The Arizona Coyotes are finally getting the kind of goaltending they were hoping for out of Antti Raanta.Acquired last summer to replace longtime starter Mike Smith, Raanta's tenure in the desert got off to a rough start with an early-season injury that was followed by a scorpion infestation and a recent car accident.His luck, however, appears to be turning.In 15 starts since Jan. 1, Raanta has posted a record of 7-3-4 and a .937 save percentage, including his first shutout of the season, the result of a 39-save effort against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.Raanta is in the final year of a contract that pays him a scant $1 million, and his recent play could make him attractive to other teams in advance of the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Coyotes general manager John Chayka might want to make sure he sticks around for a while longer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nathan MacKinnon is back.The star forward will make his return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers, the Avalanche confirmed Saturday.MacKinnon suffered an apparent shoulder injury in a loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30.He was ruled out for two-to-four weeks back on Feb. 1, so he'll return on the early end of that timetable.The 22-year-old amassed 24 goals and 37 assists in 49 games before the injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Larsson returned to action for the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in his first game since the death of his father last month.Larsson was inserted into the Oilers' starting lineup for their afternoon affair against the Arizona Coyotes.The defenseman took a leave of absence in early February following the sudden passing of his father, Robert, in late January.Larsson was away from the Oilers for eight games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit from the AHL on an emergency basis, the team announced Saturday.Backup netminder Al Montoya was hurt in Friday's practice after taking a high shot, according to Rob Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has added some new duties to his daily workload, confirming to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun he's taken over as the club's new CEO.Melnyk announced Feb. 9 that former CEO Tom Anselmi vacated his position after just over one year on the job.It's been a tumultuous year, at best, for Melnyk and the Senators, who have been in a seemingly never-ending free fall since reaching Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last season. On top of the club's dwindling attendance numbers, Melnyk struck a nerve with the Senators fan base with incendiary comments regarding the possibility of relocating the franchise in December at the NHL 100 Classic, leading to the #MelnykOut trend on Twitter shortly after.That said, the Senators did recently reach a deal in principle to redevelop LeBreton Flats - the hopeful home of a new arena in downtown Ottawa.In the shorter term, though, Melnyk and the rest of the Senators' front office have plenty of work to do involving their roster. With Dion Phaneuf already traded, Ottawa needs to map out a plan on the rest of its rumored to be available players, including Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and of course, captain Erik Karlsson a little further down the road.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner will play Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he told former teammate and current Penguin Phil Kessel, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

It will take another "Miracle on Ice" for the United States to revive its chances of medaling in PyeongChang.The U.S. was completely outmatched during a 4-0 loss to the Olympic Athletes from Russia on Saturday night. In fact, the scoreline may have flattered the Americans, considering how disorganized, disinterested, and overwhelmed they looked for the vast majority of the contest.With the exception of Ryan Donato's two power-play goals during a 2-1 win over Slovakia, the U.S. hasn't put together a stretch of competent play in this tournament. The team's disappointing performance has made it even more painful to think about what could have been under normal circumstances.It was a wildly unpopular decision for the NHL to bar its players from participating in PyeongChang, but it didn't appear to hurt the U.S. any more than its rivals. Prior to the tournament, Canada and Finland could've argued they were the countries most affected by the ruling, with all of their top players playing in the NHL. But, after three lackluster games - which included a blown lead to minnow Slovenia, a narrow win over Slovakia, and a thorough beating from the Olympic Athletes from Russia - it's clear the Americans are suffering the most from the NHL's non-participation, with a golden generation of players stuck watching from the sidelines.

Ilya Kovalchuk was the hero for the Olympic Athletes from Russia on Saturday, scoring two goals in a 4-0 victory over the United States in men's hockey. After the game, however, he couldn't help but bring up the past.The U.S. defeated Russia in a shootout during the group stage at Sochi four years ago, electing to use T.J. Oshie six times during a 3-2 victory. Kovalchuk tacitly disapproved of the tactic and took a shot at his opponent following Saturday's win."After the last game in Sochi, I think you guys are still showing the highlights of Oshie scoring those shootouts, right? So, hopefully, you’re gonna change that now," Kovalchuk said via Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.There may be bigger concerns for the U.S. to address. Head coach Tony Granato was reportedly incensed that the OAR team kept its top power-play unit on the ice while leading 4-0, NBC's Pierre McGuire reported via ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Kovalchuk and the OAR advanced to the quarterfinals with the victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators are engaged in "serious" trade discussions regarding Ottawa forwards Mike Hoffman and Derick Brassard, NHL.com's Lou Korac reports, citing a source on his personal blog "In the Slot."However, if a deal were to take place, it would involve only one player, rather than both in a package deal, according to Korac.Korac mentions Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and Robby Fabbri as Blues that could possibly be made available before the deadline.With St. Louis looking to bolster its offense ahead of the postseason and Ottawa trending toward a firesale, there could be a match, as both players would help solidify the top end of the Blues' attack.Hoffman, 28, has 16 goals and 23 assists in 56 games this season, and has two more years on his current contract at $5.187 million per. Brassard, meanwhile, would add flexibility to the Blues' options down the middle. The 30-year-old has notched 32 points so far in 2017-18, and carries a cap hit of $5 million next season.St. Louis has already been active in the trade market, sending the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2019 fourth-round draft pick in exchange for winger Nikita Soshnikov on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the trade deadline approaches, there's a high-scoring 26-year-old winger in Buffalo who's likely to command plenty of attention.That would be Evander Kane, who has recorded 18 goals in 58 contests this season, and who's averaging 26 goals for every 82 games played over the course of his career.Kane can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and Sabres general manager Jason Botterill is believed to be seeking a first-round pick, a prospect or young roster player, and possibly a conditional pick based on whether Kane re-signs with the acquiring team.The Sabres, then, are looking to cash in on this asset while they can, with the following three teams serving as logical suitors.Los Angeles KingsThe Kings are reportedly looking to trade for a forward after pulling off a deal to acquire defenseman Dion Phaneuf. One only has to look at the top line to see there’s clearly a spot for Kane on this roster.Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are having much-needed bounce-back seasons for Los Angeles, with rookie forward Alex Iafallo on the left side of that unit. The 24-year-old has contributed six goals and 13 assists in 55 games, but Kane would obviously provide a significant upgrade at that position.With Jeff Carter soon to return from injury, the addition of Kane would give the Kings a formidable top six:

Goaltending woes have turned into goaltending whoas for the New York Islanders.Heading into a back-to-back set of big divisional games - Thursday against the rival New York Rangers and Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes - the Islanders' goalie tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss had combined for zero shutouts this season.Two games and 95 shots on goal later, they each have one, temporarily easing concerns over the team's issues in net.PlayerOpponentSavesHalakRangers50GreissHurricanes45The Islanders have now scored 200 goals, second only to Tampa Bay for the NHL lead. But even after the shutouts, they still hold a minus-14 goal differential.The wins bumped the Islanders into a wild-card playoff spot, and more of these performances are needed from Halak and Greiss if they want to hold onto that spot.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian Gionta could return to the NHL following a stint as captain of Team USA at PyeongChang 2018.This according to agent Steve Bartlett, who's already engaged in talks with multiple teams in regards to a contract for the balance of this season, building off interest expressed in Gionta last summer when he was unwilling to move from Buffalo or spend a full year away from his family."I (told Gionta) maybe you could get a playoff run with a team, and a couple of months away from the family is better than all year," Bartlett told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "He liked that idea. So it’s been in the back of our mind as he prepared for the Olympics. I’ve had discussions with three-four (NHL) teams, and we’re kind of focusing in on one right now that I think is the front-runner."The 39-year-old is the oldest American competitor at the Winter Olympics, and has failed to record a point in two tournament games. He appeared in 82 contests for the Sabres last season, scoring 15 goals and adding 20 assists.There's still some gas left in the tank, and Bartlett is confident Gionta will be back in the NHL for the stretch run."Assuming that those talks continue to move forward, I think he’ll have a landing spot when all is said and done," Bartlett said. "We’re optimistic. I’ll continue to have discussions with interested teams, but right now our list is getting pretty short as far as what we think is a good fit for him and vice-versa."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames inked forward Mikael Backlund to a six-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.It carries an average annual value of $5.35 million for a total of $32.1 million.Here are more details, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Jeff Gorton isn't going to give any of his club's top prospects an extended look just yet, regardless of whether the New York Rangers follow through on their apparent plan to restructure the roster."We are not going to burn the first year off any contracts," the Rangers general manager told Larry Brooks of the New York Post on Friday.That would indicate neither Lias Andersson nor Filip Chytil - the team's first-round picks last June - will hit the 10-NHL-game threshold that triggers the first season of entry-level deals.Both players are impressing so far in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, albeit in limited sample sizes. Andersson has eight points in 10 games, while Chytil has produced nine goals and 26 points in 31 contests."They’re both playing very well and we’re very happy with their progress, but it will be a day-by-day decision depending on the situation with Hartford, too," Gorton said. "We want to give Hartford a chance to make (the playoffs)."Andersson hasn't yet played an NHL game, while Chytil appeared in two back in early October.The Wolf Pack sit in sixth place in the AHL's Atlantic Division with a record of 24-22-4-3, as of Friday afternoon.Gorton and club president Glen Sather admitted the franchise could part with "some familiar faces" in a letter to fans that was released last Thursday.Last year, the Rangers drafted Andersson seventh overall and then selected Chytil with the 21st overall pick.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson returned to practice Friday following a lengthy absence from the team due to the sudden death of his father in January.Larsson hasn't suited up in a game since Jan. 23, and head coach Todd McLellan said there's no word on when he might get back into game action.In 40 games this season, Larsson's notched three goals and three assists while averaging over 21 minutes per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Reinforcements are on the way for the Florida Panthers, as No.1 goaltender Roberto Luongo is set to return from his 27-game injury absence Saturday night against the Calgary Flames."I'm good to go, 100 percent," Luongo said Friday.Luongo has been recovering from a lower-body issue suffered during the Dec. 4 contest against the New York Islanders when he was injured while making a save. He was activated off injured reserve Wednesday.The Panthers have been utilizing the goaltending tandem of James Reimer and upstart Finnish rookie Harri Sateri in Luongo's absence - Florida has gone 15-10-2 during that time.Prior to getting hurt, Luongo registered a 6-6-1 record to go along with a 2.61 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With under two weeks to go until the trade deadline, the reigning Western Conference champs may be content to stand pat.Though he may simply be trying to avoid tipping his hand, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile gave the impression that his club could enter the playoffs as currently constructed rather than adding more pieces before Feb. 26."I think we're closer to doing nothing than to do something," Poile told Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.After making a series of moves since last season's run to the finals, Nashville leads the Central Division with 77 points - two clear of the Winnipeg Jets with a game in hand. Since falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 last June, Poile added Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell in free agency, and brokered a midseason blockbuster in acquiring Kyle Turris from the Ottawa Senators in November.The Preds have a realistic chance to compete for the Stanley Cup yet again, and Poile doesn't want to risk altering the chemistry his roster has developed by bringing in new blood."The worst thing that I could possibly do is to make a trade where somebody didn't fit in," Poile said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite sitting fifth in league scoring and remaining on pace to shatter his previous career-high points total, Phil Kessel isn't caught up in the hoopla of individual accolades.The Pittsburgh Penguins star winger has 66 points in 59 games and an outside chance at catching Nikita Kucherov (76 points) in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, but the self-proclaimed hard-working, hockey-loving nice guy has his focus set elsewhere."I don't care. I've got two Cups," Kessel said when asked about the pursuit of the scoring title, per Pens Inside Scoop.Kessel has been one of the league's hottest players in the New Year, recording 24 points in 19 games since the calendar flipped to 2018. The 30-year-old's surge is one of the main reasons the Pens have been unstoppable of late, going 14-4-1 in that span.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers may have struggled to hit their stride over the first half of the NHL season, but they're now finding their form at the most opportune time.Winning six out of the last seven games, Florida finds itself within striking distance of the playoffs in the tightening Eastern Conference wild-card hunt, and in prime position to be buyers ahead of the fast-approaching Feb. 26 trade deadline - for more than one reason.Of course, sitting seven points back of a postseason seed with half of February already in the books is far from the ideal scenario. But, seven points really isn't that much when you consider the advantages Florida has going for it.Here's a look at the reasons why the Panthers should be buyers over the next 10 days:

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile has earned a reputation as an astute hockey executive with a knack for plucking and developing talent from the NHL draft.One of Poile's latest such finds is rising Finnish star Eeli Tolvanen.Tolvanen was selected by the Predators with the second-last pick in the first round of the 2017 draft, 30th overall. He's been playing in Finland this season with KHL side Jokerit, making him eligible to compete for the Finns at the 2018 Olympics.Related: Predators looking at bringing Tolvanen to NHL this season(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Through the first two games of the men's tournament, Tolvanen has easily been the best forward at PyeongChang, racking up three goals and three assists - good enough for the tournament lead in points at six.Obviously, this edition of the Olympics lacks current NHLers, but Tolvanen's early performance is impressive all the same - he is, after all, just 18 years old.Tolvanen cut his chops in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers, and is a proven producer at every level he's played at. He followed up 92 points in 101 games for the Musketeers with 17 goals and 17 assists in 47 games for Jokerit this season.While his two-game showing at PyeongChang 2018 is sure to drive up demand to have him playing in North America sooner than later, it's Tolvanen's sensational season in the KHL that should have Predators fans lining up to get his name stitched on their jerseys.

In the fourth running of theScore's NHL Player Power Rankings, editor Craig Hagerman orders the top players from around the league this season - with extra consideration given to their performances this month.10. Alex OvechkinPreviously unrankedGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%573431651.1450.42Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in the NHL and Ovechkin continues to prove he's among the best at it.The Washington Capitals captain still tops the league in the category with 34 and is on pace to finish with 48, so it's not out of the question he could hit the 50-goal mark for the eighth time in his career.Regardless, he's already matched his goal total from last season and is four points back of last season's output.9. Phil KesselPreviously 8thGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%592442661.1450.12While he might rank slightly behind his two Pittsburgh Penguins teammates on this list, Kessel's stellar season certainly shouldn't be overlooked.The 30-year-old is having by far his most productive year since being dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's four points away from hitting last season's total of 70, and his 24 goals are just two shy of his 2016 tally.Kessel has been arguably the team MVP this season, seeming to find great chemistry with Evgeni Malkin, and is just another reason you can't ever count out the Penguins.8. Steven StamkosPreviously 2ndGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%582344671.1653.09The NHL is a better place when Stamkos is healthy, just not for opposing goaltenders.The Tampa Bay Lightning captain is enjoying his most productive season since the 2011-12 campaign when he put up 60 goals and 97 points. He won't hit nearly the same amount of goals this season, but with 67 points in 58 games, he is on pace for 94, the third-highest total of his career.It pays to have the likely Art Ross Trophy winner playing on your wing, particularly when he's fully fit.7. Pekka RinnePreviously unrankedGPSV%GAAWSOSASV42.9252.362951 3151 217If you're not convinced the Nashville Predators are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, consider the facts: the club has arguably the best defense corps and one of the best netminders going.Rinne has been a stud this season after putting up respectable numbers last year. The 35-year-old has recorded just two fewer wins in 42 games than he did in 61 appearances last term.He's rocking a .925 save percentage - good enough for sixth league-wide - and ranks second in shutouts with five and ninth in goals-against average with a 2.36 mark.6. Johnny GaudreauPreviously 1stGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%581949681.1753.16Gaudreau may have fallen from his peak at No. 1 on this list, but you'd better believe he's still lighting it up.With an assist against the Predators on Thursday night, Gaudreau pushed his current point streak to eight games. He's now just 10 points off his career high of 78, set back during the 2015-16 seasonThe Calgary Flames are hanging on to a playoff spot but will need more of this kind of production from Gaudreau if they are to stay there.5. Sidney CrosbyPreviously unrankedGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%591947661.1255.16Crosby jumped out of the gate this season with 10 points in eight games, before hitting a slight lull between mid-October and into early November when he put up just three points in 11 outings.Then he erupted.Recently, Crosby's been his usual dangerous self, especially since the calendar flipped. In the New Year, Sid has gone pointless just three times in 19 games, while tallying a whopping 31 points in that span.4. Connor McDavidPreviously 7thGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%562343661.1853.97While the Edmonton Oilers might not be headed anywhere quickly, McDavid has been rocketing up the ice and, subsequently, the scoring charts.The 21-year-old has recorded at least a point in 12 of his last 15 games and totaled nine goals and 21 points overall in that span.Given he continues to play largely with inadequate wingers, it's nothing short of astonishing McDavid has been able to produce the way he has.3. Nikita KucherovPreviously 3rdGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%583145761.3153.23Kucherov refuses to concede his lead on the NHL points race.The Lightning sniper has held the baton for the better part of the season and with a five-game point streak that has yielded 10 points, it seems he doesn't plan on giving up his spot.In the meantime, he is now just nine points back of the career-high 85 set last season and is on pace to conclude the year with 107.2. Patrice BergeronPreviously unrankedGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%502724511.0257.61Move over Stamkos and Kucherov, as the title of "best line in hockey" has been re-awarded to the trio in Boston. Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak have been electric for the better part of two months, and Bergeron has been the best of the three.His offense has been off the chart and he remains as steady in his own end as ever, as well as one of the best faceoff men in the league.If his current pace keeps up, he should easily surpass his career high of 32 goals and could very well become the first player since Sergei Fedorov in 1994 to win both the Selke Trophy and the Hart Trophy in the same season.1. Evgeni MalkinPreviously unrankedGPGAPP/PG5-on-5 CF%553234661.2051.51Malkin vaults into first place largely thanks to a monstrous January.The 31-year-old went off for 12 goals and 19 points in 12 games and followed that up with another six goals and eight points in three outings in the first week of February.The scoring onslaught has pushed Malkin into a share of fourth in the Art Ross Trophy race, 10 points back of Kucherov for the league lead. His production has also helped the Penguins jump back into a playoff spot, where they will soon begin their quest for a third straight Stanley Cup.Honorable MentionsTaylor Hall - Hall has put up a 16-game point streak and is quietly starting to enter the Hart Trophy conversation. His 60 points in 52 games are already more than the 53 he put up all of last season, and with four more goals, he'll surpass his personal best scoring tally of 27.Claude Giroux - Like Hall, Giroux has already eclipsed last season's production. His 66 points in 57 games have him on pace to set a new career best above the 93 set back during the 2011-12 season.Tuukka Rask - Rask will most certainly be in the Vezina Trophy conversation at the end of the year, barring a major collapse. The 30-year-old has gone 23-9-4 in 37 games and sits comfortably with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. If Bergeron wasn't playing so well, it could be argued he's been the team's MVP this season.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Reaves wasn't kidding.The Pittsburgh Penguins grinder, who is black, followed through on a prediction to Willie O'Ree, who broke the NHL's color barrier about 60 years ago."I met Ryan for the first time (Thursday) in the dressing room, and he told me he was going to get a goal for me, (and) he got a goal for me," O'Ree told Penguins TV's Celina Pompeani, not long after Reaves opened the scoring against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.Here's O'Ree being interviewed at the game, and eventually confirming that Reaves predicted he'd light the lamp for the hockey icon.

New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak turned in what was, by far, his best outing of the season on Thursday night.The 32-year-old turned away all 50 shots thrown his way as the Islanders bested the New York Rangers 3-0. For Halak, the 50-save performance was just one save shy of Glenn Healey's 51-save shutout on Jan. 16, 1990 for the most saves in an Islanders shutout win.Meanwhile, it marked the first shutout for Halak since Apr. 6, 2017, when he turned away all 29 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes.As for the workload, it was nothing new for the goalie, who has now faced 50 or more shots in two straight games. He was peppered with 51 shots in the team's 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thanks to an assist on Nico Hischier's third-period tally, New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall has now collected at least a point in 16 consecutive games.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh's camp recently submitted a 10-team no-trade list to the New York Rangers, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 28-year-old has one year left on his contract after this season with a $4.7-million cap hit, making McDonagh more than merely a rental player.That being said, the Rangers' front office appears ready to sell its assets after releasing a statement notifying fans that they can expect many moves as the club looks to rebuild.McDonagh is in his eighth season with the Rangers where he's put up two goals and 26 points in 49 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Radim Vrbata could be sent packing ahead of the trade deadline.The forward gave the Florida Panthers a list of 10 teams he's willing to be traded to last month, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 36-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent next season so the Panthers may look to collect some assets rather than let him walk for nothing.In saying that, it's unlikely Vrbata will be able to garner much in any potential deal since he's managed just five goals and 13 points in 36 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

During a career that saw him play 953 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Pavel Datsyuk accomplished almost everything professional hockey has to offer.His resume includes two Stanley Cup rings, three Frank J. Selke trophies, and a World Championship gold medal from 2012. But the 39-year-old is still chasing an ever-elusive accomplishment - an Olympic gold medal. Being that the dynamic forward now plies his trade in the KHL in Russia, the opportunity to join the Olympic Athletes from Russia in PyeongChang 2018 could help him end his career in style.Datsyuk is looking to redeem his international career and is likely trying to chase away a bitter feeling following Sochi 2014. Facing stratospheric pressure while his country hosted the Olympics, Datsyuk was named captain of Russia's 2014 squad. And though many were confident the country's hockey team would emerge victorious, Russia crumpled to an embarrassing fifth-place finish. It was a harrowing, nightmarish outcome with some fans defining the performance as "a catastrophe and shame for Russia" while others were too shell-shocked to vocalize their criticism. With NHL players barred from PyeongChang 2018, the Olympic Athletes from Russia are the odds-on favorite and there's no excuse for Datsyuk and Co. to walk away with anything less than gold this time around.Quite simply, Datsyuk is the definitive two-way forward of his era while also boasting some of the best puckhandling skills hockey has ever seen. In fact, his style of play became a template that coaches look to when teaching young players how to play in the NHL.And perhaps Datsyuk can put those skills to good use one last time. Over 20 years after he first broke onto the scene, an Olympic gold medal around his neck would put a bow on his decorated career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded forward Nikita Soshnikov to the St. Louis Blues for a fourth-round pick in 2019.Soshnikov played only three games for the Leafs this season due to injury and simply being supplanted on the organization's depth chart.He missed 28 games with what the club would only classify as a "lower-body" ailment. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 12.The Leafs got a measure of flexibility by making the deal, as they're no longer at the 50-contract limit, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Soshnikov posted 17 points in 19 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies in 2017-18 after appearing in 56 NHL games last season.He was signed by the Leafs out of the KHL in 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators traded forward Chris DiDomenico to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Ville Pokka, the team announced Thursday.DiDomenico joins the Blackhawks after splitting this season between the main club and the AHL's Belleville Senators and Syracuse Crunch. In 24 games with Ottawa, the 28-year-old put up six goals and 10 points, while recording another 15 points in 28 games in the minors.In Pokka, the Senators get a 23-year-old defenseman who has played the past four seasons with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Originally a second-round selection of the New York Islanders in 2012, Pokka has steadily produced in the minors, putting up 28 goals and 127 points in 266 games.Pokka will report to the Senators' AHL affiliate. DiDomenico will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Pokka will become a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A deadly shooting in Florida is resonating deeply with Shayne Gostisbehere.The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman once attended classes at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a shooter killed 17 people Wednesday."These things keep happening, and it just sucks," Gostisbehere told reporters Thursday. "It sucks to see. Those are the hallways (I) walked (at) one time before, but it's a tragic event - a tragic day."Gostisbehere grew up in Florida and went to the school from 2007-08 to 2008-09, then transferred to South Kent School in Connecticut."They always say it's 'close to home,' but when it's actually home, it's pretty tough to see," he said Thursday. "I haven't really processed it yet. I still can't believe it. I was just in that school. I was only there for two years, but I felt safe at that school every day I was there, and just to see something like that happen to those kids and those teachers, it sucks."It's just a tragic day for South Florida and as a nation."Gostisbehere said he didn't know any of the victims personally, but was familiar with some of the teachers and knew deceased football coach Aaron Feis, who stepped in front of bullets to shield students and was confirmed dead Thursday."He was always a great guy, always nice to me when I was there," Gostisbehere said. "(It) really shows his character, what he did, in that time of panic and emergency, putting himself on the line before others. He's a true hero, and he's the guy we need to focus on rather than the actual suspect."Gostisbehere added that it still hasn't fully sunk in."My grandparents live a mile away from the school, and I lived 10 minutes away. It's a tough time. It was just voted the safest city in Florida last year, and to see a tragic event like that, (there's) obviously some shock right now."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anders Lee isn't interested in taking donations from a movement bashing New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow, whom he credits with getting his career off the ground.In light of the team's recent struggles (seven losses in their last 10 games), Islanders fans started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for billboards with the slogan "Snow must go" on them. The goal was to send a message to team ownership that fans are less than pleased with their GM.After reaching its goal of $2,500, the campaign started donating the excess cash to other charities, including Lee's "Kancer Jam," which raises money for organizations that support children with cancer.Lee responded with the following statement Thursday in support of his GM:

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their star forward Nathan MacKinnon for at least one more game, and possibly two.MacKinnon, who is still dealing with an upper-body injury, won't travel with the team to Winnipeg for Friday's game against the Jets, according to BSN Denver's AJ Haefele. He's also questionable for Sunday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced Thursday.The Avs have been without MacKinnon for the last seven games, going 4-3-0 in that span. The return of their leading scorer can't come soon enough, as the team sits two points out of a playoff spot.Despite missing time, MacKinnon is still tied for 11th in league scoring with 61 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk arguably has the most to prove during the PyeongChang 2018 men's hockey tournament, leading the favored Olympic Athletes from Russia into combat.It's been widely reported Kovalchuk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is entertaining a return to the NHL, and the 34-year-old would be an asset to numerous teams after featuring as a prolific goal-scorer in the KHL.Kovalchuk, possessing one of the game's most lethal releases, would provide an instant burst of offense. Below, we rank five teams from least suitable to most suitable that ought to consider making an offer to the decorated winger.5. New Jersey Devils Few would fault the Devils organization if they wanted nothing to do with Kovalchuk after he bailed for the KHL after the 2012-13 season. This is a different team than the one from which he fled, however, and it would be a mutually beneficial partnership.New Jersey is currently positioned to make the playoffs, trying to fend off several clubs for a wild-card spot, and could use an offensive boost in attempting to cement its bid; Kovalchuk would help round out a young, top-heavy group largely relying upon Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier to engineer the attack. The Devils have 17 players signed through 2018-19 and could afford to meet Kovalchuk's demands - provided they aren't exorbitant, like his last NHL stint.Kovalchuk would also serve as an unlikely mentor to Hischier, both of whom were selected first overall, 16 years apart. Second chances aren't always ideal, but this may be worth exploring.4. San Jose Sharks Kovalchuk would fit in seamlessly with a veteran Sharks team still looking for a first Stanley Cup in franchise history. It would be an easy transition for a man who ought to be familiar with large portions of the roster while serving as another potent offensive option.San Jose currently ranks third on the power play and while there is an argument to be made that it doesn't need fixing, imagining Kovalchuk on a unit with Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Brent Burns may be too tempting to resist.It appears Kovalchuk's goals align perfectly with the Sharks', and it's an option that ought to be appealing to both parties.3. Vegas Golden Knights No one expected the Golden Knights to be this good this soon, but if the expected regression to the mean never occurs, they could be an ideal destination for Kovalchuk. Unlike the other four suitors listed, Vegas faces minimal cap restraints and would likely be able to offer the most lucrative contract this summer.Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith have been among the season's most surprising revelations, creating a formidable attack along with veteran James Neal, whom many expected to be the team's top scorer. While it may be unwise to count out the Golden Knights as they are now, Kovalchuk adds further credibility to an offensive unit that has completely bamboozled the rest of the league.With the prospect of being able to offer a lucrative contract combined with the city's famed nightlife, the Golden Knights could have an unlikely allure.2. Los Angeles Kings A veteran team with Stanley Cup experience playing in a city with world-renowned entertainment options in picturesque California is an alluring pitch with which to begin. Add in that the Kings are starved for another offensive weapon, and Kovalchuk may be donning the silver, black, and white in 2018-19.The Kings rank 19th on the power play and Kovalchuk's deadly release would serve as a major asset for a team that has earned a reputation for a conservative style of play. With the exception of Anze Kopitar, L.A. doesn't have a single forward with more than 40 points this season and Kovalchuk would inject new life into the group.Kovalchuk's ambition to win a Stanley Cup is likely fueling his desire to return North America and few teams provide him with a better fit, both as an individual and from a team perspective. Rob Blake has work to do.1. Winnipeg Jets It would be poetic for Kovalchuk to return to the organization with which he started his career just as they are turning into a potential contender for years to come, and his experience and goal-scoring ability would surely be coveted.Imagine trying to stop a power play with Kovalchuk and Patrik Laine firing off the wing? It would be an absolute nightmare for 30 other teams to figure out. Kovalchuk would effectively replace Mathieu Perreault on the top line and a link-up with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler sounds like a nightmare, to say nothing of the added balance the ripple effect would create for the club.Signing Kovalchuk is a feasible, sensible decision for the Jets to make, and Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff ought to be watching PyeongChang 2018 closely.