The Arizona Coyotes reached a verbal agreement Tuesday on a contract extension with franchise defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, sources told TSN's Darren Dreger.The extension is believed to be for eight years at more than $8 million per season, according to Dreger.Related - Report: Coyotes, Ekman-Larsson nearing 8-year extensionTuesday's reported verbal agreement caps a busy few days in Arizona, as reports that the two sides were nearing an extension had gained traction over the last 24 hours.Ekman-Larsson has one year left on the six-year, $33-million deal he signed in the spring of 2013, but he won't be able to officially ink the new extension until July 1.The 26-year-old Swede is coming off a season in which he registered 14 goals and 28 assists while averaging 23:41 of ice time per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson appears close to putting pen to paper on a deal to stay in the desert for the long term.The Arizona Coyotes and the star defenseman are nearing an agreement on an eight-year contract extension, multiple sources told Craig Morgan of 98.7 FM Arizona Sports on Monday night.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported earlier Monday that a few teams were indicating Ekman-Larsson was off the market.The two sides have been discussing an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $8.25 million as far back as last month, when Morgan first reported it.It's not clear if those are the same parameters being negotiated now, but the Coyotes feel confident enough about the potential extension that they have indeed told other teams he's not available, as Morgan added Monday night.Ekman-Larsson has one year left on the six-year, $33-million deal he inked in the spring of 2013.He can't officially sign an extension until July 1, 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't look like Oliver Ekman-Larsson is going anywhere.The Arizona Coyotes defenseman is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1, and it looks like he may do so, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports a few teams that asked about him were told he's off the market.In mid-May, Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports reported that Ekman-Larsson and the Coyotes were discussing an eight-year extension that would pay the 26-year-old more than $8 million a season.Ekman-Larsson has one year left on his six-year, $33-million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.Since the 2013-14 campaign, Brent Burns is the only defenseman in the league who's scored more than Ekman-Larsson's 85 goals. During the Swede's eight-year career, he's put up 102 goals and 290 points in 576 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Futa is reportedly staying with the Los Angeles Kings for the foreseeable future.The assistant general manager has signed a multi-year contract extension with the club, according to the Los Angeles Times' Curtis Zupke.Futa has been considered for several GM vacancies over the years, most recently with the Carolina Hurricanes before they decided to shift Don Waddell into the role. Futa was also as a reported candidate for the Buffalo Sabres' job that went to Jason Botterill last May.The Kings promoted Futa to assistant GM in April 2017.He previously served as the team's vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel, and has been in the organization for the last 11 seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Salary-cap complications have shifted the majority of moves in the hockey world from the trade deadline to draft weekend, and fans could be in for another whirlwind this summer with plenty of big names reportedly on the market.With that in mind, let us play the role of matchmaker and consider the perfect landing spot for each of the 10 biggest names who could be dealt this offseason.Erik Karlsson - Vegas Golden KnightsPossible return: 2019 1st-round pick, F Alex Tuch, F Cody Glass, D Nicolas HagueReports indicated that the Vegas Golden Knights and Ottawa Senators nearly pulled off a blockbuster ahead of the most recent trade deadline, so a little more time may be all that's needed to complete the biggest NHL trade in two years.Golden Knights general manager George McPhee hasn't been shy about his desire to add a puck-moving defender, and there's no better option on the planet than Erik Karlsson. While the Golden Knights were expected to take a slow and steady approach toward building their roster, this year's results likely rewrote their playbook, meaning Vegas could part with a handful of the prospects and draft picks it accumulated last summer.Vegas could also make the deal more palatable for the Senators by taking on the expensive Bobby Ryan. Such an option was considered at the deadline, and could be brought up again if these two teams rekindle their trade talks. Meanwhile, there are no assurances Karlsson is ready to sign a long-term extension in Ottawa, so bringing back a first-round pick in next year's draft, plus three former high picks, would be an impressive haul for Senators GM Pierre Dorion.Ryan O'Reilly - St. Louis BluesPossible return: 2018 1st-round pick (29th overall, from Jets), F Robert Thomas, D Vince DunnIt's difficult to understand why the Buffalo Sabres would consider parting with Ryan O'Reilly, one of the game's best two-way pivots, but the trade chatter just won't go away.Brought to Buffalo three offseasons ago, the hope was that O'Reilly and Jack Eichel would lead the Sabres back to the postseason, but it's yet to happen, and under second-year GM Jason Botterill, changes could be afoot.The St. Louis Blues are a promising potential fit. Few teams so obviously lack a top center, and GM Doug Armstrong has already indicated he's got the green light to correct the longstanding issue. Given that St. Louis is set to contend now, parting with young players like center Robert Thomas and left-side defenseman Vince Dunn - who can both immediately slot into the Sabres' lineup - could be a fair price. The Sabres could also parlay Winnipeg's first-rounder from the Paul Stastny trade into an upgrade elsewhere on the roster.Phil Kessel - Minnesota WildPossible return: F Jason Zucker, F Kirill KaprizovAll Phil Kessel has done since arriving in the Steel City is win two Stanley Cups and follow that up with a career-best 92-point season. But alas, one of the league's premier snipers finds his name in the rumor mill once again.There are a few things to consider: While Kessel is coming off a career year, it was likely an outlier, since he typically produces around 70 points per season. There's also the matter of his contract, which carries an affordable $6.8-million cap hit but also contains a no-trade clause, meaning Kessel can limit potential trade partners to eight teams of his choosing.Fortunately, the Minnesota Wild were on that list the last time around, and likely stand to reappear given Kessel is a Minnesota Golden Gophers graduate. There's also the presence of new Wild GM Paul Fenton, who may look to quickly put his stamp on the squad. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, parting with Kessel would free up the dollars to upgrade their weakened blue line, which took a hit following a handful of recent departures. The Wild could offer an intriguing prospect in KHL forward Kirill Kaprizov, plus winger Jason Zucker, whose 33-goal output last season was only slightly outpaced by Kessel.Max Pacioretty - Florida PanthersPossible return: 2018 1st-round pick (15th overall) and F Nick BjugstadMuch like Karlsson, Max Pacioretty was among the biggest names reportedly available at the trade deadline, and while a deal never came to fruition, the Montreal Canadiens could re-investigate that possibility this offseason.The Habs would undoubtedly like to add a top center, but it's unlikely they can acquire one by dealing a player who suits up at a less valuable position - particularly a scoring winger coming off his lowest goal total in five seasons who's under contract for just one more year.There have been questions about Pacioretty's ability to perform in the spotlight, so moving to a quieter market - like South Florida - could help get his game back on track. For a young Florida Panthers squad that could use an offensive boost of its own, Pacioretty could be the perfect addition. In return, Florida could offer its first-round pick - assuming Pacioretty's willing to sign an extension - plus hulking forward Nick Bjugstad. After years of injury troubles, Bjugstad finally put together a healthy campaign last season, but may still benefit from a fresh start. His ability to play either wing or center seems like a match for Montreal as well.Jeff Skinner - Los Angeles KingsPossible return: 2018 1st-round pick (20th overall) and F Alex IafalloAfter missing the playoffs a year ago, the Los Angeles Kings crept into this year's postseason, but you may not remember it since they barely found the scoresheet. In a four-game opening round sweep to the Golden Knights, the Kings were shut out on two occasions and managed just three goals total.That followed a 239-goal campaign - the lowest offensive output of any playoff team save the Anaheim Ducks, who tallied just four fewer - so it's likely not a stretch to assume that adding some top-line offense is at the top of GM Rob Blake's shopping list.Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner is reportedly on the trade block, with an asking price of a first-round pick and a prospect. If Los Angeles prefers to keep its prospects in tow, the team could instead offer young forward Alex Iafallo, who made his NHL debut last season. It would also make a deal more palatable for the Kings if Skinner, an unrestricted free agent in 2019, signs a long-term extension with his new club.Mike Hoffman - Calgary FlamesPossible return: 2020 2nd-round pick, F Sam Bennett, D Rasmus AnderssonA deal between two Canadian clubs could have Mike Hoffman packing his bags for a trip west.Built to win now, the Calgary Flames own one of the league's deepest blue lines, and an aging netminder in Mike Smith who provided stability between the pipes last season. The problem was Calgary's inability to find the back of the net, as only four clubs scored fewer goals. That's why GM Brad Treliving should call his Ottawa counterpart as the Senators eye a shakeup.While Calgary doesn't have many draft picks to part with - three already went to the New York Islanders for rearguard Travis Hamonic - the Flames could put together a package of young talent that piques the Senators' interest. Former fourth overall pick Sam Bennett has yet to translate his junior numbers to the NHL, but could benefit from a fresh start. Calgary's embarrassment of riches on defense should also limit the sting of dealing away the promising Rasmus Andersson.Justin Faulk - Chicago BlackhawksPossible return: 2018 1st (27th overall, from Predators), F Marian Hossa, D Chad KrysIt'll take some creativity on the part of these two GMs, but a swap that would send