was in their back pockets the entire time."Finally, we started playing hockey like we can party," Backstrom said at the Capitals' Stanley Cup parade Tuesday, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. "So that's a good thing."If this past week has been any indication, the Capitals' partying ability has reached elite status, much like their play on the ice throughout the postseason. They've been partying like nobody is watching, even though D.C. has had a front-row seat for the glorious show.Related: Best moments from the Capitals' Stanley Cup paradeThe only question is, why didn't the Caps figure out this winning recipe earlier? They could've been a dynasty by now.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse language

When all is said and done, Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup celebration will go down as one of the best championship parties in North American sports history.So it comes as little surprise that Tuesday's parade was another one for the books. Beers, bodacious crowds, and of course, lots of candid moments with Ovi and the Cup. The scenes from downtown D.C. are most definitely worth another look.Warning: Some videos contain coarse language

The New York Rangers re-signed journeyman netminder Marek Mazanec to a one-year deal Tuesday, the team announced.Mazanec played 23 games for Bratislava Slovan of the KHL last season, amassing a 4-15-12 record before returning to North America to play for the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, where he went 11-6-1 with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage across 20 games.The Czech native was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He was a restricted free agent this offseason before signing the new contract with New York.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When you boil it down, there are two ways to approach the NHL draft. You can pick the best player available, or you can draft to fill an organizational need. Most draft pundits feel taking the former is the smartest way to build a strong, deep prospect pool. Some teams, however, disagree.If, this year, every team drafted purely to fill an organizational need, what kind of player would they be looking for?Let's take a look at the Eastern Conference teams first. Note: For some of these teams, "need" is a term relative to their prospect pool and not a commentary on whether that pool is strong or weak from a larger perspective.Boston BruinsIn the years since 2015, when the Bruins selected Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zachary Senyshyn at picks 13, 14, and 15 - leaving several more highly regarded players on the board - they put themselves on the road to redemption in the prospect arena. Still, every team has its needs, and when the Bruins' depth chart is examined, one position is noticeably thinner than others: the left wing.The Bruins' first selection is at 57. They won't find a player there who can jump into the NHL next year, but with the way they're currently built, they don't need to. What they can do is find a left-winger like Blake McLaughlin (who also plays center), who is headed to the University of Minnesota in the fall and has time to grow.Buffalo SabresIt would be easy to answer the question "What do the Sabres need?" with "everything." Coincidentally, drafting the best player available would be a great strategy when trying to fix things from a big-picture perspective. If it had to be narrowed down to one area, however, defense seems the best place to start. Don't be fooled by the long list of players on the Sabres' depth chart - there aren't as many capable of making an impact in the NHL as one might think.Rasmus Dahlin will obviously be a great start to addressing this problem. Since the first overall pick is an easy one to make, the Sabres need to look further at their board and determine who they want most at pick No. 32. There are enough defensemen to snag someone talented here - Mattias Samuelsson, for example.Carolina HurricanesIf we're honest, the Hurricanes' most pressing need is better goaltending. That's not something that can be immediately addressed through the draft, so, next item on the list: the Carolina needs electric scorers. Those are hard to come by, which is why it's fortunate the lottery blessed them with the second overall pick, and Andrei Svechnikov, this year.With their next pick (42nd overall), however, the Hurricanes may want to target a different area of need: impact defensemen. Defense has recently been a strength for the Hurricanes, but most of their players with high-end potential have graduated to the NHL. It's time to replenish those stocks. Ryan Merkley may be available at 42, and a low-pressure market like Carolina just might be what he needs to get it together and thrive.Columbus Blue JacketsThe Blue Jackets' forward prospect pool has some bright spots, including Vitali Abramov, Sonny Milano, and potentially Alexandre Texier (depending on his continued performance in the Liiga and, eventually, how he adjusts to North American ice). Outside of those bright spots, however, things grow dim.With picks 18 and 49, Columbus should swing for the fences. Ideally, it'll look for forwards who, sure, might be a little high-risk compared to others, but who have a shot at being something special. Consider players such as Grigori Denisenko or Dominik Bokk at 18 and someone like Allan McShane at 49.Detroit Red WingsGiven that the Red Wings own the sixth overall pick - their highest since 1990 when they drafted Keith Primeau - and their prospect pool is thin on impact defensemen, it would be a mistake for them not to select the best defenseman on the