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman got a little ahead of himself this offseason, and it's a major reason why his team has lost seven straight games - including an embarrassing 6-1 loss Monday to the last-place Arizona Coyotes - and is now 10 points out of a playoff spot.Following back-to-back first-round playoff exits, Bowman pulled off two stunning blockbuster trades on June 23, 2017:Blackhawks receiveCoyotes receiveD Connor MurphyD Niklas HjalmarssonC Laurent DauphinDauphin has since been traded back to Arizona, while Hjalmarsson, 30, has a $4.1-million cap hit through next season and Murphy, 24, is signed through 2021-22 with a $3.85-million cap hit.The trade that broke shortly after the Hjalmarsson deal was even more shocking:Blackhawks receiveBlue Jackets receiveLW Brandon SaadLW Artemi PanarinG Anton ForsbergLW Tyler Motte2018 5th-round pick2017 6th-round pickForsberg is a backup goalie, Motte is a depth piece, and the draft picks are so late that it's essentially a one-for-one deal.However, Saad is just one year younger than Panarin, and they both have $6-million cap hits. The difference? Panarin is a free agent after next season, while Saad is signed through 2020-21.It's clear that in both trades, Bowman was willing to trade a key member of his team for someone who is, frankly, considerably worse, in the hopes of prolonging his team's winning window.Here's how Panarin and Saad stacked up in the two seasons prior to the trade:PanarinStatSaad162GP16061G5590A51151P10686Takeaways7654.0CF%52.6This season, the comparison has been just as one-sided, even though Columbus has the league's fourth-worst offense, and Panarin is the one player opponents have to game plan around:PanarinStatSaad57GP5715G1331A1146P2455Takeaways3557.9CF%58.7Panarin is also on pace to shatter his career high in takeaways, indicating that he's improved defensively in his third season. Had he remained in Chicago - and on a line with Patrick Kane, with whom he developed great chemistry - his numbers would probably be drastically improved, as would Kane's.As for the Hjalmarsson vs. Murphy comparison, it can be broken down in a much simpler fashion. Head coach Joel Quenneville would rely on Hjalmarsson for anywhere from 21-23 minutes a night, and the Swede would do so in steady, reliable, shutdown fashion.Murphy, however, has failed to gain Quenneville's trust, as he's averaging 15:50 per night. Having a player make nearly $4 million per season playing sixth defenseman minutes isn't conducive to success when you have two players (Kane and Jonathan Toews) making a combined $21 million per year.Murphy's lack of reliability has forced Quenneville to give more minutes to young, inexperienced defenseman, such as Jordan Oesterle, Jan Rutta, and Gustav Forsling. Furthermore, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook still have to log huge minutes even though they're getting up there in age. Hjalmarsson would've been able to shoulder some of those tough minutes.Down years from the Blackhawks' core - Toews, Kane, Keith, and Seabrook - have played a large part in the team's poor season. So, too, has the fact that goaltender Corey Crawford has played only 28 out of a possible 57 games this season due to injury. The absence of veteran Marian Hossa can't be overlooked as well.If Panarin and Hjalmarsson are back in the fold, are the Blackhawks suddenly a Presidents' Trophy-caliber team? Most likely no, but they definitely could've been a playoff team. Even though hockey is a team game, both Panarin and Hjalmarsson are impactful enough that their presence would create a positive rippling effect throughout the lineup, making everyone around them better.What Bowman should've done was held onto Panarin and Hjalmarsson, give Toews, Kane, Keith, and Seabrook the best possible supporting cast, and take one more kick at the can before the core became untenable.The Blackhawks' undoing was inevitable, but Bowman just simply sped up the process.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators continued their busy week of roster shuffling Thursday, recalling defenseman Ben Harpur from their AHL affiliate.Ottawa traded rearguard Dion Phaneuf to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday in exchange for Marian Gaborik, so a spot on the blue line needed to be filled.Harpur signed a two-year, one-way contract extension last week and has played in 20 games for the Senators this year, registering one assist in nearly 15 minutes of ice time. In 19 games with Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Belleville, he has two goals and nine assists.With Phaneuf and his 20-plus minutes of ice time per night gone, Harpur will have a legitimate opportunity to make a name for himself.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the most prized hockey souvenirs at PyeongChang 2018 is headed to Canada.The puck that Randi Heesoo Griffin forced into the back of Japan's net Wednesday to score the first Olympic goal in the history of the combined Korean women's hockey team will be enshrined in the sport's most revered museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.Getting hold of the puck, however, proved to be a tricky assignment for Martin Hyun, deputy sport manager for hockey at PyeongChang 2018, after he noticed referee Drahomira Fialova was on the verge of re-using the priceless piece of memorabilia."If the puck was still in play and gone, the historic puck would be gone forever," Hyun told Yoo Jee-ho of the Yonhap News Agency. "I ran and made my voice heard that the puck has to come and stay."The joint Korean team was formed last month after North and South Korea agreed to combine players from each nation.Despite finishing last in Group A, Korea, who lost 4-1 against Japan in the final game of the preliminary round, will play at least once more before PyeongChang 2018 concludes, when the battle to place fifth overall in the women's tournament kicks off Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, widely tipped to be taken first overall in the 2018 NHL Draft in June, was a healthy scratch for Sweden's Olympic opener against Norway on Thursday.Not that his teammates seemed to miss him very much, as Sweden cruised to a 4-0 victory without the highly-touted teenager.Dahlin, 17, has been the projected No. 1 overall pick all season.With NHL players not competing in PyeongChang, his involvement was one of the highlights for hockey fans heading into the tournament.Dahlin has drawn rave reviews from teammates and analysts alike for his play with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, where he racked up six goals and 17 points in 35 games prior to arriving in South Korea.His next opportunity to make his anticipated Olympic debut will come Friday when the Swedes meet Germany in Group C action.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche have pushed their win streak on home ice into double digits.Semyon Varlamov stopped all 44 shots he faced as the Avalanche shut out the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 on Wednesday night, and Colorado matched a franchise record with its 10th consecutive home win in the process.The Avalanche joined the 1983-84 and 1994-95 editions of the Quebec Nordiques as the only teams in club history to win 10 straight contests at home.Granted, the NHL has played without ties since 2005-06, thereby increasing the frequency of wins league-wide, but the accomplishment is still an impressive one for the Avalanche, who put together a previous win streak of 10 games - including both home and away contests - last month.Coincidentally, that run was snapped by the Canadiens.Carl Soderberg and Alexander Kerfoot provided the offense for Colorado on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A heavy barrage of shots from the Columbus Blue Jackets didn't phase Frederik Andersen.The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender established a new single-game career-high mark of 54 saves in Wednesday's 6-3 victory.Anderson's handiwork included this impressive kick save in the third period.