Justin Faulk and Scott Darling from Carolina to the Chicago Blackhawks makes some sense for both clubs.Chicago's blue line, once the team's strength, lacks both depth and top-end talent, and Faulk would help the Blackhawks begin to improve their defensive core. Darling is expensive, but he has a history of success in Chicago and could step into the starting job should injuries continue to trouble Corey Crawford.As for the Hurricanes, the deal allows them to walk away from the Darling experiment - he's due nearly $12 million over the next three seasons - and clear a spot for a new goaltender, taking on Marian Hossa's cap hit in exchange. Hossa is owed just $1 million over each of the next three seasons. Carolina also lands Boston University defenseman Chad Krys, who is ready to turn pro, and the first-rounder that Chicago originally received for Ryan Hartman.Chris Tanev - Toronto Maple LeafsPossible return: 2018 1st-round pick (25th overall), F Josh Leivo, D Connor CarrickIt's no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to upgrade their blue line, particularly if a top-pairing, right-shot defender is available. Enter Vancouver Canucks defender Chris Tanev, a mobile and positionally sound rearguard who could play alongside Morgan Rielly.While Canucks GM Jim Benning has long been adamant that Tanev is not for sale, his tune may change if a rival team puts a first-round pick on the table. That's part of the offer here, as the Maple Leafs move their earliest selection in the coming draft.Accumulating picks and young talent should be the name of the game for the rebuilding Canucks, while Carrick also helps fill a role on their rejigged back end.Tyler Johnson - Arizona CoyotesPossible return: 2019 2nd-round pick, D Pierre-Olivier JosephTampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has decent cap flexibility this summer, with about $12 million in wiggle room once next season's ceiling is announced. But the challenge for Tampa Bay arrives a year from now, when elite winger Nikita Kucherov is due for an extension and is likely in line to double his current $4.7-million salary.Yzerman's most pressing issue is how he'll create the room to retain the Russian star. One option is flipping forward Tyler Johnson, who signed a seven-year extension with the Lightning last offseason.Johnson's role as the team's second-line center has been usurped by Brayden Point, who's on a cheap entry-level deal, and the 27-year-old has a full no-trade clause that kicks in July 1 - so if Yzerman's going to move Johnson, the time is now. A prime landing spot could be the Arizona Coyotes, who need a middleman behind Derek Stepan and some insurance for up-and-coming pivot Dylan Strome. Could the Lightning be interested in QMJHL defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a first-round pick by Arizona a year ago and the brother of Lightning prospect Mathieu Joseph?Philipp Grubauer - New York IslandersPossible return: 2018 1st-round pick (12th overall, from Flames)Newly minted Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello hasn't been shy about fixing up his team's goaltending in the recent past - near the end of his tenure with the Devils, he parted with a top-10 pick to bring in Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks, and one of his earliest moves upon arriving in Toronto was sending first- and second-round picks to the Ducks for Frederik Andersen.Could one of Lamoriello's first acts on the Island be upgrading the team's woeful goaltending? After the tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss struggled, New York is ripe for an upgrade, and could target Washington Capitals backup Philipp Grubauer. The 26-year-old restricted free agent has shown he has the chops for the top job and could be attainable thanks to Washington's cap crunch. The Islanders' second first-round pick, added in the Hamonic trade, should be enough to close the deal.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi will undergo a microdiscectomy procedure for a disc in his lower back, the team announced Monday.The defenseman began experiencing discomfort during offseason training, and surgery was determined to be the best course of action after he consulted with the team's medical staff.An update on his recovery time will be provided after the surgery.Though he's still only 20 years old, Juolevi has failed to live up to the hype of a fifth overall pick so far. He's the only player chosen in the top 11 of the 2016 draft that has yet to appear in the NHL.After a two-year OHL career with the London Knights, Juolevi spent this past season in Finland's top professional league, picking up 19 points in 38 games. If he's healthy by training camp, he should be in line to compete for a spot on Vancouver's blue line next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the 1994 Hollywood film, "Tin Cup," Roy McAvoy, played by Kevin Costner, waxes poetic about the U.S. Open as he begins his own preparations to qualify for the tournament."It’s open. Anybody with a 2-handicap or better has got a shot at it. Just got to get through a local and sectional qualifier, and unlike Doral or Colonial or AT&T, they can’t keep you out. They can’t ask you if you’re a garbage man or a bean picker ... If you qualify, you’re in," he says at one point.What about a cancer survivor?What about a full-time NHL referee?If you’re Canadian Garrett Rank, you hit on those last two points.

The NHL's silly season is right around the corner.With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some clubs will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.Click here for Eastern Conference candidatesCentral DivisionChicago Blackhawks: Brandon SaadAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2535$6M (2020-21)$361 111Blackhawks fans might call for the head of Brent Seabrook, but the fact is he'd still be owed between $3.3 million and $6.8 million to not play for the team. As for Saad, buying him out would allow them to nearly wipe out his entire contract.For a team strapped for cash it makes the most sense, the question is will Stan Bowman be willing to buy out a player he gave Artemi Panarin up for just one year ago?Colorado Avalanche: Colin WilsonAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2818$3 937 500 (2018-19)$1 270 833Wilson has not been able to replicate his 2015 success where he potted 20 goals and 42 points with the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche are on the up swing and in order to further progress they might be better off spending their money on someone more reliable.Dallas Stars: Jason SpezzaAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3426$7.5M (2018-19)$2.5MAfter putting up a respectable 50 points in 2017, Spezza saw his production nearly slashed in half with 26 points in 10 more games. Spezza was made a healthy scratch on several occasions, so things could be done for him in Dallas.Minnesota Wild: Tyler EnnisAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2822$4.6M (2018-19)$2 166 667Making $4.6 million, Ennis was still made a healthy scratch down the stretch and for four of the Wild's five playoff games. Over the last three seasons he's scored just 16 goals in 147 games. Enough said.Nashville Predators: Nick BoninoAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3025$4.1M (2020-21)$1 177 778The likelihood of the Predators buying out anyone is low, but if they are to buy out someone, Bonino makes the most sense. Bonino is a third- or fourth-line center making over $4 million and just put up his lowest point total in six years.St. Louis Blues: Vladimir SobotkaAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3031$3.5M (2019-20)$1 083 333The Blues may have just brought Sobotka back from the KHL, but Doug Armstrong has gone on record saying that he's going to be active in free agency and the trade market in the hopes of bolstering the team's forward core. If that's the case, cap space and roster space up front will be needed and Sobotka makes the most sense to go.Winnipeg Jets: Dmitry KulikovAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2711$4 333 333 (2019-20)$1 444 444Paying over $4 million for a bottom-pairing defenseman just doesn't make sense. With Jacob Trouba, Connor Hellebuyck, and Josh Morrissey among the team's nine pending RFAs, the club could use some extra cash.Pacific DivisionAnaheim Ducks: Corey PerryAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3349$8.625M (2020-21)$4 180 556Perry's days as a dependable 30-goal scorer appear to be in the rear-view mirror. What's more, he's struggled come playoff time the last couple seasons and at $8.625 million it might be worth turning the page on Perry. His buyout would see him get paid for six years but for four of those he'll be owed just over $2 million.Arizona Coyotes: Marcus KrugerAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit286$3 083 333 (2018-19)$1.55MKruger doesn't necessarily break the bank for the Coyotes, but with just one goal in 48 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes (a more skilled team), Arizona might be better off ridding itself of his contract and spending the money elsewhere.Calgary Flames: Troy BrouwerAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3222$4.5M (2019-20)$1.5MBrouwer gets paid the fourth-most among Flames forwards, but this past season finished ninth among them with just six goals. A buyout would save the team $3 million this season, which would certainly go a long way.Edmonton Oilers: Zack KassianAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2719$1.95M (2019-20)$616 667As is the growing trend among buyout cases, Milan Lucic might seem like the best candidate, but the Oilers would still have to pay him between $3.2 million and $5.7 million for the next five years.Kassian on the other hand averages the least amount of ice time among all regular forwards and his production reflects that.Los Angeles Kings: Dion PhaneufAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3326$5.25M (2020-21)$2 291 667Phaneuf had a decent stint in L.A. after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators, but for a team that needs to free-up money in an attempt to bolster its offense, Phaneuf might have to serve as a scapegoat.San Jose Sharks: Paul MartinAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit372$4.85M (2018-19)$2 016 667The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported on Saturday that there is a "strong possibility" that Martin gets bought out. After spending time between the main club and in the AHL last season and the potential to save just shy of $3 million in 2018-19, it certainly makes sense.Vancouver Canucks: Ben HuttonAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit256$2.8M (2018-19)$800KLoui Eriksson is the contract the team should try to get off the books, but with it so heavily weighted in signing bonuses, it doesn't make sense for the club. Meanwhile, Hutton's production has declined over the last two seasons, and didn't even manage to score a goal this past campaign.Vegas Golden Knights: Tomas TatarAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2734$5.3M (2020-21)$1 377 778The Golden Knights paid a ton to acquire Tatar at the deadline, but after under-performing and serving as a healthy scratch mostly during the playoffs, it might be in the team's interest to free-up more cap space to do some big-game hunting in free agency or via trade. Cough ... cough ... Erik Karlsson.