board when their time comes. Whether that is Adam Boqvist, Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, or someone else entirely, remains to be seen.Center depth is never a bad thing to build up and it's an area the Red Wings could stand to address. Digging deep with their later picks - 33 and 36, especially - could allow them to do this. Someone like Jake Wise, who has fallen down draft boards due to extended time out with injury, may still be available.Florida PanthersThe Panthers have some fun young forwards in their system, including Aleksi Heponiemi and Henrik Borgstrom. They just let another one go in Adam Mascherin, who returns to the pool of draft-eligible players and will likely be a good overage pickup or free-agent signing for another team. While their defensive pool isn't shallow, it's lacking in names that jump off the page.With selections at 15 and 34, the Panthers could conceivably find both a forward with solid hockey smarts and a puck-moving defenseman. In terms of players, that might look something like Joel Farabee or Rasmus Kupari, along with Jared McIsaac or Jett Woo.Montreal CanadiensThe Canadiens need centers, and rumor has it Marc Bergevin may even be interested in trading down from third to select Jesperi Kotkaniemi, ideally getting an NHL-ready center in the process. Depending on the center in question, that might be a smart move by Bergevin (especially if the Habs were to otherwise select Brady Tkachuk at third). The key would be to trade down just far enough that no one else would take Kotkaniemi first, which limits trade partners. Take every draft-day trade mentioned this far out from the event itself with a grain of salt, however.The more interesting aspect of the Habs' situation is this: they also hold picks 35, 38, 56, and 62 in the second round. Centers available at those positions could include Jack McBain, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, and Cameron Hillis.New Jersey DevilsThe Devils are a team that is trending in the right direction, but to move from trending to annually contending, they'll need to bolster their prospect pool all-around. Ideally, those picks will be smart and quick to complement the big-name players either already on the NHL roster or graduating to it soon.The Devils select at No. 17, then don't have another pick until the fourth round, so the pressure to hit on their first-round pick is high. Appealing players potentially available at 17 include Ty Smith on defense (who should go higher but could very well drop), Grigori Denisenko on the wing, and Ryan McLeod at center.New York IslandersFor the Islanders, right-wing depth is noticeably a weaker area than others -especially if things continue apace with Josh Ho-Sang. The Isles' apparent center depth is also deceptive. Selecting at 11 and 12 in the first round, along with 41 and 43 in the second, provides an opportunity to bolster these areas. Centers like Barrett Hayton and Joe Veleno should be available in the first round, while the Isles could see their second-round picks turn into players like American high school center Jay O'Brien and winger Jesse Ylonen.New York RangersTouching base with a Rangers pundit brought about an intriguing answer to their "biggest need" question: high-risk, creative forwards. The Rangers have five picks in the first two rounds alone - nine, 26, 28, 39, and 48. While chances are good they'll try and package some of these to move up, choosing to make all five picks would provide plenty of opportunity to pinpoint high-risk picks who might pan out.Oliver Wahlstrom may still be available at nine, while creative forwards available at the end of the first round and beginning of the second look more like Ty Dellandrea or Martin Kaut. Realistically, Kaut should be gone by then, but medical issues at the combine could cause him to fall for some teams. If that happens, the Rangers should take advantage.Ottawa SenatorsAside from Filip Gustavsson, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season in the Derick Brassard trade, the Senators' goalie depth looks somewhat uninspiring. While this isn't the team's only need, forwards and defensemen can be acquired at picks four and 22. This year's goaltending options aren't quite outstanding enough to justify being picked at those spots. Here's the problem: the Senators don't select again until pick 95 at the top of the fourth round.One of the top goaltenders available is Jakub Skarek. You might remember him from his standout performance with the Czech team at this year's World Junior Championships. If the Senators choose to wait until pick 95, Skarek may still be available, but that depends entirely on how other teams' draft boards shake out. If he isn't, someone like Jacob Ingham or Keegan Karki might appeal.Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers certainly aren't lacking in prospects, and have some, like Morgan Frost - coming off a dominant OHL campaign - who jump off the page at you and demand to be noticed. At right wing, however, their depth is a little thinner on those look-at-me prospects than other positions.With picks 14 and 19 in the first round and pick 50 in the second, the Flyers can address that need. Names like Serron Noel and Martin Kaut (if he doesn't fall post-combine) come to mind as options for one of the first-round picks, while players available at 50 might look something like Jonatan Berggren (if he does fall) or Nando Eggenberger. Berggren comes with the ability to play both center and wing, while Eggenberger has the bonus of being one of the best names in the draft.Pittsburgh PenguinsDefense was once a strength for the Penguins' prospect pool, but in recent