With an assist on Patrick Marleau's empty-net goal, Nazem Kadri set a career high with five points Wednesday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Leafs forward concluded the evening scoring his fourth-career hat trick - and first on home ice - to go along with two assists in the team's 6-3 win.For Kadri, the offensive outburst is just the latest in a blistering streak that has seen him put up seven goals and 14 points in his last 10 games.The catalyst for the sudden surge in offense appears to be the result of playing alongside linemates Mitch Marner and Marleau. Over the last 10 games the two have combined for 34 points.The streak also comes off the back of a terrible midseason slump that Kadri looks to have put in the rearview mirror. Prior to his current 10-game stretch, Kadri had gone 20 games - between Dec. 2 and Jan. 22 - with just one goal (scored on a redirect off his skate) and two points.Thanks to Wednesday night's onslaught, Kadri has now hit the 20-goal mark for the third time in his career. And with 40 points on the season, he looks to be on his way to surpassing the 50-point mark for the third time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are putting pucks on net at a rate unseen in modern NHL history.In firing 57 shots on goal during Wednesday's loss to Toronto, the Blue Jackets became the first team in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to record at least 50 shots in three consecutive games.That feat has been achieved only once before:

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner left Wednesday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a muscle spasm in his leg, head coach Mike Babcock said, according to TSN's Mark Masters."He's got some kind of spasm and he couldn't get it to relax so they wouldn't let him come back," said Babcock. "They knew he had, but he thought he was fine and then when he got out there he wasn't fine."Gardiner did not come out for the second period after being limited to just six shifts and left with nearly nine minutes to play in the first period, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.The 27-year-old currently leads the team in ice time, playing 22:52 per night, while pacing all Maple Leafs blue-liners with 35 points in 59 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As far as Luc Robitaille is concerned, Drew Doughty's long-term future is with the Los Angeles Kings.The team's president appeared on TSN1050 in Toronto on Thursday and expressed extreme confidence in being able to lock up the star defenseman, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2019."No, there’s never even a question in our mind - Drew’s going to be a King and he’s going to be with us," Robitaille said. "He’s a very special player. He plays with an extreme amount of passion. He’s one of those guys that, you know, he found a way that whether he gets a goal or not, he plays the game so well at both ends. He’s definitely, for us, the best defenseman in the league in his own end, and I’m not even talking about what he does offensively."Doughty made waves earlier this season when he said he and Erik Karlsson deserve more money than P.K. Subban, and that he didn't know if he'll re-sign with the Kings.Robitaille understands Doughty's worth and seems intent on doing whatever it takes to retain the Stanley Cup and Norris Trophy winner."He’s one of those very special players. We wouldn’t be where we’re at today without him and we know we can’t have success without him. So in our mind, he’s with us. He’s going to stay with us. We’ll figure out a way."Doughty carries a cap hit of $7 million through to the end of next season, while Subban's $9-million cap hit ranks the highest among all defensemen.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some New York Islanders fans have had enough.With the team outside the playoff picture and with the long-term future of captain John Tavares up in the air, a gofundme page has been established to raise money for a public message about general manager Garth Snow.