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the glitz and glamour of the NHL's free agency period primarily surrounds the unrestricted free agents on July 1, several players with restricted rights should garner considerable attention this summer as well.Whether the expiration of an entry-level contract or the end of a bridge deal, numerous teams face important decisions on key RFA's. Negotiations can take the entire offseason, bleed into October if a player holds out, or require a third party should discussions reach arbitration, which no one wants.With that in mind, here are 10 players to keep an eye on this offseason whose next deals will have a significant impact on the future of their respective organizations.Mark Stone - SenatorsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible26$3.5M62 (58)YesThroughout a truly dismal season in Ottawa, Stone was one of the few bright spots. In typical 2017-18 Senators fashion, however, he only appeared in 58 games because of injury, but made the most of his limited availability with 62 points.What should the team do?Stone has developed into one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards and is an asset the Senators need to prioritize, especially considering the cloudy future of captain Erik Karlsson. General manager Pierre Dorion needs to offer Stone, 26, a long-term contract worth at least double what he's made annually on a wildly team-friendly pact over the last three seasons.William Karlsson - Golden KnightsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible25$1M78 (82)YesKarlsson's 43-goal outburst was the embodiment of the Golden Knights' miraculous inaugural season and he picked a great time to emerge as a star on Vegas' top line, setting himself up for quite a raise.What should the team do?As electric as Karlsson looked in his first opportunity in an increased offensive role, Vegas should be wary of giving him a blank check. Scoring 40-plus goals in today's NHL is no easy feat, but Karlsson shot 23.4 percent - the highest mark in the league. While he's the youngest of the trio, putting Wild Bill in the range of his linemates on a five or six-year deal worth roughly $5 million seems reasonable.Jacob Trouba - JetsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible24$2.8M24 (55)YesTwo years after declaring and ultimately rescinding a trade request out of Winnipeg, Trouba is up for another deal. The 24-year-old had multiple injuries throughout the season, but showcased his value night after night in the Jets' top four, averaging over 21 minutes per game in both the regular season and playoffs.What should the team do?Firstly, make sure any grievances are in the past and be certain Trouba is committed to Winnipeg going forward. If he is, lock him down to a long-term deal with a hefty pay increase. With Dustin Byfuglien pushing 34, Trouba's role is only going to grow on a team primed to contend for the Stanley Cup for years to come.Connor Hellebuyck - JetsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Sv% (GP) Arbitration Eligible25$2.25M.924 (67)YesSpeaking of key contributors to the Jets' success, Hellebuyck erased any doubts about his future as a No. 1 NHL netminder with his best season yet - one that earned him consideration as a Vezina Trophy finalist.What should the team do?This is a no-brainer. Salary figures may prove to be a tad contentious but both sides will be looking for a lengthy contract extension.William Nylander - Maple LeafsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible22$894K61 (82)NoNylander put forth his second consecutive 61-point season in 2017-18, proving once again to be a key cog in one of the most potent attacks in the NHL. His next contract is one of several tasks for new GM Kyle Dubas, along with potential extensions for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, as well as finding reinforcements to shore up the blue line.What should the team do?Dubas and the Leafs would be best served to avoid a bridge deal for Nylander, as signing him to a long-term deal prevents the possibility of him requesting a more lucrative contract a couple years from now should his production increase. The Maple Leafs won't have cap space forever, and keeping Nylander's number down while they can will only help once the crunch hits.J.T. Miller - LightningAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible25$2.75M58 (82)YesAfter joining the Lightning at the trade deadline, Miller contributed 18 points in 19 games, but saw his production dip in another disappointing playoff exit for Tampa Bay.What should the team do?If Miller were unrestricted, he'd surely be one of the bigger names available, but Steve Yzerman faces a difficult decision with the 25-year-old. Tampa has extensions for Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the horizon, and won't be able to sink long-term dollars into a player like Miller - as valuable as he may be. Does he accept another short deal to stick around, or could we see a trade?Matt Dumba - WildAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible23$2.55M50 (82)YesDumba came into his own for the Wild in 2017-18, setting career-highs in average ice-time (23:49), goals (14), and assists (36) upon the expiry of a two-year bridge contract signed in 2016.What should the team do?Dumba is one of few young players on the Wild roster, and new GM Paul Fenton should consider unloading some salary to ensure he can offer the 23-year-old a long-term deal.Darnell Nurse - OilersAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible23$863K26 (82)NoNurse continues to acclimate himself to the pros and showed promise by appearing in all 82 games, while setting a career-high in points and ice-time.What should the team do?The 2018-19 campaign marks the beginning of Connor McDavid's mega-deal, so maneuvering the salary cap effectively is of the utmost importance for Peter Chiarelli and Co. While Nurse is a solid piece on the back end, both parties could probably agree on a bridge deal to give Nurse a chance to cement his status as a foundational piece.Dylan Larkin - Red WingsAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible21$925K63 (82)NoLarkin erased a miserable sophomore slump with a tremendous Year 3 to conclude his entry-level contract, leading the lowly Red Wings with 63 points and proving he's a piece worth prioritizing for Detroit's rebuild.What should the team do?Ken Holland has handed out numerous ugly contracts over the last few years, but has a chance to stabilize things with a proper evaluation for his top center. Like Nylander, Detroit is better off avoiding a bridge deal and locking up their star before he demands more.Tomas Hertl - SharksAge Previous Cap Hit 2017-18 Points (GP) Arbitration Eligible24$3M46 (79)YesThe Sharks' attack felt the effects of losing Joe Thornton for nearly half the season, but Hertl managed to set a new personal best with 22 goals and backed it up with nine points in 10 playoff contests.What should the team do?After Evander Kane secured $49 million over seven years on the strength of 26 solid games with the Sharks, Hertl will likely be looking for some long-term security as well. His payout won't be as gainful, but as a key top-six contributor, a four-to-five year deal worth around $4 million annually doesn't seem so bad for either party.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are celebrating their Stanley Cup win by letting out years of frustration with a helluva party.By knocking off the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the final, the Capitals sealed the first championship in franchise history, putting to bed the narrative that the team's underachieved since it entered the NHL 44 years ago.So it's little surprise that Ovechkin, his teammates, and Capitals fans are taking full advantage of the opportunity to celebrate. Here's what he's been up to.'Get some beers'

Silly season is right around the corner.With teams on the brink of the annual tradition of overpaying in free agency, so too approaches the buyout window, in which some teams will look to rid themselves of past contract blunders.Here's a look at each team's most likely candidate to be bought out over the next month.Metropolitan DivisionCarolina Hurricanes: Scott DarlingAge2017-18 SV%Cap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit29.888$4.150M (2020-21)$716 667Darling made it quite clear this season he isn't cut out to be a No. 1. Under Tom Dundon, the team will be looking to make a splash, and that includes a new goalie tandem.Columbus Blue Jackets: Brandon DubinskyAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3216$5.85M (2020-21)$1.95MThis season, Dubinsky saw a 25-point drop, a consequence of scoring half the goals he did in 2017. He was also reported to be dealing with a personal issue that could be career-ending; a buyout might be best for all parties.New Jersey Devils: Travis ZajacAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3326$5.75M (2020-21)$1.25MZajac is currently the longest-serving Devils player, but his production has taken a drastic hit and $5.75 million is a lot of money to put up for fewer than 15 goals a season.New York Islanders: Casey CizikasAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2717$3.35M (2020-21)$1.1MAndrew Ladd would make sense here, but he gets a lot of his money in signing bonuses, which doesn't make a buyout very feasible. As for Cizikas, who hasn't hit double-digit goals his entire career, buying him out saves nearly $2.5 million.New York Rangers: Marc StaalAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit318$5.7M (2020-21)$2 055 556Staal is not the No. 2 defenseman he once was. With just eight points this year, his offensive numbers aren't there. The Rangers are already vowing to make changes to their core, and he could be the next to go.Philadelphia Flyers: Andrew MacDonaldAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3121$5M (2019-20)$1.375MThe near-$4 million in cap space the Flyers would open up in buying out MacDonald is a better asset off the ice than he has been on it. The Flyers have ample defensive prospects in their system more deserving of a spot in the lineup.Pittsburgh Penguins: Carl HagelinAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2931$4M (2018-19)$1.556MOnce part of the infamous HBK line, Hagelin has never been as successful again as he was during the Penguins' 2016 playoff run. With 30 goals over the last three years and a $4-million cap hit, the Penguins could better use that money.Washington Capitals: Brooks OrpikAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3710$5.5M (2018-19)$2.5MIn Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Orpik scored his first goal in 220 games, that about says it all. Given his high cap hit and the fact the Capitals will be looking to lock up John Carlson at season's end, a buyout could be in the cards.Atlantic DivisionBoston Bruins: Adam McQuaidAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3134$2.75M (2018-19)$1 416 667McQuaid has served as a healthy scratch this year, playing just 38 games (mostly due to injury) while averaging the least amount of ice time among Bruins defensemen who have played at least 15 games.Buffalo Sabres: Zach BogosianAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit271$5 142 857 (2019-20)$1 142 857Bogosian has no business making over $5 million per season. The Sabres need a drastic upgrade to their defense corps, so what better way than by losing Bogosian and adding projected No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin?Detroit Red Wings: Darren HelmAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3131$3.85M (2020-21)$1 405 556The Red Wings have a number of names that could appear on this list, but Helm is probably the one least likely to rebound in his production. The club could also afford to get a little younger.Florida Panthers: Jamie McGinnAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2929$3 333 333 (2018-19)$1MThe Panthers' forward contingent is still chock-full of young talent and with more in the system likely to challenge for roster spots, the team is going to need to make room. The extra $2.33 million doesn't hurt.Montreal Canadiens: Karl AlznerAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2912$4.625M (2021-22)-$72 917Alzner's deal has been flawed since it was signed. He's a bottom-pairing defenseman being paid way out of that pay range. Buying him out will help the Canadiens better address their defense corps.Ottawa Senators: Marian GaborikAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3621$4.875M (2020-21)$1 502 778Whether due to injury or a drop in play, Gaborik's production has not been there for the past four seasons. Of course, saving over $3 million is just the kind of move Eugene Melnyk wants his team to make.Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan GirardiAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit3418$3M (2018-19)$1 166 667The Lightning need to shed some salary with four pending RFAs, and Girardi would see the team shed salary without losing an overly valuable asset.Toronto Maple Leafs: Matt MartinAge2017-18 PointsCap Hit (through)18-19 Buyout Cap Hit2912$2.5M (2019-20)$2MThe fact is that Martin isn't getting playing time and is taking up $2.5 million in salary. Though buying him out won't save the Maple Leafs a ton of cash, at this point, it's better for both parties to take different directions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk is California dreamin'.The former Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner visited with the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and will meet with the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Both destinations seem like good fits for Kovalchuk. Each team is competitive and could use added scoring punch off the left wing.Kovalchuk is 35 years old and five years removed from the NHL. But he scored 31 goals and added 32 assists in 53 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL this past season.J.P. Barry, Kovalchuk's agent, reportedly intends to get a multi-year deal for his client.Kovalchuk is free to negotiate and agree to terms on a contract anytime, but can't officially sign with a club until July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz coached the Capitals to a Stanley Cup title this season while not knowing if he'd be back behind the Washington bench next year, as his current contract expires July 1.Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future with the club, Trotz is soaking up the moment and enjoying the "buzz" that comes along with being NHL champs: "I’m not in any state to talk," Trotz said Saturday, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "I always talked about having really good clarity and calm and all that."I don’t have a lot of clarity right now. That’s self-inflicted."Part of that self-infliction came Saturday afternoon at the Washington Nationals-San Francisco Giants game in D.C., where the entire Capitals team was on hand for an afternoon full of beers and good times.Related: Capitals GM on Trotz's expiring contract: 'If he wants to be back, he'll be back'Washington's general manager Brain MacLellan made it known earlier this week that if Trotz wishes to return to the organization the two sides would get a deal done.Trotz has been at the helm in D.C. since 2014, amassing a regular-season record of 205-89-34 and a postseason record of 36-27.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are nearing a buyout of the final year of defenseman Paul Martin's contract, a source told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.Martin is under contract for one more season with the Sharks at a cap hit of $4.85 million, but if he's bought out, San Jose will save roughly $2.8 million in cap space for the 2018-19 campaign.The veteran rearguard spent the last three seasons with the Sharks, registering seven goals and 41 assists in 173 regular-season games. However, he only suited up in 14 contests this past year due to poor play and injury issues. He also skated in 18 AHL games after being waived by the club in January.Teams can officially begin buying out contracts on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stanley Cup celebrations will continue throughout the offseason for members of the Washington Capitals, but for the team's general manager Brian MacLellan, he'll get back to work almost immediately.The first order of business for MacLellan is quite obvious: get on the phone with John Carlson's agent and try to work out a contract extension.Carlson is coming off a career year in which he led all NHL defensemen with 68 points, and added 20 more in 24 postseason games. Behind John Tavares, he's the best pending free agent set to hit the open market on July 1.As a premier right-handed shooting defenseman who's still only 28 years old, there will undoubtedly be a long list of teams willing to pay Carlson handsomely into his mid-30s. A seven-year contract with an annual cap hit of $8 million seems realistic.It may seem unfathomable that MacLellan could actually re-sign Carlson, given the team's cap crunch, but if the following steps are taken, it could be done with just enough money leftover to ice a roster capable of winning another Stanley Cup in 2019.Buy out Brooks OrpikOrpik was a rock on the Caps' blue line during the postseason, but he needs to go in order to keep Carlson in Washington. He'll be 38 years old next season and is entering the final year of a contract with a $5.5-million cap hit. Trading him isn't a real option, as it's unlikely any team would be willing to take on that salary. Here's how the buyout would work, according to Cap Friendly.SeasonBuyout cap hit2018-19$2.5M2019-20$1.5MAs you can see, a buyout would save the Capitals $3 million in cap room for the coming season.Bridge deal Tom WilsonWilson is the team's second-biggest pending free agent behind Carlson. Luckily for the Caps, he's a restricted free agent, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, they won't be battling with other teams to sign him.Locking Wilson up to a long-term extension would be ideal, but that usually means overpaying in the short term for security and a bargain down the line. Unfortunately for MacLellan, this is a luxury he cannot afford.The Caps need to sign Wilson to a bridge deal. At least three years would be ideal for the team, but two years would be better for the player since he can become a UFA afterward.Wilson made $2 million per year on his last deal, and after setting career highs with 14 goals and 35 points, he'll be in for a nice raise. A realistic result is a two- or three-year contract at around $4 million per.Choose one: Kempny, Beagle, Smith-PellyThe Capitals will have to let key members of their supporting cast walk in free agency. Both Michal Kempny and Jay Beagle are UFAs, while Devante Smith-Pelly is an RFA.Acquired at the deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks, Kempny played admirably alongside Carlson in Washington's top four despite being used sparingly in the Windy City. He only made $900,000 last year, but as a 27-year-old UFA coming off the best stretch of hockey of his career, it may take close to $3 million to retain him.A premier face-off man and penalty killer, Beagle is one of the game's best fourth-line centers. He earned $1.75 million last year, and with the cap going up, he could also make $3 million in free agency.Smith-Pelly scored as many goals in the postseason (seven) as he did in the regular season. He earned $1.3 million last season, so if his camp and the Caps can't agree on a 2018-19 salary, an arbitrator would step in, and he could potentially earn up to $2 million.Given that Chandler Stephenson is capable of playing center, letting the 32-year-old Beagle walk is the most logical decision to make. Choosing between Smith-Pelly and Kempny is tough, but top-four D-men are more difficult to find than fourth-liners, making the former expendable. And since he's an RFA, the Caps could trade his rights.Fill remaining spots with cheap contractsWith the aforementioned moves, here's a look at a projected 2018-19 lineup (bolded cap hits are projections):Forwards:LWCRWAlex Ovechkin ($9.5M)Evgeny Kuznetsov ($7.8M)Tom Wilson ($3.5M)Jakub Vrana ($863K)Nicklas Backstrom ($6.7M)T.J. Oshie ($5.75M)Andre Burakovsky ($3M)Lars Eller ($3.5M)Brett Connolly ($1.5M)Travis Boyd ($750K)Chandler Stephenson ($650K)Nathan Walker ($650K)Mathias Bau-Hansen ($700K)With Beagle and Smith-Pelly out the door, Boyd and Walker will have to flank Stephenson on the fourth line. Bau-Hansen, or another player in the Caps' system, will be in line to be the club's 13th forward.Forward contracts: $44.863 millionDefense:LDRDDmitry Orlov ($5.1M)Matt Niskanen ($5.75M)Michal Kempny ($2.5M)John Carlson ($8M)Christian Djoos ($650K)Madison Bowey ($800K)Aaron Ness ($650K)Bowey played in 51 games this past season but rarely got in the lineup after Kempny was acquired at the deadline. The 23-year-old former second-round pick should be ready to play a full 82 games this year.Defense contracts: $25.95 million (including Orpik's buyout hit)Goalies:GBraden Holtby ($6.1M)Ilya Samsonov ($925K)Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is an RFA and having a backup goalie of his caliber is a luxury the Caps can't afford. Trading him for draft picks or prospects seems like the most logical solution.With Grubauer traded, Samsonov, who just signed his entry-level deal in May, will fill the backup goaltending duties. He's a 2015 first-rounder with loads of potential.Goalie contracts: $7.025 millionWith nearly the same team coming back, the Capitals are able to ice a roster at a total salary of $77.8 million. Last season's maximum salary cap was $75 million, but next season's is expected to be between $78-$82 million. If it is on the low end of that projection, they would just fit under it. The number will be decided later this month.Losing tough, gritty players in Beagle, Smith-Pelly, and Orpik is hard, but this is still a team that could compete for another Stanley Cup.