years, it's slipped. Look no further than 2016 third-round pick Connor Hall, whose rights the Penguins relinquished at the end of May. Hall was taken at pick 77. Also available at 77 that year? Montreal Canadiens defenseman Victor Mete. Swing and a miss.The Penguins' first pick this year is at 53. Given the influx of defensemen in this year's draft class, there's a good chance they'll be able to find someone who, with a little investment by their development staff, will be worthwhile. However, that depends entirely on what their draft board looks like.Tampa Bay LightningLet's be honest, the Lightning have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to prospects. Steve Yzerman and Co. have tackled the draft quite well, especially in recent years, hitting on players at whom other teams may turn up their noses. How, then, do the Lightning approach their draft from a need perspective?When in doubt, especially in a draft like this year's, pick puck-moving defensemen. Sure, there are only so many spots on a roster, but the more you draft, the better your chances of pinpointing a pick that will hit. The Lightning's first pick comes in at No. 59 this year. Defensemen still available might include Calen Addison or Nils Lundkvist. Both would need more development time, and the Lightning could give it to them.Toronto Maple LeafsAt first glance, the Leafs appear to be prepared for the future. After all, look at what their AHL team is doing in the Calder Cup playoffs right now. Upon closer examination, however, it's clear high-end center depth outside the Leafs' roster is likely not what they want it to be.The Leafs pick at 25 and 52. Players like Ryan McLeod or Akil Thomas could be available in the first round, while the second round might provide someone like Liam Foudy.Washington CapitalsThe 2018 Stanley Cup Champions built their team, in large part, through drafting, and they'll need to continue that solid work to best position themselves to win another championship down the road. While much of their prospect pool is in good shape, they're another team that could benefit from adding smart, creative players. By drafting guys who have high-end smarts and can think the game at those top speeds, they'll set themselves up for future success.The Capitals hold pick 31 at the end of the first round and pick 46 in the mid-second. It's possible another team could choose to trade down from its late (but earlier than 31st) first-rounder for those two picks. However, if the Caps choose to make both, players available might include defensemen Jonathan Tychonick or K'Andre Miller at 31 and center Jay O'Brien or center/wing Filip Hallander (if he's still around) at 46.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks aren't playing around this offseason, as reports indicate the club is progressing on a long-term extension with center Logan Couture, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.San Jose already locked down winger Evander Kane with a seven-year contract earlier in the spring. A number of Sharks players are set to hit free agency at the end of the upcoming season (most notably Couture and Joe Pavelski), so general manager Doug Wilson might want to get a head start on solidifying his core.In addition to being a versatile defender committed to playing a complete two-way style, Couture is also a proven offensive contributor, registering 34 goals and 27 assists over 78 games in the 2017-18 season.Couture is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $6 million, and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The prospect of pending unrestricted free agent Paul Stastny re-signing with the Winnipeg Jets is looking bleak."We've really had no discussions to date," the forward's agent, Matt Keator, told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "There's plenty of time, so we'll see where it goes."Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Keator had a brief hello at the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo more than a week ago, but that's about it, LeBrun wrote.Stastny tallied 53 points this past season, including 13 in 18 games after he was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Jets at the trade deadline. He added 15 points in 17 playoff games.As the second-best center set to hit free agency behind John Tavares, Stastny will be in high demand come July 1, so he could be in line for a nice payday.That doesn't bode well for Cheveldayoff and the Jets, who have nine restricted free agents this year, including Connor Hellebuyck, Jacob Trouba, and Josh Morrissey. Moreover, Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor will be RFAs next season and are eligible for extensions July 1. So are Blake Wheeler and Tyler Myers, who are UFAs after next season.It's safe to say Cheveldayoff has a lot on his plate this offseason, meaning re-signing Stastny might not sit too high on his priority list.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP was Alex Ovechkin's to lose.After leading all players in postseason goals, the Washington Capitals captain received 13 of a possible 18 first-place votes, the Professional Hockey Writers Association revealed Tuesday.Ovechkin's linemate and the playoffs' leading point producer, Evgeny Kuznetsov, received the other five first-place votes and 13 second-place votes.Goaltender Braden Holtby was the consensus third-place choice, receiving 16 votes.In a somewhat surprising development, Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury received two third-place votes, despite posting an .853 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Final.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.