Well played, Matt Calvert.The Columbus Blue Jackets forward was ready with a well-timed - albeit slightly inappropriate - one-liner after the scoreboard at Toronto's Air Canada Centre got jammed not far from ice level before Wednesday's game between the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets."So they can’t get it up on Valentine’s Day?" Calvert quipped to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.Here was the scene less than two hours before puck drop:

A trade that sent Dion Phaneuf to the Los Angeles Kings appears to be just the beginning of a change in Ottawa.This according to Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, who indicated he'll remain busy leading up to the Feb. 26 trade deadline and beyond.Related: Sens should make these 5 moves after trading Phaneuf for Gaborik"We're going to be doing a lot of things to make sure we can field as competitive a team as we can," Dorion said Wednesday, per Callum Fraser of NHL.com. "Whether it's in the near future or whatever future you want to look at, but this is an exciting time, I think for our fans, because we know we're going to do some good things, for the organization we'll do some good things. And we're looking forward to it."Dorion said he spoke to several of his counterparts following the Phaneuf trade, which also saw Nate Thompson shipped out in exchange for Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore. Not surprisingly, the GM added he's only open to a "good hockey deal" that makes sense in terms of Ottawa's short- and long-term goals."Obviously, we'd like to compete for the playoffs next year, there's no doubt about that. But at the same time, we want to have a team here that will be able to compete every year for the playoffs," he said.Dorion also reiterated the team's first and foremost priority is to sign Erik Karlsson, who lamented the Phaneuf deal in a couple of tweets Tuesday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday's blockbuster trade between the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings was quite odd. The Sens were able to shed the bulk of Dion Phaneuf's massive contract, but had to take on Marian Gaborik's awful deal in the process.When you factor in Nate Thompson's and Nick Shore's salaries as part of the trade, the Sens saved just $1.075 million in immediate cap space. On the surface, that doesn't seem worth it at all, considering Phaneuf is still a solid top-four defenseman, while Gaborik can't seem to stay on the ice, playing in just 63 percent of his team's games over the past six seasons.That means Tuesday's trade should simply be the first domino to fall for Ottawa, and should lead to a flurry of moves and key decisions. Here's what the Senators must do next to justify the Phaneuf-for-Gaborik deal:1. Give Chabot 20-plus minutes per nightWith Phaneuf out of the picture, there's no reason 21-year-old Thomas Chabot shouldn't be logging 20-plus minutes every night. Right now he's averaging less than 16 minutes per game, and that's not helping his development.Everything the Senators do from here on out must be geared toward next season, and that begins with giving Chabot valuable in-game experience.2. Trade Brassard, Smith before deadlineDerick Brassard is a solid player, but he's not performing to the level of his $5-million cap hit. Still, he has 15 goals and 16 assists, so the Sens could probably get a nice return for one of the few centers available on the open market, especially considering Brassard has another year left on his deal.Moving him would create more ice time for rookie forward Colin White, who could take on an even larger role next season. The Sens also have another center in Logan Brown - the 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft - coming through the pipeline.Zack Smith, on the other hand, has a cap hit of $3.25 million through 2020-21 - something the Sens can't afford. Though he's struggled this year, Smith scored 41 goals across the previous two seasons, so a team with cap room looking to make a minor deadline splash - perhaps the Vegas Golden Knights - could probably take on the versatile, gritty forward for a late-round pick.3. Buy out Gaborik, shed Burrows' contractThanks to his signing bonus, buying out Phaneuf would've costed a fortune, but with Gaborik, it's not nearly as bad. Here's the breakdown, courtesy of Cap Friendly:SeasonBuyout cap hit2018-19$1.5M2019-20$2.9M2020-21$3M2021-22$1.2M2022-23$1.2M2023-24$1.2MWhile the 2019-20 and 2020-21 numbers aren't ideal, this buyout would be much more tolerable than getting minimal production out of Gaborik for 50 games a year at an annual cost of $4.875 million.As for Alex Burrows, he has a $2.5-million cap hit through next season, but buying him out would be pointless. Since the Sens can't afford to pay that money to a fourth-line player next season, and since they don't have the financial resources to bury him in the AHL, they'll have to get creative.That means finding a wealthy team looking to rebuild, such as the New York Rangers. A club in New York's situation would likely be willing to take on Burrows' contract for one year in exchange for a mid-round draft pick or a mid-level prospect.4. Sign Stone long termThe Sens would then need to use the money saved from the aforementioned moves to lock up Mark Stone long term. Scheduled to be a restricted free agent this offseason, Stone is one of the most underrated two-way forwards in the NHL. He's been a point-per-game player this season and is annually among the league leaders in takeaways.A six-year extension in the neighborhood of $6 million to $7 million per season seems realistic for Stone, who will turn 26 on July 1. For comparison, Boston Bruins phenom David Pastrnak, who put up 70 points last season and is only 21 years old, signed for six years at $6.6 million per season. Let's give Stone a $7-million cap hit just to be safe.5. Extend KarlssonLast, but certainly not least, the Sens need to use the freed-up money to ink the face of their franchise, Erik Karlsson, to a long-term deal. They can do so as early as July 1.Karlsson has been on the record stating he isn't interested in giving a hometown discount, so Ottawa will have to pony up. P.K. Subban is currently the league's highest-paid defenseman with a $9-million average annual value, so $10 million for Karlsson at seven or eight years seems realistic.The end result?With all the above moves factored in, here's the projected lineup for the 2018-19 Senators, which still clearly has some holes:LWCRWMike Hoffman ($5.1875M)Matt Duchene ($6M)Mark Stone ($7M)*Ryan Dzingel ($1.8M)Bobby Ryan ($7.25M)J.G. Pageau ($3.1M)Colin White ($0.925M)Tom Pyatt ($1.1M)Logan Brown ($0.895M)LDRDThomas Chabot ($0.863M)Erik Karlsson ($6.5M)Fredrik Claesson ($0.9M)*Cody Ceci ($3M)*Mark Borowiecki ($1.2M)Chris Wideman ($1.5M)*Ben Harpur ($0.725M)GCraig Anderson ($4.275M)Mike Condon ($2.4M)* Projected 2018-19 cap hitThis projected lineup adds up to $57.8705 million (including buyouts and retained salary), giving Ottawa roughly $20 million in space for the 2018-19 season, assuming the salary cap continues to climb modestly. The Senators would also have to be weary of Karlsson's projected $3.5-million raise for the 2019-2020 campaign.Additionally, this lineup doesn't include any potential return the Senators would receive for Brassard, nor does it include the player they'll select with their first-round draft pick in the offseason. That player could very well be Rasmus Dahlin if Ottawa wins the lottery, but even if it doesn't, a top-five pick of a winger - such as Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, or Brady Tkachuk - could make an impact from Day 1.If the Senators spend their newly found cap room wisely - you could make arguments for needing upgrades up front, on the back end, and in net - they could very well return to the playoffs next year with a little luck. And considering the Colorado Avalanche will likely have Ottawa's first-round pick in 2019, being competitive next season will be integral.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.