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't get it twisted: while the regular season in the NHL is surely important, fans yearn for playoff hockey. Enduring the tough 82-game slate that spans seven months can be a tall task for any puck enthusiast - even if you're armchair coaching like the rest of us.However, if you were able to maintain mental stability and hold your nerve long enough to enjoy the entire postseason, this year's passage of teams battling it out for the Stanley Cup provided some of the best plays, moments, and highlights our great game has to offer.Despite an opening round that provided two sweeps, two five-game series, and only one seven-gamer, the 2018 postseason was one to remember. Without further ado, let's relive the best moments:Andersen robs Pastrnak with the paddle Arguably the best series of the first round, the Boston Bruins were having their way with the Toronto Maple Leafs up until this point. Enter Leafs netminder Freddy Andersen, who went full beast mode from Game 3 on. Case in point was this save he turned in late in the third period with the Bruins pressing.David Krejci fed it into the corner for David Pastrnak, who loaded up and fired it into what appeared to be a yawning cage. With the flick of a stick, Andersen streaked cross-crease to stone Pastrnak with the paddle, preserving the victory for Toronto.Ovechkin bats in game-winner vs. Penguins Not only was Ovi's Game 3 winner the turning point in Washington's series against Pittsburgh, but it was arguably the tipping point of the club's entire season.Like he did all year long, Ovechkin wowed the crowd on this play, streaking up the ice for a two-on-one with Nicklas Backstrom before ringing his shot off the post. Ovi stayed as cool as a cucumber and batted his own rebound out of midair and past Matt Murray.The patience and hand-eye were seriously impressive, but the awesome celly at the end cemented Ovechkin's eventual game-winner as one the best of the playoffs. Rinne's insane knob stop vs. JetsNot many adjectives in the English dictionary can properly describe what happened in this sequence, so let your eyes do the work for you. Just understand that Pekka Rinne's robbery of Josh Morrissey in the Predators-Jets second-round series was seriously ridiculous.The man used the knob of his stick ... to make the save ... along the ice. Nuts. If not for the sublime saves further down our list, Rinne's wizardry against the Jets would surely be the stop of the postseason.Brad Marchand's licking/kissingLook, everyone can agree that Bruins forward Brad Marchand kissing and licking opponents' faces wasn't exactly good for the game. But, come on, nothing fun or out of the norm like that has ever happened in hockey. And watching opponents become enraged or grossed out with Marchand's greasy face in their beaks was actually freaking hilarious.

One day after the Stanley Cup Final, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers couldn't wait to dip their toes into the trade market.The Leafs sent the rights to 23-year-old forward Nolan Vesey to the Oilers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2020.Vesey, the younger brother of New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey, was picked in the sixth round by the Leafs in 2014. He scored 11 goals and added 14 assists at the University of Maine this past season.If the Oilers can't agree on a contract with Vesey by Aug. 15, they'll lose his signing rights, according to Cap Friendly.The minor deal is the first move of Kyle Dubas' tenure as Leafs GM.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury transformed from expansion castoff to Conn Smythe contender in a matter of months on the heels of one of the most miraculous single seasons in North American sports history.And despite his Vegas Golden Knights falling just short of the Stanley Cup, Flower still very much wants to continue his days on the strip: "It’s funny, because a year ago, I was thinking I was getting too old to play this game," Fleury said Friday, according to Jesse Granger of the Las Vegas Sun."Vegas gave me an opportunity to continue doing what I love and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. I hope I finish my career here."Aside from being an absolute beast in the blue paint all year long and into the playoffs, Fleury has been the face of the franchise in its inaugural campaign, adorning himself to fans and the community with numerous off-ice initiatives. It comes as little surprise the 33-year-old veteran has eyes for ending his career in Sin City.Fleury becomes a free agent July 2019, but you can expect the Knights to make a push to lock down their No.1 man much sooner than that.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin was the MVP of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with either Evgeny Kuznetsov or Braden Holtby likely coming in at a close second.But the Washington Capitals could not have won their first Stanley Cup without the work from those who operate outside of the spotlight. Here are five names worth remembering as they are etched into Lord Stanley.Jay BeagleBeagle gave the Capitals a huge boost with his efficiency in the dot, winning more than 60 percent of his faceoffs while leading the team - and all players in the postseason - in draws.An exceptional defensive player who lacked a scoring touch, Beagle's path to the NHL was a long one, as he joined the Capitals as an undrafted free agent more than a decade ago. He now ranks third among Washington's longest-serving players, behind only Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.Lars EllerPatric Hornqvist, Kris Letang, and Duncan Keith. That trio of players scored the last three Stanley Cup-winning goals ahead of Thursday's game, and Eller's name will now be added to the list after he pocketed the winner with less than eight minutes remaining in Game 5.Acquired two years ago for a pair of second-round picks, the hope was Eller would offer the Capitals some added stability down the middle. He did that and more in the postseason, during which he chipped in 18 points (nearly half of his regular-season total), making his recent five-year extension look like a stroke of genius by general manager Brian MacLellan.Michal KempnyThe NHL trade deadline coverage focused on deals involving the likes of Evander Kane, Ryan McDonagh, and Rick Nash, so, when the Capitals shipped a conditional third rounder to the Chicago Blackhawks for little-used defender Kempny, almost no one reacted.But Kempny was a key member upon his arrival to D.C., where he saw regular minutes under new bench boss Barry Trotz and took in a career high in ice time in the postseason. Not known for his offense, Kempny even chipped in on the scoresheet during the playoffs, including a goal in the Stanley Cup Final.Brooks OrpikHe doesn't possess the numbers that make him popular with the analytics crowd, but Orpik's invaluable intangibles were a key reason why the Capitals are now planning their Stanley Cup parade.The veteran defender averaged nearly 17 crucial minutes of ice time throughout the postseason and often acted as a second line of defense to Holtby in keeping the puck out of the net. Orpik finished the playoffs with league-leading 88 hits and added 50 blocked shots, second only to fellow defender Matt Niskanen. This marks the second title for Orpik, who won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.Devante Smith-PellyMuch like Eller, Smith-Pelly's scoring touch found another gear this spring, as he evened his regular-season goal total of seven. That offensive outburst included a pair of game-winning tallies, with the second coming in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.A depth addition by the Capitals after having his contract bought out by the New Jersey Devils a year ago, Smith-Pelly's bounce-back season is just one of the many great stories from the Capitals' Stanley Cup win, and one his agent will be sure to relay when it comes time to re-sign the restricted free agent.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two familiar trade partners could link up once again.The Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks have held discussions involving Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk and netminder Scott Darling, sources told Scott Powers of The Athletic.The Hurricanes are expected to be one of the busiest teams this offseason under new general manager Don Waddell, with the team reportedly taking calls on winger Jeff Skinner. Carolina has also expressed interest in Washington Capitals backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer.Speculation surrounds Faulk's future in Raleigh. The 26-year-old has just two years remaining on his contract at an affordable cap hit, and he'd be in demand as a rare right-shot blue-liner.Darling's name has also been mentioned in conversations between the teams, a source told Powers. The goaltender is coming off a disastrous campaign with the Hurricanes after being traded from the Blackhawks a year ago. He finished his first year in Carolina with just 13 wins and an .888 save rate in 43 games.Before he became a free agent last offseason, the Blackhawks shipped Darling's rights to the Hurricanes for a third-round pick. He then signed a four-year, $16.6-million extension with Carolina.The Blackhawks and Hurricanes have been frequent trade partners in the past, with Chicago previously sending them Darling, Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, and Kris Versteeg, among others.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Stanley Cup continues to elude James Neal, and his string of misfortune is becoming a bit ridiculous.The Vegas Golden Knights forward came up short again this spring, as the Washington Capitals ended the expansion team's magical run in five games with the series-clinching victory Thursday night.It's the second straight year Neal's team has lost in the championship round, as he fell short as a member of the Nashville Predators last season.As unlucky as that is, it doesn't end there.The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Neal to the Predators in June 2014, and Pittsburgh then won back-to-back titles without him in 2016 and 2017.Neal also missed out on the Penguins' Cup win in 2009, as they didn't acquire him from the Dallas Stars until February 2011.The 30-year-old sharpshooter might have already gotten over those past coincidences, but he'll have a hard time putting his Game 4 miss in the rear-view mirror.

If there was any lingering doubt, it's history now.Alex Ovechkin's Stanley Cup victory - along with his stellar performance in these playoffs and throughout the season - should permanently put to rest any remaining whispers of criticism toward the Washington Capitals captain.Ovechkin didn't need the Cup to be considered one of the greatest players in NHL history. He was already a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time.He was also a deserving Conn Smythe Trophy winner, leading all postseason scorers with 15 goals and finishing second with 27 points in 24 games. He'll be awarded the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's goal-scoring champion later this month for the seventh time, and he hit the 600-career-goal plateau back in March, becoming the fourth-fastest player to do so.And he's done all of this by age 32, with no indications whatsoever that he'll be closing the book on his 13-year career anytime soon.Still, there was something missing, and while he never deserved to shoulder the blame for that, winning the Stanley Cup effectively killed any present or future debates about his place in history.The unfounded narratives that unfairly dogged him during the Capitals' years of playoff frustration - that he couldn't win big games, that he wasn't fully dedicated, that he was selfish - were never grounded in truth, and they were silenced forever Thursday night.In fact, Ovechkin all but vanquished those baseless claims long before the final buzzer sounded in Game 5.After Washington dropped the first two games of its first-round matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on home ice, the Russian superstar guaranteed the Capitals would return to D.C. with the series tied, and that's exactly what happened.Ovechkin's club won four straight games after his declaration, and he was a huge part of the resurgence, potting three goals and six points combined in Games 3-6.He should also be lauded for his professionalism during the years of frustration amid the unceasing questions about his role in the Capitals' numerous early exits, as he repeatedly displayed a demeanor that further proved his worthiness as a leader in the dressing room.Other players might have gotten visibly annoyed when faced with all of the questions about the team's failures, but he didn't. This season, in particular, his sense of humor shone through, and time and time again, he made it known that the team took precedence over his individual accomplishments.When his pursuit of a 50-goal campaign ended in disappointment on the final night of the regular-season schedule in April, he could have focused inwardly and talked about himself. Instead, he shrugged it off with a memorable two-word phrase and credited his teammates for trying to find him for goals all year long.As he so often does, Ovechkin played like a man on a mission this spring, and while accomplishing that mission wasn't a requirement for him to be assured of a Hall of Fame plaque, doing so while playing better than anyone else in the playoffs ensured his legacy will never be questioned again.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Perron was ready for an extended stay in Sin City.The Vegas Golden Knights forward, and pending unrestricted free agent, held talks with the team earlier this season in hopes of inking a contract extension, he revealed during Friday's locker room cleanout, as per David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Perron can hit the open market as of July 1, but indicated his preference is to remain with the Golden Knights, telling Schoen, "I want to stay."The 30-year-old is coming off a career year in which he picked up 66 points in 70 games, besting his previous high of 57 points set in the 2013-14 season. He then added nine points in 15 playoff appearances.With those sorts of numbers, he could cash in this offseason, particularly as part of a free-agent market lacking quality right-shot forwards. A sizable raise could also be in the offering, as Perron's cap hit was only $3.75 million this season, as per CapFriendly.The Golden Knights claimed Perron from the St. Louis Blues in last summer's expansion draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Vegas sportsbooks setting the Golden Knights' odds of winning the Stanley Cup as high as 500-1 last year, big-time payouts appeared to be on the horizon for people who bet on the expansion club.But the Golden Knights ultimately fell to the Washington Capitals, who won the series 4-1 on Thursday night.In hopes of minimizing liability, sportsbooks adjusted their odds midseason, and during the playoffs, motivated bettors to put their dollars down on Vegas' opponents. Many also offered partial payouts during the postseason and ahead of the Stanley Cup Final."This wasn't my biggest liability, but it was pretty significant," Wynn executive director of race and sports John Avello told ESPN's Ben Fawkes.The Stanley Cup Final wrapped the NHL's first full season in Sin City - a year in which the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported a 36 percent uptick in the category of bets that includes hockey.Would it really have been so bad if the hometown team had won it all?"I was rooting for the town," Avello admitted. "We've taken hits before. If I was going to pay off on something, I (would've been) glad to pay off on the Knights. They've been the talk of the town."All the sportsbook directors Fawkes spoke to agreed."We root for the house as much as we can, but this is such a unique story," said Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill director of trading. "I think we have a free waiver on this one."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup championship had a global flavor.In addition to taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and joining some elite company in the process, Alex Ovechkin also became the first Russian-born captain to win the Cup.Nathan Walker is the first Australian-born player to hoist Lord Stanley's mug, after becoming the first player from Down Under to play in regular-season and postseason games, respectively, earlier in the campaign.Then there was Lars Eller, who made some history of his own after scoring the most important goal of the Capitals' season.

Chandler Stephenson already knows what he's doing for his day with the Stanley Cup.The Washington Capitals forward and Saskatoon native plans to bring hockey's Holy Grail back to his home province, and more specifically, the community of Humboldt.Humboldt, of course, is the home of the SJHL's Broncos, who were involved in the bus collision in April that resulted in the deaths of 16 people on board and injured 13 others."I knew a couple of the guys on the bus, so it's one of those things that I want to do for those guys and the people of Humboldt," Stephenson told Scott Oake of "Hockey Night in Canada."This postseason run marked a breakthrough for Stephenson, as he appeared in all 24 games and netted two goals and five assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The fairytale didn't end the way the Golden Knights wanted.Vegas lost four straight games for the first time this season, and it happened in the Stanley Cup Final.The Washington Capitals are Cup champions, and Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury spoke in a somber Knights locker room after the game Thursday, praising his team's new and rabid supporters."Thank you for all the support throughout the season," Fleury told reporters. "From day one, they've been incredible. Sorry we couldn't bring it home."Fleury, who became the face of the club, struggled in the Cup Final, but knows his team - which didn't exist a year ago - has a lot to be proud of after its inaugural season."It was pretty quiet in here after the game," he said. "Nobody talked about it. I think we all need a little time to realize what we've done."The Golden Knights' magical run is over, but it was some ride.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryce Harper may be the Vegas Golden Knights' biggest celebrity fan, but he's employed in Washington, D.C. So this Stanley Cup Final was a win-win for him.On Thursday, the Capitals brought the Cup to the District of Columbia for the first time with a 4-3 win in Las Vegas. Harper, a Vegas native who's gone on to stardom with the Nationals, attended Games 3 and 4 of the series in Washington clad in Golden Knights gear but left Capital One Arena disappointed after the home team won.

Barry Trotz coached under the weight of an expiring contract all year, but it appears the door is open for a return to the Washington Capitals if he desires."If he wants to be back, he'll be back," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.When Trotz was asked about the situation postgame, he firmly stated he's also open to coming back.

Warning: Video contains course languageTriumph can often bring out the most emotional moments in sports, and that couldn't have been more true with Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie on Thursday night.In his Stanley Cup-winning postgame interview with Scott Oake, Oshie got choked up talking about his father, Tim, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Alex Ovechkin firmly cemented his name among the greatest to ever play the sport with his first-ever Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy wins on Thursday.In adding those two pieces of hardware to his trophy case, Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr as the only players in NHL history to win three Hart Trophies (regular-season MVP) and a Conn Smythe.

The Vegas Golden Knights fell just short of taking home the 2018 Stanley Cup title in the club's inaugural season, but that isn't getting in the way of hometown oddsmakers naming the Knights as the second favorite to take home the 2019 crown.Bookmakers in Vegas have pegged the Tampa Bay Lightning as the team with the best odds to earn next season's championship at 8-1, with the Knights, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Winnipeg Jets, and Boston Bruins earning the next-best odds at 10-1.Interestingly enough, the newly minted Cup champion Washington Capitals come in just after that at 12-1.

Alex Ovechkin may be a rookie when it comes to winning the Stanley Cup, but he's a seasoned veteran when it comes to celebrating.In his postgame interview with Scott Oake, Ovechkin had a message for Capitals nation:

The NBA Finals were on hiatus Thursday night, with the eyes of the sports world focused squarely on Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.The expansion Vegas Golden Knights fell short in their effort to extend the series to a sixth game, with the Washington Capitals pulling out a narrow 4-3 victory to win their first cup in dramatic fashion.A number of NBA players from across the Association took in the action, later congratulating the Capitals and captain Alex Ovechkin for the monumental victory on social media.

The Washington Capitals can finally call themselves Stanley Cup champions, as their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night earned the franchise its first-ever title.So, naturally, Twitter exploded with love for Alex Ovechkin and Co. Here's a collection of some of the best tweets in the wake of Washington's historic night:

Alex Ovechkin walked away with not one, but two trophies on Thursday night in Las Vegas.After tallying 15 goals and 27 points in 24 games en route to the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights, Ovechkin was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.Ovechkin was remarkably consistent throughout the postseason, too, scoring at least three goals in every series. He did more than just score though, as he played with a high level of energy and physicality throughout the entire playoffs, recording 81 hits.Evgeny Kuznetsov made a strong case for the Conn Smythe with a playoff-leading 32 points, but Ovechkin has been the heart and soul of the Caps since Day 1. It's his team and it's his Conn Smythe.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin has his Cup.The Washington Capitals overcame a one-goal, third-period deficit to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 on Thursday.After falling behind two separate times in the second period, the Golden Knights stormed back late in the frame with goals from David Perron and Reilly Smith to head into the final period with a 3-2 lead.The Capitals, on the back of goals from Devante Smith-Pelly and Lars Eller, re-took the lead in the third period and never looked back. They hung on to claim the franchise's first Cup win in just their second-ever Final appearance.Ovechkin, unsurprisingly was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player in the playoffs.Meanwhile, with the win in Vegas, the Capitals become the first team since the 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup after trailing in all four series.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin broke a club record that was always destined to be his.With his go-ahead tally in the second period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, Ovechkin set the Capitals' franchise record for most goals in a single postseason with 15, passing John Druce.Druce's 14 goals miraculously came in just 15 games during a 1990 Capitals playoff run that saw them get swept by the Boston Bruins in the conference finals. Oddly enough, Druce only topped 14 goals in three seasons during his 531-game NHL career.Ovechkin also joined some pretty elite company in the process, becoming the fifth player in the last 25 years to score 15 goals during a playoff run.

The Vegas Golden Knights are shuffling their lines, inserting forwards William Carrier and David Perron into their lineup for the club's must-win Game 5 on Thursday night.Ryan Reaves and Ryan Carpenter are the two forwards coming out of the lineup for Gerard Gallant.On the back end, Gallant is shaking things up a bit, as well, pairing Shea Theodore with Nate Schmidt, and Brayden McNabb with Deryk Engelland. McNabb and Schmidt were previously paired together.Carrier hadn't played since May 4 against the San Jose Sharks after sitting out with injury, whereas Perron returns after sitting out Game 4 as a healthy scratch.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have made up their mind about who they'll select with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft on June 22.With Swedish blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin a virtual lock to be taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the top spot, the Hurricanes will choose from the best of the rest. As it stands, Carolina has its sights set on Russian sniper Andrei Svechnikov, general manager Don Waddell told Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.While it's possible Carolina could trade the No. 2 pick, Waddell said he'd only do so for an offer that "blows us away." The Hurricanes haven't received such an offer to this point.Svechnikov netted 40 goals and added 32 assists in 44 appearances this season with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League."These kinds of players don't come along that often," Waddell told Bridget Condon of ABC11. "That's why you have to be careful thinking about can we do better in the draft if we do something else. He's a special player and he could make a big impact and be a part of this progress as we move forward for a long time."Svechnikov spent two days in Raleigh earlier this week, meeting with new head coach Rod Brind'Amour and Hurricanes owner Thomas Dundon.The Montreal Canadiens own the draft's third selection and are expected to choose among forwards Filip Zadina and Brady Tkachuk, and defenseman Quinn Hughes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAS VEGAS -- In a perfect world, the ideal ending to the storybook season of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights ends with the Stanley Cup being the main attraction during a victory parade down the famed Las Vegas Strip.That may still happen but it will take another pinch-me moment in a season full of them for the self-proclaimed "Golden Misfits."Vegas enters Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with the Washington Capitals on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena trailing the best-of-seven series 3-1 and will need to win three games in a row to hoist hockey's most coveted piece of silverware.But Vegas, which has already put together two five-game win streaks in the playoffs, has thrived in the underdog role in its debut season."It shows that you can do it," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. "We've done it against good hockey teams. Play our game, you get some breaks, and you keep working hard and hopefully it turns for us.""A lot of people didn't think we would win that many games this year or make it to the playoffs, and we find ourselves here," forward James Neal said after practice on Wednesday. "So I think for sure we have the ability to prove people wrong. We've done that all year."The Golden Knights have lost three in a row to Alex Ovechkin and company, including an ugly 6-2 loss on Monday night at Capital One Arena. Vegas has never lost four games in a row in its brief history."I think we have great character in this room and we've shown it all season long," Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. "We'll be ready for Game 5."Vegas is 7-2 on its home ice during the playoffs but lost 3-2 on May 30 in its last game there. That contest featured a remarkable game-saving, diving stick save by Washington goalie Braden Holtby on Alex Tuch in front of a wide-open net that ranks as the turning point of the series so far.Washington is 9-3 on the road in the playoffs, just one off the NHL record of 10 road wins accomplished four times, most recently by the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. Over 70,000 people tried to get tickets to attend a Game 5 watch party at Capital One Arena with the hopes that they'll see the Capitals clinch their first Stanley Cup."It feels nice but it's not over yet," Ovechkin, who has 14 goals and 12 assists in the playoffs, said of needing just one more victory to win the Stanley Cup. "I don't think it's pressure on us. I think it's pressure on both teams the same way. We just have to manage it. We have to concentrate, and we have to play our best to get it done."Washington coach Barry Trotz agreed."You just focus on the next game," he said. "I can't tell you what's going to happen (Thursday night) but I can tell you that you're going to need your best game if you want to get it done."Neal made it clear the Golden Knights still believe that they can win the series."We know we haven't played our game (in) the first four games," Neal said. "We have a lot more to give for sure. We've got to take it one game at a time. We can't win all three games in Game 5. We've got to come out strong, take it period by period, and just focus on it one minute at a time."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A certain veteran goaltender might want to practice his blue steel.Ryan Miller had some fun with Chrissy Teigen on Wednesday, four days after the model and "Lip Sync Battle" host fired off a playful tweet about being a netminder.It all started on Saturday night, presumably when Teigen was watching Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The San Jose Sharks have looked to Europe for a little offensive depth, agreeing to a one-year contract with Finnish free-agent forward Antti Suomela.The 24-year-old has spent the past two campaigns with JYP of Liiga, the top division in Finland, where he scored a league-leading 60 points in 59 games last season."Antti's a very skilled center who has improved his development and production in each of his three seasons in Finland's top league," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. "We like his combination of skill, speed, and defensive awareness, and think his style of play fits with the way we play as a team."Suomela also suited up at May's World Championship, where the Espoo native picked up one goal across four appearances.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unless a deal is too good to pass up, the Arizona Coyotes will be selecting fifth overall in this month's draft.The Coyotes made a splash last season after they dealt their first-round pick at the draft, but this year general manager John Chayka is more confident in the talent that should be available when Phoenix makes its selection."We feel strongly about that group of players (at the top of the draft) and we know there's going to be a player at No. 5 that we're really excited to get," Chayka said, according to Dave Vest of coyotes.nhl.com. "Last year, obviously, we traded our first-round pick, and part of that was we didn't feel as strongly or as passionately about that pick as we did say Clayton Keller (at No. 7) the year before, and not as passionately as we do this year. There's a lot of conviction in our scouts and their beliefs in the players that we believe are going to be there when we pick fifth, so we plan on holding the pick and taking the pick and getting a great player."Last year the Coyotes dealt the seventh overall pick and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo to the New York Rangers for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta.Earlier in the day The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that the Coyotes have talked about potentially moving up or down in the draft and that one of the teams they have spoken with is the Montreal Canadiens who hold the third overall selection.So until the Coyotes make their pick, nothing appears set in stone.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are still a win away from clinching the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title, but that isn't stopping questions about a potential White House visit should they earn the crown tomorrow night against the Vegas Golden Knights.On Wednesday, those questions were posed to Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly."The things that he spews are straight-up racist and sexist," Smith-Pelly said of Trump in an interview with Postmedia's Michael Traikos. "Some of the things he's said are pretty gross. I'm not too into politics, so I don't know all his other views, but his rhetoric I definitely don't agree with."It hasn't come up here, but I think I already have my mind made up."The Capitals as a team have refrained from commenting on any potential trip to visit the president in Washington, but after hearing from Smith-Pelly, you can begin to understand the sentiment within Washington's dressing room relating to views on the president."Things that he's saying about immigrants and people of color, I don't think anyone here would agree with that," said Smith-Pelly. "We've got a lot of Europeans and a lot of Canadians."Related: Trump cancels Eagles' visit to White House: 'They disagree with their President'Questions regarding the NHL champions' White House trip have come to the forefront following Donald Trump's cancellation of the Philadelphia Eagles' visit to Washington to commemorate the team's Super Bowl LII victory.The Capitals will earn the first Cup in the club's 44-year history with a win over Vegas on Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes could be a very busy organization over the next few weeks, as more than a few NHL general managers have reportedly inquired about their roster.One of the players generating attention is forward Jeff Skinner, with sources indicating to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun that Carolina is looking for a first-round pick and a prospect in exchange for the smooth-skating sniper.Despite racking up 89 goals and 163 points over the last three seasons, Skinner has been mentioned in several reports regarding a move out of Raleigh in recent years.The former seventh overall pick is set to become a UFA on July 1, 2019.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are both eyeing the Washington Capitals in hopes of solving their goaltending woes.Both teams have already shown interest in Capitals backup Philipp Grubauer, a source indicated to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The 26-year-old is coming off his third season as Braden Holtby's second in command and will become a restricted free agent on July 1. Grubauer saw the largest workload of his career this season playing in 35 games while going 15-10-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.In fact, he even stole the net from Holtby near the end of the regular season, starting the Capitals' first two games of the postseason.As for the Hurricanes and Islanders, the two clubs finished 31st and 22nd, respectively, in goals against this season. Upgrading their netminder will clearly be each team's top priority this offseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of the biggest game of his career, Washington Capitals linchpin Alex Ovechkin is taking a unique approach to his mental preparation.Ovechkin and the Caps square off Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with a 3-1 series lead, but "the Great Eight" isn't overthinking what could be a Cup-clinching evening."To be honest, I think most of us have never been in this position," Ovechkin said Wednesday from Las Vegas, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "For me personally, I don't try to think about it too much what's going on and just try focusing on different things. But it's hard."So, what's currently occupying Ovechkin's thoughts instead?"Whatever. Cars. Hotels. You know, Vegas," he said, per Kaplan.A win Thursday night would give Washington its first Cup in franchise history.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It’s June. The Memorial Cup has been won, the scouting combine is over, and the 2018 NHL Draft draws nearer. With more information and insight at hand, it’s time for another mock draft.For our purposes, the Washington Capitals have pick No. 31 due to finishing behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the regular-season standings.1. Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin | D | Frolunda HC (SHL)

Who doesn't love trades?With 29 of 31 teams focusing on offseason plans, we take a look at who could potentially be on the move this summer, this time with a candidate from each Western Conference team.Click here for Eastern Conference candidatesCentral DivisionChicago Blackhawks: Artem AnisimovPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsC30$4.55M (2020-21)31Anisimov felt the effects of losing Artemi Panarin from his line, registering just 31 points in 72 games in 2017-18. Contending teams likely wouldn't hate the concept of adding him down the middle of the ice, and the Blackhawks' seemingly eternal cap crunch would get some relief.Colorado Avalanche: Tyson BarriePositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD26$5.5M (2019-20)57The Avalanche did well stocking the cupboard in the Matt Duchene deal, and could further support their future if they make Barrie expendable. He produces points, shoots right, and Colorado could give youngster Samuel Girard an increased role in his absence.Dallas Stars: Jason SpezzaPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsC35$7.5M (2018-19)26Spezza owns a modified no-trade clause, so he'd have to be convinced. With the Stars holding onto some salary, there would probably be some suitors for his experience at center.Minnesota Wild: Jonas BrodinPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD24$4.16M (2020-21)21New general manager Paul Fenton faces a difficult task in transforming the Wild from playoff qualifier to playoff contender, but one way to infuse some much-needed offense to Minnesota's lineup would be giving up a defender, and Brodin could be a chip worth testing the market for.Nashville Predators: Nick BoninoPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsC30$4.1M (2020-21)25The Predators gave Bonino a lucrative contract to come from Pittsburgh, but after trading for Kyle Turris last season, the need for the two-time Stanley Cup Champ was mitigated. Nashville could surely survive rolling with Ryan Johansen-Turris-Calle Jarnkrok down the middle going forward.St. Louis Blues: Patrik BerglundPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsLW30$3.85M (2021-22)26Another player with a modified clause, the market for Berglund isn't going to be a big one, but finding a way to unload his salary would pay big dividends for the Blues' books going forward.Winnipeg Jets: Steve MasonPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 Sv%G30$4.1M (2018-19).908The Mason experiment in Winnipeg wasn't much of a success. On top of injury problems, Mason lost out to Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck for the starting gig at the start of the season, and the Jets don't need to pay over $4 million for a backup.Pacific DivisionAnaheim Ducks: Corey PerryPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsRW33$8.625M (2020-21)49As a staple in the Ducks' identity for so long, Perry being traded is far from a guarantee, but Anaheim got exposed in the playoffs in the form of a sweep by an archrival. Bob Murray's group needs to get younger and faster, and the former MVP doesn't fit that mold anymore.Arizona Coyotes: Max DomiPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsLW23RFA45There's potential for a much bigger name available from the Coyotes if Oliver Ekman-Larsson decides not to sign his reported eight-year extension, but Arizona could deal Domi's rights and give the young winger a fresh start after his second straight season with nine goals.Calgary Flames: T.J. BrodiePositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD27$4.65M (2019-20)32Calgary doesn't have a pick in the first three rounds of the 2018 draft, and don't have a winger to join Sean Monahan and Johnny Gadreau on the top line. The Flames could feasibly move out Brodie in an attempt to fill two glaring holes.Edmonton Oilers: Oscar KlefbomPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD24$4.167M (2022-23)21By no means do the Oilers need to trade Klefbom, but after dealing all his forward depth for peanuts, GM Peter Chiarelli holds few remaining chips with any value. Klefbom could definitely bring back a good forward or two to help support two-time Art Ross winner Connor McDavid.Los Angeles Kings: Trevor LewisPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsRW31$2M (2019-20)26Much like their in-state rivals above, the Kings need to implement more speed and skill into their lineup. Plus, opting for cheaper contracts with the possibility of a mega-extension for Drew Doughty on the table seems like a reasonable idea.San Jose Sharks: Mikkel BoedkerPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsRW28$4M37Boedker's four-year contract in San Jose hasn't yielded much production, and the Sharks wouldn't be much worse off if they found a taker for his services.Vancouver Canucks: Chris TanevPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD28$4.45M (2019-20)11Tanev has played less than 70 games in each of the last three seasons, but offers tremendous value when he's healthy. The 28-year-old has an affordable salary, and is far and away the Canucks' most valuable trade asset. Despite an impressive group of young players, Vancouver isn't quite ready to make a big step forward yet, so continue to build for when the time comes.Vegas Golden Knights: Jon MerrillPositionAgeCap Hit (thru)2017-18 pointsD26$1.375M (2019-20)3The Golden Knights are projected to have over $26 million in cap space this summer, so there's pressure for them to unload any onerous contracts. And after the most successful inaugural season in the history of the sport, they probably aren't looking for much of a makeover. That said, Vegas did pick a litany of blue-liners in the expansion draft, and could probably fetch a pick for one that was stapled to the press box most of the season.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.